These fittings revealed notable ferromagnetic short-range correla

These fittings revealed notable ferromagnetic short-range correlations and pure ion-ion spin relaxation in the paramagnetic state of La0.3Ca0.7MnO3. The latter fact supports the local nature of ferromagnetic double exchange coupling in this very

case. It is suggested that such character of ferromagnetic exchange interactions results in the localization of carriers and establishing of charge ordered antiferromagnetic insulating ground state. This finding may be considered a strong prerequisite for the electron-hole doping asymmetry observed in the phase diagram of La-Ca manganites. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3540309]“
“Background: Skin-derived antimicrobial peptides, such as human beta-defensins and cathelicidins, actively contribute to host defense by inactivating microorganisms. Catestatin, a neuroendocrine peptide that affects human autonomic MLN2238 functions, has recently been detected in keratinocytes upon injury/infection where it inhibits the growth of pathogens. Human catestatin exhibits three single nucleotide polymorphisms: Gly364Ser, Pro370Leu, and Arg374Gln.

Objective: To investigate the effects of human catestatin and its variants on keratinocyte migration and proliferation, and to elucidate the possible signaling mechanisms involved.

Methods: The migration of normal human keratinocytes was analyzed using

Boyden microchamber assay

and in vitro wound closure assay. Cell proliferation was evaluated by BrdU incorporation, cell count assay and cell cycle analysis. Intracellular Ca(2+) Selleck PX-478 mobilization was measured using a fluorescent calcium assay kit. The phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Akt, and MAPKs was determined by Western blotting.

Results: Catestatin and its variants dose-dependently enhanced keratinocyte migration and proliferation. Moreover, catestatin peptides increased intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization and induced the phosphorylation of EGFR, Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38 in keratinocytes. The induction of keratinocyte migration and proliferation by catestatin XMU-MP-1 concentration peptides involved G-proteins, phospholipase C, EGFR, PI3-kinase, ERK, and p38, as evidenced by the specific inhibitory effects of pertussis toxin (G-protein inhibitor), U-73122 (phospholipase C inhibitor), AG1478 (EGFR inhibitor), anti-EGFR antibody, wortmannin (PI3-kinase inhibitor), U0126 (ERK inhibitor), and SB203580 (p38 inhibitor), respectively.

Conclusion: Besides inhibiting the growth of skin pathogens, catestatin peptides may also contribute to cutaneous wound closure by enhancing keratinocyte migration and proliferation at the wound site. (C) 2011 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

She has received chemotherapy in the

outpatient clinic T

She has received chemotherapy in the

outpatient clinic. This report is the second case of a pregnant woman with DIC as the initial manifestation of advanced gastric cancer. Prompt diagnosis and chemotherapy increases the chances of a relatively favorable outcome even in advanced gastric cancer presenting with DIC due to bone marrow involvement.”
“Contents The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of deslorelin acetate implants on domestic queen puberty postponement. Thirty, 114.4 +/- 12.7 days old, 1.5 +/- 0.1 kg Quizartinib cell line prepubertal crossbred female cats were included in this study. The animals were kept under a positive photoperiod and randomly assigned to deslorelin acetate 4.7 mg SC implants (n = 15) or to a non-treated control group (n = 15). The queens were followed up daily and weighed weekly until puberty. Vaginal cytology was also carried out three times a week. Puberty was diagnosed by the presence of the typical oestrous

behaviour and vaginal cytology findings. At puberty, ovariectomy was performed and the gonads grossly described. Age (281.2 +/- 21.6 vs 177.8 +/- 10.8; p < 0.01) but not weight (2.6 +/- 0.1 vs 2.5 +/- 0.1; p > 0.1) at puberty differed between the deslorelin and control groups, respectively. One deslorelin-treated female showed an oestrous response and another showed clinical signs of pyometra after the implants. Deslorelin-treated ovaries appeared small, while control gonads were normal. It was concluded that long-term-release deslorelin, administered at approximately 50% adult body weight, postponed feline puberty without altering find more growing

rate.”
“Background and Purpose: mTOR 抑制剂 During partial nephrectomy (PN), artery-only (AO) occlusion may mitigate ischemia/reperfusion injury because of retrograde venous flow. Using digital light processing-hyperspectral imaging (DLP (R)-HSI), we compared renal oxygenation during AO vs artery and vein (AV) occlusion in patients undergoing PN.

Patients and Methods: Thirty-seven patients who were undergoing complex open PN (median R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry of 8) at our institution underwent renal oxygenation assessment using DLP-HSI. Percent renal parenchymal oxyhemoglobin (%HbO(2)) during AO vs AV occlusion was recorded and its correlation with postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was investigated using Pearson correlation. AO and AV occlusion was performed in 12 and 25 patients, respectively.

Results: Comparing AO vs AV, mean ischemia time was 41 vs 35 minutes (P = 0.02). The %HbO(2) at baseline was 73.6% vs 71% (P = 0.23). After hilar occlusion, %HbO(2) quickly reached an “”ischemic plateau”" in both groups, with mean ischemic %HbO(2) measures of 59.7% vs 62.2% (P = 0.19). In the AV group, a lower mean ischemic %HbO(2) was associated with lower eGFR at the most recent follow-up (r = 0.46, P = 0.02) and remained significant on multivariable analysis (odds ratio 2.31; 95% confidence interval 0.29-4.32; P = 0.03).

Many studies have demonstrated that iNKT cells participate in imm

Many studies have demonstrated that iNKT cells participate in immune response against diverse microbes, including bacteria, fungi, protozoan parasites, and viruses. Generally, these cells play protective roles in host defense against infections. However, in some contexts they play pathogenic roles, by inducing or augmenting inflammation. Recent reports show that iNKT cells

recognize glycolipid antigens from pathogenic bacteria including Streptococcus pneumoniae, and they contribute to host defense against infection. iNKT cell responses to these microbial glycolipid antigens are highly conserved between rodents and humans, suggesting that iNKT cells are evolutionally conserved because their invariant TCR is useful in find more detecting certain pathogens. Furthermore, glycolipid-mediated iNKT cell activation during immunization has adjuvant activity, enhancing humoral and cell-mediated responses. Therefore, iNKT cell activation is an attractive target for developing new vaccines for infectious diseases.”
“Objective-To establish a safe and effective endoscopic method for visualizing the gonads and identifying the sex of hatchling Chinese box turtles and to compare the effects of general SB-715992 order versus local anesthesia

during coelioscopy.

Design-Clinical trial.

Animals-58 hatchling Chinese box turtles (Cuora flavomarginata).

Procedures-Turtles were randomly assigned to be anesthetized with a mixture of ketamine, medetomidine, and morphine (n = 29) or to receive local anesthesia with lidocaine in the prefemoral region (29). Coelioscopy was performed with a rigid 1.9- or 2.7-mm telescope following insufflation with sterile selleck chemicals llc lactated Ringer’s solution. Ease of endoscopic sex identification and quality of anesthesia were scored. Body weights were recorded

before and 7 and 14 days after surgery.

Results-Gonads were easily visualized and sex was easily identified in all 58 turtles without complications. Endoscopy scores and pre- and postoperative weights did not differ significantly between groups. However, anesthesia scores were significantly worse for animals that received local anesthesia alone, compared with those that underwent general anesthesia. All anesthetized turtles recovered within 21 minutes after administration of the reversal agents, atipamezole and naloxone.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results suggested that coelioscopy with a rigid endoscope and lactated Ringer’s solution for insufflation was a safe and effective method for identifying the sex of hatchling Chinese box turtles. General anesthesia was effective and effects were rapidly reversible; local anesthesia with lidocaine alone was considered insufficient for coelioscopy. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2009;234:800-804)”
“Background: The effects of L-carnitine on ifosfamide (IFO)-induced Fanconi syndrome have not been studied to date.

Screening of exon dosage revealed

PARKIN and PINK1 copy n

Screening of exon dosage revealed

PARKIN and PINK1 copy number variations, but no dosage alteration was found in SNCA and DJ-1 genes. Most of the carriers harbor heterozygous deletions or duplications Z-DEVD-FMK manufacturer in the PARKIN gene and only one patient was found to have a deletion in PINK1 exon 1. Data about dosage changes are scarce in the Brazilian population, which stresses the importance of including exon dosage analysis in Parkinson’s disease genetic studies.”
“The viscosity behavior of various compositions of polymer electrolyte membrane solutions, which are later hydrolyzed into proton conducting membrane film for fuel cells, is characterized. Using the Carreau-Yasuda model and time-temperature superposition, an empirical model relating the viscosity as a function of temperature and shear strain rate has been developed for several membrane solution compositions. It is observed that the viscosity of the non-Newtonian membrane

has a strong correlation to the membrane’s inherent viscosity (a property determined during membrane synthesis). (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 1286-1292, 2009″
“Drug resistance studies ideally require two sputum specimens, one spot and one early morning, for culture in Lowenstein-Jensen medium. Although the type Belnacasan chemical structure of specimen plays a major role in the detection of acid-fast bacilli using microscopy, this type of specimen collection puts unnecessary pressure on patients. Two sputum samples, one on the spot and another in the early morning, collected from 179 TB patients in cetylpyridinium chloride and processed for culture, yielded respectively 89.9% and 87.7% culture positivity, while culture positivity increased to 93.3% when both specimens were tested.”
“alpha-Lactalbumin (alpha-La) and beta-lactoglobulin (beta-Lg) are important whey proteins with isoelectric points of pH 4.80 and 5.34, respectively,

and evidence negative charge AZD1480 mouse over a range of pHs. Chitosan exhibits a cationic property under pH 6.5. In an effort to determine the physicochemical properties of mixtures of 0.5% alpha-La and 0.1% chitosan, and 0.5% beta-Lg and 0.1% chitosan, optical structure, turbidity, electrophoresis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were assessed in a pH range of 2.0-8.0. The results demonstrated that alpha-La, beta-Lg, and chitosan precipitated at pH Values of approximately 5.0, 5,0, and 7.0, respectively. The mixtures of alpha-La and chitosan as well as beta-Lg and chitosan coacervated at a pH range of 6.0-6.5. The turbidity of alpha-La and alpha-La-chitosan achieved a maximum at pH 5.0, whereas those of beta-Lg and beta-Lg-chitosan achieved maximum values at a pH of 6.5. The electrophoregram showed a large band with high molecular weight in increasing pH values from 5.0 to 6.0, which suggested that alpha-La and beta-Lg form polymers with chitosan.

Furthermore, the swelling/deswelling kinetics of the IPN hydrogel

Furthermore, the swelling/deswelling kinetics of the IPN hydrogel also exhibited an improved

controllable response rate versus the normal IPN hydrogel. Ibuprofen (IBU) was chosen as the model drug for examining loading and release from the IPN hydrogel. The experimental data proved that the IPN hydrogel provided a positive drug release pattern; the IBU released faster at 37 degrees C than at 25 degrees C, and improved drug loading and controlled release were achieved by the IPN hydrogel versus the normal IPN hydrogel. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 1417-1425, 2009″
“Renal hypertrophy and accumulation of extracellular selleck chemicals llc matrix proteins are among cardinal manifestations of diabetic nephropathy. TGF beta system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of these manifestations. Among signaling pathways activated in the kidney in diabetes, mTOR- GNS-1480 in vivo (mammalian target of rapamycin-) regulated pathways

are pivotal in orchestrating high glucose-induced production of ECM proteins leading to functional and structural changes in the kidney culminating in adverse outcomes. Understanding signaling pathways that influence individual matrix protein expression could lead to the development of new interventional strategies. This paper will highlight some of the diverse components of the signaling network stimulated by hyperglycemia with an emphasis on extracellular matrix protein metabolism in the kidney in diabetes.”
“We report the ferromagnetism of La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 in bulk polycrystalline, nanocrystalline, and amorphous phases. The structural change from crystalline phase to amorphous phase exhibited a systematic decrease in T-C (paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition temperature) and spontaneous magnetization (M-S). The experimental results suggested few more interesting

features, e. g., appearance of click here large magnetic irreversibility in the temperature dependence of magnetization, lack of magnetic saturation at high magnetic field, blocking of magnetization below T-B, and enhancement of coercivity. In addition, the magnetic phase transition near to T-C changes from first order character in bulk sample to second order character in nanocrystalline and amorphous samples. We understand the observed magnetic features as the effects of decreasing particle size and increasing magnetic (spin-lattice) disorder. The magnetic dynamics of amorphous samples is distinctly different from the nanocrystalline samples and also found to be comparable with the properties of reported amorphous ferromagnetic nanoparticles. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3138814]“
“Biodegradation of polyethylene and oxo-biodegradable polyethylene films was studied in this work.

8 +/- 0 7, 91 1 +/- 0 4, 93 0 +/- 0 7, and 96 2 +/- 0 2% at a con

8 +/- 0.7, 91.1 +/- 0.4, 93.0 +/- 0.7, and 96.2 +/- 0.2% at a concentration of 100 mu M, respectively.”
“Acetaldehyde (ACD), the first metabolite of ethanol (EtOH), has been implicated in several actions of alcohol, including its reinforcing effects. learn more Previously considered an aversive compound, ACD was useful in alcoholic’s pharmacological treatment aimed at discouraging alcohol drinking. However,

it has recently been shown that EtOH-derived ACD is necessary for EtOH-induced place preference and self-adminstration, thereby suggesting a possible involvement of ACD in EtOH motivational properties. In addition, EtOH-stimulating properties on DA neurons are prevented by pharmacological CP-690550 ic50 blockade of local catalase H2O2 system, the main metabolic step for biotransformation of EtOH into ACD within the central nervous system. It was

further shown that pretreatment with thiol compounds like L-Cysteine or D-Penicillamine, reduced EtOH and ACD, thus suggesting a possible role for ACD as a biomarker useful in evaluating potential innovative treatments of alcohol abuse. These findings suggest a key role of ACD in the EtOH reinforcing effects. In the present paper we review the role of EtOH-derived ACD in the reinforcing effects of EtOH and the possibility that ACD may serve as a therapeutically targetable biomarker in the search for novel treatments in alcohol abuse and alcoholism.”
“Humans are exposed to check details stannous chloride (SnCl(2)), known as tin chloride, present in packaged food, soft drinks, biocides, dentifrices, etc. Health effects in children exposed to tin and tin compounds have not been

investigated yet. Therefore, we evaluated the possible teratogenic effects and genotoxic of SnCl(2) in zebrafish (Danio rerio) adults and their embryos. In the embryo-larval study, SnCl(2) showed embryo toxicity and developmental delay after exposure to the various concentrations of 10-250 mu M for 120 h. Teratogenic effects including morphological malformations of the embryos and larvae were observed. The embryos exposed to 100 mu M displayed tail deformation at 28 hpf and the larvae exposed to 50 mu M showed reduced body growth, smaller head and eyes, bent trunk, mild pericardial edema, and smaller caudal fin at 96 hpf. The results of the teratological study show that SnCl(2) induced a significant decrease in the number of living embryos and larvae. Regarding the chromosome analysis, SnCl(2) induced a dose-dependent increase in the micronucleus (MN) frequency in peripheral erythrocytes of adult zebrafish. In blood cells, the 25 mu M dose of SnCl(2) caused a nonsignificant increase in the total chromosomal aberrations, but the high doses significantly increased the total number of chromosomal aberrations compared with the control groups. Overall, the results clearly indicate that SnCl(2) is teratogenic and genotoxic to zebrafish.

The histological examination of the anastomoses concentrated on a

The histological examination of the anastomoses concentrated on assessing the inflammatory cell infiltration of the TachoSil (TM) patch and the intestinal learn more wall.

Severe preanastomotic dilatation was observed in additionally sealed ileo-ileal anastomoses with conventional suture number and high complication rates (ileus, perforation, death) occurred in additionally sealed anastomoses with reduced suture number. We found a massive microabscess-forming inflammation in additionally sealed anastomoses. Inflammatory cell infiltration was highest in the collagen layer of the sealing patch (p < 0.05 vs. fibrin layer of the sealing patch and vs. intestinal wall).

As a result of

our findings, additional sealing of small-diameter intestinal anastomoses with TachoSil (TM) cannot be recommended.”
“Oral Nutlin-3a mw Diseases (2012) 18, 707712 Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Halitosis Associated Life-quality Test (HALT) questionnaire. Methods: A total of 106 patients with oral malodour were recruited to complete the questionnaire after its translation and cross-cultural adaptation. The reliability of the Chinese version of the HALT was evaluated using

internal consistency and testretest methods. Both construct validity and discriminative validity were adopted to evaluate the validity of the HALT. Results: The Cronbachs alpha value (internal reliability) for the total HALT score was 0.95, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value (testretest reliability) was 0.89 (95% CI = 0.740.98). The construct validity was determined by exploratory factor analysis. Four factors were extracted, which accounted for 85.18% of the variance. All items had factor loadings above 0.40, ranging from 0.53 to 0.94. In addition, the Chinese version of the HALT was found to be valid for distinguishing patients with different degrees of oral malodour. Conclusion: The results suggest that the Chinese version of the HALT has satisfactory psychometric properties and is applicable to patients with oral malodour in Chinese-speaking populations.”
“Arterial

spin labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance Selleckchem ITF2357 imaging (MRI) is a technique for depicting cerebral perfusion without contrast medium. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ASL can be used to detect hyperperfusion after revascularization for moyamoya disease as effectively as N-isopropyl-[123I]beta-iodoamphetamine (I-123-IMP) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Fifteen consecutive patients with moyamoya disease were included in the study. All patients underwent surgical revascularization. Postoperatively, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured by flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) ASL and I-123-IMP SPECT during the acute stage, and rCBF of the operative side was compared with the other side. The asymmetry ratio (AR) was then calculated from the rCBF as measured using each modality.

This paper aims to investigate associations between exposure to a

This paper aims to investigate associations between exposure to ambient wood smoke, traffic-related air pollution and current asthma/asthma severity in middle age, and whether any associations are modified by atopic

status.

MethodsUsing data from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study, associations between ambient wood smoke and two indices of traffic-related air pollution (frequency of heavy vehicles near the home and frequency of intense traffic noise) and current asthma/asthma severity were investigated. Unconditional logistic regression to examine current asthma and ordinal logistic regression to examine I-BET-762 clinical trial asthma severity was used.

ResultsFor asthmatics, both exposure to ambient wood smoke (odds ratio 1.11; 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.20) and being frequently exposed to heavy vehicles (odds ratio 1.80; 95% confidence interval 1.09-2.96) were associated with increased asthma severity. Neither association varied by atopic status.

ConclusionsIn middle-aged adults, ambient wood smoke and traffic pollution were associated with increased asthma

severity. These findings suggest that avoiding or limiting exposure to traffic pollution and wood smoke may help to reduce asthma. Future studies to replicate this finding are recommended and should examine specific biological mechanisms for this effect.”
“Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between neuropsychological functioning and the ability to work in cancer survivors.

Methods: Torin 1 in vivo The study involved a consecutive cohort of 45 patients who had received a primary diagnosis of

cancer, were gainfully employed at baseline, and had been treated with curative intent. Twelve months after the first day of sick leave, they underwent a neuropsychological assessment that included executive function and verbal memory tests. Other clinical, person-related, and work-related factors were also assessed by questionnaire at this time. Ability to work was measured as perceived workability (0-10) and work status at 12 MLN8237 months of sick leave.

Results: Fifteen participants (33%,) showed neuropsychological impairments covering various domains. The mean workability score of cancer survivors with neuropsychological impairment was 4.9, whereas those without impairments had a mean score of 6.0 (raw beta = -0.19: 95% CI = -2.9 to 0.7; adjusted beta = -0.15; 95% CI = -2.5 to 0.8). More cancer survivors with neuropsychological impairments (7/15, 47%) than without (9/30, 30%) bad not yet returned to work (raw OR 0.5: 95% CI: 0.1-1.8; adjusted OR 0.5; 95% CI: 0.1-2.1).

Conclusions: To date, this is the largest study to assess neuropsychological functioning objectively in combination with perceived workability and work status.

Animal experiments with monkeys demonstrated no increase in calci

Animal experiments with monkeys demonstrated no increase in calcitonin release and no C-cell proliferation after long-term liraglutide administration. Longitudinal 2-year data from

clinical trials do not support any significant risk for the activation or growth of C-cell cancer in humans in response to liraglutide. However, an analysis of the FDA adverse event reporting system database suggested an increased risk for thyroid cancer associated with exenatide after its marketing. selleck products Noticeably, a recent study discovered that GLP-1 receptor could also be expressed in human papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC), but the impact of GLP-1 analogs on PTC is not known. Therefore,

GLP-1 analogs might increase the risk of thyroid C-cell pathology in rodents, but its risk in humans awaits confirmation. Since GLP-1 receptor is also expressed in PTC besides C-cells, it is important to investigate the actions of GLP-1 on different subtypes of thyroid cancer in the future.”
“Background: The literature on changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in weight loss studies is inconsistent, and few studies use more than one type of measure. The purpose of the current study was to compare one-year changes in HRQOL as a function of weight change using three different measures: a weight-related measure (Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite [IWQOL-Lite)]) find more and MK-1775 two generic measures (SF-36; EQ-5D).

Methods: Data were obtained from 926 participants

(mean Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m(2)) = 35.4; 84% female; mean age = 49.5 years) in a placebo-controlled randomized trial for weight loss. At baseline and one-year, participants completed all three HRQOL measures. HRQOL was compared across weight change categories (>= 5% and 0-4.9% gain, 0-4.9%, 5.0-9.9% and >= 10% loss), using effect sizes.

Results: The weight-related measure of HRQOL exhibited greater improvements with one-year weight loss than either of the generic instruments, with effect sizes ranging from 0.24 to 0.62 for 5-9.9% weight reductions and 0.44 to 0.95 for >= 10% reductions. IWQOL-Lite Self-Esteem also showed a small improvement with weight gain. Changes in the two generic measures of HRQOL were inconsistent with each other, and in the case of the SF-36, variable across domains. For participants gaining >= 5% of weight, the greatest reductions in HRQOL occurred with respect to SF-36 Mental Health, MCS, and Vitality, with effect sizes of -0.82, -0.70, and -0.63 respectively.

Conclusion: This study found differences between weight-related and generic measures of health-related quality of life in a one-year weight loss trial, reflecting the potential value of using more than one measure in a trial.

The results for tube geometries are found to be in contrast with

The results for tube geometries are found to be in contrast with the limiting (single-interface) special cases of wires and antiwires. Numerical examples are presented mainly for Ni materials. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3554208]“
“Genomic DNA sequences are an irreplaceable source for reconstructing the vanished past of living this website organisms. Based on updated sequence data,

this paper summarizes our studies on species divergence time, ancient population size and functional loss of genes in the primate lineage leading to modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens). The inter-and intraspecific comparisons of DNA sequences suggest that the human lineage experienced a rather severe bottleneck in the Middle Pleistocene, throughout which period the subdivided African population played a predominant role in shaping the genetic architecture of modern humans. Also, published and newly identified human-specific pseudogenes (HSPs) are enumerated in order to infer their significance for human evolution. Of the 121

candidate genes obtained, authentic HSPs turn out to comprise only 25 olfactory receptor genes, four T cell receptor genes and nine other genes. The fixation of HSPs has been too rare over FG-4592 price the past 6-7 Myr to account for species differences between humans and chimpanzees.”
“In this article, one cast technique to fabricate 20-40 wt %AgNO3-doped polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite films of which electrical resistance sharply dropped (4-5 order) in a certain temperature range was reported. The phase, structure thermal, and electrical resistivity properties of films at different heat treatment temperatures were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electrical microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that all the AgNO3 (20-40 wt %) doped

PVA films presented an exothermic peak at 182 degrees C. And the temperature Nec-1s inhibitor of exothermic peak kept constant for various contents of AgNO3. Meanwhile, the phase composition of the films was greatly affected by the heat treatment temperature. Ag particles were generated during the heat treatment process, and the content of Ag particles increased with increasing the temperature. The resistivity of PVA/AgNO3 films decreased with increasing the temperature. And a sharp decrease appeared at 155-165 degrees C due to the generation and contact of a mass of Ag particles at this temperature. The thermal-electrical results suggested the applicability of these materials in temperature sensor, for example, critical temperature resistor thermistor. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 122: 813-818, 2011″
“Magnetization reversal and the effect of patterning have been investigated in full-film and dot arrays of Co/Pd multilayers, using the first-order reversal curve and scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis techniques.