Volume Expansion Research Articles

Effectiveness of human albumin for clinical outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhages: a protocol for randomized controlled (HASH) trial

BackgroundAneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a dreadful acute neurological condition with an overwhelmingly high rate of associated morbidities and mortality. Despite leaping advancement in neurosurgical techniques and imaging modalities, there is no substantiative improvement in the overall prognosis for aSAH. Cerebral vasospasm remains the predominant cause of associated morbidities. Human albumin has been used in different neurological conditions, including head trauma, intracerebral hemorrhages, and ischemic strokes, with favorable outcomes. However, its beneficial use in aSAH has not been sufficiently explored until recently a published systematic review by our team. In view of the scarcity of published data and lack of robust evidence, our group has designed the first-ever RCT to compare the use of human albumin-enhanced fluid management versus standard fluid therapy with crystalloids in patients with aSAH.MethodsThis single-center open-label, prospective, parallel group randomized control trial will be conducted at Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar, from August 2024 to July 2027. A sample size of 84 (42 in each arm) has been calculated to be sufficient to detect a clinically significant difference in the modified Rankin scale good score between two groups (human-albumin induced volume expansion therapy versus crystalloid only) for fluid management in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients. The primary outcome will be based on a dichotomized modified Rankin scale [good grades (0–2) and poor grades (3–6)], while the secondary outcome will include symptomatic vasospasm, transcranial Doppler velocities, and Pulse index Contour Cardiac Output (PiCCO) parameters.DiscussionThe trial aims to provide firsthand evidence on the beneficial use of human albumin to achieve an optimal fluid management regime to explore its potential role in improving clinical outcomes in patients with aSAH.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06548477. Registered on August 9, 2024. https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?term=NCT06548477.

The ISW puzzle.

The integrated Sachs-Wolfe (ISW) effect from stacking cosmic microwave background (CMB) images of superclusters and voids persists as a challenge to the concordance [Formula: see text]CDM paradigm. The signal is 4-5 times the expectation. The CMB Cold Spot (CS), the most significant CMB anomaly, resulted in the discovery of the Eridanus supervoid, one of the most enormous known structures. Bayesian statistics and a later Dark Energy Survey (DES) analysis suggest it is responsible for the CS, consistent with the observed fourfold enhancement over concordance predictions. These results motivate the average expansion rate approximation (AvERA) model, tracking coarse-grained inhomogeneities in an N-body simulation. The AvERA expansion history provides a 'late solution' to the Hubble-constant tension with emerging curvature taking the role of Dark Energy, is consistent with all principal CMB and large-scale structure measurements, and solves the ISW puzzle. In addition, it predicts a sign reversal of the ISW effect that has been recently confirmed, albeit at a moderate significance, with eBOSS quasars. Deep and wide galaxy surveys, such as Euclid, will soon confirm or refute the 'late complexity' indicated by the ISW sign reversal, increase the overall statistical significance of the findings and settle whether the ISW puzzle necessitates any significant modification to the concordance [Formula: see text]CDM paradigm.This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Challenging the standard cosmological model'.

Anisotropy in the cosmic acceleration inferred from supernovae.

Under the assumption that they are standard(izable) candles, the lightcurves of Type Ia supernovae have been analysed in the framework of the standard Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker cosmology to conclude that the expansion rate of the Universe is accelerating due to dark energy. While the original claims in the late 1990s were made using overlapping samples of less than 100 supernovae in total, catalogues of nearly 2000 supernovae are now available. In light of recent developments such as the cosmic dipole anomaly and the larger-than-expected bulk flow in the local Universe (which does not converge to the Cosmic Rest Frame), we analyse the newer datasets using a Maximum Likelihood Estimator and find that the acceleration of the expansion rate of the Universe is unequivocally anisotropic. The associated debate in the literature highlights the artifices of using supernovae as standardizable candles, while also providing deeper insights into a consistent relativistic view of peculiar motions as departures from the Hubble expansion of the Universe. The effects of our being 'tilted observers' embedded in a deep bulk flow may have been mistaken for cosmic acceleration.This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Challenging the standard cosmological model'.

Antisense oligonucleotide-mediated MSH3 suppression reduces somatic CAG repeat expansion in Huntington's disease iPSC-derived striatal neurons.

Expanded CAG alleles in the huntingtin (HTT) gene that cause the neurodegenerative disorder Huntington's disease (HD) are genetically unstable and continue to expand somatically throughout life, driving HD onset and progression. MSH3, a DNA mismatch repair protein, modifies HD onset and progression by driving this somatic CAG repeat expansion process. MSH3 is relatively tolerant of loss-of-function variation in humans, making it a potential therapeutic target. Here, we show that an MSH3-targeting antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) effectively engaged with its RNA target in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived striatal neurons obtained from a patient with HD carrying 125 HTT CAG repeats (the 125 CAG iPSC line). ASO treatment led to a dose-dependent reduction of MSH3 and subsequent stalling of CAG repeat expansion in these striatal neurons. Bulk RNA sequencing revealed a safe profile for MSH3 reduction, even when reduced by >95%. Maximal knockdown of MSH3 also effectively slowed CAG repeat expansion in striatal neurons with an otherwise accelerated expansion rate, derived from the 125 CAG iPSC line where FAN1 was knocked out by CRISPR-Cas9 editing. Last, we created a knock-in mouse model expressing the human MSH3 gene and demonstrated effective in vivo reduction in human MSH3 after ASO treatment. Our study shows that ASO-mediated MSH3 reduction can prevent HTT CAG repeat expansion in HD 125 CAG iPSC-derived striatal neurons, highlighting the therapeutic potential of this approach.

Association of oral anticoagulants with risk of brain haemorrhage expansion compared to no-anticoagulation

BackgroundThe impact of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) on haematoma size after intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) compared to no-anticoagulation is controversial and prospective data are lacking.MethodsThe investigator-initiated, multicentre, prospective RASUNOA-prime study enrolled patients with non-traumatic ICH and atrial fibrillation while on a DOAC, vitamin K antagonist (VKA) or no anticoagulation (non-OAC). Neuroimaging was reviewed centrally blinded to group allocation. Primary endpoint was haematoma expansion (≥ 6.5 ml or ≥ 33%, any new intraventricular blood or an increase in modified Graeb score by ≥ 2 points) between baseline and follow-up scan within 72 h after symptom onset.ResultsOf 1,440 patients screened, 951 patients with ICH symptom onset less than 24 h before admission were enrolled. Baseline scans were performed at a median of 2 h (IQR 1–6) after symptom onset. Neurological deficit and median baseline haematoma volumes (11 ml; IQR 4–39) did not differ among 577 DOAC, 251 VKA and 123 non-OAC patients. Haematoma expansion was observed in DOAC patients in 142/356 (39.9, 95%-CI 34.8–45.0%), VKA in 47/155 (30.3, 95-CI 23.1%–37.6%), versus non-OAC in 22/74 (29.7, 19.3–40.1%). Unspecific reversal agents in DOAC-ICH (212/356, 59.6%) did not affect the haematoma expansion rate compared to no-antagonization.ConclusionBaseline haematoma volume and risk of haematoma expansion did not differ statistically significantly in patients with and without DOAC.

Oxidative Stress in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Mechanisms, Clinical Relevance and Therapeutic Perspectives

Background/Objectives: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is among the most common conditions affecting men as they age, resulting in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that can profoundly impact quality of life. While historically attributed primarily to androgenic imbalances, current evidence implicates additional factors—particularly oxidative stress (OS) and chronic inflammation—in BPH pathogenesis. This review aims to synthesize research on the interplay between OS, inflammation, and hormonal regulation in BPH, emphasizing their clinical relevance and potential therapeutic implications. Methods: A comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted focusing on mechanistic studies, clinical trials, and observational reports. Searches included data on ROS generation, antioxidant capacity, inflammatory mediators, and their contribution to pathological prostatic overgrowth. Potential interventions targeting OS—such as antioxidant supplementation, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamin D receptor agonists, and phytotherapeutics—were also evaluated for their efficacy and safety profiles. Results: Chronic inflammation and OS were consistently identified within hyperplastic prostate tissue. Excessive ROS production, diminished antioxidant defense, and sustained cytokine release create a proproliferative and antiapoptotic environment, accelerating disease progression. Metabolic comorbidities (e.g., obesity, insulin resistance) further exacerbate these imbalances. Standard therapies (α-blockers and 5-ARIs) effectively relieve symptoms but do not directly address the oxidative–inflammatory axis. Emerging evidence suggests that pharmacological and dietary approaches targeting OS and inflammation may reduce prostate volume expansion and alleviate LUTS. Conclusions: Findings indicate that OS and inflammation are key contributors to BPH progression. Incorporating antioxidant and anti-inflammatory strategies alongside conventional treatments holds promise for improving clinical outcomes and patient quality of life. Future research should focus on validating OS-specific biomarkers and optimizing personalized therapy regimens.

Rates and Patterns of Town Expansion in China’s 17 Shrinking Tourism-Type Counties

Vast rural populations squeezed into cities, leaving small townships hollowed out. Even so, some townships’ lands are still expanding. The dilemma of land expansion with a shrinking population raises various challenges including farmland reduction. Much of the current research on the impervious expansion has focused on urban areas, while townships were often neglected. Based on high-resolution satellite data and statistic data in 1993–2018, this study explored long-term township impervious land expansion dynamics and explored the real-world relationship with their population for the 17 first-batch-of-strong-tourism counties in China. The results showed that over the past 26 years, there had been an increasing trend in the impervious areas in 17 counties. There were diseconomies of scale for impervious land expansion, i.e., the township’s land expansion became less efficient with the shrinking population. The impervious area was predominantly converted from cropland (ranging from 16.40% to 71.96%). The expansion in highlands was also increasing, although most of the growth occurred in the lowlands. The expansion patterns were mainly dominated by infilling and edge-expansion during the early stage, after which leapfrogging occurred, and infilling increased again in recent years. Townships with a “closer” accessibility to tourist attractions had the largest and fastest rate of impervious land expansion and an increasing influence of townships. These counties needed customized development with its unique natural conditions. This study could provide data-based evidence for better planning and governing to promote sustainable development worldwide.

Distinct mismatch-repair complex genes set neuronal CAG-repeat expansion rate to drive selective pathogenesis in HD mice.

Huntington's disease (HD) modifiers include mismatch-repair (MMR) genes, but their connections to neuronal pathogenesis remain unclear. Here, we genetically tested 9 HD genome-wide association study (GWAS)/MMR genes in mutant Huntingtin (mHtt) mice with 140 inherited CAG repeats (Q140). Knockout (KO) of genes encoding a distinct MMR complex either strongly (Msh3 and Pms1) or moderately (Msh2 and Mlh1) rescues phenotypes with early onset in striatal medium-spiny neurons (MSNs) and late onset in the cortical neurons: somatic CAG-repeat expansion, transcriptionopathy, and mHtt aggregation. Msh3 deficiency ameliorates open-chromatin dysregulation in Q140 neurons. Mechanistically, the fast linear rate of mHtt modal-CAG-repeat expansion in MSNs (8.8 repeats/month) is drastically reduced or stopped by MMR mutants. Msh3 or Pms1 deficiency prevents mHtt aggregation by keeping somatic MSN CAG length below 150. Importantly, Msh3 deficiency corrects synaptic, astrocytic, and locomotor defects in HD mice. Thus, Msh3 and Pms1 drive fast somatic mHtt CAG-expansion rates in HD-vulnerable neurons to elicit repeat-length/threshold-dependent, selective, and progressive pathogenesis invivo.

Mechanistic Insights into Hydration-driven Shape Memory Response in Keratinous Avian Feather Structures.

Keratinous materials found in the feather shafts of flying birds possess impressive mechanical attributes, combining excellent strength-to-weight balance, toughness, and more. In this study, we investigate the shape memory effect in bird feather shafts, examining its underlying design principles as templates for bioinspired shape memory composites. Through analytical and computational analysis, we aim to uncover the underlying rules and design guidelines based on stimulus-induced softening (pertaining to strength and/or stiffness) and swelling (pertaining to expansion in volume). More specifically, we study a one-dimensional case to examine the synergistic relationship between the matrix and fibers inside the feather structure. We propose three distinct micro-mechanical modeling approaches to evaluate the contribution of each hydration-induced effect-softening, swelling, and the combined action of both. In all models, the matrix is considered to be an elastic-perfectly plastic material that is sensitive to hydration, while the fibers are treated as purely elastic and unaffected by hydration. The findings of the study provide informative insights into the nuanced nature of swelling within the material, highlighting that its desirability is dependent on specific conditions and circumstances. Furthermore, we find that the softening component plays a large pivotal role in driving the process of shape recovery. Using the proposed analytical framework and design principles, we develop a conceptual feather shaft-like composite, followed by demonstrating its tunability in degree of shape recovery and its versatility in selecting constituent base material components. This research offers valuable core framework for exploring and designing advanced bioinspired shape memory materials while eliminating the need for traditionally active shape memory components, holding promising potential for actuation, deployment, and morphing purposes. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This study investigates the shape-memory effect in bird feather shafts, offering bioinspired strategies for designing advanced shape-memory composites. Unlike conventional materials, which often rely on external stimuli or active components, our research focuses on hydration-driven mechanisms-specifically, matrix softening and swelling. Through micro-mechanical modeling, we demonstrate that softening is the key driver of shape recovery, while swelling plays a secondary role under specific conditions. These insights provide new, passive design principles for creating tunable shape-memory composites without the need for traditional active components. The findings have broad implications for applications in actuation, morphing, and reconfigurable systems, where material adaptability is crucial.

Coupling of magnetism and transport properties to the lattice degrees of freedom inNdBaCo2O5+δ (δ ∼ 0.65).

We have studied the origin of zero volume expansion below the Curie temperature (Tc), variable range hopping (VRH) behaviour using structural, magnetic, transport and thermal studies on the oxygen deficient double perovskite NdBaCo2O5+del (del= 0.65). The valence state of Co ions and the possible properties exhibited by such compound were studied using electronic structure calculations for del= 0.75. Careful investigation of structure shows that the compound stabilizes in tetragonal structure (P4/mmm) having 2apx2apx2ap (222) superstructure, where ap is the cubic perovskite lattice parameter. The compound exhibits a minimum in resistivity, ferromagnetic (FM) and ferrimagnetic (FeM) transitions around 375 K, 120 K (Tc) and 60 K, respectively with signature of Griffiths phase above Tc. Our detailed structural analysis suggests signature of the onset of the above magnetic transitions at temperatures well above its stabilisation at long range level thereby leading to VRH behaviour. The observed zero thermal expansion in volume below Tc appears to be due to competing magnetic interactions within and between the magnetic sublattices. Our electronic structure calculations in FM and FeM configurations show (a) Co ions stabilize in intermediate spin (IS) state, having oxidation state less than +3 (b) half metallicity, (c) the behaviour of the density of states is in line with the resistivity results, and (d) unusually high orbital angular moment in Co ions with inclusion of spin orbit coupling (soc). Our results show the possibility of coupling between magnetism and ferroelectricity. We believe that our results especially on the valence state of the Co ion, zero thermal expansion in volume, short range magnetic orderings and the connection between different degrees of freedom will be helpful in clearing the ambiguities existing in literature on the nature of magnetism and thereby aiding in designing new functionalities by maneuvering the strength of soc.

DeepPrep: an accelerated, scalable and robust pipeline for neuroimaging preprocessing empowered by deep learning.

Neuroimaging has entered the era of big data. However, the advancement of preprocessing pipelines falls behind the rapid expansion of data volume, causing substantial computational challenges. Here we present DeepPrep, a pipeline empowered by deep learning and a workflow manager. Evaluated on over 55,000 scans, DeepPrep demonstrates tenfold acceleration, scalability and robustness compared to the state-of-the-art pipeline, thereby meeting the scalability requirements of neuroimaging.

Synergistic Effect of Anionic-Tuning and Architecture Engineering in BiPO4@C Anode for Durable and Fast Potassium Storage.

Bismuth-based materials that adhere to the alloy/dealloy reaction mechanism are regarded as highly promising anode materials for potassium-ion batteries due to their high volume-specific capacity and moderate reaction potentials. However, their commercial viability has been limited by the effects of structural collapse due to volume distortion and impeded electron conduction, resulting in rapid capacity decline. In this work, a carbon-coated nanosized BiPO4 rod (BiPO4@C) was designed and fabricated to overcome the aforementioned challenges through the architecture engineering and anionic-tuning strategy. In particular, the nanosized nanorods significantly reduce the volume expansion; the incorporation of the bulk and open-skeleton anion PO43- serves to mitigate the considerable volume distortion and generates the high ionic conductivity product (K3PO4) to ameliorate the poor ionic transport due to the structural deformation. The elaborated BiPO4 rods exhibit high specific capacity (310.3 mAh g-1, at 500 mA g-1), excellent cycling stability (over 700 cycles at 500 mA g-1) and superior rate performance (137.8 mAh g-1, at 1000 mA g-1). Systematic ex-situ XRD and TEM, as well as kinetic tests, have revealed the "conversion-multistep alloying" reaction process and the "battery-capacitance dual-mode" potassium storage mechanism. Moreover, the thick electrodes showed excellent specific capacity and rate performance, demonstrating their significant application potential in the next generation of SIBs.

Reticulated carbon nanofiber-encapsulated SnO2 hollow spheres as high performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

A novel anode material comprising SnO2 hollow spheres encapsulated within carbon nanofibers (SnO2@CF) is presented for LIBs. The hollow sphere architecture accommodates inward volume changes, while the carbon nanofiber shell mitigates outward volume expansion and enhances electrical conductivity. This unique structure enables SnO2@CF to achieve superior electrochemical performance, delivering a high reversible capacity of 1304.3 mA h g-1 after 250 cycles at 0.2C and 548.8 mA h g-1 after 1000 cycles at 5C.

Mechanical and Durable Performance of Lime-Steel Slag-Coal Gangue Mixtures Prepared by a Uniform Design Method for Pavement Base Applications

To reduce the accumulation of coal gangue and steel slag, a mixture of lime-steel slag-coal gangue for pavement base was prepared. Six groups of lime-steel slag-coal gangue mixtures were designed using a uniform design method. The 7 d unconfined compressive strength, 180 d compressive resilience modulus and 180 d splitting tensile strength tests, the freeze-thaw cycles, and the wet and dry cycles were carried out to study the mechanical properties, frost resistance and water stability. The expansion effect of f-CaO in steel slag on the mixtures was investigated by water immersion. SEM was used to explore microscopic changes in the mixtures. The field application of coal gangue mixture was carried out for two years. The results show that the regression equations obtained by the uniform test have high accuracy. With the increase of lime in the mixture, the mechanical strength, frost resistance, and water stability of the mixtures were first enhanced and then decreased. With the increase of steel slag, the unconfined compressive strength increased, the compressive resilience modulus increased at first and then decreased, the splitting tensile strength decreased, the BDR value decreased, and the strength loss of water stability increased gradually. The internal structure of the mixtures is stable and has good frost resistance. There is no obvious microscopical difference before and after freeze-thaw cycles. The immersion expansion rate of the mixtures was far less than 1.5 %.

Exploring cosmology: a simple experiment to illustrate the cosmological principle and the Hubble–Lemaître Law

Abstract We present an activity to illustrate the Hubble–Lemaître law and the cosmological principle. Using an elastic band to represent the expanding Universe and dots on the band to represent galaxies, we use Tracker software to measure recession velocities as a function of distance and analyse their relationship in different reference frames. Unlike previous work, which has focused on changes in position, this approach allows direct and quick measurement of velocities for different reference frames and different expansion rates. The activity is simple and can be incorporated into different learning cycles or used as homework.

Lithium Carbide Prelithiation Agent‐Coated Separator Facilitates Compact Expansion of Silicon Electrode

AbstractThe high specific capacity and safety nature of silicon (Si) anode has garnered significant attention and investment for its application in high‐energy‐density lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, the Si anode exhibits low initial Coulombic Efficiency (CE) and compromised cycle stability due to interfacial side reactions and the volume expansion of Si particles. Here, a straightforward strategy is proposed to prelithiate Si anodes and enhance the cycle stability by utilizing a lithium carbide (LiC6) coated separator. By incorporating a LiC6 prelithiation agent‐coated PP/PE separator (PP/PE@LiC6), a robust interaction between PP/PE@LiC6 and Si anode forms during cycling, which significantly reduces subsequent contact between the electrolyte and Si particles, thereby minimizing excessive electrolyte decomposition during cycling, and facilitates the compact expansion of the Si electrode. In Si|PP/PE@LiC6|Li cell, the initial CE reaches 108.51%, showcasing enhanced electrochemical stability (77.93% after 100 cycles). Moreover, the Si|PP/PE@LiC6|LiFePO4 cell also exhibits exceptional initial CE of ≈93.02% and improved electrochemical stability (100.94% after 100 cycles at 0.33C). This study introduces a secure and readily attainable prelithiation method for industrial applications of high‐energy density Si‐based batteries.

Pulse Current-Induced Homogeneous Phase Nucleation for High-Performance Conversion-Type Cathodes.

Conversion-type transition metal-based materials (MZx) are considered promising cathodes for lithium metal batteries due to their low cost, abundant availability, and high theoretical energy density. However, they suffer from rapid capacity decay caused by the transformation into two inhomogeneous phases during discharge. Herein, we use a pulse current discharge activation method (under 3C) to induce homogeneous phase nucleations. As a result, the microsized FeS2 cathode transforms into a homogeneous mixture of nanosized Fe and Li2S, effectively mitigating volume expansion. It exhibits exceptional cycling performance, delivering a specific capacity of 572.8 mAh g-1 after 800 cycles at 0.33C. Even at a high areal capacity of 5.4 mAh cm-2, it undergoes 180 cycles with a capacity retention of 89.3% at 0.33C. This work highlights the crucial role of homogeneous nucleation in achieving long cycling life for conversion-type cathodes.

Multi-Component Phase Engineering Strategy Modulates Potassiation Reaction Energy Barrier of Alloying Anode for Stable Potassium Storage.

Red phosphorus (RP) has received much attention in potassium storage because of its inexpensive cost and high theoretical capacity, but faces the issues of volume expansion and poor conductivity. Fortunately, phosphorus-selenium hybridization solves these issues by forming an alloy anode that combines RP's high capacity with Se's high conductivity. But the weak chemical affinity between RP and Se makes it often difficult to form stable and homogeneous mixtures during preparation. To address this, this study introduces hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) as a bridging source to facilitate the close coupling of the RP and Se composite phases. The optimized multi-component anode exhibits high initial coulombic efficiency (ICE reaching 73.0%), good cycling stability (3000 cycles at 1 A g-1), and outstanding rate performance (a discharge specific capacity of 157.3 mAh g⁻¹ even at 2 A g⁻¹). Further investigation reveals that the introduction of h-BN reduces activation energy for interfacial charge transfer and K+ to cross the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). It also decreases the Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) of the potassiation reaction's decisive step. Therefore, the introduction of a third phase enhances the coupling effect of alloy-based composites, providing a method for designing secondary battery electrodes with high capacity.

"Nanoskeleton" Si-SiOx/C Anodes toward Highly Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries.

A fragile solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer due to the volume expansion of silicon cannot sufficiently prevent side reactions and electrolyte consumption and restricts the application of silicon anodes in lithium-ion batteries with high cycling stability. Herein, a carbon nanotube (CNT) supported "nanoskeleton" structure with robust mechanical properties and improved conductive pathways is designed by twining CNTs with in situ grown SiOx/C and carbon-wrapped Si nanoparticles. The CNT "nanoskeleton" can improve electrical contact between particles, promoting the formation of a denser and more homogeneous SEI layer. Moreover, the buffer region granted by the CNTs can tolerate the volume expansions of Si, avoiding the repeated destruction of the SEI layer during the continuous lithiation and delithiation processes. Combined with these advantages, the anode with optimal CNT content can deliver both a high capacity (918 mAh·g-1 at 200 mA·g-1) and high-capacity retention (74% after 300 cycles) with relieved volume expansion (71.4%). The capacity of the NMC111 full cell with the synthesized Si-SiOx/C anode is retained at 71 mAh·g-1 after 500 cycles at 100 mAh·g-1 with a capacity retention of 72%.

Lesion-specific coronary artery calcium score to predict stent underexpansion

BackgroundPrevious intracoronary imaging studies have shown that coronary artery calcium (CAC) is an independent risk factor of stent underexpansion; however, limited preintervention assessments of CAC have been performed using noninvasive methods. We aimed to determine the association between lesion-specific CAC score and stent underexpansion.MethodsIn this retrospective observational study, we included 416 lesions from 359 patients who underwent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided stent implantation. CAC of each lesion was quantified using the Agatston method derived from either nongated noncontrast chest CT (NCCT) or electrocardiogram-gated coronary CT angiography (CCTA). The primary endpoint was stent underexpansion defined as minimum stent area of <80% of the average reference lumen area.ResultsOverall, stent underexpansion occurred in 144 (34.6%) of 416 lesions. Lesion-specific CAC score was significantly negatively correlated with the stent expansion rate (in NCCT cohort, r = 0.8113, P < 0.05; in CCTA cohort, r = 0.8024, P < 0.05). The optimal cutoff values of lesion-specific CAC score to predict stent underexpansion were >200 in both NCCT (sensitivity, 91.4%; specificity, 66.8%) and CCTA (sensitivity, 84.6%; specificity, 64.3%) cohort, which were associated with 24.94-fold increased risk of stent underexpansion in NCCT cohort and 13.56-fold increased risk of stent underexpansion in CCTA cohort.ConclusionsIn this study, we found that lesion-specific CAC scores in both NCCT and CCTA cohorts were significantly independently associated with an increased risk of stent underexpansion, and the cutoff value to predict stent underexpansion was >200.