Spin-Atomic Vibration Interaction and Spin-Flip Hamiltonian of a Single Atomic Spin in a Crystal Field

We derive the spin-atomic vibration interaction $V_{\rm SA}$ and the spin-flip Hamiltonian $V_{\rm SF}$ of a single atomic spin in a crystal field. We here apply the perturbation theory to a model with the spin-orbit interaction and the kinetic and potential energies of electrons. The model also takes into account the difference in vibration displacement between an effective nucleus and electrons, \Delta {{\boldmath r}}. Examining the coefficients of $V_{\rm SA}$ and $V_{\rm SF}$, we first show that $V_{\rm SA}$ appears for \Delta {{\boldmath r}}$\ne$0, while $V_{\rm SF}$ is present independently of \Delta {{\boldmath r}}. As an application, we next obtain $V_{\rm SA}$ and $V_{\rm SF}$ of an Fe ion in a crystal field of tetragonal symmetry. It is found that the magnitudes of the coefficients of $V_{\rm SA}$ can be larger than those of the conventional spin-phonon interaction depending on vibration frequency. In addition, transition probabilities per unit time due to $V_{\rm SA}$ and $V_{\rm SF}$ are investigated for the Fe ion with an anisotropy energy of $-|D|S_Z^2$, where $D$ is an anisotropy constant and $S_Z$ is the $Z$ component of a spin operator.Comment: 55 pages, 17 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 79 (2010) No. 11, typos correcte

Phase diagram and influence of defects in the double perovskites

The phase diagram of the double perovskites of the type Sr_{2-x} La_x Fe Mo O_6 is analyzed, with and without disorder due to antisites. In addition to an homogeneous half metallic ferrimagnetic phase in the absence of doping and disorder, we find antiferromagnetic phases at large dopings, and other ferrimagnetic phases with lower saturation magnetization, in the presence of disorder.Comment: 4 pages, 3 postscript figures, some errata correcte

Structural and doping effects in the half-metallic double perovskite A2A_2CrWO6_6

he structural, transport, magnetic and optical properties of the double perovskite $A_2$CrWO$_6$ with $A=\text{Sr, Ba, Ca}$ have been studied. By varying the alkaline earth ion on the $A$ site, the influence of steric effects on the Curie temperature $T_C$ and the saturation magnetization has been determined. A maximum $T_C=458$ K was found for Sr$_2$CrWO$_6$ having an almost undistorted perovskite structure with a tolerance factor $f\simeq 1$. For Ca$_2$CrWO$_6$ and Ba$_2$CrWO$_6$ structural changes result in a strong reduction of $T_C$. Our study strongly suggests that for the double perovskites in general an optimum $T_C$ is achieved only for $f \simeq 1$, that is, for an undistorted perovskite structure. Electron doping in Sr$_2$CrWO$_6$ by a partial substitution of Sr$^{2+}$ by La$^{3+}$ was found to reduce both $T_C$ and the saturation magnetization $M_s$. The reduction of $M_s$ could be attributed both to band structure effects and the Cr/W antisites induced by doping. Band structure calculations for Sr$_2$CrWO$_6$ predict an energy gap in the spin-up band, but a finite density of states for the spin-down band. The predictions of the band structure calculation are consistent with our optical measurements. Our experimental results support the presence of a kinetic energy driven mechanism in $A_2$CrWO$_6$, where ferromagnetism is stabilized by a hybridization of states of the nonmagnetic W-site positioned in between the high spin Cr-sites.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure

Inequalities in health and community-oriented social work: lessons from Cuba?

Social justice is, as the World Health Organization Commission on Social Determinants of Health (WHO CSDH, 2008) reminds us, ‘a matter of life and death’. While the stark differences in mortality rates and life expectancy between rich and poor countries might be the most obvious example of this, it is also true that ‘Within countries, the differences in life chances are dramatic and are seen in all countries – even the richest’ (WHO CSDH, 2008: 26). As the Commission demonstrates, the roots of these inequities lie in social conditions, suggesting an important role for social work in this area. Unfortunately, the Commission says very little about the type of social work that might be appropriate: nevertheless, the report does provide fresh impetus to the debate about what social workers might contribute to tackling health inequalities. In this article, we suggest that a community-oriented approach to social work is required. In making a case for this, we review the progress of the government’s drive to reduce inequalities in England,1 arguing that this has, thus far, been largely unsuccessful because it has primarily been pursued through health-care services, while addressing the wider (social) determinants of health has been a secondary consideration. In contrast, we offer the example of Cuban community-oriented social work (COSW) which has helped maintain population health at a level that stands comparison with much wealthier nations, despite the hardships and inequalities which followed economic collapse in the 1990s. In many ways the Cuban situation is unusual, perhaps unique, so we are not arguing that Cuban social work methods can be readily transferred. Rather, we suggest that, in the neglected field of tackling health inequalities, social workers can learn from the general approach taken in Cuba. To establish the context of this discussion, we begin by defining key concepts: COSW itself, health inequalities and inequity, the health gap and the health gradient

Methods for high-dimensonal analysis of cells dissociated from cyropreserved synovial tissue

Background: Detailed molecular analyses of cells from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium hold promise in identifying cellular phenotypes that drive tissue pathology and joint damage. The Accelerating Medicines Partnership RA/SLE Network aims to deconstruct autoimmune pathology by examining cells within target tissues through multiple high-dimensional assays. Robust standardized protocols need to be developed before cellular phenotypes at a single cell level can be effectively compared across patient samples. Methods: Multiple clinical sites collected cryopreserved synovial tissue fragments from arthroplasty and synovial biopsy in a 10% DMSO solution. Mechanical and enzymatic dissociation parameters were optimized for viable cell extraction and surface protein preservation for cell sorting and mass cytometry, as well as for reproducibility in RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Cryopreserved synovial samples were collectively analyzed at a central processing site by a custom-designed and validated 35-marker mass cytometry panel. In parallel, each sample was flow sorted into fibroblast, T-cell, B-cell, and macrophage suspensions for bulk population RNA-seq and plate-based single-cell CEL-Seq2 RNA-seq. Results: Upon dissociation, cryopreserved synovial tissue fragments yielded a high frequency of viable cells, comparable to samples undergoing immediate processing. Optimization of synovial tissue dissociation across six clinical collection sites with ~ 30 arthroplasty and ~ 20 biopsy samples yielded a consensus digestion protocol using 100 μg/ml of Liberase™ TL enzyme preparation. This protocol yielded immune and stromal cell lineages with preserved surface markers and minimized variability across replicate RNA-seq transcriptomes. Mass cytometry analysis of cells from cryopreserved synovium distinguished diverse fibroblast phenotypes, distinct populations of memory B cells and antibody-secreting cells, and multiple CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell activation states. Bulk RNA-seq of sorted cell populations demonstrated robust separation of synovial lymphocytes, fibroblasts, and macrophages. Single-cell RNA-seq produced transcriptomes of over 1000 genes/cell, including transcripts encoding characteristic lineage markers identified. Conclusions: We have established a robust protocol to acquire viable cells from cryopreserved synovial tissue with intact transcriptomes and cell surface phenotypes. A centralized pipeline to generate multiple high-dimensional analyses of synovial tissue samples collected across a collaborative network was developed. Integrated analysis of such datasets from large patient cohorts may help define molecular heterogeneity within RA pathology and identify new therapeutic targets and biomarkers