38 research outputs found
Spin Density wave instability in a ferromagnet
Ferromagnetic (FM) and incommensurate spin-density wave (ISDW) states are an
unusual set of competing magnetic orders that are seldom observed in the same
material without application of a polarizing magnetic field. We report, for the
first time, the discovery of an ISDW state that is derived from a FM ground
state through a Fermi surface (FS) instability in FeGa. This was
achieved by combining neutron scattering experiments with first principles
simulations. Neutron diffraction demonstrates that FeGa is in an ISDW
state at intermediate temperatures and that there is a conspicuous re-emergence
of ferromagnetism above 360 K. First principles calculations show that the ISDW
ordering wavevector is in excellent agreement with a prominent nesting
condition in the spin-majority FS demonstrating the discovery of a novel
instability for FM metals; ISDW formation due to Fermi surface nesting in a
spin-polarized Fermi surface.Comment: 6 pages with 4 figures. Supplemental Materials Include
Observation of two-dimensional Fermi surface and Dirac dispersion in YbMnSb
We present the crystal structure, electronic structure, and transport
properties of the material YbMnSb, a candidate system for the investigation
of Dirac physics in the presence of magnetic order. Our measurements reveal
that this system is a low-carrier-density semimetal with a 2D Fermi surface
arising from a Dirac dispersion, consistent with the predictions of density
functional theory calculations of the antiferromagnetic system. The low
temperature resistivity is very large, suggesting scattering in this system is
highly efficient at dissipating momentum despite its Dirac-like nature.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure
Ferromagnetic ordering along the hard axis in the Kondo lattice YbIr3Ge7
Ferromagnetic Kondo lattice compounds are far less common than their
antiferromagnetic analogs. In this work, we report the discovery of a new
ferromagnetic Kondo lattice compound, YbIr3Ge7. Like almost all ferromagnetic
Kondo lattice systems, YbIr3Ge7 shows magnetic order with moments aligned
orthogonal to the crystal electric field (CEF) easy axis. YbIr3Ge7 is unique in
that it is the only member of this class of compounds that crystallizes in a
rhombohedral structure with a trigonal point symmetry of the magnetic site, and
it lacks broken inversion symmetry at the local moment site. AC magnetic
susceptibility, magnetization, and specific heat measurements show that
YbIr3Ge7 has a Kondo temperature TK = 14 K and a Curie temperature TC = 2.4 K.
Ferromagnetic order occurs along the crystallographic [100] hard CEF axis
despite the large CEF anisotropy of the ground state Kramers doublet with a
saturation moment along [001] almost four times larger than the one along
[100]. This implies that a mechanism which considers the anisotropy in the
exchange interaction to explain the hard axis ordering is unlikely. On the
other hand, the broad second-order phase transition at TC favors a
fluctuation-induced mechanism
CeIrGe: a local moment antiferromagnetic metal with extremely low ordering temperature
CeIrGe is an antiferromagnetic metal with a remarkably low ordering
temperature = 0.63 K, while most Ce-based magnets order between 2
and 15 K. Thermodynamic and transport properties as a function of magnetic
field or pressure do not show signatures of Kondo correlations, interaction
competition, or frustration, as had been observed in a few antiferromagnets
with comparably low or lower . The averaged Weiss temperature
measured below 10 K is comparable to suggesting that the RKKY
exchange coupling is very weak in this material. The unusually low
in CeIrGe can therefore be attributed to the large Ce-Ce bond length of
about 5.7 {\AA}, which is about 1.5 {\AA} larger than in the most Ce-based
intermetallic systems.Comment: 4 figure
Anomalous metamagnetism in the low carrier density Kondo lattice YbRh3Si7
We report complex metamagnetic transitions in single crystals of the new low
carrier Kondo antiferromagnet YbRh3Si7. Electrical transport, magnetization,
and specific heat measurements reveal antiferromagnetic order at T_N = 7.5 K.
Neutron diffraction measurements show that the magnetic ground state of
YbRh3Si7 is a collinear antiferromagnet where the moments are aligned in the ab
plane. With such an ordered state, no metamagnetic transitions are expected
when a magnetic field is applied along the c axis. It is therefore surprising
that high field magnetization, torque, and resistivity measurements with H||c
reveal two metamagnetic transitions at mu_0H_1 = 6.7 T and mu_0H_2 = 21 T. When
the field is tilted away from the c axis, towards the ab plane, both
metamagnetic transitions are shifted to higher fields. The first metamagnetic
transition leads to an abrupt increase in the electrical resistivity, while the
second transition is accompanied by a dramatic reduction in the electrical
resistivity. Thus, the magnetic and electronic degrees of freedom in YbRh3Si7
are strongly coupled. We discuss the origin of the anomalous metamagnetism and
conclude that it is related to competition between crystal electric field
anisotropy and anisotropic exchange interactions.Comment: 23 pages and 4 figures in the main text. 7 pages and 5 figures in the
supplementary materia
Evaluation of the safety, tolerance and efficacy of 1-year consumption of infant formula supplemented with Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 Lc40 or Bifidobacterium breve CECT7263: a randomized controlled trial
Background: The microorganism present in breast milk, added to other factors, determine the colonization of
infants. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the safety, tolerance and effects of the consumption of a
milk formula during the first year of life that is supplemented with L. fermentum CECT5716 or Bifidobacterium breve
CECT7263, two strains originally isolated from breast milk. Results: One hundred and eighty-nine infants completed the eleven months of intervention (61 in control group,
65 in Lf group and 63 in Bb group). The growth of infants in the three groups was consistent with standards. No
significant differences were observed in the main outcome, weight-gain (Control group: 5.77 Kg ± 0.95, Lf group:
5.77 Kg ± 1.31, Bb group: 5.58 Kg ± 1.10; p = 0.527). The three milk formulae were well tolerated, and no adverse
effects were related to the consumption of any of the formula. Infants receiving B. breve CECT7263 had a 1.7 times
lower risk of crying than the control group (OR = 0.569, CI 95% 0.568â0.571; p = 0.001). On the other hand, the
incidence of diarrhoea in infants receiving the formula supplemented with L. fermentum CECT5716 was a 44%
lower than in infants receiving the control formula (p = 0.014). The consumption of this Lactobacillus strain also
reduced the duration of diarrhoea by 2.5 days versus control group (p = 0.044).
Conclusions: The addition of L. fermentum CECT5716 Lc40 or B. breve CECT7263, two probiotic strains naturally
found in breast milk, to infant formulae is safe and induces beneficial effects on the health of infants.This work was funded by Biosearch Life supported by a grant from the
Agency of Innovation and Development of Andalusia (IDEA-Spain), Cofinanced
by European Regional Development Fund (EC). Project Tittle: âNew
applications of probiotic strains and derived compounds with biological activity
(POSTBIO)â and partially funded by Lactalis-Puleva (Granada, Spain)
Active commuting to and from university, obesity and metabolic syndrome among Colombian university students
Background: There is limited evidence concerning how active commuting (AC) is associated with health benefits
in young. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between AC to and from campus (walking) and
obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a sample of Colombian university students.
Methods: A total of 784 university students (78.6% women, mean age = 20.1 ± 2.6 years old) participated in the
study. The exposure variable was categorized into AC (active walker to campus) and non-AC (non/infrequent active
walker to campus: car, motorcycle, or bus) to and from the university on a typical day. MetS was defined in
accordance with the updated harmonized criteria of the International Diabetes Federation criteria.
Results: The overall prevalence of MetS was 8.7%, and it was higher in non-AC than AC to campus. The percentage
of AC was 65.3%. The commuting distances in this AC from/to university were 83.1%, 13.4% and 3.5% for < 2 km, 2-
5 km and > 5 km, respectively. Multiple logistic regressions for predicting unhealthy profile showed that male
walking commuters had a lower probability of having obesity [OR = 0.45 (CI 95% 0.25â0.93)], high blood
pressure [OR = 0.26 (CI 95% 0.13â0.55)] and low HDL cholesterol [OR = 0.29 (CI 95% 0.14â0.59)] than did passive
commuters.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that in young adulthood, a key life-stage for the development of obesity and
MetS, AC could be associated with and increasing of daily physical activity levels, thereby promoting better
cardiometabolic health.This study was part of the project entitled âBody Adiposity Index and
Biomarkers of Endothelial and Cardiovascular Health in Adultsâ, which was
funded by Centre for Studies on Measurement of Physical Activity, School of
Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario (Code N° FIUR DNBG001)
and Universidad de Boyacå (Code N° RECT 60)
Effects of an exercise program on hepatic metabolism, hepatic fat, and cardiovascular health in overweight/obese adolescents from BogotĂĄ, Colombia (the HEPAFIT study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Background: A considerable proportion of contemporary youth have a high risk of obesity-related disorders such
as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although there is consistent
evidence for the positive effects of physical activity on several health aspects, most adolescents in Colombia are
sedentary. It is, therefore, important to implement strategies that generate changes in lifestyle. The HEPAFIT study
aims to examine whether a 6-month exercise program has benefits for hepatic fat content and cardiovascular health
outcomes among overweight/obese adolescents from BogotĂĄ, Colombia.
Methods/design: Altogether, 100 hundred overweight/obese, sedentary adolescents (aged 11â17 years) attending two
public schools in BogotĂĄ, Colombia, will be included in a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Adolescents will be
randomly assigned to an intervention group following one of four curricula: (1) the standard physical education
curriculum (60 min per week of physical activity, n = 25) at low-to-moderate intensity; (2) a high-intensity physical
education curriculum (HIPE, n = 25), consisting of endurance and resistance games and non-competitive activities,
such as running, gymkhanas, lifting, pushing, wrestling, or hauling, for 60-min sessions, three times per week, with
an energy expenditure goal of 300 to 500 kcal/session at 75â85% maximum heart rate (HRmax); (3) a low-to-moderate
intensity physical education curriculum (LIPE, n = 25) consisting of endurance and resistance games and non-competitive
activities (e.g., chasing, sprinting, dribbling, or hopping) for 60-min sessions, three times per week with an energy
expenditure goal of 300 kcal/session at 55â75% HRmax; and (4) a combined HIPE and LIPE curriculum (n = 25).
The HIPE, LIPE, and combined interventions were performed in addition to the standard physical education curriculum.
The primary outcome for effectiveness is liver fat content, as measured by the controlled attenuation parameter 1
week after the end of the intervention program.
Discussion: The translational focus may be suitable for collecting new information in a school setting on the
possible effects of physical activity interventions to reduce liver fat content and to improve metabolic profiles
and the cardiometabolic health of overweight/obese adolescents. This may lead to the more efficient use of
school physical education resources.The HEPAFIT study was carried out with the financial support of Instituto
Colombiano para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y la TecnologĂa âFrancisco JosĂ©
de Caldasâ COLCIENCIAS (code 59700 and no 122277757900). Katherine
GonzĂĄlez-RuĂz receive a scholarship from Universidad del Rosario, Colombia,
Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, to do a Doctorate. This article
presents independent research commissioned by COLCIENCIAS under its
Program Grants for Applied Research funding scheme (Convocatoria 777â2017)
Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level.
Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. Objectives: To report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. Results: The cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4%) were female. Most patients (nâ=â3685 [84.7%]) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (nâ=â2638 [62.8%]), followed by strabismus (nâ=â429 [10.2%]) and proptosis (nâ=â309 [7.4%]). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 [95% CI, 12.94-24.80], and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 [95% CI, 4.30-7.68]). Conclusions and Relevance: This study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs
TRY plant trait database â enhanced coverage and open access
Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of traitâbased plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for âplant growth formâ. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and traitâenvironmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives