6,081 research outputs found
RXJ0123.4-7321, a Be/X-ray binary in the wing of the SMC
To confirm faint Be/X-ray binary candidates from the XMM-Newton survey of the
Small Magellanic Cloud, we searched for X-ray outbursts in archival ROSAT
observations. We found that RXJ0123.4-7321 was much brighter when detected with
ROSAT than seen 16 years later by XMM-Newton. We analysed the ROSAT
observations and the OGLE I-band light curve of the optical counterpart to
investigate the nature of the system. High long-term variability in the X-ray
flux of a factor of ~150 was found between the ROSAT and XMM-Newton detections,
indicating strong outburst activity during the ROSAT observations. The I-band
light curve reveals long-term variability and regular outbursts with a period
of (119.9+-2.5) days indicating the orbital period of the binary system. The
large X-ray flux variations and the properties of the optical counterpart
confirm RXJ0123.4-7321 as a new Be/X-ray binary in the wing of the Small
Magellanic Cloud.Comment: 5 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Multi-wavelength properties of IGR J05007-7047 (LXP 38.55) and identification as a Be X-ray binary pulsar in the LMC
We report on the results of a 40 d multi-wavelength monitoring of the
Be X-ray binary system IGR J05007-7047 (LXP 38.55). During that period the
system was monitored in the X-rays using the Swift telescope and in the optical
with multiple instruments. When the X-ray luminosity exceeded erg/s
we triggered an XMM-Newton ToO observation. Timing analysis of the photon
events collected during the XMM-Newton observation reveals coherent X-ray
pulsations with a period of 38.551(3) s (1 {\sigma}), making it the 17
known high-mass X-ray binary pulsar in the LMC. During the outburst, the X-ray
spectrum is fitted best with a model composed of an absorbed power law () plus a high-temperature black-body (kT 2 keV) component. By
analysing 12 yr of available OGLE optical data we derived a 30.776(5) d
optical period, confirming the previously reported X-ray period of the system
as its orbital period. During our X-ray monitoring the system showed limited
optical variability while its IR flux varied in phase with the X-ray
luminosity, which implies the presence of a disk-like component adding cooler
light to the spectral energy distribution of the system.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA
The Role of Cytoplasmic mRNA Cap-Binding Protein Complexes in Trypanosoma brucei and Other Trypanosomatids.
Trypanosomatid protozoa are unusual eukaryotes that are well known for having unusual ways of controlling their gene expression. The lack of a refined mode of transcriptional control in these organisms is compensated by several post-transcriptional control mechanisms, such as control of mRNA turnover and selection of mRNA for translation, that may modulate protein synthesis in response to several environmental conditions found in different hosts. In other eukaryotes, selection of mRNA for translation is mediated by the complex eIF4F, a heterotrimeric protein complex composed by the subunits eIF4E, eIF4G, and eIF4A, where the eIF4E binds to the 5'-cap structure of mature mRNAs. In this review, we present and discuss the characteristics of six trypanosomatid eIF4E homologs and their associated proteins that form multiple eIF4F complexes. The existence of multiple eIF4F complexes in trypanosomatids evokes exquisite mechanisms for differential mRNA recognition for translation
Subtropical Real Root Finding
We describe a new incomplete but terminating method for real root finding for
large multivariate polynomials. We take an abstract view of the polynomial as
the set of exponent vectors associated with sign information on the
coefficients. Then we employ linear programming to heuristically find roots.
There is a specialized variant for roots with exclusively positive coordinates,
which is of considerable interest for applications in chemistry and systems
biology. An implementation of our method combining the computer algebra system
Reduce with the linear programming solver Gurobi has been successfully applied
to input data originating from established mathematical models used in these
areas. We have solved several hundred problems with up to more than 800000
monomials in up to 10 variables with degrees up to 12. Our method has failed
due to its incompleteness in less than 8 percent of the cases
On the Invariant Theory of Weingarten Surfaces in Euclidean Space
We prove that any strongly regular Weingarten surface in Euclidean space
carries locally geometric principal parameters. The basic theorem states that
any strongly regular Weingarten surface is determined up to a motion by its
structural functions and the normal curvature function satisfying a geometric
differential equation. We apply these results to the special Weingarten
surfaces: minimal surfaces, surfaces of constant mean curvature and surfaces of
constant Gauss curvature.Comment: 16 page
A new super-soft X-ray source in the Small Magellanic Cloud: Discovery of the first Be/white dwarf system in the SMC?
The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) hosts a large number of Be/X-ray binaries,
however no Be/white dwarf system is known so far, although population synthesis
calculations predict that they might be more frequent than Be/neutron star
systems. XMMUJ010147.5-715550 was found as a new faint super-soft X-ray source
(SSS) with a likely Be star optical counterpart. We investigate the nature of
this system and search for further high-absorbed candidates in the SMC. We
analysed the XMM-Newton X-ray spectrum and light curve, optical photometry, and
the I-band OGLE III light curve. The X-ray spectrum is well represented by
black-body and white dwarf atmosphere models with highly model-dependent
temperature between 20 and 100 eV. The likely optical counterpart AzV 281
showed low near infrared emission during X-ray activity, followed by a
brightening in the I-band afterwards. We find further candidates for
high-absorbed SSSs with a blue star as counterpart. We discuss
XMMUJ010147.5-715550 as the first candidate for a Be/white dwarf binary system
in the SMC.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted by A&
Mid-Infrared line diagnostics of Active Galaxies -- A spectroscopic AGN survey with ISO-SWS
We present medium resolution (R approx. 1500) ISO-SWS 2.4--45 micron spectra
of a sample of 29 galaxies with active nuclei. This data set is rich in fine
structure emission lines tracing the narrow line regions and (circum-)nuclear
star formation regions, and it provides a coherent spectroscopic reference for
future extragalactic studies in the mid-infrared. We use the data set to
briefly discuss the physical conditions in the narrow line regions (density,
temperature, excitation, line profiles) and to test for possible differences
between AGN sub-types. Our main focus is on new tools for determining the
propertibes of dusty galaxies and on the AGN-starburst connection. We present
mid-IR line ratio diagrams which can be used to identify composite (starburst +
AGN) sources and to distinguish between emission excited by active nuclei and
emission from (circum-nuclear) star forming regions. For instance, line ratios
of high to low excitation lines like [O IV]25.9um/[Ne II]12.8um, that have been
used to probe for AGNs in dusty objects, can be examined in more detail and
with better statistics now. In addition, we present two-dimensional diagnostic
diagrams that are fully analogous to classical optical diagnostic diagrams, but
better suited for objects with high extinction. Finally, we discuss
correlations of mid-infrared line fluxes to the mid- and far-infrared
continuum. We compare these relations to similar relations in starburst
galaxies in order to examine the contribution of AGNs to the bolometric
luminosities of their host galaxies. The spectra are available in electronic
form from the authors.Comment: 24 pages, 23 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for A&
К расчету неустановившихся режимов в цепи с синусоидальными э. д. с.
LIBS (Laser-induced breakdown spectrometry) ist eine Methode mit einem breiten Anwendungspotenzial für Analysenaufgaben wie Prozesskontrolle und Qualitätssicherung. Ein Anwendungsbereich in der Stahlindustrie ist der Hochofen, wo zum ersten Mal Online und In-situ eine kontinuierliche Überwachung von Kreislaufstoffen im Gichtgas ermöglicht wurde. Der Zugang zum Gichtgasrohr erfolgt über eine Sonde, die räumlich aufgelöste Messungen ermöglicht und der Umgebung angepasst wurde: mittlere Temperatur von 120 Grad C, Gasgeschwindigkeiten von 10-20 m/s, Staubdichten von 8 g/m3 bei einem CO-Anteil von 24 Prozent im Gichtgas. Durch Modulation der Laserpulse wurden erstmalig Doppelpulse im Nanosekundenbereich eingesetzt, die das Signal-zu-Untergrund-Verhältnis der Spektrallinien erheblich verbessern und so erst Messungen bei den vorliegenden Gasdrücken um 3.4 bar ermöglichen
Discovery of a 168.8 s X-ray pulsar transiting in front of its Be companion star in the Large Magellanic Cloud
We report the discovery of LXP169, a new high-mass X-ray binary (XRB) in the
LMC. The optical counterpart has been identified and appears to exhibit an
eclipsing light curve. We performed follow-up observations to clarify the
eclipsing nature of the system. Energy spectra and time series were extracted
from two XMM-Newton observations to search for pulsations, characterise the
spectrum, and measure spectral and timing changes. Long-term X-ray variability
was studied using archival ROSAT data. The XMM positions were used to identify
the optical counterpart. We obtained UV to NIR photometry to characterise the
companion, along with its 4000 d long I-band light curve. We observed LXP169
with Swift at two predicted eclipse times. We found a spin period of 168.8 s
that did not change between two XMM observations. The X-ray spectrum, well
characterised by a power law, was harder when the source was brighter. The
X-ray flux of LXP169 is found to be variable by a factor of at least 10. The
counterpart is highly variable on short and long timescales, and its photometry
is that of an early-type star with a NIR excess. This classifies the source as
a BeXRB pulsar. We observed a transit in the UV, thereby confirming that the
companion star itself is eclipsed. We give an ephemeris for the transit of MJD
56203.877 + N*24.329. We propose and discuss the scenario where the matter
captured from the companion's equatorial disc creates an extended region of
high density around the neutron star (NS), which partially eclipses the
companion as the NS transits in front of it. This is most likely the first time
the compact object in an XRB is observed to eclipse its companion star. LXP169
would be the first eclipsing BeXRB, and a wealth of important information might
be gained from additional observations, such as a measure of the possible Be
disc/orbital plane misalignment, or the mass of the NS.Comment: Updated version of arXiv 1302.4665v1, accepted for publication in
Astronomy and Astrophysics. 11 pages, 8 figures, 3 table
Discovery of SXP265, a Be/X-ray binary pulsar in the Wing of the Small Magellanic Cloud
We identify a new candidate for a Be/X-ray binary in the XMM-Newton slew
survey and archival Swift observations that is located in the transition region
of the Wing of the Small Magellanic Cloud and the Magellanic Bridge. We
investigated and classified this source with follow-up XMM-Newton and optical
observations. We model the X-ray spectra and search for periodicities and
variability in the X-ray observations and the OGLE I-band light curve. The
optical counterpart has been classified spectroscopically, with data obtained
at the SAAO 1.9 m telescope, and photometrically, with data obtained using
GROND at the MPG 2.2 m telescope. The X-ray spectrum is typical of a high-mass
X-ray binary with an accreting neutron star. We detect X-ray pulsations, which
reveal a neutron-star spin period of P = (264.516+-0.014) s. The source likely
shows a persistent X-ray luminosity of a few 10^35 erg/s and in addition type-I
outbursts that indicate an orbital period of ~146 d. A periodicity of 0.867 d,
found in the optical light curve, can be explained by non-radial pulsations of
the Be star. We identify the optical counterpart and classify it as a
B1-2II-IVe star. This confirms SXP 265 as a new Be/X-ray binary pulsar
originating in the tidal structure between the Magellanic Clouds.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
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