9 research outputs found
Atomically resolved scanning force studies of vicinal Si(111)
Well-ordered stepped semiconductor surfaces attract intense attention owing
to the regular arrangements of their atomic steps that makes them perfect
templates for the growth of one- dimensional systems, e.g. nanowires. Here, we
report on the atomic structure of the vicinal Si(111) surface with 10 degree
miscut investigated by a joint frequency-modulation scanning force microscopy
(FM-SFM) and ab initio approach. This popular stepped surface contains 7 x
7-reconstructed terraces oriented along the Si(111) direction, separated by a
stepped region. Recently, the atomic structure of this triple step based on
scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images has been subject of debate. Unlike
STM, SFM atomic resolution capability arises from chemical bonding of the tip
apex with the surface atoms. Thus, for surfaces with a corrugated density of
states such as semiconductors, SFM provides complementary information to STM
and partially removes the dependency of the topography on the electronic
structure. Our FM-SFM images with unprecedented spatial resolution on steps
confirm the model based on a (7 7 10) orientation of the surface and reveal
structural details of this surface. Two different FM-SFM contrasts together
with density functional theory calculations explain the presence of defects,
buckling and filling asymmetries on the surface. Our results evidence the
important role of charge transfers between adatoms, restatoms, and dimers in
the stabilisation of the structure of the vicinal surface
Alterungsstabilität von Direktmethanol-Brennstoffzellen der kW-Klasse (deutsch-kanadische Zusammenarbeit), 8. Zwischenbericht
Verbesserung der Leistung und Alterungsstabilität von Direktmethanol-Brennstoffzellen der kW-Klasse
Efficacy and safety of trimodulin, a novel polyclonal antibody preparation, in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia : a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter, phase II trial (CIGMA study)
Altres ajuts: Professional medical writing assistance was provided by Fiona Boswell, PhD, and editorial assistance was provided by Katie Lay, MSc, at Caudex (Oxford, UK), funded by Biotest AG. Accovion GmbH, Eschborn, Germany (now Clinipace Worldwide, Morrisville, North Carolina, USA) provided study management services. We would like to thank all centers and staff involved in this study, and the patients and their families. Bernd H. Belohradsky, V. Marco Ranieri (Chair), Richard Strauss, and Gerhard W. Sybrecht monitored patient safety and data integrity as members of the DSMB.The CIGMA study investigated a novel human polyclonal antibody preparation (trimodulin) containing ~ 23% immunoglobulin (Ig) M, ~ 21% IgA, and ~ 56% IgG as add-on therapy for patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP). In this double-blind, phase II study (NCT01420744), 160 patients with sCAP requiring invasive mechanical ventilation were randomized (1:1) to trimodulin (42 mg IgM/kg/day) or placebo for five consecutive days. Primary endpoint was ventilator-free days (VFDs). Secondary endpoints included 28-day all-cause and pneumonia-related mortality. Safety and tolerability were monitored. Exploratory post hoc analyses were performed in subsets stratified by baseline C-reactive protein (CRP; ≥ 70 mg/L) and/or IgM (≤ 0.8 g/L). Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in VFDs between trimodulin (mean 11.0, median 11 [ n = 81]) and placebo (mean 9.6; median 8 [ n = 79]; p = 0.173). Twenty-eight-day all-cause mortality was 22.2% vs. 27.8%, respectively (p = 0.465). Time to discharge from intensive care unit and mean duration of hospitalization were comparable between groups. Adverse-event incidences were comparable. Post hoc subset analyses, which included the majority of patients (58-78%), showed significant reductions in all-cause mortality (trimodulin vs. placebo) in patients with high CRP, low IgM, and high CRP/low IgM at baseline. No significant differences were found in VFDs and mortality between trimodulin and placebo groups. Post hoc analyses supported improved outcome regarding mortality with trimodulin in subsets of patients with elevated CRP, reduced IgM, or both. These findings warrant further investigation. Trial registration: NCT01420744. The online version of this article (10.1007/s00134-018-5143-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users
Efficacy and safety of trimodulin, a novel polyclonal antibody preparation, in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter, phase II trial (CIGMA study)
PURPOSE: The CIGMA study investigated a novel human polyclonal antibody preparation (trimodulin) containing ~ 23% immunoglobulin (Ig) M, ~ 21% IgA, and ~ 56% IgG as add-on therapy for patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP). METHODS: In this double-blind, phase II study (NCT01420744), 160 patients with sCAP requiring invasive mechanical ventilation were randomized (1:1) to trimodulin (42 mg IgM/kg/day) or placebo for five consecutive days. Primary endpoint was ventilator-free days (VFDs). Secondary endpoints included 28-day all-cause and pneumonia-related mortality. Safety and tolerability were monitored. Exploratory post hoc analyses were performed in subsets stratified by baseline C-reactive protein (CRP; ≥ 70 mg/L) and/or IgM (≤ 0.8 g/L). RESULTS: Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in VFDs between trimodulin (mean 11.0, median 11 [n = 81]) and placebo (mean 9.6; median 8 [n = 79]; p = 0.173). Twenty-eight-day all-cause mortality was 22.2% vs. 27.8%, respectively (p = 0.465). Time to discharge from intensive care unit and mean duration of hospitalization were comparable between groups. Adverse-event incidences were comparable. Post hoc subset analyses, which included the majority of patients (58-78%), showed significant reductions in all-cause mortality (trimodulin vs. placebo) in patients with high CRP, low IgM, and high CRP/low IgM at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found in VFDs and mortality between trimodulin and placebo groups. Post hoc analyses supported improved outcome regarding mortality with trimodulin in subsets of patients with elevated CRP, reduced IgM, or both. These findings warrant further investigation