SUPERNOVA 2009kf: AN ULTRAVIOLET BRIGHT TYPE IIP SUPERNOVA DISCOVERED WITH PAN-STARRS 1 AND GALEX

We present photometric and spectroscopic observations of a luminous Type IIP Supernova (SN) 2009kf discovered by the Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) survey and also detected by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer. The SN shows a plateau in its optical and bolometric light curves, lasting approximately 70 days in the rest frame, with an absolute magnitude of M-V = - 18.4 mag. The P-Cygni profiles of hydrogen indicate expansion velocities of 9000 km s(-1) at 61 days after discovery which is extremely high for a Type IIP SN. SN 2009kf is also remarkably bright in the near-ultraviolet (NUV) and shows a slow evolution 10-20 days after optical discovery. The NUV and optical luminosity at these epochs can be modeled with a blackbody with a hot effective temperature (T similar to 16,000 K) and a large radius (R similar to 1 x 10(15) cm). The bright bolometric and NUV luminosity, the light curve peak and plateau duration, the high velocities, and temperatures suggest that 2009kf is a Type IIP SN powered by a larger than normal explosion energy. Recently discovered high-z SNe (0.7

Three dimensional water vapour visualization in porous packing by near-infrared diffuse transmittance tomography

Near-infrared diffuse tomography was used in order to observe dynamic behaviour of flowing gases by measuring the 3D distributions of composition and temperature in a weakly scattering packed bed reactor, subject to wall effects and non-isothermal conditions. The technique was applied to the vapour phase hydrogen isotopic exchange reaction in a hydrophobic packing of low aspect ratio made of platinum on styrene divinyl benzene sulphonate copolymer resin. The results of tomography revealed uneven temperature and composition maps of water and deuterated water vapours in the core-packed bed and in the vicinity of the wall owing to flow maldistribution. The dynamic lag between the near-wall water vapour and deuterated water vapour compositions were observed suggesting that the convective transfer which was significant near the wall at the start, owing to high porosity, was also effective at large conversions.

ON THE ORIGIN OF NH IN DIFFUSE INTERSTELLAR CLOUDS

The observation by Meyer & Roch of NH in the interstellar clouds towards zeta Per and HD 27778 cannot be explained with conventional gas-phase chemistry models. A simple non-equilibrium model for the zeta Per cloud, which incorporates the grain-surface production of NH and OH or, alternatively, NH3 and H2O, is able to reproduce the abundances of all observed species (except CH+) quite accurately. Moreover, chemical models which include grain-surface reactions can reproduce the observed abundance not only of NH but also of CN, which is efficiently formed at low temperatures, initiated by the reaction of NH with C+. Pure gas-phase models and cloud interface models, in which NH and CH+ are formed in a warm and tenuous environment, fail to explain the observed high abundance of CN. Hence the observation of NH in zeta Per and HD 27778 provides evidence for the presence of grain-surface reactions leading to molecules other than H-2. It is predicted that NH2 and NH3 should have abundances not much below that of NH if NH3 instead of NH is formed on grains. With or without surface reactions, the column densities of H2O and C2H are expected to be about 10(13) cm-2, and these molecules may be detectable in the zeta Per cloud.

Approaches to the Implementation of the Water Framework Directive: Targeting Mitigation Measures at Critical Source Areas of Diffuse Phosphorus in Irish Catchments

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) has initiated a shift towards a targeted approach to implementation through its focus on river basin districts as management units and the natural ecological characteristics of waterbodies. Due to its role in eutrophication, phosphorus (P) has received considerable attention, resulting in a significant body of research, which now forms the evidence base for the programme of measures (POMs) adopted in WFD River Basin Management Plans (RBMP). Targeting POMs at critical sources areas (CSAs) of P could significantly improve environmental efficiency and cost effectiveness of proposed mitigation strategies. This paper summarises the progress made towards targeting mitigation measures at CSAs in Irish catchments. A review of current research highlights that knowledge related to P export at field scale is relatively comprehensive however; the availability of site-specific data and tools limits widespread identification of CSA at this scale. Increasing complexity of hydrological processes at larger scales limits accurate identification of CSA at catchment scale. Implementation of a tiered approach, using catchment scale tools in conjunction with field-by-field surveys could decrease uncertainty and provide a more practical and cost effective method of delineating CSA in a range of catchments. Despite scientific and practical uncertainties, development of a tiered CSA-based approach to assist in the development of supplementary measures would provide a means of developing catchment-specific and cost-effective programmes of measures for diffuse P. The paper presents a conceptual framework for such an approach, which would have particular relevance for the development of supplementary measures in High Status Waterbodies (HSW). The cost and resources necessary for implementation are justified based on HSWs’ value as undisturbed reference condition ecosystems.

Pan-STARRS1 DISCOVERY OF TWO ULTRALUMINOUS SUPERNOVAE AT(z) approximate to 0.9

We present the discovery of two ultraluminous supernovae (SNe) at z approximate to 0.9 with the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey. These SNe, PS1-10ky and PS1-10awh, are among the most luminous SNe ever discovered, comparable to the unusual transients SN 2005ap and SCP 06F6. Like SN 2005ap and SCP 06F6, they show characteristic high luminosities (M-bol approximate to -22.5 mag), blue spectra with a few broad absorption lines, and no evidence for H or He. We have constructed a full multi-color light curve sensitive to the peak of the spectral energy distribution in the rest-frame ultraviolet, and we have obtained time series spectroscopy for these SNe. Given the similarities between the SNe, we combine their light curves to estimate a total radiated energy over the course of explosion of (0.9-1.4) x 10(51) erg. We find photospheric velocities of 12,000-19,000 km s(-1) with no evidence for deceleration measured across similar to 3 rest-frame weeks around light curve peak, consistent with the expansion of an optically thick massive shell of material. We show that, consistent with findings for other ultraluminous SNe in this class, radioactive decay is not sufficient to power PS1-10ky, and we discuss two plausible origins for these events: the initial spin-down of a newborn magnetar in a core-collapse SN, or SN shock breakout from the dense circumstellar wind surrounding a Wolf-Rayet star.

DISPLAYING THE HETEROGENEITY OF THE SN 2002cx-LIKE SUBCLASS OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE WITH OBSERVATIONS OF THE Pan-STARRS-1 DISCOVERED SN 2009ku

SN 2009ku, discovered by Pan-STARRS-1, is a Type Ia supernova (SN Ia), and a member of the distinct SN 2002cx-like class of SNe Ia. Its light curves are similar to the prototypical SN 2002cx, but are slightly broader and have a later rise to maximum in g. SN 2009ku is brighter (similar to 0.6 mag) than other SN 2002cx-like objects, peaking at M-V = -18.4 mag, which is still significantly fainter than typical SNe Ia. SN 2009ku, which had an ejecta velocity of similar to 2000 km s(-1) at 18 days after maximum brightness, is spectroscopically most similar to SN 2008ha, which also had extremely low-velocity ejecta. However, SN 2008ha had an exceedingly low luminosity, peaking at M-V = -14.2 mag, similar to 4 mag fainter than SN 2009ku. The contrast of high luminosity and low ejecta velocity for SN 2009ku is contrary to an emerging trend seen for the SN 2002cx class. SN 2009ku is a counterexample of a previously held belief that the class was more homogeneous than typical SNe Ia, indicating that the class has a diverse progenitor population and/or complicated explosion physics. As the first example of a member of this class of objects from the new generation of transient surveys, SN 2009ku is an indication of the potential for these surveys to find rare and interesting objects.

Discovery of Main-Belt Comet P/2006 VW139 by Pan-STARRS 1

The main-belt asteroid (300163) 2006 VW139 (later designated P/2006 VW139) was discovered to exhibit comet-like activity by the Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) survey telescope using automated point-spread-function analyses performed by PS1's Moving Object Processing System. Deep follow-up observations show both a short (~10'') antisolar dust tail and a longer (~60'') dust trail aligned with the object's orbit plane, similar to the morphology observed for another main-belt comet (MBC), P/2010 R2 (La Sagra), and other well-established comets, implying the action of a long-lived, sublimation-driven emission event. Photometry showing the brightness of the near-nucleus coma remaining constant over ~30 days provides further evidence for this object's cometary nature, suggesting it is in fact an MBC, and not a disrupted asteroid. A spectroscopic search for CN emission was unsuccessful, though we find an upper limit CN production rate of Q CN 100 Myr, while a search for a potential asteroid family around the object reveals a cluster of 24 asteroids within a cutoff distance of 68 m s-1. At 70 m s-1, this cluster merges with the Themis family, suggesting that it could be similar to the Beagle family to which another MBC, 133P/Elst-Pizarro, belongs.

Pan-serotypic detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus using a minor groove binder probe reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay

A novel assay for the pan-serotypic detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) was designed using a 5' conjugated minor groove binder (MGB) probe real-time RT-PCR system. This assay targets the 3D region of the FMDV genome and is capable of detecting 20 copies of a transcribed RNA standard. The linear range of the test was eight logs from 2 x 10(1) to 2 x 10(8) copies and amplification time was approximately 2 h. Using a panel of 83 RNA samples from representative FMDV isolates, the diagnostic sensitivity of this test was shown to be equivalent to a TaqMan real-time RT-PCR that targets the 5' untranslated region of FMDV. Furthermore, the assay does not detect viruses causing similar clinical diseases in pigs such as swine vesicular disease virus and vesicular stomatitis virus, nor does it detect marine caliciviruses causing vesicular exanthema. The development of this assay provides a useful tool for the differential diagnosis of FMD, potentially for use in statutory or emergency testing programmes, or for detection of FMDV RNA in research applications. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efficacy of cecropin A-melittin peptides on a sepsis model of infection by pan-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Pan-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii have prompted the search for therapeutic alternatives. We evaluate the efficacy of four cecropin A-melittin hybrid peptides (CA-M) in vivo. Toxicity was determined in mouse erythrocytes and in mice (lethal dose parameters were LD(0), LD(50), LD(100)). Protective dose 50 (PD(50)) was determined by inoculating groups of ten mice with the minimal lethal dose of A. baumannii (BMLD) and treating with doses of each CA-M from 0.5 mg/kg to LD(0). The activity of CA-Ms against A. baumannii was assessed in a peritoneal sepsis model. Mice were sacrificed at 0 and 1, 3, 5, and 7-h post-treatment. Spleen and peritoneal fluid bacterial concentrations were measured. CA(1-8)M(1-18) was the less haemolytic on mouse erythrocytes. LD(0) (mg/kg) was 32 for CA(1-8)M(1-18), CA(1-7)M(2-9), and Oct-CA(1-7)M(2-9), and 16 for CA(1-7)M(5-9). PD(50) was not achieved with non-toxic doses (= LD(0)). In the sepsis model, all CA-Ms were bacteriostatic in spleen, and decreased bacterial concentration (p <0.05) in peritoneal fluid, at 1-h post-treatment; at later times, bacterial regrowth was observed in peritoneal fluid. CA-Ms showed local short-term efficacy in the peritoneal sepsis model caused by pan-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.