Effects of Ru doping on the structural stability and electrochemical properties of Li2MoO3 cathode materials for Li-ion batteries.

The Li2MoO3 (LMO) material is one promising cathode material for lithium-ion batteries due to its high specific capacity and absence of oxygen release. However, its surface instability in air and poor conductivity have limited its application. To solve these problems, the Ru element has been successfully introduced into the LMO lattice with the aid of the molten salt method. XRD and TEM characterization showed that the introduction of Ru does not change the crystal structure but expands the crystal plane spacing of the {001} facets, which is further evidenced by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. XPS and EDS tests indicated that the introduction of Ru inhibits the oxidation of Mo species and leads to a more uniform distribution of the material. In addition, DFT calculations revealed that covalent interactions are formed between Mo4d/Ru4d and O2p orbitals, leading to a significant reduction of the band gap. Therefore, Ru-doped samples exhibit good electrochemical performances. The initial discharge capacity of an LMRO-2 sample reaches 299.1 mA h g-1 at a 1C rate, and the capacity remains at 125.2 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles. In comparison, the initial discharge capacity of pure phase sample LMO is only 250.5 mA h g-1 under the same conditions, and the capacity remains only at 76.5 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles. The present results confirmed that Ru doping is an effective strategy to improve the performance of the LMO cathode material.

Flospes gen. nov. (Orthoptera, Trigonidiidae, Trigonidiinae), a genus of swordtail crickets from China, with two new species and new combinations.

We propose the genus Flospes gen. nov. for two new species, Flospesguangxiensis sp. nov. and Flospesviridipennis sp. nov., obtained from Guangxi and Hainan provinces, China, respectively, based on male genitalia traits. Three other species with similar genitalia are placed in the new genus: Flospesfujianensis (Wang et al., 1999), comb. nov., Flospeshainanensis (He et al., 2010), comb. nov., and Flospesdenticulatus (Liu & Shi, 2011), comb. nov. The new species are described, illustrated, and their ranges are given.

A new genus and two new species of Swordtail Crickets (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae; Trigonidiinae) from China.

Here we report two new species of the swordtail crickets (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae; Trigonidiinae) from Yunnan and Guangxi Province, China. One species (Trigonidium rubrumoculus sp. nov.) belongs to the genus Trigonidium, and we describe a new genus for the other species (Polycomus gen. nov., Polycomus exspiravit sp. nov.). The new genus resembles Amusurgus Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893 in appearance but differs in the structure of the male genitalia. Descriptions, illustrations, and distributions of these new species are provided.

Two new species of cricket genus Anaxiphomorpha Gorochov, 1987 (Orthoptera, Trigonidiidae, Trigonidiinae) in China.

Two new species, Anaxiphomorphanonggangensis sp. nov. and Anaxiphomorphamanereserratus sp. nov., are reported from Guangxi Province, China. Descriptions and illustrations for the new species and a key to all known species of Anaxiphomorpha are provided.

Pathological hydrogen peroxide triggers the fibrillization of wild-type SOD1 via sulfenic acid modification of Cys-111.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) involves the abnormal posttranslational modifications and fibrillization of copper, zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and TDP-43. However, how SOD1-catalyzed reaction product hydrogen peroxide affects amyloid formation of SOD1 and TDP-43 remains elusory. 90% of ALS cases are sporadic and the remaining cases are familial ALS. In this paper, we demonstrate that H2O2 at pathological concentrations triggers the fibrillization of wild-type SOD1 both in vitro and in SH-SY5Y cells. Using an anti-dimedone antibody that detects sulfenic acid modification of proteins, we found that Cys-111 in wild-type SOD1 is oxidized to C-SOH by pathological concentration of H2O2, followed by the formation of sulfenic acid modified SOD1 oligomers. Furthermore, we show that such SOD1 oligomers propagate in a prion-like manner, and not only drive wild-type SOD1 to form fibrils in the cytoplasm but also induce cytoplasm mislocalization and the subsequent fibrillization of wild-type TDP-43, thereby inducing apoptosis of living cells. Thus, we propose that H2O2 at pathological concentrations triggers the fibrillization of wild-type SOD1 and subsequently induces SOD1 toxicity and TDP-43 toxicity in neuronal cells via sulfenic acid modification of Cys-111 in SOD1. Our Western blot and ELISA data demonstrate that sulfenic acid modified wild-type SOD1 level in cerebrospinal fluid of 15 sporadic ALS patients is significantly increased compared with 6 age-matched control patients. These findings can explain how H2O2 at pathologic concentrations regulates the misfolding and toxicity of SOD1 and TDP-43 associated with ALS, and suggest that sulfenic acid modification of wild-type SOD1 should play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of sporadic ALS.

[Effectiveness and safety of long-pulsed Alexandrite laser for hair removal in 1702 patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of long-pulsed Alexandrite laser for hair removal. METHODS: Hair removal was performed in 1702 hirsute patients with long-pulsed Alexandrite laser. Among them 1603 patients received two or more operations. RESULTS: In patients who received 2, 3, 4, 5, and > or =6 operations, the effectiveness rates were 9.79%, 18.33%, 29.10%, 37.64%, and 82.68%, respectively. The number of operation correlated with the effectiveness, and > or =6 operations resulted in superior outcomes. Pigmentation occurred in 0.94% of the patients (16/1702). CONCLUSION: The long-pulsed Alexandrite laser system is effective and safe in removing hair.