The NuSTAR view of the Seyfert Galaxy HE 0436-4717

We present the multi epoch spectral analysis of HE 0436-4717, a bright Seyfert 1 galaxy serendipitously observed by the high energy satellite NuSTAR four times between December 2014 and December 2015. The source flux shows modest variability within each pointing and among the four observations. Spectra are well modelled in terms of a weakly variable primary power law with constant photon index ($\Gamma$=2.01$\pm$0.08). A constant narrow \ion{Fe} K$\alpha$ emission line suggests that this feature has an origin far from the central black hole, while a broad relativistic component is not required by the data. The Compton reflection component is also constant in flux with a corresponding reflection fraction R=0.7$^{+0.2}_{-0.3}$. The iron abundance is compatible with being Solar (A$_{Fe}$=1.2$^{+1.4}_{-0.4}$), and a lower limit for the high energy cut-off E$_c$>280 keV is obtained. Adopting a self-consistent model accounting for a primary Comptonized continuum, we obtain a lower limit for the hot corona electron temperature kT$_e$>65 keV and a corresponding upper limit for the coronal optical depth of $\tau_e$<1.3. The results of the present analysis are consistent with the locus of local Seyfert galaxies in the kT$_e$-$\tau_e$ and temperature-compactness diagrams.Comment: accepted for publication in A&

The soft X-ray polarization in obscured AGN

The soft X-ray emission in obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN) is dominated by emission lines, produced in a gas photoionized by the nuclear continuum and likely spatially coincident with the optical narrow line region (NLR). However, a fraction of the observed soft X-ray flux appears like a featureless power law continuum. If the continuum underlying the soft X-ray emission lines is due to Thomson scattering of the nuclear radiation, it should be very highly polarized. We calculated the expected amount of polarization assuming a simple conical geometry for the NLR, combining these results with the observed fraction of the reflected continuum in bright obscured AGN.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, to appear in 'X-ray Polarimetry: A New Window in Astrophysics', edited by R. Bellazzini, E. Costa, G. Matt and G. Tagliaferr

The future of viral hepatitis testing: innovations in testing technologies and approaches.

A large burden of undiagnosed hepatitis virus cases remains globally. Despite the 257 million people living with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, and 71 million with chronic viraemic HCV infection, most people with hepatitis remain unaware of their infection. Advances in rapid detection technology have created new opportunities for enhancing access to testing and care, as well as monitoring of treatment. This article examines a range of other technological innovations that can be leveraged to provide more affordable and simplified approaches to testing for HBV and HCV infection and monitoring of treatment response. These include improved access to testing through alternative sampling methods (use of dried blood spots, oral fluids, self-testing) and combination rapid diagnostic tests for detection of HIV, HBV and HCV infection; more affordable options for confirmation of virological infection (HBV DNA and HCV RNA) such as point-of-care molecular assays, HCV core antigen and multi-disease polyvalent molecular platforms that make use of existing centralised laboratory based or decentralised TB and HIV instrumentation for viral hepatitis testing; and finally health system improvements such as integration of laboratory services for procurement and sample transportation and enhanced data connectivity to support quality assurance and supply chain management

Do more with less? Lobectomy vs. segmentectomy for patients with congenital pulmonary malformations

Background: Congenital Pulmonary Malformations (CPMs) are rare benign lesions potentially causing infective complications and/or malignant transformation, requiring surgery even when asymptomatic. CPMs are rare in adulthood but potentially detected at any age. There is not a consensus on the correct extent of resection in both adults and paediatrics. This retrospective multicentric study aims to identify the appropriate surgical resection to prevent the recurrence of the related respiratory symptoms. Methods: Between 2010 and 2020, a total of 96 patients (adults and pediatrics) underwent surgery for CPMs in 4 centers. A 2:1 propensity score matching (considering sex and lesion side) was performed, identifying 2 groups: 50 patients underwent lobectomy (group A) and 25 sub-lobar resections (group B). Clinical and histopathological characteristics, early and late complications, and symptom recurrence were retrospectively analyzed and compared between the two groups by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Patients who underwent lobectomy had a statistically significant lower rate of recurrence (4% vs. 24% of group B, p = 0.014) and a lower rate of intraoperative complications (p = 0.014). Logistic regression identified sub-lobar resection (p = 0.040), intra- and post-operative complications (p = 0.105 and 0.022),and associated developed neoplasm (p = 0.062) as possible risk factors for symptom recurrence after surgery. Conclusions: Pulmonary lobectomy seems to be the most effective surgical treatment for CPMs, guaranteeing the stable remission of symptoms and a lower rate of intra- and postoperative complications. To our knowledge, this is one of the largest studies comparing lobectomy and sub-lobar resections in patients affected by CPMs, considering the low incidence worldwide

The lively accretion disc in NGC 2992. III. Tentative evidence of rapid Ultra Fast Outflow variability

We report on the 2019 XMM-Newton+NuSTAR monitoring campaign of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 2992, observed at one of its highest flux levels in the X-rays. The time-averaged spectra of the two XMM-Newton orbits show Ultra Fast Outflows (UFOs) absorbing structures above 9 keV with $> 3 \sigma$ significance. A detailed investigation of the temporal evolution on a $\sim$5 ks time scale reveals UFO absorption lines at a confidence level $>$95% (2$\sigma$) in 8 out of 50 XMM-Newton segments, estimated via Monte Carlo simulations. We observe a wind variability corresponding to a length scale of 5 Schwarzschild radii $r_S$. Adopting the novel Wind in the Ionised Nuclear Environment (WINE) model, we estimate the outflowing gas velocity ($v=0.21-0.45 c$), column density ($N_H=4-8\cdot 10^{24} cm^{-2}$) and ionisation state ($\log(\xi_0/erg\ cm\ s^{-1})=3.7-4.7$), taking into account geometrical and special relativity corrections. These parameters lead to instantaneous mass outflow rates$\dot{M}_{out}\simeq0.3-0.8 M_{\odot} yr^{-1}$, with associated outflow momentum rates$\dot{p}_{out}\simeq 20-90 L_{Bol}/c$and kinetic energy rates$\dot{E}_K \simeq 2-25 L_{Bol}$. We estimate a wind duty cycle$\approx$12and a total mechanical power$\approx$2 times the AGN bolometric luminosity, suggesting the wind may drive significant feedback effects between the AGN and the host galaxy. Notably, we also provide an estimate for the wind launching radius and density$\approx 5 r_S, 10^{11} {cm}^{-3}$, respectively.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. 21 pages, 11 figure

Detection of Testudinid alphaherpesvirus, Chlamydia spp., Mycoplasma spp., and Salmonella spp. in free‑ranging and rescued Italian Testudo hermanni hermanni.

Testudo hermanni is included as near‑threatened in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, while T. hermanni hermanni is considered endangered in the Italian Red List. Appropriate management of smuggled or seized wild individuals is recommended before their reintroduction into the wild. Accordingly, a health monitoring study was carried out. During 2014‑2016, 133 oral swabs and 121 cloacal swabs were collected from a total of approximately 180 free‑ranging and rescued T. hermanni hermanni from eight different Italian regions to investigate the presence of DNA of Testudinid alphaherpesvirus (TeAHV), Chlamydia spp. and Mycoplasma spp. in the oral cavity, and Salmonella spp. isolates in the cloaca. Mycoplasma spp. was detected in 52 out of 87 (59.77%) of rescued and in 1 out of 46 free‑ranging (2.17%) individuals; 33 out of 53 (62.26%) Mycoplasma spp. positive samples were typed as M. agassizii by PCR. Salmonella spp. was isolated from 45 out of 121 (37.19%) cloacal swabs, typed into 14 serovars, and characterized for complete antimicrobial susceptibility. A significantly different distribution of Salmonella spp. isolates was found in 2016 in comparison with 2014 and 2015, without any difference between free‑ranging and rescued tortoises. All the tested tortoises were negative for TeAHV and Chlamydia spp. These results are considered a baseline information critical to monitor the dynamics of these microorganisms in free‑ranging and rescued populations of T. h. hermanni, and to correctly approach the management of rescued animals and possible relocation programs

NGC 2992: The interplay between the multiphase disk, wind and radio bubbles

We present an analysis of the gas kinematics in NGC 2992, based on VLT/MUSE, ALMA and VLA data, aimed at characterising the disk, the wind and their interplay in the cold molecular and warm ionised phases. CO(2-1) and H$\rm \alpha~$ arise from a multiphase disk with inclination 80 deg and radii 1.5 and 1.8 kpc, respectively. We find that the velocity dispersion of the cold molecular phase is consistent with that of star forming galaxies at the same redshift, except in the inner 600 pc region, and in the region between the cone walls and the disk. This suggests that a disk-wind interaction locally boosts the gas turbulence. We detect a clumpy ionised wind distributed in two wide opening angle ionisation cones reaching scales of 7 kpc. The [O III] wind expands with velocity exceeding -1000 km/s in the inner 600 pc, a factor of 5 larger than the previously reported wind velocity. Based on spatially resolved electron density and ionisation parameter maps, we infer an ionised outflow mass of $M_{\rm of,ion} = (3.2 \pm 0.3) \times \, 10^7 \, M_{\odot}$, and a total ionised outflow rate of $\dot M_{\rm of,ion}=13.5\pm1$ \sfr. We detected clumps of cold molecular gas located above and below the disk reaching maximum projected distances and velocities of 1.7 kpc and 200 km/s, respectively. On these scales, the wind is multiphase, with a fast ionised component and a slower molecular one, and a total mass of $M_{\rm of, ion+mol}= 5.8 \times 10^7 \, M_{\odot}$, of which the molecular component carries the bulk of the mass. The dusty molecular outflowing clumps and the turbulent ionised gas are located at the edges of the radio bubbles, suggesting that the bubbles interact with the surrounding medium through shocks. We detect a dust reservoir co-spatial with the molecular disk, with a cold dust mass $M_{\rm dust} = (4.04 \pm 0.03) \times \, 10^{6} \, M_{\odot}$.Comment: 19 pages, 17 figures, 6 tables; Accepted by A&

Prognostic factors of lung cancer in lymphoma survivors (the LuCiLyS study)

Background Second cancer is the leading cause of death in lymphoma survivors, with lung cancer representing the most common solid tumor. Limited information exists about the treatment and prognosis of second lung cancer following lymphoma. Herein, we evaluated the outcome and prognostic factors of Lung Cancer in Lymphoma Survivors (the LuCiLyS study) to improve the patient selection for lung cancer treatment. Methods This is a retrospective multicentre study including consecutive patients treated for lymphoma disease that subsequently developed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Data regarding lymphoma including age, symptoms, histology, disease stage, treatment received and lymphoma status at the time of lung cancer diagnosis, and data on lung carcinoma as age, smoking history, latency from lymphoma, symptoms, histology, disease stage, treatment received, and survival were evaluated to identify the significant prognostic factors for overall survival. Results Our study population included 164 patients, 145 of which underwent lung cancer resection. The median overall survival was 63 (range, 58–85) months, and the 5-year survival rate 54%. At univariable analysis no-active lymphoma (HR: 2.19; P=0.0152); early lymphoma stage (HR: 1.95; P=0.01); adenocarcinoma histology (HR: 0.59; P=0.0421); early lung cancer stage (HR: 3.18; P&lt;0.0001); incidental diagnosis of lung cancer (HR: 1.71; P&lt;0.0001); and lung cancer resection (HR: 2.79; P&lt;0.0001) were favorable prognostic factors. At multivariable analysis, no-active lymphoma (HR: 2.68; P=0.004); early lung cancer stage (HR: 2.37; P&lt;0.0001); incidental diagnosis of lung cancer (HR: 2.00; P&lt;0.0001); and lung cancer resection (HR: 2.07; P&lt;0.0001) remained favorable prognostic factors. Patients with non-active lymphoma (n=146) versus those with active lymphoma (n=18) at lung cancer diagnosis presented better median survival (64 vs. 37 months; HR: 2.4; P=0.02), but median lung cancer specific survival showed no significant difference (27 vs. 19 months; HR: 0.3; P=0.17). Conclusions The presence and/or a history of lymphoma should not be a contraindication to resection of lung cancer. Inclusion of lymphoma survivors in a lung cancer-screening program may lead to early detection of lung cancer, and improve the survival

Annali storici di Principato Citra, A. 7, n. 1.1 (2009)

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Current drive at plasma densities required for thermonuclear reactors

Progress in thermonuclear fusion energy research based on deuterium plasmas magnetically confined in toroidal tokamak devices requires the development of efficient current drive methods. Previous experiments have shown that plasma current can be driven effectively by externally launched radio frequency power coupled to lower hybrid plasma waves. However, at the high plasma densities required for fusion power plants, the coupled radio frequency power does not penetrate into the plasma core, possibly because of strong wave interactions with the plasma edge. Here we show experiments performed on FTU (Frascati Tokamak Upgrade) based on theoretical predictions that nonlinear interactions diminish when the peripheral plasma electron temperature is high, allowing significant wave penetration at high density. The results show that the coupled radio frequency power can penetrate into high-density plasmas due to weaker plasma edge effects, thus extending the effective range of lower hybrid current drive towards the domain relevant for fusion reactors