CUPID: New System for Scintillating Screen based Diagnostics

We are developing two-layered Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide (YBCO) thin film structures for energy efficient data links for superconducting electronics and present the results of their property measurements. High temperature superconductors (HTS) are advantageous for the implementation of energy-efficient cables interconnecting low temperature superconductor-based circuits and other cryogenic electronics circuits at higher temperature stages. The advantages of the HTS cables come from their low loss and low dispersion properties, allowing ballistic transfer of low power signals with very high bandwidth, low heat conduction and negligible inter-line crosstalk. The microstrip line cable geometry for typical materials is a two-layered film, in which the two superconducting layers are separated by an insulation layer with a minimized permittivity. We have made a proof of concept design of two YBCO films grown by pulsed laser deposition and then assembled into a sandwich with uniform insulating interlayer of tens of micrometers thick. We report on results obtained from such systems assembled in different ways. Structural and electromagnetic properties have been examined on individual films and on the corresponding sandwich composite. © 2013 IEEE

Interventions in People at Risk of Developing First Episode Psychosis: A Survey of Current Randomised Controlled Studies

Early and valid detection of the psychosis risk syndrome, and indicated prevention aim at preventing, delaying or ameliorating frank psychosis, improving current symptoms as well as emerging psychosocial disability. In a systematic literature search we identified seven completed randomised controlled trials of interventions for individuals at high risk of developing first episode psychosis. These studies evaluated antipsychotics, neuroprotective agents, cognitive behavioural and integrated treatment approaches. All trials reported advantages for specific interventions as compared to the respective control conditions (although not significant in each of the studies), which proved to be significant in the first meta-analysis of the studies. However, the current results do not allow recommendations for any specific treatment. Therefore, interventions should be thoroughly reviewed based on their risk/benefit ratio. The level of individual clinical risk, assumed benefits and side effects of interventions are critical determinants for these considerations. Future research is needed with sufficiently powered, methodologically sound replication studies, which are designed to explore differential efficacy of the interventions