Laser-atom interactions: a multiresolution approach

Isolated, attosecond laser pulses have allowed real-time measurement and control of electrons on atomic time scales. We present an explicit time-evolution scheme solving the time dependent Schro ̈dinger equation, which employs an adaptive, discontinuous, spectral-element basis that automatically refines to accommodate the requested precision providing efficient computation across many length scales in multiple dimensions. This method is illustrated through time evolution studies of single electron atoms and molecular ions in three and four dimensions under the influence of intense, few-cycle laser pulses

MADNESS: A Multiresolution, Adaptive Numerical Environment for Scientific Simulation

MADNESS (multiresolution adaptive numerical environment for scientific simulation) is a high-level software environment for solving integral and differential equations in many dimensions that uses adaptive and fast harmonic analysis methods with guaranteed precision based on multiresolution analysis and separated representations. Underpinning the numerical capabilities is a powerful petascale parallel programming environment that aims to increase both programmer productivity and code scalability. This paper describes the features and capabilities of MADNESS and briefly discusses some current applications in chemistry and several areas of physics

Naive tumor-specific CD4+ T cells differentiated in vivo eradicate established melanoma

In vitro differentiated CD8+ T cells have been the primary focus of immunotherapy of cancer with little focus on CD4+ T cells. Immunotherapy involving in vitro differentiated T cells given after lymphodepleting regimens significantly augments antitumor immunity in animals and human patients with cancer. However, the mechanisms by which lymphopenia augments adoptive cell therapy and the means of properly differentiating T cells in vitro are still emerging. We demonstrate that naive tumor/self-specific CD4+ T cells naturally differentiated into T helper type 1 cytotoxic T cells in vivo and caused the regression of established tumors and depigmentation in lymphopenic hosts. Therapy was independent of vaccination, exogenous cytokine support, CD8+, B, natural killer (NK), and NKT cells. Proper activation of CD4+ T cells in vivo was important for tumor clearance, as naive tumor-specific CD4+ T cells could not completely treat tumor in lymphopenic common gamma chain (γc)–deficient hosts. γc signaling in the tumor-bearing host was important for survival and proper differentiation of adoptively transferred tumor-specific CD4+ T cells. Thus, these data provide a platform for designing immunotherapies that incorporate tumor/self-reactive CD4+ T cells

Digital Health Coaching for Type 2 Diabetes: Randomized Controlled Trial of Healthy at Home.

Digital health coaching is an intervention for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that has potential to improve the quality of care for patients. Previous research has established the efficacy of digital interventions for behavior change. This pilot study addresses a research gap in finding effective and accessible behavioral interventions for under-resourced individuals with T2DM. We examined the impact of Healthy at Home, a 12-week phone and SMS-based (short message service) digital health coaching program, on insulin resistance which is an upstream marker for T2DM progression. We compared this intervention to usual diabetic care in a family medicine residency clinic in a randomized controlled trial. Digital health coaching significantly improved participants calculated Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA2-IR) by -0.9 ± 0.4 compared with the control group (p = 0.029). This significance remained after controlling for years diagnosed with T2DM, enrollment in Medicaid, access to food, baseline stage of change, and race (p = 0.027). Increasing access to digital health coaching may lead to more effective control of diabetes for under-resourced patients. This study demonstrates the potential to implement a personalized, scalable, and effective digital health intervention to treat and manage T2DM through a lifestyle and behavioral approach to improve clinical outcomes (http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04872647)

Depressive symptoms and cortisol rhythmicity predict survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma: role of inflammatory signaling.

Evidence has supported the association between psychological factors and cancer biology; however, findings are equivocal on the role of psychosocial factors in cancer progression. This study generates a hypothesis of mechanistic variables by examining the clinical effects of psychosocial factors and cortisol dysregulation in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and examines associated activation of transcription control pathways.Patients with metastatic RCC (n = 217) were prospectively enrolled in this study. Patients completed questionnaires (Centers for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression; SF-36 Health Status Survey; Duke Social Support Index; Coping Operations Preference Enquiry; organized and non-organized religious activity; and intrinsic religiosity), and provided blood and saliva samples. Cortisol levels and whole genome transcriptional profiling were assessed to identify potential alterations in circadian rhythms and genomic pathways.Separate Cox regression models, controlling for disease risk category, revealed that CES-D scores (p = 0.05, HR = 1.5, 95% CI for HR: 1.00-2.23) and cortisol slope (p = 0.002; HR = 1.9; 95%CI for HR: 1.27-2.97) were significantly associated with decreased survival. Only cortisol slope and risk category remained significant in the complete model. Functional genomic analyses linked depressive symptoms to increased expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-metastatic genes in circulating leukocytes. 116 transcripts were found to be upregulated by an average of 50% or more in high CES-D patients, and 57 transcripts downregulated by at least 50%. These changes were also found in the tumor in a subset of patients.These findings identify depressive symptoms as a key predictor of survival in renal cell carcinoma patients with potential links to dysregulation of cortisol and inflammatory biology

Chemical Castration of Melanoma Patients Does Not Increase the Frequency of Tumor-specific CD4 and CD8 T Cells After Peptide Vaccination

Peptide vaccination against tumor associated antigens (TAA) remains one of the most common methods of immunization in cancer vaccine clinical trials. While peptide vaccination has been reported to increase circulating antigen-specific T-cells, they have had limited clinical efficacy and there is a necessity to increase their capacity to generate strong anti-tumor responses. We sought to improve the clinical efficacy of peptide-based vaccines in cancer immunotherapy of metastatic melanoma using a LHRH-agonist (Leuprolide) as adjuvant. Seventy HLA-A*0201(+) Stage IIb-IV melanoma patients were vaccinated with class I HLA-A*0201-restricted gp100(209-2M) peptide and stratified for HLA-DP4 restriction. HLA-DP4(+) patients were also vaccinated with class II HLA-DP4-restricted MAGE-3(243-258) peptide. Patients from both groups were randomized to receive 2 doses of Leuprolide or not. Here we report the increase in PBMC TREC levels at week 24 after peptide vaccination which was independent of the Leuprolide treatment. This change was mirrored by a small increase in the TREC-enriched CD8(+)CD45RA(+)RO(−)CD27(+)CD103(+), but not the TREC-enriched CD4(+)CD45RA(+)RO(−)CD31(+) T cell population. Serum concentration of two important factors for thymopoiesis was measured: IGF-1 levels were not changed, while a moderate increase in IL-7 levels was noted in the sera of all patients 6 weeks after vaccination. Increased expression of CD127 (IL-7 receptor alpha) at week 24, compared to baseline, was only seen in the CD8(+)CD45RA(+)RO(−)CD27(+)CD103(+) T cell population. Our results suggest that Leuprolide has no effect on thymic output when used as peptide vaccine adjuvant, but IFA-based peptide vaccination may unexpectedly affect the thymus by increasing thymic output of new T cells