PDGF-C Mediates the Angiogenic and Tumorigenic Properties of Fibroblasts Associated with Tumors Refractory to Anti-VEGF Treatment

SummaryTumor- or cancer-associated fibroblasts (TAFs or CAFs) from different tumors exhibit distinct angiogenic and tumorigenic properties. Unlike normal skin fibroblasts or TAFs from TIB6 tumors that are sensitive to anti-VEGF treatment (TAF-TIB6), TAFs from resistant EL4 tumors (TAF-EL4) can stimulate TIB6 tumor growth even when VEGF is inhibited. We show that platelet-derived growth factor C (PDGF-C) is upregulated in TAFs from resistant tumors. PDGF-C-neutralizing antibodies blocked the angiogenesis induced by such TAFs in vivo, slowed the growth of EL4 and admixture (TAF-EL4 + TIB6) tumors, and exhibited additive effects with anti-VEGF-A antibodies. Hence, our data reveal an additional mechanism for TAF-mediated tumorigenesis and suggest that some tumors may overcome inhibition of VEGF-mediated angiogenesis through upregulation of PDGF-C

Four-channel coarse WDM for inter-and intra-satellite optical communications

Abstract A polymer volume grating-based four-channel coarse wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) for inter-and intra-satellite optical communication application is reported for the first time. This compact four-channel WDM device working at 0.83, 1.06, 1.34 and 1.55 mm is designed to build a complete optical link between two satellites, where wavelengths of 0.83 and 1.55 mm are used for data stream channels, 1.06 and 1.34 mm are used for inter-and intra-satellite connection. It is for the first time reported that a WDM device can cover such a large wavelength range in a single substrate. For transverse electric (TE) wave, the channel efficiencies at 0.83, 1.06, 1.34 and 1.55 mm are 55%, 40%, 35% and 45%, respectively. Channel efficiencies for transverse magnetic (TM) waves are 20% lower than those of TE waves on average. Wavelength shifts due to Doppler effect, temperature variations and radiation effects in space can be adequately accommodated. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Keywords: Wavelength division multiplexing; Satellite communication; Holographic gratings The concept of space-based, free space optical communications among satellites was developed in the early 1960s [1]. However, there was no system demonstration coming into reality until 2001 by ASTRIUM Coarse wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology, which is developed for storage access networks (SANs), finds its great potential for applications in the space-based optical communication system. The data bit-rate independence of the WDM technology ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.com/locate/optlastec 0030-3992/$ -see front matter Published by Elsevier Ltd

Cosmology with Galaxy Cluster Properties using Machine Learning

[Abridged] Galaxy clusters are the most massive gravitationally-bound systems in the universe and are widely considered to be an effective cosmological probe. We propose the first Machine Learning method using galaxy cluster properties to derive unbiased constraints on a set of cosmological parameters, including Omega_m, sigma_8, Omega_b, and h_0. We train the machine learning model with mock catalogs including "measured" quantities from Magneticum multi-cosmology hydrodynamical simulations, like gas mass, gas bolometric luminosity, gas temperature, stellar mass, cluster radius, total mass, velocity dispersion, and redshift, and correctly predict all parameters with uncertainties of the order of ~14% for Omega_m, ~8% for sigma_8, ~6% for Omega_b, and ~3% for h_0. This first test is exceptionally promising, as it shows that machine learning can efficiently map the correlations in the multi-dimensional space of the observed quantities to the cosmological parameter space and narrow down the probability that a given sample belongs to a given cosmological parameter combination. In the future, these ML tools can be applied to cluster samples with multi-wavelength observations from surveys like CSST in the optical band, Euclid and Roman in the near-infrared band, and eROSITA in the X-ray band to constrain both the cosmology and the effect of the baryonic feedback.Comment: 18 pages, submitted to A&A Main Journal. Comments are welcom

Disentangling the effects of vapor pressure deficit on northern terrestrial vegetation productivity

The impact of atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD) on plant photosynthesis has long been acknowledged, but large interactions with air temperature (T) and soil moisture (SM) still hinder a complete understanding of the influence of VPD on vegetation production across various climate zones. Here, we found a diverging response of productivity to VPD in the Northern Hemisphere by excluding interactive effects of VPD with T and SM. The interactions between VPD and T/SM not only offset the potential positive impact of warming on vegetation productivity but also amplifies the negative effect of soil drying. Notably, for high-latitude ecosystems, there occurs a pronounced shift in vegetation productivity\u27s response to VPD during the growing season when VPD surpasses a threshold of 3.5 to 4.0 hectopascals. These results yield previously unknown insights into the role of VPD in terrestrial ecosystems and enhance our comprehension of the terrestrial carbon cycle\u27s response to global warming

Investigation of Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries

Lithium ion batteries, Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) have for several years dominated the market for cell phones, laptops, and several other portable electronic devices. In order to match the necessity of increasing need for higher energy density storage devices, for example, hybrid/electric vehicles. Higher energy density lithium ion batteries have to be investigated. Anode as one of the most important components of in LIBs has been intensively studied in recent years. Silicon, tin and metal oxide etc. based materials are very promising high energy density candidates for anode active materials. Yet, silicon/tin suffer from volume expansion during lithium ions insertion and lead to fast capacity fading upon cycling. This hinders the them from commercialization. We synthesized and fabricated silicon/tin based nanostructure, and studied their electrochemical performance as anode materials in LIBs. Engineering empty space on the nanometer scale can be one solution for silicon based anode materials. We demonstrate the synthesis of yolk (SiNPs)–shell (NiO) particles using spray-pyrolysis, a technique with proven scalability to industrial production level. After coating and annealing in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone, the nickel oxide shell is converted into a porous nickel cage enclosing the silicon particles. The polymer decomposition leads to the formation of an amorphous carbon layer surrounding the nickel cage, the SiNPs-aC-Ni york-shell structure were achieved. This structure maintains a high specific discharge capacity after more than 100 cycles (~ 1400 mAh/g at the 110th cycle with a 0.5 C discharge rate, on a silicon basis) when used as anode for lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, instead of compositing with carbon, SnNPs was used as conductive materials in silicon based anode materials. The uniformly dispersed tin nanoparticles provide an electronic conductivity in the active materials, which facilitates conduction of electrons in the system. Beside conductive, tin also has a high theoretical energy capacity. Thus, this SiNPs-SnNPs electrode exhibits a stable storage capacity exceeding 1100mAh/g with ~80% first cycle coulombic efficiency. This performance is superior to that of the control samples produced using silicon nanoparticles alone and tin nanoparticles alone.Furthermore, uniform dispersion of small silicon nanoparticles in electric conductive matrix, which can accommodate silicon volume expansion were fabricated. For the first time, silicon quantum dots synthesized using non-thermal plasma CVD have been utilized as anode materials. SiQDs were successfully synthesized using non-thermal PECVD and surface functionalized. These quantum dots, after specific structure engineering, formed uniform SiQDs-aC agglomerations mixed with carbon nanotubes. This structure has good electrical conductivity and has a carbon-based coating preventing the direct contact between the silicon particles and the electrolyte. This structure maintains a specific charge capacity of approximately 1000 mAh/g-1 for 200 cycles and reaches a coulombic efficiency of 99.8%. The proposed process is based on commercially available carbon nanotubes, on silicon quantum dots which are produced using a scalable plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique, and is compatible with large area coating and processing techniques. The fabrication protocol described in thesis represents a step towards the successful commercial utilization of silicon-based nanomaterials for energy storage applications

Sea surface temperature and surface seawater oxygen isotope composition reconstructions for sediment core I106

We present sea surface temperature and oxygen isotopes in a sediment core I106 (6°14′49.76″N, 90°00′1.04″E; 2,910 m water depth) from the tropical East Indian Ocean, which provide new insights into the variability of tropical precipitation belt in Asian Monsoon region during the last deglaciation. The age model for the core is constrained by 17 AMS radiocarbon ages based on mixed planktonic foraminiferal samples. Mg/Ca derived sea surface temperature reconstructions based on Globigerinoides ruber (s. s., white) increased rapidly at about 19.5 ka, which is consisted with Mg/Ca-SST records in other cores in the tropical East Indian Ocean. Ice-volume corrected d18O seawater (d18Osw) exhibited a remarkable decline during the early Heinrich Stadial 1 (about 18.3-16.3 ka), and an increase during the late Heinrich Stadial 1 (16.3-14.7) ka. We attribute the decline of d18Osw in north of Equator from Asian Monsoon region to a contracted tropical precipitation belt during the early Heinrich Stadial 1