Multiferroicity in doped hexagonal LuFeO3

The hexagonal phase of LuFeO3 is a rare example of a multiferroic material possessing a weak ferromagnetic moment, which is predicted to be switchable by an electric field. We stabilize this structure in bulk form though Mn and Sc doping, and determine the complete magnetic and crystallographic structures using neutron-scattering and magnetometry techniques. The ferroelectric P6(3)cm space group is found to be stable over a wide concentration range, ordering antiferromagnetically with Neel temperatures that smoothly increase following the ratio of c to a (c/a) lattice parameters up to 172 K, the highest found in this class of materials to date. The magnetic structure for a range of temperatures and dopings is consistent with recent studies of high quality epitaxial films of pure hexagonal LuFeO3 including a ferromagnetic moment parallel to the ferroelectric axis. We propose a mechanism by which room-temperature multiferroicity could be achieved in this class of materialsopen

CIP, a Cardiac Isl1-Interacting Protein, Represses Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy

Mammalian heart has minimal regenerative capacity. In response to mechanical or pathological stress, the heart undergoes cardiac remodeling. Pressure and volume overload in the heart cause increased size (hypertrophic growth) of cardiomyocytes. Whereas the regulatory pathways that activate cardiac hypertrophy have been well established, the molecular events that inhibit or repress cardiac hypertrophy are less known

The histone methyltransferase Set7/9 promotes myoblast differentiation and myofibril assembly

Set7 associates with the MyoD transcription factor to enhance expression of genes required for muscle differentiation

Hybrid Improper Ferroelectricity

Utilizing trilinear coupling of two types of octahedron rotations, hybrid improper ferroelectricity has been theoretically predicted in double layered compounds such as (Ca,Sr,Ba)3(Mn,Ti,Sn,Zr,Ge)2O7. On the other hand, there exists little theoretical prediction on practical properties of the potentially-ferroelectric compounds such as ferroelectric transition temperature, switchability of polarization, and chemical phase stability. We have attempted to fabricate single crystals of some of these compounds, and examined the physical properties of the crystals with the aim of discovering new bulk ferroelectrics with switchable polarization at room temperature. We will report the results of our comprehensive experimental investigation

Prediction of hip joint function and analysis of risk factors for internal fixation failure after Femoral Neck System (FNS)

Abstract Objective Analysis of the risk factors affecting hip function and complications after femoral neck system (FNS) surgery for femoral neck fractures is of great significance for improving the procedure’s efficacy. Methods The data of patients with femoral neck fractures who underwent FNS surgery in our hospital between October 2019 and October 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Age, gender, time from injury to operation, fracture classification, operation time, fracture reduction, and postoperative weight-bearing time information were set as potential factors that may affect the results. Hip Harris scores were performed at 12 months postoperatively, and postoperative complication data (e.g., femoral head necrosis, nonunion, and femoral neck shortness) were collected. The risk factors affecting hip function and complications after FNS surgery were predicted using linear and logistic regression analyses. Results A total of 69 cases of femoral neck fracture were included, with an average age of 56.09 ± 11.50 years. The linear analysis demonstrated that the age and fracture type of the patients were the risk factors affecting the Harris score of the hip joint after FNS surgery. Older patients with displaced femoral neck fractures had an inferior postoperative hip function. In addition, fracture type, reduction of the femoral neck, and postoperative weight-bearing significantly impacted postoperative complications. Displaced fractures, negative fixation, and premature weight-bearing (< 6 weeks) were risk factors for postoperative complications. The Harris score of patients with a shortened femoral neck in the included cases was not significantly different from that of patients without shortening (P = 0.25). Conclusions Advanced age and fracture type are important evaluation indicators of the Harris score after FNS internal fixation of femoral neck fractures in young patients. Fracture type, fracture reduction, and postoperative weight-bearing time are risk factors for complications after FNS

CIP, a Cardiac Isl1-Interacting Protein, Represses Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy

RATIONALE: Mammalian heart has minimal regenerative capacity. In response to mechanical or pathological stress, the heart undergoes cardiac remodeling. Pressure and volume overload in the heart cause increased size (hypertrophic growth) of cardiomyocytes. Whereas the regulatory pathways that activate cardiac hypertrophy have been well established, the molecular events that inhibit or repress cardiac hypertrophy are less known. OBJECTIVE: To identify and investigate novel regulators that modulate cardiac hypertrophy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here, we report the identification, characterization and functional examination of CIP, a novel cardiac Isl1-interacting protein. CIP was identified from a bioinformatic search for novel cardiac-expressed genes in mouse embryonic hearts. CIP encodes a nuclear protein without recognizable motifs. Northern blotting, in situ hybridization and reporter gene tracing demonstrated that CIP is highly expressed in cardiomyocytes of developing and adult hearts. Yeast-two-hybrid screening identified Isl1, a LIM/homeodomain transcription factor essential for the specification of cardiac progenitor cells in the second heart field, as a co-factor of CIP. CIP directly interacted with Isl1 and we mapped the domains of these two proteins which mediate their interaction. We show that CIP represses the transcriptional activity of Isl1 in the activation of the MEF2C enhancer. The expression of CIP was dramatically reduced in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes. Most importantly, overexpression of CIP repressed agonist-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies therefore identify CIP a novel regulator of cardiac hypertrophy