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Here we describe isolation and characterization of macrophage-tumor cell fusions (MTFs) from the blood of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. The MTFs were generally aneuploidy, and immunophenotypic characterizations showed that the MTFs express markers characteristic of PDAC and stem cells, as well as M2-polarized macrophages. Single cell RNASeq analyses showed that the MTFs express many transcripts implicated in cancer progression, LINE1 retrotransposons, and very high levels of several long non-coding transcripts involved in metastasis (such as MALAT1). When cultured MTFs were transplanted orthotopically into mouse pancreas, they grew as obvious well-differentiated islands of cells, but they also disseminated widely throughout multiple tissues in “stealth” fashion. They were found distributed throughout multiple organs at 4, 8, or 12 weeks after transplantation (including liver, spleen, lung), occurring as single cells or small groups of cells, without formation of obvious tumors or any apparent progression over the 4 to 12 week period. We suggest that MTFs form continually during PDAC development, and that they disseminate early in cancer progression, forming “niches” at distant sites for subsequent colonization by metastasis-initiating cells.

A model for characterizing the spectral response of the passband of Wavelength Selective Switches (WSS) is presented. We demonstrate that, in contrast to the commonly used supergaussian model, the presented model offers a more complete match to measured results, as it is based on the physical operation of the optical system. We also demonstrate that this model is better suited for calculation of WSS channel bandwidths, as well as predicting the final bandwidth of cascaded WSS modules. Finally, we show the utility of this model in predicting channel shapes in flexible bandwidth WSS channel plans.

Antibiotic resistance is notably high in Poland currently, but both tailored and empiric therapies can achieve acceptable cure rates equal to or higher than 90%.

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We demonstrate an 11 port count wavelength selective switch (WSS) supporting spatial superchannels of three spatial modes, based on the combination of photonic lanterns and a high-port count single-mode WSS.

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We present the first optical measurement of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in a three-dimensional photonic crystal. The photonic crystal, fabricated by self-assembly of polystyrene microspheres, exhibits a photonic stopband that overlaps the NV photoluminescence spectrum. A modified emission spectrum and photon antibunching were measured from the NV centers. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements revealed a 30% increase in the source lifetime. Encapsulation of single NV centers in a three-dimensional photonic crystal is a step towards controlling emission properties of a single photon source.