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The exploration of new synthesis methods is important for the improvement of the thermoelectric property of a material for the different mechanisms of microstructure fabrication, surface activity modulation, and particle refinement. Herein, we prepared p-Bi2Te3bulk materials by a simple synthesis method of the plasma-assisted ball milling, which yielded finer nanopowders, higher texture of in-plane direction, and higher efficiency compared to the traditional ball milling, favoring the simultaneous improvement of electrical and thermal properties. When combined with the Te liquid sintering, nano-/microscale hierarchical pores were fabricated and the carrier mobility was also increased, which together resulted in the low lattice thermal conductivity of 0.52 W·m–1·K–1and the high power factor of 43.4 μW·cm–1·K–2at 300 K, as well as the ranking ahead zTof 1.4@375 K. Thus, this work demonstrated the advantages of plasma-assisted ball milling in highly efficient synthesis of p-type Bi2Te3with promising thermoelectric performance, which can also be utilized to prepare other thermoelectric materials.

Background Integrins are the major adhesive molecules in mammalian cells. Each integrin subtype plays a unique role in cell differentiation and embryo development. However, integrin involvement in carcinogenesis has not been well defined. Methods We identified mutations in integrin [alpha]7 by sequencing genomic DNAs and cDNAs from 122 specimens, including 62 primary human tumor samples, four cell lines, and 56 matched normal tissues. We evaluated the tumor suppressor activity of integrin [alpha]7 with colony formation, soft agar colony growth, and cell migration assays by forcing its expression in PC-3 and Du145 prostate cancer cells and SK-UT-1 leiomyosarcoma cells. PC-3 and Du145 xenograft tumors with increased levels of integrin [alpha]7 in severe combined immune deficient mice were used to assess the effect of integrin [alpha]7 on tumor growth and metastasis. Immunostaining was used to localize and to measure the level of integrin [alpha]7 in 701 and 141 specimens of prostate and smooth muscle, respectively. A meta-analysis of integrin [alpha]7 mRNA microarray data from four studies was performed. Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to assess survival. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results Integrin [alpha]7 mutations that generate truncations were found in specimens of 16 of 28 prostate cancers (57%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 37% to 76%), five of 24 hepatocellular carcinomas (21%, 95% CI = 7% to 42%), five of six glioblastomas multiforme (83%, 95% CI = 36% to 99%), and one of four leiomyosarcomas (25%, 95% CI = 0.6% to 81%). Integrin [alpha]7 mutations were associated with increased recurrence of human prostate cancer (nine recurrences among 13 patients with integrin [alpha]7 mutations versus one among eight without such mutations; odds ratio [OR] = 14, 95% CI = 1.15 to 782, P = .024) and hepatocellular carcinoma (five recurrences among eight patients with integrin [alpha]7 mutations versus one among 16 without such mutations, OR = 21, 95% CI = 1.6 to 1245; P= .007). Forced expression of normal integrin [alpha]7 in prostate cancer and leiomyosarcoma cell lines suppressed tumor growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Focal or no integrin [alpha]7 expression in human prostate cancer and soft tissue leiomyosarcoma was associated with a reduction of metastasis-free survival (for example, for prostate cancer with focal or no expression, 5-year metastasis-free survival was 32%, 95% CI = 24.4% to 40.3%, and for prostate cancer with at least weak expression, it was 85%, 95% CI = 79% to 91%; P Conclusion Integrin [alpha]7 appears to be a tumor suppressor that operates by suppressing tumor growth and retarding migration.

The article provides information on a research about the need to establish organization, capital strategy, and withdrawal way choice in the Chinese sports industry capital market operation.