205 research outputs found
Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering from Charge and Orbital Excitations in Manganites
We present a theory of the resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) to
study electronic excitations in orbital ordered manganites. The charge and
orbital excitations of the Mn 3d electron are caused by the Coulomb
interactions in the intermediate scattering state. The scattering cross section
is formulated by the Liouville operator method where the local and itinerant
natures of the excitations are taken into account on an equal footing. As a
result, the cross section is expressed by the charge and orbital correlation
functions associated with local corrections. The RIXS spectra are calculated
numerically as functions of momentum and polarization of x ray. Through the
calculations, we propose that RIXS provides a great opportunity to study the
unique electronic excitations in correlated electron systems with orbital
degeneracy.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure
Temperature and pressure evolution of the crystal structure of Ax(Fe1-ySe)2 (A = Cs, Rb, K) studied by synchrotron powder diffraction
Temperature-dependent synchrotron powder diffraction on Cs0.83(Fe0.86Se)2
revealed first order I4/m to I4/mmm structural transformation around 216{\deg}C
associated with the disorder of the Fe vacancies. Irreversibility observed
during the transition is likely associated with a mobility of intercalated
Alkali atoms. Pressure-dependent synchrotron powder diffraction on
Cs0.83(Fe1-ySe)2, Rb0.85(Fe1-ySe)2 and K0.8(Fe1-ySe)2 (y ~ 0.14) indicated that
the I4/m superstructure reflections are present up to pressures of 120 kbar.
This may indicate that the ordering of the Fe vacancies is present in both
superconducting and non-superconductive states.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl
Magnetic ordering, spin waves, and Haldane gap excitations in (Nd_x Y_{1-x})_2 Ba Ni O_5 linear-chain mixed-spin antiferromagnets
Linear-chain nickelates with the composition (Nd_x Y_{1-x})_2 Ba Ni O_5 (x=1,
x=0.75, x=0.5, and x=0.25) are studied in a series of neutron scattering
experiments. Powder diffraction is used to determine the temperature dependence
of the magnetic structure in all four systems. Single-crystal inelastic neutron
scattering is employed to investigate the temperature dependence of the
Haldane-gap excitations and low-energy spin waves in the x=1 compound Nd_2 Ba
Ni O_5. The results of these experiments are discussed in the context of the
``Haldane chain in a staggered field'' model for R_2 Ba Ni O_5 systems, and
quantitative agreement with theory is obtained.Comment: Major rewriting and inclusion of new experimental data 30 pages, 14
figure
Elimination of onchocerciasis in Ecuador: findings of post-treatment surveillance.
BACKGROUND: The Esmeraldas focus of onchocerciasis in Ecuador expanded geographically during the 1980s and was associated with severe ocular and skin disease. Mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin started in 1991, initially once but later twice a year, in the principle endemic focus followed by all satellite foci. Treatment was stopped in 2009 when entomological assessments determined that transmission of Onchocerca volvulus had been interrupted. METHODS: Three years after the cessation of ivermectin treatment in 2012, as defined by the WHO guidelines for onchocerciasis elimination, blackfly collections were done in four sentinel sites in former hyperendemic areas. The presence of infective larvae in local vectors, Simulium exiguum and Simulum quadrivittatum, was assessed by detection of O. volvulus DNA by PCR. Additional flies captured in four extra-sentinel sites located in former hyper- and mesoendemic dispersed isolated areas were also assessed. RESULTS: The results from 68,310 captured blackflies, 40,114 from four sentinel villages in the previously hyperendemic areas (Corriente Grande, El Tigre, San Miguel on Río Cayapas and Naranjal on Río Canandé) and 28,197 from extra-sentinel locations, were all negative for the presence of O. volvulus. These extra-sentinel sites (Hualpí on Río Hoja Blanca, Capulí on Río Onzole, La Ceiba on Río Tululví and Medianía on Río Verde) were included to provide additional evidence of the impact of MDA on the transmission of O. volvulus in isolated endemic areas. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that transmission of O. volvulus has been stopped in all endemic areas in Ecuador, including all satellite foci outside the main focus. These findings indicate that a strategy of ivermectin distribution twice a year to over 85% of the treatment-eligible population was effective in eliminating the infection from Ecuador in a focus with a highly competent primary vector, S. exiguum, and where the infection rates were equal to or greater than observed in many onchocerciasis foci in Africa
The Role of AGG Interruptions in the Transcription of FMR1 Premutation Alleles
Fragile X associated disorders are caused by a premutation allele in the fragile X mental retardation 1 gene (FMR1) and are hypothesized to result from the toxic effect of elevated levels of expanded FMR1 transcripts. Increased levels of FMR1 mRNA have indeed been reported in premutation carriers; however the mechanism by which expanded alleles lead to elevated levels of FMR1 mRNA in premutation carriers is unknown. Within the CGG repeat tract AGG interruptions are found, generally 1–3 present in normal/intermediate alleles (6–54 CGG repeats) and usually 0–1 in premutation alleles (55–200 CGG repeats). They are present at specific locations, generally occurring after 9 or 10 uninterrupted CGG repeats [(CGG)9AGG(CGG)9AGG(CGG)n]. We evaluated both the number of AGG interruptions and the resulting length of the uninterrupted 3′ CGG repeat pure tract in premutation alleles derived from two large cohorts of male and female carriers to determine whether the presence of AGG interruptions or the length of a pure stretch of CGG repeats influence the levels of FMR1 mRNA in blood. Our findings indicate that neither the number of AGG interruptions, nor their position along the CGG tract have a significant affect on mRNA levels in premutation carriers. We also, as expected based on previous findings, observed a highly significant correlation between CGG repeat number (as both total length and length of pure CGG stretch) and FMR1 mRNA expression levels, in both males and females. Importantly, we did not observe any significant difference in FMR1 mRNA levels in premutation carriers based on age
Coexistence of metallic and nonmetallic properties in the pyrochlore Lu2Rh2O7
Transition metal oxides of the and block have recently become the
targets of materials discovery, largely due to their strong spin-orbit coupling
that can generate exotic magnetic and electronic states. Here we report the
high pressure synthesis of LuRhO, a new cubic pyrochlore oxide
based on Rh and characterizations via thermodynamic, electrical
transport, and muon spin relaxation measurements. Magnetic susceptibility
measurements reveal a large temperature-independent Pauli paramagnetic
contribution, while heat capacity shows an enhanced Sommerfeld coefficient,
= 21.8(1) mJ/mol-Rh K. Muon spin relaxation measurements confirm
that LuRhO remains paramagnetic down to 2 K. Taken in combination,
these three measurements suggest that LuRhO is a correlated
paramagnetic metal with a Wilson ratio of . However, electric
transport measurements present a striking contradiction as the resistivity of
LuRhO is observed to monotonically increase with decreasing
temperature, indicative of a nonmetallic state. Furthermore, although the
magnitude of the resistivity is that of a semiconductor, the temperature
dependence does not obey any conventional form. Thus, we propose that
LuRhO may belong to the same novel class of non-Fermi liquids as
the nonmetallic metal FeCrAs.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Essential Role of TGF-β/Smad Pathway on Statin Dependent Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Regulation
BACKGROUND: The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitors (also called statins) exert proven beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases. Recent data suggest a protective role for Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) in atherosclerosis by regulating the balance between inflammation and extracellular matrix accumulation. However, there are no studies about the effect of statins on TGF-beta/Smad pathway in atherosclerosis and vascular cells. METHODOLOGY: In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) statins enhanced Smad pathway activation caused by TGF-beta. In addition, statins upregulated TGF-beta receptor type II (TRII), and increased TGF-beta synthesis and TGF-beta/Smad-dependent actions. In this sense, statins, through Smad activation, render VSMCs more susceptible to TGF-beta induced apoptosis and increased TGF-beta-mediated ECM production. It is well documented that high doses of statins induce apoptosis in cultured VSMC in the presence of serum; however the precise mechanism of this effect remains to be elucidated. We have found that statins-induced apoptosis was mediated by TGF-beta/Smad pathway. Finally, we have described that RhoA inhibition is a common intracellular mechanisms involved in statins effects. The in vivo relevance of these findings was assessed in an experimental model of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E deficient mice: Treatment with Atorvastatin increased Smad3 phosphorylation and TRII overexpression, associated to elevated ECM deposition in the VSMCs within atheroma plaques, while apoptosis was not detected. CONCLUSIONS: Statins enhance TGF-beta/Smad pathway, regulating ligand levels, receptor, main signaling pathway and cellular responses of VSMC, including apoptosis and ECM accumulation. Our findings show that TGF-beta/Smad pathway is essential for statins-dependent actions in VSMCs
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