Resonant Scattering of Surface Plasmon Polaritons by Dressed Quantum Dots

The resonant scattering of surface plasmon-polariton waves by embedded semiconductor quantum dots above the dielectric/metal interface is explored in the strong-coupling regime. In contrast to non-resonant scattering by a localized dielectric surface defect, a strong resonant peak in the scattering field spectrum is predicted and accompanied by two side valleys. The peak height depends nonlinearly on the amplitude of surface plasmon-polariton waves, reflecting the feedback dynamics from a photon-dressed electron-hole plasma inside the quantum dots. This unique behavior in the scattering field peak strength is correlated with the occurrence of a resonant dip in the absorption spectrum of surface plasmon-polariton waves due to interband photon-dressing effect. Our result on the scattering of surface plasmon-polariton waves may be experimentally observable and applied to spatially selective illumination and imaging of individual molecules.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figure

Controlling quantum-dot light absorption and emission by a surface-plasmon field

The possibility for controlling the probe-field optical gain and absorption switching and photon conversion by a surface-plasmon-polariton near field is explored for a quantum dot above the surface of a metal. In contrast to the linear response in the weak-coupling regime, the calculated spectra show an induced optical gain and a triply-split spontaneous emission peak resulting from the interference between the surface-plasmon field and the probe or self-emitted light field in such a strongly-coupled nonlinear system. Our result on the control of the mediated photon-photon interaction, very similar to the `gate' control in an optical transistor, may be experimentally observable and applied to ultra-fast intrachip/interchip optical interconnects, improvement in the performance of fiber-optic communication networks and developments of optical digital computers and quantum communications.Comment: 7 pages, 15 figure

From development to implementation with a fully integrated downstream bioprocess

Boehringer Ingelheim and Pfizer have developed a unique continuous bioprocess consisting of a short duration perfusion upstream and fully integrated downstream. The process is designed to generate at least 1 kg of material from a 100 L bioreactor in approximate 2 weeks. The upstream strategy utilizes a non-steady state, short duration perfusion process to achieve volumetric productivities ranging from 0.5 to 4 g/L/day. This creates a unique challenge for the downstream process as the titer and impurity load change over the duration of the culture. To accommodate upstream, a fully integrated downstream process was created using a combination of traditional batch unit operations and continuous bioprocessing. The system design includes a pair of small proteins A columns operated consecutively, a continuous low pH inactivation chamber (cVI), an anion exchange chromatography column, a single pass tangential flow filter, a virus filter and batch UFDF. The key to the system is three distinct operation modes including continuous, periodic and batch phases. The resulting hybrid system provides flexible and robust downstream processing of the continuous perfusion bioreactor. We have successfully used this new downstream process at the predicted manufacturing scale to generate clinical quality drug substance for multiple monoclonal antibodies. With the success of the new integrated system, our team is shifting its focus to implementation on a clinical program. A key element of the ongoing work is to establish the control and robustness of novel elements of our process such as confirming that the critical pH has been achieved during cVI and demonstrating robust impurity removal for dynamic loading on an AEX polishing step. In this talk, we will explain our approach to integrated continuous downstream processing and our strategy for future implementation. Data from at-scale demonstration runs will show the robustness of the process over a wide range of loading conditions. This will include product quality data including HCP, DNA, charge variants and aggregate removal that is consistent with batch processes. Process data will show the control and robustness of the approach

Balancing continuous, integrated, and batch processing

We are building a new disposable manufacturing system to support the development and manufacturing of mAb and mAb-related products. We have made choices that are different than many others in the field of continuous and integrated processing. These choices avoid many misperceptions about continuous processing, are consistent with a staged approach to implementation, and facilitate manufacturing in either large-scale disposable or stainless manufacturing facilities. We have avoided the use of long-term steady-state perfusion. This mode of perfusion suffers from long development times, long manufacturing duration, extended Process Performance Qualification, large media consumption and perceived concerns about product quality variability and contamination. The system uses a short duration (\u3c15 days) non-steady state perfusion with perfusion rates as low as 0.3 bioreactor volumes per day. On-line UPLC is used to monitor product titer and quality. As a consequence of non-steady state perfusion operation, the integrated downstream is capable of handling day to day variability of 0.5g/L/day to 4g/L/day. The downstream avoids the use of SMB or PCC; rather, it integrates two batch chromatographic steps, a continuous virus inactivation step, and avoids in-process pooling. The product is stored after the second chromatography step for the duration of the batch. When the batch is complete, the pooled product is batched through a virus reduction filter and UFDF to make the bulk drug substance. Running these last two processes on the entire product pool at once allows an easy definition of a batch, without worry about pooling drug substance with different product quality profiles. The result is an integrated, semi-continuous manufacturing process that mitigates many of the concerns felt by the batch-processing community

The Vehicle, Spring 2000

Vol. 41, No. 2 Table of Contents UntitledMatthew A. Thomaspage 4 Fred\u27s PenAutumn Williamspage 5 tomatoesDave Moutraypage 6 AFRICABusinge Roger Godfreypage 7 seeking OutKim Hunterpage 8 Razorblade, Crystal I.Jason Brownpage 9 UntitledMegan Guernseypage 10 CoyoteAutumn Williamspage 11 BaptizedStephanie Carpenterpage 13 BrotherTara Coburnpage 14 My 1984Dave Moutraypage 15 what little boys and girls are made ofKristi Brownfieldpage 17 To GerriMegan Guernseypage 19 JunieJoe Raabpage 20 BeatWes Paytonpage 21 MercyAutumn Williamspage 23 TravelingDenise Fitzerpage 24 UntitledMatthew A. Thomaspage 25 a story of rapeAnnie Whitepage 26 Teddy RhexisPaul Austerpage 30https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1074/thumbnail.jp

The Vehicle, Spring 2000

Vol. 41, No. 2 Table of Contents UntitledMatthew A. Thomaspage 4 Fred\u27s PenAutumn Williamspage 5 tomatoesDave Moutraypage 6 AFRICABusinge Roger Godfreypage 7 seeking OutKim Hunterpage 8 Razorblade, Crystal I.Jason Brownpage 9 UntitledMegan Guernseypage 10 CoyoteAutumn Williamspage 11 BaptizedStephanie Carpenterpage 13 BrotherTara Coburnpage 14 My 1984Dave Moutraypage 15 what little boys and girls are made ofKristi Brownfieldpage 17 To GerriMegan Guernseypage 19 JunieJoe Raabpage 20 BeatWes Paytonpage 21 MercyAutumn Williamspage 23 TravelingDenise Fitzerpage 24 UntitledMatthew A. Thomaspage 25 a story of rapeAnnie Whitepage 26 Teddy RhexisPaul Austerpage 30https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1074/thumbnail.jp

Co-receptor choice by Vα14i NKT cells is driven by Th-POK expression rather than avoidance of CD8-mediated negative selection

Mouse natural killer T (NKT) cells with an invariant Vα14-Jα18 rearrangement (Vα14 invariant [Vα14i] NKT cells) are either CD4+CD8− or CD4−CD8−. Because transgenic mice with forced CD8 expression in all T cells exhibited a profound NKT cell deficit, the absence of CD8 has been attributed to negative selection. We now present evidence that CD8 does not serve as a coreceptor for CD1d recognition and that the defect in development in CD8 transgene homozygous mice is the result of a reduction in secondary T cell receptor α rearrangements. Thymocytes from mice hemizygous for the CD8 transgene have a less severe rearrangement defect and have functional CD8+ Vα14i NKT cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the transcription factor Th, Poxviruses and Zinc finger, and Krüppel family (Th-POK) is expressed by Vα14i NKT cells throughout their differentiation and is necessary both to silence CD8 expression and for the functional maturity of Vα14i NKT cells. We therefore suggest that Th-POK expression is required for the normal development of Vα14i NKT cells and that the absence of CD8 expression by these cells is a by-product of such expression, as opposed to the result of negative selection of CD8-expressing Vα14i NKT cells

Troponin release following endurance exercise: is inflammation the cause? a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study

Background: The aetiology and clinical significance of troponin release following endurance exercise is unclear but may be due to transient myocardial inflammation. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) affords us the opportunity to evaluate the presence of myocardial inflammation and focal fibrosis and is the ideal imaging modality to study this hypothesis. We sought to correlate the relationship between acute bouts of ultra endurance exercise leading to cardiac biomarkers elevation and the presence of myocardial inflammation and fibrosis using CMR.Methods: 17 recreation athletes (33.5 +/- 6.5 years) were studied before and after a marathon run with troponin, NTproBNP, and CMR. Specific imaging parameters to look for inflammation included T2 weighted images, and T1 weighted spin-echo images before and after an intravenous gadolinium-DTPA to detect myocardial hyperemia secondary to inflammation. Late gadolinium imaging was performed (LGE) to detect any focal regions of replacement fibrosis.Results: Eleven of the 17 participant had elevations of TnI above levels of cut off for myocardial infarction 6 hrs after the marathon (0.075 +/- 0.02, p = 0.007). Left ventricular volumes were reduced post marathon and a small increase in ejection fraction was noted (64 +/- 1% pre, 67 +/- 1.2% post, P = 0.014). Right ventricular volumes, stroke volume, and ejection fraction were unchanged post marathon. No athlete fulfilled criteria for myocardial inflammation based on current criteria. No regions of focal fibrosis were seen in any of the participants.Conclusion: Exercise induced cardiac biomarker release is not associated with any functional changes by CMR or any detectable myocardial inflammation or fibrosis

Visual consumption, collective memory and the representation of war

Conceiving of the visual as a significant force in the production and dissemination of collective memory, we argue that a new genre of World War Two films has recently emerged that form part of a new discursive “regime of memory” about the war and those that fought and lived through it, constituting a commemoration as much about reflecting on the present as it is about remembering the past. First, we argue that these films seek to reaffirm a (particular conception of a) US national identity and military patriotism in the post–Cold War era by importing World War Two as the key meta‐narrative of America’s relationship to war in order to “correct” and help “erase” Vietnam’s more negative discursive rendering. Second, we argue that these films attempt to rewrite the history of World War Two by elevating and illuminating the role of the US at the expense of the Allies, further serving to reaffirm America’s position of political and military dominance in the current age, and third, that these films form part of a celebration of the generation that fought World War Two, which may accord them a position of nostalgic and sentimental greatness, as their collective spirit and notions of duty and service shine against the foil of what might frequently be seen as our own present moral ambivalence

Supplement: "Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914" (2016, ApJL, 826, L13)

This Supplement provides supporting material for Abbott et al. (2016a). We briefly summarize past electromagnetic (EM) follow-up efforts as well as the organization and policy of the current EM follow-up program. We compare the four probability sky maps produced for the gravitational-wave transient GW150914, and provide additional details of the EM follow-up observations that were performed in the different bands