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We present an analysis of the relative abundance features of a number of chemical elements in the atmospheres of metal-rich ($\rm{[Fe/H]} > -1.0$) Galactic-field RR~Lyrae variable stars and the kinematic characteristics of these stars. We have previously shown that the relative abundances of some $\alpha$-elements: magnesium, silicon, calcium, and to a greater extent of titanium, as well as yttrium and scandium in such stars are lower than in most of other types of stars, bearing similar metallicity. It is found here that some of these metal-rich RR~Lyrae stars also have very low relative abundances of sodium, aluminum and nickel. The orbital parameters of all the metal-rich RR~Lyrae variables studied in this paper are typical of the Galactic thin or thick disk objects, however, unusual chemical composition let us to suggests a possible extragalactic origin for some of them., Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables

The differences in the relationships between the physical parameters and the chemical-element abundances in accreted globular star clusters and those formed inside the Galaxy have been investigated. The information on the supposed formation sites of the clusters based on the Gaia~DR2 data is borrowed from the literature. Those sources estimate the probability of belonging to the Galactic bulge and disk, as well as to six known events of the merger of dwarf satellite galaxies with the Milky Way, for 151~globular clusters. It is shown that all metal-poor ($\rm{[Fe/H]}<-1.0$) genetically related globular clusters have high relative abundances of $\alpha$-elements. According to modern views, since type II supernovae release more $\alpha$-elements into the interstellar medium with increasing mass, it has been suggested that masses of type II supernovae in the Galaxy were greater than in the accreted galaxies. It is proved that the clusters of the low-energy group, which were considered accreted, are genetically related to a single protogalactic cloud, same as the unstratified clusters UKS~1 and Liller~1, which most likely belong to the bulge. It is shown that not only the lower but also the upper limits of the clusters' masses decrease with an increase in the average radius of their orbits. The latter fact is explained by a decrease in the masses of emerging clusters with a decrease in the masses of their host galaxies. It is demonstrated that an extremely multicomponent stellar population is observed only in accreted globular clusters with an initial mass $>10^{6}M_{\odot}$. It has been suggested that these clusters retained all the matter ejected by their evolved stars, from which new generations of stars formed due to long evolution far from our Galaxy., Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures

We use the data of our extended catalog of spectroscopic determinations of elemental abundances in the atmospheres of Galactic-field RR Lyrae type variables to show that metal-rich RR Lyraes ($\rm{[Fe/H]} > -1.0$) have anomalous abundances of some elements. In particular, the relative abundances of scandium, titanium, and yttrium in metal-rich RR Lyrae type variables are lower than the corresponding abundances in field stars of similar metallicity beyond the errors. We discuss the errors of the determination of the abundances of the above elements and point out the fact that no europium, zirconium, and lanthanum abundance determinations are available for metal-rich RR Lyrae type variables. We also analyze various possible causes of the observed peculiarities of the chemical composition of metal-rich RR Lyrae type variables., Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables

A comprehensive statistical analysis of the relationship between the chemical and spatially kinematic parameters of the globular clusters of the Galaxy has been performed. The data of the author's compilation catalog contain astrophysical parameters for 157 clusters and the relative abundances of {\alpha}-elements for 69 clusters. For 121 clusters, the data are supplemented by spatially kinematic parameters taken from the literature. The phenomenon of reddening of horizontal branches of low-metal accreted globular clusters is discussed. We consider the contradiction between the criteria for clusters to belong to the subsystems of the thick disk and the halo in terms of chemical and kinematic properties. It consists in the fact that, regardless of belonging to the galactic subsystems by kinematics, almost all metallic ([Fe/H] >-1.0) clusters are located close to the center and plane of the Galaxy, while among the less metallic of both subsystems there are many distant ones. Differences in the abundances of {\alpha}-elements in the stellar objects of the Galaxy and the surrounding low-mass dwarf satellite galaxies confirm the well-known conclusion that all globular clusters and field stars of the accreted halo are remnants of galaxies of higher mass than the current environment of the Galaxy. A possible exception is a distant low-metal cluster with low relative abundance of {\alpha}-elements Rup 106., Comment: 23 pages, 3 figures, 1 table

Using modern published data on velocities and spectroscopic definitions of chemical elements in stellar objects of the Galaxy, we investigated the relationship of chemical composition with the kinematics of different populations. The paper shows that the old stellar populations of the Galaxy, belonging (by the kinematic criterion) to the thick disk subsystem---globular clusters, field variables of the type RR Lyrae (lyrids), as well as close F--G dwarfs and field giants, have different chemical composition. In particular, the dwarfs and giants of the field are on average more metallic than the globular clusters and lyrids of the field. Moreover, the relative abundances of $\alpha$-elements in the range $\rm{[Fe/H]} > -1.0$ are the highest for globular clusters, and are the lowest for for field variables of the RR Lyrae type. Based on the analysis of the nature of the dependences of [$\alpha$/Fe] on [Fe/H] for these objects it was suggested that the thick disk subsystem in the Galaxy is composite and at least three components exist independently within it. The oldest one includes metal-rich globular clusters that formed from a single proto-galactic cloud shortly after the start of type Ia supernovae outbursts. Then the subsystem of field stars of a thick disk was formed as a result of ``heating'' of stars of already formed thin disk of the Galaxy by a rather massive dwarf satellite galaxy that fell on it. And finally, subsystems of field stars with the kinematics of not only a thick, but even a thin disk that fell on the Galaxy from this captured satellite galaxy., Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures

A catalog of Galactic globular clusters has been compiled and used to analyze relations between the chemical and kinematic parameters of the clusters. The catalog contains positions, distances, luminosities, metallicites, and horizontal-branch morphology indices for 157~globular clusters, as well as space velocities for 72~globular clusters. For 69~globular clusters, these data are suppleented with the relative abundances of 28~chemical elements produced in various nuclear-synthesis processes, taken from 101~papers published between 1986 and 2018. The tendency for redder horizontal branches in low-metallicity accreted globular clusters is discussed. The discrepancy between the criteria for cluster membership in the thick-disk and halo subsystems based on chemical and kinematic properties is considered. This is manifest through the fact that all metal-rich ($\rm{[Fe/H]} > -1.0$) clusters are located close to the center and plane of the Galaxy, regardless of their kinematic membership in particular Galaxy subsystems. An exception is three accreted clusters lost by a dwarf galaxy in Sagittarius. At the same time, the fraction of more distant clusters is high among metal-poorer clusters in any kinematically selected Galactic subsystem., Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables

The surface gravities and effective temperatures have been added to a compilative catalog published earlier, which includes the relative abundances of several chemical elements for 100 field RR Lyrae stars. These atmoshperic parameters and evolutionary tracks from the Dartmouth database are used to determine the masses of the stars and perform a comparative analysis of the properties of RR Lyrae stars with different chemical compositions. The masses of metal-rich ($\rm{[Fe/H]}> -0.5$) RR Lyrae stars with thin disk kinematics are in the range $(0.51-0.60)M_{\odot}$. Only stars with initial masses exceeding $1M_{\odot}$ can reach the horizontal branch during the life time of this subsystem. To become an RR Lyrae variable, a star must have lost approximately half of its mass during the red-giant phase. The appearance of such young, metal-rich RR Lyrae stars is possibly due to high initial helium abundances of their progenitors. According to the Dartmouth evolutionary tracks for Y = 0.4, a star with an initial mass as low as $0.8M_{\odot}$ could evolve to become an RR~Lyrae variable during this time. Such stars should have lost $(0.2-0.3)M_{\odot}$ in the red-giant phase, which seems quite realistic., Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures

Data of our compiled catalog containing the positions, velocities, and metallicities of 415 RR~Lyrae variable stars and the relative abundances [el/Fe] of 12~elements for 101 RR~Lyrae stars, including four $\alpha$~elements (Mg, Ca, Si, and Ti), are used to study the relationships between the chemical and spatial--kinematic properties of these stars. In general, the dependences of the relative abundances of $\alpha$~elements on metallicity and velocity for the RR~Lyrae stars are approximately the same as those for field dwarfs. Despite the usual claim that these stars are old, among them are representatives of the thin disk, which is the youngest subsystem of the Galaxy. Attention is called to the problem of low-metallicity RR~Lyrae stars. Most RR~Lyrae stars that have the kinematic properties of thick disk stars have metallicities ${\rm [Fe/H]} < -1.0$ and high ratios [$\alpha$/Fe]$ \approx 0.4$, whereas only about 10\,\% of field dwarfs belonging to the so-called "low-metallicity tail" have this chemical composition. At the same time, there is a sharp change in [$\alpha$/Fe] in RR~Lyrae stars belonging just to the thick disk, providing evidence for a long period of formation of this subsystem. The chemical compositions of SDSS J1707+58, V455 Oph, MACHO 176.18833.411, V456 Ser, and BPS CS 30339--046 do not correspond to their kinematics. While the first three of these stars belong to the halo, according to their kinematics, the last two belong to the thick disk. It is proposed that they are all most likely extragalactic, but the possible appearance of some of them in the solar neighborhood as a result of the gravitational action of the bar on field stars cannot be ruled out., Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures, 1 table

A catalog compiling the parameters of 346 open clusters, including their metallicities, positions, ages, and velocities has been composed. The elements of the Galactic orbits for 272 of the clusters have been calculated. Spectroscopic determinations of the relative abundances, [el/Fe], for 14 elements synthesized in various nuclear processes averaged over data from 109 publications are presented for 90 clusters. Since no systematic effects distorting the relative abundances of the studied elements in these clusters have been found, these difference suggest real differences between clusters with high, elongated orbits and field stars. In particular, this supports the earlier conclusion, based on an analysis of the elements of the Galactic orbits, that some clusters formed as a result of interactions between high-velocity, metal-poor clouds and the interstellar medium of the Galactic thin disk. On average, clusterswith high, elongated orbits and metallicities ${\rm [Fe/H]} < - 0.1$ display lower relative abundances of the primary \'a elements than do field stars. The low [O,Mg/Fe] ratios of these clusters can be understood if the high-velocity clouds that gave rise to them were formed of interstellar material from regions where the star-formation rate and/or the masses of Type II supernovae were lower than near the Galactic plane. It is also shown that, on average, the relative abundances of the primary $\alpha$-elements are higher in relatively metal-rich clusters with high, elongated orbits than in field stars. This can be understood if clusters with ${\rm [Fe/H]} > - 0.1$ formed as a result of interactions between metal-rich clouds with intermediate velocities and the interstellar medium of the Galactic disk; such clouds could form from returning gas in a so-called "Galactic fountain"., Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables

The properties of the relative abundances of rapid and slow neutron-capture elements are studied using a catalog containing spectroscopic abundance determinations for 14~elements produced in various nuclear-synthesis processes for 90~open clusters. The catalog also contains the positions, ages, velocities, and elements of the Galactic orbits of the clusters. The relative abundances of both $r$-elements (Eu) and $s$-elements (Y, Ba, La, and Ce) in clusters with high, elongated orbits and in field stars of the Galactic thin disk display different dependences on metallicity, age, Galactocentric distance, and the elements of the Galactic orbits, supporting the view that these objects have different natures. In young clusters, not only barium, but also the three other studied $s$-elements display significantly higher relative abundances than field stars of the same metallicity. The relative abundances of Eu are lower in high-metallicity clusters (${\rm [Fe/H]} > -0.1$) with high, elongated orbits than in field giants, on average, while the [Eu/Fe] ratios in lower-metallicity clusters are the same as those in field stars, on average, although with a large scatter. The metallicity dependence of the [O, Mg/Eu] ratios in clusters with high, elongated orbits and in field stars are substantially different. These and other described properties of the Eu abundances, together with the properties of the abundances of primary $\alpha$-elements, can be understood in a natural way if clusters with high, elongated orbits with different metallicities formed as a result of interactions of two types of high-velocity clouds with the interstellar medium of the Galactic disk: low-metallicity high-velocity clouds that formed from "primordial" gas, and high-metallicity clouds with intermediate velocities that formed in "Galactic fountains"., Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures

We perform a comparative analysis of the spatial distribution of young (<50 Myr) open star clusters and field Cepheids with different metallicities. A significant fraction of young clusters are shown to have low metallicities atypical of field Cepheids. Both types of objects exhibit approximately equal (in magnitude) negative radial metallicity gradients, while their azimuthal metallicity gradients differ outside the error limits and have opposite signs. Among the stellar complexes identified by young clusters, the most metal-poor clusters are grouped in the Perseus complex. It is the clusters of this complex that are responsible for the radial and azimuthal metallicity gradients among young clusters. The described properties are indicative of a weak mixing of interstellar matter before the onset of star formation there. Significant differences between the spatial distributions of open clusters and field stars with different metallicities suggest different conditions required for the formation of these types of objects., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures

Based on our compiled catalogue of fundamental astrophysical parameters for 593 open clusters, we analyze the relations between the chemical composition, spatial positions, Galactic orbital elements, age, and other physical parameters of open star clusters. We show that the population of open clusters is heterogeneous and is divided into two groups differing by their mean parameters, properties, and origin. One group includes the Galactic clusters formed mainly from the interstellar matter of the thin disk with nearly solar metallicities ([Fe/H] > -0.2) and having almost circular orbits a short distance away from the Galactic plane, i.e., typical of the field stars of the Galactic thin disk. The second group includes the peculiar clusters formed through the interaction of extragalactic objects (such as high--velocity clouds, globular clusters, or dwarf galaxies) with the interstellar matter of the thin disk, which, as a result, derived abnormally low (for field thin-disk stars) metallicities and/or Galactic orbits typical of objects of the older Galactic subsystems., Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures

Based on published data, we have compiled a catalogue of fundamental astrophysical parameters for 593 open clusters of the Galaxy. In particular, the catalogue provides the Galactic orbital elements for 500 clusters, the masses, central concentrations, and ellipticities for 424 clusters, the metallicities for 264 clusters, and the relative magnesium abundances for 56 clusters. We describe the sources of initial data and estimate the errors in the investigated parameters. The selection effects are discussed. The chemical and kinematical properties of the open clusters and field thin-disk stars are shown to differ. We provide evidence for the heterogeneity of the population of open clusters., Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables