212 research outputs found
Peaks of Joy, Valleys of Despair: The History of the Syracuse University Library from 1871 to 1907
Drawing on a variety of sources, Starn presents engaging samples of life in the early days of the Syracuse University Library
Preface: A Special Stephen Crane Issue
One of the great pleasures of coming to a new library, as I did to Syracuse last March, is the joy of discovering particularly strong but unexpected collections. The Leopold von Ranke holdings, the Margaret Bourke,White collection, and the Belfer Audio Archives are just a few of the great strengths of the Syracuse University Libraries and its special collections
Bassett Jones, The Grolier Club, and the 1932 Polar Exhibition: Two Thousand Items and Counting
David H. Stam delivered a talk at a special dinner of the Grolier Club on May 11, 2009 describing a 2005/2006 exhibition of polar literature and artifacts. The exhibition was planned as a harbinger of the Fourth International Polar Year which took place in 2007/2008. The exhibition included items from collector Bassett Jones. Jones was a consulting engineer who graduated from MIT in 1898 and became a a major collector of books, manuscripts, and ephemera dealing with the Polar Regions. He was a member of both the Grolier Club and the Explorers Club. The talk describes Bassett Jones\u27 two exhibitions of his polar materials, the large one at the Grolier Club in early 1932 and a smaller one at the Architectural League in January 1941. Jones was a prickly, interesting character and the talk delves into his colorful life
Improved induction of anti-melanoma T cells by adenovirus-5/3 fiber modification to target human DCs
To mount a strong anti-tumor immune response, non T cell inflamed (cold) tumors may require combination treatment encompassing vaccine strategies preceding checkpoint inhibition. In vivo targeted delivery of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) to dendritic cells (DCs), relying on the natural functions of primary DCs in situ, represents an attractive vaccination strategy. In this study we made use of a full-length MART-1 expressing C/B-chimeric adenoviral vector, consisting of the Ad5 capsid and the Ad3 knob (Ad5/3), which we previously showed to selectively transduce DCs in human skin and lymph nodes. Our data demonstrate that chimeric Ad5/3 vectors encoding TAA, and able to target human DCs in situ, can be used to efficiently induce expansion of functional tumor-specific CD8⁺ effector T cells, either from a naïve T cell pool or from previously primed T cells residing in the melanoma-draining sentinel lymph nodes (SLN). These data support the use of Ad3-knob containing viruses as vaccine vehicles for in vivo delivery. "Off-the-shelf" DC-targeted Ad vaccines encoding TAA could clearly benefit future immunotherapeutic approaches
A snapshot full-Stokes spectropolarimeter for detecting life on Earth
We present the design of a point-and-shoot non-imaging full-Stokes
spectropolarimeter dedicated to detecting life on Earth from an orbiting
platform like the ISS. We specifically aim to map circular polarization in the
spectral features of chlorophyll and other biopigments for our planet as a
whole. These non-zero circular polarization signatures are caused by
homochirality of the molecular and supramolecular configurations of organic
matter, and are considered the most unambiguous biomarker. To achieve a fully
solid-state snapshot design, we implement a novel spatial modulation that
completely separates the circular and linear polarization channels. The
polarization modulator consists of a patterned liquid-crystal quarter-wave
plate inside the spectrograph slit, which also constitutes the first optical
element of the instrument. This configuration eliminates cross-talk between
linear and circular polarization, which is crucial because linear polarization
signals are generally much stronger than the circular polarization signals.
This leads to a quite unorthodox optical concept for the spectrograph, in which
the object and the pupil are switched. We discuss the general design
requirements and trade-offs of LSDpol (Life Signature Detection polarimeter), a
prototype instrument that is currently under development
MEG resting state functional connectivity in Parkinson's disease related dementia
Parkinson's disease (PD) related dementia (PDD) develops in up to 60% of patients, but the pathophysiology is far from being elucidated. Abnormalities of resting state functional connectivity have been reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study was performed to determine whether PDD is likewise characterized by changes in resting state functional connectivity. MEG recordings were obtained in 13 demented and 13 non-demented PD patients. The synchronization likelihood (SL) was calculated within and between cortical areas in six frequency bands. Compared to non-demented PD, PDD was characterized by lower fronto-temporal SL in the alpha range, lower intertemporal SL in delta, theta and alpha1 bands as well as decreased centro-parietal gamma band synchronization. In addition, higher parieto-occipital synchronization in the alpha2 and beta bands was found in PDD. The observed changes in functional connectivity are reminiscent of changes in AD, and may reflect reduced cholinergic activity and/or loss of cortico-cortical anatomical connections in PDD. © 2008 The Author(s)
Design of the Life Signature Detection Polarimeter LSDpol
Many biologically produced chiral molecules such as amino acids and sugars
show a preference for left or right handedness (homochirality). Light reflected
by biological materials such as algae and leaves therefore exhibits a small
amount of circular polarization that strongly depends on wavelength. Our Life
Signature Detection polarimeter (LSDpol) is optimized to measure these
signatures of life. LSDpol is a compact spectropolarimeter concept with no
moving parts that instantaneously measures linear and circular polarization
averaged over the field of view with a sensitivity of better than 1e-4. We
expect to launch the instrument into orbit after validating its performance on
the ground and from aircraft.
LSDpol is based on a spatially varying quarter-wave retarder that is
implemented with a patterned liquid-crystal. It is the first optical element to
maximize the polarimetric sensitivity. Since this pattern as well as the
entrance slit of the spectrograph have to be imaged onto the detector, the slit
serves as the aperture, and an internal field stop limits the field of view.
The retarder's fast axis angle varies linearly along one spatial dimension. A
fixed quarter-wave retarder combined with a polarization grating act as the
disperser and the polarizing beam-splitter. Circular and linear polarization
are thereby encoded at incompatible modulation frequencies across the spectrum,
which minimizes the potential cross-talk from linear into circular
polarization.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, SPIE Proceedings 11443-16
Opening a new window to other worlds with spectropolarimetry
A high level of diversity has already been observed among the planets of our
own Solar System. As such, one expects extrasolar planets to present a wide
range of distinctive features, therefore the characterisation of Earth- and
super Earth-like planets is becoming of key importance in scientific research.
The SEARCH (Spectropolarimetric Exoplanet AtmospheRe CHaracerisation) mission
proposal of this paper represents one possible approach to realising these
objectives. The mission goals of SEARCH include the detailed characterisation
of a wide variety of exoplanets, ranging from terrestrial planets to gas
giants. More specifically, SEARCH will determine atmospheric properties such as
cloud coverage, surface pressure and atmospheric composition, and may also be
capable of identifying basic surface features. To resolve a planet with a semi
major axis of down to 1.4AU and 30pc distant SEARCH will have a mirror system
consisting of two segments, with elliptical rim, cut out of a parabolic mirror.
This will yield an effective diameter of 9 meters along one axis. A phase mask
coronagraph along with an integral spectrograph will be used to overcome the
contrast ratio of star to planet light. Such a mission would provide invaluable
data on the diversity present in extrasolar planetary systems and much more
could be learned from the similarities and differences compared to our own
Solar System. This would allow our theories of planetary formation, atmospheric
accretion and evolution to be tested, and our understanding of regions such as
the outer limit of the Habitable Zone to be further improved.Comment: 23 pages, accepted for publication in Experimental Astronom
Altered Cytokine Production in Mice Lacking P2X 7 Receptors
The P2X(7) receptor (P2X(7)R) is an ATP-gated ion channel expressed by monocytes and macrophages. To directly address the role of this receptor in interleukin (IL)-1 beta post-translational processing, we have generated a P2X(7)R-deficient mouse line. P2X(7)R(-/-) macrophages respond to lipopolysaccharide and produce levels of cyclooxygenase-2 and pro-IL-1 beta comparable with those generated by wild-type cells. In response to ATP, however, pro-IL-1 beta produced by the P2X(7)R(-/-) cells is not externalized or activated by caspase-1. Nigericin, an alternate secretion stimulus, promotes release of 17-kDa IL-1 beta from P2X(7)R(-/-) macrophages. In response to in vivo lipopolysaccharide injection, both wild-type and P2X(7)R(-/-) animals display increases in peritoneal lavage IL-6 levels but no detectable IL-1. Subsequent ATP injection to wild-type animals promotes an increase in IL-1, which in turn leads to additional IL-6 production; similar increases did not occur in ATP-treated, LPS-primed P2X(7)R(-/-) animals. Absence of the P2X(7)R thus leads to an inability of peritoneal macrophages to release IL-1 in response to ATP. As a result of the IL-1 deficiency, in vivo cytokine signaling cascades are impaired in P2X(7)R-deficient animals. Together these results demonstrate that P2X(7)R activation can provide a signal that leads to maturation and release of IL-1 beta and initiation of a cytokine cascade
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