Intensity Contrast Research Articles

Image quality in three-dimensional (3D) contrast-enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen using deep learning denoising technique: intraindividual comparison between T1-weighted sequences with compressed sensing and with a modified Fast 3D mode wheel.

To assess the image quality of a modified Fast three-dimensional (Fast 3D) mode wheel with sequential data filling (mFast 3D wheel) combined with a deep learning denoising technique (Advanced Intelligent Clear-IQ Engine [AiCE]) in contrast-enhanced (CE) 3D dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the abdomen during a single breath hold (BH) by intra-individual comparison with compressed sensing (CS) with AiCE. Forty-two patients who underwent multiphasic CE dynamic MRI obtained with both mFast 3D wheel using AiCE and CS using AiCE in the same patient were retrospectively included. The conspicuity, artifacts, image quality, signal intensity ratio (SIR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast ratio (CR), and contrast enhancement ratio (CER) of the organs were compared between these 2 sequences. Conspicuity, artifacts, and overall image quality were significantly better in the mFast 3D wheel using AiCE than in the CS with AiCE (all p < 0.001). The SNR of the liver in CS with AiCE was significantly better than that in the mFast 3D wheel using AiCE (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the SIR, CR, and CER between the two sequences. A mFast 3D wheel using AiCE as a deep learning denoising technique improved the conspicuity of abdominal organs and intrahepatic structures and the overall image quality with sufficient contrast enhancement effects, making it feasible for BH 3D CE dynamic MR imaging of the abdomen.

Differential phase contrast intensity diffraction tomography

Differential phase contrast intensity diffraction tomography

Criteria for objects suitable for reconstruction from holograms and diffraction patterns

In this study, quantitative criteria for reconstruction of objects from their hologram and diffraction patterns, and in particular for the phase objects in digital holography, are derived. The criteria that allow distinguishing the hologram and diffraction pattern are outlined. Gabor derived his criterion for objects suitable for holography based on the condition that the background in the reconstructed object’s distribution should be nearly flat so that its intensity contrast does not exceed 0.05. According to Gabor, an opaque object is suitable for holographic reconstruction if it occupies no more than 1% of the imaged area, and a phase-shifting object cannot be reconstructed in principle. We revisit these criteria and show that both amplitude-only and phase-only objects can be reconstructed when the object occupies less than 1% of the total illuminated area. In addition, a simplified derivation of the criteria is provided that is based on Parseval’s theorem. It is shown that for objects (including amplitude-only and phase-only) reconstructed from their holograms and the twin image treated as noise, a signal-to-noise ratio of 10 or higher can be achieved provided the object occupies less than 0.5% of the total illuminated area. When a hologram is reconstructed by applying iterative algorithms, the requirement for the object size is much more generous and identical to that applied in coherent diffraction imaging: any type of object (amplitude-only, phase-only, or amplitude-and-phase mixed properties) is suitable for holography when the object’s size in each dimension is less than half of the probed region’s extent (or the field of view).

Land use effects on soil microbiome composition and traits with consequences for soil carbon cycling

Abstract The soil microbiome determines the fate of plant-fixed carbon. The shifts in soil properties caused by land use change leads to modifications in microbiome function, resulting in either loss or gain of soil organic carbon (SOC). Soil pH is the primary factor regulating microbiome characteristics leading to distinct pathways of microbial carbon cycling, but the underlying mechanisms remain understudied. Here, the taxa-trait relationships behind the variable fate of SOC were investigated using metaproteomics, metabarcoding and a 13C labelled litter decomposition experiment across two temperate sites with differing soil pH each with a paired land use intensity contrast. 13C incorporation into microbial biomass increased with land use intensification in low pH soil but decreased in high pH soil, with potential impact on carbon use efficiency (CUE) in opposing directions. Reduction in biosynthesis traits was due to increased abundance of proteins linked to resource acquisition and stress tolerance. These trait trade-offs were underpinned by land use intensification-induced changes in dominant taxa with distinct traits. We observed divergent pH-controlled pathways of SOC cycling. In low-pH soil, land use intensification alleviates microbial abiotic stress resulting in increased biomass production but promotes decomposition and SOC loss. In contrast, in high-pH soil, land use intensification increases microbial physiological constraints and decreases biomass production, leading to reduced necromass build-up and SOC stabilisation. We demonstrate how microbial biomass production and respiration dynamics and therefore CUE can be decoupled from SOC highlighting the need for its careful consideration in managing SOC storage for soil health and climate change mitigation.

On the Billefjorden fault zone in Garmdalen, central Spitsbergen: implications for the mapping of major fault zones during geological fieldwork and for the tectonic history of Svalbard.

The present contribution reexamines the geometry of a segment of a presumably long-lived fault in Svalbard, the Balliolbreen Fault segment of the Billefjorden Fault Zone, along which presumably two basement terranes of Svalbard accreted in the early-mid Paleozoic after thousands of kilometers strike-slip displacement. We performed structural fieldwork to Billefjorden in central Spitsbergen and interpreted satellite images. Field observations demonstrate that the Balliolbreen Fault formed as a top-west thrust fault in the early Cenozoic and that weak sedimentary units such as shales of the Lower Devonian Wood Bay Formation and coals of the uppermost Devonian-Mississippian Billefjorden Group partitioned deformation, resulting in significant contrast in deformation intensity between stratigraphic units. For example, tight early Cenozoic folds are localized in shales of the Wood Bay Formation and contemporaneous top-west brittle-ductile thrusts within coals of the Billefjorden Group, whereas Pennsylvanian deposits of the Hultberget (and/or Ebbadalen?) Formation are simply folded into gentle open folds. Rheological contrasts also resulted in the development of décollements locally, e.g., between tightly folded strata of the Wood Bay Formation and Billefjorden Group and flat-lying, brecciated limestone-dominated strata of the Wordiekammen Formation. Despite the limited quality and continuity of outcrops in the area, the eastward-thickening character (i.e., away from the fault) of Pennsylvanian deposits of the Hultberget, Ebbadalen, and Minkinfjellet formations suggests that the fault did not act as a normal fault in Pennsylvanian times. The study suggests that strain partitioning of early Cenozoic Eurekan contraction alone may explain the deformation patterns in Paleozoic rock units in central Spitsbergen, i.e., that Late Devonian Svalbardian contraction is not required, and that a major segment of the Billefjorden Fault Zone formed in the early Cenozoic. The present work illustrates the crucial need for interdisciplinary approaches and composite educational backgrounds in science.

Robust and smooth Couinaud segmentation via anatomical structure-guided point-voxel network

Precise Couinaud segmentation from preoperative liver computed tomography (CT) is crucial for surgical planning and lesion examination. However, this task is challenging as it is defined based on vessel structures, and there is no intensity contrast between adjacent Couinaud segments in CT images. To solve this challenge, we design a multi-scale point-voxel fusion framework, which can more effectively model the spatial relationship of points and the semantic information of the image, producing robust and smooth Couinaud segmentations. Specifically, we first segment the liver and vessels from the CT image and generate 3D liver point clouds and voxel grids embedded with the vessel structure. Then, our method with two input-specific branches extracts complementary feature representations from points and voxels, respectively. The local attention module adaptively fuses features from the two branches at different scales to balance the contribution of different branches in learning more discriminative features. Furthermore, we propose a novel distance loss at the feature level to make the features in the segment more compact, thereby improving the certainty of segmentation between segments. Our experimental results on three public liver datasets demonstrate that our proposed method outperforms several state-of-the-art methods by large margins. Specifically, in out-of-distribution (OOD) testing of LiTS dataset, our method exceeded the voxel-based 3D UNet by approximately 20% in Dice score, and outperformed the point-based PointNet2Plus by approximately 8% in Dice score. Our code and manual annotations of the public datasets presented in this paper are available online: https://github.com/xukun-zhang/Couinaud-Segmentation.

High photosynthesis rates in Brassiceae species are mediated by leaf anatomy enabling high biochemical capacity, rapid CO2 diffusion and efficient light use.

Certain species in the Brassicaceae family exhibit high photosynthesis rates, potentially providing a valuable route toward improving agricultural productivity. However, factors contributing to their high photosynthesis rates are still unknown. We compared Hirschfeldia incana, Brassica nigra, Brassica rapa and Arabidopsis thaliana, grown under two contrasting light intensities. Hirschfeldia incana matched B. nigra and B. rapa in achieving very high photosynthesis rates under high growth-light condition, outperforming A. thaliana. Photosynthesis was relatively more limited by maximum photosynthesis capacity in H. incana and B. rapa and by mesophyll conductance in A. thaliana and B. nigra. Leaf traits such as greater exposed mesophyll specific surface enabled by thicker leaf or high-density small palisade cells contributed to the variation in mesophyll conductance among the species. The species exhibited contrasting leaf construction strategies and acclimation responses to low light intensity. High-light plants distributed Chl deeper in leaf tissue, ensuring even distribution of photosynthesis capacity, unlike low-light plants. Leaf anatomy of H. incana, B. nigra and B. rapa facilitated effective CO2 diffusion, efficient light use and provided ample volume for their high maximum photosynthetic capacity, indicating that a combination of adaptations is required to increase CO2-assimilation rates in plants.

Meningiomas in Elderly Subjects: Retrospective Studies of 8 Cases and a Literature Review

Aim. Intracranial meningiomas in adults are mainly benign tumors that develop from the meninges. They are common, accounting for about 18 to 20% of primary intracranial tumors, and they are slow-growing, with a predominance in women. They can occur at any age but are most common after the age of 56. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the tumor, its size, and the anatomical structures it comes into contact with. Surgery is the main treatment modality for meningiomas. The objective of this study is to evaluate the cases of meningiomas in our series and to compare their different aspects, such as epidemiological, clinical, radiological, therapeutic, histological, evolutionary, and prognostic characteristics, with those reported in other series of the literature. We seek to highlight the similarities and differences between our series and previous studies, considering recent advances in this field. Materials and measures. In our series, the retrospective study of 8 cases of intracranial meningioma in elderly subjects diagnosed and operated on at the Neurosurgery Department of a hospital over a period of 4 years. Brain CT and MRI were the primary preoperative diagnostic means. The use of these imaging techniques was essential to establish the diagnosis and plan the surgical procedure. The histopathological study was performed to confirm the post-operative diagnosis and determine the histological type, as well as the grade of the meningiomas, referring to the WHO classification to plan an appropriate follow-up of the management. Results. Meningiomas accounted for 2.33% of intracranial meningiomas in elderly subjects, and 22.22% were in subjects under 65 years of age out of 342 tumors operated on in the Department during the same period. The female predominance was clear, at 62%, compared to 38% for men. The average age of our patients was 69.9 years, with extremes of 65 and 74 years. The main clinical symptoms observed in our patients were headache, motor deficit (hemiparesis, hemiplegia), sensory deficit, convulsions, and cranial pair involvement (optic nerve and facial nerve).On CT, the tumor mass was spontaneously hyperdense in 100% of cases. After the injection of iodine product, there was a homogeneous intense contrast intake in all cases. Only 2 patients in our series performed CT scans, of which we found perilesional edema and mass effect in 100% of cases. No calcifications or bone abnormalities were detected. MRI was performed on all our patients, allowing us to better specify the topographical diagnosis of meningiomas. Overall, surgical excision was complete (Simpson’s grade I and grade II) in 62.5% of cases. The most common histological types were meningotheliomatous meningioma (4 cases), transitional meningioma (1 case), mucoid fibrous meningioma (1 case), and atypical meningioma (2 cases). The post-operative course was favorable in most patients, and the post-operative complications consisted mainly of wound infection (1 case), CSF leakage (1 case), and hemorrhage (1 case).

Source and mask optimization for stability of reticle and wafer stages

The relative motion of the reticle stage and wafer stage caused by vibration during the scanning exposure process of the lithography machine is an important factor that affects the imaging quality under limited lithography ability. In this paper, the influence of the vibration of the lithography stage system on the lithography imaging quality is studied. The lithography model including the vibration error of the stage is taken into account in the framework of source and mask optimization (SMO). For the 193-nm immersion lithography machine, combined with different design patterns with a line width of 40 nm and different vibration states of the stage when the lithography machine is exposed, the SMO joint optimization research is carried out, and the robustness of the stage under the limit process after SMO optimization is explored. The research results show that the contrast and relative light intensity change of the limit design figure under the influence of moving standard deviation (MSD) will greatly affect the linewidth at the light intensity threshold and then affect the process window (PW). The SMO including MSD allows the MSD to change in the range of 0-6 nm without changing the PW.

The properties and kinematics of HCN emission across the closest starburst galaxy NGC 253 observed with ALMA

Context. Investigating molecular gas tracers, such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN), to probe higher densities than CO emission across nearby galaxies remains challenging. This is due to the large observing times required to detect HCN at a high sensitivity and spatial resolution. Although approximate kiloparsec scales of HCN maps are available for tens of galaxies, higher-resolution maps still need to be available. Aims. We aim to study the properties of molecular gas, the contrast in intensity between two tracers that probe different density regimes (the HCN(1–0)/CO(2–1) ratio), and their kinematics across NGC 253, one of the closest starburst galaxies. With its advanced capabilities, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) can map these features at a high resolution across a large field of view and uncover the nature of such dense gas in extragalactic systems. Methods. We present new ALMA Atacama Compact Array and Total Power (ACA+TP) observations of the HCN emission across NGC 253. The observations cover the inner 8.6′ of the galaxy disk at a spatial resolution of 300 pc. Our study examines the distribution and kinematics of the HCN-traced gas and its relationship with the bulk molecular gas traced by CO(2–1). We analyze the integrated intensity and mean velocity of HCN and CO along each line of sight. We also used the SCOUSE software to perform spectral decomposition, which considers each velocity component separately. Results. We find that the denser molecular gas traced by HCN piles up in a ring-like structure at a radius of 2 kpc. The HCN emission is enhanced by two orders of magnitude in the central 2 kpc regions, beyond which its intensity decreases with increasing galactocentric distance. The number of components in the HCN spectra shows a robust environmental dependence, with multiple velocity features across the center and bar. The HCN spectra exhibit multiple velocity features across the center and bar, which shows a robust environmental dependence. We have identified an increase in the HCN/CO ratio in these regions, corresponding to a velocity component likely associated with a molecular outflow. We have also discovered that the ratio between the total infrared luminosity and dense gas mass, which is an indicator of the star formation efficiency of dense gas, is anticorrelated with the molecular gas surface density up to approximately 200 M⊙ pc−2. However, beyond this point, the ratio starts to increase. Conclusions. We argue that using information about spectroscopic features of molecular emission is an important aspect of understanding molecular properties in galaxies.

Acoustic deep brain modulation: Enhancing neuronal activation and neurogenesis

BackgroundNon-invasive deep brain modulation (DBM) stands as a promising therapeutic avenue to treat brain diseases. Acoustic DBM represents an innovative and targeted approach to modulate the deep brain, employing techniques such as focused ultrasound and shock waves. Despite its potential, the optimal mechanistic parameters, the effect in the brain and behavioral outcomes of acoustic DBM remains poorly understood. ObjectiveTo establish a robust protocol for the shock wave DBM by optimizing its mechanistic profile of external stimulation, and to assess its efficacy in preclinical settings. MethodsWe used shockwaves due to their capacity to leverage a broader spectrum of peak intensity (10–127 W/mm2) in contrast to ultrasound (0.1–5.0 W/mm2), thereby enabling a more extensive range of neuromodulation effects. We established various types of shockwave pressure profiles of DBM and compared neural and behavioral responses. To ascertain the anticipated cause of the heightened neural activity response, numerical analysis was employed to examine the mechanical dynamics within the brain. ResultsAn optimized profile led to an enhancement in neuronal activity within the hypothalamus of mouse models. The optimized profile in the hippocampus elicited a marked increase in neurogenesis without neuronal damage. Behavioral analyses uncovered a noteworthy reduction in locomotion without significant effects on spatial memory function. ConclusionsThe present study provides an optimized shock wave stimulation protocol for non-invasive DBM. Our optimized stimulation profile selectively triggers neural functions in the deep brain. Our protocol paves the way for new non-invasive DBM devices to treat brain diseases.

An Unusual Case of CNS Tuberculoma in a 19-Year-Old Man

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is ranked as one of the top 10 causes of death. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. TB) infection, the causative organism for TB affects approximately a quarter of the global population placing a burden on the healthcare system. Central nervous system tuberculosis (CNS TB) is seen in 5 to 10% of extrapulmonary TB cases and has the highest mortality. CNS tuberculoma is one of its manifestation. Clinical presentation of CNS tuberculoma depends on its location within the CNS and commonly include headache, seizures, and focal neurological deficits, due to the presence of a space occupying lesion, although patients can be asymptomatic. We report the case of a 19yr old man who had an unusual presentation of CNS tuberculoma, highlighting its clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment. Case Presentation: Index patient is a 19-year-old male college student who resides in a city. He presented with 15 days history of fever, headache, vomiting, vertigo, ataxia, and inability to concentrate. He received antimalarial, anti typhoid and body booster medications but had no improvement and had a history of weight loss despite no dietary change. He had never been diagnosed with TB and had all his childhood vaccinations given. Plain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scan done revealed a posterior fossa mass lesion with perilesional edema. Futher, a contrast MRI brain scan showed multiple ring-enhancing conglomerates of lesion around the tentorium on the posterior fossa with intense contrast enhancement. The largest of this mass measured 4.5 cm x 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm in the right superior cerebellum compressing the 4th ventricle and with effacement of the cerebellopontine angle. Lastly, an MRI spectrometry revealed elevated lipid lactate peak. His chest x-ray was unremarkable. Other blood parameters were essentially within range with the exception of Erythrocyte ESR and mantoux test. He received antitubercular drug (Isoniazid, Rifampin, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol, Levoflox and Streptomycin) for 18th months with complete remission. Conclusion: CNS tuberculomas are tuberculous masses that can be located anywhere from the brain to spinal cord. Advanced diagnostic modalities may guide clinicians towards making it's diagnosis. Treatment maybe medical (use of antitubercular drugs) or surgical excision with medical therapy being first choice. While the index patient had no obvious risk factors for his disease, his BCG vaccination pose a possible source of his exposure to TB infection. More research is needed on this however.

Perceptual illumination-structure patch decomposition for enhancing complex lighted underwater images

Due to the influence of natural and artificial lighting, complicated illuminated underwater images suffer from uneven exposure, accompanied by color cast, low contrast, and blurred details. Existing methods often struggle to brighten dark areas and suppress overexposed areas. To this end, a perceptual illumination-structure patch decomposition (PISPD) model is proposed to enhance complex lighted underwater images. The PISPD method is firstly based on two complementary inputs, including a contrast-enhanced image and a detail-sharpened image. To combine the complementary information of two inputs and balance brightness, the PISPD model decomposes the inputs into four elements: perceptual illumination map, contrast, structure, and average intensity. The perceptual illumination map is used to balance brightness, while the contrast, structure, and average intensity are used to integrate the features of the inputs. Moreover, a weighted edge-preserving factor is introduced in the decomposition-fusion process of contrast, structure, and mean intensity to avoid artifacts. This study also provides a benchmark dataset, namely, CLUID, containing 990 complex lighted underwater images. Experiments with qualitative and quantitative analyses show that our PISPD outperforms eight state-of-the-art approaches.

Bornean Orangutan Nest Classification using Image Enhancement with Convolutional Neural Network and Kernel Multi Support Vector Machine Classifier

Preserving wildlife habitats is crucial in mitigating climate change. Species like orangutans and monkeys contribute to fruiting and planting in forests. The World Wide Fund Sabah Malaysia faces challenges in manually identifying and classifying orangutan nests for studying their behaviour and conserving their habitats. To address this, we propose automating the classification of captured images using machine learning algorithms. This research involves three key components: image processing, feature extraction, and image classification. Our proposed image processing includes several steps, such as image pre-processing and enhancement techniques like local contrast enhancement, sharpening, intensity adjustment, histogram equalization, and colour thresholding. We applied four different Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to extract and identify orangutan nests’ features. Subsequently, we utilize Support Vector Machine (SVM) for image classification. The results reveal that the Inception Residual Network Version 2 (ResNet-v2) achieves the best performance. This architecture is then combined with a kernel SVM to classify Bornean orangutan nests. Our approach demonstrates impressive results, boasting an accuracy of 96.60%, an F1-score of 96.60%, a precision of 96.59%, and a recall of 96.58%. These metrics underscore the high accuracy and effectiveness of our proposed methodology for classifying Bornean orangutan nests. By reducing the need for extensive human intervention in image analysis, our method presents a valuable tool for conservationists and researchers committed to studying and safeguarding these endangered orangutans and their habitats. In future work, we aim to develop orangutan nest detector, contributing to wildlife conservation research.

Differentiating Well-Differentiated from Poorly-Differentiated HCC: The Potential and the Limitation of Gd-EOB-DTPA in the Presence of Liver Cirrhosis.

This study uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the potential of the hepatospecific contrast agent gadolinium ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) in distinguishing G1- from G2/G3-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our approach involved analyzing the dynamic behavior of the contrast agent in different phases of imaging by signal intensity (SI) and lesion contrast (C), to surrounding liver parenchyma, and comparing it across distinct groups of patients differentiated based on the histopathological grading of their HCC lesions and the presence of liver cirrhosis. Our results highlighted a significant contrast between well- and poorly-differentiated lesions regarding the lesion contrast in the arterial and late arterial phases. Furthermore, the hepatobiliary phase showed limited diagnostic value in cirrhotic liver parenchyma due to altered pharmacokinetics. Ultimately, our findings underscore the potential of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI as a tool for improving preoperative diagnosis and treatment selection for HCC while emphasizing the need for continued research to overcome the diagnostic complexities posed by the disease.

Efficient laser-driven proton acceleration from a petawatt contrast-enhanced second harmonic mixed-glass laser system

Efficient laser-driven plasma acceleration of ion beams requires precision control of the target–plasma profile, which is crucial to optimize the laser energy transfer. Along the laser propagation direction, this can be achieved by tailoring the temporal structure of the laser pulse. We show for the first time that frequency-doubling of a short pulse (hundreds-femtosecond range) petawatt-class mixed-glass laser system, which results in temporal intensity contrast enhancement, enables surface and volumetric laser–energy coupling, and the acceleration of proton beams from few-nanometer-thick foil targets. Experimentally, maximum ion energies and laser-to-proton energy conversion efficiencies were found to be both maximized at optimum laser and target conditions manifested when the normalized target density nearly equalizes the normalized laser vector potential, which is in agreement with theory and simulations. These signatures are recognized as a unique indication of the interaction between ultra-intense laser pulses with high temporal intensity contrast and ultra-thin nanometer-scale targets. Transverse modulations of accelerated proton beams in the form of bubble- and ring-like structures measured in the thinnest targets provide additional evidence of volumetric laser-driven particle acceleration regimes and transitional features in ultra-thin foil targets specific to laser–plasma interactions characterized by a high temporal intensity contrast. These results open avenues in the generation of high contrast laser pulses from short-pulse-femtosecond petawatt mixed-glass laser systems and demonstrate the feasibility of this technique for applications requiring high laser intensity contrast with high efficiency.

The application of real-time indocyanine green fluorescence cholangiography in laparoscopic living donor left lateral sectionectomy.

The judgment of the division point of the bile duct has always been one of the difficulties of laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy (LLLS). The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence cholangiography during LLLS on the occurrence of biliary complications in both donors and recipients. The optimal dose and injection time of ICG were also investigated. This is a retrospective cohort study. From October 2016 to December 2022, the clinical data of 103 donors who underwent LLLS and relevant recipients were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether ICG fluorescence cholangiography was used, they were divided into a non-ICG group (n=46) and an ICG group (n=57). Biliary complications were observed and the optimal dose and injection time of ICG were explored. Three donors in the non-ICG group suffered from bile leakage. Four grafts had multiple bile duct openings and biliary complications were observed in the relevant recipients who received these grafts in the non-ICG group. Two recipients had bile leakage, and the other two had biliary stenosis. There was no biliary complications both in donors and recipients in the ICG group. The fluorescence intensity of the liver was 108.1±17.6 at a dose of 0.004 mg/kg 90 minutes after injection, significantly weaker than that at 0.05 mg/kg 30 minutes (200.3±17.6, P=0.001) and 90 minutes after injection (140.2±15.4, P=0.001). The fluorescence intensity contrast value at a dose of 0.004 mg/kg was stronger than that at 0.05 mg/kg, both measured 90 minutes after injection (0.098±0.032 vs. 0.078±0.022, P=0.021). ICG fluorescence cholangiography is safe and feasible in LLLS. It reduces biliary complications in both donors and recipients. The optimal ICG dose was 0.004 mg/kg, and 90 minutes after injection was the best observation time. ICG fluorescence cholangiography is recommended for routine use in LLLS.

Rapid inverse design of metasurfaces with an asymmetric transfer function for all-optical image processing using a mode matching model

Metasurfaces have recently emerged as an ultra-compact solution to perform all-optical image processing, including phase contrast imaging. Most metasurfaces used in imaging processing applications operate over a restricted numerical aperture. This limitation imposes constraints on the discernible features that can be effectively visualized and consequently leads to the appearance of undesirable artifacts. Engineering a metasurface that exhibits an asymmetric linear optical transfer function over a relatively large numerical aperture, while maintaining a strong contrast, has proven to be a challenge. In this study, we present a novel approach to designing relatively high numerical aperture and contrast nonlocal metasurfaces (up to a numerical aperture of around 0.5 and an intensity contrast of approximately 50%) with unit cells consisting of several plasmonic nanorods through the use of a rapid, quasi-analytic mode-matching technique, coupled with an optimization algorithm. The combination of these methods facilitates the rapid conceptualization of nonintuitive arrangements of metallic nanoparticles, specifically tailored to perform phase contrast imaging. These designs hold substantial promise in the development of ultra-compact imaging systems.

Research trends in criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) method: a visual analysis of bibliographic data using the Tableau software

Purpose Criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) is a multicriteria decision-making method that helps compute the weights of decision criteria by considering the contrast intensity and conflicting relationships inherent in each criterion. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis to provide quantitative insights into the research trends concerning the CRITIC method. Design/methodology/approach The study assembled bibliographic data from 220 CRITIC-based publications retrieved from the Scopus database. Subsequently, the gathered data were processed using Tableau software, using specific functions within the software to format them to suit the analysis requirements. Following data preparation, a visual analysis was then conducted based on five parameters that can characterize the research evolutions in CRITIC. These parameters include research productivity across years, dominant countries, dominant researchers, dominant publication outlets and popular research topics. Various visualization techniques, such as combined charts, geographical maps and word clouds, were used to draw conclusions for each parameter. Findings The study discovered a burgeoning trend in CRITIC research in recent years, particularly from 2019 onwards. The COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly contributed to this upward trend, prompting remarkable collaboration among researchers who used diverse decision-making methods, such as CRITIC, to provide data-driven solutions for addressing COVID-19 challenges. Additionally, the study identified China and Iran as the leading countries in CRITIC research, with notable researchers such as Xindong Peng and Mehdi Keshavarz-Ghorabaee predominantly affiliated with institutions in these countries. Keyword analysis indicated the application of CRITIC across various trending topics, including Industry 4.0 and environmental sustainability. Originality/value No bibliometric analyses have been conducted on the CRITIC method in the literature since its inception in 1995, leaving the scientific community clueless about its research trends. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study serves as the first bibliometric analysis, providing quantitative evidence on the research trends associated with the CRITIC method. By shedding light on these trends, this study enables the scientific community, including researchers and funding agencies, to make informed decisions regarding future research endeavors involving the CRITIC method.

A Novel Method for Angiographic Contrast-Based Diagnosis of Stenosis in Coronary Artery Disease: In Vivo and In Vitro Analyses.

The existing diagnostic methods for coronary artery disease (CAD), such as coronary angiography and fractional flow reserve (FFR), have limitations regarding their invasiveness, cost, and discomfort. We explored a novel diagnostic approach, coronary contrast intensity analysis (CCIA), and conducted a comparative analysis between it and FFR. We used an in vitro coronary-circulation-mimicking system with nine stenosis models representing various stenosis lengths (6, 18, and 30 mm) and degrees (30%, 50%, and 70%). The angiographic brightness values were analyzed for CCIA. The in vivo experiments included 15 patients with a normal sinus rhythm. Coronary angiography was performed, and arterial movement was tracked, enabling CCIA derivation. The CCIA values were compared with the FFR (n = 15) and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR; n = 11) measurements. In vitro FFR showed a consistent trend related to the length and severity of stenosis. The CCIA was related to stenosis but had a weaker correlation with length, except for with 70% stenosis (6 mm: 0.82 ± 0.007, 0.68 ± 0.007, 0.61 ± 0.004; 18 mm: 0.78 ± 0.052, 0.69 ± 0.025, 0.44 ± 0.016; 30 mm: 0.80 ± 0.018, 0.64 ± 0.006, 0.40 ± 0.026 at 30%, 50%, and 70%, respectively). In vitro CCIA and FFR were significantly correlated (R = 0.9442, p < 0.01). The in vivo analysis revealed significant correlations between CCIA and FFR (R = 0.5775, p < 0.05) and the iFR (n = 11, R = 0.7578, p < 0.01). CCIA is a promising alternative for diagnosing stenosis in patients with CAD. The initial in vitro validation and in vivo confirmation in patients demonstrate the feasibility of applying CCIA during coronary angiography. Further clinical studies are warranted to fully evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and potential impact of CCIA on CAD management.