Ultrasonic Characteristics Research Articles

Remaining capacity prediction of Li-ion batteries based on ultrasonic signals

ABSTRACT The estimation of Li-ion battery degradation performance is the key to the safe and effective operation. The current estimation methods for Li-ion battery degradation performance are mainly based on indirect electrical characteristic parameters such as voltage and current, which lack the direct characterization of internal materials, which will affect the accuracy and real-time performance of the prediction. Ultrasonic wave can directly characterize the changes in internal material properties of Li-ion battery during charging-discharging cycles. At present, the correlation between ultrasonic signal and Li-ion battery degradation process has been proven, and the relevant ultrasonic characteristics have been analyzed and established. On the above basis, this paper designs a battery degradation performance detection platform based on ultrasonic, which obtains the ultrasonic response signal and further selects four characteristics of battery aging. Aiming at the situation that the prediction starting point cannot be determined due to the possible loss of process data during the experiment, this paper uses random sampling to establish a test set to simulate the unknown prediction starting point, and establishes a battery remaining capacity prediction method based on the combination of the main model and residual correction model. Finally, the experiment proves that the proposed model has high accuracy.

Prenatal Ultrasound Diagnosis and Clinical Analysis of Fetal Small Bowel Obstruction

Background:: Fetal small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a serious condition with high morbidity and mortality rates. Prenatal ultrasound is an important tool for detecting SBO, but the optimal cutoff value for intestinal diameter remains undefined. Objective:: This study aimed to investigate the ultrasonic characteristics of fetal SBO and determine the optimal cutoff value for intestinal diameter to enhance prenatal ultrasound diagnosis. Methods:: We retrospectively analyzed the ultrasonic characteristics and postpartum data of 76 cases diagnosed with SBO. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to identify the optimal cutoff value for dilated intestinal diameter. Results:: Among the 76 cases, 31 displayed the “double bubble sign” on ultrasound, with 20 cases identified as annular pancreas, 6 as duodenal atresia, and 5 as duodenal membranous stenosis. In 45 cases, the lesions were located in the jejunal or ileal segment and exhibited intestinal dilatation above the lesion site, including 27 cases of small bowel atresia, 7 cases of membranous jejunal stenosis, and 11 cases of small bowel volvulus. Out of the 76 cases, 9 showed no abnormalities after birth. ROC curve analysis determined optimal cutoff values of 17.5mm and 10.5mm for predicting “double bubble sign” lesions in the gastric and duodenal widths. For predicting small intestinal dilatation, the optimal cutoff values for dilated width and length of the intestinal tube were 11.5mm and 21.5mm, respectively, with high sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion:: Ultrasonic imaging and changes in intestinal diameter provide valuable information for prenatal diagnosis and management of SBO. Establishing these cutoff values can improve the accuracy of prenatal ultrasound diagnosis for SBO.

A Nomogram Based on a Non-Invasive Method to Distinguish Between Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections of Liver Abscess.

The diagnosis of liver abscess (LA) caused by Gram-positive bacteria (GPB) and Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) depends on ultrasonography, but it is difficult to distinguish the overlapping features. Valuable ultrasonic (US) features were extracted to distinguish GPB-LA and GNB-LA and establish the relevant prediction model. We retrospectively analyzed seven clinical features, three laboratory indicators and 11 US features of consecutive patients with LA from April 2013 to December 2023. Patients with LA were randomly divided into training group (n=262) and validation group (n=174) according to a ratio of 6:4. Univariate logistic regression and LASSO regression were used to establish prediction models. The performance of the model was evaluated using area under the curve(AUC), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA), and subsequently validated in the validation group. A total of 436 participants (median age: 55 years; range: 42-68 years; 144 women) were evaluated, including 369 participants withGNB-LA and 67 with GPB-LA, respectively. A total of 11 predictors by LASSO regression analysis, which included gender, age, the liver background, internal gas bubble, echogenic debris, wall thickening, whether the inner wall is worm-eaten, temperature, diabetes mellitus, hepatobiliary surgery and neutrophil(NEUT). The performance of the Nomogram prediction model distinguished between GNB-LA and GPB-LA was 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] (0.73-0.87). In the validation group, the AUC of GNB was 0.79, 95% CI (0.69-0.89). A model for predicting the risk of GPB-LA was established to help diagnose pathogenic organism of LA earlier, which could help select sensitive antibiotics before the results of drug-sensitive culture available, thereby shorten the treatment time of patients.

Analysis of ultrasonic imaging changes and factors related to malignant transformation in postmenopausal patients with endometrial polyps.

To examine the ultrasonic changes in postmenopausal endometrial polyps and analyze factors related to their malignant transformation. This retrospective study analyzed clinical data from 200 postmenopausal patients with endometrial polyps treated at Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital and Pingyin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from December 2020 to December 2023. All patients underwent pathological biopsies to diagnose the nature of the endometrial polyps. This study compared the clinical and ultrasonic imaging features of these patients and analyzed factors influencing the malignant transformation of postmenopausal endometrial polyps. Pathological findings classified 160 patients (80.00%) into the benign group and 40 patients (20.00%) into the malignant group. Significant differences were noted in endometrial thickness, polyp diameter, heterogeneity of lesion echogenicity, and vascularization between the groups (all P<0.05). The malignant group exhibited notably higher blood flow (Grade II+III constituted 70.00% compared to 29.38% in the benign group, P<0.05). The time average velocity (TAV), pulse index (PI), and resistance index (RI) were significantly lower in the malignant group (all P<0.05). The area under curve (AUC) values for TAV, PI, and RI in diagnosing malignant endometrial polyps were 0.754, 0.713, and 0.771, respectively. Increased body mass index (BMI), irregular premenopausal menstruation, and ≥2 occurrences of postmenopausal bleeding were identified as risk factors for malignant transformation (all P<0.05). These six indicators were used to create a predictive model for malignant transformation, achieving an AUC of 0.942. Malignancy in postmenopausal endometrial polyps is uncommon, yet distinct differences exist in the transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound characteristics between benign and malignant cases. Factors such as increased BMI, irregular premenopausal menstruation, and ≥2 occurrences of postmenopausal bleeding significantly contribute to the risk of malignant transformation. These findings, combined with ultrasound features, provide a robust basis for screening and monitoring these patients.

A Digital Twin for Detecting Liquid-Liquid Interface in Containers

This study introduces a digital twin (DT) architecture for detecting liquid-liquid interfaces in containers, aimed at improving real-time monitoring and optimising the separation process in the petroleum industry. The research employs the DT concurrent to the physical twin to enhance the system performance by integrating response error measures with knowledge of industrial processes. The DT uses ultrasonic sensors to collect data and a high-fidelity numerical wave propagation model for an adaptive fitting algorithm to update the interface responses. Both experimental studies and numerical simulations confirm the ability of the DT to accurately determine liquid levels by analysing interfacial responses from ultrasonic signal features in transmission mode. Cross-validation and error metrics validate the DT’s adaptability and accuracy in interface detection, even with undersampled data.

Quantifying carotid stiffness in chronic kidney disease using ultrafast ultrasound imaging.

The mortality and disability of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are highly linked to the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events. Numerous clinical biochemical indicators of renal function often only increase in advanced stages of CKD, driving an urgent need for reliable indicators of atherosclerosis in early CKD. Ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) can evaluate the stiffness of the straight carotid in vivo and quantitatively reflect the degree of early atherosclerosis. However, the use of ufPWV in CKD has not yet been reported. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between carotid stiffness, quantified using ufPWV, and renal function in CKD patients. This cross-sectional study enrolled a total of 582 participants between March 2017 and May 2022 in the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Among those, 205 individuals without a history of CKD and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2 were included as controls. According to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) expert group of the American Kidney Foundation staging for CKD, 44 stages 1 and 2 CKD patients were included in the early CKD group, whereas 49 stages 3, 4, and 5 CKD patients were included in the advanced CKD group. Clinical and serum parameters, ultrasonic characteristics including carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and pulse wave velocity at the beginning of systole (PWV-BS) and pulse wave velocity at the end of systole (PWV-ES) of systole were analyzed. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least significant difference (LSD) tests were performed to compare cIMT, PWV-BS, and PWV-ES among subgroups in pairs. Pearson's correlation analysis, scatter plots, and subgroups correlation analysis were used to determine the relationships among ultrasound characteristics (cIMT, PWV-BS, PWV-ES), and major cardiovascular risk factors. PWV-BS and PWV-ES for the early and advanced CKD groups were significantly higher than those for controls (all P<0.05). PWV-ES had the greatest correlation with age (r=0.474, P<0.001). PWV-ES had the greatest increase with age in the early CKD group (r=0.698, P<0.001). ufPWV can be used for the quantitative evaluation of carotid stiffness in CKD patients. PWV-ES may be more advantageous in the assessment of carotid atherosclerosis in early CKD patients.

Ultrasonic Features for Evaluation of Adhesive Joints: A Comparative Study of Interface Defects.

Ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation in pulse-echo mode is used for the inspection of single-lap aluminum adhesive joints, which contain interface defects in bonding area. The aim of the research is to increase the probability of defect detection in addition to ensuring that the defect sizes are accurately estimated. To achieve this, this study explores additional ultrasonic features (not only amplitude) that could provide more accurate information about the quality of the structure and the presence of interface defects. In this work, two types of interface defects, namely inclusions and delaminations, were studied based on the extracted ultrasonic features in order to evaluate the expected feasibility of defect detection and the evaluation of its performance. In addition, an analysis of multiple interface reflections, which have been proved to improve detection in our previous works, was applied along with the extraction of various ultrasonic features, since it can increase the probability of defect detection. The ultrasonic features with the best performance for each defect type were identified and a comparative analysis was carried out, showing that it is more challenging to size inclusion-type defects compared to delaminations. The best performance is observed for the features such as peak-to-peak amplitude, ratio coefficients, absolute energy, absolute time of flight, mean value of the amplitude, standard deviation value, and variation coefficient for both types of defects. The maximum relative error of the defect size compared to the real one for these features is 16.9% for inclusions and 3.6% for delaminations, with minimum errors of 11.4% and 2.2%, respectively. In addition, it was determined that analysis of the data from repetitive reflections from the sample interface, namely, the aluminum-adhesive second and third reflections, that these contribute to an increase in the probability of defect detection.

Nondestructive testing of internal defects by ring-laser-excited ultrasonic

ABSTRACT To improve the excitation efficiency, detection utilisation rate, and signal-to-noise ratio of the laser ultrasonic non-destructive testing of internal defects, the spatial distribution of the excitation light source was changed to a ring-shaped laser source to excite ultrasound. Finite element analysis method was used to simulate and analyse the ultrasonic characteristics excited by the ring laser. The superposition of shear waves on the central axis of a ring laser exhibits considerable advantages for internal defect detection. Consequently, a method was proposed for detecting internal defects using a ring laser to excite and receive ultrasonic waves at the concentric and opposite positions of the ring laser. A ring-source laser ultrasonic detection system was designed to scan and detect circular hole defects with different diameters as well as crack defects with different depths, lengths, and inclination angles. The experimental results showed that the ring-source laser ultrasonic technique could effectively detect defect positions and depths and describe the defect length and external contour under certain conditions. Moreover, it could achieve more complex detection tasks. This study provides an effective reference for the application of laser ultrasonic non-destructive testing of internal defects.

Ultrasound findings of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: comparison with other malignant hepatic tumors.

To investigate and compare the ultrasonic features of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) and other common hepatic malignancies, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and hepatic metastatic tumor (HMT). A total of 37 patients with pathologically proven HEHE, 37 HCC cases, 37 ICC cases, and 37 HMT cases were enrolled from single hospital. The clinical characteristics and ultrasonic features of all cases were summarized and statistically analyzed. There were significant differences in sex and age between the HEHE group and other three groups (P < 0.001). The probability of HEHE infection with hepatitis B virus was lower than that of HCC and ICC groups (P < 0.05). The probability of elevated serum tumor markers in HEHE was significantly lower than that in the other three groups (P < 0.05). On conventional ultrasound (CUS), the probability of multiple lesions in HEHE was significantly higher than that in the other three groups (P < 0.05). On contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), the time to wash out in HEHE was significantly shorter than that of the other three groups (P < 0.001). The proportion of synchronous or slow enhancement in HEHE was significantly higher than that of the other three groups (P < 0.001). The proportion of HEHE with iso- or hypo-enhancement was significantly higher than in HCC and HMT groups (P < 0.05). HEHE mainly performed multiple hypoechoic lesions on CUS and displayed greater odds of synchronous enhancement in arterial phase, iso- or hypo-enhancement in peak time and wash out more quickly on CEUS, which allowed for differentiation from other common malignant tumors.

Strain ultrasonic elastography imaging features of locally advanced breast cancer: association with response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and recurrence-free survival

BackgroundDue to the highly heterogeneity of the breast cancer, it would be desirable to obtain a non-invasive method to early predict the treatment response and survival outcome of the locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). This study aimed at investigating whether strain elastography (SE) can early predict the pathologic complete response (pCR) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in LABC patients receiving NAC.MethodsIn this single-center retrospective study, 122 consecutive women with LABC who underwent SE examination pre-NAC and after one and two cycles of NAC enrolled in the SHPD001(NCT02199418) and SHPD002 (NCT02221999) trials between January 2014 and August 2017 were included. The SE parameters (Elasticity score, ES; Strain ratio, SR; Hardness percentage, HP, and Area ratio, AR) before and during NAC were assessed. The relative changes in SE parameters after one and two cycles of NAC were describe as ΔA1 and ΔA2, respectively. Logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were used to identify independent variables associated with pCR and RFS.ResultsForty-nine (40.2%) of the 122 patients experienced pCR. After 2 cycles of NAC, SR2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.502; P = 0.003) and ΔSR2 (OR, 0.013; P = 0.015) were independently associated with pCR, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the combination of them to predict pCR was 0.855 (95%CI: 0.779, 0.912). Eighteen (14.8%) recurrences developed at a median follow-up of 60.7 months. A higher clinical T stage (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.165; P = 0.005.), a higher SR (HR = 1.114; P = 0.002.) and AR (HR = 1.064; P < 0.001.) values at pre-NAC SE imaging were independently associated with poorer RFS.ConclusionSE imaging features have the potential to early predict pCR and RFS in LABC patients undergoing NAC, and then may offer valuable predictive information to guide personalized treatment.

Diagnostic value of measuring the talofibular space using stress sonography in chronic lateral ankle instability

ObjectivesTo investigate the diagnostic value of measuring the talofibular space using stress sonography for chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI). Materials & methodsWe recruited patients who were clinically diagnosed with CLAI between October 2018 and December 2019 (CLAI group). A control group of healthy volunteers was also included for this study. Both groups underwent a preliminary stress sonographic examination. First, the ultrasonic characteristics of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), including length, thickness, relaxation, calcification, and rupture, were observed using conventional sonography. Second, the talofibular space at the passive neutral position (D1) and maximum varus position (D2) was measured (by stress sonographic images), and the difference (ΔD = D1-D2) between them was determined. Third, the parameters of the two groups were statistically compared. Finally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) analyses were performed for parameters with significant differences. ResultsThe CLAI group comprised 60 patients, yielding data on 60 ankles, whereas the control group comprised 35 participants, yielding data for 70 ankles. Differences in D1, D2, and ΔD of the talofibular space between the two groups were significant, with ΔD proving to be the best diagnostic indicator (P < 0.001). Its AUC, optimal cutoff value, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.922, 0.11 cm, 73 %, and 94 %, respectively, followed by D2 (0.850, 0.47 cm, 67 %, and 94 %, respectively; P < 0.001) and D1 (0.635, 0.47 cm, 67 %, and 94 %, respectively; P = 0.006). ConclusionMeasurement of talofibular space in stress sonography is a valuable diagnostic indicator for CLAI, especially the ΔD between the neutral and stress position.

Benefit of Using Both Ultrasound Imaging and Clinical Information for Predicting Malignant Soft Tissue Tumors.

Ultrasonography (US) is the primary imaging method for soft tissue tumors (STTs), the diagnostic performance of which still requires improvement. To achieve an accurate evaluation of STTs, we built the diagnostic nomogram for STTs using the clinical and US features of patients with STTs. A total of 613 patients with 195 malignant and 418 benign STTs were retrospectively recruited. We used a blend of clinical and ultrasonic features, as well as exclusively US features, to develop two distinct diagnostic models for STTs: the clinical-US model and the US-only model, respectively. The two models were evaluated and compared by measuring their areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and decision curve analysis. The performance of the clinical-US model was also compared with that of two radiologists. The clinical-US model had better diagnostic performance than the model based on US imaging features alone (AUCs of the clinical-US and US-only models: 0.95 [0.93-0.97] vs. 0.89 [0.87-0.92], p < 0.001; IDI of the two models: 0.15 ± 0.03, p < 0.001). The clinical-US model was also superior to the two radiologists in diagnosing STTs (AUCs of clinical-US model and two radiologists: 0.95 [0.93-0.97] vs. 0.79 [0.75-0.82] and 0.83 [0.80-0.85], p < 0.001). The diagnostic model based on clinical and US imaging features had high diagnostic performance in STTs, which could help identify malignant STTs for radiologists.

Bilateral papillary thyroid cancer: pitfalls of ACR TI-RADS and evaluation of modified parameters.

To explore modified parameters of the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) for evaluating contralateral nodules based on preoperative ultrasound features of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in the suspected lobe, thus guiding the management of bilateral PTC. We retrospectively analyzed 389 consecutive patients with PTC (272 in training set, 117 in validation set) who underwent total thyroidectomy from March 2020 to March 2022. According to their postoperative pathological data, the patients were divided into unilateral and bilateral PTC groups. The clinicopathological features and sonographic characteristics of suspected nodules were compared between the groups, and further ultrasonic characteristics of TI-RADS grade (TR grade)-underestimated nodules were analyzed. Patients with a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m2 (P < 0.001), multifocality in the suspected lobe (P < 0.001), and TR > 3 isthmus nodules (P = 0.003) tended to have bilateral PTC. After modifying the TI-RADS classification for contralateral nodules using these three parameters, the area under the curve for diagnosing contralateral lesions increased from 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.74-0.84) to 0.83 (0.78-0.87) in the training set. The missed diagnosis rate of contralateral PTC decreased in both the training set [21.1% (28/133) to 4.5% (6/133)] and validation set [11.4% (8/70) to 2.9% (2/70)]. Preoperative ultrasound tended to underestimate the contralateral nodules with the presence of cystic components [100% (6/6)] and halo sign [73.3% (11/15)]. The modified TI-RADS classification based on the suspected lobe may facilitate effective preoperative malignant risk stratification of contralateral nodules in bilateral PTC.

Defect identification method for ultrasonic inspection of pipeline welds based on cross-modal zero-shot learning

Ultrasonic inspection of pipeline welds still uses the traditional visual inspection signal method to identify pipeline defects. The identification of defects relies entirely on the subjective judgment of practitioners and is highly dependent on their level of experience. Deep learning models have achieved very good results in classification tasks, but they rely on a large number of annotated data samples for each category. However, it is difficult to collect a large number of samples with different defects and annotate them for the classification of pipe welding defects. Based on the idea of zero-shot learning (ZSL), which makes full use of experts’ semantic descriptions of defect categories, artificial semantic features are integrated cross-modally with ultrasonic inspection signal features. In this way, a common semantic space containing seen and unseen classes is constructed to achieve the detection of various defects. Meanwhile, to alleviate the problem of extreme imbalance of training data between the seen and unseen classes in ZSL model training, a ZSL model Feature-GAN-ZSL (FGZ) fused with a generative adversarial network (GAN) is proposed. The model utilizes a Feature-GAN network to generate unseen class features during training and adds a classifier to enhance the generation of features with stronger discriminative power. In the experiments, sample data for porosity, incomplete penetration, and cracks were used as visible classes, and samples for incomplete fusion and slag entrapment were used as unseen classes. Five state-of-the-art models in the ZSL domain were compared. The results show that the FGZ model has a good ability to recognize various defects, not only the types of defects that participated in the training but also the defects that did not participate in the training. This plays a perfect role in dealing with various pipeline welding defects.

Combining Clinicopathologic and Ultrasonic Features for Predicting Skip Metastasis of Lateral Lymph Nodes in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Skip metastasis, regarded as lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) without involving the central lymph node metastasis (CLNM), in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients is commonly unpredictable. The purpose of the present research was to investigate the independent risk factors of skip metastasis in patients with PTC. In the present research, 228 consecutive PTC patients who experienced total thyroidectomy coupled with central and lateral lymph node dissection from May 2020 to September 2022 at the Affiliated hospital of Jiangsu University were included in our research. Univariate and multivariate analysis were then applied to investigate the risk factors of skip metastasis in patients with PTC. Furthermore, a predictive model of skip metastasis was then constructed based on risk factors. The skip metastasis rate was 11.8% (27/228) in the current research. After the univariate and multivariate analysis, tumor size ≤ 10 mm, unilaterality, microcalcification, and upper tumor location were determined to be predictive factors of skip metastasis. The risk score of skip metastasis was calculated: risk score = 1.229 × (if tumor nodule ≤ 10mm) + 1.518 × (if unilaterality nodule) + 1.074 × (if microcalcification in nodule) + 2.332 × (if nodule in upper location). Tumor size ≤ 10 mm, unilaterality, microcalcification, and upper tumor location can increase the occurrence of skip metastasis in patients with PTC, which is expected to provide useful information to guide the suitable intraoperative window.

Non-contact characterization of material anisotropy of additive manufacturing components by electromagnetic acoustic resonance technique

Abstract The degree of material anisotropy in additive manufacturing (AM) components is greatly influenced by the AM process parameters and machine setup. It is crucial to develop an effective technique for evaluating the material anisotropy in AM components to optimize AM process parameters and component design. This paper proposed a non-contact ultrasonic characterization method using the electromagnetic acoustic resonance technique to characterize the anisotropy of AM components. Various electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) were designed and utilized to characterize the material anisotropy and to determine the principal direction of the AM components. The degree of anisotropy in AM components was characterized using radial radiation EMATs. The relationship between the degree of anisotropy and the laser scanning angle was explored and further determined through the acoustic birefringence factor. Experimental results demonstrated that the anisotropy of AM components is intricately associated with the laser scanning angle, and specific angles can render the AM components isotropic. Moreover, understanding the principal directions is of significance for structural design and analyzing stress distribution in anisotropic components. Therefore, the principal directions of AM components were obtained by rotating the linear polarization EMAT. Changes in the resonance spectrum captured by the linear polarization EMAT while evaluating of principal directions were clearly illustrated, despite negligible alterations in linear ultrasonic features. Metallographic diagrams further validated the experimental findings. This investigation presented a highly accurate and reliable alternative for characterizing the anisotropy of AM components.

Value of Ultrasound Diagnostics in Predicting Ischemic Stroke Outcomes after Different Reperfusion Therapies

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is associated with high mortality, disability and economic expenses. Despite significant progress in the treatment of AIS using endovascular methods, it is not always possible to obtain good results. In the current literature, a small number of studies are devoted to predicting outcomes in patients with AIS who received various types of treatment.This prospective cohort study included 460 patients who underwent thrombolytic therapy, thromboextraction, combination of thromboextraction with stenting or thrombolytic therapy.The relationship between clinical and functional results at the early stages after intervention was assessed with potential predictors, among which the ultrasonic characteristics of extra- and intracranial arteries were analyzed.Complete or partial reperfusion was obtained in 61,7 % of the examined patients. A higher efficiency of endovascular methods compared to thrombolytic therapy was noted (99,5 % vs 33,5 % respectively). The baseline NIHSS and Rankin scores did not show a high predictive valuey for early outcomes, that caused the necessary for searching instrumental predictors. Patients with significant stenosis of the internal carotid artery or vertebral artery had significantly worse clinical and functional outcomes, including the mRS scale. The proportion of poor early outcomes in patients with significant stenosis was significantly lower in the endovascular treatment groups compared to the thrombolytic therapy group. Multiple regression analysis showed that the outcome of AIS is influenced by the level of cerebral arterial involvement as well as lesion size with a threshold value of more than 2 cm.

A comparative study on the features of breast sclerosing adenosis and invasive ductal carcinoma via ultrasound and establishment of a predictive nomogram.

To analyze the clinical and ultrasonic characteristics of breast sclerosing adenosis (SA) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and construct a predictive nomogram for SA. A total of 865 patients were recruited at the Second Hospital of Shandong University from January 2016 to November 2022. All patients underwent routine breast ultrasound examinations before surgery, and the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination following the operation. Ultrasonic features were recorded using the Breast Imaging Data and Reporting System (BI-RADS). Of the 865 patients, 203 (252 nodules) were diagnosed as SA and 662 (731 nodules) as IDC. They were randomly divided into a training set and a validation set at a ratio of 6:4. Lastly, the difference in clinical characteristics and ultrasonic features were comparatively analyzed. There was a statistically significant difference in multiple clinical and ultrasonic features between SA and IDC (P<0.05). As age and lesion size increased, the probability of SA significantly decreased, with a cut-off value of 36 years old and 10 mm, respectively. In the logistic regression analysis of the training set, age, nodule size, menopausal status, clinical symptoms, palpability of lesions, margins, internal echo, color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) grading, and resistance index (RI) were statistically significant (P<0.05). These indicators were included in the static and dynamic nomogram model, which showed high predictive performance, calibration and clinical value in both the training and validation sets. SA should be suspected in asymptomatic young women, especially those younger than 36 years of age, who present with small-size lesions (especially less than 10 mm) with distinct margins, homogeneous internal echo, and lack of blood supply. The nomogram model can provide a more convenient tool for clinicians.

Compressive Creep and Ultrasonic Characterization of Adobe Bricks Stabilized with Quicklime, Portland Cement, and Date Palm Fibers

ABSTRACT As ecological architecture and green buildings have become essential in the fight against climate change, earthen architecture has an undoubted role to play in achieving this goal because of its numerous benefits. To help providing a better understanding of the behavior of earthen materials to fulfill modern architectural needs and to preserve earthen heritages, this study aims to investigate the effect of stabilization using Portland cement and quicklime and that of reinforcement using date palm fibers on the compressive creep, ultrasonic properties, and swelling of adobes, besides their impacts on physical characteristics. One of the earthen heritages in Algeria is taken as a case study, and various adobe mixes were examined to attain this objective. The outcomes revealed that stabilization overall improved the properties of adobes, unlike the mutable impact of fibers. Stabilizers played an important role in reducing creep, while fibers reduced the creep of the unstabilized adobes and those with 6%PC-3%QL, but withdrew the positive effect that was offered by binders for adobes with 10%QL and 3%PC-6%QL. Water absorption and swelling were reduced by stabilization, but both increased with the presence of fibers. The changes in ultrasonic characteristics showed a good correlation with those of compressive strength.

Ultrasound measurement of vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscle parameters to identify chronic thyrotoxic myopathy.

Chronic thyrotoxic myopathy (CTM) is a common, easily neglected complication of hyperthyroidism. There are currently no standard diagnostic criteria for CTM, and the ultrasonic characteristics of CTM-affected skeletal muscle remain unclear. Herein, we aimed to evaluate hyperthyroid patients for CTM by ultrasound and identify ultrasonic muscle parameter cutoffs for CTM diagnosis. Each participant underwent ultrasonography. The original (muscle thickness (MT), pennation angle (PA), and cross-sectional area (CSA)) and corrected (MT/height (HT), MT/body mass index (BMI), CSA/HT, and CSA/BMI) parameters of the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis (VM) were evaluated. The diagnostic effectiveness of ultrasound for predicting CTM was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Our study included 203 participants: 67 CTM patients (18 males, 49 females), 67 non-CTM patients (28 males, 39 females) and 69 healthy controls (20 males, 49 females). The CTM group had lower muscular ultrasonic and anthropometric parameters, higher thyroid hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb) levels, and a longer duration of hyperthyroidism than the non-CTM group (P < 0.05). The VM-PA, VM-CSA, VM-CSA/HT, and VM-CSA/BMI were lower in females than in males (P < 0.05). Free thyroxine (FT4) and TRAb both showed significant negative correlations with VM-MT, VM-MT/HT, VM-CSA, and VM-CSA/HT (P < 0.05). VM-MT/BMI and VM-CSA/HT, respectively, best predicted male and female CTM (AUC = 0.84, 0.85; cutoff ≤ 0.07, < 4.01). Ultrasound measurement of muscular parameters, especially in the VM, is a valid and feasible way of diagnosing and characterizing possible CTM in hyperthyroidism.