Thermodynamic determination of the equilibrium first-order phase-transition line hidden by hysteresis in a phase diagram.

In some materials exhibiting field-induced first-order transitions (FOTs), the equilibrium phase-transition line is hidden by the hysteresis region associated with the FOT. In general, phase diagrams form the basis for the study of material science, and the profiles of phase-transition lines separating different thermodynamic phases include comprehensive information about thermodynamic quantities, such as latent heat. However, in a field-induced FOT, the equilibrium phase-transition line cannot be precisely determined from measurements of resistivity, magnetization, etc, especially when the transition is accompanied by large hysteresis. Here, we demonstrate a thermodynamics-based method for determining the hidden equilibrium FOT line in a material exhibiting a field-induced FOT. This method is verified for the field-induced FOT between antiferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic states in magneto-electric compounds ([Formula: see text]. The equilibrium FOT line determined based on the Clausius-Clapeyron equation exhibits a reasonable profile in terms of the third law of thermodynamics, and it shows marked differences from the midpoints of the hysteresis region. Our findings highlight that for a field-induced FOT exhibiting large hysteresis, care should be taken for referring to the hysteresis midpoint line when discussing field-induced latent heat or magnetocaloric effects.

Anomalous Lattice Softening Near a Quantum Critical Point in a Transverse Ising Magnet.

We have investigated the elastic response of a transverse Ising magnet CoNb_{2}O_{6} by means of ultrasound velocity measurement. A huge elastic anomaly in the C_{66} mode is observed near a quantum critical point when sweeping a magnetic field perpendicular to the Ising axis. This anomaly appears to become critical only for the Faraday configuration (field parallel to the sound propagation direction) but is much less pronounced for the Voigt geometry (field perpendicular to the sound propagation direction). We propose that the relativistic spin-orbit interaction plays a crucial role in the quantum critical regime resulting in the elastic anomaly, which is enhanced by quantum fluctuations.

Supramolecular Polymerization in Liquid Crystalline Media: Toward Modular Synthesis of Multifunctional Core-Shell Columnar Liquid Crystals.

Recently, we discovered a modular synthetic approach for constructing core-shell columnar liquid crystals (LCs) by supramolecular polymerization in LC media. In the present work, we successfully confirmed that our modular synthetic approach has the potential to be widely extended to the development of multifunctional columnar LCs. Herein, we constructed the first core-shell columnar LC that was proved to be orientable by both electric and magnetic fields by the supramolecular polymerization of NODiskNH* in a nematic LC medium of 4-cyano-4'-pentyloxybiphenyl (5OCB). NODiskNH* is a chiral benzenetricarboxamide derivative bearing 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl termini, which is known to form a helical supramolecular polymer via a triple hydrogen-bonding array. NODiskNH* alone formed a hydrogen-bonded liquid phase without any long-range structural ordering. However, a nematic LC medium of 5OCB, when mixed with NODiskNH* at a molar ratio of 1:3, underwent a "structural order-increasing" mesophase transition, affording an optically active single LC phase with a hexagonally arranged core-shell columnar geometry in a temperature range from 113 to 51 °C. Unprecedentedly, this core-shell columnar LC can orient its columns both electrically and magnetically, resulting in unidirectional columnar ordering.

Spin-Orbital Correlated Dynamics in the Spinel-Type Vanadium Oxide MnV_{2}O_{4}.

We investigate the magnetic dynamics in the spinel-type vanadium oxide MnV_{2}O_{4}. Inelastic neutron scattering around 10 meV and a Heisenberg model analysis have revealed that V^{3+} spin-wave modes exist at a lower-energy region than previously reported. The scattering around 20 meV cannot be reproduced with the spin-wave analysis. We propose that this scattering could originate from the spin-orbital coupled excitation. This scattering is most likely attributable to V^{3+} spin-wave modes, entangled with the orbital hybridization between t_{2g} orbitals.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 2-(1-alkylpiperidin-4-yl)-n-[(1r)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylpropyl]acetamide Derivatives as Novel Antihypertensive Agents.

We synthesized and evaluated the inhibitory activity of a series of 2-(1-alkylpiperidin-4-yl)-N-[(1R)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylpropyl]acetamide derivatives against T-type Ca(2+) channels. Structure-activity relationship studies revealed that the position of the amide structure was important for the potent inhibitory activity toward T-type Ca(2+) channels. In addition, the introduction of an appropriate substituent on the pendant benzene ring played a crucial role for the selectivity towards T-type Ca(2+) channels over L-type Ca(2+) channels and the potent bradycardic activity of these derivatives. Oral administration of N-[(1R)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylpropyl]-2-(1-{2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)phenyl]ethyl}piperidin-4-yl)acetamide (4f), which had superior selectivity for T-type Ca(2+) channels over L-type Ca(2+) channels, lowered blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats without inducing reflex tachycardia, which is often caused by traditional L-type Ca(2+) channel blockers.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 1-alkyl-N-[(1R)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylpropyl]piperidine-4-carboxamide derivatives as novel antihypertensive agents.

We synthesized and evaluated inhibitory activity against T-type Ca(2+) channels for a series of 1-alkyl-N-[(1R)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylpropyl]piperidine-4-carboxamide derivatives. Structure-activity relationship studies have revealed that the isopropyl substituent at the benzylic position plays an important role in exerting potent inhibitory activity, and the absolute configuration of the benzylic position was found to be opposite that of mibefradil, which was first launched as a new class of T-type Ca(2+) channel blocker. Oral administration of N-[(1R)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylpropyl]-1-[2-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]piperidine-4-carboxamide (17f) lowered blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats without inducing reflex tachycardia, an adverse effect often caused by traditional L-type Ca(2+) channel blockers.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 1-alkyl-N-[2-ethyl-2-(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]piperidine-4-carboxamide derivatives as novel antihypertensive agents.

We synthesized and evaluated inhibitory activity against T-type Ca(2+) channels for a series of 1-alkyl-N-[2-ethyl-2-(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]piperidine-4-carboxamide derivatives. Structure-activity relationship studies have revealed that dialkyl substituents at the benzylic position play an important role in increasing inhibitory activity. Oral administration of N-[2-ethyl-2-(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]-1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidine-4-carboxamide (20d) lowered blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats without inducing reflex tachycardia, which is often caused by traditional L-type Ca(2+) channel blockers.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 1-isopropyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives as novel antihypertensive agents.

A series of 1-isopropyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives were synthesized and their bradycardic activities were evaluated in isolated guinea pig right atria. Structure-activity relationship studies revealed that the introduction of an appropriate substituent and its position on the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline ring are essential for potent in vitro activity. Furthermore, the tether between the piperidyl moiety and the terminal aromatic ring is important for potent antihypertensive activity. Oral administration of 6-fluoro-1-isopropyl-2-{[1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidin-4-yl]carbonyl}-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (3b) to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) elicited antihypertensive effects without inducing reflex tachycardia, which is often caused by traditional L-type Ca²âº channel blockers.

Vacuolar functions are involved in stress-protective effect of intracellular proline in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Proline protects yeast cells from damage caused by various stresses. A yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant with high levels of intracellular proline grown in a minimal medium accumulated proline in its vacuole, but when grown in a nutrient medium, accumulated proline mainly in the cytosol. To understand the role of the proline pool in the vacuole, we examined the stress-protective effect of proline in proline-accumulating yeast cells deficient in vacuolar functions. The disruption of PEP3 encoding a vacuolar membrane protein required for vacuolar biogenesis caused hypersensitivity to heat shock and ethanol stresses, probably due to disappearance of normal vacuoles. The vph1-disrupted cells lacking vacuolar-ATPase activity showed resistance to heat shock without any change in proline localization, but showed severe growth defects in an ethanol-containing medium. These results indicate that vacuolar functions are involved in the stress-protective effect of proline in S. cerevisiae. Also, it appears that excess proline is transported to the vacuole in an ATP-independent manner.