Magnon topology and thermal Hall effect in trimerized triangular lattice antiferromagnet

The non-trivial magnon band topology and its consequent responses have been extensively studied in two-dimensional magnetisms. However, the triangular lattice antiferromagnet (TLAF), the best-known frustrated two-dimensional magnet, has received less attention than the closely related Kagome system, because of the spin-chirality cancellation in the umbrella ground state of the undistorted TLAF. In this work, we study the band topology and the thermal Hall effect (THE) of the TLAF with (anti-)trimerization distortion under the external perpendicular magnetic field using the linearized spin wave theory. We show that the spin-chirality cancellation is removed in such case, giving rise to the non-trivial magnon band topology and the finite THE. Moreover, the magnon bands exhibit band topology transitions tuned by the magnetic field. We demonstrate that such transitions are accompanied by the logarithmic divergence of the first derivative of the thermal Hall conductivity. Finally, we examine the above consequences by calculating the THE in the hexagonal manganite YMnO$_3$, well known to have anti-trimerization.Comment: 6 + 7 pages, 3 + 5 figures, 0 + 1 table; Journal reference adde

Fetal Myoepithelial Cells of Submandibular Glands and Modified Myoepithelial Cells in Pleomorphic Adenoma : Immunohistochemistry and Ultrastructure

To elucidate the divergent expression of tissue markers for myoepithelial cells (MECs) of submandibular glands. fetal submandibular glands (n 1(0). adult submandibular glands (n 10) and pleomorphic adenoma (n 20) are examined for cytokeratin 14(CK-14), vimentin, and a-smooth muscle actin(-SMA) by double immunohistochemical methods. In addition fetal submandibular glands (n 20) and pleomorphic adenoma ( n 3) are studied ultrastructurally to correlate with the immunohistochemical findings. The polyhedral MECs found in the early intermediate developmental stage (EIDS, 19-24 \U!eks) of fetal submandibular gland showed strong CK-14 positivity, \U!ak a-SMA positivity. and occasional vimentin positivity. These polyhedral MECs matured into \U!dge shaped, spindle or dendritic MECs. A large number of dendritic MECs seen in the late developmental stage (LOS, 33·40 weeks) showed a mild CK-14 positivity, strong a -SMApositivity, and negative vimentin. The CK-14 was also expressed strongly for some basal cells of the excretory ducts and rarely of striated ducts. while these ductal basal cells were negative for a -SMAand vimentin. Electron microscopic examination of fetal submandibular glands disclosed abundant intermediate filaments in the polyhedral MECs during the Ems, The intermediate filaments gradually decreased in amount as MECs matured into dendritic MECs in the LOS, and the dendritic MECs became filled with myofibrils. In pleomorphic adenomas the plasmacytoid or modified MECs usually seen in periductal portions showed coexpression of CK-14 a -SMAand vimentin a -SMAin double imrnunostaining

Using Nutrition for Intervention and Prevention against Environmental Chemical Toxicity and Associated Diseases

BACKGROUND: Nutrition and lifestyle are well-defined modulators of chronic diseases. Poor dietary habits (such as high intake of processed foods rich in fat and low intake of fruits and vegetables), as well as a sedentary lifestyle clearly contribute to today’s compromised quality of life in the United States. It is becoming increasingly clear that nutrition can modulate the toxicity of environmental pollutants. OBJECTIVES: Our goal in this commentary is to discuss the recommendation that nutrition should be considered a necessary variable in the study of human disease associated with exposure to environmental pollutants. DISCUSSION: Certain diets can contribute to compromised health by being a source of exposure to environmental toxic pollutants. Many of these pollutants are fat soluble, and thus fatty foods often contain higher levels of persistent organics than does vegetable matter. Nutrition can dictate the lipid milieu, oxidative stress, and antioxidant status within cells. The modulation of these parameters by an individual’s nutritional status may have profound affects on biological processes, and in turn influence the effects of environmental pollutants to cause disease or dysfunction. For example, potential adverse health effects associated with exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls may increase as a result of ingestion of certain dietary fats, whereas ingestion of fruits and vegetables, rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients or bioactive compounds, may provide protection. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that future directions in environmental health research explore this nutritional paradigm that incorporates a consideration of the relationships between nutrition and lifestyle, exposure to environmental toxicants, and disease. Nutritional interventions may provide the most sensible means to develop primary prevention strategies of diseases associated with many environmental toxic insults

A standardized extract of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour. exerts a protective effect on benzalkonium chloride-induced mouse dry eye model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE In contrast to other leguminous plants generally used as food, Rhynchosia volubilis Loureiro, a small soybean with a black seed coat, has been used as a traditional oriental remedy for various human diseases in Eastern Asia. In this study, we demonstrated the protective effect of R. volubilis against dry eye disease. AIM OF THE STUDY We aimed to investigate whether a standardized ethanol extract of R. volubilis (EERV) can protect the cornea in a benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced mouse dry eye model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experimental dry eye was induced by the instillation of 0.2% BAC on mouse cornea. A standardized ethanol extract of R. volubilis (EERV) was orally administered following BAC treatment. The positive control group was treated with commercial eye drops. Fluorescein staining, tear break-up time (BUT), and hematoxylin and eosin staining were evaluated on the ocular surface. Squamous metaplasia and apoptosis in the corneal epithelial layer were detected by immunostaining. Furthermore, the protein expression of cytochrome c, Bcl-2, and Bax was determined. RESULTS EERV treatment significantly improved fluorescein scoring, BUT, and smoothness in the cornea compared to the vehicle group. In addition, EERV inhibited squamous metaplasia and apoptosis in the cornea. The expression of cytochrome c and Bax was upregulated, while that of Bcl-2 was downregulated in the vehicle group compared with that in the control group. However, EERV treatment inhibited the expression of cytochrome c and Bax, while that of Bcl-2 was improved. CONCLUSION Standardized EERV could be a beneficial candidate for the treatment of dry eye disease

Enhanced Solubility of the Support in an FDM-Based 3D Printed Structure Using Hydrogen Peroxide under Ultrasonication

Fused deposition modeling (FDM), one of the archetypal 3D printing processes, typically requires support structures matched to printed model parts that principally have undercut or overhung features. Thus, the support removal is an essential postprocessing step after the FDM process. Here, we present an efficient and rapid method to remove the support part of an FDM-manufactured product using the phenomenon of oxidative degradation of hydrogen peroxide. This mechanism was significantly effective on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which has been widely used as a support material in the FDM process. Compared to water, hydrogen peroxide provided a two times faster dissolution rate of the PVA material. This could be increased another two times by applying ultrasonication to the solvent. In addition to the rapidness, we confirmed that amount of the support residues removed was enhanced, which was essentially caused by the surface roughness of the FDM-fabricated part. Furthermore, we demonstrated that there was no deterioration with respect to the mechanical properties or shape geometries of the obtained 3D printed parts. Taken together, these results are expected to help enhance the productivity of FDM by reducing the postprocessing time and to allow the removal of complicated and fine support structures, thereby improving the design capability of the FDM technique