Polarisation parameters in neutral pion photoproduction

The polarisation parameters Σ, P and T have been measured for the process γp→π⁰p in the photon energy range 1300–2100 MeV and c.m. angles between 30° and 110°, in an experiment with a polarised beam and polarised target. The results are compared with a recent theoretical analysis which fits data from threshold to 16 GeV. The new data are in general agreement with the analysis, but with some significant discrepancies in detail.     

The Strength of Cartan's Version of Nevanlinna Theory

In 1933 Henri Cartan proved a fundamental theorem in Nevanlinnatheory, namely a generalization of Nevanlinna's second fundamentaltheorem. Cartan's theorem works very well for certain kindsof problems. Unfortunately, it seems that Cartan's theorem,its proof, and its usefulness, are not as widely known as theydeserve to be. To help give wider exposure to Cartan's theorem,the simple and general forms of the theorem are stated here.A proof of the general form is given, as well as several applicationsof the theorem. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 30D35.     

NKT cell-dependent glycolipid–peptide vaccines with potent anti-tumour activity

It is known that T cells can eliminate tumour cells through recognition of unique or aberrantly expressed antigens presented as peptide epitopes by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on the tumour cell surface. With recent advances in defining tumour-associated antigens, it should now be possible to devise therapeutic vaccines that expand specific populations of anti-tumour T cells. However there remains a need to develop simpler efficacious synthetic vaccines that possess clinical utility. We present here the synthesis and analysis of vaccines based on conjugation of MHC-binding peptide epitopes to α-galactosylceramide, a glycolipid presented by the nonpolymorphic antigen-presenting molecule CD1d to provoke the stimulatory activity of type I natural killer T (NKT) cells. The chemical design incorporates an enzymatically cleavable linker that effects controlled release of the active components in vivo. Chemical and biological analysis of different linkages with different enzymatic targets enabled selection of a synthetic vaccine construct with potent therapeutic anti-tumour activity in mice, and marked in vitro activity in human blood.