We present deep VLA observations of the galaxy clusters Abell 2256 and Abell 754, both of which appear to be in the violent stage of major cluster merger events. The complex nature of Abell 2256 is revealed through radio images which, in addition to the head-tail galaxies, show two extended, irregular, and sharp-edged regions of diffuse radio emission at the cluster periphery (so called radio r...

Depending on various assumptions on the energy scale of inflation and assuming a primordial power spectrum of a Broken Scale Invariance (BSI) type, we explore the possibility for Primordial Black Holes (PBH) and Planck relics to contribute substantially to cold dark matter in the Universe. A recently proposed possibility to produce planck relics in 4-dimensional string gravity is considered. Po...

In this paper we compute the luminosity function of radio relics. In our calculation we include only those relics that are produced by the compression of former radio cocoons. This compression is provided by shocks that are generated in the process of structure formation. Starting from an analytical model for the luminosity evolution of ageing radio cocoons, the luminosity function of radio gal...

Simulations of structure formation in the Universe predict accretion shock waves at the boundaries of the large-scale structures as sheets, filaments, and clusters of galaxies. If magnetic fields are present at these shocks, particle acceleration should take place, and could contribute to the observed cosmic rays of high energies. When the radio plasma of an old invisible radio lobe is dragged ...

In the course of the formation of cosmological structures, large shock waves are generated in the intra-cluster medium. In analogy to processes in supernova remnants, these shock waves may generate a significant population of relativistic electrons which, in turn, produce observable synchrotron emission. The extended radio relics found at the periphery of several clusters and possibly also a fr...

While automatic detection of point sources in astronomical images has experienced a great degree of success, less effort has been directed towards the detection of extended and low-surface brightness features. At present, existing telescopes still rely on human expertise to reduce the raw data to usable images and then to analyse the images for non-pointlike objects. However, the next generatio...

OBJECTIVES The complete nucleotide sequence of the 12 656 bp plasmid pFPTB1 from Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium, which mediates resistance to tetracyclines and ampicillin, was determined. The plasmid was analysed for potential reading frames and structural features indicative of transposons and transposon relics. METHODS Plasmid pFPTB1 was transformed into Escherichia...

Modern exponents of mindfulness meditation promote the therapeutic effects of "bare attention"--a sort of non-judgmental, non-discursive attending to the moment-to-moment flow of consciousness. This approach to Buddhist meditation can be traced to Burmese Buddhist reform movements of the first half of the 20th century, and is arguably at odds with more traditional Theravāda Buddhist doctrine an...

Research into the clinical utility of Buddhist-derived interventions (BDIs) has increased greatly over the last decade. Although clinical interest has predominantly focused on mindfulness meditation, there also has been an increase in the scientific investigation of interventions that integrate other Buddhist principles such as compassion, loving kindness, and “non-self.” However, due to the ra...