On the putative class of B[e] X-ray binaries

We discuss the putative class of B[e] X-ray binaries, with reference to currently identified candidate systems, focusing on CI Cam and the newly identified class of highly obscured hard X-ray sources detected by INTEGRAL. We suggest that such a class will likely consist of two types of object in which the B[e] phenomenon is (i) intrinsic to the mass donor or (ii) a result of binarity. Finally, we discuss the difficulties inherent in observing B[e] X-ray binaries and the physical motivations for their study, which include the origin of the Galactic hard X-ray emission and the propagation of jets in dense media

The P Cygni supergiant [OMN2000] LS1 – implications for the star formation history of W51

Original article can be found at: http://www.aanda.org/ Copyright The European Southern Observatory (ESO) DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/200911980Aims. We investigate the nature of the massive star [OMN2000] LS1 and use these results to constrain the history of star formation within the host complex W51. Methods. We utilised a combination of near-IR spectroscopy and non-LTE model atmosphere analysis to derive the physical properties of [OMN2000] LS1 , and a combination of theoretical evolutionary calculations and Monte Carlo simulations to apply limits on the star formation history of W51. Results. We find the spectrum of [OMN2000] LS1 to be consistent with that of a P Cygni supergiant. With a temperature in the range of 13.2–13.7 kK and log( ) , it is significantly cooler, less luminous, and less massive than proposed by previous authors. The presence of such a star within W51 shows that star formation has been underway for at least 3 Myr, while the formation of massive O stars is still on going. The lack of a population of evolved red supergiants within the complex shows that the rate of formation of young massive clusters at ages 9 Myr was lower than currently observed. We find no evidence of internally triggered, sequential star formation within W51, and favour the suggestion that star formation has proceeded at multiple indepedent sites within the GMC. Along with other examples, such as the G305 and Carina star-forming regions, we suggest that W51 is a Galactic analogue of the ubiquitous star cluster complexes seen in external galaxies such as M51 and NGC2403.Peer reviewe

Characteristics and outcomes of culture-negative prosthetic joint infections from the Prosthetic Joint Infection in Australia and New Zealand Observational (PIANO) cohort study

Introduction: Culture-negative (CN) prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) account for approximately 10 % of all PJIs and present significant challenges for clinicians. We aimed to explore the significance of CN PJIs within a large prospective cohort study, comparing their characteristics and outcomes with culture-positive (CP) cases. Methods: The Prosthetic joint Infection in Australia and New Zealand Observational (PIANO) study is a prospective, multicentre observational cohort study that was conducted at 27 hospitals between 2014 and 2017. We compared baseline characteristics and outcomes of all patients with CN PJI from the PIANO cohort with those of CP cases. We report on PJI diagnostic criteria in the CN cohort and apply internationally recognized PJI diagnostic guidelines to determine optimal CN PJI detection methods. Results: Of the 650 patients with 24-month outcome data available, 55 (8.5 %) were CN and 595 were CP. Compared with the CP cohort, CN patients were more likely to be female (32 (58.2 %) vs. 245 (41.2 %); p = 0.016), involve the shoulder joint (5 (9.1 %) vs. 16 (2.7 %); p = 0.026), and have a lower mean C-reactive protein (142 mg L−1 vs. 187 mg L−1; p = 0.016). Overall, outcomes were superior in CN patients, with culture negativity an independent predictor of treatment success at 24 months (adjusted odds ratio, aOR, of 3.78 and 95 %CI of 1.65–8.67). Suboptimal diagnostic sampling was common in both cohorts, with CN PJI case detection enhanced using the Infectious Diseases Society of America PJI diagnostic guidelines. Conclusions: Current PJI diagnostic guidelines vary substantially in their ability to detect CN PJI, with comprehensive diagnostic sampling necessary to achieve diagnostic certainty. Definitive surgical management strategies should be determined by careful assessment of infection type, rather than by culture status alone

Influences of neutron star parameters on evolutions of different types of pulsar; evolutions of anomalous X-ray pulsars, soft gamma repeaters and dim isolated thermal neutron stars on the P-\.{P} diagram

Influences of the mass, moment of inertia, rotation, absence of stability in the atmosphere and some other parameters of neutron stars on the evolution of pulsars are examined. It is shown that the locations and evolutions of soft gamma repeaters, anomalous X-ray pulsars and other types of pulsar on the period versus period derivative diagram can be explained adopting values of B$<10^{14}$ G for these objects. This approach gives the possibility to explain many properties of different types of pulsar.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figur

Breastfeeding, Bonding, and the Mother-infant Relationship

Mothers often report that breastfeeding is an enjoyable and emotionally beneficial experience they share with their infants. However, little research has investigated the role of feeding method in the development of the maternal bond and the mother-infant relationship. This study tested two hypotheses - the bonding hypothesis and the good-enough caregiver hypothesis - regarding the association of breastfeeding with maternal bonding and the mother-infant relationship. Using data from a longitudinal study of 570 mother-infant pairs, bonding and the quality of the mother-infant relationship were measured at 4 and 12 months. Although breastfeeding dyads tended to show higher quality relationships at 12 months, bottlefeeding dyads did not display poor quality or precarious relationships. Such results are encouraging For nonmaternal caregivers and mothers who bottlefeed their children

Near-Earth asteroid sample return missions

The rate of discovery of new NEAs and the success of D-S 1 and NEAR-Shoemaker, suggest that sample return from NEAs is now technically feasible. Here we present a summary of a recent workshop on the topic

Akimiski Island, Nunavut, Canada: The Use of Cree Oral History and Sea-Level Retrodiction to Resolve Aboriginal Title

On 1 April 1999, Akimiski Island of the western James Bay region of northern Ontario, Canada, was included&nbsp;in the newly formed territory of Nunavut, Canada—an Inuit-dominated territory—even though the Inuit had never asserted Aboriginal title to the island. By contrast, the Omushkegowuk Cree of the western James Bay region have asserted Aboriginal title to Akimiski Island. The Government of Canada by their action (or inaction) has reversed the onus of responsibility for proof of Aboriginal title from the Inuit to the Cree. In other words, the Government of Canada did not follow their own guidelines and the common-law test for proof of Aboriginal title. In this paper, we documented and employed Cree oral history as well as a sea-level retrodiction (based on state-of-the-art numerical modeling of past sea-level changes in James Bay), which incorporated a modified ICE-6G ice history and a 3-D model of Earth structure, to establish that criterion 2 of the test for Aboriginal title has now been fully met. In other words, Cree traditional use and occupancy of Akimiski Island was considered sufficiently factual at the time of assertion of sovereignty by European nations. As all the criteria of the common-law test for proof of Aboriginal title in Canada, with respect to Akimiski Island, have now been addressed, the Cree have sufficient basis&nbsp;to initiate the process of a formal land claim.Le 1er avril 1999, l’île Akimiski, située dans la région ouest de la baie James, dans le nord de l’Ontario, au Canada,&nbsp;a été intégrée au nouveau territoire du Nunavut, territoire dominé par les Inuits, même si ceux-ci n’avaient jamais revendiqué le titre ancestral de cette île. En revanche, les Cris omushkegowuk de la région ouest de la baie James ont revendiqué leur titre ancestral à l’égard de l’île Akimiski. Le geste (ou l’absence de geste) du gouvernement du Canada a eu pour effet d’inverser la responsabilité de prouver le titre ancestral des Inuits aux Cris. Autrement dit, le gouvernement du Canada n’a pas respecté ses propres directives et les critères de droit commun comme preuve de titre ancestral. Dans cet article, nous avons documenté et employé l’histoire orale crie ainsi qu’une rétrodiction du niveau de la mer (d’après une modélisation numérique perfectionnée d’anciens changements du niveau de la mer de la baie James), contenant un historique modifié de la glace ICE-6G et une modélisation en trois dimensions de la structure de la Terre, afin d’établir que le critère 2 des critères du titre ancestral est maintenant entièrement atteint. Autrement dit, l’usage et l’occupation traditionnels de l’île Akimiski par les Cris ont été considérés comme des faits suffisants au moment de la revendication de la souveraineté par les nations européennes. Puisque tous les critères de droit commun permettant de prouver le titre ancestral de l’île Akimiski au Canada ont maintenant été&nbsp;respectés, les Cris disposent de fondements suffisants pour entreprendre une revendication territoriale officielle

Young star clusters in M31

In our study of M31's globular cluster system with MMT/Hectospec, we have obtained high-quality spectra of 85 clusters with ages less than 1 Gyr. With the exception of Hubble V, the young cluster in NGC 205, we find that these young clusters have kinematics and spatial distribution consistent with membership in M31's young disk. Preliminary estimates of the cluster masses and structural parameters, using spectroscopically derived ages and HST imaging, confirms earlier suggestions that M31 has clusters similar to the LMC's young populous clusters.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, contributed talk at "Galaxies in the Local Volume" conference in Sydney, July 200

Bose-Einstein Condensation and Free DKP field

The thermodynamical partition function of the Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau theory is evaluated using the imaginary-time formalism of quantum field theory at finite temperature and path integral methods. The DKP partition function displays two features: (i) full equivalence with the partition function for charged scalar particles and charged massive spin 1 particles; and (ii) the zero mode sector which is essential to reproduce the well-known relativistic Bose-Einstein condensation for both theories.Comment: 12 pages, 2 eps figures. To be published in Physics Letter