1,830 research outputs found
Inverse Compton Scattering as the Source of Diffuse EUV Emission in the Coma Cluster of Galaxies
We have examined the hypothesis that the majority of the diffuse EUV flux in
the Coma cluster is due to inverse Compton scattering of low energy cosmic ray
electrons (0.16 < epsilon < 0.31 GeV) against the 3K black-body background. We
present data on the two-dimensional spatial distribution of the EUV flux and
show that these data provide strong support for a non-thermal origin for the
EUV flux. However, we show that this emission cannot be produced by an
extrapolation to lower energies of the observed synchrotron radio emitting
electrons and an additional component of low energy cosmic ray electrons is
required.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Simultaneous X-ray spectroscopy of YY Gem with Chandra and XMM-Newton
We report on a detailed study of the X-ray spectrum of the nearby eclipsing
spectroscopic binary YY Gem. Observations were obtained simultaneously with
both large X-ray observatories, XMM-Newton and Chandra. We compare the
high-resolution spectra acquired with the Reflection Grating Spectrometer
onboard XMM-Newton and with the Low Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer
onboard Chandra, and evidence in direct comparison the good performance of both
instruments in terms of wavelength and flux calibration. The strongest lines in
the X-ray spectrum of YY Gem are from oxygen. Oxygen line ratios indicate the
presence of a low-temperature component (1-4 MK) with density n_e < 2 10^{10}
cm^-3. The X-ray lightcurve reveals two flares and a dip corresponding to the
secondary eclipse. An increase of the density during phases of high activity is
suggested from time-resolved spectroscopy. Time-resolved global fitting of the
European Photon Imaging Camera CCD spectrum traces the evolution of temperature
and emission measure during the flares. These medium-resolution spectra show
that temperatures > 10^7 K are relevant in the corona of YY Gem although not as
dominant as the lower temperatures represented by the strongest lines in the
high-resolution spectrum. Magnetic loops with length on the order of 10^9 cm,
i.e., about 5 % of the radius of each star, are inferred from a comparison with
a one-dimensional hydrodynamic model. This suggests that the flares did not
erupt in the (presumably more extended) inter-binary magnetosphere but are
related to one of the components of the binary.Comment: 15 pages, accepted for publication in A&
Two refreshing views of Fluctuation Theorems through Kinematics Elements and Exponential Martingale
In the context of Markov evolution, we present two original approaches to
obtain Generalized Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorems (GFDT), by using the
language of stochastic derivatives and by using a family of exponential
martingales functionals. We show that GFDT are perturbative versions of
relations verified by these exponential martingales. Along the way, we prove
GFDT and Fluctuation Relations (FR) for general Markov processes, beyond the
usual proof for diffusion and pure jump processes. Finally, we relate the FR to
a family of backward and forward exponential martingales.Comment: 41 pages, 7 figures; version2: 45 pages, 7 figures, minor revisions,
new results in Section
Effects of early and late diabetic neuropathy on sciatic nerve block duration and neurotoxicity in Zucker diabetic fatty rats
Background The neuropathy of type II diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing in prevalence worldwide. We aimed to test the hypothesis that in a rodent model of type II DM, neuropathy would lead to increased neurotoxicity and block duration after lidocaine-induced sciatic nerve block when compared with control animals. Methods Experiments were carried out in Zucker diabetic fatty rats aged 10 weeks (early diabetic) or 18 weeks (late diabetic, with or without insulin 3 units per day), and age-matched healthy controls. Left sciatic nerve block was performed using 0.2 ml lidocaine 2%. Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and F-wave latency were used to quantify nerve function before, and 1 week after nerve block, after which sciatic nerves were used for neurohistopathology. Results Early diabetic animals did not show increased signs of nerve dysfunction after nerve block. In late diabetic animals without insulin vs control animals, NCV was 34.8 (5.0) vs 41.1 (4.1) ms s−1 (P<0.01), and F-wave latency was 7.7 (0.5) vs 7.0 (0.2) ms (P<0.01), respectively. Motor nerve block duration was prolonged in late diabetic animals, but neurotoxicity was not. Late diabetic animals receiving insulin showed intermediate results. Conclusions In a rodent type II DM model, nerves have increased sensitivity for short-acting local anaesthetics without adjuvants in vivo, as evidenced by prolonged block duration. This sensitivity appears to increase with the progression of neuropathy. Our results do not support the hypothesis that neuropathy due to type II DM increases the risk of nerve injury after nerve bloc
Dark matter and Colliders searches in the MSSM
We study the complementarity between dark matter experiments (direct
detection and indirect detections) and accelerator facilities (the CERN LHC and
a TeV Linear Collider) in the framework of the
constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). We show how
non--universality in the scalar and gaugino sectors can affect the experimental
prospects to discover the supersymmetric particles. The future experiments will
cover a large part of the parameter space of the MSSM favored by WMAP
constraint on the relic density, but there still exist some regions beyond
reach for some extreme (fine tuned) values of the supersymmetric parameters.
Whereas the Focus Point region characterized by heavy scalars will be easily
probed by experiments searching for dark matter, the regions with heavy
gauginos and light sfermions will be accessible more easily by collider
experiments. More informations on both supersymmetry and astrophysics
parameters can be thus obtained by correlating the different signals.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figures, corrected typos and reference adde
Ethical procedures and patient consent differ in Europe
BACKGROUND: Research ethics approvals, procedures and requirements for institutional research ethics committees vary considerably by country and by type of organisation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the requirements and procedures of research ethics committees, details of patient information and informed consent based on a multicentre European trial. DESIGN: Survey of European hospitals participating in the prospective observational study on chronic postsurgical pain (euCPSP) using electronic questionnaires. SETTING: Twenty-four hospitals in 11 European countries. PARTICIPANTS: From the 24 hospitals, 23 local investigators responded; 23 answers were analysed. OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of research ethics procedures and committee requirements from the perspective of clinical researchers. Comparison of the institutions' procedures regarding patient information and consent. Description of further details such as costs and the duration of the approval process. RESULTS: The approval process lasted from less than 2 weeks up to more than 2 months with financial fees varying between 0 and 575 €. In 20 hospitals, a patient information sheet of variable length (half page up to two pages) was provided. Requirements for patients' informed consent differed. Written informed consent was mandatory at 12, oral at 10 and no form of consent at one hospital. Details such as enough time for consideration, possibility for withdrawal and risks/benefits of participation were provided in 25 to 30% of the institutions. CONCLUSION: There is a considerable variation in the administrative requirements for approval procedures by research ethics committees in Europe. This results in variation of the extent of information and consent procedures for the patients involved
Understanding Galaxy Formation and Evolution
The old dream of integrating into one the study of micro and macrocosmos is
now a reality. Cosmology, astrophysics, and particle physics intersect in a
scenario (but still not a theory) of cosmic structure formation and evolution
called Lambda Cold Dark Matter (LCDM) model. This scenario emerged mainly to
explain the origin of galaxies. In these lecture notes, I first present a
review of the main galaxy properties, highlighting the questions that any
theory of galaxy formation should explain. Then, the cosmological framework and
the main aspects of primordial perturbation generation and evolution are
pedagogically detached. Next, I focus on the ``dark side'' of galaxy formation,
presenting a review on LCDM halo assembling and properties, and on the main
candidates for non-baryonic dark matter. It is shown how the nature of
elemental particles can influence on the features of galaxies and their
systems. Finally, the complex processes of baryon dissipation inside the
non-linearly evolving CDM halos, formation of disks and spheroids, and
transformation of gas into stars are briefly described, remarking on the
possibility of a few driving factors and parameters able to explain the main
body of galaxy properties. A summary and a discussion of some of the issues and
open problems of the LCDM paradigm are given in the final part of these notes.Comment: 50 pages, 10 low-resolution figures (for normal-resolution, DOWNLOAD
THE PAPER (PDF, 1.9 Mb) FROM http://www.astroscu.unam.mx/~avila/avila.pdf).
Lectures given at the IV Mexican School of Astrophysics, July 18-25, 2005
(submitted to the Editors on March 15, 2006
Measurement of K^0_e3 form factors
The semileptonic decay of the neutral K meson, KL -> pi e nu (Ke3), was used
to study the strangeness-changing weak interaction of hadrons. A sample of 5.6
million reconstructed events recorded by the NA48 experiment was used to
measure the Dalitz plot density. Admitting all possible Lorentz-covariant
couplings, the form factors for vector (f_+(q^2)), scalar (f_S) and tensor
(f_T) interactions were measured. The linear slope of the vector form factor
lambda_+ = 0.0284+-0.0007+-0.0013 and values for the ratios |f_S/f_+(0)| =
0.015^{+0.007}_{-0.010}+-0.012 and |f_T/f_+(0)| = 0.05^{+0.03}_{-0.04}+-0.03
were obtained. The values for f_S and f_T are consistent with zero. Assuming
only Vector-Axial vector couplings, lambda_+ = 0.0288+-0.0004+-0.0011 and a
good fit consistent with pure V-A couplings were obtained. Alternatively, a fit
to a dipole form factor yields a pole mass of M = 859+-18 MeV, consistent with
the K^*(892) mass.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures. submitted to Phys. Lett.
Search for Relativistic Magnetic Monopoles with IceCube
We present the first results in the search for relativistic magnetic
monopoles with the IceCube detector, a subsurface neutrino telescope located in
the South Polar ice cap containing a volume of 1 km. This analysis
searches data taken on the partially completed detector during 2007 when
roughly 0.2 km of ice was instrumented. The lack of candidate events
leads to an upper limit on the flux of relativistic magnetic monopoles of
\Phi_{\mathrm{90%C.L.}}\sim 3\e{-18}\fluxunits for . This is a
factor of 4 improvement over the previous best experimental flux limits up to a
Lorentz boost below . This result is then interpreted for a
wide range of mass and kinetic energy values.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures. v2 is minor text edits, no changes to resul
Cluster Lenses
Clusters of galaxies are the most recently assembled, massive, bound
structures in the Universe. As predicted by General Relativity, given their
masses, clusters strongly deform space-time in their vicinity. Clusters act as
some of the most powerful gravitational lenses in the Universe. Light rays
traversing through clusters from distant sources are hence deflected, and the
resulting images of these distant objects therefore appear distorted and
magnified. Lensing by clusters occurs in two regimes, each with unique
observational signatures. The strong lensing regime is characterized by effects
readily seen by eye, namely, the production of giant arcs, multiple-images, and
arclets. The weak lensing regime is characterized by small deformations in the
shapes of background galaxies only detectable statistically. Cluster lenses
have been exploited successfully to address several important current questions
in cosmology: (i) the study of the lens(es) - understanding cluster mass
distributions and issues pertaining to cluster formation and evolution, as well
as constraining the nature of dark matter; (ii) the study of the lensed objects
- probing the properties of the background lensed galaxy population - which is
statistically at higher redshifts and of lower intrinsic luminosity thus
enabling the probing of galaxy formation at the earliest times right up to the
Dark Ages; and (iii) the study of the geometry of the Universe - as the
strength of lensing depends on the ratios of angular diameter distances between
the lens, source and observer, lens deflections are sensitive to the value of
cosmological parameters and offer a powerful geometric tool to probe Dark
Energy. In this review, we present the basics of cluster lensing and provide a
current status report of the field.Comment: About 120 pages - Published in Open Access at:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/j183018170485723/ . arXiv admin note:
text overlap with arXiv:astro-ph/0504478 and arXiv:1003.3674 by other author
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