A2 Ratio Research Articles

Corrosion behaviors of W-doped laser-cladded high-entropy alloy of AlCoCrFeNi in a simulated sulfur-containing seawater environment

The localized corrosion in a simulated seawater environment is related to sulfide, and few studies have investigated the corrosion behaviors of laser-cladded AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) systems in a simulated sulfur-containing seawater environment. Corrosion behaviors of HEA/Wx (x = 0, 5, and 15 wt%) coatings have been worked out by potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Mott-Schottky analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, and immersion corrosion tests. W-doped HEA coatings can change the ratio of A2 to B2 phases and affect the corrosion resistance. The potentiodynamic polarization and EIS results reveal that a small quantity of W-doped (5 wt%) HEA coatings form a denser passivation film that is particularly resistant to localized corrosion. By analyzing the corrosion behaviors of the HEA/Wx coatings, it was determined that a small amount of W-doped (5 wt%) HEA coatings had better localized and improved corrosion resistance. However, excessively W-doped (15 wt%) HEA coatings have reduced corrosion resistance. The Mott-Schottky analysis revealed that the HEA/Wx coatings (x = 0, 5, and 15 wt%) have the property of P–N-type semiconductors. XPS analysis was used to analyze the film composition. The results demonstrated that the passivation film combined Cr2O3, Al2O3, Fe2O3, and WO3. Based on the immersion corrosion test, localized corrosion types were mainly intergranular and crevice.

ABO gene may be salient to the out of Africa migrations to the Americas

The source populations of Native Americans lived in Asia and Eurasia some 35,000 to 40,000 years ago. Consensus is that they migrated to Beringia some 25,000 to 30,000 years ago, when the low sea levels from the Last Glacial Maximum period allowed a land bridge to form to Beringia. Subsequently, the Native American ancestors migrated south to North and South America, whereas the remaining Beringia population, Eskimos, migrated into Canada and Greenland. Genetic evidence along with anthropological research adds much to the understanding of the course of their migrations and population growth. Because present-day Native Americans are essentially all of ABO O blood type, and the other Beringia populations, the Eskimos, were polymorphic for the ABO blood groups given the extensive research revealing pleiotropy of ABO blood group alleles, this unusual population frequency distribution of ABO blood groups offers an opportunity to understand how a population with no diversity of ABO blood groups differs from one that is similar in other genes but polymorphic in ABO blood groups. ABO blood groups in migrating populations provide supporting evidence for the timelines, destinations, and cultures of those populations leaving Africa. Other genes add to the power of ABO blood groups to provide this evidence. One of those genes, in the case of Native American and Eskimo migrations, is the gene for a dental trait called shovel shaped incisors, ectodysplasin A receptor (EDAR), which is prevalent in northeast Asian populations and is fixed in Native American populations. Because of the known climatic conditions in Africa at the time of the major out-of-Africa migration periods and malaria-related climatic aspects of the selection of the ABO A2 vs ABO A1 gene, it appears that the population ratio of ABO A2 to ABO A1 and EDAR associated shovel shaped incisor frequencies is associated with the timelines of the population leaving Africa as well as their further migrations. Because Native Americans have a very high shovel shaped incisor frequency and no ABO A2, their timeline of migrating from northeast Asia and Eurasia, observed using this approach and agreeing with other lines of evidence, is supported to be 25,000–30,000 years ago. Furthermore, separation of the Beringia population into a monomorphic ABO O group, the Native Americans, and an ABO polymorphic group, the Eskimos, in light of research supporting pleiotropy of ABO alleles enhances our understanding of their respective divergent migration paths, cultures, and population growth.

From soft hyperbranched polymers to hard crosslinkers: UV curable macromers that contained oxetane on and around hyperbranched frameworks

On the basis of aliphatic nucleophilic substitution polycondensation reactions, a series of hyperbranched macromers that contained cationic polymerizable groups, e.g., oxetane, internally and peripherally, was prepared using 3,3-dibromomethyl-1-oxetane and 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid as A2 and CB2 monomers, respectively. The structures of these macromers were confirmed via proton nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and gel permeation chromatography analyses. The effect of the hyperbranched macromers on the ultraviolet (UV) curing of commercial resin was investigated via photo-differential scanning calorimetry and rheological experiments. The addition of hyperbranched macromers substantially improves the performance of the coating, such as its mechanical properties, pencil hardness, adhesive force, and thermogravimetric stability. It is superior to the addition of small molecule monomers, linear macromers, and hyperbranched macromers with oxetane only at the periphery under the same conditions. The best overall performance of the coating is achieved when the molar ratio of A2 to CB2 is 1.4. Results show that because hyperbranched internal units can also participate in crosslinking during the curing process, such macromers may be good candidates for high-performance UV curing coatings.

Preeclampsia and aspirin.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystem disorder that is an important cause of maternal and perinatal deaths. Currently, delivery is the only final treatment for PE. This practice is usually accompanied by premature birth, which inevitably increases neonatal morbidities. Aspirin is a non-selective NSAID that irreversibly inhibits cyclooxygenase enzymes involved in converting arachidonic acid to prostaglandins and thromboxane. Aspirin inhibits thromboxane A2 production via platelet aggregation, thereby increasing the prostacyclin/thromboxane A2 ratio and reducing platelet aggregation. Since the first case report of aspirin's potential use during pregnancy was reported in 1978, many studies have attempted to confirm the effect of aspirin on preeclampsia, and the results have been controversial. However, this preventive strategy is generally accepted in clinical practice. As evidence for aspirin's prevention of pre-eclampsia has been accumulating, a recent study investigated the effectiveness of aspirin at high doses of 150 mg, which is higher than before. However, there is an ongoing debate about how much aspirin should be used during pregnancy and when to start aspirin therapy. Guidelines for the use of prophylactic aspirin during pregnancy vary slightly among countries and groups. In this article, we review and summarize the evidence regarding the use of aspirin for PE prevention.

Utility of constraints reflecting system stability on analyses for biological models.

Simulating complex biological models consisting of multiple ordinary differential equations can aid in the prediction of the pharmacological/biological responses; however, they are often hampered by the availability of reliable kinetic parameters. In the present study, we aimed to discover the properties of behaviors without determining an optimal combination of kinetic parameter values (parameter set). The key idea was to collect as many parameter sets as possible. Given that many systems are biologically stable and resilient (BSR), we focused on the dynamics around the steady state and formulated objective functions for BSR by partial linear approximation of the focused region. Using the objective functions and modified global cluster Newton method, we developed an algorithm for a thorough exploration of the allowable parameter space for biological systems (TEAPS). We first applied TEAPS to the NF-κB signaling model. This system shows a damped oscillation after stimulation and seems to fit the BSR constraint. By applying TEAPS, we found several directions in parameter space which stringently determines the BSR property. In such directions, the experimentally fitted parameter values were included in the range of the obtained parameter sets. The arachidonic acid metabolic pathway model was used as a model related to pharmacological responses. The pharmacological effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were simulated using the parameter sets obtained by TEAPS. The structural properties of the system were partly extracted by analyzing the distribution of the obtained parameter sets. In addition, the simulations showed inter-drug differences in prostacyclin to thromboxane A2 ratio such that aspirin treatment tends to increase the ratio, while rofecoxib treatment tends to decrease it. These trends are comparable to the clinical observations. These results on real biological models suggest that the parameter sets satisfying the BSR condition can help in finding biologically plausible parameter sets and understanding the properties of biological systems.

Long-term Survival After Endoscopic Resection For Gastric Cancer: Real-world Evidence From a Multicenter Prospective Cohort

We aimed to clarify the long-term outcomes of endoscopic resection (ER) for early gastric cancers (EGCs) based on pathological curability in a multicenter prospective cohort study. We analyzed the long-term outcomes of 9054 patients with 10,021 EGCs undergoing ER between July 2010 and June 2012. Primary endpoint was the 5-year overall survival (OS). The hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model. We also compared the 5-year OS with the expected one calculated for the surgically resected patients with EGC. If the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the 5-year OS exceeded the expected 5-year OS minus a margin of 5% (threshold 5-year OS), ER was considered to be effective. Pathological curability was categorized into en bloc resection, negative margins, and negative lymphovascular invasion: differentiated-type, pT1a, ulcer negative, ≤2 cm (Category A1); differentiated-type, pT1a, ulcer negative, >2 cm or ulcer positive, ≤3 cm (Category A2); undifferentiated-type, pT1a, ulcer negative, ≤2 cm (Category A3); differentiated-type, pT1b (SM1), ≤3 cm (Category B); or noncurative resections (Category C). Overall, the 5-year OS was 89.0% (95% CI, 88.3%-89.6%). In a multivariate analysis, no significant differences were observed when the hazard ratio of Categories A2, A3, and B were compared with that of A1. In all the pathological curability categories, the lower limit of the 95% CI for the 5-year OS exceeded the threshold 5-year OS. ER can be recommended as a standard treatment for patients with EGCs fulfilling Category A2, A3, and B, as well as A1 (UMIN Clinical Trial Registry, UMIN000005871).

Assessment of a combination of plasma anti-histone autoantibodies and PLA2/PE ratio as potential biomarkers to clinically predict autism spectrum disorders

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficiencies in social interaction and repetitive behaviors. Multiple studies have reported abnormal cell membrane composition and autoimmunity as known mechanisms associated with the etiopathogenesis of ASD. In this study, multiple regression and combined receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve as statistic tools were done to clarify the relationship between phospholipase A2 and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) ratio (PLA2/PE) as marker of lipid metabolism and membrane fluidity, and antihistone-autoantibodies as marker of autoimmunity in the etiopathology of ASD. Furthermore, the study intended to define the linear combination that maximizes the partial area under an ROC curve for a panel of markers. Forty five children with ASD and forty age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled in the study. Using ELISA, the levels of antihistone-autoantibodies, and PLA2 were measured in the plasma of both groups. PE was measured using HPLC. Statistical analyses using ROC curves and multiple and logistic regression models were performed. A notable rise in the area under the curve was detected using combined ROC curve models. Additionally, higher specificity and sensitivity of the combined markers were documented. The present study indicates that the measurement of the predictive value of selected biomarkers related to autoimmunity and lipid metabolism in children with ASD using a ROC curve analysis should lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism of ASD and its link with metabolism. This information may enable the early diagnosis and intervention.

Intramolecular cyclization in hyperbranched star copolymers via one-pot Am+Bn+C1 step-growth polymerization resulting in decreased cyclic defect

Hyperbranched star copolymers are important soft materials that have been employed for aqueous self-assembly and bioapplication, but their one-pot one-batch synthesis strategy and relevant topology are rarely discussed. In this contribution, we produce hyperbranched star poly(vinyl ether ester)s (mPEG-hb-PVEEs) amphiphiles with multimodal molecular weight distribution via one-pot one-batch Am+Bn+C1 (m ≥ 2, n ≥ 3) step-growth polymerization. Based on the topological analysis of these hyperbranched star copolymers, a convenient expression of the number ratio of monomeric structural units (NA/NB) is deduced to describe the cyclic defect of intramolecular cyclization only by using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The introduction of long-chain terminators and the change in the molar feed ratio of A2:B3:C1 considerably affect the NA/NB so as to give rise to increased influence of number of macromolecules and decreased influence of intramolecular cyclization, which are then responsible for an aqueous self-assembly behavior of mPEG-hb-PVEEs amphiphiles. Overall, this study opens new possibilities for the precise description of intramolecular cyclization and controllable synthesis of hyperbranched star copolymers via one-pot Am+Bn+C1 step-growth polymerization.

Hba1c levels correlated to lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and monocyte HDL ratio in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: In the last few decades, several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that links this disease with a systemic chronic inflammatory state. New predictors of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and monocyte HDL-c ratio (MHR) has been observed to predict atherosclerosis severity, progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. The study aims to evaluate correlation between HbA1c with Lp-PLA2 and MHR in patients with T2DM.Methods: Analytic observational research with cross sectional design. HbA1c levels were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography, Lp-PLA2 values using the ELISA method, and MHR values based on the ratio of absolute monocytes to HDL counted manually.Results: The study was conducted on 42 DMT2 patients aged 34-74 years, mean value HbA1c, Lp-PLA2, and MHR were 8.16±2.10, 217.20±42.49, 10.55±6 11 respectively. Statistical analysis showed a positive correlation between HbA1c and Lp-PLA2 levels (p=0.046 and r=0.310), and there was a correlation between HbA1c levels and MHR values (p=0.038 and r=0.321).Conclusion: A weak positive correlation between glycemic control (HbA1c) and atherosclerotic markers (Lp-PLA2 and MHR) in DMT2 patients.

Optimization of Process Parameters for Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil using DOE Techniques

In the current study the process parameters for used cooking oil biodiesel production are optimized by using Design of Experiments (Taguchi technique) and validation experiments are carried out at the optimized parameters to cross verify the results obtained. A specially designed equipment which can maintain the exact conditions required for optimization is used. This equipment is microcontroller operated and does not require any human intervention to maintain the accurate temperature, time and other parameters. By Taguchi strategy best yield acquired is by Molar ratio of A2 (1:9), Catalyst concentration of B3 (1.00%), Reaction temperature of C2 (60ºC), Reaction time of D3 (120 min). The approval trial was completed for the results and the yield is observed to be 93.25%, which resulted in improvement of up to 15% yield as compared to that of crude method. The properties of acquired biodiesel are found out and it very well may be inferred that the properties of got biodiesel are within ASTM norms.

Clinical diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the diagnosis of cardiac masses: A pilot study.

To assess the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of suspected cardiac masses by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and to evaluate its usefulness. Twenty-eight adult patients with suspected cardiac masses were selected for this study. All of them were examined by conventional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and CEUS. The location, attachment point, basement, morphology, size, boundary, internal echo, shape change, range of motion, length, area, effect on hemodynamics, and peak enhancement of the masses (A1), and adjacent normal myocardium (A2) were measured. Then, the A1 to A2 ratio was calculated and the above parameters were analyzed. The benign lesions showed regular morphology and clear-boundary uniform enhancement of the contrast agent. Malignant lesions showed an irregular shape, unclear boundary with surrounding tissue, and uneven enhancement of the contrast agent. The normal myocardial perfusion intensity was the same; there was no enhancement inside a simple thrombus, and the A1 of the benign lesion was lower than that of the normal myocardium (mean value [dB]±SD, 0.63±0.42); the A2 of the malignant lesion was higher than that of the normal myocardium (mean value [dB]±SD, 1.49±0.09). The difference in the ratio of A1 to A2 between groups was statistically significant (P<.05). Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography can assess the basic biological characteristics and properties of cardiac masses and has a high diagnostic accuracy for differentiation of a thrombus from a tumor or a benign tumor from a malignant tumor.

Plasma based targeted metabolomic analysis reveals alterations of phosphatidylcholines and oxidative stress markers in guinea pig model of allergic asthma

Bronchial asthma is one of the most common, chronic respiratory diseases, characterized by reversible airway obstruction, eosinophil and Th2 infiltration, airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodelling; with many cells and mediators involved. Metabolomics is a relatively new field in “omics” sciences enabling the identification of metabolome for better diagnostics and studying of diseases phenotype.The aim of this study was to investigate the role of targeted metabolomics study for better understanding of the bronchial asthma pathophysiology and finding potential biomarkers in experimental models of eosinophilic inflammation.Plasma level of 185 metabolites was measured with the AbsoluteIDQ™ p180 kit in guinea pigs with experimentally-induced allergic inflammation (n = 15) compared to naïve non-sensitised and non-challenged controls (n = 18).Of the 185 metabolites identified in plasma, 22 were significantly different and changed in ovalbumin sensitised animals. Plasma level of 13 phosphatidylcholines with saturated and unsaturated long-chain fatty acids, total phosphatidylcholines count, carnitine, symmetric dimethylarginine and its ratio to total unmodified arginine, and kynurenine to tryptophan ratio were found to be decreased, while phospholipase A2 activity indicator, tryptophan, taurine and ratio of methionine sulfoxide to unmodified methionine were found to be increased in sensitised guinea pigs compared to naïve controls.Targeted metabolomic analysis revealed significant differences in plasma metabolome of sensitised guinea pigs. Our observations point to the activation of inflammatory and immune pathways, as well as the involvement of oxidative stress.

Unusual A1/A2–visual pigment conversion during light/dark adaptation in marine fish

Changes in visual pigments were studied in two marine fish species, the masked greenling Hexagrammos octogrammus and the prickleback Pholidapus dybowskii. A microspectrophotometric (MSP) analysis showed that the rods and cones of the fish collected from the natural marine environment in summer or kept in a tank at a high illumination level predominantly contained porphyropsins based on chromophore A2. As a result, λmax of the double cones significantly shifted to longer wavelengths, reaching 625 and 609 nm, respectively. After several weeks of dark adaptation, the spectra of all the photoreceptor types shifted to shorter wavelengths, as the A1:A2 ratio switched to A1. The MSP data from the fish kept under controlled light conditions were confirmed by chromatography (HPLC), which showed that the changes in the chromophore ratio were reversible and independent of the water temperature. After the preliminary deep dark adaptation, the first noticeable shift in the pigment ratio from A1 to A2 occurred within two weeks of exposure to bright light. A novel finding in this study was a reverse polarity of A1/A2 changes, unlike the case in most other fish species, where A2 chromophore predominated after the dark exposure. This demonstration of the unusual phenomenon of visual pigment transformation suggests a modification or a new way for the activation of specific biochemical mechanisms of A1:A2 conversion at both high and low illumination levels.

Effects of Mesophilic and Thermophilic Temperature Condition to Biogas Production (Methane) from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) with Cow Manures

Biogas is an environmentally friendly renewable energy source. Biogas can be used using Palm Oil Mill Effluents (POME). However, the % yield of biogas productivity is still not optimum due to the low conversion. The biogas productivity can be optimized by adding methanogen bacteria which increase the methane production through the anaerobic fermentation process. This study aims to utilize cow manures as the source of methanogen bacteria in methane production from POME. Furthermore, this study specifically aims to obtain the optimum productivity condition of biogas production by the composition ratio of POME and cow manures to the amount of fermentation time at 35oC and 50oC for mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria, respectively. The ratio of POME and cow mature were A1 (100:0), A2 (80:20), A3 (70:30), A4 (60:40), and A5 (0:100). The highest yield of biogas production was A2 ratio using the thermophilic condition which showed 51.33% mol with the total solid decline of 73.43%, COD removal of 77.01%, and BOD removal of 70.02%.

Synthesis of hyperbranched polymers from vegetable oil based monomers via ozonolysis pathway

ABSTRACTIn this work, a variety of hyperbranched polymers (HBPs), such as hyperbranched polycarbonates, polyesters, polyurethanes and polyacetals, was successfully synthesized from castor oil and soybean oil based monomers via a A2 + B3 polycondensation. First, B3 monomer triols (TriOL), trialdehydes (TriAD), and tricarboxylic acids (TriAC) were obtained by ozonolysis of castor oil and soybean oil with following reductive or oxidative treatment. Their structures were characterized by 1H NMR and ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy as well as electrospray ionization‐Time of Flight‐mass spectrometry. These trifunctional B3 monomers were applied in the preparation of HBPs. The resulting HBPs had number averaged molar mass (Mn) up to 9400 g/mol and weight averaged molar mass (Mw) up to 40,000 g/mol. Through adjusting the initial molar ratio of A2 to B3 monomers, hydroxyl terminated (from TriOL monomers) or carboxylic acid (from TriAC monomers) terminated HBPs could be obtained. All the HBPs were characterized by 1H NMR, size exclusion chromatography, and DSC. These HBPs are potential candidates for the synthesis of cross‐linked polymeric materials or in biomedical applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 2104–2114

Effect of feed rate of end-capping molecules on structure of hyperbranched polymers formed from monomers A2 and B4 in semibatch process

Hyperbranched polymers that were prepared by the polymerization of monomers A2 and B4 with the gradual addition of the end-capping molecules AR to the reactor were studied using a kinetic model. The degree of polymerization (DP) and fraction of branch points (FB) under various compositions and feed rate parameters (ϕ) were calculated using a generating function method. The growing profile of the reduced weight-average DP (DPw∗) dependent on the conversion of group B, α(B), in a semibatch process was different from that in a batch reactor. At the same composition of the reactants, the DPw∗ of HBPs prepared under a lower addition rate of AR was higher than that at a quicker feed rate or in the batch process. Either a lower ratio of AR (λ1) or a higher ratio of A2 (λ2) could increase the DPw∗. According to the proposed model, the HBPs without the gel fraction could be obtained at high conversion via the continuous addition of AR to the reactor. For example, the HBPs with a high weight-average DP approximately 478, could be obtained with ϕ=0.1; λ1=2.68; and λ2=0.66 at α(B)=α(A)=0.95 in the semi-batch process, and the DB and FB of the HBP were 0.987 and 0.238, respectively. On the contrary, the DPw∗ was only 45 in a batch system at the same composition of reactants.

A randomized, controlled trial of the effects of resveratrol administration in performance horses with lameness localized to the distal tarsal joints.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of resveratrol administration in performance horses with lameness localized to the distal tarsal joints. DESIGN Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS 45 client-owned horses with lameness localized to the distal tarsal joints. PROCEDURES All horses received injections of triamcinolone acetonide in the centrodistal and tarsometatarsal joints of both hind limbs. A placebo or a supplement containing resveratrol was fed twice daily by owners for 4 months. Primary outcomes were horse performance as determined by rider opinion (better, worse, or the same) and change in lameness severity from the enrollment examination. RESULTS Complete data were obtained for 21 horses that received resveratrol and 20 that received the placebo. Percentage of riders who reported that the horse's performance was better, compared with worse or the same, was significantly higher for the resveratrol group than for the placebo group after 2 (20/21 [95%] vs 14/20 [70%]) and 4 (18/21 [86%] vs 10/20 [50%]) months. The change in A1:A2 ratio between the enrollment and 4-month recheck examinations was significantly better for horses in the resveratrol versus placebo group. However, subjective lameness scores and degree of asymmetry of pelvis movement did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that in performance horses with lameness localized to the distal tarsal joints, injection of triamcinolone in the centrodistal and tarsometatarsal joints of both hind limbs followed by oral supplementation with resveratrol for 4 months resulted in reduced lameness, compared with triamcinolone injection and supplementation with a placebo.

Enhancement of order degree and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of L10 ordered Fe(Pt,Pd) alloy film by introducing a thin MgO cap-layer

Fe50PtxPd50−x (at%, x=0–50) alloy films of 10nm thickness with and without 2-nm-thick MgO cap-layers are prepared on MgO(001) single-crystal substrates by employing a two-step method consisting of low-temperature deposition at 200°C followed by high-temperature annealing at 600°C. The influences of MgO cap-layer on the structure and the magnetic properties are investigated. Fe50PtxPd50−x films epitaxially grow on the substrates at 200°C. The Fe50Pd50 and the Fe50Pt12.5Pd37.5 films are respectively composed of (001) single-crystals with disordered fcc-based (A1) and bcc-based (A2) structures. The films with x>25 consist of mixtures of A1 and A2 crystals. The volume ratio of A2 to A1 crystal decreases with increasing the x value from 25 to 50. The in-plane and out-of-plane lattices are respectively expanded and shrunk due to accommodation of lattice mismatch between film and substrate. When the films are annealed at 600°C, phase transformation to L10 ordered phase takes place. L10 phase transformation of Fe50PtxPd50−x film is promoted for a sample with MgO cap-layer and the order degree is higher than that without cap-layer. Furthermore, L10 ordering with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate surface is enhanced for the film with cap-layer. The cap-layer is considered to be giving a tension stress to the magnetic film in lateral direction which promotes L10 ordering with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate. Deposition of cap-layer is shown effective in achieving higher order degree and in enhancing perpendicular magnetic anisotropy with Fe(Pt,Pd) films.

Kinetic analysis of A2 + AB + B3 hyperbranched polymerization approach

This work theoretically deals with the kinetics of the hyperbranched polymerization with A2, AB and B3 monomers. The analytical expressions of the size distribution function and the various molecular parameters of the resulting hyperbranched polymers were derived. The structure and molecular parameters of the products depend on the monomer feed ratios and the conversion of groups. Gelation is easy to occur if the monomer feed ratio of A2 to B3 (λ) is in the range of 3/4 ≤ λ ≤ 3. The addition of AB monomer can increase the conversion of A or B groups and enhance the number-average degree of polymerization at the critical gelation point. On the other hand, excessive AB monomer will results in a small degree of branching for the products. A small λ and a suitable β value favor to form the hyperbranched polymers with certain degree of branching.

Functional highly branched polymers from multicomponent polymerization (MCP) based on the ABC type Passerini reaction

A new synthetic approach to prepare functional highly branched polymers (HBPs) is demonstrated via the multicomponent polymerization (MCP) of easily accessible hexanedioic acid (A2), hexane-1,6-dial (B2), 1,6-diisocyanohexane (C2) and 10-undecenoic acid (A). Both the degree of branching (DB) and the degree of additional functionalization (DF) were regulated by simply varying the ratio of A2 to A.