Gamma-Ray Bursts observed by XMM-Newton

Analysis of observations with XMM-Newton have made a significant contribution to the study of Gamma-ray Burst (GRB) X-ray afterglows. The effective area, bandpass and resolution of the EPIC instrument permit the study of a wide variety of spectral features. In particular, strong, time-dependent, soft X-ray emission lines have been discovered in some bursts. The emission mechanism and energy source for these lines pose major problems for the current generation of GRB models. Other GRBs have intrinsic absorption, possibly related to the environment around the progenitor, or possible iron emission lines similar to those seen in GRBs observed with BeppoSAX. Further XMM-Newton observations of GRBs discovered by the Swift satellite should help unlock the origin of the GRB phenomenon over the next few years.Comment: To appear in proceedings of the "XMM-Newton EPIC Consortium meeting, Palermo, 2003 October 14-16", published in Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italian

A temperate river estuary is a sink for methanotrophs adapted to extremes of pH, temperature and salinity

River Tyne (UK) estuarine sediments harbour a genetically and functionally diverse community of methane-oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs), the composition and activity of which were directly influenced by imposed environmental conditions (pH, salinity, temperature) that extended far beyond those found in situ. In aerobic sediment slurries methane oxidation rates were monitored together with the diversity of a functional gene marker for methanotrophs (pmoA). Under near in situ conditions (4-30°C, pH 6-8, 1-15gl-1 NaCl), communities were enriched by sequences affiliated with Methylobacter and Methylomonas spp. and specifically a Methylobacter psychrophilus-related species at 4-21°C. More extreme conditions, namely high temperatures ≥40°C, high ≥9 and low ≤5 pH, and high salinities ≥35gl-1 selected for putative thermophiles (Methylocaldum), acidophiles (Methylosoma) and haloalkaliphiles (Methylomicrobium). The presence of these extreme methanotrophs (unlikely to be part of the active community in situ) indicates passive dispersal from surrounding environments into the estuary

Computing eigenvalues of ordinary differential equations

Discretisations of differential eigenvalue problems have a sensitivity to perturbations which is asymptotically least as h ? 0 when the differential equation is in first order system form. Both second and fourth order accurate discretisations of the first order system are straightforward to derive and lead to generalised eigenvalue problems of the form ?? where both A and B are narrow-banded, block bidiagonal (hence unsymmetric) matrices, and typically B is singular. Solutions of the differential equation associated with eigenvalues of small magnitude are best determined by the discretisations. Thus Krylov subspace methods (for example) require A to be invertible and seek large solutions of ?? This already requires rational methods in principle. It follows that rapidly convergent methods based on inverse iteration applied to the original formulation as a nonstandard generalised eigenvalue problem prove attractive for the narrow-banded systems considered here. Also they have the advantage that they are applicable under the weaker condition A ? ?B ? =? . We have had extensive experience with a method combining aspects of Newton's method and inverse iteration and having a convergence rate of 3.56 . Our implementation combines this basic algorithm with a limiting form of Weilandt deflation to find a sequence of eigenvalues. It has proved extremely satisfactory in a range of applications. This formulation has the further advantage that it is easy to insert the eigenvalue calculation inside an outer loop to satisfy a constraint on an auxiliary parameter. Examples to illustrate both the robustness of the deflation and the flexibility of the approach are provided

The interplay between tissue growth and scaffold degradation in engineered tissue constructs

In vitro tissue engineering is emerging as a potential tool to meet the high demand for replacement tissue, caused by the increased incidence of tissue degeneration and damage. A key challenge in this field is ensuring that the mechanical properties of the engineered tissue are appropriate for the in vivo environment. Achieving this goal will require detailed understanding of the interplay between cell proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and scaffold degradation.\ud \ud In this paper, we use a mathematical model (based upon a multiphase continuum framework) to investigate the interplay between tissue growth and scaffold degradation during tissue construct evolution in vitro. Our model accommodates a cell population and culture medium, modelled as viscous fluids, together with a porous scaffold and ECM deposited by the cells, represented as rigid porous materials. We focus on tissue growth within a perfusion bioreactor system, and investigate how the predicted tissue composition is altered under the influence of (i) differential interactions between cells and the supporting scaffold and their associated ECM, (ii) scaffold degradation, and (iii) mechanotransduction-regulated cell proliferation and ECM deposition.\ud \ud Numerical simulation of the model equations reveals that scaffold heterogeneity typical of that obtained from μCT scans of tissue engineering scaffolds can lead to significant variation in the flow-induced mechanical stimuli experienced by cells seeded in the scaffold. This leads to strong heterogeneity in the deposition of ECM. Furthermore, preferential adherence of cells to the ECM in favour of the artificial scaffold appears to have no significant influence on the eventual construct composition; adherence of cells to these supporting structures does, however, lead to cell and ECM distributions which mimic and exaggerate the heterogeneity of the underlying scaffold. Such phenomena have important ramifications for the mechanical integrity of engineered tissue constructs and their suitability for implantation in vivo

Opinion formation models based on game theory

A way to simulate the basic interactions between two individuals with different opinions, in the context of strategic game theory, is proposed. Various games are considered, which produce different kinds of opinion formation dynamics. First, by assuming that all individuals (players) are equals, we obtain the bounded confidence model of continuous opinion dynamics proposed by Deffuant et al. In such a model a tolerance threshold is defined, such that individuals with difference in opinion larger than the threshold can not interact. Then, we consider that the individuals have different inclinations to change opinion and different abilities in convincing the others. In this way, we obtain the so-called ``Stubborn individuals and Orators'' (SO) model, a generalization of the Deffuant et al. model, in which the threshold tolerance is different for every couple of individuals. We explore, by numerical simulations, the dynamics of the SO model, and we propose further generalizations that can be implemented.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figure

The SSS phase of RS Ophiuchi observed with Chandra and XMM-Newton I.: Data and preliminary Modeling

The phase of Super-Soft-Source (SSS) emission of the sixth recorded outburst of the recurrent nova RS Oph was observed twice with Chandra and once with XMM-Newton. The observations were taken on days 39.7, 54.0, and 66.9 after outburst. We confirm a 35-sec period on day 54.0 and found that it originates from the SSS emission and not from the shock. We discus the bound-free absorption by neutral elements in the line of sight, resonance absorption lines plus self-absorbed emission line components, collisionally excited emission lines from the shock, He-like intersystem lines, and spectral changes during an episode of high-amplitude variability. We find a decrease of the oxygen K-shell absorption edge that can be explained by photoionization of oxygen. The absorption component has average velocities of -1286+-267 km/s on day 39.7 and of -771+-65 km/s on day 66.9. The wavelengths of the emission line components are consistent with their rest wavelengths as confirmed by measurements of non-self absorbed He-like intersystem lines. We have evidence that these lines originate from the shock rather than the outer layers of the outflow and may be photoexcited in addition to collisional excitations. We found collisionally excited emission lines that are fading at wavelengths shorter than 15A that originate from the radiatively cooling shock. On day 39.5 we find a systematic blue shift of -526+-114 km/s from these lines. We found anomalous He-like f/i ratios which indicates either high densities or significant UV radiation near the plasma where the emission lines are formed. During the phase of strong variability the spectral hardness light curve overlies the total light curve when shifted by 1000sec. This can be explained by photoionization of neutral oxygen in the line of sight if the densities of order 10^{10}-10^{11} cm^{-3}.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, 4 tables. Accepted by ApJ; v2: Co-author Woodward adde

Early multi-wavelength emission from Gamma-ray Bursts: from Gamma-ray to X-ray

The study of the early high-energy emission from both long and short Gamma-ray bursts has been revolutionized by the Swift mission. The rapid response of Swift shows that the non-thermal X-ray emission transitions smoothly from the prompt phase into a decaying phase whatever the details of the light curve. The decay is often categorized by a steep-to-shallow transition suggesting that the prompt emission and the afterglow are two distinct emission components. In those GRBs with an initially steeply-decaying X-ray light curve we are probably seeing off-axis emission due to termination of intense central engine activity. This phase is usually followed, within the first hour, by a shallow decay, giving the appearance of a late emission hump. The late emission hump can last for up to a day, and hence, although faint, is energetically very significant. The energy emitted during the late emission hump is very likely due to the forward shock being constantly refreshed by either late central engine activity or less relativistic material emitted during the prompt phase. In other GRBs the early X-ray emission decays gradually following the prompt emission with no evidence for early temporal breaks, and in these bursts the emission may be dominated by classical afterglow emission from the external shock as the relativistic jet is slowed by interaction with the surrounding circum-burst medium. At least half of the GRBs observed by Swift also show erratic X-ray flaring behaviour, usually within the first few hours. The properties of the X-ray flares suggest that they are due to central engine activity. Overall, the observed wide variety of early high-energy phenomena pose a major challenge to GRB models.Comment: Accepted for publication in the New Journal of Physics focus issue on Gamma Ray Burst

Three axis pulsed plasma thruster with angled cathode and anode strip lines

A spacecraft attitude and altitude control system utilizes sets of three pulsed plasma thrusters connected to a single controller. The single controller controls the operation of each thruster in the set. The control of a set of three thrusters in the set makes it possible to provide a component of thrust along any one of three desired axes. This configuration reduces the total weight of a spacecraft since only one controller and its associated electronics is required for each set of thrusters rather than a controller for each thruster. The thrusters are positioned about the spacecraft such that the effect of the thrusters is balanced

Topology and Phases in Fermionic Systems

There can exist topological obstructions to continuously deforming a gapped Hamiltonian for free fermions into a trivial form without closing the gap. These topological obstructions are closely related to obstructions to the existence of exponentially localized Wannier functions. We show that by taking two copies of a gapped, free fermionic system with complex conjugate Hamiltonians, it is always possible to overcome these obstructions. This allows us to write the ground state in matrix product form using Grassman-valued bond variables, and show insensitivity of the ground state density matrix to boundary conditions.Comment: 4 pages, see also arxiv:0710.329

The Nucleon Spin Polarizability at Order O(p4{\cal O}(p^4) in Chiral Perturbation Theory

We calculate the forward spin-dependent photon-nucleon Compton amplitude as a function of photon energy at the next-to-leading (${\cal O}(p^4)$) order in chiral perturbation theory, from which we extract the contribution to nucleon spin polarizability. The result shows a large correction to the leading order contribution.Comment: 7 pages, latex, 2 figures included as .eps file