Simulating the WFXT sky

We investigate the scientific impact of the Wide Field X-ray Telescope mission. We present simulated images and spectra of X-ray sources as observed from the three surveys planned for the nominal 5-year WFXT lifetime. The goal of these simulations is to provide WFXT images of the extragalactic sky in different energy bands based on accurate description of AGN populations, normal and star forming galaxies, groups and clusters of galaxies. The images are realized using a detailed PSF model, instrumental and physical backgrounds/foregrounds, accurate model of the effective area and the related vignetting effect. Thanks to this comprehensive modelization of the WFXT properties, the simulated images can be used to evaluate the flux limits for detection of point and extended sources, the effect of source confusion at very faint fluxes, and in general the efficiency of detection algorithms. We also simulate the spectra of the detected sources, in order to address specific science topics which are unique to WFXT. Among them, we focus on the characterization of the Intra Cluster Medium (ICM) of high-z clusters, and in particular on the measurement of the redshift from the ICM spectrum in order to build a cosmological sample of galaxy clusters. The end-to-end simulation procedure presented here, is a valuable tool in optimizing the mission design. Therefore, these simulations can be used to reliably characterize the WFXT discovery space and to verify the connection between mission requirements and scientific goals. Thanks to this effort, we can conclude on firm basis that an X-ray mission optimized for surveys like WFXT is necessary to bring X-ray astronomy at the level of the optical, IR, submm and radio wavebands as foreseen in the coming decade.Comment: "Proceedings of "The Wide Field X-ray Telescope Workshop", held in Bologna, Italy, Nov. 25-26 2009. To appear in Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana 2010 (arXiv:1010.5889)

FAVOR (FAst Variability Optical Registration) -- A Two-telescope Complex for Detection and Investigation of Short Optical Transients

An astronomical complex intended to detect optical transients (OTs) in a wide field and follow them up with high time resolution investigation is described.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. To be published in "Il Nuovo Cimento", Proceedings of the 4th Rome Workshop on Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Afterglow Era, eds. L. Piro, L. Amati, S. Covino, B. Gendr

Simbol-X Hard X-ray Focusing Mirrors: Results Obtained During the Phase A Study

Simbol-X will push grazing incidence imaging up to 80 keV, providing a strong improvement both in sensitivity and angular resolution compared to all instruments that have operated so far above 10 keV. The superb hard X-ray imaging capability will be guaranteed by a mirror module of 100 electroformed Nickel shells with a multilayer reflecting coating. Here we will describe the technogical development and solutions adopted for the fabrication of the mirror module, that must guarantee an Half Energy Width (HEW) better than 20 arcsec from 0.5 up to 30 keV and a goal of 40 arcsec at 60 keV. During the phase A, terminated at the end of 2008, we have developed three engineering models with two, two and three shells, respectively. The most critical aspects in the development of the Simbol-X mirrors are i) the production of the 100 mandrels with very good surface quality within the timeline of the mission; ii) the replication of shells that must be very thin (a factor of 2 thinner than those of XMM-Newton) and still have very good image quality up to 80 keV; iii) the development of an integration process that allows us to integrate these very thin mirrors maintaining their intrinsic good image quality. The Phase A study has shown that we can fabricate the mandrels with the needed quality and that we have developed a valid integration process. The shells that we have produced so far have a quite good image quality, e.g. HEW <~30 arcsec at 30 keV, and effective area. However, we still need to make some improvements to reach the requirements. We will briefly present these results and discuss the possible improvements that we will investigate during phase B.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, invited talk at the conference "2nd International Simbol-X Symposium", Paris, 2-5 december, 200

Tissue- and sex-specific small RNAomes reveal sex differences in response to the environment.

RNA interference (RNAi) related pathways are essential for germline development and fertility in metazoa and can contribute to inter- and trans-generational inheritance. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, environmental double-stranded RNA provided by feeding can lead to heritable changes in phenotype and gene expression. Notably, transmission efficiency differs between the male and female germline, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here we use high-throughput sequencing of dissected gonads to quantify sex-specific endogenous piRNAs, miRNAs and siRNAs in the C. elegans germline and the somatic gonad. We identify genes with exceptionally high levels of secondary 22G RNAs that are associated with low mRNA expression, a signature compatible with silencing. We further demonstrate that contrary to the hermaphrodite germline, the male germline, but not male soma, is resistant to environmental RNAi triggers provided by feeding, in line with previous work. This sex-difference in silencing efficacy is associated with lower levels of gonadal RNAi amplification products. Moreover, this tissue- and sex-specific RNAi resistance is regulated by the germline, since mutant males with a feminized germline are RNAi sensitive. This study provides important sex- and tissue-specific expression data of miRNA, piRNA and siRNA as well as mechanistic insights into sex-differences of gene regulation in response to environmental cues.This work was funded by grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation and an advanced European Research Council grant to Laurent Keller, grants from Cancer Research UK (C13474/A18583, C6946/A14492) and the Wellcome Trust (104640/ Z/14/Z, 092096/Z/10/Z) to Eric A. Miska, and grants from the National Institutes of Health to Sean M. West (NIGMSNHRA 5F32GM100614) and to Fabio Piano and Kristin Gunsalus (NHGRI U01 HG004276, NICHD R01 HD046236), and by research funding from New York University Abu Dhabi to Fabio Piano and Kristin Gunsalus