Is there a 1998bw-like supernova in the afterglow of gamma ray burst 011121?

We use the very simple and successful Cannonball Model (CB) of gamma ray bursts (GRBs) and their afterglows (AGs) to analyze the observations of the strongly extinct optical AG of the relatively nearby GRB 011121, which were made with ground-based telescopes at early times, and with the HST at later time. We show that GRB 011121 was indeed associated with a 1998bw-like supernova at the GRB's redshift, as we had specifically predicted for this GRB before the supernova could be observed.Comment: Submitted for publicatio

JAIKEM: PORTRAIT OF FEMALE EXISTANCE IN THE SOCIO-CULTURAL LIFE IN THE PALACE OF MANGKUNEGARAN

This biography of Nyi Tumenggung Mardusari is aimed at discovering her role as an all-round artist within the environment of the Mangkunegaran. It is important to do so as her works and ability as an artists have made her a role model for subsequent generations. Her life spanned numerous events and variety of situation of the era. A multidimensional approach was applied, with concepts borrowed frim the social sciences, beginning with Mardusari’s background from childhood until she entered the Mangkunegaran, covering her various cultural influences from the palace, methods of study work experience, creative experience, and the award she received. Her success as an artist was closely connected with her hard work in developing her talent, and the encouragements and opportunities given to her by Mangkunegara VII, who gave her guidance. Other direction was provided by her ary teacher, who helped in moulding her into a revered artist. Nyi Tumenggung Mardusari’s presence as an artist showed her artistic ability in numerous fields, in each of which she excelled as a dancer, a pesindhen, a batik worker, and a makeup specialist for the Surakarta style wedding. Her ability was recognized by many people, both inside and outside the palace, and even abroad. Her work and ability in the above four fields are until now still used as a reference for subsequent generations. With all the abilities, she was able to eliminate the negative connotations held by the community about the image of a pesindhen , who was regarded as an unrepectable woman in the eyes of the public. Keywords : Biography, woman concept, and multi-talented artis

Hyperstars - Main Origin of Short Gamma Ray Bursts?

The first well-localized short-duration gamma ray bursts (GRBs), GRB 050509b, GRB 050709 and GRB 050724, could have been the narrowly beamed initial spike of a burst/hyper flare of soft gamma ray repeaters (SGRs) in host galaxies at cosmological distances. Such bursts are expected if SGRs are young hyperstars, i.e. neutron stars where a considerable fraction of their neutrons have converted to hyperons and/or strange quark matter.Comment: Invited talk to be published in the proceedings of the intl. Workshop `High Energy Cosmic Sources' May 23-28, 2005, Vulcano, Italy 200

Fireball and cannonball models of gamma ray bursts confront observations

The two leading contenders for the theory of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and their afterglows, the Fireball and Cannonball models, are compared and their predictions are confronted, within space limitations, with key GRB observations, including recent observations with SWIFTComment: Invited talk at the 2005 Frascati Workshop on Multi Frequency Observations of High Energy Cosmic Sources, May 23-28, 2005, Vulcano, Italy, Chinese Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysic

Are extragalactic gamma ray bursts the source of the highest energy cosmic rays?

Recent observations with the large air shower arrays of ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) and recent measurements/estimates of the redshifts of gamma ray bursts (GRBs) seem to rule out extragalactic GRBs as the source of the cosmic rays that are observed near Earth, including those with the highest energies.Comment: ApJL, submitte

Children researching links between poverty and literacy

Two groups of six children (aged eleven) in two UK primary schools – one in an area of socio-economic advantage and one in an area of socio-economic disadvantage – were trained in research methods. They were supported to undertake their own research projects about aspects of literacy, which they identified themselves. Areas explored include: - homework experiences - learning environments and - how confidence affects literacy. These research studies provide rich descriptions of children’s own literacy experiences, generating data that is not easily accessible to adults. The absence of power relations in the data collection by having child researchers means that the responses are untainted by efforts to ‘please the adult’. This report will be of interest to teachers, educationalists, government bodies, policy maker