Interplay between the Charge Transport Phenomena and the Charge-Transfer Phase Transition in RbxMn[Fe(CN)6]y · zH2O

Charge transport and dielectric measurements were carried out on compacted powder and single-crystal samples of bistable RbxMn[Fe(CN)6]y · zH2O in the two valence-tautomeric forms (MnIIFeIII and MnIIIFeII) as a function of temperature (120-350 K) and frequency (10-2-106 Hz). The complex conductivity data reveal universal conductivity behavior and obey the Barton-Nakajima-Namikawa relationship. The charge transport is accompanied by dielectric relaxation that displays the same thermal activation energy as the conductivity. Surprisingly, the activation energy of the conductivity was found very similar in the two valence-tautomeric forms (∼0.55 eV), and the conductivity change between the two phases is governed mainly by the variation of the preexponential factor in each sample. The phase transition is accompanied by a large thermal hysteresis of the conductivity and the dielectric constant. In the hysteresis region, however, a crossover occurs in the charge transport mechanism at T < ∼220 K from an Arrhenius-type to a varying activation energy behavior, conferring an unusual “double-loop” shape to the hysteresis

Texturation de YBa2_2Cu3_3O7−x_{7-x} par la méthode de l'échangeur thermique

The Heat Exchanger Method (HEM) has been used to prepare bulk textured YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-x}$ ceramics. The experimental process and the thermal parameters used for texturing are described. The resulting bulk textured ceramics have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, optical and scanning electronic microscopies. A 92 K temperature transition and a $J_c$ of 5 000 A/cm$^2$ at 77 K in the absence of magnetic field have been shown by ac susceptibility measurements.Un dispositif de croissance cristalline basé sur la technique de l'échangeur thermique a été développé au laboratoire. Cette méthode a été appliquée à l'obtention de céramiques orientées de YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-x}$. Les conditions expérimentales ainsi que les différents paramètres thermiques afférents à la méthode de texturation utilisée sont précisés. La texturation des échantillons obtenus a été caractérisée par diffraction des rayons X, par microscopie optique et par microscopie électronique à balayage ; la susceptibilité alternative a révélé une transition supraconductrice à 92 K et une densité de courant critique de 5 000 A/cm$^2$ à 77 K et sans champ magnétique

Correlations Between Fluorination and Transport-properties in the La1.85-xndxsr0.15cuo4 System

The influence of fluorination on ceramic samples of La1.85-xNdxSr0.15CuO4 solid solutions has been studied. The presence of small amounts of fluorine species in the interior of the grains which has been evidenced by Auger electron spectroscopy significantly influences the structural and transport properties. It has been shown that the intercalation of fluorine into the structure reinforces the metallic-like behaviour and superconducting properties by hindering the tendency to the low-temperature structural transition and by increasing the charge carrier density

CC2D1A is a regulator of ESCRT-III CHMP4B.

International audienceEndosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRTs) regulate diverse processes ranging from receptor sorting at endosomes to distinct steps in cell division and budding of some enveloped viruses. Common to all processes is the membrane recruitment of ESCRT-III that leads to membrane fission. Here, we show that CC2D1A is a novel regulator of ESCRT-III CHMP4B function. We demonstrate that CHMP4B interacts directly with CC2D1A and CC2D1B with nanomolar affinity by forming a 1:1 complex. Deletion mapping revealed a minimal CC2D1A-CHMP4B binding construct, which includes a short linear sequence within the third DM14 domain of CC2D1A. The CC2D1A binding site on CHMP4B was mapped to the N-terminal helical hairpin. Based on a crystal structure of the CHMP4B helical hairpin, two surface patches were identified that interfere with CC2D1A interaction as determined by surface plasmon resonance. Introducing these mutations into a C-terminal truncation of CHMP4B that exerts a potent dominant negative effect on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 budding revealed that one of the mutants lost this effect completely. This suggests that the identified CC2D1A binding surface might be required for CHMP4B polymerization, which is consistent with the finding that CC2D1A binding to CHMP4B prevents CHMP4B polymerization in vitro. Thus, CC2D1A might act as a negative regulator of CHMP4B function

Synthesis and thermostructural studies of a CuFe1-xCrxO2 delafossite solid solution with 0<=X<=1

In this work, different CuFe1-xCrxO2 compositions with 0<=x<=1 were prepared by a standard solid-state reaction. These oxides crystallize with the delafossite structure. The phase stability and thermal behavior of the complete CuFe1-xCrxO2 solid solution was studied by thermogravimetric analysis and high-temperature X-ray diffraction experiments under an air atmosphere up to 1000 C. For x = 0, CuFeO2 is oxidized into the spinel (CuFe2O4) and copper monoxide (CuO) phases, whereas for x = 1, CuCrO2 is thermally stable. For all of the intermediate compositions (0 < x < 1), complex oxidation, reduction, and phase transitions between delafossite and spinel have been observed. chromium tends to stabilize the stoichiometric delafossite phase, while iron favors the delafossite-to-spinel phase transition