A Suzaku view of IGR J16393-4643

The pulsar IGR J16393-4643 belongs to a class of highly absorbed supergiant high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs), characterized by a very high column density of absorbing matter. We present the results of simultaneous broad-band pulsation and spectrum analysis from a 44-ks Suzaku observation of the source. The orbital intensity profile created with the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (Swift-BAT) light curve shows an indication of IGR J16393-4643 being an eclipsing system with a short eclipse semi-angle theta(E) similar to 17 degrees. For a supergiant companion star with a 20-R-circle dot radius, this implies an inclination of the orbital plane in the range 39 degrees-57 degrees, whereas for a main-sequence B star as the companion with a 10-R-circle dot radius, the inclination of the orbital plane is in the range 60 degrees-77 degrees. Pulse profiles created for different energy bands have complex morphology, which shows some energy dependence and increases in pulse fraction with energy. We have also investigated broad-band spectral characteristics, phase-averaged spectra and resolving the pulse phase into peak and trough phases. The phase-averaged spectrum has a very high N-H(similar to 3 x 10(23) cm(-2)) and is described by a power law (Gamma similar to 0.9) with a high-energy cut-off above 20 keV. We find a change in the spectral index in the peak and trough phases, implying an underlying change in the source spectrum.

A transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of annealing induced gamma-phase nucleation, clustering, and interfacial dynamics in reactively sputtered amorphous alumina thin films

Pure alpha-Al2O3 exhibits a very high degree of thermodynamical stability among all metal oxides and forms an inert oxide scale in a range of structural alloys at high temperatures. We report that amorphous Al2O3 thin films sputter deposited over crystalline Si instead show a surprisingly active interface. On annealing, crystallization begins with nuclei of a phase closely resembling gamma-Alumina forming almost randomly in an amorphous matrix, and with increasing frequency near the substrate/film interface. This nucleation is marked by the signature appearance of sharp (400) and (440) reflections and the formation of a diffuse diffraction halo with an outer maximal radius of approximate to 0.23 nm enveloping the direct beam. The microstructure then evolves by a cluster-coalescence growth mechanism suggestive of swift nucleation and sluggish diffusional kinetics, while locally the Al ions redistribute slowly from chemisorbed and tetrahedral sites to higher anion coordinated sites. Chemical state plots constructed from XPS data and simple calculations of the diffraction patterns from hypothetically distorted lattices suggest that the true origins of the diffuse diffraction halo are probably related to a complex change in the electronic structure spurred by the a-gamma transformation rather than pure structural disorder. Concurrent to crystallization within the film, a substantially thick interfacial reaction zone also builds up at the film/substrate interface with the excess Al acting as a cationic source. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.

Variations in the cyclotron resonant scattering features during 2011 outburst of 4U 0115+63

We study the variations in the Cyclotron Resonant Scattering Feature (CRSF) during 2011 outburst of the high mass X-ray binary 4U 0115+63 using observations performed with Suzaku, RXTE, Swift and INTEGRAL satellites. The wide-band spectral data with low-energy coverage allowed us to characterize the broad-band continuum and detect the CRSFs. We find that the broad-band continuum is adequately described by a combination of a low temperature (kT similar to 0.8 keV) blackbody and a power law with high energy cutoff (E-cut similar to 5.4 keV) without the need for a broad Gaussian at similar to 10 keV as used in some earlier studies. Though winds from the companion can affect the emission from the neutron star at low energies (<3 keV), the blackbody component shows a significant presence in our continuum model. We report evidence for the possible presence of two independent sets of CRSFs with fundamentals at similar to 11 and similar to 15 keV. These two sets of CRSFs could arise from spatially distinct emitting regions. We also find evidence for variations in the line equivalent widths, with the 11 keV CRSF weakening and the 15 keV line strengthening with decreasing luminosity. Finally, we propose that the reason for the earlier observed anticorrelation of line energy with luminosity could be due to modelling of these two independent line sets (similar to 11 and similar to 15 keV) as a single CRSF.

Phase-variable surface structures are required for infection of Campylobacter jejuni by bacteriophages.

This study characterizes the interaction between Campylobacter jejuni and the 16 phages used in the United Kingdom typing scheme by screening spontaneous mutants of the phage-type strains and transposon mutants of the sequenced strain NCTC 11168. We show that the 16 typing phages fall into four groups based on their patterns of activity against spontaneous mutants. Screens of transposon and defined mutants indicate that the phage-bacterium interaction for one of these groups appears to involve the capsular polysaccharide (CPS), while two of the other three groups consist of flagellatropic phages. The expression of CPS and flagella is potentially phase variable in C. jejuni, and the implications of these findings for typing and intervention strategies are discussed.

O sobrestamento de pauta no processo legislativo

Estudo descritivo, desenvolvido sob o enfoque do novo institucionalismo, que trata do sobrestamento de pauta resultante da aplica����o das regras constitucionais e regimentais. Busca identificar as raz��es da g��nese desse instituto no presidencialismo brasileiro, assim como entender seu papel tanto na tramita����o das proposi����es para as quais foi concebido, quanto nos trabalhos dos Plen��rios das Casas do Congresso Nacional. Procura compreender os mecanismos por meio dos quais o sobrestamento de pauta, al��m de garantir a aprecia����o c��lere de algumas proposi����es consideradas urgentes, contribui decisivamente para transformar o chefe do Poder Executivo no principal controlador da agenda do processo legislativo brasileiro.

Nueva lista de las aves de la provincia de Buenos Aires.

El presente trabajo aporta informaci��n de base para el seguimiento y evaluaci��n de la biodiversidad de las aves a escala local o regional. Para la realizaci��n de la lista, hemos tenido como punto de referencia la Lista sistem��tica de las aves de la provincia de Buenos Aires de N. B�� y C. Darrieu 1991 y Las aves de la provincia de Buenos Aires: distribuci��n y estatus de T. Narosky y A. Di Gi��como 1993. La presente enumeraci��n considera todas las especies de aves que habitan la provincia de Buenos Aires, es decir aquellas que nidifican o que pasan gran parte del a��o en la misma. Se excluyen, por lo tanto, aquellas especies accidentales y ocasionales. Los datos se basan en citas bibliogr��ficas recientes, material de colecci��n y observaciones de campo realizadas por los autores. Para indicar la distribuci��n geogr��fica de las aves se ha seguido el esquema propuesto por Ringuelet y Ar��mburu (1957, Enumeraci��n sistem��tica de los Vertebrados de la Provincia de Buenos Aires). Seg��n el mismo se divide a la provincia en cuatro ��reas: la 1 posee una avifauna de tipo subtropical; en la 2 se encuentran aves pampeanas con ingresi��n de especies de la Provincia Chaque��a (Distrito Occidental); en la 4 la avifauna presenta un gran n��mero de especies que llegan por el sur desde la Provincia del Monte (Distrito Meridional) y de la Provincia Patag��nica (Distrito Occidental); el ��rea 3 es de transici��n con aporte de especies de las otras zonas. La presente lista comprende los nombres cient��ficos tomados de Altman & Swift (1989), Checklist of the Birds of South America. Para los nombres vulgares se sigui�� a Navas et al (1991). Lista Patr��n de Nombres Comunes de las Aves Argentinas. Se incluye adem��s una lista de las especies ex��ticas naturalizadas. (Text is in Spanish.

Outline and computational approaches of protein misfolding.

Protein misfolding is a general causation of classical conformational diseases and many pathogenic changes that are the result of structural conversion. Here I review recent progress in clinical and computational approaches for each stage of the misfolding process, aiming to present readers an outline for swift comprehension of this field.

Dynamic states in rotating Rayleigh-B��nard convection systems

A new geometry-independent state - a traveling-wave wall state - is proposed as the mechanism whereby which the experimentally observed wall-localized states in rotating Rayleigh-B��nard convection systems preempt the bulk state at large rotation rates. Its properties are calculated for the illustrative case of free-slip top and bottom boundary conditions. At small rotation rates, this new wall state is found to disappear. A detailed study of the dynamics of the wall state and the bulk state in the transition region where this disappearance occurs is conducted using a Swift-Hohenberg model system. The Swift-Hohenberg model, with appropriate reflection-symmetry- breaking boundary conditions, is also shown to exhibit traveling-wave wall states, further demonstrating that traveling-wave wall states are a generic feature of nonequilibrium pattern-forming systems. A numerical code for the Swift-Hohenberg model in an annular geometry was written and used to investigate the dynamics of rotating Rayleigh-B��nard convection systems.

The identification of British adult specimens of Sigara lateralis (Leach), Sigara concinna (Fieber), Callicorixa praeusta (Fieber) and Callicorixa wollastoni (Douglas & Scott) (Hemiptera Heteroptera: Corixidae)

The aim of this communication is to briefly review nomenclature in the genus Callicorixa, describe the variation in the dark markings on the posterior legs of all four species, describe alternative diagnostic features, and provide a key to identification based on these alternative features. Attention is also drawn to a small error in FBA Scientific Publication 50 (Adults of the British aquatic Hemiptera Heteroptera: a key with ecological notes).

Relativistic force between fast electrons and planar targets

The full retarded electromagnetic force experienced by swift electrons moving parallel to planar boundaries is revisited, for both metallic and dielectric targets, with special emphasis on the consequences in electron microscopy experiments. The focus is placed on the sign of the transverse force experienced by the electron beam as a function of the impact parameter. For point probes, the force is found to be always attractive. The contribution of the induced magnetic field and the causality requirements of the target dielectric response, given by the Kramers-Kronig (K-K) relations, prove to be crucial issues at small impact parameters. For spatially extended probes, repulsive forces are predicted for close trajectories, in agreement with previous works. The force experienced by the target is also explored, with the finding that in insulators, the momentum associated to Cherenkov radiation (CR) is relevant at large impact parameters.

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A novel ultra-fast optical router using time-slot switching

We present a novel optical routing scheme scalable to greater than 50��50 channels with a potential aggregate bit-rate of 1Tbps. The proof-of-principle experiment demonstrates the feasibility of the router with a de-multiplexed Q-factor of 6.35. �� 2004 Optical Society of America.