We have analyzed the kinematical parameters of Cir X-1 to constrain the nature of its companion star, the eccentricity of the binary and the pre-supernova parameter space. We argue that the companion is most likely to be a low-mass (∼ 2.0M⊙) unevolved star and that the eccentricity of the orbit is 0.94 ± 0.04. We have evaluated the dynamical effects of the supernova explosion and we find it mus...

We discover a pronounced dependence of the strength of the soft X-ray orbital modulation in Cyg X-1 in the hard state on its superorbital phase. We find our results can be well modelled as orbital-phase dependent X-ray absorption in an accretion bulge, located at the accretion disc edge close to the companion but displaced from the line connecting the stars by about 25◦ and in the case when the...

Numerous X-ray bursts show strong oscillations in their flux at several hundred Hz as revealed by RXTE. Analyzing one such oscillation from the X-ray binary Aql X-1, I find that low energy photons (3.5–5.7 keV) lag high energy photons (> 5.7 keV) by approximately 1 radian. The oscillations are thought to be produced by hot spots on the spinning neutron star. The lags can then be explained by a ...

Variability studies represent a powerful tool to assess the emission mechanism(s) at work in the quiescent state of transient low mass X–ray binaries. Here we report on Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of two well known transient sources: Aql X-1 and Cen X-4. Long and short term variability is observed. This variability can be easily interpreted in view of an active millisecond radio pulsar ...

BACKGROUND Lung disease (LD) due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria is an important clinical concern. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is one of the most common causative agents but the diagnosis of MAC-LD remains challenging. Detection of serum IgA antibody against MAC glycopeptidolipid (GPL) has recently been shown to improve the diagnosis of MAC-LD, but has yet to be validated worldwide. MET...

3 Departamento de Gen4tica y Microbiologla, Universidad de Murcia, Facuitad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Universitario de Espinardo, Aptdo 4021, 30100 Murcia, Spain Fatty and mycolic acids and the pattern of glycolipids were studied in a collection of 34 strains of 'Mycobacterium habana' and in two strains of Mycobacterium simiae. Major glycolipids of these micro-organisms were as...

The smooth-to-rough colony morphology shift in Mycobacterium abscessus has been implicated in loss of glycopeptidolipid (GPL), increased pathogenicity, and clinical decline in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. However, the evolutionary phenotypic and genetic changes remain obscure. Serial isolates from nine non-CF patients with persistent M. abscessus infection were characterized by colony morphol...

Little is known about the disease-causing genetic determinants that are used by Mycobacterium abscessus, increasingly acknowledged as an important emerging pathogen, notably in cystic fibrosis. The presence or absence of surface exposed glycopeptidolipids (GPL) conditions the smooth (S) or rough (R) M. abscessus subsp. abscessus (M. abscessus) variants, respectively, which are characterized by ...