Quantum Hall Effect in Three-dimensional Field-Induced Spin Density Wave Phases with a Tilted Magnetic Field

The quantum Hall effect in the three-dimensional anisotropic tight-binding electrons is investigated in the field-induced spin density wave phases with a magnetic field tilted to any direction. The Hall conductivity, $\sigma_{xy}$ and $\sigma_{xz}$, are shown to be quantized as a function of the wave vector of FISDW, while $\sigma_{yz}$ stays zero, where $x$ is the most conducting direction and $y$ and $z$ are perpendicular to $x$.Comment: 18 pages, REVTeX 3.0, 1 figure is available upon request, to be published in Physical Review

Spin-Density-Wave Phase Transitions in Quasi-One-Dimensional Dimerized Quarter-Filled Organic Conductors

We have studied spin density wave (SDW) phase transitions in dimerized quarter-filled Hubbard chains weakly coupled via interchain one-particle hopping, $t_{b0}$. It is shown that there exists a critical value of $t_{b0}$, $t_{b}^\ast$, between the incoherent metal regime ($t_{b0}<t_{b}^\ast$) and the Fermi liquid regime ($t_{b0}>t_{b}^\ast$) in the metallic phase above the SDW transition temperature. By using the 2-loop perturbative renormalization-group approach together with the random-phase-approximation, we propose a SDW phase diagram covering both of the regimes. The SDW phase transition from the incoherent metal phase for $t_{b0}<t_{b}^\ast$ is caused by growth of the intrachain electron-electron umklapp scattering toward low temperatures, which is regarded as preformation of the Mott gap. We discuss relevance of the present result to the SDW phase transitions in the quasi-one-dimensional dimerized quarter-filled organic conductors, (TMTTF)$_2$X and (TMTSF)$_2$X.Comment: 19 pages, 13 eps figures, uses jpsj.sty, corrected typo in the text and figures, no changes to the paper, to appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 68, No.8 (1999

Spin-density wave versus superconducting fluctuations for quasi-one-dimensional electrons in two chains of Tomonaga-Luttinger liquids

We study possible states at low temperatures by applying the renormalization-group method to two chains of Tomonaga-Luttinger liquids with both repulsive intrachain interactions and interchain hopping. As the energy decreases below the hopping energy, three distinct regions I, III, and II appear successively depending on properties of fluctuations. The crossover from the spin-density wave (SDW) state to superconducting (SC) state takes place in region III where there are the excitation gaps of transverse charge and spin fluctuations. The competition between SDW and SC states in region III is crucial to understanding the phase diagram in the quasi-one-dimensional organic conductors.Comment: 11 pages, Revtex format, 1 figure, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Spin-density-wave instabilities in the organic conductor (TMTSF)_2ClO_4: Role of anion ordering

We study the spin-density-wave instabilities in the quasi-one-dimensional conductor (TMTSF)_2ClO_4. The orientational order of the anions ClO_4 doubles the unit cell and leads to the presence of two electrnic bands at the Fermi level. From the Ginzburg-Landau expansion of the free energy, we determine the low-temperature phase diagram as a function of the strength of the Coulomb potential due to the anions. Upon increasing the anion potential, we first find a SDW phase corresponding to an interband pairing. This SDW phase is rapidly supressed, the metallic phase being then stable down to zero temperature. The SDW instability is restored when the anion potential becomes of the order of the hopping amplitude. The metal-SDW transition corresponds to an intraband pairing which leaves half of the Fermi surface metallic. At lower temperature, a second transition, corresponding to the other intraband pairing, takes place and opens a gap on the whole Fermi surface. We discuss the consequences of our results for the experimental phase diagram of (TMTSF)_2ClO_4 at high magnetic field.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, Version 2 with minor correction

Pairing Symmetry Competition in Organic Superconductors

A review is given on theoretical studies concerning the pairing symmetry in organic superconductors. In particular, we focus on (TMTSF)$_2$X and $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$X, in which the pairing symmetry has been extensively studied both experimentally and theoretically. Possibilities of various pairing symmetry candidates and their possible microscopic origin are discussed. Also some tests for determining the actual pairing symmtery are surveyed.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn., special issue on "Organic Conductors

Spin Fluctuation Theory for Quantum Tricritical Point Arising in Proximity to First-Order Phase Transitions: Applications to Heavy-Fermion Systems, YbRh2Si2, CeRu2Si2, and beta-YbAlB4

We propose a phenomenological spin fluctuation theory for antiferromagnetic quantum tricritical point (QTCP), where the first-order phase transition changes into the continuous one at zero temperature. Under magnetic fields, ferromagnetic quantum critical fluctuations develop around the antiferromagnetic QTCP in addition to antiferromagnetic ones, which is in sharp contrast with the conventional antiferromagnetic quantum critical point. For itinerant electron systems,} we show that the temperature dependence of critical magnetic fluctuations around the QTCP are given as chiQ \propto T^{-3/2} (chi0\propto T^{-3/4}) at the antiferromagnetic ordering (ferromagnetic) wave number q=Q (q=0). The convex temperature dependence of chi0^{-1} is the characteristic feature of the QTCP, which is never seen in the conventional spin fluctuation theory. We propose that the general theory of quantum tricriticality that has nothing to do with the specific Kondo physics itself, solves puzzles of quantum criticalities widely observed in heavy-fermion systems such as YbRh2Si2, CeRu2Si2, and beta-YbAlB4. For YbRh2Si2, our theory successfully reproduces quantitative behaviors of the experimental ferromagnetic susceptibility and the magnetization curve by choosing the phenomenological parameters properly. The quantum tricriticality is also consistent with singularities of other physical properties such as specific heat, nuclear magnetic relaxation time 1/T_1T, and Hall coefficient. For CeRu2Si2 and beta-YbAlB4, we point out that the quantum tricriticality is a possible origin of the anomalous diverging enhancement of the uniform susceptibility observed in these materials.Comment: 17 pages, 10 fugures, to appear in Journal of the Physical Society of Japan Vol.78 No.

Sphingomyelin Functions as a Novel Receptor for Helicobacter pylori VacA

The vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori binds and enters epithelial cells, ultimately resulting in cellular vacuolation. Several host factors have been reported to be important for VacA function, but none of these have been demonstrated to be essential for toxin binding to the plasma membrane. Thus, the identity of cell surface receptors critical for both toxin binding and function has remained elusive. Here, we identify VacA as the first bacterial virulence factor that exploits the important plasma membrane sphingolipid, sphingomyelin (SM), as a cellular receptor. Depletion of plasma membrane SM with sphingomyelinase inhibited VacA-mediated vacuolation and significantly reduced the sensitivity of HeLa cells, as well as several other cell lines, to VacA. Further analysis revealed that SM is critical for VacA interactions with the plasma membrane. Restoring plasma membrane SM in cells previously depleted of SM was sufficient to rescue both toxin vacuolation activity and plasma membrane binding. VacA association with detergent-resistant membranes was inhibited in cells pretreated with SMase C, indicating the importance of SM for VacA association with lipid raft microdomains. Finally, VacA bound to SM in an in vitro ELISA assay in a manner competitively inhibited by lysenin, a known SM-binding protein. Our results suggest a model where VacA may exploit the capacity of SM to preferentially partition into lipid rafts in order to access the raft-associated cellular machinery previously shown to be required for toxin entry into host cells

In Vitro Germ Cell Differentiation from Cynomolgus Monkey Embryonic Stem Cells

BACKGROUND: Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate into female and male germ cells in vitro. Primate ES cells can also differentiate into immature germ cells in vitro. However, little is known about the differentiation markers and culture conditions for in vitro germ cell differentiation from ES cells in primates. Monkey ES cells are thus considered to be a useful model to study primate gametogenesis in vitro. Therefore, in order to obtain further information on germ cell differentiation from primate ES cells, this study examined the ability of cynomolgus monkey ES cells to differentiate into germ cells in vitro. METHODS AND FINDINGS: To explore the differentiation markers for detecting germ cells differentiated from ES cells, the expression of various germ cell marker genes was examined in tissues and ES cells of the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis). VASA is a valuable gene for the detection of germ cells differentiated from ES cells. An increase of VASA expression was observed when differentiation was induced in ES cells via embryoid body (EB) formation. In addition, the expression of other germ cell markers, such as NANOS and PIWIL1 genes, was also up-regulated as the EB differentiation progressed. Immunocytochemistry identified the cells expressing stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA) 1, OCT-4, and VASA proteins in the EBs. These cells were detected in the peripheral region of the EBs as specific cell populations, such as SSEA1-positive, OCT-4-positive cells, OCT-4-positive, VASA-positive cells, and OCT-4-negative, VASA-positive cells. Thereafter, the effect of mouse gonadal cell-conditioned medium and growth factors on germ cell differentiation from monkey ES cells was examined, and this revealed that the addition of BMP4 to differentiating ES cells increased the expression of SCP1, a meiotic marker gene. CONCLUSION: VASA is a valuable gene for the detection of germ cells differentiated from ES cells in monkeys, and the identification and characterization of germ cells derived from ES cells are possible by using reported germ cell markers in vivo, including SSEA1, OCT-4, and VASA, in vitro as well as in vivo. These findings are thus considered to help elucidate the germ cell developmental process in primates

Cytokine Plasma Levels: Reliable Predictors for Radiation Pneumonitis?

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy (RT) is the primary treatment modality for inoperable, locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but even with highly conformal treatment planning, radiation pneumonitis (RP) remains the most serious, dose-limiting complication. Previous clinical reports proposed that cytokine plasma levels measured during RT allow to estimate the individual risk of patients to develop RP. The identification of such cytokine risk profiles would facilitate tailoring radiotherapy to maximize treatment efficacy and to minimize radiation toxicity. However, cytokines are produced not only in normal lung tissue after irradiation, but are also over-expressed in tumour cells of NSCLC specimens. This tumour-derived cytokine production may influence circulating plasma levels in NSCLC patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and TGF-beta1 plasma levels to predict radiation pneumonitis and to evaluate the impact of tumour-derived cytokine production on circulating plasma levels in patients irradiated for NSCLC. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In 52 NSCLC patients (stage I-III) cytokine plasma levels were investigated by ELISA before and weekly during RT, during follow-up (1/3/6/9 months after RT), and at the onset of RP. Tumour biopsies were immunohistochemically stained for IL-6 and TGF-beta1, and immunoreactivity was quantified (grade 1-4). RP was evaluated according to LENT-SOMA scale. Tumour response was assessed according to RECIST criteria by chest-CT during follow-up. In our clinical study 21 out of 52 patients developed RP (grade I/II/III/IV: 11/3/6/1 patients). Unexpectedly, cytokine plasma levels measured before and during RT did not correlate with RP incidence. In most patients IL-6 and TGF-beta1 plasma levels were already elevated before RT and correlated significantly with the IL-6 and TGF-beta1 production in corresponding tumour biopsies. Moreover, IL-6 and TGF-beta1 plasma levels measured during follow-up were significantly associated with the individual tumour responses of these patients. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study did not confirm that cytokine plasma levels, neither their absolute nor any relative values, may identify patients at risk for RP. In contrast, the clear correlations of IL-6 and TGF-beta1 plasma levels with the cytokine production in corresponding tumour biopsies and with the individual tumour responses suggest that the tumour is the major source of circulating cytokines in patients receiving RT for advanced NSCLC

Phosphatidylserine targeting for diagnosis and treatment of human diseases

Cells are able to execute apoptosis by activating series of specific biochemical reactions. One of the most prominent characteristics of cell death is the externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), which in healthy cells resides predominantly in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. These features have made PS-externalization a well-explored phenomenon to image cell death for diagnostic purposes. In addition, it was demonstrated that under certain conditions viable cells express PS at their surface such as endothelial cells of tumor blood vessels, stressed tumor cells and hypoxic cardiomyocytes. Hence, PS has become a potential target for therapeutic strategies aiming at Targeted Drug Delivery. In this review we highlight the biomarker PS and various PS-binding compounds that have been employed to target PS for diagnostic purposes. We emphasize the 35 kD human protein annexin A5, that has been developed as a Molecular Imaging agent to measure cell death in vitro, and non-invasively in vivo in animal models and in patients with cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Recently focus has shifted from diagnostic towards therapeutic applications employing annexin A5 in strategies to deliver drugs to cells that express PS at their surface