Single shot phase contrast imaging using laser-produced Betatron x-ray beams

Development of x-ray phase contrast imaging applications with a laboratory scale source have been limited by the long exposure time needed to obtain one image. We demonstrate, using the Betatron x-ray radiation produced when electrons are accelerated and wiggled in the laser-wakefield cavity, that a high quality phase contrast image of a complex object (here, a bee), located in air, can be obtained with a single laser shot. The Betatron x-ray source used in this proof of principle experiment has a source diameter of 1.7 microns and produces a synchrotron spectrum with critical energy E_c=12.3 +- 2.5 keV and 10^9 photons per shot in the whole spectrum.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

The spontaneous emergence of ordered phases in crumpled sheets

X-ray tomography is performed to acquire 3D images of crumpled aluminum foils. We develop an algorithm to trace out the labyrinthian paths in the three perpendicular cross sections of the data matrices. The tangent-tangent correlation function along each path is found to decay exponentially with an effective persistence length that shortens as the crumpled ball becomes more compact. In the mean time, we observed ordered domains near the crust, similar to the lamellae phase mixed by the amorphous portion in lyotropic liquid crystals. The size and density of these domains grow with further compaction, and their orientation favors either perpendicular or parallel to the radial direction. Ordering is also identified near the core with an arbitrary orientation, exemplary of the spontaneous symmetry breaking

Critical Properties of Spectral Functions for the 1D Anisotropic t-J Models with an Energy Gap

We exactly calculate the momentum-dependent critical exponents for spectral functions in the one-dimensional anisotropic t-J models with a gap either in the spin or charge excitation spectrum. Our approach is based on the Bethe ansatz technique combined with finite-size scaling techniques in conformal field theory. It is found that the spectral functions show a power-law singularity, which occurs at frequencies determined by the dispersion of a massive spin (or charge) excitation.We discuss how the nontrivial contribution of a massive excitation controls the singular behavior in optical response functions.Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX, 2 figures(available upon request), accepted for publication in JPSJ 66 (1997) No.

Exploring patterns of recurrent melanoma in Northeast Scotland to inform the introduction a digital self-examination intervention

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

T-cell homing therapy for reducing regulatory T cells and preserving effector T-cell function in large solid tumors

Purpose: Infused autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and tumor-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells typically surround malignant lesions or penetrate small tumor nodules but fail to penetrate large solid tumors, significantly compromising their antitumor impact. Strategies to overcome this primary challenge are largely required. Experimental Design: We tested the effects of IL12 plus doxorubicin on T-cell penetration and efficacy in solid tumors in a murine lung cancer model, a murine breast carcinoma lung metastasis model, and two human xenograft tumor models bearing large tumors (> 10 mm). Results: Intriguingly, this simple approach increased the numbers, the distribution, and the depth of penetration of infused CD8+ T cells in these tumors, including both TILs and CAR T cells. This combined treatment halted tumor progression and significantly extended survival time. Studies of the underlying mechanism revealed multiple effects. First, the combined treatment maintained the high ratios of immune-stimulatory receptors to immune-inhibitory receptors on infiltrated CD8+ T cells, reduced the accumulation of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells, and enhanced the numbers of T-bet+ effector T cells in the tumors. Second, doxorubicin induced chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10, which may attract NKG2D+CD8+ T cells to tumors, and this effect was boosted by IL12-induced IFNg accumulation in tumors, promoting the penetration of NKG2D+CD8+ T cells. Conclusions: The deep penetration of infused T cells associated with combined IL12 plus doxorubicin yielded striking therapeutic effects in murine and human xenograft solid tumors. This approach might broaden the application of T-cell therapy to a wider range of solid tumors

Spectral function of the 1D Hubbard model in the U→+∞U\to +\infty limit

We show that the one-particle spectral functions of the one-dimensional Hubbard model diverge at the Fermi energy like $|\omega-\varepsilon_F|^{-3/8}$ in the $U\to +\infty$ limit. The Luttinger liquid behaviour $|\omega-\varepsilon_F|^\alpha$, where $\alpha \to 1/8$ as $U\to +\infty$, should be limited to $|\omega-\varepsilon_F| \sim t^2/U$ (for $U$ large but finite), which shrinks to a single point, $\omega=\varepsilon_F$,in that limit. The consequences for the observation of the Luttinger liquid behaviour in photoemission and inverse photoemission experiments are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX, 2 figures on reques

Critical Properties in Photoemmision Spectra for One Dimensional Orbitally Degenerate Mott Insulator

Critical properties in photoemission spectra for the one-dimensional Mott insulator with orbital degeneracy are studied by exploiting the integrable {\it t-J} model, which is a supersymmetric generalization of the SU($n$) degenerate spin model. We discuss the critical properties for the holon dispersion as well as the spinon dispersions, by applying the conformal field theory analysis to the exact finite-size energy spectrum. We study the effect of orbital-splitting on the spectra by evaluating the momentum-dependent critical exponents.Comment: 8 pages, REVTeX, 2 figures(available upon request), accepted for publication in JPSJ 68 (1999) No.

Surface characterization and surface electronic structure of organic quasi-one-dimensional charge transfer salts

We have thoroughly characterized the surfaces of the organic charge-transfer salts TTF-TCNQ and (TMTSF)2PF6 which are generally acknowledged as prototypical examples of one-dimensional conductors. In particular x-ray induced photoemission spectroscopy turns out to be a valuable non-destructive diagnostic tool. We show that the observation of generic one-dimensional signatures in photoemission spectra of the valence band close to the Fermi level can be strongly affected by surface effects. Especially, great care must be exercised taking evidence for an unusual one-dimensional many-body state exclusively from the observation of a pseudogap.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, v2: minor changes in text and figure labellin

Immunospecific targeting of CD45 expressing lymphoid cells: Towards improved detection agents of the sentinel lymph node

This study was designed to demonstrate the potential of small nanoparticulate lymphotropic contrast agents designed to bind with high affinity to lymphoid cells overexpressing the CD45 antigen. To this end, small gold nanoparticles used as model were conjugated to anti-CD45 antibodies and injected in mice in the dorsal toe of the fore/hind paw. Chemical analysis demonstrated rapid uptake and transport of the nanoparticles in the lymphatic as well as significant retention of the nanoparticles with high binding affinity to lymphoid cells in the popliteal and axillary lymph nodes in comparison to non-targeted nanoparticles.Tianqing Liu, Aidan Cousins, Chia-Chi Chien, Ivan Kempson, Sarah Thompson, Yeukuang Hwu, Benjamin Thierr

Boron-rich, cytocompatible block copolymer nanoparticles by polymerization-induced self-assembly

Core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) with a boron-rich core were synthesized by RAFT-mediated polymerization-induced self-assembly using a new methacrylic boronate ester monomer. Under specific conditions, sub-100 nm spherical NPs could be obtained at high conversions by either emulsion or dispersion RAFT polymerization using poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (POEGMA) dithiobenozate-based chain transfer agents. Phenylboronic acid surface-functionalized NPs were obtained using a telechelic POEGMA. Primary data on biocompatibility is provided and suggests suitability as boron delivery agent for boron neutron capture therapy