The dielectric behavior under dc bias and the evolution of the hysteresis loop with increasing electric field for 3/75/25 indicate an electric field-induced phase transition, and it is proposed that the unstable intermediate ferroelectric state which would experience obvious field-induced phase

transition is the origin of the giant electro-optic Kerr effect observed in La-doped PMN-PT 3/75/25. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3646553]“
“Radiation induced lung damage is a main dose limiting factor when irradiating the thorax. Although Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a valuable tool for studying the mechanisms in selleck chemicals llc pulmonary disorders, there are only a few studies about the BAL findings of radiation-induced lung damage. We evaluate the BAL Daporinad findings for the evaluation of radiation-induced lung damage. Sprague-Dawley rats received 20 Gy of radiation to the right lung and control group were sham irradiated. BAL was performed for the right and left lungs separately 3. 7, 14, 28, and 56 days after radiation. The cells in the BAL fluid were counted and the concentrations of protein, NO, and TGF-beta in the BAL fluid were measured. Lung tissues were removed after BAL and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) and trichrome. From 2 weeks, histological findings showed

definite lung damage. The protein level and TGF-beta in BAL fluid from the irradiated lung peaked at 4 and 8 weeks, respectively, after radiation. Total cell count in BAL fluid from both sides of lungs was increased from 2 weeks and continued to increase at 8 weeks after irradiation. NO in BAL fluid from both sides of lungs peaked at 4 weeks after irradiation. The protein level and TGF-beta were increased in BAL fluid from irradiated PKC412 lungs. However, alveolar cells and NO increased in BAL fluid from both irradiated and

non-irradiated lungs. BAL is a valuable tool for the evaluation of radiation induced lung damage.”
“The polypropylene-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PP-MWCNTs) were produced from the reaction of PP containing the hydroxyl groups and MWCNTs having 2-bromoisobutyryl groups. The PP-MWCNTs had a significantly rougher surface than the original MWCNTs. PP-MWCNTs had PP layers of thickness 10-15 nm on the outer walls of the MWCNTs. PP/PP-MWCNT composites and PP/MWCNT composites were prepared by solution mixing in o-xylene. Unlike PP/MWCNT composites, PP-MWCNTs were homogeneously dispersed in the PP matrix. As a consequence, the thermal stability and conductivity of PP/PP-MWCNT composites were dramatically improved even if only 1 wt % of PP-MWNTs was added to the PP matrix. The good miscibility of PP and PP-MWCNTs plays a critical role in the formation of the homogeneous composites and leads the high thermal stability and conductivity. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.