title:
How much 56Ni can be produced in Core-Collapse Supernovae? : Evolution
  and Explosions of 30 - 100 Msun Stars

abstract:
  Motivated by the discovery of extremely bright supernovae SNe1999as and
2006gy, we have investigated how much 56Ni mass can be synthesized in
core-collapse massive supernovae (SNe). We calculate the evolution of several
very massive stars with initial masses M <~ 100 Msun from the main-sequence to
the beginning of the Fe-core collapse and simulate their explosions and
nucleosynthesis. In order to avoid complications associated with strong
mass-loss, we only consider metal-poor stars with initial metallicity Z =
Zsun/200. However, our results are applicable to higher metallicity models with
similar C+O core masses. The C+O core mass for the 100Msun model is M_CO =
42.6Msun and this is the heaviest model in the literature for which Fe-core
collapse SN is explored. The synthesized 56Ni mass increases with the
increasing explosion energy and progenitor mass. For the explosion energy of
E_51 = E/10^{51} erg =30, for example, the 56Ni masses of M(56Ni) = 2.2, 2.3,
5.0, and 6.6 Msun can be produced for the progenitors with initial masses of
30, 50, 80 and 100 Msun (or C+O core masses M_CO = 11.4, 19.3, 34.0 and 42.6
Msun), respectively. We find that producing M(56Ni) ~ 4Msun as seen in SN1999as
is possible for M_CO >~ 34 Msun and E_{51} >~ 20. Producing M(56Ni) ~ 13Msun as
suggested for SN2006gy requires a too large explosion energy for M_CO <~
43Msun, but it may be possible with a reasonable explosion energy if M_CO >~
60Msun.


title: Extreme photo-polarimetric behaviour of the blazar AO 0235+164

abstract:
  We present optical photo-polarimetric observations with high temporal
resolution of the blazar AO 0235+164. Our data, the first to test the
photo-polarimetric behaviour of this object at very short time-scales, show
significant micro-variability in total flux, colour index, linear polarization
degree, and position angle. Strong inter-night variations are also detected for
these parameters. Although no correlation between colour index and total flux
was found, our data seem to support the general bluer-when-brighter trend
already known for this object. The polarization degree, in turn, shows no
correlation with total flux, but a clear trend in the sense that colour index
is redder (the spectrum is softer) when the measured polarization is higher.


title: Subnanosecond switching of local spin-exchange coupled to ferromagnets

abstract:
  The dynamics of a single spin embedded in a the tunnel junction between
ferromagnetic contacts is strongly affected by the exchange coupling to the
tunneling electrons. Using time-dependent equation of motion for the spin under
influence of the spin-polarized tunneling current, it is shown that the
magnetic field induced by bias voltage pulses allows for sub-nanosecond
switching of the local spin and the possibility of spin reversal is
illustrated. Furthermore, it is shown that the time-evolution of the Larmor
frequency sharply peaks around the spin-flip event, and it is argued that this
feature can be used as an indicator for the spin-flip.


title:
Camouflaged galactic CMB foregrounds: total and polarized contributions
  of the kinetic Sunyaev Zeldovich effect

abstract:
  We consider the role of the galactic kinetic Sunyaev Zeldovich (SZ) effect as
a CMB foreground. While the galactic thermal Sunyaev Zeldovich effect has
previously been studied and discarded as a potential CMB foreground, we find
that the kinetic SZ effect is dominant in the galactic case. We analyse the
detectability of the kinetic SZ effect by means of an optimally matched filter
technique applied to a simulation of an ideal observation. We obtain no
detection, getting a S/N ratio of 0.1, thereby demonstrating that the kinetic
SZ effect can also safely be ignored as a CMB foreground. However we provide
maps of the expected signal for inclusion in future high precision data
processing. Furthermore, we rule out the significant contamination of the
polarised CMB signal by second scattering of galactic kinetic Sunyaev-Zeldovich
photons, since we show that the scattering of the CMB quadrupole photons by
galactic electrons is a stronger effect than the Sunyaev Zeldovich second
scattering, and has already been shown to produce no significant polarised
contamination. We confirm the latter assessment also by means of an optimally
matched filter.


title:
Hochschild cohomology, the characteristic morphism and derived
  deformations

abstract:
  A notion of Hochschild cohomology of an abelian category was defined by Lowen
and Van den Bergh (2005) and they showed the existence of a characteristic
morphism from the Hochschild cohomology into the graded centre of the (bounded)
derived category. An element in the second Hochschild cohomology group
corresponds to a first order deformation of the abelian category (Lowen and Van
den Bergh, 2006). The problem of deforming single objects of the bounded
derived category was treated by Lowen (2005). In this paper we show that the
image of the Hochschild cohomology element under the characteristic morphism
encodes precisely the obstructions to deforming single objects of the bounded
derived category. Hence this paper provides a missing link between the above
works. Finally we discuss some implications of these facts in the direction of
a ``derived deformation theory''.


title:
The Mather measure and a Large Deviation Principle for the Entropy
  Penalized Method

abstract:
  We present a large deviation principle for the entropy penalized Mather
problem when the Lagrangian L is generic (in this case the Mather measure $\mu$
is unique and the support of $\mu$ is the Aubry set). Consider, for each value
of $\epsilon $ and h, the entropy penalized Mather problem $\min
\{\int_{\tn\times\rn}
  L(x,v)d\mu(x,v)+\epsilon S[\mu]\},$ where the entropy S is given by
$S[\mu]=\int_{\tn\times\rn}\mu(x,v)\ln\frac{\mu(x,v)}{\int_{\rn}\mu(x,w)dw}dxdv,$
and the minimization is performed over the space of probability densities
$\mu(x,v)$ that satisfy the holonomy constraint It follows from D. Gomes and E.
Valdinoci that there exists a minimizing measure $\mu_{\epsilon, h}$ which
converges to the Mather measure $\mu$. We show a LDP $\lim_{\epsilon,h\to0}
\epsilon \ln \mu_{\epsilon,h}(A),$ where $A\subset
\mathbb{T}^N\times\mathbb{R}^N$. The deviation function I is given by $I(x,v)=
L(x,v)+\nabla\phi_0(x)(v)-\bar{H}_{0},$ where $\phi_0$ is the unique viscosity
solution for L.


title: Photometry of Polar-Ring Galaxies

abstract:
  We have obtained photometry in B and R for seven confirmed or probable
polar-ring galaxies from the Polar-Ring Catalog of Whitmore et al. (1990). The
rings show a range of colors from B-R \approx 0.6 to B-R \approx 1.7. The
bluest rings have bright HII regions, which are direct evidence for recent star
formation. The minimum age of the reddest ring, that in PRC B-20, is somewhat
uncertain because of a lack of knowledge of the internal reddening and
metallicity, but appears to be at least 1.2 Gyr. As such, this ring is likely
to be stable for at least several rotation periods. This ring is an excellent
candidate for future studies that might better determine if it is truly old.


title: A sheaf of Hochschild complexes on quasi-compact opens

abstract:
  For a scheme X, we construct a sheaf C of complexes on X such that for every
quasi-compact open subset U of X, C(U) is quasi-isomorphic to the Hochschild
complex of the scheme U. Since C is moreover acyclic for taking sections on
quasi-compact opens, we obtain a local to global spectral sequence for
Hochschild cohomology if X is quasi-compact.


title: Measuring H-beta BLR Flows in NGC 5548

abstract:
  Using archival International AGN Watch observations we find a correlation
between the asymmetry of the H-beta line and the system luminosity: the line
becomes bluer as the system gets brighter. We also find a differential lag
between the red and blue wings of the line: the blue wing lags the red by ~4
days, suggesting an inflow component of the BLR.


title: DTFE analysis of the PSCz local Universe: Density Field and Cosmic Flow

abstract:
  We apply the Delaunay Tessellation Field Estimator (DTFE) to reconstruct and
analyze the matter distribution and cosmic velocity flows in the Local Universe
on the basis of the PSCz galaxy survey. The prime objective of this study is
the production of optimal resolution three-dimensional maps fully
volume-covering of the volume-weighted velocity and density fields throughout
the nearby Universe, out to a distance of 150 Mpc/h. Based on the Voronoi and
Delaunay tessellation defined by the spatial galaxy sample, DTFE involves the
estimate of density values on the basis of the volume of the related Delaunay
tetrahedra and the subsequent use of theDelaunay tessellation as natural
multidimensional (linear) interpolation grid for the corresponding density and
velocity fields throughout the sample volume. The linearized model of the
spatial galaxy distribution and the corresponding peculiar velocities of the
PSCz galaxy sample, produced by Brachini et al. (1999), forms the input sample
for the DTFE study. The DTFE maps reproduce the high-density supercluster
regions in optimal detail, both their internal structure as well as their
elongated or flattened shape. The corresponding velocity flows trace the bulk
and shear flows marking the region extending from the Pisces-Perseus
supercluster, via the Local superclusters, towards the Hydra-Centaurus and the
Shapley concentration. The most outstanding and unique feature of the DTFE maps
is the sharply defined radial outflow regions in and around underdense voids,
marking the dynamical importance of voids in the Local Universe. The maximum
expansion rate of voids defines a sharp cutoff in the DTFE velocity divergence
pdf. We found that on the basis of this cutoff DTFE manages to consistently
reproduce the value of O_m ~ 0.35 underlying the linearized velocity dataset.


title:
Multi-Wavelength Imaging of Young Stellar Object Disks: Toward an
  Understanding of Disk Structure and Dust Evolution

abstract:
  We review recent progress in high-resolution imaging of scattered light from
disks around young stellar objects. Many new disks have been discovered or
imaged in scattered light, and improved instrumentation and observing
techniques have led to better disk images at optical, near-infrared, and
thermal-infrared wavelengths. Multi-wavelength datasets are particularly
valuable, as dust particle properties have wavelength dependencies. Modeling
the changes in scattered-light images with wavelength gives direct information
on the dust properties. This has now been done for several different disks. The
results indicate that modest grain growth has taken place in some of these
systems. Scattered-light images also provide useful constraints on the disk
structure, especially when combined with long-wavelength SEDs. There are
tentative suggestions in some disks that the dust may have begun to settle. The
next few years should see this work extended to many more disks; this will
clarify our understanding of the evolution of protoplanetary dust and disks.


title:
Impact of the new solar abundances on the calibration of the PMS binary
  system RS Cha

abstract:
  Context: In a recent work, we tried to obtain a calibration of the two
components of the pre-main sequence binary system RS Cha by means of
theoretical stellar models. We found that the only way to reproduce the
observational parameters of RS Cha with standard stellar models is to decrease
the initial abundances of carbon and nitrogen derived from the GN93 solar
mixture of heavy elements by a few tenths of dex.
  Aims: In this work, we aim to reproduce the observational properties of the
RS Cha stars with stellar evolution models based on the new AGS05 solar mixture
recently derived from a three-dimensional solar model atmosphere. The AGS05
mixture is depleted in carbon, nitrogen and oxygen with respect to the GN93
mixture.
  Methods: We calculated new stellar models of the RS Cha components using the
AGS05 mixture and appropriate opacity tables. We sought models that
simultaneously satisfy the observations of the two components (masses, radii,
luminosities, effective temperatures and metallicity).
  Results: We find that it is possible to reproduce the observational data of
the RS Cha stars with AGS05 models based on standard input physics. From these
models, the initial helium content of the system is Y~0.255 and its age is
~9.13 +- 0.12 Myr.


title:
Chemical Abundances of Luminous Cool Stars in the Galactic Center from
  High-Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy

abstract:
  We present chemical abundances in a sample of luminous cool stars located
within 30 pc of the Galactic Center. Abundances of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen,
calcium, and iron were derived from high-resolution infrared spectra in the H-
and K-bands. The abundance results indicate that both [O/Fe] and [Ca/Fe] are
enhanced respectively by averages of +0.2 and +0.3 dex, relative to either the
Sun or the Milky Way disk at near solar Fe abundances. The Galactic Center
stars show a nearly uniform and nearly solar iron abundance. The mean value of
A(Fe) = 7.59 +- 0.06 agrees well with previous work. The total range in Fe
abundance among Galactic Center stars, 0.16 dex, is significantly narrower than
the iron abundance distributions found in the literature for the older bulge
population. Our snapshot of the current-day Fe abundance within 30 pc of the
Galactic Center samples stars with an age less than 1 Gyr; a larger sample in
time (or space) may find a wider spread in abundances.


title:
Do all states undergo sudden death of entanglement at finite
  temperature?

abstract:
  In this paper we consider the decay of quantum entanglement, quantified by
the concurrence, of a pair of two-level systems each of which is interacting
with a reservoir at finite temperature T. For a broad class of initially
entangled states, we demonstrate that the system always becomes disentangled in
a finite time i.e."entanglement sudden death" (ESD) occurs. This class includes
all states which previously had been found to have long-lived entanglement in
zero temperature reservoirs. Our general result is illustrated by an example.


title: Exceptional covers of surfaces

abstract:
  Consider a finite morphism f:X -> Y of smooth projective varieties over a
finite field k. Suppose X is the vanishing locus in projective N-space of at
most r forms of degree at most d. We show there is a constant C, depending only
on N, r, d and deg(f) such that if #k > C, then f(k):X(k) -> Y(k) is injective
if and only if it's surjective.


title: Do static atoms outside a Schwarzschild black hole spontaneously excite?

abstract:
  The spontaneous excitation of a two-level atom held static outside a four
dimensional Schwarzschild black hole and in interaction with a massless scalar
field in the Boulware, Unruh and Hartle-Hawking vacuum is investigated and the
contributions of the vacuum fluctuations and radiation reaction to the rate of
change of the mean atomic energy are calculated separately. We find that for
the Boulware vacuum, the spontaneous excitation does not occur and the ground
state atoms are stable, while the spontaneous emission rate for excited atoms
in the Boulware vacuum, which is well-behaved at the event horizon, is not the
same as that in the usual Minkowski vacuum. However, both for the Unruh vacuum
and the Hartle-Hawking vacuum, our results show that the atom would
spontaneously excite, as if there were an outgoing thermal flux of radiation or
as if it were in a thermal bath of radiation at a proper temperature which
reduces to the Hawking temperature in the spatial asymptotic region, depending
on whether the scalar field is in the Unruh or Hartle-Hawking vacuum.


title: X-MAS2: Study Systematics on the ICM Metallicity Measurements

abstract:
  (Abridged)The X-ray measurements of the ICM metallicity are becoming more
frequent due to the availability of powerful X-ray telescope with excellent
spatial and spectral resolutions. The information which can be extracted from
the measurements of the alpha-elements, like Oxygen, Magnesium and Silicon with
respect to the Iron abundance is extremely important to better understand the
stellar formation and its evolutionary history. In this paper we investigate
possible source of bias connected to the plasma physics when recovering metal
abundances from X-ray spectra. To do this we analyze 6 simulated galaxy
clusters processed through the new version of our X-ray MAp Simulator, which
allows to create mock XMM-Newton EPIC MOS1 and MOS2 observations. By comparing
the spectroscopic results to the input values we find that: i) Fe is recovered
with high accuracy for both hot (T>3 keV) and cold (T<2 keV) systems; at
intermediate temperatures, however, we find a systematic overestimate which
depends on the number counts; ii) O is well recovered in cold clusters, while
in hot systems its measure may overestimate by a factor up to 2-3; iii) Being a
weak line, the measurement of Mg is always difficult; despite of this, for cold
systems (T<2 keV) we do not find any systematic behavior, while for very hot
systems (T>5 keV) the spectroscopic measurement may be strongly overestimated
up to a factor of 4; iv) Si is well recovered for all the clusters in our
sample. We investigate in detail the nature of the systematic effects and
biases found. We conclude that they are mainly connected with the
multi-temperature nature of the projected observed spectra and to the intrinsic
limitation of the XMM-Newton EPIC spectral resolution that does not always
allow to disentangle among the emission lines produced by different elements.


title:
NMR Evidence for Antiferromagnetic Transition in the Single-Component
  Molecular Conductor, [Au(tmdt)_{2}] at 110 K

abstract:
  We present the results of a ^{1}H NMR study of the single-component molecular
conductor, [Au(tmdt)_{2}].
  A steep increase in the NMR line width and a peak formation of the nuclear
spin-lattice relaxation rate, 1/T_{1}, were observed at around 110 K.
  This behavior provides clear and microscopic evidences for a magnetic phase
transition at considerably high temperature among organic conductors.
  The observed variation in 1/T_{1} with respect to temperature indicates the
highly correlated nature of the metallic phase.


title: Preserving Monotonicity in Anisotropic Diffusion

abstract:
  We show that standard algorithms for anisotropic diffusion based on centered
differencing (including the recent symmetric algorithm) do not preserve
monotonicity. In the context of anisotropic thermal conduction, this can lead
to the violation of the entropy constraints of the second law of
thermodynamics, causing heat to flow from regions of lower temperature to
higher temperature. In regions of large temperature variations, this can cause
the temperature to become negative. Test cases to illustrate this for centered
asymmetric and symmetric differencing are presented. Algorithms based on slope
limiters, analogous to those used in second order schemes for hyperbolic
equations, are proposed to fix these problems. While centered algorithms may be
good for many cases, the main advantage of limited methods is that they are
guaranteed to avoid negative temperature (which can cause numerical
instabilities) in the presence of large temperature gradients. In particular,
limited methods will be useful to simulate hot, dilute astrophysical plasmas
where conduction is anisotropic and the temperature gradients are enormous,
e.g., collisionless shocks and disk-corona interface.


title: A New Sample of Low-mass Black Holes in Active Galaxies

abstract:
  We present an expanded sample of low-mass black holes (BHs) found in galactic
nuclei. Using standard virial mass techniques to estimate BH masses, we select
from the Fourth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey all broad-line
active galaxies with masses < 2 x 10^6 M_sun. BHs in this mass regime provide
unique tests of the relationship between BHs and galaxies, since their
late-type galaxy hosts do not necessarily contain classical bulges.
Furthermore, they provide observational analogs of primordial seed BHs and are
expected, when merging, to provide strong gravitational signals for future
detectors such as LISA. From our preliminary sample of 19, we have increased
the total sample by an order of magnitude to 174, as well as an additional 55
(less secure) candidates. The sample has a median BH mass of <M_BH> = 1.3 x
10^6 M_sun, and in general the objects are radiating at high fractions of their
Eddington limits. We investigate the broad spectral properties of the sample;
55 are detected by \rosat, with soft X-ray luminosities in the range 10^40 to 7
x 10^43 ergs/sec. Much like the preliminary sample, these objects are
predominantly radio-quiet (R = f_6cm/f_4400A < 10), but 11 objects are detected
at 20 cm, with radio powers (10^21-10^23 W/Hz) that may arise from either star
formation or nuclear activity; only 1% of the sample is radio-loud. We further
confirm that, with <M_g>=-19.3 and <g-r> = 0.7 mag, the host galaxies are
low-mass, late-type systems. At least 40% show disk-like morphologies, and the
combination of host galaxy colors and higher-order Balmer absorption lines
indicate intermediate-age stellar populations in a subset of the sample.


title: Domino Waves

abstract:
  Motivated by a proposal of Daykin (Problem 71-19*, SIAM Review 13 (1971)
569), we study the wave that propagates along an infinite chain of dominoes and
find the limiting speed of the wave in an extreme case.


title:
Photoinduced melting of charge order in a quarter-filled electron system
  coupled with different types of phonons

abstract:
  Photoinduced melting of charge order is calculated by using the exact
many-electron wave function coupled with classically treated phonons in the
one-dimensional quarter-filled Hubbard model with Peierls and Holstein types of
electron-phonon couplings. The model parameters are taken from recent
experiments on (EDO-TTF)_2PF_6 (EDO-TTF=ethylenedioxy-tetrathiafulvalene) with
(0110) charge order, where transfer integrals are modulated by molecular
displacements (bond-coupled phonons) and site energies by molecular
deformations (charge-coupled phonons). The charge-transfer photoexcitation from
(0110) to (0200) configurations and that from (0110) to (1010) configurations
have different energies. The corresponding excited states have different shapes
of adiabatic potentials as a function of these two phonon amplitudes. The
adiabatic potentials are shown to be useful in understanding differences in the
photoinduced charge dynamics and the efficiency of melting, which depend not
only on the excitation energy but also on the relative phonon frequency of the
bond- and charge-coupled phonons.


title: Non-Gaussianity of the Cosmic Baryon Fluid: Log-Poisson Hierarchy Model

abstract:
  In the nonlinear regime of cosmic clustering, the mass density field of the
cosmic baryon fluid is highly non-Gaussian. It shows different dynamical
behavior from collisionless dark matter. Nevertheless, the evolved field of
baryon fluid is scale-covariant in the range from the Jeans length to a few ten
h^{-1} Mpc, in which the dynamical equations and initial perturbations are
scale free. We show that in the scale-free range, the non-Gaussian features of
the cosmic baryon fluid, governed by the Navier-Stokes equation in an expanding
universe, can be well described by a log-Poisson hierarchical cascade. The
log-Poisson scheme is a random multiplicative process (RMP), which causes
non-Gaussianity and intermittency even when the original field is Gaussian. The
log-Poisson RMP contains two dimensionless parameters: $\beta$ for the
intermittency and $\gamma$ for the most singular structure. All the predictions
given by the log-Poisson RMP model, including the hierarchical relation, the
order dependence of the intermittent exponent, the moments, and the scale-scale
correlation, are in good agreement with the results given by hydrodynamic
simulations of the standard cold dark matter model. The intermittent parameter
$\beta$ decreases slightly at low redshift and indicates that the density field
of baryon fluid contains more singular structures at lower redshifts. The
applicability of the model is addressed.


title: Higher Energies in Kahler Geometry I

abstract:
  Let $X\hookrightarrow \cpn $ be a smooth complex projective variety of
dimension $n$. Let $\lambda$ be an algebraic one parameter subgroup of
$G:=\gc$. Let $ 0\leq l\leq n+1$. We associate to the coefficients
$F_{l}(\lambda)$ of the normalized weight of $\lambda$ on the $mth$ Hilbert
point of $X$ new energies $F_{\om,l}(\vp)$. The (logarithmic) asymptotics of
$F_{\om,l}(\vp)$ along the potential deduced from $\lambda$ is the weight
$F_{l}(\lambda)$. $F_{\om,l}(\vp)$ reduces to the Aubin energy when $l=0$ and
the K-Energy map of Mabuchi when $l=1$. When $l\geq 2$ $F_{\om,l}(\vp)$
coincides (modulo lower order terms) with the functional $E_{\om,l-1}(\vp)$
introduced by X.X. Chen and G.Tian.


title: ATCA 1.2 cm Observations of the Massive Star Forming Region G305.2+0.2

abstract:
  We report on Australia Telescope observations of the massive star forming
region G305.2+0.2 at 1.2 cm. We detected emission in five molecules towards
G305A, confirming its hot core nature. We determined a rotational temperature
of 26 K for methanol. A non-LTE excitation calculation suggests a kinematic
temperature of order 200 K. A time dependent chemical model is also used to
model the gas phase chemistry of the hot core associated with G305A. A
comparison with the observations suggest an age of between 2 x10^4 and 1.5
x10^5 years. We also report on a feature to the SE of G305A which may show weak
Class I methanol maser emission in the line at 24.933 GHz. The more evolved
source G305B does not show emission in any of the line tracers, but strong
Class I methanol maser emission at 24.933 GHz is found 3\arcsec to the east.
Radio continuum emission at 18.496 GHz is detected towards two \hii regions.
The implications of the non-detection of radio continuum emission toward G305A
and G305B are also discussed.


title: Spectroscopy of Mesons with Heavy Quarks

abstract:
  I will give a concise overview of mesons with heavy quarks including p-wave
charmed mesons and charmonium (or charmonium-like) states such as X(3872),
Y(4260), X(3940), Y(3940), Z(3930) etc. The effect from the nearby S-wave open
channels on the quark model spectrum is emphasized.


title: Analytic Approach for Controlling Realistic Quantum Chaotic Systems

abstract:
  An analytic approach for controlling quantum states, which was originally
applied to fully random matrix systems [T. Takami and H. Fujisaki, Phys. Rev. E
75, 036219 (2007)], is extended to deal with more realistic quantum systems
with a banded random matrix (BRM). The validity of the new analytic field is
confirmed by directly solving the Schroedinger equation with a BRM interaction.
We find a threshold of the width of the BRM for the quantum control to be
successful.


title:
Radio Frequency Spectroscopy of Trapped Fermi Gases with Population
  Imbalance

abstract:
  Motivated by recent experiments, we address, in a fully self consistent
fashion, the behavior and evolution of radio frequency (RF) spectra as
temperature and polarization are varied in population imbalanced Fermi gases.
We discuss a series of scenarios for the experimentally observed zero
temperature pseudogap phase and show how present and future RF experiments may
help in its elucidation. We conclude that the MIT experiments at the lowest $T$
may well reflect ground state properties, but take issue with their claim that
the pairing gap survives up to temperatures of the order of the degeneracy
temperature $T_F$ at unitarity.


title: Higgs-free confinement hierarchy in five colour QCD

abstract:
  I consider the monopole condensate of five color QCD. The naive lowest energy
state is unobtainable at one-loop for five or more colors due to simple
geometric considerations. The consequent adjustment of the vacuum condensate
generates a hierarchy of confinement scales in a natural Higgs-free manner. The
accompanying symmetry hierarchy contains hints of standard model phenomenology.


title: On the linear fractional self-attracting diffusion

abstract:
  In this paper, we introduce the linear fractional self-attracting diffusion
driven by a fractional Brownian motion with Hurst index 1/2<H<1, which is
analogous to the linear self-attracting diffusion. For 1-dimensional process we
study its convergence and the corresponding weighted local time. For
2-dimensional process, as a related problem, we show that the renormalized
self-intersection local time exists in L^2 if $\frac12<H<\frac3{4}$.


title:
A fitting formula for the merger timescale of galaxies in hierarchical
  clustering

abstract:
  We study galaxy mergers using a high-resolution cosmological hydro/N-body
simulation with star formation, and compare the measured merger timescales with
theoretical predictions based on the Chandrasekhar formula. In contrast to
Navarro et al., our numerical results indicate, that the commonly used equation
for the merger timescale given by Lacey and Cole, systematically underestimates
the merger timescales for minor mergers and overestimates those for major
mergers. This behavior is partly explained by the poor performance of their
expression for the Coulomb logarithm, \ln (m_pri/m_sat). The two alternative
forms \ln (1+m_pri/m_sat) and 1/2\ln [1+(m_pri/m_sat)^2] for the Coulomb
logarithm can account for the mass dependence of merger timescale successfully,
but both of them underestimate the merger time scale by a factor 2. Since \ln
(1+m_pri/m_sat) represents the mass dependence slightly better we adopt this
expression for the Coulomb logarithm. Furthermore, we find that the dependence
of the merger timescale on the circularity parameter \epsilon is much weaker
than the widely adopted power-law \epsilon^{0.78}, whereas
0.94*{\epsilon}^{0.60}+0.60 provides a good match to the data. Based on these
findings, we present an accurate and convenient fitting formula for the merger
timescale of galaxies in cold dark matter models.


title:
Temporal evolution of the Evershed flow in sunspots. I. Observational
  characterization of Evershed clouds

abstract:
  [Abridged] The magnetic and kinematic properties of the photospheric Evershed
flow are relatively well known, but we are still far from a complete
understanding of its nature. The evolution of the flow with time, which is
mainly due to appearance of velocity packets called Evershed clouds (ECs), may
provide information to further constrain its origin. Here we undertake a
detailed analysis of the evolution of the Evershed flow by studying the
properties of ECs. In this first paper we determine the sizes, proper motions,
location in the penumbra, and frequency of appearance of ECs, as well as their
typical Doppler velocities, linear and circular polarization signals, Stokes V
area asymmetries, and continuum intensities. High-cadence, high-resolution,
full vector spectropolarimetric measurements in visible and infrared lines are
used to derive these parameters. We find that ECs appear in the mid penumbra
and propage outward along filaments with large linear polarization signals and
enhanced Evershed flows. The frequency of appearance of ECs varies between 15
and 40 minutes in different filaments. ECs exhibit the largest Doppler
velocities and linear-to-circular polarization ratios of the whole penumbra. In
addition, lines formed deeper in the atmosphere show larger Doppler velocities,
much in the same way as the ''quiescent'' Evershed flow. According to our
observations, ECs can be classified in two groups: type I ECs, which vanish in
the outer penumbra, and type II ECs, which cross the outer penumbral boundary
and enter the sunspot moat. Most of the observed ECs belong to type I. On
average, type II ECs can be detected as velocity structures outside of the spot
for only about 14 min. Their proper motions in the moat are significantly
reduced with respect to the ones they had in the penumbra.


title: Multi-physics Extension of OpenFMO Framework

abstract:
  OpenFMO framework, an open-source software (OSS) platform for Fragment
Molecular Orbital (FMO) method, is extended to multi-physics simulations (MPS).
After reviewing the several FMO implementations on distributed computer
environments, the subsequent development planning corresponding to MPS is
presented. It is discussed which should be selected as a scientific software,
lightweight and reconfigurable form or large and self-contained form.


title:
The study of $B\to J/\Psi \eta^{(\prime)}$ decays and determination of
  $\eta-\eta^{\prime}$ mixing angle

abstract:
  We study $B\to J/\Psi \eta^{(\prime)}$ decays and suggest two methods to
determine the $\eta-\eta^{\prime}$ mixing angle. We calculate not only the
factorizable contribution in QCD facorization scheme but also the
nonfactorizable hard spectator corrections in pQCD approach. We get the
branching ratio of $B\to J/\Psi \eta$ which is consistent with recent
experimental data and predict the branching ratio of $B\to J/\Psi
\eta^{\prime}$ to be $7.59\times 10^{-6}$. Two methods for determining
$\eta-\eta^{\prime}$ mixing angle are suggested in this paper. For the first
method, we get the $\eta-\eta^{\prime}$ mixing angle to be about
$-13.1^{\circ}$, which is in consistency with others in the literature. The
second method depends on less parameters so can be used to determine the
$\eta-\eta^{\prime}$ mixing angle with better accuracy but needs, as an input,
the branching ratio for $B\to J/\Psi \eta^{\prime}$which should be measured in
the near future.


title: Coupled quantum electrodynamics in photonic crystal nanocavities

abstract:
  We show that a scalable photonic crystal nanocavity array, in which single
embedded quantum dots are coherently interacting, can perform as an universal
single-operation quantum gate. In a passive system, the optical analogue of
electromagnetically-induced-transparency is observed. The presence of a single
two-level system in the array dramatically controls the spectral lineshapes.
When each cavity couples with a two-level system, our scheme achieves two-qubit
gate operations with high fidelity and low photon loss, even in the bad cavity
limit and with non-ideal detuning and decoherence.


title:
Winterberg's conjectured breaking of the superluminal quantum
  correlations over large distances

abstract:
  We elaborate further on a hypothesis by Winterberg that turbulent
fluctuations of the zero point field may lead to a breakdown of the
superluminal quantum correlations over very large distances. A phenomenological
model that was proposed by Winterberg to estimate the transition scale of the
conjectured breakdown, does not lead to a distance that is large enough to be
agreeable with recent experiments. We consider, but rule out, the possibility
of a steeper slope in the energy spectrum of the turbulent fluctuations, due to
compressibility, as a possible mechanism that may lead to an increased
lower-bound for the transition scale. Instead, we argue that Winterberg
overestimated the intensity of the ZPF turbulent fluctuations. We calculate a
very generous corrected lower bound for the transition distance which is
consistent with current experiments.


title: Fluctuations and Criticality in Quantum Paraelectrics

abstract:
  The temperature dependence of static dielectric susceptibility of a system
with strongly coupled fluctuating dipoles is calculated within a self
consistent mean fluctuation field approximation. Results are qualitatively in
good agreement with, a quantum paraelectric, SrTiO$_3$ in the low temperature
regime. We identify this system as a {\it gaped quantum paraelectric} and
suggest a possible experimental realization of a {\it quantum critical
paraelectric} through the application of hydrostatic pressure or doping by
impurity.


title: Freeze-out volume of hot dense fireball

abstract:
  A thermodynamically consistent excluded volume model is proposed to account
for the particle multiplicities obtained from lowest SIS energies to the
highest RHIC energies. The chemical freeze-out volumes lying in a slice of one
unit of rapidity for pions and kaons are separately inferred from this analysis
and the results are compared with the corresponding thermal freeze-out volumes
obtained from the Hanbury-Brown Twiss (HBT) pion interferometry. Furthermore,
we extract the variations of freeze-out number densities for pions and nucleons
with the center-of-mass energy in our model and compare them with the HBT data.


title:
CO(1-0), CO(2-1) and Neutral Gas in NGC 6946: Molecular Gas in a
  Late-Type, Gas Rich, Spiral Galaxy

abstract:
  We present "On The Fly" maps of the CO(1-0) and CO(2-1) emission covering a
10' X 10' region of the NGC 6946. Using our CO maps and archival VLA HI
observations we create a total gas surface density map, Sigma_gas, for NGC
6946. The predominantly molecular inner gas disk transitions smoothly into an
atomic outer gas disk, with equivalent atomic and molecular gas surface
densities at R = 3.5' (6 kpc). We estimate that the total H2 mass is 3 X 10^9
Mo, roughly 1/3 of the interstellar hydrogen gas mass, and about 2% of the
dynamical mass of the galaxy at our assumed distance of 6 Mpc. The value of the
CO(2-1)/CO(1-0) line ratio ranges from 0.35 to 2; 50% of the map is covered by
very high ratio, >1, gas. The very high ratios are predominantly from interarm
regions and appear to indicate the presence of wide-spread optically thin gas.
Star formation tracers are better correlated with the total neutral gas disk
than with the molecular gas by itself implying SFR is proportional to
Sigma_gas. Using the 100 FIR and 21 cm continuum from NGC 6946 as star
formation tracers, we arrive at a gas consumption timescale of 2.8 Gyr, which
is relatively uniform across the disk. The high star formation rate at the
nucleus appears to be due to a large accumulation of molecular gas rather than
a large increase in the star formation efficiency. The mid-plane gas pressure
in the outer (R > 10 kpc) HI arms of NGC 6946 is close to the value at the
radial limit (10 kpc) of our observed CO disk. If the mid-plane gas pressure is
a factor for the formation of molecular clouds, these outer HI gas arms should
contain molecular gas which we do not see because they are beyond our detection
limit.


title: Holographic Nuclear Matter in AdS/QCD

abstract:
  We study the physics with finite nuclear density in the framework of AdS/QCD
with holographic baryon field included. Based on a mean field type approach, we
introduce the nucleon density as a bi-fermion condensate of the lowest mode of
the baryon field and calculate the density dependence of the chiral condensate
and the nucleon mass. We observe that the chiral condensate as well as the mass
of nucleon decrease with increasing nuclear density. We also consider the mass
splitting of charged vector mesons in iso-spin asymmetric nuclear matter.


title:
The UHECR spectrum measured at the Pierre Auger Observatory and its
  astrophysical implications

abstract:
  The Southern part of the Pierre Auger Observatory is nearing completion, and
has been in stable operation since January 2004 while it has grown in size. The
large sample of data collected so far has led to a significant improvement in
the measurement of the energy spectrum of UHE cosmic rays over that previously
reported by the Pierre Auger Observatory, both in statistics and in systematic
uncertainties. We summarize two measurements of the energy spectrum, one based
on the high-statistics surface detector data, and the other of the hybrid data,
where the precision of the fluorescence measurements is enhanced by additional
information from the surface array. The complementarity of the two approaches
is emphasized and results are compared. Possible astrophysical implications of
our measurements, and in particular the presence of spectral features, are
discussed.


title: On the vierbein formalism of general relativity

abstract:
  Both the Einstein-Hilbert action and the Einstein equations are discussed
under the absolute vierbein formalism. Taking advantage of this form, we prove
that the "kinetic energy" term, i.e., the quadratic term of time derivative
term, in the Lagrangian of the Einstein-Hilbert action is non-positive
definitive. And then, we present two groups of coordinate conditions that lead
to positive definitive kinetic energy term in the Lagrangian, as well as the
corresponding actions with positive definitive kinetic energy term,
respectively. Based on the ADM decomposition, the Hamiltonian representation
and canonical quantization of general relativity taking advantage of the
actions with positive definitive kinetic energy term are discussed; especially,
the Hamiltonian constraints with positive definitive kinetic energy term are
given, respectively. Finally, we present a group of gauge conditions such that
there is not any second time derivative term in the ten Einstein equations.


title:
Observations of B335 in the Millimeter Continuum and the 226 GHz H2CO
  Line

abstract:
  The protostar B335 was observed in the 1.3 mm continuum and in the H2CO 312 -
211 line with an angular resolution of about 8 arcsec. The mass of the inner
envelope detected by the dust continuum emission is about 0.02 Msun. The H2CO
spectrum at the protostellar position shows a blue-skewed double peak profile,
suggesting that the kinematics of the inner envelope is dominated by infall
motion. When the blueshifted and the redshifted peaks were imaged separately,
however, there is a small east-west displacement between the maximum positions.
This displacement suggests that some part of the H2CO emission might come from
the outflowing gas. A combined effect of the infalling envelope and the outflow
on the radiative transfer is discussed. This effect can make the line profile
asymmetry severer than what is expected from infall-only models.


title:
$J/\psi$ suppression in Au+Au collisions at RHIC : colour screening
  scenario in the bag model at variable participant numbers

abstract:
  We have modified the colour screening theory of Chu and Matsui by properly
incorporating bag model equation of state for quark gluon plasma (QGP). We have
also chosen the pressure parametrization rather than parametrizing energy
density in the transverse plane. We assume that the QGP dense medium is
expanding in the longitudinal direction obeying Bjorken boost invariant scaling
law. Sequential melting of $\chi_c$, $\psi^{'}$ and $J/\psi$ is also considered
in this scenario. We have applied above formulation to the recent PHENIX
experimental data of $J/\psi$ suppression in Au + Au collisions at RHIC. We
find that the model gives a good description of data at mid-rapidity in terms
of survival probability versus number of participants without any necessity of
implementing (3+1)-dimensional expansion of the deconfined medium.


title:
Comment on 'Critical behaviour in the relaminarization of localized
  turbulence in pipe flow'

abstract:
  This is a comment on arXiv:physics/0608292, subsequently published in Phys
Rev Lett, 98, 014501 (2007), in which Willis and Kerswell study in direct
numerical simulations the statistics of turbulent lifetimes in pipe flow. They
suggest that their data for six different Reynolds numbers support a divergence
of the lifetime near a Reynolds number of about 1870. However, their conclusion
is not compelling: a re-analysis of their data shows that it is also compatible
with an exponentially increasing lifetime.


title: Novel QCD Phenomena

abstract:
  I discuss a number of novel topics in QCD, including the use of the AdS/CFT
correspondence between Anti-de Sitter space and conformal gauge theories to
obtain an analytically tractable approximation to QCD in the regime where the
QCD coupling is large and constant. In particular, there is an exact
correspondence between the fifth-dimension coordinate z of AdS space and a
specific impact variable zeta which measures the separation of the quark
constituents within the hadron in ordinary space-time. This connection allows
one to compute the analytic form of the frame-independent light-front
wavefunctions of mesons and baryons, the fundamental entities which encode
hadron properties and allow the computation of exclusive scattering amplitudes.
I also discuss a number of novel phenomenological features of QCD. Initial- and
final-state interactions from gluon-exchange, normally neglected in the parton
model, have a profound effect in QCD hard-scattering reactions, leading to
leading-twist single-spin asymmetries, diffractive deep inelastic scattering,
diffractive hard hadronic reactions, the breakdown of the Lam Tung relation in
Drell-Yan reactions, and nuclear shadowing and non-universal
antishadowing--leading-twist physics not incorporated in the light-front
wavefunctions of the target computed in isolation. I also discuss tests of
hidden color in nuclear wavefunctions, the use of diffraction to materialize
the Fock states of a hadronic projectile and test QCD color transparency, and
anomalous heavy quark effects. The presence of direct higher-twist processes
where a proton is produced in the hard subprocess can explain the large
proton-to-pion ratio seen in high-centrality heavy-ion collisions.


title:
Oscillation of spin polarization in a two-dimensional hole gas under a
  perpendicular magnetic field

abstract:
  Spin-charge coupling is studied for a strongly confined two-dimensional hole
gas subject to a perpendicular magnetic field. The study is based on
spin-charge coupled drift-diffusion equations derived from quantum-kinetic
equations in an exact manner. The spin-orbit interaction induces an extra
out-of-plane spin polarization. This contribution exhibits a persistent
oscillatory pattern in the strong-coupling regime.


title: Modelization of flow electrification in a polymer melt

abstract:
  Flow electrification of polymer melts is an important side effect of polymer
processing. The studies dealing with this phenomenon are seldom and most of the
scientific work has been focused on flow electrification of aqueous and
insulating Newtonian liquids. From that prior art it is well established that
the flow electrification in Newtonian liquids is a consequence of the formation
of an ionic double layer. Convection of this layer induces the electrification
of the liquid at the outlet of the pipe. In those models, the key parameters
governing the flow electrification are thus the intrinsic electrical properties
of the polymer and the flow characteristics. In this work, we reconsider the
assumptions made previously and we propose a new approach to modelise the flow
electrification in the particular case of non-Newtonian polymer materials in
laminar flow conditions. We establish that, a key parameter for the
electrification quantification in the polymer melt is the shape of the velocity
profile. Additionally, in some cases, we show that a slip velocity at the
polymer/die wall interface must be considered to describe accurately the
electrification. As a consequence, we deduce that the slip velocity at the
interface can be calculated by measuring the electrification: this work gives
an alternative manner to measure the slip velocity during polymer flow.


title:
Electrical charging during the sharkskin instability of a metallocene
  melt

abstract:
  Flow instabilities are widely studied because of their economical and
theoretical interest, however few results have been published about the polymer
electrification during the extrusion. Nevertheless the generation of the
electrical charges is characteristic of the interaction between the polymer
melt and the die walls. In our study, the capillary extrusion of a metallocene
polyethylene (mPE) through a tungsten carbide die is characterized through
accurate electrical measurements thanks a Faraday pail. No significant charges
are observed since the extrudate surface remains smooth. However, as soon as
the sharkskin distortion appears, measurable charges are collected (around 5
10-8 C/m2). Higher level of charges are measured during the spurt or the
gross-melt fracture (g.m.f) defects. This work is focused on the electrical
charging during the sharkskin instability. The variation of the electrical
charges versus the apparent wall shear stress is investigated for different die
geometries. This curve exhibits a linear increase, followed by a sudden growth
just before the onset of the spurt instability. This abrupt charging
corresponds also to the end of the sharkskin instability. It is also well-known
that wall slip appears just at the same time, with smaller velocity values than
during spurt flow. Our results indicate that electrification could be a
signature of the wall slip. We show also that the electrification curves can be
shifted according to the time-temperature superposition principle, leading to
the conclusion that molecular features of the polymer are also involved in this
process.


title:
A new instability for finite Prandtl number rotating convection with
  free-slip boundary conditions

abstract:
  Rolls in finite Prandtl number rotating convection with free-slip top and
bottom boundary conditions are shown to be unstable with respect to small angle
perturbations for any value of the rotation rate. This instability is driven by
the horizontal mean flow whose estimation requires a special singular
perturbation analysis.


title: Quantum Isometry Groups: Examples and Computations

abstract:
  In this follow-up of the article: Quantum Group of Isometries in Classical
and Noncommutative Geometry(arXiv:0704.0041) by Goswami, where quantum isometry
group of a noncommutative manifold has been defined, we explicitly compute such
quantum groups for a number of classical as well as noncommutative manifolds
including the spheres and the tori. It is also proved that the quantum isometry
group of an isospectral deformation of a (classical or noncommutative) manifold
is a suitable deformation of the quantum isometry group of the original
(undeformed) manifold.


title: Electrical charges and tribology of insulating materials

abstract:
  Electrical charges generation occurring during contact and friction of
insulating materials has been identified for a long time. However the
contribution of these electrical charges to the friction behaviour is usually
neglected in the energetical balances. Based on published results and on our
own experimental results on the ability of the dielectric materials to trap
charges, we show in this study that the interaction energy during friction
depends markedly on these trapped charges. Eventually, we propose the
complementary use of the "mirror " method and of surface forces measurements to
obtain a quantitative evaluation of this contribution. dielectric behaviour /
friction / triboelectrification / interfacial interactions / surface free
energy / space charge / surface forces


title:
Iterated logarithm law for anticipating stochastic differential
  equations

abstract:
  We prove a functional law of iterated logarithm for the following kind of
anticipating stochastic differential equations
$$\xi^u_t=X_0^u+\frac{1}{\sqrt{\log\log u}}\sum_{j=1}^k \int_0^{t}
A_j^u(\xi^u_s)\circ dW_{s}^j+ \int_0^{t} A_0^u(\xi^u_s)ds,$$ where $u>e$,
$W=\{(W_t^1,...,W_t^k), 0\le t\le 1\}$ is a standard $k$-dimensional Wiener
process, $A_0^u,A_1^u,..., A_k^u:\mathbb{R}^d\longrightarrow \mathbb{R}^d$ are
functions of class $\mathcal{C}^2$ with bounded partial derivatives up to order
2, $X_0^u$ is a random vector not necessarily adapted and the first integral is
a generalized Stratonovich integral .


title: A New Quadruply Lensed Quasar: SDSSJ125107.57+293540.5

abstract:
  We report the discovery of a quadruply imaged quasar,
SDSSJ125107.57+293540.5, selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Follow-up
imaging reveals that the system consists of four blue point-like components in
a typical cusp lens geometry surrounding a central red galaxy. The source
redshift is 0.802 and the lens redshift is 0.410. The maximum image separation
between the lensed components is 1"79. While the image configuration is well
reproduced by standard mass models with reasonable parameter values, the flux
ratios predicted by these models differ from the observed ratios in all bands.
This is suggestive of small-scale structures in this lens, although the
definitive identification of the anomaly requires more accurate photometry and
astrometry.


title: A high resolution spectral atlas of brown dwarfs

abstract:
  We present a UVES/VLT high resolution atlas of three L dwarfs and one T dwarf
system, spectral classes at which most of the objects are brown dwarfs. Our
atlas covers the optical region from H$\alpha$ up to the near infrared at 1
$\mu$m. We present spectral details of ultra-cool atmospheres at very high
resolution ($R \sim 33 000$) and compare the spectra to model calculations. Our
comparison shows that molecular features from VO and CaH, and atomic features
from Cs and Rb are reasonably well fit by current models. On the other hand,
features due to TiO, CrH, and water, and atomic Na and K reveal large
discrepancies between model calculations and our observations.


title: A Non-Archimedean Wave Equation

abstract:
  Let K be a non-Archimedean local field with the normalized absolute value
$|\cdot |$. It is shown that a ``plane wave'' $f(t+\omega_1 x_1+...
+\omega_nx_n)$, where f is a Bruhat-Schwartz complex-valued test function on K,
$(t,x_1,..., x_n)\in K^{n+1}$, $\max\limits_{1\le j\le n}|\omega_j|=1$,
satisfies, for any f, a certain homogeneous pseudo-differential equation, an
analog of the classical wave equation. A theory of the Cauchy problem for this
equation is developed.


title:
The measurement of the absolute branching ratio of the K+ to pi+ pi0
  (gamma) decay at KLOE

abstract:
  The preliminary result on the absolute branching ratio of the decay K+ to pi+
pi0 (gamma), obtained by the KLOE experiment operating at the DAPHNE Frascati
Phi-Factory, is presented.


title: Measurement of the Decay B- --> D*0 e- nubar

abstract:
  Using 226 million $B\bar{B}$ events recorded on the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance
with the BABAR detector at the SLAC $e^+e^-$ storage rings PEPII, we
reconstruct $B^-\to D^{*0} e^-\bar\nu_e$ decays using the decay chain
$D^{*0}\to{}D^0{}\pi^0$ and $D^{0}\to{}K^-\pi^+$. From the dependence of their
differential rate on $w$, the product of the four-velocities of $B^-${} and
$D^{*0}$, and using the description of the form factor $F(w)$ by Caprini et
al., we obtain the preliminary results $\rho^2_{A_1} = 1.15\pm 0.06 \pm 0.08$,
$F(1)\cdot|V_{cb}| = (36.3\pm 0.6 \pm 1.4)\cdot 10^{-3}$, and ${\cal B}(B^-\to
D^{*0} e^-\bar\nu_e) = (5.71\pm 0.08\pm 0.41)%$. The first errors are
statistical and the second ones are systematic. \\


title: Nanosilica mops up host lipids and fights baculovirus: a B. mori model

abstract:
  Malaria and other parasites, including virus often induce an increase in host
lipids which the invaders use to their own advantage. We obtained encouraging
results in our investigations on bird malaria with a new approach namely the
use of nanosilica to mop up excess host lipids. While this project is
continuing we have investigated another, simpler system namely silkworms which
suffer from a deadly baculovirus, BmNPV. This virus decimates the infected
population within 24 hours or so and no known antibiotic antidote or
genetically resistant strain of silkworm3 exists. We report here a partial
success, which is worth following up. Our rationale, we believe, has a broad
and interdisciplinary appeal, for, this nanosilica treatment might be used
together with other arsenals on all sorts of virus which take advantage of
enhanced host lipids. It has not escaped our notice that Ebola and HIV also
belong to this category. Nanoparticles are being preferentially harnessed,
because they offer a greater surface area, circulate more easily and in
lepidopteran system4 they are removed within 24 hours from the body. Lawry
surmised, on cogent theoretical grounds that particles significantly smaller
than micron order would be less harmful in the hemocoele. Furthermore, Hui-peng
et al. pointed out that lipase treatment, the only viable option for
controlling BmNPV interferes in hormonal balance and cannot be applied to pre
molting stage.


title: HE 0557-4840 - Ultra-Metal-Poor and Carbon-Rich

abstract:
  We report the discovery and high-resolution, high S/N, spectroscopic analysis
of the ultra-metal-poor red giant HE 0557-4840, which is the third most
heavy-element deficient star currently known. Its atmospheric parameters are
T_eff = 4900 K, log g = 2.2, and [Fe/H]= -4.75. This brings the number of stars
with [Fe/H] < -4.0 to three, and the discovery of HE 0557-4840 suggests that
the metallicity distribution function of the Galactic halo does not have a
"gap" between [Fe/H] = -4.0, where several stars are known, and the two most
metal-poor stars, at [Fe/H] ~ -5.3. HE 0557-4840 is carbon rich - [C/Fe] = +1.6
- a property shared by all three objects with [Fe/H] < -4.0, suggesting that
the well-known increase of carbon relative to iron with decreasing [Fe/H]
reaches its logical conclusion - ubiquitous carbon richness - at lowest
abundance. We also present abundances (nine) and limits (nine) for a further 18
elements. For species having well-measured abundances or strong upper limits,
HE 0557-4840 is "normal" in comparison with the bulk of the stellar population
at [Fe/H] ~ -4.0 - with the possible exception of Co. We discuss the
implications of these results for chemical enrichment at the earliest times, in
the context of single ("mixing and fallback") and two-component enrichment
models. While neither offers a clear solution, the latter appears closer to the
mark. Further data are required to determine the oxygen abundance and improve
that of Co, and hence more strongly constrain the origin of this object.


title: Nanosilica mop up host lipids and fights baculovirus

abstract:
  Various types of surface functionalized nanosilica (50-60 nm size with 3-10
nm inner pore size range) have been used to kill insect pests by sucking up
cuticular lipids and breaking the water barrier. We have also utilized
nanosilica for mopping up host lipids induced by the malarial parasite, P.
gallinaceum in poultry birds; VLDL cholesterol and serum triglycerides are
brought back to the normal level with a concomitant check in parasite growth.
While this work continues, we have explored another more convenient system,
silkworm (Bombyx mori) that is frequently decimated by a baculovirus, NPV for
which no antidote is known so far. Here, too, viral infection enhances host
lipids. Eight different types of nanosilica were injected in the virus infected
silkworm (batches of 10 worms) after ensuring 100% survival up to cocoon
formation in control larvae (injected with the same volume of ethanol, the
medium of nanosilica). Of these 8, AL60102 and AL60106, have the most marked
effect on infected silkworm, both as prophylactic and pharmaceutical agents.
Normal larvae injected with these nanosilica survive up to cocoon formation.


title:
Control of rodent sleeping sickness disease by surface functionalized
  amorphous nanosilica

abstract:
  Wild animals, pets, zoo animals and mammals of veterinary importance heavily
suffer from trypanosomiasis. Drugs with serious side effects are currently
mainstay of therapies used by veterinarians. Trypanosomiasis is caused by
Trypanosoma sp. leading to sleeping sickness in humans. Surface modified
(hydrophobic and lipophilic) amorphous nanoporous silica molecules could be
effectively used as therapeutic drug for combating trypanosomiasis. The
amorphous nanosilica was developed by top-down approach using volcanic soil
derived silica (Advasan; 50- 60 nm size with 3-10 nm inner pore size range) and
diatomaceous earth (FS; 60-80 nm size with 3-5 nm inner pore size range) as
source materials. According to WHO and USDA standards amorphous silica has long
been used as feed additives for several veterinary industries and considered to
be safe for human consumption. The basic mechanism of action of these
nanosilica molecules is mediated by the physical absorption of HDL components
in the lipophilic nanopores of nanosilica. This reduces the supply of the host
derived cholesterol, thus limiting the growth of the Trypanosoma sp. in vivo.


title: A third-order dispersive flow for closed curves into K\"ahler manifolds

abstract:
  This paper is devoted to studying the initial value problem for a third-order
dispersive equation for closed curves into K\"ahler manifolds. This equation is
a geometric generalization of a two-sphere valued system modeling the motion of
vortex filament. We prove the local existence theorem by using geometric
analysis and classical energy method.


title:
Experimental analysis of the Strato-rotational Instability in a
  cylindrical Couette flow

abstract:
  This study is devoted to the experimental analysis of the Strato-rotational
Instability (SRI). This instability affects the classical cylindrical Couette
flow when the fluid is stably stratified in the axial direction. In agreement
with recent theoretical and numerical analyses, we describe for the first time
in detail the destabilization of the stratified flow below the Rayleigh line
(i.e. the stability threshold without stratification). We confirm that the
unstable modes of the SRI are non axisymmetric, oscillatory, and take place as
soon as the azimuthal linear velocity decreases along the radial direction.
This new instability is relevant for accretion disks.


title: On the S_n-equivariant Euler characteristic of M_{2,n}

abstract:
  The Getzler's formula relates the S_n-equivariant Hodge-Deligne polynomial of
the space of ordered tuples of distinct points on a given variety X with the
Hodge-Deligne polynomial of X. We obtain the analogue of this formula for the
case when X has a nontrivial automorphism group. Collecting together all strata
of $\mathcal{M}_2$ with different automorphism groups, we derive a formula for
the S_n-equivariant Euler characteristic of $\mathcal{M}_{2,n}$.


title: A Finite Horizon Optimal Multiple Switching Problem

abstract:
  We consider the problem of optimal multiple switching in finite horizon, when
the state of the system, including the switching costs, is a general adapted
stochastic process. The problem is formulated as an extended impulse control
problem and completely solved using probabilistic tools such as the Snell
envelop of processes and reflected backward stochastic differential equations.
Finally, when the state of the system is a Markov diffusion process, we show
that the vector of value functions of the optimal problem is a viscosity
solution to a system of variational inequalities with inter-connected
obstacles.


title:
The Cosmology of Ricci-Tensor-Squared Gravity in the Palatini
  Variational Approach

abstract:
  We consider the cosmology of the Ricci-tensor-squared gravity in the Palatini
variational approach. The gravitational action of standard general relativity
is modified by adding a function f(R^abR_ab) to the Einstein-Hilbert action,
and the Palatini variation is used to derive the field equations. A general
method of obtaining the background and first-order covariant and
gauge-invariant perturbation equations is outlined. As an example, we consider
the cosmological constraints on such theories arising from the supernova type
Ia and cosmic microwave background observations. We find that the best fit to
the data is a non-null leading-order correction to Einstein gravity, but the
current data exhibit no significant preference over the concordance model. The
growth of non-relativistic matter density perturbations at late times is also
analyzed, and we find that a scale-dependent (positive or negative)
sound-speed-squared term generally appears in the growth equation for
small-scale density perturbations. We also estimate the observational bound
imposed by the matter power spectrum for the model with f(R^abR_ab) =
alpha(R^abR_ab)^beta to be roughly |\beta| \lesssim O(10^{-5}) so long as the
dark matter does not possess compensating anisotropic stresses.


title: Hydrodynamic fluctuations in relativistic superfluids

abstract:
  The Hamiltonian formulation of superfluids based on noncanonical Poisson
brackets is studied in detail. The assumption that the momentum density is
proportional to the flow of the conserved energy is shown to lead to the
covariant relativistic theory previously suggested by Khalatnikov, Lebedev and
Carter, and some potentials in this theory are given explicitly. We discuss
hydrodynamic fluctuations in the presence of dissipative effects and we derive
the corresponding set of hydrodynamic correlation functions. Kubo relations for
the transport coefficients are obtained.


title: A New Perspective on DGP Gravity

abstract:
  We examine brane induced gravity on codimension-1 branes, a.k.a DGP gravity,
as a theory of five-dimensional gravity containing a certain class
four-dimensional branes. From this perspective, the model suffers from a number
of pathologies which went unnoticed before. By generalizing the 5D geometry
from Minkowski to Schwarzschild, we find that when the bulk mass is large
enough, the brane hits a pressure singularity at finite radius. Further, on the
self-accelerating branch, the five-dimensional energy is unbounded from below,
implying that the self-accelerating backgrounds are unstable. Even in an empty
Minkowski bulk, standard Euclidean techniques suggest that the spontaneous
nucleation of self-accelerating branes is unsuppressed. If so, quantum effects
will strongly modify any classical intuition about the theory. We also note
that unless considered as Z_2-orbifold boundaries, self-accelerating branes
correspond to `wormhole' configurations, which introduces the usual problematic
issues associated with wormholes. Altogether these pathologies present a
serious challenge that any proposed UV completion of the DGP model must
overcome.


title:
Electromagnetic Coulomb Gas with Vector Charges and "Elastic''
  Potentials : Renormalization Group Equations

abstract:
  We present a detailed derivation of the renormalization group equations for
two dimensional electromagnetic Coulomb gases whose charges lie on a triangular
lattice (magnetic charges) and its dual (electric charges). The interactions
between the charges involve both angular couplings and a new electromagnetic
potential. This motivates the denomination of ``elastic'' Coulomb gas. Such
elastic Coulomb gases arise naturally in the study of the continuous melting
transition of two dimensional solids coupled to a substrate, either
commensurate or with quenched disorder.


title: The photo-electric effect in the bi-layer graphite

abstract:
  We derive the differential probability of the photoelectric effect realized
at the very low temperature of double graphene in the very strong magnetic
field. The relation of this effect to the elementary particle physics, nuclear
physics and Einstein gravity is mentioned. Our approach is the analogue of the
Landau discovery of the diamagnetism, where Landau supposed the parabolic
dispersion relations for the model of diamagnetism.


title: A proof of the invariance of the contact angle in Electrowetting

abstract:
  We prove the invariance of the contact angle in liquid-solid wetting
phenomena : an electrified droplet is spreading on a solid surface. The drop is
minimizing its energy. We express the differential of this energy with respect
to the shape of the drop and deduce necessary conditions for optimality . By
variational method, using well-chosen test functions, we obtain the main result
about the contact angle between the drop and the solid.


title:
Measurement of Moments of the Hadronic-Mass and -Energy Spectrum in
  Inclusive Semileptonic $\bar{B} \to X_{c} \ell^{-} \bar{\nu}$ Decays

abstract:
  We present a measurement of moments of the inclusive hadronic-mass and
-energy spectrum in semileptonic $\bar{B} \to X_{c} \ell^{-} \bar{\nu}$ decays.
This study is based on a sample of 232 million $\Upsilon(4S) \to B\bar{B}$
decays recorded by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II $e^+e^-$-storage rings. We
reconstruct the semileptonic decay by identifying a lepton in events tagged by
a fully reconstructed hadronic decay of the second $B$ meson. We report
preliminary results for the moments $<m_X^k>$ with $k=1,...,6$ and $<n_X^k>$
with $k=2,4,6$ and $n_X^2 = m_X^2 c^4 - 2 \tilde{\Lambda} E_X +
\tilde{\Lambda}^2$, with $m_X$ the mass of the hadronic system, $E_X$ its
energy, and $\tilde\Lambda$ a constant of $0.65 \mathrm{GeV}$, for different
minimal lepton momenta between 0.8 and $1.9 \mathrm{GeV}/c$ measured in the
$B$-meson rest frame. These are predicted in the framework of a Heavy Quark
Expansion (HQE), which allows the extraction of the total semileptonic
branching fraction, the CKM-matrix element $|V_{cb}|$, and the quark masses
$m_b$ and $m_c$, together with the dominant non-perturbative HQE parameters. We
find as preliminary results $|V_{cb}| = (41.88 \pm 0.81) \cdot 10^{-3}$ and
$m_b = (4.552 \pm 0.055) \mathrm{GeV}/c^2$.


title: More about F-term uplifting

abstract:
  We study moduli stabilization and a realization of de Sitter vacua in
generalized F-term uplifting scenarios of the KKLT-type anti-de Sitter vacuum,
where the uplifting sector X directly couples to the light K\"ahler modulus T
in the superpotential through, e.g., stringy instanton effects. F-term
uplifting can be achieved by a spontaneous supersymmetry breaking sector, e.g.,
the Polonyi model, the O'Raifeartaigh model and the Intriligator-Seiberg-Shih
model. Several models with the X-T mixing are examined and qualitative features
in most models {\it even with such mixing} are almost the same as those in the
KKLT scenario. One of the quantitative changes, which are relevant to the
phenomenology, is a larger hierarchy between the modulus mass m_T and the
gravitino mass $m_{3/2}$, i.e., $m_T/m_{3/2} = {\cal O}(a^2)$, where $a \sim 4
\pi^2$. In spite of such a large mass, the modulus F-term is suppressed not
like $F^T = {\cal O}(m_{3/2}/a^2)$, but like $F^T = {\cal O}(m_{3/2}/a)$ for
$\ln (M_{Pl}/m_{3/2}) \sim a$, because of an enhancement factor coming from the
X-T mixing. Then we typically find a mirage-mediation pattern of gaugino masses
of ${\cal O}(m_{3/2}/a)$, while the scalar masses would be generically of
${\cal O}(m_{3/2})$.


abstract:
  The Jacobian ideal of a hyperplane arrangement is an ideal in the polynomial
ring whose generators are the partial derivatives of the arrangements defining
polynomial. In this article, we prove that an arrangement can be reconstructed
from its Jacobian ideal.


title:
New constraints on Planck-scale Lorentz Violation in QED from the Crab
  Nebula

abstract:
  We set constraints on O(E/M) Lorentz Violation in QED in an effective field
theory framework. A major consequence of such assumptions is the modification
of the dispersion relations for electrons/positrons and photons, which in turn
can affect the electromagnetic output of astrophysical objects. We compare the
information provided by multiwavelength observations with a full and
self-consistent computation of the broad-band spectrum of the Crab Nebula. We
cast constraints of order 10^{-5} at 95% confidence level on the lepton Lorentz
Violation parameters.


title:
The effect of type I migration on the formation of terrestrial planets
  in hot-Jupiter systems

abstract:
  Context: Our previous models of a giant planet migrating through an inner
protoplanet/planetesimal disk find that the giant shepherds a portion of the
material it encounters into interior orbits, whilst scattering the rest into
external orbits. Scattering tends to dominate, leaving behind abundant material
that can accrete into terrestrial planets. Aims: We add to the possible realism
of our model by simulating type I migration forces which cause an inward drift,
and strong eccentricity and inclination damping of protoplanetary bodies. This
extra dissipation might be expected to enhance shepherding at the expense of
scattering, possibly modifying our previous conclusions. Methods: We employ an
N-body code that is linked to a viscous gas disk algorithm capable of
simulating: gas accretion onto the central star; gap formation in the vicinity
of the giant planet; type II migration of the giant planet; type I migration of
protoplanets; and the effect of gas drag on planetesimals. We use the code to
re-run three scenarios from a previous work where type I migration was not
included. Results: The additional dissipation introduced by type I migration
enhances the inward shepherding of material but does not severely reduce
scattering. We find that > 50% of the solids disk material still survives the
migration in scattered exterior orbits: most of it well placed to complete
terrestrial planet formation at < 3 AU. The shepherded portion of the disk
accretes into hot-Earths, which survive in interior orbits for the duration of
our simulations. Conclusions: Water-rich terrestrial planets can form in the
habitable zones of hot-Jupiter systems and hot-Earths and hot-Neptunes may also
be present. These systems should be targets of future planet search missions.


title: Q0045-3337: models including strong lensing by a spiral galaxy

abstract:
  Aims. Falomo et al. (2005) discovered a disk-like galaxy at ~ 1.2 arcsec from
the QSO Q0045-3337 by means of ESO VLT adaptive optics. They estimated a galaxy
Einstein radius (for a point mass) of comparable size, thus pointing up the
existence of a new, rare, spiral lens candidate, despite no evident image
splitting.
  Here we discuss the possible lensing effect of the galaxy in some more
detail.
  Methods. We performed two dimensional surface photometry on the VLT image of
the galaxy, confirming its spiral nature. We then verified if simple mass
models, partially constrained by observational data, require unrealistic
parameters to produce a still hidden second quasar image. We also evaluated the
respective viability of an instrumental or a lensing origin of the observed QSO
deformation.
  Results. After galaxy model subtraction, we found a residual image, likely
not related to gravitational lensing. Existing data are not sufficient to
assess the presence of image splitting, nor to constrain the number of images
or discriminate between galaxy mass models.
  Conclusion. Further observations are mandatory to progress in the study of
this remarkable system, that could shed more light on the lensing behaviour of
spiral galaxies.


title: Groundstate splitting around rotating mini Blackholes

abstract:
  In this letter we present the result of a spin-dependent groundstate-energy
calculation for fermionic boundstates in the spacetime around a rotating
blackhole. Using a slow rotation approximation and a minimax variational
approach we find boundstate energies of 0 to 5 percent of the fermions
flatspace restmass. The groundstate displays a spin-dependent splitting with an
energy difference of about 10 percent of the binding energy. For a dilute gas
of primordial mini blackholes with gravitationally bound electrons spin-flip
transitions could possibly give rise to observable signatures in the observed
soft X-ray spectrum for sources at cosmological distances.


title: On the migration of protoplanets embedded in circumbinary disks

abstract:
  We present the results of hydrodynamical simulations of low mass protoplanets
embedded in circumbinary accretion disks. The aim is to examine the migration
and long term orbital evolution of the protoplanets, in order to establish the
stability properties of planets that form in circumbinary disks. Simulations
were performed using a grid--based hydrodynamics code. First we present a set
of calculations that study how a binary interacts with a circumbinary disk. We
evolve the system for 10^5 binary orbits, which is the time needed for the
system to reach a quasi-equilibrium state. From this time onward the apsidal
lines of the disk and the binary are aligned, and the binary eccentricity
remains essentially unchanged with a value of e_b ~ 0.08. Once this stationary
state is obtained, we embed a low mass protoplanet in the disk and let it
evolve under the action of the binary and disk forces. We consider protoplanets
with masses of 5, 10 and 20 Earth masses. In each case, we find that inward
migration of the protoplanet is stopped at the edge of the tidally truncated
cavity formed by the binary. This effect is due to positve corotation torques,
which can counterbalance the net negative Lindblad torques in disk regions
where the surface density profile has a sufficiently large positive gradient.
Halting of migration occurs in a region of long-term stability, suggesting that
low mass circumbinary planets may be common, and that gas giant circumbinary
planets should be able to form in circumbinary disks.


title: From Cooperative Paramagnet to N\'{e}el Order in Y_2Ru_2O_7

abstract:
  Spin correlations in the pyrochlore antiferromagnet Y_2Ru_2O_7 with
Curie-Weiss temperature $\Theta_{CW}=-1100$ K and critical temperature T_N=77 K
were examined through neutron scattering. For $T_N<T<\Theta_{CW}/3$ the data
show spin relaxation with a rate $\hbar\Gamma= 1.17(9)k_BT$. For T<T_N spectral
weight moves to higher energies with substantial changes up to $4\times
k_BT_N$. For T<<T_N there is a $\Delta=11(1)$ meV energy gap and a pronounced
spectral maximum at 19.7 meV. Throughout the temperature range examined the
wave vector dependence of inelastic scattering exhibits a broad peak for
$Qd\approx 3.8$ (d is Ru-Ru spacing) consistent with dipolar spin correlations.


title: J0316+4328: a Probable "Asymmetric Double" Lens

abstract:
  We report a probable gravitational lens J0316+4328, one of 19 candidate
asymmetric double lenses (2 images at a high flux density ratio) from CLASS.
Observations with the Very Large Array (VLA), MERLIN and the Very Long Baseline
Array (VLBA) imply that J0316+4328 is a lens with high confidence. It has 2
images separated by 0.40", with 6 GHz flux densities of 62 mJy and 3.2 mJy. The
flux density ratio of ~19 (constant over the frequency range 6-22 GHz) is the
largest for any 2 image gravitational lens. High resolution optical imaging and
deeper VLBI maps should confirm the lensing interpretation and provide inputs
to detailed lens models. The unique configuration will give strong constraints
on the lens galaxy's mass profile.


title: An X-ray view of Pictor A radio lobes: a spatially resolved study

abstract:
  A spatially resolved analysis of the lobes of the radio galaxy Pictor A has
been performed for the first time starting from a 50 ksec XMM-Newton
observation. Magnetic field, B_{IC}, particle density, particle to magnetic
field energy density ratios have been measured. Our study shows that B_{IC}
varies through the lobes. On the contrary, a rather uniform distribution of the
particles is observed. In both the lobes, the equipartition magnetic field,
B_{eq}, is bigger than the Inverse Compton value, B_{IC}, calculated from the
radio to X-ray flux ratio.


title:
Shear viscosity of neutron matter from realistic nucleon-nucleon
  interactions

abstract:
  The calculation of transport properties of Fermi liquids, based on the
formalism developed by Abrikosov and Khalatnikov, requires the knowledge of the
probability of collisions between quasiparticles in the vicinity of the Fermi
surface. We have carried out a numerical study of the shear viscosity of pure
neutron matter, whose value plays a pivotal role in determining the stability
of rotating neutron stars, in which these processes are described using a
state-of-the-art nucleon-nucleon potential model. Within our approach medium
modifications of the scattering cross section are consistently taken into
account, through an effective interaction obtained from the matrix elements of
the bare interaction between correlated states. Inclusion of medium effects
lead to a large increase of the viscosity at densities larger than $\sim 0.1$
fm^{-3}.


title:
Localization and characterization of simple defects in finite-size
  photonic crystals

abstract:
  Structured materials like photonic crystals require for optimal use a high
precision both on position and optical characteristics of the components which
they are made of. Here, we present a simple tomographic algorithm, based on a
specific Green's function together with a first-order Born approximation, which
enables us to localize and characterize identical defects in finite-size
photonic crystals. This algorithm is proposed as a first step to the monitoring
of such materials. Illustrative numerical results show in particular some
possibility of focalization beyond the Rayleigh criterion.


title:
Liquid-Solid Transition and Phase Diagram of ^4He Confined in Nanoporous
  Glass

abstract:
  We have studied the liquid - solid (L-S) phase transition of ^4He confined in
nanoporous glass, which has interconnected nanopores of 2.5 nm in diameter. The
L-S boundary is determined by the measurements of pressure and thermal response
during slow cooling and warming. Below 1 K, the freezing pressure is elevated
to 1.2 MPa from the bulk freezing pressure, and appears to be independent of
temperature. The T-independent L-S boundary implies the existence of a
localized Bose-Einstein condensation state, in which long-range superfluid
coherence is destroyed by narrowness of the nanopores and random potential.


title:
Reply to Comment on 'Critical behaviour in the relaminarization of
  localized turbulence in pipe flow'

abstract:
  This is a Reply to Comment arXiv:0707.2642 by Hof et al. on Letter
arXiv:physics/0608292 which was subsequently published in Phys Rev Lett, 98,
014501 (2007).
  In our letter it was reported that in pipe flow the median time $\tau$ for
relaminarisation of localised turbulent disturbances closely follows the
scaling $\tau\sim 1/(Re_c-Re)$. This conclusion was based on data from
collections of 40 to 60 independent simulations at each of six different
Reynolds numbers, Re. In the Comment, Hof et al. estimate $\tau$ differently
for the point at lowest Re. Although this point is the most uncertain, it forms
the basis for their assertion that the data might then fit an exponential
scaling $\tau\sim \exp(A Re)$, for some constant A, supporting Hof et al.
(2006) Nature, 443, 59. The most certain point (at largest Re) does not fit
their conclusion and is rejected. We clarify why their argument for rejecting
this point is flawed. The median $\tau$ is estimated from the distribution of
observations, and it is shown that the correct part of the distribution is
used. The data is sufficiently well determined to show that the exponential
scaling cannot be fit to the data over this range of Re, whereas the $\tau\sim
1/(Re_c-Re)$ fit is excellent, indicating critical behaviour and supporting
experiments by Peixinho & Mullin 2006.


title: The surface brightness profile of the remote cluster NGC 2419

abstract:
  It is well known that the bright and remote Galactic globular cluster NGC2419
has a very peculiar structure. In particular its half-light radius is
significantly larger than that of ordinary globular clusters of similar
luminosity, being as large as that of the brightest nuclei of dwarf elliptical
galaxies. In this context it is particularly worth to check the reliability of
the existing surface brightness profiles for this cluster and of the available
estimates of its structural parameters. Combining different datasets I derive
the surface brightness profile going from the cluster center out to ~ 480
arcsec, i.e. ~25 core radii. (Abridged). The newly obtained surface brightness
profile is in excellent agreement with that provided by Trager, King &
Djorgovski for r>= 4 arcsec; it is best fitted by a King model having r_c=0.32
arcmin, mu_V(0)=19.55 and C=1.35. Also new independent estimates of the total
integrated V magnitude (V_t=10.47 +/- 0.07) and of the half-light radius
(r_h=0.96 arcmin +/- 0.2 arcmin) have been obtained. (Abridged). The structure
of NGC2419 is now reliably constrained by (at least) two fully independent
observational profiles that are in good agreement one with the other. Also the
overall agreement between structural parameters independently obtained by
different authors is quite satisfying.


title: Observational constraints on the linear fluctuation growth rate

abstract:
  Several experiments in the near future will test dark energy through its
effects on the linear growth of matter perturbations. It is therefore important
to find simple and at the same time general parametrizations of the linear
growth rate. We show that a simple fitting formula that generalizes previous
expressions reproduces the growth function in models that allow for a growth
faster than standard, as for instance in scalar-tensor models. We use data from
galaxy and Lyman-$\alpha$ power spectra to constrain the linear growth rate. We
find $\gamma=0.6_{-0.3}^{+0.4}$ for the growth rate index and
$\eta=0.0_{-0.2}^{+0.3}$ for the additional growth parameter we introduce.


title: Search for the K(S) --> e+e- decay with the KLOE detector at DAFNE

abstract:
  We present results of a direct search for the decay KS --> e+e- with the KLOE
detector, obtained with a sample of e+e- --> phi --> KSKL events produced at
DAFNE, the Frascati phi-factory, for an integrated luminosity of 1.3fb-1. The
Standard Model prediction for this decay is BR(KS --> e+e-) = 1.6*10^-15. The
search has been performed tagging the KS decays by simultaneous detection of a
KL interaction in the calorimeter. Background rejection has been optimized by
using both kinematic cuts and particle identification. At the end of the
analysis chain we find BR(KS --> e+e-) < 2.1*10^-8 at 90% CL, which improves by
a factor of ~7 on the previous best result, obtained by CPLEAR experiment.


title: Hall magnetohydrodynamics of partially ionized plasmas

abstract:
  The Hall effect arises in a plasma when electrons are able to drift with the
magnetic field but ions cannot. In a fully-ionized plasma this occurs for
frequencies between the ion and electron cyclotron frequencies because of the
larger ion inertia. Typically this frequency range lies well above the
frequencies of interest (such as the dynamical frequency of the system under
consideration) and can be ignored. In a weakly-ionized medium, however, the
Hall effect arises through a different mechanism -- neutral collisions
preferentially decouple ions from the magnetic field. This typically occurs at
much lower frequencies and the Hall effect may play an important role in the
dynamics of weakly-ionised systems such as the Earth's ionosphere and
protoplanetary discs.
  To clarify the relationship between these mechanisms we develop an
approximate single-fluid description of a partially ionized plasma that becomes
exact in the fully-ionized and weakly-ionized limits. Our treatment includes
the effects of ohmic, ambipolar, and Hall diffusion. We show that the Hall
effect is relevant to the dynamics of a partially ionized medium when the
dynamical frequency exceeds the ratio of ion to bulk mass density times the
ion-cyclotron frequency, i.e. the Hall frequency. The corresponding length
scale is inversely proportional to the ion to bulk mass density ratio as well
as to the ion-Hall beta parameter.


title:
Long-Time Behavior of Velocity Autocorrelation Function for Interacting
  Particles in a Two-Dimensional Disordered System

abstract:
  The long-time behavior of the velocity autocorrelation function (VACF) is
investigated by the molecular dynamics simulation of a two-dimensional system
which has both a many-body interaction and a random potential. With
strengthening the random potential by increasing the density of impurities, a
crossover behavior of the VACF is observed from a positive tail, which is
proportional to t^{-1}, to a negative tail, proportional to -t^{-2}. The latter
tail exists even when the density of particles is the same order as the density
of impurities. The behavior of the VACF in a nonequilibrium steady state is
also studied. In the linear response regime the behavior is similar to that in
the equilibrium state, whereas it changes drastically in the nonlinear response
regime.


title: Evidence for non-Gaussian tail in 3D pion emission source at the SPS

abstract:
  The NA49 experiment at CERN SPS has acquired a huge data set of Pb+Pb events
over a broad range of energy and centrality during the last several years. This
high statistics data set, coupled with a state-of-the-art analysis technique,
allows for the first model-independent extraction and energy scan of 3D
emission sources for pion pairs at SPS energies. These 3D pion emission sources
provide new insights into the nature of a long-range source previously reported
by PHENIX at RHIC. The new results indicate that the pion source displays
significant non-Gaussian tails in the longitudinal direction at 40 and 158 AGeV
and in the outward direction at 158 AGeV.


title:
Neon and Argon optical emission lines in ionized gaseous nebulae:
  Implications and applications

abstract:
  In this work we present a study of the strong optical collisional emission
lines of Ne and Ar in an heterogeneous sample of ionized gaseous nebulae for
which it is possible to derive directly the electron temperature and hence the
chemical abundances of neon and argon. We calculate using a grid of
photoionization models new ionization correction factors for these two elements
and we study the behaviour of Ne/O and Ar/O abundance ratios with metallicity.
We find a constant value for Ne/O, while there seems to be some evidence for
the existence of negative radial gradients of Ar/O over the disks of some
nearby spirals. We study the relation between the intensities of the emission
lines of [NeIII] at 3869 \AA and [OIII] at 4959 \AA and 5007 \AA. This relation
can be used in empirical calibrations and diagnostic ratios extending their
applicability to bluer wavelengths and therefore to samples of objects at
higher redshifts. Finally, we propose a new diagnostic using [OII], [NeIII] and
Hdelta emission lines to derive metallicities for galaxies at high z.


title: Flat rotation curves using scalar-tensor theories

abstract:
  We computed flat rotation curves from scalar-tensor theories in their weak
field limit. Our model, by construction, fits a flat rotation profile for
velocities of stars. As a result, the form of the scalar field potential and DM
distribution in a galaxy are determined. By taking into account the constraints
for the fundamental parameters of the theory $(\lambda, \alpha)$, it is
possible to obtain analytical results for the density profiles. For positive
and negative values of $\alpha$, the DM matter profile is as cuspy as NFW's.


title:
XMM-Newton observations of the Lockman Hole V: time variability of the
  brightest AGN

abstract:
  This paper presents the results of a study of X-ray spectral and flux
variability on time scales from months to years, of the 123 brightest objects
(including 46 type-1 AGN and 28 type-2 AGN) detected with XMM-Newton in the
Lockman Hole field. We detected flux variability with a significance >3sigma in
~50% of the objects, including 68+-11% and 48+-15% among our samples of type-1
and type-2 AGN. However we found that the fraction of sources with best quality
light curves that exhibit flux variability on the time scales sampled by our
data is >80%, i.e the great majority of the AGN population may actually vary in
flux on long time scales. The mean relative intrinsic amplitude of flux
variability was found to be ~0.15 although with a large dispersion in measured
values, from ~0.1 to ~0.65. The flux variability properties of our samples of
AGN do not significantly depend on the redshift or X-ray luminosity of the
objects and seem to be similar for the two AGN types. Using a broad band X-ray
colour we found that the fraction of sources showing spectral variability with
a significance >3sigma is ~40% i.e. less common than flux variability. Spectral
variability was found to be more common in type-2 AGN than in type-1 AGN with a
significance >99%. This result is consistent with the fact that part of the
soft emission in type-2 AGN comes from scattered radiation, and this component
is expected to be much less variable than the hard component. The observed flux
and spectral variability properties of our objects cannot be explained as being
produced by variability of one spectral component alone, for example changes in
the continuum shape associated with changes in the mass accretion rate, or
variability in the amount of X-ray absorption. At least two spectral components
must vary in order to explain the X-ray variability of our objects.


title: Synchnonization, zero-resistance states and rotating Wigner crystal

abstract:
  We show that rotational angles of electrons moving in two dimensions (2D) in
a perpendicular magnetic field can be synchronized by an external microwave
field which frequency is close to the Larmor frequency. The synchronization
eliminates collisions between electrons and thus creates a regime with zero
diffusion corresponding to the zero-resistance states observed in experiments
with high mobility 2D electron gas (2DEG). For long range Coulomb interactions
electrons form a rotating hexagonal Wigner crystal. Possible relevance of this
effect for planetary rings is discussed.


title: Axion-Like Particles, Cosmic Magnetic Fields and Gamma-Ray Astrophysics

abstract:
  Axion-Like Particles (ALPs) are predicted by many extensions of the Standard
Model and give rise to characteristic dimming and polarization effects in a
light beam travelling in a magnetic field. In this Letter, we demonstrate that
photon-ALP mixing in cosmic magnetic fields produces an observable distortion
in the energy spectra of distant gamma-ray sources (like AGN) for ranges of the
ALP parameters allowed by all available constraints. The resulting effect is
expected to show up in the energy band 100 MeV - 100 GeV, and so it can be
serched with the upcoming GLAST mission.


title: Automated detection of lung nodules in low-dose computed tomography

abstract:
  A computer-aided detection (CAD) system for the identification of pulmonary
nodules in low-dose multi-detector computed-tomography (CT) images has been
developed in the framework of the MAGIC-5 Italian project. One of the main
goals of this project is to build a distributed database of lung CT scans in
order to enable automated image analysis through a data and cpu GRID
infrastructure. The basic modules of our lung-CAD system, consisting in a 3D
dot-enhancement filter for nodule detection and a neural classifier for
false-positive finding reduction, are described. The system was designed and
tested for both internal and sub-pleural nodules. The database used in this
study consists of 17 low-dose CT scans reconstructed with thin slice thickness
(~300 slices/scan). The preliminary results are shown in terms of the FROC
analysis reporting a good sensitivity (85% range) for both internal and
sub-pleural nodules at an acceptable level of false positive findings (1-9
FP/scan); the sensitivity value remains very high (75% range) even at 1-6
FP/scan


title: A Homogeneous Sample of Sub-DLAs IV: Global Metallicity Evolution

abstract:
  An accurate method to measure the abundance of high-redshift galaxies
consists in the observation of absorbers along the line of sight toward a
background quasar. Here, we present abundance measurements of 13 z>3 sub-Damped
Lyman-alpha Systems (quasar absorbers with HI column density 19 < log N(HI) <
20.3 cm^-2) based on the high resolution observations with VLT UVES
spectrograph. These observations more than double the metallicity information
for sub-DLAs previously available at z>3. This new data, combined with other
sub-DLA measurements from the literature, confirm the stronger metallicity
redshift evolution than for the classical Damped Lyman-alpha absorbers.
Besides, these observations are used to compute for the first time the fraction
of gas ionised from photo-ionisation modelling in a sample of sub-DLAs. Based
on these results, we calculate that sub-DLAs contribute no more than 6% of the
expected amount of metals at z~2.5. We therefore conclude that even if sub-DLAs
are found to be more metal-rich than classical DLAs, they are insufficient to
close the so-called ``missing metals problem''.


title:
Ram pressure stripping of disc galaxies orbiting in clusters. I. Mass
  and radius of the remaining gas disc

abstract:
  We present the first 3D hydrodynamical simulations of ram pressure stripping
of a disc galaxy orbiting in a galaxy cluster. Along the orbit, the ram
pressure that this galaxy experiences varies with time. In this paper, we focus
on the evolution of the radius and mass of the remaining gas disc and compare
it with the classical analytical estimate proposed by Gunn & Gott 1972. We find
that this simple estimate works well in predicting the evolution of the radius
of the remaining gas disc. Only if the ram pressure increases faster than the
stripping timescale, the disc radius remains larger than predicted. However,
orbits with such short ram pressure peaks are unlikely to occur in other than
compact clusters. Unlike the radius evolution, the mass loss history for the
galaxy is not accurately described by the analytical estimate. Generally, in
the simulations the galaxy loses its gas more slowly than predicted.


title: Wilson loops: From four-dimensional SYM to two-dimensional YM

abstract:
  In this note we study supersymmetric Wilson loops restricted to an S^2
submanifold of four-dimensional space in N=4 super Yang-Mills. We provide
evidence from both perturbation theory and the AdS dual that those loops are
equal to the analogous observables in two-dimensional Yang-Mills on S^2
(excluding non-perturbative contributions). This relates a subsector of N=4 SYM
to a low-dimensional soluble model and also suggests that this subsector of N
=4 SYM is invariant under area preserving diffeomorphisms.