4,339 research outputs found
Discovery of disc precession in the M31 dipping X-ray binary Bo 158
We present results from three XMM-Newton observations of the M31 low mass
X-ray binary XMMU J004314.4+410726.3 (Bo 158), spaced over 3 days in 2004,
July. Bo 158 was the first dipping LMXB to be discovered in M31. Periodic
intensity dips were previously seen to occur on a 2.78-hr period, due to
absorption in material that is raised out of the plane of the accretion disc.
The report of these observations stated that the dip depth was anti-correlated
with source intensity. However, our new observations do not favour a strict
intensity dependance, but rather suggest that the dip variation is due to
precession of the accretion disc. This is to be expected in LMXBs with a mass
ratio <~ 0.3 (period <~ 4 hr), as the disc reaches the 3:1 resonance with the
binary companion, causing elongation and precession of the disc. A smoothed
particle hydrodynamics simulation of the disc in this system shows retrograde
rotation of a disc warp on a period of ~11 P_orb, and prograde disc precession
on a period of ~29 P_orb. This is consistent with the observed variation in the
depth of the dips. We find that the dipping behaviour is most likely to be
modified by the disc precession, hence we predict that the dipping behaviour
repeats on a 81+/-3 hr cycle.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication by MNRAS, changed
conten
Quintessence and Thermal Matter
We investigate the effects of thermal interactions on tracking models of
quintessence. We show that even Planck-suppressed interactions between matter
and the quintessence field can alter its evolution. The dark energy equation of
state is in many cases strongly affected by matter couplings. We obtain a bound
on the coupling between quintessence and relativistic relic particles such as
the photon or neutrino.Comment: LaTex, 11 pages, 5 figures. Minor additions. Version to appear in
Physics Letters
Entropy Production at RHIC
For central heavy ion collisions at the RHIC energy, the entropy per unit
rapidity dS/dy at freeze-out is extracted with minimal model dependence from
available experimental measurements of particle yields, spectra, and source
sizes estimated from two-particle interferometry. The extracted entropy
rapidity density is consistent with lattice gauge theory results for a
thermalized quark-gluon plasma with an energy density estimated from transverse
energy production at RHIC.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, Revtex, version to appear in PL
Employing geographical principles for sampling in state of the art dialectological projects
The aims of this paper are twofold: First, we locate the most effective human geographical methods for sampling across space in large-scale dialectological projects. We propose two geographical concepts as a basis for sampling decisions: Geo-demographic classification, which is a multidimensional method used for the socio-economic grouping of areas. We also develop an updated version of functional regions that can be used in sociolinguistic research. We then report on the results of a pilot project that applies these models to collect data regarding the acceptability of vernacular morpho-syntactic forms in the North-East of England. Following the method of natural breaks advocated for dialectology by Horvath and Horvath (2002), we interpret breaks in the probabilistic patterns as areas of dialect transitions. This study contributes to the debate about the role and limitations of spatiality in linguistic analysis. It intends to broaden our knowledge about the interfaces between human geography and dialectology
Nurturing environments and nutrient-rich diets may improve cognitive development: analysis of cognitive trajectories from six to sixty months from the MAL-ED study (OR10-01-19)
Objectives: To identify clusters of cognitive developmental trajectories and associated differentiating factors of children aged 6 to 60 months old in 5 low to middle-income sites.Methods: We followed 835 children and assessed anthropometry at enrolment (≤ 17 d old); bi-weekly illness data (0–24 and 60 mo); non-diarrheal and diarrheal stools (0–24 mo) analyzed for a panel of enteropathogens; quantitative complementary food intakes (9–24 and 60 mo); micronutrient status (Fe, Zn, Vit A; 7, 15, and 24 mo); quality of the child\u27s home environment (6, 24, and 60 mo) and maternal reasoning ability and depressive symptoms via questionnaire. Child cognitive development was assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III (6, 15 and 24 mo) and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (60 mo). Clusters of trajectories were identified using a latent class mixed model. Differences between clusters were described using discriminant analysis to rank the contribution of each variable using correlation-adjusted t-scores (CAT).Results: Five clusters were identified. From 51 discriminatory factors, 10 had greatest descriptive power: HOME score at 60 mo (mean CAT2 ± SD: 34.6 ± 0.35), proportion of days ill from 0–24 mo (23.9 ± 0.18), years of maternal schooling (13.8 ± 0.23), mean nutrient densities of zinc (12.3 ± 0.07), protein (8.95 ± 0.09), vitamin B6 (8.2 ± 0.10), phytate (7.91 ± 0.05) and mean energy (7.82 ± 0.04) from complementary foods (9–24 mo), % days of exclusive breastfeeding (0–6 mo; 6.42 ± 0.10) and weight-for-age at enrolment (6.14 ± 0.17). The discriminant analysis model fit was statistically significant (Wilk\u27s λ 0.54, P \u3c 0.01).Conclusions: Early life factors associated with higher scoring trajectories included stimulation and support for the child in their home, complementary feeding that typified greater diversity and animal-source foods, and maternal years of schooling. Influences associated with lower scoring trajectories included lower weight at enrolment and higher prevalence of illness. Policies promoting maternal and child nutrition, education and fostering a nurturing environment are likely to have greatest impact on child development
Discovery and modelling of disc precession in the M31 X-ray binary Bo 158?
The low mass X-ray binary (LMXB) associated with the M31 globular cluster Bo
158 is known to exhibit intensity dips on a ~2.78 hr period. This is due to
obscuration of the X-ray source on the orbital period by material on the outer
edge of the accretion disc. However, the depth of dipping varied from <10% to
\~83% in three archival XMM-Newton observations of Bo 158. Previous work
suggested that the dip depth was anticorrelated with the X-ray luminosity.
However, we present results from three new XMM-Newton observations that suggest
that the evolution of dipping is instead due to precession of the accretion
disc. Such precession is expected in neutron star LMXBs with mass ratios <0.3
(i.e. with orbital periods <4 hr), such as the Galactic dipping LMXB 4U
1916-053. We simulated the accretion disc of Bo 158 using cutting-edge 3D
smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), and using the observed parameters. Our
results show disc variability on two time-scales. The disc precesses in a
prograde direction on a period of 81+/-3 hr. Also, a radiatively-driven disc
warp is present in the inner disc, which undergoes retrograde precesson on a
\~31 hr period. From the system geometry, we conclude that the dipping
evolution is driven by the disc precession. Hence we predict that the dipping
behaviour repeats on a ~81 hr cycle.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, to appear in proceedings "The X-ray Universe
2005", San Lorenzo de El Escoriale (Madrid, Spain), 26-30 September 200
Iron Deficiency is Related to Depressive Symptoms in United States Nonpregnant Women of Reproductive Age : A Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES 2005-2010
This study was supported by the John L. Beard Program Endowment Fund.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Adequacy of Iodine Status and Associations with Gut Health : A Prospective Cohort Study among Infants in 8 Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Peer reviewe
Interactive computer-based interventions for sexual health promotion (Protocol)
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