Search for gravitational-lensing signatures in the full third observing run of the LIGO-Virgo network

Gravitational lensing by massive objects along the line of sight to the source causes distortions of gravitational wave-signals; such distortions may reveal information about fundamental physics, cosmology and astrophysics. In this work, we have extended the search for lensing signatures to all binary black hole events from the third observing run of the LIGO--Virgo network. We search for repeated signals from strong lensing by 1) performing targeted searches for subthreshold signals, 2) calculating the degree of overlap amongst the intrinsic parameters and sky location of pairs of signals, 3) comparing the similarities of the spectrograms amongst pairs of signals, and 4) performing dual-signal Bayesian analysis that takes into account selection effects and astrophysical knowledge. We also search for distortions to the gravitational waveform caused by 1) frequency-independent phase shifts in strongly lensed images, and 2) frequency-dependent modulation of the amplitude and phase due to point masses. None of these searches yields significant evidence for lensing. Finally, we use the non-detection of gravitational-wave lensing to constrain the lensing rate based on the latest merger-rate estimates and the fraction of dark matter composed of compact objects

Baicalein Induces G₂/M Cell Cycle Arrest Associated with ROS Generation and CHK2 Activation in Highly Invasive Human Ovarian Cancer Cells

Ovarian cancer is a lethal gynecological cancer because drug resistance often results in treatment failure. The CHK2, a tumor suppressor, is considered to be an important molecular target in ovarian cancer due to its role in DNA repair. Dysfunctional CHK2 impairs DNA damage-induced checkpoints, reduces apoptosis, and confers resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation therapy in ovarian cancer cells. This provides a basis for finding new effective agents targeting CHK2 upregulation or activation to treat or prevent the progression of advanced ovarian cancer. Here, the results show that baicalein (5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone) treatment inhibits the growth of highly invasive ovarian cancer cells, and that baicalein-induced growth inhibition is mediated by the cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Baicalein-induced G2/M phase arrest is associated with an increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, DNA damage, and CHK2 upregulation and activation. Thus, baicalein modulates the expression of DNA damage response proteins and G2/M phase regulatory molecules. Blockade of CHK2 activation by CHK2 inhibitors protects cells from baicalein-mediated G2/M cell cycle arrest. All the results suggest that baicalein has another novel growth inhibitory effect on highly invasive ovarian cancer cells, which is partly related to G2/M cell cycle arrest through the ROS-mediated DNA breakage damage and CHK2 activation. Collectively, our findings provide a molecular basis for the potential of baicalein as an adjuvant therapeutic agent in the treatment of metastatic ovarian cancer

The baseline characteristics of 4 participants and the medication history in this climb.

<p>The baseline characteristics of 4 participants and the medication history in this climb.</p

The screenshot of the ECG software interface at the hospital side.

<p>The upper right corner shows the elevation. The lower right corner shows his location on Google Earth. Top: At camp 4 (7854 m) the heart rate of the 34 year-old climber was 102 bpm. Bottom: At camp 3 (7164 m) the heart rate of the 34 year-old climber is 98 bpm.</p

Illustration of the real-time ECG satellite transmission system.

<p>Left to Right: One lead ECG is transmitted via Bluetooth to a PDA, which forwards the signal to a satellite phone again through Bluetooth. The satellite phone acts as a modem and sends the data through a satellite to the servers in Taiwan, which then dispatches the ECG data to the smart phone and the PC of the team doctor.</p

The lowest resting heart rate of participants at each camp in Mount Everest.

<p>Withdraw: The particular participant didn’t reach this camp.</p><p>NM: The heart rate is not measured.</p>#<p>Maximum age-related heart rate (MAHR) is calculated by maximal age minus related heart rate, and the unit is beat per minute (bpm).</p>¶<p>The environment characteristics for each camp, including the altitude (meter; m), fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂), and the amount of mandatory oxygen supply, are shown.</p><p>The lowest resting heart rates of participants at each camp were presented as the value (%; the percentage compared to MAHR).</p

The differences between the measured heart rate (HR) published in the respective references and predicted heart rate (HR) calculated by method used in this study.

<p>HR = heart rate; m = meter;</p>a<p>The data were cited from the Reference #19. Predict HR at camp 2 = measured HR at base camp × 6300 m/5400 m; % of difference = percentage of the difference between measured HR and predict HR.</p>b<p>The data were cited from the Reference #22. Predict HR at camp 4 = measured HR at camp 2 × 8000 m/6550 m.</p>#<p>The heart rates under various conditions were measured, including without O₂ supplement (regular air), 1L O₂ supplement, or 2L O₂ supplement.</p