96 research outputs found
Constraints on the Equation-of-State of neutron stars from nearby neutron star observations
We try to constrain the Equation-of-State (EoS) of supra-nuclear-density
matter in neutron stars (NSs) by observations of nearby NSs. There are seven
thermally emitting NSs known from X-ray and optical observations, the so-called
Magnificent Seven (M7), which are young (up to few Myrs), nearby (within a few
hundred pc), and radio-quiet with blackbody-like X-ray spectra, so that we can
observe their surfaces. As bright X-ray sources, we can determine their
rotational (pulse) period and their period derivative from X-ray timing. From
XMM and/or Chandra X-ray spectra, we can determine their temperature. With
precise astrometric observations using the Hubble Space Telescope, we can
determine their parallax (i.e. distance) and optical flux. From flux, distance,
and temperature, one can derive the emitting area - with assumptions about the
atmosphere and/or temperature distribution on the surface. This was recently
done by us for the two brightest M7 NSs RXJ1856 and RXJ0720. Then, from
identifying absorption lines in X-ray spectra, one can also try to determine
gravitational redshift. Also, from rotational phase-resolved spectroscopy, we
have for the first time determined the compactness (mass/radius) of the M7 NS
RBS1223. If also applied to RXJ1856, radius (from luminosity and temperature)
and compactness (from X-ray data) will yield the mass and radius - for the
first time for an isolated single neutron star. We will present our
observations and recent results.Comment: refereed NPA5 conference proceedings, in pres
No temporal association between influenza outbreaks and invasive pneumococcal infections
Multi-site campaign for transit timing variations of WASP-12 b: possible detection of a long-period signal of planetary origin
The transiting planet WASP-12 b was identified as a potential target for
transit timing studies because a departure from a linear ephemeris was reported
in the literature. Such deviations could be caused by an additional planet in
the system. We attempt to confirm the existence of claimed variations in
transit timing and interpret its origin. We organised a multi-site campaign to
observe transits by WASP-12 b in three observing seasons, using 0.5-2.6-metre
telescopes. We obtained 61 transit light curves, many of them with
sub-millimagnitude precision. The simultaneous analysis of the best-quality
datasets allowed us to obtain refined system parameters, which agree with
values reported in previous studies. The residuals versus a linear ephemeris
reveal a possible periodic signal that may be approximated by a sinusoid with
an amplitude of 0.00068+/-0.00013 d and period of 500+/-20 orbital periods of
WASP-12 b. The joint analysis of timing data and published radial velocity
measurements results in a two-planet model which better explains observations
than single-planet scenarios. We hypothesize that WASP-12 b might be not the
only planet in the system and there might be the additional 0.1 M_Jup body on a
3.6-d eccentric orbit. A dynamical analysis indicates that the proposed
two-planet system is stable over long timescales.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
A Possible Detection of Occultation by a Proto-planetary Clump in GM Cephei
GM Cep in the young (~4 Myr) open cluster Trumpler 37 has been known to be an
abrupt variable and to have a circumstellar disk with very active accretion.
Our monitoring observations in 2009-2011 revealed the star to show sporadic
flare events, each with brightening of < 0.5 mag lasting for days. These
brightening events, associated with a color change toward the blue, should
originate from an increased accretion activity. Moreover, the star also
underwent a brightness drop of ~1 mag lasting for about a month, during which
the star became bluer when fainter. Such brightness drops seem to have a
recurrence time scale of a year, as evidenced in our data and the photometric
behavior of GM Cep over a century. Between consecutive drops, the star
brightened gradually by about 1 mag and became blue at peak luminosity. We
propose that the drop is caused by obscuration of the central star by an
orbiting dust concentration. The UX Orionis type of activity in GM Cep
therefore exemplifies the disk inhomogeneity process in transition between
grain coagulation and planetesimal formation in a young circumstellar disk.Comment: In submission to the Astrophysical Journal, 4 figure
Presupernova Structure of Massive Stars
Issues concerning the structure and evolution of core collapse progenitor
stars are discussed with an emphasis on interior evolution. We describe a
program designed to investigate the transport and mixing processes associated
with stellar turbulence, arguably the greatest source of uncertainty in
progenitor structure, besides mass loss, at the time of core collapse. An
effort to use precision observations of stellar parameters to constrain
theoretical modeling is also described.Comment: Proceedings for invited talk at High Energy Density Laboratory
Astrophysics conference, Caltech, March 2010. Special issue of Astrophysics
and Space Science, submitted for peer review: 7 pages, 3 figure
A recepção da famĂlia na hospitalização de crianças
Fundamentando-se em estudos que discutem a participação de familiares na hospitalização de seus filhos, este trabalho pretende estudar como os familiares de crianças hospitalizadas vivenciam o momento da recepção, que profissional da equipe os acompanha durante os procedimentos iniciais, que informações recebem e quem encarrega-se de informá-los, logo que a criança é admitida no hospital em razão de uma doença que necessita de cuidados hospitalares. Os participantes foram 40 pais e se utilizou entrevistas semi-estruturadas para a coleta de dados. Estes foram analisados segundo métodos de análise de conteúdo. Os resultados mostraram que os pais vivenciam um estado de ansiedade generalizado, não sabem nomear que profissional os acompanhou, além de lembrarem-se de informações esporádicas que dizem respeito, exclusivamente, às suas necessidades imediatas
A Novel Manganese Efflux System, YebN, Is Required for Virulence by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
Manganese ions (Mn2+) play a crucial role in virulence and protection against oxidative stress in bacterial pathogens. Such pathogens appear to have evolved complex mechanisms for regulating Mn2+ uptake and efflux. Despite numerous studies on Mn2+ uptake, however, only one efflux system has been identified to date. Here, we report on a novel Mn2+ export system, YebN, in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causative agent of bacterial leaf blight. Compared with wild-type PXO99, the yebN mutant was highly sensitive to Mn2+ and accumulated high concentrations of intracellular manganese. In addition, we found that expression of yebN was positively regulated by Mn2+ and the Mn2+-dependent transcription regulator, MntR. Interestingly, the yebN mutant was more tolerant to methyl viologen and H2O2 in low Mn2+ medium than PXO99, but more sensitive in high Mn2+ medium, implying that YebN plays an important role in Mn2+ homoeostasis and detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Notably, deletion of yebN rendered Xoo sensitive to hypo-osmotic shock, suggesting that YebN may protect against such stress. That mutation of yebN substantially reduced the Xoo growth rate and lesion formation in rice implies that YebN could be involved in Xoo fitness in host. Although YebN has two DUF204 domains, it lacks homology to any known metal transporter. Hence, this is the first report of a novel metal export system that plays essential roles in hypo-osmotic and oxidative stress, and virulence. Our results lay the foundations for elucidating the complex and fascinating relationship between metal homeostasis and host-pathogen interactions
Psychological interpretation of the ex-Gaussian and shifted Wald parameters: A diffusion model analysis
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