Earticle

The superconducting properties of high temperature superconducting (HTS) GdBCO coated conductor (CC) tape (Ag/GdBCO/Buffer-layers/Stainless Steel) were investigated, specifically a series of samples prepared by vacuum heat treatment (200oC to 600oC), using a Quantum Design PPMS-14. The critical current density Jc value was obtained by applying the modified Bean model to the irreversible magnetization Mirr(H) data which was estimated from the magnetization M(H) loop. The reduction rates of lnJc and Tc values according to the increase of the vacuum annealing temperature Tan were d(lnJc)/dTan= - 0.016 A/(cm2∙oC) and dTc/dTan = - 0.24, respectively. We examined the effect of recovery temperature Tre (475oC to 700oC) and recovery duration time t (0.5 h to 24 h) on the restoration of previously completely lost superconductivity in samples that subsequently received heat treatment in an O2 gas flow space. All samples were fully restored to superconductivity by heat treatment in an O2 gas flow space. The recovery temperatures Tre (475oC to 700oC) and recovery duration times t (0.5 h to 24 h) were both independent of the superconductivity recovery characteristics.

Purpose: The in vitro study suggested that proline to serine polymorphism in codon 475 (C1423T) of the A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease with ThromboSpondin type 1 repeats-13 (ADAMTS-13) gene is related to reduced activity of ADAMTS- 13. In this study, the frequency of the Pro475Ser polymorphism in Koreans was studied and plasma ADAMTS-13 activity was measured to find out whether this polymorphism contributes to decreased ADAMTS-13 activity in Koreans. Patients and Methods: The frequency of the C1423T allele of the ADAMTS13 gene was studied along with measuring plasma ADAMTS-13 activity in 250 healthy Korean individuals. Results: The allele frequency of C1423T polymorphism was 4%, and the median activity of CT type was 107 (69-143)%, which was lower than in controls with the CC genotype [118 (48-197)%, (p=0.021)]. Conclusion: Therefore, the Pro475Ser polymorphism seems to be popular in the Korean population, and attenuates ADAMTS-13 plasma activity.

The transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) gene 29 T/C polymorphism is thought to be associated with breast cancer risk. However, reports are largely conflicting and underpowered. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis of all available case-control studies relating the TGF-${\beta}1$ 29T/C polymorphism to the risk of developing breast cancer by including a total of 31 articles involving 24,021 cases and 31,820 controls. Pooled ORs were generated for the allele contrasts, with additive genetic, dominant genetic and recessive genetic models. Subgroup analysis was also performed by ethnicity for the TGF-${\beta}1$ 29T/C polymorphism. No association was found in the overall analysis (C vs T: OR=1.028, 95% CI=0.949-1.114, p-value 0.500; CC vs TC: OR= 1.022, 95% CI=0.963-1.085, p-value 0.478; CC vs TT: OR= 1.054, 95% CI=0.898-1.236, p-value 0.522; CC vs TT+ TC: OR= 1.031, 95% CI=0.946-1.124, p-value 0.482; TT vs CC+TC: OR= 0.945, 95% CI=0.827-1.080, p-value 0.403). Similarly, in the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, no association was found in Caucasian (C vs T: OR= 1.041, 95% CI=0.932-1.162, p-value 0.475; CC vs TC: OR= 1.031, 95% CI=0.951-1.118, p-value 0.464; CC vs TT: OR= 1.081, 95% CI=0.865-1.351, p-value 0.493; CC vs TT+TC: OR= 1.047, 95% CI=0.929-1.180, p-value 0.453; TT vs CC+TC: OR= 0.929, 95% CI=0.775-1.114, p-value 0.429;) and Asian populations (C vs T: OR= 1.004, 95% CI=0.908-1.111, p-value 0.931; CC vs TC: OR= 0.991, 95% CI=0.896-1.097, p-value 0.865; CC vs TT: OR= 1.015, 95% CI=0.848-1.214, p-value 0.871; CC vs TT+TC: OR= 1.000, 95% CI=0.909-1.101, p-value 0.994; TT vs CC+TC: OR= 0.967, 95% CI=0.808-1.159, p-value 0.720;). No evidence of publication bias was detected during the analysis. No significant association with breast cancer risk was demonstrated overall or on subgroup (Caucasian and Asian) analysis. It can be concluded that TGF-${\beta}1$ 29T/C polymorphism does not play a role in breast cancer susceptibility in overall or ethnicity-specific manner.