7 research outputs found
Power asymmetry in CMB polarization maps from PLANCK : a local variance analysis
A persistent signal of power asymmetry on opposite hemispheres of CMB sky was
seen in full-sky temperature measurements made so far. This asymmetry was seen
in microwave sky from WMAP as well as PLANCK satellites, and calls for
attention the larger question of \emph{statistical isotropy}, one of the
foundational principles of modern cosmology. In this work we present an
analysis of polarized CMB maps from PLANCK 2015 full mission data. We apply the
local variance estimator on low resolution mode maps from PLANCK 2015
polarization \texttt{Commander} solution. We find a significant hemispherical
power asymmetry in polarization data on large angular scales, at the level of
depending on the galactic mask, and the circular disc radius
used for computing local variance maps. However the direction is found to be
pointing broadly towards CMB kinetic dipole direction. Precise measurements of
CMB polarization in future will shed light on this apparent discrepancy in the
anisotropy axis seen in temperature and polarized CMB sky, and likely influence
of systematics on our findings.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures, 3 table
Total surgical time and LAD ligation time.
<p>(A): Total surgical time for the AMI model in SHAM (black bar), SMI (blue bar) and CMI (red bar) groups (n = 6); (B): Time required for left anterior descending artery (LAD) ligation in SMI (blue bar) and CMI (red bar) groups (n = 6). <b>Survival rates in the two MI models.</b> (C): Mice were subjected to SHAM or myocardial infarction (MI) surgery with either suture method or clip method and 4 hour perisurgery survival rate was recorded. (D): Long-term (21 day) survival rate. <b>Cardiac functions in the two MI models measured by echocardiography.</b> (E): Representative echocardiograph showing wall motion in SHAM, SMI and CMI groups at 21 day. (F & G): Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS) were measured by echocardiography at baseline (4 h post-MI) and 21 days afterward in SHAM, SMI and CMI groups (n = 6 animals per group). * indicates <i>P</i><0.05 when compared to SHAM group; <sup>#</sup> indicates <i>P</i><0.05 when compared to SMI group; NS indicates <i>P</i>>0.05 when compared to each other.</p
Inflammatory response in the two MI models.
<p>(A-C): Representative fluorescent micrographs showing the presence of CD68<sup>+</sup> macrophages (green) in the hearts of SHAM (A), SMI (B), and CMI (C) groups. (D): Quantitation of CD68<sup>+</sup> macrophages in each group at Day 21 (n = 3). <b>Cell apoptosis in the two MI models.</b> (E-G): Representative fluorescent micrographs showing the presence of TUNEL<sup>+</sup> apoptotic cells (red) in the hearts of SHAM (E), SMI (F), and CMI (G) groups. (H): Quantitation of TUNEL<sup>+</sup> cells (red) in each group at Day 21 (n = 3). Scale bars = 100 um. * indicates <i>P</i><0.05 when compared to SHAM group; NS indicates <i>P</i>>0.05 when compared to each other.</p
Surgical clip for LAD ligation.
<p>(A) & (B): Pictures showing the surgical clip dispenser and its tip containing the metal clip; (C) & (D): Schematic and gross heart picture showing left anterior descending artery (LAD) ligation by a surgical clip.</p
Short-term and long-term infarct sizes in the two MI models.
<p>(A): Representative photographs of TTC-stained heart sections obtained from SHAM, SMI and CMI groups at 24 hours after surgery, yellow arrow indicated infarcted area. (B) Representative micrographs of H & E stained heart sections obtained from SHAM, SMI and CMI groups at 21 day after surgery. (C) Representative micrographs of Masson’s trichrome stained heart sections obtained from SHAM, SMI and CMI groups at 21 day after surgery. (D) Quantitative analysis of infarct sizes from the Masson’s trichrome images (n = 6 animals per group). * indicates <i>P</i> < 0.05 when compared to SHAM; NS indicates <i>P</i>>0.05 when compared to each other.</p
Various stages of clip method.
<p>(A): Placing the unconscious mouse on a warm pad and shaving in the area of the precordial chest; (B): A small skin cut was made in the middle position of precordial chest; (C): a purse suture was made; (D) Dissecting and retracting the pectoral major and minor muscle to expose the 4th intercostal space; (E): Placing the mosquito clamp at the 4th intercostal space with the help of forceps; (F): Forcing the mosquito to open the pleural membrane and pericardium at the 4th intercostal space; (G) & (H): With the clamp slightly open and finger strength, the heart was smoothly and gently “popped out” through the window; (I)–(K): Once the LAD was located, an automatic clip applier was used to dispense a clip to ligate the LAD with a ~60–90 degree angle along the heart long axis; (L): Placing the heart back in to the intra-thoracic space promptly after ligation, therewith manual evacuation of air and closure of muscle and the skin by the pre-placed purse-string suture.</p
Mesenchymal Stem Cell/Red Blood Cell-Inspired Nanoparticle Therapy in Mice with Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Liver Failure
Acute
liver failure is a critical condition characterized by global
hepatocyte death and often time needs a liver transplantation. Such
treatment is largely limited by donor organ shortage. Stem cell therapy
offers a promising option to patients with acute liver failure. Yet,
therapeutic efficacy and feasibility are hindered by delivery route
and storage instability of live cell products. We fabricated a nanoparticle
that carries the beneficial regenerative factors from mesenchymal
stem cells and further coated it with the membranes of red blood cells
to increase blood stability. Unlike uncoated nanoparticles, these
particles promote liver cell proliferation <i>in vitro</i> and have lower internalization by macrophage cells. After intravenous
delivery, these artificial stem cell analogs are able to remain in
the liver and mitigate carbon tetrachloride-induced liver failure
in a mouse model, as gauged by histology and liver function test.
Our technology provides an innovative and off-the-shelf strategy to
treat liver failure