Feasibility of 3.0 T diffusion-weighted nuclear magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of functional recovery of rats with complete spinal cord injury

Diffusion tensor imaging is a sensitive way to reflect axonal necrosis and degeneration, glial cell regeneration and demyelination following spinal cord injury, and to display microstructure changes in the spinal cord in vivo. Diffusion tensor imaging technology is a sensitive method to diagnose spinal cord injury; fiber tractography visualizes the white matter fibers, and directly displays the structural integrity and resultant damage of the fiber bundle. At present, diffusion tensor imaging is restricted to brain examinations, and is rarely applied in the evaluation of spinal cord injury. This study aimed to explore the fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging and the feasibility of diffusion tensor tractography in the evaluation of complete spinal cord injury in rats. The results showed that the average combined scores were obviously decreased after spinal cord transection in rats, and then began to increase over time. The fractional anisotropy scores after spinal cord transection in rats were significantly lower than those in normal rats （P 〈 0.05）; the apparent diffusion coefficient was significantly increased compared with the normal group （P 〈 0.05）. Following spinal cord transection, fractional anisotropy scores were negatively correlated with apparent diffusion coefficient values （r = -0.856, P 〈 0.01）, and positively correlated with the average combined scores （r = 0.943, P 〈 0.01）, while apparent diffusion coefficient values had a negative correlation with the average combined scores （r = -0.949, P 〈 0.01）. Experimental findings suggest that, as a non-invasive examination, diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging can provide qualita- tive and quantitative information about spinal cord injury. The fractional anisotropy score and apparent diffusion coefficient have a good correlation with the average combined scores, which reflect functional recovery after spinal cord injury.

Electrochemical behavior of Cu(II) reduced in CH3OH and DMSO

The cyclic voltammetry and the potential-time curve after galvanostaticelectrolysis were used to study the electrode processes of Cu(II) in CH_3OH solution and DMSOsolution. The electroreduction of Cu(II) to Cu on a Pt electrode proceeds in two steps: Cu(II) + evelence Cu(I); Cu(I) + e velence Cu. The reduction potential of Cu(II) in DMSO solution is morenegative than that in CH_3OH solution, and the diffusion coefficient of Cu(II) ion in DMSO solutionis larger than that in CH_3OH solution because the polarity of DMSO is larger than that of CH_3OHobservably and has a stronger solvating power.

Electrochemical reduction behavior of Hf(Ⅳ) in molten NaCl–KCl–K_2HfCl_6 system

The electrochemical reduction mechanism of hafnium ion（IV） was studied in NaC1-KC1-K2HfC16 melts on a molybdenum electrode. The cyclic voltammetry study shows that Hf（IV） is reduced to hafnium metal in double two-electron process, that is： Hf（IV） ＋ 2e→Hf（II） and Hf（II） ＋ 2e- →Hf, and the electrochemical reduction of Hf（IV） pro- cess was diffusion-controlled. The diffusion coefficients were calculated at several temperatures, and the results obey the Arrhenius law. According to the relationship oflnD versus 1/T, the corresponding activation energy was determined to be 158.8 kJ.mol- x. The square wave voltammetry results further confirm the reduction mechanism of hafnium.

Review of the first principles calculations and the design of cathode materials for Li-ion batteries

Cathode materials are the most critical chal- lenge for the large scale application of Li-ion batteries in electric vehicles and for the storages of electricity. The first principles calculations play an important role in develop- ment and optimization of novel cathode materials. In this paper, we overview the first principles calculations of energy, volume change, band-gap, phase diagram, and Li- ion transport mechanism of cathode materials with an emphasis on the design of such materials. We also over- view the recent progress of data mining techniques and the high-throughput first principles calculations for the design and development of cathode materials. Finally, we preview the challenges and opportunities of this rapidly developing field.