Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in second complete remission for core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia: a study from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia (AML) comprises two subtypes with distinct cytogenetic abnormalities of either t(8;21)(q22;q22) or inv(16)(p13q22)/t(16;16)(p13;q22). Since longterm response to chemotherapy in these leukemias is relatively good, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is considered in patients who relapse and achieve second complete remission. To evaluate the outcomes of allogeneic transplantation in this indication, we studied 631 patients reported to the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry between the years 2000 and 2014. Leukemia-free survival probabilities at two and five years were 59.1% and 54.1%, while overall survival probabilities were 65% and 58.2%, respectively. The incidence of relapse and risk of non-relapse mortality at the same time points were 19.8% and 22.5% for relapse and 20.9% and 23.3% for non-relapse mortality, respectively. The most important adverse factors influencing leukemia-free and overall survival were: leukemia with t(8;21), presence of three or more additional chromosomal abnormalities, and Karnofsky performance score <80. Relapse risk was increased in t(8;21) leukemia and associated with additional cytogenetic abnormalities as well as reduced intensity conditioning. Measurable residual disease in molecular evaluation before transplantation was associated with increased risk of relapse and inferior leukemia-free survival

Immaturities in Reward Processing and Its Influence on Inhibitory Control in Adolescence

The nature of immature reward processing and the influence of rewards on basic elements of cognitive control during adolescence are currently not well understood. Here, during functional magnetic resonance imaging, healthy adolescents and adults performed a modified antisaccade task in which trial-by-trial reward contingencies were manipulated. The use of a novel fast, event-related design enabled developmental differences in brain function underlying temporally distinct stages of reward processing and response inhibition to be assessed. Reward trials compared with neutral trials resulted in faster correct inhibitory responses across ages and in fewer inhibitory errors in adolescents. During reward trials, the blood oxygen level–dependent signal was attenuated in the ventral striatum in adolescents during cue assessment, then overactive during response preparation, suggesting limitations during adolescence in reward assessment and heightened reactivity in anticipation of reward compared with adults. Importantly, heightened activity in the frontal cortex along the precentral sulcus was also observed in adolescents during reward-trial response preparation, suggesting reward modulation of oculomotor control regions supporting correct inhibitory responding. Collectively, this work characterizes specific immaturities in adolescent brain systems that support reward processing and describes the influence of reward on inhibitory control. In sum, our findings suggest mechanisms that may underlie adolescents’ vulnerability to poor decision-making and risk-taking behavior

Intermetallic compounds of Ni and Ga as catalysts for the synthesis of methanol

In this work, we present a detailed study of the formation of supported intermetallic Ni-Ga catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. The bimetallic phase is formed during a temperature-programmed reduction of the metal nitrates. By utilizing a combination of characterization techniques, in particular in situ and ex situ X-ray diffraction, in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence, we have studied the formation of intermetallic Ni-Ga catalysts of two compositions: NiGa and Ni5Ga3. These methods demonstrate that the catalysts with the desired intermetallic phase and composition are formed upon reduction in hydrogen and enable us to propose a mechanism of the Ni-Ga nanoparticles formation. By studying the effect of calcination prior to catalyst reduction, we show that the reactivity depends on particle size, which suggests that the reaction is structure sensitive

Intermetallic compounds of Ni and Ga as catalysts for the synthesis of methanol

In this work, we present a detailed study of the formation of supported intermetallic Ni-Ga catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. The bimetallic phase is formed during a temperature-programmed reduction of the metal nitrates. By utilizing a combination of characterization techniques, in particular in situ and ex situ X-ray diffraction, in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence, we have studied the formation of intermetallic Ni-Ga catalysts of two compositions: NiGa and Ni5Ga3. These methods demonstrate that the catalysts with the desired intermetallic phase and composition are formed upon reduction in hydrogen and enable us to propose a mechanism of the Ni-Ga nanoparticles formation. By studying the effect of calcination prior to catalyst reduction, we show that the reactivity depends on particle size, which suggests that the reaction is structure sensitive

Post-Maastricht Civil Society and Participatory Democracy

The Treaty of Maastricht and even more so the sceptical public response to the further deepening of European integration triggered a new approach to civil society. This contribution explores why the concept of civil society became so prominent in Brussels and why such high expectations were placed in the democratic strengthening of Europe by involving civil society in EU governance and by starting a civil dialogue. The main part of the contribution presents the findings of an empirical investigation demonstrating and explaining how much aspirations differ from reality. At the end of the contribution the democratic potential of civil dialogue is compared with expectations regarding the European Citizens’ Initiative