SIGMA and XTE observations of the soft X-ray transient XTEJ1755-324

We present observations of the X-ray transient XTEJ1755-324 performed during summer 1997 with the XTE satellite and with the SIGMA hard X-ray telescope onboard the GRANAT observatory. The source was first detected in soft X-rays with XTE on July 25 1997 with a rather soft X-ray spectrum and its outburst was monitored in soft X-rays up to November 1997. On September 16 it was first detected in hard X-rays by the French soft gamma ray telescope SIGMA during a Galactic Center observation. The flux was stronger on September 16 and 17 reaching a level of about 110 mCrab in the 40-80 keV energy band. On the same days the photon index of the spectrum was determined to be alpha =-2.3 +/- 0.9 (1 sigma error) while the 40-150 keV luminosity was about 8 x 10^{36} erg/s for a distance of 8.5 kpc. SIGMA and XTE results on this source indicate that this source had an ultrasoft-like state during its main outburst and a harder secondary outburst in September. These characteristics make the source similar to X-Nova Muscae 1991, a well known black hole candidate.Comment: 19 pages LaTeX, 6 Postscript figures included, Accepted by Astrophysical Journa

Petrogenesis of Eocene oceanic basalts from the West Philippine Basin and Oligocene arc volcanics from the Palau-Kyushu Ridge drilled at 20°N, 135°E (Western Pacific Ocean).

The West Philippine Basin (WPB) is a back-arc basin that opened within the Philippine Sea Plate (PSP) between the current position of the Palau-Kyushu Ridge (PKR) and the margin of East Asia. Spreading occurred at the Central Basin Fault (CBF) mainly from 54 until 30 Ma. The PKR was active since ~ 48 to 35 Ma constituting a single volcanic arc with the Izu-Bonin-Mariana (IBM) Arc. At ~ 42 Ma ago spreading rate and direction changed from NE-SW to NS, stopping at ~ 30 Ma. A late phase of spreading and volcanism took place between 30 and 26 Ma. ODP Leg 195 Site 1201 is located in the WPB, ~ 100 km west of the PKR, on 49 Ma crust formed by NE-SW spreading at the CBF. From ~ 35 to 30 Ma, pelagic sedimentation at Site 1201 was followed by turbidite sedimentation, fed mostly by arc-derived volcanic clasts. The geochemical and isotopic features of Site 1201 basement rocks, which represent Eocene WPB oceanic crust, compared with those of Site 1201 volcanics from the turbidite sequence, representing products of the early Mariana Arc (PKR), provide some insights into the early history of the IBM subduction factory. The WPB basement is made up of aphyric to porphyritic basalts with altered olivine, and preserved plagioclase, clinopyroxene and opaques. The PKR volcanics are porphyritic basalts and andesites with plagioclase, clino- and orthopyroxene, hornblende, alkali feldspar and opaques. Variable textures, and degree of alteration suggesting zeolite facies metamorphic grade, characterize both groups of rocks. The mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the investigated Site 1201 PKR volcanics highlight their calc-alkaline affinity. This feature is at variance with both other PKR rocks, having mostly boninitic and arc tholeiitic affinity, and WPB basement basalt, having tholeiitic affinity, with some characters transitional to arc-like, as expected for a back-arc basin. New Sr and Nd isotope data, coupled with published Sr, Nd, Pb and Hf isotope data (Savov et al., 2006), highlight the Indian Ocean MORB-like character of Site 1201 basement basalts. This suggests that WPB volcanism tapped an upper mantle domain distinct from that underlying the Pacific Plate. The isotopic features of Site 1201 PKR volcanics are more enriched relative to those of basement basalts reflecting higher amounts of subduction-derived component(s) in the source of arc magmas. Th-Nb relationships and isotope geochemistry of the WPB basement and overlaying arc volcanics suggest addition of subducted sediment mostly as siliceous melts, to the mantle source of the arc volcanics. In that respect, Site 1201 PKR volcanics resemble calc-alkaline volcanics of the currently active Mariana Arc. In addition, the calc-alkaline affinity, unradiogenic neodymium, and inferred Middle Oligocene age of PKR volcanics, suggest they might represent an evolved stage of arc volcanism at Palau-Kyushu Ridge, perhaps shortly before the end of its activity

EP-1184: Hypofractionated simultaneous integrated boost radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery: 3 years follow-up

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The evolution of H{\sc ii} galaxies: Testing the bursting scenario through the use of self-consistent models

We have computed a series of realistic and self-consistent models of the emitted spectra of H{\sc ii} galaxies. Our models combine different codes of chemical evolution, evolutionary population synthesis and photoionization. The emitted spectrum of H{\sc ii} galaxies is reproduced by means of the photoionization code CLOUDY, using as ionizing spectrum the spectral energy distribution of the modelled H{\sc ii} galaxy, which in turn is calculated according to a Star Formation History (SFH) and a metallicity evolution given by a chemical evolution model that follows the abundances of 15 different elements. The contribution of emission lines to the broad-band colours is explicitly taken into account. The results of our code are compared with photometric and spectroscopic data of H{\sc ii} galaxies. Our technique reproduces observed diagnostic diagrams, abundances, equivalent width-colour and equivalent width-metallicity relations for local H{\sc ii} galaxies.Comment: 13 figures and 2 tables, accepted for publication in MNRAS Main Journa

Lognormal scale invariant random measures

In this article, we consider the continuous analog of the celebrated Mandelbrot star equation with lognormal weights. Mandelbrot introduced this equation to characterize the law of multiplicative cascades. We show existence and uniqueness of measures satisfying the aforementioned continuous equation; these measures fall under the scope of the Gaussian multiplicative chaos theory developed by J.P. Kahane in 1985 (or possibly extensions of this theory). As a by product, we also obtain an explicit characterization of the covariance structure of these measures. We also prove that qualitative properties such as long-range independence or isotropy can be read off the equation.Comment: 31 pages; Probability Theory and Related Fields (2012) electronic versio

Measuring impairments of functioning and health in patients with axial spondyloarthritis by using the ASAS Health Index and the Environmental Item Set : translation and cross-cultural adaptation into 15 languages

Introduction: The Assessments of SpondyloArthritis international society Health Index (ASAS HI) measures functioning and health in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) across 17 aspects of health and 9 environmental factors (EF). The objective was to translate and adapt the original English version of the ASAS HI, including the EF Item Set, cross-culturally into 15 languages. Methods: Translation and cross-cultural adaptation has been carried out following the forward-backward procedure. In the cognitive debriefing, 10 patients/country across a broad spectrum of sociodemographic background, were included. Results: The ASAS HI and the EF Item Set were translated into Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai and Turkish. Some difficulties were experienced with translation of the contextual factors indicating that these concepts may be more culturally-dependent. A total of 215 patients with axial SpA across 23 countries (62.3% men, mean (SD) age 42.4 (13.9) years) participated in the field test. Cognitive debriefing showed that items of the ASAS HI and EF Item Set are clear, relevant and comprehensive. All versions were accepted with minor modifications with respect to item wording and response option. The wording of three items had to be adapted to improve clarity. As a result of cognitive debriefing, a new response option 'not applicable' was added to two items of the ASAS HI to improve appropriateness. Discussion: This study showed that the items of the ASAS HI including the EFs were readily adaptable throughout all countries, indicating that the concepts covered were comprehensive, clear and meaningful in different cultures