PECULIARITIES OF NEUTRON SCATTERING BY ORDER-DISORDER ANTIFERROELECTRICS

Using the dynamical proton (pseudospin)-heavy ion (lattice) model and the Green function formalism, the effective total differential cross sections for both coherent and incoherent neutron scattering are derived. The characteristic interference effects due to both tunnelling of light ions (protons) and mixed proton-heavy ion scattering processes are expressed by corresponding pseudospin and pseudospin-phonon form-factors. The scattering intensity pattern in antiferroelectric phase is accomplished by polar modulation effects and additional interference in the cross sections. The theoretical predictions are related to experimental studies of ADP, Rochelle salt and NaNO₂. Their possible application to test the coexistence of (anti)ferroelectric and superconducting phases in high-Tc copper-oxide superconductors is briefly discussed too.З використанням динамічної протон (псевдоспін)-іонної (ґратка) моделі та формалізму функцій Гріна, розраховані ефективні повні диференціальні перерізи для когерентного і некогерентного розсіювання нейтронів. Характерні інтерференційні ефекти, пов’язані як з ту-нелюванням легких іонів (протонів), так і зі змішаними розсіюваль-ними процесами протон-важкий іон, виражені через відповідні псев-доспінові і псевдоспін-фононні форм-фактори. Крім того, загальний вигляд інтенсивності розсіювання вантисегнетоелектричній фазі визначається також ефектами модуляції поляризації та додатковою інтерференцією у перерізах розсіяння. Передбачення теорії обговорюється у зв’язку з експериментальними дослідженнями кристалів ADP, сегнетової солі і NaNO₂. Коротко обговорюється їх можливе застосування для перевірки співіснування (анти)сегнетоелектричної та надпровідної фаз у високотемпературних надпровідниках на основі оксиду міді

Peculiarities of neutron scattering by order-disorder antiferroelectrics

Using the dynamical proton (pseudospin)-heavy ion (lattice) model and the Green function formalism, the effective total differential cross sections for both coherent and incoherent neutron scattering are derived. The characteristic interference effects due to both tunnelling of light ions (protons) and mixed proton-heavy ion scattering processes are expressed by corresponding pseudospin and pseudospin-phonon form-factors. The scattering intensity pattern in antiferroelectric phase is accomplished by polar modulation effects and additional interference in the cross sections. The theoretical predictions are related to experimental studies of ADP, Rochelle salt and NaNO₂. Their possible application to test the coexistence of (anti)ferroelectric and superconducting phases in high-Tc copper-oxide superconductors is briefly discussed too.З використанням динамічної протон (псевдоспін)-іонної (ґратка) моделі та формалізму функцій Гріна, розраховані ефективні повні диференціальні перерізи для когерентного і некогерентного розсіювання нейтронів. Характерні інтерференційні ефекти, пов’язані як з ту-нелюванням легких іонів (протонів), так і зі змішаними розсіюваль-ними процесами протон-важкий іон, виражені через відповідні псев-доспінові і псевдоспін-фононні форм-фактори. Крім того, загальний вигляд інтенсивності розсіювання вантисегнетоелектричній фазі визначається також ефектами модуляції поляризації та додатковою інтерференцією у перерізах розсіяння. Передбачення теорії обговорюється у зв’язку з експериментальними дослідженнями кристалів ADP, сегнетової солі і NaNO₂. Коротко обговорюється їх можливе застосування для перевірки співіснування (анти)сегнетоелектричної та надпровідної фаз у високотемпературних надпровідниках на основі оксиду міді

Necrotic debris and STING exert therapeutically relevant effects on tumor cholesterol homeostasis.

Malignant tumors commonly display necrosis, which invariably triggers an inflammatory response that supports tumor growth. However, the effect on tumor cells of necrotic debris, or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released by dying cells is unknown. Here, we addressed the effect of DAMPs on primary Ewing sarcoma (EwS) cells and cell lines grown in 3D (spheroids) and 2D culture. We show that DAMPs promote the growth of EwS spheroids but not 2D cultures and that the underlying mechanism implicates an increase in cholesterol load in spheroids. In contrast, stimulation of the nucleic acid sensor signaling platform STING by its ligand cyclic GMP-AMP decreases the tumor cell cholesterol load and reduces their tumor initiating ability. Overexpression of STING or stimulation with cyclic GMP-AMP opposes the growth stimulatory effect of DAMPs and synergizes with the cholesterol synthesis inhibitor simvastatin to inhibit tumor growth. Our observations show that modulation of cholesterol homeostasis is a major effect of necrotic cell debris and STING and suggest that combining STING agonists with statins may help control tumor growth

Super-Earths: A New Class of Planetary Bodies

Super-Earths, a class of planetary bodies with masses ranging from a few Earth-masses to slightly smaller than Uranus, have recently found a special place in the exoplanetary science. Being slightly larger than a typical terrestrial planet, super-Earths may have physical and dynamical characteristics similar to those of Earth whereas unlike terrestrial planets, they are relatively easier to detect. Because of their sizes, super-Earths can maintain moderate atmospheres and possibly dynamic interiors with plate tectonics. They also seem to be more common around low-mass stars where the habitable zone is in closer distances. This article presents a review of the current state of research on super-Earths, and discusses the models of the formation, dynamical evolution, and possible habitability of these objects. Given the recent advances in detection techniques, the detectability of super-Earths is also discussed, and a review of the prospects of their detection in the habitable zones of low-mass stars is presented.Comment: A (non-technical) review of the literature on the current state ofresearch on super-Earths. The topics include observation, formation, dynamical evolution, habitability, composition, interior dynamics, magnetic field, atmosphere, and propsect of detection. The article has 44 pages, 27 figures, and 203 references. It has been accepted for publication in the journal Contemporary Physics (2011

Tumor-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Use Distinct Mechanisms to Block the Activity of Natural Killer Cell Subsets.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) display pleiotropic functions, which include secretion of soluble factors with immunosuppressive activity implicated in cancer progression. We compared the immunomodulatory effects on natural killer (NK) cells of paired intratumor (T)- and adjacent non-tumor tissue (N)-derived MSCs from patients with squamous cell lung carcinoma (SCC). We observed that T-MSCs were more strongly immunosuppressive than N-MSCs and affected both NK function and phenotype, as defined by CD56 expression. T-MSCs shifted NK cells toward the CD56 <sup>dim</sup> phenotype and differentially modulated CD56 <sup>bright/dim</sup> subset functions. Whereas MSCs affected both degranulation and activating receptor expression in the CD56 <sup>dim</sup> subset, they primarily inhibited interferon-γ production in the CD56 <sup>bright</sup> subset. Pharmacological inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis and, in some MSCs, interleukin-6 (IL-6) activity restored NK function, whereas NK cell stimulation by PGE2 alone mimicked T-MSC-mediated immunosuppression. Our observations provide insight into how stromal responses to cancer dampen NK cell activity in human lung SCC

AGE-RELATED EFFECTS OF INCREASING POSTURAL CHALLENGE ON EYE MOVEMENT ONSET LATENCIES TO VISUAL TARGETS

When a single light cue is given in the visual field, our eyes orient towards it with an average latency of 200 ms. If a second cue is presented at or around the time of the response to the first, a secondary eye movement occurs that represents a re-orientation to the new target. While studies have shown that eye movement latencies to ‘single-step’ targets may or may not be lengthened with age, secondary eye-movements (during ‘double-step’ displacements) are significantly delayed with increasing age. The aim of this study was to investigate if the postural challenge posed simply by standing (as opposed to sitting) results in significantly longer eye movement latencies in older adults compared to the young. Ten young (65 years) participated in the study. They were required to fixate upon a central target and move their eyes in response to 2 types of stimuli: 1) a single-step perturbation of target position either 15º to the right or left, and 2) a double-step target displacement incorporating an initial target jump to the right or left by 15º, followed after 200 ms, by a shift of target position to the opposite side (e.g., +15º then -15º). All target displacement conditions were executed in sit and stand positions with the participant at the same distance from the targets. Eye movements were recorded using electro-oculography. Older adults did not show significantly longer eye movement latencies than the younger adults for single-step target displacements, and postural configuration (stand compared to sit) had no effect upon latencies for either group. We categorised double-step trials into those during which the second light changed after or before the onset of the eye shift to the first light. For the former category, young participants showed faster secondary eye shifts to the second light in the standing position, while the older adults did not. For the latter category of double-step trial, young participants showed no significant difference between sit and stand secondary eye movement latencies, but older adults were significantly longer standing compared to sitting. The older adults were significantly longer than the younger adults across both postural conditions, regardless of when the second light change occurred during the eye shift to the first light. We suggest that older adults require greater time and perhaps attentional processes to execute eye movements to unexpected changes of target position when faced with the need to maintain standing balance. Keywords: Balance, Ageing, Gaze, Electro-oculography, Target perturbations

Role of preferential weak hybridization between the surface-state of a metal and the oxygen atom in the chemical adsorption mechanism

We report on the chemical adsorption mechanism of atomic oxygen on the Pt(111) surface using angle-resolved-photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional calculations. The detailed band structure of Pt(111) from ARPES reveals that most of the bands near the Fermi level are surface-states. By comparing band maps of Pt and O/Pt, we identify that dxz (dyz) and dz2 orbitals are strongly correlated in the surface-states around the symmetry point M and K, respectively. Additionally, we demonstrate that the s- or p-orbital of oxygen atoms hybridizes preferentially with the dxz (dyz) orbital near the M symmetry point. This weak hybridization occurs with minimal charge transfer

The fusion protein SS18-SSX1 employs core Wnt pathway transcription factors to induce a partial Wnt signature in synovial sarcoma.

Expression of the SS18/SYT-SSX fusion protein is believed to underlie the pathogenesis of synovial sarcoma (SS). Recent evidence suggests that deregulation of the Wnt pathway may play an important role in SS but the mechanisms whereby SS18-SSX might affect Wnt signaling remain to be elucidated. Here, we show that SS18/SSX tightly regulates the elevated expression of the key Wnt target AXIN2 in primary SS. SS18-SSX is shown to interact with TCF/LEF, TLE and HDAC but not β-catenin in vivo and to induce Wnt target gene expression by forming a complex containing promoter-bound TCF/LEF and HDAC but lacking β-catenin. Our observations provide a tumor-specific mechanistic basis for Wnt target gene induction in SS that can occur in the absence of Wnt ligand stimulation