Strain Effects on Point Defects and Chain-Oxygen Order-Disorder Transition in 123-Structure Cuprate Superconductors

The energetics of Schottky defects in 123 cuprate superconductor series, $\rm REBa_2Cu_3O_7$ (where RE = lanthandies) and $\rm YAE_2Cu_3O_7$ (AE = alkali-earths), were found to have unusual relations if one considers only the volumetric strain. Our calculations reveal the effect of non-uniform changes of interatomic distances within the RE-123 structures, introduced by doping homovalent elements, on the Schottky defect formation energy. The energy of formation of Frenkel Pair defects, which is an elementary disordering event, in 123 compounds can be substantially altered under both stress and chemical doping. Scaling the oxygen-oxygen short-range repulsive parameter using the calculated formation energy of Frenkel pair defects, the transition temperature between orthorhombic and tetragonal phases is computed by quasi-chemical approximations (QCA). The theoretical results illustrate the same trend as the experimental measurements in that the larger the ionic radius of RE, the lower the orthorhombic/tetragonal phase transition temperature. This study provides strong evidence of the strain effects on order-disorder transition due to oxygens in the CuO chain sites.Comment: In print Phys Rev B (2004

Pathology of the human pituitary adenomas

This article describes pertinent aspects of histochemical and molecular changes of the human pituitary adenomas. The article outlines individual tumor groups with general, specific and molecular findings. The discussion further extends to the unusual adenomas or carcinomas. The description in this article are pertinent not only for the practicing pathologists who are in the position of making proper diagnosis, but also for the pituitary research scientists who engage in solving basic problems in pituitary neoplasms by histochemistry and molecular biology

Residual Strain Dependence on Matrix Structure in RHQ-Nb3Al Wires by Neutron Diffraction Measurement

We prepared three types of non-Cu RHQ-Nb3Al wire samples with different matrix structures: an all-Ta matrix,a composite matrix of Nb and Ta with a Ta inter filament, and an all-Nb matrix. Neutron diffraction patterns of the wire samples were measured at room temperature in J-PARC "TAKUMI". To obtain residual strains of materials, we estimated lattice constant a by multi-peak analysis in the wire. Powder sample of each wire was measured, where the powder was considered to be strain-free. The grain size of all the powder samples was below 0.02 mm. For wire sample with the all-Nb matrix, we also obtained lattice spacing d by a single-peak analysis. Residual strains of Nb3Al filament were estimated from the two analysis results and were compared. Result, residual strains obtained from the multi-peak analysis showed a good accuracy with small standard deviation. The multi-peak analysis results for the residual strains of Nb3Al filament in the three samples were all tensile residual strain in the axial direction, they are 0.12%, 0.12%, and 0.05% for the all-Ta matrix, the composite matrix, and the all-Nb matrix, respectively. Difference in the residual strain of Nb3Al filament between the composite and all-Nb matrix samples indicates that type of inter-filament materials show a great effect on the residual strain. In this paper, we report the method of measurement, method of analysis, and results for residual strain in the tree types of non-Cu RHO-Nb3Al wires.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

Transverse Plane Tendon and Median Nerve Motion in the Carpal Tunnel: Ultrasound Comparison of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Patients and Healthy Volunteers

The median nerve and flexor tendons are known to translate transversely in the carpal tunnel. The purpose of this study was to investigate these motions in differential finger motion using ultrasound, and to compare them in healthy people and carpal tunnel syndrome patients.Transverse ultrasounds clips were taken during fist, index finger, middle finger and thumb flexion in 29 healthy normal subjects and 29 CTS patients. Displacement in palmar-dorsal and radial-ulnar direction was calculated using Analyze software. Additionally, the distance between the median nerve and the tendons was calculated.We found a changed motion pattern of the median nerve in middle finger, index finger and thumb motion between normal subjects and CTS patients (p<0.05). Also, we found a changed motion direction in CTS patients of the FDS III tendon in fist and middle finger motion, and of the FDS II and flexor pollicis longus tendon in index finger and thumb motion, respectively (p<0.05). The distance between the median nerve and the FDS II or FPL tendon is significantly greater in patients than in healthy volunteers for index finger and thumb motion, respectively (p<0.05).Our results suggest a changed motion pattern of the median nerve and several tendons in carpal tunnel syndrome patients compared to normal subjects. Such motion patterns may be useful in distinguishing affected from unaffected individuals, and in studies of the pathomechanics of carpal tunnel syndrome

Overexpression of E2F-5 correlates with a pathological basal phenotype and a worse clinical outcome

The purpose of the present study is to identify genes that contribute to cell proliferation or differentiation of breast cancers independent of signalling through the oestrogen receptor (ER) or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). An oligonucleotide microarray assayed 40 tumour samples from ER(+)/HER2(−), ER(+)/HER2(+), ER(−)/HER2(+), and ER(−)/HER2(−) breast cancer tissues. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR detected overexpression of a cell cycle-related transcription factor, E2F-5, in ER-negative breast cancers, and fluorescence in situ hybridisation detected gene amplification of E2F-5 in 5 out of 57 (8.8%) breast cancer samples. No point mutations were found in the DNA-binding or DNA-dimerisation domain of E2F-5. Immunohistochemically, E2F-5-positive cancers correlated with a higher Ki-67 labelling index (59.5%, P=0.001) and higher histological grades (P=0.049). E2F-5-positive cancers were found more frequently in ER(−)/progesterone receptor (PgR)(−)/HER2(−) cancer samples (51.9%, P=0.0049) and in breast cancer samples exhibiting a basal phenotype (56.0%, P=0.0012). Disease-free survival in node-negative patients with E2F-5-positive cancers was shorter than for patients with E2F-5-negative cancers. In conclusion, we identify, for the first time, a population of breast cancer cells that overexpress the cell cycle-related transcription factor, E2F-5. This E2F-5-positive breast cancer subtype was associated with an ER(−)/PgR(−)/HER2(−) status, a basal phenotype, and a worse clinical outcome

Improvement of Reversible Strain Limit for Critical Current of DI-BSCCO Due to Lamination Technique

The DI (dynamically innovative)-BSCCO-Bi2223 tapes achieved high critical current as well as high modulus of elasticity. Further the reversible strain limit and the corresponding stress for critical current have been remarkably increased by means of lamination technique. During the course of development, their optimized architecture has been designed based on the principle of the rule of mixture for maximizing the force free strain exerted on the superconducting component. The reversible strain/stress limit (A rev/R rev) was defined as a strain, at which the critical current recovers to the level of 99% I co. Selecting several kinds of laminating materials and changing condition of the fabrication, the excellent Cu alloy-3ply tape with I co of 311 A/cm was realized of which A rev and R rev reached 0.42% and 300 MPa, respectively. Further during the theoretical analysis, the increase of reversible strain limit were made clear to be attributed to the increase of thermally induced residual strain as well as the compensation effect of laminated layers against a local fracture mode