Charge order and suppression of superconductivity in HgBa2CuO4 at high pressures

New insight into the superconducting properties of HgBa2CuO4 (Hg-1201) cuprates is provided by combined measurements of the electrical resistivity and single crystal X-ray diffraction under pressure. The changes induced by increasing pressure up to 20GPa in optimally doped single crystals were investigated. The resistivity measurements as a function of temperature show a metallic behavior up to ~10GPa that gradually passes to an insulating state, typical of charge ordering, that totally suppresses superconductivity above 13GPa. The changes in resistivity are accompanied by the apparition of sharp Bragg peaks in the X-ray diffraction patterns indicating that the charge ordering is accompanied by a 3D oxygen ordering appearing at 10GPa of wavevector [0.25, 0, L]. As pressure induces a charge transfer of about 0.02 at 10GPa, our results are the first observation of charge order competing with superconductivity that develops in the over-doped region of the phase diagram of a cuprate.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Annual Catalogue of the Minnesota State Normal School at Moorhead. Seventh Year. (1894-1895)

https://red.mnstate.edu/bulletins/1064/thumbnail.jp

Expression of alternansucrase in potato plants

Alternan, which consists of alternating α-(1→3)/α-(1→6)-linked glucosyl residues, was produced in potato tubers by expressing a mature alternansucrase (Asr) gene from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1355 in potato. Detection of alternan was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in tuber juices, revealing a concentration between 0.3 and 1.2 mg g-1 fresh wt. The Asr transcript levels correlated well with alternan accumulation in tuber juices. It appeared that the expression of sucrose-regulated starch-synthesizing genes (ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase subunit S and granule-bound starch synthase I) was down-regulated. Despite this, the physico-chemical properties of the transgenic starches were unaltered. These results are compared to those obtained with other transgenic potato plants producing mutan [α-(1→3)-linked glucosyl residues] and dextran [α-(1→6)-linked glucosyl residues]

High–temporal resolution profiling reveals distinct immune trajectories following the first and second doses of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines

Knowledge of the mechanisms underpinning the development of protective immunity conferred by mRNA vaccines is fragmentary. Here, we investigated responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccination via high–temporal resolution blood transcriptome profiling. The first vaccine dose elicited modest interferon and adaptive immune responses, which peaked on days 2 and 5, respectively. The second vaccine dose, in contrast, elicited sharp day 1 interferon, inflammation, and erythroid cell responses, followed by a day 5 plasmablast response. Both post-first and post-second dose interferon signatures were associated with the subsequent development of antibody responses. Yet, we observed distinct interferon response patterns after each of the doses that may reflect quantitative or qualitative differences in interferon induction. Distinct interferon response phenotypes were also observed in patients with COVID-19 and were associated with severity and differences in duration of intensive care. Together, this study also highlights the benefits of adopting high-frequency sampling protocols in profiling vaccine-elicited immune responses

In situ viscometry of high-pressure melts in the Paris-Edinburgh cell: application to liquid FeS

International audienceKnowledge of the viscosity of high-pressure melts is important in various domains of research, such as geosciences or materials science. Experimentally, the viscosity of liquids can be determined using the falling sphere technique. This method has been developed at high pressures and high temperatures at Beamline ID27 of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), combining a Paris-Edinburgh cell with in situ X-ray radiography. The press is interfaced to Soller slits and imaging systems to measure high-quality diffraction patterns and high-resolution X-ray images of the sample. The viscosity of the liquid is derived from the velocity of a dense sphere falling through the pressurized melt and the Stokes law. An optimized two-circle diffractometer allows for moving the press upside down in order to perform a series of measurements on a single sample. The simultaneous collection of X-ray diffraction data on liquids offers the unique opportunity of investigating the relations between viscosity and the structure of melts. The potential of this new equipment is illustrated on the example of FeS melt viscosity and its implications for the Earth's cor

Modeling the Development of Local Health-Enhancing Physical Activity Policies from Empirical Data and Policy Science Theories

International audiencePhysical inactivity is considered a pandemic, requiring strong policy responses to address this major health issue. However, research on the development of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity policies (HEPA) remains scarce, particularly at the local level. There is a need to produce evidence to better understand the process to develop local HEPA policies. This study aims to model the development of HEPA policy promotion in French municipalities from empirical data and policy science theories. This research was undertaken in three steps: (1) assess the level of development of HEPA policies from 10 French municipalities using a local HEPA analysis tool, (2) provide a brief overview of core political science theories applied in health promotion, and (3) from these empirical and theoretical perspectives, model a conceptual framework to better understand the development of HEPA policy promotion in French municipalities. Based on empirical data and the Multiple Streams, policy cycles and Institutional Rational Choice theories, a conceptual framework of the development of municipal HEPA policy promotion was modeled. This conceptual framework is comprised of five stages describing the development of municipal HEPA policies. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the development of municipal HEPA policies