Ferromagnetism in bulk Co-Zn-O

The origin of ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductors is still an open question, yielding a great deal of research across the world. This work focuses on the Co-Zn-O system. Room-temperature ferromagnetism is observed after a partial reaction of Co_3O_4 and ZnO, which can be ascribed neither to carrier mediation nor segregated cobalt metallic clusters. Another mechanism is yielding room-temperature ferromagnetism. This mechanism is associated with a partial reaction of ZnO and Co_3O_4 grains, and always appears when the starting phases (Co_3O_4 and ZnO) are present in the sample, suggesting that interfaces are involved in the origin of the observed ferromagnetism

Electronic structure of crystalline binary and ternary Cd-Te-O compounds

The electronic structure of crystalline CdTe, CdO, $\alpha$-TeO$_2$, CdTeO$_3$ and Cd$_3$TeO$_6$ is studied by means of first principles calculations. The band structure, total and partial density of states, and charge densities are presented. For $\alpha$-TeO$_2$ and CdTeO$_3$, Density Functional Theory within the Local Density Approximation (LDA) correctly describes the insulating character of these compounds. In the first four compounds, LDA underestimates the optical bandgap by roughly 1 eV. Based on this trend, we predict an optical bandgap of 1.7 eV for Cd$_3$TeO$_6$. This material shows an isolated conduction band with a low effective mass, thus explaining its semiconducting character observed recently. In all these oxides, the top valence bands are formed mainly from the O 2p electrons. On the other hand, the binding energy of the Cd 4d band, relative to the valence band maximum, in the ternary compounds is smaller than in CdTe and CdO.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures, 2 tables. Accepted in Phys Rev

Multicenter phase II study of plitidepsin in patients with relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

This phase II clinical trial evaluated the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of plitidepsin 3.2 mg/m2 administered as a 1-hour intravenous infusion weekly on days 1, 8 and 15 every 4 weeks in 67 adult patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Patients were divided into two cohorts: those with non-cutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphoma (n=34) and those with other lymphomas (n=33). Efficacy was evaluated using the International Working Group criteria (1999). Of the 29 evaluable patients with non-cutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphoma, six had a response (overall response rate 20.7%; 95% confidence interval, 8.0%-39.7%), including two complete responses and four partial responses. No responses occurred in the 30 evaluable patients with other lymphomas (including 27 B-cell lymphomas). The most common plitidepsin-related adverse events were nausea, fatigue and myalgia (grade 3 in <10% of cases). Severe laboratory abnormalities (lymphopenia, anemia, thrombo- cytopenia, and increased levels of transaminase and creatine phosphokinase) were transient and easily managed by plitidepsin dose adjustments. The pharmacokinetic profile did not differ from that previously reported in patients with solid tumors. In conclusion, plitidepsin monotherapy has clinical activity in relapsed/refractory T-cell lymphomas. Combinations of plitidepsin with other chemotherapeutic drugs deserve further evaluation in patients with non-cutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphoma. (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00884286)

Genome of the Avirulent Human-Infective Trypanosome—Trypanosoma rangeli

Background: Trypanosoma rangeli is a hemoflagellate protozoan parasite infecting humans and other wild and domestic mammals across Central and South America. It does not cause human disease, but it can be mistaken for the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. We have sequenced the T. rangeli genome to provide new tools for elucidating the distinct and intriguing biology of this species and the key pathways related to interaction with its arthropod and mammalian hosts.  Methodology/Principal Findings: The T. rangeli haploid genome is ,24 Mb in length, and is the smallest and least repetitive trypanosomatid genome sequenced thus far. This parasite genome has shorter subtelomeric sequences compared to those of T. cruzi and T. brucei; displays intraspecific karyotype variability and lacks minichromosomes. Of the predicted 7,613 protein coding sequences, functional annotations could be determined for 2,415, while 5,043 are hypothetical proteins, some with evidence of protein expression. 7,101 genes (93%) are shared with other trypanosomatids that infect humans. An ortholog of the dcl2 gene involved in the T. brucei RNAi pathway was found in T. rangeli, but the RNAi machinery is non-functional since the other genes in this pathway are pseudogenized. T. rangeli is highly susceptible to oxidative stress, a phenotype that may be explained by a smaller number of anti-oxidant defense enzymes and heatshock proteins.  Conclusions/Significance: Phylogenetic comparison of nuclear and mitochondrial genes indicates that T. rangeli and T. cruzi are equidistant from T. brucei. In addition to revealing new aspects of trypanosome co-evolution within the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, comparative genomic analysis with pathogenic trypanosomatids provides valuable new information that can be further explored with the aim of developing better diagnostic tools and/or therapeutic targets

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

CuInSe 2 films prepared by three step pulsed electrodeposition. Deposition mechanisms, optical and photoelectrochemical studies

p-Type semiconducting copper indium diselenide thin films have been prepared onto In 2O 3:Sn substrates by a recently developed pulse electrodeposition method that consists in repeated cycles of three potential application steps. The Cu-In-Se electrochemical system and the related single component electrolytes were studied by cyclic voltammetry to identify the electrode processes and study the deposition processes. In situ atomic force microscopy measurements during the first 100 deposition cycles denote a continuous nucleation and growth mechanism. Particles removed by film sonication from some of the films were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and determined to consist in nanoscopic and crystalline CuInSe 2. The remaining film is still crystalline CuInSe 2, as assessed by X-ray diffraction. The chemical characterization by combined X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, showed that films were Cu-poor and Se-poor. Raman characterization of the as-grown films showed that film composition varies with film thickness; thinner films are Se-rich, while thicker ones have an increased Cu-Se content. Different optical absorption bands were identified by the analysis of the UV-NIR transmittance spectra that were related with the presence of CuInSe 2, ordered vacancy compounds, Se, Cu 2-xSe and In 2Se 3. The photoelectrochemical activity confirmed the p-type character and showed a better response for the films prepared with the pulse method. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved