Axion effects on gamma-ray spectral irregularities with AGN redshift uncertainty

We investigate the photon-ALP (axion-like particle) oscillation effect on TeV gamma-ray spectral irregularities from the uncertain redshift active galactic nuclei (AGN) VER J0521+211. The gamma-ray spectra are measured by the collaborations Fermi-LAT and VERITAS with the three flux states in 2013 and 2014. We set the combined constraints on the ALP parameter ($m_a, g_{a\gamma}$) space with these states and test the extragalactic background light (EBL) absorption effect on ALP constraints with the four redshift upper limit scenarios of VER J0521+211. The 3$\sigma$ photon-ALP combined constraints set by VER J0521+211 are roughly at $g_{a\gamma} \gtrsim 2.3\times 10^{-11} \rm \, GeV^{-1}$ for $m_a \lesssim 5\times 10^{-8}\, \rm eV$. We find no clear connection between the redshift upper limit scenarios and the photon-ALP constraints.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Isolation of nematicidal constituents from essential oil of Kaempferia galanga L rhizome and their activity against Heterodera avenae Wollenweber

Purpose: To explore the nematicidal activities of the essential oil of Kaempferia galanga rhizomes and its isolated constituents against Heterodera avenae.Methods: Essential oil of K. galanga rhizomes was obtained by hydrodistillation and characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analysis using HP-5MS column. Evaluation of nematicidal toxicity was performed against juveniles (J2) of H. avenae. The bioactive constituent compounds were isolated and identified from the oil based on bioactivity-directed fractionation.Results: Forty-one components were identified and the main components of the essential oil of K. galanga are as follows: ethyl-ρ-methoxy cinnamate (34.79 %), ethyl cinnamate (20.72%), 1,8-cineole (8.96 %), trans-cinnamaldehyde (7.03%) and borneol (5.64 %). The essential oil exhibited nematicidal activity against the cereal cyst nematode with an LC50 value of 91.78 μg/mL. Ethyl cinnamate, ethyl ρ-methoxy cinnamate and trans-cinnamaldehyde (median lethal concentration LC50 = 100.60 μg/ml, 83.04 μg/mL and 94.75 μg/mL, respectively) exhibited stronger nematicidal toxicity than borneol (LC50 = 734.89 μg/mL) and 1,8-cineole (LC50 = 921.21 μg/mL) against the cereal cyst nematode.Conclusion: The results indicate that the essential oil of K. galanga and its isolated constituents have a potential for development into natural nematicides for the control of cereal cyst nematodes.Keywords: Kaempferia galanga, Heterodera avenae, Nematicidal activity, Cereal cyst nematodes, Ethyl cinnamate, Ethyl ρ-methoxy cinnamate, Trans-cinnamaldehyd