Vertical laser beam propagation through the troposphere

The characteristics of the earth's atmosphere and its effects upon laser beams was investigated in a series of balloon borne, optical propagation experiments. These experiments were designed to simulate the space to ground laser link. An experiment to determine the amplitude fluctuation, commonly called scintillation, caused by the atmosphere was described

Element-Specific Magnetic Properties of Co2MnSi Thin Films

Co2MnSi thin films were grown on Al2O3 (a plane) and GaAs (001) substrates and on thin silicon nitride windows using pulsed laser deposition. Angle-dependent magneto-optic Kerr effect measurements reveal both a uniaxial and a fourfold magnetocrystalline anisotropy for films grown on GaAs (001). X-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectra were measured at the L2,3 edges of the thin films as a function of aluminum cap layer thickness, and transmission mode L2,3 x-ray absorption through a 1000-Å Co2MnSi film grown on a silicon nitride membrane were measured, indicating that deviations from metalliclike spectra are likely due oxidation or contamination. Element-specific moments for Co and Mn were calculated from the X-ray magnetic circular dichroism data of a nonoxidized film

Reflective teaching, inclusive teaching and the teacher's tasks in the inclusive classroom:a literary investigation

This article has three aims: to continue the process of giving credence to reflective teaching, which is integral to effective teaching and learning; to make explicit the connections between reflective teaching and inclusive teaching; and to identify key tasks for teachers in the inclusive classroom. Relevant articles were selected for inclusion in this review by searching online databases for key words and phrases. Findings reveal that the following features of reflective teaching connect with and are fundamental to inclusive teaching: giving careful consideration or thought; questioning personal assumptions, values, and beliefs; taking initiatives; using intuition; taking part in development and change; and the use of journalling. Teachers' tasks in the inclusive classroom include giving careful consideration to what is to be taught and how it is to be taught (rather than who is to learn); considering the learning needs of all students (not just those with additional needs); questioning beliefs and rejecting deterministic and associated ideas; reflecting on the classroom situation; constantly seeking out and trying new things to support all learners; discussing new initiatives with colleagues in order to receive feedback; examining, framing and attempting to solve dilemmas of the classroom; using journals to track students' learning; and taking responsibility for their own professional growth and understanding

Oncolytic Orf virus licenses NK cells via cDC1 to activate innate and adaptive antitumor mechanisms and extends survival in a murine model of late-stage ovarian cancer

Background Novel therapies are needed to improve outcomes for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Oncolytic viruses are multifunctional immunotherapeutic biologics that preferentially infect cancer cells and stimulate inflammation with the potential to generate antitumor immunity. Herein we describe Parapoxvirus ovis (Orf virus (OrfV)), an oncolytic poxvirus, as a viral immunotherapy for ovarian cancer.Methods The immunotherapeutic potential of OrfV was tested in the ID8 orthotopic mouse model of end-stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Immune cell profiling, impact on secondary lesion development and survival were evaluated in OrfV-treated mice as well as in Batf3 knockout, mice depleted of specific immune cell subsets and in mice where the primary tumor was removed. Finally, we interrogated gene expression datasets from primary human ovarian tumors from the International Cancer Genome Consortium database to determine whether the interplay we observed between natural killer (NK) cells, classical type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1s) and T cells exists and influences outcomes in human ovarian cancer.Results OrfV was an effective monotherapy in a murine model of advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer. OrfV intervention relied on NK cells, which when depleted abrogated antitumor CD8+ T-cell responses. OrfV therapy was shown to require cDC1s in experiments with BATF3 knockout mice, which do not have mature cDC1s. Furthermore, cDC1s governed antitumor NK and T-cell responses to mediate antitumor efficacy following OrfV. Primary tumor removal, a common treatment option in human patients, was effectively combined with OrfV for optimal therapeutic outcome. Analysis of human RNA sequencing datasets revealed that cDC1s correlate with NK cells in human ovarian cancer and that intratumoral NK cells correlate positively with survival.Conclusions The data herein support the translational potential of OrfV as an NK stimulating immunotherapeutic for the treatment of advanced-stage ovarian cancer