Crystallization Behavior of Amorphous Fe-Tb-M (M=Si or Al) Alloys and High Magnetostriction of their Crystallized Phases

The addition of 2.5 at% Si or Al to Fe_2Tb causes the formation of an amorphous single phase and the glass formation range extends up to 15 at% Si or Al which is the maximum additional amount in the present study. The amorphous (Fe_2Tb)_M_ (M=Si or Al) alloys crystallize through two stages consisting of Am→Fe_2Tb+Am→Fe_2Tb+unknown compound. The Fe_2Tb phase in coexistent with the amorphous phase has a very fine spherical morphology with a particle size of 5 to 20 nm. The additional Si or Al element is enriched into the unknown compounds. The coexistent state of the nanocrystalline Fe_2Tb and amorphous phases extends over the temperature region of about 300 K because of the high thermal stability of the remaining amorphous phase. The high thermal stability of the amorphous phase and the formation of the nanoscale Fe_2Tb grains are presumably due to the necessity of the redistribution of Si or Al into the remaining amorphous phase. The best magnetostrictive properties of high σ_, low H_c, high λ_s and high λ/H were obtained in the coexistent nanocrystalline Fe_2Tb and amorphous phases and the phase transition into Fe_2Tb and unknown compounds caused the depression of the magnetostrictive properties

Diabetes and obesity are significant risk factors for morning hypertension: From Ibaraki Hypertension Assessment Trial (I-HAT)

AimsAlthough morning hypertension (HT) has been identified as a major cardiovascular risk, susceptible populations remain unknown. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between morning HT and diabetes or obesity in a large-scale population.Main methodsClinic blood pressure (BP) and BP upon awakening were recorded in 2554 outpatients with HT who attended 101 clinics or hospitals for two weeks. Mean clinic and awakening BP > 140/90 and > 135/85 mm Hg, respectively, were considered as HT. The patients were classified according to values for clinic and home BP, into normal BP, white coat HT, masked HT, and sustained HT.Key findingsMorning BP (mm Hg) significantly and progressively elevated in the order of normal glucose tolerance, impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes (134.1 ± 12.2, 135.4 ± 13.1 and 137.5 ± 11.5; p < 0.0001). The incidence of morning HT significantly increased and progressively in the same order (53.4%, 55.6%, 66.4%, p < 0.0001). Morning BP was significantly higher among obese patients with diabetes than among non-obese and non-diabetic patients (138.8 ± 10.5, 133.1 ± 11.9, p < 0.0001). In addition, the incidence of morning HT was significantly higher in obese diabetic patients than in non-obese and non-diabetic patients (73.0% vs. 49.9%, p < 0.0001).SignificanceDiabetic or obese patients frequently have morning HT

Odontogenic stem cells

Epithelial cell rests of Malassez (ERM) are quiescent epithelial remnants of the Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath (HERS) that are involved in the formation of tooth roots. ERM cells are unique epithelial cells that remain in periodontal tissues throughout adult life. They have a functional role in the repair/regeneration of cement or enamel. Here, we isolated odontogenic epithelial cells from ERM in the periodontal ligament, and the cells were spontaneously immortalized. Immortalized odontogenic epithelial (iOdE) cells had the ability to form spheroids and expressed stem cell-related genes. Interestingly, iOdE cells underwent osteogenic differentiation, as demonstrated by the mineralization activity in vitro in mineralization-inducing media and formation of calcification foci in iOdE cells transplanted into immunocompromised mice. These findings suggest that a cell population with features similar to stem cells exists in ERM and that this cell population has a differentiation capacity for producing calcifications in a particular microenvironment. In summary, iOdE cells will provide a convenient cell source for tissue engineering and experimental models to investigate tooth growth, differentiation, and tumorigenesis

Nanosecond pump-probe device for time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography developed at SACLA

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) have opened new opportunities for timeresolved X-ray crystallography. Here a nanosecond optical-pump XFEL-probe device developed for time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography (TRSFX) studies of photo-induced reactions in proteins at the SPring-8 Angstrom Compact free-electron LAser (SACLA) is reported. The optical-fiber-based system is a good choice for a quick setup in a limited beam time and allows pump illumination from two directions to achieve high excitation efficiency of protein microcrystals. Two types of injectors are used: one for extruding highly viscous samples such as lipidic cubic phase (LCP) and the other for pulsed liquid droplets. Under standard sample flow conditions from the viscous-sample injector, delay times from nanoseconds to tens of milliseconds are accessible, typical time scales required to study large protein conformational changes. A first demonstration of a TR-SFX experiment on bacteriorhodopsin in bicelle using a setup with a droplet-type injector is also presented.112Ysciescopu