Evolution of timing and spectral characteristics of 4U 1901+03 during its 2019 outburst using the Swift and NuSTAR observatories

We report the results from a detailed timing and spectral study of transient X-ray pulsars, 4U 1901+03 during its 2019 outburst. We performed broadband spectroscopy in the 1-70 keV energy band using four observations made with Swift and NuSTAR at different intensity levels. Our timing results reveal the presence of highly variable pulse profiles dependent on both luminosity and energy. Our spectroscopy results showed the presence of a cyclotron resonance scattering feature (CRSF) at ~30 keV. This feature at 30 keV is highly luminosity and pulse-phase dependent. Phase-averaged spectra during the last two observations, made close to the declining phase of the outburst showed the presence of this feature at around 30 keV. The existence of CRSF at 30 keV during these observations is well supported by an abrupt change in the shape of pulse profiles found close to this energy. We also found that 30 keV feature was significantly detected in the pulse-phase resolved spectra of observations made at relatively high luminosities. Moreover, all spectral fit parameters showed a strong pulse phase dependence. In line with the previous findings, an absorption feature at around 10 keV is significantly observed in the phase-averaged X-ray spectra of all observations and also showed a strong pulse phase dependence.Comment: 18 pages, accepted for publication in MNRA

Performance of the X-Calibur Hard X-Ray Polarimetry Mission during its 2018/19 Long-Duration Balloon Flight

X-Calibur is a balloon-borne telescope that measures the polarization of high-energy X-rays in the 15--50keV energy range. The instrument makes use of the fact that X-rays scatter preferentially perpendicular to the polarization direction. A beryllium scattering element surrounded by pixellated CZT detectors is located at the focal point of the InFOC{\mu}S hard X-ray mirror. The instrument was launched for a long-duration balloon (LDB) flight from McMurdo (Antarctica) on December 29, 2018, and obtained the first constraints of the hard X-ray polarization of an accretion-powered pulsar. Here, we describe the characterization and calibration of the instrument on the ground and its performance during the flight, as well as simulations of particle backgrounds and a comparison to measured rates. The pointing system and polarimeter achieved the excellent projected performance. The energy detection threshold for the anticoincidence system was found to be higher than expected and it exhibited unanticipated dead time. Both issues will be remedied for future flights. Overall, the mission performance was nominal, and results will inform the design of the follow-up mission XL-Calibur, which is scheduled to be launched in summer 2022.Comment: 19 pages, 31 figures, submitted to Astropart. Phy

AstroSat view of MAXI J1535-571: broad-band spectro-temporal features

We present the results of Target of Opportunity (ToO) observations made with AstroSat of the newly discovered black hole binary MAXI J1535-571. We detect prominent C-type quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) of frequencies varying from 1.85 to 2.88 Hz, along with distinct harmonics in all the AstroSat observations. We note that while the fundamental QPO is seen in the 3-50 keV energy band, the harmonic is not significant above similar to 35 keV. The AstroSat observations were made in the hard intermediate state, as seen from state transitions observed by MAXI and Swift. We attempt spectral modelling of the broad-band data (0.7-80 keV) provided by AstroSat using phenomenological and physical models. The spectral modelling using nthComp gives a photon index in the range 2.18-2.37 and electron temperature ranging from 21 to 63 keV. The seed photon temperature is within 0.19 to 0.29 keV. The high flux in 0.3-80 keV band corresponds to a luminosity varying from 0.7 to 1.07 L-Edd assuming the source to be at a distance of 8 kpc and hosting a black hole with a mass of 6 M-circle dot. The physical model based on the two-component accretion flow gives disc accretion rates as high as similar to 1 (m) over dot(Edd) and halo rate similar to 0.2 (m) over dot(Edd), respectively. The near-Eddington accretion rate seems to be the main reason for the unprecedented high flux observed from this source. The two-component spectral fitting of AstroSat data also provides an estimate of a black hole mass between 5.14 and 7.83 M-circle dot

Oral administration of a Spirulina extract enriched for Braun-type lipoproteins protects mice against influenza A (H1N1) virus infection

© 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. A growing body of research indicates that oral administration of bacteria (such as probiotics) can exhibit a protective effect against influenza A (H1N1) viral infection in mice. In the present study, we used a mouse model to examine whether oral administration of Immulina®, a commercial extract from the cyanobacteria Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis, can reduce the severity of illness resulting from influenza A (H1N1) viral infection. The main active compounds within Immulina® are bacterial Braun-type lipoproteins that activate innate immune cells through a toll-like receptor (TLR) 2-dependent pathway. Mice that were fed Immulina® for 30 days before and 21 days after infection with influenza A (H1N1) virus exhibited a statistically significant reduction in the severity of infection. Compared to the control group, Immulina®-fed mice exhibited less weight loss, increased appetite, decreased clinical signs of disease, and lower lung histopathology scores. The results from the present study adds to the increasing evidence that oral administration of bacterial components that activate innate immune cells, whether derived from a bacterial preparation (probiotics or cyanobacteria) or from plant material containing endophytic bacteria, can exhibit a protective effect against influenza A (H1N1) viral infection

International survey of operative practices for otologists and neurotologists during the COVID-19 crisis

Objective: To investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on operative practices of otology and neurotology providers internationally. Study Design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: A 78-question survey was distributed to otologists and neurotologists between May 12, 2020 and June 8, 2020 to assess the impact of the pandemic on surgical practices. Sections within the survey delineated time periods: prior to the crisis, onset of the crisis, during the crisis, postcrisis transition. Results: Of 396 survey respondents, 284 participants from 38 countries met inclusion criteria. Respondents were 16.9% female and 82.4% male, with a most common age range of 40 to 49 years (36.3%). 69.8% of participants had been in practice for over 10 years and most respondents worked in an academic medical center (79.2%). The average operative weekly caseload was 5.3 (SD 3.9) per surgeon prior to the crisis, 0.7 (SD 1.2) during the COVID-19 crisis, and 3.5 (SD 3.3) for those who had begun a postcrisis transition at the time of survey administration (p < 0.001). 71.5% of providers did not perform an elective otologic or neurotologic operative procedure during the initial crisis period. 49.8% reported modifying their surgical technique due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Use of powered air-purifying respirators and filtering facepiece 2 or 3 (FFP2/FFP3) respirators were in minimal supply for 66.9% and 62.3% of respondents, respectively. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the otology and neurotology community globally, resulting in significant changes in operative volume and case selection. Modification of surgical technique and shortages of personal protective equipment were frequently reported