20 research outputs found
Optical polarimetry: Methods, Instruments and Calibration Techniques
In this chapter we present a brief summary of methods, instruments and
calibration techniques used in modern astronomical polarimetry in the optical
wavelengths. We describe the properties of various polarization devices and
detectors used for optical broadband, imaging and spectropolarimetry, and
discuss their advantages and disadvantages. The necessity of a proper
calibration of the raw polarization data is emphasized and methods of the
determination and subtraction of instrumental polarization are considered. We
also present a few examples of high-precision measurements of optical
polarization of black hole X-ray binaries and massive binary stars made with
our DiPol-2 polarimeter, which allowed us to constrain the sources of optical
emission in black hole X-ray binaries and measure orbital parameters of massive
stellar binaries.Comment: 33 pages, 14 figure; to be published in Astrophysics and Space
Science Library 460, Astronomical Polarisation from the Infrared to Gamma
Ray
The relationship of CO abundance to extinction and
We have studied the ratio of 13CO and C18O column
densities to the extinction AJ of background field stars in
the direction of three globules: B 13
Factors implicating the validity and interpretation of mechanobiology studies in simulated microgravity environments
Chemotherapy followed by anti-CD137 mAb immunotherapy improves disease control in a mouse myeloma model
\u3cp\u3eImmunotherapy holds promise for patients with multiple myeloma (MM), but little is known about how MM-induced immunosuppression influences response to therapy. Here, we investigated the impact of disease progression on immunotherapy efficacy in the Vk*MYC mouse model. Treatment with agonistic anti-CD137 (4-1BB) mAbs efficiently protected mice when administered early but failed to contain MM growth when delayed more than 3 weeks after Vk*MYC tumor cell challenge. The quality of the CD8+ T cell response to CD137 stimulation was not altered by the presence of MM, but CD8+ T cell numbers were profoundly reduced at the time of treatment. Our data suggest that an insufficient ratio of CD8+ T cells to MM cells (CD8/MM ratio) accounts for the loss of anti-CD137 mAb efficacy. We established serum M-protein levels prior to therapy as a predictive factor of response. Moreover, we developed an in silico model to capture the dynamic interactions between CD8+ T cells and MM cells. Finally, we explored two methods to improve the CD8/MM ratio: anti-CD137 mAb immunotherapy combined with Treg depletion or administered after chemotherapy treatment with cyclophosphamide or melphalan efficiently reduced MM burden and prolonged survival. Together, our data indicate that consolidation treatment with anti-CD137 mAbs might prevent MM relapse.\u3c/p\u3
Chemotherapy followed by anti-CD137 mAb immunotherapy improves disease control in a mouse myeloma model
Immunotherapy holds promise for patients with multiple myeloma (MM), but little is known about how MM-induced immunosuppression influences response to therapy. Here, we investigated the impact of disease progression on immunotherapy efficacy in the Vk*MYC mouse model. Treatment with agonistic anti-CD137 (4-1BB) mAbs efficiently protected mice when administered early but failed to contain MM growth when delayed more than 3 weeks after Vk*MYC tumor cell challenge. The quality of the CD8+ T cell response to CD137 stimulation was not altered by the presence of MM, but CD8+ T cell numbers were profoundly reduced at the time of treatment. Our data suggest that an insufficient ratio of CD8+ T cells to MM cells (CD8/MM ratio) accounts for the loss of anti-CD137 mAb efficacy. We established serum M-protein levels prior to therapy as a predictive factor of response. Moreover, we developed an in silico model to capture the dynamic interactions between CD8+ T cells and MM cells. Finally, we explored two methods to improve the CD8/MM ratio: anti-CD137 mAb immunotherapy combined with Treg depletion or administered after chemotherapy treatment with cyclophosphamide or melphalan efficiently reduced MM burden and prolonged survival. Together, our data indicate that consolidation treatment with anti-CD137 mAbs might prevent MM relapse