2 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
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