New BeppoSAX-WFC results on superbursts

Presently seven superbursters have been identified representing 10% of the total Galactic X-ray burster population. Four superbursters were discovered with the Wide Field Cameras (WFCs) on BeppoSAX and three with the All-Sky Monitor and Proportional Counter Array on RXTE. We discuss the properties of superbursters as derived from WFC observations. There are two interesting conclusions. First, the average recurrence time of superbursts among X-ray bursters that are more luminous than 10% of the Eddington limit is 1.5 yr per object. Second, superbursters systematically have higher alpha values and shorter ordinary bursts than most bursters that have not exhibited superbursts, indicating a higher level of stable thermonuclear helium burning. Theory predicts hitherto undetected superbursts from the most luminous neutron stars. We investigate the prospects for finding these in GX~17+2.Comment: Submitted in January 2004 for the Proceedings of the meeting 'X-Ray Timing 2003: Rossi and Beyond', eds. P. Kaaret, F. K. Lamb, & J. H. Swank (Melville, NY: American Institute of Physics

Global Music Perspectives: Music Outside the Western Canon in Local Schools

As a class, we are designing a research project for investigating how music teachers from counties in South-Central Pennsylvania use music from outside the Western canon (i.e. world music ). We are performing a qualitative study by interviewing k-12 music teachers from school districts in South-Central Pennsylvania. Teachers may choose to participate in a focus group interview with other teachers or in one-on-one interviews. The focus group interview will not exceed two hours and the one-on-one interviews will not exceed an hour. The interviews will be guided using a questionnaire (see attached), but the conversation may deviate from these questions at the discretion of the interviewer(s). We will transcribe these interviews to extract common thematic materials and relevant information. We will also compile a literature review of relevant peer-reviewed articles and use the data from said articles to expand upon our gathered information

As Etimologias de Giovanni Boccaccio

Seguindo o preceito amplamente difuso na Idade Média de que “nomina sunt consequentia rerum”, Boccaccio nomeou suas obras de acordo com significados etimológicos, sobretudo de origem grega, às vezes com acepções criadas pelo próprio autor. Além dos títulos, os nomes dos personagens principais de quase toda sua produção literária também foram forjados segundo certas etimologias. Dentre os inúmeros casos apresentados pelo autor do Decameron, um se destaca: trata-se da origem do vocábulo “poeta”, demonstrada por Boccaccio em algumas de suas obras pós-decameronianas, a saber, a Genealogia deorum gentilium, o Trattatello in laude di Dante e as Esposizioni sopra la Comedia di Dante. Como se verá neste artigo, Boccaccio propôs mais de uma etimologia para “poeta”, provavelmente devido à polêmica cristã que julgava a poesia contrária à verdade, de modo que o poeta, que era um “fazedor de fábulas”, era considerado um mentiroso. Boccaccio, ao rebater essa afirmação, defende o lugar do poeta na sociedade de seu tempo, demonstrando a necessidade da poesia para o homemFollowing the precept of the Middle Age about “nomina sunt consequentia rerum”, Boccaccio named his works with etymological meanings, especially from Greek, sometimes created by himself. The name of some characters also had certain etymologies. Among the numerous cases presented by the author of the Decameron there is one to our interest: the origin of the word “poet”, demonstrated by Boccaccio in some of his post decameronian works: Genealogia deorum gentilium, Trattatello in laude di Dante and Esposizioni sopra la Comedia di Dante. As it is possible to see in this article, Boccaccio proposed more than one etymology to “poet”, probably because of the Christian polemic who judge poetry contrary to the truth, so that poet, who was a “maker of fables”, was considered a liar. Boccaccio, contesting this statement, defends the place of the poet in the society of his time, showing the necessity of poetry to humanitySeguendo il precetto molto diffuso nel Medioevo che dice “nomina sunt consequentia rerum”, Boccaccio intitolò le sue opere in conformità a significati etimologici, soprattutto di origine greca, a volte con accezioni create dall’autore. Oltre ai titoli, anche i nomi dei personaggi principali di quasi tutta la sua produzione letteraria sono stati forgiati secondo certe etimologie. Fra i numerosi casi presentati dall’autore del Decameron, ne risalta uno: si tratta dell’origine del vocabolo “poeta”, dimostrata da Boccaccio in alcune delle sue opere posteriori al Decameron, la Genealogia deorum gentilium, il Trattatello in laude di Dante e le Esposizioni sopra la Comedia di Dante. Come si vedrà in questo articolo, Boccaccio propose più di una etimologia per “poeta”, probabilmente a causa della polemica cristiana che considerava la poesia contraria alla verità, e per questo il poeta era ritenuto “artefice di favole”, ossia un bugiardo. Boccaccio si contrappone a questa affermazione e difende il ruolo del poeta nella società del suo tempo, dimonstrando la necessità della poesia per l’uom

Le “Fabulae” di Boccaccio

The proem to The Decameron, Boccaccio claims that he will tell “cento novella o favole o parabole o istorie che dire le vogliamo”, synonymous terms which strengthen the innovation of the “novella” genre. However, in the Genealogia Deorum Gentilium, the poet uses the Latin term “fabula”, to state four different meanings, each one with the intention of defining his own work the best way possible, that is to say his “fabulae”. This paper presents a discussion about the four meanings of the term, and some possible parallels with his Italian worksNo Proêmio do Decameron, Boccaccio aponta que contará “cem novelas, ou fábulas, ou parábolas, ou histórias que queiramos dizer”, termos sinonímicos que reforçam a novidade do gênero “novela”. Na Genealogia deorum gentilium, porém, o poeta retoma o termo latino “fabula”, que é mais ainda especificado em quatro sentidos diferentes, cada um dos quais com a intenção de definir da melhor maneira possível o próprio trabalho de Boccaccio, isto é, as suas “fabulae”. Neste artigo o leitor encontrará uma discussão acerca dos quatro sentidos do termo, assim como algumas relações possíveis com a obra italiana do certaldenseNel Proemio del Decameron, Boccaccio annuncia che racconterà “cento novelle o favole o parabole o istorie che dire le vogliamo”, termini sinonimici che rafforzano la novità del genere “novella”. Nella Genealogia deorum gentilium, però, il poeta rievoca il termine latino “fabula”, il quale viene ulteriormente specificato in quattro sensi diversi, ognuno dei quali intento a definire nel miglior modo possibile il lavoro stesso di Boccaccio, ossia, le sua “fabulae”. In questo articolo il lettore troverà una discussione sui quattro sensi del termine, nonché alcuni rapporti possibili con l’opera italiana del certaldes

Discovery of a Second Millisecond Accreting Pulsar: XTE J1751-305

We report the discovery by the RXTE PCA of a second transient accreting millisecond pulsar, XTE J1751-305, during regular monitoring observations of the galactic bulge region. The pulsar has a spin frequency of 435 Hz, making it one of the fastest pulsars. The pulsations contain the signature of orbital Doppler modulation, which implies an orbital period of 42 minutes, the shortest orbital period of any known radio or X-ray millisecond pulsar. The mass function, f_x = (1.278 +/- 0.003) x 10^{-6} M_sun, yields a minimum mass for the companion of between 0.013 and 0.017 M_sun, depending on the mass of the neutron star. No eclipses were detected. A previous X-ray outburst in June, 1998, was discovered in archival All-Sky Monitor data. Assuming mass transfer in this binary system is driven by gravitational radiation, we constrain the orbital inclination to be in the range 30-85 deg, and the companion mass to be 0.013-0.035 M_sun. The companion is most likely a heated helium dwarf. We also present results from the Chandra HRC-S observations which provide the best known position of XTE J1751-305.Comment: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Accepted, (AASTeX

Can the UNAIDS modes of transmission model be improved? A comparison of the original and revised model projections using data from a setting in west Africa.

OBJECTIVE: The UNAIDS modes of transmission model (MoT) is a user-friendly model, developed to predict the distribution of new HIV infections among different subgroups. The model has been used in 29 countries to guide interventions. However, there is the risk that the simplifications inherent in the MoT produce misleading findings. Using input data from Nigeria, we compare projections from the MoT with those from a revised model that incorporates additional heterogeneity. METHODS: We revised the MoT to explicitly incorporate brothel and street-based sex-work, transactional sex, and HIV-discordant couples. Both models were parameterized using behavioural and epidemiological data from Cross River State, Nigeria. Model projections were compared, and the robustness of the revised model projections to different model assumptions, was investigated. RESULTS: The original MoT predicts 21% of new infections occur in most-at-risk-populations (MARPs), compared with 45% (40-75%, 95% Crl) once additional heterogeneity and updated parameterization is incorporated. Discordant couples, a subgroup previously not explicitly modelled, are predicted to contribute a third of new HIV infections. In addition, the new findings suggest that women engaging in transactional sex may be an important but previously less recognized risk group, with 16% of infections occurring in this subgroup. CONCLUSION: The MoT is an accessible model that can inform intervention priorities. However, the current model may be potentially misleading, with our comparisons in Nigeria suggesting that the model lacks resolution, making it challenging for the user to correctly interpret the nature of the epidemic. Our findings highlight the need for a formal review of the MoT