Solid solution strengthening in GaSb/GaAs: A mode to reduce the TD density through Be-doping

The need for a low bandgap semiconductor on a GaAs substrate for thermophotovoltaic applications has motivated research on GaSb alloys, in particular, the control of plastic relaxation of its active layer. Although interfacial misfit arrays offer a possibility of growing strain-free GaSb-based devices on GaAs substrates, a high density of threading dislocations is normally observed. Here, we present the effects of the combined influence of Be dopants and low growth temperature on the threading dislocation density observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy. The Be-related hardening mechanism, occurring at island coalescence, is shown to prevent dislocations to glide and hence reduce the threading dislocation density in these structures. The threading density in the doped GaSb layers reaches the values of seven times less than those observed in undoped samples, which confirms the proposed Be-related hardening mechanism

Type-II InAs/GaAsSb Quantum Dot Solar Cells With GaAs Interlayer

One of the primary challenges facing quantum dot (QD)-based intermediate band solar cells is the short lifetime of charge carriers (∼1 ns). To investigate this, InAs QD/GaAs 1--xSbx quantum well (QW) solar cells (SCs) with a 2-nm GaAs interlayer between the QDs and QW were fabricated for x = 0, 0.08, 0.14, and 0.17, respectively. Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements demonstrated prolonged carrier lifetimes up to 480 ns for the type-II SCs with x ≥ 14%. This improvement in carrier lifetime is assigned to the GaAs interlayer that reduces the wavefunction overlap between the electrons accumulated in the QDs and holes in the QW, and hence limits the possible emission pathways. External quantum efficiency measurements were performed to analyze the SC performance. An order of magnitude improvement was observed in the QD region (900–1200 nm) for the type-II SCs and is linked to the prolonged carrier lifetime

Preferred growth direction of III-V nanowires on differently oriented Si substrates

One of the nanowire (NW) characteristics is its preferred elongation direction. Here, we investigated the impact of Si substrate crystal orientation on the growth direction of GaAs NWs. We first studied the self-catalyzed GaAs NW growth on Si (111) and Si (001) substrates. SEM observations show GaAs NWs on Si (001) are grown along four directions without preference on one or some of them. This non-preferential NW growth on Si (001) is morphologically in contrast to the extensively reported vertical preferred GaAs NW growth on Si (111) substrates. We propose a model based on the initial condition of an ideal Ga droplet formation on Si substrates and the surface free energy calculation which takes into account the dangling bond surface density for different facets. This model provides further understanding of the different preferences in the growth of GaAs NWs along selected directions depending on the Si substrate orientation. To verify the prevalence of the model, NWs were grown on Si (311) substrates. The results are in good agreement with the three-dimensional mapping of surface free energy by our model. This general model can also be applied to predictions of NW preferred growth directions by the vapor-liquid-solid growth mode on other group IV and III–V substrates

Preferred growth direction of III-V nanowires on differently oriented Si substrates

One of the nanowire characteristics is its preferred elongation direction. Here, we investigated the impact of Si substrate crystal orientation on the growth direction of GaAs nanowires. We first studied the self-catalyzed GaAs nanowire growth on Si (111) and Si (001) substrates. SEM observations show GaAs nanowires on Si (001) are grown along four directions without preference on one or some of them. This non-preferential nanowire growth on Si (001) is morphologically in contrast to the extensively reported vertical preferred GaAs nanowire growth on Si (111) substrates. We propose a model based on the initial condition of an ideal Ga droplet formation on Si substrates and the surface free energy calculation which takes into account the dangling bond surface density for different facets. This model provides further understanding of the different preferences in the growth of GaAs nanowires along selected directions depending on the Si substrate orientation. To verify the prevalence of the model, nanowires were grown on Si (311) substrates. The results are in good agreement with the three-dimensional mapping of surface free energy by our model. This general model can also be applied to predictions of nanowire preferred growth directions by the vapor-liquid-solid growth mode on other group IV and III-V substrates

Biomarkers of response to ibrutinib plus nivolumab in relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, or Richter's transformation

Biomarcadors; Ibrutinib; Limfoma no hodgkinBiomarkers; Ibrutinib; Non-hodgkin's lymphomaBiomarcadores; Ibrutinib; Linfoma no hodgkinWe analyzed potential biomarkers of response to ibrutinib plus nivolumab in biopsies from patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), and Richter's transformation (RT) from the LYM1002 phase I/IIa study, using programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunohistochemistry, whole exome sequencing (WES), and gene expression profiling (GEP). In DLBCL, PD-L1 elevation was more frequent in responders versus nonresponders (5/8 [62.5%] vs. 3/16 [18.8%]; p = 0.065; complete response 37.5% vs. 0%; p = 0.028). Overall response rates for patients with WES and GEP data, respectively, were: DLBCL (38.5% and 29.6%); FL (46.2% and 43.5%); RT (76.5% and 81.3%). In DLBCL, WES analyses demonstrated that mutations in RNF213 (40.0% vs. 6.2%; p = 0.055), KLHL14 (30.0% vs. 0%; p = 0.046), and LRP1B (30.0% vs. 6.2%; p = 0.264) were more frequent in responders. No responders had mutations in EBF1, ADAMTS20, AKAP9, TP53, MYD88 , or TNFRSF14 , while the frequency of these mutations in nonresponders ranged from 12.5% to 18.8%. In FL and RT, genes with different mutation frequencies in responders versus nonresponders were: BCL2 (75.0% vs. 28.6%; p = 0.047) and ROS1 (0% vs. 50.0%; p = 0.044), respectively. Per GEP, the most upregulated genes in responders were LEF1 and BTLA (overall), and CRTAM (germinal center B-cell–like DLBCL). Enriched pathways were related to immune activation in responders and resistance-associated proliferation/replication in nonresponders. This preliminary work may help to generate hypotheses regarding genetically defined subsets of DLBCL, FL, and RT patients most likely to benefit from ibrutinib plus nivolumab.Sponsored by Janssen Research & Development, LLC

2.5-µm InGaAs photodiodes grown on GaAs substrates by interfacial misfit array technique

In0.85Ga0.15As photodetectors grown on GaAs substrates using an interfacial misfit array-based simple buffer are studied. The material quality is assessed with a range of characterization tools showing low surface roughness and low density of threading dislocations. These results indicate a significant improvement on crystal quality compared to structures grown on InP substrates by using metamorphic buffers. Quantum efficiency and responsivity measurements show good performance of the fabricated devices between 1.5 and 2.5 µm, making them highly suitable for short-wavelength infrared applications

Long-term follow-up of MCL patients treated with single-agent ibrutinib: updated safety and efficacy results

Ibrutinib, an oral inhibitor of Bruton tyrosine kinase, is approved for patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received one prior therapy. We report the updated safety and efficacy results from the multicenter, open-label phase 2 registration trial of Ibrutinib (median 26.7-month follow-up). Patients (N = 111) received oral ibrutinib 560 mg once daily, and those with stable disease or better could enter a long-term extension study. The primary end point was overall response rate (ORR). The median patient age was 68 years (range, 40-84), with a median of 3 prior therapies (range, 1-5). The median treatment duration was 8.3 months; 46% of patients were treated for \u3e12 months, and 22% were treated for \u3e= 2 years. The ORR was 67% (23% complete response), with a median duration of response of 17.5 months. The 24-month progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 31% (95% confidence interval [Cl], 22.3-40.4) and 47% (95% Cl, 37.1-56.9), respectively. The most common adverse events (AEs) in \u3e30% of patients included diarrhea (54%), fatigue (50%), nausea (33%), and dyspnea (32%). The most frequent grade \u3e= 3 infections included pneumonia (8%), urinary tract infection (4%), and cell ulitis (3%). Grade bleeding events in \u3e= 2% of patients were hematuria (2%) and subdural hematoma (2%). Common all-grade hematologic AEs were thrombocytopenia (22%), neutropenia (19%), and anemia (18%). The prevalence of infection, diarrhea, and bleeding was highest for the first 6 months of therapy and less thereafter. With longer follow-up, ibrutinib continues to demonstrate durable responses and favorable safety in relapsed/refractory MCL. The trial is registered to www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT01236391

Biodiversity conservation across scales: lessons from a science–policy dialogue

One of the core challenges of biodiversity conservation is to better understand the interconnectedness and interactions of scales in ecological and governance processes. These interrelationships constitute not only a complex analytical challenge but they also open up a channel for deliberative discussions and knowledge exchange between and among various societal actors which may themselves be operating at various scales, such as policy makers, land use planners, members of NGOs, and researchers. In this paper, we discuss and integrate the perspectives of various disciplines academics and stakeholders who participated in a workshop on scales of European biodiversity governance organised in Brussels in the autumn of 2010. The 23 participants represented various governmental agencies and NGOs from the European, national, and sub-national levels. The data from the focus group discussions of the workshop were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The core scale-related challenges of biodiversity policy identified by the participants were cross-level and cross-sector limitations as well as ecological, social and social-ecological complexities that potentially lead to a variety of scale-related mismatches. As ways to address these cha- llenges the participants highlighted innovations, and an aim to develop new interdisciplinary approaches to support the processes aiming to solve current scale challenges

Is good clinical practice becoming poor clinical care?

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