The aim of this study was to assess which machine, Radixact or CyberKnife, can deliver better treatment for lung and prostate stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with the use of Synchrony® real-time motion tracking system. Ten and eight patients treated with lung and prostate SBRT, respectively, using the CyberKnife system were selected for the assessment. For each patient, a retrospective Radixact plan was created and compared with the original CyberKnife plan. There was no statistically significant difference in the new conformity index of the Radixact plans and that of the Cyberknife plans in both lung and prostate SBRT. The average homogeneity index in the Radixact plans was better in both lung and prostate SBRT with statistical significance (p = 0·04 for lung and p = 0·02 for prostate). In lung SBRT, the dose to lungs was lower in Cyberknife plans (p = 0·002). In prostate SBRT, there was no statistically significant difference in organs at risk sparing between Cyberknife plans and Radixact plans. In conclusion, CyberKnife was better in lung SBRT while Radixact was better in prostate SBRT.

Pseudanoplocephala crawfordi is an important zoonotic cestode of economic significance and public health concern. In spite of its significance as a pathogen, the systematics, genetics, epidemiology and biology of this parasite remain poorly understood. In the present study, we sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of P. crawfordi, which is 14,192 bp long and encodes 36 genes, including 12 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and two ribosomal RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated amino acid sequences using the Bayesian inference (BI) method showed that P. crawfordi was closely related to the family Hymenolepididae. Considering that the taxonomic status of P. crawfordi has been controversial when based only on morphological features, the mt genome obtained here will provide novel molecular markers to ascertain the phylogenetic position of this parasite accurately.

Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences of three Nematodirus species from naturally infected goats or sheep in two endemic provinces of China were analysed to establish an effective molecular approach to differentiate Nematodirus species in small ruminants. The respective intra-specific genetic variations in ITS1 and ITS2 rDNA regions were 0.3–1.8% and 0–0.4% in N. spathiger, 0–6.5% and 0–5.4% in N. helvetianus, and 0–4.4% and 0–6.1% in N. oiratianus from China. The respective intra-specific variations of ITS1 and ITS2 were 1.8–4.4% and 1.6–6.1% between N. oiratianus isolates from China and Iran, 5.7–7.1% and 6.3–8.3% between N. helvetianus samples from China and America. For N. spathiger, compared with samples from China, sequence differences in ITS1 rDNA were 0.3–2.4% in isolates from America, 0.3–2.9% in New Zealand and 2.1–2.4% in Australia. Genetic variations in ITS2 rDNA of N. spathiger were 0–0.4% between samples from China and America, and 0–0.8% between samples from China and New Zealand. Using mutation sites, polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and specific PCR techniques were developed to differentiate these three Nematodirus species. The specific PCR assay allowed the accurate identification of N. oiratianus from other common nematodes with a sensitivity of 0.69 pg and further examination of Nematodirus samples demonstrated the reliability of these two molecular methods.

In the present study, the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of Oesophagostomum asperum and O. columbianum were amplified and sequenced. The ITS-1, 5.8S and ITS-2 rDNA sequences of O. asperum were 374 bp, 153 bp and 259 bp in length, respectively, and the corresponding sequences of O. columbianum were 259, 153 and 218 bp in length, respectively. Sequence differences in the ITS-1 and ITS-2 rDNA between the two Oesophagostomum species were 9.5–10.2% and 12.7–13.9%, respectively. Sequence differences in the ITS-1 and ITS-2 rDNA among members of the genus Oesophagostomum were 2.5–11.6% and 6.8–22.3%, respectively. Based on genetic markers in the ITS rDNA, an effective polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach was developed to differentiate O. columbianum from O. asperum with a sensitivity of 0.2 ng/μl DNA. Since accurate characterization of parasites at different taxonomic levels is essential for population genetic studies and control of parasitosis, the present findings have important implications for studying epidemiology, taxonomy and population biology, as well as for the control of oesophagostomiasis.

Intermetallic compound (IMC) spalling from electroless Ni-P film was investigated with lead-free solders in terms of solder-deposition methods (electroplating, solder paste, and thin foil), P content in the Ni-P film (4.6, 9, and 13 wt% P), and solder thickness (120 versus .200 μm). The reaction of Ni-P with Sn3.5Ag paste easily led to IMC spalling after 2-min reflow at 250 °C while IMCs adhered to the Ni-P layer after 10-min reflow with electroplated Sn or Sn3.5Ag. It has been shown that not only the solder composition but also the deposition method is important for IMC spalling from the Ni-P layer. The spalling increased with P content as well as with solder volume. Ni3Sn4 intermetallics formed as a needle-shaped morphology at an early stage and changed into a chunk-shape. Needle-shaped compounds exhibited a higher propensity for spalling than chunk-shaped compounds because many channels among the needle-shaped IMCs facilitated Sn penetration. A reaction between the penetrated Sn and the Ni3P layer formed a Ni3SnP layer and Ni3Sn4 IMCs spalled off the Ni3SnP surface. Dewetting of solder from the Ni3SnP layer, however, did not occur even after spalling of most IMCs.

To explore a possibility of obtaining an ultra fine grain size in hcp materials, equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) was applied to commercially pure Zr with the initial grain size of 20 μm. To ensure the crack-free specimen during the severe deformation it was necessary to adopt different die designs at the two processing temperatures, room temperature and 350°C. Submicrometer scale grains, in the order of 200 nm, were obtained by employing the die design of 90°/20° and the deformation temperature of 350°C. With the proper choice of the processing parameters, the refined grains were surrounded by the high angle boundaries. During the severe plastic deformation, the crystal texture underwent a significant change, from a fiber texture to that of a strong (0002) component mixed with a medium {1010} components, suggesting a dual <a> slip mode of deformation on the plane of the maximum shear stress.