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"Wittman, David"
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The devil's diary : Alfred Rosenberg and the stolen secrets of the Third Reich
A \"World War II narrative wrapped in a ... detective story, The Devil's Diary investigates the disappearance of a private diary penned by one of Adolf Hitler's top aides--Alfred Rosenberg, his chief philosopher--and mines its long-hidden pages to deliver [an] ... account of the Nazi rise to power and the genesis of the Holocaust\"--Amazon.com.
Book
SARS-CoV-2 antigen exposure history shapes phenotypes and specificity of memory CD8+ T cells
Although mRNA vaccine efficacy against severe coronavirus disease 2019 remains high, variant emergence has prompted booster immunizations. However, the effects of repeated exposures to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigens on memory T cells are poorly understood. Here, we utilize major histocompatibility complex multimers with single-cell RNA sequencing to profile SARS-CoV-2-responsive T cells ex vivo from humans with one, two or three antigen exposures, including vaccination, primary infection and breakthrough infection. Exposure order determined the distribution between spike-specific and non-spike-specific responses, with vaccination after infection leading to expansion of spike-specific T cells and differentiation to CCR7−CD45RA+ effectors. In contrast, individuals after breakthrough infection mount vigorous non-spike-specific responses. Analysis of over 4,000 epitope-specific T cell antigen receptor (TCR) sequences demonstrates that all exposures elicit diverse repertoires characterized by shared TCR motifs, confirmed by monoclonal TCR characterization, with no evidence for repertoire narrowing from repeated exposure. Our findings suggest that breakthrough infections diversify the T cell memory repertoire and current vaccination protocols continue to expand and differentiate spike-specific memory.Thomas and colleagues describe how multiple SARS-CoV-2 antigen exposures, including mRNA vaccine boosters, primary infection and breakthrough infection, shape T cell immunity.
Journal Article
The case for electron re-acceleration at galaxy cluster shocks
On the largest scales, the Universe consists of voids and filaments making up the cosmic web. Galaxy clusters are located at the knots in this web, at the intersection of filaments. Clusters grow through accretion from these large-scale filaments and by mergers with other clusters and groups. In a growing number of galaxy clusters, elongated Mpc-sized radio sources have been found
1
,
2
. Also known as radio relics, these regions of diffuse radio emission are thought to trace relativistic electrons in the intracluster plasma accelerated by low-Mach-number shocks generated by cluster–cluster merger events
3
. A long-standing problem is how low-Mach-number shocks can accelerate electrons so efficiently to explain the observed radio relics. Here, we report the discovery of a direct connection between a radio relic and a radio galaxy in the merging galaxy cluster Abell 3411–3412 by combining radio, X-ray and optical observations. This discovery indicates that fossil relativistic electrons from active galactic nuclei are re-accelerated at cluster shocks. It also implies that radio galaxies play an important role in governing the non-thermal component of the intracluster medium in merging clusters.
Multi-wavelength data from a cluster–cluster merger reveals that relativistic electrons ejected from near an actively accreting black hole are efficiently re-accelerated at a cluster shock to produce characteristically diffuse radio emission.
Journal Article
Small Changes, Big Gains: A Quality Improvement Approach to Increasing Responsive Care for Infants and Toddlers with Cancer on the Inpatient Unit
Background: Responsive caregiving supports infant and toddler wellbeing. Yet, based on nursing observational data, a significant number of one institution’s inpatient infant and toddler patients with cancer—who are uniquely vulnerable due to the developmental risks associated with their illness and treatment—were not spoken to or held by their caregiver at any time when nursing was present over the course of day shifts. Objective: This clinical quality improvement project aimed to increase caregiver engagement in responsive interactions during inpatient stays. Methods: The Model for Improvement framework was used. Implementation, evaluation, and reporting followed the SQUIRE 2.0 framework. Root causes were analyzed with fishbone and key driver diagrams. Outcomes were tracked with control charts and percentage of nursing shifts during which responsive care was not observed. Statistical process control was used to study interventions. Results: Two intervention cycles were completed and resulted in significant and meaningful (>1 sigma) reductions in nursing shifts during which infants and toddlers were not spoken to or held. Conclusions: Caregiver psychoeducation interventions increased responsive care of infants and toddlers in our oncology inpatient setting. This low-cost intervention may be adaptable across inpatient settings.
Journal Article
Detection of weak gravitational lensing distortions of distant galaxies by cosmic dark matter at large scales
Most of the matter in the Universe is not luminous, and can be observed only through its gravitational influence on the appearance of luminous matter. Weak gravitational lensing is a technique that uses the distortions of the images of distant galaxies as a tracer of dark matter: such distortions are induced as the light passes through large-scale distributions of dark matter in the foreground. The patterns of the induced distortions reflect the density of mass along the line of sight and its distribution, and the resulting ‘cosmic shear’ can be used to distinguish between alternative cosmologies. But previous attempts to measure this effect have been inconclusive. Here we report the detection of cosmic shear on angular scales of up to half a degree using 145,000 galaxies and along three separate lines of sight. We find that the dark matter is distributed in a manner consistent with either an open universe, or a flat universe that is dominated by a cosmological constant. Our results are inconsistent with the standard cold-dark-matter model.
Journal Article
The elements of relativity
Relativity is a set of remarkable insights into the way space and time work. The basic notion of relativity, first articulated by Galileo, explains why we do not feel Earth moving as it orbits the Sun and was successful for hundreds of years. We present thinking tools that elucidate Galilean relativity and prepare us for the more modern understanding. We then show how Galilean relativity breaks down at speeds near the speed of light, and follow Einstein’s steps in working out the unexpected relationships between space and time that we now call special relativity. These relationships give rise to time dilation, length contraction, and the twin “paradox” which we explain in detail. Throughout, we emphasize how these effects are tightly interwoven logically and graphically. Our graphical understanding leads to viewing space and time as a unified entity called spacetime whose geometry differs from that of space alone, giving rise to these remarkable effects. The same geometry gives rise to the energy?momentum relation that yields the famous equation E = mc2, which we explore in detail. We then show that this geometric model can explain gravity better than traditional models of the “force” of gravity. This gives rise to general relativity, which unites relativity and gravity in a coherent whole that spawns new insights into the dynamic nature of spacetime. We examine experimental tests and startling predictions of general relativity, from everyday applications (GPS) to exotic phenomena such as gravitomagnetism, gravitational waves, Big Bang cosmology, and especially black holes.
eBook
Cross-reactive Antibody Response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine After Recent COVID-19-Specific Monoclonal Antibody Therapy
Abstract
The efficacy of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines administered after COVID-19-specific monoclonal antibody is unknown, and “antibody interference” might hinder immune responses leading to vaccine failure. In an institutional review board–approved prospective study, we found that an individual who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccination <40 days after COVID-19-specific monoclonal antibody therapy for symptomatic COVID-19 had similar postvaccine antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) for 4 important SARS-CoV-2 variants (B.1, B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1) as other participants who were also vaccinated following COVID-19. Vaccination against COVID-19 shortly after COVID-19-specific monoclonal antibody can boost and expand antibody protection, questioning the need to delay vaccination in this setting.
Trial registration.
The St. Jude Tracking of Viral and Host Factors Associated with COVID-19 study; NCT04362995; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04362995.
Journal Article
GRAVITATIONAL LENSING ACCURACY TESTING 2010 (GREAT10) CHALLENGE HANDBOOK
GRavitational lEnsing Accuracy Testing 2010 (GREAT10) is a public image analysis challenge aimed at the development of algorithms to analyze astronomical images. Specifically, the challenge is to measure varying image distortions in the presence of a variable convolution kernel, pixelization and noise. This is the second in a series of challenges set to the astronomy, computer science and statistics communities, providing a structured environment in which methods can be improved and tested in preparation for planned astronomical surveys. GREAT10 extends upon previous work by introducing variable fields into the challenge. The \"Galaxy Challenge\" involves the precise measurement of galaxy shape distortions, quantified locally by two parameters called shear, in the presence of a known convolution kernel. Crucially, the convolution kernel and the simulated gravitational lensing shape distortion both now vary as a function of position within the images, as is the case for real data. In addition, we introduce the \"Star Challenge\" that concerns the reconstruction of a variable convolution kernel, similar to that in a typical astronomical observation. This document details the GREAT10 Challenge for potential participants. Continually updated information is also available from www.greatchallenges.info.
Journal Article
Fisher Matrix for Beginners
The Fisher information matrix is used widely in astronomy (and presumably other fields) to forecast the precision of future experiments while they are still in the design phase. Although many sources describe the mathematics of the formalism, few sources offer simple examples to help the beginner. This pedagogical document works through a few simple examples to develop conceptual understanding of the applications.
Paper