Possibility of two-dimensional ordering of cryptochrome 4a from European robin.

Cryptochrome (Cry) in some species could act as a quantum senser to detect the inclination angle of geomagnetic field, the function of which attributes the magnetic sensitivity of spins of unpaired electrons in radical pair (RP) in CRY generated by blue light irradiation. However, the effect of blue light on the structure and molecular behavior of Cry has not been well investigated. We conducted the size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analyses to inspect the molecular structure and behavior of cryptochrome 4a (ErCry4a) from European robin, a representative magnetosensory animal. The results indicated that ErCry4a could form flat-shape oligomers. Moreover, blue light irradiation induced the contraction of the ErCry4a molecule at the monomer scale and simultaneously accelerated the two-dimensional oligomerization of ErCry4a. This oligomerization may enhance the regularity of the two-dimensional arrangement of ErCry4a molecules, providing a positive effect for detecting the inclination angle.

Observation of the Superstructure in Fe5-xGeTe2 by X-ray Fluorescence Holography.

Fe5-xGeTe2 is a two-dimensional van der Waals material that exhibits ferromagnetic order with a high Curie temperature (TC) of around room temperature. In addition to TC, two magnetic transitions occur with decreasing temperature, and a charge-ordered state is observed at low temperatures. We employed Ge Kα X-ray fluorescence holography (XFH) for Fe5-xGeTe2 to directly investigate the local structure in the charge-ordered state, i.e., the 3×3 superstructure. The Ge Kα XFH results revealed local atomic structures around the Ge atom, thus clarifying the simultaneous locations and arrangements of the Te, Fe, and Ge atoms. The atomic positions relative to the Ge atom are useful for understanding the coexistence of the ideal 1 × 1 structure and 3×3 superstructure found in the charge-ordered state.

A prediction method for the individual serum concentration and therapeutic effect for optimizing adalimumab therapy in inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVES: Adalimumab (ADM) therapy is effective for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but a significant number of IBD patients lose response to ADM. Thus, it is crucial to devise methods to enhance ADM's effectiveness. This study introduces a strategy to predict individual serum concentrations and therapeutic effects to optimize ADM therapy for IBD during the induction phase. METHODS: We predicted the individual serum concentration and therapeutic effect of ADM during the induction phase based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) parameters calculated using the empirical Bayesian method. We then examined whether the predicted therapeutic effect, defined as clinical remission or treatment failure, matched the observed effect. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 11 IBD patients. The therapeutic effect during maintenance therapy was successfully predicted at 40 of 47 time points. Moreover, the predicted effects at each patient's final time point matched the observed effects in 9 of the 11 patients. CONCLUSION: This is the inaugural report predicting the individual serum concentration and therapeutic effect of ADM using the Bayesian method and PK/PD modelling during the induction phase. This strategy may aid in optimizing ADM therapy for IBD.

Intermediate multidomain state in single-crystalline Mn-doped BiFeO3 thin films during ferroelectric polarization switching.

A intermediate multidomain state and large crystallographic tilting of 1.78° for the (hh0)pc planes of a (001)pc-oriented single-domain Mn-doped BiFeO3 (BFMO) thin film were found when an electric field was applied along the [110]pc direction. The anomalous crystallographic tilting was caused by ferroelastic domain switching of the 109° domain switching. In addition, ferroelastic domain switching occurred via an intermediate multidomain state. To investigate these switching dynamics under an electric field, we used in situ fluorescent X-ray induced Kossel line pattern measurements with synchrotron radiation. In addition, in situ inverse X-ray fluorescence holography (XFH) experiments revealed that atomic displacement occurred under an applied electric field. We attributed the atomic displacement to crystallographic tilting induced by a converse piezoelectric effect. Our findings provide important insights for the design of piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials and devices.

Superstructure of Fe5-xGeTe2 Determined by Te K-Edge Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure and Te Kα X-ray Fluorescence Holography.

The local structure of the two-dimensional van der Waals material, Fe5-xGeTe2, which exhibits unique structural/magnetic phase transitions, was investigated by Te K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and Te Kα X-ray fluorescence holography (XFH) over a wide temperature range. The formation of a trimer of Te atoms at low temperatures has been fully explored using these methods. An increase in the Te-Fe distance at approximately 150 K was suggested by EXAFS and presumably indicates the formation of a Te trimer. Moreover, XFH displayed clear atomic images of Te atoms. Additionally, the distance between the Te atoms shortened, as confirmed from the atomic images reconstructed from XFH, indicating the formation of a trimer of Te atoms, i.e., a charge-ordered superstructure. Furthermore, Te Kα XFH provided unambiguous atomic images of Fe atoms occupying the Fe1 site; the images were not clearly observed in the Ge Kα XFH that was previously reported because of the low occupancy of Fe and Ge atoms. In this study, EXAFS and XFH clearly showed the local structure around the Te atom; in particular, the formation of Te trimers caused by charge-ordered phase transitions was clearly confirmed. The charge-ordered phase transition is fully discussed based on the structural variation at low temperatures, as established from EXAFS and XFH.