Picosecond Spin Current Generation from Vicinal Metal-Antiferromagnetic Insulator Interfaces.

We report the picosecond spin current generation from the interface between a heavy metal and a vicinal antiferromagnet insulator Cr_{2}O_{3} by laser pulses at room temperature and zero magnetic field. It is converted into a detectable terahertz emission in the heavy metal via the inverse spin Hall effect. The vicinal interfaces are apparently the source of the picosecond spin current, as evidenced by the proportional terahertz signals to the vicinal angle. We attribute the origin of the spin current to the transient magnetic moment generated by an interfacial nonlinear magnetic-dipole difference-frequency generation. We propose a model based on the in-plane inversion symmetry breaking to quantitatively explain the terahertz intensity with respect to the angles of the laser polarization and the film azimuth. Our work opens new opportunities in antiferromagnetic and ultrafast spintronics by considering symmetry breaking.

Magnonic Unidirectional Spin Hall Magnetoresistance in a Heavy-Metal-Ferromagnetic-Insulator Bilayer.

We report the observation of the unidirectional spin Hall magnetoresistance (USMR), which depends on the current or magnetization direction, in heavy-metal-ferromagnetic-insulator bilayer, Pt-Y_{3}Fe_{5}O_{12} (YIG). This USMR is apparently not caused by the mechanisms established in metallic bilayer, in which the ferromagnetic layer is required to be electrically conductive. From the magnetic field, current, temperature, and YIG thickness dependent measurements, the USMR is attributed to the asymmetric magnon creation and annihilation induced by the spin-orbit torque. This asymmetry and the resultant USMR are further revealed by the micromagnetic simulations combined with the spin-orbit torque and the spin drift-diffusion model. Our finding exhibits a nonlinear manipulation of magnons with the charge current.

[Analysis of factors affecting live birth outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycle].

Objective: To analyze the related factors affecting the success of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET). Methods: A total of 563 couples treated in the Reproductive Medicine Center of Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2017 to March 2020 were selected as subjects. A total of 736 FET cycles were included to analyze the live birth outcomes of FET. Pregnancy outcomes, pregnancy complications and embryo status of patients between the live birth group and the non-live birth group were compared. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between the 15 candidate factors and live birth outcomes for identifying independent factors associated with the live birth outcomes of the FET. Results: Among the enrolled subjects, the men were (33±5) years old at sperm extraction while the women were (31±4) years old at ovum pick-up (OPU) and (32±4) years old at embryo transfer (ET) and their infertility duration were (3.5±2.6) years. There were 333 (45.2%) live birth cycles and 403 (54.8%) non-live birth cycles in the 736 FET cycles. Pregnancy complications occurred in 49 cases (14.7%) of the live birth group. The age of the women at ET ((31±4) vs (32±4) years), the age of the women at OPU ((30±4) vs (32±4) years) and the age of the men at sperm extraction ((33±4) vs (34±5) years) in the live birth group were all lower than those in the non-live birth group. The infertility duration was shorter ((3.2±2.2) vs (3.6±2.8) years), and the proportion of primary infertility was higher ((63.1%, 210 cases) vs (49.6%, 200 cases)) in the live birth group (P<0.05) than those in the non-live birth group. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the age of woman at ET (OR (95%CI): 0.50 (0.27-0.92), P=0.026), the types of infertility (0.62 (0.43-0.88), P=0.008), the numbers of optimal embryos transferred (1.60(1.11-2.31), P=0.012), and the types of embryos transferred (2.43 (1.46-4.01), P=0.001) were statistically significant related factors for live birth outcome of FET. Conclusion: The age of the woman at ET, the types of infertility, the numbers of optimal embryos transferred and the types of embryos transferred are associated factors for the outcomes of live birth after FET.

Comparative study of 13 candidate genes applying multi-reference normalization to detect the expression of different fineness in skin tissues of wool sheep.

Fiber diameter is a useful indicator of wool traits and it is the main determinant of wool quality and value. A comparative study was conducted to analyze the abundance and expression of 13 candidate genes using expression profile microarray analysis and to identify novel molecular markers associated with wool traits to provide a molecular basis for improving wool quality in sheep. Genes associated with fineness of skin tissue were identified using a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method with 18SrRNA, ß-Actin, and GAPDH used for multi-reference normalization. The results indicated that the expression levels of TXNIP, TFDP1, and FAIM genes in super-fine type wool sheep were higher than those in fine-type wool sheep; the corresponding expression ratios of super-fine to fine wool sheep were 1.45, 1.57, and 2.55, respectively. The expression levels of PIK3CA, ADAM9, and FZD3 genes were lower in super-fine wool sheep compared with fine-type wool sheep; the corresponding expression ratios were 0.61, 0.65, and 0.52, respectively. The other genes tested (RPS6KA, ABCG2, GSTA1, PTPN13, GJB3, PPARD, and LAMB1) were similarly expressed in both types of wool sheep. These results infer that lower expression of PIK3CA, ADAM9, and FZD3 genes was associated with lower fiber diameter, whereas lower expression of TXNIP, TFDP1, and FAIM genes was associated with higher fiber diameter.

Significant contribution of stacking faults to the strain hardening behavior of Cu-15%Al alloy with different grain sizes.

It is commonly accepted that twinning can induce an increase of strain-hardening rate during the tensile process of face-centered cubic (FCC) metals and alloys with low stacking fault energy (SFE). In this study, we explored the grain size effect on the strain-hardening behavior of a Cu-15 at.%Al alloy with low SFE. Instead of twinning, we detected a significant contribution of stacking faults (SFs) irrespective of the grain size even in the initial stage of tensile process. In contrast, twinning was more sensitive to the grain size, and the onset of deformation twins might be postponed to a higher strain with increasing the grain size. In the Cu-15 at.%Al alloy with a mean grain size of 47 µm, there was a stage where the strain-hardening rate increases with strain, and this was mainly induced by the SFs instead of twinning. Thus in parallel with the TWIP effect, we proposed that SFs also contribute significantly to the plasticity of FCC alloys with low SFE.

A store-operated calcium channel inhibitor attenuates collagen-induced arthritis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Store-operated calcium (SOC) channels are thought to play a critical role in immune responses, inflammatory diseases and chronic pain. The aim of this study was to explore the potential role and mechanisms of SOC channels in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The CIA mouse model was used to examine the effects of the SOC channel inhibitor YM-58483 on CIA and arthritic pain. Hargreaves' and von Frey hair tests were conducted to measure thermal and mechanical sensitivities of hind paws. elisa was performed to measure cytokine production, and haematoxylin and eosin staining was used to assess knee histological changes. Western blot analysis was performed to examine protein levels. KEY RESULTS: Pretreatment with 5 or 10 mg · kg(-1) of YM-58483 reduced the incidence of CIA, prevented the development of inflammation and pain hypersensitivity and other signs and features of arthritis disease. Similarly, treatment with YM-58483 after the onset of CIA: (i) reversed the clinical scores; (ii) reduced paw oedema; (iii) attenuated mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity; (iv) improved spontaneous motor activity; (v) decreased periphery production of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α; and (vi) reduced spinal activation of ERK and calmodulin-dependent PKII (CaMKIIα). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study provides the first evidence that inhibition of SOC entry prevents and relieves rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and arthritic pain. These effects are probably mediated by a reduction in cytokine levels in the periphery and activation of ERK and CaMKIIα in the spinal cord. These results suggest that SOC channels are potential drug targets for the treatment of RA.

Polymorphisms in the bone morphogenetic protein 15 gene and their effect on sperm quality traits in Chinese Holstein bulls.

Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15) expression has been detected in the testis, but its roles in this organ has not been well elucidated. We evaluated polymorphisms of the BMP-15 gene by PCR-SSCP and PCR-RFLP in 212 Chinese Holstein bulls, and investigated possible associations with sperm quality traits, including semen volume per ejaculate, sperm density, fresh sperm motility, thawed sperm motility, acrosome integrity rate, and abnormal sperm rate. A single nucleotide polymorphism (C5697T) in intron 1 of the BMP-15 gene was identified in these bulls. Age was found to have significant effects on both fresh sperm motility and abnormal sperm rate. A significant effect of genotype on fresh sperm motility was also observed. Least square analysis showed that CT genotype bulls had significantly lower fresh sperm motility than CC or TT genotype bulls. In conclusion, BMP-15 should be considered as a potential genetic marker for sperm quality, based on its association with fresh sperm motility.