Gravitational waves and mass ejecta from binary neutron star mergers: Effect of large eccentricities

As current gravitational wave (GW) detectors increase in sensitivity, and particularly as new instruments are being planned, there is the possibility that ground-based GW detectors will observe GWs from highly eccentric neutron star binaries. We present the first detailed study of highly eccentric BNS systems with full (3+1)D numerical relativity simulations using consistent initial conditions, i.e., setups which are in agreement with the Einstein equations and with the equations of general relativistic hydrodynamics in equilibrium. Overall, our simulations cover two different equations of state (EOSs), two different spin configurations, and three to four different initial eccentricities for each pairing of EOS and spin. We extract from the simulated waveforms the frequency of the f-mode oscillations induced during close encounters before the merger of the two stars. The extracted frequency is in good agreement with f-mode oscillations of individual stars for the irrotational cases, which allows an independent measure of the supranuclear equation of state not accessible for binaries on quasicircular orbits. The energy stored in these f-mode oscillations can be as large as 10−3  M⊙∼1051  erg, even with a soft EOS. In order to estimate the stored energy, we also examine the effects of mode mixing due to the stars’ offset from the origin on the f-mode contribution to the GW signal. While in general (eccentric) neutron star mergers produce bright electromagnetic counterparts, we find that for the considered cases with fixed initial separation the luminosity decreases when the eccentricity becomes too large, due to a decrease of the ejecta mass. Finally, the use of consistent initial configurations also allows us to produce high-quality waveforms for different eccentricities which can be used as a test bed for waveform model development of highly eccentric binary neutron star systems.S. V. C. was supported by the DFG Research Training Group 1523/2 “Quantum and Gravitational Fields.” T. D. acknowledges support by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No. 749145, BNSmergers. N. K. J.-M. acknowledges support from STFC Consolidator Grant No. ST/L000636/1. B. B. was supported by DFG Grant No. BR 2176/5-1. W. T. was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. PHY-1707227. Also, this work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 690904. This research was supported in part by Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. Research at Perimeter Institute is supported by the Government of Canada through Industry Canada and by the Province of Ontario through the Ministry of Economic Development & Innovation. Computations were performed on the supercomputer SuperMUC at the LRZ (Munich) under the project number pr48pu and on the ARA cluster of the University of Jena

Capture, Reconstruction, and Representation of the Visual Real World for Virtual Reality

We provide an overview of the concerns, current practice, and limitations for capturing, reconstructing, and representing the real world visually within virtual reality. Given that our goals are to capture, transmit, and depict complex real-world phenomena to humans, these challenges cover the opto-electro-mechanical, computational, informational, and perceptual fields. Practically producing a system for real-world VR capture requires navigating a complex design space and pushing the state of the art in each of these areas. As such, we outline several promising directions for future work to improve the quality and flexibility of real-world VR capture systems

MMP-9, uPAR and Cathepsin B Silencing Downregulate Integrins in Human Glioma Xenograft Cells In Vitro and In Vivo in Nude Mice

Involvement of MMP-9, uPAR and cathepsin B in adhesion, migration, invasion, proliferation, metastasis and tumor growth has been well established. In the present study, MMP-9, uPAR and cathepsin B genes were downregulated in glioma xenograft cells using shRNA plasmid constructs and we evaluated the involvement of integrins and changes in their adhesion, migration and invasive potential.MMP-9, uPAR and cathepsin B single shRNA plasmid constructs were used to downregulate these molecules in xenograft cells. We also used MMP-9/uPAR and MMP-9/cathepsin B bicistronic constructs to evaluate the cumulative effects. MMP-9, uPAR and cathepsin B downregulation significantly inhibits xenograft cell adhesion to several extracellular matrix proteins. Treatment with MMP-9, uPAR and cathepsin B shRNA of xenografts led to the downregulation of several alpha and beta integrins. In all the assays, we noticed more prominent effects with the bicistronic plasmid constructs when compared to the single plasmid shRNA constructs. FACS analysis demonstrated the expression of alphaVbeta3, alpha6beta1 and alpha9beta1 integrins in xenograft cells. Treatment with bicistronic constructs reduced alphaVbeta3, alpha6beta1 and alpha9beta1 integrin expressions in xenograft injected nude mice. Migration and invasion were also inhibited by MMP-9, uPAR and cathepsin B shRNA treatments as assessed by spheroid migration, wound healing, and Matrigel invasion assays. As expected, bicistronic constructs further inhibited the adhesion, migration and invasive potential of the xenograft cells as compared to individual treatments.Downregulation of MMP-9, uPAR and cathespin B alone and in combination inhibits adhesion, migration and invasive potential of glioma xenografts by downregulating integrins and associated signaling molecules. Considering the existence of integrin inhibitor-resistant cancer cells, our study provides a novel and effective approach to inhibiting integrins by downregulating MMP-9, uPAR and cathepsin B in the treatment of glioma

Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020

Background The health risks associated with moderate alcohol consumption continue to be debated. Small amounts of alcohol might lower the risk of some health outcomes but increase the risk of others, suggesting that the overall risk depends, in part, on background disease rates, which vary by region, age, sex, and year. Methods For this analysis, we constructed burden-weighted dose–response relative risk curves across 22 health outcomes to estimate the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) and non-drinker equivalence (NDE), the consumption level at which the health risk is equivalent to that of a non-drinker, using disease rates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020 for 21 regions, including 204 countries and territories, by 5-year age group, sex, and year for individuals aged 15–95 years and older from 1990 to 2020. Based on the NDE, we quantified the population consuming harmful amounts of alcohol. Findings The burden-weighted relative risk curves for alcohol use varied by region and age. Among individuals aged 15–39 years in 2020, the TMREL varied between 0 (95% uncertainty interval 0–0) and 0·603 (0·400–1·00) standard drinks per day, and the NDE varied between 0·002 (0–0) and 1·75 (0·698–4·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals aged 40 years and older, the burden-weighted relative risk curve was J-shaped for all regions, with a 2020 TMREL that ranged from 0·114 (0–0·403) to 1·87 (0·500–3·30) standard drinks per day and an NDE that ranged between 0·193 (0–0·900) and 6·94 (3·40–8·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals consuming harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, 59·1% (54·3–65·4) were aged 15–39 years and 76·9% (73·0–81·3) were male. Interpretation There is strong evidence to support recommendations on alcohol consumption varying by age and location. Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Investigation of Galactosylated Low Molecular Weight Chitosan-Coated Liposomes for Cancer Specific Drug Delivery

Purpose: To assess the hepatocyte targeting potential of galactosylated low molecular weight chitosan (Gal-LMWCs)-coated liposomes bearing doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX).Methods: Chitosan (CS) was depolymerized and lactobionic acid (LA) containing a galactose group was coupled with low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC) using carbodiimide chemistry. Two types of galactosylated polymers with variable degree of substitution were synthesized. Liposomes were prepared using film casting method, coated with the synthesized polymers and characterized for vesicle shape and size, polydispersity, zeta potential, drug entrapment, coating efficiency, in vitro drug release and cytotoxicity on human hepatoma cell line (HepG2).Results: Coating efficiency was greater for the polymer with a lower degree of substitution. The liposomes formed were spherical in shape with a size range of 110 - 160 nm, drug entrapment of 92.14 - 96.37 % and zeta potential of 20.6 - 29.4 mV. Gal-LMWC(s)-coated liposomes exhibited a maximum of 65 % in vitro drug release in 24 h in a sustained fashion. The 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for liposomal formulations and drug solution were 2.81 and 5.98 μg/ml, respectively.Conclusion: Gal-LMWC (s) coated liposomes containing DOX that demonstrate targetability to human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (in vitro) have been successfully developed.Keywords: Targeted delivery, Doxorubicin, Galactosylated, Chitosan, Hepatocellular, Carcinoma, Nanoparticle