Crystal growth, structure and ferromagnetic properties of a Ce3Pt23Si11 single crystal

A high-quality single crystal of Ce3Pt23Si11 has been grown using the Czochralski method. The crystal structure is presented and the chemical composition has been checked using an electron microprobe analyzer. Measurements of the electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility performed at low temperature show a ferromagnetic transition at Tc = 0.44 K.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure

Double superconducting transition in the filled skutterudite PrOs4Sb12 and sample characterizations

A thorough characterization of many samples of the filled skutterudite compound PrOs4Sb12 is provided. We find that the double superconducting transition in the specific heat Tc1~1.89K and Tc2~1.72K tends to appear in samples with a large residual resistivity ratio, large specific heat jump at the superconducting transition and with the highest absolute value of the specific heat above Tc1. However, we present evidence which casts doubt on the intrinsic nature of the double superconducting transition. The ratio of the two specific heat jumps \Delta C(Tc1)/\Delta C(Tc2) shows a wide range of values on crystals from different batches but also within the same batch. This ratio was strongly reduced by polishing a sample down to 120um. Remarkably, three samples exhibit a single sharp transition of ~15mK in width at Tc~1.7K. The normalized specific heat jump (C-Cnormal)/Cnormal at Tc of two of them is higher than ~32% so larger than the sum of the two specific heat jumps when a double transition exists. As an evidence of better quality, the slope in the transition is at least two time steeper. We discuss the origins of the double transition; in particular we consider, based on X-ray diffraction results, a scenario involving Pr-vacancies. The superconducting phase diagram under magnetic field of a sample with a single transition is fitted with a two-band model taking into account the good values for the gap as deduced from thermal conductivity measurements.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables, submitted to Physical review

Selective Hydrogenation of Benzofurans Using Ruthenium Nanoparticles in Lewis Acid-Modified Ruthenium-Supported Ionic Liquid Phases

Ruthenium nanoparticles immobilized on a Lewis-acid-functionalized supported ionic liquid phase (Ru@SILP-LA) act as effective catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of benzofuran derivatives to dihydrobenzofurans. The individual components (nanoparticles, chlorozincate-based Lewis-acid, ionic liquid, support) of the catalytic system are assembled using a molecular approach to bring metal and acid sites in close contact on the support material, allowing the hydrogenation of O-containing heteroaromatic rings while keeping the aromaticity of C6-rings intact. The chlorozincate species were identified to be predominantly [ZnCl4]2– anions using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and are in close interaction with the metal nanoparticles. The Ru@SILP-[ZnCl4]2– catalyst exhibited high activity, selectivity, and stability for the catalytic hydrogenation of a variety of substituted benzofurans, providing easy access to biologically relevant dihydrobenzofuran motifs under continuous flow conditions

On-going frontal alpha rhythms are dominant in passive state and desynchronize in active state in adult gray mouse lemurs

The gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) is considered a useful primate model for translational research. In the framework of IMI PharmaCog project (Grant Agreement n°115009, www.pharmacog.org), we tested the hypothesis that spectral electroencephalographic (EEG) markers of motor and locomotor activity in gray mouse lemurs reflect typical movement-related desynchronization of alpha rhythms (about 8-12 Hz) in humans. To this aim, EEG (bipolar electrodes in frontal cortex) and electromyographic (EMG; bipolar electrodes sutured in neck muscles) data were recorded in 13 male adult (about 3 years) lemurs. Artifact-free EEG segments during active state (gross movements, exploratory movements or locomotor activity) and awake passive state (no sleep) were selected on the basis of instrumental measures of animal behavior, and were used as an input for EEG power density analysis. Results showed a clear peak of EEG power density at alpha range (7-9 Hz) during passive state. During active state, there was a reduction in alpha power density (8-12 Hz) and an increase of power density at slow frequencies (1-4 Hz). Relative EMG activity was related to EEG power density at 2-4 Hz (positive correlation) and at 8-12 Hz (negative correlation). These results suggest for the first time that the primate gray mouse lemurs and humans may share basic neurophysiologic mechanisms of synchronization of frontal alpha rhythms in awake passive state and their desynchronization during motor and locomotor activity. These EEG markers may be an ideal experimental model for translational basic (motor science) and applied (pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions) research in Neurophysiology

Nonmagnetic insulator state in Na1CoO2 and phase separation of Na vacancies

Crystallographic, magnetic, and NMR properties of a NaxCoO2 single crystal with x≃1 are presented. We identify the stoichiometric Na1CoO2 phase, which is shown to be a nonmagnetic insulator, as expected for homogeneous planes of Co3+ ions with S=0. In addition, we present evidence that, because of slight average Na deficiency, chemical and electronic phase separation leads to a segregation of Na vacancies into the well-defined, magnetic, Na0.8CoO2 phase. The importance of phase separation is discussed in the context of magnetic order for x≃0.8 and the occurrence of a metal-insulator transition for x→1

Formation of collective spins in frustrated clusters

Using magnetization, specific heat and neutron scattering measurements, as well as exact calculations on realistic models, the magnetic properties of the \lacuvo compound are characterized on a wide temperature range. At high temperature, this oxide is well described by strongly correlated atomic $S$=1/2 spins while decreasing the temperature it switches to a set of weakly interacting and randomly distributed entangled pseudo spins $\tilde S=1/2$ and $\tilde S=0$. These pseudo-spins are built over frustrated clusters, similar to the kagom\'e building block, at the vertices of a triangular superlattice, the geometrical frustration intervening then at different scales.Comment: 10 page

Lattice Distortion and Magnetism of 3d-t2gt_{2g} Perovskite Oxides

Several puzzling aspects of interplay of the experimental lattice distortion and the the magnetic properties of four narrow $t_{2g}$-band perovskite oxides (YTiO$_3$, LaTiO$_3$, YVO$_3$, and LaVO$_3$) are clarified using results of first-principles electronic structure calculations. First, we derive parameters of the effective Hubbard-type Hamiltonian for the isolated $t_{2g}$ bands using newly developed downfolding method for the kinetic-energy part and a hybrid approach, based on the combination of the random-phase approximation and the constraint local-density approximation, for the screened Coulomb interaction part. Then, we solve the obtained Hamiltonian using a number of techniques, including the mean-field Hartree-Fock (HF) approximation, the second-order perturbation theory for the correlation energy, and a variational superexchange theory. Even though the crystal-field splitting is not particularly large to quench the orbital degrees of freedom, the crystal distortion imposes a severe constraint on the form of the possible orbital states, which favor the formation of the experimentally observed magnetic structures in YTiO$_3$, YVO_, and LaVO$_3$ even at the HF level. Beyond the HF approximation, the correlations effects systematically improve the agreement with the experimental data. Using the same type of approximations we could not reproduce the correct magnetic ground state of LaTiO$_3$. However, we expect that the situation may change by systematically improving the level of approximations for dealing with the correlation effects.Comment: 30 pages, 17 figures, 8 tables, high-quality figures are available via e-mai

Octodon degus: A Model for the Cognitive Impairment Associated with Alzheimer's Disease

Octodon degus (O. degus) is a diurnal rodent that spontaneously develops several physiopathological conditions, analogous in many cases to those experienced by humans. In light of this, O. degus has recently been identified as a very valuable animal model for research in several medical fields, especially those concerned with neurodegenerative diseases in which risk is associated with ageing. O. degus spontaneously develops β-amyloid deposits analogous to those observed in some cases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Moreover, these deposits are thought to be the key feature for AD diagnosis, and one of the suggested causes of cell loss and cognitive deficit. This review aims to bring together information to support O. degus as a valuable model for the study of cerebral aging

Continuous cerebroventricular administration of dopamine: A new treatment for severe dyskinesia in Parkinson’s disease?

In Parkinson’s disease (PD) depletion of dopamine in the nigro-striatal pathway is a main pathological hallmark that requires continuous and focal restoration. Current predominant treatment with intermittent oral administration of its precursor, Levodopa (l-dopa), remains the gold standard but pharmacological drawbacks trigger motor fluctuations and dyskinesia. Continuous intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of dopamine previously failed as a therapy because of an inability to resolve the accelerated dopamine oxidation and tachyphylaxia. We aim to overcome prior challenges by demonstrating treatment feasibility and efficacy of continuous i.c.v. of dopamine close to the striatum. Dopamine prepared either anaerobically (A-dopamine) or aerobically (O-dopamine) in the presence or absence of a conservator (sodium metabisulfite, SMBS) was assessed upon acute MPTP and chronic 6-OHDA lesioning and compared to peripheral l-dopa treatment. A-dopamine restored motor function and induced a dose dependent increase of nigro-striatal tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons in mice after 7 days of MPTP insult that was not evident with either O-dopamine or l-dopa. In the 6-OHDA rat model, continuous circadian i.c.v. injection of A-dopamine over 30 days also improved motor activity without occurrence of tachyphylaxia. This safety profile was highly favorable as A-dopamine did not induce dyskinesia or behavioral sensitization as observed with peripheral l-dopa treatment. Indicative of a new therapeutic strategy for patients suffering from l-dopa related complications with dyskinesia, continuous i.c.v. of A-dopamine has greater efficacy in mediating motor impairment over a large therapeutic index without inducing dyskinesia and tachyphylaxia