Gravitating discs around black holes

Fluid discs and tori around black holes are discussed within different approaches and with the emphasis on the role of disc gravity. First reviewed are the prospects of investigating the gravitational field of a black hole--disc system by analytical solutions of stationary, axially symmetric Einstein's equations. Then, more detailed considerations are focused to middle and outer parts of extended disc-like configurations where relativistic effects are small and the Newtonian description is adequate. Within general relativity, only a static case has been analysed in detail. Results are often very inspiring, however, simplifying assumptions must be imposed: ad hoc profiles of the disc density are commonly assumed and the effects of frame-dragging and completely lacking. Astrophysical discs (e.g. accretion discs in active galactic nuclei) typically extend far beyond the relativistic domain and are fairly diluted. However, self-gravity is still essential for their structure and evolution, as well as for their radiation emission and the impact on the environment around. For example, a nuclear star cluster in a galactic centre may bear various imprints of mutual star--disc interactions, which can be recognised in observational properties, such as the relation between the central mass and stellar velocity dispersion.Comment: Accepted for publication in CQG; high-resolution figures will be available from http://www.iop.org/EJ/journal/CQ

Ensemble X-ray variability of Active Galactic Nuclei from serendipitous source catalogues

The X-ray variability of the Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) has been most often investigated with studies of individual, nearby, sources, and only a few ensemble analyses have been applied to large samples in wide ranges of luminosity and redshift. We want to determine the ensemble variability properties of two serendipitously selected AGN samples extracted from the catalogues of XMM-Newton and Swift, with redshift between ~0.2 and ~4.5, and X-ray luminosities, in the 0.5-4.5 keV band, between ~10^43 erg/s and ~10^46 erg/s. We use the structure function (SF), which operates in the time domain, and allows for an ensemble analysis even when only a few observations are available for individual sources and the power spectral density (PSD) cannot be derived. SF is also more appropriate than fractional variability and excess variance, because such parameters are biased by the duration of the monitoring time interval in the rest-frame, and thus by cosmological time dilation. We find statistically consistent results for the two samples, with the SF described by a power law of the time lag, approximately as SF \propto tau^0.1. We do not find evidence of the break in the SF, at variance with the case of lower luminosity AGNs. We confirm a strong anti-correlation of the variability with X-ray luminosity, accompanied by a change of the slope of the SF. We find evidence in support of a weak, intrinsic, average increase of X-ray variability with redshift. The change of amplitude and slope of the SF with X-ray luminosity provides new constraints on both single oscillator models and multiple subunits models of variability.Comment: Replaced to match the published versio

X-ray Absorption and Reflection in Active Galactic Nuclei

X-ray spectroscopy offers an opportunity to study the complex mixture of emitting and absorbing components in the circumnuclear regions of active galactic nuclei, and to learn about the accretion process that fuels AGN and the feedback of material to their host galaxies. We describe the spectral signatures that may be studied and review the X-ray spectra and spectral variability of active galaxies, concentrating on progress from recent Chandra, XMM-Newton and Suzaku data for local type 1 AGN. We describe the evidence for absorption covering a wide range of column densities, ionization and dynamics, and discuss the growing evidence for partial-covering absorption from data at energies > 10 keV. Such absorption can also explain the observed X-ray spectral curvature and variability in AGN at lower energies and is likely an important factor in shaping the observed properties of this class of source. Consideration of self-consistent models for local AGN indicates that X-ray spectra likely comprise a combination of absorption and reflection effects from material originating within a few light days of the black hole as well as on larger scales. It is likely that AGN X-ray spectra may be strongly affected by the presence of disk-wind outflows that are expected in systems with high accretion rates, and we describe models that attempt to predict the effects of radiative transfer through such winds, and discuss the prospects for new data to test and address these ideas.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Review. 58 pages, 9 figures. V2 has fixed an error in footnote

Pelvic trauma : WSES classification and guidelines

Complex pelvic injuries are among the most dangerous and deadly trauma related lesions. Different classification systems exist, some are based on the mechanism of injury, some on anatomic patterns and some are focusing on the resulting instability requiring operative fixation. The optimal treatment strategy, however, should keep into consideration the hemodynamic status, the anatomic impairment of pelvic ring function and the associated injuries. The management of pelvic trauma patients aims definitively to restore the homeostasis and the normal physiopathology associated to the mechanical stability of the pelvic ring. Thus the management of pelvic trauma must be multidisciplinary and should be ultimately based on the physiology of the patient and the anatomy of the injury. This paper presents the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) classification of pelvic trauma and the management Guidelines.Peer reviewe

Elaboration d'un schéma d'aménagement hydraulique de la Saône destiné à limiter l'impact des crues juste débordantes

L ’objet de l’étude était la définition d’un schéma de maîtrise en vallée de la Saône des seules crues faiblement débordantes de printemps (avril à juin), de fréquence de retour relativement rare mais très dommageables vis-à-vis de l’activité agricole. La longueur de rivière étudiée était de 410 km, de Corre à Lyon. Certains aspects de l ’étude ont porté sur l ’ensemble du bassin de la Saône. L ’étude réalisée est exemplaire à plusieurs titres (bon déroulement, esprit de large concertation, solidarité amont-aval) malgré des résultats non immédiatement utilisables : aucun des scénarios combinés étudiés ne présente un taux de couverture (rapport de la réduction actualisée des dommages agricoles au coût actualisé des investissements et du fonctionnement) supérieur à 45 % dans la meilleure hypothèse. Un plan de gestion et cohérent à l’échelle de l’ensemble de la vallée apparaît nécessaire en raison de la forte pression de sollicitation qui s y exerce et du fonctionnement original, et à préserver, de l’hydrosystèmeForet M., Abrassart F., Tormos Emile. Elaboration d'un schéma d'aménagement hydraulique de la Saône destiné à limiter l'impact des crues juste débordantes. In: L'eau, l'homme et la nature. 24èmes journées de l'hydraulique. Congrès de la Société Hydrotechnique de France. Paris, 18-19-20 septembre 1996. 1996

Topical iodine, breastfeeding, and neonatal hypothyroidism.

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe