Morphological Scanning Research Articles

The Influence of the Precursor Type and of the Substrate on the SPD Deposited TiO2 Photocatalytic Thin Films

Abstract Photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants from wastewater using titanium dioxide is recognized as an efficient process. To be feasible, this process needs to be solar- or visible light -activated, but, due to its wide band gap energy, titanium dioxide can only be activated by ultraviolet radiation. In this paper, thin films of titanium dioxide were deposited by Spray Pyrolysis Deposition using organo-metallic (titanium-iso-propoxide) and inorganic (titanium chloride) precursors, as a first step in optimizing the deposition process of titanium dioxide - carbon composite thin films, active in the visible spectral range. The thin films were characterized to outline the differences when using these two precursor solutions, when deposited on Fluorine doped Tin Oxide-glass, regular glass and microscopic glass, in terms of crystallinity (by using X-ray diffraction), elemental composition (using Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometry), surface morphology (Scanning Electronic Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy). The photocatalytic activity of the titanium dioxide thin films was investigated based on the removal efficiencies of methylene blue from a synthetically prepared wastewater. The samples deposited using the inorganic precursor show higher roughness, and this proves to be the most important factor that influences the phocatalytic processes. After 8 hours of ultraviolet irradiation, methylene blue removal efficiencies up to 36% were observed; the highest removal efficiency was registered using the thin titanium dioxide film obtained using the titanium chloride precursor, deposited on fluorine doped tin oxide glass substrate, due to the titanium dioxide-tin dioxide semiconductor tandem formed at the interface, that limits the electron-hole recombination, thus increasing the photoctalytic performance of the substrate.

Preliminary Investigation of the Influence of Potentiodynamic Electrosynthesis of Polyaniline@Carbon Fiber on the Formation of Charge Carriers and Their Effects on Double Layer

Aerospace systems contain a number of electronic devices responsible for data acquisition and transmission, device control, and power storage. Resistant structural materials, and light electronics are of strong interest to the aerospace industry. Thus, it is possible to aggregate these properties in a single electroactive composite material for application in new aeronautical structures of panels, circuits, de-icing and anti-icing systems, and sensor integration. The combination of carbon fiber with conductive polymer results in a material that can replace printed circuit board metal with improvements in the properties of thermal and mechanical resistance, and density resulting in a lighter material and electric conductor. The most suitable forms of electrodeposited polyaniline in carbon fiber structural cables were tested, through analysis of number of electrochemical cycles influence. In general, the electrochemical cell can be described as carbon fiber (CF) used as work electrode, against platinum electrode, using cyclic voltammetry in the region of -0.50 V to +1.05 V vs. Ag/AgCl at variable sweep rate from 5 mV/s, and different numbers of voltammetric cycles, 2, 4, 6 and 9, in a 0.5 mol/L aniline and H2SO4 0.5 mol/L solution The cyclic voltammetry shown in Figure 1 shows the anode peak of interest around 0.25 V, which is the potential for maximum formation of emeraldine in the fiber, used as the final potential of each process of obtaining.. Morphological (Scanning Electron Microscopy), structural (X-ray Diffraction) and chemical (Infrared Spectroscopy by Fourier Transform) analyzes were performed. It is possible to observe that the morphology advances for more intense deposition of polyaniline on carbon fibers. Noticeable forms: “coral reef”, alveoli, nanofibers. The diffractograms have polyaniline@Carbon fiber peaks, showing that polyaniline (001) is oriented by the carbon fiber (002) for the first cycles, close to 10°. In addition, polyaniline grown to cycle 2 exhibits a relatively small population of structures growing in the directions associated with 2Θ = 12°, 17°, and 34°, most common in the case of chemical synthesis. In the diffractogram of polyaniline grown up to cycle 4, there is a significant contribution obtained in 6,2° competing with the growth of orthorhombic structures around 9°, as it had been presented in 2 cycles. For the polymer obtained after 6 and 9 cycles, the peaks 17° and 25° show higher incidence. These new orientations indicate that growth does not occur on both the fiber surface and on the previously formed polyaniline itself. The identification of functional groups was useful for confirming the formation of emeraldine and its conductive, saline, more or less protonated form. However, all samples present bands related to the C=C stretch in the structure of the quinoid and benzenoid ring, proving the presence of polyaniline. The proximity of the height of these bands, between 1565 and 1490 cm-1, indicates the obtaining of the emeraldine form, which is the most susceptible to electric charge accommodation. However, there are no bands expressing between 1240-1255 cm-1 relative to the assignment of the C-N stretch in the BBB sequence (which does not favor electroactivity), indicating that there are no long sequences of benzenoid groups in the polymer, which does not have definitively insulating chain branches , since the BBB sequence is insulating. According to the literature, the degree of oxidation of PAni is calculated by Equation 1, the ratio of the presence of quinoids. Equation 2 shows how to calculate the S ratio of protonated C-N groups. The higher the value of S, the greater the number of protons accommodated, and therefore, the greater the electroactivity. Through Bode Plot, it is possible to calculate the relaxation time (t) of each sample. Table 1 presents the values of y, S and t, as they enabled quantification of the spectra of Figures 3, 4 and 5. Being y ~ 0.5 (emeraldine) for all samples, the electroactivity is favored, with slight variations in the degree of protonation . However, for 6 cycles, only 76% of the species are protonated. In this case, the electrochemical relaxation time was higher, indicating that the shortage of accommodated load allows for greater storage, making it difficult to release them, being less suitable for the aforementioned circuits (Table 1). The Polyaniline@carbon fiber most suitable for this purpose should be closer to that obtained with 4 cycles. Figure 1

Turner syndrome - The clinical spectrum and management dilemmas.

Turner syndrome (TS) is a common sex chromosome disorder, with a varied clinical spectrum and prognosis. It may range from the complete phenotype of TS characterised by short stature, ovarian failure, cardiac and renal abnormalities, with milder variants often associated with mosaic TS. We describe five cases of TS. In case 1, complete TS was identified by first-trimester screening with a grossly oedematous fetus at 11weeks of gestation and underwent medical termination of pregnancy due to the dismal prognosis. In case 2, a hydropic fetus and large cystic hygromas were identified at routine second-trimester morphology scan. Intra-uterine fetal death was identified at 22weeks of gestation and formal karyotype confirmed complete TS. Case 3 demonstrates the potential for a successful live birth of mosaic TS with mild neurocognitive and renal abnormalities. Case 4 demonstrates the ability for TS to go undetected until adolescence where the patient was diagnosed at 15years of age during investigations for severe anaemia, identified as secondary to critical aortic stenosis and Heyde's syndrome. Case 5 highlights the potential for patients with TS to reproduce with assisted reproductive technology. These cases explore the prognostic spectrum of TS and highlight that they have a potential to lead productive and fulfilling lives. Consequently, a multimodal risk stratification approach to prognostic counselling should be under-taken with consideration of pertinent history, major sonographic abnormalities, maternal serum testing and invasive testing.

Tooth remains of Late Pleistocene moschid and cervid (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from Yangjiawan and Fuyan Caves of southern China

In southern China, the Ailuropoda-Stegodon fauna is a very general one with a relatively stable Ailuropoda and Stegodon fossil assemblage throughout the Pleistocene epoch, and cervid remains are also significant elements of this fauna. The taxonomic study on isolated cervid tooth fossils of the Late Pleistocene Ailuropoda-Stegodon fauna is not very adequate. The numerous cervid tooth fossils recently unearthed from Yangjiawan caves and Fuyan Cave give us a possibility to address this issue. Based on morphologic, odontometric and CT scanning studies, six moschid and cervid species have been recognized, including Moschus sp., Elaphodus cephalophus, Muntiacus muntjak, M. reevesi, Rusa unicolor and Cervus nippon. The cervid faunal compositions of these two sites are basically the same, and most of the species can be distinguished from one another in tooth dimensions, except for M. muntjak and E. cephalophus; but the entoflexus of upper premolars, the metacone ribs of upper molars, the structure of p4, and the metastylid of lower molars can be used as distinguishable characters between M. muntjak and E. cephalophus. The cingulum and the entostyle of upper molars, and the metastylid of lower molars of M. reevesi are weaker than those of M. muntjak. R. unicolor possesses tapered entostyle and thick enamel, while the enamel of C. nippon is relatively thinner and the entostyle is columned. Moschus sp. usually has a Dorcatherium fold in lower molars, which is a diagnostic character for Moschus species.

Preparation and optimization of a dry powder for inhalation of second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs

A spray drying process was standardized to prepare an inhalable powder comprising d-cycloserine and ethionamide, two “second line” drugs employed for treating multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB). The aim of the process development effort was to maximize product yield. Contour plots were generated using a small central composite design (CCD) with face centered (α = 1) to maximize the process yield as the response criterion. The design space was experimentally validated. Powder was prepared and characterized for drug content (HPLC), geometric size (laser scattering), surface morphology (scanning electron microscopy) aerosol behaviour (cascade impaction) and powder flow properties. The optimized process yielded a powder with a median mass aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 1.76 µ ± 3.1 geometric standard deviation (GSD). Mass balance indicated that the major proportion of the particles produced by spray drying are lost to the outlet filter. The process represents a best-case compromise of spray-drying conditions to minimize loss during droplet drying, collection and process air discharge.

The influence of bedding plane orientation on rock breakages in biaxial states

Bedding planes are weak structural planes in rock masses, significantly affecting rock properties. In the present article, the indentation and morphology scanning tests have been conducted to investigate the influence of the bedding plane orientation on rock breakages in biaxial states. First, the indentation tests show that the increase in δ restrained the propagation of both internal and surface cracks. Then, the theoretical analysis properly validated this conclusion. In addition, the morphological scanning tests show that these restraints on crack propagation directly led to the shrinkage of grooves. It is believed that the crack propagation is responsible for the chip formation when δ is low, whereas chips frequently form by shear failure for higher δ. Furthermore, the recorded AE, reflecting the crack propagation level, also indicates that fiercer crack propagation occurred for lower δ. Simultaneously, the sharp drops of the indentation force frequently were accompanied with promoted AE. With the consumed energy and the groove volume, it can be concluded that the increase in δ restrains the crack propagation and further leads to the decrease in indentation efficiency.

Novel copper(II) complexes of two tridentate ONN type ligands: Synthesis, characterization, electrical conductivity and luminescence properties

Abstract Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of two novel tridentate ONN donor ligands, namely, (E)-2-(((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)imino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol (HL1) and (E)-2-(((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)imino)methyl)-6-ethoxyphenol (HL2), and their copper(II) complexes, [Cu2(L1)2(CH3COO)2] (1), [Cu(L2)(CH3COO)]·2H2O (2). They have been synthesized under conventional methods and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, ICP-OES, TGA, DSC and GC/MS analysis. For the morphological analysis field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used. The geometry of the Cu(II) complexes was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The Cu(II) ions are in distorted square-pyramidal coordination environments. 1 crystallizes in orthorhombic space group, Pbca, while 2 crystallizes in monoclinic space group, P21/c. Effects of different solvents and concentrations on the photoluminescence properties of the 1–2 were investigated. The emission bands bathochromically shifted due to increase of the dipole moments of EtOH to H2O and CHCl3 to DMSO, respectively. As a result of the dynamic quenching, the intensity of 1 was decreased with increasing the concentration in the water. The electrical conductivity complexes 1–2 have been also investigated.

Prenatal diagnosis of persistent right umbilical vein - Incidence and clinical impact. A prospective study.

BackgroundPersistent right umbilical vein (PRUV) is usually an isolated finding but it may be accompanied by other fetal malformations.AimsWe aimed to determine the incidence of prenatally diagnosed PRUV in a referral population, assess the neonatal outcome and discuss the findings together with those from previous publications.Materials and methodsA total of 2360 women with low‐risk singleton pregnancies were examined in the second and third trimesters. A transabdominal convex volume transducer was used. B‐mode was applied in each patient. Scanning of the venous system included imaging of the target vessels with two‐dimensional colour Doppler mapping. The diagnosis of PRUV was made in a transverse section of the fetal abdomen. Three‐dimensional ultrasounds were performed as necessary, when anomalous cases were encountered.ResultsThe incidence of PRUV in our population was 12/2360 = 0.5%, and it was higher than in other retrospective studies. In 75% (n = 9), PRUV was an isolated finding where delivery was uneventful and the postnatal outcome was favourable. In two cases PRUV was accompanied by omphalocele, and in one case by tetralogy of Fallot and single umbilical artery.Conclusions PRUV is an uncommon prenatal finding. Screening for this anomaly can be easily performed in all pregnant patients. A diagnosis of PRUV should be followed by a thorough fetal morphology scan in order to exclude any other malformations, especially those of the cardiovascular system.

Influence of Compatiblizer (PP-g-mA) on Morphology, Mechanical Behaviour of PP/ABS/CB Nano-Composite

Composite materials can be defined as a combination of two or more materials results in improved properties than those of the individual material used alone. Nano-technology has recently gained attention of scientific environment due to the solutions offered in main areas of the human activity. Polymers are more ductile but less rigid and strong in which used to replace high load bearing application. Composite materials allow designing materials that may combination of mechanical properties similar to those high load bearing materials. For advance mechanical properties of material using polypropylene (PP) as a polymer and elastomers as acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) and as compatibilizer maleic anhydridegrafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) is used and filler material as carbon black. For characterization Analyses of morphology scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used and mechanical properties which is tensile testing, impact testing is use for characterization of polymer nanocomposites.

Surface area normalized dissolution to study differences in itraconazole-copovidone solid dispersions prepared by spray-drying and hot melt extrusion

Amorphous solid dispersions of itraconazole (ITZ) and copovidone (PVPVA 64) at 1:1 to 1:9 drug-polymer ratios were prepared using spray-drying (SD) and hot melt (HM) extrusion for comparative evaluation. Surface area normalized dissolution studies were carried out using a modified intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) assembly and rate of release of drug as well as polymer were quantified using ultraviolet spectroscopy. The melt quenched amorphous form of ITZ provided an 18-fold dissolution advantage over the crystalline form. In general, dispersions prepared by either SD or HM showed similar dissolution profiles in terms of drug release. Both drug-controlled and polymer-controlled ITZ dissolution rates were observed, depending on the drug loading, where a switch from a drug-controlled to a polymer-controlled regime was observed when the drug loading was approximately 20% or lower. The impact of the spray drying solvent composition was studied and found to have a large effect on the drug release rate for dispersions containing a drug loading of 20%. Electron microscopy showed differences in surface morphology (scanning) and internal structure (transmission) in these dispersions as a function of solvent system. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed differences in the surface composition of drug and polymer whereby poorly dissolving systems showed drug enrichment. This study provides insight into the complex interplay between formulation, processing and performance of amorphous solid dispersion systems.

Mudslide and/or animal attack are more plausible causes and circumstances of death for AL 288 ('Lucy'): A forensic anthropology analysis.

Following a global morphological and micro-CT scan examination of the original and cast of the skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis AL 288 ('Lucy'), Kappelman etal. have recently proposed a diagnosis of a fall from a significant height (a tree) as a cause of her death. According to topographical data from the discovery site, complete re-examination of a high-quality resin cast of the whole skeleton and forensic experience, we propose that the physical process of a vertical deceleration cannot be the only cause for her observed injuries. Two different factors were involved: rolling and multiple impacts in the context of a mudslide and an animal attack with bite marks, multi-focal fractures and violent movement of the body. It is important to consider a differential diagnosis of the observed fossil lesions because environmental factors should not be excluded in this ancient archaeological context as with any modern forensic anthropological case.

Protocols for sodium ascorbate application on intracoronary dentin bleached with high-concentrated agent.

Purpose:Composite resin restorations are normally replaced after the internal bleaching of endodontically treated-teeth because the bleaching agent does not alter the color of the restorative material. This study evaluated the effect of 10% sodium ascorbate (SA) applied at different protocols on bleached dentin.Materials and Methods:One-hundred slabs of intracoronary bovine dentin were divided into 5 groups: 2 controls-GI without bleaching (positive), GII bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP) (negative); and 3 experimentals – GIII. 35% HP + SA at protocol 1 (dripping, washing and drying the solution), GIV. 35% HP + SA at protocol 2 (dripping and aspirating the solution) and GV. 35% HP + SA at protocol 3 (dripping, rubbing and aspirating the solution). Sixty fragments were restored and subjected to shear bond strength test (n = 12). Forty fragments (n = 8) were prepared for chemical analysis (energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry) and surface morphology (scanning electron microscopy). Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test (P < 0.05).Results:GI (3.169 ± 1.510a) had the highest means values, similar to GIV (2.752 ± 0.961a) and GV (2.981 ± 1.185a) (P < 0.05). Inferior values were obtained in GII (1.472 ± 0.342b) and GIII (2.037 ± 0.742ab) had intermediate values (P > 0.05). Oxygen concentration was reduced in groups treated with SA, and the surface exhibited residual granules of the solution.Conclusion:The 10% SA solution reestablishes the bond strength of restorative material to bleached dentin, especially if active protocols of application and aspiration were used.

Mechanism of shear strength deterioration of loess during freeze-thaw cycling

Strength of loess that experienced cyclic freeze and thaw is of great significance for evaluating stability of slopes and foundations in loess regions. This paper takes the frequently encountered loess in the Northwestern China as the study object and carried out three kinds of laboratory tests including freeze-thaw test, direct shear test and SEM test to investigate the strength behaviors of loess after cyclic freeze and thaw, and the correlation with meso-level changes in soil structure. Results show that for loess specimens at four dry densities, the cohesion decreases with freeze-thaw cycles until a residual value is reached and thus an exponential equation is proposed. Besides, little change in the angle of internal friction was observed as freeze-thaw proceeds. This may depend on the varying of soil structure, based on which a clue can be found from the surface morphology and mesoscopic scanning of loess specimens. Clearly we observed significant changes in surface morphology of loess and it tends to aggravate at higher water contents or more cycles of freeze and thaw. Moreover, freeze-thaw cycling leads to obvious changes in the meso-structure of loess including lowering the particle aggregates and increasing both the proportion of fine particles and porosity area ratio. A damage variable dependent on the ratio of porosity area is introduced based on the continuum damage mechanics and its correlation with cohesion is discussed.

Vascular ring and ventricular septal defect in a premature baby with smith–magenis syndrome

Clinical detection of genetic disorders in early neonatal period is often difficult, particularly in the context of difficulty in recognizing subtle facial dysmorphism in prematurity. As the newer technology such as phenotype-based whole-exome sequencing is gaining popularity as the most effective and reliable way of early diagnosis more emphasis will be returned back to identify typical and uncommon phenotypical features of genetic disorders. Smith–Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a sporadic genetic disorder caused by 17p11.2 microdeletion in 90% of cases with wide variety of features ranging from intellectual disability, distinctive facial appearance, significant circadian sleep rhythm abnormality, congenital heart disease (CHD) (30%), brain and renal malformation to obvious behavioral problems, most of which, however, are appreciable only at late childhood. Currently, SMS is diagnosed by single-nucleotide polymorphism microarray. Earlier diagnosis for this sporadic condition depends on high index of suspicion, particularly for those who are missed during the fetal morphology scan. CHD can be a very important clue in the fetal or early neonatal period. In this article, we present a preterm infant with SMS in association with ventricular septal defect and vascular ring, a combination of which was not reported earlier. Notification of these atypical features is an important element of increasing the knowledge base in the process of the earlier diagnosis in future.

Semiconducting lanthanide polymers of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate: Hydrothermal synthesis, structural characterization, electrical conductivity and luminescence properties

This paper describes the hydrothermal synthesis of two novel lanthanide coordination polymers (CPs) (H2pip)n[Ln2(pydc)4(H2O)2]n (Ln = La (1) and Nd (2), H2pydc = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, H2pip = piperazine). The synthesized polymers were structurally characterized by the elemental analysis, ICP-OES, IR spectroscopy, TGA, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. For the morphological analysis field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used. CPs are isomorphous, showing three-dimensional Ln–O–Ln chains. Ln(III) ions in 1–2 adopt nine-coordinated mode to construct a mono-capped square antiprism coordination environments. The electrical conductivity and luminescence properties of insoluble 1–2 have been investigated. CPs exhibited luminescence emission bands at 612 nm for 1 and 624 nm for 2 at room temperature when excited at 320 nm.

Experimental Investigation of the Peak Shear Strength Criterion Based on Three-Dimensional Surface Description

The three-dimensional (3D) morphology of joints is enormously important for the shear mechanical properties of rock. In this study, three-dimensional morphology scanning tests and direct shear tests are conducted to establish a new peak shear strength criterion. The test results show that (1) surface morphology and normal stress exert significant effects on peak shear strength and distribution of the damage area. (2) The damage area is located at the steepest zone facing the shear direction; as the normal stress increases, it extends from the steepest zone toward a less steep zone. Via mechanical analysis, a new formula for the apparent dip angle is developed. The influence of the apparent dip angle and the average joint height on the potential contact area is discussed, respectively. A new peak shear strength criterion, mainly applicable to specimens under compression, is established by using new roughness parameters and taking the effects of normal stress and the rock mechanical properties into account. A comparison of this newly established model with the JRC–JCS model and the Grasselli’s model shows that the new one could apparently improve the fitting effect. Compared with earlier models, the new model is simpler and more precise. All the parameters in the new model have clear physical meanings and can be directly determined from the scanned data. In addition, the indexes used in the new model are more rational.

Biocarbons from microfibrillated cellulose/lignosulfonate precursors: A study of electrical conductivity development during slow pyrolysis

Carbons were elaborated from purely lignocellulosic precursors (Microfibrillated cellulose and Lignosulfonates blends, simplified as MFC/LS blends) by slow pyrolysis (0.2 °C/min) in a large temperature range (400–1200 °C). They were characterized in terms of morphology (scanning electron microscopy), chemical functionalities (infrared spectroscopy), microstructure (Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction) and physical properties (electrical conductivity and density evolution). MFC/LS carbons could achieve high electrical conductivity of 95 S/cm with regard to their low density, i.e.1.14 g/cm3 after pyrolysis at 1000 °C, compared to other biocarbons. The major aim of this work was to understand the electrical conductivity development in MFC/LS-derived biocarbons during the pyrolysis. A descriptive model, based on the progressive conversion of the biomass into conductive engineering carbons and composed of 3 distinct phases, was thus established to illustrate the electrical conductivity development phenomenon.

Synthesis, characterization, electrical conductivity and luminescence properties of two copper(II) complexes with tridentate N2O chelating ligands containing imine bond

In the present study, we describe the synthesis and characterization of two tridentate N2O donor ligands, namely, (E)-2-(((2-(diethylamino)ethyl)imino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol (HL1) and (E)-2-(((2-(diethylamino)ethyl)imino)methyl)-6-ethoxyphenol (HL2), and their copper(II) complexes, [Cu(L1)(CH3COO)] (1), [Cu(L2)(CH3COO)] (2). They have been synthesized under conventional methods and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR, ICP-OES, TGA and GC/MS analysis. For the morphological analysis field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used. The geometry of the copper(II) complexes was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The copper(II) ions are in distorted square-pyramidal coordination environments. Complexes crystallize in monoclinic space group, P21/c. The electrical conductivity and luminescence properties of 1–2 have been investigated.

Histological evolution from primary lung adenocarcinoma harboring EGFR mutation to high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma.

BackgroundAlthough patients with EGFR mutated lung adenocarcinoma benefit greatly from tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), they inevitably develop acquired resistance after an average of 10–14 months of continuous treatment.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical and histopathological data of eight patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma harboring EGFR mutations that transformed into high‐grade neuroendocrine carcinoma after TKI therapy. Morphology scanning for neuroendocrine differentiation and immunohistochemistry for neuroendocrine markers CD56, chromogranin, and synaptophysin were performed on primary adenocarcinoma tissues and repeated biopsies. Mutations of EGFR exons 19–21 were reexamined using the amplification refractory mutation system.ResultsThe carcinoma in seven patients transformed to small cell lung carcinoma; two of these patients enrolled in theAZD9291 study after acquiring a T790M missense mutation. The carcinoma in one patient transformed to large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. None of the eight primary tumors exhibited neuroendocrine morphologic features and only one surgical specimen displayed a weak stain for neuroendocrine marker synaptophysin. Drug resistant high‐grade neuroendocrine carcinomas retained their initial activating EGFR mutations.ConclusionsLung adenocarcinoma in eight patients transformed into high‐grade neuroendocrine carcinoma and retained the original activating EGFR mutations after targeted therapy by TKIs. Furthermore, the prognosis of the transformed carcinoma was worse than the original primary genetic and morphologic type.

Growth of Copper Nanowires by Using Thermal Oxidation for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

Tuning high density nanostructures by simple and economic method may contribute towards the development of solid oxide fuel cells. Copper oxide nanowires grown on Cu foil by thermal oxidation at relative low operating temperature from 400°C are characterized by using x-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic force morphology (AFM), conductive-AFM (C-AFM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The role of oxidizing temperature and time on structural and electrical properties are studied. The formation of nanowires is confirmed by X-Ray diffraction pattern with the presence of copper oxide. The electrical conductivity of the nanowires was ranging from 0.2x105 S m-1 to 0.8x105 S m-1are determined from conductive atomic force microscopy. The oxidation time strongly influence the morphology and chemical composition of the nanowires. Field emission scanning electron microscopy reveals the growth mechanism of copper nanowires formation is based on vapour-solid (VS) mechanism. Herein, the successfully growth of CuO nanowire are directly from Cu foil to overcome the mismatching stress between the substrate and the oxide layer. Optimum parameters are studied to make better electrolyte performance in the applications of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC).