First order Fermi acceleration is an efficient mechanism to produce relativistic particles in strong astrophysical shocks. The authors have developed a model using this theory to explain the non-thermal emission from non-relativistic jets in quasars and AGNs.

The use of a liquid crystal as an optical modulator for use with a resonant scattering spectrometer has been investigated. Preliminary data indicate that using this simple device velocity signals corresponding to 5 minute oscillations have been detected.

The column density distribution of the local interstellar medium (LISM) towards a sample of 15 fast rotators observed with IUE at high resolution is reported. The targets are closer than 200 pc, and most of them have lines of sight not previously investigated. Hydrogen column densities are inferred using zinc, known to be little depleted. The

EXOSAT observations of the 19 Nov. 1978 and 25 Mar. 1979b gamma bursters are presented, for the 0.02 - 2.5 keV energy range. No source was detected in either case, leading to temperature upper limits for the neutron stars assumed to be present of 105- 106K. Polar cap accretion rates are constrained to values of 10-12- 10-18M_sun;/y km2. The EXOSAT

Mg II emissions in the IUE spectra of 91 cool stars are analyzed in a systematic search for interstellar components. About 60 percent of the stars show evidence of interstellar contamination. The radial velocities of the features show that even at short distances (d less than 30 pc) the motion of the local interstellar medium (LISM) agrees with