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Context. The chemical composition of globular clusters (GCs) across the Local Group provides information on chemical abundance trends. Studying GCs in isolated systems in particular provides us with important initial conditions plausibly unperturbed by mergers and tidal forces from the large Local Group spirals. Aims. We present a detailed chemical abundance analysis of Sextans A GC-1. The host galaxy, Sextans A, is a low-surface-brightness dwarf irregular galaxy located on the edge of the Local Group. We derive the dynamical mass of the GC together with the mass-to-light ratio and the abundances of the α, Fe-peak, and heavy elements. Methods. Abundance ratios were determined from the analysis of an optical integrated-light spectrum of Sextans A GC-1, obtained with UVES on the VLT. We apply non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) corrections to Mg, Ca, Ti, Fe, and Ni. Results. The GC appears to be younger and more metal-poor than the majority of the GCs of the Milky Way, with an age of 8.6 ± 2.7 Gyr and [Fe/H] = −2.14 ± 0.04 dex. The calculated dynamical mass is Mdyn = (5.18 ± 1.62)×105 M⊙, which results in an atypically high value of the mass-to-light ratio, 4.35 ± 1.40 M⊙/LV⊙. Sextans A GC-1 has varying α elements – the Mg abundance is extremely low, Ca and Ti are solar-scaled or mildly enhanced, and Si is enhanced. The measured values are [Mg/Fe] = −0.79 ± 0.29, [Ca/Fe] = +0.13 ± 0.07, [Ti/Fe] = +0.27 ± 0.11, and [Si/Fe] = +0.62 ± 0.26, which makes the mean α abundance (excluding Mg) to be enhanced [⟨Si, Ca, Ti⟩/Fe]NLTE = +0.34 ± 0.15. The Fe-peak elements are consistent with scaled-solar or slightly enhanced abundances: [Cr/Fe] = +0.31 ± 0.18, [Mn/Fe] = +0.19 ± 0.32, [Sc/Fe] = +0.22 ± 0.22, and [Ni/Fe] = +0.02 ± 0.12. The heavy elements measured are Ba, Cu, Zn, and Eu. Ba and Cu have sub-solar abundance ratios ([Ba/Fe] = −0.48 ± 0.21 and [Cu/Fe] < −0.343), while Zn and Eu are consistent with their upper limits being solar-scaled and enhanced, [Zn/Fe] < +0.171 and [Eu/Fe] < +0.766. Conclusions. The composition of Sextans A GC-1 resembles the overall pattern and behaviour of GCs in the Local Group. The anomalous values are the mass-to-light ratio and the depleted abundance of Mg. There is no definite explanation for such an extreme abundance value. Variations in the initial mass function or the presence of an intermediate-mass black hole might explain the high mass-to-light ratio value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young star clusters enable us to study the effects of stellar rotation on an ensemble of stars of the same age and across a wide range in stellar mass and are therefore ideal targets for understanding the consequences of rotation on stellar evolution. We combine MUSE spectroscopy with HST photometry to measure the projected rotational velocities (V sin  i) of 2184 stars along the split main sequence and on the main sequence turn-off (MSTO) of the 100 Myr-old massive (⁠|$10^5\, {\rm M_{\odot }}$|⁠) star cluster NGC 1850 in the Large Magellanic Cloud. At fixed magnitude, we observe a clear correlation between V sin  i and colour, in the sense that fast rotators appear redder. The average V sin  i values for stars on the blue and red branches of the split main sequence are |$\sim \! 100\, {\rm km\, s^{-1}}$| and |$\sim \! 200\, {\rm km\, s^{-1}}$|⁠ , respectively. The values correspond to about |$25-30{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| and |$50-60{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| of the critical rotation velocity and imply that rotation rates comparable to those observed in field stars of similar masses can explain the split main sequence. Our spectroscopic sample contains a rich population of ∼200 fast rotating Be stars. The presence of shell features suggests that 23 per cent of them are observed through their decretion discs, corresponding to a disc opening angle of 15 degrees. These shell stars can significantly alter the shape of the MSTO, hence care should be taken when interpreting this photometric feature. Overall, our findings impact our understanding of the evolution of young massive clusters and provide new observational constraints for testing stellar evolutionary models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the Hubble imaging Probe of Extreme Environments and Clusters (HiPEEC) survey. We fit HST NUV to NIR broad-band and H α fluxes to derive star cluster ages, masses, and extinctions and determine the star formation rate (SFR) of six merging galaxies. These systems are excellent laboratories to trace cluster formation under extreme gas physical conditions, rare in the local Universe, but typical for star-forming galaxies at cosmic noon. We detect clusters with ages of 1–500 Myr and masses that exceed 107 M⊙. The recent cluster formation history and their distribution within the host galaxies suggest that systems such as NGC 34, NGC 1614, and NGC 4194 are close to their final coalescing phase, while NGC 3256, NGC 3690, and NGC 6052 are at an earlier/intermediate stage. A Bayesian analysis of the cluster mass function in the age interval 1–100 Myr provides strong evidence in four of the six galaxies that an exponentially truncated power law better describes the observed mass distributions. For two galaxies, the fits are inconclusive due to low number statistics. We determine power-law slopes β ∼ −1.5 to −2.0 and truncation masses, M c, between 106 and a few times 107 M⊙, among the highest values reported in the literature. Advanced mergers have higher M c than early/intermediate merger stage galaxies, suggesting rapid changes in the dense gas conditions during the merger. We compare the total stellar mass in clusters to the SFR of the galaxy, finding that these systems are among the most efficient environments to form star clusters in the local Universe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectroscopic and photometric signals of the star-to-star abundance variations found in globular clusters seem to be correlated with global parameters like the cluster's metallicity, mass, and age. Understanding this behaviour could bring us closer to the origin of these intriguing abundance spreads. In this work we use deep HST photometry to look for evidence of abundance variations in the main sequence of a young massive cluster NGC 419 (∼105 M⊙, ∼1.4 Gyr). Unlike previous studies, here we focus on stars in the same mass range found in old globulars (∼0.75–1 M⊙), where light elements variations are detected. We find no evidence for N abundance variations among these stars in the Un − B and U − B colour–magnitude diagrams of NGC 419. This is at odds with the N variations found in old globulars like 47 Tuc, NGC 6352, and NGC 6637 with similar metallicity to NGC 419. Although the signature of the abundance variations characteristic of old globulars appears to be significantly smaller or absent in this young cluster, we cannot conclude if this effect is mainly driven by its age or its mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Recent studies have revealed that the multiple populations (MPs) phenomenon does not occur only in ancient and massive Galactic globular clusters (GCs), but it is also observed in external galaxies, where GCs sample a wide age range with respect to the Milky Way. However, for a long time, it was unclear whether we were looking at the same phenomenon in different environments or not. The first evidence that the MPs phenomenon is the same regardless of cluster age and host galaxy came out recently, when an intermediate-age cluster from the Small Magellanic Cloud, Lindsay 1, and a Galactic GC have been directly compared. By complementing those data with new images from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), we extend the comparison to two clusters of different ages: NGC 2121 (∼2.5 Gyr) and NGC 1783 (∼1.5 Gyr), from the Large Magellanic Cloud. We find a clear correlation between the RGB (red giant branch) width in the pseudo-colour C F 275 W, F 343 N, F 438 W and the age of the cluster itself, with the older cluster having larger σ(C F 275 W, F 343 N, F 438 W )RGB and vice versa. Unfortunately, the σ values cannot be directly linked to the N-abundance variations within the clusters before properly taking account the effect of the first dredge-up. Such HST data also allow us to explore whether multiple star formation episodes occurred within NGC 2121. The two populations are indistinguishable, with an age difference of only 6 ± 12 Myr and an initial helium spread of 0.02 or lower. This confirms our previous results, putting serious constraints on any model proposed to explain the origin of the chemical anomalies in GCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a detailed study of stellar rotation in the massive 1.5 Gyr old cluster NGC 1846 in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Similar to other clusters at this age, NGC 1846 shows an extended main-sequence turn-off (eMSTO), and previous photometric studies have suggested it could be bimodal. In this study, we use MUSE integral-field spectroscopy to measure the projected rotational velocities (v sin  i) of around |$1400$| stars across the eMSTO and along the upper main sequence of NGC 1846. We measure v sin  i values up to |$\sim 250\, {\rm km\, s^{-1}}$| and find a clear relation between the v sin  i of a star and its location across the eMSTO. Closer inspection of the distribution of rotation rates reveals evidence for a bimodal distribution, with the fast rotators centred around |$v\sin i=140\, {\rm km\, s^{-1}}$| and the slow rotators centred around |$v\sin i=60\, {\rm km\, s^{-1}}$|⁠. We further observe a lack of fast rotating stars along the photometric binary sequence of NGC 1846, confirming results from the field that suggest that tidal interactions in binary systems can spin-down stars. However, we do not detect a significant difference in the binary fractions of the fast and slowly rotating sub-populations. Finally, we report on the serendipitous discovery of a planetary nebula associated with NGC 1846. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. In previous papers, we introduced our method for measuring chemical abundances from integrated-light spectra of globular clusters and applied it to a variety of extragalactic star clusters. Our work so far, however, has concentrated primarily on the optical range 4200 Å –6200 Å. Aims. Here we extend our analysis technique to the infrared and test it on an H-band spectrum of the massive globular cluster G280 in M 31. Methods. We simultaneously analyse an optical spectrum of G280, obtained with the HIRES spectrograph on the Keck I telescope, and an H-band spectrum obtained with NIRSPEC on Keck II. We discuss the sensitivity of our results to various modifications of the input assumptions, such as different line lists and isochrones and the possible presence of a metallicity spread in G280. Results. When using the most recent version of the Kurucz line list, we measure iron abundances of [Fe/H] = −0.68±0.02 from the optical spectrum and [Fe/H] = −0.60±0.07 from the infrared spectrum. These values agree well with previous spectroscopic determinations of the metallicity of G280. While the small difference between the optical and infrared measurements is insignificant given the uncertainties, it is also consistent with a metallicity spread similar to that observed in massive GCs such as ω Cen and G1, and also hinted at by the colour-magnitude diagram of G280. The optical and infrared spectra both indicate an α-enhancement of about 0.3–0.4 dex relative to solar-scaled abundances, as typically also observed in Milky Way GCs. Conclusions. From this analysis, it appears that our integrated-light analysis technique also performs well in the H-band. However, complications due to the presence of molecular bands and telluric contamination are more severe in the infrared, and accurate modelling of the coolest giants is more critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Globular clusters (GCs) are emerging as powerful tracers of the chemical composition of extragalactic stellar populations. Aims. We present new abundance measurements for 11 GCs in the Local Group galaxies NGC 147, NGC 6822, and Messier 33. These are combined with previously published observations of four GCs in the Fornax and Wolf-Lundmark-Melotte (WLM) galaxies. Methods. The abundances were determined from analyses of integrated-light spectra obtained with the HIRES spectrograph on the Keck I telescope and with UVES on the Very Large Telescope (VLT). We used our analysis technique that was developed for this purpose and tested on Milky Way GCs. Results. We find that the clusters with [Fe/H] < -1.5 are all α-enhanced at about the same level as Milky Way GCs. Their Na abundances are also generally enhanced relative to Milky Way halo stars, suggesting that these extragalactic GCs resemble their Milky Way counterparts in containing large numbers of Na-rich stars. For [Fe/H] > -1.5, the GCs in M33 are also α-enhanced, while the GCs that belong to dwarfs (NGC 6822 SC7 and Fornax 4) have closer to solar-scaled α-element abundances. The abundance patterns in SC7 are remarkably similar to those in the Galactic GC Ruprecht 106, including significantly subsolar [Na/Fe] and [Ni/Fe] ratios. In NGC 147, the GCs with [Fe/H] < -2.0 account for about 6% of the total luminosity of stars in the same metallicity range, a lower fraction than those previously found in the Fornax and WLM galaxies, but substantially higher than in the Milky Way halo. Conclusions. At low metallicities, the abundance patterns suggest that GCs in the Milky Way, dwarf galaxies, and M33 experienced similar enrichment histories and/or processes. At higher metallicities, the lower levels of α-enhancement in the GCs found in dwarf galaxies resemble the abundance patterns observed in field stars in nearby dwarfs. Constraining the presence of multiple populations in these GCs is complicated by lack of information about detailed abundances in field stars of the corresponding metallicities. We suggest that correlations such as [Na/Fe] versus [Ni/Fe] may prove useful for this purpose if an accuracy of ~ 0.1 dex or better can be reached for integrated-light measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Integrated-light spectroscopy at high spectral resolution is rapidly maturing as a powerful way to measure detailed chemical abundances for extragalactic globular clusters (GCs). Aims: We test the performance of our analysis technique for integrated-light spectra by applying it to seven well-studied Galactic GCs that span a wide range of metallicities. Methods: Integrated-light spectra were obtained by scanning the slit of the UVES spectrograph on the ESO Very Large Telescope across the half-light diameters of the clusters. We modelled the spectra using resolved Hubble Space Telescope colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs), as well as theoretical isochrones, in combination with standard stellar atmosphere and spectral synthesis codes. The abundances of Fe, Na, Mg, Ca, Ti, Cr, and Ba were compared with literature data for individual stars in the clusters. Results: The typical differences between iron abundances derived from our integrated-light spectra and those compiled from the literature are less than ~0.1 dex. A larger difference is found for one cluster (NGC 6752), and is most likely caused primarily by stochastic fluctuations in the numbers of bright red giants within the scanned area. As expected, the ff-elements (Ca, Ti) are enhanced by about 0.3 dex compared to the Solar-scaled composition, while the [Cr=Fe] ratios are close to Solar. When using up-to-date line lists, our [Mg=Fe] ratios also agree well with literature data. Our [Na=Fe] ratios are, on average, 0.08-0.14 dex lower than average values quoted in the literature, and our [Ba=Fe] ratios may be overestimated by 0.20-0.35 dex at the lowest metallicities. We find that analyses based on theoretical isochrones give very similar results to those based on resolved CMDs. Conclusions: Overall, the agreement between our integrated-light abundance measurements and the literature data is satisfactory. Refinements of the modelling procedure, such as corrections for stellar evolutionary and non-LTE effects, might further reduce some of the remaining offsets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies during the last decade have revealed that nearly all globular clusters (GCs) host multiple populations (MPs) of stars with a distinctive chemical patterns in light elements. No evidence of such MPs has been found so far in lower mass (<~ 104 M☉) open clusters nor in intermediate-age (1-2 Gyr) massive (>105 M☉) clusters in the Local Group. Young massive clusters (YMCs) have masses and densities similar to those expected of young GCs in the early Universe, and their near-infrared spectra are dominated by the light of red super giants (RSGs). The spectra of these stars may be used to determine the cluster's abundances, even though the individual stars cannot be spatially resolved from one another. We carry out a differential analysis between the Al lines of YMC NGC 1705: 1 and field Small Magellanic Cloud RSGs with similar metallicities. We exclude at high confidence extreme [Al/Fe] enhancements similar to those observed in GCs like NGC 2808 or NGC 6752. However, smaller variations cannot be excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Li et al. claimed to have found evidence for multiple generations of stars in the intermediate-age clusters NGC 1783, NGC 1806 and NGC 411 in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. Here we show that these young stellar populations are present in the field regions around these clusters and are not likely associated with the clusters themselves. Using the same data sets, we find that the background subtraction method adopted by the authors does not adequately remove contaminating stars in the small number Poisson limit. Hence, we conclude that their results do not provide evidence of young generations of stars within these clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have coupled a fast, parametrized star cluster evolution code to a Markov Chain Monte Carlo code to determine the distribution of probable initial conditions of observed star clusters, that may serve as a starting point for future N-body calculations. In this paper, we validate our method by applying it to a set of star clusters which have been studied in detail numerically with N-body simulations and Monte Carlo methods: the Galactic globular clusters M4, 47 Tucanae, NGC 6397, M22, ω Centauri, Palomar 14 and Palomar 4, the Galactic open cluster M67, and the M31 globular cluster G1. For each cluster, we derive a distribution of initial conditions that, after evolution up to the cluster's current age, evolves to the currently observed conditions. We find that there is a connection between the morphology of the distribution of initial conditions and the dynamical age of a cluster and that a degeneracy in the initial half-mass radius towards small radii is present for clusters that have undergone a core collapse during their evolution. We find that the results of our method are in agreement with N-body and Monte Carlo studies for the majority of clusters. We conclude that our method is able to find reliable posteriors for the determined initial mass and half-mass radius for observed star clusters, and thus forms an suitable starting point for modelling an observed cluster's evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some formation scenarios that have been put forward to explain multiple populations within globular clusters (GCs) require that the young massive cluster have large reservoirs of cold gas within them, which is necessary to form future generations of stars. In this paper, we use deep observations taken with Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to assess the amount of molecular gas within three young (50-200 Myr) massive (~106 M⊙) clusters in the Antennae galaxies. No significant CO(3-2) emission was found associated with any of the three clusters. We place upper limits for the molecular gas within these clusters of ~1 × 105 M⊙ (or <9 percent of the current stellar mass). We briefly review different scenarios that propose multiple episodes of star formation and discuss some of their assumptions and implications. Our results are in tension with the predictions of GC formation scenarios that expect large reservoirs of cool gas within young massive clusters at these ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide-Field Camera 3 (WFC3) images of the merger remnant NGC 7252. In particular, we focus on the surface brightness profiles and effective radii Reff of 36 young massive clusters (YMCs) within the galaxy. All the clusters have masses exceeding 105 M⊙ and are, despite the 64 Mpc distance to the galaxy, (partly) resolved on the HST images. Effective radii can be measured down to ∼2.5 pc, and the largest clusters have Reff approaching 20 pc. The median Reff of our sample clusters is ${\sim }6\text{--}7$ pc, which is larger than typical radii of YMCs (∼2.5 pc). This could be due to our sample selection (only selecting resolved sources) or to an intrinsic mass–radius relation within the cluster population. We find at least three clusters that have power-law profiles of the Elson, Fall and Freeman (EFF) type extending out to ≳ 150 pc. Among them are the two most massive clusters, W3 and W30, which have profiles that extend to at least 500 and 250 pc, respectively. Despite their extended profiles, the effective radii of the three clusters are 17.2, 12.6 and 9.1 pc for W3, W26 and W30, respectively. We compare these extended profiles with those of YMCs in the Large Magellanic Cloud (R136 in 30 Dor), the Antennae galaxies (Knot S) and in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 6946. Extended profiles seem to be a somewhat common feature, even though many nearby YMCs show distinct truncations. A continuous distribution between these two extremes, i.e. truncated or extremely extended, is the most likely interpretation. We suggest that the presence or absence of an extended envelope in very young clusters may be due to the gas distribution of the proto-cluster giant molecular cloud, in particular if the proto-cluster core becomes distinct from the surrounding gas before star formation begins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We present new spectroscopic observations of a sample of globular clusters (GCs) in the Virgo Cluster elliptical NGC 4365. The great majority of the objects analysed here, overlap on purpose with objects presented in two previous studies that came to contradictory conclusions. We measure Lick indices for the GCs and infer ages, abundances and α-enhancement values by comparing to population synthesis models. Our results do not support the existence of numerous intermediate-age GCs in this galaxy as suggested by some of the past studies. Instead, we find ages, consistent with the range ∼8-14 Gyr (model dependent and with large uncertainties). We also find that the newly observed GCs have [Fe/H] ∼ −1.3 to 0.3 dex and the majority are consistent with [α/Fe] ∼ 0.3 dex, independent of metallicity. By comparing the metal sensitive index [MgFe] with optical colours, we find that our data are consistent with 14 Gyr models. However, for optical/near-infrared colours we find that the same models would have to be redder by ∼0.2 mag in order to be consistent with our data. This offset is not found to be consistent with an age effect as it is even larger for younger models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We report the discovery of a ring-like cluster complex in the starburst galaxy NGC 2146. The Ruby Ring, so named due to its appearance, shows a clear ring-like distribution of star clusters around a central object. It is located in one of the tidal streams that surround the galaxy. NGC 2146 is part of the Snapshot Hubble U-band Cluster Survey (SHUCS). The WFC3/ F336 W data have added critical information to the available archival Hubble Space Telescope imaging set of NGC 2146, allowing us to determine ages, masses and extinctions of the clusters in the Ruby Ring. These properties have then been used to investigate the formation of this extraordinary system. We find evidence of a spatial and temporal correlation between the central cluster and the clusters in the ring. The latter are about 4 Myr younger than the central cluster, which has an age of 7 Myr. This result is supported by the Hα emission which is strongly coincident with the ring, and weaker at the position of the central cluster. From the derived total Hα luminosity of the system, we constrain the star formation rate density to be quite high (ΣSFR = 0.47 M⊙ yr−1 kpc−2). The Ruby Ring is the product of an intense and localized burst of star formation, similar to the extended cluster complexes observed in M 51 and the Antennae, but more impressive because it is quite isolated. The central cluster contains only 5 per cent of the total stellar mass in the clusters that are determined within the complex. The ring-like morphology, the age spread and the mass ratio support a triggering formation scenario for this complex. We discuss the formation of the Ruby Ring in a 'collect and collapse' framework. The predictions made by this model agree quite well with the estimated bubble radius and expansion velocity produced by the feedback from the central cluster, making the Ruby Ring an interesting case of triggered star formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, high-dispersion spectroscopy has demonstrated conclusively that four of the five globular clusters (GCs) in the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy are very metal-poor with [Fe/H] < -2. The remaining cluster, Fornax 4, has [Fe/H] = -1.4. This is in stark contrast to the field star metallicity distribution which shows a broad peak around [Fe/H] ≈ -1 with only a few percent of the stars having [Fe/H] < -2. If we only consider stars and clusters with [Fe/H] < -2 we thus find an extremely high GC specific frequency, SN ≈ 400, implying by far the highest ratio of GCs to field stars known anywhere. We estimate that about 1/5-1/4 of all stars in the Fornax dSph with [Fe/H] < -2 belong to the four most metal-poor GCs. These GCs could, therefore, at most have been a factor of 4-5 more massive initially. Yet, the Fornax GCs appear to share the same anomalous chemical abundance patterns known from Milky Way GCs, commonly attributed to the presence of multiple stellar generations within the clusters. The extreme ratio of metal-poor GC- versus field stars in the Fornax dSph is difficult to reconcile with scenarios for self-enrichment and early evolution of GCs in which a large fraction (90%-95%) of the first-generation stars have been lost. It also suggests that the GCs may not have formed as part of a larger population of now disrupted clusters with an initial power-law mass distribution. The Fornax dSph may be a rosetta stone for constraining theories of the formation, self-enrichment and early dynamical evolution of star clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present new radial velocities for 289 globular clusters around NGC 4636, the southernmost giant elliptical galaxy of the Virgo cluster. The data were obtained with FORS2/MXU at the Very Large Telescope. Together with data analysed in an earlier study, we now have a sample of 460 globular cluster velocities out to a radius of 12 arcmin (60 kpc) available - one of the largest of its kind. This new data set also provides a much more complete angular coverage. Moreover, we present new kinematical data of the inner stellar population of NGC 4636. We perform an updated Jeans analysis, using both stellar and GC data, to better constrain the dark halo properties. We find a stellar M/L-ratio of 5.8 in the R-band, higher than expected from single stellar population synthesis. We model the dark halo by cored and cuspy analytical halo profiles and consider different anisotropies for the tracer populations. Properties of NFW halos lie well within the expected range of cosmological simulations. Cored halos give central dark matter densities, which are typical for elliptical galaxies of NGC 4636's luminosity. The surface densities of the dark matter halos are higher than those of spiral galaxies. We compare the predictions of modified Newtonian dynamics with the derived halo properties and find satisfactory agreement. NGC 4636 therefore falls Onto the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation for spiral galaxies. The comparison with the X-ray mass profile of Johnson et al. (2009, ApJ, 706, 980) reveals satisfactory agreement only if the abundance gradient of hot plasma has been taken into account. This might indicate a general bias towards higher masses for X-ray based mass profiles in all systems, including galaxy clusters, with strong abundance gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The galaxy NGC 1313 has attracted the attention of various studies due to the peculiar morphology observed in optical bands, although it is classified as a barred, late-type galaxy with no apparent close-by companions. However, the velocity field suggests an interaction with a satellite companion. Using resolved stellar populations, we study different parts of the galaxy to understand further its morphology. Based on Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys ( HST/ACS) images, we estimated star formation histories by means of the synthetic colour-magnitude diagram method in different areas in the galaxy. Incompleteness limits our analysis to ages younger than ∼100 Myr. Stars in the red and blue He-burning phases are used to trace the distribution of recent star formation. Star formation histories suggest a burst in the south-western region. We support the idea that NGC 1313 is experiencing an interaction with a satellite companion, observed as a tidally disrupted satellite galaxy in the south-west of NGC 1313. However, we do not observe any indication of a perturbation due to the interaction with the satellite galaxy at other locations across the galaxy, suggesting that only a modest-sized companion that did not trigger a global starburst was involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution addresses the question of whether the initial cluster mass function (ICMF) has a fundamental limit (or truncation) at high masses. The shape of the ICMF at high masses can be studied using the most massive young (<10 Myr) clusters, however this has proven difficult due to low-number statistics. In this contribution we use an alternative method based on the luminosities of the brightest clusters, combined with their ages. The advantages are that more clusters can be used and that the ICMF leaves a distinct pattern on the global relation between the cluster luminosity and median age within a population. If a truncation is present, a generic prediction (nearly independent of the cluster disruption law adopted) is that the median age of bright clusters should be younger than that of fainter clusters. In the case of an non-truncated ICMF, the median age should be independent of cluster luminosity. Here, we present optical spectroscopy of twelve young stellar clusters in the face-on spiral galaxy NGC 2997. The spectra are used to estimate the age of each cluster, and the brightness of the clusters is taken from the literature. The observations are compared with the model expectations of Larsen (2009, A&A, 494, 539) for various ICMF forms and both mass dependent and mass independent cluster disruption. While there exists some degeneracy between the truncation mass and the amount of mass independent disruption, the observations favour a truncated ICMF. For low or modest amounts of mass independent disruption, a truncation mass of 5-6 × 105 M☉ is estimated, consistent with previous determinations. Additionally, we investigate possible truncations in the ICMF in the spiral galaxy M 83, the interacting Antennae galaxies, and the collection of spiral and dwarf galaxies present in Larsen (2009, A&A, 494, 539) based on photometric catalogues taken from the literature, and find that all catalogues are consistent with having a truncation in the cluster mass functions. However for the case of the Antennae, we find a truncation mass of a few ×106 M☉, suggesting a dependence on the environment, as has been previously suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The interpretation that bimodal colour distributions of globular clusters (GCs) reflect bimodal metallicity distributions has been challenged. Non-linearities in the colour to metallicity conversions caused for example by the horizontal branch (HB) stars may be responsible for transforming a unimodal metallicity distribution into a bimodal (optical) colour distribution. Aims. We study optical/near-infrared (NIR) colour distributions of the GC systems in 14 E/S0 galaxies. Methods. We test whether the bimodal feature, generally present in optical colour distributions, remains in the optical/NIR ones. The latter colour combination is a better metallicity proxy than the former. We use KMM and GMM tests to quantify the probability that different colour distributions are better described by a bimodal, as opposed to a unimodal distribution. Results. We find that double-peaked colour distributions are more commonly seen in optical than in optical/NIR colours. For some of the galaxies where the optical (g - z) distribution is clearly bimodal, a bimodal distribution is not preferred over a unimodal one at a statistically significant level for the (g- K) and (z- K) distributions. The two most cluster-rich galaxies in our sample, NGC4486 and NGC4649, show some interesting differences. The (g - K) distribution of NGC4649 is better described by a bimodal distribution, while this is true for the (g - K) distribution of NGC4486 GCs only if restricted to a brighter sub-sample with small K-band errors (<0.05 mag). Formally, the K-band photometric errors cannot be responsible for blurring bimodal metallicity distributions to unimodal (g - K) colour distributions. However, simulations including the extra scatter in the colour-colour diagrams (not fully accounted for in the photometric errors) show that such scatter may contribute to the disappearance of bimodality in (g - K) for the full NGC4486 sample. For the less cluster-rich galaxies results are inconclusive due to poorer statistics. Conclusions. A bimodal optical colour distribution is not necessarily an indication of an underlying bimodal metallicity distribution. Horizontal branch morphology may play an important role in shaping some of the optical GC colour distributions. However, we find tentative evidence that the (g - K) colour distributions remain bimodal in the two cluster-rich galaxies in our sample (NGC4486 and NGC4649) when restricted to clusters with small K-band photometric errors. This bimodality becomes less pronounced when including objects with larger errors, or for the (z - K) colour distributions. Deeper observations of large numbers of GCs will be required to reach more secure conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We study the stellar cluster population in two adjacent fields in the nearby, face-on spiral galaxy M83 using multiwavelength Wide Field Camera 3/ Hubble Space Telescope imaging. After automatic detection procedures, the clusters are selected through visual inspection to be centrally concentrated, symmetric, and resolved on the images, which allows us to differentiate between clusters and likely unbound associations. We compare our sample with previous studies and show that the differences between the catalogues are largely due to the inclusion of a large numbers of diffuse associations within previous catalogues as well as the inclusion of the central starburst region, where the completeness limit is significantly worse than in the surrounding regions. We derive the size distribution of the clusters, which is well described by a lognormal distribution with a peak at ∼2.5 pc, and find evidence for an expansion in the half-light radius of clusters with age. The luminosity function of the clusters is well approximated by a power law with an index of −2 over most of the observed range; however, a steepening is seen at M V=−9.3 and −8.8 in the inner and outer fields, respectively. Additionally, we show that the cluster population is inconsistent with a pure power-law mass distribution, but instead exhibits a truncation at the high-mass end. If described as a Schechter function, the characteristic mass is 1.6 × 105 and 0.5 × 105 M⊙ for the inner and outer fields, respectively, in agreement with previous estimates of other cluster populations in spiral galaxies. Comparing the predictions of the mass-independent disruption (MID) and mass-dependent disruption (MDD) scenarios with the observed distributions, we find that both models can accurately fit the data. However, for the MID case, the fraction of clusters destroyed (or mass lost) per decade in age is dependent on the environment; hence, the age and mass distributions of clusters are not universal. In the MDD case, the disruption time-scale scales with galactocentric distance (being longer in the outer regions of the galaxy) in agreement with analytic and numerical predictions. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results on other extragalactic surveys, focusing on the fraction of stars that form in clusters and the need (or lack thereof) for infant mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. For a long time the consensus has been that star formation rates are higher in the interior of spiral arms in galaxies, compared to inter-arm regions. However, recent studies have found that the star formation inside the arms is not more efficient than elsewhere in the galaxy. Previous studies have based their conclusion mainly on integrated light. We use resolved stellar populations to investigate the star formation rates throughout the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 5236. Aims. We aim to investigate how the star formation rate varies in the spiral arms compared to the inter-arm regions, using optical space-based observations of NGC 5236. Methods. Using ground-based Hα images we traced regions of recent star formation, and reconstructed the arms of the galaxy. Using HST/ACS images we estimate star formation histories by means of the synthetic CMD method. Results. Arms based on Hα images showed to follow the regions where stellar crowding is higher. Star formation rates for individual arms over the fields covered were estimated between 10 to 100 Myr, where the stellar photometry is less affected by incompleteness. Comparison between arms and inter-arm surface star formation rate densities (ΣSFR) suggested higher values in the arms (∼0.6 dex). Over a small fraction of one arm we checked how the ΣSFR changes for the trailing and leading part. The leading part of the arm showed to have a higher ΣSFR in the age range 10-100 Myr. Conclusions. Predictions from the density wave theory of a rapid increase in the star formation at the edge where the stars and the gas enter the density wave are confirmed. The ΣSFR presents a steep decrease with distance from the center of the arms through the inter-arm regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Using multiwavelength imaging from the Wide Field Camera 3 on the Hubble Space Telescope we study the stellar cluster populations of two adjacent fields in the nearby face-on spiral galaxy, M83. The observations cover the galactic centre and reach out to ∼6 kpc, thereby spanning a large range of environmental conditions, ideal for testing empirical laws of cluster disruption. The clusters are selected by visual inspection to be centrally concentrated, symmetric and resolved on the images. We find that a large fraction of objects detected by automated algorithms (e.g. SE xtractor or daofind) are not clusters, but rather are associations. These are likely to disperse into the field on time-scales of tens of Myr due to their lower stellar densities and not due to gas expulsion (i.e. they were never gravitationally bound). We split the sample into two discrete fields (inner and outer regions of the galaxy) and search for evidence of environmentally dependent cluster disruption. Colour-colour diagrams of the clusters, when compared to simple stellar population models, already indicate that a much larger fraction of the clusters in the outer field are older by tens of Myr than in the inner field. This impression is quantified by estimating each cluster's properties (age, mass and extinction) and comparing the age/mass distributions between the two fields. Our results are inconsistent with 'universal' age and mass distributions of clusters, and instead show that the ambient environment strongly affects the observed populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the age distributions of GC systems in 14 E/S0 galaxies by carrying out a differential comparison of the (g–z) vs. (g–K) two-colour diagrams for different GC systems. No significant distinction is detected in the mean ages of GCs among elliptical galaxies. S0 galaxies on the other hand, show evidence for younger GCs. Surprisingly, this appears to be driven by the more metal-poor clusters. This is suggestive of E type galaxies having assembled most of their GCs in a shorter and earlier period than lenticular galaxies. The latter galaxy type, seems to have a more extended period of GC formation/assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Here, we present Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) imaging, in the B and I bands, of the edge-on Sb/Sc galaxy NGC 5170. Excluding the central disc region, we detect 142 objects with colours and sizes typical of globular clusters (GCs). Our main result is the discovery of a ‘blue tilt’ (a mass–metallicity relation), at the 3σ level, in the metal-poor GC subpopulation of this Milky Way like galaxy. The tilt is consistent with that seen in massive elliptical galaxies and with the self-enrichment model of Bailin & Harris. For a linear mass–metallicity relation, the tilt has the form . We derive a total GC system population of 600 ± 100, making it much richer than the Milky Way. However, when this number is normalized by the host galaxy luminosity or stellar mass it is similar to that of M31. Finally, we report the presence of a potential Ultra Compact Dwarf of size ∼6 pc and luminosity , assuming it is physically associated with NGC 5170. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical/near-infrared observations of 14 globular cluster (GC) systems in early-type galaxies are presented. We investigate the recent claims (Yoon et al. 2006) of colour bimodality in GC systems being an artefact of the nonlinear colour–metallicity transformation driven by horizontal-branch morphology. Taking advantage of the fact that the combination of optical and near-infrared colours can, in principle, break the age/metallicity degeneracy we also analyse age distributions in these systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We present new H-band echelle spectra, obtained with the NIRSPEC spectrograph at Keck II, for the massive star cluster ‘B’ in the nearby dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 1569. From spectral synthesis and equivalent width measurements, we obtain abundances and abundance patterns. We derive an Fe abundance of , a supersolar [α/Fe] abundance ratio of +0.31 ± 0.09, and an O abundance of . We also measure a low 12C/13C ≈ 5 ± 1 isotopic ratio. Using archival imaging from the Advanced Camera for Surveys onboard the Hubble Space Telescope ( HST), we construct a colour–magnitude diagram (CMD) for the cluster in which we identify about 60 red supergiant (RSG) stars, consistent with the strong RSG features seen in the H-band spectrum. The mean effective temperature of these RSGs, derived from their observed colours and weighted by their estimated H-band luminosities, is 3790 K, in excellent agreement with our spectroscopic estimate of . From the CMD, we derive an age of 15–25 Myr, slightly older than previous estimates based on integrated broad-band colours. We derive a radial velocity of and a velocity dispersion of . In combination with an estimate of the half-light radius of 0.20 ± 0.05 arcsec from the HST data, this leads to a dynamical mass of . The dynamical mass agrees very well with the mass predicted by simple stellar population models for a cluster of this age and luminosity, assuming a normal stellar initial mass function. The cluster core radius appears smaller at longer wavelengths, as has previously been found in other extragalactic young star clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present first results from an HST/ACS imaging survey of stars and star clusters in five nearby spiral galaxies. This contribution concentrates on NGC 1313, a highly distorted late-type barred spiral. We compare the field star and cluster formation histories in our three ACS pointings for this galaxy. In one pointing, both the cluster and field star age distributions show clear evidence for a ramp-up in the star formation rate about 108 years ago. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Observations indicate that young massive star clusters in spiral and dwarf galaxies follow a relation between luminosity of the brightest young cluster and the star formation rate (SFR) of the host galaxy, in the sense that higher SFRs lead to the formation of brighter clusters. Assuming that the empirical relation between maximum cluster luminosity and SFR reflects an underlying similar relation between maximum cluster mass ( Mecl,max) and SFR, we compare the resulting SFR( Mecl,max) relation with different theoretical models. The empirical correlation is found to suggest that individual star clusters form on a free-fall time-scale with their pre-cluster molecular-cloud-core radii typically being a few parsecs independent of mass. The cloud cores contract by factors of 5-10 while building up the embedded cluster. A theoretical SFR( Mecl,max) relation in very good agreement with the empirical correlation is obtained if the CMF of a young population has a Salpeter exponent of and if this cluster population forms within a characteristic time-scale of a 1–10 Myr. This short time-scale can be understood if the interstellar medium is pressurized, thus precipitating rapid local fragmentation and collapse on a galactic scale. Such triggered star formation on a galactic scale is observed to occur in interacting galaxies. With a global SFR of , the Milky Way appears to lie on the empirical SFR( Mecl,max) relation, given the recent detections of very young clusters with masses near in the Galactic disc. The observed properties of the stellar population of very massive young clusters suggests that there may exist a fundamental maximum cluster mass, . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most breast cancer patients treated with anti-oestrogens will eventually develop resistance towards treatment. Therefore it is important to find new therapeutic agents effective for treatment of patients relapsing on anti-oestrogen. The vitamin D analogue EB1089 (Seocalcitol[supTM]) is a promising new agent for treatment of breast cancer patients with advanced disease, and in this study we show that two different anti-oestrogen-resistant human breast cancer cell lines are more sensitive towards treatment with EB1089, than the parent MCF-7 cell line. The two resistant cell lines both express a lower content of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and we suggest that this may explain the higher sensitivity towards EB1089. The importance of Bcl-2 for response to EB1089 is supported by our observation that oestradiol abrogates the effect of EB1089 in cell lines which increase Bcl-2 in response to oestradiol treatment. Overall these results indicate that treatment with Seocalcitol[supTM]may prove effective when patients become refractory to anti-oestrogen therapy, and that Bcl-2 may be used as a predictive marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our aim was to chart the short-term results of the first 75 of our patients who had undergone first-time aortic valve replacement (AVR) with stentless xenografts.Design: Our study included a complete follow-up (mean/max. 1.5/3.7 years) of the first 75 patients (42 males, 33 females; mean age 74, range 61-84 years) who underwent a first AVR with stentless xenografts.Results: Forty-three percent of patients were in functional class II and 57% in classes III-IV preoperatively. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was performed in 33 patients. Early mortality (< or = 30 days) was 6.7%, with no significant relation to CABG or age. Crude survival was 81% (95% confidence interval, CI: 71-91 %) at 3 years. Using a multivariate analysis, we identified a low left ventricular ejection fraction as a predictor of early and late mortality. Late survival (early mortality excluded) was comparable with the survival of a matched Danish background population. There were six embolic events (all cerebral: 3 minor, 1 major, 2 fatal), while two patients underwent redo-AVR because of either endocarditis (fatal) or aortic regurgitation caused by malaligned commissures. There were no other valve-related complications. Cumulative freedom was 89% (95% CI: 79-99%) for embolism and 86% (95% CI: 76-96 %) for all complications at 3 years. At the end of the study, 64% of the survivors were in functional class I, 34% were in class II and 2% in class III.Conclusions: Considering the age composition of our patients, and compared with international results, our early mortality rates were acceptable. The absence of late excess mortality compared with the background population and the functional status at end-of-study may indicate the potential haemodynamic advantages of stentless aortic valves, at least in the short term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have recently obtained optical spectra for a large sample of young and intermediate-age star clusters in several nearby galaxies. The main aim of this programme is to carry out a detailed test of photometric and spectroscopic age- and metallicity indicators, but a first inspection of the data has also revealed emission lines in 3 clusters with ages of 30 Myrs or older. We identify these three objects as likely Planetary Nebula (PN) candidates and discuss their properties. Based on the cluster ages, the progenitor stars had initial masses in the range 3 to 7 M⊙, while the PN central stal luminosities and temperatures (estimated from emission line fluxes) are consistent with current masses close to 0.60 M⊙. These objects represent a rare opportunity to study PNe whose progenitor stars are known to be of intermediate masses, although detailed analysis is challenging because of the strong underlying stellar continuum from the cluster stars. Detection of 3 PNe in our sample appears consistent with expectations from stellar evolutionary theory. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Recent near-infrared surveys of the galactic plane have been used to identify new massive cluster candidates. Follow up study indicates about half are not true, gravitationally-bound clusters. These false positives are created by high density fields of unassociated stars, often due to a sight-line of reduced extinction. What is not so easy to estimate is the number of false negatives, clusters which exist but are not currently being detected by our surveys. In order to derive critical characteristics of the Milky Way's massive cluster population, such as cluster mass function and cluster lifetimes, one must be able to estimate the characteristics of these false negatives. Our group has taken on the daunting task of attempting such an estimate by first creating the stellar cluster imaging simulation program, MASSCLEAN. I will present our preliminary models and methods for deriving the biases of current searches. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Using the NIRSPEC spectrograph at Keck II, we have obtained H- and K-band echelle spectra for a young , luminous super-star cluster in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 6946. From spectral synthesis and equivalent width measurements we obtain for the first time accurate abundances and abundance patterns in an extragalactic super-star cluster. We find , an average α-enhancement of , and a relatively low isotopic ratio. We also measure a velocity dispersion of , in agreement with previous estimates. We conclude that integrated high-dispersion spectroscopy of massive star clusters is a promising alternative to other methods for abundance analysis in extragalactic young stellar populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cystic duct leakage after cholecystectomy is not uncommon and is a potentially serious complication. The aim of this study was to assess a bipolar sealing system (LigaSure) for closure of the cystic duct., Methods: The records from consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed in 2 hospitals with closure of the cystic duct with LigaSure after informed consent were recorded and complications and morbidity registered. The records were compared with those of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy with closure of the cystic duct with clips during the same period., Results: During the study period, 218 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed; 102 of these were performed with the LigaSure. One patient was excluded due to violation of the protocol. We experienced no cases of cystic duct leakage, but in one patient, bile leakage from the gallbladder bed was observed probably due to a small aberrant duct., Conclusion: The LigaSure system was safe and effective for closure and division of the cystic duct in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background and Study Aims: Exact staging of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is important to improve selection of resectable and curable patients for surgery. Positron emission tomography with integrated computed tomography (PET/CT) and endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA) are new and promising methods, but indications in lung cancer staging are controversial. Only few studies have compared the 2 methods. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the diagnostic values of PET/CT and EUS-FNA for diagnosing advanced lung cancer in patients, who had both procedures performed., Patients and Methods: 27 patients considered to be potential candidates for resection of NSCLC underwent PET/CT and EUS-FNA. Diagnoses were confirmed either by open thoracotomy, mediastinoscopy or clinical follow-up. Advanced lung cancer was defined as tumour-stage ≥ IIIA(N2), corresponding to T4- and/or N2-N3- and/or M1 disease. Diagnostic values of PET/CT and EUS-FNA, with regard to the diagnosis of advanced lung cancer, were assessed and compared., Results: The sensitivity of PET/CT and EUS-FNA were respectively 60% and 60% for T4 disease, 56% versus 100% for N2-N3 disease (p=0.12) and 100% versus 33% for M1 disease (p=0.50). For diagnosing advanced lung cancer PET/CT had a sensitivity of 79%, specificity of 61%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 69%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 73%, and an accuracy of 70%. EUS-FNA had a sensitivity of 79%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100%, NPV of 81%, and an accuracy of 89% for advanced lung cancer., Conclusions: PET/CT and EUS-FNA had a comparable sensitivity and NPV for diagnosing advanced lung cancer, but EUS-FNA had superior specificity and PPV. The two methods seem to complement each other.

Background and Study Aims: It would be desirable to develop minimally invasive methods of tissue diagnosis from lymph nodes as well as solid lesions in the mediastinum. The aim of the present study was to test the combined method of transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the evaluation of mediastinal lesions., Patients and Methods: EUS-FNA and EBUS-TBNA were compared in 33 patients, for the staging of lung cancer in patients with an established diagnosis of non-small-cell lung cancer (n = 20) or for diagnosis of a suspicious mediastinal lesion in patients with suspected lung cancer (n = 13). EBUS-TBNA and EUS-FNA were unsuccessful in one patient each. The diagnoses were verified in 28 of the remaining 31 patients either at thoracotomy (n = 9) or during the clinical follow-up (n = 19)., Results: A total of 119 lesions were sampled by EUS-FNA (n = 59) and EBUS-TBNA (n = 60). EUS-FNA and EBUS-TBNA demonstrated cancer in 26 and 28 lesions, respectively, and benign cytology in 30 and 28 lesions, respectively. Suspicious cells were found in three and four lesions by EUS-FNA and EBUS-TBNA, respectively. When the 60 EBUS-TBNA samples were compared with the 59 EUS-FNA samples, 11 additional cancer diagnoses and three samples with suspicious cells were obtained by EBUS-TBNA that had not been obtained by EUS-FNA. Conversely, EUS-FNA diagnosed 12 additional cancer diagnoses, one suspicious and one specific benign diagnosis (sarcoidosis) in addition to EBUS-TBNA. With a combined approach (EUS-FNA + EBUS-TBNA) in 28 of the 31 patients in whom a final diagnosis was obtained in the evaluation of mediastinal cancer, 20 patients were found to have mediastinal involvement, whereas no mediastinal metastases were found in eight patients. The accuracy of EUS-FNA and EBUS-TBNA, in combination, for the diagnosis of mediastinal cancer was 100 % (95 % CI, 83 - 100 %)., Conclusions: EUS-FNA and EBUS-TBNA appear to be complementary methods. A combined approach with both EUS-FNA and EBUS-TBNA may be able to replace more invasive methods for evaluating lung cancer patients with suspected hilar or mediastinal metastases, as well as for evaluating unclear mediastinal or hilar lesions.

Development of acquired resistance to antiestrogens is a major clinical problem in endocrine treatment of breast cancer patients. The IGF system plays a profound role in many cancer types, including breast cancer. Thus, overexpression and/or constitutive activation of the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) or different components of the IGF-IR signaling pathway have been reported to render breast cancer cells less estrogen dependent and capable of sustaining cell proliferation in the presence of antiestrogens. In this study, growth of the antiestrogen-sensitive human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was inhibited by treatment with IGF-IR-neutralizing antibodies. In contrast, IGF-IR-neutralizing antibodies had no effect on growth of two different antiestrogen-resistant MCF-7 sublines. A panel of antiestrogen-resistant cell lines was investigated for expression of IGF-IR and either undetectable or severely reduced IGF-IR levels were observed. No increase in insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) or total PKB/Akt (Akt) was detected in the resistant cell lines. However, a significant increase in phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) was found in four of six antiestrogen-resistant cell lines. Overexpression of pAkt was associated with increased Akt kinase activity in both a tamoxifen- and an ICI 182,780-resistant cell line. Inhibition of Akt phosphorylation by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor wortmannin or the Akt inhibitor SH-6 (structurally modified phosphatidyl inositol ether liquid analog PIA 6) resulted in a more pronounced growth inhibitory effect on the antiestrogen-resistant cells compared with the parental cells, suggesting that signaling via Akt is required for antiestrogen-resistant cell growth in at least a subset of our antiestrogen-resistant cell lines. PTEN expression and activity was not decreased in cell lines overexpressing pAkt. Our data demonstrate that Akt is a target for treatment of antiestrogen-resistant breast cancer cell lines and we suggest that antiestrogen-resistant breast cancer patients may benefit from treatment targeted to inhibit Akt signaling.

Over the past 10 years, several studies of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for stage III Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) have been conducted. In eight Phase II studies, response rates of approximately 65% and resectability rates of approximately 50% have been achieved, with acceptable side effects. Two randomized trials with a total of 120 patients with stage IIIA cancer have been carried out to compare the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus surgery versus surgery alone. The trials were terminated early when interim analysis showed significantly increased survival in groups that received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The incidences of treatment-related death did not differ significantly between the groups. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients in stage III NSCLC is feasible and might prolong survival. However, the results of larger randomized trials must be awaited before firm general recommendations can be made.

Development of acquired resistance against antiestrogen treatment is a serious problem in human breast cancer, and knowledge of alterations resulting in resistance is important for selection of further treatment. To mimic the clinical situation we have established a series of MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines by long term treatment with the antiestrogens tamoxifen, ICI 164,384, and ICI 182,780. Common for these cell lines is a decreased expression of the estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha). In human breast cancer, lack of response to endocrine therapy is often associated with decreased expression of the estrogen receptor and increased expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and/or HER-2/neu (ErbB-2). Our antiestrogen resistant cell lines did not express altered levels of EGFR, HER-2/neu, ErbB-3, or ErbB-4. Estrogen and antiestrogen regulation of HER-2/neu expression was essentially similar in parent and resistant MCF-7 cells. Treatment with antibodies to HER-2/neu (Herceptin) did not affect growth of MCF-7 cells or resistant cells, indicating that in this in vitro model system, acquired antiestrogen resistance does not emerge from activation of the HER-2/neu signaling pathway. In MCF-7 cells transfected with HER-2/neu and/or ErbB-3, overexpression alone did not result in resistance. However, addition of heregulinl-beta1 abolished the inhibitory activity of ICI 182,780 on both vector and HER-2/neu/ErbB-3 transfected MCF-7 cells, demonstrating that activation of the HER-2/neu receptor signaling pathway can override the growth inhibitory effect of ICI 182,780.

It is crucial for the surgeon to know the physical properties of a surgical sealant. Current test methods of fibrin sealant involving animal testing or in vitro testing of sealant using artificial substrates have little clinical relevance. Most of these test methods also lack accuracy and reproducibility. A new model was developed for testing strength and in vitro adhesion of fibrin sealant to vital human tissue using fresh vein leftover from coronary artery bypass grafting. The vein leftover was cut into samples and fastened in a tensiometer linked to a computer. Patient-derived fibrin sealant (0.1 ml) was applied to the tissue, and the surfaces of the tissue samples were held together for 5 min, and then automatically pulled apart by the tensiometer. Data were generated in a load cell and recorded and analysed by the computer. The reproducibility for the adhesion strength was 6.6%, adhesion energy 9.8%, and elongation at break 8.4%. The method has been considered ethical and has good reproducibility. The method can be used for standardised measurements and comparison of different types of fibrin sealant without the sacrifice of animals., (Copyright 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel)