4,635 research outputs found
Exact Half-BPS Flux Solutions in M-theory with Symmetry: Local Solutions
We construct local solutions to 11-dimensional supergravity (or M-theory),
which are invariant under the superalgebra for all values of the parameter . The BPS constraints are reduced to a
single linear PDE on a complex function . The PDE was solved in 0806.0605
modulo application of boundary and regularity conditions. The physical fields
of the solutions are determined by , a harmonic function , and the
complex function . and are both functions on a 2-dimensional
compact Riemannian manifold. The harmonic function is freely chosen. We
obtain the expressions for the metric and the field strength in terms of ,
, and and show that these are indeed valid solutions of the Einstein,
Maxwell, and Bianchi equations. Finally we give a construction of one parameter
deformations of and as a function of
Chandra Observations of Eight Sources Discovered by INTEGRAL
We report on 0.3-10 keV observations with the Chandra X-ray Observatory of
eight hard X-ray sources discovered within 8 degrees of the Galactic plane by
the INTEGRAL satellite. The short (5 ks) Chandra observations of the IGR source
fields have yielded very likely identifications of X-ray counterparts for three
of the IGR sources: IGR J14091-6108, IGR J18088-2741, and IGR J18381-0924. The
first two have very hard spectra in the Chandra band that can be described by a
power-law with photon indices of Gamma = 0.6+/-0.4 and -0.7(+0.4)(-0.3),
respectively (90% confidence errors are given), and both have a unique near-IR
counterpart consistent with the Chandra position. IGR J14091-6108 also displays
a strong iron line and a relatively low X-ray luminosity, and we argue that the
most likely source type is a Cataclysmic Variable (CV), although we do not
completely rule out the possibility of a High Mass X-ray Binary. IGR
J18088-2741 has an optical counterpart with a previously measured 6.84 hr
periodicity, which may be the binary orbital period. We also detect five cycles
of a possible 800-950 s period in the Chandra light curve, which may be the
compact object spin period. We suggest that IGR J18088-2741 is also most likely
a CV. For IGR J18381-0924, the spectrum is intrinsically softer with Gamma =
1.5(+0.5)(-0.4), and it is moderately absorbed, nH = (4+/-1)e22 cm-2. There are
two near-IR sources consistent with the Chandra position, and they are both
classified as galaxies, making it likely that IGR J18381-0924 is an Active
Galactic Nucleus (AGN). For the other five IGR sources, we provide lists of
nearby Chandra sources, which may be used along with further observations to
identify the correct counterparts, and we discuss the implications of the low
inferred Chandra count rates for these five sources.Comment: Accepted by ApJ, 14 page
An XMM-Newton and NuSTAR study of IGR J18214-1318: a non-pulsating high-mass X-ray binary with a neutron star
IGR J18214-1318, a Galactic source discovered by the International Gamma-Ray
Astrophysics Laboratory, is a high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) with a supergiant
O-type stellar donor. We report on the XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations that
were undertaken to determine the nature of the compact object in this system.
This source exhibits high levels of aperiodic variability, but no periodic
pulsations are detected with a 90% confidence upper limit of 2% fractional rms
between 0.00003-88 Hz, a frequency range that includes the typical pulse
periods of neutron stars (NSs) in HMXBs (0.1-10 s). Although the lack of
pulsations prevents us from definitively identifying the compact object in IGR
J18214-1318, the presence of an exponential cutoff with e-folding energy
keV in its 0.3-79 keV spectrum strongly suggests that the compact
object is an NS. The X-ray spectrum also shows a Fe K emission line and
a soft excess, which can be accounted for by either a partial-covering absorber
with cm which could be due to the
inhomogeneous supergiant wind, or a blackbody component with
keV and km, which may originate
from NS hot spots. Although neither explanation for the soft excess can be
excluded, the former is more consistent with the properties observed in other
supergiant HMXBs. We compare IGR J18214-1318 to other HMXBs that lack
pulsations or have long pulsation periods beyond the range covered by our
observations.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, 4 table
NuSTAR Tests of Sterile-Neutrino Dark Matter: New Galactic Bulge Observations and Combined Impact
We analyze two dedicated NuSTAR observations with exposure ks
located from the Galactic plane, one above and the other
below, to search for x-ray lines from the radiative decay of sterile-neutrino
dark matter. These fields were chosen to minimize astrophysical x-ray
backgrounds while remaining near the densest region of the dark matter halo. We
find no evidence of anomalous x-ray lines in the energy range 5--20 keV,
corresponding to sterile neutrino masses 10--40 keV. Interpreted in the context
of sterile neutrinos produced via neutrino mixing, these observations provide
the leading constraints in the mass range 10--12 keV, improving upon previous
constraints in this range by a factor . We also compare our results to
Monte Carlo simulations, showing that the fluctuations in our derived limit are
not dominated by systematic effects. An updated model of the instrumental
background, which is currently under development, will improve NuSTAR's
sensitivity to anomalous x-ray lines, particularly for energies 3--5 keV.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures. Text updated to match published version in PRD.
Conclusions unchange
A century of warfare shoots holes in anti-Caulerpa campaign
Effort to have all varieties of the marine alga Caulerpa taxifolia listed as noxious weeds hinges on the argument that the alga's proliferation in the Mediterranean Sea is a cause and not a consequence of environmental degradation. Until now, the occurrence of two populations in a pristine part of the northern Mediterranean near the island of Porquerolles has upheld this claim. Here we show that the alga's development at Porquerolles is indeed a consequence of environmental degradation caused by military weapons' impacts on seagrass beds during the last century. The available data show that substratum enrichment plays a key role in fostering development of Caulerpa, irrespective of whether this results directly from pollution or from the impacts of pollution and other anthropogenic factors on benthic vegetation cover
The long shadow of socioeconomic deprivation over the modern management of acute myeloid leukemia – time to unravel the challenges
Abstract Biological and non-biological variables unrelated to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) preclude standard therapy in many settings, with “real world” patients under-represented in clinical trials and prognostic models. Here, using a case-based format, we illustrate the impact that socioeconomic and anthropogeographical constraints can have on optimally managing AML in 4 different healthcare systems. The granular details provided, emphasize the need for the development and targeting of socioeconomic interventions that are commensurate with the changing landscape of AML therapeutics, in order to avoid worsening the disparity in outcomes between patients with biologically similar disease
Collective unconscious: How gut microbes shape human behavior
peer-reviewedThe human gut harbors a dynamic and complex microbial ecosystem, consisting of approximately 1 kg of bacteria in the average adult, approximately the weight of the human brain. The evolutionary formation of a complex gut microbiota in mammals has played an important role in enabling brain development and perhaps sophisticated social interaction. Genes within the human gut microbiota, termed the microbiome, significantly outnumber human genes in the body, and are capable of producing a myriad of neuroactive compounds. Gut microbes are part of the unconscious system regulating behavior. Recent investigations indicate that these microbes majorly impact on cognitive function and fundamental behavior patterns, such as social interaction and stress management. In the absence of microbes, underlying neurochemistry is profoundly altered. Studies of gut microbes may play an important role in advancing understanding of disorders of cognitive functioning and social interaction, such as autism
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