An Approximation for the rp-Process

Hot (explosive) hydrogen burning or the Rapid Proton Capture Process (rp-process) occurs in a number of astrophysical environments. Novae and X-ray bursts are the most prominent ones, but accretion disks around black holes and other sites are candidates as well. The expensive and often multidimensional hydro calculations for such events require an accurate prediction of the thermonuclear energy generation, while avoiding full nucleosynthesis network calculations. In the present investigation we present an approximation scheme applicable in a temperature range which covers the whole range of all presently known astrophysical sites. It is based on the concept of slowly varying hydrogen and helium abundances and assumes a kind of local steady flow by requiring that all reactions entering and leaving a nucleus add up to a zero flux. This scheme can adapt itself automatically and covers situations at low temperatures, characterized by a steady flow of reactions, as well as high temperature regimes where a $(p,\gamma)-(\gamma,p)$-equilibrium is established. In addition to a gain of a factor of 15 in computational speed over a full network calculation, and an energy generation accurate to more than 15 %, this scheme also allows to predict correctly individual isotopic abundances. Thus, it delivers all features of a full network at a highly reduced cost and can easily be implemented in hydro calculations.Comment: 18 pages, LaTeX using astrobib and aas2pp4, includes PostScript figures; Astrophysical Journal, in press. PostScript source also available at http://quasar.physik.unibas.ch/preps.htm

Energy Release During Disk Accretion onto a Rapidly Rotating Neutron Star

The energy release L_s on the surface of a neutron star (NS) with a weak magnetic field and the energy release L_d in the surrounding accretion disk depend on two independent parameters that determine its state (for example, mass M and cyclic rotation frequency f) and is proportional to the accretion rate. We derive simple approximation formulas illustrating the dependence of the efficiency of energy release in an extended disk and in a boundary layer near the NS surface on the frequency and sense of rotation for various NS equations of state. Such formulas are obtained for the quadrupole moment of a NS, for a gap between its surface and a marginally stable orbit, for the rotation frequency in an equatorial Keplerian orbit and in the marginally stable circular orbit, and for the rate of NS spinup via disk accretion. In the case of NS and disk counterrotation, the energy release during accretion can reach $0.67\dot{M}c^2$. The sense of NS rotation is a factor that strongly affects the observed ratio of nuclear energy release during bursts to gravitational energy release between bursts in X-ray bursters. The possible existence of binary systems with NS and disk counterrotation in the Galaxy is discussed. Based on the static criterion for stability, we present a method of constructing the dependence of gravitational mass M on Kerr rotation parameter j and on total baryon mass (rest mass) m for a rigidly rotating neutron star. We show that all global NS characteristics can be expressed in terms of the function M(j, m) and its derivatives.Comment: 42 pages, 12 figures, to appear in Astronomy Letters, 2000, v.26, p.69

Estimating the burden of antimicrobial resistance: a systematic literature review.

Background: Accurate estimates of the burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are needed to establish the magnitude of this global threat in terms of both health and cost, and to paramaterise cost-effectiveness evaluations of interventions aiming to tackle the problem. This review aimed to establish the alternative methodologies used in estimating AMR burden in order to appraise the current evidence base. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, EconLit, PubMed and grey literature were searched. English language studies evaluating the impact of AMR (from any microbe) on patient, payer/provider and economic burden published between January 2013 and December 2015 were included. Independent screening of title/abstracts followed by full texts was performed using pre-specified criteria. A study quality score (from zero to one) was derived using Newcastle-Ottawa and Philips checklists. Extracted study data were used to compare study method and resulting burden estimate, according to perspective. Monetary costs were converted into 2013 USD. Results: Out of 5187 unique retrievals, 214 studies were included. One hundred eighty-seven studies estimated patient health, 75 studies estimated payer/provider and 11 studies estimated economic burden. 64% of included studies were single centre. The majority of studies estimating patient or provider/payer burden used regression techniques. 48% of studies estimating mortality burden found a significant impact from resistance, excess healthcare system costs ranged from non-significance to $1 billion per year, whilst economic burden ranged from$21,832 per case to over $3 trillion in GDP loss. Median quality scores (interquartile range) for patient, payer/provider and economic burden studies were 0.67 (0.56-0.67), 0.56 (0.46-0.67) and 0.53 (0.44-0.60) respectively. Conclusions: This study highlights what methodological assumptions and biases can occur dependent on chosen outcome and perspective. Currently, there is considerable variability in burden estimates, which can lead in-turn to inaccurate intervention evaluations and poor policy/investment decisions. Future research should utilise the recommendations presented in this review. Trial registration: This systematic review is registered with PROSPERO (PROSPERO CRD42016037510)

High Energy Neutrino Telescopes

A review of the potential of Neutrino Telescopes to contribute to Astrophysics and Elementary Particle Physics is presented. An inexpensive modular design of how to reach an 1 km(2) telescope with an energy threshold of a few GeV is proposed