402 research outputs found
Mapping dust column density in dark clouds by using NIR scattered light : Case of the Lupus 3 dark cloud
We present a method of mapping dust column density in dark clouds by using
near-infrared scattered light. Our observations of the Lupus 3 dark cloud
indicate that there is a well defined relation between (1) the H-Ks color of an
individual star behind the cloud, i.e., dust column density, and (2) the
surface brightness of scattered light toward the star in each of the J, H, and
Ks bands. In the relation, the surface brightnesses increase at low H-Ks
colors, then saturate and decrease with increasing H-Ks. Using a simple
one-dimensional radiation transfer model, we derive empirical equations which
plausibly represent the observed relationship between the surface brightness
and the dust column density. By using the empirical equations, we estimate dust
column density of the cloud for any directions toward which even no background
stars are seen. We obtain a dust column density map with a pixel scale of 2.3 x
2.3 arcsec^2 and a large dynamic range up to Av = 50 mag. Compared to the
previous studies by Juvela et al., this study is the first to use color excess
of the background stars for calibration of the empirical relationship and to
apply the empirical relationship beyond the point where surface brightness
starts to decrease with increasing column density
Ischemia Alters the Expression of Connexins in the Aged Human Brain
Although the function of astrocytic gap junctions under ischemia is still under debate, increased expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) has been observed in ischemic brain lesions, suggesting that astrocytic gap junctions could provide neuronal protection against ischemic insult. Moreover, different connexin subtypes may play different roles in pathological conditions. We used immunohistochemical analysis to investigate alterations in the expression of connexin subtypes in human stroke brains. Seven samples, sectioned after brain embolic stroke, were used for the analysis. Data, evaluated semiquantitatively by computer-assisted densitometry, was compared between the intact hemisphere and ischemic lesions. The results showed that the coexpression of Cx32 and Cx45 with neuronal markers was significantly increased in ischemic lesions. Cx43 expression was significantly increased in the colocalization with astrocytes and relatively increased in the colocalization with neuronal marker in ischemic lesions. Therefore, Cx32, Cx43, and Cx45 may respond differently to ischemic insult in terms of neuroprotection
Near-Infrared Counterparts to Chandra X-ray Sources toward the Galactic Center. I. Statistics and a Catalog of Candidates
We present a catalog of 5184 candidate infrared counterparts to X-ray sources
detected towards the Galactic center. The X-ray sample contains 9017 point
sources detected in this region by the Chandra X-ray Observatory, including
data from a recent deep survey of the central 2 x 0.8 deg of the Galactic
plane. A total of 6760 of these sources have hard X-ray colors, and the
majority of them lie near the Galactic center, while most of the remaining 2257
soft X-ray sources lie in the foreground. We cross-correlated the X-ray source
positions with the 2MASS and SIRIUS near-infrared catalogs, which collectively
contain stars with a 10-sigma limiting flux of K_s<=15.6 mag. In order to
distinguish absorbed infrared sources near the Galactic center from those in
the foreground, we defined red and blue sources as those which have H-K_s>=0.9
and <=0.9 mag, respectively. We find that 5.8(1.5)% of the hard X-ray sources
have real infrared counterparts, of which 228(99) are red and 166(27) are blue.
The red counterparts are probably comprised of WR/O stars, HMXBs, and
symbiotics near the Galactic center. We also find that 39.4(1.0)% of the soft
X-ray sources have blue infrared counterparts; most of these are probably
coronally active dwarfs in the foreground. There is a noteworthy collection of
~20 red counterparts to hard X-ray sources near the Sagittarius-B H II region,
which are probably massive binaries that have formed within the last several
Myr. For each of the infrared matches to X-ray sources in our catalog we
derived the probability that the association is real, based on the results of
the cross-correlation analysis. The catalog will serve spectroscopic surveys to
identify infrared counterparts to X-ray sources near the Galactic center.Comment: Submitted to ApJ January 16, 2009; accepted July 21, 2009; 30 pages,
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