Deyong Yang

Structure and substructure of martensite in a Ti36.5Ni48.5Hf15 high temperature shape memory alloy

Abstract The martensite structure and substructure in a Ti36.5Ni48.5Hf15 high temperature shape memory alloy were investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution electrom microscopy (HREM). The high temperature phase of this shape memory alloy was determined as being CsCl (B2) type structure with a = 0.309 nm. The martensite structure is B19′ type monoclinic structure with a = 0.293 nm, b = 0.411 nm, c = 0.473 nm, β = 100.4° and the space group is P21/m. The substructure in a martensite variant is (001)B19′ compound twins. The orientation relationship between B2 and B19′ was determined to be: [100]B19′ ∥ [100]B2 and (011)B19′ ∥ (001)B2, and the junction plane between two martensite variants was determined to be (011)B19′ ∥ (001)B2 or (1, − 1, 0.64)B19′ ∥ (1 − 1 0)B2.

Can tamsulosin facilitate expulsion of ureteral stones? A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

To determine the efficacy and safety of the adrenergic alpha‐antagonist tamsulosin in facilitating ureteral stones expulsion.

Nuclear cIAP1 overexpression is a tumor stage- and grade-independent predictor of poor prognosis in human bladder cancer patients.

PURPOSE To evaluate the tumor-related expression profile of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 (cIAP1) and cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein (cIAP2) in patients with bladder cell carcinoma (BCC) and to investigate its potential prognostic value. METHODS The expression of cIAP1 and cIAP2 was examined immunohistochemically in archival bladder specimens from 32 normal controls and 102 consecutive patients who underwent surgical operations at our department from January 2004 through December 2005. Cytoplasm cIAP1 and cIAP2 expression was scored as 0 (negative), +1 (weak), +2 (medium), and +3 (strong). Nuclear cIAP1 expression was scored as 0 (0%), +1 (1%-25%), +2 (26%-50%), and +3 (>50%). Proliferation was determined by Ki67 staining as percentage of positive cells. RESULTS cIAP1 and cIAP2 expression were significantly increased in bladder cancer compared with normal bladder urothelium (cIAP1-C: P < 0.01, cIAP2-C: P = 0.017, cIAP1-N: P < 0.01). Nuclear staining of cIAP1 (cIAP1-N) was significantly associated with tumor stage (muscle invasive vs. non-muscle invasive, P = 0.03) and tumor grade (low vs. high, P = 0.01). Both the mean overall survival and mean recurrence-free survival were significantly decreased in the high cIAP1-N group compared to the low cIAP1-N group (low cIAP1-N: mean overall survival 62.7 months, high cIAP1-N: mean overall survival 45.6 months, P < 0.01; low cIAP1-N: mean recurrence-free survival 44.2 months, high cIAP1-N: mean recurrence-free survival 30.1 months, P < 0.01). cIAP1-N expression correlated strongly with KI67 expression (r = 0.744, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Nuclear cIAP-1 expression strongly correlated to bladder cancer stage, tumor grade, tumor recurrence and tumor related death. This marker expression was also appears to be a marker in bladder cancer prognosis.

Expression of the IAP protein family acts cooperatively to predict prognosis in human bladder cancer patients

The inhibitors of apoptosis (IAPs) are a group of anti-apoptotic factors in the apoptotic pathway that render cancer cells insensitive to apoptotic stimulation. Recently, several members of the IAP family have been investigated in the context of bladder cancer, and some of these have been associated with specific clinical and pathological tumor features, and with prognosis. These data suggested that the expression of an individual nuclear IAP has an important relationship with the progression of bladder cancer. To date, there are no studies concerning the overall tendencies of IAPs and their comparative therapeutic values in bladder cancer. In this study, we investigated the overall expression trends of the five tumor-related proteins, Survivin, cIAP1, cIAP2, XIAP and Livin, in normal bladder tissues and bladder cancer tissues. We classified and compared the gene expression data of these IAPs with the corresponding clinical and pathological tumor features, and with prognosis, in the development and progression of bladder cancer. The differences in IAP expression levels between archival bladder specimens from 36 normal controls and 105 patients who underwent surgery at our facility were examined using western blot analysis. The localization and expression level of each protein in low- and high-grade bladder cancer tissues were examined through immunohistochemistry. The cytoplasmic expression levels of each protein were scored as 0 (negative), +1 (weak), +2 (medium) or +3 (strong). The nuclear expression levels of cIAP1 and Survivin were scored as 0 (0%), +1 (1–25%), +2 (26–50%) or +3 (>50%). The results demonstrated that the expression of IAPs acted cooperatively to predict prognosis in human bladder cancer patients.

Livin-α promotes cell proliferation by regulating G1-S cell cycle transition in prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death for males in US. Livin has recently been described as a cancer‐associated member of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins family, highly expressed in prostate cancer. Livin gene encodes two splicing variants, termed Livin‐α and Livin‐β. We hypothesized that deregulation of proliferation could be due in part to Livin expression.

Reverse transformations in CuAlNiMnTi alloy at elevated temperatures

The reverse transformation sequences in an as-quenched Cu11.88Al5.06Ni1.65Mn0.96Ti (wt%) shape memory alloy during heating or isochronical annealing up to 650°C have been studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry, high temperature X-ray diffraction as well as transmission electron microscopy and optical observations. The results show that at least seven stages of structural evolution, depending upon heating rate, can be distinguished: the reverse martensitic transformation and the martensite stabilization; atomic reordering in parent phase; two phase separation in D03 and the reversion; atomic disordering in matrix; bainitic transformation; D03 = B2 transition; and the precipitation of equilibrium phases. The different dependence of the evolution stages on heating rate is analyzed and discussed.

Effect of lymph node dissection on the outcomes of upper tract urothelial carcinomas: a meta-analysis

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library. 6032 patients were included. There was no significant difference in survival between LND and NLND (non-lymph node dissection) among the patients. However, the patients in the LND group had more advanced tumour stages and grades (p < 0.001). In addition, among the muscle-invasive patients, LND demonstrated remarkable CSS improvement compared with NLND (HR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.26–3.80; p = 0.005). Moreover, subgroup analyses found that patients with muscle-invasive UTUC had better CSS (HR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.02–1.45; p < 0.001) than those patients with pN0 compared to pNx (NLND). In terms of RFS, the results showed no difference in the survival rates between pN0 and pNx patients in the subgroup of patients with muscle-invasive UTUC (HR: 1.40; 95% CI: 0.84–2.23; p = 0.19). Our meta-analysis supports that LND may prolong the CSS and RFS of UTUC, especially for patients with muscle-invasive UTUC.

Preparation of a smart composite material with TiNiCu shape memory particulates in an aluminium matrix

Abstract A smart composite material with aluminium matrix and Ti 50 Ni 25 Cu 25 shape memory alloy particles was developed. The shape memory alloy particles were prepared by hydrogenating-ball milling and dehydrogenating, and the mixture of the shape memory alloy particles and the aluminium powders were consolidated via powder metallurgy. The structures and the martensitic transformations in the TiNiCu alloy, TiNiCu particles and the aluminium matrix composite were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and electron scanning microscopy. The results revealed that the TiNiCu particles and the composite show reversible thermoelastic martensitic transformations as in the bulk material. The preliminary results indicate that the shape memory alloy composite may be a promising smart composite with native sensing, high damping capacity and adaptive performances.

High cycle fatigue life improvement of polycrystalline alpha-iron modified by silver, chromium, aluminium, and yttrium ion implantation

Abstract HCF tests on polycrystalline alpha-iron with and without silver, chromium, yttrium, and aluminum ion implantation have been conducted. The stress-life curves obtained were best fit by using the power function. It was shown that the fatigue property had been improved to different extent after ion implantation. Enhanced strengthening of the implanted layer due to radiation induced defects, super solid solution, and formation of intermetallic compounds in implantation was the prominent mechanism for property improvement.

Heating effects on fine structure of a Cu-Al-Ni-Mn-Ti shape memory alloy

The heating effects on the structure and fine structure of Cu-11.9Al-5Ni-1.6Mn-1Ti (wt%) shape memory alloy have been studied by means of transmission electron microscopy and microscopic compositional analysis. With the increase of the heating temperature and time, the stabilized M18R{sub 1} martensite, transformed from the parent phase of L2{sub 1} structure type, underwent the following structural variations: M18R{sub 1} {r_arrow} N18R{sub 1} {r_arrow} disorder N9R. Disorder N9R bainite precipitates and retained parent phases were observed in specimens heated at 573 and 623 K for 7.2 ks or longer. When the alloy was heated at 673 K for 133.2 ks, equilibrium {alpha}, {gamma}{sub 2} and Ni,Al-rich phases were formed without any retained {beta}{sub 1} parent phase. While the size of the X{sub s} particles decreased in the specimen heated at 623 K for 7.2 ks and they disappeared completely in the specimen heated at 673 K, the X{sub L} particles were coarsened after heating. With the increase of the heating temperature and time the growth of the antiphase domains was observed.