The Curie temperature T-C was found to increase from 160 to 220 degrees C with ferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition temperature TR-T and TO-T being in the range of 120-105 degrees C and 105-50 degrees C, respectively. The piezoelectric activity of PIN-PMN-PT crystals was analyzed by Rayleigh approach. The ultrahigh piezoelectric response for domain engineered [001] (1600-2200 pC/N) and [011] (830-1550 pC/N) crystals was believed to be mainly from
the intrinsic contribution, whereas the enhanced level of piezoelectric and dielectric losses at the compositions around morphotropic phase boundaries (MPBs) was attributed to the phase boundaries motion. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3530617]“
“QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY: Mannan-binding lectin BGJ398 ic50 (MBL) and MBL-associated serine protease-2
(MASP-2) are two key components of the lectin-pathway of complement-activation. Information on the potential role of lectin-pathway components in carcinogenesis versus immune surveillance of cancer is scarce. This study aimed to determine if serum concentrations of MBL and MASP-2 differ between children with cancer and healthy age-matched controls.
METHODS: In this retrospective multicentre study, MBL and MASP-2 were measured by commercially available ELISA in frozen remnants of serum this website taken at diagnosis in paediatric patients with cancer. For six diagnostic groups, these concentrations were compared with serum concentrations of
age-matched healthy controls using exact Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.
RESULTS: MBL and MASP-2 were measured in serum of 372 patients. MBL was significantly higher in patients with solid tumours vs. controls (median, 2,799 vs. 1,917 mu g/L; P = 0.008), and MASP-2 was significantly higher in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (406 vs. 317 mu LCL161 g/L; P = 0.009), Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (361 vs. 293 mu g/L; P = 0.037) and CNS tumors (463 vs. 296 mu g/L; P = 0.002).
CONCLUSIONS: These results may indicate a role of MBL and MASP-2 in the initiation or progression of specific paediatric cancers, while other mechanisms remain possible as well. Larger, disease-specific studies are warranted for confirmation and for elucidation of the underlying mechanisms.”
“Purpose: To use time-resolved three-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, also called four-dimensional flow MR imaging, to evaluate systolic blood flow patterns in the ascending aorta that may predispose patients with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) to aneurysm.
Materials and Methods: The HIPAA-compliant protocol received institutional review board approval, and informed consent was obtained.