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The presence of the Sb5+ ion increased the piezoelectric properties of the (Na0.5K0.5)NbO3 (NKN) ceramics by enhancing the poling state as identified by the increased phase angle (θ). The increased θ value was explained by the increased ferroelectricity due to the large electronegativity of the Sb5+ ion and the increased off centering of the cation due to the small ionic size of the Sb5+ ion. The (Na0.5K0.5)(Nb0.97Sb0.03)O3[NK(N0.97S0.03)] ceramics containing CuO were well sintered even at 960 °C. A small amount of the Cu2+ ions was incorporated into the matrix of the NK(N0.97S0.03) ceramic and behaved as a hardener. The kp, Qm, d33, and ε3T/ε0 values of the CuO-added NK(N0.97S0.03) ceramics were much higher than those of the CuO-added NKN ceramics due to the Sb5+ ion’s enhancement of the piezoelectric properties by increasing the poling state of the specimens. The high piezoelectric properties of kp=0.41, Qm=1333, d33=111 pC/N, and ε3T/ε0=324 were obtained from the 2.0 mol % CuO-added NK(N0.97S0.03) ceramics sintered at 960 °C for 8 h.

Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a potent hematopoietic cytokine, which stimulates stem cell proliferation in the bone marrow. We now report that GM-CSF receptors expressed on neural progenitor cells and can mediate a biological response in cells to treat with GM-CSF treated neural progenitor cells exhibited a proliferative response and a marked decrease in terminal differentiation to mature neuron or astrocytes. GM-CSF treatment also suppressed neural progenitor cell apoptosis. These findings suggest that GM-CSF can stimulate the proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis of neural progenitor cells to expand the progenitor population, and that GM-CSF has a potential role in neural development or repair.

MgSiO 3 ceramics were synthesized and their microwave dielectric properties were investigated. The Mg 2 SiO 4 phase was formed at temperatures lower than 12001C, while the orthorhombic MgSiO 3 phase started to form by the reaction of SiO 2 and Mg 2 SiO 4 in the specimen fired at 12001C. The structure of the MgSiO 3 ceramics was transformed from orthorhombic to monoclinic when the sintering temperature exceeded 14001C. A dense microstructure was developed for the specimens sintered at above 13501C. The excellent microwave dielectric properties of e r 5 6.7, Q Â f 5 121 200 GHz, and s f 5 À17 ppm/1C were obtained from the MgSiO 3 ceramics sintered at 13801C for 13 h.X. M. Chen-contributing editor

Background: CD56+ and CD163+ cell infiltration in human kidney transplant biopsies have not been fully evaluated. Methods: We investigated the association of CD56+ and CD163+ cell infiltration with human kidney transplant biopsies with antibody- or T-cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) and other histologic lesions. One hundred and seventy four clinically indicated transplant biopsies were included in this analysis. Immunohistochemical staining for C4d, CD56 and CD163 was performed. Results: One hundred and seventy four indication biopsies were divided into early (≤1 year posttransplant; n = 49) and late (>1 year posttransplant; n = 125) biopsies. High numbers of CD56+ cells were uncommon in early biopsies except for those with antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) only. On the other hand, high numbers of CD56+ cells were observed in late biopsies diagnosed as TCMR only, AMR only, and TCMR combined with AMR. In early biopsies, both CD56+ and CD163+ infiltrates correlated strongly with interstitial inflammation, tubulitis, and peritubular capillaritis (ptc) scores. The ci and ct scores, however, were correlated only with the number of CD56+ cells. In late biopsies, on the other hand, the number of CD56+ infiltrates was correlated only with ptc, while the number of CD163+ infiltrates was weakly correlated with any histologic lesion. Multivariable analyses showed that chronic active AMR and the number of CD56+ cells/10 HPF were independently associated with death-censored graft failure post-biopsy. The number of CD163+ cells was not correlated with any pathologic lesion and post-biopsy graft failure. CD56+ infiltrates were also associated with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. Conclusions: Intragraft CD56+ cell infiltrates were significantly associated with AMR and subsequent poor clinical outcomes.