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Purpose: Despite its susceptibility to muscle fatigue, combined neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and blood flow restriction (BFR) are effective regimens for managing muscle atrophy when traditional resistance exercises are not feasible. This study investigated the potential of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in reducing muscle fatigue after the application of combined NMES and BFR. Methods: Thirty-six healthy adults were divided into control and LLLT groups. The LLLT group received 60 J of 850-nm wavelength LLLT before a training program of combined NMES and BFR of the nondominant extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL). The control group followed the same protocol but received sham laser therapy. Assessments included maximal voluntary contraction, ECRL mechanical properties, and isometric force tracking for wrist extension. Results: The LLLT group exhibited a smaller normalized difference in maximal voluntary contraction decrement (-4.01 ± 4.88%) than the control group (-23.85 ± 7.12%) (P < 0.001). The LLLT group demonstrated a smaller decrease in muscle stiffness of the ECRL compared with the control group, characterized by the smaller normalized changes in frequency (P = 0.002), stiffness (P = 0.002), and relaxation measures (P = 0.011) of mechanical oscillation waves. Unlike the control group, the LLLT group exhibited a smaller posttest increase in force fluctuations during force tracking (P = 0.014), linked to the predominant recruitment of low-threshold MU (P < 0.001) without fatigue-related increases in the discharge variability of high-threshold MU (P >0.05). Conclusions: LLLT preexposure reduces fatigue after combined NMES and BFR, preserving force generation, muscle stiffness, and force scaling. The functional benefits are achieved through fatigue-resistant activation strategies of motor unit recruitment and rate coding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study explores the role of cancer-derived extracellular exosomes (EXs), particularly focusing on collagen alpha-3 (VI; COL6A3), in facilitating tumor dissemination and metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We found that COL6A3 is expressed in aggressive ES2 derivatives, SKOV3 overexpressing COL6A3 (SKOV3/COL6A3), and mesenchymal-type ovarian carcinoma stromal progenitor cells (MSC-OCSPCs), as well as their EXs, but not in less aggressive SKOV3 cells or ES2 cells with COL6A3 knockdown (ES2/shCOL6A3). High COL6A3 expression correlates with worse overall survival among EOC patients, as evidenced by TCGA and GEO data analysis. In vitro experiments showed that EXs from MSC-OCSPCs or SKOV3/COL6A3 cells significantly enhance invasion ability in ES2 or SKOV3/COL6A3 cells, respectively (both, p <0.001). In contrast, ES2 cells with ES2/shCOL6A3 EXs exhibited reduced invasion ability (p < 0.001). In vivo, the average disseminated tumor numbers in the peritoneal cavity were significantly greater in mice receiving intraperitoneally injected SKOV3/COL6A3 cells than in SKOV3 cells (p < 0.001). Furthermore, mice intravenously (IV) injected with SKOV3/COL6A3 cells and SKOV3/COL6A3-EXs showed increased lung colonization compared to mice injected with SKOV3 cells and PBS (p = 0.007) or SKOV3/COL6A3 cells and PBS (p = 0.039). Knockdown of COL6A3 or treatment with EX inhibitor GW4869 or rapamycin-abolished COL6A3-EXs may suppress the aggressiveness of EOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a tractable nonparametric model for the time-varying reproductive rate of infectious diseases that combines the structure of a deterministic compartmental model and a stochastic model for incidence data. We use Bayesian inference to estimate, with uncertainty, the reproductive rate of the Coronavirus 2019 outbreak in the U.S. states of California, Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, and Texas from January 2020 to March 2022. Employing the inferred reproductive rates, we estimate the posterior distribution of the time-varying reproduction numbers for each state. Compering the time-varying reproduction numbers across the states, we identify some epidemic waves, potentially driven from changes in human behavior and virus mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: According to current International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer guideline, physicians may first use plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methods to identify epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant mechanisms (liquid rebiopsy) for lung cancer. Tissue rebiopsy is recommended if the plasma result is negative. However, this approach has not been evaluated prospectively using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with lung cancer with first-line EGFR-TKI resistance who underwent tissue rebiopsy. The rebiopsied tissues and cfDNA were sequenced using targeted NGS, ACTDrug®+, and ACTMonitor®Lung simultaneously. The clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes were analyzed. Results: Totally, 86 patients were enrolled. Twenty-six (30%) underwent tissue biopsy but the specimens were inadequate for NGS. Among the 60 patients with paired tissue and liquid rebiopsies, two-thirds (40/60) may still be targetable T790M mutations were found in 29, including 14 (48%) only from tissue and 5 (17%) only from cfDNA. Twenty-four of them were treated with osimertinib, and progression-free survival was longer in patients without detectable T790M in cfDNA than in patients with detectable T790M in cfDNA (p=0.02). For the 31 T790M-negative patients, there were six with mesenchymal–epithelial transition factor (MET) amplifications, four with ERBB2 amplifications, and one with CCDC6-RET fusion. One with MET amplification and one with ERBB2 amplification responded to subsequent MET and ERBB2 targeting agents respectively. Conclusions: NGS after EGFR-TKI resistance may detect targetable drivers besides T790M. To do either liquid or tissue NGS only could miss patients with T790M. To do tissue and liquid NGS in parallel after EGFR-TKI resistance may find more patients with targetable cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose to adopt statistical regression as the projection operator to enable data-driven learning of the operators in the Mori--Zwanzig formalism. We present a principled method to extract the Markov and memory operators for any regression models. We show that the choice of linear regression results in a recently proposed data-driven learning algorithm based on Mori's projection operator, which is a higher-order approximate Koopman learning method. We show that more expressive nonlinear regression models naturally fill in the gap between the highly idealized and computationally efficient Mori's projection operator and the most optimal yet computationally infeasible Zwanzig's projection operator. We performed numerical experiments and extracted the operators for an array of regression-based projections, including linear, polynomial, spline, and neural network--based regressions, showing a progressive improvement as the complexity of the regression model increased. Our proposition provides a general framework to extract memory-dependent corrections and can be readily applied to an array of data-driven learning methods for stationary dynamical systems in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of software engineering education is to educate students in software technologies, developments, procedures, and scientific practices to enable them to cope with industrial demands. However, the implementation of software engineering education in traditional university classrooms is restricted by the semester structure, making it difficult to achieve a proper learning balance between theory and practice. To balance theoretical and practical learning, prior studies have indicated that flipped learning is a suitable classroom setting for students and teachers. In a flipped learning environment, it is important to enhance and capture students' learning performance before the class to facilitate teachers and students in proceeding with inclass instruction and learning. In this study, an e-book system named BookRoll was applied to support software engineering education in a flipped learning setting. The proposed approach supports and facilitates out-of-class and in-class learning by providing reading and learning analytic functions for teachers and students. To evaluate the proposed approach, two classes of students were allocated to an experimental group and a control group to participate in an experiment. In the flipped learning process, the experimental group was supported by the BookRoll system, while the control group did not use the BookRoll system. The results revealed that the proposed approach not only promoted students' learning achievements in software engineering education but also improved their learning motivation, attitude, and problem-solving ability. The reading behavior analysis further indicated that reading time was a statistically significant predictor of learning achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychiatric disorders pose a significant global health challenge, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and insufficiently addressed by the current treatments. This review explores the emerging role of bile acids and the TGR5 receptor in the pathophysiology of psychiatric conditions, emphasizing their signaling within the gut-brain axis. We detail the synthesis and systemic functions of bile acids, their transformation by gut microbiota, and their impact across various neuropsychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and bipolar disorder. The review highlights how dysbiosis and altered bile acid metabolism contribute to the development and exacerbation of these neuropsychiatric disorders through mechanisms involving inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter dysregulation. Importantly, we detail both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions that modulate TGR5 signaling, offering potential breakthroughs in treatment strategies. These include dietary adjustments to enhance beneficial bile acids production and the use of specific TGR5 agonists that have shown promise in preclinical and clinical settings for their regulatory effects on critical pathways such as cAMP-PKA, NRF2-mediated antioxidant responses, and neuroinflammation. By integrating findings from the dynamics of gut microbiota, bile acids metabolism, and TGR5 receptor related signaling events, this review underscores cutting-edge therapeutic approaches poised to revolutionize the management and treatment of psychiatric disorders. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral ischemia is an acute disorder characterized by an abrupt reduction in blood flow that results in immediate deprivation of both glucose and oxygen. The main types of cerebral ischemia are ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. When a stroke occurs, several signaling pathways are activated, comprising necrosis, apoptosis, and autophagy as well as glial activation and white matter injury, which leads to neuronal cell death. Current treatments for strokes include challenging mechanical thrombectomy or tissue plasminogen activator, which increase the danger of cerebral bleeding, brain edema, and cerebral damage, limiting their usage in clinical settings. Monoclonal antibody therapy has proven to be effective and safe in the treatment of a variety of neurological disorders. In contrast, the evidence for stroke therapy is minimal. Recently, Clone MTS510 antibody targeting toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) protein, ASC06-IgG1 antibody targeting acid sensing ion channel-1a (ASIC1a) protein, Anti-GluN1 antibodies targeting N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor associated calcium influx, GSK249320 antibody targeting myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), anti-High Mobility Group Box-1 antibody targeting high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) are currently under clinical trials for cerebral ischemia treatment. In this article, we review the current antibody-based pharmaceuticals for neurological diseases, the use of antibody drugs in stroke, strategies to improve the efficacy of antibody therapeutics in cerebral ischemia, and the recent advancement of antibody drugs in clinical practice. Overall, we highlight the need of enhancing blood–brain barrier (BBB) penetration for the improvement of antibody-based therapeutics in the brain, which could greatly enhance the antibody medications for cerebral ischemia in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis is a state of host immune response triggered by virus or bacterial infection, in which the extent of regional and systemic inflammation and companion counter‐inflammatory reactions determines disease outcomes. Probiotics are known for the immunomodulatory effect on allergic disorders, but it is not clear whether the beneficiary effect extends to sepsis and increases survival. In this mouse model, we injected intraperitoneally lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to induce sepsis, and investigated whether the pretreatment of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) contributed to host survival and examined the alteration of the gut microbiota and blood cytokines/chemokines profile before sepsis induction. Four‐week‐old male BALB/c mice were divided into two groups: one group were fed daily with LGG as a dietary supplement for fourteen days, whereas the other group with sterile water. Before sepsis induction, some mice from each group were killed to collect stool in the intestine and blood for microbial metagenomic and cytokine/chemokine analyses, respectively, and the rest were monitored afterward for mortality. The relative abundance of several families in the gut microbiota after LGG treatment was altered as well as the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes. In addition, several pro‐inflammatory cytokines such as G‐CSF, IL7, IL15, and MCP1 were lower in the LGG group than in the control group. The survival rate following LPS‐induced sepsis improved with LGG treatment. Our results indicated that dietary supplement of probiotic LGG improved survival from LPS‐induced sepsis, most likely through pre‐septic changes in the gut microbial constituents by LGG with reciprocal alteration of host immune system to a less reactive state to incoming pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitinase-3-like-1 (CHI3L1) is an evolutionarily conserved protein involved in key biological processes, including tissue remodeling, angiogenesis, and neuroinflammation. It has emerged as a significant player in various neurodegenerative diseases and brain disorders. Elevated CHI3L1 levels have been observed in neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), HIV-associated dementia (HAD), Cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS), and brain tumors. This review explores the role of CHI3L1 in the pathogenesis of these disorders, with a focus on its contributions to neuroinflammation, immune cell infiltration, and neuronal degeneration. As a key regulator of neuroinflammation, CHI3L1 modulates microglia and astrocyte activity, driving the release of proinflammatory cytokines that exacerbate disease progression. In addition to its role in disease pathology, CHI3L1 has emerged as a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of brain disorders. Elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of CHI3L1 have been linked to disease severity and cognitive decline, particularly in AD and MS, highlighting its potential for clinical diagnostics. Furthermore, therapeutic strategies targeting CHI3L1, such as small-molecule inhibitors and neutralizing antibodies, have shown promise in preclinical studies, demonstrating reduced neuroinflammation, amyloid plaque accumulation, and improved neuronal survival. Despite its therapeutic potential, challenges remain in developing selective and safe CHI3L1-targeted therapies, particularly in ensuring effective delivery across the blood–brain barrier and mitigating off-target effects. This review addresses the complexities of targeting CHI3L1, highlights its potential in precision medicine, and outlines future research directions aimed at unlocking its full therapeutic potential in treating neurodegenerative diseases and brain pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A theoretical framework which unifies the conventional Mori--Zwanzig formalism and the approximate Koopman learning of deterministic dynamical systems from noiseless observation is presented. In this framework, the Mori--Zwanzig formalism, developed in statistical mechanics to tackle the hard problem of construction of reduced-order dynamics for high-dimensional dynamical systems, can be considered as a natural generalization of the Koopman description of the dynamical system. We next show that, similar to the approximate Koopman learning methods, data-driven methods can be developed for the Mori--Zwanzig formalism with Mori's linear projection operator. We have developed two algorithms to extract the key operators, the Markov and the memory kernel, using time series of a reduced set of observables in a dynamical system. We have adopted the Lorenz '96 system as a test problem and solved for the above operators. These operators exhibit complex behaviors, which are unlikely to be captured by traditional modeling approaches in Mori--Zwanzig analysis. The nontrivial generalized fluctuation-dissipation relationship, which relates the memory kernel with the two-time correlation statistics of the orthogonal dynamics, was numerically verified as a validation of the solved operators. We present numerical evidence that the generalized Langevin equation, a key construct in the Mori--Zwanzig formalism, is more advantageous in predicting the evolution of the reduced set of observables than the conventional approximate Koopman operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase situational awareness and support evidence-based policymaking, we formulated a mathematical model for coronavirus disease transmission within a regional population. This compartmental model accounts for quarantine, self-isolation, social distancing, a nonexponentially distributed incubation period, asymptomatic persons, and mild and severe forms of symptomatic disease. We used Bayesian inference to calibrate region-specific models for consistency with daily reports of confirmed cases in the 15 most populous metropolitan statistical areas in the United States. We also quantified uncertainty in parameter estimates and forecasts. This online learning approach enables early identification of new trends despite considerable variability in case reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the causative agent of the ongoing coronavirus disease pandemic. Initial estimates of the early dynamics of the outbreak in Wuhan, China, suggested a doubling time of the number of infected persons of 6-7 days and a basic reproductive number (R0) of 2.2-2.7. We collected extensive individual case reports across China and estimated key epidemiologic parameters, including the incubation period (4.2 days). We then designed 2 mathematical modeling approaches to infer the outbreak dynamics in Wuhan by using high-resolution domestic travel and infection data. Results show that the doubling time early in the epidemic in Wuhan was 2.3-3.3 days. Assuming a serial interval of 6-9 days, we calculated a median R0 value of 5.7 (95% CI 3.8-8.9). We further show that active surveillance, contact tracing, quarantine, and early strong social distancing efforts are needed to stop transmission of the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the development of local cultural features and tourism has become important in Taiwan. To support local cultural education, relevant studies have developed outdoor learning approaches and integrated mobile technology to connect real-world and digital-world learning resources. Nevertheless, the above-mentioned developments are usually suitable for a specific learning process and activity. In other words, students may lack the motivation to engage in the same learning process repeatedly after participating in the learning activity. Therefore, to promote students' local cultural learning, this study developed a game-based local cultural learning application based on the social, local, and mobile (SoLoMo) principle. To investigate the effect of the proposed approach on students' learning performance with regard to local culture, a quasi-experiment was conducted on a society course at a Taiwanese elementary school. The experimental-group students learned with the proposed approach, while the control-group students learned with the conventional mobile learning approach. The experimental results showed that, compared with the conventional mobile learning approach, the proposed approach significantly improved the students' learning achievement, learning retention, and learning motivation. Moreover, it was also found that most students showed positive perceptions toward the usage of the proposed application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical kinetics of many complex systems can be concisely represented by reaction rules, which can be used to generate reaction events via a kinetic Monte Carlo method that has been termed network-free simulation. Here, we demonstrate accelerated network-free simulation through a novel approach to equation-free computation. In this process, variables are introduced that approximately capture system state. Derivatives of these variables are estimated using short bursts of exact stochastic simulation and finite differencing. The variables are then projected forward in time via a numerical integration scheme, after which a new exact stochastic simulation is initialized and the whole process repeats. The projection step increases efficiency by bypassing the firing of numerous individual reaction events. As we show, the projected variables may be defined as populations of building blocks of chemical species. The maximal number of connected molecules included in these building blocks determines the degree of approximation. Equation-free acceleration of network-free simulation is found to be both accurate and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an optically-selected cluster catalog from the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program. The HSC images are sufficiently deep to detect cluster member galaxies down to M* ∼ 1010.2 M⊙ even at z ∼ 1, allowing a reliable cluster detection at such high redshifts. We apply the CAMIRA algorithm to the HSC Wide S16A dataset covering ∼232 deg2 to construct a catalog of 1921 clusters at redshift 0.1 < z < 1.1 and richness ňmem>15 that roughly corresponds to M200m ≳ 1014 h−1 M⊙. We confirm good cluster photometric redshift performance, with the bias and the scatter in Δz/(1 + z) being better than 0.005 and 0.01, respectively, over most of the redshift range. We compare our cluster catalog with large X-ray cluster catalogs from the XXL and XMM-LSS (the XMM Large Scale Structure) surveys and find good correlation between richness and X-ray properties.We also study the mis-centering effect from the distribution of offsets between optical and X-ray cluster centers. We confirm the high (>0.9) completeness and purity for high-mass clusters by analyzing mock galaxy catalogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed at investigating how mobile seamless technology can be used to enhance the pragmatic competence of learners of Chinese as a second language (CSL). 34 overseas CSL learners participated in this study. They were randomly assigned into two groups: the classroom group, executing language tasks in fake contexts in a traditional classroom; and the real-world group, executing identical tasks in real world with the support provided by a mobile seamless learning platform (MOSE). All the CSL learners were asked to make a plan of receiving a friend abroad after collecting the information about the shops or stores in the neighborhood of the campus. Both quantitative (Mandarin communication performance test) and qualitative data (videos recorded during the learning process) were collected and analyzed in this 4-week study. The analytical results show that both groups made significant improvements in the test-based Mandarin communication performance. However, according to the qualitative data, the CSL learners in the real-world group made significantly fewer errors when executing language tasks than did those in the classroom group. Furthermore, they did not depend on their first language to communicate with the people they visited in the real world and they had more peer cooperation with the support provided by the MOSE platform compared with those in the classroom group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we report the first observation, through X-ray diffraction, of noncovalent uracil-uracil (U-U) dimeric π-stacking interactions in carbon nanotube (CNT)-based supramolecular assemblies. The directionally oriented morphology determined using atomic force microscopy revealed highly organized behavior through p-stacking of U moieties in a U-functionalized CNT derivative (CNT-U). We developed a dispersion system to investigate the bio-inspired interactions between an adenine (A)-terminated poly(3-adeninehexyl thiophene) (PAT) and CNT-U. These hybrid CNT-U/PAT materials interacted through π-stacking and multiple hydrogen bonding between the U moieties of CNT-U and the A moieties of PAT. Most importantly, the U...A multiple hydrogen bonding interactions between CNT-U and PAT enhanced the dispersion of CNT-U in a high-polarity solvent (DMSO). The morphology of these hybrids, determined using transmission electron microscopy, featured grape-like PAT bundles wrapped around the CNT-U surface; this tight connection was responsible for the enhanced dispersion of CNT-U in DMSO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During recombination, the DNA of parents exchange their genetic information to give rise to a genetically unique offspring. For recombination to occur, homologous chromosomes need to find each other and align with high precision. Fission yeast solves this problem by folding chromosomes in loops and pulling them through the viscous nucleoplasm. We propose a theory of pulled polymer loops to quantify the effect of drag forces on the alignment of chromosomes. We introduce an external force field to the concept of a Brownian bridge and thus solve for the statistics of loop configurations in space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many organisms form colonies for a transient period of time to withstand environmental pressure. Bacterial biofilms are a prototypical example of such behavior. Despite significant interest across disciplines, physical mechanisms governing the formation and dissolution of bacterial colonies are still poorly understood. Starting from a kinetic description of motile and interacting cells we derive a hydrodynamic equation for their density on a surface, where most of the kinetic coefficients are estimated from experimental data for N. gonorrhoeae bacteria. We use it to describe the formation of multiple colonies with sizes consistent with experimental observations. Finally, we show how the changes in the cell-to-cell interactions lead to the dissolution of the bacterial colonies. The successful application of kinetic theory to a complex far from equilibrium system such as formation and dissolution of living bacterial colonies potentially paves the way for the physical quantification of the initial stages of biofilm formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Andrographolide, extracted from the leaves of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees (Acanthaceae), is a labdane diterpene lactone. It is widely reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antitumorigenic activities. Cerebral endothelial cells (CECs) play a crucial role in supporting the integrity and the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, no data are available concerning the effects of andrographolide in CECs. The aim of this study was to examine the detailed mechanisms of andrographolide on CECs. Objective: This study investigated a novel bioactivity of andrographolide on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain injury. Materials and methods: CECs were treated with andrographolide (20-100 µΜ) for the indicated times (0-24 h). After the reactions, cell survival rate and cytotoxicity were tested by the MTT assay and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test, respectively. Western blotting was used to detect caspase-3 expression. In addition, analysis of cell cycle and apoptosis using PI staining and annexin V-FITC/PI labeling, respectively, was performed by flow cytometry. We also investigated the effect of andrographolide on middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/reperfusion-induced brain injury in a rat model. Results: In the present study, we found that andrographolide (50-100 µΜ) markedly inhibited CEC growth according to an MTT assay and caused CEC damage according to a LDH test. Our data also revealed that andrographolide (50 µM) induced CEC apoptosis and caspase-3 activation as respectively detected by PI/annexin-V double staining and western blotting. Moreover, andrographolide arrested the CEC cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase by PI staining. In addition, andrographolide (5 mg/kg) caused deterioration of MCAO/reperfusion-induced brain injury in a rat model. Conclusions: These data suggest that andrographolide may disrupt BBB integrity, thereby deteriorating MCAO/reperfusion-induced brain injury, which are, in part, associated with its capacity to arrest cell-cycle and induce CEC apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The details of the stellar mass assembly of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) remain an unresolved problem in galaxy formation. We have developed a novel approach that allows us to construct a sample of clusters that form an evolutionary sequence, and have applied it to the Spitzer IRAC Shallow Cluster Survey (ISCS) to examine the evolution of BCGs in progenitors of present-day clusters with mass of (2.5-4.5) × 1014M☉. We follow the cluster mass growth history extracted from a high resolution cosmological simulation, and then use an empirical method that infers the cluster mass based on the ranking of cluster luminosity to select high-z clusters of appropriate mass from ISCS to be progenitors of the given set of z = 0 clusters. We find that, between z = 1.5 and 0.5, the BCGs have grown in stellar mass by a factor of 2.3, which is well-matched by the predictions from a state-of-the-art semi-analytic model. Below z = 0.5 we see hints of differences in behavior between the model and observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One goal of e-learning is to enhance the interoperability and reusability of learning resources. However, current e-learning systems do little to adequately support this. In order to achieve this aim, the first step is to consider how to assist instructors in re-organizing the existing learning objects. However, when instructors are dealing with a large number of existing learning objects, manually re-organizing them into appropriate teaching materials is very laborious. Furthermore, in order to organize well-structured teaching materials, the instructors also have to take more than one factor or criterion into account simultaneously. To cope with this problem, this study develops a wiki-based teaching material development environment by employing enhanced particle swarm optimization and wiki techniques to enable instructors to create and revise teaching materials. The results demonstrated that the proposed approach is efficient and effective in forming custom-made teaching materials by organizing existing and relevant learning objects that satisfy specific requirements. Finally, a questionnaire and interviews were used to investigate teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of the environment. The results revealed that most of the teachers accepted the quality of the teaching material development results and appreciated the proposed environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sunyaev–Zel'dovich (SZ) effect is a direct probe of thermal energy content of the Universe, induced in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) sky through scattering of CMB photons off hot electrons in the intracluster medium (ICM). We report a 9σ detection of the SZ signal in the CMB maps of Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe ( WMAP) three-year data, through study of a sample of 193 massive galaxy clusters with observed X-ray temperatures greater than 3 keV. For the first time, we make a model-independent measurement of the pressure profile in the outskirts of the ICM, and show that it closely follows the profiles obtained by X-ray observations and numerical simulations. We find that our measurements of the SZ effect would account for only half of the thermal energy of the cluster, if all the cluster baryons were in the hot ICM phase. Our measurements indicate that a significant fraction, 35 ± 8 per cent, of baryonic mass is missing from the hot ICM, and thus must have cooled to form galaxies, intracluster stars, or an unknown cold phase of the ICM. There does not seem to be enough mass in the form of stars or cold gas in the cluster galaxies or intracluster space, signalling the need for a yet-unknown baryonic component (at 3σ level), or otherwise new astrophysical processes in the ICM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Inflammation, a crucial biological response defending the body against harmful stimuli, has been a central focus in medicinal research. Licorice root, rich in bioactive compounds, contains glabridin (GBD), a renowned natural flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Despite its recognition, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying GBD's anti-inflammatory effects remain a subject of ongoing investigation. Methods: This study explores the impact of GBD on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophages, aiming to unravel intricate molecular pathways, specifically focusing on the potential involvement of the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways. The study first determined the effective dose of GBD by measuring its impact on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in response to LPS stimulation. The novelty of this study lies in subsequent examination of GBD's effects under LPS-induced inflammation, an aspect that has not been thoroughly explored in previous research. Results: GBD inhibits the production of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO). It also suppresses the expression of iNOS and IL-1β induced by LPS. Furthermore, GBD attenuates LPS-induced phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3, concurrently inhibiting AMPK phosphorylation. The study further elucidates the relationship between AMPK and JAK2/STAT3 using JAK2 inhibitor, AG490, and AMPK inhibitor, compound C (CC). Importantly, CC not only inhibits the expression of AMPK but also suppresses the expression of JAK2 and STAT3. This observation strongly suggests that GBD modulates the AMPK/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Conclusion: This study reveals that GBD is a promising anti-inflammatory agent with novel inhibitory effects on the AMPK/JAK2/STAT3 pathway, highlighting its potential therapeutic value for inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) plays a vital role in the protection and maintenance of homeostasis in the brain. In this way, it is an interesting target as an interface for various types of drug delivery, specifically in the context of the treatment of several neuropathological conditions where the therapeutic agents cannot cross the BBB. Drug toxicity and on-target specificity are among some of the limitations associated with current neurotherapeutics. In recent years, advances in nanodrug delivery have enabled the carrier system containing the active therapeutic drug to target the signaling pathways and pathophysiology that are closely linked to central nervous system (CNS) disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), multiple sclerosis (MS), brain tumor, epilepsy, ischemic stroke, and neurodegeneration. At present, among the nano formulations, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) have emerged as a putative drug carrier system that can deliver the active therapeutics (drug-loaded SLNs) across the BBB at the target site of the brain, offering a novel approach with controlled drug delivery, longer circulation time, target specificity, and higher efficacy, and more importantly, reducing toxicity in a biomimetic way. This paper highlights the synthesis and application of SLNs as a novel nontoxic formulation strategy to carry CNS drugs across the BBB to improve the use of therapeutics agents in treating major neurological disorders in future clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is a major root of several diseases such as allergy, cancer, Alzheimer's, and several others, and the present state of existing drugs provoked researchers to search for new treatment strategies. Plants are regarded to be unique sources of active compounds holding pharmacological properties, and they offer novel designs in the development of therapeutic agents. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of esculetin in lipoteichoic acid (LTA)-induced macrophage cells (RAW 264.7). The relative expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO) production and COX-2 expression were intensified in LTA-induced RAW cells. The phosphorylation status of mitogen-activated protein kinases (extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, p38 MAPK, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 were detected by using Western blot assay. The nuclear translocation of p65 was assessed by confocal microscopic image analysis. Esculetin significantly and concentration-dependently inhibited LTA-induced NO production and iNOS expression, but not COX-2 expression, in RAW cells. Esculetin was not effective in LTA-induced MAPK molecules (ERK, p38 and JNK). However, esculetin recovered LTA-induced IκBα degradation and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation. Moreover, esculetin at a higher concentration of 20 µM evidently inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. At the same high concentration, esculetin augmented Nrf2 expression and decreased DPPH radical generation in RAW 264.7 cells. This study exhibits the value of esculetin for the treatment of LTA-induced inflammation by targeting NF-κB signaling pathways via its antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is a key cell wall component and virulence factor of Gram-positive bacteria. LTA contributes a major role in infection and it mediates inflammatory responses in the host. Rutaecarpine, an indolopyridoquinazolinone alkaloid isolated from Evodia rutaecarpa, has shown a variety of fascinating biological properties such as anti-thrombotic, anticancer, anti-obesity and thermoregulatory, vasorelaxing activity. It has also potent effects on the cardiovascular and endocrine systems. Herein, we investigated rutaecarpine's (Rut) anti-inflammatory effects in LTA-stimulated RAW macrophage cells. The Western blot and spectrophotometric results revealed that Rut inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and interleukin (IL)-1β in the LTA-induced macrophage cells. Successively, our mechanistic studies publicized that Rut inhibited LTA-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) including the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38, but not c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). In addition, the respective Western blot and confocal image analyses exhibited that Rut reserved nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-κB) by hindering inhibitor of nuclear factor κB-α (IκBα) and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and p65 nuclear translocation. These results indicate that Rut exhibits its anti-inflammatory effects mainly through attenuating NF-κB and ERK/p38 signaling pathways. Overall, this result suggests that Rut could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of Gram-positive bacteria induced inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study stochastic population dynamics coupled to fast external environments and combine expansions in the inverse switching rate of the environment and a Kramers-Moyal expansion in the inverse size of the population. This leads to a series of approximation schemes, capturing both intrinsic and environmental noise. These methods provide a means of efficient simulation and we show how they can be used to obtain analytical results for the fluctuations of population dynamics in switching environments. We place the approximations in relation to existing work on piecewise-deterministic and piecewise-diffusive Markov processes. Finally, we demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of these model-reduction methods in different research fields, including systems in biology and a model of crack propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study classical Markovian stochastic systems with discrete states, coupled to randomly switching external environments. For fast environmental processes we derive reduced dynamics for the system itself, focusing on corrections to the adiabatic limit of infinite timescale separation. We show that this can lead to master equations with bursting events. Negative transition rates can result in the reduced master equation, leading to unphysical short-time behavior. However, the reduced master equation can describe stationary states better than a leading-order adiabatic calculation, similar to what is known for Kramers-Moyal expansions in the context of the Pawula theorem [R. F. Pawula, Phys. Rev. 162, 186 (1967); H. Risken and H. Vollmer, Z. Phys. B 35, 313 (1979)]. We provide an interpretation of the reduced dynamics in discrete time and a criterion for the occurrence of negative rates for systems with two environmental states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we show that a problem of forced polymer loops can be mapped to an asymmetric simple exclusion process with reflecting boundary conditions. The dynamics of the particle system can be solved exactly using the Bethe ansatz. We thus can fully describe the relaxation dynamics of forced polymer loops. In the steady state, the conformation of the loop can be approximated by a combination of Fermi–Dirac and Brownian bridge statistics, while the exact solution is found by using the fermion integer partition theory. With the theoretical framework presented here we establish a link between the physics of polymers and statistics of many-particle systems opening new paths of exploration in both research fields. Our result can be applied to the dynamics of the biopolymers which form closed loops. One such example is the active pulling of chromosomal loops during meiosis in yeast cells which helps to align chromosomes for recombination in the viscous environment of the cell nucleus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unprecedented depth and area surveyed by the Subaru Strategic Program with the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC-SSP) have enabled us to construct and publish the largest distant cluster sample out to to date. In this exploratory study of cluster galaxy evolution from z = 1 to z = 0.3, we investigate the stellar mass assembly history of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs), the evolution of stellar mass and luminosity distributions, the stellar mass surface density profile, as well as the population of radio galaxies. Our analysis is the first high-redshift application of the top N richest cluster selection, which is shown to allow us to trace the cluster galaxy evolution faithfully. Over the 230 deg2 area of the current HSC-SSP footprint, selecting thetop 100 clusters in each of the four redshift bins allows us to observe the buildup of galaxy population in descendants of clusters whose mass is about . Our stellar mass is derived from a machine-learning algorithm, which is found to be unbiased and accurate with respect to the COSMOS data. We find very mild stellar mass growth in BCGs (about 35% between z = 1 and 0.3), and no evidence for evolution in both the total stellar mass–cluster mass correlation and the shape of the stellar mass surface density profile. We also present the first measurement of the radio luminosity distribution in clusters out to , and show hints of changes in the dominant accretion mode powering the cluster radio galaxies at . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study individual-based dynamics in finite populations, subject to randomly switching environmental conditions. These are inspired by models in which genes transition between on and off states, regulating underlying protein dynamics. Similarly, switches between environmental states are relevant in bacterial populations and in models of epidemic spread. Existing piecewise-deterministic Markov process approaches focus on the deterministic limit of the population dynamics while retaining the randomness of the switching. Here we go beyond this approximation and explicitly include effects of intrinsic stochasticity at the level of the linear-noise approximation. Specifically, we derive the stationary distributions of a number of model systems, in good agreement with simulations. This improves existing approaches which are limited to the regimes of fast and slow switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fact that the clustering of dark matter halos depends not only on their mass, but also the formation epoch is a prominent, albeit subtle, feature of the cold dark matter structure formation theory and is known as assembly bias. At low-mass scales (), early-forming halos are predicted to be more strongly clustered than the late-forming ones. In this study, we aim to robustly detect the signature of assembly bias observationally, making use of formation time indicators of central galaxies in low-mass halos as a proxy for the halo formation history. Weak gravitational lensing is employed to ensure our early- and late-forming halo samples have similar masses, and are free of contamination of satellites from more massive halos. For the two formation time indicators used (resolved star formation history and current specific star formation rate), we do not find convincing evidence of assembly bias. For a pair of early- and late-forming galaxy samples with mean mass , the relative bias is 1.00 ± 0.12. We attribute the lack of detection to the possibilities that either the current measurements of these indicators are too noisy, or they do not correlate well with the halo formation history. Alternative proxies for the halo formation history that should perform better are suggested for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelets assume a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), emphasizing their significance in disease progression. Consequently, addressing CVDs necessitates a targeted approach focused on mitigating platelet activation. Eugenol, predominantly derived from clove oil, is recognized for its antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties, rendering it a valuable medicinal agent. This investigation delves into the intricate mechanisms through which eugenol influences human platelets. At a low concentration of 2 μM, eugenol demonstrates inhibition of collagen and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced platelet aggregation. Notably, thrombin and U46619 remain unaffected by eugenol. Its modulatory effects extend to ATP release, P-selectin expression, and intracellular calcium levels ([Ca2+]i). Eugenol significantly inhibits various signaling cascades, including phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2)/protein kinase C (PKC), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/glycogen synthase kinase-3β, mitogen-activated protein kinases, and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2)/thromboxane A2 (TxA2) formation induced by collagen. Eugenol selectively inhibited cPLA2/TxA2 phosphorylation induced by AA, not affecting p38 MAPK. In ADP-treated mice, eugenol reduced occluded lung vessels by platelet thrombi without extending bleeding time. In conclusion, eugenol exerts a potent inhibitory effect on platelet activation, achieved through the inhibition of the PLCγ2–PKC and cPLA2-TxA2 cascade, consequently suppressing platelet aggregation. These findings underscore the potential therapeutic applications of eugenol in CVDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a theoretical framework to analyze the dynamics of gene expression with stochastic bursts. Beginning with an individual-based model which fully accounts for the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein populations, we propose an expansion of the master equation for the joint process. The resulting coarse-grained model reduces the dimensionality of the system, describing only the protein population while fully accounting for the effects of discrete and fluctuating mRNA population. Closed form expressions for the stationary distribution of the protein population and mean first-passage times of the coarse-grained model are derived and large-scale Monte Carlo simulations show that the analysis accurately describes the individual-based process accounting for mRNA population, in contrast to the failure of commonly proposed diffusion-type models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How well can we infer host dark matter halo masses of individual galaxies? Based on the halo occupation distribution framework, we analytically compute the number of neighboring galaxies within a cylinder of some redshift interval and radius in transverse comoving distance. The result is used to derive the conditional probability distribution function (PDF) of the host halo mass of a galaxy, given the neighboring galaxy counts. We compare our analytic results with those obtained using a realistic mock galaxy catalog, finding reasonable agreements. We find the optimal cylinder radius to be for the inference of halo masses. The PDF is generally broad, and sometimes has two peaks at low- and high-mass regimes because of the effect of chance projection along the line of sight. Potential applications and extensions of the new theoretical framework developed herein are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Oxidative stress induces chronic inflammatory diseases in aerobic organisms, and antioxidants from plants represent an efficient strategy to prevent this condition. Morin hydrate (MH), a bioactive flavonoid, has a wide range of pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. This study evaluated the protective effects of MH on lipoteichoic acid (LTA)-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages by testing the main oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers and also investigating the molecular pathways involved. Methods: The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of MH were evaluated in a cell-free system and RAW264.7 cells. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and assay kits were used to measure the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) mRNA, as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The effects of MH on LTA-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IL-1β, and TNF-α mRNA and protein expression were also evaluated by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Results: MH reduced DPPH and ABTS radicals in a cell-free system and LTA-induced ROS and NO production in RAW264.7 cells. MH upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 mRNA expression and reversed LTA-mediated reduction of antioxidant enzymes, at a high concentration of 20 µM pretreated cells. MH also effectively attenuated LTA-induced iNOS, IL-1β, and TNF-α mRNA and protein expression, and these effects were reversed by ML385. Conclusions: The study found that the Nrf2/HO-1 played role in the inhibition of LTA-induced oxidative stress in macrophages by MH. This study may consider to be a promising induced macrophage-targeted strategy via regulating anti-oxidative defense to control inflammatory-related disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Platelets play a crucial role in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and are activated by endogenous agonists like collagen. These agonists initiate signal transduction through specific platelet receptors, resulting in platelet aggregation. Glabridin, a prenylated isoflavonoid found in licorice root, is known for its significance in metabolic abnormalities. Glabridin has been observed to inhibit collagen-induced platelet aggregation, but the precise mechanisms, specifically concerning NF-κB activation and integrin αIIbβ3 signaling, are not yet fully understood. Methods: In this study, platelet suspensions were prepared from healthy human blood donors, and the aggregation ability was observed using a lumi-aggregometer. The inhibitory mechanisms of glabridin in human platelets were evaluated through immunoblotting and confocal microscopy. The anti-thrombotic effects of glabridin were assessed by histological analysis of lung sections in acute pulmonary thromboembolism and by examining fluorescein-induced platelet plug formation in mesenteric microvessels in mice. Results: Glabridin inhibited integrin αIIbβ3 inside-out signals such as Lyn, Fyn, Syk, and integrin β3 activation and NF-κB-mediated signal events, with similar potency to classical inhibitors BAY11-7082 and Ro106-9920. Glabridin and BAY11-7082 inhibited IKK, IκBα, and p65 phosphorylation and reversed IκBα degradation, while Ro106-9920 only reduced p65 phosphorylation and reversed IκBα degradation. BAY11-7082 reduced Lyn, Fyn, Syk, integrin β3, phospholipase Cγ2 and protein kinase C activation. Glabridin reduced platelet plug formation in mesenteric microvessels and occluded vessels in thromboembolic lungs of mice. Conclusion: Our study revealed a new pathway for activating integrin αIIbβ3 inside-out signals and NF-κB, which contributes to the antiplatelet aggregation effect of glabridin. Glabridin could be a valuable prophylactic or clinical treatment option for CVDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the biological effects of sex hormones (17β-estradiol and testosterone) on rabbit articular chondrocytes from different genders. We cultured primary rabbit articular chondrocytes from both genders with varying concentration of sex hormones. We evaluate cell proliferation and biochemical functions byMTT and GAG assay. The chondrocyte function and phenotypes were analyzed by mRNA level using RT-PCR. Immunocytochemical staining was also used to evaluate the generation of collagen-II. This study demonstrated that 17β-estradiol had greater positive regulation on the biological function and gene expressions of articular chondrocytes than testosterone, with the optimal concentrations of 10-6 and 10-7 M, particularly for female chondrocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements require conductive gel to ensure good conduction between the electrodes and skin (or scalp). But this gel may make patients uncomfortable because of possible skin allergies during long-term measurement. The measurement procedure is also tedious because pasting the electrodes to the patient's scalp is time consuming. The required lead wires also constrain patient movements. This study uses conductive fabric as the capacitive electrode for EEG measurements. This paper provides the design considerations and the related theoretical analysis for this method. A long-term, null-input experiment was conducted to verify the stability of the proposed system. Experiments were conducted over the hair of patients to verify the feasibility of using the method during EEG monitoring. Various mental task experiments were also conducted. The changes in frequency domain analysis show that the proposed strategy discriminates between different mental tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim of this study: The Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu decoction (XFZYD) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine for treating cardiovascular diseases. The therapeutic effects of this XFZYD have been well documented especially in treating of atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia. Since this decoction can induce endothelial progenitor cell angiogenesis, it can provide experimental evidence for the treatment of ischemic diseases. Patients who are admitted to the hospital with acute ischemic stroke are initially considered candidates for the recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). However, rt-PA therapy is still lesser than ideal due to its major side effect of hemorrhaging. Therefore, medical research has been devoted to finding an alternative and/or complementary therapy for ischemic stroke. In the present study, we evaluated the protective effect of the combination of XFZYD with or without rt-PA in a rat model of thromboembolic stroke. Materials and methods: A cerebral thromboembolic stroke animal model and immunoblotting analysis were used to assess the effects of XFZYD and rt-PA. Results: Treatment with rt-PA (8mg/kg) or XFZYD (1.5 and 3.0g/kg/day) alone showed slight reductions in the infarct volume compared to solvent-treated rats. However, XFZYD (1.5 and 3.0g/kg/day) obviously potentiated rt-PA-mediated reduction in the infarct volume in cerebral ischemic regions. In addition, treatment with rt-PA significantly reduced both tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) but not hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α or active caspase-3 expressions in ischemic regions, whereas treatment with XFZYD (3.0g/kg/day) significantly reduced all of these protein expressions in ischemic regions. Moreover, treatment with XFZYD (1.5 and 3.0g/kg/day) obviously potentiated rt-PA-mediated reductions in TNF-α, iNOS, HIF-1α, and active caspase-3 expressions. Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that XFZYD potentiated rt-PA-mediated neuroprotection against thromboembolic stroke in rats. This neuroprotection is probably mediated by the inhibition of HIF-1α and TNF-α, followed by the inhibition of inflammatory responses (i.e., iNOS) and apoptosis (active caspase-3). These results provide a better understanding of the scientific validation of the therapeutic value of the combination of XFZYD with rt-PA in ischemic stroke. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We estimate the Eddington bias on weak-lensing mass measurements of shear-selected galaxy cluster samples. The mass bias is expected to be significant because constructions of cluster samples from peaks in weak-lensing mass maps and measurements of cluster masses from their tangential shear profiles share the same noise. We quantify this mass bias from large sets of mock cluster samples with analytical density profiles and realistic large-scale structure noise from ray-tracing simulations. We find that, even for peaks with signal-to-noise ratio larger than 4.0 in weak-lensing mass maps constructed in a deep survey with a high source galaxy number density of 30 arcmin−2, derived weak-lensing masses for these shear-selected clusters are still biased high by ∼55% on average. Such a large bias mainly originates from upscattered low-mass objects, which is an inevitable consequence of selecting clusters with a noisy observable directly linked to the mass measurement. We also investigate the dependence of the mass bias on different physical and observational parameters, finding that the mass bias strongly correlates with cluster redshifts, true halo masses, and selection signal-to-noise thresholds, but having moderate dependence on observed weak-lensing masses and survey depths. This bias, albeit considerable, can still be modeled accurately in statistical studies of shear-selected clusters, as the intrinsic scatter around the mean bias is found to be reasonable in size. We demonstrate that such a bias can explain the deviation in X-ray properties previously found on a shear-selected cluster sample. Our result will be useful for turning large samples of shear-selected clusters available in future surveys into potential probes of cosmology and cluster astrophysics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive galaxies display extended light profiles that can reach several hundreds of kiloparsecs. We use data from the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) survey that is simultaneously wide (~100 deg2) and deep (>28.5 mag arcsec-2 in i band) to study the stellar haloes of a sample of ~7000 massive galaxies at z ~ 0.4. The depth of the HSC data enables us to measure surface mass density profiles to 100 kpc for individual galaxies without stacking. As in previous work, we find that more massive galaxies exhibit more extended outer profiles than smaller galaxies. When this extended light is not properly accounted for (because of shallow imaging and/or inadequate profile modelling), the derived stellar mass function can be significantly underestimated at the high-mass end. Across our sample, the ellipticity of outer light profile increases substantially with radius. We show for the first time that these ellipticity gradients steepen dramatically as a function of galaxy mass, but we detect no mass dependence in outer colour gradients. Our results support the two-phase formation scenario for massive galaxies in which outer envelopes are built up at a later time from a series of merging events. We provide surface mass density profiles in a convenient tabulated format to facilitate comparisons with predictions from numerical simulations of galaxy formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive galaxies display extended light profiles that can reach several hundreds of kiloparsecs. We use data from the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) survey that is simultaneously wide (∼100 deg2) and deep (>28.5 mag arcsec-2 in i band) to study the stellar haloes of a sample of ∼7000 massive galaxies at z ∼ 0.4. The depth of the HSC data enables us to measure surface mass density profiles to 100 kpc for individual galaxies without stacking. As in previous work, we find that more massive galaxies exhibit more extended outer profiles than smaller galaxies. When this extended light is not properly accounted for (because of shallow imaging and/or inadequate profile modelling), the derived stellar mass function can be significantly underestimated at the high-mass end. Across our sample, the ellipticity of outer light profile increases substantially with radius. We show for the first time that these ellipticity gradients steepen dramatically as a function of galaxy mass, but we detect no mass dependence in outer colour gradients. Our results support the two-phase formation scenario for massive galaxies in which outer envelopes are built up at a later time from a series of merging events. We provide surface mass density profiles in a convenient tabulated format to facilitate comparisons with predictions from numerical simulations of galaxy formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the cross-correlation between 151 luminous quasars (MUV < -26) and 179 protocluster candidates at z ~ 3.8, extracted from the Wide imaging survey (~121 deg2) performed as part of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP). We find that only two out of 151 quasars reside in regions that are more overdense compared to the average field at >4 σ. The distributions of the distances between quasars and the nearest protoclusters and the significance of the overdensity at the positions of quasars are statistically identical to those found for g-dropout galaxies, suggesting that quasars tend to reside in almost the same environment as star-forming galaxies at this redshift. Using stacking analysis, we find that the average density of g-dropout galaxies around quasars is slightly higher than that around g-dropout galaxies on 1.0-2.5 pMpc scales, while at <0.5 pMpc that around quasars tends to be lower. We also find that quasars with higher UV luminosity or with more massive black holes tend to avoid the most overdense regions, and that the quasar near-zone sizes are anti-correlated with overdensity. These findings are consistent with a scenario in which luminous quasars at z ~ 4 reside in structures that are less massive than those expected for the progenitors of today's rich clusters of galaxies, and possibly that luminous quasarsmay be suppressing star formation in their close vicinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a joint X-ray, optical and weak-lensing analysis for X-ray luminous galaxy clusters selected from the MCXC (Meta-Catalog of X-Ray Detected Clusters of Galaxies) cluster catalog in the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP) survey field with S16A data, As a pilot study of our planned series papers, we measure hydrostatic equilibrium (H.E.) masses using XMM-Newton data for four clusters in the current coverage area out of a sample of 22 MCXC clusters. We additionally analyze a non-MCXC cluster associated with one MCXC cluster. We show that H.E. masses for the MCXC clusters are correlated with cluster richness from the CAMIRA catalog (Oguri et al. 2017), while that for the non-MCXC cluster deviates from the scaling relation. The mass normalization of the relationship between the cluster richness and H.E. mass is compatible with one inferred by matching CAMIRA cluster abundance with a theoretical halo mass function. The mean gas mass fraction based on H.E. masses for the MCXC clusters is ≺fgas≻=0.125±0.012 at spherical overdensity Δ=500, which is ~80-90 percent of the cosmic mean baryon fraction, Ωb/Ωm, measured by cosmic microwave background experiments. We find that the mean baryon fraction estimated from X-ray and HSC-SSP optical data is comparable to Ωb/Ωm. A weak-lensing shear catalog of background galaxies, combined with photometric redshifts, is currently available only for three clusters in our sample. Hydrostatic equilibrium masses roughly agree with weak-lensing masses, albeit with large uncertainty. This study demonstrates that further multiwavelength study for a large sample of clusters using X-ray, HSC-SSP optical and weak lensing data will enable us to understand cluster physics and utilize cluster-based cosmology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a statistical study of the redshift evolution of the cluster galaxy population over a wide redshift range from 0.1 to 1.1, using ~1900 optically-selected CAMIRA clusters from ~232 deg2 of the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Wide S16A data. Our stacking technique with a statistical background subtraction reveals color-magnitude diagrams of red-sequence and blue cluster galaxies down to faint magnitudes of mz ~ 24. We find that the linear relation of red-sequence galaxies in the color-magnitude diagram extends down to the faintest magnitudes we explore with a small intrinsic scatter σint(g - r) < 0.1. The scatter does not evolve significantly with redshift. The stacked color-magnitude diagrams are used to define red and blue galaxies in clusters in order to study their radial number density profiles without resorting to photometric redshifts of individual galaxies. We find that red galaxies are significantly more concentrated toward cluster centers and blue galaxies dominate the outskirts of clusters. We explore the fraction of red galaxies in clusters as a function of redshift, and find that the red fraction decreases with increasing distances from cluster centers. The red fraction exhibits a moderate decrease with increasing redshift. The radial number density profiles of cluster member galaxies are also used to infer the location of the steepest slope in the three-dimensional galaxy density profiles. For a fixed threshold in richness, we find little redshift evolution in this location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conduct a systematic search for galaxy protoclusters at z ~ 3.8 based on the latest internal data release (S16A) of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru strategic program (HSC-SSP). In the Wide layer of the HSC-SSP, we investigate the large-scale projected sky distribution of g-dropout galaxies over an area of 121 deg2, and identify 216 large-scale overdense regions (>4 σ overdensity significance) that are likely protocluster candidates. Of these, 37 are located within 8΄ (3.4 physical Mpc) of other protocluster candidates of higher overdensity, and are expected to merge into a single massive structure by z = 0. Therefore, we find 179 unique protocluster candidates in our survey. A cosmological simulation that includes projection effects predicts that more than 76% of these candidates will evolve into galaxy clusters with halo masses of at least 1014 M⊙ by z = 0. The unprecedented size of our protocluster candidate catalog allows us to perform, for the first time, an angular clustering analysis of the systematic sample of protocluster candidates. We find a correlation length of 35.0 h-1 Mpc. The relation between correlation length and number density of z ~ 3.8 protocluster candidates is consistent with the prediction of the ΛCDM model, and the correlation length is similar to that of rich clusters in the local universe. This result suggests that our protocluster candidates are tracing similar spatial structures to those expected from the progenitors of rich clusters, and enhances the confidence that our method for identifying protoclusters at high redshifts is robust. In years to come, our protocluster search will be extended to the entire HSC-SSP Wide sky coverage of ~ 1400 deg2 to probe cluster formation over a wide redshift range of z ~ 2-6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present clustering properties from 579492 Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) at z ~ 4-6 over the 100 deg2 sky (corresponding to a 1.4 Gpc3 volume) identified in early data of the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program survey. We derive angular correlation functions (ACFs) for the HSC LBGs with unprecedentedly high statistical accuracies at z ~ 4-6, and compare them with the halo occupation distribution (HOD) models. We clearly identify significant ACF excesses in 10" < θ < 90", the transition scale between one- and two-halo terms, suggestive of the existence of the non-linear halo bias effect. Combining the HOD models and previous clustering measurements of faint LBGs at z ~ 4-7, we investigate the dark matter halo mass (Mh) of the z ~ 4-7 LBGs and its correlation with various physical properties including the star formation rate (SFR), the stellar-to-halo mass ratio (SHMR), and the dark matter accretion rate (M˙h) over a wide mass range of Mh/M⊙ = 4 × 1010-4 × 1012. We find that the SHMR increases from z ~ 4 to 7 by a factor of ~4 at Mh ≃ 1 × 1011M⊙ , while the SHMR shows no strong evolution in the similar redshift range at Mh ≃ 1 × 1012M⊙ . Interestingly, we identify a tight relation of SFR/M˙h-Mh showing no significant evolution beyond 0.15 dex in this wide mass range over z ~ 4-7. This weak evolution suggests that the SFR/M˙h-Mh relation is a fundamental relation in high-redshift galaxy formation whose star formation activities are regulated by the dark matter mass assembly. Assuming this fundamental relation, we calculate the cosmic star formation rate densities (SFRDs) over z = 0-10 (a.k.a. the Madau-Lilly plot). The cosmic SFRD evolution based on the fundamental relation agrees with the one obtained by observations, suggesting that the cosmic SFRD increase from z ~ 10 to 4 - 2 (decrease from z ~ 4-2 to 0) is mainly driven by the increase of the halo abundance (the decrease of the accretion rate). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]