This method provides tertiary level care at the referring hospital and may improve Batimastat molecular weight survival for a sub-set of patients in the community hospital setting. J Heart Lung Transplant 2011;30:618-23 (C) 2011 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: The goal of the present study was to extend our previous findings on long-term methamphetamine (MA) use and drug abstinence on brain metabolite levels in an expanded group of MA-dependent individuals.

Methods: Seventeen MA abusers with sustained drug abstinence (1-5 years), 30 MA abusers with short-term drug abstinence (1-6 months) and 24 non-substance using

controls were studied using MR spectroscopy (MRS). MRS measures of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and Cho/NAA were obtained in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and in the primary visual cortex (PVC).

Results: ACC-Cho/NAA values were abnormally high in the short-term abstinent group compared to controls [F(1,52)=18.76, p < 0.0001]. No differences were observed

between controls and the long-term abstinent group [F(1,39) = 0.97, p = 0.97]. New evidence of lower ACC-NAA/Cr levels were observed in the short-term abstinent MA abusers compared to controls [F(1,52)= 23.05, p < 0.0001] and long-term abstinent MA abusers [F(1,45) = 7.06, p = 0.01]. No differences were observed between long-term abstinent MA abusers and controls [F(1,39) = 0.48, p = 0.49].

Conclusions: The new findings of relative H 89 in vitro NAA/Cr normalization across periods of abstinence suggest that adaptive changes following cessation of MA abuse may be broader than initially thought. These changes may contribute to some

degree of normalization of neuronal function in the ACC. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Lipase-catalyzed methanolysis of vegetable oils has attracted considerable interests for the production of biodiesel (BD). However, the activity of lipase such as Novozym 435 (immobilized Candida antarctica AC220 Angiogenesis inhibitor lipase B) is negatively affected by methanol. To minimize this problem, two-step lipase catalysis was investigated. Crude palm oil (CPO), which is relatively cheaper because of avoiding refining cost, was used as the source of BD. CPO was first hydrolysed to fatty acids (FA), which was then esterified to BD. Candida rugosa and Novozym 435 lipases were used as biocatalysts for the hydrolysis of CPO and the esterification of FA, respectively. The complete conversion of CPO to FA was achieved under an optimal condition of buffer to CPO ratio 1:1 (v/v), buffer pH 7.0, lipase 0.1 wt.% of CPO, isooctane to CPO ratio 1:1 (v/v), temperature 30 degrees C, shaking speed 250 rpm and time 4 h. The methyl esterification of FA with 1.2-fold stoichiometric excess of methanol reached the equilibrium after 2 h at which BD yield was 98%. C. rugosa and Novozym 435 lipases were repeatedly used for 10 and 50 cycles, respectively without significant loss of their activities.

Dynamic storage modulus (G’) measurements were carried out at constant LY2090314 supplier strain in a wide range of frequency. Linear correlations were frequently found to be active between AUL and G’ data over the rubber-elastic plateau. Thus, for a given SAP: AUL=k(total)G’ + C. The coefficient

k total is a function of (nature and content of crosslinker, initiator, inorganic component, particle morphology, etc.). Therefore, the easily measured AUL values could be simply correlated to the main synthesis variables and molecular structure of SAP gels through a rheological material function (G’). (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 113: 3676-3686, 2009″
“This study aimed at determining the causes of failure of the different proposed strategies to ensure improvement of medication-overuse headache (MOH) patients, since they have not been investigated IPI-145 mouse so far, especially with regard to aspects related to cognitive and behavioural aspects of symptomatic drugs overused by them. One hundred and twenty in-patients, 82 females (68.3 %), median age 49 (42-56) years, affected by MOH were admitted to the study and treated with abrupt discontinuation of the medication overused, a 6-day in-patient detoxification regimen and an immediate start of personalized prophylactic treatment, then followed for 1 year. Leeds Dependence Questionnaire

(LDQ), among all the clinical variables, was administered at baseline and at 1-year follow-up visit to assess substance dependence. Of the 120 patients enrolled, 68 (56.7 %) were successfully detoxified (Responder-group), while 52 (43.3 %) were not (Non-Responder-group). At baseline, the mean LDQ total score was slightly higher in the Non-Responder group than in the Responder group (12.08 +/- A 2.14 vs. 11.94 +/- A 1.98). Although this difference was not significant at baseline (p > 0.05), the LDQ total score was significantly different (p < ACY-738 in vitro 0.001) at the 1-year follow-up visit between the responder group (7.8 +/- A 2.3) and the

Non-Responder group (12.1 +/- A 2.1). Moreover, the pattern of the responses of the patients in the responder group differed from that of the Non-Responder-group in the items relating to the compulsion to start, compulsion to continue, primacy of effect, constancy of state and cognitive set. The results showed that patients of the Non-Responder group showed a drug dependence pattern similar to that previously described in addicts. Conversely, in patients who positively responded to the procedure, drug-abuse behaviour seemed to be a consequence of chronic headache, reflecting the need for daily analgesic use to cope with everyday life.”
“Background: The small size of previous studies of mortality in opioid dependent people has prevented an assessment of the extent to which elevated mortality risks are consistent across time, clinical and/or patient groups.

03; 95% CI 1.01-1.05, P = 0.003) were significant independent predictors of having impairment in physical functioning. In terms of psychological factors, having higher levels of depression (OR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.36-1.91) and somatic distress (OR = 1.17; 95% CI 1.09-1.27) were independently associated with mental and JQ1 physical impairment, respectively.

Conclusion The current frequency and severity threshold cut-offs for IBS symptoms in the Rome III criteria are associated with a clinically meaningful impairment of quality

of life in community subjects with IBS.”
“The aim of the study was to determine whether abnormal connectivity of the fronto-striato-thalamic circuit underlies the morphological changes in subcortical Elafibranor datasheet structures of patients with Tourette syndrome and to correlate these changes with neurobehavioral measures. A total of 18 children with Tourette syndrome and 12 age-matched healthy controls underwent diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging. Tractography of the fronto-striato-thalamic circuit was achieved using probability distribution function of individual voxels. The Tourette syndrome group had significantly lower probability of connection between caudate nucleus and anterior-dorsolateral-frontal

cortex on the left (P = .038). Obsessive-compulsive behavior was negatively associated with connectivity score of the left caudate and anterior dorsolateral frontal cortex (P = .01) and was positively associated with connectivity selleck kinase inhibitor score for the subcallosal gyrus (P = .009) and for the lentiform nucleus (P = .008). The abnormal connectivity among components of the fronto-striato-thalamic circuit bilaterally (ie, seeds on the caudate and thalamus) in patients with Tourette syndrome provides direct evidence for the involvement of these circuits in the pathophysiology.”
“P>The screening of enhancer detector lines in Arabidopsis thaliana has identified genes that are specifically expressed in the sporophytic tissue of the ovule. One such gene is the MADS-domain transcription factor AGAMOUS-LIKE6

(AGL6), which is expressed asymmetrically in the endothelial layer of the ovule, adjacent to the developing haploid female gametophyte. Transcription of AGL6 is regulated at multiple stages of development by enhancer and silencer elements located in both the upstream regulatory region and the large first intron. These include a bipartite enhancer, which requires elements in both the upstream regulatory region and the first intron, active in the endothelium. Transcription of the AGL13 locus, which encodes the other member of the AGL6 subfamily in Arabidopsis, is also regulated by elements located in the upstream regulatory region and in the first intron. There is, however, no overlapping expression of AGL6 and AGL13 except in the chalaza of the developing ovule, as was shown using a dual gene reporter system.

Some polymorphic VX-770 inhibitor bands, involving both nucleotide and DNA methylation polymorphism, that differed between toxic and non-toxic samples were identified, cloned and sequenced. BLAST analysis of these fragments revealed differences in DNA methylation in some known genes and nucleotide polymorphism in chloroplast DNA. We conclude that MSAP is a powerful technique for the study of genetic diversity for organisms that have a narrow genetic base.”
“Advanced genital tumours are rare. Traditionally, surgical intervention in these

patients has had a limited role due to the associated co-morbidities, poor performance status and overall poor prognosis. Because the potential benefit of surgical intervention in advanced cases is not evidence based, a large proportion of these patients are treated palliatively with chemoradiation therapy, which may have a limited role in advanced disease together with no significant improvement

in quality of life for the patient. We present a review of palliative surgical techniques and non-surgical interventions in a range of male genital malignancies. Although the focus relates to advanced tumours with a palliative intent, a brief discussion on treatment AZD7762 in vivo with a view to cure is also covered. The traditional dogma is challenged with demonstration of value in surgery as part of multimodal therapy. Various surgical techniques that are used not only to excise the primary tumour, but also those of reconstruction of the urinary tract as well as techniques of flap and graft-based coverage are described. We show the essential role of surgery

as part of multimodal therapy in well-motivated patients. No longer is surgery considered as having a limited role in these patients with advanced male genital malignancy. (C) 2010 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Osmo-air dehydration treatments are widely applied to fruits in order to prolong shelf-life, reduce packaging Dorsomorphin and logistic costs, and improve both sensory and nutritional quality of the end products. In this work osmo-air dehydration was applied to blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum), a fruit that is gaining increasing attention due to its high content of dietary antioxidants. In particular, the aim of this study was to investigate the performance of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a tool for monitoring blueberry osmo and air dehydration processes. Blanched blueberries were dipped in sucrose and fructose + glucose osmotic solutions for 24 h, and the osmotic exchanges were determined by mass balances (water loss, solid gain, sugar intake, changes in total phenolics and anthocyanins); NIR spectra were collected in order to study modifications due to the osmotic treatments. Untreated and infused berries were subsequently air-dried at 70 degrees C to final moisture content of 10-14%.

“
“The relationship of homocyteine, Nutlin-3 Apoptosis inhibitor B12 and folic acid with osteoporosis has already been studied in various populations. We compared the important factors in the metabolism of homocysteine, such as homocysteine, B12 and folic acid levels, of Turkish postmenopausal women, and their relationship with the femur and lumbar spine bone mineral density.

This cross-sectional

study was conducted at Gazi University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The study group consisted of 178 postmenopausal women. Serum homocysteine, folic acid and Vitamin B12 were measured. BMD was measured using DEXA at the right femoral neck and lumbar spine (L1-L4).

Upon evaluation of both the femur and lumbar spine, it was determined that osteoporosis could be associated with a homocysteine level above the median and with a B12 value under the lowest quintile value.

Plasma Hcy and vitamin B12, but not folate levels, were associated with osteoporosis. Future interventional studies are needed to determine methods to reduce Hcy levels with dietary supplements and extra vitamin B12, which will restore bone health and reduce

risk of fractures.”
“P>Extensins, hydroxyproline-rich repetitive glycoproteins with Ser-Hyp(4) motifs, are structural proteins in plant cell walls. The leucine-rich repeat extensin 1 (LRX1) of Arabidopsis thaliana is an extracellular protein with buy Buparlisib both a leucine-rich repeat and an extensin domain, and has been demonstrated to be important for cell-wall formation in root hairs. lrx1 mutants develop defective cell walls, resulting in a strong root hair phenotype. The extensin

domain is essential for protein function and is thought to confer insolubilization of LRX1 in the cell wall. Here, in vivo characterization of the LRX1 extensin domain is described. First, a series Stem Cell Compound Library cost of LRX1 extensin deletion constructs was produced that led to identification of a much shorter, functional extensin domain. Tyr residues can induce intra- and inter-molecular cross-links in extensins, and substitution of Tyr in the extensin domain by Phe led to reduced activity of the corresponding LRX1 protein. An additional function of Tyr (or Phe) is provided by the aromatic nature of the side chain. This suggests that these residues might be involved in hydrophobic stacking, possibly as a mechanism of protein assembly. Finally, modified LRX1 proteins lacking Tyr in the extensin domain are still insolubilized in the cell wall, indicating strong interactions of extensins within the cell wall in addition to the well-described Tyr cross-links.”
“Our aim is to assess the safety and feasibility of ambulatory urogynaecological procedures in a 24-h day case surgery setting.

We evaluated women who underwent urogynaecological procedures in the 2-year period from April 2006 to March 2008 in an ambulatory care setting. Proportion of patients being discharged within 24 h was noted. Re-admission rate, prolonged inpatient stay and post-operative complications were analysed.

Although some fat accumulation is essential, any excess fat that is deposited into adipose depots other than the marbling fraction is energetically unfavorable and reduces efficiency of production. Hence, this review is focused on current knowledge about the biology and regulation of the important cells of adipose tissue: preadipocytes and adipocytes.”
“We demonstrate enhancement of photon to surface plasmon (SP) coupling using subwavelength metallic gratings and a variable gap Fabry-Perot (FP) resonator. Strengthened SPs and light modes are launched by laser excitation in-coupling. Enhancements

of out-coupled light intensity up to 15x are measured when compared to systems with no resonator. Out-coupled intensities show a FP type resonance when the resonator gap is scanned. Finite-element time and frequency domain simulations support measured results. (C) 2011 American Institute

of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3638127]“
“Lopez Galardin price JS, Valentin MO, Scandroglio B, Coll E, Martin MJ, Sagredo E, Martinez JM, Serna E, Matesanz R. Factors related to attitudes toward organ donation after death in the immigrant population in Spain. ?Clin Transplant 2012 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2011.01586.x. (C) 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Considering the relevance of the migratory processes in Western societies, the attitudes toward organ donation after death are analyzed by means of a survey applied to a representative random sample of the resident ATM Kinase Inhibitor inhibitor immigrant population in Spain, comprising 1202 subjects (estimated margin of error of +/- 2.88%, p = q, p < 0.05). Considered variables were disposition toward own organ donation, disposition toward deceased relatives donation in different situations, arguments against donation, socio-demographic indicators, religious beliefs, social integration, and information about organ donation and transplantation. Predisposition to donate varies strongly across geographical origin and religious beliefs and also shows relationships with additional socio-demographic, social integration, and informative

variables. In turn, the relationship between religious beliefs and attitude toward donation varies as a function of the degree of social integration. In Spain, the immigrant population is a heterogeneous collective that requires differential strategies to promote donation. BAY 80-6946 concentration Such strategies should be aimed at reinforcing the existing positive attitudes of citizens from West Europe and Latin America, and at familiarizing and informing about donation in citizens from the East, and at making specific efforts to break down the cultural and religious barriers toward donation in African citizens, with special emphasis on people of the Muslim faith.”
“PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of pediatric intraocular lens (IOL) calculations performed using contact and immersion A-scan biometry.

SETTING: Storm Eye Institute, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Complication and success rates for intra cranial angioplasty and stent placement are highly variable, so the widespread application of this procedure is generally not recommended

outside of clinical trials and experienced centers.”
“The anionic polymerization of propylene oxide was investigated with potassium t-butoxide as an initiator, and the solvent hexamethyl phosphoric triamide was used in controlling experiments. The relative molar mass limit of the products was determined as about 2700, and the C=C double bond was found to exist by NMR. In situ Fourier transform Cilengitide mouse infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor the whole polymerization process until the absorbance reached a constant value and the system reached equilibrium. However, propylene oxide still existed in the system, and alkoxide was detected in the reaction system by (23)Na-NMR. On the basis of these results, we deduced that the residual alkolide was not active enough to initiate propylene oxide polymerization in the near end of the polymerization. Therefore, there might have been another factor that limited the increase of the relative molar mass of poly(propylene oxide) in addition to chain transfer. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals,

AZD8186 PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitor Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 113: 3656-3660, 2009″
“Our aim was to compare the differences in the prevalence and the anatomical localization of referred pain areas of active trigger points (TrPs) between women with myofascial temporomandibular disorder (TMD) or fibromyalgia (FMS). ALK inhibitor Twenty women (age 46 +/- A 8 years) with TMD and 20 (age 48 +/- A 6 years) with FMS

were recruited from specialized clinic. Bilateral temporalis, masseter, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, and suboccipital muscles were examined for TrPs. TrPs were identified by palpation and considered active when the pain reproduced familiar pain symptom experienced by the patient. The referred pain areas were drawn on anatomical maps, digitalized and also measured. A new analysis technique based on a center of gravity (COG) method was used to quantitative estimate of the localization of the TrP referred pain areas. Women with FMS exhibited larger areas of usual pain symptoms than women with myofascial TMD (P < 0.001). The COG coordinates of the usual pain on the frontal and posterior pain maps were located more superior in TMD than in FMS. The number of active TrPs was significantly higher in TMD (mean +/- A SD 6 +/- A 1) than in FMS (4 +/- A 1) (P = 0.002). Women with TMD exhibited more active TrPs in the temporalis and masseter muscles than FMS (P < 0.01). Women with FMS had larger referred pain areas than those with TMD for sternocleidomastoid and suboccipital muscles (P < 0.001).

Since, for low Mg concentrations, the calculated Auger coefficients are far below 10(-32) cm(6)/s, we do not expect significant nonradiative loss through direct interband recombination in wurtzite ZnMgO. (C)11 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3651391]“
“We report 2 cases of leishmaniasis in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases in Greece. To assess trends in leishmaniasis reporting

in this patient population, we searched FK506 the literature for similar reports from Europe. Reports increased during 2004-2008, especially for patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents.”
“Random copolymers of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) and e-caprolactone (CL) have been synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of TMC and CL in the presence of stannous octoate. The effects of feeding dose, reaction temperature and polymerization time, and effect of catalyst content on the copolymerization were investigated. The results showed that the composition of the copolymers was in good agreement with the feeding dose, and the molecular weight of the copolymers decreased firstly with increasing CL content and then increased. The decrease in the reaction temperature, polymerization time and catalyst content would increase the molecular weight of the copolymers. Furthermore, the feeding dose affected the thermal and mechanical properties of the copolymer largely, and the possessing different

properties of random copolymers could be obtained by adjusting the copolymer compositions. This work could optimize the polymerization conditions to achieve CB-839 the copolymers with controlled properties for implant applications. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012″
“Historical inference is see more at its most powerful when independent lines of evidence can be integrated into a coherent account. Dating linguistic and cultural lineages can potentially play a vital

role in the integration of evidence from linguistics, anthropology, archaeology and genetics. Unfortunately, although the comparative method in historical linguistics can provide a relative chronology, it cannot provide absolute date estimates and an alternative approach, called glottochronology, is fundamentally flawed. In this paper we outline how computational phylogenetic methods can reliably estimate language divergence dates and thus help resolve long-standing debates about human prehistory ranging from the origin of the Indo-European language family to the peopling of the Pacific.”
“The influence of stress migration (SM) on the electromigration (EM) reliability is studied here for very fine line interconnects, fabricated using the 45-nm Cu/low-kappa interconnect process flow. As opposed to the current understanding that SM is not a concern for the narrow metal lines because of limited availability of vacancies for voiding, we found that SM does have serious wear-out effects.

Results: Thirty-five HIV+ subjects and 37 controls were included in the analysis. Among HIV+ subjects, the median age was 10 years, body mass index was 18.7 kg/m(2), 37% were male, CD4 count was 32%, 77% had HIV-RNA <400 copies/mL, and 86% were on antiretrovirals. At baseline, HIV+ had higher lipids and C-reactive protein. HIV-infected had higher internal carotid artery (ICA) and common carotid artery (CCA) IMT (mm) (ICA: HIV+, 0.90; controls, 0.78 [P = 0.01]; CCA: HIV+, 1.00; controls, 0.95 [P = 0.05]). At 48 weeks,

CD4% increased and low-density lipoprotein decreased in HIV-infected subjects. ICA and CCA median changes for HIV-infected subjects were -0.23 and -0.15 mm, respectively (both P < 0.01). Adriamycin research buy In controls, only CCA changed (P = 0.04). Between-group changes were not significant, except when only 31 perinatally infected HIV+ subjects and the controls were compared (CCA P = 0.04). In multiple regression analyses of HIV+ subjects, antiretroviral therapy duration and CD4% were associated with cIMT changes.

Conclusions: Higher cIMT was found in this website HIV-infected subjects than in healthy controls, but at 48 weeks, cIMT was similar between groups. These data suggest that HIV-infected children/young adults are at high risk of CVD, but lipid control,

immune restoration, and viral suppression with continuous antiretroviral therapy may prevent its worsening.”
“The concurrent detection of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and its corresponding antibody (anti-HBe) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is well established but the clinical features remain poorly understood. Fludarabine Demographic information, clinical and laboratory data were collected from 1624 consecutive inpatient records of patients

with chronic hepatitis B. Viral genotype, basic core promoter and precore mutations were determined by direct sequencing. In vitro HBeAg and anti-HBe binding experiments were conducted with three pairs of HBeAg-positive and anti-HBe-positive serum samples, which were mixed at variable ratios and incubated at 37 degrees C for 3-24 h. Of the 1624 chronic patients, 169 (10.4%) had concurrent HBeAg and anti-HBe positivity, and this was associated with intermediate age and HBV-DNA load, higher alanine aminotransferase level and more pronounced liver damage compared with HBeAg-positive or anti-HBe-positive patients alone. HBeAg and anti-HBe titres (median and interquartile range, S/CO) in the concurrent positive group were 4.2 (1.89.6) and 0.54 (0.27-0.72), which were closer to their respective cut-off values than those of HBeAg-positive or anti-HBe-positive groups alone. For the cases successfully sequenced, 110/134 (82.1%) harboured T1762/A1764 or/and A1896 mutants. The binding experiments showed that HBeAg and anti-HBe could be concurrently observed provided an optimal ratio (HBeAg to anti-HBe) was chosen.

Patients were independently assigned clinical diagnoses by treating clinicians. Setting University-based, tertiary care pain clinic. Subjects Three hundred

thirty-seven mixed chronic pain patients. Results Agreement between the clinical diagnosis and screener diagnosis was good (P<0.001), with 76% sensitivity and 82% specificity. Conclusion A self-administered, brief fibromyalgia screening questionnaire can effectively identify chronic pain patients who will likely have clinical fibromyalgia.”
“Introduction The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) reported outcomes of pregnancies in women with pre-gestational diabetes (PGDM) in the PF-03084014 in vitro UK (n = 3,733). This study aimed to compare CEMACH outcomes with PGDM pregnancies in Dublin.

Methods Retrospective

chart review of all PGDM pregnancies. Comparison to CEMACH are shown in brackets.

Results One hundred and ten PGDM women delivered in Dublin. Thirty (27%) had T2 diabetes (vs. 27%). Fifty-nine (53%) women had a booking HbA1c less than 7% (vs. 66%). Nineteen women (17.3%) had a first trimester miscarriage (vs. 8.5%). Of the Bafilomycin A1 research buy 91 remaining women, 71 (78%) women underwent induction of labour (vs. 38.9%). Fifty-four women (59.3%) were delivered by caesarean section (vs. 67.4%). Two infants (2.1%) were macrosomic (vs. 5.7%). There was one intrauterine death (0.1 vs. 0.6%) and no maternal deaths (vs. five).

Conclusion These results serve to underline the continued importance of multidisciplinary care for pregnant women with diabetes.”
“(KxNa0.96-xLi0.04)(Nb0.85Ta0.15)O-3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were produced by conventional solid-state reaction method. The effects of K/Na ratio on the phase transitional behavior, Raman spectrum, microstructure, and dielectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties of the ceramics have been investigated.

The phase structure of the ceramics undergoes a transition from orthorhombic to tetragonal phase with increasing x. A double-degenerate symmetric O-Nb-O stretching vibration v(1) and a triply degenerate symmetric O-Nb-O bending vibration v(5) are detected as relatively strong scattering in the Raman spectra. The peak shifts of v(5) QNZ and v(1) modes all have a discontinuity with x between 0.42 and 0.46, which may suggest the coexistence of orthorhombic and tetragonal phases in this range. Properly modifying x reduces the sintering temperature, promotes the grain growth behavior, and improves the density of the ceramics. The polymorphic phase transition (at To-t) is shifted to near room temperature by increasing x to 0.44 (K/Na ratio of about 0.85:1), and the coexistence of orthorhombic and tetragonal phases in the ceramics at x=0.44 results in the optimized electrical properties (d(33)=291 pC/N, k(p)=0.54, epsilon(r)=1167, tan delta=0.018, To-t=35 degrees C, T-C=351 degrees C, P-r=27.65 mu C/cm(2), and E-c=8.63 kV/cm).