Apparent effect of dust extinction on the observed outflow velocity of ionized gas in galaxy mergers

In this study, we examine photoionization outflows during the late stages of galaxy mergers, with a specific focus on the relation between observed velocity of outflowing gas and the apparent effects of dust extinction. We used the N-body/smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) code ASURA for galaxy merger simulations. These simulations concentrated on identical galaxy mergers featuring supermassive black holes (SMBHs) of 10$^8$ M$_\odot$ and gas fractions of 30\% and 10 \%. From the simulation data, we derived velocity and velocity dispersion diagrams for the AGN-driven ionized outflowing gas. Our findings show that high-velocity outflows with velocity dispersions of 500 km s$^{-1}$ or greater can be observed in the late stages of galactic mergers. Particularly, in buried AGNs, both the luminosity-weighted outflow velocity and velocity dispersion increase owing to the apparent effects of dust extinction. Owing to these effects, the velocity--velocity dispersion diagrams display a noticeable blue-shifted tilt in models with higher gas fractions. Crucially, this tilt is not influenced by the AGN luminosity but emerges from the observational impacts of dust extinction. Our results imply that the observed high-velocity \OIII outflow exceeding 1000 km s$^{-1}$ in buried AGNs may be linked to the dust extinction that occurs during the late stages of gas-rich galaxy mergers.Comment: 14 pages, accepted for publication in Ap

Rational design for thermochromic luminescence in amorphous polystyrene films with bis-o-carborane-substituted enhanced conjugated molecule having aggregation-induced luminochromism

We designed the triad molecule, bis-o-carborane-substituted bis(thienylethynyl)benzene, as a filler for realizing thermochromic luminescent behaviors based on conventional polymer films, such as polystyrene. From the optical measurements, it was found that the triad can show solid-state emission and dual-luminescent properties with variable intensity ratios depending on media. From the mechanistic studies including the experiments with the methyl-substituted model compound, it was revealed that dual emission should be originated from the locally excited and twisted intramolecular charge transfer states, and the latter emission band is significantly enhanced in the solid states. We prepared amorphous films containing variable concentrations of the triad with the spin-coating method and investigated optical properties. It was found that intensity ratios were drastically changed by altering the concentration of the triad. By increasing the proportion of the triad, aggregation occurred, and emission color was apparently varied through the changes in intensity ratios of the dual emission property. Based on the aggregation-induced luminochromic property of the triad, thermochromic luminescence was finally realized by heating the amorphous films. The rational design for obtaining thermochromic luminescent amorphous films is illustrated in this paper

Microarray analysis of circulating microRNAs in familial Mediterranean fever

Objectives: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease caused by mutations in MEFV. Mutations in exon 10 are associated with typical FMF phenotypes, whereas the pathogenic role of variants in exons 2 and 3 remains uncertain. Recent evidence suggests that circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are potentially useful biomarkers in several diseases. Therefore, their expression was assessed in FMF. Methods: The subjects were 24 patients with FMF who were between attacks: eight with exon 10 mutations (group A), eight with exon 3 mutations (group B), and eight without exon 3 or 10 mutations (group C). We also investigated eight cases of PFAPA as disease controls. Exosome-rich fractionated RNA was subjected to miRNA profiling by microarray. Results: Using the expression patterns of 26 miRNAs, we classified FMF (groups A, B, and C) and PFAPA with 78.1% accuracy. In FMF patients, groups A and B, A and C, and B and C were distinguished with 93.8, 87.5, and 100% accuracy using 24, 30, and 25 miRNA expression patterns, respectively. Conclusions: These findings suggest that expression patterns of circulating miRNAs differ among FMF subgroups based on MEFV mutations between FMF episodes. These patterns may serve as a useful biomarker for detecting subgroups of FMF. © 2017 Japan College of RheumatologyEmbargo Period 12 month