Thermal Analysis of Phase Transitions in Perovskite Electroceramics

Perovskite oxide ceramics have found wide applications in energy storage capacitors, electromechanical transducers, and infrared imaging devices due to their unique dielectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric properties. These functional properties are intimately related to the complex displacive phase transitions that readily occur. In this study, these solid-solid phase transitions are characterized with dielectric measurements, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermomechanical analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry in an antiferroelectric lead-containing composition, Pb0.99Nb0.02[(Zr0.57Sn0.43)0.92Ti0.08]0.98O3, and in a relaxor ferrielectric lead-free composition, (Bi1/2Na1/2)0.93Ba0.07TiO3. The (Bi1/2Na1/2)0.93Ba0.07TiO3 ceramic develops strong piezoelectricity through electric field-induced phase transitions during the poling process. The combined thermal analysis techniques clearly reveal the differences in unpoled and poled ceramics

Targeting aberrantly elevated Sialyl Lewis A as a potential therapy for impaired endometrial selection ability in unexplained recurrent miscarriage

BACKGROUND: Carbohydrate Lewis antigens including sialyl Lewis A (sLeA), sialyl Lewis X (sLeX), Lewis X (LeX), and Lewis Y (LeY) are the commonest cell surface glycoconjugates that play pivotal roles in multiple biological processes, including cell adhesion and cell communication events during embryogenesis. SLeX, LeY, and associated glycosyltransferases ST3GAL3 and FUT4 have been reported to be involved in human embryo implantation. While the expression pattern of Lewis antigens in the decidua of unexplained recurrent miscarriage (uRM) patients remains unclear. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded placental tissue slides collected from patients experiencing early miscarriages (6–12 weeks) were analyzed using immunohistochemical (IHC) and immunofluorescent (IF) staining. An in vitro assay was developed using endometrial cell line RL95-2 and trophoblast cell line HTR-8/SVneo. Modulatory effect of potential glycosyltransferase on Lewis antigens expression was investigated by target-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown in RL95-2 cells. HTR-8/SVneo cells spheroids adhesion assay was applied to investigate the intrinsic role of Lewis antigens in the abnormal implantation process of uRM. The expression of Lewis antigens in RL95-2 cells in response to the treatment with pro-implantation cytokine IL-1β was further measured by flow cytometry and immunocytochemical (ICC) staining. RESULTS: IHC staining revealed that Lewis antigens are mainly expressed in the luminal and glandular epithelium, IF staining further indicated the cellular localization at the apical membrane of the epithelial cells. FUTs, ST3GALs, and NEU1 located in both stromal and epithelial cells. We have found that the expression of sLeA, LeX, FUT3/4, and ST3GAL3/4 are significantly upregulated in the RM group, while FUT1 is downregulated. SLeX, LeY, ST3GAL6, and NEU1 showed no significant differences between groups. FUT3 knockdown in RL95-2 cells significantly decreased the expression of sLeA and the spheroids adhesion to endometrial monolayer. Anti-sLeA antibody can remarkably suppress both the basal and IL-1β induced adhesion of HTR-8/SVneo spheroids to RL95-2 cells monolayer. While further flow cytometry and ICC detection indicated that the treatment of RL95-2 cells with IL-1β significantly increases the surface expression of LeX, but not sLeA. CONCLUSIONS: SLeA, LeX, and pertinent glycosyltransferase genes FUT1/3/4 and ST3GAL3/4 are notably dysregulated in the decidua of uRM patients. FUT3 accounts for the synthesis of sLeA in RL95-2 cells and affects the endometrial receptivity. Targeting aberrantly elevated sLeA may be a potential therapy for the inappropriate implantation in uRM

Use of recombinant activated factor VII for acute bleeding episodes in acquired hemophilia: final analysis from the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Society Registry acquired hemophilia study

The Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Society Registry was used to monitor the postapproval use and safety of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa). The objective of this article is to evaluate the data from the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Society Registry related to rFVIIa-treated bleeding episodes in patients with acquired hemophilia. For each rFVIIa-treated bleeding episode, the initial dose, total dose, average infused dose, number of doses, and treatment duration were calculated. Efficacy was assessed on a three-point scale. Out of the 166 registered patients with acquired hemophilia, 110 patients were treated for 237 bleeding episodes (139 rFVIIa treated); the majority (70%) were in patients older than 60 years. The most frequently reported bleeding locations were subcutaneous (40%) and mucosal (32%). Subcutaneous bleeding episodes were more commonly reported in women (55% vs. 40% men) and white patients (44 vs. 27% black). Of the 139 rFVIIa-treated bleeding episodes, rFVIIa was used as first-line treatment in 127 bleeding episodes. The median initial dose was 90 μg/kg; the median total dose per episode was 333.5 μg/kg. Physician-rated efficacy of rFVIIa for each bleeding episode was reported as ‘bleeding stopped’ in 85% of bleeding episodes, ‘bleeding slowed’ in 11% of bleeding episodes, ‘no improvement’ in 4% of bleeding episodes, and was not documented in 1 bleeding episode. One thromboembolic event was reported; transient neurologic symptoms were reported in a 31-year-old postpartum patient after 110 doses of rFVIIa. Adequate hemostasis was provided for most rFVIIa-treated bleeding episodes at doses largely conforming to the package insert. No major safety concerns were reported

Imprints of dynamical dark energy on weak-lensing measurements

We show that simple models of scalar-field dark energy leave a generic enhancement in the weak-lensing power spectrum when compared to the LCDM prediction. In particular, we calculate the linear-scale enhancement in the convergence (or cosmic-shear) power spectrum for two best-fit models of scalar-field dark energy, namely, the Ratra-Peebles and SUGRA-type quintessence. Our calculations are based on linear perturbation theory, using gauge-invariant variables with carefully defined adiabatic initial conditions. We find that geometric effects enhance the lensing power spectrum on a broad range of scales, whilst the clustering of dark energy gives rise to additional power on large scales. The dark-energy power spectrum for these models are also explicitly obtained. On degree scales, the total enhancement may be as large as 30-40% for sources at redshift ~1. We argue that there are realistic prospects for detecting such an enhancement using the next generation of large telescopes.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, replacement matches version published in MNRA

CP Violation in Fermion Pair Decays of Neutral Boson Particles

We study CP violation in fermion pair decays of neutral boson particles with spin 0 or 1. We study a new asymmetry to measure CP violation in $\eta, K_L \rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-$ decays and discuss the possibility of measuring it experimentally. For the spin-1 particles case, we study CP violation in the decays of $J/\psi$ to $SU(3)$ octet baryon pairs. We show that these decays can be used to put stringent constraints on the electric dipole moments of $\Lambda$, $\Sigma$ and $\Xi$.Comment: 14p, OZ-93/22, UM-93/89, OITS 51

The net effects of medical malpractice tort reform on health insurance losses: the Texas experience

In this paper, we examine the influence of medical malpractice tort reform on the level of private health insurance company losses incurred. We employ a natural experiment framework centered on a series of tort reform measures enacted in Texas in 2003 that drastically altered the medical malpractice environment in the state. The results of a difference-in-differences analysis using a variety of comparison states, as well as a difference-in-difference-in-differences analysis, indicate that ameliorating medical malpractice risk has little effect on health insurance losses incurred by private health insurers

Limits on decaying dark energy density models from the CMB temperature-redshift relation

The nature of the dark energy is still a mystery and several models have been proposed to explain it. Here we consider a phenomenological model for dark energy decay into photons and particles as proposed by Lima (J. Lima, Phys. Rev. D 54, 2571 (1996)). He studied the thermodynamic aspects of decaying dark energy models in particular in the case of a continuous photon creation and/or disruption. Following his approach, we derive a temperature redshift relation for the CMB which depends on the effective equation of state $w_{eff}$ and on the "adiabatic index" $\gamma$. Comparing our relation with the data on the CMB temperature as a function of the redshift obtained from Sunyaev-Zel'dovich observations and at higher redshift from quasar absorption line spectra, we find $w_{eff}=-0.97 \pm 0.034$, adopting for the adiabatic index $\gamma=4/3$, in good agreement with current estimates and still compatible with $w_{eff}=-1$, implying that the dark energy content being constant in time.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur

Hepatic Sarcoidosis Mimicking Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Hepatic involvement was reported in about 11% of patients with sarcoidosis. However, cases of sarcoidosis in which the granuloma is solitary and limited in the liver are very rare. A 51-year-old woman with tumors in the liver underwent extended left lobectomy with caudate lobectomy and bile duct resection. The tumor was located between segment 4 and the hilar region. Some daughter nodules were found in the left lobe, which were regarded as intrahepatic metastasis. Our case displayed clinical and radiologically distinct findings, which are very similar to those of hilar cholangiocarcinoma restricted to the liver. This report demonstrates that sarcoidosis can show solitary hepatic involvement in the absence of thoracic lymphadenopathy. In such a case, it is difficult to distinguish the diagnosis from other malignant neoplasms. In conclusion, the diagnosis of hepatic sarcoidosis has to be made through prudent and comprehensive investigations that include a full clinical history of sarcoidosis in other organs. Despite utilizing several detailed diagnostic modalities, the definitive diagnosis of cases of solitary sarcoidosis may remain difficult. In these cases, surgical treatment including liver resection should be considered in order to avoid missing a suitable opportunity for treatment

Interpretation of ambiguous situations: evidence for a dissociation between social and physical threat in Williams syndrome

There is increasing evidence that Williams syndrome (WS) is associated with elevated anxiety that is non-social in nature, including generalised anxiety and fears. To date very little research has examined the cognitive processes associated with this anxiety. In the present research, attentional bias for non-social threatening images in WS was examined using a dot-probe paradigm. Participants were 16 individuals with WS aged between 13 and 34 years and two groups of typically developing controls matched to the WS group on chronological age and attentional control ability respectively. The WS group exhibited a significant attention bias towards threatening images. In contrast, no bias was found for group matched on attentional control and a slight bias away from threat was found in the chronological age matched group. The results are contrasted with recent findings suggesting that individuals with WS do not show an attention bias for threatening faces and discussed in relation to neuroimaging research showing elevated amygdala activation in response to threatening non-social scenes in WS

Successful new product development by optimizing development process effectiveness in highly regulated sectors: the case of the Spanish medical devices sector

Rapid development and commercialization of new products is of vital importance for small and medium sized enterprises (SME) in regulated sectors. Due to strict regulations, competitive advantage can hardly be achieved through the effectiveness of product concepts only. If an SME in a highly regulated sector wants to excell in new product development (NPD) performance, the company should focus on the flexibility, speed, and productivity of its NPD function: i.e. the development process effectiveness. Our main research goals are first to explore if SMEs should focus on their their development process effectiveness rather than on their product concept effectiveness to achieve high NPD performance; and second, to explore whether a shared pattern in the organization of the NPD function can be recognized to affect NPD performance positively. The medical devices sector in Spain is used as an example of a\ud highly regulated sector. A structured survey among 11 SMEs, of which 2 were studied also as in in-depth case studies, led to the following results. First of all, indeed the companies in the dataset which focused on the effectiveness of their development process, stood out in NPD performance. Further, the higher performing companies did have a number of commonalities in the organisation of their NPD function: 1) The majority of the higher performing firms had an NPD strategy characterized by a predominantly incremental project portfolio.\ud 2) a) Successful firms with an incremental project portfolio combined this with a functional team structure b) Successful firms with a radical project portfolio combined this with a heavyweight or autonomous team structure.\ud 3) A negative reciprocal relationship exists between formalization of the NPD processes and the climate of the NPD function, in that a formalized NPD process and an innovative climate do not seem to reinforce each other. Innovative climate combined with an informal NPD process does however contribute positively to NPD performance. This effect was stronger in combination with a radical project portfolio. The highest NPD performance was measured for companies focusing mainly on incremental innovation. It is argued that in highly regulated sectors, companies with an incremental product portfolio would benefit from employing a functional structure. Those companies who choose for a more radical project portfolio in highly regulated sectors should be aware\ud that they are likely to excell only in the longer term by focusing on strategic flexibility. In their NPD organization, they might be well advised to combine informal innovation processes with an innovative climate