Accretion flow properties of XTE J1118+480 during its 2005 outburst

We study spectral and temporal properties of Galactic short orbital period transient black hole XTE J1118+480 during its 2005 outburst using archival data of RXTE PCA and HEXTE instruments in the combined energy range of 3−100 keV.Spectral analysis with the physical two component advective flow(TCAF)model allows us to understand the accretion flow properties of the source.We found that this outburst of XTE J1118+480 is an unconventional outburst as the source was only in the hard state(HS).Our spectral analysis suggests that during the entire outburst,the source was highly dominated by the low angular momentum sub-Keplerian halo rate.Since the source was active in radio throughout the outburst,we make an effort to estimate X-ray contribution of jets to total observed X-ray emissions from the spectral analysis with the TCAF model.The total X-ray intensity shows a similar nature of evolution as that of radio and jet X-ray fluxes.This allowed us to define this‘outburst’also as a jet dominated‘outburst’.Total X-ray flux is also found to subside when jet activity disappears.Our detailed spectral analysis also indicated that although the source was only in the HS during the outburst,in the late declining phase the spectrum became slightly softer due to the slow rise in the Keplerian disk rate.

Common polymorphisms of protein tyrosine phosphate non-receptor type 2 gene are not associated with risk of Crohn’s disease in Indian

BACKGROUND Multiple genetic risk factors for Crohn’s disease(CD)have been identified.However,these observations are not consistent across different populations.The protein tyrosine phosphate non-receptor type 2(PTPN2)gene plays a role in various aspects of host defense including epithelial barrier function,autophagy,and innate and adaptive immune response.Two common polymorphisms in the PTPN2 gene(rs2542151 and rs7234029)have been associated with risk of CD in Western countries.AIM To evaluate the association of PTPN2 gene polymorphisms with risk of CD in Indian population.METHODS We conducted a prospective case-control study.Patients with CD were recruited,and their clinical and investigation details were noted.Controls were patients without organic gastrointestinal disease or other comorbid illnesses.Two common polymorphisms in the PTPN2 gene(rs2542151 and rs7234029)were assessed.DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of cases and controls and target DNA was amplified using specific sets of primers.The amplified fragments were digested with restriction enzymes and the presence of polymorphism was detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism.The frequency of alleles was determined.The frequencies of genotypes and alleles were compared between cases and controls to look for significant differences.RESULTS A total of 108 patients with CD(mean age 37.5±12.7 years,females 42.6%)and 100 controls(mean age 39.9±13.5 years,females 37%)were recruited.For the single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)rs7234029,the overall frequency of G variant genotype(AG or GG)was noted to be significantly lower in the cases compared to controls(35.2%vs 50%,P=0.05).For the SNP rs2542151,the overall frequency of G variant genotype(GT or GG)was noted to be similar in cases compared to controls(43.6%vs 47%,P=0.73).There were no significant differences in minor allele(G)frequency for both polymorphisms between the cases and controls.Both the SNPs had no significant association with age of onset of illness,gender,disease location,disease behaviour,perianal disease,or extraintestinal manifestations of CD.CONCLUSION Unlike observation form the West,polymorphisms in the PTPN2 gene(rs7234029 and rs2542151)are not associated with an increased risk of developing CD in Indian patients.