1,005 research outputs found
Low Temperature Symmetry of Pyrochlore Oxide Cd2Re2O7
We report the X-ray study for the pyrochlore oxide Cd2Re2O7. Two
symmetry-lowering structural transitions were observed at Ts1=200K and
Ts2=120K. The former is of the second order from the ideal cubic pyrochlore
structure with space group Fd-3m to a tetragonally distorted structure with
I-4m2, while the latter is of the first order likely to another tetragonal
space group I4122. We discuss the feature of the lattice deformation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Estrogens promote misfolded proinsulin degradation to protect insulin production and delay diabetes
Summary: Conjugated estrogens (CE) delay the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in postmenopausal women, but the mechanism is unclear. In T2D, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) fails to promote proinsulin folding and, in failing to do so, promotes ER stress and β cell dysfunction. We show that CE prevent insulin-deficient diabetes in male and in female Akita mice using a model of misfolded proinsulin. CE stabilize the ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD) system and promote misfolded proinsulin proteasomal degradation. This involves activation of nuclear and membrane estrogen receptor-α (ERα), promoting transcriptional repression and proteasomal degradation of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme and ERAD degrader, UBC6e. The selective ERα modulator bazedoxifene mimics CE protection of β cells in females but not in males. : Estrogens prevent diabetes in women, but the mechanism is poorly understood. Xu et al. report that estrogens activate the endoplasmic-reticulum-associated protein degradation pathway, which promotes misfolded proinsulin degradation, suppresses endoplasmic reticulum stress, and protects insulin secretion in mice and in human pancreatic β cells. Keywords: estrogens, beta cell, islet, endoplasmic reticulum stress, proinsulin misfolding, diabetes, bazedoxifene, sex dimorphism, ERAD, SER
The role of ECL2 in CGRP receptor activation: a combined modelling and experimental approach
The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor is a complex of a calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR), which is a family B G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and receptor activity modifying protein 1. The role of the second extracellular loop (ECL2) of CLR in binding CGRP and coupling to Gs was investigated using a combination of mutagenesis and modelling. An alanine scan of residues 271–294 of CLR showed that the ability of CGRP to produce cAMP was impaired by point mutations at 13 residues; most of these also impaired the response to adrenomedullin (AM). These data were used to select probable ECL2-modelled conformations that are involved in agonist binding, allowing the identification of the likely contacts between the peptide and receptor. The implications of the most likely structures for receptor activation are discussed.</jats:p
Thermal and Electrical Properties of gamma-NaxCoO2 (0.70 < x < 0.78)
We have performed specific heat and electric resistivity measurements of
NaCoO (-0.78). Two anomalies have been observed in the
specific heat data for , corresponding to magnetic transitions at
K and K reported previously. In the electrical
resistivity, a steep decrease at and a bending-like variation at
(=120K for ) have been observed. Moreover, we have investigated
the -dependence of these parameters in detail. The physical properties of
this system are very sensitive to , and the inconsistent results of previous
reports can be explained by a small difference in . Furthermore, for a
higher value, a phase separation into Na-rich and Na-poor domains occurs as
we previously proposed, while for a lower value, from characteristic
behaviors of the specific heat and the electrical resistivity at the
low-temperature region, the system is expected to be in the vicinity of the
magnetic instability which virtually exists below .Comment: 4 pages (3 figures included) and an extra figure (gif), to be
published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 73 (9) with possible minor revision
Magnetic and superconducting properties of Cd2Re2O7: Cd NMR and Re NQR
We report Cd NMR and Re NQR studies on Cd2Re2O7, the first superconductor
among pyrochlore oxides Tc=1 K. Re NQR spectrum at zero magnetic field below
100 K rules out any magnetic or charge order. The spin-lattice relaxation rate
below Tc exhibits a pronounced coherence peak and behaves within the
weak-coupling BCS theory with nearly isotropic energy gap. Cd NMR results point
to moderate ferromagnetic enhancement at high temperatures followed by rapid
decrease of the density of states below the structural transition temperature
of 200 K.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Non-generality of the Kadowaki-Woods ratio in correlated oxides
An explicit expression for the Kadowaki-Woods ratio in correlated metals is
derived by invoking saturation of the (high-frequency) Fermi-liquid scattering
rate at the Mott-Ioffe-Regel limit. Significant deviations observed in a number
of oxides are quantitatively explained due to variations in carrier density,
dimensionality, unit cell volume and the number of individual sheets in the
Brillouin zone. A generic re-scaling of the original Kadowaki-Woods plot is
also presented.Comment: 9 pages of text, 1 table, 2 figure
Heavy-Mass Behavior of Ordered Perovskites ACu3Ru4O12 (A = Na, Ca, La)
We synthesized ACu3Ru4O12 (A = Na, Na0.5Ca0.5, Ca, Ca0.5La0.5, La) and
measured their DC magnetization, AC susceptibility, specific heat, and
resistivity, in order to investigate the effects of the hetero-valent
substitution. A broad peak in the DC magnetization around 200 K was observed
only in CaCu3Ru4O12, suggesting the Kondo effect due to localized Cu2+ ions.
However, the electronic specific heat coefficients exhibit large values not
only for CaCu3Ru4O12 but also for all the other samples. Moreover, the Wilson
ratio and the Kadowaki-Woods ratio of our samples are all similar to the values
of other heavy-fermion compounds. These results question the Kondo effect as
the dominant origin of the mass enhancement, and rather indicate the importance
of correlations among itinerant Ru electrons.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jp
Trim17, novel E3 ubiquitin-ligase, initiates neuronal apoptosis
Accumulating data indicate that the ubiquitin-proteasome system controls apoptosis by regulating the level and the function of key regulatory proteins. In this study, we identified Trim17, a member of the TRIM/RBCC protein family, as one of the critical E3 ubiquitin ligases involved in the control of neuronal apoptosis upstream of mitochondria. We show that expression of Trim17 is increased both at the mRNA and protein level in several in vitro models of transcription-dependent neuronal apoptosis. Expression of Trim17 is controlled by the PI3K/Akt/GSK3 pathway in cerebellar granule neurons (CGN). Moreover, the Trim17 protein is expressed in vivo, in apoptotic neurons that naturally die during post-natal cerebellar development. Overexpression of active Trim17 in primary CGN was sufficient to induce the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in survival conditions. This pro-apoptotic effect was abolished in Bax(-/-) neurons and depended on the E3 activity of Trim17 conferred by its RING domain. Furthermore, knock-down of endogenous Trim17 and overexpression of dominant-negative mutants of Trim17 blocked trophic factor withdrawal-induced apoptosis both in CGN and in sympathetic neurons. Collectively, our data are the first to assign a cellular function to Trim17 by showing that its E3 activity is both necessary and sufficient for the initiation of neuronal apoptosis. Cell Death and Differentiation (2010) 17, 1928-1941; doi: 10.1038/cdd.2010.73; published online 18 June 201
Orbital state and magnetic properties of LiV_2 O_4
LiV_2 O_4 is one of the most puzzling compounds among transition metal oxides
because of its heavy fermion like behavior at low temperatures. In this paper
we present results for the orbital state and magnetic properties of LiV_2 O_4
obtained from a combination of density functional theory within the local
density approximation and dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT). The DMFT
equations are solved by quantum Monte Carlo simulations. The trigonal crystal
field splits the V 3d orbitals such that the a_{1g} and e_{g}^{pi} orbitals
cross the Fermi level, with the former being slightly lower in energy and
narrower in bandwidth. In this situation, the d-d Coulomb interaction leads to
an almost localization of one electron per V ion in the a_{1g} orbital, while
the e_{g}^{pi} orbitals form relatively broad bands with 1/8 filling. 2The
theoretical high-temperature paramagnetic susceptibility chi(T) follows a
Curie-Weiss law with an effective paramagnetic moment p_{eff}=1.65 in agreement
with the experimental results.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures, 2 table
Superconductivity at 1 K in Cd2Re2O7
We report the first pyrochlore oxide superconductor Cd2Re2O7.
Resistivity,magnetic susceptibility,and specific heat measurements on single
crystals evidence a bulk superconductivity at 1 K. Another phase transition
found at 200 K suggests that a peculiar electronic structure lies behind the
superconductivity.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, PRL, in pres
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