Population synthesis of accreting white dwarfs: II. X-ray and UV emission

Accreting white dwarfs (WDs) with non-degenerate companions are expected to emit in soft X-rays and the UV, if accreted H-rich material burns stably. They are an important component of the unresolved emission of elliptical galaxies, and their combined ionizing luminosity may significantly influence the optical line emission from warm ISM. In an earlier paper we modeled populations of accreting WDs, first generating WD with main-sequence, Hertzsprung gap and red giant companions with the population synthesis code \textsc{BSE}, and then following their evolution with a grid of evolutionary tracks computed with \textsc{MESA}. Now we use these results to estimate the soft X-ray (0.3-0.7keV), H- and He II-ionizing luminosities of nuclear burning WDs and the number of super-soft X-ray sources for galaxies with different star formation histories. For the starburst case, these quantities peak at $\sim 1$ Gyr and decline by $\sim 1-3$ orders of magnitude by the age of 10 Gyr. For stellar ages of $\sim$~10 Gyr, predictions of our model are consistent with soft X-ray luminosities observed by Chandra in nearby elliptical galaxies and He II 4686$\AA/\rm{H}{\beta}$ line ratio measured in stacked SDSS spectra of retired galaxies, the latter characterising the strength and hardness of the UV radiation field. However, the soft X-ray luminosity and He~II~4686$\AA/\rm{H}{\beta}$ ratio are significantly overpredicted for stellar ages of $\lesssim 4-8$ Gyr. We discuss various possibilities to resolve this discrepancy and tentatively conclude that it may be resolved by a modification of the typically used criteria of dynamically unstable mass loss for giant stars.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures, MNRAS accepte

Next generation population synthesis of accreting white dwarfs: I. Hybrid calculations using BSE + MESA

Accreting, nuclear-burning white dwarfs have been deemed to be candidate progenitors of type Ia supernovae, and to account for supersoft X-ray sources, novae, etc. depending on their accretion rates. We have carried out a binary population synthesis study of their populations using two algorithms. In the first, we use the binary population synthesis code \textsf{BSE} as a baseline for the "rapid" approach commonly used in such studies. In the second, we employ a "hybrid" approach, in which we use \textsf{BSE} to generate a population of white dwarfs (WD) with non-degenerate companions on the verge of filling their Roche lobes. We then follow their mass transfer phase using the detailed stellar evolution code \textsf{MESA}. We investigate the evolution of the number of rapidly accreting white dwarfs (RAWDs) and stably nuclear-burning white dwarfs (SNBWDs), and estimate the type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) rate produced by "single-degenerate" systems (SD). We find significant differences between the two algorithms in the predicted numbers of SNBWDs at early times, and also in the delay time distribution (DTD) of SD SNe Ia. Such differences in the treatment of mass transfer may partially account for differences in the SNe Ia rate and DTD found by different groups. Adopting 100\% efficiency for helium burning, the rate of SNe Ia produced by the SD-channel in a Milky-way-like galaxy in our calculations is $2.0\times10^{-4}\rm{yr}^{-1}$, more than an order of magnitude below the observationally inferred value. In agreement with previous studies, our calculated SD DTD is inconsistent with observations.Comment: 13 pages,11 figures, accepted by MNRA

Charge-exchange limits on low-energy α-particle fluxes in solar flares

This paper reports on a search for flare emission via charge-exchange radiation in the wings of the Lyα line of He II at 304 Å, as originally suggested for hydrogen by Orrall and Zirker. Via this mechanism a primary α particle that penetrates into the neutral chromosphere can pick up an atomic electron and emit in the He II bound-bound spectrum before it stops. The Extreme-ultraviolet Variability Experiment on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory gives us our first chance to search for this effect systematically. The Orrall-Zirker mechanism has great importance for flare physics because of the essential roles that particle acceleration plays; this mechanism is one of the few proposed that would allow remote sensing of primary accelerated particles below a few MeV nucleon<sup>–1</sup>. We study 10 events in total, including the γ-ray events SOL2010-06-12 (M2.0) and SOL2011-02-24 (M3.5) (the latter a limb flare), seven X-class flares, and one prominent M-class event that produced solar energetic particles. The absence of charge-exchange line wings may point to a need for more complete theoretical work. Some of the events do have broadband signatures, which could correspond to continua from other origins, but these do not have the spectral signatures expected from the Orrall-Zirker mechanism

The economics and ecology of alley cropping in the mid-western United States

Paper presented at the 12th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held June 4-9, 2011 in Athens, Georgia.In Ashton, S. F., S.W. Workman, W.G. Hubbard and D.J. Moorhead, eds. Agroforestry: A Profitable Land Use. Proceedings, 12th North American Agroforestry Conference, Athens, GA, June 4-9, 2011.Our research involved examining the effects of alley cropping on insect biodiversity, crop yields, and small farm economics. We have investigated two alley cropping practices: a summer crop of alfalfa with black walnut and a winter crop rotation of canola and wheat with heartnut. We compared both practices at two alley widths to conventionally grown crops to determine which arrangement of crop and tree species produced the greatest return while providing the maximum ecological benefits. In the first practice with alfalfa, we found that alfalfa weevil mortality was significantly higher in alley cropped alfalfa compared to monocropped alfalfa, and that arthropod diversity was greater in alley cropped crops compared to conventionally grown crops. Alfalfa yield from wider alleyways was not significantly different from monocropped alfalfa. In the second practice with canola and wheat, alley cropping winter crops provided less competition with trees for water, nutrients and light while providing many of the same benefits found in the alfalfa-walnut system. Wheat yield was greater in monoculture than in wide or narrow alleyways, and greater in wide alleyways than in narrow alleyways the first rotation but not the second. All wheat treatments in both years produced economically significant returns. Canola yields were not significantly different between the alley cropped and monocropped treatments the first rotation. All canola treatments produced significant economic returns. Insect numbers in canola followed a similar pattern as those found in the alfalfa walnut practice, with more predators and greater diversity in the alley crops compared to the conventional crops. Our data suggest growing winter crops with nut trees can be a viable agronomic practice that provides ecological benefits as well.W.T. Stamps (1), J. Houx (1), L. Godsey (2) and T.L. Woods (1) ; 1. Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA. 2. Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.Includes bibliographical references

Soft x-ray spectroscopy measurements of the p-like density of states of B in MgB2 and evidence for surface boron oxides on exposed surfaces

Soft X-ray absorption and fluorescence measurements are reported for the K-edge of B in MgB2. The measurements confirm a high density of B pxy(sigma)-states at the Fermi edge and extending to approximately 0.9 eV above the edge. A strong resonance is observed in elastic scattering through a core-exciton derived from out-of-plane pz(pi*)-states. Another strong resonance, observed in both elastic and inelastic spectra, is identified as a product of surface boron oxides.Comment: 7 pages total, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Differential Responses of S100A2 to Oxidative Stress and Increased Intracellular Calcium in Normal, Immortalized, and Malignant Human Keratinocytes

S100A2 is a calmodulin-like, p53-inducible, homodimeric protein that is readily oxidized in keratinocytes subjected to oxidative stress. Here we compare the redox status and subcellular distribution of S100A2 in normal human keratinocytes, immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT), and malignant keratinocytes (A431) as a function of oxidative stress and intracellular Ca2+ levels. Normal human keratinocytes displayed strong nuclear and moderate cytoplasmic S100A2 immunoreactivity. HaCaT and A431 cells, which lack normal p53, expressed S100A2 in similar patterns but in 4- to 8-fold lower amounts. H2O2 treatment of normal human keratinocytes caused a reduction of nuclear S100A2 staining accompanied by an increase in cytoplasmic S100A2 staining, with a delayed time course (0.5–1 h) relative to S100A2 oxidative crosslinking (15 min). This phenomenon, consistent with translocation of S100A2 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, could also be induced in normal human keratinocytes by increasing intracellular Ca2+ levels with the ionophore A23187. Sulfhydryl reducing agents blocked these changes, whether induced by H2O2 or increased intracellular Ca2+ levels. A temporal correlation was identified between S100A2 translocation at 1 h and loss of cell viability at 24 h after H2O2 treatment. A431 and HaCaT cells were strongly resistant to H2O2-induced S100A2 crosslinking, S100A2 translocation, and cell death. Increased intracellular Ca2+ levels caused prominent translocation of S100A2 in normal human keratinocytes and HaCaT, but not in A431 cells. These results identify S100A2 oxidation and translocation as markers for early cellular responses to oxidative stress, which are markedly attenuated in immortalized and malignant keratinocytes

Cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation of Theileria annulata schizont surface proteins

The invasion of Theileria sporozoites into bovine leukocytes is rapidly followed by the destruction of the surrounding host cell membrane, allowing the parasite to establish its niche within the host cell cytoplasm. Theileria infection induces host cell transformation, characterised by increased host cell proliferation and invasiveness, and the activation of anti-apoptotic genes. This process is strictly dependent on the presence of a viable parasite. Several host cell kinases, including PI3-K, JNK, CK2 and Src-family kinases, are constitutively activated in Theileria-infected cells and contribute to the transformed phenotype. Although a number of host cell molecules, including IkB kinase and polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), are recruited to the schizont surface, very little is known about the schizont molecules involved in host-parasite interactions. In this study we used immunofluorescence to detect phosphorylated threonine (p-Thr), serine (p-Ser) and threonine-proline (p-Thr-Pro) epitopes on the schizont during host cell cycle progression, revealing extensive schizont phosphorylation during host cell interphase. Furthermore, we established a quick protocol to isolate schizonts from infected macrophages following synchronisation in S-phase or mitosis, and used mass spectrometry to detect phosphorylated schizont proteins. In total, 65 phosphorylated Theileria proteins were detected, 15 of which are potentially secreted or expressed on the surface of the schizont and thus may be targets for host cell kinases. In particular, we describe the cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation of two T. annulata surface proteins, TaSP and p104, both of which are highly phosphorylated during host cell S-phase. TaSP and p104 are involved in mediating interactions between the parasite and the host cell cytoskeleton, which is crucial for the persistence of the parasite within the dividing host cell and the maintenance of the transformed state

The Phantom Vanish Magic Trick: Investigating the Disappearance of a Non-existent Object in a Dynamic Scene

Drawing inspiration from sleight-of-hand magic tricks, we developed an experimental paradigm to investigate whether magicians’ misdirection techniques could be used to induce the misperception of “phantom” objects. While previous experiments investigating sleight-of-hand magic tricks have focused on creating false assumptions about the movement of an object in a scene, our experiment investigated creating false assumptions about the presence of an object in a scene. Participants watched a sequence of silent videos depicting a magician performing with a single object. Following each video, participants were asked to write a description of the events in the video. In the final video, participants watched the Phantom Vanish Magic Trick, a novel magic trick developed for this experiment, in which the magician pantomimed the actions of presenting an object and then making it magically disappear. No object was presented during the final video. The silent videos precluded the use of false verbal suggestions, and participants were not asked leading questions about the objects. Nevertheless, 32% of participants reported having visual impressions of non-existent objects. These findings support an inferential model of perception, wherein top-down expectations can be manipulated by the magician to generate vivid illusory experiences, even in the absence of corresponding bottom-up information