Spin Excitation in Coupled Honeycomb Lattice Ni2_2InSbO6_6

We performed an inelastic neutron scattering experiment on a polycrystalline sample of a helimagnet Ni$_2$InSbO$_6$ to construct the spin Hamiltonian. Well-defined spin-wave excitation with a band energy of 20 meV was observed below $T_{N} = 76$ K. Using the linear spin-wave theory, the spectrum was reasonably reproduced with honeycomb spin layers coupled along the stacking axis (the $c$ axis). The proposed spin model reproduces the soliton lattice induced by a magnetic field applied perpendicular to the $c$ axis.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

The perineuronal proteoglycan surface coat in the adult rat brain, with special reference to its reactions to Gomori's ammoniacal silver.

The present study showed that many neurons in the adult rat brain possessed a perineuronal sulfated proteoglycan surface coat which reacted to cationic iron colloid and aldehyde fuchsin. This surface coat was stained supravitally with Ehrlich's methylene blue and doubly stained with Ehrlich's methylene blue and aldehyde fuchsin. The surface coat was also stained with Gomori's ammoniacal silver and doubly stained with Gomori's ammoniacal silver and cationic iron colloid. The surface coat was usually expressed together with a nerve cell surface glycoprotein net detectable with lectin Wisteria floribunda agglutinin. These findings indicate that the perineuronal proteoglycan surface coat is identical to Cajal's superficial reticulum and contains some collagenous elements. It was further demonstrated that collagenase digestion erased Gomori's ammoniacal silver impregnation within the perineuronal proteoglycan surface coat.</p

A new inelastic neutron spectrometer HODACA

A new multiplex-type inelastic neutron scattering spectrometer, HOrizontally Defocusing Analyzer Concurrent data Acquisition spectrometer (HODACA), was recently developed and built at the C1-1 cold neutron beam port in JRR-3. The spectrometer is suitable for dynamics measurements in the energy range of $-1$ meV $\lesssim \hbar \omega \lesssim$ 7 meV, catering to a broad array of research fields in physics and material science. HODACA combines 24 detectors and 132 pieces of analyzer crystals and has an estimated measurement efficiency that is 70 times greater than the existing conventional triple-axis spectrometer at the C1-1 beam port. The concept, design, specification, and results of commissioning experiments are described.Comment: 11 pages, 16 figure

Reduced endogenous secretory RAGE in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid is associated with poor prognosis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background The endogenous secretory receptor for advanced glycation end products (esRAGE) is a soluble isoform produced by alternative splicing of the RAGE gene. The isoform has anti-inflammatory properties due to its inhibition of the RAGE/ligand interaction and is reduced in the lung tissue of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This study aimed to investigate the association of esRAGE serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) levels with progression of IPF. Methods This study included 79 IPF patients and 90 healthy controls. IPF and control serum esRAGE levels were compared, and the correlation between serum and BALF esRAGE levels was analyzed in 57 IPF patient samples. We also investigated the relationship of esRAGE serum and BALF levels with prognoses and lung function parameters in patients with IPF. Results Serum esRAGE levels in IPF patients were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (162.0 +/- 102.4 ng/ml and 200.7 +/- 107.3 ng/ml,p = 0.009), although the baseline characteristics of age and smoking history were not matched. Serum levels of esRAGE were correlated with BALF esRAGE levels (r(s) = 0.317). The BALF esRAGE levels were also correlated with diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (r(s) = 0.406). A Kaplan-Meier curve analysis and univariate/multivariate Cox hazard proportion analysis revealed that lower levels of esRAGE in blood and BALF were significantly associated with poorer prognoses in patients with IPF. Conclusions Decreased esRAGE levels in BALF and blood were associated with poor prognoses in patients with IPF. These results suggest that esRAGE could be related to the pathophysiology of IPF and serum esRAGE could be a potential prognostic marker of IPF.Peer reviewe

Antiferromagnetic Kitaev interaction in J_\rm{eff}=1/2 cobalt honeycomb materials Na3_3Co2_2SbO6_6 and Na2_2Co2_2TeO6_6

Finding new materials with antiferromagnetic (AFM) Kitaev interaction is an urgent issue to broaden and enrich the quantum magnetism research significantly. By carrying out inelastic neutron scattering experiments and subsequent analysis, we conclude that Na$_3$Co$_2$SbO$_6$ and Na$_2$Co$_2$TeO$_6$ are new honeycomb cobalt-based AFM Kitaev systems. The spin-orbit excitons at 20-28~meV in both compounds strongly supports the idea that Co$^{2+}$ ions of both compounds have a spin-orbital entangled J_\rm{eff}=1/2 state. Furthermore, we found that a generalized Kitaev-Heisenberg Hamiltonian can well describe the spin-wave excitations of both compounds with additional 3rd nearest-neighbor interaction. Our best-fit parameters show large AFM Kitaev terms and off-diagonal symmetric anisotropy terms of a similar magnitude in both compounds. We should stress that our parameters' optimized magnetic structures are consistent with the magnetic structures reported from neutron diffraction studies. Moreover, there is also the magnon-damping effect at the higher energy part of the spin waves, as usually observed in other Kitaev magnets. We demonstrate that Na$_3$Co$_2$SbO$_6$ and Na$_2$Co$_2$TeO$_6$ are the first experimental realization of AFM Kitaev magnets based on the systematic studies of the spin waves and analysis.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figure