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Objectives: To establish a radiomic algorithm based on grayscale ultrasound images and to make preoperative predictions of microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.Methods: In this retrospective study, 322 cases of histopathologically confirmed HCC lesions were included. The classifications based on preoperative grayscale ultrasound images were performed in two stages: (1) classifier #1, MVI-negative and MVI-positive cases; (2) classifier #2, MVI-positive cases were further classified as M1 or M2 cases. The gross-tumoral region (GTR) and peri-tumoral region (PTR) signatures were combined to generate gross- and peri-tumoral region (GPTR) radiomic signatures. The optimal radiomic signatures were further incorporated with vital clinical information. Multivariable logistic regression was used to build radiomic models.Results: Finally, 1,595 radiomic features were extracted from each HCC lesion. At the classifier #1 stage, the radiomic signatures based on features of GTR, PTR, and GPTR showed area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.708 (95% CI, 0.603–0.812), 0.710 (95% CI, 0.609–0.811), and 0.726 (95% CI, 0.625–0.827), respectively. Upon incorporation of vital clinical information, the AUC of the GPTR radiomic algorithm was 0.744 (95% CI, 0.646–0.841). At the classifier #2 stage, the AUC of the GTR radiomic signature was 0.806 (95% CI, 0.667–0.944).Conclusions: Our radiomic algorithm based on grayscale ultrasound images has potential value to facilitate preoperative prediction of MVI in HCC patients. The GTR radiomic signature may be helpful for further discriminating between M1 and M2 levels among MVI-positive patients.

Fast progress of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology has been considerable over the past decades. Emerging Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) provides power systems with promising solutions to integrate large‐scale renewable energy sources, as well as multiple asynchronous power grids. Consequently, implementation of a multi‐terminal HVDC transmission system has been easier using MMC converters. However, protection of multi‐terminal MMC‐based HVDC grids under DC fault conditions is a challenge for the industry. This study sheds light on concept of system‐level DC protection coordination for multi‐terminal HVDC grids. Although, there are different protection methods for HVDC transmission systems including multi‐terminal ones, there are no well‐defined protection coordination strategies for transmission links protection and belonging HVDC converters under DC fault conditions. The proposed protection coordination prevents unnecessary tripping of MMCs in the multi‐area HVDC grids and supports the system with minimum effect on healthy parts. For the first time, different HVDC Converter Tripping (HCT) profiles are presented based on a fully selective protection strategy and their characteristics are discussed comprehensively. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy for multi‐terminal MMC‐based HVDC grids. The proposed coordination can be applied to DC grid code requirements of meshed HVDC grids in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have shown that there exists a significant correlation between oral microbiome and the occurrence of malignancies. However, the prognostic significance of oral microbiome for cancer patients remains unclear. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the impact of oral microbiome on the survival of patients with malignant neoplasms. Methods: We conducted a thorough literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases until September 2022. The hazard ratio (HR) with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was analyzed using Review Manager 5.4 software for survival outcomes, including overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: A total of 15 studies, covering 5191 samples with various types of cancers, were selected based on specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. In both univariate and multivariate analysis, patients with low diversity of the oral microbiome, or those with Fusobacterium-high/positive, or P. gingivalis positive in cancer tissue displayed poorer OS (univariate HR = 1.74; 95% CI 1.15–2.62; P = 0.009; multivariate HR = 1.56; 95% CI 1.07–2.27; P = 0.02), DSS (univariate HR = 2.06; 95% CI 1.50–2.84; P < 0.00001; multivariate HR = 1.80; 95% CI 1.48–2.20; P < 0.00001), and PFS/DFS (univariate HR = 2.00; 95% CI 1.12–3.58; P = 0.002; multivariate HR = 1.78; 95% CI 1.05–3.02; P = 0.003). Subgroup analysis revealed that Fusobacterium positive or high abundance in cancer tissues was associated with poor OS in multivariate analysis but had no statistical differences in PFS or DFS in univariate and multivariate analysis. Additionally, P. gingivalis positive in cancer tissue was also associated with worse OS. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that the composition of the oral microbiome may play a significant role in predicting survival outcomes for cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightning‐induced nitrogen oxides (LNOx) can affect ozone (O3) through photochemical processes. However, the impact of LNOx on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) O3 valley, an area with a lower O3 column compared to surrounding areas, remains controversial. Prior to this study, the impact of monsoonal transport on LNOx and related effects on the TP O3 valley has been overlooked. The objectives of this study are to differentiate between locally generated LNOx and monsoon‐transported LNOx over the TP and to evaluate their impacts on tropospheric NOx vertical column density, tropospheric column O3, and O3 at different altitudes. The Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry model was used to replicate LNOx, NOx, and O3 over the TP during July 2010, for which nesting techniques and sensitivity experiments were implemented. The findings emphasize the importance of LNOx as a source of NOx in this region, with nonlocal lightning activity being the primary source. Conversely, the influence of locally generated LNOx on NOx levels over the TP is comparatively minor. Overall, LNOx contributes to an increase in O3 over the TP, but one order lower than the O3 depletion. The impact of LNOx on O3 varies across different altitude ranges; it is broadly "C" shaped, reflecting increase in O3 at near‐surface and in upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UTLS) regions and decrease in the middle troposphere. The increase in surface‐level O3 over the TP is mainly caused by monsoon‐transported LNOx, while locally generated LNOx also plays a crucial role in O3 formation in the UTLS region. Plain Language Summary: Lightning‐induced nitrogen oxides (LNOx) play an important role in ozone (O3) production. However, the impact of LNOx on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) O3 valley, an area with a lower O3 column compared to surrounding areas, remains controversial. Prior to this study, the impact of monsoonal transport on LNOx and related effects on the TP O3 valley has been overlooked. In this research, we distinguish between locally generated LNOx over the TP and LNOx transported by the monsoon from surrounding areas, and we discuss their individual effects on NOx and O3 over the TP. We found that NOx over the TP is mainly composed of LNOx, with a higher proportion of monsoon‐transported LNOx than locally generated LNOx. Generally, LNOx increases O3 over the TP but the effect is small. The impact of LNOx on O3 varies across different altitude ranges; it is broadly "C" shaped, reflecting increase in O3 at near‐surface and in upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UTLS) regions and decrease in the middle troposphere. The increase in surface‐level O3 over the TP is mainly caused by monsoon‐transported LNOx, while locally generated LNOx also plays a crucial role in O3 formation in the UTLS region. Key Points: Lightning‐induced nitrogen oxides and ozone over the Tibetan Plateau were simulated by Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry for 1 monthMonsoon‐transported lightning‐induced nitrogen oxides significantly contribute to Tibetan Plateau nitrogen oxidesLightning‐induced nitrogen oxides increase Tibetan Plateau ozone and the increment exhibits a C‐shaped curve in the vertical axis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an ontological Chinese legal consultation system (CLCS) based on Chinese legal characteristics by integrating statutes and judicial precedents to facilitate the retrieval of relevant statutes and judgments for the general public. Ontology, an emerging research topic in recent years, incorporates a hierarchical structure and supports logical reasoning, which can reduce semantic ambiguities and extract implied semantic information. We constructed statutes ontology and a case ontology using a bottom-up method and a top-down method, respectively. Then, to test the retrieval precision of the proposed CLCS, we performed experiments using emotional damage compensation as an example by combining genetic algorithm and k-nearest neighbor approaches. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method improves retrieval precision.