This single-institution phase II study was performed to estimate the response rate to lapatinib in neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) patients with progressive vestibular schwannoma (VS). Twenty-one ...eligible patients were enrolled. Brain and spine MRIs, including 3-dimensional volumetric tumor analysis, and audiograms were performed once at baseline and again every 12 weeks. The primary response end point was evaluable in 17 patients and defined as ≥15% decrease in VS volume. Hearing was evaluable as a secondary end point in 13 patients, with responses defined as an improvement in the pure tone average of at least 10 dB or a statistically significant increase in word recognition scores. Four of 17 evaluable patients experienced an objective volumetric response (23.5%; 95% confidence interval CI, 10%-47%), with median time to response of 4.5 months (range, 3-12). In responders, reduction in VS volumes ranged from -15.7% to -23.9%. Four of 13 patients evaluable for hearing met hearing criteria for response (30.8%; 95% CI, 13%-58%). One sustained response exceeded 9 months in duration. Median time to overall progression (ie, volumetric progression or hearing loss) was 14 months. The estimated overall progression-free survival and volumetric progression-free survival at 12 months were 64.2% (95% CI, 36.9%-82.1%) and 70.6% (95% CI, 43.1%-86.6%), respectively. Toxicity was generally minor, and no permanent dose modifications were required. Lapatinib carries minor toxicity and has objective activity in NF2 patients with progressive VS, including volumetric and hearing responses. Future studies could explore combination therapy with other molecular targeted agents such as bevacizumab.
The monopnictides TaAs and TaP are well-established Weyl semimetals. Yet, a precise assignment of Fermi arcs, accommodating the predicted chiral charge of the bulk Weyl points, has been difficult in ...these systems, and the topological character of different surface features in the Fermi surface is not fully understood. Here, employing a joint analysis from linear dichroism in angle-resolved photoemission and first-principles calculations, we unveil the orbital texture on the full Fermi surface of TaP(001). We observe pronounced switches in the orbital texture at the projected Weyl nodes, and show how they facilitate a topological classification of the surface band structure. Our findings establish a critical role of the orbital degrees of freedom in mediating the surface-bulk connectivity in Weyl semimetals.
Intercalation of various elements has become a popular technique to decouple the buffer layer of epitaxial graphene on SiC(0001) from the substrate. Among many other elements, oxygen can be used to ...passivate the SiC interface, causing the buffer layer to transform into graphene. Here, we study a gentle oxidation of the interface by annealing buffer layer and monolayer graphene samples in water vapor. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrates the decoupling of the buffer layer from the SiC substrate. Raman spectroscopy is utilized to investigate a possible introduction of defects. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy shows that the electronic structure of the water vapor treated samples. Low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM) measurements demonstrate that the decoupling takes place without changes in the surface morphology. The LEEM reflectivity spectra are discussed in terms of two different interpretations.
Near the magic angle, strong correlations drive many intriguing phases in twisted bilayer graphene (tBG) including unconventional superconductivity and chern insulation. Whether correlations can tune ...symmetry breaking phases in tBG at intermediate (≳ 2°) twist angles remains an open fundamental question. Here, using ARPES, we study the effects of many-body interactions and displacement field on the band structure of tBG devices at an intermediate (3°) twist angle. We observe a layer- and doping-dependent renormalization of bands at the K points that is qualitatively consistent with moiré models of the Hartree–Fock interaction. We provide evidence of correlation-enhanced inversion symmetry-breaking, manifested by gaps at the Dirac points that are tunable with doping. These results suggest that electronic interactions play a significant role in the physics of tBG even at intermediate twist angles and present a new pathway toward engineering band structure and symmetry-breaking phases in moiré heterostructures.
Immunocompromised individuals tend to suffer from influenza longer with more serious complications than otherwise healthy patients. Little is known about the impact of prolonged infection and the ...efficacy of antiviral therapy in these patients. Among all 189 influenza A virus infected immunocompromised patients admitted to ErasmusMC, 71 were hospitalized, since the start of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. We identified 11 (15%) cases with prolonged 2009 pandemic virus replication (longer than 14 days), despite antiviral therapy. In 5 out of these 11 (45%) cases oseltamivir resistant H275Y viruses emerged. Given the inherent difficulties in studying antiviral efficacy in immunocompromised patients, we have infected immunocompromised ferrets with either wild-type, or oseltamivir-resistant (H275Y) 2009 pandemic virus. All ferrets showed prolonged virus shedding. In wild-type virus infected animals treated with oseltamivir, H275Y resistant variants emerged within a week after infection. Unexpectedly, oseltamivir therapy still proved to be partially protective in animals infected with resistant virus. Immunocompromised ferrets offer an attractive alternative to study efficacy of novel antiviral therapies.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
There is a substantial interest in the heterostructures of semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) among each other or with arbitrary materials, through which the control of the ...chemical, structural, electronic, spintronic, and optical properties can lead to a change in device paradigms. A critical need is to understand the interface between TMDCs and insulating substrates, for example, high-κ dielectrics, which can strongly impact the electronic properties such as the optical gap. Here, we show that the chemical and electronic properties of the single-layer (SL) TMDC, WS2, can be transferred onto high-κ transition metal oxide substrates TiO2 and SrTiO3. The resulting samples are much more suitable for measuring their electronic and chemical structures with angle-resolved photoemission than their native-grown SiO2 substrates. We probe the WS2 on the micron scale across 100 μm flakes and find that the occupied electronic structure is exactly as predicted for free-standing SL WS2 with a strong spin–orbit splitting of 420 meV and a direct band gap at the valence band maximum. Our results suggest that TMDCs can be combined with arbitrary multifunctional oxides, which may introduce alternative means of controlling the optoelectronic properties of such materials.
Transparent conducting oxides (TCO) have integral and emerging roles in photovoltaic, thermoelectric energy conversion, and more recently, photocatalytic systems. The functional properties of TCOs, ...and thus their role in these applications, are often mediated by the bulk electronic band structure but are also strongly influenced by the electronic structure of the native surface 2D electron gas (2DEG), particularly under operating conditions. This study investigates the 2DEG, and its response to changes in chemistry, at the (111) surface of the model TCO In2O3, through angle resolved and core level X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy. It is found that the itinerant charge carriers of the 2DEG reside in two quantum well subbands penetrating up to 65 Å below the surface. The charge carrier concentration of this 2DEG, and thus the high surface n‐type conductivity, emerges from donor‐type oxygen vacancies of surface character and proves to be remarkably robust against surface absorbents and contamination. The optical transparency, however, may rely on the presence of ubiquitous surface adsorbed oxygen groups and hydrogen defect states that passivate localized oxygen vacancy states in the bandgap of In2O3.
In2O3 is an archetype transparent conducting oxide with established and emerging roles in optoelectronic and energy conversion applications. At the (111) surface, its optical transparency relies on ubiquitous donor type hydrogen defects, while the electrical conductivity associated with the itinerant 2D electron gas is mediated by the oxygen defect of strictly surface character.
Demonstration of the capillary mirror optic for nano focusing at synchrotron beamlines, demonstrating the highest resolution achieved with an axially symmetric optic.
The discovery of new families of exfoliatable 2D crystals that have diverse sets of electronic, optical, and spin–orbit coupling properties enables the realization of unique physical phenomena in ...these few-atom-thick building blocks and in proximity to other materials. Herein, using NaSn2As2 as a model system, we demonstrate that layered Zintl phases having the stoichiometry ATt2Pn2 (A = group 1 or 2 element, Tt = group 14 tetrel element, and Pn = group 15 pnictogen element) and feature networks separated by van der Waals gaps can be readily exfoliated with both mechanical and liquid-phase methods. We identified the symmetries of the Raman-active modes of the bulk crystals via polarized Raman spectroscopy. The bulk and mechanically exfoliated NaSn2As2 samples are resistant toward oxidation, with only the top surface oxidizing in ambient conditions over a couple of days, while the liquid-exfoliated samples oxidize much more quickly in ambient conditions. Employing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, density functional theory, and transport on bulk and exfoliated samples, we show that NaSn2As2 is a highly conducting 2D semimetal, with resistivities on the order of 10–6 Ω·m. Due to peculiarities in the band structure, the dominating p-type carriers at low temperature are nearly compensated by the opening of n-type conduction channels as temperature increases. This work further expands the family of exfoliatable 2D materials to layered van der Waals Zintl phases, opening up opportunities in electronics and spintronics.