Atmospheric parameters (Teff , log g), masses and helium abundances are derived for 42 hot horizontal branch (HB) stars in the globular cluster NGC 6752. For 19 stars we derive magnesium and iron abundances as well and find that iron is enriched by a factor of 50 on average with respect to the cluster abundance whereas the magnesium abundances are consistent with the cluster abundance. Radiatio...

Antitumor immunity is strongly influenced by the balance of tumor antigen-specific effector T cells (Teff) and regulatory T cells (Treg). However, the impact that vaccine adjuvants have in regulating the balance of antigenspecific T-cell populations is not well understood. We found that antigen-specific Tregs were induced following subcutaneous vaccination with either OVA or melanoma-derived pe...

Microlensing events observed in the line of sight toward the LMC indicate that a significant fraction of the mass of the dark halo of the Galaxy is probably composed of white dwarfs. In addition, white dwarf sequences have now be observed in the HR diagrams of several globular clusters. Because of the unavailability of white dwarf atmospheres for Teff < 4000K, cooling time scales for white dwar...

For the first time, we have identified Ne  absorption lines in far-UV spectra of the hottest known (Teff ∼150 000 K) hydrogendeficient (pre-) white dwarfs of spectral type PG1159. They are of photospheric origin and can be matched by synthetic non-LTE line profiles. We also show that a number of UV and optical emission lines in these stars can be explained as being photospheric Ne  feat...

We have determined the angular diameters of two metal-poor stars, HD 122563 and Gmb 1830, using CHARA and Palomar Testbed Interferometer observations. For the giant star HD 122563, we derive an angular diameter θ3D = 0.940 ± 0.011 milliarcseconds (mas) using limb-darkening from 3D convection simulations and for the dwarf star Gmb 1830 (HD 103095) we obtain a 1D limb-darkened angular diameter θ1...

We construct radiative equilibrium models for strongly magnetized (B ∼> 10 G) neutron-star atmospheres taking into account magnetic free-free absorption and scattering processes computed for two polarization modes. We include the effects of vacuum polarization in our calculations. We present temperature profiles and the angle-, photon energy-, and polarization-dependent emerging intensity for a...

Tumor cells have evolved sophisticated means of escape from the host immune system. To date, several important immunological phenomena have been revealed in peripheral blood as well as within tumors. In the present study, we first investigated the proportion and activation status of peripheral immune regulatory cells and CD8(+) T-cell subsets in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcino...

Using classical model atmospheres and an LTE analysis, Mg isotope ratios Mg:Mg:Mg are measured in 32 Hyades dwarfs covering 4000K ≤ Teff ≤ 5000K. We find no significant trend in any isotope ratio versus Teff and the mean isotope ratio is in excellent agreement with the solar value. We determine stellar parameters and Fe abundances for 56 Hyades dwarfs covering 4000K ≤ Teff ≤ 6200K. For stars wa...

With the intent to identify biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) the functional status of T-regulatory cells (Tregs) was investigated in primary RCC. Tregs were isolated from tumoral-(TT), peritumoral tissue-(PT) and peripheral blood-(PB) of 42 primary RCC patients and function evaluated through effector T cells (Teff) proliferation, cytokines release and demethylation of Treg Specific Regi...

We report the discovery of a new carbon rich white dwarf that was identified during a proper motion survey for cool white dwarfs based on photographic material used for the construction of the Guide Star Catalog II. Its large proper motion (μ ≃ 0.48 arcsec/yr) and faint apparent magnitude (V ≃ 18.7) suggest a nearby object of low luminosity. A low-resolution spectrum taken with the William Hers...