Combined grazing incidence RBS and TEM analysis of luminescent nano-SiGe/SiO2 multilayers.

Multilayer structures with five periods of amorphous SiGe nanoparticles/SiO2 layers with different thickness were deposited by Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition and annealed to crystallize the SiGe nanoparticles. The use of grazing incidence RBS was necessary to obtain sufficient depth resolution to separate the signals arising from the individual layers only a few nm thick. The average size and areal density of the embedded SiGe nanoparticles as well as the oxide interlayer thickness were determined from the RBS spectra. Details of eventual composition changes and diffusion processes caused by the annealing processes were also studied. Transmission Electron Microscopy was used to obtain complementary information on the structural parameters of the samples in order to check the information yielded by RBS. The study revealed that annealing at 900 °C for 60 s, enough to crystallize the SiGe nanoparticles, leaves the structure unaltered if the interlayer thickness is around 15 nm or higher

Neural Bases of Cognitive Impairments in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders : A Mini-Review of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings

Introduction: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is often associated with impairments in emotional and cognitive domains. Contrarily to the emotional sphere, neural basis underpinnings to cognitive impairments are still not well known. Methods: We performed a bibliographic search on PUBMED of all the studies investigating the cognitive impairments in PTSD individuals. We considered only studies that applied cognitive tasks using a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging technique. The inclusion criteria were met by nine studies. Results: Overall, PTSD individuals reported significant impairments in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, inferior frontal gyrus, insula, inferior temporal cortex, supplement motor area, and Default Mode Network (DMN). Moreover, abnormal activity was reported in subcortical structures (e.g. hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus) and in the cerebellum. Limitations: Cognitive functioning was assessed using different cognitive tasks. Potential confounding factors such as age, sex, symptoms intensity, and comorbidities might have influenced the results. Conclusion: So far, the evidence reported that PTSD is characterized by cognitive impairments in several domains, such as attention, memory and autonomic arousal, which may be due to selective dysfunctions in brain regions that are part of cortical networks, the limbic system and DMN. However, further studies are needed in order to better assess the role of cognitive impairments in PTSD and to develop more targeted therapeutic approaches

1-Aryl-3-[4-(thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-yloxy)phenyl]ureas as potential inhibitors of VEGFR-2: synthesis and molecular modelling studies

Angiogenesis is a requirement for tumor growth and metastasis and occurs through several signalling pathways. One key pathway that initiates proliferation and migration of endothelial cells is signalling through the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2).1 Therefore, small molecules that block this signalling pathway through inhibition of the VEGFR tyrosine kinase activity could potentially inhibit angiogenesis and tumour growth. Recently works describing thienopyrimidines2 and thienopyridine ureas3 as inhibitors of VEGFR-2 have appeared in the literature. Here we present the synthesis of new 1,3-diarylureas 2 starting by regioselective nucleophilic substitution of the 4-chlorothieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine with 4-aminophenol to obtain 4-(thieno[3,2-d]pyridin-4-yloxy)aniline 1 which reacts with different arylisocyanate

1-aryl-3-(4-(7-methylthieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-yloxy)phenyl)ureas: synthesis and molecular modelling studies using VEGFR-2

The development of anticancer drugs inhibiting angiogenesis has been an area of extensive research in the past decade. Angiogenesis is a requirement for tumor growth and metastasis and occurs through several signalling pathways. One key pathway that initiates proliferation and migration of endothelial cells is signalling through the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2).1 Therefore, small molecules that block this signalling pathway through inhibition of VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase activity could potentially inhibit angiogenesis and tumor growth. Recently works describing thienopyrimidine2 and thienopyrimidine 1,3-diarylureas3 as VEGFR-2 inhibitors have emerged in the literature. Here we present the synthesis of new 1-aryl-3-(4-(7-methylthieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-yloxy)phenyl)ureas 2 in high yields by reaction of 4-[(7-methylthieno[3,2-d]pyridin-4-yl)oxy]aniline 1 with arylisocyanates. The former was prepared by regioselective nucleophilic substitution of 4-chloro-7-methylthieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine with 4-aminopheno

Structural and functional neuroimaging studies in generalized anxiety disorder: a systematic review

Objectives: Brain imaging studies carried out in patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have contributed to better characterize the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this disorder. The present study reviews the available functional and structural brain imaging evidence on GAD, and suggests further strategies for investigations in this field. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar, aiming to identify original research evaluating GAD patients with the use of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging as well as diffusion tensor imaging. Results: The available studies have shown impairments in ventrolateral and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, posterior parietal regions, and amygdala in both pediatric and adult GAD patients, mostly in the right hemisphere. However, the literature is often tentative, given that most studies have employed small samples and included patients with comorbidities or in current use of various medications. Finally, different methodological aspects, such as the type of imaging equipment used, also complicate the generalizability of the findings. Conclusions: Longitudinal neuroimaging studies with larger samples of both juvenile and adult GAD patients, as well as at risk individuals and unaffected relatives, should be carried out in order to shed light on the specific biological signature of GAD

Artistic research: the difference that makes a difference

Research in and through artistic practic

Terapêutica intravesical com bacilo de Calmette-Guérin no tratamento do carcinoma da bexiga / o que sabemos até agora

AbstractIntroductionThe use of intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin is a valid option in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder tumors, making it the main subject of a lot of publications. The aim of the present study is to review and consolidate the data available about this subject.MethodsA review of the data available was made on PubMed with the keywords: “intravesical BCG” and “non-muscle invasive bladder cancer”. Original and review articles written in English or Portuguese were selected. We present the discussion alongside the results for structural purposes.Results and discussionScientific evidence strongly advises in favor of BCG use on intermediate and high risk tumors, due to its impact on the recurrence and possibly on the progression rates. It is important to be watchful for possible local and systemic side effects, that when detected call for a rightful therapeutically decision alongside the recommended schemes.ConclusionThe use of intravesical BCG with therapeutically purposes has strong evidence on the non-muscle invasive bladder tumors. More studies are needed in order to better understand the best administration scheme and its mechanism of action

Polarized Dirac fermions in de Sitter spacetime

The tetrad gauge invariant theory of the free Dirac field in two special moving charts of the de Sitter spacetime is investigated pointing out the operators that commute with the Dirac one. These are the generators of the symmetry transformations corresponding to isometries that give rise to conserved quantities according to the Noether theorem. With their help the plane wave spinor solutions of the Dirac equation with given momentum and helicity are derived and the final form of the quantum Dirac field is established. It is shown that the canonical quantization leads to a correct physical interpretation of the massive or massless fermion quantum fields.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX w AMS sym