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espanolLa ecografia pulmonar es una tecnica que ha innovado la forma de hacer ultrasonido y cardiologia, basando su interpretacion en artefactos y modificando el abordaje diagnostico y terapeutico de pacientes con cardiopatia. El cardiologo puede hacer ecografia pulmonar con el transductor y ajustes de pantalla de la ecocardiografia y debe reconocer los 4 patrones ecograficos: patron de pulmon aireado/seco, pulmon humedo o intersticial, derrame pleural y consolidacion. El patron intersticial es la base de las aplicaciones de esta tecnica en el area cardiologica, que se resumen en 7 situaciones clinicas: diagnostico diferencial de disnea, sindrome de insuficiencia cardiaca, identificacion del distres respiratorio agudo, situaciones extremas como el edema de altura, buceo en apnea y el iron man, nefropatas en dialisis, sindrome coronario agudo y prueba de ecografia de estres alveolo-capilar. Se propone la realizacion de una ecografia cardiopulmonar como obligatoria y no opcional para el cardiologo. EnglishPulmonary Ultrasound, a technique that has innovated the way of doing ultrasound and cardiology, basing the interpretation of the image on artefacts and modifying the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of patients with heart disease. The cardiologist can perform pulmonary ultrasound with the transducer and echocardiography screen settings and must recognize the 4 ultrasound patterns: Aerated / Dry Lung Pattern, Wet or Interstitial Lung, Pleural Effusion and Consolidation. The Interstitial Pattern is the basis of the applications of this technique in the cardiological area, which are summarized in 7 clinical situations: differential diagnosis of dyspnea, heart failure syndrome, identification of acute respiratory distress, extreme situations such as high altitude edema, apnea diving and iron man, dialysis nephropaths, Acute coronary syndrome and alveolo-capillary stress ultrasound test. Cardiopulmonary ultrasound is proposed as mandatory and not optional for the cardiologist

This study aimed to explore the deformation of medial femoral cartilage in normal adults according to gait conditions. Overall, 76 normal adults without degenerative arthritis or a knee injury on medical history were randomly assigned into control, flatland walk, slope walk, and stepper walk groups. The control group was rested for 30 min, the test group performed flatland walking, 16° slope walking, and stepper walking, respectively. The thickness of medial femoral cartilage before and after gait was evaluated through ultrasound test. Compared with the control group, a significant difference was noted for medial femoral cartilage deformation before and after gait in all the three groups. Comparison of the medial femoral cartilage deformation among the groups revealed a significant difference between the control group and the flatland walk, slope walk, and stepper walk groups (P0.05). After a 30-min walk, the thickness of medial femoral cartilage was reduced, and a difference in deformation was noted according to gait conditions. The thickness of medial femoral cartilage was reduced more in the stepper walk and slope walk groups, wherein more load operates on the knee, than the flatland walk group.

This study evaluated energy transfer and efficiency in power ultrasound systems applied to processing of Chlorella vulgaris. Power transfer to a series of system combinations was characterized via ...

Recently, Dr. Crespo et al. published in your Journal a paper recommending the use of ultrasonography during the current phase of the COVID-19 pandemic whilst wearing only a facial mask for protection, which we deem inadequate. Prevention is key when performing an ultrasound test, since this virus is highly contagious. During the pandemic, every patient should be considered as potentially infected and the procedure requires a close proximity. Therefore, extreme hygiene and a sonographer equipped with the appropriate personal protection (mask, cap, gown, gloves, shoe covers and goggles, with a facial screen and high-efficacy mask for confirmed or highly suspect cases) are of the utmost importance to prevent viral transmission.

Ovaries play a vital role in the female reproductive system as they are responsible for the production of egg or ovum required during the fertilization. The female ovaries very often get affected with cyst. An enlarged ovarian cyst can lead to torsion, infertility and even cancer. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose it as soon as possible. For the diagnosis of an ovarian cyst, ultrasound test is conducted. We collected the sample ultrasound images of ovaries of different women and detected whether ovarian cyst is present or not. The proposed work employs the traditional VGG-16 model fine-tuned with our very own dataset of ultrasound images. A VGG-16 model is a 16-layer deep learning neural network trained on ImageNet dataset. Fine-tuning is done by modifying the last four layers of VGG-16 network. Our model is able to determine whether the ultrasound images shows ovarian cyst or not. An accuracy of 92.11% is obtained. The accuracy and loss curves are also plotted for the proposed model.

This work aims to reduce the energy consumption and thus increase the availability of blast furnace compressors of a steelmaking company, located in Alto Paraopeba region in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, through the elimination of waste points in the compressed air distribution. In order to develop this work, an ultrasound test in the compressed air line was performed to identify and quantify leaks in the flow. Once the leaks were identified, they were eliminated through corrective maintenance and improvements, and then the energy consumption scenarios before and after the improvements were compared. As a result, the average monthly electricity consumption in the reporting period decreased by 57.2%. In addition, one compressor was set aside in stand-by condition, as in the original plant. Thus, one can prove the efficiency in eliminating of waste points in compressed air distribution, since the reduction of energy consumption is important for the company to remain competitive, as the cost of electric energy affects the final price of the final products.

The production of eucalyptus for the cellulose and paper industry is based on the cultivation of clones, which are obtained by crossing species with desirable characteristics. However, clo...

The issue of samples shape and size effect on the destructive strength of concrete returns from time to time because the compliance of conversion factors proposed by various authors is not satisfactory. Modern drilling equipment encourages to take samples from the structure and to conduct tests of concrete compressive strength based on the destruction of cylinders. This paper presents the ultrasound test methodology for determination of ‘d’ conversion factor from samples obtained, e.g., from structure for strength determined on other samples. First, the velocities of longitudinal ultrasound waves were reduced to a fixed base because samples of various sizes from O4 to O32 cm were tested. Regression curves for the tested samples were determined, separately for each size. Based on these, for various ultrasound velocities and various sizes of samples strengths and relations between strengths was calculated. Formulas were given, which allow to convert the strength from sample of any diameter to the different one. The example of ultrasound testing method for the evaluation of mortar strength in joints between bricks was also presented.

What happens when a BLUE-protocol is performed or when any ultrasound test is done on a critically ill patient?

Aboonajmi M., Akram A., Nishizu T., Kondo N., Setarehdan S.K., Rajabipour A., 2010. An ultrasound based technique for the determination of poultry egg quality . Res. Agr. Eng., 56: 26–32. The present study investigates the possibility of the non-destructive prediction of the main quality indices of commercial eggs by calculating the ultrasound phase velocity within the egg material. The phase velocity of the ultrasound signal in the egg material was determined by analysing the recorded ultrasound signals using the Fast Fourier Transform. Three hundred commercial eggs (Boris Brown, 33 weeks age) from the first day of egg laying were purchased from a farm and divided in two groups. The first group was kept at the room temperature (22–25°C) and the second group was kept in a refrigerator (5°C). Every week, 25 eggs from both the room and the refrigerator were first submitted to the non-destructive ultrasound test at weekly basis at the room temperature. Immediately after testing, the air cell, the thick albumen heights, the Haugh unit and the yolk index of the eggs were also determined destructively for the comparison purposes. The results were analysed to find any possible correlation between the computed ultrasonic phase velocity and the destructive parameters, during a storage period of five weeks. The tests were carried out using an ultrasound beam with a frequency of 150 kHz with a sampling rate of 2.5 Gs/S on the eggs under a controlled temperature situ ation. Significant differences between the means of the destructive analysis on different days of the eggs storage were found using ANOVA. The results showed that the phase velocity significantly differs between the eggs stored at the room temperature and those stored in the refrigerator. It was found that the phase velocity decreased as the storage time of the eggs increased in three consecutive weeks.

Noninvasive tests used to evaluate the stroke-prone patient need to be studied by rigorous methods. Clinicians need reliable data to avoid confusion over the wide reported ranges of diagnostic test performance, ranging from poor to perfect. Published studies of large groups of patients who are representative of the patients in whom the tests will ultimately be used are needed in order for physicians to adopt rigorous diagnostic algorithms effectively. Such algorithms reduce the undesirable clinical consequences of false-positive and false-negative test errors, and the expense of identifying diseases that cause stroke, such as intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis. This review focuses on the methodology used to evaluate the performance of transcranial Doppler, an ultrasound test used to identify intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis.

A test for evaluating oilfield corrosion inhibitors using ultrasound has been developed recently. This paper describes experiments that have been undertaken to try and determine some of th...

The article presents the results of the investigation of universal calibration dependences used in testing of the concrete strength by shear, rebound and ultrasound test methods. Many of the instruments currently used do not provide the required measurement accuracy, especially when using universal calibration dependences. The introduction of new more sophisticated instruments for nondestructive testing of concrete strength requires an assessment of their accuracy, taking into account the composition of concrete and other parameters. The shear test method, called “direct”, does not provide the required accuracy of measurements, and the use of this method for the calibration of sclerometers and ultrasonic devices is unacceptable.The aim of the research is to clarify the dependences, taking into account the data on concrete composition, parameters of materials used, and the age of concrete. The studies will allow you to set the values of the coefficients to be used in the generalized calibration curve, with considering the concrete information obtained at a particular construction site (where concrete strength is tested).

This study demonstrated the feasibility of applying an ultrasound test to evaluate the ability of a powder to interact with a solvent and thus to predict the reconstitution behaviour of powders. The ultrasound attenuation was monitored and a corresponding relaxation time was calculated. Analysis of the ultrasound signal and images obtained by a granulomorphometer in the course of dispersion showed that the time required by the ultrasound attenuation parameter to relax is strongly associated with the time required by the solvent to penetrate primary particles. It was also shown that this step is of crucial importance in the dissolution mechanism as it precedes the fragmentation phase, identified as a limiting step. Classification of dairy powders according to their relaxation times (ultrasound test) and rehydration times (rehydration test, calculated with Static Light Scattering) was in good agreement for the range of milk powders investigated. Industrial relevance Spray drying is commonly used to produce dairy powders in the food industry. Although the rehydration of these powders can be very slow, few analytic methods are available to evaluate the dissolvability of a dairy powder; consequently, there is a current lack of guidelines in order to tune spray dryer operating parameters for improving instant properties. The objective of this study is to present a new analytical method based on ultrasound test to evaluate powder ability to reconstitute. A probe was immerged in the liquid and the transmitted signal was analysed during the course of rehydration. The acoustic test was demonstrated to be effective in tracking solvent interactions, making it possible to assess the ability of a solvent to bind with the primary particle, and thus revealing it to be a powerful tool to evaluate the reconstitution ability of dairy powder quickly with low material costs. Of course the scope of this tool is broader than the sole food sector and encompasses all applications requiring a reconstitution step in a solvent.

Routine quality control of ultrasound scanners and transducers is important for maintaining image quality. Our experience suggests that artefact and uniformity evaluation is the most effective single phantom test for detecting equipment problems. Current methods for assessing ultrasound images for artefacts have important limitations. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a novel, low-cost, liquid phantom with a flexible surface for assessing artefacts. A range of materials were evaluated and the optimal liquid phantom was found to be a water/cornstarch solution contained within a flexible latex balloon. When compared to a rigid tissue-mimicking phantom no deficiencies in overall image appearance or artefact detection for any transducer model was observed for the liquid phantom. With minimal training, reproducible clips were obtained by clinical sonographers with low inter- and intra-operator dependence, for a range of transducers models. The flexible scanning surface of the liquid phantom allows complete rapid coupling of all transducers. Due to its ease of use and low cost this liquid phantom appears superior to rigid phantoms for assessment of non-uniformity artefacts, and should allow clinical practices to perform routine artefact assessments of all ultrasound scanners and transducers.

The paper is devoted to the role of fundamental physical achievements in advanced technologies of control and monitoring used in modern medicine. It contains the analysis of diagnostic methods based on physical phenomena: X-ray examination, nuclear medicine, ultrasound test, the method of electronic paramagnetic resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray- and positron-emission computer tomography, endoscopy, thermography, luminescent analysis, electrocardiography, biomagnetism etc. Also reviewed are methods of control based on the use of fiber optics, laser mass-spectroscopy and special microscopy.

Accurate, reliable, noninvasive vascular diagnostic laboratory tests are fundamental in evaluating patients with suspected carotid artery disease. After the initial evaluation, including a complete history and physical examination, the skilled clinician can accurately diagnose symptomatic carotid or vertebral artery disease. However, physical examination for carotid artery disease is limited primarily to listening for bruits over the carotid bifurcation and subclavian areas, palpating internal and external carotid pulses, and evaluating the patient for unequal radial pulses or brachial blood pressures. Thus, a noninvasive ultrasound test is generally the next diagnostic step in patients with suspected disease.

Diagnostic ultrasound was used in 103 patients with a clinically suspected fracture of the scaphoid bone in order to achieve an early diagnosis. There were 48 women and 55 men aged 10–75 years (mean 31.4 years) tested with ultrasound. Of the patients, 72 were tested within 3 days after injury the remainder between 4 and 42 days. Fracture was confirmed radiologically in 27. We found that the ultrasound test, applied with a frequency of 1 MHz and intensity of 0.5 W/cm2 and2.0 W/cm2 for 30s, had a sensitivity of 37 per cent and a specificity of 61 per cent. We thus conclude that ultrasound is not suitable for early diagnosis of scaphoid fracture.

This paper aims to describe the macroscopic aspects of disease and radiological findings related to spina bifida in a newborn cat. A female cat was seen in labor at a veterinary clinic in Teresina-PI. By performing the ultrasound test it was possible detect the presence of three fetuses aged approximately 62 days and decreased heart rate. The patient underwent surgery immediately to cesarean section with ovariohysterectomy. One of the newborn cat showed changes consistent with spina bifida. The owner opted for the newborn cat euthanasia because is not known effective treatment for the case. There are insufficient researchs on the embryonic development aimed at prevention and treatment of these anomalies. These studies are necessary to ensure a good prognosis for patients.

Measurements of acoustic exposure made in water and then derated to account for the attenuation of tissue can be distorted by nonlinear effects. We have evaluated numerical indicators of such distortion in diagnostic ultrasound fields. We evaluate the indicators of the degree of nonlinearity in diagnostic ultrasound fields that could be used to guarantee `quasi-linearity' or to correct measurements made under nonlinear conditions. A new indicator, ?i, is introduced which can be calculated using measurements currently being made in ultrasound test labs.

A recent survey on ultrasound tissue equivalent test objects carried out by the Institute of Physical Sciences in Medicine clearly shows these objects to have limited useful lifetimes with deterioration setting in within 1 year of purchase.

Rod-shaped reflectors such as those used in the AIUM test object resonate at medical ultrasound frequencies, producing artifacts posterior to the reflector. Rods of various diameters and materials were examined to determine their resonant properties, and the effect of the Plexiglas scanning surface of the enclosure on image quality was studied. A theory predicting the resonant frequencies of rods is proposed, and methods of eliminating resonance artifacts are discussed.

A phantom consisting of a gel closely resembling human liver on B-mode scanning, and containing a rounded zone of decreased echogenicity, was used to create a series of B-mode ultrasonic images containing simulated "lesions" in random locations on the final recorded image. A homogeneous gel phantom was used to create a series of blank images. Images were recorded in three display formats: conventional white on black background, conventional black on white background, and black on a white background with luminance normalized to that of the conventional white on black image. Six subjects were presented with a randomized series of scans in the 3 display formats, and receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to assess the effect of display format on low-contrast detectability. Detectability of low-contrast "lesions" was lower in a high contrast image with black on white background compared to the medium contrast image in white on black format. Detectability with the black on white format having normalized luminance was generally intermediate between that observed for the two conventional formats.

Ethylene glycol-water mixtures have been found suitable for use in ultrasound test objects. A plot of the required percentage of ethylene glycol with room temperature for an acoustic velocity of 1540 m/sec is presented to aid the clinical user. The velocity measurements performed are shown to be dominated by near-field transient diffraction effects. A 30 percent ethylene glycol-water mixture has been found to have a constant acoustic velocity of 1638 +/- 3.5 m/sec over a wide temperature range (15.6 degrees C-38.4 degrees C). This mixture is suitable for a test object velocity standard. Proper use of the A.I.U.M. 100-mm test object is discussed.

The paper describes the details of an ultrasound test for carpal tunnel syndrome and compares the results of this with E.M.G. studies in a series of 19 patients. The equipment used was a standard therapeutic ultrasound unit and the tests were performed by a physiotherapist. The results were encouraging, with a 90% correlation with E.M.G. results.