2,805 research outputs found
Structural Features of Layered Iron Pnictide Oxides (Fe2As2)(Sr4M2O6)
Structural features of newly found perovskite-based iron pnictide oxide
system have been systematically studied. Compared to REFePnO system,
perovskite-based system tend to have lower Pn-Fe-Pn angle and higher pnictogen
height owing to low electronegativity of alkaline earth metal and small
repulsive force between pnictogen and oxygen atoms. As-Fe-As angles of
(Fe2As2)(Sr4Cr2O6), (Fe2As2)(Sr4V2O6) and (Fe2Pn2)(Sr4MgTiO6) are close to
ideal tetrahedron and those pnictogen heights of about 1.40 A are close to
NdFeAsO with optimized carrier concentration. These structural features of this
system may leads to realization of high Tc superconductivity.Comment: 3pages, 2figures, 1table, proceedings of M2S 200
Superconductivity at 38 K in Iron-Based Compound with Platinum-Arsenide Layers Ca10(Pt4As8)(Fe2-xPtxAs2)5
We report superconductivity in novel iron-based compounds
Ca10(PtnAs8)(Fe2-xPtxAs2)5 with n = 3 and 4. Both compounds crystallize in
triclinic structures (space group P-1), in which Fe2As2 layers alternate with
PtnAs8 spacer layers. Superconductivity with a transition temperature of 38 K
is observed in the n = 4 compound with a Pt content of x ~ 0.36 in the Fe2As2
layers. The compound with n = 3 exhibits superconductivity at 13 K.Comment: OPEN SELECT article, 11 pages, 5 figures, 2 table
Pressure Dependence of Superconducting Transition Temperature on Perovskite-Type Fe-Based Superconductors and NMR Study of Sr2VFeAsO3
We report the pressure dependences of the superconducting transition
temperature (T_c) in several perovskite-type Fe-based superconductors through
the resistivity measurements up to ~4 GPa. In Ca_4(Mg,Ti)_3Fe_2As_2O_y with the
highest T_c of 47 K in the present study, the T_c keeps almost constant up to
~1 GPa, and starts to decrease above it. From the comparison among several
systems, we obtained a tendency that low T_c with the longer a-axis length at
ambient pressure increases under pressure, but high T_c with the shorter a-axis
length at ambient pressure hardly increases. We also report the ^75As-NMR
results on Sr_2VFeAsO_3. NMR spectrum suggests that the magnetic ordering
occurs at low temperatures accompanied by some inhomogeneity. In the
superconducting state, we confirmed the anomaly by the occurrence of
superconductivity in the nuclear spin lattice relaxation rate 1/T_1, but the
spin fluctuations unrelated with the superconductivity are dominant. It is
conjectured that the localized V-3d moments are magnetically ordered and their
electrons do not contribute largely to the Fermi surface and the
superconductivity in Sr_2VFeAsO_3.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figure
Initial vs. non-initial placement of agent constructions in spoken clauses: A corpus-based study of language production under time pressure
In this exploratory study we test the hypothesis that the retrieval from memory of proper noun Agents (PNAs) under processing pressure causes a greater proportion of such semantic arguments to be placed to the right of the initial position in a clause than would be the case if such retrieval from memory were not necessary. This effect is manifest in sports commentary. Processing pressure on sports commentators is modulated by the speed at which the sport is played and reported. Non-initial placement is also facilitated by formulae which have slots in non-initial position. It follows that the non-initial placement of PNAs is not always semantically or pragmatically motivated. This finding therefore runs counter to a strong form of the functionalist hypothesis that syntactic choices available in the systemic structure of the syntax of a language offer solely semantic or pragmatic choices. It is an open question in a weak functionalist account of language and language use how processing and communicative functions interact in general
Successive transition from superconducting to antiferromagnetic phase in (Ca_6(Al, Ti)_4O_y)Fe_2As_2 studied via ^{75}As and ^{27}Al NMR
An unusual successive phase transition from superconducting (SC) to
antiferromagnetic (AF) phases was discovered via ^{75}As and ^{27}Al nuclear
magnetic resonance (NMR) in (Fe_2As_2)(Ca_6(Al, Ti)_4O_y) with four (Al, Ti)O
layers intercalated between FeAs planes. Although the spatially-uniform AF
ordering is clearly visible from ^{27}Al spectra, the ordered moments are very
small and the low-frequency fluctuation is much suppressed, contrary to
existing pnictides with localized magnetic elements. Furthermore, the
temperature (T) dependence of the fluctuation at both nuclei is very similar
throughout the entire temperature range. These facts suggest that some
hybridization between Ti and Fe orbitals induces a uniform electronic state
within FeAs and (Al, Ti)O layers accompanied by the SC and AF transitions. The
iron-based pnictide with Ti-doped blocking layers is the first high-T_c
compound having metallic blocking layers
18q loss of heterozygosity in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer is correlated with CpG island methylator phenotype-negative (CIMP-0) and inversely with CIMP-low and CIMP-high
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background:</p> <p>The CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) with widespread promoter methylation is a distinct epigenetic phenotype in colorectal cancer, associated with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-high) and <it>BRAF </it>mutations. 18q loss of heterozygosity (LOH) commonly present in colorectal cancer with chromosomal instability (CIN) is associated with global hypomethylation in tumor cell. A recent study has shown an inverse correlation between CIN and CIMP (determined by MINTs, p16, p14 and <it>MLH1 </it>methylation) in colorectal cancer. However, no study has examined 18q LOH in relation to CIMP-high, CIMP-low (less extensive promoter methylation) and CIMP-0 (CIMP-negative), determined by quantitative DNA methylation analysis.</p> <p>Methods:</p> <p>Utilizing MethyLight technology (real-time PCR), we quantified DNA methylation in 8 CIMP-specific promoters {<it>CACNA1G</it>, <it>CDKN2A </it>(p16), <it>CRABP1, IGF2</it>, <it>MLH1, NEUROG1, RUNX3 </it>and <it>SOCS1</it>} in 758 non-MSI-high colorectal cancers obtained from two large prospective cohorts. Using four 18q microsatellite markers (D18S55, D18S56, D18S67 and D18S487) and stringent criteria for 18q LOH, we selected 374 tumors (236 LOH-positive tumors with β₯ 2 markers showing LOH; and 138 LOH-negative tumors with β₯ 3 informative markers and no LOH).</p> <p>Results:</p> <p>CIMP-0 (0/8 methylated promoters) was significantly more common in 18q LOH-positive tumors (59% = 139/236, p = 0.002) than 18q LOH-negative tumors (44% = 61/138), while CIMP-low/high (1/8β8/8 methylated promoters) was significantly more common (56%) in 18q LOH-negative tumors than 18q LOH-positive tumors (41%). These relations persisted after stratification by sex, location, or the status of MSI, p53 expression (by immunohistochemistry), or <it>KRAS/BRAF </it>mutation.</p> <p>Conclusion:</p> <p>18q LOH is correlated positively with CIMP-0 and inversely with CIMP-low and CIMP-high. Our findings provide supporting evidence for relationship between CIMP-0 and 18q LOH as well as a molecular difference between CIMP-0 and CIMP-low in colorectal cancer.</p
TGFBR2 and BAX Mononucleotide Tract Mutations, Microsatellite Instability, and Prognosis in 1072 Colorectal Cancers
Mononucleotide tracts in the coding regions of the TGFBR2 and BAX genes are commonly mutated in microsatellite instability-high (MSI-high) colon cancers. The receptor TGFBR2 plays an important role in the TGFB1 (transforming growth factor-Ξ², TGF-Ξ²) signaling pathway, and BAX plays a key role in apoptosis. However, a role of TGFBR2 or BAX mononucleotide mutation in colorectal cancer as a prognostic biomarker remains uncertain.We utilized a database of 1072 rectal and colon cancers in two prospective cohort studies (the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study). Cox proportional hazards model was used to compute mortality hazard ratio (HR), adjusted for clinical, pathological and molecular features including the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), LINE-1 methylation, and KRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA mutations. MSI-high was observed in 15% (162/1072) of all colorectal cancers. TGFBR2 and BAX mononucleotide mutations were detected in 74% (117/159) and 30% (48/158) of MSI-high tumors, respectively. In Kaplan-Meier analysis as well as univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, compared to microsatellite stable (MSS)/MSI-low cases, MSI-high cases were associated with superior colorectal cancer-specific survival [adjusted HR, 0.34; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.20-0.57] regardless of TGFBR2 or BAX mutation status. Among MSI-high tumors, TGFBR2 mononucleotide mutation was associated with CIMP-high independent of other variables [multivariate odds ratio, 3.57; 95% CI, 1.66-7.66; pβ=β0.0011].TGFBR2 or BAX mononucleotide mutations are not associated with the patient survival outcome in MSI-high colorectal cancer. Our data do not support those mutations as prognostic biomarkers (beyond MSI) in colorectal carcinoma
Micellization of Sliding Polymer Surfactants
Following up a recent paper on grafted sliding polymer layers (Macromolecules
2005, 38, 1434-1441), we investigated the influence of the sliding degree of
freedom on the self-assembly of sliding polymeric surfactants that can be
obtained by complexation of polymers with cyclodextrins. In contrast to the
micelles of quenched block copolymer surfactants, the free energy of micelles
of sliding surfactants can have two minima: the first corresponding to small
micelles with symmetric arm lengths, and the second corresponding to large
micelles with asymmetric arm lengths. The relative sizes and concentrations of
small and large micelles in the solution depend on the molecular parameters of
the system. The appearance of small micelles drastically reduces the kinetic
barrier signifying the fast formation of equilibrium micelles.Comment: Submitted to Macromolecule
Contrasting Pressure Effects in Sr2VFeAsO3 and Sr2ScFePO3
We report the resistivity measurements under pressure of two Fe-based
superconductors with a thick perovskite oxide layer, Sr2VFeAsO3 and Sr2ScFePO3.
The superconducting transition temperature Tc of Sr2VFeAsO3 markedly increases
with increasing pressure. Its onset value, which was Tc{onset}=36.4 K at
ambient pressure, increases to Tc{onset}=46.0 K at ~4 GPa, ensuring the
potential of the "21113" system as a high-Tc material. However, the
superconductivity of Sr2ScFePO3 is strongly suppressed under pressure. The
Tc{onset} of ~16 K decreases to ~5 K at ~4 GPa, and the zero-resistance state
is almost lost. We discuss the factor that induces this contrasting pressure
effect.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. No.12
(2009
Comprehensive Biostatistical Analysis of CpG Island Methylator Phenotype in Colorectal Cancer Using a Large Population-Based Sample
The CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) is a distinct phenotype associated with microsatellite instability (MSI) and BRAF mutation in colon cancer. Recent investigations have selected 5 promoters (CACNA1G, IGF2, NEUROG1, RUNX3 and SOCS1) as surrogate markers for CIMP-high. However, no study has comprehensively evaluated an expanded set of methylation markers (including these 5 markers) using a large number of tumors, or deciphered the complex clinical and molecular associations with CIMP-high determined by the validated marker panel. METHOLODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: DNA methylation at 16 CpG islands [the above 5 plus CDKN2A (p16), CHFR, CRABP1, HIC1, IGFBP3, MGMT, MINT1, MINT31, MLH1, p14 (CDKN2A/ARF) and WRN] was quantified in 904 colorectal cancers by real-time PCR (MethyLight). In unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis, the 5 markers (CACNA1G, IGF2, NEUROG1, RUNX3 and SOCS1), CDKN2A, CRABP1, MINT31, MLH1, p14 and WRN were generally clustered with each other and with MSI and BRAF mutation. KRAS mutation was not clustered with any methylation marker, suggesting its association with a random methylation pattern in CIMP-low tumors. Utilizing the validated CIMP marker panel (including the 5 markers), multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that CIMP-high was independently associated with older age, proximal location, poor differentiation, MSI-high, BRAF mutation, and inversely with LINE-1 hypomethylation and beta-catenin (CTNNB1) activation. Mucinous feature, signet ring cells, and p53-negativity were associated with CIMP-high in only univariate analysis. In stratified analyses, the relations of CIMP-high with poor differentiation, KRAS mutation and LINE-1 hypomethylation significantly differed according to MSI status.Our study provides valuable data for standardization of the use of CIMP-high-specific methylation markers. CIMP-high is independently associated with clinical and key molecular features in colorectal cancer. Our data also suggest that KRAS mutation is related with a random CpG island methylation pattern which may lead to CIMP-low tumors
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