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A novel class of nanocrystalline/amorphous Gd3Ni/Gd65Ni35 composite microwires were created directly from melt-extraction through controlled solidification. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) confirmed the formation of a biphase nanocrystalline/amorphous structure in these wires. Magnetic and magnetocaloric experiments indicate a large magnetic entropy change (-ΔSM ~9.64 J/kg K), large refrigerant capacity (RC ~742.1 J/kg), and large maximum adiabatic temperature change ( Δ T a d max ~5 K) around the Curie temperature of ~120 K for a field change of 5 T. These values are ~1.5 times larger relative to its bulk counterpart and are superior to other candidate materials being considered for active magnetic refrigeration in the liquid nitrogen temperature range.

Background Despite the overall diagnostic utility of core needle biopsy (CNB) comparable to incisional biopsy, increased diagnostic errors have been suggested of CNB for myxoid soft tissue tumors. This study compared the diagnostic performance of CNB between myxoid and non-myxoid soft tissue tumors. Methods 369 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided CNB prior to resection for soft tissue tumors were classified into two groups according to resection pathology; myxoid group (n = 75) and non-myxoid group (n = 294). One-hundred and ninety-three patients were male and the median age of the patients was 40 years. Two-hundred and sixty-three tumors were malignant. Results CNB correctly diagnosed malignancy in 84% (58 of 69) for the myxoid group and 95% (184 of 194) for the non-myxoid group. For diagnosing histologic grade of soft tissue sarcoma, CNB correctly identified high grade in 78% (18 of 23) for the myxoid group and 74% (94 of 128) for the non-myxoid group. Correct diagnosis rate of histological type was significantly lower in the myxoid group (63% [47 of 75] in the myxoid group and 83% [242 of 294] in the non-myxoid group, p = 0.013). Conclusion Our study suggests that CNB is useful for myxoid soft tissue tumors of the extremity, with regard to diagnosing malignancy and histologic grade. However, CNB was less useful for identifying histologic subtype in myxoid tumors than in non-myxoid tumors.

Magnetization, specific heat, thermal diffusivity, and magnetocaloric effect were studied in Pr0.7Sr0.3-xCaxMnO3 system (x = 0; 0.1; 0.2; 0.3) in the temperature range of 80–320 K and in a magnetic field of 18 kOe. A correlation was found between the coefficients under study and microscopic characteristics (〈rA〉 – average ionic radius and σ2 – cationic disorder). The decrease in σ2 and 〈rA〉, caused by the substitution of Sr atoms by Ca atoms, causes a weakening of the exchange interactions and a decrease in ТС. The observed minima in the temperature dependence of thermal diffusivity η(T) near ТС are associated with the appearance of an additional channel of phonon relaxation in fluctuations of the magnetic order parameter. A relationship was found between the MCE value and the change in thermal diffusivity in a magnetic field near ТС. This relationship can be applied as another MCE evaluating indirect method. It is shown that MCE value estimation from thermal diffusivity data is consistent with the results of caloric measurements.

The results of investigation of specific heat, and magnetocaloric effect for La0.7−xPrxSr0.3MnO3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7) manganites in the temperature range of 100–425 K at H = 0 and 18 kOe are presented. The magnetocaloric properties have been investigated by direct and indirect measurement techniques. The value of ΔT ranges from 1.09 K to 1.75 K and ΔS from 1.84 J/kg K to 4.21 J/kg K in a magnetic field of 18 kOe. In a wide range of changes in the concentration of Pr, the value of the MCE varies little, and with increasing Pr concentration, TC decreases.

Introduction The role of MRI in surveillance for local recurrence (LR) remains uncertain in extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS). The aims of this study were 1) to examine the usefulness of MRI in detecting LR, 2) to identify the characteristics of LR detected by MRI, and 3) to examine whether MRI surveillance is associated with oncologic outcome. Materials and Methods 477 patients who had regular surveillance for LR after surgery for extremity STS were reviewed. Surveillance was performed by routine MRI in 325 patients or other imaging modalities in 152 patients. Results The rate of MRI-detected LR, defined as clinically undetectable LR identified on MRI, was 10.5% in the MRI surveillance cohort. The detection rates of MRI-detected LR were significantly higher in the patients with high risk of LR. MRI-detected LRs were more commonly located in the thigh or buttock (p = 0.005), were smaller (p = 0.001) and had LRs without mass formation (p = 0.007) than non-MRI-detected LRs. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with MRI-detected LR tended to have better post-LR survival (p = 0.104). Conclusion Routine MRI surveillance can detect a significant number of clinically undetectable LRs in extremity STS especially for LRs in the thigh or buttock, small LRs or LRs without mass formation.

In this work, a polycrystalline sample of La0.7Ca0.3Mn0.9Co0.1O3 was prepared by solid-state reaction method. The room-temperature X-ray diffraction analysis using Rietveld refinement technique confirms that the sample has a single-phase state with the orthorhombic structure (space group Pbnm). Based on the temperature dependences of the resistance and magnetization, the magnetoresistance and the magnetocaloric effects of the sample have been investigated. Our results pointed out that La0.7Ca0.3Mn0.9Co0.1O3 compound exhibits the maximum magnetoresistance MR = 100% × [ρ(0) − ρ(H)]/ρ(H) = 14.3% near the metal–semiconductor transition with TP = 155 K and the maximum magnetic entropy change |ΔSmax| = 1.45 J/kg·K around the ferromagnetic–paramagnetic phase transition with TC = 188 K under an applied magnetic field change ΔH = 4 kOe. Besides, the changes of the specific heat ΔCP(T, H) for ΔH = 1–4 kOe have been also calculated.

In this work, we pointed out that Sr substitution for Ca leads to modify the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Pr0.7Ca0.3-xSrxMnO3 compounds. Analyzing temperature dependence of magnetization, M(T), proves that the Curie temperature (TC) increased with increasing Sr content (x); TC value is found to be 130–260 K for x = 0.0–0.3, respectively. Using the phenomenological model and M(T,H) data measured at several applied magnetic field, the magnetocaloric effect of Pr0.7Ca0.3-xSrxMnO3 compounds has been investigated through their temperature and magnetic field dependences of magnetic entropy change ΔSm(T,H) and the change of the specific heat change ΔCP(T,H). Under an applied magnetic field change of 10 kOe, the maximum value of -ΔSm is found to be about 3 J/kg·K, and the maximum and minimum values of ΔCP(T) calculated to be about ±60 J/kg·K for x = 0.3 sample. Additionally, the critical behaviors of Pr0.7Ca0.3-xSrxMnO3 compounds around their TC have been also analyzed. Results suggested a coexistence of the ferromagnetic short- and long-range interactions in samples. Moreover, Sr-doping favors establishing the short-range interactions.

Muscle wasting is a decline in skeletal muscle mass and function that is associated with aging, obesity, and a spectrum of pathologies including cancer. Cancer-associated wasting not only reduces quality of life, but also directly impacts cancer mortality, chemotherapeutic efficacy, and surgical outcomes. There is an incomplete understanding of the role of tumor-derived factors in muscle wasting and sparse knowledge of how these factors impact in vivo muscle regeneration. Here, we identify several cytokines/chemokines that negatively impact in vitro myogenic differentiation. We show that one of these cytokines, CXCL1, potently antagonizes in vivo muscle regeneration and interferes with in vivo muscle satellite cell homeostasis. Strikingly, CXCL1 triggers a robust and specific neutrophil/M2 macrophage response that likely underlies or exacerbates muscle repair/regeneration defects. Taken together, these data highlight the pleiotropic nature of a novel tumor-derived cytokine and underscore the importance of cytokines in muscle progenitor cell regulation.

In this work, we have investigated the magnetic properties and the magnetocaloric effect of La 0.7−x Na x Ca 0.3 MnO 3 compounds, which were prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction technique. The Rietveld refinement results suggested that the samples are single phase belonging to an orthorhombic structure (space group Pnma ). Analyzing temperature dependence of magnetization M ( T ) revealed that the Curie temperature ( T C ) increases with increasing Na content ( x ). Their T C value is found to be 260–298 K for x =0.0–0.1, respectively. Base on M ( T ) data measured at different applied magnetic fields ( H ), temperature dependence of magnetic entropy change Δ S m ( T ) data for all the samples was calculated by using a phenomenological model. In the vicinity of T C, -Δ S m ( T ) curve reaches a maximum value (denoted as |Δ S max |), which gradually increases with increasing H . Under 12 kOe, the value of |Δ S max | is in a range of 1.47–5.19 J/kg K corresponding to the relative cooling power RCP=57.12–75.88 J/kg. Applied the universal master curve method for the magnetic entropy change, we concluded that Na-doped in La 0.7−x Na x Ca 0.3 MnO 3 compounds leads to modification the nature of the magnetic phase transition from the first- to the second-order.

In this work, we investigated the influence of additional compounds of Nd-Cu-Al, Dy-Nb-Al, Dy-Zr-Al and Nb-Cu-Al on coercivity of sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets. The additional nanoparticles with size in the range of 40–80 nm was mixed with the micrometer Nd-Fe-B powder before sintering process. The results show that the coercivity of the sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets can be improved by introducing additional nanoparticles to their grain boundaries. The improvement of the coercivity of the magnets is clearly dependent on composition and fraction of the additional compounds. While the Dy-Nb-Al, Dy-Zr-Al and Nb-Cu-Al compounds degrade the coercivity of the sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets, the Nd-Cu-Al nanoparticles considerably improve this quantity. The coercivity the sintered Nd16.5Fe77B6.5 magnets has been enhanced about 40% by adding 3 wt% of the Dy-free compound of Nd40Cu30Al30.

In this work, we present a detailed study on the magnetic properties and the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of La1−xKxMnO3 compounds with x=0.05–0.2. Our results pointed out that the Curie temperature (TC) could be controlled easily from 213 to 306 K by increasing K-doping concentration (x) from 0.05 to 0.2. In the paramagnetic region, the inverse of the susceptibility can be analyzed by using the Curie-Weiss law, χ(T)=C/(T−θ). The results have proved an existence of ferromagnetic clusters at temperatures above TC. Based on Banerjee's criteria, we also pointed out that the samples are the second-order phase transition materials. Their magnetic entropy change was calculated by using the Maxwell relation and a phenomenological model. Interestingly, the samples with x=0.1–0.2 exhibit a large MCE in a range of 282–306 K, which are suitable for room-temperature magnetic refrigeration applications. The composites obtained from single phase samples (x=0.1–0.2) exhibit the high relative cooling power values in a wide temperature range. From the viewpoint of the refrigerant capacity, the composites formed out of La1−xKxMnO3 will become more useful for magnetic refrigeration applications around room-temperature.

We report our systematic investigation of structural, magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties of double perovskite compounds Ho2FeMnO6, Ho2CoMnO6, and Ho2NiMnO6, which crystallize into monoclinic crystal structure with P21/n space group. The magnetic phase transition temperatures are determined to be 7.5 K for Ho2FeMnO6, 69 K for Ho2CoMnO6, and 71.5 K for Ho2NiMnO6, where Ho2FeMnO6 exhibits an antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition, while Ho2CoMnO6 and Ho2NiMnO6 exhibits ferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transitions. The magnetic entropy change (−ΔSM), which are found to be 10.2, 3.4 and 4.7 J/kgK at ΔH = 7 T for Ho2FeMnO6, Ho2CoMnO6, and Ho2NiMnO6 samples, respectively. The magnetic and magnetocaloric characteristics of double perovskite compounds are well explained based on structural and electronic properties. For future applications, our quantitative method provides a guideline for magnetic property engineering of double perovskite systems containing ferromagnetic 3d transition metals.

The magnetocaloric effect in the R-3c rhombohedral La1-xBaxCoO3 samples (x = 0.2–0.4) prepared by the mechanical milling and ceramic methods has been studied through the dc magnetization measurements. The results have revealed the magnetic phase-transition temperature (TC) changing from 185 to about 200 K when × changes from 0.2 to 0.4. Around TC, the samples show a large change in the magnetic entropy (ΔSm). The value of ΔSm depends on both x and the applied-field magnitude. Under an applied field H = 30 kOe, the maximum magnetic-entropy changes are about 1.1, 1.7 and 1.6 J/Kg⋅K for x = 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4, respectively, corresponding to the relative cooling power ranging between 63 and 73 J/kg. Our studies have also found La1-xBaxCoO3 exhibiting a second-order phase transition and short-range magnetic order. We suggest that short-range order is related to the interaction competition between two ferromagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic phases due to the coexistence of Co3+ and Co4+ ions.

We used an inline system equipped with a linear plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (L-PECVD) source available at low temperatures for the thin film encapsulation of flexible organic light emitting diode displays. This inline system can be used for coating on a moving substrate, which can increase productivity than a cluster system with the typical PECVD source. In this paper, we report the excellent water vapor barrier properties of SiNx films deposited on PEN film substrates at low temperatures process using the L-PECVD source. The SiNx thin film was deposited using silane (SiH4), ammonia (NH3) and helium (He) gases. The SiNx thin film deposited by L-PECVD showed good results for pinhole, grain boundary, stress, wet etch which are defects that can affect the lifetime of the OLED. The moisture permeation characteristics of the optimized SiNx thin films were finally measured using a MOCON's WVTR measuring instrument and WVTR values lower than the detection limit of the measuring device (less than 5.0 × 10−5 g/m2·day) were obtained. Based on these results, SiNx deposited using the L-PECVD is considered a good candidate for TFE (Thin Film Encapsulation) application of flexible OLEDs.

Single-phase agglomerated Sr2FeMoO6-δ powders with the iron and molybdenum cations superstructural ordering of 88% were synthesized by sol-gel technique from the Sr(NO3)2 and Fe(NO3)3·9H2O solutions with pH = 4. The ultrasound dispersion enabled us to obtain 75 nm grains. Powders were pressed with 4 GPa to receive the ceramics. The additional annealing at 700 K promoted the appearance of 7.5% SrMoO4 phase. The nanocomposite with dielectric sheaths around the grains was obtained. Magnetization temperature dependences in zero-field cooled mode revealed inhomogeneous magnetic states. At temperature below 19 K, the superparamagnetic state is observed. Temperature increase leads to a realization of the stable superparamagnetic and metastable ferrimagnetic states, blocked by magnetic anisotropy energy. The resistivity temperature dependences have the semiconducting conductivity type. The charge transfer due to the hopping conductivity on the localized states in the energy band near the Fermi level dominates at 260–300 K. At 130–200 K the charge transfer is realized by electrons tunneling through the energy barrier. The electrons inelastic tunneling on conducting channels between grains, through the localized states in the dielectic interlayer dominates at low temperatures. The resistivity decreases in magnetic fields and the negative tunneling magnetoresistive effect reaching 41% occurs.

Tissue specific stem cells are indispensable contributors to adult tissue maintenance, repair, and regeneration. In skeletal muscle, satellite cells (SCs) are the resident muscle stem cell population and are required to maintain skeletal muscle homeostasis throughout life. Increasing evidence suggests that SCs are a heterogeneous cell population with substantial biochemical and functional diversity. A major limitation in the field is an incomplete understanding of the nature and extent of this cellular heterogeneity. Single cell analyses are well suited to addressing this issue, especially when coupled to unbiased profiling paradigms such as high throughout RNA sequencing. We performed single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on freshly isolated muscle satellite cells and found a surprising degree of heterogeneity at multiple levels, from muscle-specific transcripts to the broader SC transcriptome. We leveraged several comparative bioinformatics techniques and found that individual SCs enrich for unique transcript clusters. We propose that these gene expression "fingerprints" may contribute to observed functional SC diversity. Overall, these studies underscore the importance of several established SC signaling pathways/processes on a single cell level, implicate novel regulators of SC heterogeneity, and lay the groundwork for further investigation into SC heterogeneity in health and disease.

In this work, we present a detailed study on the magnetic property and critical behavior in the austenitic phase of Ni 43 Mn 46 Sn 8 X 3 alloys with X = Cr and In, which were prepared by an arc-melting method in an argon ambience. The M ( T ) curve of the Cr sample (X = Cr) exhibits a single magnetic phase transition at the Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic (FM) austenitic phase with T A C = 303 K. In contrast, the In sample (X = In) exhibits multiple magnetic phase transitions, including a magnetic phase transition from a FM state to weakly magnetic state at T M C = 165 K of the martensitic phase, a martensitic transition from the weakly magnetic to the FM austenite phase at T M-A = 259 K, and a magnetic phase transition from the FM to paramagnetic (PM) at T A C = 297 K of the austenite phase. Based on the Landau theory and M ( H ) data measured at different temperatures, we pointed that the FM-PM phase transitions around T A C in both samples were the second-order phase transition. Our results suggest an existence of the long-range FM interactions in the austenite phase. A small deviation from the mean-field theory of the critical exponents has been also observed pointing out an existence of the inhomogeneous magnetism that could be associated with the presence of the anti-FM interactions in these samples. Besides, their effective exponents β eff ( e ) and γ eff ( e ) have been also calculated.

Influence of alkaline earth element doping in the A-site on the structure, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of La 0.7 Ca 0.3-x A x MnO 3 (A = Sr and Ba; x = 0, 0.15 and 0.3) perovskite manganites have been investigated. X-ray diffraction data indicates that samples x = 0 and 0.15 crystallize in the orthorhombic structure (space group Pnma ), whereas samples x = 0.3 belong to the rhombohedral structure (space group R -3 c ). Substitution of Sr or Ba for Ca plays an important role in the increase of Curie temperature ( T C ) and modification the nature of the magnetic phase transition in materials. Sample x = 0 exhibits the first-order phase transition (FOPT) with a large magnetic entropy change (Δ S m ), whereas samples x = 0.15 and 0.3 exhibit the second-order phase transition (SOPT) characterizations and the moderate values of Δ S m . Using the modified Arrott plots method, the critical behaviors around T C for SOPT samples have been investigated through the values of critical parameters ( T C , β , γ , and δ ). We pointed out that Ba-doping favors establishing long-range ferromagnetic order, contrary to the case of Sr-doping.

La 0.6 Ca 0.4− x Ce x MnO 3 ( x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, and 0.09) compounds are fabricated by a solid-state reaction, and their structural, magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties are investigated. The Curie temperature at which a ferromagnetic–paramagnetic transition occurs decreases from 260 to 221 K as x increases from 0 to 0.09. The saturation magnetization also decreases with the increase of x . The experimental results for the magnetization with respect to the temperature and magnetic field are analyzed using the Banerjee criterion, revealing that all the samples undergo the second-order magnetic phase transition. The maximum magnetic entropy change measured at a magnetic-field span of 50 kOe, which occurs near the Curie temperature, slightly increases from 6.31 to 7.62 J/kg K as x increases from 0 to 0.09.

In this work, we have investigated the influence of Ag-doping on the magnetic and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of Ni50-xAgxMn37Sn13 ribbons with x = 1, 2, and 4, which were prepared by a melt-spinning method. With increasing Ag concentration, a systematic decrease in the antiferromagnetic interaction and in the magnetic phase transition temperatures was observed. Analyses of the critical behavior based on the Banerjee criterion and scaling hypothesis for M(H, T) data near the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transformation prove an increase of Ag favors establishing long-range ferromagnetic interactions in the austenitic phase. The temperature and magnetic field dependences of magnetic entropy change, ΔSm(T, H) were investigated via isothermal magnetization measurements. Interestingly, these samples exhibit a MCE at room-temperature with the ΔSm(T) curves distributed over a quite wide temperature range. To enhance the relative cooling power (RCP) value and to extend the magnetic phase transition region, we have prepared the composites in the form of the layered material samples based on ribbons obtained above. Under ΔH = 10 kOe, the maximum value of ΔSm (denoted as |ΔSmax|) at around room-temperature is 1.08 J kg−1 K−1, corresponding to RCP = 51.8 J kg−1, which is about 10% higher than that obtained from a separate sample. Additionally, we also pointed out that the dependences of |ΔSmax| on ΔH at around room-temperature for samples obey a power law, |ΔSmax| = a × ΔHn, and all the ΔSm(T, H) data obey completely a universal master curve.

A room-temperature (∼26 °C) NO2 gas sensor was fabricated using tellurium (Te) nanostructures. Te forms a helical chain with strong covalent bonds in the c-axis and weak van der Waals bonds between the chains. Therefore, the energy required for gas adsorption and desorption is low, thus, giving it the advantage of operating at room temperature. Since the shape and size of the Te helical chains can be freely controlled by adjusting the growth parameters, the electrical reactivities of Te to a specific gas can be controlled. In this study, the reactivity of Te to NO2 gas was controlled by adjusting the number of Te nanotube walls and lengths. It was also verified that the gas detection performance was maintained even with increasing humidity.

We report on the structural, mechanical, and magnetocaloric properties of annealed melt-extracted Gd 53 Al 24 Co 20 Zr 3 amorphous microwires of ∼70 μm diameter. During heat treatment small islands of nanocrystallities are generated and isolated in the amorphous region for the wires. The size of the nanocrystallities ranges from 5 nm to 10 nm. The observed lattice distortion from the nanocrystallities causes changes in the magnetic properties of the wires. The annealing temperature of 100 °C has the largest strength (1845 MPa) as compared to wires annealed at other temperatures. This is likely to trigger nanophase transformation in the amorphous region and these nanocrystals have been preserved through the increase of annealing temperature. The formulation of the nanocrystalline islands is also verified by the selected-area electron diffraction (SAED). The microwires exhibit a large and reversible magnetocaloric effect (MCE), with the maximum isothermal magnetic entropy change (−Δ S M ) and refrigerant capacity ( RC ) values of 9.5 J/kg K and 689 J/kg respectively for the microwire annealed at 100 °C. This RC is about 35%, 67%, and 91% larger than those of bulk Gd 53 Al 24 Co 20 Zr 3 (∼509 J/kg), Gd (∼410 J/kg), and Gd 5 Si 2 Ge 1.9 Fe 0.1 (∼360 J/kg) regardless of their ordering temperatures. These results demonstrate the ability to tune the mechanical and magnetic properties of the microwires by thermal annealing.

The magnetic properties of La 0.7- x Pr x Ca 0.3 MnO 3 ( x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5) compounds fabricated by a solid-state reaction are studied by using Arrott plots and universal curves. The Arrott plots near the Curie temperature show negative slopes over the entire magnetic field range up to 50 kOe, indicating a first-order magnetic phase transition (according to Banerjee's criterion) for the x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 samples. For the x = 0.5 sample, however, the plots show positive slopes at low magnetic fields below 10 kOe, indicating a second-order transition. These results are further checked by universal curves of the normalized entropy change versus reduced temperature. The universal curves show a divergence among the curves with different magnetic fields for a first-order magnetic transition, but for a second-order transition, they collapse onto the same curve. The Curie temperature, around which the maximum magnetic entropy change occurs, decreases continuously from 260 to 110 K as x increases from 0.0 to 0.5. In the same x range, the maximum entropy change measured at a magnetic field span of 50 kOe decreases from 10.70 to 7.14 J/kg K, but the relative cooling power increases from 278 to 380 J/kg under the same magnetic field span.

We explore further details of the collectively excited spin wave mode in finite arrays of elliptically shaped ferromagnetic nanoelements as two-dimensional magnonic crystals by means of micromagnetic simulations. Under a pulsed magnetic driving field, collective spin wave modes were intensively investigated with variation of nanoelement dimensions and interelement separation as structural parameters of the magnonic crystal as well as changing the applied bias magnetic field. Via observing and analyzing the dynamic behavior of collective spin wave modes, we have found that the dynamic behavior strongly depends on the bias magnetic field with a quasi-linear dependency. The quasi-linear dependency of spin wave frequency transition can be achieved to a high sensitivity of the pT/Hz level. By modulating the magnonic crystal lattice structures and the bias magnetic field, the spin wave dynamic behavior is tunable which might be a promising property for a future magnonic crystal application and multifunctional sensors.

In this paper, we present a detailed analysis on temperature and magnetic field dependences of the magnetic entropy change (ΔSm) near the ferromagnetic (FM)–paramagnetic (PM) phase transition of a La1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7 single crystal. Experimental results reveal the material exhibiting a FM–PM phase transition at TC=85 K, and belongs to a second-order phase transition (SOPT). Around TC, −ΔSm reaches the maximum value (|ΔSmax|), which increases with increasing an applied magnetic field change, ΔH. The |ΔSmax| values found are about 0.93, 1.73, 2.38, 2.91, and 3.33 J kg−1 K−1 for ΔH=10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 kOe, respectively. However, the peak position of the −ΔSm(T) curves is effectively shifted to higher temperatures when ΔH increases. Additionally, the ΔSm(T) curves measured at different ΔH values do not collapse into a universal curve when they are normalized to their respective ΔSmax value, and Prod. Type: rescaled the temperature axis with θ1=(T−TC)/(Tr−TC) for a reference temperature Tr>TC or Tr TC.

Purposes A paucity of data exists on the prevalence and predictors of discharging injured patients against medical advice from emergency departments. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between acute alcohol use and being discharged against medical advice. Methods We performed a prospective, observational study of injured patients enrolled into the Korean Centers for Disease and Prevention injury surveillance program in 7 tertiary, academic, and teaching hospitals from June 1, 2008, to November 31, 2011. Injured patients were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: discharged against medical advice, regular discharge, and transferred or admitted. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between acute alcohol use and being discharged against medical advice. Results A total of 125,327 patients were enrolled, and 3473 (2.8%) were discharged against medical advice. The proportion of acute alcohol use was significantly higher among the patients who were discharged against medical advice (40.1%) than the regular discharged (16.6%) or transferred/admitted (15.5%) patients. In a regression model, acute alcohol use increased the risk of being discharged against medical advice (adjusted odds ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.70-2.03). In addition, we identified the interaction between acute alcohol use and intention of injury. Acute alcohol use had a significant association with the discharge against medical advice with the unintentional injury (adjusted odds ratio, 2.56; 95% confidence interval, 2.30-2.84). Conclusion Patients with acute alcohol use before sustaining an injury are at increased risk of being discharged against medical advice from the emergency departments.

The specific heat (CP), thermal diffusivity (η), thermal conductivity (κ), magnetization, resistivity (ρ), and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) were studied in fast-quenched ribbon samples of the Ni50Mn37-xAlxSn13 alloy (x = 2, 4). Anomalies are observed in the form of a jump for the temperature-dependent η(T) and κ(T) near the magnetic and magnetostructural phase transitions, which are associated with critical scattering of heat carriers by distortions of the crystal structure, fluctuations of the order parameter, or structural/magnetic inhomogeneities. The transition to the martensitic phase is found to be accompanied by a sharp increase in the resistivity, suggesting an increase in the electron relaxation rate due to structural distortions inherent in martensite. The value of the magnetoresistive effect at 1.8 T near the martensitic transition reaches ∼40%. The temperature hysteresis was investigated in terms of ρ(T) near TC, which is explained based on the coexistence of the magnetic two-phase state of FM + AFM and the structural magnetic heterogeneity of the samples with dominant austenitic phase. For a sample with x = 2, the electron and phonon components of thermal conductivity were estimated (κph » κe).

Magnetic refrigeration is becoming a promising technology to replace the conventional refrigeration techniques based on gas compression/expansion at cryogenic temperature as well as at room temperature. In the present study, we have fabricated Ho2O3 nanoparticles by oxidation of HoN prepared by plasma arc discharge. The Ho2O3 nanoparticles annealed at 1200 °C were investigated by the structural and magnetocaloric analysis. The XRD pattern confirms the amorphous nature of naturally oxidized Ho2O3, which was converted into crystalline by annealing. It has been discovered that crystalline Ho2O3 nanoparticles exhibit significantly larger magnetocaloric effect at cryogenic temperature, in comparison to the amorphous nanoparticles, with the second-order antiferromagnetic phase transition. The maximum entropy change was found to be 15.1 J/kgK and 22.4 J/kgK at an applied magnetic field of 5 T for amorphous and crystalline Ho2O3, respectively.

In this work, we prepared nanocrystalline Fe 2 Mn 1− x Cu x Al ( x =0.0, 0.1 and 0.3) powders by the high energy ball milling technique, and then studied their critical properties. Our analysis reveals that the increase of Cu-doping concentration (up to x =0.3) in these powders leads to a gradual increase of the ferromagnetic–paramagnetic transition temperature from 406 to 452 K. The Banerjee criterion suggests that all the samples considered undergo a second-order phase transition. A modified Arrott plot and scaling analysis indicate that the critical exponents ( β =0.419 and 0.442, γ =1.082 and 1.116 for x =0.0 and 0.1, respectively) are located in between those expected for the 3D-Heisenberg and the mean-field models; the values of β =0.495 and γ =1.046 for x =0.3 sample are very close to those of the mean-field model. These features reveal the coexistence of the short- and long-range ferromagnetic order in the nanocrystalline Fe 2 Mn 1− x Cu x Al powders. Particularly, as the concentration of Cu increases, values of the critical exponent shift towards those of the mean-field model. Such results prove the Cu doping favors establishing a long-range ferromagnetic order.

La0.7Ca0.3−xBaxMnO3 nanoparticles with the crystalline size d = 38 and 39 nm for x = 0.025, and 0.05, respectively, were synthesized by utilizing the solid-state reaction and mechanical ball milling methods. We have used the Banerjee's criteria, the mean-field, and the thermodynamic theories, and isothermal magnetization, M(H), data around Curie temperature (TC) to investigate the magnetic phase transformation and the temperature (T) and magnetic field (H) dependences of magnetic entropy change, ΔSm(T, H), for nanoparticles. These exhibit the samples undergoing a second-order magnetic phase transition with an existence of the short-range ferromagnetic order in the samples. Under an applied magnetic field change ΔH = 30 kOe, the maximum value of ΔSm (denoted as |ΔSmax|) are obtained about 4.4 J kg−1 K−1 corresponding to a relative cooling power (RCP) value about 140 J kg−1. Field dependences of |ΔSmax| and RCP can be expressed by the power laws, |ΔSmax| = a × Hn and RCP = b × HN, where a and b are coefficients, n and N are the field exponents, respectively. Interestingly, all the ΔSm(T, H) curves measured at different applied fields are collapsed onto a universal curve, ΔSm(T, H)/ΔSmax versus θ = (T − TC)/(Tr − TC), where Tr is the reference temperature.

A systematic study of the conventional and inverse magnetocaloric effects, and critical behaviors in an alloy ingot of Ni43Mn46Sn8In3 has been performed. Our results reveal the sample exhibiting structural and magnetic phase transitions at temperatures TCM = 166 K (TC of the martensitic phase), TM–A = 260 K (the martensitic-to-austenitic phase transformation) and TCA = 296 K (TC of the austenitic phase). The large values of refrigerant capacity (RC) around TM–A and TCA are found to be RCM–A = 172.6 and RCA = 155.9 J kg−1, respectively, under an applied field change of 30 kOe. Our critical analyses near the TCM and TCA reveal that a coexistence of the long- and short-range ferromagnetic order in the martensitic phase, while the long-range ferromagnetic order exists in the austenitic phase. Interestingly, at around TCA, the maximum magnetic entropy change (|ΔSmax|) versus magnetic field H obeys a power law, |ΔSmax| = a·Hn, where the exponent n is found to be about 0.66.

Background The beneficial effects of ginsenoside species have been well demonstrated in a number of studies. However, the function of ginsenoside Ro (GRo), an oleanane-type saponin, has not been sufficiently investigated. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of GRo in vitro using the Raw 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and to clarify the possible mechanism of GRo involving heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which itself plays a critical role in self-defense in the presence of inflammatory stress. Methods Raw 264.7 cells were pretreated with GRo (up to 200μM) for 1 h before treatment with 1 μg/mL LPS, and both cell viability and inflammatory markers involving HO-1 were evaluated. Results GRo significantly increased cell viability in a dose dependent manner following treatment with LPS, and decreased levels of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide. GRo decreased inflammatory cytokines such as nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 induced by LPS. Moreover, GRo increased the expression of HO-1 in a dose dependent manner. Cotreatment of GRo with tin protoporphyrin IX, a selective inhibitor of HO-1, not only inhibited upregulation of HO-1 induced by GRo, but also reversed the anti-inflammatory effect of GRo in LPS treated Raw 264.7 cells. Conclusion GRo induces anti-inflammatory effects following treatment with LPS via upregulation of HO-1.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) play important roles in many aspects of plant growth and development, including regulation of vascular cambium activities and cell elongation. BR-induced BEE3 (brassinosteroid enhanced expression 3) is required for a proper BR response. Here, we identified a poplar (Populus alba × Populus glandulosa) BEE3-like gene, PagBEE3L, encoding a putative basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)-type transcription factor. Expression of PagBEE3L was induced by brassinolide (BL). Transcripts of PagBEE3L were mainly detected in stems, with the internode having a low level of transcription and the node having a relatively higher level. The function of the PagBEE3L gene was investigated through phenotypic analyses with PagBEE3L-overexpressing (ox) transgenic lines. This work particularly focused on a potential role of PagBEE3L in stem growth and development of polar. The PagBEE3L-ox poplar showed thicker and longer stems than wild-type plants. The xylem cells from the stems of PagBEE3L-ox plants revealed remarkably enhanced proliferation, resulting in an earlier thickening growth than wild-type plants. Therefore, this work suggests that xylem development of poplar is accelerated in PagBEE3L-ox plants and PagBEE3L plays a role in stem growth by increasing the proliferation of xylem cells to promote the initial thickening growth of poplar stems.

Magnetic, magnetocaloric and critical properties of Ni 50− x Cu x Mn 37 Sn 13 ( x = 0, 1, 2, 4 and 8) rapidly quenched ribbons have been studied. The substitution of Cu for Ni clearly effects on magnetic transitions, magnetocaloric effects and magnetic orders of these alloy ribbons. With increasing the Cu-concentration, the martensitic–austenitic phase transition shifts to lower temperature, from 265 K (for x = 0) to 180 K (for x = 4), and disappears with x = 8, while the Curie temperature, T C , is almost unchanged. Both the conventional and inverse magnetocaloric effects are observed. The obtained values for the maximum inverse magnetic entropy changes, |Δ S m | max , of the ribbons are relatively large, 5.6 J kg −1 K −1 (for x = 0) and 5.4 J kg −1 K −1 (for x = 4) with the external magnetic field change Δ H = 12 kOe. The critical parameters ( T C , β , γ and δ ) of the ribbons are determined from the static magnetic data at the second order ferromagnetic–paramagnetic transition by using both the Arrott–Noakes and Kouvel–Fisher methods. The results reveal that the long-range ferromagnetic order in the alloy is tendentiously dominated by increasing the Cu-concentration.

Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties in Ni50Mn50−xSnx alloys with wide range of the Sn-concentration (x=0–40) were investigated. The alloys were prepared by arc-melting and subsequently annealing at 850 °C for 4 h. The X-ray diffraction analyses manifest the formation of the crystalline phases (Ni2MnSn, NiMn, Ni3Sn2, Mn3Sn, and MnSn2) in the alloys with various compositions and fabrication conditions. With increasing x, the saturation magnetization first increases from near zero (at x=10) to above 40 emu/g (at x=20) and then decreases to below 10 emu/g (at x=40) for both the as-melted and annealed cases. The martensitic–austenitic transition was observed in the alloys with a narrow range of x (13–15). The magnetic transitions in the alloy can be controlled by changing Sn-concentration. The alloy reveals both the positive and negative entropy changes with quite large magnitude (∆Sm>1 J/kg K with ∆H=12 kOe) with appropriate compositions and annealing conditions.

We have studied the magnetic and magnetocaloric (MC) properties of Ni50−xPrxMn37Sn13 (x = 0, 1, 3, and 5) alloy ingots fabricated by arc-melting. Experimental results revealed a coexistence of the conventional and inverse MC effects in the samples with x = 0, 1, and 3. There is a gradual decrease of the magnetization and magnetic-entropy change (ΔSm) when Pr-doping content increases. However, the Curie temperature of the austenitic phase ( T C A ) around room temperature was not changed very much. Particularly, doping a small amount of Pr with x = 1 enhances remarkably the linewidth of the peaks in its ΔSm(T) curves. This increases the relative cooling power (RCP) of Ni50−xPrxMn37Sn13 alloys when they are used as coolants in refrigeration devices. For example, under an applied field of H = 50 kOe, the RCP increases from 150 for x = 0 to ∼200 J/kg for x = 1. Higher Pr contents reduce quickly the MC effect because of the formation of nonmagnetic secondary phases.

We prepared single-phase rhombohedral samples La0.7Sr0.3Mn1−xCoxO3 (x = 0, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.1) by conventional solid state reaction, and then studied in detail their magnetic and critical properties. Investigations into temperature and magnetic-field dependences of magnetization indicated a gradual decrease of the ferromagnetic–paramagnetic transition temperature (TC) from 360 to 281 K with increasing Co-doping concentration up to 10%. Having used Banerjee’s criteria, we found all the samples undergoing a second-order phase transition. The values of the critical exponent β = 0.387–0.487 determined from modified Arrott plots are located in between those expected for the 3D Heisenberg and mean-field models while the values of γ = 1.109–1.166 are close to those of the 3D Ising and mean-field models. These features reveal an existence of ferromagnetic short-range order and magnetic inhomogeneity in La0.7Sr0.3Mn1−xCoxO3. Particularly, with increasing Co concentration, the critical exponent values trend to shift towards those of the mean-field theory. Such the results prove the Co doping favors establishing ferromagnetic long-range order.

The magnetic phase transition behavior were investigated in detail in Ni 50 − y Gd y Mn 37 Sn 13 ( y = 1 and 3) alloys prepared by arc-melting method. The martensite phase was found to be strongly suppressed by a small amount of Gd doping. Based on isothermal magnetization curves around Curie temperature of the austenite ( T C A ) phase, critical behavior in the austenite phases of both alloys were determined carefully by the Kouvel–Fisher method. The critical exponents were found to be β = 0.473 ± 0.020 and γ = 1.141 ± 0.017 with T C A = 299.0 ± 0.2 K for y = 1, and β = 0.469 ± 0.068 and γ = 1.214 ± 0.042 with T C A = 302.9 ± 0.7 K for y = 3, respectively. The values of the critical exponents for the ferromagnetic phase transition in the A phase of two alloys can be basically ascribed in the mean-field model (with β = 0.5, γ = 1) with slightly deviation, revealing a long-range order of ferromagnetic interactions. Such critical behavior can be attributed to the magnetic inhomogeneities originated from the atomic disorder introduced by Gd doping.