Solid-state laser system for laser cooling of Sodium

We demonstrate a frequency-stabilized, all-solid laser source at 589 nm with up to 800 mW output power. The laser relies on sum-frequency generation from two laser sources at 1064 nm and 1319 nm through a PPKTP crystal in a doubly-resonant cavity. We obtain conversion efficiency as high as 2 W/W^2 after optimization of the cavity parameters. The output wavelength is tunable over 60 GHz, which is sufficient to lock on the Sodium D2 line. The robustness, beam quality, spectral narrowness and tunability of our source make it an alternative to dye lasers for atomic physics experiments with Sodium atoms

Potent and broad HIV-neutralizing antibodies in memory B cells and plasma

Induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) is a goal of HIV-1 vaccine development. Antibody 10E8, reactive with the distal portion of the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of HIV-1 gp41, is broadly neutralizing. However, the ontogeny of distal MPER antibodies and the relationship of memory B cell to plasma bnAbs are poorly understood. HIV-1–specific memory B cell flow sorting and proteomic identification of anti-MPER plasma antibodies from an HIV-1–infected individual were used to isolate broadly neutralizing distal MPER bnAbs of the same B cell clonal lineage. Structural analysis demonstrated that antibodies from memory B cells and plasma recognized the envelope gp41 bnAb epitope in a distinct orientation compared with other distal MPER bnAbs. The unmutated common ancestor of this distal MPER bnAb was autoreactive, suggesting lineage immune tolerance control. Construction of chimeric antibodies of memory B cell and plasma antibodies yielded a bnAb that potently neutralized most HIV-1 strains

Palliative treatment for HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma

Objective. To evaluate palliative treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in patients with HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). The primary end-point was symptom relief; the secondary end-point was tumour response to treatment and overall survival. Methods. This study includes 100 patients with HIV-related KS. Combination chemotherapy was administered with ABV (doxorubicin, bleomycin and vincristine) (33 patients), or vinblastine and bleomycin (Vbl-B) (48 patients), depending on the CD4+ count at presentation. Radiotherapy was administered to 31 patients. Results. Symptomatic relief was noted within 4 weeks of chemotherapy and response after 8 weeks. Twenty-nine patients (29%) had partial responses, 8 patients (8%) achieved complete responses, and 37 patients (37%) had stable disease. Twenty-six patients (26%) had disease progression. The response rate was 37%, with clinical benefit achieved in 74% of patients. Patients who received radiation therapy for bleeding and painful ulcers had complete responses. Twenty-seven patients (27%) received 8 Gray (Gy) single fractions. Two lower-half bodies (8 Gy) and one upper-half body (6 Gy) were irradiated. Five patients received a course of radiation for nasopharyngeal and skeletal lesions (20 Gy), rectal lesions (30 Gy) and an eyelid lesion (12 Gy). Forty-two patients (42%) are alive, with a median survival of 11.2 months (range 2 - 49 months). Fifty-eight patients (58%) died due to progression of HIV disease or associated opportunistic infections with a median overall survival of 8.8 months (range 1 - 31 months). Conclusion. In the absence of antiretroviral therapy the care and prognosis of HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma remains dismal. However, symptomatic relief and an improved quality of life can still be offered.Articl

Properties of thin AIN films prepared by PECVD and rapid thermal processes

The paper deals with structural, morphological and electrical investigations of thin AIN films prepared by NH3 plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The results are compared with those when 600 nm thick Al films were rapid annealed (RTA) at 600 and 800°C in NH3 atmosphere for a time interval of 15, 30, 60 and 180 sec. Correlations between the properties of the layers, and the technological process and parameters were observed

Study of the static quadrupole moment of the K=35/2 isomer in W-179

The quadrupole interaction frequency of the high-K five-quasiparticle isomer in W-179 implanted in a Tl host at a temperature of 473 K has been determined using the LEMS method. A value of 65.7(7.5) MHz has been found