Nematicity and Charge Order in Superoxygenated La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4+y}.

In this Letter, we report a resonant x-ray scattering measurement of stripelike charge order in the 1/8th doped component of electronically phase-separated, orthorhombic La_{2}CuO_{4+y}. This observation is coupled to the absence of any resonant (001) peak, which at different resonant energies has been identified with the presence of low-temperature-tetragonal-like structural tilt patterns or nematicity in the CuO planes. Thus, we provide evidence that structural pinning is not necessary for the formation of static charge stripes and that the relationship between charge nematicity and stripes may not be simple.

Magnetic properties and cytocompatibility of transition-metal-incorporated hydroxyapatite.

A detailed magnetization study, along with an assessment of the cellular proliferation, has been carried out on transition-metal-doped hydroxyapatite (HA), CaM(PO)(OH), where M = Mn, Co, and Fe. In particular, a series of MnHA powder samples with an x value of 0.04 ≤ x ≤ 1.

Magnetic studies of mesoporous nanostructured iron oxide materials synthesized by one-step soft-templating.

A combined magnetization and (57)Fe spin-echo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study has been carried out on mesoporous nanostructured materials consisting of the magnetite (Fe3O4) and maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) phases. Two series of samples were synthesized using a recently developed one-step soft-templating approach with systematic variations in calcination temperature and reaction atmosphere. Nuclear magnetic resonance has been shown to be a valuable tool for distinguishing between the two magnetic iron oxide spinel phases, Fe3O4 and γ-Fe2O3, on the nanoscale as well as monitoring phase transformation resulting from oxidation.

Generation of a prophylactic melanoma vaccine using whole recombinant yeast expressing MART-1.

Malignant melanoma is a potentially deadly form of skin cancer and people at high-risk of developing melanoma will benefit from effective preventive intervention. Yeast can be used as an efficient vehicle of antigen loading and immunostimulation. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is not pathogenic to humans and can be easily engineered to express specific antigens.

Phase separation in superoxygenated La2-xSrxCuO4+y.

The complex interplay between superconducting and magnetic phases remains poorly understood. Here, we report on the phase separation of doped holes into separate magnetic and superconducting regions in superoxygenated La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4+y), with various Sr contents. Irrespective of Sr-doping, excess oxygen raises the superconducting onset to 40 K with a coexisting magnetic spin-density wave that also orders near 40 K in each of our samples.

A magnetic route to measure the average oxidation state of mixed-valent manganese in manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves (OMS).

A magnetic route has been applied for measurement of the average oxidation state (AOS) of mixed-valent manganese in manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves (OMS). The method gives AOS measurement results in good agreement with titration methods. A maximum analysis deviation error of +/-7% is obtained from 10 sample measurements.

Cell density and contraction regulate p38 MAP kinase-dependent responses in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.

In vitro cardiac myocyte hypertrophy is characterized by increased cell size, sarcomere organization, and induction of several genes including atrial natriuretic factor (ANF). The hypertrophic growth program has been associated with activation of various mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP) kinase family members, one of which is a stress kinase, p38. In this study, we found that the p38-specific inhibitor SB-203580 failed to inhibit phenylephrine-induced ANF-driven gene expression in low-density myocyte cultures but did inhibit gene expression in higher density cultures.

A low-affinity serum response element allows other transcription factors to activate inducible gene expression in cardiac myocytes.

Hypertrophic growth of cardiac muscle cells is induced by a variety of physiological and pathological stimuli and is associated with a number of changes, including activation of genes such as atrial natriuretic factor. We found that two serum response element (SRE)-like DNA elements, one of which does not meet the consensus sequence and binds serum response factor (SRF) with low affinity, regulate the activity of this promoter. Surprisingly, the ability to induce the promoter by two different physiologic stimuli, as well as various activated transcription factors, including SRF-VP16, was primarily dependent upon the nonconsensus rather than the consensus SRE.

Ras and rho are required for galphaq-induced hypertrophic gene expression in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.

The hypertrophic response is characterized by increased myofibril/sarcomere organization, induction of the cardiac specific atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and myosin light chain-2 (MLC-2v) genes, and an increase in total cell volume. The alpha1-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine induces both the morphological and biochemical markers of hypertrophy in cultured neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. Previous studies have suggested a functional requirement for the heterotrimeric G-protein, Galphaq, for a subset of the hypertrophic phenotypes.