Work statistics, irreversible heat and correlations build-up in joining two spin chains

We investigate the influences of quantum many-body effects, such as criticality and the existence of factorisation fields, in the thermodynamic cost of establishing a bonding link between two independent quantum spin chains. We provide a physical interpretation of the behavior of irreversible work spent in such process by linking the phenomenology of such quantities to the properties of the spectrum of the systemComment: 9 pages, 8 figures. Contribution to the FQMT13 special volum

Universal scaling of a classical impurity in the quantum Ising chain

We study finite size scaling for the magnetic observables of an impurity residing at the endpoint of an open quantum Ising chain in a transverse magnetic field, realized by locally rescaling the magnetic field by a factor $\mu \neq 1$. In the homogeneous chain limit at $\mu = 1$, we find the expected finite size scaling for the longitudinal impurity magnetization, with no specific scaling for the transverse magnetization. At variance, in the classical impurity limit, $\mu = 0$, we recover finite scaling for the longitudinal magnetization, while the transverse one basically does not scale. For this case, we provide both analytic approximate expressions for the magnetization and the susceptibility as well as numerical evidences for the scaling behavior. At intermediate values of $\mu$, finite size scaling is violated, and we provide a possible explanation of this result in terms of the appearance of a second, impurity related length scale. Finally, on going along the standard quantum-to-classical mapping between statistical models, we derive the classical counterpart of the quantum Ising chain with an impurity at its endpoint as a classical Ising model on a square lattice wrapped on a half-infinite cylinder, with the links along the first circle modified as a function of $\mu$.Comment: Update closer to published versio

An investigation of vegetation and other earth resource/feature parameters using LANDSAT and other remote sensing data. A: LANDSAT. B: Remote sensing of volcanic emissions

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

RELEASING THE BRAKES: STRATEGIES TO REMODEL THE TUMOR ENVIRONMENT, INCREASE IMMUNE INFILTRATE, AND INDUCE TUMOR CELL DEATH

The tumor immune infiltrate and tumor cytokine microenvironment have been shown to be crucially important to patient responses to immunotherapy. The presence of effector T cells in the tumor correlates highly with good disease prognosis, while the presence of regulatory and inhibitory cell subsets and cytokines predicts poor outcomes. Thus, the ability to manipulate the cellular infiltrate and cytokine presence within the tumor microenvironment (TME) represents an important step forward in initiating productive responses against tumors. Here we employ several vaccination strategies and molecular methods to activate anti-tumor immunity, increase tumor immune infiltration, and skew the cytokine environment of tumors, all with the goal of creating durable and curative immune responses. We show that an attenuated strain of Listeria Monocytogenes (LM), engineered to express the tumor antigens TRP-2 and GP-100, has moderate efficacy in activating lymphocytes, increasing immune infiltrate, and reducing tumor burden. However, when this vaccine is combined with the checkpoint blockade antibody aCTLA4-IgG2a, immune infiltration and tumor control increases greatly. These effects are dependent on the ability of aCTLA4-IgG2a to bind Fc receptors and reduce the percentage of CD4+ cells that are FoxP3+. Lastly, we utilize the the STING agonist ADU-S100, a modified cyclic-di-adenosine molecule, henceforth referred to as cyclic dinucleotide (CDN), to induce innate effector cytokines like GM-CSF, IL-1b, IFNb, and TNFa. Intratumoral administration of CDN leads to TNFa-dependent tumor necrosis and clearance of established tumors. We explore the acute mechanism of CDN action and find that both immune and stromal cells play critical functions by sensing STING, producing cytokines, and modulating the tumor microenvironment. Interestingly, stromal cell CDN sensing seems to be indispensable for achieving acute tumor necrosis by CDN injection. All of the above methods represent potential clinical targets to manipulate the TME and increase immune infiltrate to achieve better responses, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are important to understand as we go forward exploring the next generation of therapeutic targets and vaccines

An investigation of vegetation and other earth resource/feature parameters using LANDSAT and other remote sensing data. A: LANDSAT. B: Remote sensing of volcanic emissions

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Irreversible Work and Inner Friction in Quantum Thermodynamic Processes

We discuss the thermodynamics of closed quantum systems driven out of equilibrium by a change in a control parameter and undergoing a unitary process. We compare the work actually done on the system with the one that would be performed along ideal adiabatic and isothermal transformations. The comparison with the latter leads to the introduction of irreversible work, while that with the former leads to the introduction of inner friction. We show that these two quantities can be treated on an equal footing, as both can be linked with the heat exchanged in thermalization processes and both can be expressed as relative entropies. Furthermore, we show that a specific fluctuation relation for the entropy production associated with the inner friction exists, which allows the inner friction to be written in terms of its cumulants.All the authors acknowledge support from COST MP1209 Action. F. P., G. F., and N. L. G. acknowledge insightful discussions with Michele Campisi, John Goold, and Mauro Paternostro. T. J. G. A. is supported by the European Commission, the European Social Fund, and the Region Calabria through the program POR Calabria FSE 2007-2013-Asse IV Capitale Umano-Obiettivo Operativo M2. F. G. and R. Z. acknowledge MINECO, CSIC, the EU commission, UIB and FEDER funding under Grants FIS2011-23526 (TIQS), postdoctoral JAE program (ESF) and Invited professors program.Peer reviewe

Full-length Ebola glycoprotein accumulates in the endoplasmic reticulum

The Filoviridae family comprises of Ebola and Marburg viruses, which are known to cause lethal hemorrhagic fever. However, there is no effective anti-viral therapy or licensed vaccines currently available for these human pathogens. The envelope glycoprotein (GP) of Ebola virus, which mediates entry into target cells, is cytotoxic and this effect maps to a highly glycosylated mucin-like region in the surface subunit of GP (GP1). However, the mechanism underlying this cytotoxic property of GP is unknown. To gain insight into the basis of this GP-induced cytotoxicity, HEK293T cells were transiently transfected with full-length and mucin-deleted (Δmucin) Ebola GP plasmids and GP localization was examined relative to the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi, early and late endosomes using deconvolution fluorescent microscopy. Full-length Ebola GP was observed to accumulate in the ER. In contrast, GPΔmucin was uniformly expressed throughout the cell and did not localize in the ER. The Ebola major matrix protein VP40 was also co-expressed with GP to investigate its influence on GP localization. GP and VP40 co-expression did not alter GP localization to the ER. Also, when VP40 was co-expressed with the nucleoprotein (NP), it localized to the plasma membrane while NP accumulated in distinct cytoplasmic structures lined with vimentin. These latter structures are consistent with aggresomes and may serve as assembly sites for filoviral nucleocapsids. Collectively, these data suggest that full-length GP, but not GPΔmucin, accumulates in the ER in close proximity to the nuclear membrane, which may underscore its cytotoxic property

Adjustable Intragastric Balloons: A 12-Month Pilot Trial in Endoscopic Weight Loss Management

Intragastric balloons are associated with (1) early period intolerance, (2) diminished effect within 3–4 months, and (3) bowel obstruction risk mandating removal at 6 months. The introduction of an adjustable balloon could improve comfort and offer greater efficacy. A migration prevention function, safely enabling prolonged implantation, could improve efficacy and weight maintenance post-extraction. The first implantations of an adjustable balloon with an attached migration prevention anchor are reported. The primary endpoint was the absence of bowel perforation, obstruction, or hemorrhage. Eighteen patients with mean BMI of 37.3 were implanted with the Spatz Adjustable Balloon system (ABS) for 12 months. Balloon volumes were adjusted for intolerance or weight loss plateau. Mean weight loss at 24 weeks was 15.6 kg with 26.4% EWL (percent of excess weight loss) and 24.4 kg with 48.8% EWL at 52 weeks. Sixteen adjustments were successfully performed. Six downward adjustments alleviated intolerance, yielding additional mean weight loss of 4.6 kg. Ten upward adjustments for weight loss plateau yielded a mean additional weight loss of 7 kg. Seven balloons were removed prematurely. Complications necessitating early removal included valve malfunction (1), gastritis (1), Mallory–Weiss tear (1), NSAID (2× dose/2 weeks) perforating ulcer (1), and balloon deflation (1). Two incidents of catheter shear from the chain: one passed uneventfully and one caused an esophageal laceration without perforation during extraction. The Spatz ABS has been successfully implanted in 18 patients. (1) Upward adjustments yielded additional weight loss. (2) Downward adjustments alleviated intolerance, with continued weight loss. (3) Preliminary 1-year implantation results are encouraging