MnAl-C alloy is a very promising candidate as a rare-earth free magnet. Additions may affect the microstructure, stability of the τ-MnAl-C and magnetic properties. MnAl-C alloys with various additions (Ni, Ti, Zr or Zn) and powder extruded MnAl-C-Ni alloys have therefore been investigated. With 0.6 or 1.5 at.% Ni addition, the τ-phase has greater stability than that in the ternary alloy: after heat treating the homogenised alloys for 7 days at 700°C, the estimated remaining volume fractions of the τ-phase are 0.35, 0.85 and 0.91 for 0, 0.6 and 1.5 at.% Ni addition, respectively. Rare-earth-free MnAl-C-Ni permanent magnets have been produced for the first time by extruding powders milled from bulk. The best performance obtained for a whole, transverse section of the extruded material was (BH)max = 46 kJm-3, and was (BH)max = 49 kJm-3 for a sample taken from the edge of this section, which was comparable to the long-established benchmark. The microstructure of the materials produced here consisted of fine, recrystallised grains, which exhibited an <001> fibre texture with intermediate texture quality and of larger, non-recrystallised regions, which contained hierarchical twinning and a high density of defects. The volume fraction and size of the non-recrystallised regions were greatly reduced by decreasing the size of the initial powder particles. This led to a large increase in the squareness factor of the demagnetisation curve and consequently to the high (BH)max values observed.

Identification of predictors of treatment response in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) may facilitate improved disease management. Data were pooled from two 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of extended-release quetiapine (quetiapine XR; 150 or 300 mg/day) as adjunct to ongoing antidepressant therapy. Effects of psychiatric history and baseline demographic and disease characteristics on efficacy outcomes (Week 6 Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale [MADRS] total score reduction) were evaluated in population subgroups (quetiapine XR both doses pooled, n = 616; placebo, n = 303). Baseline Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S) score and previous depressive episodes on Week 6 MADRS total score change, and baseline MADRS individual item scores on Week 6 change in CGI-Improvement score, were also evaluated. No major differences between responders and non-responders to quetiapine XR were observed for patient characteristics or demographic and disease characteristics. No suggestion of a predictive association was found between baseline CGI-S score, number of depressive episodes, and baseline MADRS item scores and efficacy outcomes. These analyses showed no major differences between responders and non-responders, and no predictive association between the parameters assessed and efficacy outcomes for adjunct quetiapine XR in patients with MDD and an inadequate response to prior antidepressant therapy.