Structural, magnetic and vibrational characterization of the new organic-inorganic hybrid material, (C9H14N)2CoCl4

A new organic–inorganic hybrid material, bis (N, N-dimethylbenzylammonium) tetrachlorocobaltate (II), (C9H14N)2 CoCl4 was synthesized and analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Magnetization was used to investigate the magnetic properties. The structure was determined at room temperature in the triclinic space group P-1 with the following parameters: a = 10.491 (5)Å, b = 14.207 (2)Å, c = 16.187 (3)Å, α = 87.76 (3)°, β = 88.436 (8)°, γ = 89.897 (10)° and Z = 2. The structure can be described by the alternation of organic-inorganic layers parallel to (110) plan. The different components are connected by the Nsingle bondH⋯Cl hydrogen bonds between the cation and the anionic group [CoCl4]2-. Raman and infrared spectra were used to gain more information of the title compound. An assignment of the observed vibration modes is reported. This compound exhibits an antiferromagnetic (AFM) to paramagnetic (PM) phase transition at a temperature (TN) lower than 2 K. The values of paramagnetic Curie–Weiss temperature θCW, the nearest neighbor interaction Jnn, the classical nearest neighbor J cl and the dipolar Dnn interactions’ emphasize the existence of an antiferromagnetic interaction between the neighboring cobalt ions.publishe

Study of the physical properties of La

New complex magnetic frustrated materials La2 − xErxTi2O7 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.075) have been synthesized by solid-solid method. The crystallographic and magnetic properties were studied as a function of substitution of the La3+ ion by the Er3+ one. All samples are found to be single phase and crystallize in the monoclinic structure with P21 space group. Magnetic measurements have revealed the presence of dominant antiferromagnetic interactions and the absence of magnetic ordering until a temperature of 2 K. The magnetic study suggests that the Curie-Weiss temperature (θCW) is negative, as expected in the frustrated lanthanide sublattice in the Ln2 – xLn’xM2O7 structure. From the frustration index f = - θCW/TN, we have deduced the presence of a strong frustration phenomenon. The critical properties of the antiferromagnetic behavior, for x = 0.025, 0.05 and 0.075 samples, have been investigated. It was found that the 2D-self-avoiding walk (SAW) model is the best one to describe the critical phenomena

Pore geometry and transport properties in North Sea chalk

International audienc

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field. © 2012 Landes Bioscience

The role of ABC transporters in ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance

Abstract not availableM.P. Ween, M.A. Armstrong, M.K. Oehler, C. Ricciardell

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field