Accretion disk coronae of Intermediate Polar Cataclysmic Variables - 3D MagnetoHydro-Dynamic modeling and thermal X-ray emission

IPCVs contain a magnetic, rotating white dwarf surrounded by a magnetically truncated accretion disk. To explain their strong flickering X-ray emission, accretion has been successfully taken into account. Nevertheless, observations suggest that accretion phenomena could not be the only process behind it. An intense flaring activity occurring on the surface of the disk may generate a corona, contribute to the thermal X-ray emission and influence the system stability. Our purposes are: investigating the formation of an extended corona above the accretion disk, due to an intense flaring activity occurring on the disk surface; studying its effects on the disk and stellar magnetosphere; assessing its contribution to the observed X-ray flux. We have developed a 3D MHD model of a IPCV. The model takes into account gravity, disk viscosity, thermal conduction, radiative losses and coronal flare heating. To perform a parameter space exploration, several system conditions have been considered, with different magnetic field intensity and disk density values. From the results of the evolution of the model, we have synthesized the thermal X-ray emission. The simulations show the formation of an extended corona, linking disk and star. The flaring activity is capable of strongly influencing the disk configuration and its stability, effectively deforming the magnetic field lines. Hot plasma evaporation phenomena occur in the layer immediately above the disk. The flaring activity gives rise to a thermal X-ray emission in both the [0.1-2.0] keV and the [2.0-10] keV bands. An intense coronal activity occurring on the disk surface of an IPCV can affect the structure of the disk depending noticeably on the density of the disk and the magnetic field of the central object. Moreover, the synthesis of the thermal X-ray fluxes shows that this flaring activity may contribute to the observed thermal X-ray emission

Checklist Birds of Wetlands in south-western Sicily (Italy): Capo Feto and Pantano Leone

Over the years the importance of checklists as indispensable basic knowledge instruments in the correct management of Sicily’s natural heritage has been reinforced by the requests contained in international conventions on biodiversity especially by the need to implement the Habitats Directive. Today’s growing interest in biodiversity makes it essential that in- ventories of fauna and flora are compiled and kept up to date for each individual region to serve as an initial, indispensable knowledge base. In this paper, a first detailed (and, partly, commented) checklist of the waterbirds, diurnal raptors species of two naturalistic areas in Sicily, Italy (Capo Feto and Pantano Leone) is presented. Regarding the Capo Feto (Trapani, Mazara del Vallo) wetland, the checklist includes 94 species of waterbirds and birds of prey. As far as the Pantano Leone (Trapani, Campobello di Mazara) wetland is concerned, the checklist includes 73 species of birds. Capo Feto is a nationally important site for the Kentish Plover, an endangered species (EN) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species that nests there. Pantano Leone is a nationally important site for the overwintering of Com- mon snip

Checklist Odonata of Wetlands in south-western Sicily (Italy): Pantano Leone, Capo Feto, Margi Spanò, Nespolilla and Milo

Over time, the significance of checklists as essential tools for managing Sicily’s natural heritage has been underscored by the requirements outlined in international biodiversity conventions, particularly in relation to implementing the Habitats Directive. Compiling and updating checklists of fauna and flora for each specific region is necessary due to the growing interest in biodiversity today, which serves as a foundational and indispensable knowledge base. In this paper, a first detailed and complete checklist of the 17 Odonata species of these areas of Sicily (Italy) is presented. Regarding the Capo Feto and Margi Spanò wetland (Trapani, Mazara del Vallo, Italy), the checklist includes 10 species of drag- onflies, 13 species for Margi Milo (Trapani, Mazara del Vallo, Italy). As far as the Pantano Leone wetland (Trapani, Campobello di Mazara, Italy) is concerned 13 species of drag- onflies are liste

Cocaine contamination in pubic hair: Analysis of the decontamination method

Abstract Even if pubic hair represents a reliable and widely accepted alternative hair matrix to identify drug abusers, it might produce false positive results due to external contamination. The aim of this study was to verify whether the external contamination of pubic hair with cocaine could influence the discrimination between active users and false positive subjects. The analysis was performed on in vivo and in vitro samples; the contamination was carried out by rubbing pubic hair with cocaine hydrochloride contaminated hands for three consecutive days. Five days after the beginning of the contamination, the pubic hair was collected and analysed at different times for two months. Data from our studies show that all in vivo samples yielded false positives; the in vitro samples were negative only for 10 days and then yielded false positives