The Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Ferulic Acid on NF-κBDepends on Keap1

The process of inflammation leads to the onset of a state of oxidative stress and a series of cascade reactions that are associated..

Search for gravitational-lensing signatures in the full third observing run of the LIGO-Virgo network

Gravitational lensing by massive objects along the line of sight to the source causes distortions of gravitational wave-signals; such distortions may reveal information about fundamental physics, cosmology and astrophysics. In this work, we have extended the search for lensing signatures to all binary black hole events from the third observing run of the LIGO--Virgo network. We search for repeated signals from strong lensing by 1) performing targeted searches for subthreshold signals, 2) calculating the degree of overlap amongst the intrinsic parameters and sky location of pairs of signals, 3) comparing the similarities of the spectrograms amongst pairs of signals, and 4) performing dual-signal Bayesian analysis that takes into account selection effects and astrophysical knowledge. We also search for distortions to the gravitational waveform caused by 1) frequency-independent phase shifts in strongly lensed images, and 2) frequency-dependent modulation of the amplitude and phase due to point masses. None of these searches yields significant evidence for lensing. Finally, we use the non-detection of gravitational-wave lensing to constrain the lensing rate based on the latest merger-rate estimates and the fraction of dark matter composed of compact objects

Search for eccentric black hole coalescences during the third observing run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass M>70 M⊙) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities 0<e≤0.3 at 0.33 Gpc−3 yr−1 at 90\% confidence level

Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run

Among the various candidates for dark matter (DM), ultralight vector DM can be probed by laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors through the measurement of oscillating length changes in the arm cavities. In this context, KAGRA has a unique feature due to differing compositions of its mirrors, enhancing the signal of vector DM in the length change in the auxiliary channels. Here we present the result of a search for U(1)B−L gauge boson DM using the KAGRA data from auxiliary length channels during the first joint observation run together with GEO600. By applying our search pipeline, which takes into account the stochastic nature of ultralight DM, upper bounds on the coupling strength between the U(1)B−L gauge boson and ordinary matter are obtained for a range of DM masses. While our constraints are less stringent than those derived from previous experiments, this study demonstrates the applicability of our method to the lower-mass vector DM search, which is made difficult in this measurement by the short observation time compared to the auto-correlation time scale of DM

Single and double pH-driven Cu2+ translocation with molecular rearrangement in alkyne-functionalized polyamino polyamido ligands

A new series of ligands, containing one (L1H(2)-L4H(2)) or two (L5H(4)-L6H(4)) 1,4,8,11-tetraaza-5,7-dione units and functionalized with a propargyl group on the C atom between the C=O moieties, has been synthesized. Protonation constants for the ligand and formation constants of their Cu2+ complexes have been determined in water, and the coordination geometry of the complexes existing at various pH values has been investigated by coupled pH-metric and spectrophotometric titrations. Ligands capable of simple uptake of Cu2+ with the formation of neutral, square-planar complexes containing the -2-charged diamino-diimido donor sets and ligands containing further coordinating groups (quinoline or pyridine) capable of single and double cation translocation have been investigated. The role of the substituents on the amino groups and the structural role played by the propargyl group have been examined as regards Cu2+ complexation and translocation. In the double-translocating ligand L6H(4), when the two Cu2+ ions move inside the diamino-diamido donor set, the slim propargyl group allows an unprecedented folding of the whole ligand with apical coordination of one pyridine to form a five-coordinate, square-pyramidal Cu2+ ion. The crystal and molecular structures of this unusual [L6Cu(2)] complex have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Finally, oxidation of Cu2+ to Cu3+ has been studied by cyclic voltammetry in water, which revealed that the redox reaction occurs only when the copper cation is within the diamino-diimido compartment. Moreover, both functionalization of the primary amines with bulky substituents and apical coordination of Cu2+ make access to the 3+ oxidation state more difficult and disrupt the reversibility of the electrochemical process

Cathodic Electrografting of Versatile Ligands on (100) as a Low-Impact Approach for Establishing a Si-C bond: A Surface-Coordination Study of Substituted 2,2'-Bipyridines with CuI Ions.

Three distinct wet chemistry recipes were applied to hydrogen-terminated n- and p-Si(100) surfaces in a comparative study of the covalent grafting of two differently substituted 2,2'-bipyridines. The applied reactions require the use of heat, or visible light under a controlled atmosphere, or a suitable potential in an electrochemical cell. In this last case, hydrogen-terminated silicon is the working electrode in a cathodic electrografting (CEG) reaction, in which it is kept under reduction conditions. The resulting Si-C bound hybrids were characterized by a combination of AFM, dynamic contactangle, and XPS analysis, with the help of theoretical calculations. The three distinct approaches were found to be suitable for obtaining ligand-functionalized Si surfaces. CEG resulted in the most satisfactory anchoring procedure, because of its better correlation between high coverage and preservation of the Si surface from both oxidation and contamination. The corresponding Si-bipyridine hybrid was reacted in a solution of CH3CN containing Cu-1 ions coordinatively bound to the anchored ligands, as evidenced from the XPS binding-energy shift of the N atom donor functions. The reaction gave a 1:2 Cu-bipyridine surface complex, in which two ligands couple to a single Cut ion. The surface complex was characterized by the Cu Auger parameter and Cu/N XPS atomic-ratio values coincident with those for pure, unsupported Cut complex with the same 2,2'bipyridine. Further support for such a specific metal-ligand interaction at the functionalized Si surface came from the distinct values of Cu2p binding energy and the Cu Auger parameter, which were obtained for the species resulting from Cu-1 ion uptake on hydrogen-terminated Si(100

Research Facilities for Europe’s Next Generation Gravitational-Wave Detector Einstein Telescope

peer reviewedThe Einstein Telescope is Europe’s next generation gravitational-wave detector. To develop all necessary technology, four research facilities have emerged across Europe: The Amaldi Research Center (ARC) in Rome (Italy), ETpathfinder in Maastricht (The Netherlands), SarGrav in the Sos Enattos mines on Sardinia (Italy) and E-TEST in Liége (Belgium) and its surroundings. The ARC pursues the investigation of a large cryostat, equipped with dedicated low-vibration cooling lines, to test full-scale cryogenic payloads. The installation will be gradual and interlaced with the payload development. ETpathfinder aims to provide a low-noise facility that allows the testing of full interferometer configurations and the interplay of their subsystems in an ET-like environment. ETpathfinder will focus amongst others on cryogenic technologies, silicon mirrors, lasers and optics at 1550 and 2090 nm and advanced quantum noise reduction schemes. The SarGrav laboratory has a surface lab and an underground operation. On the surface, the Archimedes experiment investigates the interaction of vacuum fluctuations with gravity and is developing (tilt) sensor technology for the Einstein Telescope. In an underground laboratory, seismic characterisation campaigns are undertaken for the Sardinian site characterisation. Lastly, the Einstein Telecope Euregio meuse-rhine Site & Technology (E-TEST) is a single cryogenic suspension of an ET-sized silicon mirror. Additionally, E-TEST investigates the Belgian–Dutch–German border region that is the other candidate site for Einstein Telescope using boreholes and seismic arrays and hydrogeological characterisation. In this article, we describe the Einstein Telescope, the low-frequency part of its science case and the four research facilities