scholarly journals Revisiting the luminosity and redshift distributions of long gamma-ray bursts

Author(s):  
Guang-Xuan Lan ◽  
Jun-Jie Wei ◽  
Hou-Dun Zeng ◽  
Ye Li ◽  
Xue-Feng Wu

Abstract In this work, we update and enlarge the long gamma-ray burst (GRB) sample detected by the Swift satellite. Given the incomplete sampling of the faint bursts and the low completeness in redshift measurement, we carefully select a subsample of bright Swift bursts to revisit the GRB luminosity function (LF) and redshift distribution by taking into account the probability of redshift measurement. Here we also explore two general expressions for the GRB LF, i.e. a broken power-law LF and a triple power-law LF. Our results suggest that a strong redshift evolution in luminosity (with an evolution index of $\delta =1.92^{+0.25}_{-0.37}$) or in density ($\delta =1.26^{+0.33}_{-0.34}$) is required in order to well account for the observations, independent of the assumed expression of the GRB LF. However, in a one-on-one comparison using the Akaike information criterion, the best-fitting evolution model involving the triple power-law LF is statistically preferred over the best-fitting one involving the broken power-law LF with a relative probability of ∼94.3 per cent versus ∼5.7 per cent. Extrapolating our fitting results to the flux limit of the whole Swift sample, and considering the trigger probability of Swift/Burst Alert Telescope in detail, we find that the expectations from our evolution models provide a good representation of the observed distributions of the whole sample without the need for any adjustment of the model free parameters. This further confirms the reliability of our analysis results.

2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (2) ◽  
pp. 1755-1771
Author(s):  
Laura Greggio ◽  
Paolo Simonetti ◽  
Francesca Matteucci

ABSTRACT The merging rate of double neutron stars (DNS) has a great impact on many astrophysical issues, including the interpretation of gravitational waves signals, of the short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), and of the chemical properties of stars in galaxies. Such rate depends on the distribution of the delay times (DDT) of the merging events. In this paper, we derive a theoretical DDT of merging DNS following from the characteristics of the clock controlling their evolution. We show that the shape of the DDT is governed by a few key parameters, primarily the lower limit and the slope of the distribution of the separation of the DNS systems at birth. With a parametric approach, we investigate on the observational constraints on the DDT from the cosmic rate of short GRBs and the europium-to-iron ratio in Milky Way stars, taken as tracer of the products of the explosion. We find that the local rate of DNS merging requires that $\sim \! 1 {{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of neutron stars progenitors live in binary systems which end their evolution as merging DNS within a Hubble time. The redshift distribution of short GRBs does not yet provide a strong constraint on the shape of the DDT, although the best-fitting models have a shallow DDT. The chemical pattern in Milky Way stars requires an additional source of europium besides the products from merging DNS, which weakens the related requirement on the DDT. At present both constraints can be matched with the same DDT for merging DNS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 485 (4) ◽  
pp. 5891-5896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Rana ◽  
Jasjeet S Bagla

Abstract We study the angular clustering of point sources in The GMRT (Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope) Sky Survey (TGSS). The survey at 150 MHz with δ > −53.5° has a sky coverage of 3.6π steradians, i.e. $90{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the whole sky. We created subsamples by applying different total flux thresholds limit (Sflux ≫ 5σ) for good completeness and measured the angular correlation function ω(θ) of point sources at large scales (≥1°). We find that the amplitude of angular clustering is higher for brighter subsamples; this indicates that higher threshold flux samples are hosted by massive haloes and cluster strongly: this conclusion is based on the assumption that the redshift distribution of sources does not change with flux and this is supported by models of radio sources. We compare our results with other low-frequency studies of clustering of point sources and verify that the amplitude of clustering varies with the flux limit. We quantify this variation as a power-law dependence of the amplitude of correlation function with the flux limit. This dependence can be used to estimate foreground contamination due to clustering of point sources for low-frequency H i intensity mapping surveys for studying the epoch of reionization.


Author(s):  
Paul T O'Brien ◽  
Richard Willingale

We present an analysis of early Burst Alert Telescope and X-ray Telescope data for 107 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) observed by the Swift satellite. We use these data to examine the behaviour of the X-ray light curve and propose a classification scheme for GRBs based on this behaviour. As found for previous smaller samples, the earliest X-ray light curve can be well described by an exponential, which relaxes into a power-law, often with flares superimposed. The later emission is well fit using a similar functional form and we find that these two functions provide a good description of the entire X-ray light curve. For the prompt emission, the transition time between the exponential and the power-law gives a well-defined time-scale, T p , for the burst duration. We use T p , the spectral index of the prompt emission, β p , and the prompt power-law decay index, α p , to define four classes of burst: short, slow, fast and soft. Bursts with slowly declining emission have spectral and temporal properties similar to the short bursts despite having longer durations. Some of these GRBs may therefore arise from similar progenitors including several types of binary system. Short bursts tend to decline more gradually than longer duration bursts and hence emit a significant fraction of their total energy at times greater than T p . This may be due to differences in the environment or the progenitor for long, fast bursts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitry M. Davydov ◽  
Andrey Boev ◽  
Stas Gorbunov

AbstractSituational or persistent body fluid deficit (i.e., de- or hypo-hydration) is considered a significant health risk factor. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) has been suggested as an alternative to less reliable subjective and biochemical indicators of hydration status. The present study aimed to compare various BIA models in the prediction of direct measures of body compartments associated with hydration/osmolality. Fish (n = 20) was selected as a biological model for physicochemically measuring proximate body compartments associated with hydration such as water, dissolved proteins, and non-osseous minerals as the references or criterion points. Whole-body and segmental/local impedance measures were used to investigate a pool of BIA models, which were compared by Akaike Information Criterion in their ability to accurately predict the body components. Statistical models showed that ‘volumetric-based’ BIA measures obtained in parallel, such as distance2/Rp, could be the best approach in predicting percent of body moisture, proteins, and minerals in the whole-body schema. However, serially-obtained BIA measures, such as the ratio of the reactance to resistance and the resistance adjusted for distance between electrodes, were the best fitting in predicting the compartments in the segmental schema. Validity of these results should be confirmed on humans before implementation in practice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 58-59
Author(s):  
Larissa L Becker ◽  
Emily E Scholtz ◽  
Joel M DeRouchey ◽  
Mike D Tokach ◽  
Jason C Woodworth ◽  
...  

Abstract A total of 2,124 barrows and gilts (PIC 1050′DNA 600, initially 48.9 kg) were used in a 32-d study to determine the optimal dietary standardized ileal digestibility (SID) Lys level in a commercial setting. Pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments with 24 to 27 pigs/pen and 16 replications/treatment. Similar number of barrows and gilts were placed in each pen. Diets were fed over 3 phases (48.9 to 58.6, 58.6 to 70.9, and 70.9 to 80.8 kg respectively). Dietary treatments were corn-soybean meal-based and contained 10 (phase 1 and 2) or 5% (phase 3) distillers dried grains with solubles. Diets were formulated to 85, 95, 103, 110, or 120% of the current Pig Improvement Company (PIC, Hendersonville, TN) SID Lys gilt recommendations with phase 1 SID Lys levels of 0.90, 1.01, 1.09, 1.17 and 1.27%, phase 2 levels of 0.79, 0.87, 0.94, 1.03, and 1.10%, and phase 3 levels of 0.71, 0.78, 0.85, 0.92, and 0.99%, respectively. Dose response curves were evaluated using linear (LM), quadratic polynomial (QP), broken-line linear (BLL), and broken-line quadratic (BLQ) models. For each response variable, the best-fitting model was selected using the Bayesian information criterion. Overall (d 0 to 32), increasing SID Lys increased (linear, P< 0.001) BW, ADG, G:F, Lys intake/d, and Lys intake/kg of gain. Modeling margin over feed cost (MOFC), BLL and QP estimated the requirement at 105.8% and 113.7% respectively. In summary, while growth increased linearly up to 120% of the PIC current feeding level, the optimal MOFC was 106% to 114% depending on the model used.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e035785
Author(s):  
Shukrullah Ahmadi ◽  
Florence Bodeau-Livinec ◽  
Roméo Zoumenou ◽  
André Garcia ◽  
David Courtin ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo select a growth model that best describes individual growth trajectories of children and to present some growth characteristics of this population.SettingsParticipants were selected from a prospective cohort conducted in three health centres (Allada, Sekou and Attogon) in a semirural region of Benin, sub-Saharan Africa.ParticipantsChildren aged 0 to 6 years were recruited in a cohort study with at least two valid height and weight measurements included (n=961).Primary and secondary outcome measuresThis study compared the goodness-of-fit of three structural growth models (Jenss-Bayley, Reed and a newly adapted version of the Gompertz growth model) on longitudinal weight and height growth data of boys and girls. The goodness-of-fit of the models was assessed using residual distribution over age and compared with the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). The best-fitting model allowed estimating mean weight and height growth trajectories, individual growth and growth velocities. Underweight, stunting and wasting were also estimated at age 6 years.ResultsThe three models were able to fit well both weight and height data. The Jenss-Bayley model presented the best fit for weight and height, both in boys and girls. Mean height growth trajectories were identical in shape and direction for boys and girls while the mean weight growth curve of girls fell slightly below the curve of boys after neonatal life. Finally, 35%, 27.7% and 8% of boys; and 34%, 38.4% and 4% of girls were estimated to be underweight, wasted and stunted at age 6 years, respectively.ConclusionThe growth parameters of the best-fitting Jenss-Bayley model can be used to describe growth trajectories and study their determinants.


2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. L14
Author(s):  
◽  
V. A. Acciari ◽  
S. Ansoldi ◽  
L. A. Antonelli ◽  
A. Arbet Engels ◽  
...  

We report the detection of pulsed gamma-ray emission from the Geminga pulsar (PSR J0633+1746) between 15 GeV and 75 GeV. This is the first time a middle-aged pulsar has been detected up to these energies. Observations were carried out with the MAGIC telescopes between 2017 and 2019 using the low-energy threshold Sum-Trigger-II system. After quality selection cuts, ∼80 h of observational data were used for this analysis. To compare with the emission at lower energies below the sensitivity range of MAGIC, 11 years of Fermi-LAT data above 100 MeV were also analysed. From the two pulses per rotation seen by Fermi-LAT, only the second one, P2, is detected in the MAGIC energy range, with a significance of 6.3σ. The spectrum measured by MAGIC is well-represented by a simple power law of spectral index Γ = 5.62 ± 0.54, which smoothly extends the Fermi-LAT spectrum. A joint fit to MAGIC and Fermi-LAT data rules out the existence of a sub-exponential cut-off in the combined energy range at the 3.6σ significance level. The power-law tail emission detected by MAGIC is interpreted as the transition from curvature radiation to Inverse Compton Scattering of particles accelerated in the northern outer gap.


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan M Everett ◽  
Nina P Paynter ◽  
Julie E Buring ◽  
Robert J Glynn ◽  
Nancy R Cook ◽  
...  

Background : Established risk factors for idiopathic venous thromboembolism (VTE) include age, prothrombotic mutations, and obesity. A risk prediction algorithm might allow clinicians to focus preventive efforts. Methods : We derived a prediction model for idiopathic VTE using 22 possible predictor variables and their interactions in 19,458 initially healthy Caucasian women who were followed for incident idiopathic VTE. Minimization of the Bayes Information Criterion (BIC) was used to help identify the best, most parsimonious model, and estimates of discrimination (C-index) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) statistic) comparing observed and predicted risk were computed and compared with a model including only age and weight. Results: The mean (SD) age was 54.1 (7.1) years, the mean (SD) weight 69.9 (14.1) kilograms, and 2.8% and 5.3% of participants carried the prothrombin and factor V Leiden mutations, respectively. After a median of 12.4 years of follow up, we observed 130 idiopathic cases of VTE. The best fitting model included log(age), log(weight), log(apolipoprotein A1), and the presence of the prothrombin or factor V Leiden mutations (C-index 0.704; H-L statistic 5.9). When compared to model including only log(age) and log(weight) (C-index 0.636; H-L statistic 3.9), the full model achieved higher discrimination at similar calibration and led to a net reclassification of 34.5 percent (6705) of participants, all correctly. Conculsion: In our population of middle-aged, initially healthy Caucasian women, a model that includes age, weight, apolipoprotein A1, and the prothrombin and factor V Leiden mutations predicts incident idiopathic VTE more accurately than one including age and weight alone. Table. Idiopathic venous thromboembolism risk reclassification - basic and best-fitting models


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 985-985
Author(s):  
M Becker ◽  
D Allen

Abstract Objective Differences between males and females with schizophrenia have been identified for numerous important disorder-related variables including age of onset, severity, and course, among others. Evidence suggests there also may be differences in intellectual functioning and possibly specific cognitive deficits. This study examined differences in the latent structure of cognitive abilities between males and females with schizophrenia. Method Participants included 659 males (age X̄ = 38.25, 64.5% Caucasian, education X̄ = 11.69) and 209 females (age X̄ = 40.52, 55.5% Caucasian, education X̄ = 11.72) with schizophrenia who were evaluated with neuropsychological tests as part of a large multicenter randomized control trial of antipsychotic medications (CATIE). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test four competing models based on prior CFA of the CATIE data. Model accuracy was evaluated using Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Root Mean Squared Error of Approximation (RMSEA), and Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC). Results CFAs were completed for each sex using EQS 6.3. Models included one-factor, five-factor, six-factor, and a hierarchical model in which five factors load on a single factor “g”. The six-factor model was the best fitting for both males and females. Conclusions The results indicated that a six-factor model of neurocognition is the best fitting model for both males and females. The results also suggest that the latent structure of cognitive abilities is similar for both sexes. This provides a strong basis for uniform interpretation of neuropsychological domains across males and females, although there may be sex-related differences in patterns and severity of deficit in each domain.


2020 ◽  
Vol 495 (4) ◽  
pp. 3780-3787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonios Nathanail ◽  
Ramandeep Gill ◽  
Oliver Porth ◽  
Christian M Fromm ◽  
Luciano Rezzolla

ABSTRACT The observations of GW170817/GRB170817A have confirmed that the coalescence of a neutron-star binary is the progenitor of a short gamma-ray burst (GRB). In the standard picture of a short GRB, a collimated highly relativistic outflow is launched after merger and it successfully breaks out from the surrounding ejected matter. Using initial conditions inspired from numerical-relativity binary neutron-star merger simulations, we have performed general-relativistic hydrodynamic (HD) and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations in which the jet is launched and propagates self-consistently. The complete set of simulations suggests that: (i) MHD jets have an intrinsic energy and velocity polar structure with a ‘hollow core’ subtending an angle θcore ≈ 4°–5° and an opening angle of θjet > ≳ 10°; (ii) MHD jets eject significant amounts of matter and two orders of magnitude more than HD jets; (iii) the energy stratification in MHD jets naturally yields the power-law energy scaling E(> Γβ) ∝ (Γβ)−4.5; (iv) MHD jets provide fits to the afterglow data from GRB170817A that are comparatively better than those of the HD jets and without free parameters; and (v) finally, both of the best-fitting HD/MHD models suggest an observation angle θobs ≃ 21° for GRB170817A.


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