High field magnetic resonant properties of beta'-(ET)2SF5CF2SO3

A systematic electron spin resonance (ESR) investigation of the low temperature regime for the (ET)2SF5CF2SO3 system was performed in the frequency range of ~200-700 GHz, using backward wave oscillator sources, and at fields up to 25 T. Newly acquired access to the high frequency and fields shows experimental ESR results in agreement with the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) investigation, revealing evidence that the transition seen at 20 K is not of conventional spin-Peierls order. A significant change of the spin resonance spectrum in beta'-(ET)2SF5CF2SO3 at low temperatures, indicates a transition into a three-dimensional-antiferromagnetic (3D AFM) phase.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figures, minor grammatical change

Charge Ordering in Organic ET Compounds

The charge ordering phenomena in quasi two-dimensional 1/4-filled organic compounds (ET)_2X (ET=BEDT-TTF) are investigated theoretically for the $\theta$ and $\alpha$-type structures, based on the Hartree approximation for the extended Hubbard models with both on-site and intersite Coulomb interactions. It is found that charge ordered states of stripe-type are stabilized for the relevant values of Coulomb energies, while the spatial pattern of the stripes sensitively depends on the anisotropy of the models. By comparing the results of calculations with the experimental facts, where the effects of quantum fluctuation is incorporated by mapping the stripe-type charge ordered states to the S=1/2 Heisenberg Hamiltonians, the actual charge patterns in the insulating phases of $\theta$-(ET)_2MM'(SCN)_4 and $\alpha$-(ET)_2I_3 are deduced. Furthermore, to obtain a unified view among the $\theta$, $\alpha$ and $\kappa$-(ET)_2X families, the stability of the charge ordered state in competition with the dimeric antiferromagnetic state viewed as the Mott insulating state, which is typically realized in $\kappa$-type compounds, and with the paramagnetic metallic state, is also pursued by extracting essential parameters.Comment: 35 pages, 27 figures, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Gangs and guilt: Towards a new theory of horror film

The most basic and unanimous statement made in scholarship on horror films is that horror films are ‘about’ fear: the primary purpose of horror films is to scare viewers. Based on horror films from the 1970s until the present in which child gangs play a significant part, this essay advances a new theory of horror film, namely that horror films primarily seek to elicit not fear but guilt. The analysis focuses on four topics: themes, camera angles, horror’s cinematic casting of ‘abnormality,’ and the rift, unique to the horror genre, between audience ‘alignment’ and ‘allegiance.

f(R) theories

Over the past decade, f(R) theories have been extensively studied as one of the simplest modifications to General Relativity. In this article we review various applications of f(R) theories to cosmology and gravity - such as inflation, dark energy, local gravity constraints, cosmological perturbations, and spherically symmetric solutions in weak and strong gravitational backgrounds. We present a number of ways to distinguish those theories from General Relativity observationally and experimentally. We also discuss the extension to other modified gravity theories such as Brans-Dicke theory and Gauss-Bonnet gravity, and address models that can satisfy both cosmological and local gravity constraints.Comment: 156 pages, 14 figures, Invited review article in Living Reviews in Relativity, Published version, Comments are welcom

VEGF expression by mesenchymal stem cells contributes to angiogenesis in pancreatic carcinoma

Little is known about the factors that enable the mobilisation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from the bone marrow into the blood stream and their recruitment to and retention in the tumour. We found specific migration of MSC towards growth factors present in pancreatic tumours, such as PDGF, EGF, VEGF and specific inhibitors Glivec, Erbitux and Avastin interfered with migration. Within a few hours, MSC migrated into spheroids consisting of pancreatic cancer cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells as measured by time-lapse microscopy. Supernatant from subconfluent MSC increased sprouting of HUVEC due to VEGF production by MSC itself as demonstrated by RT-PCR and ELISA. Only few MSCs were differentiated into endothelial cells in vitro, whereas in vivo differentiation was not observed. Lentiviral GFP-marked MSCs, injected in nude mice xenografted with orthotopic pancreatic tumours, preferentially migrated into the tumours as observed by FACS analysis of green fluorescent cells. By immunofluorescence and intravital microscopic studies, we found the interaction of MSC with the endothelium of blood vessels. Mesenchymal stem cells supported tumour angiogenesis in vivo, that is CD31+ vessel density was increased after the transfer of MSC compared with siVEGF-MSC. Our data demonstrate the migration of MSC toward tumour vessels and suggest a supportive role in angiogenesis