Double-phase transition and giant positive magnetoresistance in the quasi-skutterudite Gd3_3Ir4_4Sn13_{13}

The magnetic, thermodynamic and electrical/thermal transport properties of the caged-structure quasi-skutterudite Gd$_3$Ir$_4$Sn$_{13}$ are re-investigated. The magnetization $M(T)$, specific heat $C_p(T)$ and the resistivity $\rho(T)$ reveal a double-phase transition -- at $T_{N1}\sim$ 10~K and at $T_{N2}\sim$ 8.8~K -- which was not observed in the previous report on this compound. The antiferromagnetic transition is also visible in the thermal transport data, thereby suggesting a close connection between the electronic and lattice degrees of freedom in this Sn-based quasi-skutterudite. The temperature dependence of $\rho(T)$ is analyzed in terms of a power-law for resistivity pertinent to Fermi liquid picture. Giant, positive magnetoresistance (MR) $\approx$ 80$\%$ is observed in Gd$_3$Ir$_4$Sn$_{13}$ at 2~K with the application of 9~T. The giant MR and the double magnetic transition can be attributed to the quasi-cages and layered antiferromagnetic structure of Gd$_3$Ir$_4$Sn$_{13}$ vulnerable to structural distortions and/or dipolar or spin-reorientation effects. The giant value of MR observed in this class of 3:4:13 type alloys, especially in a Gd-compound, is the highlight of this work.Comment: 20 pages single column, 7 figures, 1 table; Accepted to J. Appl. Phys., 201

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Organic molecule functionalized lead sulfide hybrid system for energy storage and field dependent polarization performances

Abstract A wet chemical route is reported for synthesising organic molecule stabilized lead sulfide nanoparticles. The dielectric capacitance, energy storage performances and field-driven polarization of the organic–inorganic hybrid system are investigated in the form of a device under varying temperature and frequency conditions. The structural analysis confirmed the formation of the monoclinic phase of lead sulfide within the organic network. The band structure of lead sulfide was obtained by density functional theory calculation that supported the semiconductor nature of the material with a direct band gap of 2.27 eV. The dielectric performance of the lead sulfide originated due to the dipolar and the space charge polarization. The energy storage ability of the material was investigated under DC-bias conditions, and the device exhibited the power density values 30 W/g and 340 W/g at 100 Hz and 10 kHz, respectively. The electric field-induced polarization study exhibited a fatigue-free behaviour of the device for 10³ cycles with a stable dielectric strength. The study revealed that the lead sulfide-based system has potential in energy storage applications

Mosunetuzumab Plus Polatuzumab Vedotin Demonstrates a Favorable Safety Profile and Efficacy in Patients (Pts) with Relapsed or Refractory (R/R) Large B-Cell Lymphoma (LBCL): Primary Analysis of a Phase Ib/II Study

Background: Mosunetuzumab (Mosun) is a CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody that engages and redirects T cells to eliminate malignant B cells. The ongoing Phase Ib/II GO40516 study (NCT03671018) investigates Mosun in combination with polatuzumab vedotin (Pola; M-Pola) in pts with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). The Phase II expansion phase of the M-Pola regimen (with conventional Mosun and Pola dose and dose schedule), showed an acceptable safety profile and promising anti-tumor activity in pts with R/R B-NHL at interim analysis (Budde et al. ASH 2021). With enrollment complete, we present full dose-expansion cohort results. Methods: Eligible pts had confirmed R/R LBCL (including diffuse LBCL not otherwise specified, high-grade B-cell lymphoma [HGBCL], transformed follicular lymphoma [tFL], and follicular lymphoma [FL] grade [Gr] 3b) and had received ≥1 prior line of therapy (including an anti-CD20 antibody). Treatment cycles were 21 days. Pola (1.8mg/kg; intravenous [IV]) was administered on Day (D) 1 of Cycles (C) 1-6. Mosun IV was administered with C1 step-up dosing to mitigate cytokine release syndrome (CRS), with the following dose and dose schedule: 1mg on C1D1, 2mg on C1D8, 60mg on C1D15 and C2D1, and 30mg on D1 of C3+. Pts with a complete response (CR) completed Mosun after C8, and pts with stable disease or partial response at the end of C8 continued Mosun for a total of 17 cycles. Primary endpoint was best overall response rate (ORR) by independent review committee (IRC) using Lugano 2014 criteria (Cheson et al. J Clin Oncol 2014). CRS events were reported using ASTCT criteria (Lee et al. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2019). Results: As of April 7, 2023, 98 pts received M-Pola in the dose-expansion cohort. Median age was 68.0 years (range: 20-88), 71.4% were male, 87.8% had de novo DLBCL, 8.2% had tFL, 4.1% had Gr 3b FL, 18.4% had HGBCL (including double/triple-hit lymphoma), 7.1% had bulky disease (≥10 cm), 51.0% had an International Prognostic Index score 3-5, and 85.7% had Ann Arbor stage III/IV disease. The median number of prior lines of therapy was 2 (range: 1-8), 35.7% had prior CAR-T therapy, and 11.2% had prior ASCT. Most pts (80.6%) were refractory to prior anti-CD20 therapy, 58.2% were primary refractory, 77.6% were refractory to their previous therapy, and 26.5% were refractory to CAR-T therapy. The median number of cycles received was 8 for Mosun (range: 1-17) and 6 for Pola (range: 1-6). Adverse events (AEs) occurring in ≥15% of pts were fatigue (42.9%), neutropenia (28.6%), nausea (26.5%), diarrhea (23.5%), pyrexia (23.5%), headache (21.4%), CRS (18.4%), chills (17.3%), and peripheral sensory neuropathy (16.3%). Gr 3/4 AEs that occurred in ≥5% pts were neutropenia (20.4%) and fatigue (7.1%). Gr 5 AEs occurred in 3 (3.1%) pts, of which 2 were due to COVID-19 pneumonia and 1 was due to pneumonia. None were considered related to treatment. CRS events were observed in 18.4% of pts: Gr 1 n=11, Gr 2 n=4, Gr 3 n=3. All CRS events were resolved by data cut-off. Three pts received tocilizumab, 2 pts had a vasopressor, 2 pts received high flow oxygen, and 2 pts required ICU admission for CRS. Mosun-related neurologic AEs potentially consistent with immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome occurred in 5 pts (5.1%); all were Gr 1/2 except 1 Gr 4 encephalopathy event. Treatment-related neuropathy occurred in 25.5% of pts (all Gr 1/2). Eleven pts (11.2%) discontinued treatment due to AEs, of which 5 (5.1%) were treatment-related: 1 (1.0%) due to encephalopathy (Mosun-related) and 4 (4.1%) due to peripheral neuropathy (Pola-related). Investigator-assessed ORR and CR rate were 62.2% and 50.0%, respectively ( Table). Median duration of response was not reached (NR; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.6-NR); median duration of CR was NR (95% CI: 20.5-NR). Median progression-free survival was 9.6 months (95% CI: 5.6-18.6) and overall survival was 23.3 months (95% CI: 15.2-NR), with a median follow-up of 18.6 months (95% CI: 17.7-23.7). In pts with prior CAR-T therapy (n=35), the ORR and CR rates were 60.0% and 45.7%, respectively. In primary refractory pts (n=57), the ORR and CR rates were 56.1% and 40.4%, respectively. Conclusions: M-Pola continues to show a favorable safety profile and compelling efficacy in highly refractory pts, including those with prior CAR-T therapy and/or primary refractory disease. Primary analysis data, including IRC responses and biomarker analyses, will be presented