2,121 research outputs found
On the origin of the X-ray emission from a narrow-line radioquasar at z>1
We present new XMM-Newton X-ray observations of the z=1.246 narrow-line
radioquasar RX J1011.2+5545 serendipitously discovered by ROSAT. The flat X-ray
spectrum previously measured by ROSAT and ASCA is shown to be the result of a
steep Gamma~1.8 power law spectrum seen through a moderate intrinsic absorbing
column NH~4E21 cm^-2. The position of the X-ray source is entirely coincident
with the nucleus of the radio source that we have resolved in new sensitive VLA
observations at 3.6 and 6 cm, implying that scattering in the radio lobes is
not responsible for the bulk of X-ray emission. In the EPIC pn image, a faint
patch of X-ray emission is apparent 14'' to the NE of the main X-ray source.
The former is positionally coincident with an apparently extended optical
object with R~21.9, but there is no associated radio emission, thus ruling out
the possibility that this represents a hotspot in a jet emanating from the
primary X-ray source. No reflection features are detected in the X-ray spectrum
of the narrow-line radioquasar, although an Fe line with equivalent width of up
to 600 eV cannot be ruled out.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, MNRAS in the pres
Blue outliers among intermediate redshift quasars
[Oiii]{\lambda}{\lambda}4959,5007 "blue outliers" -- that are suggestive of
outflows in the narrow line region of quasars -- appear to be much more common
at intermediate z (high luminosity) than at low z. About 40% of quasars in a
Hamburg ESO intermediate-z sample of 52 sources qualify as blue outliers (i.e.,
quasars with [OIII] {\lambda}{\lambda}4959,5007 lines showing large systematic
blueshifts with respect to rest frame). We discuss major findings on what has
become an intriguing field in active galactic nuclei research and stress the
relevance of blue outliers to feedback and host galaxy evolution.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Science, Special
Issue on Line Shifts in Astrophysics and Laboratory Plasm
870 micron continuum observations of the bubble-shaped nebula Gum 31
We are presenting here a study of the cold dust in the infrared ring nebula
Gum 31. We aim at deriving the physical properties of the molecular gas and
dust associated with the nebula, and investigating its correlation with the
star formation in the region, that was probably triggered by the expansion of
the ionization front. We use 870 micron data obtained with LABOCA to map the
dust emission. The obtained LABOCA image was compared to archival IR,radio
continuum, and optical images. The 870 micron emission follows the 8 micron
(Spitzer), 250 micron, and 500 micron (Herschel) emission distributions showing
the classical morphology of a spherical shell. We use the 870 micron and 250
micron images to identify 60 dust clumps in the collected layers of molecular
gas using the Gaussclumps algorithm. The clumps have effective deconvolved
radii between 0.16 pc and 1.35 pc, masses between 70 Mo and 2800 Mo, and volume
densities between 1.1x10^3 cm^-3 and 2.04x10^5 cm^-3. The total mass of the
clumps is 37600 Mo. The dust temperature of the clumps is in the range from 21
K to 32 K, while inside the HII region reaches ~ 40 K. The clump mass
distribution is well-fitted by a power law dN/dlog(M/Mo) proportional to
M^(-alpha), with alpha=0.93+/-0.28. The slope differs from those obtained for
the stellar IMF in the solar neighborhood, suggesting that the clumps are not
direct progenitors of single stars/protostars. The mass-radius relationship for
the 41 clumps detected in the 870 microns emission shows that only 37% of them
lie in or above the high-mass star formation threshold, most of them having
candidate YSOs projected inside. A comparison of the dynamical age of the HII
region with the fragmentation time, allowed us to conclude that the collect and
collapse mechanism may be important for the star formation at the edge of Gum
31, although other processes may also be acting.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in A&
Heart rate variability in association with frequent use of household sprays and scented products in SAPALDIA
Background: Household cleaning products are associated with adverse respiratory health outcomes, but the cardiovascular health effects are largely unknown.Objective: We determined if long-term use of household sprays and scented products at home was associated with reduced heart rate variability (HRV), a marker of autonomic cardiac dysfunction.Methods: We recorded 24-hr electrocardiograms in a cross-sectional survey of 581 Swiss adults, 1, 1-3, or 4-7 days/week, unexposed (reference)] of using cleaning sprays, air freshening sprays, and scented products.Results: Decreases in 24-hr SDNN and TP were observed with frequent use of all product types, but the strongest reductions were associated with air freshening sprays. Compared with unexposed participants, we found that using air freshening sprays 4-7 days/week was associated with 11% [95% confidence interval (CI): -20%, -2%] and 29% (95% CI: -46%, -8%) decreases in 24-hr SDNN and TP, respectively. Inverse associations of 24-SDNN and TP with increased use of cleaning sprays, air freshening sprays, and scented products were observed mainly in participants with obstructive lung disease (p > 0.05 for interactions).Conclusions: In predominantly older adult women, long-term frequent use of household spray and scented products was associated with reduced HRV, which suggests an increased risk of cardiovascular health hazards. People with preexisting pulmonary conditions may be more susceptibl
The Luminosity Function Evolution of Soft X--ray selected AGN in the RIXOS survey
A sample of 198 soft X--ray selected active galactic nuclei (AGN) from the
ROSAT International X--ray Optical Survey (RIXOS), is used to investigate the
X--ray luminosity function and its evolution. RIXOS, with a flux limit of 3E-14
erg s-1 cm-2 (0.5 to 2.0 keV), samples a broad range in redshift over 20 deg^2
of sky, and is almost completely identified; it is used in combination with the
Einstein Extended Medium Sensitivity Survey (EMSS), to give a total sample of
over 600 AGN. We find the evolution of AGN with redshift to be consistent with
pure luminosity evolution (PLE) models in which the rate of evolution slows
markedly or stops at high redshifts z>1.8. We find that this result is not
affected by the inclusion, or exclusion, of narrow emission line galaxies at
low redshift in the RIXOS and EMSS samples, and is insensitive to uncertainties
in the conversion between flux values measured with ROSAT and Einstein. We
confirm, using a model independent Ve/Va test, that our survey is consistent
with no evolution at high redshifts.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX file, PS figures and mn.sty. Accepted in MNRA
- …