Magnetic structure and phase diagram of TmB4

Magnetic structure of single crystalline TmB4 has been studied by magnetization, magnetoresistivity and specific heat measurements. A complex phase diagram with different antiferromagnetic (AF) phases was observed below TN1 = 11.7 K. Besides the plateau at half-saturated magnetization (1/2 MS), also plateaus at 1/9, 1/8 and 1/7 of MS were observed as function of applied magnetic field B//c. From additional neutron scattering experiments on TmB4, we suppose that those plateaus arise from a stripe structure which appears to be coherent domain boundaries between AF ordered blocks of 7 or 9 lattice constants. The received results suggest that the frustration among the Tm3+ magnetic ions, which maps to a geometrically frustrated Shastry-Sutherland lattice lead to strong competition between AF and ferromagnetic (FM) order. Thus, stripe structures in intermediate field appear to be the best way to minimize the magnetostatic energy against other magnetic interactions between the Tm ions combined with very strong Ising anisotropy.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, conference contribution - CSMAG 0

Induction chemotherapy in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Clinical outcomes and patterns of care

Abstract The role of induction chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains controversial. The primary aim of this study was to use the National Cancer Database to evaluate the patterns of care of induction chemotherapy in NPC and its impact on overall survival (OS). Patients with NPC from 2004 to 2014 were obtained from the NCDB. Patients were considered to have received induction chemotherapy if it was started ≥43 days before the start of RT and concurrent CRT if chemotherapy started within 21 days after the start of RT. Propensity score matching was used to control for selection bias. Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine significant predictors of OS. Logistic regression model was used to determine predictors of the use of induction chemotherapy. Significance was defined as a P value <.05. A total of 4857 patients were identified: 4041 patients (87.2%) received concurrent CRT and 816 patients (16.8%) received induction chemotherapy. The use of induction therapy remained stable between 2004 and 2014. Younger patients and those with higher T‐ and N‐stage had a higher likelihood of being treated with induction chemotherapy. The 5‐year OS in patients treated with induction chemotherapy and CRT was 66.3% vs 69.1%, respectively (P = .25). There was no difference in OS when these two groups were analyzed after propensity score matching. No differences in OS existed between these treatment groups in patients with T3‐T4N1 or TanyN2‐3 disease (P = .76). Propensity score matching also did not reveal any difference in OS in patients with T3‐T4N1 or TanyN2‐3 disease. The use of induction chemotherapy has remained stable in the last decade. In this study of patients with NPC, induction chemotherapy was not associated with improved OS compared to CRT alone

Large, high quality single-crystals of the new Topological Kondo Insulator, SmB6

SmB6 has recently been predicted to be a Topological Kondo Insulator, the first strongly correlated heavy fermion material to exhibit topological surface states. High quality crystals are necessary to investigate the topological properties of this material. Single crystal growth of the rare earth hexaboride, SmB6, has been carried out by the floating zone technique using a high power xenon arc lamp image furnace. Large, high quality single-crystals are obtained by this technique. The crystals produced by the floating zone technique are free of contamination from flux materials and have been characterised by resistivity and magnetisation measurements. These crystals are ideally suited for the investigation of both the surface and bulk properties of SmB6

The Role of Triglyceride-rich Lipoproteins and Their Remnants in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the world’s leading cause of death. ASCVD has multiple mediators that therapeutic interventions target, such as dyslipidaemia, hypertension, diabetes and heightened systemic inflammatory tone, among others. LDL cholesterol is one of the most well-studied and established mediators targeted for primary and secondary prevention of ASCVD. However, despite the strength of evidence supporting LDL cholesterol reduction by multiple management strategies, ASCVD events can still recur, even in patients whose LDL cholesterol has been very aggressively reduced. Hypertriglyceridaemia and elevated levels of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) may be key contributors to ASCVD residual risk. Several observational and genetic epidemiological studies have highlighted the causal role of triglycerides within the TRLs and/or their remnant cholesterol in the development and progression of ASCVD. TRLs consist of intestinally derived chylomicrons and hepatically synthesised very LDL. Lifestyle modification has been considered the first line intervention for managing hypertriglyceridaemia. Multiple novel targeted therapies are in development, and have shown efficacy in the preclinical and clinical phases of study in managing hypertriglyceridaemia and elevated TRLs. This comprehensive review provides an overview of the biology, pathogenicity, epidemiology, and genetics of triglycerides and TRLs, and how they impact the risk for ASCVD. In addition, we provide a summary of currently available and novel emerging triglyceride-lowering therapies in development