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To investigate the diagnostic value of resistance index (RI) in differentiating focal liver lesions.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of the radiomics model based on preoperative B-mode ultrasound (BMUS) and shear wave elastography (SWE) for predicting the occurrence of clinically relevant-postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF). METHODS: Patients who were scheduled to undergo pancreatectomy were prospectively enrolled and received ultrasound assessment within one week before surgery. The risk factors of POPF (grades B and grades C) were analyzed. Preoperative BMUS images, SWE values of pancreatic lesions and surrounding parenchyma were used to build preoperative prediction radiomics models. Radiomic signatures were extracted and constructed using a minimal Redundancy Maximal Relevance (mRMR) algorithm and an L1 penalized logistic regression. A combined model was built using multivariate regression which incorporated radiomics signatures and clinical data. RESULTS: From January 2020 to November 2021, a total of 147 patients (85 distal pancreatectomies and 62 pancreaticoduodenectomies) were enrolled. During the three-week follow-up after pancreatectomy, the incidence rates of grade B/C POPF were 28.6% (42/147). Radiomic signatures constructed from BMUS of pancreas parenchymal regions (panRS) achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.75, accuracy of 68.7%, sensitivity of 85.7 %, and specificity of 61.9 % in preoperative noninvasive prediction of CR-POPF. The AUC of the radiomics model increased to 0.81 when panRS was used for the prediction of CR-POPF after pancreaticoduodenectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Radiomics model based on ultrasound images was potentially useful for predicting CR-POPF. Patients with high-risk factors should be closely monitored when postoperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the work described here was to evaluate the impact of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor size on Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) enhancement features, especially in tumors with diameters ≤30 mm and <10 mm. In this retrospective study, we included patients with histopathologically confirmed HCC lesions and divided them into three groups on the basis of tumor size. All patients underwent Sonazoid-enhanced CEUS examinations before surgery. B-mode ultrasound (BMUS) features and CEUS enhancement patterns were evaluated according to current World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology Guidelines criteria. The χ2- and Student t -tests were used to compare differences between groups. We included 132 patients with histopathologically confirmed HCC lesions from November 2020 to September 2022. On the basis of tumor size, patients were divided into group 1 (<10 mm, n = 5), group 2 (10–30 mm, n = 54) and group 3 (>30 mm, n = 73). On BMUS, most HCCs appeared heterogeneous but predominantly hypo-echoic (61.4%, 81/132) with ill-defined margins and irregular shapes. Meanwhile, iso-echoic features were more common in small HCCs ≤30 mm (15.3%, 9/59), but a mixed hyper- and hypo-echoic appearance was more common in HCCs >30 mm (17.8%, 13/73) (p = 0.003). On Sonazoid-enhanced CEUS, all HCCs presented arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) (100.0%, 132/132). Most HCCs >30 mm exhibited heterogeneous hyperenhancement (86.3%, 63/73), whereas nearly one-third of small HCCs ≤30 mm exhibited homogeneous hyperenhancement (35.6%, 21/59) (p = 0.003). In the portal venous phase, there was a significantly higher proportion of washout in HCCs >30 mm (84.9%, 62/73) than in small HCCs ≤30 mm (64.4%, 38/59) (p = 0.006). During the Kupffer phase, 11 additional hypo-enhanced lesions (mean size: 14.1 ± 4.1 mm, iso-echoic on BMUS), which were also suspected to be HCC lesions, were detected in 5 patients with small HCCs ≤30 mm and 4 patients with HCCs >30 mm. All 5 cases of HCCs <10 mm exhibited APHE and late washout (>60 s). The majority (3/5, 60%) exhibited washout in the portal venous phase (70, 74 and 75 s), one case did so in the late phase (125 s) and another in the Kupffer phase (420 s). Tumor size had a significant impact on the washout features of HCC lesions on Sonazoid-enhanced CEUS. Small HCC lesions ≤30 mm had a higher proportion of relatively late washout in comparison to larger lesions. Sonazoid-enhanced CEUS might be helpful in the detection and characterization of HCC lesions <10 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libanotis buchtormensis (Fisch.) DC. is one of the traditional Chinese herbal medicines in the Qinling District, while the genetic information is limited. In the study, we reported the complete chloroplast genome of L. buchtormensis using BGISEQ-500 sequencing data. The complete chloroplast genome was 147,036 bp in length with a GC content of 37.6%, consisting of four parts, namely LSC (91,969 bp), SSC (17,469 bp), and two IRs (18,799 bp in each). The cp genome contained 127 genes, including 83 CDS genes, 36 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis showed that L. buchtormensis was sister to Ledebouriella seseloides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressure wave velocity equation for water-oil emulsion flow with gas hydrate in pipeline transportation systems was established in view of gas hydrate phase transition, compressibility of oil phase, influence of angular frequency, virtual mass force and system temperature and pressure. The results show that the gas hydrate has great influences on the pressure wave velocity of the water-oil system during pipeline transportation. In the gas hydrate decomposition region, the emergence of gas increases the compressibility of the system significantly. As a result, the pressure wave velocity falls rapidly. In the gas hydrate formation region, the compressibility of the system decreases, while the pressure wave velocity rises on the contrary. The pressure, temperature, oil-water ratio, density of oil phase, and pipe diameter all have distinct impact on the pressure wave velocity. The pressure wave velocity shows a falling tendency with the decrease of oil-water ratio, pipe diameter and temperature. A rising tendency of the pressure wave velocity occurs with the increase of pressure and density of oil phase. The pressure and temperature have effects on the hydrate decomposition rate, in turn influence the pressure wave velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the micro control body equations of multiphase flow for drilling operation, a model for compensation balance control of back pressure was proposed to adjust the throttle valve in real-time through compensation for gas slippage pressure drop, which can maintain balance between bottomhole pressure and formation pressure. Results show that the earlier the gas influx is detected, the easier the balance of bottomhole pressure can be achieved. The early detection of gas influx relies on the downhole detection tools. When gas influx occurs in the bottomhole, the throttle valve opening degree should be adjusted sharply to balance the formation pressure rapidly with the back pressure. Adjustment of the throttle valve opening degree depends on the change of pressure difference in the bottomhole. As the gas migrates upwards a-long the annulus, the throttle valve should be adjusted slightly in real-time to balance the pressure drop generated by gas slippage according to the compensation balance control model. When the gas flow away from the wellhead with the circulation, 0 gas flow appears in the annulus, and the throttle valve opening degree and back pressure tend to be stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spin-to-charge conversion at the interface between magnetic materials and transition metal dichalcogenides has drawn great interest in the research efforts to develop fast and ultralow power consumption devices for spintronic applications. Here, we report room temperature observations of spin-to-charge conversion arising from the interface of Ni 80 Fe 20 (Py) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ). This phenomenon can be characterized by the inverse Edelstein effect length (λ IEE ), which is enhanced with decreasing MoS 2 thicknesses, demonstrating the dominant role of spin-orbital coupling (SOC) in MoS 2 . The spin-to-charge conversion can be significantly improved by inserting a Cu interlayer between Py and MoS 2 , suggesting that the Cu interlayer can prevent magnetic proximity effect from the Py layer and protect the SOC on the MoS 2 surface from exchange interactions with Py. Furthermore, the Cu-MoS 2 interface can enhance the spin current and improve electronic transport. Our results suggest that tailoring the interface of magnetic heterostructures provides an alternative strategy for the development of spintronic devices to achieve higher spin-to-charge conversion efficiencies.

Objective: To evaluate a method of ultrasound biometry in silicone oil-filled eye and its clinical results., Methods: This was a series case study. According to the principle of measuring a distance with ultrasound, we compared the measured distance between a space filed with balanced salt solution and silicone oil at same height, to calculate a conversion factor (0.674) between them. A formula for corrective axial length in silicone oil-filled eye was established. The formula = ab + 0.674 x bc (a, b and c standing for the apex of the cornea, the posterior pole of the lens or the center of the capsular membrane and the anterior surface of the macular, respectively). The axial lengths of 150 silicone oil-filled eyes in 150 cases were then measured before and after silicone oil removal with Vivid 7 Dimension ultrasound. According to the axial length, they were divided into two groups, namely group 1 (the length < 25 mm) and group 2 (the length > or = 25 mm). In 76/150 eyes, before combined silicone oil removal and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, the SRKT formula was used for intraocular lens calculation; the post-operative actual refraction was compared with the pre-operative predicted refraction and statistics analysis was made., Results: The retinal condition of 150 silicone oil-filled eyes in 150 cases after 3 months' follow-up was stable after surgery. The results of the biometry were as follows. In the first group, the mean corrective axial lengths of 111 silicone oil-filled eyes before silicone oil removal was (22.77 +/- 1.00) mm (ranging from 21.10 to 24.90 mm); the mean axial lengths after silicone oil removal was (22.76 +/- 0.99) mm (ranging from 21.00 to 24.70 mm). The difference between them was not statistically significant (t = 0.518, P > 0.05). The vitreous cavity depth before and after silicone oil removal was (26.57 +/- 2.14) mm and (17.90 +/- 1.38) mm, respectively. The ratio of the latter to the former was 0.673 78. In the second group, the mean corrective axial lengths of 39 silicone oil-filled eyes before silicone oil removal was (26.52 +/- 1.31) mm (ranging from 25.00 to 30.58 mm); the mean axial lengths after silicone oil removal was (26.53 +/- 1.29) mm (ranging from 25.00 to 30.59 mm). The difference between them was not statistically significant (t = 0.109, P > 0.05). The vitreous cavity depth before and after silicone oil removal was (32.01 +/- 2.90) mm and (21.57 +/- 2.04) mm, respectively. The ratio of the latter to the former was 0.673 95. In 76 eyes with IOL, the post-operative actual refraction after at least 3 months follow-up was compared with the pre-operative predicted refraction (-1.50 DS) in both groups. The differences between them were not statistically significant (t(1) = 0.253, P(1) > 0.05; t(2) = 0.209, P(2) > 0.05) in each group., Conclusion: Ultrasound biometry in silicone oil-filled eye is accurate and simple, and has good results in clinical measurement.