3,400 research outputs found
The Implications of Galaxy Formation Models for the TeV Observations of Current Detectors
This paper represents a step toward constraining galaxy formation models via
TeV gamm a ray observations. We use semi-analytic models of galaxy formation to
predict a spectral distribution for the intergalactic infrared photon field,
which in turn yields information about the absorption of TeV gamma rays from
extra-galactic sources. By making predictions for integral flux observations at
>200 GeV for several known EGRE T sources, we directly compare our models with
current observational upper limits obtained by Whipple. In addition, our
predictions may offer a guide to the observing programs for the current
population of TeV gamma ray observatories.Comment: 6 pages, 11 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the 6th TeV
Workshop at Snowbird, U
A preliminary longitudinal study of white matter alteration in cocaine use disorder subjects
Background Previous diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have consistently shown that subjects with cocaine use disorder (CocUD) had altered white matter microstructure in the corpus callosum. It is believed that these alterations are due to preexisting factors, chronic cocaine use, or both. However, there is no published longitudinal DTI study on human cocaine users yet which could shed light on the relationship between cocaine use and DTI findings. Methods This study used a longitudinal design and DTI to test if the white matter microstructure shows quicker alteration in CocUD subjects than controls. DTI data were acquired from eleven CocUD subjects who participated a treatment study and eleven non-drug-using controls at baseline (Scan 1) and after ten weeks (Scan 2). The baseline fractional anisotropy (FA), a general measure of white matter microstucture, and the change in FA (ÎFA, equals Scan 1 FA minus Scan 2 FA) were both compared between groups. Results The two groups did not show a difference in FA at baseline. The CocUD subjects had significantly greater ÎFA than the controls in the left splenium of the corpus callosum. In CocUD subjects, greater ÎFA in this region was associated with shorter lifetime cocaine use and greater number of positive cocaine urine samples collected during the treatment. Conclusion The finding in the left splenium is consistent with previous animal studies and provide indirect evidence about the effects of chronic cocaine use on white matter alterations. The subject sample size is small, therefore the results should be treated as preliminary
Feeding AGN: new results from the NUGA survey
The NUGA project is a high-resolution (0.5''-1'') CO survey of low luminosity
AGN including the full sequence of activity types (Seyferts, LINERs and
transition objects). NUGA aims to systematically study the different mechanisms
for gas fueling of AGNs in the Local Universe. In this paper we discuss the
latest results of this recently completed survey, which now includes newly
acquired subarcsec resolution observations for all targets of the sample. The
large variety of circumnuclear disk morphologies found in NUGA galaxies (m=1,
m=2 and stochastic instabilities) is a challenging result that urges the
refinement of current dynamical models. In this paper we report on new results
obtained in 4 study cases for NUGA: NGC4826, NGC7217, NGC4579 and NGC6951Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Contributed talk to appear in "The Interplay
among Black Holes, Stars and ISM in Galactic Nuclei," Proc. IAU 222 (Gramado,
Brazil), eds. Th. Storchi Bergmann, L.C. Ho, H.R. Schmit
ALMA observations of feeding and feedback in nearby Seyfert galaxies: an AGN-driven outflow in NGC 1433
We report ALMA observations of CO(3-2) emission in the Seyfert 2
double-barred galaxy NGC1433, at the unprecedented spatial resolution of
0.5"=24 pc. Our aim is to probe AGN feeding and feedback phenomena through the
morphology and dynamics of the gas inside the central kpc. The CO map, which
covers the whole nuclear region (nuclear bar and ring), reveals a nuclear
gaseous spiral structure, inside the nuclear ring encircling the nuclear
stellar bar.
This gaseous spiral is well correlated with the dusty spiral seen in Hubble
Space Telescope images. The nuclear spiral winds up in a pseudo-ring at 200 pc
radius, which might correspond to the inner ILR. Continuum emission is detected
at 0.87 mm only at the very centre, and its origin is more likely thermal dust
emission than non-thermal emission from the AGN. It might correspond to the
molecular torus expected to exist in this Seyfert 2 galaxy. The HCN(4-3) and
HCO+(4-3) lines were observed simultaneously, but only upper limits are
derived, with a ratio to the CO(3-2) line lower than 1/60 at 3sigma, indicating
a relatively low abundance of very dense gas. The kinematics of the gas over
the nuclear disk reveal rather regular rotation only slightly perturbed by
streaming motions due to the spiral; the primary and secondary bars are too
closely aligned with the galaxy major or minor axis to leave a signature in the
projected velocities. Near the nucleus, there is an intense high-velocity CO
emission feature redshifted to 200 km/s (if located in the plane), with a
blue-shifted counterpart, at 2" (100 pc) from the centre. While the CO spectra
are quite narrow in the centre, this wide component is interpreted as an
outflow involving a molecular mass of 3.6 10^6 Mo and a flow rate 7 Mo/yr. The
flow could be in part driven by the central star formation, but is mainly
boosted by the AGN through its wind or radio jets.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, Accepted in Astronomy and Astrophysic
NUGA: the IRAM survey of AGN spiral hosts
The NUclei of GAlaxies (NUGA) project is a combined effort to carry out a
high-resolution (<1'') interferometer CO survey of a sample of 12 nearby AGN
spiral hosts, using the IRAM array. We map the distribution and dynamics of
molecular gas in the inner 1 kpc of the nuclei with resolutions of 10-50 pc,
and study the mechanisms for gas fueling of the different low-luminosity AGN.
First results show evidence for the occurrence of strong m=1 gas instabilities
in Seyferts. NUGA maps allow us to address the origin/nature of m=1 modes and
their link with m=2 modes and acoustic instabilities, present in other targets.Comment: 1 gzipped tar file containing 1 Latex file + 3 eps figures.
Proceedings of ''Active Galactic Nuclei: from Central Engine to Host
Galaxy'', meeting held in Meudon, France, July 23-27, 2002, Eds.: S. Collin,
F. Combes and I. Shlosman. To be published in ASP Conference Serie
Secondary HIV Infection and Mitigation in Cure-Related HIV Trials During Analytical Treatment Interruptions
To the EditorâWe are writing to express concerns regarding facts reported in 2 recent Journal of Infectious Diseases articles pertaining to the ANRSLIGHT study, conducted in 18 clinical sites in France between September 2013 and May 2015. Initially, we were delighted to see the authors implemented several inclusion criteria that we believe were likely to ensure safety of participants during the analytical treatment interruption (ATI) that occurred during the trial, for example a nadir of CD4+ T-cell count of â„300 cells/mm3 and an initial CD4+ T-cell count of â„600/mm3. However, other aspects are dismaying, including the detailed identifying information about the index participant and partner. We fear it is possible to identify both persons from the elaborate medical and nonmedical history provided. After contacting the study Principal Investigator, Dr LeliĂšvre, through a European colleague, it appears there were no consents to disclose this information. Thus, we feel strongly that it was inappropriate to include such comprehensive, potentially identifying details
Molecular gas in NUclei of GAlaxies (NUGA) XV. Molecular gas kinematics in the inner 3kpc of NGC6951
Within the NUclei of GAlaxies project we have obtained IRAM PdBI and 30m
12CO(1-0) and 12CO(2-1) observations of the spiral galaxy NGC 6951. Previous
work shows that there is indirect evidence of gas inflow from 3 kpc down to
small radii: a large-scale stellar bar, a prominent starburst ring (r~580 pc)
and a LINER/Seyfert 2 nucleus. In this paper we study the gas kinematics as
traced by the CO line emission in detail. We quantify the influence of the
large-scale stellar bar by constructing an analytical model of the evolution of
gas particles in a barred potential. From this model gravitational torques and
mass accumulation rates are computed. We compare our model-based gravitational
torque results with previous observationally-based ones. The model also shows
that the large-scale stellar bar is indeed the dominant force for driving the
gas inward, to the starburst ring. Inside the ring itself a nuclear stellar
oval might play an important role. Detailed analysis of the CO gas kinematics
there shows that emission arises from two co-spatial, but kinematically
distinct components at several locations. The main emission component can
always be related to the overall bar-driven gas kinematics. The second
component exhibits velocities that are larger than expected for gas on stable
orbits, has a molecular gas mass of 1.8x10^6Msun, is very likely connected to
the nuclear stellar oval, and is consistent with inflowing motion towards the
very center. This may form the last link in the chain of gas inflow towards the
active galactic nucleus in NGC 6951.Comment: 17 pages, accepted by A&A (17 feb 2011
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