ASTRI SST-2M prototype and mini-array simulation chain, data reduction software, and archive in the framework of the Cherenkov Telescope Array

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a worldwide project aimed at building the next-generation ground-based gamma-ray observatory. Within the CTA project, the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) is developing an end-to-end prototype of the CTA Small-Size Telescopes with a dual-mirror (SST-2M) Schwarzschild-Couder configuration. The prototype, named ASTRI SST-2M, is located at the INAF "M.C. Fracastoro" observing station in Serra La Nave (Mt. Etna, Sicily) and is currently in the scientific and performance validation phase. A mini-array of (at least) nine ASTRI telescopes has been then proposed to be deployed at the Southern CTA site, by means of a collaborative effort carried out by institutes from Italy, Brazil, and South-Africa. The CTA/ASTRI team is developing an end-to-end software package for the reduction of the raw data acquired with both ASTRI SST-2M prototype and mini-array, with the aim of actively contributing to the global ongoing activities for the official data handling system of the CTA observatory. The group is also undertaking a massive Monte Carlo simulation data production using the detector Monte Carlo software adopted by the CTA consortium. Simulated data are being used to validate the simulation chain and evaluate the ASTRI SST-2M prototype and mini-array performance. Both activities are also carried out in the framework of the European H2020-ASTERICS (Astronomy ESFRI and Research Infrastructure Cluster) project. A data archiving system, for both ASTRI SST-2M prototype and mini-array, has been also developed by the CTA/ASTRI team, as a testbed for the scientific archive of CTA. In this contribution, we present the main components of the ASTRI data handling systems and report the status of their development.Comment: Proceedings of the 35th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2017), Bexco, Busan, Korea. All CTA contributions at arXiv:1709.0348

MAGIC VHE Gamma-Ray Observations Of Binary Systems

There are several types of Galactic sources that can potentially accelerate charged particles up to GeV and TeV energies. We present here the results of our observations of the source class of gamma-ray binaries and the subclass of binary systems known as novae with the MAGIC telescopes. Up to now novae were only detected in the GeV range. This emission can be interpreted in terms of an inverse Compton process of electrons accelerated in a shock. In this case it is expected that protons in the same conditions can be accelerated to much higher energies. Consequently they may produce a second component in the gamma-ray spectrum at TeV energies. The focus here lies on the four sources: nova V339 Del, SS433, LS I +61 303 and V404 Cygni. The binary system LS I +61 303 was observed in a long-term monitoring campaign for 8 years. We show the newest results on our search for superorbital variability, also in context with contemporaneous optical observations. Furthermore, we present the observations of the only super-critical accretion system known in our galaxy: SS433. Finally, the results of the follow-up observations of the microquasar V404 Cygni during a series of outbursts in the X-ray band and the ones of the nova V339 Del will be discussed in these proceedings.Comment: Proceedings of the 35th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2017), Bexco, Busan, Korea (arXiv:1708.05153

AGILE Observations of the Gravitational Wave Event GW150914

We report the results of an extensive search in the AGILE data for a gamma-ray counterpart of the LIGO gravitational wave event GW150914. Currently in spinning mode, AGILE has the potential of covering with its gamma-ray instrument 80 % of the sky more than 100 times a day. It turns out that AGILE came within a minute from the event time of observing the accessible GW150914 localization region. Interestingly, the gamma-ray detector exposed about 65 % of this region during the 100 s time intervals centered at -100 s and +300 s from the event time. We determine a 2-sigma flux upper limit in the band 50 MeV - 10 GeV, $UL = 1.9 \times 10^{-8} \rm \, erg \, cm^{-2} \, s^{-1}$ obtained about 300 s after the event. The timing of this measurement is the fastest ever obtained for GW150914, and significantly constrains the electromagnetic emission of a possible high-energy counterpart. We also carried out a search for a gamma-ray precursor and delayed emission over timescales ranging from minutes to days: in particular, we obtained an optimal exposure during the interval -150 / -30 s. In all these observations, we do not detect a significant signal associated with GW150914. We do not reveal the weak transient source reported by Fermi-GBM 0.4 s after the event time. However, even though a gamma-ray counterpart of the GW150914 event was not detected, the prospects for future AGILE observations of gravitational wave sources are decidedly promising.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures. Submitted to the Astrophysical Journal Letters on April 1, 201

Binaries with the eyes of CTA

The binary systems that have been detected in gamma rays have proven very useful to study high-energy processes, in particular particle acceleration, emission and radiation reprocessing, and the dynamics of the underlying magnetized flows. Binary systems, either detected or potential gamma-ray emitters, can be grouped in different subclasses depending on the nature of the binary components or the origin of the particle acceleration: the interaction of the winds of either a pulsar and a massive star or two massive stars; accretion onto a compact object and jet formation; and interaction of a relativistic outflow with the external medium. We evaluate the potentialities of an instrument like the Cherenkov telescope array (CTA) to study the non-thermal physics of gamma-ray binaries, which requires the observation of high-energy phenomena at different time and spatial scales. We analyze the capability of CTA, under different configurations, to probe the spectral, temporal and spatial behavior of gamma-ray binaries in the context of the known or expected physics of these sources. CTA will be able to probe with high spectral, temporal and spatial resolution the physical processes behind the gamma-ray emission in binaries, significantly increasing as well the number of known sources. This will allow the derivation of information on the particle acceleration and emission sites qualitatively better than what is currently available.Comment: 23 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physics, special issue on Physics with the Cherenkov Telescope Arra

Ultrasonografía en dos protocolos de superovulación en donantes Braford del nordeste argentino

La reproducción de animales de mayor valor genético ha llevado a desarrollar distintas biotecnologías, como la transferencia de embriones. Los tratamientos de superovulación producen respuestas muy variables sobre todo en las razas sintéticas. El objetivo fue evaluar la respuesta superovulatoria, en vacas donantes Braford del nordeste argentino, mediante el seguimiento ecográfico de los ovarios. Se trabajó con 60 donantes, asignadas aleatoriamente a dos tratamientos o protocolos (T1: n=30 y T2: n=30); examinándose ecográficamente 6 por tratamiento, el día 0 para determinar ciclicidad, al comienzo de las aplicaciones de FSH (T1=día 3 y T2=día 4), en el control de celos (T1=día 7 y T2=día 8) para determinar respuesta superovulatoria y en la colecta (T1=día 14 y T2=día 15). Las variables cualitativas, de distribución binomial, se analizaron mediante tablas de contingencia para el cálculo de frecuencias absolutas y relativas y prueba de chi2 (p<0,05). El número de embriones transferibles logrado fue de 6,85±0,77; embriones degenerados de 1±0,12 y ovocitos sin fertilizar de 5,32±1,01. La ultrasonografía en la colecta no mostró diferencias en los cuerpos lúteos totales (12,6 vs 12,06), sin embargo fueron superiores en el ovario derecho (7 y 6,66) respecto al izquierdo (5,6 y 5,4) en T1 y T2, respectivamente. La prueba de independencia no estableció evidencia estadísticamente significativa. Concluimos que el adelanto en la superestimulación no genera mejoras en la respuesta, pudiendo utilizarse como una alternativa en la producción de embriones, sin afectar la cantidad y calidad de estructuras ováricas a la ultrasonografía, acortando los tratamientos tradicionales

Bronquiolite respiratória e pneumonia intersticial desquamativa associada a fungômia por trichosporon asahii em imuno-componente: um relato de caso

Trichosporon asahii is an emerging fungal pathogen reported in the medical literature mainly in immunologically compromised patients. However, this case is unusual because is a young immunocompetent patient who developed fungemia by T. asahii simultaneously with acute respiratory failure, respiratory bronchiolitis and desquamative inter­stitial pneumonia, who responded satisfactorily to ventilatory support and antifungal therapy.Trichosporon asahii es un hongo patógeno emergente reportado en la literatura médica principalmente en pacientes inmunocomprometidos. No obstante, el presente caso es inusual debido a que se trata de un paciente adulto joven inmunocompetente que presentó fungemia por T. asahii y al mismo tiempo desarrolló insuficiencia respiratoria aguda por bronquiolitis respiratoria y neumonía descamativa, la cual resolvió posterior al tratamiento antimicótico instaurado, soporte ventilatorio y vigilancia en Unidad de Cuidado Intesivo (UCI)Trichosporon asahii é um patógeno fúngico emergente relatado na literatura médica principalmente em pacientes imunologicamente comprometidos. No entanto, este caso é incomum porque é um jovem imunocompetente que desenvolveu fungemia por T. asahii simultaneamente com insuficiência respiratória aguda, bronquiolite respira­tória e pneumonia intersticial descamativa, que responderam satisfatoriamente ao suporte ventilatório e à terapia antifúngic

Ultrasonografía en dos protocolos de superovulación en donantes Braford del nordeste argentino

La reproducción de animales de mayor valor genético ha llevado a desarrollar distintas biotecnologías, como la transferencia de embriones. Los tratamientos de superovulación producen respuestas muy variables sobre todo en las razas sintéticas. El objetivo fue evaluar la respuesta superovulatoria, en vacas donantes Braford del nordeste argentino, mediante el seguimiento ecográfico de los ovarios. Se trabajó con 60 donantes, asignadas aleatoriamente a dos tratamientos o protocolos (T1: n=30 y T2: n=30); examinándose ecográficamente 6 por tratamiento, el día 0 para determinar ciclicidad, al comienzo de las aplicaciones de FSH (T1=día 3 y T2=día 4), en el control de celos (T1=día 7 y T2=día 8) para determinar respuesta superovulatoria y en la colecta (T1=día 14 y T2=día 15). Las variables cualitativas, de distribución binomial, se analizaron mediante tablas de contingencia para el cálculo de frecuencias absolutas y relativas y prueba de chi2 (p<0,05). El número de embriones transferibles logrado fue de 6,85±0,77; embriones degenerados de 1±0,12 y ovocitos sin fertilizar de 5,32±1,01. La ultrasonografía en la colecta no mostró diferencias en los cuerpos lúteos totales (12,6 vs 12,06), sin embargo fueron superiores en el ovario derecho (7 y 6,66) respecto al izquierdo (5,6 y 5,4) en T1 y T2, respectivamente. La prueba de independencia no estableció evidencia estadísticamente significativa. Concluimos que el adelanto en la superestimulación no genera mejoras en la respuesta, pudiendo utilizarse como una alternativa en la producción de embriones, sin afectar la cantidad y calidad de estructuras ováricas a la ultrasonografía, acortando los tratamientos tradicionales.Reproducing genetic merit animals led the development of different biothecnologies such as “embryo transfer”. Superovulation treatments produce variable responses especially in synthetic cow breeds. The aim of the present work was to evaluate superovulatory response in Braford donors from the Argentinean northeast region trough monitoring ovaries by ultrasound. The study used 60 donors randomly assigned for two protocol treatments (T1: n=30 and T2: n=30), being examined only 6 animals per treatment on day 0 to determine cyclicity, then before injecting FSH (T1=day 3 and T2=day 4), for estrus control and to determine superovulatory response (T1=day 7 and T2= day 8), and finally at embryo collection (T1=day 14 and T2=day 15). Qualitative variables (with binomial distribution), were analyzed using contingency tables to calculate absolute and relative frequencies and chi2 test (p<0.05). The number of transferable embryos achieved was 6.85±0.75, degenerate embryos were 1±0.12, and unfertilized oocytes were 5.32±1.01. Ultrasonography in embryo collection did not show differences in total corpora lutea (12.6 vs 12.06), however, they were higher in right ovary (7 and 6.66) than in the left (5.6 and 5.4) in T1 and T2, respectively. The independence test did not established statistic significant evidence. We conclude that the great advances on superstimulation do not generate significant improvements on treatment responses, but it can be used as an alternative in embryo production, without affecting quantity and quality of ovarian structures at ultrasonography; even shortening the traditional treatments.EEA Colonia BenitezFil: Yostar, E. Jonatan. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria. Maestría en Producción Animal Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: Capellari, Adriana. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Stahringer, Rodolfo Carlos. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Colonia Benítez; ArgentinaFil: Mujica, Ignacio F. Munar y Asociados; ArgentinaFil: Munar, Carlos J.. Munar y Asociados; Argentin

The high-energy emission from HD 93129A near periastron

We conducted an observational campaign towards one of the most massive and luminous colliding wind binaries in the Galaxy, HD~93129A, close to its periastron passage in 2018. During this time the source was predicted to be in its maximum of high-energy emission. Here we present our data analysis from the X-ray satellites \textit{Chandra} and \textit{NuSTAR} and the γ-ray satellite \textit{AGILE}. High-energy emission coincident with HD~93129A was detected in the X-ray band up to ∼18~keV, whereas in the γ-ray band only upper limits were obtained. We interpret the derived fluxes using a non-thermal radiative model for the wind-collision region. We establish a conservative upper limit for the fraction of the wind kinetic power that is converted into relativistic electron acceleration, fNT,e0.3~G. We also argue a putative interpretation of the emission from which we estimate fNT,e≈0.006 and BWCR≈0.5~G. We conclude that multi-wavelength, dedicated observing campaigns during carefully selected epochs are a powerful tool for characterising the relativistic particle content and magnetic field intensity in colliding wind binaries