15 research outputs found
Black hole (g)Astronomy - Exploring the different flavours of accretion
No full textThe meeting has been held in Brindisi on 2-6 Sept., 2013.
The greatest challenge in black hole astrophysics lies in the attempt to unify Galactic, intermediate and supermassive black holes under the same physical scheme to gain a more profound understanding of different classes of objects. In such grand-unification models, the observed behaviours and manifestations of accreting black holes are driven by only a few fundamental parameters, such as mass, accretion rate and spin. The conference tackles the issues related to accretion physics, production of jets/winds/outflows and their time evolution by putting a particular emphasis on the role of the net accretion rate onto black holes of all sizes. We are going to explore to which extent grand-unification schemes of black hole accretion are possible and also where they possibly fail. Participants are encouraged to present theoretical and/or observational results and prospects, across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, and to discuss them in the light of grand-unification paradigms of black hole accretion
Line Shifts, Broad-Line Region Inflow, And The Feeding Of Active Galactic Nuclei
No full textVelocity-resolved reverberation mapping suggests that the broad-line regions (BLRs) of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) can have significant net inflow. We use the STOKES radiative transfer code to show that electron and Rayleigh scattering off the BLR and torus naturally explains the blueshifted profiles of high-ionization lines and the ionization dependence of the blueshifts. This result is insensitive to the geometry of the scattering region. If correct, then this model resolves the long-standing conflict between the absence of outflow implied by velocity-resolved reverberation mapping and the need for outflow if the blueshifting is the result of obscuration. The accretion rate implied by the inflow is sufficient to power the AGN. We suggest that the BLR is part of the outer accretion disk and that similar magnetohydrodynamic processes are operating. In the scattering model, the blueshifting is proportional to the accretion rate so high-accretion-rate AGNs will show greater high-ionization line blueshifts, as is observed. Scattering can lead to systematically too high black hole mass estimates from the C IV line. We note many similarities between narrow-line region (NLR) and BLR blueshiftings, and suggest that NLR blueshiftings have a similar explanation. Our model explains the higher blueshifts of broad absorption line QSOs if they are more highly inclined. Rayleigh scattering from the BLR and torus could be more important in the UV than electron scattering for predominantly neutral material around AGNs. The importance of Rayleigh scattering versus electron scattering can be assessed by comparing line profiles at different wavelengths arising from the same emission-line region.US National Science Foundation AST 03-07912, AST 08-03883Space Telescope Science Institute AR-09926.01GEMINI-CONICYT Fund of Chile 32070017FONDECYT of Chile 1120957French GdR PCHECenter for Theoretical Astrophysics (CTA) through Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports LC06014ANR-11-JS56-013-01Astronom
Cellular responses of Candida albicans to phagocytosis and the extracellular activities of neutrophils are critical to counteract carbohydrate starvation, oxidative and nitrosative stress
No full textAcknowledgments We thank Alexander Johnson (yhb1D/D), Karl Kuchler (sodD/D mutants), Janet Quinn (hog1D/D, hog1/cap1D/D, trx1D/D) and Peter Staib (ssu1D/D) for providing mutant strains. We acknowledge helpful discussions with our colleagues from the Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms Department, Fungal Septomics and the Microbial Biochemistry and Physiology Research Group at the Hans Kno¨ll Institute (HKI), specially Ilse D. Jacobsen, Duncan Wilson, Sascha Brunke, Lydia Kasper, Franziska Gerwien, Sea´na Duggan, Katrin Haupt, Kerstin Hu¨nniger, and Matthias Brock, as well as from our partners in the FINSysB Network. Author Contributions Conceived and designed the experiments: PM HW IMB AJPB OK BH. Performed the experiments: PM CD HW. Analyzed the data: PM HW IMB AJPB OK BH. Wrote the paper: PM HW OK AJPB BH.Peer reviewe
The Hot and Energetic Universe: The close environments of supermassive black holes
No full textSupporting paper for the science theme "The Hot and Energetic Universe" to be implemented by the Athena+ X-ray observatory (http://www.the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu). 9 pages, 8 figuresMost of the action in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) occurs within a few tens of gravitational radii from the supermassive black hole, where matter in the accretion disk may lose up to almost half of its energy with a copious production of X-rays, emitted via Comptonization of the disk photons by hot electrons in a corona and partly reflected by the accretion disk. Thanks to its large effective area and excellent energy resolution, Athena+ contributions in the understanding of the physics of accretion in AGN will be fundamental - and unique - in many respects. It will allow us to map the disk-corona system - which is crucial to understand the mechanism of energy extraction and the relation of the corona with winds and jets - by studying the time lags between reflected and primary photons. These lags have been recently discovered by XMM-Newton, but only Athena+ will have the sensitivity required to fully exploit this technique. Athena+ will also be able e.g. to determine robustly the spin of the black hole in nearby sources (and to extend these measurements beyond the local Universe), to establish the nature of the soft X-ray components, and to map the circumnuclear matter within the AGN inner parsec with unprecedented details
The on-board calibration system of the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer (XIPE)
No full textThe calibration system for XIPE is aimed at providing a way to check and correct possible variations of performance of the Gas Pixel Detector during the three years of operation in orbit (plus two years of possible extended operation), while facilitating the observation of the celestial sources. This will be performed by using a filter wheel with a large heritage having a set of positions for the calibration and the observation systems. In particular, it will allow for correcting possible gain variation, for measuring the modulation factor using a polarized source, for removing non interesting bright sources in the field of view and for observing very bright celestial sources. The on-board calibration system is composed of three filter wheels, one for each detector and it is expected to operate for a small number of times during the year. Moreover, since it operates once at a time, within the observation mode, it allows for simultaneous calibration and acquisition from celestial sources on different detectors. In this paper we present the scope and the requirements of the on-board calibration system, its design, and a description of its possible use in space
Phylo-epidemiological and pathogenic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in London with implications for vaccine develpoment
No full textPhDApproximately one-third of the global population is infected with tuberculosis causing
approximately 1.7 million deaths. Currently, the BCG vaccine is used to protect
against TB, but it cannot prevent primary infection or reactivation of latent infection.
Ideally a vaccine should protect against a diverse array of Mycobacterium
tuberculosis strains and promote a strong, long-lasting TH1 cell-mediated immune
response. Whilst evaluating the efficiency of novel vaccines using laboratory control
strains (M. tuberculosis H37Rv, H37Ra and M. bovis-BCG), it is important to test
efficacy against a representative panel of wild-type circulating strains. In England
42.2% of TB cases are reported in London and the diversity of nationalities generates
a diverse pool of strains consisting of globally representative TB strains. The aim of
the study was to construct a representative panel of strains for vaccine evaluation
studies and general TB research.
Common M. tuberculosis strains were identified by performing molecular MIRUVNTR
and spoligotyping on 2363 isolates from TB cases reported in London during a
one-year period. Epidemiological analysis demonstrated there were representatives
from 13 global regions, including high TB burden countries. An algorithm was
designed to select strains for a preliminary panel based on associations between
MTBC families in clusters of more common strains, the country of birth and VNTR
sub-clusters. The preliminary panel contained 42 MTBC strains belonging to 10
MTBC families from patients born in 17 countries.
Results of phylogenetic analysis of all 2363 isolates was used to select a smaller panel
of strains from the preliminary panel to represent MTBC lineages to investigate if
wild-type strains were phenotypically similar. The final panel included five strains
from each of the Baker et al., 2004 M. tuberculosis lineages (M. tuberculosis Beijing,
LAM10, two CAS, EAI5 strains representing lineage I, II, III, IV, respectively) and
an M. africanum strain.
In vitro tissue culture experiments demonstrated significantly higher growth of the
Beijing strain compared to the other wild-type and laboratory strains. Higher growth
rates of this strain were also observed in a cell-free culture system. Aerosol challenge
of guinea pigs with wild-type strains showed a quicker dissemination of the EAI5 strain from the lung to the spleen 16 days post-challenge, but significantly higher
c.f.u. count of the Beijing strain in the spleen 56 days post-challenge. Collectively, the
data demonstrated that there are phenotypic differences between wild-type circulating
MTBC strains
XIPE: the X-ray imaging polarimetry explorer
No full textX-ray polarimetry, sometimes alone, and sometimes coupled to spectral and temporal variability measurements and to imaging, allows a wealth of physical phenomena in astrophysics to be studied. X-ray polarimetry investigates the acceleration process, for example, including those typical of magnetic reconnection in solar flares, but also emission in the strong magnetic fields of neutron stars and white dwarfs. It detects scattering in asymmetric structures such as accretion disks and columns, and in the so-called molecular torus and ionization cones. In addition, it allows fundamental physics in regimes of gravity and of magnetic field intensity not accessible to experiments on the Earth to be probed. Finally, models that describe fundamental interactions (e.g. quantum gravity and the extension of the Standard Model) can be tested. We describe in this paper the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer (XIPE), proposed in June 2012 to the first ESA call for a small mission with a launch in 2017. The proposal was, unfortunately, not selected. To be compliant with this schedule, we designed the payload mostly with existing items. The XIPE proposal takes advantage of the completed phase A of POLARIX for an ASI small mission program that was cancelled, but is different in many aspects: the detectors, the presence of a solar flare polarimeter and photometer and the use of a light platform derived by a mass production for a cluster of satellites. XIPE is composed of two out of the three existing JET-X telescopes with two Gas Pixel Detectors (GPD) filled with a He-DME mixture at their focus. Two additional GPDs filled with a 3-bar Ar-DME mixture always face the Sun to detect polarization from solar flares. The Minimum Detectable Polarization of a 1 mCrab source reaches 14 % in the 2–10 keV band in 105 s for pointed observations, and 0.6 % for an X10 class solar flare in the 15–35 keV energy band. The imaging capability is 24 arcsec Half Energy Width (HEW) in a Field of View of 14.7 arcmin × 14.7 arcmin. The spectral resolution is 20 % at 6 keV and the time resolution is 8 μs. The imaging capabilities of the JET-X optics and of the GPD have been demonstrated by a recent calibration campaign at PANTER X-ray test facility of the Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik (MPE, Germany). XIPE takes advantage of a low-earth equatorial orbit with Malindi as down-link station and of a Mission Operation Center (MOC) at INPE (Brazil). The data policy is organized with a Core Program that comprises three months of Science Verification Phase and 25 % of net observing time in the following 2 years. A competitive Guest Observer program covers the remaining 75 % of the net observing time
Subnational mapping of HIV incidence and mortality among individuals aged 15-49 years in sub-Saharan Africa, 2000-18: a modelling study
No full textBackground High-resolution estimates of HIV burden across space and time provide an important tool for tracking and monitoring the progress of prevention and control efforts and assist with improving the precision and efficiency of targeting efforts. We aimed to assess HIV incidence and HIV mortality for all second-level administrative units across sub-Saharan Africa. Methods In this modelling study, we developed a framework that used the geographically specific HIV prevalence data collected in seroprevalence surveys and antenatal care clinics to train a model that estimates HIV incidence and mortality among individuals aged 15-49 years. We used a model-based geostatistical framework to estimate HIV prevalence at the second administrative level in 44 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for 2000-18 and sought data on the number of individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART) by second-level administrative unit. We then modified the Estimation and Projection Package (EPP) to use these HIV prevalence and treatment estimates to estimate HIV incidence and mortality by second-level administrative unit. Findings The estimates suggest substantial variation in HIV incidence and mortality rates both between and within countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with 15 countries having a ten-times or greater difference in estimated HIV incidence between the second- level administrative units with the lowest and highest estimated incidence levels. Across all 44 countries in 2018, HIV incidence ranged from 2.8 (95 uncertainty interval 2.1-3.8) in Mauritania to 1585.9 (1369.4-1824.8) cases per 100 000 people in Lesotho and HIV mortality ranged from 0.8 (0.7-0.9) in Mauritania to 676.5 (513.6-888.0) deaths per 100 000 people in Lesotho. Variation in both incidence and mortality was substantially greater at the subnational level than at the national level and the highest estimated rates were accordingly higher. Among second-level administrative units, Guija District, Gaza Province, Mozambique, had the highest estimated HIV incidence (4661.7 2544.8-8120.3) cases per 100 000 people in 2018 and Inhassunge District, Zambezia Province, Mozambique, had the highest estimated HIV mortality rate (1163.0 679.0-1866.8) deaths per 100 000 people. Further, the rate of reduction in HIV incidence and mortality from 2000 to 2018, as well as the ratio of new infections to the number of people living with HIV was highly variable. Although most second-level administrative units had declines in the number of new cases (3316 81.1% of 4087 units) and number of deaths (3325 81.4%), nearly all appeared well short of the targeted 75% reduction in new cases and deaths between 2010 and 2020. Interpretation Our estimates suggest that most second-level administrative units in sub-Saharan Africa are falling short of the targeted 75% reduction in new cases and deaths by 2020, which is further compounded by substantial within-country variability. These estimates will help decision makers and programme implementers expand access to ART and better target health resources to higher burden subnational areas. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd
XIPE the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer
No full textXIPE, the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer, is a mission dedicated to X-ray Astronomy. At the time of writing XIPE is in a competitive phase A as fourth medium size mission of ESA (M4). It promises to reopen the polarimetry window in high energy Astrophysics after more than 4 decades thanks to a detector that efficiently exploits the photoelectric effect and to X-ray optics with large effective area. XIPE uniqueness is time-spectrally-spatially- resolved X-ray polarimetry as a breakthrough in high energy astrophysics and fundamental physics. Indeed the payload consists of three Gas Pixel Detectors at the focus of three X-ray optics with a total effective area larger than one XMM mirror but with a low weight. The payload is compatible with the fairing of the Vega launcher. XIPE is designed as an observatory for X- ray astronomers with 75% of the time dedicated to a Guest Observer competitive program and it is organized as a consortium across Europe with main contributions from Italy, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Poland, Sweden.CPCI-S(ISTP)990
