The hardest X-ray source in the ASCA Large Sky Survey: Discovery of a new type 2 Seyfert

We present results of ASCA deep exposure observations of the hardest X-ray source discovered in the ASCA Large Sky Survey (LSS) project, designated as AX J131501+3141. We extract its accurate X-ray spectrum, taking account of the contamination from a nearby soft source (AX J131502+3142), separated only by 1'. AX J131501+3141 exhibits a large absorption of NH = (6 +4 -2)x 10^22 H/cm^2 with a photon index \Gamma = 1.5 +0.7 -0.6. The 2--10 keV flux was about 5 x 10^-13 erg/s/cm^2 and was time variable by a factor of 30% in 0.5 year. From the highly absorbed X-ray spectrum and the time variability, as well as the results of the optical follow-up observations (Akiyama et al. 1998, astro-ph/9801173), we conclude that AX J131501+3141 is a type 2 Seyfert galaxy. Discovery of such a low flux and highly absorbed X-ray source could have a significant impact on the origin of the cosmic X-ray background.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, requires AAS Latex macro v4.0, to appear in The Astrophysical Journal, text and figures also available at http://www-cr.scphys.kyoto-u.ac.jp/member/sakano/work/paper/index-e.htm

The status of the Pebble Bed Modular reactor development programme

This report is an update on the status of the PBMR development programme

His excellency and the monk: a correspondence between Nyanaponika Thera and David Ben-Gurion

Between the years 1956 and 1962 the scholar-monk Nyanaponika Thera and the first Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion have exchanged eight long letters. These letters—published here for the first time—expose the extent of Ben-Gurion's interest in Buddhism and reveal the Buddhist rhetoric used by one of Sri Lanka's most influential scholars. This rhetoric, which was generally well received by Ben-Gurion, was an exemplar of 'Protestant Buddhism'. It is suggested that Ben-Gurion could relate to this image of Buddhism because it reflected his own vision of Judaism that had 'protestant' characteristics. The letters contain autobiographical notes, unpublished comments on the Buddhist concepts of Suffering and Rebirth, and a curious plan to invite Nyanaponika to Israel

Kualitas Susu Kambing Segar Di Peternakan Umban Sari Dan Alam Raya Kota Pekanbaru

Goat milk quality is an important aspect to get high quality goat milk for consumer. Hence, the information goat milk quality is still not defined. This study aimed to know goat milk quality in Pekanbaru city. A study was conducted to observe milk goat quality at 2 dairy goat farms (Umban Sari farm and Alam Raya farm). The data then analyzed using t-test for comparing the two farms. Parameters used to determine goat milk quality are total plate count (TPC), protein, fat, acidity degree (pH), alcohol test and spesific density of raw goat milk. Research result indicated that raw milk goat from Alam Raya farm was significantly difference (P<0,05) higher than raw goat milk from Umban Sari. The total plate count of raw goat milk from Alam Raya farm is exceed the standard of SNI 01-3141-1998. Results of protein, fat and pH raw goat milk were appropriate to the minimun standard of INS 01-3141-1998 and Thai Agriculture Standard (TAS) of raw goat milk. On the other hand, result showed in milk spesific gravity that is less than INS 01-3141-1998 and Thai Agriculture Standard (TAS) standard

Reasons for Non-use of Condoms in Eight Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

Objective: To determine why sexually experienced males and females from multiple countries in sub-Saharan Africa do not use condoms.Methods: We used data from sample surveys conducted in eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Respondents were asked about their use of condoms and their reasons for not using a condom in last sex with a marital, a regular (non-marital) or a casual partner. Respondents' reasons for not using a condom are shown by type of partner and by gender. Results: Males and females most frequently reported trusting their partner as the main reason for not using a condom in last sex with a marital or a regular (non-marital) partner. This suggests that low personal risk perception is the most important reason for not using a condom with a marital or a regular partner. A dislike of condoms is the most frequently cited reason for not using a condom with a casual partner. Respondents rarely cited the price of condoms as a barrier to condom use. Lack of condom availability was also rarely cited as a reason for not using a condom, except to some degree by males in casual partnerships. The latter may be because of the unplanned nature of casual sex activity, rather than because condoms are not available. Conclusions: Behavior change campaigns encouraging sexually experienced people to accurately assess their personal risk of acquiring HIV should be complemented with marketing campaigns emphasizing the positive attributes of condoms

\u3cem\u3eTexas v United States\u3c/em\u3e: The Affordable Care Act Is Constitutional and Will Remain So

On December 14, 2018, in a widely reported decision, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional. The judge reasoned that since the ACA’s “individual mandate” is unconstitutional, the rest of the law cannot stand without it. However, the ACA will remain in place pending appeal, and it is highly unlikely that this ruling will stand

Physiological Effects of Five Different Marine Natural Organic Matters (NOMs) and Three Different Metals (Cu, Pb, Zn) on Early Life Stages of the Blue Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

Metals are present in aquatic environments as a result of natural and anthropogenic inputs, and may induce toxicity to organisms. One of the main factors that influence this toxicity in fresh water is natural organic matter (NOM) but all NOMs are not the same in this regard. In sea water, possible protection by marine NOMs is not well understood. Thus, our study isolated marine NOMs by solid-phase extraction from five different sites and characterized them by excitation-emission fluorescence analysis—one inshore (terrigenous origin), two offshore (autochthonous origin), and two intermediate in composition (indicative of a mixed origin). The physiological effects of these five NOMS alone (at 8 mg/L), of three metals alone (copper, lead and zinc at 6 µg Cu/L, 20 µg Pb/L, and 25 µg Zn/L respectively), and of each metal in combination with each NOM, were evaluated in 48-h exposures of mussel larvae. Endpoints were whole body Ca2++Mg2+-ATPase activity, carbonic anhydrase activity and lipid peroxidation. By themselves, NOMs increased lipid peroxidation, Ca2++Mg2+-ATPase, and/or carbonic anhydrase activities (significant in seven of 15 NOM-endpoint combinations), whereas metals by themselves did not affect the first two endpoints, but Cu and Pb increased carbonic anhydrase activities. In combination, the effects of NOMs predominated, with the metal exerting no additional effect in 33 out of 45 combinations. While NOM effects varied amongst different isolates, there was no clear pattern with respect to optical or chemical properties. When NOMs were treated as a single source by data averaging, NOM had no effect on Ca2++Mg2+-ATPase activity but markedly stimulated carbonic anhydrase activity and lipid peroxidation, and there were no additional effects of any metal. Our results indicate that marine NOMs may have direct effects on this model marine organism, as well as protective effects against metal toxicity, and the quality of marine NOMs may be an important factor in these actions