Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered lymphocytes for cancer therapy

Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) usually combine the antigen binding site of a monoclonal antibody with the signal activating machinery of a T cell, freeing antigen recognition from MHC restriction and thus breaking one of the barriers to more widespread application of cellular therapy. Similar to treatment strategies employing monoclonal antibodies, T cells expressing CARs are highly targeted, but additionally offer the potential benefits of active trafficking to tumor sites, in vivo expansion and long-term persistence. Furthermore, gene transfer allows the introduction of countermeasures to tumor immune evasion and of safety mechanisms. Areas covered: The basic structure of so-called first and later generation CARs and their potential advantages over other immune therapy systems. How these molecules can be grafted into immune cells (including retroviral and non-retroviral transduction methods) and strategies to improve the in vivo persistence and function of immune cells expressing CARs. Examples of tumor-associated antigens that have been targeted in preclinical models and clinical experience with these modified cells. Safety issues surrounding CAR gene transfer into T cells and potential solutions to them. Expert opinion: Because of recent advances in immunology, genetics and cell processing, CAR-modified T cells will likely play an increasing role in the cellular therapy of cancer, chronic infections and autoimmune disorders

Nonextensivity and Galaxy Clustering in the Universe

We investigate two important questions about the use of the nonextensive thermostatistics (NETS) formalism in the context of nonlinear galaxy clustering in the Universe. Firstly, we define a quantitative criterion for justifying nonextensivity at different physical scales. Then, we discuss the physics behind the ansatz of the entropic parameter $q(r)$. Our results suggest the approximate range where nonextensivity can be justified and, hence, give some support to the applicability of NETS to the study of large scale structures.Comment: 8 pages, written version of a talk presented in the International Workshop on Trends and Perspectives on Extensive and Non-Extensive Statistical Mechanics. Accepted for publication in Physica

Synthesis of chitosan oligomers/propolis/silver-nanoparticles composite systems and study of their activity against Diplodia seriata

The synthesis and characterization of composites of oligomeric chitosan with propolis extract which allow the incorporation of a third component (silver nanoparticles) are reported, together with their application in aqueous or hydroalcoholic solutions with a view to the formation of adhesive substances or nanofilms for the protection of vineyards against harmful xylophagous fungi. The antimicrobial properties of the association of the two biological products or those resulting from the incorporation of silver nanoparticles (NPs) are studied and discussed. The efficacy of the chitosan oligomers/propolis/silver NPs ternary system is assessed in vitro for Diplodia fungi. A preliminary study on the convenience of replacing propolis with gentisic acid is also presented

Análisis numérico de los mapas de patrones de flujo del refrigerante R600a en un colector/evaporador de una bomba de calor asistida por energía solar

This research work presents a detailed description of the flow patterns maps generated in a horizontal pipe of the collector/evaporator of a direct-expansion solar-assisted heat pump, using R600a refrigerant as working fluid. The study was performed in a pipe with an internal diameter of 3.8 mm and a length of 1000 mm, mass velocities varying between 197.59 and 267.26 kg·m-2·s-1 and heat flux between 72.83 and 488.27 W·m-2; during the experimental tests, an incident solar radiation between 0 and 652.9 W·m-2 was present. The Wojtan, Ursenbacher and Thome correlation was considered for the analysis and the model used does not require iterative calculations; moreover, it carries out a detailed analysis of the different zones present along the pipe. The predominant zones in this study are intermittent, annular and dryout, found in the five tests, however, due to the working conditions in all tests with the exception of test A, mist and stratified-wavy flow were found.En la presente investigación se detallan los mapas de patrones de flujo que se generan en una tubería horizontal de un colector/evaporador componente de una bomba de calor de expansión directa asistida por energía solar, utilizando el refrigerante R600a como fluido de trabajo. El estudio se realizó en una tubería de 3,8 mm de diámetro interno y 1000 mm de longitud, las velocidades de masa variaron entre 197,59 y 267,26 kg·m-2·s-1, el flujo de calor entre 72,83 y 488,27 W·m-2, durante las pruebas experimentales se presentó una radiación solar incidente entre 0 y 652,9 W·m-2. Se consideró para el análisis la correlación de Wojtan, Ursenbacher y Thome, el modelo utilizado no requiere de cálculos iterativos, además, plantea un análisis detallado de las diferentes zonas presentes a lo largo de la tubería, evidenciando una mayor precisión en los resultados. Las zonas predominantes en los resultados de este estudio son intermitente, anular y secado, encontrados en las cinco pruebas, sin embargo, por las condiciones de trabajo en todas las pruebas a excepción de la prueba A, se encontró el flujo niebla y estratificado-ondulado

Multiplicity distributions inside parton cascades developing in a medium

The explanation of the suppression of high-pT hadron yields at RHIC in terms of jet-quenching implies that the multiplicity distributions of particles inside a jet and jet-like particle correlations differ strongly in nucleus-nucleus collisions at RHIC or at the LHC from those observed at e+e- or hadron colliders. We present a framework for describing the medium-induced modification, which has a direct interpretation in terms of a probabilistic medium-modified parton cascade, and which treats leading and subleading partons on an equal footing. We show that our approach can account for the strong suppression of single inclusive hadron spectra measured in Au-Au collisions at RHIC, and that this implies a characteristic distortion of the single inclusive distribution of soft partons inside the jet. We determine, as a function of the jet energy, to what extent the soft fragments within a jet can be measured above some momentum cut.Comment: 5 pages, 4 eps-figures; talk given at Hot Quarks 2006, Villasimius (Sardinia, Italy), May 15-20, 200

A multidisciplinary approach to assess the health state of heritage structures: the case study of the Church of Monastery of Jerónimos in Lisbon

The preservation and risk mitigation of built cultural heritage require the use of reliable tools which enable to give a better insight into the complex behaviour of these structures, by providing a correct diagnosis of their health conditions, and to identify potential vulnerabilities in order to prevent the risk of damage and to design in advance adequate retrofit solutions. The present paper describes an extensive experimental/numerical investigation campaign carried out on the Church of Monastery of Jerónimos in Lisbon in accordance with an iterative multidisciplinary approach and with the purpose of assessing the health state of one of the most prominent Portuguese monument, in light of future prevention actions. Special stress is given to the diagnostic procedure which includes and details in situ and laboratory testing, dynamic identification, continuous structural health monitoring and analysis of environmental effects on the static and dynamic behaviour of the church. The structural performance of the temple under conditions of gravity loading is analysed as well and potential collapse mechanisms are identified. The results are compared with the actual response of the temple allowing to evaluate its safety level

Performance of soybean seedlings upon nutrient application by seed coating

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different seed coatings consisting of various combinations of three nutrients (calcium, magnesium and silicon) on two soybean cultivars (BRS 243 RR and CD 233 RR). Dolomitic limestone and aluminum silicate were chosen as the nutrient sources. Leaf area, plant height, shoots dry matter, crop growth rate, relative growth rate and net assimilation rate were the studied variables, evincing that the seed coating that comprised calcium, magnesium and silicon led to better performance in terms of growth rates 30 days after emergence. Significant differences in the response to the seed coatings were also observed between the two studied soybean genotypes