RESUMO
An experimental study of the phase equilibria of the Ho-rich part of the Ho-Ir-O ternary system at 1073 K by means of x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy has been carried out. Ho-hcp and four binary compounds, namely Ho3Ir, Ho5Ir2, Ho5Ir3, and Ho2O3, were identified in the Ho-Ir-O model alloys after long-term annealing (350-1220 h). No solubility of iridium in Ho2O3 oxide and Ho-hcp was observed. No ternary phase was found. Based on the experimental results, an isothermal section of the Ho-rich part of the Ho-Ir-O system at 1073 K was constructed. In addition, the microstructure of as-cast alloys was studied. An irregular eutectic consisting of faceted Ho-phase in Ho3Ir phase was observed in the alloys with Ho-hcp + Ho3Ir + Ho2O3 phase composition, and the temperature of the eutectic reaction Ho-hcp + Ho3Ir â liquid was determined.
RESUMO
We have performed a quantum-mechanical study of a series of stoichiometric Ni2MnSn structures focusing on pressure-induced changes in their magnetic properties. Motivated by the facts that (i) our calculations give the total magnetic moment of the defect-free stoichiometric Ni2MnSn higher than our experimental value by 12.8% and (ii) the magnetic state is predicted to be more sensitive to hydrostatic pressures than seen in our measurements, our study focused on the role of point defects, in particular Mn-Ni, Mn-Sn and Ni-Sn swaps in the stoichiometric Ni2MnSn. For most defect types we also compared states with both ferromagnetic (FM) and anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) coupling between (i) the swapped Mn atoms and (ii) those on the Mn sublattice. Our calculations show that the swapped Mn atoms can lead to magnetic moments nearly twice smaller than those in the defect-free Ni2MnSn. Further, the defect-containing states exhibit pressure-induced changes up to three times larger but also smaller than those in the defect-free Ni2MnSn. Importantly, we find both qualitative and quantitative differences in the pressure-induced changes of magnetic moments of individual atoms even for the same global magnetic state. Lastly, despite of the fact that the FM-coupled and AFM-coupled states have often very similar formation energies (the differences only amount to a few meV per atom), their structural and magnetic properties can be very different.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess the previously unstudied potential role of C/T (A1330V) polymorphism of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-5 gene in insulin sensitivity and secretion in polycystic ovary syndrome. The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-5 gene has been found to play a role in determining insulin secretion in animal models. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Tertiary outpatient clinic. PATIENT(S): Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (n = 299; age, 27.5 +/- 7.1 y [mean +/- SD]), according to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology criteria, as well as healthy control women (n = 187, age, 28.9 +/- 9.8 y). INTERVENTION(S): Oral glucose tolerance test, blood sampling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Glucose, insulin, C peptide, proinsulin during oral glucose tolerance tests, and lipids. Genotyping of C/T (A1330V) polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULT(S): There was no difference in the frequency of genotypes between women with polycystic ovary syndrome (CC/CT/TT: 80.3%, 18.4%, 1.3%) and the control women (79.1%, 19.8%, and 1.1%). Carriers of the T allele had statistically significantly higher basal and stimulated C peptide and proinsulin levels than CC homozygotes, both basally and at the 180th minute. Regarding insulin sensitivity, there was no difference between T carriers and CC homozygotes. CONCLUSION(S): Polymorphism of C/T in the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-5 gene is associated with C-peptide and proinsulin secretion but does not influence insulin sensitivity in either healthy women or women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
