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Genetic hearing loss is a common health problem with no effective therapy currently available. DFNA15, caused by mutations of the transcription factor POU4F3, is one of the most common forms of autosomal dominant non-syndromic deafness. In this study, we established a novel mouse model of the human DFNA15 deafness, with a Pou4f3 gene mutation (Pou4f3Δ) identical to that found in a familial case of DFNA15. The Pou4f3(Δ/+) mice suffered progressive deafness in a similar manner to the DFNA15 patients. Hair cells in the Pou4f3(Δ/+) cochlea displayed significant stereociliary and mitochondrial pathologies, with apparent loss of outer hair cells. Progression of hearing and outer hair cell loss of the Pou4f3(Δ/+) mice was significantly modified by other genetic and environmental factors. Using Pou4f3(-/+) heterozygous knockout mice, we also showed that DFNA15 is likely caused by haploinsufficiency of the Pou4f3 gene. Importantly, inhibition of retinoic acid signaling by the aldehyde dehydrogenase (Aldh) and retinoic acid receptor inhibitors promoted Pou4f3 expression in the cochlear tissue and suppressed the progression of hearing loss in the mutant mice. These data demonstrate Pou4f3 haploinsufficiency as the main underlying cause of human DFNA15 deafness and highlight the therapeutic potential of Aldh inhibitors for treatment of progressive hearing loss.

Near-field 3-D imaging based on a scanning array is an important application of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) 3-D imaging technology for civil use. Compared with Single-Input-Single-Output (SISO) arrays, a Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) scanning system is a special imaging method characterized by high imaging quality, high array efficiency, loose requirements for antenna spacing and low cost. In this paper, two imaging regimes, namely, MIMO-planar scanning and MIMO cylindrical scanning, are described in terms of signal models, imaging algorithms, experimental systems, and imaging results. The results show the great application potential of the imaging technology in various scenarios.

Abstract Background Benign breast papilloma is currently managed with conservative management with close observation. In contrast, papilloma with high-risk or malignant lesions warrants surgical excision. The purpose of our study was to investigate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of breast papilloma and to identify imaging diagnostic indicators for papilloma with high-risk or malignant lesions. Methods MRI features of 175 surgically confirmed papillomas on 158 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The 175 cases included 132 cases of benign papilloma and 43 cases of papilloma with high-risk or malignant lesions. The MRI features of these lesions were classified into three types: mass, non-mass enhancement (NME), and occult lesion. The occult lesion was defined as the presence of only ductal dilation without any enhanced lesions on MRI. For a mass lesion, the mixed mass-NME lesion was considered if linear, segmental or regional enhanced lesion was found adjacent to the mass. Clinical and MRI features were compared by univariate and multivariate analysis between the benign papilloma and the papilloma with high-risk or malignant lesions. Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that clinical characteristics including being or older than 50 years (odds ratio [OR] = 4.506), having bloody nipple discharge (OR = 4.499), and concurrent breast cancer (OR = 5.083) were significant indicators for papilloma with high-risk or malignant lesions. On MRI, most papillomas presented as mass (n = 135, 77.1%), and fewer as NME (n = 37, 21.1%) and occult lesion (n = 3, 1.7%). For the mass lesion, the logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a mass size exceeding 10 mm (OR = 2.956) and mixed mass-NME lesion (OR = 4.143) were independent risk indicators for a papilloma with high-risk or malignant lesions. For the NME lesion, the segmental or regional distribution was more commonly observed in the papilloma with high-risk or malignant lesions (61.5%) than the benign papilloma (12.5%) (P = 0.006). All the cases of occult lesions were benign papillomas. Conclusions MRI features including a mass size exceeding 10 mm, mixed mass-NME lesion, and NMEs with segmental or regional distribution indicate a papilloma with high-risk or malignant lesions.

Abstract Background To investigate MRI for differentiating benign from malignant sex cord-stromal tumors of the ovary (SCSTs) emphasizing on the value of diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Methods This retrospective study included 29 benign SCSTs in 28 patients and 13 malignant SCSTs in 13 patients. DW imaging as well as conventional MR imaging was performed. Signal intensity on DW imaging was assessed and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value was measured. In addition, T2 signal intensity and contrast enhancement pattern were also assessed and compared between benign and malignant SCSTs. Results Both of the T2 hypointensity and mild enhancement were specific to benign SCSTs. The majority of malignant SCSTs showed high signal intensity on DW imaging, whereas most benign SCSTs showed low or moderate signal intensity (p = 0.000). Fibromas were the tumors with the lowest observed ADC value (0.470 × 10− 3 mm2/s). Sclerosing stromal tumors were the tumors with the highest observed ADC value (2.291 × 10− 3 mm2/s). ADC value of solid component was significantly lower in malignant SCSTs (0.825 ± 0.129 × 10− 3 mm2/s) than in benign SCSTs (1.343 ± 0.528 × 10− 3 mm2/s) when fibromas were excluded (p = 0.024). T2, DCE and DW imaging has a limited value on the differential diagnosis of the benign and malignant SCSTs with an accuracy of 69.0%,71.4% and 78.1% respectively. Combination of T2, DCE and DW imaging permitted the distinction with an accuracy of 88.0%. Conclusions It is more helpful for distinction of the benign and malignant SCSTs by combining of T2, DCE and DW imaging than using each of the three sequences independently.

Abstract Background We aimed to evaluate the clinical and imaging presentations of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in the pediatric temporal bone. Methods This retrospective study included 27 pediatric cases with pathological confirmed LCH of the temporal bone. The clinical and imaging features of the cases were analyzed. The involvement of ossicular chain and otic capsule was also evaluated. Results A total of 38 lesions (27 cases) with 11 bilateral involvement were identified. For the 27 cases, the most common complaint was periauricular swelling (12/27, 44.4%), followed by otorrhea (9/27, 33.3%) and otalgia (5/27, 18.2%). The mastoid process was the most common involved subsite (31/38, 81.6%) among the 38 lesions. Ten (26.3%, 10/38) lesions belonged to the group of the diffuse involvement, 22 (57.9%, 22/38) were divided into the group of partial involvement and six (15.8%,6/38) localized lesions with punched-out appearance. Erosion of ossicular chains and otic capsule were found in three and seven lesions respectively. Conclusion The results indicate that the most common subsite for LCH of the pediatric temporal bone was the mastoid process. The location and extent of pediatric LCH of the temporal bone varied a lot between each other. The ossicular chains usually remain intact and the erosion of otic capsule can occur in some lesions.

With years of development and accumulation, a considerable amount of research has focused on micro-motion, an important auxiliary feature in radar target detection and recognition. With the recent rise of terahertz, micro-motion feature extraction in the terahertz region has increasingly highlighted its advantages. Herein, we systematically surveyed the recent research on terahertz radar micro-motion feature extraction and discussed micro-motion feature analysis, micro-motion feature extraction, and micro-motion target imaging. And then we emphatically introduced the work of our research team, including the theoretical and experimental research on micro-motion feature analysis, micro-motion feature extraction and high-resolution/high-frame micro-motion target imaging. Furthermore, we analyzed the growing trend of micro-motion feature extraction in the terahertz region, and pointed out the new technology directions worth to be studied further and the technical challenges to be solved.

Terahertz coded-aperture imaging follows the basic principles of optical coded-aperture imaging and microwave coincidence imaging and is a novel imaging technique. Herein, the wave spatial distribution or illumination pattern is usually obtained by a sub-reflector antenna. Terahertz coded-aperture imaging has some significant advantages such as a high frame rate, high resolution, and ability of forward-looking and staring imaging. To achieve simultaneous functions of aperture coding and beam scanning, we designed a terahertz coded-aperture imaging system that utilizes digital sub-reflector antenna and quasi-optical techniques. Based on this system, we deduce and simulate the influencing factors on its resolution. Then, different algorithms are applied to the imaging model in order to verify the superiority of sparse reconstruction for coded-aperture imaging. Finally, we compare the imaging results of our imaging system and that of a traditional real aperture imaging structure for the same simulation parameters. The results prove that our imaging system performs better with high resolution, small volume, and low cost. This new imaging technique can be applied to areas such as battlefield reconnaissance, security checks, anti-terrorism, and terminal guidance.

To improve the imaging accuracy of Interferometry Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (InISAR), in this paper, we propose a novel method based on the joint processing of dual-frequency data. First, we divide the radar echo into two parts in the fast-time domain, then we apply the conventional InISAR method to each dataset. By comparing and analyzing the imaging results of the two parts, we can identify and remove redundant and bad pixels. Using the proposed joint processing method, we obtained the InISAR imaging results of a scatter model of an airplane and calculated the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The simulation results show that the proposed method can effectively improve imaging accuracy with different Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR).

Echo simulation is a precondition for developing radar imaging systems, algorithms, and subsequent applications. Electromagnetic scattering modeling of the target is key to echo simulation. At terahertz (THz) frequencies, targets are usually of ultra-large electrical size that makes applying classical electromagnetic calculation methods unpractical. In contrast, the short wavelength makes the surface roughness of targets a factor that cannot be ignored, and this makes the traditional echo simulation methods based on point scattering hypothesis in applicable. Modeling the scattering characteristics of targets and efficiently generating its radar echoes in THz bands has become a problem that must be solved. In this paper, a hierarchical semi-deterministic modeling method is proposed. A full-wave algorithm of rough surfaces is used to calculate the scattered field of facets. Then, the scattered fields of all facets are transformed into the target coordinate system and coherently summed. Finally, the radar echo containing phase information can be obtained. Using small-scale rough models, our method is compared with the standard high-frequency numerical method, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method. Imaging results of a full-scale cone-shape target is presented, and the scattering model and echo generation problem of the full-scale convex targets with rough surfaces in THz bands are preliminary solved; this lays the foundation for future research on imaging regimes and algorithms.

Terahertz radar has unique advantages, including large bandwidth, high resolution, Doppler sensitivity, and anti-interference; it is a significant development in the field of target detection. Herein, the history of electronic and optical terahertz radar systems is introduced, and the current situation and latest progress pertaining to these systems are reviewed. The target characteristics of terahertz radar are summarized based on its mechanism, calculation, and measurement. Moreover, the current research status of terahertz SAR, ISAR, array, and aperture encoding imaging are discussed, and the applications of terahertz radar, such as early warning detection and security anti-terrorism systems, are briefly introduced. Finally, the development direction of terahertz radar technology is forecast.