235 research outputs found
Contamination Control and Assay Results for the Majorana Demonstrator Ultra Clean Components
The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is a neutrinoless double beta decay experiment
utilizing enriched Ge-76 detectors in 2 separate modules inside of a common
solid shield at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. The DEMONSTRATOR has
utilized world leading assay sensitivities to develop clean materials and
processes for producing ultra-pure copper and plastic components. This
experiment is now operating, and initial data provide new insights into the
success of cleaning and processing. Post production copper assays after the
completion of Module 1 showed an increase in U and Th contamination in finished
parts compared to starting bulk material. A revised cleaning method and
additional round of surface contamination studies prior to Module 2
construction have provided evidence that more rigorous process control can
reduce surface contamination. This article describes the assay results and
discuss further studies to take advantage of assay capabilities for the purpose
of maintaining ultra clean fabrication and process design.Comment: Proceedings of Low Radioactivity Techniques (LRT May 2017, Seoul
Analogue peptides for the immunotherapy of human acute myeloid leukemia
Accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00262-015-1762-9The use of peptide vaccines, enhanced by adjuvants, has shown some efficacy in clinical trials. However, responses are often short-lived and rarely induce notable memory responses. The reason is that self-antigens have already been presented to the immune system as the tumor develops, leading to tolerance or some degree of host tumor cell destruction. To try to break tolerance against self-antigens, one of the methods employed has been to modify peptides at the anchor residues to enhance their ability to bind major histocompatibility complex molecules, extending their exposure to the T-cell receptor. These modified or analogue peptides have been investigated as stimulators of the immune system in patients with different cancers with variable but sometimes notable success. In this review we describe the background and recent developments in the use of analogue peptides for the immunotherapy of acute myeloid leukemia describing knowledge useful for the application of analogue peptide treatments for other malignancies
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