The Unusual AGN Host NGC 1266: Evidence for Shocks in a Molecular Gas Rich S0 Galaxy with a Low Luminosity Nucleus

NGC 1266 is a lenticular galaxy (S0) hosting an active galactic nucleus (AGN), and known to contain a large amount of shocked gas. We compare the luminosity ratio of mid-\emph{J} CO lines to IR continuum with star-forming galaxies (SFGs), and then model the CO spectral line energy distribution (SLED). We confirm that in the mid- and high-\emph{J} regions ($J_{\rm up}$ = 4--13), the C-type shock ($v_{\rm s}$ = 25 km s$^{-1}$, $n_{\rm H}$ = $5\times10^{4}$ cm$^{-3}$) can reproduce the CO observations well. The galaxy spectral energy distribution (SED) is constructed and modeled by the code {\tt X-CIGALE} and obtains a set of physical parameters including the star formation rate (SFR, 1.17 $\pm$ 0.47 \emph{M$_{\odot}$}yr$^{-1}$). Also, our work provides SFR derivation of [C\,{\sc ii}] from the neutral hydrogen regions only (1.38 $\pm$ 0.14 $M_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$). Previous studies have illusive conclusions on the AGN or starburst nature of the NGC 1266 nucleus. Our SED model shows that the hidden AGN in the system is intrinsically low-luminosity, consequently the infrared luminosity of the AGN does not reach the expected level. Archival data from \emph{NuSTAR} hard X-ray observations in the 3--79 keV band shows a marginal detection, disfavoring presence of an obscured luminous AGN and implying that a compact starburst is more likely dominant for the NGC 1266 nucleus

ALMA Maps of Dust and Warm Dense Gas Emission in the Starburst Galaxy IC 5179⋆^\star

We present our high-resolution ($0^{\prime\prime}.15\times0^{\prime\prime}.13$, $\sim$34 pc) observations of the CO(6-5) line emission, which probes the warm and dense molecular gas, and the 434 $\mu$m dust continuum emission in the nuclear region of the starburst galaxy IC 5179, conducted with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). The CO(6-5) emission is spatially distributed in filamentary structures with many dense cores and shows a velocity field that is characteristic of a circum-nuclear rotating gas disk, with 90% of the rotation speed arising within a radius of $\lesssim150$ pc. At the scale of our spatial resolution, the CO(6-5) and dust emission peaks do not always coincide, with their surface brightness ratio varying by a factor of $\sim$10. This result suggests that their excitation mechanisms are likely different, as further evidenced by the Southwest to Northeast spatial gradient of both CO-to-dust continuum ratio and Pa-$\alpha$ equivalent width. Within the nuclear region (radius$\sim$300 pc) and with a resolution of $\sim$34 pc, the CO line flux (dust flux density) detected in our ALMA observations is $180\pm18$ Jy km/s ($71\pm7$ mJy), which account for 22% (2.4%) of the total value measured by Herschel.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

ALMA Observation of NGC5135: The Circumnuclear CO(6-5) and Dust Continuum Emission at 45 Parsec Resolution[⋆\star]

We present high-resolution (0.17\arcsec $\times$ 0.14\arcsec) Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the CO\,(6-5) line, and 435\um\ dust continuum emission within a $\sim$9\arcsec $\times$ 9\arcsec\ area centered on the nucleus of the galaxy NGC\,5135. NGC\,5135 is a well-studied luminous infrared galaxy that also harbors a Compton-thick active galactic nucleus (AGN). At the achieved resolution of 48 $\times$ 40\,pc, the CO\,(6-5) and dust emissions are resolved into gas "clumps" along the symmetrical dust lanes associated with the inner stellar bar. The clumps have radii between $\sim$45-180\,pc and CO\,(6-5) line widths of $\sim$60-88\,\kms. The CO\,(6-5) to dust continuum flux ratios vary among the clumps and show an increasing trend with the \FeII/Br-$\gamma$ ratios, which we interpret as evidence for supernova-driven shocked gas providing a significant contribution to the \co65\ emission. The central AGN is undetected in continuum, nor in CO\,(6-5) if its line velocity width is no less than $\sim$\,40\,\kms. We estimate that the AGN contributes at most 1\% of the integrated CO\,(6-5) flux of 512 $\pm$ 24$\,$Jy\kms\ within the ALMA field of view, which in turn accounts for $\sim$32\% of the CO\,(6-5) flux of the whole galaxy.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figures, Accepted for publication in Ap

Children’s Non-symbolic and Symbolic Numerical Representations and Their Associations With Mathematical Ability

Most empirical evidence supports the view that non-symbolic and symbolic representations are foundations for advanced mathematical ability. However, the detailed development trajectories of these two types of representations in childhood are not very clear, nor are the different effects of non-symbolic and symbolic representations on the development of mathematical ability. We assessed 253 4- to 8-year-old children’s non-symbolic and symbolic numerical representations, mapping skills, and mathematical ability, aiming to investigate the developmental trajectories and associations between these skills. Our results showed non-symbolic numerical representation emerged earlier than the symbolic one. Four-year-olds were capable of non-symbolic comparisons but not symbolic comparisons; five-year-olds performed better at non-symbolic comparisons than symbolic comparisons. This performance difference disappeared at age 6. Children at age 6 or older were able to map between symbolic and non-symbolic quantities. However, as children learn more about the symbolic representation system, their advantage in non-symbolic representation disappeared. Path analyses revealed that a direct effect of children’s symbolic numerical skills on their math performance, and an indirect effect of non-symbolic numerical skills on math performance via symbolic skills. These results suggest that symbolic numerical skills are a predominant factor affecting math performance in early childhood. However, the influences of symbolic and non-symbolic numerical skills on mathematical performance both declines with age

Bayesian approach to support vector machines

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

ALMA Imaging of the CO(6-5) Line Emission in NGC 7130

In this paper, we report our high-resolution (0".20 × 0".14 or ~70 × 49 pc) observations of the CO(6-5) line emission, which probes warm and dense molecular gas, and the 434 μm dust continuum in the nuclear region of NGC 7130, obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). The CO line and dust continuum fluxes detected in our ALMA observations are 1230 ± 74 Jy km s^(−1) and 814 ± 52 mJy, respectively, which account for 100% and 51% of their total fluxes. We find that the CO(6-5) and dust emissions are generally spatially correlated, but their brightest peaks show an offset of ~70 pc, suggesting that the gas and dust emissions may start decoupling at this physical scale. The brightest peak of the CO(6-5) emission does not spatially correspond to the radio continuum peak, which is likely dominated by an active galactic nucleus (AGN). This, together with our additional quantitative analysis, suggests that the heating contribution of the AGN to the CO(6-5) emission in NGC 7130 is negligible. The CO(6-5) and the extinction-corrected Pa-α maps display striking differences, suggestive of either a breakdown of the correlation between warm dense gas and star formation at linear scales of <100 pc or a large uncertainty in our extinction correction to the observed Pa-α image. Over a larger scale of ~2.1 kpc, the double-lobed structure found in the CO(6-5) emission agrees well with the dust lanes in the optical/near-infrared images

Curcumin Enhances Neurogenesis and Cognition in Aged Rats: Implications for Transcriptional Interactions Related to Growth and Synaptic Plasticity

Background: Curcumin has been demonstrated to have many neuroprotective properties, including improvement of cognition in humans and neurogenesis in animals, yet the mechanism of such effects remains unclear. Methodology: We assessed behavioural performance and hippocampal cell proliferation in aged rats after 6- and 12-week curcumin-fortified diets. Curcumin enhanced non-spatial and spatial memory, as well as dentate gyrate cell proliferation as compared to control diet rats. We also investigated underlying mechanistic pathways that might link curcumin treatment to increased cognition and neurogenesis via exon array analysis of cortical and hippocampal mRNA transcription. The results revealed a transcriptional network interaction of genes involved in neurotransmission, neuronal development, signal transduction, and metabolism in response to the curcumin treatment. Conclusions: The results suggest a neurogenesis- and cognition-enhancing potential of prolonged curcumin treatment i

Conflict monitoring and stimulus categorization processes involved in the prosocial attitude implicit association test: Evidence from event-related potentials

The implicit association test (IAT) is a promising method used to assess individual implicit attitudes by indirectly measuring the strengths of associations between target and attribute categories. To date, the cognitive processes involved in the prosocial attitude IAT task have received little attention. The present study examined the temporal dynamics of the IAT that measures prosocial attitude using event-related potentials (ERPs). ERP results revealed enhanced N2 amplitudes for incongruent trials when compared with congruent trials and enhanced P300 amplitudes for congruent trials when compared with incongruent trials. In addition, the N2 amplitude differences were significantly correlated with individual prosocial behavior (the amount of donation). Our findings suggest that conflict monitoring and stimulus categorization processes are involved in the prosocial attitude IAT task and that the ERP indices of IATs that measure prosocial attitude may predict individual prosocial behavior.The implicit association test (IAT) is a promising method used to assess individual implicit attitudes by indirectly measuring the strengths of associations between target and attribute categories. To date, the cognitive processes involved in the prosocial attitude IAT task have received little attention. The present study examined the temporal dynamics of the IAT that measures prosocial attitude using event-related potentials (ERPs). ERP results revealed enhanced N2 amplitudes for incongruent trials when compared with congruent trials and enhanced P300 amplitudes for congruent trials when compared with incongruent trials. In addition, the N2 amplitude differences were significantly correlated with individual prosocial behavior (the amount of donation). Our findings suggest that conflict monitoring and stimulus categorization processes are involved in the prosocial attitude IAT task and that the ERP indices of IATs that measure prosocial attitude may predict individual prosocial behavior

Mothers’ self-reported emotional expression in Mainland Chinese, Chinese American and European American families

This study compared Mainland Chinese, Chinese American and European American mothers’ selfreportedemotional expression within the family. Mothers of 3-year-old European American (n =40), Chinese American (n = 39) and Mainland Chinese (n = 36) children (n = 20 girls per group)completed the Self-Expressiveness in the Family Questionnaire (SEFQ), a measure that includes 40items describing the expression of positive and negative emotion (20 items each). Respondentsindicate how frequently they engage in each expressive practice. Mothers also completed a questionnaireregarding family ecology variables. European American mothers reported significantly morepositive emotional expression than Mainland Chinese mothers, although no significant differenceswere found for expression of negative emotion. While family ecology differed across groups, thesevariables were not related to the emotional expression scores. No child-gender differences wereobtained. Results of this study confirm the presence of cultural differences in mothers’ emotionalexpressivity

Dispositional and Situational Autonomy as Moderators of Mood and Creativity

Although previous research suggests that mood can influence creativity, the controversy about the effects of positive and negative moods has raged for years. This study investigated how the relationship between induced mood and creativity is moderated by dispositional and situational autonomy. It contrasted the different moderating effects of the 2 kinds of autonomy. In Experiment 1, 93 participants completed a questionnaire about dispositional autonomy and performed a creative task after watching 1 of 3 film clips, which were to induce positive, negative, or neutral moods. The results of experiment 1 indicated that positive moods prompted creativity and negative moods inhibited creativity when individuals were low in dispositional autonomy (low in autonomous orientation or high in impersonal orientation). In Experiment 2, 73 participants engaged in a game to manipulate levels of situational autonomy and induce positive or negative moods. The results of experiment 2 showed that positive moods fostered greater creativity than did negative moods when individuals were in full-autonomy condition. The different moderating effects of dispositional and situational autonomy are discussed