Three-dimensional conformal intensity-modulated radiation therapy of left femur foci does not damage the sciatic nerve

During radiotherapy to kill femoral hydatid tapeworms, the sciatic nerve surrounding the focus can be easily damaged by the treatment. Thus, it is very important to evaluate the effects of ra- diotherapy on the surrounding nervous tissue. In the present study, we used three-dimensional, conformal, intensity-modulated radiation therapy to treat bilateral femoral hydatid disease in Meriones meridiani. The focus of the hydatid disease on the left femur was subiected to radio- therapy （40 Gy） for 14 days, and the right femur received sham irradiation. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, electron microscopy, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-dUTP nick end labeling assays on the left femurs showed that the left sciatic nerve cell structure was normal, with no ob- vious apoptosis after radiation. Trypan blue staining demonstrated that the overall protoscolex structure in bone parasitized with Echinococcus granulosus disappeared in the left femur of the animals after treatment. The mortality of the protoscolex was higher in the left side than in the right side. The succinate dehydrogenase activity in the protoscolex in bone parasitized with Echi- nococcus granulosus was lower in the left femur than in the right femur. These results suggest that three-dimensional conformal intensity-modulated radiation therapy achieves good therapeutic effects on the secondary bone in hydatid disease in Meriones meridiani without damaging the morphology or function of the sciatic nerve.

Facile synthesis of a Ni_(3)S_(2)@C composite using cation exchange resin as an efficient catalyst to improve the kinetic properties of MgH_(2)

Carbon materials have excellent catalytic effects on the hydrogen storage performance of MgH2. Here, carbon-supported Ni3S2(denoted as Ni3S2@C) was synthesized by a facile chemical route using ion exchange resin and nickel acetate tetrahydrate as raw materials and then introduced to improve the hydrogen storage properties of MgH2. The results indicated the addition of 10 wt.% Ni3S2@C prepared by macroporous ion exchange resin can effectively improve the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation kinetic properties of MgH2. At 100 ℃,the dehydrogenated MgH2-Ni3S2@C-4 composite could absorb 5.68 wt.% H2. Additionally, the rehydrogenated MgH2-Ni3S2@C-4 sample could release 6.35 wt.% H2at 275 ℃. The dehydrogenation/hydrogenation enthalpy changes of MgH2-Ni3S2@C-4 were calculated to be 78.5 k J mol-1/-74.7 k J mol-1, i.e., 11.0 k J mol-1/7.3 k J mol-1lower than those of MgH2. The improvement in the kinetic properties of MgH2was ascribed to the multi-phase catalytic action of C, Mg2Ni, and Mg S, which were formed by the reaction between Ni3S2contained in the Ni3S2@C catalyst and Mg during the first hydrogen absorption–desorption process.

Facile synthesis and electrochemical properties of layered Li[Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3]O2 as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

A layered oxide Li[Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3]O2 was synthesized by an oxalate co- precipitation method. The morphology, structural and composition of the as-papered samples synthesized at different calcination temperatures were investigated. The results indicate that calcination temperature of the sample at 850℃ can improve the integrity of structural significantly. The effect of calcination temperature varying from 750℃ to 950℃ on the electrochemical performance of Li[Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3]O2, cathode material of lithiumion batteries, has been investigated. The results show that Li[Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3]O2 calcined at 850℃ possesses a higher capacity retention and better rate capability than other samples. The reversible capacity is up to 178.6 mA.h.g-1, and the discharge capacity still remains 176.3 mA-h.g-1 after 30 cycles. Moreover, our strategy provides a simple and highly versatile route in fabricating cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.