Enthalpies of formation of lanthanide oxyapatite phases

A family of lanthanide silicates adopts an oxyapatite-like structure with structural formula Ln9.33∎0.67(SiO4)6O2 (Ln 4 La, Sm, Nd, Gd, ∎ = vacancy). The enthalpies of solution, DHS, for these materials and their corresponding binary oxides were determined by high-temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry using molten 2PbO·B2O3 at 1078 K. These data were used to complete thermodynamic cycles to calculate enthalpies of formation from the oxides, ΔHs f-oxides (kJ/mol): La9.33∎0.67(SiO4)6O2 = −776.3 ± 17.9, Nd9.33∎0.67(SiO4)6O2 = −760.4 ± 31.9, Sm9.33∎0.67(SiO4)6O2 = −590.3 ± 18.6, and Gd9.33∎0.67(SiO4)6O2 = −446.9 ± 21.9. Reference data were used to calculate the standard enthalpies of formation from the elements, ΔH0 f (kJ/mol): La9.33∎0.67(SiO4)6O2 = −14611.0 ± 19.4, Nd9.33∎0.67(SiO4)6O2 = −14661.5 ± 32.2, Sm9.33∎0.67(SiO4)6O2 = −14561.7 ± 20.8, and Gd9.33∎0.67(SiO4)6O2 = −14402.7 ± 28.2. The formation enthalpies become more endothermic as the ionic radius of the lanthanide ion decreases

Absence of room temperature ferromagnetism in bulk Mn-doped ZnO

Structural and magnetic properties have been studied for polycrystalline Zn_1-xMn_xO (x=0.02, 0.03, 0.05). Low-temperature (~500 oC) synthesis leaves unreacted starting ZnO and manganese oxides. Contrary to a recent report, no bulk ferromagnetism was observed for single-phase materials synthesized in air at temperatures above 900 oC. Single-phase samples show paramagnetic Curie-Weiss behavior.Comment: Accepted for publication in J. Appl. Phys., RevTeX, 3 pages, 4 figure

Absence of ferromagnetism in Co and Mn substituted polycrystalline ZnO

We discuss the properties of semiconducting bulk ZnO when substituted with the magnetic transition metal ions Mn and Co, with substituent fraction ranging from $x$ = 0.02 to $x$ = 0.15. The magnetic properties were measured as a function of magnetic field and temperature and we find no evidence for magnetic ordering in these systems down to $T$ = 2 K. The magnetization can be fit by the sum of a Curie-Weiss term with a Weiss temperature of $\Theta\gg$100 K and a Curie term. We attribute this behavior to contributions from both \textit{t}M ions with \textit{t}M nearest neighbors and from isolated spins. This particular functional form for the susceptibility is used to explain why no ordering is observed in \textit{t}M substituted ZnO samples despite the large values of the Weiss temperature. We also discuss in detail the methods we used to minimize any impurity contributions to the magnetic signal.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures (revised

Prevalence and Assessment of Clinical Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections among Female Sex Workers in Two Cities of India

Objective. Control of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among female sex workers (FSWs) is an important strategy to reduce HIV transmission. A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and assess the current clinical management of STIs in India. Methods. FSWs attending three clinics for regular checkups or symptoms were screened for study eligibility. A behavioral questionnaire was administered, clinical examination performed, and laboratory samples collected. Results. 417 study participants reported a mean number of 4.9 (SD 3.5) commercial clients in the last week. 14.6% reported anal sex in the last three months. Consistent condom use with commercial and regular partners was 70.1% and 17.5%, respectively. The prevalence of gonorrhea was 14.1%, chlamydia 16.1%, and trichomoniasis 31.1% with a third of all infections being asymptomatic. Syphilis seropositivity was 10.1%. Conclusions. At study sites, presumptive treatment for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis screening should continue. Presumptive treatment for trichomoniasis should be considered. Consistent condom use and partner treatment need to be reemphasized

Effect of Reducing Atmosphere on the Magnetism of Zn1-xCoxO Nanoparticles

We report the crystal structure and magnetic properties of Zn1-xCoxO nanoparticles synthesized by heating metal acetates in organic solvent. The nanoparticles were crystallized in wurtzite ZnO structure after annealing in air and in a forming gas (Ar95%+H5%). The X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) data for different Co content show clear evidence for the Co+2 ions in tetrahedral symmetry, indicating the substitution of Co+2 in ZnO lattice. However samples with x=0.08 and higher cobalt content also indicate the presence of Co metal clusters. Only those samples annealed in the reducing atmosphere of the forming gas, and that showed the presence of oxygen vacancies, exhibited ferromagnetism at room temperature. The air annealed samples remained non-magnetic down to 77K. The essential ingredient in achieving room temperature ferromagnetism in these Zn1-xCoxO nanoparticles was found to be the presence of additional carriers generated by the presence of the oxygen vacancies.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Nanotechnology IO

The cGAS-STING Pathway Affects Vertebral Bone but Does Not Promote Intervertebral Disc Cell Senescence or Degeneration

The DNA-sensing cGAS-STING pathway promotes the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and mediates type-I interferon inflammatory responses to foreign viral and bacterial DNA as well as self-DNA. Studies of the intervertebral disc in humans and mice demonstrate associations between aging, increased cell senescence, and disc degeneration. Herein we assessed the role of STING in SASP promotion in STING gain- (N153S) and loss-of-function mouse models. N153S mice evidenced elevated circulating levels of proinflammatory markers including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, showed elevated monocyte and macrophage abundance in the vertebral marrow, and exhibited a mild trabecular and cortical bone phenotype in caudal vertebrae. Interestingly, despite systemic inflammation, the structural integrity of the disc and knee articular joint remained intact, and cells did not show a loss of their phenotype or elevated SASP. Transcriptomic analysis of N153S tissues demonstrated an upregulated immune response by disc cells, which did not closely resemble inflammatory changes in human tissues. Interestingly, STING-/- mice also showed a mild vertebral bone phenotype, but the absence of STING did not reduce the abundance of SASP markers or improve the age-associated disc phenotype. Overall, the analyses of N153S and STING-/- mice suggest that the cGAS-STING pathway is not a major contributor to SASP induction and consequent disc aging and degeneration but may play a minor role in the maintenance of trabecular bone in the vertebrae. This work contributes to a growing body of work demonstrating that systemic inflammation is not a key driver of disc degeneration

Ferromagnetism in Fe-substituted spinel semiconductor ZnGa2_2O4_4

Motivated by the recent experimental observation of long range ferromagnetic order at a relatively high temperature of 200K in the Fe-doped ZnGa$_2$O$_4$ semiconducting spinel, we propose a possible mechanism for the observed ferromagnetism in this system. We show, supported by band structure calculations, how a model similar to the double exchange model can be written down for this system and calculate the ground state phase diagram for the two cases where Fe is doped either at the tetrahedral position or at the octahedral position. We find that in both cases such a model can account for a stable ferromagnetic phase in a wide range of parameter space. We also argue that in the limit of high Fe$^{2+}$ concentration at the tetrahedral positions a description in terms of a two band model is essential. The two $e_g$ orbitals and the hopping between them play a crucial role in stabilizing the ferromagnetic phase in this limit. The case when Fe is doped simultaneously at both the tetrahedral and the octahedral position is also discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, added text, J. Phys. Cond. Mat. (to appear

Dilute ferrimagnetic semiconductors in Fe-substituted spinel ZnGa2_2O4_4

Solid solutions of nominal composition [ZnGa$_2$O$_4$]$_{1-x}$[Fe$_3$O$_4$]$_x$, of the semiconducting spinel ZnGa$_2$O$_4$ with the ferrimagnetic spinel Fe$_3$O$_4$ have been prepared with $x$ = 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15. All samples show evidence for long-range magnetic ordering with ferromagnetic hysteresis at low temperatures. Magnetization as a function of field for the $x$ = 0.15 sample is S-shaped at temperatures as high as 200 K. M\"ossbauer spectroscopy on the $x$ = 0.15 sample confirms the presence of Fe$^{3+}$, and spontaneous magnetization at 4.2 K. The magnetic behavior is obtained without greatly affecting the semiconducting properties of the host; diffuse reflectance optical spectroscopy indicates that Fe substitution up to $x$ = 0.15 does not affect the position of the band edge absorption. These promising results motivate the possibility of dilute ferrimagnetic semiconductors which do not require carrier mediation of the magnetic moment.Comment: 9 pages and 6 figure

The mitophagy receptor BNIP3 is critical for the regulation of metabolic homeostasis and mitochondrial function in the nucleus pulposus cells of the intervertebral disc

The contribution of mitochondria to the metabolic function of hypoxic NP cells has been overlooked. We have shown that NP cells contain networked mitochondria and that mitochondrial translocation of BNIP3 mediates hypoxia-induced mitophagy. However, whether BNIP3 also plays a role in governing mitochondrial function and metabolism in hypoxic NP cells is not known. BNIP3 knockdown altered mitochondrial morphology, and number, and increased mitophagy. Interestingly, BNIP3 deficiency in NP cells reduced glycolytic capacity reflected by lower production of lactate/