Origin of intermittent accretion-powered X-ray oscillations in neutron stars with millisecond spin periods

We have shown previously that many of the properties of persistent accretion-powered millisecond pulsars can be understood if their X-ray emitting areas are near their spin axes and move as the accretion rate and structure of the inner disk vary. Here we show that this "nearly aligned moving spot model" may also explain the intermittent accretion-powered pulsations that have been detected in three weakly magnetic accreting neutron stars. We show that movement of the emitting area from very close to the spin axis to about 10 degrees away can increase the fractional rms amplitude from less than about 0.5 percent, which is usually undetectable with current instruments, to a few percent, which is easily detectable. The second harmonic of the spin frequency usually would not be detected, in agreement with observations. The model produces intermittently detectable oscillations for a range of emitting area sizes and beaming patterns, stellar masses and radii, and viewing directions. Intermittent oscillations are more likely in stars that are more compact. In addition to explaining the sudden appearance of accretion-powered millisecond oscillations in some neutron stars with millisecond spin periods, the model explains why accretion-powered millisecond oscillations are relatively rare and predicts that the persistent accretion-powered millisecond oscillations of other stars may become undetectable for brief intervals. It suggests why millisecond oscillations are frequently detected during the X-ray bursts of some neutron stars but not others and suggests mechanisms that could explain the occasional temporal association of intermittent accretion-powered oscillations with thermonuclear X-ray bursts.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure; includes additional discussion and updated references; accepted for publication in ApJ

Inflammation as a Central Mechanism in Alzheimer\u27s Disease

Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by cognitive decline and the presence of two core pathologies, amyloid β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Over the last decade, the presence of a sustained immune response in the brain has emerged as a third core pathology in AD. The sustained activation of the brain\u27s resident macrophages (microglia) and other immune cells has been demonstrated to exacerbate both amyloid and tau pathology and may serve as a link in the pathogenesis of the disorder. In the following review, we provide an overview of inflammation in AD and a detailed coverage of a number of microglia-related signaling mechanisms that have been implicated in AD. Additional information on microglia signaling and a number of cytokines in AD are also reviewed. We also review the potential connection of risk factors for AD and how they may be related to inflammatory mechanisms

Voneinander Lernen: Ein Handbuch für Sprachlehrerverbände

The publication is aimed at those involved in the running of language teacher associations at international, national, regional and local levels. This may include paid employees or, more frequently, volunteers. It provides guidance on the effective running and networking of associations. It encourages language teacher associations to collaborate in order to support teachers more effectively, and to contribute to improvements in the quality of language teaching. It enables language teachers across the world to share their own ideas, to be involved in research, and to learn about the cutting-edge work of the ECML and its European projects

Apprendre les uns des autres: Manuel pour les associations de professeurs de langues

The publication is aimed at those involved in the running of language teacher associations at international, national, regional and local levels. This may include paid employees or, more frequently, volunteers. It provides guidance on the effective running and networking of associations. It encourages language teacher associations to collaborate in order to support teachers more effectively, and to contribute to improvements in the quality of language teaching. It enables language teachers across the world to share their own ideas, to be involved in research, and to learn about the cutting-edge work of the ECML and its European project

Learning from each other: A handbook for language teacher associations

The publication is aimed at those involved in the running of language teacher associations at international, national, regional and local levels. This may include paid employees or, more frequently, volunteers. It provides guidance on the effective running and networking of associations. It encourages language teacher associations to collaborate in order to support teachers more effectively, and to contribute to improvements in the quality of language teaching. It enables language teachers across the world to share their own ideas, to be involved in research, and to learn about the cutting-edge work of the ECML and its European project

Fluvial Sinuous Ridges of the Morrison Formation, USA: Meandering, Scarp Retreat, and Implications for Mars

Sinuous ridges have been interpreted as evidence for ancient rivers on Mars, but relating ridge geometry to paleo‐hydraulics remains uncertain. Three analog ridge systems from the Morrison Formation, Utah, are composed of sandstone caprocks, up to 50 m wide and 8 m thick, atop mudstone flanks. Ridge caprocks have narrowed significantly compared to sandstone bodies preserved in outcrop, consistent with a new ridge‐erosion model that can be used to estimate original sandstone‐body extent. Ridge networks represent caprocks intersecting at distinct stratigraphic levels, rather than a preserved channel network. Caprocks are interpreted as amalgamated channel belts, rather than inverted channels, with dune and bar cross stratification that was used to reconstruct paleo‐channel dimensions. Curvilinear features on ridge tops are outcropping lateral accretion sets (LAS) from point bars and indicate meandering. We found that caprock thickness scales with paleo‐channel depth and LAS curvature scales with paleo‐channel width. Application of these relations to a ridge in Aeolis Dorsa, Mars, yielded consistent water discharge estimates (310–1,800 m³/s). In contrast, using ridge width or ridge radius of curvature as paleo‐channel proxies overestimated discharge by a factor of 30–500. In addition, the ridge‐erosion model suggests that scarp retreat may be less efficient on Mars, resulting in taller and wider ridges, with more intact caprocks. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis that ridges are exhumed channel belts and floodplain deposits implying long‐lived fluvial activity recorded within a depositional basin

Fluvial Sinuous Ridges of the Morrison Formation, USA: Meandering, Scarp Retreat, and Implications for Mars

Sinuous ridges have been interpreted as evidence for ancient rivers on Mars, but relating ridge geometry to paleo‐hydraulics remains uncertain. Three analog ridge systems from the Morrison Formation, Utah, are composed of sandstone caprocks, up to 50 m wide and 8 m thick, atop mudstone flanks. Ridge caprocks have narrowed significantly compared to sandstone bodies preserved in outcrop, consistent with a new ridge‐erosion model that can be used to estimate original sandstone‐body extent. Ridge networks represent caprocks intersecting at distinct stratigraphic levels, rather than a preserved channel network. Caprocks are interpreted as amalgamated channel belts, rather than inverted channels, with dune and bar cross stratification that was used to reconstruct paleo‐channel dimensions. Curvilinear features on ridge tops are outcropping lateral accretion sets (LAS) from point bars and indicate meandering. We found that caprock thickness scales with paleo‐channel depth and LAS curvature scales with paleo‐channel width. Application of these relations to a ridge in Aeolis Dorsa, Mars, yielded consistent water discharge estimates (310–1,800 m³/s). In contrast, using ridge width or ridge radius of curvature as paleo‐channel proxies overestimated discharge by a factor of 30–500. In addition, the ridge‐erosion model suggests that scarp retreat may be less efficient on Mars, resulting in taller and wider ridges, with more intact caprocks. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis that ridges are exhumed channel belts and floodplain deposits implying long‐lived fluvial activity recorded within a depositional basin

Discovery of Pulsed X-ray Emission from the SMC Transient RX J0117.6-7330

We report on the detection of pulsed, broad-band, X-ray emission from the transient source RX J0117.6-7330. The pulse period of 22 seconds is detected by the ROSAT/PSPC instrument in a 1992 Sep 30 - Oct 2 observation and by the CGRO/BATSE instrument during the same epoch. Hard X-ray pulsations are detectable by BATSE for approximately 100 days surrounding the ROSAT observation (1992 Aug 28 - Dec 8). The total directly measured X-ray luminosity during the ROSAT observation is 1.0E38 (d/60 kpc)^2 ergs s-1. The pulse frequency increases rapidly during the outburst, with a peak spin-up rate of 1.2E-10 Hz s-1 and a total frequency change 1.8%. The pulsed percentage is 11.3% from 0.1-2.5 keV, increasing to at least 78% in the 20-70 keV band. These results establish RX J0117.6-7330 as a transient Be binary system.Comment: 17 pages, Latex, aasms, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Gamma-Ray Bursts as a Probe of the Very High Redshift Universe

We show that, if many GRBs are indeed produced by the collapse of massive stars, GRBs and their afterglows provide a powerful probe of the very high redshift (z > 5) universe.Comment: To appear in Proc. of the 5th Huntsville Gamma-Ray Burst Symposium, 5 pages, LaTe