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The charge order in multiferroic LuFe204 has been investigated with resonant x-ray diffraction at the Fe Κ edge in the combined charge ordered and magnetic phase. The energy dependence of the charge order reflection (⅓⅓&frac72;) has been analyzed in detail to investigate the charge disproportionation between the iron sites as a function of temperature. It is found that the charge disproportionation is constant within 0.02e across the Néel temperature TN. The charge order reflection exhibits a decrease in intensity with increasing temperature which is attributed to an increase in the probability of electron hopping. We confirm the increase in polarization at TN is not of static origin but rather dynamic. Our observations are consistent with antiferromagnetically aligned magnetic moments inhibiting the double exchange mechanism and reducing the p robability of electrons hopping between Fe"*" and Fe3+ in the magnetic phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutron diffraction measurements on multiferroic LuFe2O4 show changes in the antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure characterized by wave vector q = (1/3 1/3 1/2) as a function of electric field cooling procedures. The increase of intensity from all magnetic domains and the decrease in the two-dimensional (2D) magnetic order observed below the Néel temperature are indicative of increased ferroelectric charge order (CO). The AFM order changes the dynamics of the CO state, and stabilizes it. It is determined that the increase in electric polarization observed at the magnetic ordering temperature is due to a transition from paramagnetic 2D charge order to AFM three-dimensional charge order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the results of a study which was performed to examine the mercury sensitivity of wild-type and aquaporin-2 (AQP2) C181S proteins in oocytes. Efforts to discriminate between water transport of AQP2 mutants in nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and that of an AQP2 molecule used to drag them to the oolemma.

To discriminate between water transport of of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) mutants in nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and that of an AQP2 molecule used to drag them to the oolemma, we investigated the mercury sensitivity of wild-type and AQP2 C181S proteins in oocytes. Incubation with HgCl2 inhibited the osmotic water permeability (Pf) of human (h) AQP2 by 40%, whereas inhibition of hAQP1 was 75%. Oocytes expressing hAQP1 C189S revealed a Pf comparable to wild-type hAQP1, but mercury sensitivity was lost. In contrast, no increase in Pf was obtained when hAQP2 C181S was expressed. Also, expression of rat AQP2 C181A and C181S mutants did not increase the Pf, which contrasts with published observations. Immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting revealed that only AQP1, AQP1 C189S, and AQP2 were targeted to the plasma membrane and that AQP2 mutant proteins are retarded in the endoplasmic reticulum. In conclusion, water transport through AQP2 is less sensitive to mercury inhibition than through AQP1. Furthermore, substitution of the mercury-sensitive cysteine for a serine results in an impaired routing of human and rat AQP2. Similar mutations have no effect on AQP1 function, which is indicative of structural differences between AQP1 and AQP2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the importance of the mercury sensitivity of cysteine on the function and routing of wild-type and aquaporin-2 (AQP2) C181S proteins in oocytes. Comparison of mercury sensitivity between AQP1 and AQP2; Introduction of a C181S mutation into wt-human AQP2; Influence of mutations on AQP1 and AQP2.

Aims: Recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein (rFIX‐Fc) is an extended half‐life factor concentrate administered to haemophilia B patients. So far, a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model has only been published for patients aged ≥12 years. The aim was to externally evaluate the predictive performance of the published rFIX‐Fc population PK model for patients of all ages and develop a model that describes rFIX‐Fc PK using real‐world data. Methods: We collected prospective and retrospective data from patients with haemophilia B treated with rFIX‐Fc and included in the OPTI‐CLOT TARGET study (NTR7523) or United Kindom (UK)‐EHL Outcomes Registry (NCT02938156). Predictive performance was assessed by comparing predicted with observed FIX activity levels. A new population PK model was constructed using nonlinear mixed‐effects modelling. Results: Real‐world data were obtained from 37 patients (median age: 16 years, range 2–71) of whom 14 were aged <12 years. Observed FIX activity levels were significantly higher than levels predicted using the published model, with a median prediction error of −48.8%. The new model showed a lower median prediction error (3.4%) and better described rFIX‐Fc PK, especially for children aged <12 years. In the new model, an increase in age was correlated with a decrease in clearance (P <.01). Conclusions: The published population PK model significantly underpredicted FIX activity levels. The new model better describes rFIX‐Fc PK, especially for children aged <12 years. This study underlines the necessity to strive for representative population PK models, thereby avoiding extrapolation outside the studied population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the challenge of using the interdependence of multiple properties in modern devices with one property being controlled by tweaking another, discussing another way that ferromagnetism can be induced in bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3), one of the most studied multiferroics. The means is through substrate-induced strain. Strain is cited to provide useful control of the orientation of magnetic moments in the multiferroics.

Optimal development of fertilized eggs into preimplantation embryos is essential for reproduction. Although mammalian oocytes ovulated after luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulation can be fertilized and promoted into early embryos in vitro, little is known about ovarian factors important for the conditioning of eggs for early embryo development. Because LH interacts only with ovarian somatic cells, its potential regulation of oocyte functions is presumably mediated by local paracrine factors. We performed DNA microarray analyses of ovarian transcripts and identified brain- derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) secreted by granulosa and cumulus cells as an ovarian factor stimulated by the preovulatory LH surge. Ovarian BDNF acts on TrkB receptors expressed exclusively in oocytes to enhance first polar body extrusion of oocytes and to promote the in vitro development of zygotes into preimplantation embryos. Furthermore, in vivo treatment with a Trk receptor inhibitor suppressed first polar body extrusion and the progression of zygotes into blastocysts. Thus, ovarian BDNF is important to nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of the oocyte, which is essential for successful oocyte development into preimplantation embryos. Treatment with BDNF could condition the cultured oocytes for optimal progression into the totipotent blastocysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the pharmacokinetics of etonogestrel and ethinylestradiol released from a novel combined contraceptive vaginal ring (NuvaRing) releasing etonogestrel 120microg and ethinylestradiol 15 microg per day and compare them with those of a combined oral contraceptive containing desogestrel 150 microg/ethinylestradiol 30 microg (DSG/EE COC).Design and Setting: This was a nonblind, randomised, crossover study in 16 healthy women.Methods: All volunteers received one cycle of DSG/EE COC before being randomised to 1 of 2 treatment groups. The participants in group 1 received 1 cycle of DSG/EE COC, a treatment period with NuvaRing and an intravenous bolus injection of etonogestrel/ethinylestradiol (150 microg/30 microg). Those in group 2 received a NuvaRing treatment period, 1 cycle of DSG/EE COC and the same intravenous bolus injection.Results and Conclusions: After the insertion of NuvaRing, maximum serum concentrations of etonogestrel and ethinylestradiol were achieved in approximately 1 week. The concentrations subsequently showed a gradual linear decrease in time. The maximum serum concentrations of etonogestrel and ethinylestradiol were approximately 40 and 30%, respectively, of those for the DSG/EE COC. In comparison with the DSG/EE COC, the absolute bioavailability for NuvaRing was higher for etonogestrel (102.9 vs 79.2%) and similar for ethinylestradiol (55.6 vs 53.8%). Taking the difference in daily doses into account, systemic exposure to etonogestrel was similar for NuvaRing and the DSG/EE COC, whereas systemic exposure to ethinylestradiol with NuvaRing was only approximately 50% of that for the DSG/EE COC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using high-resolution neutron diffraction measurements for Mn-rich hexagonal Mn-Fe-P-Si compounds, we show that the substitution of Mn for Fe on the 3f sites results in a linear decrease of the Fe/Mn(3f) magnetic moments, while the Mn(3g) magnetic moments remain constant. With increasing temperature, the Mn(3g) magnetic moments show almost no change, while the Fe/Mn(3f) moments decrease quickly when the transition temperature is approached. The reduction of the magnetic moments at the transition temperature and in the high-temperature range is discussed based on changes in interatomic distances and lattice parameters and high-temperature magnetic-susceptibility measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specular and off-specular polarized neutron reflectometry of strong biquadratic coupling in a Cuo.94Mno.06/Co multilayer is presented. Detailed analysis of the reflectivity via the distorted-wave Born approximation reveals a formation of on average (±30°) canted lateral magnetic domains. Domains with mean width of 0.43 p,m extend throughout the multilayer structure and magnetization alternates in the sign of the canting with subsequent layers. Temperature and field dependence of the magnetic structure are evaluated and included in the magnetic model, which is used to deduce bilinear and biquadratic interlayer exchange coupling energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed investigation of magnetic impurity-mediated interlayer exchange coupling observed in Cu0.94Mn0.06/Co multilayers using polarized neutron reflectometry and magnetic x-ray techniques is reported. Excellent descriptions of temperature and magnetic field dependent biquadratic coupling are obtained using a variant of the loose spin model that takes into account the distribution of the impurity Mn ions in three dimensions. Positional disorder of the magnetic impurities is shown to enhance biquadratic coupling via a new contribution J2fluct, leading to a temperature dependent canting of magnetic domains in the multilayer. These results provide measurable effects on RKKY coupling associated with the distribution of impurities within planes parallel to the interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substitution of more than 33% of the naturally abundant 16O in strontium titanate SrTiO3 by 18O causes the system to become ferroelectric at low temperatures. The ferroelectricity has been observed via susceptibility measurements, but to date the details of the ferroelectric phase and the phase transition are unclear. Using ab initio density functional theory and lattice-dynamics calculations, we find that the stable structure of the ferroelectric phase is orthorhombic with Ima2 symmetry. The Ima2 point group is noncentrosymmetric and the proposed structure exhibits an electric dipole moment of (0.57 0 0) eÅ. The Ima2 symmetry is consistent with the limited structural details that are reported using neutron diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]