2,772 research outputs found
Indirect and direct energy gaps in the Kondo semiconductor YbB12
Optical conductivity [] of the Kondo semiconductor YbB
has been measured over wide ranges of temperature (=8690 K) and photon
energy ( 1.3 meV). The data reveal the
entire crossover of YbB from a metallic electronic structure at high
into a semiconducting one at low . Associated with the gap development in
, a clear onset is newly found at =15 meV for 20 K. The onset energy is identified as the gap width of YbB
appearing in . This gap in \sigma(\omega)\sigma(\omega)$ is interpreted as arising from the direct gap. The
absorption coefficient around the onset and the mIR peak indeed show
characteristic energy dependences expected for indirect and direct optical
transitions in conventional semiconductors.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp
Histone Demethylase Jmjd3 Regulates the Osteogenic Differentiation and Cytokine Expressions of Periodontal Ligament Cells
Periodontal ligament (PDL) cells are critical for the bone remodeling process in periapical lesions since they can differentiate into osteoblasts and secrete osteoclastogenesis-promoting cytokines. Post-translational histone modifications including alterations of the methylation status of H3K27 are involved in cell differentiation and inflammatory reaction. The histone demethylase Jumonji domain-containing 3 (Jmjd3) specifically removes methylation of H3K27. We investigated whether Jmjd3 is involved in the osteogenic differentiation and secretion of PDL cells’ inflammatory factors. Jmjd3 expression in periapical lesions was examined by immunostaining. Using siRNA specific for Jmjd3 or the specific Jmjd3 inhibitor GSK-J4, we determined Jmjd3’s roles in osteogenic differentiation and cytokine production by real-time RT-PCR. The locations of Jmjd3 and NF-κB were analyzed by immunocytochemistry. Compared to healthy PDLs, the periapical lesion samples showed higher Jmjd3 expression. Treatment with GSK-J4 or Jmjd3 siRNA suppressed PDL cells’ osteogenic differentiation by suppressing the expressions of bone-related genes (Runx2, Osterix, and osteocalcin) and mineralization. Jmjd3 knockdown decreased the expressions of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) induced by lipopolysaccharide extracted from Porphyromonas endodontalis (Pe-LPS). Pe-LPS induced the nuclear translocations of Jmjd3 and NF-κB; the latter was inhibited by GSK-J4 treatment. Jmjd3 appears to regulate PDL cells’ osteogenic differentiation and proinflammatory cytokine expressions
Early specification of ascidian larval motor neurons
AbstractIn the tadpole larvae of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi, six motor neurons, Moto-A, -B, and -C (a pair of each), are localized proximal to the caudal neural tube and show distinct morphology and innervation patterns. To gain insights into early mechanisms underlying differentiation of individual motor neurons, we have isolated an ascidian homologue of Islet, a LIM type homeobox gene. Earliest expression of Islet was detected in a pair of bilateral blastomeres on the dorsal edge of the late gastrula. At the neurula stage, this expression began to disappear and more posterior cells started to express Islet. Compared to expression of a series of motor neuron genes, it was confirmed that early Islet-positive blastomeres are the common precursors of Moto-A and -B, and late Islet-positive cells in the posterior neural tube are the precursors of Moto-C. Overexpression of Islet induced ectopic expression of motor neuron markers, suggesting that Islet is capable of regulating motor neuron differentiation. Since early expression of Islet colocalizes with that of HrBMPb, the ascidian homologue of BMP2/4, we tested a role of BMP in specification of the motor neuron fate. Overexpression of HrBMPb led to expansion of Lim and Islet expression toward the central area of the neural plate, and microinjection of mRNA coding for a dominant-negative BMP receptor weakened the expression of these genes. Our results suggest that determination of the ascidian motor neuron fate takes place at late gastrula stage and local BMP signaling may play a role in this step
Photogenerated Carriers in SrTiO3 Probed by Mid-Infrared Absorption
Infrared absorption spectra of SrTiO have been measured under
above-band-gap photoexcitations to study the properties of photogenerated
carriers, which should play important roles in previously reported photoinduced
phenomena in SrTiO. A broad absorption band appears over the entire
mid-infrared region under photoexcitation. Detailed energy, temperature, and
excitation power dependences of the photoinduced absorption are reported. This
photo-induced absorption is attributed to the intragap excitations of the
photogenerated carriers. The data show the existence of a high density of
in-gap states for the photocarriers, which extends over a wide energy range
starting from the conduction and valence band edges.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp
Optical Conductivity and Electronic Structure of CeRu4Sb12 under High Pressure
Optical conductivity [s(w)] of Ce-filled skutterudite CeRu4Sb12 has been
measured at high pressure to 8 GPa and at low temperature, to probe the
pressure evolution of its electronic structures. At ambient pressure, a
mid-infrared peak at 0.1 eV was formed in s(w) at low temperature, and the
spectral weight below 0.1 eV was strongly suppressed, due to a hybridization of
the f electron and conduction electron states. With increasing external
pressure, the mid-infrared peak shifts to higher energy, and the spectral
weight below the peak was further depleted. The obtained spectral data are
analyzed in comparison with band calculation result and other reported physical
properties. It is shown that the electronic structure of CeRu4Sb12 becomes
similar to that of a narrow-gap semiconductor under external pressure.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure
- …