Magnetic order in pyrochlore iridate Nd2_2Ir2_2O7_7 probed by muon spin relaxation

Muon-spin relaxation results on the pyrochlore iridate Nd$_2$Ir$_2$O$_7$ are reported. Spontaneous coherent muon-spin precession below the metal-insulator transition (MIT) temperature of about 33 K is observed, indicating the appearance of a long-ranged magnetic ordering of Ir$^{4+}$ moments. With further decrease in temperature, the internal field at the muon site increases again below about 9 K. The second increase of internal field suggests the ordering of Nd$^{3+}$ moments, which is consistent with a previous neutron experiment. Our results suggest that the MIT and magnetic ordering of Ir$^{4+}$ moments have a close relationship and that the large spin-orbit coupling of Ir 5\textit{d} electrons plays a key role for both MIT and the mechanism of the magnetic ordering in pyrochlore iridates in the insulting ground state.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Accepted by Physical Review B (rapid communications

Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Treated with Oral Ambroxol Hydrochloride and Bronchoalveolar Lavage

A 59-year-old man visited our hospital in June 1997 because of cough and dyspnea at rest. He was diagnosed as pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial lung biopsy. The alveoli were distended with pink homogeneous material that showed staining with the periodic acid Schiff method. The concentration of surfactant protein A in BAL fluid was significantly increased. We treated the patient with oral ambroxol hydrochloride and therapeutic BAL. We believe that this combination of therapies is the first choice for the treatment of PAP

Shape of Heteroepitaxial Island Determined by Asymmetric Detachment

Square lattice gas models for heteroepitaxial growth are studied by means of kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, in order to find a possible origin of anisotropic island shape observed in growth experiments of long organic molecules. When deposited molecules form clusters irreversibly at their encounter during surface diffusion, islands grow in a ramified dendritic shape, similar to DLA. Introduction of molecular detachment from edges makes islands compact with smooth edges. Tilting of adsorbed long molecules or steps in a vicinal substrate may induce orientation-dependence in the detachment rate of edge molecules from an island. In simulations with orientation-dependent detachment rates, a clear anisotropy in an island shape is observed. Shape anisotropy on a vicinal substrate is enhanced as steps get dense, in agreement to the experimental observation.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure