Specific heat measurements and structural investigation of CeCu6 - xSnx compounds

International audienceThe evolution of the crystal structure and some magnetic properties of the heavy-fermion material CeCu6 - xSnx (x = 0, 0.25, 0.65, 0.75, 0.85 and 1.0) has been studied by powder neutron diffraction and by specific heat measurements. The substitution of Cu by Sn suppresses the temperature induced orthorhombic to monoclinic transition, known to occur in the pure CeCu6 phase. No structural phase transition has been observed in these samples as a function of x but the cell volume increases considerably in an anisotropic way. Sn occupies preferentially the special Cu crystallographic site which is next to each of the four Ce atoms in the unit cell. The transition to antiferromagnetic order, characterizing the samples with higher x, is sensitive to both x and magnetic field. The results are discussed in the context of the competition between Kondo and RKKY interactions in disordered or not heavy-fermion systems and reveal an interesting interplay between composition, structure and magnetism in CeCu6 - xSnx

1.19 Questionable suitability of OECD 237 protocol in risk assessment scheme?

Persistent xenobiotics are potentially hazardous for the bee larvae despite that they are not directly exposed in contrary to adult foraging bees. The crucial phase of larval development is the first six days after hatching when young larva grows exponentially and during this phase larvae are potentially exposed to xenobiotics via diet. That is why the life cycle of honeybee is still a great challenge for scientists. OECD reflected “this need” and adopted the OECD 237 protocol (Honey bee (Apis mellifera) larval toxicity test, single exposure) on 26th July 2013. The protocol addresses the requirements formulated by the United States, Canada, and Europe to test the toxicity of chemicals compounds on larvae fed with spiked food under laboratory conditions in a tier1 strategy.Persistent xenobiotics are potentially hazardous for the bee larvae despite that they are not directly exposed in contrary to adult foraging bees. The crucial phase of larval development is the first six days after hatching when young larva grows exponentially and during this phase larvae are potentially exposed to xenobiotics via diet. That is why the life cycle of honeybee is still a great challenge for scientists. OECD reflected “this need” and adopted the OECD 237 protocol (Honey bee (Apis mellifera) larval toxicity test, single exposure) on 26th July 2013. The protocol addresses the requirements formulated by the United States, Canada, and Europe to test the toxicity of chemicals compounds on larvae fed with spiked food under laboratory conditions in a tier1 strategy

Restriction-modification systems in ruminal bacteria: occurrence and some evolutionary implications

International audienc

Plasmid analysis of Selenomonas ruminantium strains isolated from the rumen of fallow deer

International audienc