Cross sections of X-ray production induced on Ti, Fe, Zn, Nb and Ta by O, Cl, Cu and Br ions with energies between 4 MeV and 40 MeV

Differential cross section of X-ray production induced by O, Cl, Cu and Br ions with energies between 4 MeV and 40 MeV have been measured for thin targets of Ti, Fe, Zn, Nb and Ta in a direct way. A fully characterized silicon drift diode was used as X-rays detector. Beam currents have been measured by a system of two Faraday cups. Corrections for target thickness effects have been applied to the raw data. Experimental cross sections are compared both with theory and with previously published results. Experimental results from other authors are in reasonable agreement with ours over a wide energy range. Theory produces consistent results in the case of oxygen ions but gives cross sections even orders of magnitude below the experimental ones for heavier ions (ECPSSR-UA) or contrasting results (PWBA) depending on the ion-target combination.Comment: 13 pages, 2 Tables, 4 Figures. Submitted to NIM

Inflammatory response to implantation of transparent nanocrystalline yttria-stabilized zirconia using a dorsal window chamber model.

The long-range goal of the windows to the brain (WttB) is to improve patient care by providing a technique for delivery and/or collection of light into/from the brain, on demand, over large areas, and on a chronically-recurring basis without the need for repeated craniotomies. To evaluate the potential of nanocrystalline yttria-stabilized-zirconia (nc-YSZ) cranial implant for optical therapy and imaging, in vivo biocompatibility was studied using the dorsal window chamber model in comparison with control (no implant) and commercially available cranial implant materials (PEEK and PEKK). The host tissue response to implant was characterized by using transillumination and fluorescent microscopy to measure leukocyte adhesion, blood vessel diameter, blood flow rate, and vascular permeability over two weeks. The results indicated the lack of inflammatory reaction of the host tissue to nc-YSZ at the microscopic level, suggesting that nc-YSZ is a good alternative material for cranial implants

A multi-wavelength study of SXP 1062, the long period X-ray pulsar associated with a supernova remnant

SXP 1062 is a Be X-ray binary located in the Small Magellanic Cloud. It hosts a long-period X-ray pulsar and is likely associated with the supernova remnant MCSNR J0127-7332. In this work we present a multi-wavelength view on SXP 1062 in different luminosity regimes. We consider monitoring campaigns in optical (OGLE survey) and X-ray (SWIFT telescope). During these campaigns a tight coincidence of X-ray and optical outbursts is observed. We interpret this as typical Type I outbursts as often detected in Be X-ray binaries at periastron passage of the neutron star. To study different X-ray luminosity regimes in depth, during the source quiescence we observed it with XMM-Newton while Chandra observations followed an X-ray outburst. Nearly simultaneously with Chandra observations in X-rays, in optical the RSS/SALT telescope obtained spectra of SXP 1062. On the basis of our multi-wavelength campaign we propose a simple scenario where the disc of the Be star is observed face-on, while the orbit of the neutron star is inclined with respect to the disc. According to the model of quasi-spherical settling accretion our estimation of the magnetic field of the pulsar in SXP 1062 does not require an extremely strong magnetic field at the present time.Comment: accepted for publication in MNRA