Evidence for charge orbital and spin stripe order in an overdoped manganite

We present diffraction data on a single-layered manganite La(0.42)Sr(1.58)MnO4 with hole doping (x>0.5). Overdoped La(0.42)Sr(1.58)MnO4 exhibits a complex ordering of charges, orbitals and spins. Single crystal neutron diffraction experiments reveal three incommensurate and one commensurate order parameters to be tightly coupled. The position and the shape of the distinct superstructure scattering points to a stripe arrangement in which ferromagnetic zigzag chains are disrupted by additional Mn4+ stripes

Electric-dipole active two-magnon excitation in {\textit{ab}} spiral spin phase of a ferroelectric magnet Gd0.7_{\textbf{0.7}}Tb0.3_{\textbf{0.3}}MnO3_{\textbf 3}

A broad continuum-like spin excitation (1--10 meV) with a peak structure around 2.4 meV has been observed in the ferroelectric $ab$ spiral spin phase of Gd$_{0.7}$Tb$_{0.3}$MnO$_3$ by using terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy. Based on a complete set of light-polarization measurements, we identify the spin excitation active for the light $E$ vector only along the a-axis, which grows in intensity with lowering temperature even from above the magnetic ordering temperature but disappears upon the transition to the $A$-type antiferromagnetic phase. Such an electric-dipole active spin excitation as observed at THz frequencies can be ascribed to the two-magnon excitation in terms of the unique polarization selection rule in a variety of the magnetically ordered phases.Comment: 11 pages including 3 figure

Novos materiais de construção com tecnologias avançadas

Este artigo pretende apenas dar um contributo, assinalando alguns exemplos em que se tem vindo a trabalhar e que refletem o uso de tecnologias avançadas na formulação e funcionalidade de materiais de construção tradicionais. Um exemplo claro é o uso de aditivos que induzem novas funções e que muitos deles pertencem ao grupo denominado como nanomateriais. A sua adição coloca quase sempre problemas de incorporação e que requerem um trabalho de ajuste das formulações e comportamentos no estado fresco ou endurecido. Este trabalho de investigação é muitas vezes essencial para a otimização das funções que se pretendem que os materiais de construção venham a demonstrar. Neste grupo de investigação, resultante da cooperação entre centros de I&D e empresas em projetos de colaboração diversos ao longo dos últimos anos, tem-se vindo a focar na introdução de novas funções em materiais de construção tradicionais, para que ganhem um papel ativo em domínios como o do conforto térmico ou da qualidade ambiental, dois pilares essenciais para uma construção mais sustentável

Production of recombinant disulfide-rich venom peptides for structural and functional analysis via expression in the periplasm of E. coli

Abstract Disulfide-rich peptides are the dominant component of most animal venoms. These peptides have received much attention as leads for the development of novel therapeutic agents and bioinsecticides because they target a wide range of neuronal receptors and ion channels with a high degree of potency and selectivity. In addition, their rigid disulfide framework makes them particularly well suited for addressing the crucial issue of in vivo stability. Structural and functional characterization of these peptides necessitates the development of a robust, reliable expression system that maintains their native disulfide framework. The bacterium Escherichia coli has long been used for economical production of recombinant proteins. However, the expression of functional disulfide-rich proteins in the reducing environment of the E. coli cytoplasm presents a significant challenge. Thus, we present here an optimised protocol for the expression of disulfide-rich venom peptides in the periplasm of E. coli, which is where the endogenous machinery for production of disulfide-bonds is located. The parameters that have been investigated include choice of media, induction conditions, lysis methods, methods of fusion protein and peptide purification, and sample preparation for NMR studies. After each section a recommendation is made for conditions to use. We demonstrate the use of this method for the production of venom peptides ranging in size from 2 to 8 kDa and containing 2-6 disulfide bonds

Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 1 (UCHL1) is a potential tumour suppressor in prostate cancer and is frequently silenced by promoter methylation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We have previously reported significant downregulation of ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 1 (UCHL1) in prostate cancer (PCa) compared to the surrounding benign tissue. UCHL1 plays an important role in ubiquitin system and different cellular processes such as cell proliferation and differentiation. We now show that the underlying mechanism of UCHL1 downregulation in PCa is linked to its promoter hypermethylation. Furthermore, we present evidences that UCHL1 expression can affect the behavior of prostate cancer cells in different ways.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Methylation specific PCR analysis results showed a highly methylated promoter region for UCHL1 in 90% (18/20) of tumor tissue compared to 15% (3/20) of normal tissues from PCa patients. Pyrosequencing results confirmed a mean methylation of 41.4% in PCa whereas only 8.6% in normal tissues. To conduct functional analysis of UCHL1 in PCa, UCHL1 is overexpressed in LNCaP cells whose UCHL1 expression is normally suppressed by promoter methylation and found that UCHL1 has the ability to decrease the rate of cell proliferation and suppresses anchorage-independent growth of these cells. In further analysis, we found evidence that exogenous expression of UCHL1 suppress LNCaP cells growth probably via p53-mediated inhibition of Akt/PKB phosphorylation and also via accumulation of p27kip1 a cyclin dependant kinase inhibitor of cell cycle regulating proteins. Notably, we also observed that exogenous expression of UCHL1 induced a senescent phenotype that was detected by using the SA-ß-gal assay and might be due to increased p14ARF, p53, p27kip1 and decreased MDM2.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>From these results, we propose that UCHL1 downregulation via promoter hypermethylation plays an important role in various molecular aspects of PCa biology, such as morphological diversification and regulation of proliferation.</p

Far-infrared optical excitations in multiferroic TbMnO_3

We provide a detailed study of the reflectivity of multiferroic TbMnO_3 for wave numbers from 40 cm^{-1} to 1000 cm^{-1} and temperatures 5 K < T < 300 K. Excitations are studied for polarization directions E || a, the polarization where electromagnons are observed, and for E || c, the direction of the spontaneous polarization in this material. The temperature dependencies of eigenfrequencies, damping constants and polar strengths of all modes are studied and analyzed. For E || a and below the spiral ordering temperature of about 27 K we observe a transfer of optical weight from phonon excitations to electromagnons, which mainly involves low-frequency phonons. For E || c an unusual increase of the total polar strength and hence of the dielectric constant is observed indicating significant transfer of dynamic charge probably within manganese-oxygen bonds on decreasing temperatures.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted for submission in European Physical Journal