Synthesis, crystal and magnetic structure of iron selenide BaFe2Se3 with possible superconductivity at Tc=11K

We report on synthesis of single crystals of BaFe2Se3 and study of their crystal and magnetic structures by means of synchrotron single crystal X-ray and neutron powder diffraction. The crystal structure has orthorhombic symmetry and consists of double chains of FeSe4 edge connected tetrahedra intercalated by barium. Below 240 K long range block-spin checkerboard antiferromagnetic (AFM) order is developed. The magnetic structure is similar to one observed in A0.8Fe1.6Se2 (A=K, Rb or Cs) superconductors. The crystals exhibit a transition to the diamagnetic state with an onset transition temperature of Tc ~11 K. Though we observe FeSe as an impurity phase (<0.8% mass fraction) the diamagnetism unlikely can be attributed to the FeSe-superconductor which has Tc\approx8.5K.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, added erratum (page 12) for Figure 4b showing tau2 structur

Room temperature antiferromagnetic order in superconducting X_yFe_{2-x}Se_ 2, (X= Rb, K): a powder neutron diffraction study

Magnetic and crystal structures of superconducting X yFe 2-xSe 2 (X= Rb and K with Tc=31.5 K and 29.5 K) have been studied by neutron powder diffraction at room temperature. Both crystals show ordered iron vacancy pattern and the crystal structure is well described in the I4/m space group with the lattice constants a=8.799, c=14.576 and a=8.730, c=14.115 A, and the refined stoichiometry x=0.30(1), y=0.83(2) and x=0.34(1), y=0.83(1) for Rb- and K-crystals respectively. The structure contains one fully occupied iron position and one almost empty vacancy position. Assuming that the iron moment is ordered only on the fully occupied site we have sorted out all eight irreducible representations (irreps) for the propagation vector k=0 and have found that irreps tau_2 and tau_7 well fit the experimental data with the moments along c-axis. The moment amplitudes amounted to 2.15(3) mu_B, 2.55(3) mu_B for tau_2 and 2.08(6) mu_B, 2.57(3) mu_B for tau_7 for Rb- and K-crystals respectively. Irrep tau_2 corresponds to the Shubnikov group I4/m' and gives a constant moment antiferromagnetic configuration, whereas tau_7 does not have Shubnikov counterpart and allows two different magnetic moments in the structure.Comment: 5 pages, 1 table, 4 figure

Erratum to: Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition) (Autophagy, 12, 1, 1-222, 10.1080/15548627.2015.1100356

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Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field