Overheating threshold and its effect on time–temperature-transformation diagrams of zirconium based bulk metallic glasses

A pronounced effect of overheating is observed on the crystallization behavior for the three zirconium-based bulk metallic glasses: Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5, Zr57Cu15.4Ni12.6Al10Nb5, and Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5. A threshold overheating temperature is found for each of the three alloys, above which there is a drastic increase in the undercooling level and the crystallization times. Time–temperature-transformation (TTT) diagrams were measured for the three alloys by overheating above their respective threshold temperatures. The TTT curves for Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 and Zr57Cu15.4Ni12.6Al10Nb5 are very similar in shape and scale with their respective glass transition temperatures, suggesting that system-specific properties do not play a crucial role in defining crystallization kinetics in these alloys. The critical cooling rates to vitrify the alloys as determined from the TTT curves are about 2 K/s for Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 and 10 K/s for Zr57Cu15.4Ni12.6Al10Nb5. The measurements were conducted in a high-vacuum electrostatic levitator

Overheating threshold and its effect on time–temperature-transformation diagrams of zirconium based bulk metallic glasses

A pronounced effect of overheating is observed on the crystallization behavior for the three zirconium-based bulk metallic glasses: Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5, Zr57Cu15.4Ni12.6Al10Nb5, and Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5. A threshold overheating temperature is found for each of the three alloys, above which there is a drastic increase in the undercooling level and the crystallization times. Time–temperature-transformation (TTT) diagrams were measured for the three alloys by overheating above their respective threshold temperatures. The TTT curves for Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 and Zr57Cu15.4Ni12.6Al10Nb5 are very similar in shape and scale with their respective glass transition temperatures, suggesting that system-specific properties do not play a crucial role in defining crystallization kinetics in these alloys. The critical cooling rates to vitrify the alloys as determined from the TTT curves are about 2 K/s for Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 and 10 K/s for Zr57Cu15.4Ni12.6Al10Nb5. The measurements were conducted in a high-vacuum electrostatic levitator

Cytoskeletal Changes During Radiation-Induced Neoplastic Transformation of Human Prostate Epithelial Cells

We recently reported tumorigenic transformation of SV 40-immortalized neonatal human prostate epithelial cells (267Bl) by exposure to fractionated doses of X-rays. Altered morphology and anchorage independence were observed following two successive fractions of 2 Gy each (F3-SAC). Additional 2 Gy treatments to these non-tumorigenic cells to a total dose of 30 Gy resulted in radiation-transformed tumorigenic colonies (267Bl-SXR). Malignant transformation of parental 267B 1 cells was also achieved by consecutive 2 Gy exposures to a total dose of 30 Gy (267Bl-XR). This study discusses the cytoskeletal changes in the F3-SAC, 267Bl-XR and 267Bl-SXR derivatives of these human prostate epithelial cells. Confocal and conventional fluorescence microscopy of filamentous actin showed numerous, well organized, evenly distributed stress fibers in the parental cells prior to irradiation, while the anchorage-independent cells and several tumorigenic derivatives exhibited poor stress fiber organization after radiation exposure. This disorganization of actin microfilaments in the radiation-transformed cells was also accompanied by changes in the expression of selective tropomyosin isoforms as judged by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. These changes in actin organization and tropomyosin expression appear to be coincidental with morphological transformation and acquisition of tumorigenicity in the 267Bl cells following radiation exposure

Radiation-Induced Neoplastic Transformation of Human Cells

Ionizing radiation can induce cancers in humans and animals and can cause in vitro neoplastic transformation of various rodent cell systems. However, numerous attempts to achieve neoplastic transformation of human cells by radiation have generally proven unsuccessful. Neoplastic transformation of immortalized human epidermal keratinocytes by X-ray irradiation has recently been reported. The carcinogenic effect of radiation on cultured human cells will be briefly reviewed. The current state-of-the-art in radiation-induced transformation of human cells in culture is presented. This will provide insight into the molecular and cellular mechanisms in the conversion of normal cells to a neoplastic state of growth