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Variations in scaling behavior in the flux and emissions of gravitational lensed quasars can provide valuable information about the dynamics within the sources and their cosmological evolution with time. Here, we study the multifractal behavior of the light curves of 14 lensed quasars with multiple images in the $r$ band, with redshift ranging from 0.657 to 2.730, in the search for potential differences in nonlinearity between the signals of the quasar multiple images. Among these lensed systems, nine present two images, two present three images, and three present four images. To this end, we apply the wavelet transform-based multifractal analysis formalism called Wavelet Transform Modulus Maxima (WTMM). We identify strong multifractal signatures in the light curves of the images of all analyzed lensed quasar systems, independently of the number of images, with a significant difference between the degree of multifractality of all the images and combinations. We have also searched for a possible connection between the degree of multifractality and the characteristic parameters related to the quasar source and the lensing galaxy. These parameters include the Einstein ring radius and the accretion disk size and the characteristic timescales related to microlensing variability. The analysis reveals some apparent trends, pointing to a decrease in the degree of multifractality with the increase of the quasar's source size and timescale. Using a larger sample and following a similar approach, the present study confirms a previous finding for the quasar Q0957+561., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in MNRAS

Seamlessly integrating stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in a low-loss and mature photonic integration platform remains a complicated task. Virtually all current approaches fall short in simultaneously achieving strong SBS, low losses, and technological scalability. In this work we incorporate stong SBS into a standard silicon nitride platform by a simple deposition of a tellurium oxide layer, a commonly used material for acousto-optic modulators. In these heterogeneously integrated waveguides, we harness novel SBS interactions actuated by surface acoustic waves (SAWs) leading to more than two orders of magnitude gain enhancement. Three novel applications are demonstrated in this platform: (i) a silicon nitride Brillouin amplifier with 5 dB net optical gain, (ii) a compact intermodal stimulated Brillouin laser (SBL) capable of high purity radio frequency (RF) signal generation with 7 Hz intrinsic linewidth, and (iii) a widely tunable microwave photonic notch filter with ultra-narrow linewidth of 2.2 MHz enabled by Brillouin induced opacity. These advancements can unlock an array of new RF and optical technologies to be directly integrated in silicon nitride.

Human movement analysis is crucial in health and sports biomechanics for understanding physical performance, guiding rehabilitation, and preventing injuries. However, existing tools are often proprietary, expensive, and function as "black boxes", limiting user control and customization. This paper introduces vail\'a-Versatile Anarcho Integrated Liberation \'Analysis in Multimodal Toolbox-an open-source, Python-based platform designed to enhance human movement analysis by integrating data from multiple biomechanical systems. vail\'a supports data from diverse sources, including retroreflective motion capture systems, inertial measurement units (IMUs), markerless video capture technology, electromyography (EMG), force plates, and GPS or GNSS systems, enabling comprehensive analysis of movement patterns. Developed entirely in Python 3.11.9, which offers improved efficiency and long-term support, and featuring a straightforward installation process, vail\'a is accessible to users without extensive programming experience. In this paper, we also present several workflow examples that demonstrate how vail\'a allows the rapid processing of large batches of data, independent of the type of collection method. This flexibility is especially valuable in research scenarios where unexpected data collection challenges arise, ensuring no valuable data point is lost. We demonstrate the application of vail\'a in analyzing sit-to-stand movements in pediatric disability, showcasing its capability to provide deeper insights even with unexpected movement patterns. By fostering a collaborative and open environment, vail\'a encourages users to innovate, customize, and freely explore their analysis needs, potentially contributing to the advancement of rehabilitation strategies and performance optimization., Comment: 21 pages, 13 figures, submitted to arXiv under cs.SE (Software Engineering)

Federated Learning (FL) has emerged as a machine learning approach able to preserve the privacy of user's data. Applying FL, clients train machine learning models on a local dataset and a central server aggregates the learned parameters coming from the clients, training a global machine learning model without sharing user's data. However, the state-of-the-art shows several approaches to promote attacks on FL systems. For instance, inverting or leaking gradient attacks can find, with high precision, the local dataset used during the training phase of the FL. This paper presents an approach, called Deep Leakage from Gradients with Feedback Blending (DLG-FB), which is able to improve the inverting gradient attack, considering the spatial correlation that typically exists in batches of images. The performed evaluation shows an improvement of 19.18% and 48,82% in terms of attack success rate and the number of iterations per attacked image, respectively., Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures

Context. Tailed radio galaxies are shaped by ram pressure owing to the high-velocity motion of their host through the intracluster medium (ICM). Recent works have reported on the increasing complexity of the phenomenology of tailed galaxies, with departures from theoretical ageing models and evidence of re-energising mechanisms, which are yet unclear. Aims. The nearby (z = 0.0894) galaxy cluster Abell 2142 hosts two tailed galaxies, namely T1 and T2, which exhibit peculiar morphological features. We aim to investigate the properties of T1 and T2 and constrain their spectral evolution, dynamics, and interactions with the ICM. Methods. We combined LOw Frequency Array (LOFAR), upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT), Very Large Array (VLA), and MeerKAT data (from 30 MHz to 6.5 GHz) to carry out a detailed spectral analysis of T1 and T2. We analysed surface brightness profiles, measured integrated and spatially-resolved spectral indices, and performed a comparison with single injection ageing models. Chandra X-ray data were used to search for discontinuities in the ICM properties in the direction of the targets. Results. The spectral properties of T1 at low frequencies are predicted by ageing models, and provide constraints on the 3D dynamics of the host by assuming a constant velocity. However, sharp transitions along sub-regions of the tail, local surface brightness enhancements, and a spectral shape at high frequencies that is not predicted by models suggest a more complex scenario, possibly involving hydrodynamical instabilities and particle mixing. T2 exhibits unusual morphological and surface brightness features, and its spectral behaviour is not predicted by standard models. Two AGN outburst events during the infall of T2 towards the cluster centre could explain its properties., Comment: 23 pages (including Appendices). 15 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A

This is an index of the contributions by the Giant Radio Array for Neutrino Detection (GRAND) Collaboration to the 10th International Workshop on Acoustic and Radio EeV Neutrino Detection Activities (ARENA 2024, University of Chicago, June 11-14, 2024). The contributions include an overview of GRAND in its present and future incarnations, methods of radio-detection that are being developed for them, and ongoing joint work between the GRAND and BEACON experiments., Comment: Note: To access the list of contributions, please follow the "HTML" link that can be found on the arXiv page

X-shaped radio galaxies (XRGs) are characterised by two pairs of misaligned lobes, namely the active lobes hosting radio jets and the wings. None of the formation mechanisms proposed so far can exhaustively reproduce the diverse features observed among XRGs. The emerging evidence is the existence of sub-populations of XRGs forming via different processes. The brightest cluster galaxy in Abell 3670 (A3670) is a dumbbell system hosting the XRG MRC 2011-298. The morphological and spectral properties of this interesting XRG have been first characterised through Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) data at 1-10 GHz. In the present work, we followed-up MRC 2011-298 with the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) at 120-800 MHz to further constrain its properties and origin. We carried out a detailed spectral analysis sampling different spatial scales. Integrated radio spectra, spectral index maps, radio colour-colour diagrams, and radiative age maps of both the active lobes and prominent wings have been employed to test the origin of the source. We confirm a progressive spectral steepening from the lobes to the wings. The maximum radiative age of the source is $\sim 80$ Myr, with the wings being older than the lobes by $\gtrsim 30$ Myr in their outermost regions. The observed properties are in line with an abrupt reorientation of the jets by $\sim 90$ deg from the direction of the wings to their present position. This formation mechanism is further supported by the comparison with numerical simulations in the literature, which additionally highlight the role of hydrodynamic processes in the evolution of large wings such as those of MRC 2011-298. Potentially, the coalescence of supermassive black holes could have triggered the spin-flip of the jets. Moreover, we show that the S-shape of the radio jets is likely driven by precession with a period $P \sim 10$ Myr., Comment: 23 pages (including Appendices), 14 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A

The operation of upcoming ultra-high-energy cosmic-ray, gamma-ray, and neutrino radio-detection experiments, like the Giant Radio Array for Neutrino Detection (GRAND), poses significant computational challenges involving the production of numerous simulations of particle showers and their detection, and a high data throughput. GRANDlib is an open-source software tool designed to meet these challenges. Its primary goal is to perform end-to-end simulations of the detector operation, from the interaction of ultra-high-energy particles, through -- by interfacing with external air-shower simulations -- the ensuing particle shower development and its radio emission, to its detection by antenna arrays and its processing by data-acquisition systems. Additionally, GRANDlib manages the visualization, storage, and retrieval of experimental and simulated data. We present an overview of GRANDlib to serve as the basis of future GRAND analyses., Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, plus appendices

The Near-InfraRed Planet Searcher or NIRPS is a precision radial velocity spectrograph developed through collaborative efforts among laboratories in Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, France, Portugal and Spain. NIRPS extends to the 0.98-1.8 $\mu$m domain of the pioneering HARPS instrument at the La Silla 3.6-m telescope in Chile and it has achieved unparalleled precision, measuring stellar radial velocities in the infrared with accuracy better than 1 m/s. NIRPS can be used either stand-alone or simultaneously with HARPS. Commissioned in late 2022 and early 2023, NIRPS embarked on a 5-year Guaranteed Time Observation (GTO) program in April 2023, spanning 720 observing nights. This program focuses on planetary systems around M dwarfs, encompassing both the immediate solar vicinity and transit follow-ups, alongside transit and emission spectroscopy observations. We highlight NIRPS's current performances and the insights gained during its deployment at the telescope. The lessons learned and successes achieved contribute to the ongoing advancement of precision radial velocity measurements and high spectral fidelity, further solidifying NIRPS' role in the forefront of the field of exoplanets., Comment: Proceeding at the SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation conference [Yokohama,Japan; June 2024]

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are energetic, millisecond-duration radio pulses observed at extragalactic distances and whose origins are still a subject of heated debate. A fraction of the FRB population have shown repeating bursts, however it's still unclear whether these represent a distinct class of sources. We investigated the bursting behaviour of FRB 20220912A, one of the most active repeating FRBs known thus far. In particular, we focused on its burst energy distribution, linked to the source energetics, and its emission spectrum, with the latter directly related to the underlying emission mechanism. We monitored FRB 20220912A at $408$ MHz with the Northern Cross radio telescope and at $1.4$ GHz using the $32$-m Medicina Grueff radio telescope. Additionally, we conducted $1.2$ GHz observations taken with the upgraded Giant Meter Wave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) searching for a persistent radio source coincident with FRB 20220912A, which included high energy observations in the $0.3-10$ keV, $0.4-100$ MeV and $0.03-30$ GeV energy range. We report $16$ new bursts from FRB 20220912A at $408$ MHz during the period between October 16$^{\rm th}$ 2022 and December 31$^{\rm st}$ 2023. Their cumulative spectral energy distribution follows a power law with slope $\alpha_E = -1.3 \pm 0.2$ and we measured a repetition rate of $0.19 \pm 0.03$ hr$^{-1}$ for bursts having a fluence of $\mathcal{F} \geq 17$ Jy ms. Furthermore, we report no detections at 1.4 GHz for $\mathcal{F} \geq 20$ Jy ms. These non-detections imply an upper limit of $\beta < -2.3$, with $\beta$ being the $408$ MHz $-$ $1.4$ GHz spectral index of FRB 20220912A. This is inconsistent with positive $\beta$ values found for the only two known cases in which an FRB has been detected in separate spectral bands. We find that FRB 20220912A shows a decline of four orders of magnitude in its bursting activity at $1.4$ GHz over a .. (abridged), Comment: accepted for publication, 13 pages, 4 figures

Automated Audio Captioning is a multimodal task that aims to convert audio content into natural language. The assessment of audio captioning systems is typically based on quantitative metrics applied to text data. Previous studies have employed metrics derived from machine translation and image captioning to evaluate the quality of generated audio captions. Drawing inspiration from auditory cognitive neuroscience research, we introduce a novel metric approach -- Audio Captioning Evaluation on Semantics of Sound (ACES). ACES takes into account how human listeners parse semantic information from sounds, providing a novel and comprehensive evaluation perspective for automated audio captioning systems. ACES combines semantic similarities and semantic entity labeling. ACES outperforms similar automated audio captioning metrics on the Clotho-Eval FENSE benchmark in two evaluation categories.

Radio observations of a few cool-core galaxy clusters have revealed the presence of diffuse emission on cluster scales, similar to what was found in merging clusters in the form of radio halos. These sources might suggest that a minor merger, while not sufficiently energetic to disrupt the cool core, could still trigger particle acceleration in the intracluster medium on scales of hundreds of kpc. We observed with LOFAR at 144 MHz a sample of twelve cool-core galaxy clusters presenting some level of dynamical disturbances, according to X-ray data. We also performed a systematic search of cold fronts in these clusters, re-analysing archival Chandra data. The clusters PSZ1G139.61+24, A1068 (new detection), MS 1455.0+2232, and RX J1720.1+2638 present diffuse radio emission on a cluster scale. This emission is characterised by a double component: a central mini-halo confined by cold fronts and diffuse emission on larger scales, whose radio power at 144 MHz is comparable to that of radio halos detected in merging systems. The cold fronts in A1068 are a new detection. We also found a candidate plasma depletion layer in this cluster. No sloshing features are found in the other eight clusters. Two of them present a mini-halo, with diffuse radio emission confined to the cluster core. We also found a new candidate mini-halo. Whereas, for the remaining five clusters, we did not detect halo-like emission. For clusters without cluster-scale halos, we derived upper limits to the radio halo power. We found that cluster-scale diffuse radio emission is not present in all cool-core clusters when observed at a low frequency, but it is correlated to the presence of cold fronts. This morphology requires a specific configuration of the merger and so it puts some constraints on the turbulence, which deserves to be investigated in the future with theoretical works., Comment: 34 pages, 30 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A

Clusters of galaxies are turbulent environments, whether merging systems with a turbulent intracluster medium (ICM) or relaxed systems sloshing within the potential well. In many such clusters, diffuse radio sources associated with the ICM are found: radio haloes and mini-haloes. Abell 2142 is a rich cluster undergoing extreme core sloshing, generating four cold fronts and a complex multi-component radio halo. Recent work revealed three halo components which span 2.4 Mpc. Particle acceleration on such scales is poorly understood, and requires high-quality multi-frequency data to understand. We use new deep MeerKAT L-band (1283 MHz) observations, combined with LOFAR HBA (143 MHz) data and X-ray data from XMM-Newton and Chandra to study the spectrum of the halo and the connection between the thermal and non-thermal components of the ICM. We detect the third halo component for the first time at 1283 MHz and confirm its ultra-steep spectrum nature, recovering $\alpha_{\rm H3, total} = -1.68 \pm 0.10$. All components follow power-law spectra which steepen toward the cluster outskirts. We profile the halo along three directions, finding evidence of asymmetry and spectral steepening perpendicular to the main axis of the cluster. Our thermal/non-thermal investigation shows sub-linear correlations that are steeper at 1283 MHz than 143 MHz, and we find different connections in different components of the halo. We find both a moderate anti-correlation (H1, the core) and positive correlation (H2, the ridge) between radio spectral index and X-ray temperature. Our results are broadly consistent with an interpretation of inhomogeneous turbulent (re-)acceleration. However, the anti-correlation between radio spectral index and X- ray temperature in the cluster core is challenging to explain; the presence of three cold fronts and a generally lower temperature may provide the foundations of an explanation., Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. Article contains 28 pages and 15 figures. Abstract here abridged for brevity

We investigate the transition scale to homogeneity, $R_H$, using as cosmic tracer the spectroscopic sample of blue galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Considering the spatial distribution of the galaxy sample we compute the two point correlation function $\xi(r)$, the scaled counts in spheres $\mathcal{N}(

Supercontinuum generation (SCG) is an important nonlinear optical process enabling broadband light sources for many applications, for which silicon nitride(Si3N4) has emerged as a leading on-chip platform.To achieve suitable group velocity dispersion and high confinement for broadband SCG the Si3N4 waveguide layer used is typically thick (>~700 nm), which can lead to high stress and cracks unless specialized processing steps are used. Here, we report on efficient octave spanning SCG in a thinner moderate-confinement 400-nm Si3N4 platform using a highly nonlinear tellurium oxide (TeO2) coating. An octave-spanning supercontinuum is achieved at a low peak power of 258 W using a 100-fs laser centered at 1565 nm. Our numerical simulations agree well with the experimental results showing an increase of waveguide's nonlinear parameter by a factor of 2.5 when coating the Si3N4 waveguide with TeO2 film. This work demonstrates highly efficient SCG via effective dispersion engineering and an enhanced nonlinearity in a CMOS-compatible hybrid TeO2-Si3N4 waveguides and a promising route to monolithically integrated nonlinear, linear, and active functionalities on a single silicon photonic chip., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures

Object recognition is a crucial step in perception systems for autonomous and intelligent vehicles, as evidenced by the numerous research works in the topic. In this paper, object recognition is explored by using multisensory and multimodality approaches, with the intention of reducing the false positive rate (FPR). The reduction of the FPR becomes increasingly important in perception systems since the misclassification of an object can potentially cause accidents. In particular, this work presents a strategy through Bayesian inference to reduce the FPR considering the likelihood function as a cumulative distribution function from Gaussian kernel density estimations, and the prior probabilities as cumulative functions of normalized histograms. The validation of the proposed methodology is performed on the KITTI dataset using deep networks (DenseNet, NasNet, and EfficientNet), and recent 3D point cloud networks (PointNet, and PintNet++), by considering three object-categories (cars, cyclists, pedestrians) and the RGB and LiDAR sensor modalities., Comment: This paper has been submitted to the journal Pattern Recognition Letters

Turbulence introduced into the intra-cluster medium (ICM) through cluster merger events transfers energy to non-thermal components, and can trigger the formation of diffuse synchrotron radio sources. Typical diffuse sources in the forms of giant radio halos and mini-halos are found in merging and relaxed cool core galaxy clusters, respectively. On the other hand, recent observations have revealed an increasing complexity of the non-thermal phenomenology. Abell 2142 (A2142) is a mildly disturbed cluster that exhibits uncommon thermal and non-thermal properties. It is known to host a hybrid halo consisting of two components (H1 and H2), namely a mini-halo-like and an enigmatic elongated radio halo-like structure. We aim to investigate the properties, origin, and connections of each component. We present deep LOFAR observations of A2142 in the frequency ranges $30-78$ MHz and $120-168$ MHz. With complementary multi-frequency radio and X-ray data, we analyse the radio spectral properties of the halo and assess the connection between the non-thermal and thermal components of the ICM. We detected a third radio component (H3), which extends over the cluster volume on scales $\sim 2$ Mpc, embeds H1 and H2, and has a morphology that roughly follows the thermal ICM distribution. The radio spectral index is moderately steep in H1 ($\alpha=1.09\pm 0.02$) and H2 ($\alpha=1.15\pm 0.02$), but is steeper ($\alpha=1.57\pm 0.20$) in H3. The analysis of the thermal and non-thermal properties allowed us to discuss possible formation scenarios for each radio component. Turbulence from sloshing motions of low-entropy gas on different scales may be responsible for the origin of H1 and H2. We classified H3 as a giant ultra-steep spectrum radio halo, which could trace the residual activity from an old energetic merger and/or inefficient turbulent re-acceleration induced by ongoing minor mergers., Comment: 24 pages (including Appendix), 15 Figures (plus 4 Figures in Appendix), Accepted for publication by A&A

The Giant Radio Array for Neutrino Detection (GRAND) is an envisioned observatory of ultra-high-energy particles of cosmic origin, with energies in excess of 100 PeV. GRAND uses large surface arrays of autonomous radio-detection units to look for the radio emission from extensive air showers that are triggered by the interaction of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, gamma rays, and neutrinos in the atmosphere or underground. In particular, for ultra-high-energy neutrinos, the future final phase of GRAND aims to be sensitive enough to discover them in spite of their plausibly tiny flux. Presently, three prototype GRAND radio arrays are in operation: GRANDProto300, in China, GRAND@Auger, in Argentina, and GRAND@Nancay, in France. Their goals are to field-test the design of the radio-detection units, understand the radio background to which they are exposed, and develop tools for diagnostic, data gathering, and data analysis. This list of contributions to the 38th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2023) presents an overview of GRAND, in its present and future incarnations, and a look at the first data collected by GRANDProto13, the first phase of GRANDProto300., Comment: Note: To access the list of contributions, please follow the "HTML" link that can be found on the arXiv page (v2: fixed name spelling of one author)

Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), a coherent nonlinear effect coupling acoustics and optics, can be used in a wide range of applications such as Brillouin lasers and tunable narrowband RF filtering. Wide adoption of such technologies however, would need a balance of strong Brillouin interaction and low optical loss in a structure compatible with large scale fabrication. Achieving these characteristics in scalable platforms such as silicon and silicon nitride remains a challenge. Here, we investigate a scalable Brillouin platform combining low loss Si$_3$N$_4$ and tellurium oxide (TeO$_2$) exhibiting strong Brillouin response and enhanced acoustic confinement. In this platform we measure a Brillouin gain coefficient of 8.5~m$^{-1}$W$^{-1}$, exhibiting a twenty fold improvement over the largest previously reported Brillouin gain in a Si$_3$N$_4$ platform. Further, we demonstrate cladding engineering to control the strength of the Brillouin interaction. We utilized the Brillouin gain and loss resonances in this waveguide for an RF photonic filter with more than 15 dB rejection and 250 MHz linewidth. Finally, we present a pathway by geometric optimization and cladding engineering to a further enhancement of the gain coefficient to 155~m$^{-1}$W$^{-1}$, a potential 400 times increase in the Brillouin gain coefficient.

Let A and A' be two alternative *-algebras with identities 1_A and 1_A', respectively, and e_1 and e_2 = 1_A - e_1 nontrivial symmetric idempotents in A. In this paper we study the characterization of multiplicative *-Jordan-type maps on alternative algebras., Comment: 10 pages

Star-planet interactions play, among other things, a crucial role in planetary orbital configurations by circularizing orbits, aligning the star and planet spin and synchronizing stellar rotation with orbital motions. This is especially true for innermost giant planets, which can be schematized as binary systems with a very large mass ratio. Despite a few examples where spin-orbit synchronization has been obtained, there is no demographic study on synchronous regimes in those systems yet. Here we use a sample of 1,055 stars with innermost planet companions to show the existence of three observational loci of star-planet synchronization regimes. Two of them have dominant fractions of subsynchronous and supersynchronous star-planet systems, and a third less populated regime of potentially synchronized systems. No synchronous star-planet system with a period higher than 40 days has been detected yet. This landscape is different from eclipsing binary systems, most of which are synchronized. We suggest that planets in a stable asynchronous spin state belonging to star-planet systems in a supersynchronized regime offer the most favourable conditions for habitability., Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure in main paper, 6 supplementary figures. Published in Nature Astronomy, May 2023

Many galaxy clusters show diffuse cluster-scale emission in the form of radio halos, showing that magnetic fields and relativistic electrons are mixed in with the intra-cluster medium (ICM). There is general agreement that the origin of radio halos is connected to turbulence, generated during cluster mergers. Statistical studies of large samples of galaxy clusters in the radio band have the potential to unveil the connection between the properties of radio halos and the mass and dynamics of the host clusters. Previous studies have been limited to massive clusters and based on a small number of radio halos. The aim of this paper is to investigate the scaling relation between the radio power of radio halos and the mass of the host clusters at low frequencies and down to lower cluster masses. We analysed the clusters from the second catalogue of Planck Sunyaev Zel'dovich sources that lie within the 5634 sq deg covered by the second Data Release of the LOFAR Two-meter Sky Survey. We derived the correlation between the radio power and the mass of the host clusters and we investigated the distribution of clusters without radio halos with respect to the correlation. We use X-ray observations to classify the dynamical state of clusters and investigate its role on the power of radio halos. We found a correlation between the power of radio halos at 150 MHz and the mass of the host clusters down to 3e14 Msun. This correlation has a large scatter, part of which can be attributed to the different dynamical states of host clusters. We used two statistical test to show that the distribution of clusters with and without (upper limits) radio halos in the mass-radio power diagram is not compatible with a single correlation and that it is also not compatible with clusters being uniformly distributed below an upper envelope constituted by the correlation., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, submitted to A&A

Extended radio sources in the sky require a dense sampling of short baselines to be properly imaged by interferometers. This problem arises in many areas of radio astronomy, such as in the study of galaxy clusters, which may host Mpc-scale diffuse synchrotron sources in the form of radio halos. In clusters where no radio halos are detected, owing to intrinsic absence of emission or extrinsic (instrumental and/or observational) effects, it is possible to determine upper limits. We consider a sample of Planck galaxy clusters from the Second Data Release of the LOFAR Two Meter Sky Survey (LoTSS-DR2) where no radio halos are detected. We use this sample to test the capabilities of LOFAR to recover diffuse extended emission and derive upper limits. Through the injection technique, we simulate radio halos with various surface brightness profiles. We then predict the corresponding visibilities and image them along with the real visibilities. This method allows us to test the fraction of flux density losses owing to inadequate uv-coverage and obtain thresholds at which the mock emission becomes undetectable by visual inspection. The dense uv-coverage of LOFAR at short spacings allows to recover $\gtrsim90\%$ of the flux density of targets with sizes up to $\sim 15'$. We find a relation that provides upper limits based on the image noise and extent (in terms of number of beams) of the mock halo. This relation can be safely adopted to obtain upper limits without injecting when artifacts introduced by the subtraction of the discrete sources are negligible in the central region of the cluster. Otherwise, the injection process and visual inspection of the images are necessary to determine more reliable limits. Through these methods, we obtain upper limits for 75 clusters to be exploited in ongoing statistical studies., Comment: 20 pages (including Appendices). 21 Figures. 4 Tables. Accepted for publication by A&A. For the project Webpage see https://lofar-surveys.org/planck_dr2.html

Diffuse cluster-scale synchrotron radio emission is discovered in an increasing number of galaxy clusters in the form of radio halos (RHs), probing the presence of relativistic electrons and magnetic fields in the intra-cluster medium. The favoured scenario to explain their origin is that they trace turbulent regions generated during cluster mergers where particles are re-accelerated. In this framework, RHs are expected to probe cluster dynamics and are predicted to be more frequent in massive systems. Statistical studies are important to study the connection of RHs with cluster dynamics and to constrain theoretical models. Furthermore, low-frequency surveys can shed light on the existence of RHs with very steep radio-spectra, a key prediction of turbulent models. We study the properties of RHs from clusters of the second catalog of Planck Sunyaev Zel'dovich detected sources that lie within the 5634 deg^2 covered by the second Data Release (DR2) of the LOFAR Two-meter Sky Survey. We find that the number of observed RHs, their radio flux density and redshift distributions are in line with what is expected in the framework of the re-acceleration scenario. In addition, the fraction of clusters with RHs increases with the cluster mass, confirming the leading role of the gravitational process of cluster formation in the generation of RHs. These models predict a large fraction of RHs with very steep spectrum in the DR2 Planck sample, this will be tested in future studies, yet a comparison of the occurrence of halos in GMRT and LOFAR samples indeed shows a larger occurrence of RHs at lower frequencies suggesting the presence of a number of very steep spectrum RH that is preferentially detected by LOFAR. Using morphological information we confirm that RHs are preferentially located in merging systems and that the fraction of newly LOFAR discovered RHs is larger in less disturbed systems., Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&A

The footprint of LoTSS-DR2 covers 309 PSZ2 galaxy clusters, 83 of which host a radio halo and 26 host a radio relic(s). It provides us an excellent opportunity to statistically study the properties of extended cluster radio sources, especially their connection with merging activities. We aim to quantify cluster dynamic states to investigate their relation with the occurrence of extended radio sources. We also search for connections between intracluster medium (ICM) turbulence and nonthermal characteristics of radio halos in the LoTSS-DR2. We analyzed XMM-Newton and Chandra archival X-ray data and computed concentration parameters and centroid shifts that indicate the dynamic states of the clusters. We also performed a power spectral analysis of the X-ray surface brightness (SB) fluctuations to investigate large-scale density perturbations and estimate the turbulent velocity dispersion. The power spectral analysis results in a large scatter density fluctuation amplitude. We therefore only found a marginal anticorrelation between density fluctuations and cluster relaxation state, and we did not find a correlation between density fluctuations and radio halo power. Nevertheless, the injected power for particle acceleration calculated from turbulent dissipation is correlated with the radio halo power, where the best-fit unity slope supports the turbulent (re)acceleration scenario. Two different acceleration models, transit-time damping and adiabatic stochastic acceleration, cannot be distinguished due to the large scatter of the estimated turbulent Mach number. We introduced a new quantity $[kT\cdot Y_X]_{r_\mathrm{RH}}$, which is proportional to the turbulent acceleration power assuming a constant Mach number. This quantity is strongly correlated with radio halo power, where the slope is also unity., Comment: 20 pages, 13 figures, 5 tables includig appendix. Accepted for publication in A&A. The abstract on arXiv has been shorten to meet the word limit

The presence of large-scale magnetic fields and ultra-relativistic electrons in the intra-cluster medium (ICM) is confirmed through the detection of diffuse radio synchrotron sources, so-called radio halos and relics. Due to their steep-spectrum nature, these sources are rarely detected at frequencies above a few GHz, especially in low-mass systems. The aim of this study is to discover and characterise diffuse radio sources in low-mass galaxy clusters in order to understand their origin and their scaling with host cluster properties. We searched for cluster-scale radio emission from low-mass galaxy clusters in the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) Two-metre Sky Survey - Data Release 2 (LoTSS-DR2) fields. We made use of existing optical (Abell, DESI, WHL) and X-ray (comPRASS, MCXC) catalogues. The LoTSS-DR2 data were processed further to improve the quality of the images that are used to detect and characterize diffuse sources. We have detected diffuse radio emission in 28 galaxy clusters. The number of confirmed (candidates) halos and relics are six (seven) and 10 (three), respectively. Among these, 11 halos and 10 relics, including candidates, are newly discovered by LOFAR. Beside these, five diffuse sources are detected in tailed radio galaxies and are probably associated with mergers during the formation of the host clusters. We are unable to classify other 13 diffuse sources. We compare our newly detected, diffuse sources to known sources by placing them on the scaling relation between the radio power and the mass of the host clusters.

Objectives. This review gathers information on the potential role of antihistamines as anti-infective agents and identifies gaps in research that have impaired its applicability in human health. Methods. The literature search encompassed MEDLINE, PubMed and Google Scholar from 1990 to 2022. Results. The literature search identified 12 antihistamines with activity against different pathogens. Eight molecules were second-generation antihistamines with intrinsically lower tendency to cross the blood brain barrier thereby with reduced side effects. Only five antihistamines had in vivo evaluations in rodents while one study utilized a wax moth model to determine astemizole anti-Cryptococcus sp. activity combined with fluconazole. In vitro studies showed that clemastine was active against Plasmodium, Leishmania, and Trypanosoma, while terfenadine suppressed Candida spp. and Staphylococcus aureus growth. In vitro assays found that SARS-coV-2 was inhibited by doxepin, azelastine, desloratadine, and clemastine. Different antihistamines inhibited Ebola virus (diphenhydramine, chlorcyclizine), Hepatitis C virus (chlorcyclizine), and Influenza virus (carbinoxamine, chlorpheniramine). Generally, in vitro activity (IC50) of antihistamines was in the low to sub-microM range, except for Staphylococcus epidermidis (loratadine MIC=50 microM) and SARS-coV-2 (desloratadine 70% inhibition at 20 microM). Conclusion. Many antihistamine drugs showed potential to progress to clinical trials based on in vitro data and availability of toxicological and pharmacological data. However, the overall lack of systematic preclinical trials has hampered the advance of repurposed antihistamines for off label evaluation. The low interest of pharmaceutical companies has to be counterbalanced through collaborations between research groups, granting agencies and government to support the needed clinical trials., Comment: This review article compiles information on antihistamine drugs that have shown activity against multiple pathogens, including parasites, bacteria, fungi, and viruses. submitted