Treatment of Adult Patients with Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Philadelphia-Negative Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The majority of adult patients affected by B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) will relapse after an initial response, while approximately 20% will display primary resistant disease. Patients suffering from relapsed/refractory B-ALL have a very poor outcome. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) still represents the only curative approach, but is not so frequently feasible, because of patient’s fitness, donor availability, and the ability to achieve a remission prior to HCT. The estimated remission rates with conventional cytotoxic agents are around 30%, but they are short-lived. These disappointing results led to the introduction of new immunologic-based treatments—blinatumomab and inotuzumab. They produced a substantial improvement in terms of response rates, with the ability, in most cases, to induce a minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative status. Similarly, T cells engineered to express a CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) have yielded sensational results among patients with relapsed/refractory B-ALL, with unexpectedly high MRD-negative complete remissions rates. However, the first studies looking at long-term outcomes after CAR-T infusions told us that a significant fraction of such responses are not durable, and may benefit from a consolidation approach such as an allogeneic HCT

Indicadores e Características da Gestão de Fontes Externas de Informação Tecnológica e do Desempenho Inovador de Empresas Brasileiras

The study is part of a larger research project that sought to analyze the relationship between some management practices of external sources of technological information with the innovative performance of the enterprise. In this paper are presented the main practices for the management of external sources of technological information and some of the main indicators of innovation performance. The sample was composed of industrial enterprises associated with ANPEI and by companies on the mailing list of PGT/USP. The final sample had 72 subjects (38% of the research universe). The results suggest that most of the companies in the sample are large and belong to technologically sophisticated industrial sectors. The main access modalities to technological information are performed by: technology acquisition, partnership with suppliers and with universities. The main sources of technological information are: the R&D Department, Other Departments, Suppliers, Fairs and Exhibitions, Universities, Clients, Network and Research Institutes. The main innovation performance indicators used are closely related to products and/or processes. Finally, the results of the research suggest that the management of external sources of technological information for innovation lacks more formalization and strategic perspective

How Does Corruption in Developing Countries Affect Corporate Investment and Tax Compliance?

Using a rich panel data base for firms in Asian countries, we assess the effect of public sector corruption on corporate assets investment and tax payments. Our findings suggest that public sector corruption does not deter investment activities of national firms while asset investment of multinational corporations is significantly reduced in corrupt environments. Moreover, the findings indicate that corruption exerts a quantitatively large negative effect on corporate tax payments, especially for the group of small and medium-sized national firms. The results appear across a large range of specifications and robustness tests and suggest that even modest reductions in public sector corruption may induce significant increases in a country's tax capacity

Reference-free evaluation of thin films mass thickness and composition through energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy

In this paper we report the development of a new method for the evaluation of thin films mass thickness and composition based on the Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The method exploits the theoretical calculation of the in-depth characteristic X-ray generation distribution function, $\phi$/($\rho$ z), in multilayer samples, obtained by the numerical solution of the electron transport equation, to achieve reliable measurements without the need of a reference sample and multiple voltages acquisitions. The electron transport model is derived from the Boltzmann transport equation and it exploits the most updated and reliable physical parameters in order to obtain an accurate description of the phenomenon. The method for the calculation of film mass thickness and composition is validated with benchmarks from standard techniques. In addition, a model uncertainty and sensitivity analysis is carried out and it indicates that the mass thickness accuracy is in the order of 10 $\mu$g/cm$^2$, which is comparable to the nuclear standard techniques resolution. We show the technique peculiarities in one example measurement: two-dimensional mass thickness and composition profiles are obtained for a ultra-low density, high roughness, nanostructured film.Comment: This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (ENSURE grant agreement No. 647554

Practices of the management of external sources of technological information and innovative performance of brazilian companies

O estudo constitui parte de uma pesquisa maior, que procurou analisar a relação de algumas práticas de gestão de fontes externas da informação tecnológica com o desempenho inovador da empresa. No presente artigo são apresentadas as principais praticas para a gestão de fontes externas de informação tecnológica e os principais indicadores de desempenho inovador. A amostra foi composta por empresas do setor industrial que são associadas à ANPEI ou/e integrantes do cadastro do PGT/USP. A amostra contém 72 empresas (38% do universo da pesquisa). Os resultados evidenciaram que a maioria das empresas é de grande porte e de setores tecnologicamente sofisticados. As principais modalidades de acesso às informações tecnológicas são: a aquisição por compra de tecnologia, a parceria com fornecedores, a aproximação com as universidades e a contratação de consultores. As principais fontes de informação são: Departamento de P&D, Outros Departamentos, os Fornecedores, as Feiras e Exibições, as Universidades, Clientes, Network e os Institutos de Pesquisa. Os principais indicadores de desempenho inovador utilizados estão relacionados a produtos e/ou processos. Finalmente, a pesquisa sugere que o processo da gestão de fontes externas de informação para inovação tecnológica é pouco formalizado e carece de uma perspectiva estratégica.The study is part of a larger research project that sought to analyze the relationship between some management practices of external sources of technological information with the innovative performance of the enterprise. In this paper are presented the main practices for the management of external sources of technological information and some of the main indicators of innovation performance. The sample was composed of industrial enterprises associated with ANPEI and by companies on the mailing list of PGT/USP. The final sample had 72 subjects (38% of the research universe). The results suggest that most of the companies in the sample are large and belong to technologically sophisticated industrial sectors. The main access modalities to technological information are performed by: technology acquisition, partnership with suppliers and with universities. The main sources of technological information are: the R&D Department, Other Departments, Suppliers, Fairs and Exhibitions, Universities, Clients, Network and Research Institutes. The main innovation performance indicators used are closely related to products and/or processes. Finally, the results of the research suggest that the management of external sources of technological information for innovation lacks more formalization and strategic perspective

The Internationalization Process of Brazilian Companies: a Study of Multiple Cases in the Heavy Construction Industry

The aim of this article is to describe and to analyze how the consolidation in the international markets of Brazilian construction companies occurred. The methodological procedures had been classified as descriptive conclusive research and data was collected under a qualitative orientation. A study of four companies was conducted: Andrade Gutierrez, Mendes Júnior, Norberto Odebrecht and Queiroz Galvão. A theoretical model with four analytical levels was considered: the macro context, the institutional environment, the industry and the firm. The results indicate that consolidation in international markets occurred largely as a result of factors concerning strategic management in response to the institutional processes and the appropriateness of the sector’s competitive conditions. In theoretical terms, this article makes progress when understanding internationalization processes is concerned in that it proposes a model that integrates knowledge from the fields of study of administration, organizations and international business. Although the model may be refined in future research, we believe that it reflects an important step toward the development of a broad theoretical frame of reference capable of covering the wealth and diversity that are typical of international activity

Industrial and technological policy and development

The objective of this paper is to enter deeper in the discussion about the unavoidable way Brazil has to go through in order to construct a modern industrial and technological policy, on the basis of the knowledge and the technological innovation, which will work as a stimulator of the economic development. The different theories about this subject (SCHUMPETER, 1961; PAVITT, 1998; FREEMAN, 1984; KRUGMAN, 1986; COUTINHO, 1990), so as the principles set by the Brazilian Development Ministry (“Diretrizes de Política Industrial, Tecnológica e de Comércio Exterior”), give the support in the search to define a new model of industrial, technological policy and foreign trade for the country. The strategic role of industrial policy seems to be very evident, if it assumes its co-ordination’s work involving those productive agents, which are responsible for crucial decisions, such as these relate with investments and/or innovation, in a context of great incertitude about the consequences of their decisions in the future. Finally, the conclusion arising from this discussion demonstrates that it is crucial for the country to define a modern industrial policy, which could be able to integrate the incentive to the innovation as well as to the exports, in order to serve as a tool to impulse the development. The paper argues also, that the feasibility to this policy depends on the ability of the Government to supply the agents with a favorable context, so as an adequate regulation, purchasing policy, availability on financing facilities and fiscal incentives

Laser cleaning of diagnostic mirrors from tungsten-oxygen tokamak-like contaminants

This paper presents a laboratory-scale experimental investigation about the laser cleaning of diagnostic first mirrors from tokamak-like contaminants, made of oxidized tungsten compounds with different properties and morphology. The re-deposition of contaminants sputtered from a tokamak first wall onto first mirrors' surfaces could dramatically decrease their reflectivity in an unacceptable way for the proper functioning of plasma diagnostic systems. The laser cleaning technique has been proposed as a solution to tackle this issue. In this work, pulsed laser deposition was exploited to produce rhodium films functional as first mirrors and to deposit onto them contaminants designed to be realistic in reproducing materials expected to be re-deposited on first mirrors in a tokamak environment. The same laser system was also used to perform laser cleaning experiments, exploiting a sample handling procedure that allows one to clean some cm2 in a few minutes. Cleaning effectiveness was evaluated in terms of specular reflectance recovery and mirror surface integrity. The effect of different laser wavelengths (λ= 1064, 266 nm) on the cleaning process was also addressed, as well as the impact of multiple contamination/cleaning cycles on the process outcome. A satisfactory recovery of pristine mirror reflectance (≥90%) was obtained in the vis-NIR spectral range, avoiding at the same time mirror damaging. The results here presented show the potential of the laser cleaning technique as an attractive solution for the cleaning of diagnostic first mirrors

Atypical primary pulmonary meningioma: A report of a case suspected of being a lung metastasis

Primary extracranial and extraspinal meningiomas are very rare tumours, and primary pulmonary ones are even more uncommon. They present as a solitary pulmonary nodule, and most of them are benign, except for three cases. We describe a primitive atypical pulmonary meningioma first suspected of being a metastasis in a patient during follow-up ten years after therapy for breast cancer. © the authors; licensee ecancermedicalscience