AGN Diagnostic Plot In The WISE And 3XMM Era: The Role Of Variability

An efficient diagnostic method to find local (z<0.1) Compton-thick AGN consists in selecting sources characterized by hard X- ray colors and low hard X-ray over mid-IR flux ratio. This has been done efficiently in the past using 2XMM and IRAS data (Severgnini et al. 2012). In this talk I will present my thesis work in which I tested this technique using the latest 3XMM and WISE data for the sample presented by Severgnini et al. I will also briefly discuss the X-ray spectral properties of all of those sources showing flux and/or spectral variability in the XMM-Newton observations

A new jet/outflow maser in the nucleus of the Compton-thick AGN IRAS 15480-0344

Investigations of H2O maser galaxies at X-ray energies reveal that most harbor highly absorbed AGN. Possible correlations between the intrinsic X-ray luminosity and the properties of water maser emission have been suggested. With the aim of looking into these correlations on a more solid statistical basis, we have search for maser emission in a well-defined sample of Compton-thick AGN. Here we report the results of the survey, which yielded a surprisingly high maser detection rate, with a particular focus on the newly discovered luminous water maser in the lenticular (field) S0 galaxy IRAS 15480-0344. Recently, VLBI observations have been obtained to image the line and continuum emission in the nucleus of this galaxy. The radio continuum emission at VLBI scales is resolved into two compact components that are interpreted as jet knots. Based on the single-dish profile, the variability of the maser emission, and the position of the maser spots with respect to these continuum sources, we favor of a jet/outflow origin for the maser emission, consistent with similar cases found in other radio-quiet AGN. This scenario is consistent with the hypothesis of the presence of strong nuclear winds recently invoked to explain the main characteristics of field S0 galaxies

A new candidate for a powerful wind detected in a bright IR-galaxy

We report the discovery of a new candidate for a powerful disk wind, in a nearby and bright starburst-AGN system: MCG-03-58-007. The winds strongly resembles the case of PDS456. MCG-03-58-007 is a relatively X-ray bright Seyfert 2 galaxy for which a deep Suzaku observation unveiled a highly curved spectrum due to a high column density absorber and an extremely steep intrinsic photon index (Gamma = 3). A detailed analysis showed that the steep spectrum is mainly driven by the presence of a deep absorption trough at 7.5-9 keV. This could be accounted for by the presence of a high ionisation, fast (v up to 0.2c) outflowing wind launched from within a few 100Rg from the black hole, whose kinetic output matches the prescription for significant feedback. New deep simultaneous XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations provided the first direct measurement of the AGN luminosity and more importantly confirms the presence of a powerful X-ray wind. The new observations show rapid spectral variability, whose main driver appears to be the wind itself

Bovine Colostrum Supplementation Modulates the Intestinal Microbial Community in Rabbits

Simple Summary Recently, research has focused on the modulation of the gut microbiota because of its central role in several digestive physiological functions and its involvement in the onset of not only gastrointestinal but also systemic diseases. Supplementing rabbit diets with nutraceutical substances could be a strategy to prevent dysbiosis, strengthen the immune system, and reduce mortality during the critical weaning period. Bovine colostrum (BC) is a by-product of the dairy industry and is very rich in compounds with several biological activities. Its use as an intestinal microbiota modulator in rabbits has never been investigated. This study evaluates the effects of diet supplementation with two different percentages of BC (2.5 and 5%) on luminal and mucosa-associated microbiota and its metabolism-associated pathways in the jejunum, caecum, and colon of rabbits. Although our results showed no effect of BC on microbiota biodiversity, there were significant differences between experimental groups in the microbial composition, mainly at the level of sub-dominant components depending on the dose of supplementation. The metabolism-associated pathways have also been affected, and particularly interesting are the results on the amino acids and lactose metabolism. Overall, findings suggest that BC could be used as a supplement in rabbit feed, although its effects on productive and reproductive performances, intestinal disease resistance, and economic aspects need to be further evaluated. BC is a nutraceutical that can modulate intestinal microbiota. This study investigates the effects of BC diet supplementation on luminal and mucosa-associated microbiota in the jejunum, caecum, and colon of rabbits. Twenty-one New Zealand White female rabbits were divided into three experimental groups (n = 7) receiving a commercial feed (CTRL group) and the same diet supplemented with 2.5% and 5% BC (2.5% BC and 5% BC groups, respectively), from 35 (weaning) to 90 days of age (slaughtering). At slaughter, the digestive tract was removed from each animal, then both content and mucosa-associated microbiota of jejunum, caecum, and colon were collected and analysed by Next Generation 16SrRNA Gene Sequencing. Significant differences were found in the microbial composition of the three groups (i.e., beta-diversity: p &lt; 0.01), especially in the caecum and colon of the 2.5% BC group. The relative abundance analysis showed that the families most affected by the BC administration were Clostridia UCG-014, Barnesiellaceae, and Eggerthellaceae. A trend was also found for Lachnospiraceae, Akkermansiaceae, and Bacteroidaceae. A functional prediction has revealed several altered pathways in BC groups, with particular reference to amino acids and lactose metabolism. Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio decreased in caecum luminal samples of the 2.5% BC group. These findings suggest that BC supplementation could positively affect the intestinal microbiota. However, further research is needed to establish the optimal administration dose

ALMA [C i]3 P 1–3 P 0 Observations of NGC 6240: A Puzzling Molecular Outflow, and the Role of Outflows in the Global α CO Factor of (U)LIRGs

We present Atacama large millimeter/submillimeter array (ALMA) and compact array (ACA) [C I]{}3{P}1-3{P}0 ([C I](1-0)) observations of NGC 6240, which we combine with ALMA CO(2-1) and IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer CO(1-0) data to study the physical properties of the massive molecular (H2) outflow. We discover that the receding and approaching sides of the H2 outflow, aligned east-west, exceed 10 kpc in their total extent. High resolution (0\buildrel{\prime\prime}\over{.} 24) [C I](1-0) line images surprisingly reveal that the outflow emission peaks between the two active galactic nuclei (AGNs), rather than on either of the two, and that it dominates the velocity field in this nuclear region. We combine the [C I](1-0) and CO(1-0) data to constrain the CO-to-H2 conversion factor ({α }CO}) in the outflow, which is on average 2.1+/- 1.2 {M}☉ {({{K}}{km}{{{s}}}-1{pc}}2)}-1. We estimate that 60 ± 20% of the total H2 gas reservoir of NGC 6240 is entrained in the outflow, for a resulting mass-loss rate of {\dot{M}}out}=2500+/- 1200 {M}☉ {yr}}-1\equiv 50+/- 30 SFR. These energetics rule out a solely star formation-driven wind, but the puzzling morphology challenges a classic radiative-mode AGN feedback scenario. For the quiescent gas, we compute CO}> =3.2+/- 1.8 {M}☉ {({{K}}{km}{{{s}}}-1{pc}}2)}-1, which is at least twice the value commonly employed for (ultra) luminous infrared galaxies ((U)LIRGs). We observe a tentative trend of increasing {r}21\equiv {L}CO(2-1)}{\prime }/{L}CO(1-0)}{\prime } ratios with velocity dispersion and measure r 21 > 1 in the outflow, whereas r 21 ≃ 1 in the quiescent gas. We propose that molecular outflows are the location of the warmer, strongly unbound phase that partially reduces the opacity of the CO lines in (U)LIRGs, hence driving down their global {α }CO} and increasing their r 21 values