Vertical InAs/GaAsSb/GaSb tunneling field-effect transistor on Si with S = 48 mV/decade and Ion = 10 μA/μm for Ioff = 1 nA/μm at VDS = 0.3 V

We present a vertical nanowire InAs/GaAsSb/GaSb TFET with a highly scaled InAs diameter (20 nm). The device exhibits a minimum subthreshold swing of 48 mV/dec. for Vds = 0.1-0.5 V and achieves an Ion = 10.6 μA/μm for Ioff = 1 nA/μm at Vds = 0.3 V. The lowest subthreshold swing achieved is 44 mV/dec. at Vds= 0.05 V. Furthermore, a benchmarking is performed against state-of-the-art TFETs and MOSFETs demonstrating a record high I60 and performance benefits for Vds between 0.1 and 0.3 V

Geo-Spatial Characteristics of 567 Places of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Infection in Southern Germany, 2018–2020

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a growing public health problem with increasing incidence and expanding risk areas. Improved prevention requires better understanding of the spatial distribution and ecological determinants of TBE transmission. However, a TBE risk map at sub-district level is still missing for Germany. We investigated the distribution and geo-spatial characteristics of 567 self-reported places of probable TBE infection (POI) from 359 cases notified in 2018–2020 in the study area of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg, compared to 41 confirmed TBE foci and 1701 random comparator places. We built an ecological niche model to interpolate TBE risk to the entire study area. POI were distributed heterogeneously at sub-district level, as predicted probabilities varied markedly across regions (range 0–93%). POI were spatially associated with abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic geo-spatial characteristics, including summer precipitation, population density, and annual frost days. The model performed with 69% sensitivity and 63% specificity at an optimised probability threshold (0.28) and an area under the curve of 0.73. We observed high predictive probabilities in small-scale areas, consistent with the known circulation of the TBE virus in spatially restricted microfoci. Supported by further field work, our findings may help identify new TBE foci. Our fine-grained risk map could supplement targeted prevention in risk areas.Peer Reviewe

Evaluation of a temporary vaccination recommendation in response to an outbreak of invasive meningococcal serogroup C disease in men who have sex with men in Berlin, 2013-2014

Meningococcal serogroup C (MenC) vaccination of men who have sex with men (MSM) was temporarily recommended to control an outbreak of invasive MenC disease among MSM in Berlin in 2012–2013. Vaccination was offered to HIV- infected MSM free of charge; others had to request reimbursement or pay out of pocket. We aimed to assess (i) awareness and acceptance of this recommendation through an online survey of MSM, (ii) implementation through a survey of primary care physicians and analysis of vaccine prescriptions, and (iii) impact through analysis of notified cases. Among online survey respondents, 60% were aware of the recommendation. Of these, 39% had obtained vaccination (70% of HIV-infected, 13% of HIV-negative/non-tested MSM). Awareness of recommendation and vaccination were positively associated with HIV infection, primary care physicians’ awareness of respondents’ sexual orientation, and exposure to multiple information sources. Most (26/30) physicians informed clients about the recommendation. Physicians considered concerns regarding reimbursement, vaccine safety and lack of perceived disease risk as primary barriers. After the recommendation, no further outbreak-related cases occurred. To reach and motivate target groups, communication of a new outbreak-related vaccination recommendation should address potential concerns through as many information channels as possible and direct reimbursement of costs should be enabled

What is the evidence for giving chemoprophylaxis to children or students attending the same preschool, school or college as a case of meningococcal disease?

We performed a systematic literature review to assess the effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis for contacts of sporadic cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in educational settings. No studies directly compared IMD risk in contacts with/without chemoprophylaxis. However, compared to the background incidence, an elevated IMD risk was identified in settings without a general recommendation for chemoprophylaxis in pre-schools [pooled risk difference (RD) 58·2/10⁵, 95% confidence interval (CI) 27·3-89·0] and primary schools (pooled RD 4·9/10⁵, 95% CI 2·9-6·9) in the ~30 days after contact with a sporadic IMD case, but not in other educational settings. Thus, limited but consistent evidence suggests the risk of IMD in pre-school contacts of sporadic IMD cases is significantly increased above the background risk, but lower than in household contacts (pooled RD for household contacts with no chemoprophylaxis vs. background incidence: 480·1/10⁵, 95% CI 321·5-639·9). We recommend chemoprophylaxis for pre-school contacts depending on an assessment of duration and closeness of contact

The Role of Interleukins after Spinal Cord Injury

In skin wound healing the injured tissue goes through a normal progression, inflammation subsides and remodeling occurs. However after spinal cord injury inflammation persists and there is less progression into a regenerative/rebuilding phase. This inflammatory process after spinal cord injury is orchestrated by many cell types and numerous cytokines. Although there are several positive effects of inflammation after spinal cord injury, such as the removal of debris, the substantial upregulation of immune cells has been shown to contribute to neural degeneration. Several chemokines and cytokines including many interleukins are involved in guiding these immune cells to the lesion. While there are many inflammatory cytokines acting on these immune cells after SCI, there are also several anti-inflammatory interleukins that have shown beneficial effects in reducing inflammation. After SCI in a rat model, interleukin-10 and interleukin-19 have been shown to downregulate the synthesis of pro-inflammatory species including interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, which resulted in a significant improvement in rat hind limb function. Also, interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 are related anti-inflammatory cytokines that regulate many aspects of inflammation and have also been shown to induce alternative macrophage activation. The differing and complex roles interleukins play, highlight their importance on the inflammation that persists after spinal cord injury. Here we review both the positive effects and negative effects that interleukins have during the multifaceted inflammation process following spinal cord injury

Ferroelectricity and negative piezoelectric coefficient in orthorhombic phase pure ZrO2 thin films

A new approach for epitaxial stabilisation of ferroelectric orthorhombic (o-) ZrO2 films with negative piezoelectric coefficient in ∼ 8nm thick films grown by ion-beam sputtering is demonstrated. Films on (011)-Nb:SrTiO3 gave the oriented o-phase, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction mapping, grazing incidence x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Scanning probe microscopy techniques and macroscopic polarization-electric field hysteresis loops show ferroelectric behavior, with saturation polarization of ∼14.3 µC/cm2, remnant polarization of ∼9.3 µC/cm2 and coercive field ∼1.2 MV/cm. In contrast to the o-films grown on (011)-Nb:SrTiO3, films grown on (001)-Nb:SrTiO3 showed mixed monoclinic (m-) and o-phases causing an inferior remnant polarization of ∼4.8 µC/cm2, over 50% lower than the one observed for the film grown on (011)-Nb:SrTiO3. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the SrTiO3/ZrO2 interfaces support the experimental findings of a stable polar o-phase for growth on (011) Nb:SrTiO3, and they also explain the negative piezoelectric coefficient.This work was supported by: (i) the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding Contract UIDB/04650/2020 and (ii) Project NECL - NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-022096 and Project UID/NAN/50024/2019. This work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 958174 (M-ERA-NET3/0003/2021 - NanOx4EStor). This work was also developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020, financed by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology/MCTES. It is also funded by national funds (OE), through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19.The calculations were carried out at the OBLIVION Supercomputer (based at the High Performance Computing Center - University of Évora) funded by the ENGAGE SKA Research Infrastructure (reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022217 - COMPETE 2020 and the Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal) and by the BigData@UE project (reference ALT20-03-0246-FEDER-000033 - FEDER and the Alentejo 2020 Regional Operational Program). Oblivion resources were accessed through the advanced computing projects CPCA/A2/5649/2020 and CPCA/A2/4628/2020, funded by FCT I.P. The authors gratefully acknowledge the HPC RIVR consortium (www.hpc-rivr.si) and EuroHPC JU (eurohpc-ju.europa.eu) for funding this research by providing computing resources of the HPC system Vega at the Institute of Information Science (www.izum.si)The calculations were carried out at the OBLIVION Supercomputer (based at the High Performance Computing Center - University of Évora) funded by the ENGAGE SKA Research Infrastructure (reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022217 - COMPETE 2020 and the Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal) and by the BigData@UE project (reference ALT20-03-0246-FEDER-000033 - FEDER and the Alentejo 2020 Regional Operational Program). Oblivion resources were accessed through the advanced computing projects CPCA/A2/5649/2020 and CPCA/A2/4628/2020, funded by FCT I.P. The authors gratefully acknowledge the HPC RIVR consortium (www.hpc-rivr.si) and EuroHPC JU (eurohpc-ju.europa.eu) for funding this research by providing computing resources of the HPC system Vega at the Institute of Information Science (www.izum.si

Interpreting changes in measles genotype: the contribution of chance, migration and vaccine coverage

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In some populations, complete shifts in the genotype of the strain of measles circulating in the population have been observed, with given genotypes being replaced by new genotypes. Studies have postulated that such shifts may be attributable to differences between the fitness of the new and the old genotypes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We developed a stochastic model of the transmission dynamics of measles, simulating the effects of different levels of migration, vaccination coverage and importation of new genotypes on patterns in the persistence and replacement of indigenous genotypes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The analyses illustrate that complete replacement in the genotype of the strain circulating in populations may occur because of chance. This occurred in >50% of model simulations, for levels of vaccination coverage and numbers of imported cases per year which are compatible with those observed in several Western European populations (>80% and >3 per million per year respectively) and for the given assumptions in the model.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The interpretation of genotypic data, which are increasingly being collected in surveillance programmes, needs to take account of the underlying vaccination coverage and the level of the importation rate of measles cases into the population.</p

Differences in neuroplasticity after spinal cord injury in varying animal models and humans

Rats have been the primary model to study the process and underlying mechanisms of recovery after spinal cord injury. Two weeks after a severe spinal cord contusion, rats can regain weight-bearing abilities without therapeutic interventions, as assessed by the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan locomotor scale. However, many human patients suffer from permanent loss of motor function following spinal cord injury. While rats are the most understood animal model, major differences in sensorimotor pathways between quadrupeds and bipeds need to be considered. Understanding the major differences between the sensorimotor pathways of rats, non-human primates, and humans is a start to improving targets for treatments of human spinal cord injury. This review will discuss the neuroplasticity of the brain and spinal cord after spinal cord injury in rats, non-human primates, and humans. A brief overview of emerging interventions to induce plasticity in humans with spinal cord injury will also be discussed