Finite temperature stability and dimensional crossover of exotic superfluidity in lattices

We investigate exotic paired states of spin-imbalanced Fermi gases in anisotropic lattices, tuning the dimension between one and three. We calculate the finite temperature phase diagram of the system using real-space dynamical mean-field theory in combination with the quantum Monte Carlo method. We find that regardless of the intermediate dimensions examined, the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state survives to reach about one third of the BCS critical temperature of the spin-density balanced case. We show how the gapless nature of the state found is reflected in the local spectral function. While the FFLO state is found at a wide range of polarizations at low temperatures across the dimensional crossover, with increasing temperature we find out strongly dimensionality-dependent melting characteristics of shell structures related to harmonic confinement. Moreover, we show that intermediate dimension can help to stabilize an extremely uniform finite temperature FFLO state despite the presence of harmonic confinement.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Statin use is associated with a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer: a colonoscopy-controlled case-control study

Background: The aetiology of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains elusive in the majority of cases. There is experimental evidence to show that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) may inhibit proliferation and induce cause apoptosis in CRC cells and although some clinical studies have suggested that statins may protect against the development of CRC, this has not been a consistent finding. Therefore we have examined any potential protective effects of statins by comparing statin use in patients with colorectal cancer against a control group. Methods: This was a case–control study examining statin use in symptomatic patients attending for diagnostic colonoscopy. Statin use was compared between patients with CRC and a control group, who had all had normal colonoscopy. Structured interviews and clinical records notes were used to determine drug exposure. Logistic regression was used to compare statin exposure and correct for confounding factors. Results: There was a significant inverse association between previous statin use and a diagnosis of CRC (OR = 0.43 (95% confidence interval 0.25 – 0.80), pyears: OR = 0.18 (0.06 – 0.55), p<0.01). Conclusions: Statins use was associated with a protective effect against the development of CRC. This effect is associated with a significant dose and duration response. These findings need to be repeated in other observational studies before an interventional study can be considered