221 research outputs found
Parametric attosecond pulse amplification far from the ionization threshold from high order harmonic generation in He
Parametric amplification of attosecond coherent pulses around 100 eV at the
single-atom level is demonstrated for the first time by using the 3D
time-dependent Schr{\"o}dinger equation in high-harmonic generation processes
from excited states of He. We present the attosecond dynamics of the
amplification process far from the ionization threshold and resolve the physics
behind it. The amplification of a particular central photon energy requires the
seed XUV pulses to be perfectly synchronized in time with the driving laser
field for stimulated recombination to the He ground state and is only
produced in a few specific laser cycles in agreement with the experimental
measurements. Our simulations show that the amplified photon energy region can
be controlled by varying the peak intensity of the laser field. Our results
pave the way to the realization of compact attosecond pulse intense XUV lasers
with broad applications
Spanish companies’ website communication of environmental, social, and governance information
This study’s goal is to analyze the website communication of environmental, social, and governance –Environmental Social Governance (ESG)– information by companies on the Madrid Stock Exchange. The empirical descriptive and inferential analysis determines IBEX35 companies’ regulatory compliance in disclosure of non-financial information through examination of their website disclosure of ESG information. Economic-financial information from the Iberian Balance Sheet Analysis System (Sistema de Análisis de Balances Ibéricos (SABI)) database was also used to investigate whether the firms that communicate this information better are also more economically efficient. The study results reveal that IBEX35 companies’ website disclosure provides heterogeneous information that is difficult to access and that they need to improve website transparency by communicating sound, sustainable non-financial reports. Further, a significant correlation was found between the companies that disclose the most ESG information and those that have the highest economic profitability –that is, those that are best adapted to the Spanish legal system and compatible with the challenges established by the UN’s Agenda 2030
Nonspreading Light Pulses in Photonic Crystals
We investigate propagation of light pulses in photonic crystals in the
vicinity of the zero-diffraction point. We show that Gaussian pulses due to
nonzero width of their spectrum spread weakly in space and time during the
propagation. We also find the family of nonspreading pulses, propagating
invariantly in the vicinity of the zero diffraction point of photonic crystals
Combining estimates of interest in prognostic modelling studies after multiple imputation: current practice and guidelines
Background: Multiple imputation (MI) provides an effective approach to handle missing covariate
data within prognostic modelling studies, as it can properly account for the missing data
uncertainty. The multiply imputed datasets are each analysed using standard prognostic modelling
techniques to obtain the estimates of interest. The estimates from each imputed dataset are then
combined into one overall estimate and variance, incorporating both the within and between
imputation variability. Rubin's rules for combining these multiply imputed estimates are based on
asymptotic theory. The resulting combined estimates may be more accurate if the posterior
distribution of the population parameter of interest is better approximated by the normal
distribution. However, the normality assumption may not be appropriate for all the parameters of
interest when analysing prognostic modelling studies, such as predicted survival probabilities and
model performance measures.
Methods: Guidelines for combining the estimates of interest when analysing prognostic modelling
studies are provided. A literature review is performed to identify current practice for combining
such estimates in prognostic modelling studies.
Results: Methods for combining all reported estimates after MI were not well reported in the
current literature. Rubin's rules without applying any transformations were the standard approach
used, when any method was stated.
Conclusion: The proposed simple guidelines for combining estimates after MI may lead to a wider
and more appropriate use of MI in future prognostic modelling studies
Marker-assisted introgression of the salinity tolerance locus Saltol in temperate japonica rice
Background Rice is one of the most salt sensitive crops at seedling, early vegetative and reproductive stages. Varieties
with salinity tolerance at seedling stage promote an efficient growth at early stages in salt affected soils, leading
to healthy vegetative growth that protects crop yield. Saltol major QTL confers capacity to young rice plants growing
under salt condition by maintaining a low Na+/
K+ molar ratio in the shoots.
Results Marker-assisted backcross (MABC) procedure was adopted to transfer Saltol locus conferring salt tolerance
at seedling stage from donor indica IR64-Saltol to two temperate japonica varieties, Vialone Nano and Onice. Forward
and background selections were accomplished using polymorphic KASP markers and a final evaluation of genetic
background recovery of the selected lines was conducted using 15,580 SNP markers obtained from Genotyping by
Sequencing. Three MABC generations followed by two selfing, allowed the identification of introgression lines achieving
a recovery of the recurrent parent (RP) genome up to 100% (based on KASP markers) or 98.97% (based on GBS).
Lines with highest RP genome recovery (RPGR) were evaluated for agronomical-phenological traits in field under nonsalinized
conditions. VN1, VN4, O1 lines were selected considering the agronomic evaluations and the RPGR% results
as the most interesting for commercial exploitation. A physiological characterization was conducted by evaluating
salt tolerance under hydroponic conditions. The selected lines showed lower standard evaluation system (SES) scores:
62% of VN4, and 57% of O1 plants reaching SES 3 or SES 5 respectively, while only 40% of Vialone Nano and 25% of
Onice plants recorded scores from 3 to 5, respectively. VN1, VN4 and O1 showed a reduced electrolyte leakage values,
and limited negative effects on relative water content and shoot/root fresh weight ratio.
Conclusion The Saltol locus was successfully transferred to two elite varieties by MABC in a time frame of three years.
The application of background selection until BC3F3
allowed the selection of lines with a RPGR up to 98.97%. Physiological
evaluations for the selected lines indicate an improved salinity tolerance at seedling stage. The results supported
the effectiveness of the Saltol locus in temperate japonica and of the MABC procedure for recovering of the RP
favorable traits
Daratumumab displays in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity in models of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and improves responses to standard chemo-immunotherapy regimens
Altres ajuts: This work was carried out at the Esther Koplowitz Center, Barcelona. Genmab and Janssen pharmaceuticals funded this research. Additional grants that contributed to this work included: [...], and CIBERONC (CB16/12/00334 and CB16/12/00225).CD38 is expressed in several types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and constitutes a promising target for antibody-based therapy. Daratumumab (Darzalex) is a first-in-class anti-CD38 antibody approved for the treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma (MM). It has also demonstrated clinical activity in Waldenström macroglobulinaemia and amyloidosis. Here, we have evaluated the activity and mechanism of action of daratumumab in preclinical in vitro and in vivo models of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), follicular lymphoma (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), as monotherapy or in combination with standard chemo-immunotherapy. In vitro, daratumumab engages Fc-mediated cytotoxicity by antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell phagocytosis in all lymphoma subtypes. In the presence of human serum, complement-dependent cell cytotoxicity was marginally engaged. We demonstrated by Selective Plane Illumination Microscopy that daratumumab fully penetrated a three-dimensional (3D) lymphoma organoid and decreased organoid volume. In vivo, daratumumab completely prevents tumor outgrowth in models of MCL and FL, and shows comparable activity to rituximab in a disseminated in vivo model of blastic MCL. Moreover, daratumumab improves overall survival (OS) in a mouse model of transformed CD20 FL, where rituximab showed limited activity. Daratumumab potentiates the antitumor activity of CHOP and R-CHOP in MCL and FL xenografts. Furthermore, in a patient-derived DLBCL xenograft model, daratumumab anti-tumor activity was comparable to R-CHOP and the addition of daratumumab to either CHOP or R-CHOP led to full tumor regression. In summary, daratumumab constitutes a novel therapeutic opportunity in certain scenarios and these results warrant further clinical development
Neuropsychological Impairment in Post-COVID condition individuals with and without cognitive complaints
One of the most prevalent symptoms of post-COVID condition is cognitive impairment, which results in a significant degree of disability and low quality of life. In studies with large sample sizes, attention, memory, and executive function were reported as long-term cognitive symptoms. This study aims to describe cognitive dysfunction in large post-COVID condition individuals, compare objective neuropsychological performance in those post-COVID condition individuals with and without cognitive complaints, and identify short cognitive exams that can differentiate individuals with post-COVID symptoms from controls. To address these aims, the Nautilus project was started in June 2021. During the first year, we collected 428 participants' data, including 319 post-COVID and 109 healthy controls (18-65 years old) from those who underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery for cognitive assessment. Scores on tests assessing global cognition, learning and long-term memory, processing speed, language and executive functions were significantly worse in the post-COVID condition group than in healthy controls. Montreal Cognitive Assessment, digit symbol test, and phonetic verbal fluency were significant in the binomial logistic regression model and could effectively distinguish patients from controls with good overall sensitivity and accuracy. Neuropsychological test results did not differ between those with and without cognitive complaints. Our research suggests that patients with post-COVID conditions experience significant cognitive impairment and that routine tests like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, digit symbol, and phonetic verbal fluency test might identify cognitive impairment. Thus, the administration of these tests would be helpful for all patients with post-COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of whether cognitive complaints are present or absent
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