54 research outputs found
Local Ferroelectricity in SrTiO_3 Thin Films
The temperature-dependent polarization of SrTiO_3 thin films is investigated
using confocal scanning optical microscopy. A homogeneous out-of-plane and
inhomogeneous in-plane ferroelectric phase are identified from images of the
linear electrooptic response. Both hysteretic and non-hysteretic behavior are
observed under a dc bias field. Unlike classical transitions in bulk
ferroelectrics, local ferroelectricity is observed at temperatures far above
the dielectric permittivity maximum. The results demonstrate the utility of
local probe experiments in understanding inhomogeneous ferroelectrics.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in PR
Barkhausen Noise in a Relaxor Ferroelectric
Barkhausen noise, including both periodic and aperiodic components, is found
in and near the relaxor regime of a familiar relaxor ferroelectric,
PbMgNbO, driven by a periodic electric field. The
temperature dependences of both the amplitude and spectral form show that the
size of the coherent dipole moment changes shrink as the relaxor regime is
entered, contrary to expectations based on some simple models.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX4, 5 figures; submitted to Phys Rev Let
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for sinonasal tumors: a single center long-term clinical analysis
Background: Radiotherapy has a central role in the treatment of sinonasal malignancies, either as postoperative or as primary therapy. To study the efficacy and safety of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for sinonasal tumors a single center retrospective evaluation focusing on survival and therapy related toxicity was performed. Methods: One hundred twenty two patients with primary (n = 82) or recurrent (n = 40) malignant sinonasal tumors were treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy between 1999 and 2009 at the University Clinic of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center and retrospectively analyzed. Most patients had adenoid cystic carcinomas (n = 47) or squamous cell carcinoma (n = 26). 99 patients received postoperative radiotherapy. The median total dose was 64 Gy in conventional fractionation (1.8–2 Gy). Overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) and local recurrence free survival (LRFS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test and Fishers Exact test were applied for univariate analysis, Cox-regression was used for multivariate analysis. Results: Median follow up was 36 months. 1-, 3- and 5-year estimated overall survival rates were 90, 70 and 54 % respectively. Median progression free survival and local recurrence free survival was 45 and 63 months respectively. Progression free survival and local recurrence free survival at 1, 3 and 5 years were 76, 57 and 47, and 79, 60 and 51 % respectively. 19 patients (15.5 %) were diagnosed with distant metastases. Univariate analysis revealed significantly improved OS and LRFS for treatment of tumors after primary diagnosis, first series of irradiation and radiation dose ≥60 Gy. Multivariate analysis revealed only treatment in primary situation as an independent prognostic factor for OS and LRFS. Acute CTC grade III mucositis was seen in 5 patients (4.1 %) and CTC grade II dysgeusia in 19 patients (15.6 %). Dysgeusia, dysosmia and ocular toxicity were the most common late adverse events. Conclusions: Our data support the results of previous studies and indicate that intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) represents an effective and safe treatment approach for patients with sinonasal carcinomas
STAT5 Is an Ambivalent Regulator of Neutrophil Homeostasis
BACKGROUND: Although STAT5 promotes survival of hematopoietic progenitors, STAT5-/- mice develop mild neutrophilia. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here, we show that in STAT5-/- mice, liver endothelial cells (LECs) autonomously secrete high amounts of G-CSF, allowing myeloid progenitors to overcompensate for their intrinsic survival defect. However, when injected with pro-inflammatory cytokines, mutant mice cannot further increase neutrophil production, display a severe deficiency in peripheral neutrophil survival, and are therefore unable to maintain neutrophil homeostasis. In wild-type mice, inflammatory stimulation induces rapid STAT5 degradation in LECs, G-CSF production by LECs and other cell types, and then sustained mobilization and expansion of long-lived neutrophils. CONCLUSION: We conclude that STAT5 is an ambivalent factor. In cells of the granulocytic lineage, it exerts an antiapoptotic function that is required for maintenance of neutrophil homeostasis, especially during the inflammatory response. In LECs, STAT5 negatively regulates granulopoiesis by directly or indirectly repressing G-CSF expression. Removal of this STAT5-imposed brake contributes to induction of emergency granulopoiesis.Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe
Glassy properties of the relaxor ferroelectric strontium barium niobate at low temperatures
Deviations from curie-weiss behavior of (ba0.06sr0.94)tio3 caused by high hydrostatic pressure due to quantum effects
Antithrombotische Therapie bei Patienten mit Vorhofflimmern und akutem Koronarsyndrom (AFibACS-Register) - Behandlungsrealität und Entscheidungsdeterminanten
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