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BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the D value, D* value, and f magnitude for identifying benign and malignant hepatic tumors using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).Material/MethodsData of 89 cases (123 lesions) with hepatic tumor confirmed by surgical pathology and postoperative follow-up were retrospectively collected. Among these cases, 40 cases were benign hepatic tumors (57 lesions) and 49 cases were malignant hepatic tumors (66 lesions). All subjects underwent conventional MRI with T1WI, T2WI, multi-b-value DWI, and dynamic enhanced LAVA scan. Diffusion-weighted images with 11 b values (0, 10, 20, 30, 50, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1000 s/mm2) were obtained to calculate true molecular diffusion (D), perfusion-related diffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f). The diagnostic performance in differentiating between malignant and benign hepatic lesions was analyzed.ResultsMalignant lesions had a significantly lower D value ([1.04±0.34]×10−3 mm2/s) and D* value ([16.5±7.7]×10−3 mm2/s) compared to benign lesions (D value: [1.70±0.55]×10−3 mm2/s, P<0.01; D* value: [21.7±9.9]×10−3 mm2/s, P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in f values between malignant (23.3±9.5) and benign lesions (33.5±14.9, P=0.13). In addition, D exhibited a better diagnostic performance than D* in terms of the area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity when identifying malignancies from benign lesions.ConclusionsD and D* are significant parameters for diagnosing hepatic tumors. Moreover, the D value is a more reliable parameter in distinguishing benign and malignant hepatic tumors.

Battery safety calls for solid state batteries and how to prepare solid electrolytes with excellent performance are of significant importance. In this study, hybrid solid electrolytes combined with organic PVDF-HFP and inorganic active fillers are studied. The modified active fillers of Li7-x-3yAlyLa3Zr2-xTaxO12 are obtained by co-element doping with Al and Ta when LLZO is synthesized by calcination. And an high room temperature ionic conductivity of 5.357×10-4 S/cm is exhibited by ATLLZO ceramic sheet. The composite solid electrolyte PVDF-HFP/LiTFSI/ATLLZO (PHL-ATLLZO) is prepared by solution casting method, and its electrochemical properties are investigated. The results show that when the contents of lithium salt LiTFSI and active filler ATLLZO are controlled at 40 wt% and 10%, respectively, the ionic conductivity of the resulting composite solid electrolyte is as high as 2.686×10-4 S/cm at room temperature, and a wide electrochemical window of 4.75 V is exhibited. The LiFePO4/PHL-ATLLZO/Li all-solid-state battery assembled based on the composite solid-state electrolyte exhibits excellent cycling stability at room temperature. The cell assembled by casting the composite solid-state electrolyte on the cathode surface shows a discharge specific capacity of 134.3 mAh/g and 96.2% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.2C. The prepared composite solid-state electrolyte demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to explore the influence of different input arteries on the parameters of computed tomography (CT) perfusion imaging for patients with different degree of stenosis of internal carotid artery (ICA).Material/MethodsForty patients were enrolled in the present study and divided into mild, moderate, severe stenosis and occlusion groups respectively with each 10 patients in each group. In reconstruction of cerebral CT perfusion (CTP) images, each raw perfusion image was reconstructed 3 times based on different reference input artery, including bilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) and basilar arteries (BA). Region of interest (ROI) was drawn in the central territories of bilateral anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery and posterior cerebral artery. And regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV), mean transit time (MTT), time to peak (TTP) and delay time (DT) were obtained from those ROI corresponding perfusion images.ResultsIn patients with mild and moderate ICA stenosis, there was no significant difference of perfusion parameters based on different input arteries (P>0.05). However, in severe ICA stenosis and occlusion CBF, MTT, and DT were significant different in affect side of the MCA group compared to the others (P<0.05).ConclusionsLarge intracranial artery can be selected as the input artery for patients with mild to moderate ICA stenosis, while for patients with severe stenosis and occlusion of ICA, the contra lateral middle cerebral artery or basilar artery would be better choice.