Synthesis of Aqueous CdTe/CdS/ZnS Core/shell/shell Quantum Dots by a Chemical Aerosol Flow Method

This work described a continuous method to synthesize CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell quantum dots. In an integrated system by flawlessly combining the chemical aerosol flow system working at high temperature (200–300°C) to generate CdTe/CdS intermediate products and an additional heat-up setup at relatively low temperature to overcoat the ZnS shells, the CdTe/CdS/ZnS multishell structures were realized. The as-synthesized CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell quantum dots are characterized by photoluminescence spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectra (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Fluorescence and XRD results confirm that the obtained quantum dots have a core/shell/shell structure. It shows the highest quantum yield above 45% when compared to the rhodamine 6G. The core/shell/shell QDs were more stable via the oxidation experiment by H2O2

Computing and Information THE INTERPOLATED COEFFICIENT FEM AND ITS APPLICATION IN COMPUTING THE MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS OF SEMILINEAR ELLIPTIC PROBLEMS

Abstract. Convergence and superconvergence of the interpolated coefficient finite element method (ICFEM) are discussed as the ICFEM reduces the computation cost greatly. Further, the ICFEM is implemented to compute the multiple solutions of some semilinear elliptic problems. Key Words. Superconvergence, convergence, the interpolated coefficient finite element method, semilinear elliptic problem, multiple solutions. 1

Percutaneous microwave ablation versus surgical resection for ovarian cancer liver metastasis

Objective To compare the oncological outcomes between microwave ablation (MWA) and surgical resection (SR) in patients with ovarian cancer liver metastasis (OCLM). Materials and methods In this retrospective study, a total of 29 female patients (mean age, 47.8 ± 12.9 years; range, 21–65 years) diagnosed with forty-three OCLM nodules between September 2008 and July 2016 were included. All patients with ovarian cancer received chemotherapy and cytoreductive surgery (CRS). Fifteen patients with 22 nodules underwent MWA, and 14 patients with 21 nodules underwent SR. Overall survival (OS), local tumor recurrence-free survival (LTRS), and operation-related parameters were compared between the two groups. Multivariate analyses were performed on clinicopathological variables to identify factors affecting OS and LTRS. Results The median follow-up time was 70.2 months (range, 12.1–107.2 months). Fourteen patients died during this period. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS and LTRS rates after MWA were comparable to those after SR (p = .198 and p = .889, respectively). Compared with the SR group, the MWA group had a shorter surgical time (p < .001), less estimated blood loss (p < .001), shorter postoperative hospitalization (p < .001) and fewer costs (p = .015). The multivariate analysis showed that old age (p = .001) was a predictor of poor OS and that intrahepatic tumor size (p = .005) and intrahepatic tumor number (p = .001) were predictors of poor LTRS. Conclusion Percutaneous MWA had comparable oncologic outcomes with those of SR and could be a safe and effective treatment for OCLM

Preoperatively Grading Rectal Cancer with the Combination of Intravoxel Incoherent Motions Imaging and Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging

Purpose. To combine Intravoxel Incoherent Motions (IVIM) imaging and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) which can aid in the quantification of different biological inspirations including cellularity, vascularity, and microstructural heterogeneity to preoperatively grade rectal cancer. Methods. A total of 58 rectal patients were included into this prospective study. MRI was performed with a 3T scanner. Different combinations of IVIM-derived and DKI-derived parameters were performed to grade rectal cancer. Pearson correlation coefficients were applied to evaluate the correlations. Binary logistic regression models were established via integrating different DWI parameters for screening the most sensitive parameter. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed for evaluating the diagnostic performance. Results. For individual DWI-derived parameters, all parameters except the pseudodiffusion coefficient displayed the capability of grading rectal cancer (p<0.05). The better discrimination between high- and low-grade rectal cancer was achieved with the combination of different DWI-derived parameters. Similarly, ROC analysis suggested the combination of D (true diffusion coefficient), f (perfusion fraction), and Kapp (apparent kurtosis coefficient) yielded the best diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.953, p<0.001). According to the result of binary logistic analysis, cellularity-related D was the most sensitive predictor (odds ratio: 9.350 ± 2.239) for grading rectal cancer. Conclusion. The combination of IVIM and DKI holds great potential in accurately grading rectal cancer as IVIM and DKI can provide the quantification of different biological inspirations including cellularity, vascularity, and microstructural heterogeneity

Morphologic CT and MRI features of primary parotid squamous cell carcinoma and its predictive factors for differential diagnosis with mucoepidermoid carcinoma

Abstract Background Primary parotid squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare entity with a poor prognosis. Pathologically, the diagnosis of it requires the exclusion of parotid mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC). Currently, the imaging features of primary parotid SCC and the predictive indicators for differential diagnosis of the two entities have not been well reported. Our purpose was to identify the imaging characteristics of primary parotid SCC and to determine the predictive factors for its’ differential diagnosis. Results Thirty-one participants with primary parotid SCC and 59 with primary parotid MEC were enrolled. Clinical, CT and MRI features were reviewed and compared by univariate analysis. Then, multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the predictors to distinguish parotid SCC from MEC. Most primary parotid SCCs exhibited irregular shape, ill-defined margin, incomplete or no capsule, heterogeneous and marked or moderate enhancement, necrosis, local tumor invasiveness (LTI). Age, maximal dimension, shape, degree of enhancement, gradual enhancement, necrosis, and LTI were different between the primary parotid SCCs and MECs in univariate analysis (p < 0.05). While in multinomial logistic regression analysis, only age and necrosis were the independent predictors for distinguishing parotid SCC from MEC, and this model exhibited an area under curve of 0.914 in ROC curve analysis. Conclusions Primary parotid SCC has some distinct imaging features including the large tumor size, irregular shape, ill-defined margin, and particularly the marked central necrosis. Patients with age ≥ 51.5 years and necrosis on the image of the primary tumor in the parotid gland could be more likely to be SCCs than MECs

Structural remodeling of white matter in the contralesional hemisphere is correlated with early motor recovery in patients with subcortical infarction

Purpose: This study aimed to identify brain areas with white matter changes that contribute to motor recovery of affected limbs during acute to sub-acute phases of subcortical infarction. Methods: Diffusion tensor imaging was performed 1, 4, and 12 weeks after stroke onset in 18 patients with acute subcortical infarct, and in 18 age- and risk factor-matched controls. Fugl-Meyer scale was used to assess levels of motor impairment, and Statistical Parametric Mapping was applied to determine fractional anisotropy (FA) changes for the entire brain in order to identify areas correlated with motor recovery. Results: Fugl-Meyer scores of patients at 4 and 12 weeks were significantly higher than those at 1 week (all p  &#60; 0.01). Accompanying with the progressive decreases of FA in the corticospinal tract above and below the stroke lesion, progressive increases of FA in the contralesional medial frontal gyrus, and thalamocortical connections including projections to the somatosensory cortices, primary motor cortex, and premotor areas, were positively correlated with Fugl-Meyer scores (all p  &#60;  0.005) within 12 weeks following acute subcortical infarction. Conclusions: Remodeling of white matter in contralesional brain regions related to motor, cognition, and sensory processing may facilitate early motor recovery in patients with an acute infarct