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The spin configuration and spontaneous magnetostriction λ111 of TbxDy0.92-xNd0.1(Fe0.8Co0.2)1.93 (0.20⩽x⩽0.60) alloys have been investigated. The easy magnetization direction (EMD) at room temperature was observed towards the (111) axis when 0.40⩽x⩽0.60, accompanied by a rhombohedral distortion with large spontaneous magnetostriction coefficients λ111, which increases from 1640 ppm for x=0.40 to 1900 ppm for x=0.60. The strong (111)-oriented pseudo 1-3 particulate composite was fabricated by embedding and aligning particles in a passive epoxy matrix under an applied magnetic field. An enhanced magnetostrictive effect, the large low-field magnetostriction, λa, as high as 480 ppm at 3 kOe, was obtained for the sample of x=0.40, in an excess of 75% of its polycrystalline alloy although it only contains 27 vol.% alloy particles. This enhanced effect can be attributed to its low magnetic anisotropy, anisotropic magnetostrictive nature (e.g., λ111 ≠λ100, (111)EMD), chain structure, and the (111)-textured orientation. In addition, we give a direct experimental support that the (111)EMD of particle and the strong (111)-textured orientation are the crucial factors to realize the enhanced magnetostrictive effect in 1-3 particulate composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical magnetoresistance (MR) in nonmagnetic metals are conventionally understood in terms of the Kohler rule, with violation usually viewed as anomalous electron transport, in particular, as evidence of non-Fermi liquid behavior. Measurement of the MR of Au films as a function of temperature and film thickness reveals a strong dependence on grain size distribution and clear violation of the Kohler rule. Using a model of random resistor network, we show that this result can be explained if the MR arises entirely from inhomogeneity due to grain boundary scattering and thermal activation of grain boundary atoms. Consequently, the Kohler rule should not be used to distinguish normal and anomalous electron transport in solids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the association between HOXA13 dysregulation and gastric cancer progression. We also explored the functional role of HOXA13 in invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of gastric cancer cells and the possible signaling pathway it might involve in. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The microarray (E-GEOD-19826) examined the transcription profiles of 12 adjacent normal/tumor-matched gastric tissues was downloaded from the ArrayExpress and reanalyzed. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed to assess HOXA13 expression in 23 stage I and 69 stage II/III/IV gastric cancer tissues. The human gastric cancer cell line AGS and SGC-7901 cells were transfected with HOXA13 siRNA and then were subjected to detection of epithelial and mesenchymal markers and cell invasion. The involvement of HOXA13 in TGF-β signaling was further studied. RESULTS: HOXA13 is one of the most upregulated genes in gastric cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Also, HOXA13 is further upregulated in the higher stage tumors. HOXA13 staining was significantly stronger in stage II/III/IV tumors than in stage I tumors. HOXA13 siRNA significantly restored the epithelial property and reduced the mesenchymal property of the cancer cells. Transwell assay showed that HOXA13 siRNA impaired the invasion capability of the cancer cells. The gastric cancer cells with HOXA13 knockdown had decreased expression of p-SMAD2 and p-SMAD3. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides additional evidence about the association between HOXA13 upregulation and gastric cancer progression. Also, we showed that HOXA13 contributes to invasion and EMT of gastric cancer cells via the TGF-β signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Mesoporous activated carbon was prepared from waste tyres via acid wash and steam activation. The effect of synthetic conditions was studied and the surface texture of the tyre carbon was characterized. The optimally obtained carbon sample presents a surface area of ∼1200 m2 g−1 and is predominantly mesoporous. Acid wash was found to play an important role in the structural development of carbon. The advantage of the mesoporous carbon was demonstrated by its excellent sorption capacity towards the bulky molecule of a basic dye (methylene blue). © 2011 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot isostatic pressure (HIP) process has been carried out on multifilament Bi-2223/Ag tapes. The influence of the crack-healing process (CHP) on the microstructure and critical current (Ic) of HIP samples has been studied. Ic values of HIP samples show a strong depend on the CHP sintering temperature and dwelling time, with the optimum CHP condition at about 828°C for 3 hours. It was suggested that CHP is related to the presence of liquid phase, leading to a self-sealed effect in Bi-2223/Ag tapes. By controlling the CHP temperature, a preliminary Ic improvement of about 14% has been achieved on HIP samples, compared to those sintered at normal pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]