Search for gravitational waves from binary inspirals in S3 and S4 LIGO data

We report on a search for gravitational waves from the coalescence of compact binaries during the third and fourth LIGO science runs. The search focused on gravitational waves generated during the inspiral phase of the binary evolution. In our analysis, we considered three categories of compact binary systems, ordered by mass: (i) primordial black hole binaries with masses in the range 0.35 M(sun) < m1, m2 < 1.0 M(sun), (ii) binary neutron stars with masses in the range 1.0 M(sun) < m1, m2 < 3.0 M(sun), and (iii) binary black holes with masses in the range 3.0 M(sun)< m1, m2 < m_(max) with the additional constraint m1+ m2 < m_(max), where m_(max) was set to 40.0 M(sun) and 80.0 M(sun) in the third and fourth science runs, respectively. Although the detectors could probe to distances as far as tens of Mpc, no gravitational-wave signals were identified in the 1364 hours of data we analyzed. Assuming a binary population with a Gaussian distribution around 0.75-0.75 M(sun), 1.4-1.4 M(sun), and 5.0-5.0 M(sun), we derived 90%-confidence upper limit rates of 4.9 yr^(-1) L10^(-1) for primordial black hole binaries, 1.2 yr^(-1) L10^(-1) for binary neutron stars, and 0.5 yr^(-1) L10^(-1) for stellar mass binary black holes, where L10 is 10^(10) times the blue light luminosity of the Sun.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figure

Docetaxel-loaded M1 macrophage-derived exosomes for a safe and efficient chemoimmunotherapy of breast cancer

The conversion of tumor-promoting M2 macrophage phenotype to tumor-suppressing M1 macrophages is a promising therapeutic approach for cancer treatment. However, the tumor normally provides an abundance of M2 macrophage stimuli, which creates an M2 macrophage-dominant immunosuppressive microenvironment. In our study, docetaxel (DTX) as chemotherapeutic modularity was loaded into M1 macrophage-derived exosomes (M1-Exo) with M1 proinflammatory nature to establish DTX-M1-Exo drug delivery system. We found that DTX-M1-Exo induced naïve M0 macrophages to polarize to M1 phenotype, while failed to repolarize to M2 macrophages upon Interleukin 4 restimulation due to impaired mitochondrial function. This suggests that DTX-M1-Exo can achieve long-term robust M1 activation in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The in vivo results further confirmed that DTX-M1-Exo has a beneficial effect on macrophage infiltration and activation in the tumor tissues. Thus, DTX-M1-Exo is a novel macrophage polarization strategy via combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy to achieve great antitumor therapeutic efficacy

Interleukin-33 contributes to both M1 and M2 chemokine marker expression in human macrophages

Abstract Background Interleukin-33 is a member of the IL-1 cytokine family whose functions are mediated and modulated by the ST2 receptor. IL-33-ST2 expression and interactions have been explored in mouse macrophages but little is known about the effect of IL-33 on human macrophages. The expression of ST2 transcript and protein levels, and IL-33-mediated effects on M1 (i.e. classical activation) and M2 (i.e. alternative activation) chemokine marker expression in human bone marrow-derived macrophages were examined. Results Human macrophages constitutively expressed the membrane-associated (i.e. ST2L) and the soluble (i.e. sST2) ST2 receptors. M2 (IL-4 + IL-13) skewing stimuli markedly increased the expression of ST2L, but neither polarizing cytokine treatment promoted the release of sST2 from these cells. When added to na&#239;ve macrophages alone, IL-33 directly enhanced the expression of CCL3. In combination with LPS, IL-33 blocked the expression of the M2 chemokine marker CCL18, but did not alter CCL3 expression in these naive cells. The addition of IL-33 to M1 macrophages markedly increased the expression of CCL18 above that detected in untreated M1 macrophages. Similarly, alternatively activated human macrophages treated with IL-33 exhibited enhanced expression of CCL18 and the M2 marker mannose receptor above that detected in M2 macrophages alone. Conclusions Together, these data suggest that primary responses to IL-33 in bone marrow derived human macrophages favors M1 chemokine generation while its addition to polarized human macrophages promotes or amplifies M2 chemokine expression.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78250/1/1471-2172-11-52.xmlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78250/2/1471-2172-11-52.pdfPeer Reviewe

Transfer of Local Confluence and Termination between Petri Net and Graph Transformation Systems Based on M-Functors: Extended Version

Recently, a formal relationship between Petri net and graph transformation systems has been established using the new framework of M-functors F : (C1;M1) -> (C2;M2) between M-adhesive categories. This new approach allows to translate transformations in (C1;M1) into corresponding transformations in (C2;M2) and, vice versa, to create transformations in (C1;M1) from those in (C2;M2). This is helpful because our tool for reconfigurable Petri nets, the RON-tool, performs the analysis of Petri net transformations by analyzing corresponding graph transformations using the AGG-tool. Up to now, this correspondence has been implemented as a converter on an informal level. The formal correspondence results given by our framework make the RON-tool more reliable. In this paper we extend this framework to the transfer of local confluence, termination and functional behavior. In particular, we are able to create these properties for transformations in (C1;M1) from corresponding properties of transformations in (C2;M2), where (C1;M1) are Petri nets with individual tokens and (C2;M2) typed attributed graphs. This allows us to apply the wellknown critical pair analysis for typed attributed graph transformations supported by the AGG-tool in order to analyze these properties for Petri net transformations

Transfer of Local Confluence and Termination between Petri Net and Graph Transformation Systems Based on M-Functors

Recently, a formal relationship between Petri net and graph transformation systems has been established using the new framework of M-functors F : (C1;M1) -&gt; (C2;M2) between M-adhesive categories. This new approach allows to translate transformations in (C1;M1) into corresponding transformations in (C2;M2) and, vice versa, to create transformations in (C1;M1) from those in (C2;M2). This is helpful because our tool for reconfigurable Petri nets, the RONtool, performs the analysis of Petri net transformations by analyzing corresponding graph transformations using the AGG-tool. Up to now, this  correspondence has been implemented as a converter on an informal level. The formal correspondence results given by our framework make the RON-tool more reliable.In this paper, we extend this framework to the transfer of local confluence, termination and functional behavior. In particular, we are able to create these properties for transformations in (C1;M1) from corresponding properties of transformations in (C2;M2), where (C1;M1) are Petri nets with individual tokens and (C2;M2) typed attributed graphs. This allows us to apply the well-known critical pair analysis for typed attributed graph transformations supported by the AGG-tool in order to analyze these properties for Petri net transformations

Site-Directed Spin Label EPR Studies of the Interaction Between the Influenza A Proteins (M1 and M2) Involved in Viral Assembly

Influenza A presents a significant concern for public health as it is the cause of seasonal outbreaks and global pandemics. The influenza A proteins, matrix protein 1 (M1) and matrix protein 2 (M2), have been shown to be essential for the propagation of new viruses, especially through their roles in viral assembly and budding. The M2 cytoplasmic tail interacts with the M1 protein, recruiting it to the viral budding site and enabling proper packaging of the viral genome. The Howard lab has previously characterized residues 50-70 in the M2 cytoplasmic tail and the M2 protein’s conformational equilibria by sitedirected spin label electron paramagnetic resonance (SDSL-EPR). This work lays groundwork for the establishment of a system in which to see changes in the M2 protein upon M1 binding. Methods for the overexpression and purification of the M1 protein are presented. Selected M2 sites (43, 57, 68) were studied by SDSL-EPR in the presence of Nterminal M1 (residues 1-165), with M2 sites 43 and 57 acting as indicators of the M2 protein’s conformational dynamics. Binding between M1 and M2 could not be rigorously established, but preliminary results suggest little change in the M2 protein in the presence of the M1 protein

The Technical Evaluation of Three Different Types of Tillage Combined Machines and compared them with Individual Tillage Machines

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a locally manufactured combined tillage machine on the draft force, fuel consumption, field efficiency, power loss, and soil pulverization index. The combined tillage machine accomplished the primary, secondary, and deep tillage in a single pass. The combined tillage machine types were compared to individual tillage machines. The combined tillage machine accomplished the primary, secondary, and deep tillage in a single pass. A randomized complete block (RCBD) experiment was the statistical method used for the investigation with three replicates. The field experiments were conducted in silty loam soil. The combined tillage machines were used in three types. The first configuration (T1) consists of a subsoiler+ chisel plow + disk harrow + roller, the second configuration (T2) consists of a subsoiler + chisel plow, and the third configuration (T3) consists of chisel plow + disc harrow at two operating speeds (1.5 and 3 km.h-1). Individual tillage machines were used in three conventional tillage systems M1, M2, and M3. M1. Conventional tillage systems M1, M2, and M3 perform similar tasks to combined tillage machine types T1, T2, and T3 respectively. The results showed that T3 reduced draft force by 40 and 34.35%, saved fuel by 19.88 and 25.89%, and reduced power loss by 54.25 and 37.22%, while increasing field efficiency by 13.64 and 5.63 and the soil pulverization index by 26.67 and 66.24% compared with T1 and T2 respectively. The combined tillage machinesT1, T2, and T3 reduced the draft force and power loss while increasing the field efficiency by 19.05, 22.41, and 53.49%, respectively, compared with conventional tillage systems M1, M2, and M3. The combined tillage machinesT1, T2, and T3 achieved the lowest values of the soil pulverization index, with values of 19.91, 41.93, and 33.10 mm, and saved fuel by 58.68, 41.61, and 26.86% respectively, compared with conventional tillage systems M1, M2, and M3. The results also revealed that operating speed and its interaction with the combined tillage machine types had a significant effect on all of the studied characteristics (p<0.05).

Techno-economic and greenhouse gas savings assessment of decentralized biomass gasification for electrifying the rural areas of Indonesia

This study explored the feasibility of decentralized gasification of oil palm biomass in Indonesia to relieve its over-dependence on fossil fuel-based power generation and facilitate the electrification of its rural areas. The techno-feasibility of the gasification of oil palm biomass was first evaluated by reviewing existing literature. Subsequently, two scenarios (V1 and V2, and M1 and M2) were proposed regarding the use cases of the village and mill, respectively. The capacity of the gasification systems in the V1 and M1 scenarios are determined by the total amount of oil palm biomass available in the village and mill, respectively. The capacity of the gasification systems in the V2 and M2 scenarios is determined by the respective electricity demand of the village and mill. The global warming impact and economic feasibility (net present value (NPV) and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE)) of the proposed systems were compared with that of the current practices (diesel generator for the village use case and biomass boiler combustion for the mill use case) using life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost-benefit analysis (CBA). Under the current daily demand per household (0.4 kWh), deploying the V2 system in 104 villages with 500 households each could save up to 17.9 thousand tons of CO2-eq per year compared to the current diesel-based practice. If the electricity could be fed into the national grid, the M1 system with 100% capacity factor could provide yearly GHG emissions mitigation of 5.8 × 104 ton CO2-eq, relative to the current boiler combustion-based reference scenario. M1 had a positive mean NPV if the electricity could be fed into the national grid, while M2 had a positive mean NPV at the biochar price of 500 USD/ton. Under the current electricity tariff (ET) (0.11 kWh) and the biochar price of 2650 USD/ton, daily household demands of 2 and 1.8 kWh were required to reach the break-even point of the mean NPV for the V2 system for the cases of 300 and 500 households, respectively. The average LCOE of V2 is approximately one-fourth that of the reference scenario, while the average LCOE of V1 is larger than that of the reference scenario. The average LCOE of M1 decreased to around 0.06 USD/kWh for the case of a 100% capacity factor. Sensitivity analysis showed that the capital cost of gasification system and its overall electrical efficiency had the most significant effects on the NPV. Finally, practical system deployment was discussed, with consideration of policy formulation and fiscal incentives