Reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy assessment of the MOVPE nucleation of GaInP on Germanium (100)

This work summarizes the observations made on the variation and time evolution of the reflectanceanisotropy signal during the MOVPE growth of GaInPnucleation layers on Germanium substrates. This in situ monitoring tool is used to assess the impact of different nucleation routines and reactor conditions on the quality of the layers grown. This comparison is carried out by establishing a correlation between reflectanceanisotropy signature at 2.1 eV and the morphology of the epilayers evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). This paper outlines the potential of reflectanceanisotropy to predict, explore, and therefore optimize, the best growth conditions that lead to a high quality III–V epilayer on a Ge substrat

Recombinant IFN-α2a-NGR exhibits higher inhibitory function on tumor neovessels formation compared with IFN-α2a in vivo and in vitro

Purpose We compared the efficacy of ofatumumab (O) versus rituximab (R) in combination with cisplatin, cytarabine, and dexamethasone (DHAP) salvage treatment, followed by autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Patients and Methods Patients with CD201 DLBCL age >= 18 years who had experienced their first relapse or who were refractory to first-line R-CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone)-like treatment were randomly assigned between three cycles of R-DHAP or O-DHAP. Either O 1,000 mg or R 375 mg/m2 was administered for a total of four infusions (days 1 and 8 of cycle 1; day 1 of cycles 2 and 3 of DHAP). Patients who experienced a response after two cycles of treatment received the third cycle, followed by high-dose therapy and ASCT. Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS), with failure to achieve a response after cycle 2 included as an event. Results Between March 2010 and December 2013, 447 patients were randomly assigned. Median age was 57 years (range, 18 to 83 years); 17% were age >= 65 years; 63% had stage III and IV disease; 71% did not achieve complete response (CR) or experience response for, 1 year on first-line R-CHOP. Response rate for O-DHAP was 38% (CR, 15%) versus 42% (CR, 22%) for R-DHAP. ASCT on protocol was completed by 74 patients (33%) in the O arm and 83 patients (37%) in the R arm. PFS, event-free survival, and overall survival were not significantly different between O-DHAP versus R-DHAP: PFS at 2 years was 24% versus 26% (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12; 95% CI, 0.89 to 1.42; P = .33); event-free survival at 2 years was 16% versus 18% (HR, 1.10; P=.35); and overall survival at 2 years was 41% versus 38% (HR, 0.90; P=.38). Positron emission tomography negativity before ASCT was highly predictive for superior outcome. Conclusion No difference in efficacy was found between O-DHAP and R-DHAP as salvage treatment of relapsed or refractory DLBCL. (C) 2016 by American Society of Clinical Oncolog

In situ study of Ge(100) surfaces with tertiarybutylphosphine supply in vapor phase epitaxy ambient

GaInP nucleation on Ge(100) often starts by annealing of the Ge(100) substrates under supply of phosphorus precursors. However, the influence on the Ge surface is not well understood. Here, we studied vicinal Ge(100) surfaces annealed under tertiarybutylphosphine (TBP) supply in MOVPE by in situ reflection anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). While XPS reveals a P termination and the presence of carbon on the Ge surface, LEED patterns indicate a disordered surface probably due to by-products of the TBP pyrolysis. However, the TBP annealed Ge(100) surface exhibits a characteristic RA spectrum, which is related to the P termination. RAS allows us to in situ control phosphorus desorption dependent on temperature

Leialtasun akzioak

[EU]Leialtasun akzioak Sozietateen Zuzenbidean txertatutako instrumentu berria da. Instrumentu honek boto eskubidearen banaketan arau orokorra den proportzionaltasun printzipioa urratzen ciu, izan ere, kotizatutako sozietatean bi urtez, modu etengabean, akzioak mantentzen dituzten bazkideei boto bikoitza aitortzen dielako. Modu honetan, kotizatutako sozietateen inguruan ohikoak diren epe laburreko estrategiak ezabatu nahi dira, aldi berean, bazkideen epe luzeko inplikazioa sustatuz. Inplikazio hori sustatzeko leialtasun akzioak aurreikusten dira, sozietatean inbertitzea eta inbertsioa bertan mantentzea erakargarriagoa bihurtuz, izan ere, sozietatearekiko leialtasuna adierazi duten akzionistak boto bikoitzaren eskubidearekin saritzen direlako.[ES]Loyalty Shares es un nuevo instrumento incorporado en la Ley de Sociedades. Este instrumento vulnera el principio de proporcionalidad, que es la regla general en la distribución del derecho de voto, al reconocer el doble voto a los socios que poseen acciones de forma continua durante dos años en una sociedad cotizada. De esta forma, se pretende eliminar las estrategias a corto plazo habituales en las sociedades cotizadas, al mismo tiempo que se fomenta la implicación a largo plazo de los socios. Las acciones de lealtad están previstas para promover esta implicación, haciendo más atractiva la inversión y el mantenimiento de la inversión en la compañía, ya que, los accionistas que han manifestado su fidelidad a la compañía son recompensados con el derecho a doble voto.[EN]Loyalty Shares is a new instrument embedded in Company Law. This instrument violates the principle of proportionality, which is the general rule in the distribution of the right to vote, as it recognizes a double vote of the members who hold shares continuously for two years in a listed company. In this way, the aim is to eliminate the short-term strategies that are common in listed companies, while at the same time encouraging the long-term involvement of partners. Loyalty shares are planned to promote this involvement, making it more attractive to invest in and maintain the investment in the company, as shareholders who have expressed their loyalty to the company are rewarded with the right to double voting

Dopamine and Serotonin Metabolism in Parkinsonian Models

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Different pathogenic mechanisms have been implicated, including loss of mitochondrial complex I function and dysfunction of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase (GBA1) (Neumann et al., 2009; Schapira et al., 1990). Also, it has been hypothesised that serotonin metabolism could be affected in these patients due to the number of enzymes shared by both pathways (Albizu et al., 2011). This thesis considers the potential involvement of complex I and GBA1 in PD using HPLC analysis of changes in the extracellular levels of the metabolites of dopamine and serotonin, and the expression and activity of the enzymes of the dopamine pathway. Using SH-SY5Y cells, complex I deficiency was modelled using rotenone, and GBA1 deficiency was modelled using conduritol B epoxide (CBE). Inhibition of mitochondrial complex I or GBA1 significantly increased extracellular concentrations of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), direct products of the degradation by monoamine oxidase (MAO) of dopamine and serotonin respectively. These results suggest increased MAO activity, providing evidence for the involvement of impaired complex I or GBA1 activity in the dopamine deficiency seen in PD. As MAO produces hydrogen peroxide as a side-product, its increased activity could enhance the oxidative stress present in PD (Dias et al., 2013). Therefore, intracellular GSH levels were quantified to determine whether the antioxidant mechanisms were affected, but no changes were observed. In addition to the main project, I collaborated with a number of groups to study monoamine metabolism in parkinsonian models. Also, the glycoprofile of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with and without impaired dopamine metabolism was studied to explore the possibility of using glycans as pathologic biomarkers

Impact of the III-V/Ge nucleation routine on the performance of high efficiency multijunction solar cells

This paper addresses the influence of III-V nucleation routines on Ge substrates for the growth of high efficiency multijunction solar cells. Three exemplary nucleation routines with differences in thickness and temperature were evaluated. The resulting open circuit voltage of triple-junction solar cells with these designs is significantly affected (up to 50 mV for the best optimization routine), whereas minimal differences in short circuit current are observed. Electroluminescence measurements show that both the Ge bottom cell and the Ga(In)As middle cell present a VOC gain of 25 mV each. This result indicates that the first stages of the growth not only affect the Ge subcell itself but also to subsequent subcells. This study highlights the impact of the nucleation routine design in the performance of high efficiency multijunction solar cell based on Ge substrates.Comment: 7 pages,7 figure

Personality traits, theory of mind and their relationship with multiple suicide attempts in a sample of first episode psychosis patients: One-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND: High rates of suicidal behaviour (SB) have been found in first episode psychosis (FEP) patients. It has been suggested that the presence of multiple suicide attempts (mSA) increases the risk of later SA and the risk of eventual death by suicide. OBJECTIVE: Our main objective was to study the baseline factors associated with the presence of mSA during the first year after FEP. In addition, a second aim was to find out whether there were any differences between single and multiple suicide attempters in the timing of the first SA after FEP. METHOD: A total of 65 FEP patients were evaluated. The presence of SAs were recorded at two different times after FEP. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to explore the relationship between SA with sociodemographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: Multiple linear regression showed that mSA was associated with the presence of increased symptom severity (B?=?0.35; t?=?3.67; p < 0.01) and errors in first-order false-belief task (B?=?0.48; t?=?2.11; p?=?0.04). There were significant differences in the timing of first SA after FEP between multiple and single suicide attempters. CONCLUSIONS: Theory of mind impairments along with more severe symptoms during the first contact with mental health services for psychotic symptoms appeared to be important predictors of mSA. On the other hand, multiple suicide attempters tend to make a first SA after FEP earlier than single suicide attempters. These results could contribute to the implementation of preventive suicidal programs, however they must be confirmed by additional research.Funding: This study was funded by Ministry of Science and Innovation grant ISC PI11/0233

Inhibition of Neuronal Mitochondrial Complex I or Lysosomal Glucocerebrosidase is associated with Increased Dopamine and Serotonin Turnover

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by loss of dopaminergic and serotoninergic signalling. A number of pathogenic mechanisms have been implicated including loss of mitochondrial function at the level of complex I, and lysosomal metabolism at the level of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase (GBA1). In order to investigate further the potential involvement of complex I and GBA1 in PD, we assessed the impact of loss of respective enzyme activities upon dopamine and serotonin turnover. Using SH-SY5Y cells, complex I deficiency was modelled by using rotenone whilst GBA1 deficiency was modelled by the use of conduritol B epoxide (CBE). Dopamine, its principal metabolites, and the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the extracellular medium were quantified by HPLC. Inhibition of complex I significantly increased extracellular concentrations of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 5-HIAA. Comparable results were observed with CBE. These results suggest increased monoamine oxidase activity and provide evidence for involvement of impaired complex I or GBA1 activity in the dopamine/serotonin deficiency seen in PD. Use of extracellular media may also permit relatively rapid assessment of dopamine/serotonin metabolism and permit screening of novel therapeutic agents

Smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Intervention for secondary prevention of suicidal thoughts and behaviour: Protocol for the Smart Crisis V.2.0 randomised clinical trial

Introduction Suicide is one of the leading public health issues worldwide. Mobile health can help us to combat suicide through monitoring and treatment. The SmartCrisis V.2.0 randomised clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Intervention to prevent suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Methods and analysis The SmartCrisis V.2.0 study is a randomised clinical trial with two parallel groups, conducted among patients with a history of suicidal behaviour treated at five sites in France and Spain. The intervention group will be monitored using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) and will receive an Ecological Momentary Intervention called SmartSafe' in addition to their treatment as usual (TAU). TAU will consist of mental health follow-up of the patient (scheduled appointments with a psychiatrist) in an outpatient Suicide Prevention programme, with predetermined clinical appointments according to the Brief Intervention Contact recommendations (1, 2, 4, 7 and 11 weeks and 4, 6, 9 and 12 months). The control group would receive TAU and be monitored using EMA. Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital Fundacion Jimenez Diaz. It is expected that, in the near future, our mobile health intervention and monitoring system can be implemented in routine clinical practice. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and psychiatric congresses. Reference number EC005-21FJD. Participants gave informed consent to participate in the study before taking part. Trial registration number NCT04775160This work was supported by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (LSRG-1-005-16), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII PI13/02200; PI16/01852; CM19/00026), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (RTI2018-099655-B-I00; TEC2017-92552-EXP) and Comunidad de Madrid (Y2018/TCS-4705, PRACTICO-CM