Dynamic paramagnon-polarons in altermagnets

The combined rotational and time-reversal symmetry breakings that define an altermagnet lead to an unusual d-wave (or g-wave) magnetization order parameter, which in turn can be modeled in terms of multipolar magnetic moments. Here, we show that such an altermagnetic order parameter couples to the dynamics of the lattice even in the absence of an external magnetic field. This coupling is analogous to the non-dissipative Hall viscosity and describes the stress generated by a time-varying strain under broken time-reversal symmetry. We demonstrate that this effect generates a hybridized paramagnon-polaron mode, which allows one to assess altermagnetic excitations directly from the phonon spectrum. Using a scaling analysis, we also demonstrate that the dynamic strain coupling strongly affects the altermagnetic phase boundary, but in different ways in the thermal and quantum regimes. In the ground state, we find that a hardening of the altermagnon mode leads to an extended altermagnetic ordered regime, whereas for non-zero temperatures, the softening of the phonon modes leads to increased fluctuations that lower the altermagnetic transition temperature. We also discuss the application of these results to standard ferromagnetic systems.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure

Adoptive transfer of cytomegalovirus-specific CTL to stem cell transplant patients after selection by HLA–peptide tetramers

Stem cell transplantation is used widely in the management of a range of diseases of the hemopoietic system. Patients are immunosuppressed profoundly in the early posttransplant period, and reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Adoptive transfer of donor-derived CMV-specific CD8(+) T cell clones has been shown to reduce the rate of viral reactivation; however, the complexity of this approach severely limits its clinical application. We have purified CMV-specific CD8(+) T cells from the blood of stem cell transplant donors using staining with HLA-peptide tetramers followed by selection with magnetic beads. CMV-specific CD8(+) cells were infused directly into nine patients within 4 h of selection. Median cell dosage was 8.6 x 10(3)/kg with a purity of 98% of all T cells. CMV-specific CD8(+) T cells became detectable in all patients within 10 d of infusion, and TCR clonotype analysis showed persistence of infused cells in two patients studied. CMV viremia was reduced in every case and eight patients cleared the infection, including one patient who had a prolonged history of CMV infection that was refractory to antiviral therapy. This novel approach to adoptive transfer has considerable potential for antigen-specific T cell therapy

One week of magnesium supplementation lowers IL-6, muscle soreness and increases post-exercise blood glucose in response to downhill running

Purpose: Magnesium supplementation modulates glucose metabolism and inflammation, which could influence exercise performance and recovery. This study investigated magnesium intake on physiological responses and performance during eccentric exercise and recovery. Methods: Nine male recreational runners completed a counterbalanced, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, registered at ClinicalTrial.gov. Participants consumed low magnesium diets and were supplemented with 500 mg/day of magnesium (SUP) or placebo (CON) for 7-days prior to a 10 km downhill (-10%) running time-trial (TT), separated by a 2-week washout period. At baseline and 24 hrs post TT maximal muscle force was measured. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R) and creatine kinase (CK) were measured at rest, 0 hr, 1 hr and 24 hrs post TT. Muscle soreness was measured at the previous times plus 48 hrs and 72 hrs post. Glucose and lactate were measured during the TT. Results: Main effect of condition were detected for IL-6 (SUP: 1.36 ± 0.66 vs CON: 2.06 ± 1.14 pg/ml) (P < 0.05, η2 = 0.54), sIL-6R (SUP: 27615 ± 8446 vs CON: 24368 ± 7806 pg/ml) (P < 0.05, η2 = 0.41) and muscle soreness (P < 0.01, η2 = 0.67). Recovery of blood glucose and muscle soreness were enhanced in SUP post TT. There were no differences in glucose and lactate during the TT, or post measures of CK and maximal muscle force. Conclusion: Magnesium supplementation reduced the IL-6 response, enhanced recovery of blood glucose, and muscle soreness after strenuous exercise, but did not improve performance or functional measures of recovery

The Ursinus Weekly, November 16, 1906

Football • Personals • Society notes • Meeting of the Directors of Ursinus College • Alumni notes • School of Theology • Ursinus Union • Literary Supplement: The garden of the Lord; Wanted: An instructor; Socialism; Our poet traveler; The little red school house on the hill; Just a modest Irish maid • Exchangeshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2921/thumbnail.jp