Proton acceleration from high-intensity laser interactions with thin foil targets

Measurements of energetic proton production resulting from the interaction of high-intensity laser pulses with foil targets are described. Through the use of layered foil targets and heating of the target material we are able to distinguish three distinct populations of protons. One high energy population is associated with a proton source near the front surface of the target and is observed to be emitted with a characteristic ring structure. A source of typically lower energy, lower divergence protons originates from the rear surface of the target. Finally, a qualitatively separate source of even lower energy protons and ions is observed with a large divergence. Acceleration mechanisms for these separate sources are discussed.

Photodiodes array as potential diagnostic for measuring short bursts of K-alpha radiation from Ti targets irradiated with 45 fs laser pulses

We report on a study comparing absolute K-alpha yield from Ti foils measured with a calibrated system of an X-ray CCD coupled to a curved LiF Von-Hamos crystal spectrometer to the difference in the signals measured simultaneously with two similar photodiodes fitted with two different filters. Our data indicate that a combination of photodiodes with different filters could be developed into an alternative and inexpensive diagnostic for monitoring single shot pulsed emission in a narrow band of X-ray region.

SOCS3 Targets Siglec 7 for Proteasomal Degradation and Blocks Siglec 7-mediated Responses

CD33-related Siglecs (sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins) 5–11 are inhibitory receptors that contain a membrane proximal ITIM (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif) (I/V/L/)XYXX(L/V), which can recruit SHP-1/2. However, little is known about the regulation of these receptors. SOCS3 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 3) is up-regulated during inflammation and competes with SHP-1/2 for binding to ITIM-like motifs on various cytokine receptors resulting in inhibition of signaling. We show that SOCS3 binds the phosphorylated ITIM of Siglec 7 and targets it for proteasomal-mediated degradation, suggesting that Siglec 7 is a novel SOCS target. Following ligation, the ECS E3 ligase is recruited by SOCS3 to target Siglec 7 for proteasomal degradation, and SOCS3 expression is decreased concomitantly. In addition, we found that SOCS3 expression blocks Siglec 7-mediated inhibition of cytokine-induced proliferation. This is the first time that a SOCS target has been reported to degrade simultaneously with the SOCS protein and that inhibitory receptors have been shown to be degraded in this way. This may be a mechanism by which the inflammatory response is potentiated during infection.

Significantly improved PCR-based clonality testing in B-cell malignancies by use of multiple immunoglobulin gene targets: Report of the BIOMED-2 Concerted Action BHM4-CT98-3936.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assessment of clonal immunoglobulin (Ig) and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements is an important diagnostic tool in mature B-cell neoplasms. However, lack of standardized PCR protocols resulting in a high level of false negativity has hampered comparability of data in previous clonality studies. In order to address these problems, 22 European laboratories investigated the Ig/TCR rearrangement patterns as well as t(14;18) and t(11;14) translocations of 369 B-cell malignancies belonging to five WHO-defined entities using the standardized BIOMED-2 multiplex PCR tubes accompanied by international pathology panel review. B-cell clonality was detected by combined use of the IGH and IGK multiplex PCR assays in all 260 definitive cases of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (n¼56), mantle cell lymphoma (n¼54), marginal zone lymphoma (n¼41) and follicular lymphoma (n¼109). Two of 109 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma showed no detectable clonal marker. The use of these techniques to assign cell lineage should be treated with caution as additional clonal TCR gene rearrangements were frequently detected in all disease categories. Our study indicates that the BIOMED-2 multiplex PCR assays provide a powerful strategy for clonality assessment in B-cell malignancies resulting in high Ig clonality detection rates particularly when IGH and IGK strategies are combined.

Surface properties of Rosetta's targets (21) Lutetia and (2867) Steins from ESO observations

Aims. The aim of this work is to constrain the size, composition and surface properties of asteroids (2867) Steins and (21) Lutetia, targets of the Rosetta mission. Rosetta is en route to rendezvous with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Methods. Thermal-Infrared N-band observations for Lutetia and Steins were obtained using, respectively, TIMMI2 on the ESO 3.6-m telescope at La Silla and VISIR at the UT3 VLT telescope on Cerro Paranal; visible light curves for Steins were obtained using NTT+SUSI2, while R-band photometry for Lutetia was obtained with the 2.0-m Faulkes Telescope North on Haleakala. For Steins, the NEATM model was used to constrain its visible geometric albedo and beaming parameter. A detailed thermophysical model was implemented and used to analyze our set of observations of Lutetia as well as previous reported measurements.

Results. The visible photometry of Steins was used along with data from the literature to yield a slope parameter of G=0.32(-0.11)(+0.14). Problems during the observations led to the loss of measurements on two of the three N-band filters requested for Steins. Using the remaining data and the polarimetric albedo recently published, we were able to constrain the thermal beaming parameter as eta > 1.2, which is more similar to near-Earth asteroids and suggests either high thermal inertia or a very rough surface. For Lutetia, the best fit visible geometric albedo obtained with our model and the reported observation is p(nu)=0.129, significantly lower than that obtained if one applies the same model to previously reported measurements. The discrepancy cannot be explained solely by assuming inhomogeneities in the surface properties and we suggest that the most plausible explanation is the presence of one or more large craters on the northern hemisphere. For both sets of measurements, the implied single scattering albedo of Lutetia is compatible with laboratory measurements of carbonaceous chondrite meteorites.