Gravitational lensing due to the large-scale distribution of matter in the cosmos distorts the primordial cosmic microwave background (CMB) and thereby induces new, small-scale B-mode polarization. ...This signal carries detailed information about the distribution of all the gravitating matter between the observer and CMB last scattering surface. We report the first direct evidence for polarization lensing based on purely CMB information, from using the four-point correlations of even- and odd-parity E- and B-mode polarization mapped over ∼30 square degrees of the sky measured by the POLARBEAR experiment. These data were analyzed using a blind analysis framework and checked for spurious systematic contamination using null tests and simulations. Evidence for the signal of polarization lensing and lensing B modes is found at 4.2σ (stat+sys) significance. The amplitude of matter fluctuations is measured with a precision of 27%, and is found to be consistent with the Lambda cold dark matter cosmological model. This measurement demonstrates a new technique, capable of mapping all gravitating matter in the Universe, sensitive to the sum of neutrino masses, and essential for cleaning the lensing B-mode signal in searches for primordial gravitational waves.
We reconstruct the gravitational lensing convergence signal from cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization data taken by the Polarbear experiment and cross-correlate it with cosmic infrared ...background maps from the Herschel satellite. From the cross spectra, we obtain evidence for gravitational lensing of the CMB polarization at a statistical significance of 4.0σ and indication of the presence of a lensing B-mode signal at a significance of 2.3σ. We demonstrate that our results are not biased by instrumental and astrophysical systematic errors by performing null tests, checks with simulated and real data, and analytical calculations. This measurement of polarization lensing, made via the robust cross-correlation channel, not only reinforces POLARBEAR auto-correlation measurements, but also represents one of the early steps towards establishing CMB polarization lensing as a powerful new probe of cosmology and astrophysics.
Essentials
Androgen deprivation increases the rate of venous thromboembolism in prostate cancer patients.
We characterized androgen receptor‐mediated tissue factor regulation in prostate epithelial ...cells.
Androgen receptor is dampening tissue factor expression in prostate epithelial cells.
Androgen deprivation could enhance tissue factor expression and raise venous thromboembolism rates.
Summary
Background
Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in men. Advanced prostate cancer is usually treated by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which is aimed at reducing circulating testosterone levels to reduce cancer growth. There is growing evidence that ADT can increase the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in prostate cancer patients. The tissue factor (TF) gene is one of the most important mediators of coagulation and VTE, but, so far, there are limited data on androgen receptor (AR)‐mediated TF gene expression.
Objectives
To characterize AR‐mediated TF regulation in vitro and in vivo.
Methods
We used the androgen‐dependent prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and MyC‐CaP to test whether TF expression is regulated by AR. Furthermore, we cloned the TF gene promoter into a luciferase reporter vector to identify the transcription factor‐binding sites that mediate TF regulation downstream of AR. Finally, we used castration experiments in mice to characterize AR‐mediated TF regulation in vivo.
Results
TF is directly regulated by AR. In LNCaP cells, nuclear factor‐κB signaling and EGR1 mediate TF expression. By using castration experiments in mice, we could detect upregulation of TF and early growth response protein 1 mRNA and protein expression in prostate epithelial cells.
Conclusion
AR is crucial for dampening TF expression, which could be important for increased TF expression and TF‐positive microvesicle release in androgen‐deprived prostate cancer patients.
Even today the remediation of organic contaminant source zones poses significant technical and economic challenges. Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) injections have proved to be a promising approach ...especially for source zone treatment. We present the development and the characterization of a new kind of NZVI with several advantages on the basis of laboratory experiments, model simulations and a field test. The developed NZVI particles are manufactured by milling, consist of 85 % Fe(0) and exhibit a flake-like shape with a thickness of <100 nm. The mass normalized perchloroethylene (PCE) dechlorination rate constant was 4.1 × 10⁻³ L/g h compared to 4.0 × 10⁻⁴ L/g h for a commercially available reference product. A transport distance of at least 190 cm in quartz sand with a grain size of 0.2–0.8 mm and Fe(0) concentrations between 6 and 160 g/kg (sand) were achieved without significant indications of clogging. The particles showed only a low acute toxicity and had no longterm inhibitory effects on dechlorinating microorganisms. During a field test 280 kg of the iron flakes was injected to a depth of 10–12 m into quaternary sand layers with hydraulic conductivities ranging between 10⁻⁴ and 10⁻⁵ m/s. Fe(0) concentrations of 1 g/kg (sand) or more up to 100 g/kg (sand) were achieved in 80 % of the targeted area. The iron flakes have so far remained reactive for more than 1 year and caused a PCE concentration decrease from 20.000–30.000 to 100–200 µg/L. Integration of particle transport processes into the OpenGeoSys model code proved suitable for site-specific 3D prediction and optimization of iron flake injections.
Hadron and jet detection with a dual-readout calorimeter Akchurin, N.; Carrell, K.; Hauptman, J. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
02/2005, Letnik:
537, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Hadronic shower development in a copper-based fiber calorimeter is studied by simultaneously measuring the scintillation light and the Cherenkov light generated in this process. By comparing these ...two signals, the electromagnetic shower fraction can be measured event by event. Fluctuations in this fraction are the dominant contribution to the hadronic energy resolution. They are also responsible for the signal non-linearity and the non-Gaussian response function typical for hadron calorimeters. The dual-readout technique makes it possible to eliminate the effects of these fluctuations.
Tumor-host interaction is determined by constant immune surveillance, characterized by tumor infiltration of myeloid and lymphoid cells. A malfunctioning or diverted immune response promotes tumor ...growth and metastasis. Recent advances had been made, by treating of certain tumor types, such as melanoma, with T-cell checkpoint inhibitors. This highlights the importance of understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between tumors and their environment, in particular myeloid and lymphoid cells.
Our aim was to study the contribution of the myeloid PI3K/PTEN-signaling pathway in the regulation of tumor-immune surveillance in murine models of cancer. We made use of conditional PTEN-deficient mice, which exhibit sustained activation of the PI3K-signaling axis in a variety of myeloid cell subsets such as macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs).
In colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC), mice deficient in myeloid PTEN showed a markedly higher tumor burden and decreased survival. We attributed this observation to the increased presence of immune-modulatory conventional CD8α
+
DCs in the spleen, whereas other relevant myeloid cell subsets were largely unaffected. Notably, we detected enhanced surface expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 on these DCs. As a consequence, tumoricidal T-cell responses were hampered or redirected.
Taken together, our findings indicated an unanticipated role for the PI3K/PTEN-signaling axis in the functional regulation of splenic antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Our data pointed at potential, indirect, tumoricidal effects of subclass-specific PI3K inhibitors, which are currently under clinical investigation for treatment of tumors, via myeloid cell activation.
PDF
