SEARCHING FOR DEBRIS DISKS AROUND SEVEN RADIO PULSARS

We report on our searches for debris disks around seven relatively nearby radio pulsars, which are isolated sources that were carefully selected as targets on the basis of our deep Ks-band imaging survey. The Ks images obtained with the 6.5m Baade Magellan Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory are analyzed together with the Spitzer/IRAC images at 4.5 and 8.0μm and the WISE images at 3.4, 4.6, 12, and 22μm. No infrared counterparts of these pulsars are found, with flux upper limits of ∼μJy at near-infrared (λ < 10μm) and ∼10–1000μJy at mid-infrared wavelengths (λ > 10 μm). The results of this search are discussed in terms of the efficiency of converting the pulsar spin-down energy to thermal energy and X-ray heating of debris disks, with a comparison made of the two magnetars 4U 0142+61 and 1E 2259+586, which are suggested to harbor a debris disk.published_or_final_versio

Anticancer Activity of Linalool Terpenoid: Apoptosis Induction and Cell Cycle Arrest in Prostate Cancer Cells

Purpose: To evaluate the anticancer activity of linalool against human prostate cancer (DU145) cells.Methods: The anticancer activity of linalool against DU145 cancer cells was evaluated by 3-(4, 5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Flow cytometry, using propidium iodide and Annexin V-FITC, was applied to study apoptosis and cell cycle phase distribution. Inverted light microscopy was used to study the effect of linalool on cell morphology and apoptotic body formation in DU145 cells while gel electrophoresis was employed to evaluate the effect of linalool on DNA fragmentation.Results: Linalool induced a dose-dependent as well as time-dependent growth inhibitory effect on DU145 prostate cancer cells. It induced sub-G1 phase growth arrest which led to increase in sub-G0/G1 cell population after treatment with increasing doses of linalool. DNA ladder appeared to be more evident with increasing linalool concentration. However, no DNA fragments were observed in the control groups. It was observed that 4.36, 11.54, 21.88 and 15.54 % of the cells underwent early apoptosis after treatment with 0 (no linalool treatment), 20, 40, and 80 μM of linalool, respectively. Compared to control cells, linalool treatment resulted in the appearance of cell shrinkage along with membrane blebbing which are characteristic features of cell apoptosis.Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that linalool can be developed as a plant-based chemotherapeutic agent against prostate cancerKeywords: Prostate cancer, Linalool, Chemotherapy, Cell cycle, Apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, Sub- G1 phase growt

Slow cooling and efficient extraction of C-exciton hot carriers in MoS2 monolayer

In emerging optoelectronic applications, such as water photolysis, exciton fission and novel photovoltaics involving low-dimensional nanomaterials, hot-carrier relaxation and extraction mechanisms play an indispensable and intriguing role in their photo-electron conversion processes. Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted much attention in above fields recently; however, insight into the relaxation mechanism of hot electron-hole pairs in the band nesting region denoted as C-excitons, remains elusive. Using MoS2 monolayers as a model two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide system, here we report a slower hot-carrier cooling for C-excitons, in comparison with band-edge excitons. We deduce that this effect arises from the favourable band alignment and transient excited-state Coulomb environment, rather than solely on quantum confinement in two-dimension systems. We identify the screening-sensitive bandgap renormalization for MoS2 monolayer/graphene heterostructures, and confirm the initial hot-carrier extraction for the C-exciton state with an unprecedented efficiency of 80%, accompanied by a twofold reduction in the exciton binding energy

Recent progress in the differentiation of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) to cardiomyocyte- like cells and their clinical application

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) are one of the cells found in bone marrow stromal. A large number of studies have shown that BMMSCs cannot only differentiate into hematopoietic stromal cells, but can migrate and position themselves in multiple non-hematopoietic organizations and differentiate into the corresponding tissue cells; this characteristic demonstrates their multilineage differentiation potential. In different conditions, BMMSCs can differentiate into bone, cartilage, fat, cardiomyocyte, endothelial cells and nerve cell, etc. Because BMMSCs are easy to acquire, they can proliferate in vitro, have multi-differentiation potential after implantation in vivo, and therefore have wide application prospects for the treatment of cardiovascular disease as the ideal seed cells. This review focuses on the biological characteristics of BMMSCs, the induction and differentiation of cardiomyocyte-like cells and the application in the cardiovascular field.Key words: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs), cardiomyocyte-like cells, cardiovascular disease

Trial-to-trial latency variability of somatosensory evoked potentials as a prognostic indicator for surgical management of cervical spondylotic myelopathy

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A flicker-free electrolytic capacitor-less AC-DC LED driver

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Identification and Behavioral Evaluation of Sex Pheromone Components of the Chinese Pine Caterpillar Moth, Dendrolimus tabulaeformis

Background: The Chinese pine caterpillar moth, Dendrolimus tabulaeformis Tsai and Liu (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) is the most important defoliator of coniferous trees in northern China. Outbreaks occur over enormous areas and often lead to the death of forests during 2–3 successive years of defoliation. The sex pheromone of D. tabulaeformis was investigated to define its chemistry and behavioral activity. Methodology/Principal Findings: Sex pheromone was collected from calling female D. tabulaeformis by headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME) and by solvent extraction of pheromone glands. Extracts were analyzed by coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and coupled GC-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD), using antennae from male moths. Five components from the extracts elicited antennal responses. These compounds were identified by a combination of retention indices, electron impact mass spectral matches, and derivatization as (Z)-5-dodecenyl acetate (Z5-12:OAc), (Z)-5-dodecenyl alcohol (Z5-12:OH), (5Z,7E)-5,7-dodecadien-1-yl acetate (Z5,E7-12:OAc), (5Z,7E)-5,7-dodecadien-1-yl propionate (Z5,E7-12:OPr), and (5Z,7E)-5,7-dodecadien-1-ol (Z5,E7-12:OH). Behavioral assays showed that male D. tabulaeformis strongly discriminated against incomplete and aberrant blend ratios. The correct ratio of Z5,E7-12:OAc, Z5,E7-12:OH, and Z5,E7-12:OPr was essential for optimal upwind flight and source contact. The two monoenes, Z5-12:OAc and Z5-12:OH, alone or binary mixtures, had no effect on behavioral responses when added to the optimal threecomponen

Chinese Medicines as an Adjuvant Therapy for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma during Transarterial Chemoembolization: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

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Usefulness of time-frequency patterns of somatosensory evoked potentials in identification of the location of spinal cord injury

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