Pump-probe scheme for optical coherence tomography using indocyanine green mixed with albumin or human plasma

Use of indocyanine green (ICG) in a pump-probe scheme for OCT is proposed. The study illustrates that ICG in protein solution shows unusual pump-probe imaging potential, indicating its usefulness as a contrast agent for OCT

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION BY USING RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA (RAPD) ANALYSIS OF SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS ISOLATES RECOVERED FROM AVIAN AND HUMAN SOURCES

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was applied for molecular characterization of five Salmonella enteritidis strains from different avian sources and human cases of infection. A total of 16 primers were used and only five primers showed good discriminatory power for all five isolates. Dendrogram showed a common lineage among all five isolates. There was a close genetic relationship among isolates of eggs and human sources, while there was less pronounced homology among isolates of broiler meat and human sources. On the basis of results we have found that an endemic strain of S. enteritidis is prevalent between the poultry derived food and humans which gives us an insight to genetic diversity of S. enteritidis from these sources

Isotropic Mid-Infrared Emission from the Central 100 pc of Active Galaxies

Dust reprocesses the intrinsic radiation of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) to emerge at longer wavelengths. The observed mid-infrared (MIR) luminosity depends fundamentally on the luminosity of the central engine, but in detail it also depends on the geometric distribution of the surrounding dust. To quantify this relationship, we observe nearby normal AGNs in the MIR to achieve spatial resolution better than 100 pc, and we use absorption-corrected X-ray luminosity as a proxy for the intrinsic AGN emission. We find no significant difference between optically classified Seyfert 1 and 2 galaxies. Spectroscopic differences, both at optical and IR wavelengths, indicate that the immediate surroundings of AGNs is not spherically symmetric, as in standard unified AGN models. A quantitative analysis of clumpy torus radiative transfer models shows that a clumpy local environment can account for this dependence on viewing geometry while producing MIR continuum emission that remains nearly isotropic, as we observe, although the material is not optically thin at these wavelengths. We find some luminosity dependence on the X-ray/MIR correlation in the smallest scale measurements, which may indicate enhanced dust emission associated with star formation, even on these sub-100 pc scales.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures; accepted for publication in Ap

Probing the unified model in NGC 7314

We present a study of the complex absorbed X-ray spectrum of the Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 7314. We collected available public X-ray data from the archives of XMM-Newton, Suzaku, and ASCA. The spectra were analyzed using the fitting package SPEX. We find evidence of intrinsic neutral and ionized absorption in the XMM-Newton EPIC-pn spectrum. The ionized gas presents three significantly distinct ionization phases, although its kinematic properties could not be disentangled. At least two of these phases are also detected in the RGS spectrum, although with less significance due to the low statistics. The ASCA and Suzaku spectra show larger neutral absorption but no ionized gas signatures. The Fe Kalpha emission line is detected in all the observations and, additionally, Fe XXVI in the EPIC-pn spectrum, and Fe Kbeta in the Suzaku XIS spectrum. Using this observational evidence we construct a consistent picture of the geometry of the system in the context of the unified model of active galactic nuclei. The different observational properties are thus interpreted as clouds of neutral gas moving across our line of sight, which would be grazing a clumpy dusty torus.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Effects of pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside and its metabolites on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cytokine production by THP-1 monocytes and macrophages

Epidemiological evidence suggests cardioprotective effects of anthocyanin consumption. This study examined the predominant strawberry anthocyanin, pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside (Pg-3-glc), and three of its plasma metabolites (protocatechuic acid [PCA], 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and phloroglucinaldehyde [PGA]) for effects on the production of selected cytokines by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated THP-1 monocytes and macrophages. Concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 were determined using a cytometric bead array kit. PCA at 0.31, 1.25 and 20 μM and PGA at 5 and 20 μM decreased the concentration of IL-6 in the monocyte cultures, but there were no effects on TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8 and IL-10 and there were no effects of the other compounds. In the macrophage cultures, PGA at 20 μM decreased the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10, but there was no effect on TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8 and there were no effects of the other compounds. In conclusion, while the effects of PGA were only observed at the higher, supraphysiological concentration and are thus considered of limited physiological relevance overall, the anti-inflammatory properties of PCA were observed at both the lower, physiologically relevant, and the higher concentrations; however, effects were modest and limited to IL-6 and monocytes. These preliminary data suggest potential for physiologically attainable PCA concentrations to modulate IL-6 production by monocytes

Chandra X-ray Observation of NGC 4151

We present Chandra X-ray observations of the nearby Seyfert 1.5 galaxy NGC 4151. The images show the extended soft X-ray emission on the several hundreds of pc scale with better sensitivity than previously obtained. The spectrum of the unresolved nuclear source may be described by a heavily absorbed (N_{H} \simeq 3 \times 10^{22} cm^-2), hard power-law (\Gamma \simeq 0.3) plus soft emission from either a power-law (\Gamma \simeq 2.6) or a thermal (kT \simeq 0.6 keV) component. The flux of the high energy component has decreased from that observed by ASCA in 1993 and the spectrum is much harder.The large difference between the soft and hard spectral shapes does not favor the partial covering or scattering model of the ``soft excess''. Instead, it is likely that the hard and soft nuclear components represent intrinsically different X-ray sources. Spectra of the extended emission to almost 1 kpc NE and SW of the nucleus have also been obtained. The spectra of these regions may be described by either thermal bremsstrahlung (kT \simeq 0.4-0.7 keV) or power-law (\Gamma \simeq 2.5-3.2) continua plus 3 emission lines. There is an excellent correlation between the extended X-ray and [O III]\lambda 5007 line emissions. We discuss the nature of the extended X-ray emission. Upper limit to the electron scattering column was obtained. This upper limit is much too low for the soft X-rays to be electron scattered nuclear radiation.Comment: 18 pages, 17 figures, Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

NGC 3628: Ejection Activity Associated with Quasars

NGC3628 is a well-studied starburst/low level AGN galaxy in the Leo Triplet noted for its extensive outgassed plumes of neutral hydrogen. QSOs are shown to be concentrated around NGC3628 and aligned with the HI plumes. The closest high redshift quasar has z=2.15 and is at the tip of an X-ray filament emerging along the minor axis HI plume. Location at this point has an accidental probability of ~2x10^-4. In addition a coincident chain of optical objects coming out along the minor axis ends on this quasar. More recent measures on a pair of strong X-ray sources situated at 3.2 and 5.4 arcmin on either side of NGC3628 along its minor axis, reveal that they have nearly identical redshifts of z=0.995 and 0.981. The closer quasar lies directly in the same X-ray filament which extends from the nucleus out 4.1 arcmin to end on the quasar of z=2.15. The chain of objects SW along the minor axis of NGC3628 has been imaged in four colors with the VLT. Images and spectra of individual objects within the filament are reported. It is suggested that material in various physical states and differing intrinsic redshifts is ejected out along the minor axis of this active, disturbed galaxy.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A. Postscript file including full resolution figures at http://www.eso.org/~fpatat/ngc3628/paper_ngc3628.ps.g

The Suzaku Observation of NGC 3516: Complex Absorption and the Broad and Narrow Fe K Lines

We present results from a 150 ksec Suzaku observation of the Seyfert 1.5 NGC 3516 in October 2005. The source was in a relatively highly absorbed state. Our best-fit model is consistent with the presence of a low-ionization absorber which has a column density near 5 * 10^{22} cm^{-2} and covers most of the X-ray continuum source (covering fraction 96-100%). A high-ionization absorbing component, which yields a narrow absorption feature consistent with Fe K XXVI, is confirmed. A relativistically broadened Fe K alpha line is required in all fits, even after the complex absorption is taken into account; an additional partial-covering component is an inadequate substitute for the continuum curvature associated with the broad Fe line. A narrow Fe K alpha emission line has a velocity width consistent with the Broad Line Region. The low-ionization absorber may be responsible for producing the narrow Fe K alpha line, though a contribution from additional material out of the line of sight is possible. We include in our model soft band emission lines from He- and H-like ions of N, O, Ne and Mg, consistent with photo-ionization, though a small contribution from collisionally-ionized emission is possible.Comment: Accepted for publication in PASJ (Suzaku second special issue). 36 pages, 10 figure