Polyoxometalate solution passivation enabling dendrite-free and high-performance zinc anodes in aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Zinc metal anodes in aqueous electrolytes commonly face challenges such as dendrite growth and undesirable side reactions, limiting their application in the field of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) for energy storage. Drawing inspiration from industrial practices involving molybdenum salt solutions for metal modification, a polyoxometalate solution was formulated as a passivation solution for zinc anodes (referred to as MO solution). The formed passivation layer, referred to as the MO layer, exhibited a uniform and protective nature with a thickness of approximately 10 µm. The experimental results demonstrated that this passivation layer effectively suppressed side reactions at the zinc anode interface, as evidenced by lower corrosion current density for MO-Zn anodes. Additionally, the newly plated Zn was uniformly deposited atop the MO layer, ensuring coating integrity and inhibiting dendrite growth. As a result, under more demanding conditions such as a larger current of 8 mA cm-2, the MO-Zn anode displayed an extended cycle life exceeding 420 h in a symmetric battery, with an overpotential as low as 98 mV. This performance significantly outperformed that of commercially available pure Zn foils (with a cycle life of 60 h and an overpotential of 192 mV). Notably, a self-made Na-doped V2O5 served as the cathode (referred to as NaVO), forming the MO-Zn//NaVO full battery. Even under high current test conditions of 2 A/g, the specific capacity of the MO-Zn//NaVO full battery remained substantial at 152.83 mAh/g after 1000 cycles. Furthermore, pouch batteries assembled with NaVO//MO-Zn successfully illuminated small bulbs. This study offers a viable optimization strategy for AZIB anodes and demonstrates the potential of using polyoxometalate solution for etching zinc anodes to inhibit dendrite growth and interfacial corrosion of zinc metal anodes.

Altered functional connectivity of brainstem nuclei in new daily persistent headache: Evidence from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVES: The new daily persistent headache (NDPH) is a rare primary headache disorder. However, the underlying mechanisms of NDPH remain incompletely understood. This study aims to apply seed-based analysis to explore the functional connectivity (FC) of brainstem nuclei in patients with NDPH using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: The FC analysis from the region of interest (ROI) to whole brain voxels was used to investigate 29 patients with NDPH and 37 well-matched healthy controls (HCs) with 3.0 Tesla MRI. The 76 nuclei in the brainstem atlas were defined as ROIs. Furthermore, we explored the correlations between FC and patients' clinical characteristics and neuropsychological evaluations. RESULTS: Patients with NDPH exhibited reduced FC in multiple brainstem nuclei compared to HCs (including right inferior medullary reticular formation, right mesencephalic reticular formation, bilateral locus coeruleus, bilateral laterodorsal tegmental nucleus-central gray of the rhombencephalon, median raphe, left medial parabrachial nucleus, periaqueductal gray, and bilateral ventral tegmental area-parabrachial pigmented nucleus complex) and increased FC in periaqueductal gray. No significant correlations were found between the FC of these brain regions and clinical characteristics or neuropsychological evaluations after Bonferroni correction (p > 0.00016). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that patients with NDPH have abnormal FC of brainstem nuclei involved in the perception and regulation of pain and emotions.

Application of Dual-Layer Spectral-Detector Computed Tomography Angiography in Identifying Symptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis: A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Dual-layer spectral-detector dual-energy computed tomography angiography (DLCTA) can distinguish components of carotid plaques. Data on identifying symptomatic carotid plaques in patients using DLCTA are not available. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this prospective observational study, patients with carotid plaques were enrolled and received DLCTA. The attenuation for both polyenergetic image and virtual monoenergetic images (40, 70, 100, and 140 keV), as well as Z-effective value, were recorded in the noncalcified regions of plaques. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between attenuations of DLCTA and the presence of symptomatic carotid plaques. In total, 100 participants (mean±SD age, 64.37±8.31 years; 82.0% were men) were included, and 36% of the cases were identified with the symptomatic group. DLCTA parameters were different between 2 groups (symptomatic versus asymptomatic: computed tomography [CT] 40 keV, 152.63 [interquartile range (IQR), 70.22-259.78] versus 256.78 [IQR, 150.34-408.13]; CT 70 keV, 81.28 [IQR, 50.13-119.33] versus 108.87 [IQR, 77.01-165.88]; slope40-140 keV, 0.91 [IQR, 0.35-1.87] versus 1.92 [IQR, 0.96-3.00]; Z-effective value, 7.92 [IQR, 7.53-8.46] versus 8.41 [IQR, 7.94-8.92]), whereas no difference was found in conventional polyenergetic images. The risk of symptomatic plaque was lower in the highest tertiles of attenuations in CT 40 keV (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.243 [95% CI, 0.078-0.754]), CT 70 keV (adjusted OR, 0.313 [95% CI, 0.104-0.940]), Z-effective values (adjusted OR, 0.138 [95% CI, 0.039-0.490]), and slope40-140 keV (adjusted OR, 0.157 [95% CI, 0.046-0.539]), with all P values and P trends <0.05. The areas under the curve for CT 40 keV, CT 70 keV, slope 40 to 140 keV, and Z-effective values were 0.64, 0.61, 0.64, and 0.63, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Parameters of DLCTA might help assist in distinguishing symptomatic carotid plaques. Further studies with a larger sample size may address the overlap and improve the diagnostic accuracy.

Evaluating Middle Cerebral Artery Plaque Characteristics and Lenticulostriate Artery Morphology Associated With Subcortical Infarctions at 7T MRI.

BACKGROUND: Lenticulostriate artery (LSA) obstruction is a potential cause of subcortical infarcts. However, MRI LSA evaluation at 3T is challenging. PURPOSE: To investigate middle cerebral artery (MCA) plaque characteristics and LSA morphology associated with subcortical infarctions in LSA territories using 7-T vessel wall MRI (VW-MRI) and time-of-flight MR angiography (TOF-MRA). STUDY TYPE: Prospective. POPULATION: Sixty patients with 80 MCA atherosclerotic plaques (37 culprit and 43 non-culprit). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 7-T with 3D TOF-MRA and T1-weighted 3D sampling perfection with application-optimized contrast using different flip angle evolutions (SPACE) sequences. ASSESSMENT: Plaque distribution (superior, inferior, ventral, or dorsal walls), LSA origin involvement, LSA morphology (numbers of stems, branches, and length), and plaque characteristics (normalized wall index, maximal wall thickness, plaque length, remodeling index, intraplaque hemorrhage, and plaque surface morphology (regular or irregular)) were assessed. STATISTICAL TESTS: Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, generalized estimating equations regression, receiver operating characteristic curve, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and intra-class coefficient. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Plaque irregular surface, superior wall plaque, longer plaque length, LSA origin involvement, fewer LSA stems, and shorter total and average lengths of LSAs were significantly associated with culprit plaques. Multivariable logistic analysis confirmed that LSA origin involvement (OR, 28.51; 95% CI, 6.34-181.02) and plaque irregular surface (OR, 8.32; 95% CI, 1.41-64.73) were independent predictors in differentiating culprit from non-culprit plaques. A combination of LSA origin involvement and plaque irregular surface (area under curve = 0.92; [95% CI, 0.86-0.98]) showed good performance in identifying culprit plaques, with sensitivity and specificity of 86.5% and 86.0%, respectively. DATA CONCLUSION: 7-T VW-MRI and TOF-MRA can demonstrate plaque involvement with LSA origins. MCA plaque characteristics derived from 7-T VW-MRI showed good diagnostic accuracy in determining the occurrence of subcortical infarctions. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

Glymphatic system impairment in Alzheimer's disease: associations with perivascular space volume and cognitive function.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate glymphatic function in Alzheimer's disease (AD) using the diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) method and to explore the associations between DTI-ALPS index and perivascular space (PVS) volume, as well as between DTI-ALPS index and cognitive function. METHODS: Thirty patients with PET-CT-confirmed AD (15 AD dementia; 15 mild cognitive impairment due to AD) and 26 age- and sex-matched cognitively normal controls (NCs) were included in this study. All participants underwent neurological MRI and cognitive assessments. Bilateral DTI-ALPS indices were calculated. PVS volume fractions were quantitatively measured at three locations: basal ganglia (BG), centrum semiovale, and lateral ventricle body level. DTI-ALPS index and PVS volume fractions were compared among three groups; correlations among the DTI-ALPS index, PVS volume fraction, and cognitive scales were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients with AD dementia showed a significantly lower DTI-ALPS index in the whole brain (p = 0.009) and in the left hemisphere (p = 0.012) compared with NCs. The BG-PVS volume fraction in patients with AD was significantly larger than the fraction in NCs (p = 0.045); it was also negatively correlated with the DTI-ALPS index (r = - 0.433, p = 0.021). Lower DTI-ALPS index was correlated with worse performance in the Boston Naming Test (ß = 0.515, p = 0.008), Trail Making Test A (ß = - 0.391, p = 0.048), and Digit Span Test (ß = 0.408, p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: The lower DTI-ALPS index was found in patients with AD dementia, which may suggest impaired glymphatic system function. DTI-ALPS index was correlated with BG-PVS enlargement and worse cognitive performance in certain cognitive domains. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space index may be applied as a useful indicator to evaluate the glymphatic system function. The impaired glymphatic system in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia may provide a new perspective for understanding the pathophysiology of AD. KEY POINTS: • Patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia displayed a lower diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index, possibly indicating glymphatic impairment. • A lower DTI-ALPS index was associated with the enlargement of perivascular space and cognitive impairment. • DTI-ALPS index could be a promising biomarker of the glymphatic system in Alzheimer's disease dementia.

Differentiation Between the Low and High Trans-Stenotic Pressure Gradient in Patients With Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Using 4D Flow MRI-Derived Hemodynamic Parameters.

BACKGROUND: Trans-stenotic pressure gradient (TPG) measurement is essential for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) patients with transverse sinus (TS) stenosis. Four-D flow MRI may provide a noninvasive imaging method for differentiation of IIH patients with different TPG. PURPOSE: To investigate the associations between 4D flow parameters and TPG, and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 4D flow parameters in differentiating patients with high TPG (GroupHP) from low TPG (GroupLP). STUDY TYPE: Prospective. POPULATION: 31 IIH patients with TS stenosis (age, 38 ± 12 years; 23 females) and 5 healthy volunteers (age, 25 ± 1 years; 2 females). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3T, 3D phase contrast MR venography, and gradient recalled echo 4D flow sequences. ASSESSMENT: Scan-rescan reproducibility of 4D flow parameters were performed. The correlation between TPG and flow parameters was analyzed. The netflow and velocity difference between inflow plane, outflow plane, and the stenosis plane were calculated and compared between GroupHP and GroupLP. STATISTICAL TESTS: Pearson's correlation or Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, Independent samples t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman analyses, Receiver operating characteristic curves. A P value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between TPG and netflow parameters including Favg,out-s, Favg,in-s, Fmax,out-s, and Fmax,in-s (r = 0.525-0.565). Significant differences were found in Favg,out-s, Fmax,out-s, Favg,in-s, and Fmax,in-s between GroupHP and GroupLP. Using the cut-off value of 2.19 mL/sec, the Favg,out-s showed good estimate performance in distinguishing GroupHP from GroupLP (AUC = 0.856). The ICC (ranged 0.905-0.948) and Bland-Altman plots indicated good scan-rescan reproducibility. DATA CONCLUSIONS: 4D flow MRI derived flow parameters showed good correlations with TPG in IIH patients with TS stenosis. Netflow difference between outflow and stenosis location at TS shows the good performance in differentiating GroupHP and GroupLP cases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Increased glymphatic system activity in migraine chronification by diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space.

BACKGROUND: Preliminary evidence suggests that several headache disorders may be associated with glymphatic dysfunction. However, no studies have been conducted to examine the glymphatic activity in migraine chronification. PURPOSES: To investigate the glymphatic activity of migraine chronification in patients with episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM) using the diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) method. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patients with EM, CM, and healthy controls (HCs) were included. All participants underwent a standard brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. Bilateral DTI-ALPS indexes were calculated for all participants and compared among EM, CM, and HC groups. Correlations between the DTI-ALPS index and clinical characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients with EM, 24 patients with CM, and 41 age- and sex-matched HCs were included in the analysis. Significant differences were found in the right DTI-ALPS index among the three groups (p = 0.011), with CM showing significantly higher values than EM (p = 0.033) and HCs (p = 0.015). The right DTI-ALPS index of CM group was significantly higher than the left DTI-ALPS index (p = 0.005). And the headache intensity was correlated to DTI-ALPS index both in the left hemisphere (r = 0.371, p = 0.011) and in the right hemisphere (r = 0.307, p = 0.038), but there were no correlations after Bonferroni correction. CONCLUSIONS: Glymphatic system activity is shown to be increased instead of impaired during migraine chronification. The mechanism behind this observation suggests that increased glymphatic activity is more likely to be a concomitant phenomenon of altered vascular reactivity associated with migraine pathophysiology rather than a risk factor of migraine chronification.

Hyperperfusion of bilateral amygdala in patients with chronic migraine: an arterial spin-labeled magnetic resonance imaging study.

BACKGROUND: Amygdala, an essential element of the limbic system, has served as an important structure in pain modulation. There is still a lack of clarity about altered cerebral perfusion of amygdala in migraine. This study aimed to investigate the perfusion variances of bilateral amygdala in episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM) using multi-delay pseudo-continuous arterial spin-labeled magnetic resonance imaging (pCASL-MRI). METHODS: Twenty-six patients with EM, 55 patients with CM (33 CM with medication overuse headache (MOH)), and 26 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included. All participants underwent 3D multi-delay pCASL MR imaging to obtain cerebral perfusion data, including arrival-time-corrected cerebral blood flow (CBF) and arterial cerebral blood volume (aCBV). The CBF and aCBV values in the bilateral amygdala were compared among the three groups. Correlation analyses between cerebral perfusion parameters and clinical variables were performed. RESULTS: Compared with HC participants, patients with CM were found to have increased CBF and aCBV values in the left amygdala, as well as increased CBF values in the right amygdala (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences of CBF and aCBV values in the bilateral amygdala between the HC and EM groups, the EM and CM groups, as well as the CM without and with MOH groups (all P > 0.05). In patients with CM, the increased perfusion parameters of bilateral amygdala were positively correlated with MIDAS score after adjustments for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). CONCLUSION: Hyperperfusion of bilateral amygdala might provide potential hemodynamics evidence in the neurolimbic pain network of CM.

A computational study of fluid transport characteristics in the brain parenchyma of dementia subtypes.

The cerebral environment is a complex system consisting of parenchymal tissue and multiple fluids. Dementia is a common class of neurodegenerative diseases, caused by structural damages and functional deficits in the cerebral environment. In order to better understand the pathology of dementia from a cerebral fluid transport angle and provide clearer evidence that could help differentiate between dementia subtypes, such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, we conducted fluid-structure interaction modelling of the brain using a multiple-network poroelasticity model, which considers both neuropathological and cerebrovascular factors. The parenchyma was further subdivided and labelled into parcellations to obtain more localised and detailed data. The numerical results were converted to computed functional images by an in-house workflow. Different cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) clearance abnormalities were identified in the modelling results, when comparing Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. This paper presents our preliminary results as a proof of concept for a novel clinical diagnostic tool, and paves the way for a larger clinical study.

Statins may Decrease Aneurysm wall Enhancement of Unruptured Fusiform Intracranial Aneurysms: A high-resolution 3T MRI Study.

Inflammation plays an integral role in the formation, growth, and progression to rupture of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) in high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) has emerged as a surrogate biomarker of vessel wall inflammation and unruptured intracranial aneurysm instability. We investigated the correlation between anti-inflammatory drug use and three-dimensional AWE of fusiform intracranial aneurysms (FIAs). We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with FIAs in our database who underwent 3T HR-MRI at three Chinese centers. FIAs were classified as fusiform-type, dolichoectatic-type, or transitional-type. AWE was objectively defined using the aneurysm-to-pituitary stalk contrast ratio in three-dimensional space by determining the contrast ratio of the average signal intensity in the aneurysmal wall and pituitary stalk on post-contrast T1-weighted images. Data on aneurysm size, morphology, and location, as well as patient demographics and comorbidities, were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors independently associated with AWE of FIAs on HR-MRI. In total, 127 FIAs were included. In multivariate analysis, statin use (ß = -0.236, P = 0.007) was the only independent factor significantly associated with decreased AWE. In the analysis of three FIA subtypes, the fusiform and transitional types were significantly associated with statin use (rs = -0.230, P = 0.035; and rs = -0.551, P = 0.010; respectively). It establishes an incidental correlation between the use of statins daily for ≥ 6 months and decreased AWE of FIAs. The findings also indicate that the pathophysiology may differ among the three FIA subtypes.

Differences in distribution and features of carotid and middle cerebral artery plaque in patients with pial infarction and perforating artery infarction: A 3D vessel wall imaging study.

PURPOSE: Atherosclerotic plaques of carotid artery (CA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) are important causes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study was designed to jointly assess the plaque distribution and features of CA and MCA in AIS patients with pial infarction (PI) and perforating artery infarction (PAI), and to investigate the associations between plaque characteristics and ischemic infarction patterns. METHODS: Imaging data of sixty-five patients from a cross-sectional study were reviewed. All the patients had acute infarction in the MCA territory on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and underwent CA and MCA vessel wall imaging (VWI). The CA and MCA plaque presence and high-risk features on the ipsilateral side of infarction were analyzed. The brain infarction lesions were divided into PI group vs. non-PI group, and PAI group vs. non-PAI group. Different plaque distribution types and plaque features were compared in each two groups, and their associations were investigated using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients (mean age, 54.6 ± 10.1 years; 61 men) were included. The CA high-risk plaque (OR: 5.683 [1.409-22.929], P = 0.015) and MCA plaque presence (OR: 3.949 [1.397-11.162], P = 0.010) were significantly associated with PI. MCA plaques that involved the orifice of the perforating arteries were significantly associated with PAI (OR: 15.167 [1.851-124.257], P = 0.011). CONCLUSION: CA and MCA plaques show distinct distribution and high-risk features in patients with PI and PAI. Combined intracranial and extracranial arteries imaging should be considered for the evaluation of the symptomatic ischemic patients.

Report from the society of magnetic resonance angiography: clinical applications of 7T neurovascular MR in the assessment of intracranial vascular disease.

In recent years, ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications have been rapidly increasing in both clinical research and practice. Indeed, 7-Tesla (7T) MRI allows improved depiction of smaller structures with high signal-to-noise ratio, and, therefore, may improve lesion visualization, diagnostic capabilities, and thus potentially affect treatment decision-making. Incremental evidence emerging from research over the past two decades has provided a promising prospect of 7T magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the evaluation of intracranial vasculature. The ultra-high resolution and excellent image quality of 7T MRA allow us to explore detailed morphological and hemodynamic information, detect subtle pathological changes in early stages, and provide new insights allowing for deeper understanding of pathological mechanisms of various cerebrovascular diseases. However, along with the benefits of ultra-high field strength, some challenges and concerns exist. Despite these, ongoing technical developments and clinical oriented research will facilitate the widespread clinical application of 7T MRA in the near future. In this review article, we summarize technical aspects, clinical applications, and recent advances of 7T MRA in the evaluation of intracranial vascular disease. The aim of this review is to provide a clinical perspective for the potential application of 7T MRA for the assessment of intracranial vascular disease, and to explore possible future research directions implementing this technique.

Micro-structural white matter abnormalities in new daily persistent headache: a DTI study using TBSS analysis.

BACKGROUND: New daily persistent headache (NDPH) is a rare primary headache disorder characterized by daily and persistent sudden onset headaches. The pathogenesis of NDPH remains unclear, and there are few white matter imaging studies related to NDPH. The purpose of this study was to investigate the micro-structural abnormalities of white matter in NDPH and provided insights into the pathogenesis of this disease based on tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). METHODS: Twenty-one patients with NDPH and 25 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. T1 structural and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were acquired from all participants. Differences in the fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) between patients with NDPH and HCs were investigated using TBSS analysis. RESULTS: Significantly decreased FA, increased MD and RD were found in patients with NDPH compared to HCs. White matter regions overlaid with decreased FA, increased MD and RD were found in 16 white matter tracts from the Johns Hopkins University ICBM-DTI-81 White-Matter Atlas and Johns Hopkins University White-Matter Tractography Atlas. Specifically, these white matter regions included the right anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), body of the corpus callosum (BCC), bilateral cingulum, left hippocampal cingulum (CGH), left corticospinal tract (CST), forceps major, fornix, left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), bilateral inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), left posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), right retrolenticular part of the internal capsule (RPIC), splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC), right superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and left uncinate fasciculus (UF). After Bonferroni correction, there were no correlations between the FA, MD, AD and RD values and the clinical characteristics of patients with NDPH (p > 0.05/96). CONCLUSION: The results of our research indicated that patients with NDPH might have widespread abnormalities in the white matter of the brain.

Printing 3D mesh-like grooves on zinc surface to enhance the stability of aqueous zinc ion batteries.

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are receiving broad attention owing to their high safety and low cost. However, the high mechanical strength and irreversible growth of zinc dendrites limit the practical application of AZIBs. Herein, regular mesh-like gullies are built on the surface of zinc foil (M150 Zn) by using simple model pressing method and stainless steel mesh as a mold. Due to the charge-enrichment effect, zinc ion deposition and stripping will be preferentially carried out in the grooves to keep the outer surface flat. In addition, zinc is exposed to 002 crystal surface in the gully after being pressed, and the deposited zinc is more inclined to grow at a small angle, so that it has a sedimentary morphology parallel to the basement. Consequently, at a current density of 0.5 mA cm-2, the M150 zinc anode has a voltage hysteresis of only 35 mV and a cycle life of up to 400 h (relative to a zinc foil of 96 mV and 160 h). Even more imposing is that the full cell has a capacity retention of approximately 100% after 1000 cycles at 2 A g-1 and a specific capacity of almost 60 mAh g-1 when activated carbon is used as the cathode. It is a promising method to improve the stable cycle performance of AZIBs by using a simple method to realize the non-prominent dendrites on the surface of zinc electrode.

Intravascular ultrasound characteristics of different types of stenosis in idiopathic intracranial hypertension with venous sinus stenosis.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of different stenosis types in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) patients with venous sinus stenosis (VSS) using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from patients who underwent IVUS evaluation during venography or stenting procedures between January 2014 and February 2022. RESULTS: Among the 80 patients with intrinsic lesions, 47 cases were identified, including 41 single lesions and 6 multiple lesions. Single lesions consisted of 36 cases of AG, 3 cases of brain herniation, and 2 cases of septation. Multiple intrinsic lesions were found in 6 patients, with AG observed in the transverse sinus and sigmoid sinus. IVUS features varied depending on the anatomical variations of intrinsic stenosis. Additionally, among the 33 cases of extrinsic stenosis, two types were observed: unilateral compression (22 cases) and bilateral compression (11 cases), primarily affecting the transverse sinus. CONCLUSION: IVUS effectively differentiated intrinsic and extrinsic types of stenosis and identified intraluminal and mural components of intrinsic stenosis.

Normal glymphatic system function in patients with new daily persistent headache using diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the glymphatic function in patients with new daily persistent headache (NDPH) using the diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) method. BACKGROUND: NDPH, a rare and treatment-refractory primary headache disorder, is poorly understood. There is limited evidence to suggest that headaches are associated with glymphatic dysfunction. Thus far, no studies have evaluated glymphatic function in patients with NDPH. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study conducted in the Headache Center of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, patients with NDPH and healthy controls were enrolled. All participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging examinations. Clinical characteristics and neuropsychological evaluation were examined in patients with NDPH. ALPS indexes for both hemispheres were measured to determine the glymphatic system function in patients with NDPH and healthy controls. RESULTS: In total, 27 patients with NDPH (14 males, 13 females; age [mean ± standard deviation (SD)]: 36.6 ± 20.6) and 33 healthy controls (15 males, 18 females; age [mean ± SD]: 36.0 ± 10.8) were included in the analysis. No significant differences between groups were observed in the left ALPS index (1.583 ± 0.182 vs. 1.586 ± 0.175, mean difference = 0.003, 95% confidence interval [CI] of difference = -0.089 to 0.096, p = 0.942), or right ALPS index (1.578 ± 0.230 vs. 1.559 ± 0.206, mean difference = -0.027, 95% CI of difference = -0.132 to 0.094, p = 0.738). Additionally, ALPS indexes were not correlated with clinical characteristics or neuropsychiatric scores. CONCLUSION: No glymphatic dysfunction was detected in patients with NDPH by means of the ALPS method. Additional studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these preliminary findings and improve the understanding of glymphatic function in NDPH.

Three-dimensional aneurysm wall enhancement in fusiform intracranial aneurysms is associated with aneurysmal symptoms.

Background and purpose: Aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) in high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) is a potential biomarker for evaluating unstable aneurysms. Fusiform intracranial aneurysms (FIAs) frequently have a complex and curved structure. We aimed to develop a new three-dimensional (3D) aneurysmal wall enhancement (AWE) characterization method to enable comprehensive FIA evaluation and to investigate the ability of 3D-AWE to predict symptomatic FIA. Methods: We prospectively recruited patients with unruptured FIAs and received 3 T HR-MRI imaging from September 2017 to January 2019. 3D models of aneurysms and parent arteries were generated. Boundaries of the FIA were determined using 3D vessel diameter measurements. Dmax was the greatest diameter in the cross-section, while Lmax was the length of the centerline of the aneurysm. Signal intensity of the FIA was normalized to the pituitary stalk and then mapped onto the 3D model, then the average enhancement (3D-AWEavg), maximum enhancement (3D-AWEmax), enhancement area (AWEarea), and enhancement ratio (AWEratio) were calculated as AWE indicators, and the surface area of the entire aneurysm (Aarea) was also calculated. Areas with high AWE were defined as those with a value >0.9 times the signal intensity of the pituitary stalk. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of aneurysm-related symptoms. FIA subtypes were defined as fusiform, dolichoectasia, and transitional. Differences between the three FIA subtypes were also examined. Results: Forty-seven patients with 47 FIAs were included. Mean patient age was 55 ± 12.62 years and 74.5% were male. Twenty-nine patients (38.3%) were symptomatic. After adjusting for baseline differences in age, hypertension, Lmax, and FIA subtype, the multivariate logistics regression models showed that 3D-AWEavg (odds ratio [OR], 4.029; p = 0.019), 3D-AWEmax (OR, 3.437; p = 0.022), AWEarea (OR, 1.019; p = 0.008), and AWEratio (OR, 2.490; p = 0.045) were independent predictors of aneurysm-related symptoms. Dmax and Aarea were larger and 3D-AWEavg, 3D-AWEmax, AWEarea, and AWEratio were higher with the transitional subtype than the other two subtypes. Conclusion: The new 3D AWE method, which enables the use of numerous new metrics, can predict symptomatic FIAs. Different 3D-AWE between the three FIA subtypes may be helpful in understanding the pathophysiology of FIAs.

Nitrogen-rich Graphite Flake from Hemp as Anode Material for High Performance Lithium-ion Batteries.

Biomass-derived carbon (BC) has attracted extensive attention as anode material for lithium ion batteries (LiBs) due to its natural hierarchical porous structure and rich heteroatoms that can adsorb Li+ . However, the specific surface area of pure biomass carbon is generally small, so we can help NH3 and inorganic acid produced by urea decomposition to strip biomass, improve its specific surface area and enrich nitrogen elements. The nitrogen-rich graphite flake obtained by the above treatment of hemp is named NGF. The product that has a high nitrogen content of 10.12% has a high specific surface area of 1151.1 m2 g-1 . In the lithium ion battery test, the capacity of NGF is 806.6 mAh g-1 at 30 mA g-1 , which is twice than that of BC. NGF also showed excellent performance that is 429.2 mAh g-1 under high current testing at 2000 mA g-1 . The reaction process kinetics is analyzed and we found that the outstanding rate performance is attributed to the large-scale capacitance control. In addition, the results of the constant current intermittent titration test indicate that the diffusion coefficient of NGF is greater than that of BC. This work proposes a simple method of nitrogen-rich activated carbon, which has a significantly commercial prospect.

Mapping the aberrant brain functional connectivity in new daily persistent headache: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The pathogenesis of new daily persistent headache (NDPH) is not fully understood. We aim to map aberrant functional connectivity (FC) in patients with NDPH using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Brain structural and functional MRI data were acquired from 29 patients with NDPH and 37 well-matched healthy controls (HCs) in this cross-sectional study. Region of interest (ROI) based analysis was used to compare FC between patients and HCs, with 116 brain regions in the automated anatomical labeling (AAL) atlas were defined as seeds. The correlations between aberrant FC and patients' clinical characteristics, and neuropsychological evaluation were also investigated. RESULTS: Compared with HCs, patients with NDPH showed increased FC in the left inferior occipital gyrus, right thalamus and decreased FC in right lingual gyrus, left superior occipital gyrus, right middle occipital gyrus, left inferior occipital gyrus, right inferior occipital gyrus, right fusiform gyrus, left postcentral gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, right thalamus and right superior temporal gyrus. There were no correlation between FC of these brain regions and clinical characteristics, neuropsychological evaluation after Bonferroni correction (p > 0.05/266). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NDPH showed aberrant FC in multiple brain regions involved in perception and regulation of emotion and pain. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05334927.

Systemic immune-inflammation index is associated with aneurysmal wall enhancement in unruptured intracranial fusiform aneurysms.

Introduction: Inflammation plays a key role in the progression of intracranial aneurysms. Aneurysmal wall enhancement (AWE) correlates well with inflammatory processes in the aneurysmal wall. Understanding the potential associations between blood inflammatory indices and AWE may aid in the further understanding of intracranial aneurysm pathophysiology. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 122 patients with intracranial fusiform aneurysms (IFAs) who underwent both high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and blood laboratory tests. AWE was defined as a contrast ratio of the signal intensity of the aneurysmal wall to that of the pituitary stalk ≥ 0.90. The systemic immune-inflammation (SII) index (neutrophils × platelets/lymphocytes) was calculated from laboratory data and dichotomized based on whether or not the IFA had AWE. Aneurysmal symptoms were defined as sentinel headache or oculomotor nerve palsy. Multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to determine how well the SII index was able to predict AWE and aneurysmal symptoms. Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to explore the potential associations between variables. Results: This study included 95 patients, of whom 24 (25.3%) presented with AWE. After adjusting for baseline differences in neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios, leukocytes, and neutrophils in the multivariable logistic regression analysis, smoking history (P = 0.002), aneurysmal symptoms (P = 0.047), maximum diameter (P = 0.048), and SII index (P = 0.022) all predicted AWE. The SII index (P = 0.038) was the only independent predictor of aneurysmal symptoms. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the SII index was able to accurately distinguish IFAs with AWE (area under the curve = 0.746) and aneurysmal symptoms (area under the curve = 0.739). Discussion: An early elevation in the SII index can independently predict AWE in IFAs and is a potential new biomarker for predicting IFA instability.