3,176 research outputs found
A changing-look AGN to be probed by X-ray polarimetry
Active galactic nuclei (AGN) produce the highest intrinsic luminosities in
the Universe from within a compact region. The central engine is thought to be
powered by accretion onto a supermassive black hole. A fraction of this huge
release of energy influences the evolution of the host galaxy, and in
particular, star formation. Thus, AGN are key astronomical sources not only
because they play an important role in the evolution of the Universe, but also
because they constitute a laboratory for extreme physics. However, these
objects are under the resolution limit of current telescopes. Polarimetry is a
unique technique capable of providing us with information on physical AGN
structures. The incoming new era of X-ray polarimetry will give us the
opportunity to explore the geometry and physical processes taking place in the
innermost regions of the accretion disc. Here we exploit this future powerful
tool in the particular case of changing-look AGN, which are key for
understanding the complexity of AGN physics.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figures, published by Galaxies under the special issue
"The Bright Future of Astronomical X-ray Polarimetry
The ionised X-ray outflowing torus in ESO 323-G77: low-ionisation clumps confined by homogeneous warm absorbers
We report on the long- and short-term X-ray spectral analysis of the
polar-scattered Seyfert 1.2 galaxy ESO 323-G77, observed in three epochs
between 2006 and 2013 with Chandra and XMM-Newton. Four high-resolution Chandra
observations give us a unique opportunity to study the properties of the
absorbers in detail, as well as their short time-scale (days) variability. From
the rich set of absorption features seen in the Chandra data, we identify two
warm absorbers with column densities and ionisations that are consistent with
being constant on both short and long time-scales, suggesting that those are
the signature of a rather homogeneous and extended outflow. A third absorber,
ionised to a lesser degree, is also present and it replaces the strictly
neutral absorber that is ubiquitously inferred from the X-ray analysis of
obscured Compton-thin sources. This colder absorber appears to vary in column
density on long time-scales, suggesting a non-homogeneous absorber. Moreover,
its ionisation responds to the nuclear luminosity variations on time-scales as
short as a few days, indicating that the absorber is in photoionisation
equilibrium with the nuclear source on these time-scales. All components are
consistent with being co-spatial and located between the inner and outer edges
of the so-called dusty, clumpy torus. Assuming co-spatiality, the three phases
also share the same pressure, suggesting that the warm / hot phases confine the
colder, most likely clumpy, medium. We discuss further the properties of the
outflow in comparison with the lower resolution XMM-Newton data.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, 6 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Stress response and structural transitions in sheared gyroidal and lamellar amphiphilic mesophases: lattice-Boltzmann simulations
We report on the stress response of gyroidal and lamellar amphiphilic
mesophases to steady shear simulated using a bottom-up lattice-Boltzmann model
for amphiphilic fluids and sliding periodic (Lees-Edwards) boundary conditions.
We study the gyroid per se (above the sponge-gyroid transition, of high
crystallinity) and the molten gyroid (within such a transition, of
shorter-range order). We find that both mesophases exhibit shear-thinning, more
pronounced and at lower strain rates for the molten gyroid. At late times after
the onset of shear, the skeleton of the crystalline gyroid becomes a structure
of interconnected irregular tubes and toroidal rings, mostly oriented along the
velocity ramp imposed by the shear, in contradistinction with free-energy
Langevin-diffusion studies which yield a much simpler structure of disentangled
tubes. We also compare the shear stress and deformation of lamellar mesophases
with and without amphiphile when subjected to the same shear flow applied
normal to the lamellae. We find that the presence of amphiphile allows (a) the
shear stress at late times to be higher than in the case without amphiphile,
and (b) the formation of rich patterns on the sheared interface, characterised
by alternating regions of high and low curvature.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, Physical Review E, in pres
Effects of cardiorespiratory exercise on cognition in older women exposed to air pollution
The aim was to analyze the effects of cardiorespiratory exercise and air pollution on cognition and cardiovascular markers in four groups of older women: the active/clean air group (AC), the active/polluted air group (AP), the sedentary/clean air group (SC), and the sedentary/polluted air group (SP). Active groups performed a training task based on progressive walking. Prior to and after the experiment, the following parameters were assessed: cognition, by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE); maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), estimated by the Six-Minute Walk Test (6mWT); heart
rate (HR); and oxygen saturation (SpO2). There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the AC and the SP in all the MMSE dimensions except “Registration”, and in all the physiological variables (VO2max, SpO2, HR). Aerobic exercise may be a protective factor against the effects that pollution
have on cognition and on the mechanisms of oxygen transport
The size of the X-ray emitting region in SWIFT J2127.4+5654 via a broad line region cloud X-ray eclipse
We present results obtained from the time-resolved X-ray spectral analysis of
the Narrow-Line-Seyfert 1 galaxy SWIFT J2127.4+5654 during a ~130 ks XMM-Newton
observation. We reveal large spectral variations, especially during the first
~90 ks of the XMM-Newton exposure. The spectral variability can be attributed
to a partial eclipse of the X-ray source by an intervening low-ionization/cold
absorbing structure (cloud) with column density N_H = 2.0^{+0.2}_{-0.3}e22
cm^-2 which gradually covers and then uncovers the X-ray emitting region with
covering fraction ranging from zero to ~43 per cent. Our analysis enables us to
constrain the size, number density, and location of the absorbing cloud with
good accuracy. We infer a cloud size (diameter) of $D_c < 1.5e13 cm,
corresponding to a density of n_c > 1.5e9 cm^-3 at a distance of R_c > 4.3e16
cm from the central black hole. All of the inferred quantities concur to
identify the absorbing structure with one single cloud associated with the
broad line region of SWIFT J2127.4+5654. We are also able to constrain the
X-ray emitting region size (diameter) to be D_s < 2.3e13 cm which, assuming the
black hole mass estimated from single-epoch optical spectroscopy (1.5e7 M_sun),
translates into D_s < 10.5 gravitational radii (r_g) with larger sizes (in r_g)
being associated with smaller black hole masses, and viceversa. We also confirm
the presence of a relativistically distorted reflection component off the inner
accretion disc giving rise to a broad relativistic Fe K emission line and small
soft excess (small because of the high Galactic column density), supporting the
measurement of an intermediate black hole spin in SWIFT J2127.4+5654 that was
obtained from a previous Suzaku observation.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
A discrete choice model approximation to the consumer's choice among television displays
The consumer’s choice over a bundle of products depends on the observable and unobservable characteristics of the product and the consumer. The choice is made over the basis of maximizing utility subject to their income restrictions and, at the same time, firms make product differentiation decisions over the basis of maximizing profit. Quality is one way to differentiate products. An example of this type of differentiation happens in the TV market where several displays are developed. Our objective is to determine the probability for a consumer of choosing a type of display among five kinds: standard tube, LCD, plasma, projection and LED. Using a multinomial logit, we find that electronic appliances such as DVDs and audio systems, as well as socioeconomic status, increase the probability of choosing a high-tech display television. Our empirical approximation contributes to the further understanding of consumer rational behavior through the theory utility maximization and highlights the importance of studying the market structure and analyzing changes in welfare and efficienc
A discrete choice model approximation to the consumer's choice among television displays
The consumer’s choice over a bundle of products depends on the observable and unobservable characteristics of the product and the consumer. The choice is made over the basis of maximizing utility subject to their income restrictions and, at the same time, firms make product differentiation decisions over the basis of maximizing profit. Quality is one way to differentiate products. An example of this type of differentiation happens in the TV market where several displays are developed. Our objective is to determine the probability for a consumer of choosing a type of display among five kinds: standard tube, LCD, plasma, projection and LED. Using a multinomial logit, we find that electronic appliances such as DVDs and audio systems, as well as socioeconomic status, increase the probability of choosing a high-tech display television. Our empirical approximation contributes to the further understanding of consumer rational behavior through the theory utility maximization and highlights the importance of studying the market structure and analyzing changes in welfare and efficienc
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