Hysteretic spin-density-wave ordering in confined geometries

We have measured the antiferromagnetic spin-density-wave (SDW) order in Cr/Cr(97.5)Mn2.5(001) superlattices. The Mn doping creates a high Néel temperature layer that confines the incommensurate SDW order within the Cr layers. With temperature cycling we observe a transition from commensurate to incommensurate SDW order and discrete changes in the SDW period. We find that these transitions show significant hysteresis (up to 75 K) when the number of SDW nodes within the Cr layer changes by an odd number, while there is no hysteresis for changes of an even number of nodes. This results from the competition between maintaining the spin structure at the interfaces and introducing a spin slip at the nodes of the Cr SDW.     

Phenolic compounds,essential oil composition,and antioxidant activity of Angelica purpurascens (Avé-Lall.) Gill

In this study, methanol extracts (MEs) and essential oil (EO) of Angelica purpurascens (Avé-Lall.) Gill obtained from different parts (root, stem, leaf, and seed) were evaluated in terms of antioxidant activity, total phenolics, compositions of phenolic compound, and essential oil with the methods of 2,2-azino-bis(3ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•⁺), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH•) radical scavenging activities, and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), the Folin–Ciocalteu, liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (LC−MS/MS), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC−MS), respectively. The root extract of A. purpurascens exhibited the highest ABTS•⁺, DPPH•, and FRAP activities (IC₅₀: 0.05 ± 0.0001 mg/mL, IC₅₀: 0.06 ± 0.002 mg/mL, 821.04 ± 15.96 µM TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity), respectively). Moreover, EO of A. purpurascens root displayed DPPH• scavenging activity (IC₅₀: 2.95 ± 0.084 mg/mL). The root extract had the highest total phenolic content (438.75 ± 16.39 GAE (gallic acid equivalent), µg/mL)). Twenty compounds were identified by LC−MS/MS. The most abundant phenolics were ferulic acid (244.39 ± 15.64 μg/g extract), benzoic acid (138.18 ± 8.84 μg/g extract), oleuropein (78.04 ± 4.99 μg/g extract), and rutin (31.21 ± 2.00 μg/g extract) in seed, stem, root, and leaf extracts, respectively. According to the GC−MS analysis, the major components were determined as α-bisabolol (22.93%), cubebol (14.39%), α-pinene (11.63%), and α-limonene (9.41%) among 29 compounds. Consequently, the MEs and EO of A. purpurascens can be used as a natural antioxidant source.     

The impact of the natural sciences on archaeology

This article reviews some of the applications of physics to the solution of archaeological problems. The use of magnetic, resistivity and electromagnetic surveying techniques for the location of buried features is described. Various methods of age determination are outlined while the problems associated with radiocarbon dating of organic material and thermoluminescent dating of pottery are discussed in detail. The techniques, including petrological examination, chemical analysis and isotopic analysis, employed in the physical examination of archaeological artefacts are described. Examples of the application of these techniques in establishing the source of the raw materials used in pottery, metal and stone implements and in elucidating the techniques of manufacture of pottery and metal objects are also given.     

Rock hyraces: a cause of San rock art deterioration?

San rock art sites are found throughout southern Africa, many showing signs of deterioration. In order to conserve this invaluable heritage, a long‐term multidisciplinary project has been launched to monitor the rate of their deterioration and determine the various chemical processes that are possibly contributing to the decay. This study was initiated to establish if Raman spectroscopy could contribute to this project and since rock hyrax colonies live in close proximity to many of these archaeological sites, the possible influence of their metabolic products on the deterioration process was investigated. The precipitates from the urine of rock hyraces were analysed with Raman and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Where the urine was in contact with the faeces, the precipitates are a mixture of vaterite (a rare polymorph of CaCO₃) and the hydrated salt calcium monohydrocalcite (also rarely found in nature). On areas where this contact is at a minimum the common and stable polymorph of CaCO₃, calcite, is the main component. SEM micrographs and XRD analysis support the Raman and FTIR results. XRD, FTIR and preliminary GC‐MS analyses of hyraceum, the fossilised mixture of faeces and urine, identified an inorganic phase (potassium chloride, with small concentrations of other salts, e.g. vaterite and weddelite) and an organic phase, which is a cocktail of various aromatic compounds, mainly amides, alcohols and acids. These compounds could contribute to the crystallisation of these rare carbonates, as well as other uncommon salts detected on the cave walls, such as syngenite. The presence of phosphates in the urine may further act as a stabilizing agent. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of growth morphology on the Néel temperature of CrRu thin films and heterostructures

Dimensionality effects on epitaxial and polycrystalline Cr_1?xRu_x alloy thin films and in Cr/Cr–Ru heterostructures are reported. X-ray analysis on Cr_0.9965Ru_0.0035 epitaxial films indicates an increase in the coherence length in growth directions (1 0 0) and (1 1 0) with increasing thickness (d), in the range 20≤d≤300 nm. Atomic force microscopy studies on these films shows pronounced vertical growth for d>50 nm, resulting in the formation of columnar structures. The Néel temperatures (T_N) of the Cr_0.9965Ru_0.0035 films show anomalous behaviour as a function of d at thickness d≈50 nm. It is interesting to note that this thickness corresponds to that for which a change in film morphology occurs. Experiments on epitaxial Cr_1?xRu_x thin films, with 0≤x≤0.013 and d=50 nm, give T_N–x curves that correspond well with that of bulk Cr_1?xRu_x alloys. Studies on Cr/Cr_0.9965Ru_0.0035 superlattices prepared on MgO(1 0 0), with the Cr layer thickness varied between 10 and 50 nm, keeping the Cr_0.9965Ru_0.0035 thickness constant at 10 nm, indicate a sharp decrease in T_N as the Cr separation layers reaches a thickness of 30 nm; ascribed to spin density wave pinning in the Cr layers for d<30 nm by the adjacent CrRu layers.     

Transition Metal Ion-binding Properties of a 14-Membered N2O2S2- Macrobicyclic Ligand

The selective liquid–liquid extraction of various transition metal cations from the aqueous phase to the organic phase was carried out using a 14-membered N₂O₂S₂-macrobicycle. Metal picrates such as Pb²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺,Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ were used in this extraction studies. It was found that the ligand showed moderate selectivity towards Pb²⁺ only among the other metals. The extraction constant (log K _ex) was determined to be 13.8 for Pb²⁺ complex.     

Electrical transport and specific heat of a Cr+2.2 at% Al single crystal

Electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power and specific heat measurements are reported for a Cr+2.2 at% Al alloy single crystal, having an Al content close to the triple point on the magnetic phase diagram of the Cr–Al alloy system. A weak resistivity component of spin-density-wave origin, not previously observed in alloys near the triple point concentration, is isolated at low temperatures. Its presence is confirmed by the thermoelectric measurements. The specific heat measurements suggest a maximum in the density of states at the Fermi energy for alloy concentrations close to the triple point, a point that appears to be a particular type of critical point for the Cr–Al alloy system.     

Efficient delivery of Cre-recombinase to neurons in vivo and stable transduction of neurons using adeno-associated and lentiviral vectors

Background

As development proceeds the human embryo attains an ever more complex three dimensional (3D) structure. Analyzing the gene expression patterns that underlie these changes and interpreting their significance depends on identifying the anatomical structures to which they map and following these patterns in developing 3D structures over time. The difficulty of this task greatly increases as more gene expression patterns are added, particularly in organs with complex 3D structures such as the brain. Optical Projection Tomography (OPT) is a new technology which has been developed for rapidly generating digital 3D models of intact specimens. We have assessed the resolution of unstained neuronal structures within a Carnegie Stage (CS)17 OPT model and tested its use as a framework onto which anatomical structures can be defined and gene expression data mapped.

Results

Resolution of the OPT models was assessed by comparison of digital sections with physical sections stained, either with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) or by immunocytochemistry for GAP43 or PAX6, to identify specific anatomical features. Despite the 3D models being of unstained tissue, peripheral nervous system structures from the trigeminal ganglion (~300 μm by ~150 μm) to the rootlets of cranial nerve XII (~20 μm in diameter) were clearly identifiable, as were structures in the developing neural tube such as the zona limitans intrathalamica (core is ~30 μm thick). Fourteen anatomical domains have been identified and visualised within the CS17 model. Two 3D gene expression domains, known to be defined by Pax6 expression in the mouse, were clearly visible when PAX6 data from 2D sections were mapped to the CS17 model. The feasibility of applying the OPT technology to all stages from CS12 to CS23, which encompasses the major period of organogenesis for the human developing central nervous system, was successfully demonstrated.

Conclusion

In the CS17 model considerable detail is visible within the developing nervous system at a minimum resolution of ~20 μm and 3D anatomical and gene expression domains can be defined and visualised successfully. The OPT models and accompanying technologies for manipulating them provide a powerful approach to visualising and analysing gene expression and morphology during early human brain development.