Magnetic Order and Its Interplay with Structure Phase Transition in van der Waals Ferromagnet VI_(3)

Van der Waals magnet VI_(3) demonstrates intriguing magnetic properties that render it great for use in various applications.However,its microscopic magnetic structure has not been determined yet.Here,we report neutron diffraction and susceptibility measurements in VI_(3) that revealed a ferromagnetic order with the moment direction tilted from the c-axis by ~36° at 4 K.A spin reorientation accompanied by a structure distortion within the honeycomb plane is observed,before the magnetic order completely disappears at TC=50 K.The refined magnetic moment of ~1.3μB at 4 K is much lower than the fully ordered spin moment of 2μB/V^(3+),suggesting the presence of a considerable orbital moment antiparallel to the spin moment and strong spin-orbit coupling in VI_(3).This results in strong magnetoelastic interactions that make the magnetic properties of VI_(3) easily tunable via strain and pressure.

Field-tuned quantum effects in a triangular-lattice Ising magnet

We report thermodynamic and neutron scattering measurements of the triangular-lattice quantum Ising magnet TmMgGaO_(4)in longitudinal magnetic fields.Our experiments reveal a quasi-plateau state induced by quantum fluctuations.This state exhibits an unconventional non-monotonic field and temperature dependence of the magnetic order and excitation gap.In the high field regime where the quantum fluctuations are largely suppressed,we observed a disordered state with coherent magnon-like excitations despite the suppression of the spin excitation intensity.Through detailed semi-classical calculations,we are able to understand these behaviors quantitatively from the subtle competition between quantum fluctuations and frustrated Ising interactions.

Integrative lipidomic and transcriptomic study unravels the therapeutic effects of saikosaponins A and D on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)has become one of the most prominent causes of chronic liver diseases and malignancies.However,few therapy has been approved.Radix Bupleuri(RB)is the most frequently used herbal medicine for the treatment of liver diseases.In the current study,we aim to systemically evaluate the therapeutic effects of saikosaponin A(SSa)and saikosaponin D(SSd),the major bioactive monomers in RB,against NAFLD and to investigate the underlying mechanisms.Our results demonstrated that both SSa and SSd improved diet-induced NAFLD.Integrative lipidomic and transcriptomic analysis revealed that SSa and SSd modulated glycerolipid metabolism by regulating related genes,like Lipe and Lipg.SSd profoundly suppressed the fatty acid biosynthesis by downregulating Fasn and Acaca expression and promoted fatty acid degradation by inducing Acox1 and Cpt1 a expression.Bioinformatic analysis further predicted the implication of master transcription factors,including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha(PPARα),in the protective effects of SSa and SSd.These results were further confirmed in vitro in mouse primary hepatocytes.In summary,our study uncoded the complicated mechanisms underlying the promising anti-steatosis activities of saikosaponins(SSs),and provided critical evidence inspiring the discovery of innovative therapies based on SSa and SSd for the treatment of NAFLD and related complications.

Cassiae Semen improves non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through autophagy-related pathway

Objective:Cassiae Semen(CS,Juemingzi in Chinese)has been used for thousands of years in ancient Chinese history for relieving constipation,improving liver function as well as preventing myopia.Here we aimed to elucidate the anti-steatosis effect and underlying mechanism of CS against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods:High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)was used to identify the major components of CS water extract.Mice were fed with a high-fat and sugar-water(HFSW)diet to induce hepatic steatosis and then treated with CS.The anti-NAFLD effect was determined by measuring serum biomarkers and histopathology staining.Additionally,the effects of CS on cell viability and lipid metabolism in oleic acid and palmitic acid(OAPA)-treated HepG2 cells were measured.The expression of essential genes and proteins involved in lipid metabolism and autophagy signalings were measured to uncover the underlying mechanism.Results:Five compounds,including aurantio-obtusin,rubrofusarin gentiobioside,cassiaside C,emodin and rhein were simultaneously identified in CS extract.CS not only improved the diet-induced hepatic steatosis in vivo,as indicated by decreased number and size of lipid droplets,hepatic and serum triglycerides(TG)levels,but also markedly attenuated the OAPA-induced lipid accumulation in hepatocytes.These lipid-lowering effects induced by CS were largely dependent on the inhibition of fatty acid synthase(FASN)and the activation of autophagy-related signaling,including AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK),light chain 3-II(LC3-II)/LC3-1 and autophagy-related gene5(ATG5).Conclusion:Our study suggested that CS effectively protected liver steatosis via decreasing FASN-related fatty acid synthesis and activating AMPK-mediated autophagy,which might become a promising therapeutic strategy for relieving NAFLD.

Field-tuned magnetic structure and phase diagram of the honeycomb magnet YbCl_(3)

We report thermodynamic and neutron diffraction measurements on the magnetic ordering properties of the honeycomb lattice magnet YbCl_(3). We find YbCl_(3) exhibits a Ne′el type long-range magnetic order at the wavevector(0, 0, 0) below TN= 600 mK.This magnetic order is associated with a small sharp peak in heat capacity and most magnetic entropy release occurs above the magnetic ordering temperature. The magnetic moment lies in-plane, parallel to the monoclinic a-axis, whose magnitude mYb= 0.86(3) μBis considerably smaller than the expected fully ordered moment of 2.24 μBfor the doublet crystal-field ground state. The magnetic ordering moment gradually increases with increasing magnetic field perpendicular to the ab-plane, reaching a maximum value of 1.6(2) μBat 4 T, before it is completely suppressed above ~ 9 T. These results indicate the presence of strong quantum fluctuations in YbCl_(3).