The wedding of the century, Munich 1568

http://ift.tt/2h0ekJa

Composition effects on the fcc-hcp martensitic transformation and on the magnetic ordering of the fcc structure in Fe-Mn-Cr alloys

Publication date: 15 February 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 116
Author(s): L.M. Guerrero, P. La Roca, F. Malamud, A. Baruj, M. Sade
This paper presents an experimental study on the fcc/hcp martensitic transformation temperatures (MTTs) and Néel temperatures (TN) of the fcc phase of Fe-Mn-Cr alloys. A wide range of chemical compositions (13.7<Mn<27.5wt.% and 0<Cr<12.4wt.%) has been studied. X-ray diffraction measurements were conducted in order to confirm that the martensitic transformation takes place between an fcc structure and the hcp martensite. Transition temperatures were measured by means of electrical resistivity and dilatometry. All transition temperatures tend to decrease with the increment in Cr content while the addition of Mn decreases the MTTs and increases TN. These different effects and the stabilization effect of the antiferromagnetic ordering on the fcc austenite result in different MTTs behaviors depending on whether the martensitic transition occurs from a magnetically ordered austenite or not. For these later cases, a phenomenological model of MTTs is presented that could be of use for alloys design.

Graphical abstract

http://ift.tt/2gosbrI

Exceptional thermal strain reduction by a tilting pillar architecture: Suspended Ge layers on Si (001)

Publication date: 15 February 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 116
Author(s): Anna Marzegalli, Andrea Cortinovis, Francesco Basso Basset, Emiliano Bonera, Fabio Pezzoli, Andrea Scaccabarozzi, Fabio Isa, Giovanni Isella, Peter Zaumseil, Giovanni Capellini, Thomas Schroeder, Leo Miglio
In this paper we present the exceptional thermal strain release provided by micrometric Si pillar arrays to Ge epitaxial patches suspended on them, for different pillar aspect ratios and patch sizes. By combining 3D and 2D Finite Element Method simulations, low-energy plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition on patterned Si substrates, μ-Raman, μ-photoluminescence and XRD measurements, we provide a quantitative and consistent picture of this effect with the patch sizes. Strain relaxation up to 85% of the value for the corresponding planar films can be obtained for a squared patch 100μm in size. Finally, the enhanced thermal strain relaxation is analytically explained in terms of the Si pillar lateral tilting, critically dependent on the pillar aspect ratio, very similarly to the well-known case of a deflected beam. Our results are transferable to any material deposited, or wafer bonded at high temperature, on any patterned substrate: wafer bowing can be controlled by micrometric patterned features well within the present capabilities of deep reactive ion etching.

Graphical abstract

http://ift.tt/2gornDa

Designing of experiments for evaluating the interactions of influencing factors on the photocatalytic activity of NiS and SnS2: Focus on coupling, supporting and nanoparticles

Publication date: 15 March 2017
Source:Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Volume 490
Author(s): Hadis Derikvandi, Alireza Nezamzadeh-Ejhieh
Synergistic photocatalytic activity of SnS2 and NiS supported was observed by coupling and supporting the semiconductors onto clinoptilolite nanoparticles (NC). Formation of electrical double layer at the semiconductors' interface in the coupled semiconductors significantly prevented from electron/hole recombination which in turn enhanced the photodegradation activity. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) confirmed enhancement in charge transfer efficiency of the coupled/supported system with respect to the mono-component systems. Consequently the coupled/supported system showed the best photodegradation activity in degradation of metronidazole (MZ). The response surface methodology (RSM) showed that irradiation time, solution pH and interactions of time-CMZ and time-pH are the most important factors in MZ degradation. The best degradation extent was obtained at pH 4, catalyst dosage of 3gL⁻¹, 3mgL⁻¹ of MZ at irradiation time of 270min. R² of 0.9743 confirmed that the data predicted by RSM well agree with the experimental results. Catalyst dosage and irradiation time had synergistic effect and initial pH and CMZ had an antagonistic effect on the response, meaning that increasing in time and catalyst dosage and decreasing in pH and CMZ decreased MZ photodegradation. Sharp decrease in the UV–Vis absorption at 319nm and increase in the intensity at 240 and 206nm during the process confirmed converting the nitro group and nitrogen existing in MZ to nitrite ion.

Graphical abstract

http://ift.tt/2h9I2M6

Comprehensive study on enhanced photocatalytic activity of heterojunction ZnS-NiS/zeolite nanoparticles: Experimental design based on response surface methodology (RSM), impedance spectroscopy and GC-MASS studies

Publication date: 15 March 2017
Source:Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Volume 490
Author(s): Hadis Derikvandi, Alireza Nezamzadeh-Ejhieh
In the present work, coupled and supported NiS and ZnS onto the mechanically prepared clinoptilolite nanoparticles (NC) was prepared and characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, X-ray mapping, DRS, BET, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The obtained catalysts were used in photodegradation of metronidazole (MZ). The mole ratio of NiS/ZnS affects the degradation activity of the obtained catalysts so the best activity was obtained for the NZ4-NC (NiS1.0–ZnS5.2/NC, containing 1.0 and 5.2W% of NiS and ZnS, respectively and mole ratio of ZnS/NiS about 4) catalyst. The simultaneous effects of the experimental parameters were studied using central composite design combined with response surface methodology (RSM). Results of CV and EIS have good agreement with photodegradation results, so the coupled NiS-ZnS-NC system with significant enhancement in charge transfer with respect to the monocomponent systems showed the best photodegradation activity. The best degradation extent of MZ was obtained at a run including pH 2, catalyst dose of 3gL⁻¹, 4mgL⁻¹ of MZ at irradiation time of 150min. The high correlation coefficient (R²=0.9883) for the second-order polynomial model, showed that the data predicted using RSM were in good agreement with the experimental results. Change of initial pH of MZ solution from 5.5 to 4.1 during 150min, confirms formation of acidic degradation intermediates.

Graphical abstract

http://ift.tt/2h9KimJ

Patient-Reported Outcomes and Quality of Life with Sunitinib Versus Placebo for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Results From an International Phase III Trial

Abstract

Objective

The objective of this analysis was to compare patient-reported outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a pivotal phase III trial of sunitinib versus placebo in patients with progressive, well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NCT00428597).

Patients and Methods

Patients received sunitinib 37.5 mg (n = 86) or placebo (n = 85) on a continuous daily-dosing schedule until disease progression, unacceptable adverse events (AEs), or death. Patients completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire–Core 30 at baseline, Day 1 of every 4-week cycle, and end of treatment or withdrawal. Changes ≥10 points on each scale or item were deemed clinically meaningful.

Results

Sunitinib had anti-tumor effects and improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with placebo. The study was terminated early for this reason and because of more serious AEs and deaths with placebo. Baseline HRQoL scores were well balanced between study arms, and were generally maintained over time in both groups. In the first 10 cycles, there were no significant differences between groups in global HRQoL, cognitive, emotional, physical, role, and social functioning domains, or symptom scales, except for worsening diarrhea with sunitinib (p < 0.0001 vs. placebo). Insomnia also worsened with sunitinib (p = 0.0372 vs. placebo), but the difference was not clinically meaningful.

Conclusion

With the exception of diarrhea (a recognized side effect), sunitinib had no impact on global HRQoL, functional domains, or symptom scales during the progression-free period. Hence, in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, sunitinib provided a benefit in PFS without adversely affecting HRQoL.

http://ift.tt/2heNzS3

The total number of tissue blocks per centimetre of tumor significantly correlated with the risk of distant metastasis in patients with minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

Background

Given that careful histological examination plays a pivotal role in follicular thyroid carcinoma categorization, we hypothesize that the number of blocks taken at initial specimen review may be associated with survival outcomes of patients initially diagnosed with minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma.

Methods

A total of 162 patients with confirmed minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma were analyzed. The number of tissue blocks taken from each patient was recorded and the number of blocks per each centimeter of tumor was calculated. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify independent factors for distant metastasis-free survival.

Results

After a mean follow-up of 197.88 ± 155.39 months, 7 (4.3%) patients developed distant metastasis during follow-up (group II). Relative to those who remained disease-free (group I), group II were significantly older at initial operation (p = 0.022), had larger tumors (p = 0.002) and fewer number of blocks taken/cm of tumor (p = 0.001). However, after adjusting for age at initial operation and tumor size, total number of tissue blocks taken/cm of tumor was the only independent determinant for distant metastasis-free survival (p = 0.049). The 10-year distant metastasis-free survival was significantly better in those who had ≥ 4 blocks/cm of tumor (n = 82) than those with ≤ 3 block/cm of tumor (n = 80) (100 vs. 84.7%, p = 0.005, by log rank).

Conclusions

Although our study was not able to identify the precise cause for the association between the total number of tissue blocks taken/cm of tumor and distant metastasis-free survival, our data support a more liberal approach in taking tissue blocks on thyroid nodules especially those showing well-differentiated follicular cell differentiation.

http://ift.tt/2hk54MR