The material identification is a pressing requirement for the sensitive security applications. Dual-energy X-ray computer tomography (DXCT) has been investigated for material identification in the medical and security...The material identification is a pressing requirement for the sensitive security applications. Dual-energy X-ray computer tomography (DXCT) has been investigated for material identification in the medical and security fields. It requires two tomographic images at sufficiently different energies. To discriminate dangerous materials of light elements such as plastic bombs in luggage, it is needed to measure accurately with several tens of kilo electron volts where such materials exhibit significant spectral differences. However, CT images in that energy region often include artifacts from beam hardening. To reduce these artifacts, a novel reconstruction method has been investigated. It is an extension of the Al-gebraic Reconstruction Technique and Total Variation (ART-TV) method that reduces the artifacts in a lower-energy CT image by referencing it to an image obtained at higher energy. The CT image of a titanium sample was recon-structed using this method in order to demonstrate the artifact reduction capability.展开更多
The paper presents experimental investigation results of crack pattern change in cement pastes caused by external sulfate attack(ESA).To visualize the formation and development of cracks in cement pastes under ESA,an ...The paper presents experimental investigation results of crack pattern change in cement pastes caused by external sulfate attack(ESA).To visualize the formation and development of cracks in cement pastes under ESA,an X-ray computed tomography(X-ray CT)was used,i e,the tomography system of Zeiss Xradia 510 versa.The results indicate that X-CT can monitor the development process and distribution characteristics of the internal cracks of cement pastes under ESA with attack time.In addition,the C3A content in the cement significantly affects the damage mode of cement paste specimens during sulfate erosion.The damage of ordinary Portland cement(OPC)pastes subjected to sulfate attack with high C3A content are severe,while the damage of sulfate resistant Portland cement(SRPC)pastes is much smaller than that of OPC pastes.Furthermore,a quadratic function describes the correlation between the crack volume fraction and development depth for two cement pastes immermed in sulfate solution.展开更多
Methane in-situ explosive fracturing technology produces shale debris particles within fracture channels,enabling a self-propping effect that enhances the fracture network conductivity and long-term stability.This stu...Methane in-situ explosive fracturing technology produces shale debris particles within fracture channels,enabling a self-propping effect that enhances the fracture network conductivity and long-term stability.This study employs X-ray computed tomography(CT)and digital volume correlation(DVC)to investigate the microstructural evolution and hydromechanical responses of shale self-propped fracture under varying confining pressures,highlighting the critical role of shale particles in maintaining fracture conductivity.Results indicate that the fracture aperture in the self-propped sample is significantly larger than in the unpropped sample throughout the loading process,with shale particles tending to crush rather than embedded into the matrix,thus maintaining flow pathways.As confining pressure increases,contact areas between fracture surfaces and particles expand,enhancing the system's stability and compressive resistance.Geometric analyses show flow paths becoming increasingly concentrated and branched under high stress.This resulted in a significant reduction in connectivity,restricting fracture permeability and amplifying the nonlinear gas flow behavior.This study introduces a permeability-strain recovery zone and a novel sensitivity parameter m,delineating stress sensitivity boundaries for permeability and normal strain,with m-value increasing with stress,revealing four characteristic regions.These findings offer theoretical support for optimizing fracturing techniques to enhance resource extraction efficiency.展开更多
Purpose To propose a method for simultaneous fluorescence and Compton scattering computed tomography by using linearly polarized X-rays.Methods Monte Carlo simulations were adopted to demonstrate the feasibility of th...Purpose To propose a method for simultaneous fluorescence and Compton scattering computed tomography by using linearly polarized X-rays.Methods Monte Carlo simulations were adopted to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method.In the simulations,the phantom is a polytetrafluoroethylene cylinder inside which are cylindrical columns containing aluminum,water,and gold(Au)-loaded water solutions with Au concentrations ranging between 0.5 and 4.0 wt%,and a parallel-hole collimator imaging geometry was adopted.The light source was modeled based on a Thomson scattering X-ray source.The phantom images for both imaging modalities were reconstructed using a maximumlikelihood expectation maximization algorithm.Results Both the X-ray fluorescence computed tomography(XFCT)and Compton scattering computed tomography(CSCT)images of the phantom were accurately reconstructed.A similar attenuation contrast problem for the different cylindrical columns in the phantom can be resolved in the XFCT and CSCT images.The interplay between XFCT and CSCT was analyzed,and the contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of the reconstruction was improved by correcting for the mutual influence between the two imaging modalities.Compared with K-edge subtraction imaging,XFCT exhibits a CNR advantage for the phantom.Conclusion Simultaneous XFCT and CSCT can be realized by using linearly polarized X-rays.The synergy between the two imaging modalities would have an important application in cancer radiation therapy.展开更多
Different sedimentary zones in coral reefs lead to significant anisotropy in the pore structure of coral reef limestone(CRL),making it difficult to study mechanical behaviors.With X-ray computed tomography(CT),112 CRL...Different sedimentary zones in coral reefs lead to significant anisotropy in the pore structure of coral reef limestone(CRL),making it difficult to study mechanical behaviors.With X-ray computed tomography(CT),112 CRL samples were utilized for training the support vector machine(SVM)-,random forest(RF)-,and back propagation neural network(BPNN)-based models,respectively.Simultaneously,the machine learning model was embedded into genetic algorithm(GA)for parameter optimization to effectively predict uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)of CRL.Results indicate that the BPNN model with five hidden layers presents the best training effect in the data set of CRL.The SVM-based model shows a tendency to overfitting in the training set and poor generalization ability in the testing set.The RF-based model is suitable for training CRL samples with large data.Analysis of Pearson correlation coefficient matrix and the percentage increment method of performance metrics shows that the dry density,pore structure,and porosity of CRL are strongly correlated to UCS.However,the P-wave velocity is almost uncorrelated to the UCS,which is significantly distinct from the law for homogenous geomaterials.In addition,the pore tensor proposed in this paper can effectively reflect the pore structure of coral framework limestone(CFL)and coral boulder limestone(CBL),realizing the quantitative characterization of the heterogeneity and anisotropy of pore.The pore tensor provides a feasible idea to establish the relationship between pore structure and mechanical behavior of CRL.展开更多
During the continuous casting process of high-Mn high-Al steels,various types of gases such as Ar need to escape through the top of the mold.In which,the behavior of bubbles traversing the liquid slag serves as a rest...During the continuous casting process of high-Mn high-Al steels,various types of gases such as Ar need to escape through the top of the mold.In which,the behavior of bubbles traversing the liquid slag serves as a restrictive link,closely associated with viscosity and the thickness of liquid slag.In contrast to two-dimensional surface observation,three-dimensional(3D)analysis method can offer a more intuitive,accurate,and comprehensive information.Therefore,this study employs a 3D X-ray microscope(3D-XRM)to obtained spatial distribution and 3D morphological characteristics of residual bubbles in mold flux under different basicity of liquid slag,different temperatures,and different holding times.The results indicate that as basicity of slag increases from 0.52 to 1.03,temperature increases from 1423 to 1573 K,the viscosity of slag decreases,the floating rate of bubbles increases.In addition,when holding time increases from 10 to 30 s,the bubbles floating distance increases,and the volume fraction and average equivalent sphere diameter of the bubbles solidified in the mold flux gradually decreases.In one word,increasing the basicity,temperature,and holding time leading to an increase in the removal rate of bubbles especially for the large.These findings of bubbles escape behavior provide valuable insights into optimizing low basicity mold flux for high-Mn high-Al steels.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the value of optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)indicators in the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy(DR),and to provide patients with diabetic nephropathy(DN)with more sensitive OCTA scree...AIM:To investigate the value of optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)indicators in the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy(DR),and to provide patients with diabetic nephropathy(DN)with more sensitive OCTA screening indicators to detect concurrent DR at an early stage.METHODS:A total of 200 patients who treated in the ophthalmology department of the Seventh Affiliated Hospital,Sun Yat-sen University from 2022 to 2023 were included,including 95 first-diagnosed DR patients and 105 patients without DR,and all patients underwent OCTA examination and a collection of demographics and renal function parameters.After a quality check,automated measurements of the foveal avascular zone area,vessel density(VD),and perfusion density(PD)of both 3 mm×3 mm and 6 mm×6 mm windows were obtained.RESULTS:Using random forest and multivariate Logistic regression methods,we developed a diagnostic model for DR based on 12 variables(age,FBG,SBP,DBP,HbA1c,ALT,ALP,urea/Scr,DM duration,HUA,DN,and CMT).Adding specific OCTA parameters enhanced the efficacy of the existing diagnostic model for DR(outer vessel density in 6 mm×6 mm window,AUC=0.837 vs 0.819,P=0.03).In the study of DN patients,the parameters in the 6 mm×6 mm window improved the diagnostic efficacy of DR(inner VD;outer VD;full VD;outer PD;full PD).CONCLUSION:The outer VD in the 6 mm×6 mm window can enhance the efficacy of the traditional DR diagnostic model.Meanwhile,compared with the 3 mm×3 mm window,the microvascular parameters in the 6 mm×6 mm window focusing on DN patients can be more sensitive to diagnosing the occurrence of DR.展开更多
Equatorial Plasma Bubbles(EPBs)are ionospheric irregularities that take place near the magnetic equator.EPBs most commonly occur after sunset during the equinox months,although they can also be observed during other s...Equatorial Plasma Bubbles(EPBs)are ionospheric irregularities that take place near the magnetic equator.EPBs most commonly occur after sunset during the equinox months,although they can also be observed during other seasons.The phenomenon significantly disrupts radio wave signals essential to communication and navigation systems.The national network of Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS)receivers in Indonesia(>30°longitudinal range)provides an opportunity for detailed EPB studies.To explore this,we conducted preliminary 3D tomography of total electron content(TEC)data captured by GNSS receivers following a geomagnetic storm on December 3,2023,when at least four EPB clusters occurred in the Southeast Asian sector.TEC and extracted TEC depletion with a 120-minute running average were then used as inputs for a 3D tomography program.Their 2D spatial distribution consistently captured the four EPB clusters over time.These tomography results were validated through a classical checkerboard test and comparisons with other ionospheric data sources,such as the Global Ionospheric Map(GIM)and International Reference Ionosphere(IRI)profile.Validation of the results demonstrates the capability of the Indonesian GNSS network to measure peak ionospheric density.These findings highlight the potential for future three-dimensional research of plasma bubbles in low-latitude regions using existing GNSS networks,with extensive longitudinal coverage.展开更多
BACKGROUND Mucosal healing(MH)is the major therapeutic target for Crohn's disease(CD).As the most commonly involved intestinal segment,small bowel(SB)assessment is crucial for CD patients.Yet,it poses a significan...BACKGROUND Mucosal healing(MH)is the major therapeutic target for Crohn's disease(CD).As the most commonly involved intestinal segment,small bowel(SB)assessment is crucial for CD patients.Yet,it poses a significant challenge due to its limited accessibility through conventional endoscopic methods.AIM To establish a noninvasive radiomic model based on computed tomography enterography(CTE)for MH assessment in SBCD patients.METHODS Seventy-three patients diagnosed with SBCD were included and divided into a training cohort(n=55)and a test cohort(n=18).Radiomic features were obtained from CTE images to establish a radiomic model.Patient demographics were analysed to establish a clinical model.A radiomic-clinical nomogram was constructed by combining significant clinical and radiomic features.The diagnostic efficacy and clinical benefit were evaluated via receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis and decision curve analysis(DCA),respectively.RESULTS Of the 73 patients enrolled,25 patients achieved MH.The radiomic-clinical nomogram had an area under the ROC curve of 0.961(95%confidence interval:0.886-1.000)in the training cohort and 0.958(0.877-1.000)in the test cohort and provided superior clinical benefit to either the clinical or radiomic models alone,as demonstrated by DCA.CONCLUSION These results indicate that the CTE-based radiomic-clinical nomogram is a promising imaging biomarker for MH and serves as a potential noninvasive alternative to enteroscopy for MH assessment in SBCD patients.展开更多
Photon-counting computed tomography(PCCT)represents a significant advancement in pediatric cardiovascular imaging.Traditional CT systems employ energy-integrating detectors that convert X-ray photons into visible ligh...Photon-counting computed tomography(PCCT)represents a significant advancement in pediatric cardiovascular imaging.Traditional CT systems employ energy-integrating detectors that convert X-ray photons into visible light,whereas PCCT utilizes photon-counting detectors that directly transform X-ray photons into electric signals.This direct conversion allows photon-counting detectors to sort photons into discrete energy levels,thereby enhancing image quality through superior noise reduction,improved spatial and contrast resolution,and reduced artifacts.In pediatric applications,PCCT offers substantial benefits,including lower radiation doses,which may help reduce the risk of malignancy in pediatric patients,with perhaps greater potential to benefit those with repeated exposure from a young age.Enhanced spatial resolution facilitates better visualization of small structures,vital for diagnosing congenital heart defects.Additionally,PCCT’s spectral capabilities improve tissue characterization and enable the creation of virtual monoenergetic images,which enhance soft-tissue contrast and potentially reduce contrast media doses.Initial clinical results indicate that PCCT provides superior image quality and diagnostic accuracy compared to conven-tional CT,particularly in challenging pediatric cardiovascular cases.As PCCT technology matures,further research and standardized protocols will be essential to fully integrate it into pediatric imaging practices,ensuring optimized diagnostic outcomes and patient safety.展开更多
The lattice parameter,measured with sufficient accuracy,can be utilized to evaluate the quality of single crystals and to determine the equation of state for materials.We propose an iterative method for obtaining more...The lattice parameter,measured with sufficient accuracy,can be utilized to evaluate the quality of single crystals and to determine the equation of state for materials.We propose an iterative method for obtaining more precise lattice parameters using the interaction points for the pseudo-Kossel pattern obtained from laser-induced X-ray diffraction(XRD).This method has been validated by the analysis of an XRD experiment conducted on iron single crystals.Furthermore,the method was used to calculate the compression ratio and rotated angle of an LiF sample under high pressure loading.This technique provides a robust tool for in-situ characterization of structural changes in single crystals under extreme conditions.It has significant implications for studying the equation of state and phase transitions.展开更多
Nowadays,presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography,which assesses deficiencies in dopamine synthesis,storage,and transport,is widely utilized for early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of parkinsonism....Nowadays,presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography,which assesses deficiencies in dopamine synthesis,storage,and transport,is widely utilized for early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of parkinsonism.This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest developments in the application of presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography imaging in disorders that manifest parkinsonism.We conducted a thorough literature search using reputable databases such as PubMed and Web of Science.Selection criteria involved identifying peer-reviewed articles published within the last 5 years,with emphasis on their relevance to clinical applications.The findings from these studies highlight that presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography has demonstrated potential not only in diagnosing and differentiating various Parkinsonian conditions but also in assessing disease severity and predicting prognosis.Moreover,when employed in conjunction with other imaging modalities and advanced analytical methods,presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography has been validated as a reliable in vivo biomarker.This validation extends to screening and exploring potential neuropathological mechanisms associated with dopaminergic depletion.In summary,the insights gained from interpreting these studies are crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of preclinical investigations and clinical trials,ultimately advancing toward the goals of neuroregeneration in parkinsonian disorders.展开更多
Deep learning(DL)-based image reconstruction methods have garnered increasing interest in the last few years.Numerous studies demonstrate that DL-based reconstruction methods function admirably in optical tomographic ...Deep learning(DL)-based image reconstruction methods have garnered increasing interest in the last few years.Numerous studies demonstrate that DL-based reconstruction methods function admirably in optical tomographic imaging techniques,such as bioluminescence tomography(BLT).Nevertheless,nearly every existing DL-based method utilizes an explicit neural representation for the reconstruction problem,which either consumes much memory space or requires various complicated computations.In this paper,we present a neural field(NF)-based image reconstruction scheme for BLT that uses an implicit neural representation.The proposed NFbased method establishes a transformation between the coordinate of an arbitrary spatial point and the source value of the point with a relatively light-weight multilayer perceptron,which has remarkable computational efficiency.Another simple neural network composed of two fully connected layers and a 1D convolutional layer is used to generate the neural features.Results of simulations and experiments show that the proposed NF-based method has similar performance to the photon density complement network and the two-stage network,while consuming fewer floating point operations with fewer model parameters.展开更多
BACKGROUND Inguinal hernias are common after surgery.Tension-free repair is widely accepted as the main method for managing inguinal hernias.Adequate exposure,coverage,and repair of the myopectineal orifice(MPO)are ne...BACKGROUND Inguinal hernias are common after surgery.Tension-free repair is widely accepted as the main method for managing inguinal hernias.Adequate exposure,coverage,and repair of the myopectineal orifice(MPO)are necessary.However,due to differences in race and sex,people’s body shapes vary.According to European guidelines,the patch should measure 10 cm×15 cm.If any part of the MPO is dissected,injury to the nerves,vascular network,or organs may occur during surgery,thereby leading to inguinal discomfort,pain,and seroma formation after surgery.Therefore,accurate localization and measurement of the boundary of the MPO are crucial for selecting the optimal patch for inguinal hernia repair.AIM To compare the size of the MPO measured on three-dimensional multislice spiral computed tomography(CT)with that measured via laparoscopy and explore the relevant factors influencing the size of the MPO.METHODS Clinical data from 74 patients who underwent laparoscopic tension-free inguinal hernia repair at the General Surgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Science and Technology between September 2022 and July 2024 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Transabdominal preperitoneal was performed.Sixty-four males and 10 females,with an average age of 58.30±12.32 years,were included.The clinical data of the patients were collected.The boundary of the MPO was measured on three-dimensional CT images before surgery and then again during transabdominal preperitoneal.All the preoperative and intraoperative data were analyzed via paired t-tests.A t-test was used for comparisons of age,body mass index,and sex between the groups.In the comparative analysis,a P value less than 0.05 indicated a significant difference.RESULTS The boundaries of the MPO on 3-dimensional CT images measured 7.05±0.47 cm and 6.27±0.61 cm,and the area of the MPO was 19.54±3.33 cm^(2).The boundaries of the MPO during surgery were 7.18±0.51 cm and 6.17±0.40 cm.The errors were not statistically significant.However,the intraoperative BD(the width of the MPO,P=0.024,P<0.05)and preoperative AC(the length of the MPO,P=0.045,P<0.05)significantly differed according to sex.The AC and BD measurements before and during surgery were not significantly different according to age,body mass index,hernia side or hernia type(P>0.05).CONCLUSION The application of this technology can aid in determining the most appropriate dissection range and patch size.展开更多
BACKGROUND Migraine has been proposed as a potential contributing factor to ischemic complications involving the retina and optic nerve.Ophthalmic disorders connected with migraine encompass occlusions of the branch a...BACKGROUND Migraine has been proposed as a potential contributing factor to ischemic complications involving the retina and optic nerve.Ophthalmic disorders connected with migraine encompass occlusions of the branch and central retinal arteries and veins,alongside anterior and posterior ischemic optic neuropathy.With the advent of optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA),it is easy to identify these macular subclinical microvascular and structural changes.AIM To evaluate macular and peripapillary structural and microvasculature changes in patients with migraine with aura(MA),migraine without aura(MW),and healthy control(HC)participants using OCTA.METHODS In this observational cross-sectional study,we studied a total of 100 eyes:(1)32 eyes of 16 patients with MA;(2)36 eyes of 18 patients with MW,recruited based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders;and(3)32 eyes of 16 age and sex-matched healthy participants.Foveal flux,foveal avascular zone(FAZ),peripapillary flux obtained from OCTA,and foveal and peripapillary ganglion cell layer(GCL)thickness calculated via optical coherence tomography were compared among the groups.RESULTS The mean FAZ area measured in patients with MA and MW was significantly larger than that in the control participants(P=0.002).However,there was no significant difference between the FAZ of the MA and MW groups.Macular perfusion in the superficial capillary plexus in patients with MA was significantly lower compared to MW(P=0.0018)and HCs(P=0.002).There was also significant thinning of the GCL in patients with MA and MW(P=0.001)compared to HCs.However,there was no significant difference in temporal GCL thickness between the MA and MW groups.CONCLUSION Significant changes have been found in structural and microvascular parameters in patients with migraines compared with HCs.OCTA can serve as a valuable non-invasive imaging technique for identifying microcirculatory disturbances,aiding in better understanding the pathogenesis of different types of migraine and establishing their link with other ischemic retinal and systemic pathologies.展开更多
BACKGROUND Effective management of liver abscess depends on timely drainage,which is influenced by the liquefaction degree.Identifying predictive factors is crucial for guiding clinical decisions.AIM To investigate th...BACKGROUND Effective management of liver abscess depends on timely drainage,which is influenced by the liquefaction degree.Identifying predictive factors is crucial for guiding clinical decisions.AIM To investigate the predictive factors of liver abscess liquefaction and develop a predictive model to guide optimal timing of percutaneous drainage.METHODS This retrospective study included 110 patients with pyogenic liver abscesses who underwent percutaneous catheter drainage.Patients were divided into a poor liquefaction group(n=28)and a well liquefaction group(n=82)based on the ratio of postoperative 24-hour drainage volume to abscess volume,using a cutoff value of 0.3.Clinical characteristics,laboratory indicators,and computed tomography imaging features were compared.A predictive model was constructed using logistic regression and evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and five-fold cross-validation.RESULTS Independent predictive factors for good liquefaction included the absence of diabetes[odds ratio(OR)=0.339,P=0.044],absence of pneumonia(OR=0.218,P=0.013),left-lobe abscess location(OR=4.293,P=0.041),cystic features(OR=5.104,P=0.025),and elevated preoperative serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)levels(OR=1.013,P=0.041).The logistic regression model based on these factors demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.814,with a sensitivity of 90.24%and specificity of 67.86%.Five-fold cross-validation yielded an average accuracy of 83.61%and a kappa coefficient of 0.5209.CONCLUSION Pneumonia,diabetes,abscess location,abscess composition,and preoperative serum ALT levels are significant predictors of liver abscess liquefaction.The model can guide clinical decision-making.展开更多
Track reconstruction algorithms are critical for polarization measurements.Convolutional neural networks(CNNs)are a promising alternative to traditional moment-based track reconstruction approaches.However,the hexagon...Track reconstruction algorithms are critical for polarization measurements.Convolutional neural networks(CNNs)are a promising alternative to traditional moment-based track reconstruction approaches.However,the hexagonal grid track images obtained using gas pixel detectors(GPDs)for better anisotropy do not match the classical rectangle-based CNN,and converting the track images from hexagonal to square results in a loss of information.We developed a new hexagonal CNN algorithm for track reconstruction and polarization estimation in X-ray polarimeters,which was used to extract the emission angles and absorption points from photoelectron track images and predict the uncer-tainty of the predicted emission angles.The simulated data from the PolarLight test were used to train and test the hexagonal CNN models.For individual energies,the hexagonal CNN algorithm produced 15%-30%improvements in the modulation factor compared to the moment analysis method for 100%polarized data,and its performance was comparable to that of the rectangle-based CNN algorithm that was recently developed by the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer team,but at a lower computational and storage cost for preprocessing.展开更多
BACKGROUND Atypical optic neuritis,consisting of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders(NMOSD)or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease(MOGAD),has a very similar presentation but different prognostic im...BACKGROUND Atypical optic neuritis,consisting of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders(NMOSD)or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease(MOGAD),has a very similar presentation but different prognostic implications and longterm management strategies.Vascular and metabolic factors are being thought to play a role in such autoimmune neuro-inflammatory disorders,apart from the obvious immune mediated damage.With the advent of optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA),it is easy to pick up on these subclinical macular microvascular and structural changes.AIM To study the macular microvascular and structural changes on OCTA in atypical optic neuritis.METHODS This observational cross-sectional study involved 8 NMOSD and 17 MOGAD patients,diagnosed serologically,as well as 10 healthy controls.Macular vascular density(MVD)and ganglion cell+inner plexiform layer thickness(GCIPL)were studied using OCTA.RESULTS There was a significant reduction in MVD in NMOSD and MOGAD affected as well as unaffected eyes when compared with healthy controls.NMOSD and MOGAD affected eyes had significant GCIPL thinning compared with healthy controls.NMOSD unaffected eyes did not show significant GCIPL thinning compared to healthy controls in contrast to MOGAD unaffected eyes.On comparing NMOSD with MOGAD,there was no significant difference in terms of MVD or GCIPL in the affected or unaffected eyes.CONCLUSION Although significant microvascular and structural changes are present on OCTA between atypical optic neuritis and normal patients,they could not help in differentiating between NMOSD and MOGAD cases.展开更多
In x-ray dark-field imaging using dual phase grating interferometer,multi-contrast signals are extracted from a set of acquired phase-stepping data by using the least-squares fitting algorithm.The extracted mean inten...In x-ray dark-field imaging using dual phase grating interferometer,multi-contrast signals are extracted from a set of acquired phase-stepping data by using the least-squares fitting algorithm.The extracted mean intensity,amplitude and visibility signals may be intrinsically biased.However,it is still unclear how large these biases are and how the data acquisition parameters influence the biases in the extracted signals.This work set out to address these questions.Analytical expressions of the biases of the extracted signals were theoretically derived by using a second-order Taylor series expansion.Extensive numerical simulations were performed to validate the theoretical results.It is illustrated that while the estimated mean intensity signal is always unbiased,the estimated amplitude and visibility signals are both positively biased.While the biases of the estimated amplitude signals are proportional to the inverse of the total number of phase steps,the biases of the estimated visibility signals are inversely proportional to the product of the total number of phase steps and the mean number of photons counted per phase step.Meanwhile,it is demonstrated that the dependence of the biases on the mean visibility is quite different from that of Talbot-Lau interferometer due to the difference in the intensity model.We expect that these results can be useful for data acquisition optimizations and interpretation of x-ray dark-field images.展开更多
X-ray detectors show potential applications in medical imaging,materials science,and nuclear energy.To achieve high detection efficiency and spatial resolution,many conventional semiconductor materials,such as amorpho...X-ray detectors show potential applications in medical imaging,materials science,and nuclear energy.To achieve high detection efficiency and spatial resolution,many conventional semiconductor materials,such as amorphous selenium,cadmium telluride zinc,and perovskites,have been utilized in direct conversion X-ray detectors.However,these semiconductor materials are susceptible to temperature-induced performance degradation,crystallization,delamination,uneven lattice growth,radiation damage,and high dark current.This study explores a new approach by coupling an FC40 electronic fluorinated liquid with a specialized high-resolution and high-readout-speed complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor(CMOS)pixel array,specifically the Topmetal II−chip,to fabricate a direct conversion X-ray detector.The fluorinated liquid FC40(molecular formula:C_(21)F_(48)N_(2))is an electronic medium that is minimally affected by temperature and displays no issues with uniform conductivity.It exhibits a low dark current and minimal radiation damage and enables customizable thickness in X-ray absorption.This addresses the limitations inherent in conventional semiconductor-based detectors.In this study,simple X-ray detector imaging tests were conducted,demonstrating the excellent coupling capability between FC40 electronic fluorinated liquid and CMOS chips by the X-ray detector.A spatial resolution of 4.0 lp/mm was measured using a striped line par card,and a relatively clear image of a cockroach was displayed in the digital radiography imaging results.Preliminary test results indicated the feasibility of fabricating an X-ray detector by combining FC40 electronic fluorinated liquid and CMOS chips.Owing to the absence of issues related to chip-material coupling,a high spatial resolution could be achieved by reducing the chip pixel size.This method presents a new avenue for studies on novel liquid-based direct conversion X-ray detectors.展开更多
文摘The material identification is a pressing requirement for the sensitive security applications. Dual-energy X-ray computer tomography (DXCT) has been investigated for material identification in the medical and security fields. It requires two tomographic images at sufficiently different energies. To discriminate dangerous materials of light elements such as plastic bombs in luggage, it is needed to measure accurately with several tens of kilo electron volts where such materials exhibit significant spectral differences. However, CT images in that energy region often include artifacts from beam hardening. To reduce these artifacts, a novel reconstruction method has been investigated. It is an extension of the Al-gebraic Reconstruction Technique and Total Variation (ART-TV) method that reduces the artifacts in a lower-energy CT image by referencing it to an image obtained at higher energy. The CT image of a titanium sample was recon-structed using this method in order to demonstrate the artifact reduction capability.
基金Funded by Chinese National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U2006224)。
文摘The paper presents experimental investigation results of crack pattern change in cement pastes caused by external sulfate attack(ESA).To visualize the formation and development of cracks in cement pastes under ESA,an X-ray computed tomography(X-ray CT)was used,i e,the tomography system of Zeiss Xradia 510 versa.The results indicate that X-CT can monitor the development process and distribution characteristics of the internal cracks of cement pastes under ESA with attack time.In addition,the C3A content in the cement significantly affects the damage mode of cement paste specimens during sulfate erosion.The damage of ordinary Portland cement(OPC)pastes subjected to sulfate attack with high C3A content are severe,while the damage of sulfate resistant Portland cement(SRPC)pastes is much smaller than that of OPC pastes.Furthermore,a quadratic function describes the correlation between the crack volume fraction and development depth for two cement pastes immermed in sulfate solution.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No.2020YFA0711800)the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (No.51925404)+2 种基金the Graduate Innovation Program of China University of Mining and Technology (No.2023WLKXJ149)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No.2023XSCX040)the Postgraduate Research Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (No.KYCX23_2864)。
文摘Methane in-situ explosive fracturing technology produces shale debris particles within fracture channels,enabling a self-propping effect that enhances the fracture network conductivity and long-term stability.This study employs X-ray computed tomography(CT)and digital volume correlation(DVC)to investigate the microstructural evolution and hydromechanical responses of shale self-propped fracture under varying confining pressures,highlighting the critical role of shale particles in maintaining fracture conductivity.Results indicate that the fracture aperture in the self-propped sample is significantly larger than in the unpropped sample throughout the loading process,with shale particles tending to crush rather than embedded into the matrix,thus maintaining flow pathways.As confining pressure increases,contact areas between fracture surfaces and particles expand,enhancing the system's stability and compressive resistance.Geometric analyses show flow paths becoming increasingly concentrated and branched under high stress.This resulted in a significant reduction in connectivity,restricting fracture permeability and amplifying the nonlinear gas flow behavior.This study introduces a permeability-strain recovery zone and a novel sensitivity parameter m,delineating stress sensitivity boundaries for permeability and normal strain,with m-value increasing with stress,revealing four characteristic regions.These findings offer theoretical support for optimizing fracturing techniques to enhance resource extraction efficiency.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12375157,12027902,and 11905011)。
文摘Purpose To propose a method for simultaneous fluorescence and Compton scattering computed tomography by using linearly polarized X-rays.Methods Monte Carlo simulations were adopted to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method.In the simulations,the phantom is a polytetrafluoroethylene cylinder inside which are cylindrical columns containing aluminum,water,and gold(Au)-loaded water solutions with Au concentrations ranging between 0.5 and 4.0 wt%,and a parallel-hole collimator imaging geometry was adopted.The light source was modeled based on a Thomson scattering X-ray source.The phantom images for both imaging modalities were reconstructed using a maximumlikelihood expectation maximization algorithm.Results Both the X-ray fluorescence computed tomography(XFCT)and Compton scattering computed tomography(CSCT)images of the phantom were accurately reconstructed.A similar attenuation contrast problem for the different cylindrical columns in the phantom can be resolved in the XFCT and CSCT images.The interplay between XFCT and CSCT was analyzed,and the contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of the reconstruction was improved by correcting for the mutual influence between the two imaging modalities.Compared with K-edge subtraction imaging,XFCT exhibits a CNR advantage for the phantom.Conclusion Simultaneous XFCT and CSCT can be realized by using linearly polarized X-rays.The synergy between the two imaging modalities would have an important application in cancer radiation therapy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41877267 and 41877260)the Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA13010201).
文摘Different sedimentary zones in coral reefs lead to significant anisotropy in the pore structure of coral reef limestone(CRL),making it difficult to study mechanical behaviors.With X-ray computed tomography(CT),112 CRL samples were utilized for training the support vector machine(SVM)-,random forest(RF)-,and back propagation neural network(BPNN)-based models,respectively.Simultaneously,the machine learning model was embedded into genetic algorithm(GA)for parameter optimization to effectively predict uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)of CRL.Results indicate that the BPNN model with five hidden layers presents the best training effect in the data set of CRL.The SVM-based model shows a tendency to overfitting in the training set and poor generalization ability in the testing set.The RF-based model is suitable for training CRL samples with large data.Analysis of Pearson correlation coefficient matrix and the percentage increment method of performance metrics shows that the dry density,pore structure,and porosity of CRL are strongly correlated to UCS.However,the P-wave velocity is almost uncorrelated to the UCS,which is significantly distinct from the law for homogenous geomaterials.In addition,the pore tensor proposed in this paper can effectively reflect the pore structure of coral framework limestone(CFL)and coral boulder limestone(CBL),realizing the quantitative characterization of the heterogeneity and anisotropy of pore.The pore tensor provides a feasible idea to establish the relationship between pore structure and mechanical behavior of CRL.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52274315 and 52374320)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Nos.FRF-TP-22-011A1 and FRF-DF22-16)。
文摘During the continuous casting process of high-Mn high-Al steels,various types of gases such as Ar need to escape through the top of the mold.In which,the behavior of bubbles traversing the liquid slag serves as a restrictive link,closely associated with viscosity and the thickness of liquid slag.In contrast to two-dimensional surface observation,three-dimensional(3D)analysis method can offer a more intuitive,accurate,and comprehensive information.Therefore,this study employs a 3D X-ray microscope(3D-XRM)to obtained spatial distribution and 3D morphological characteristics of residual bubbles in mold flux under different basicity of liquid slag,different temperatures,and different holding times.The results indicate that as basicity of slag increases from 0.52 to 1.03,temperature increases from 1423 to 1573 K,the viscosity of slag decreases,the floating rate of bubbles increases.In addition,when holding time increases from 10 to 30 s,the bubbles floating distance increases,and the volume fraction and average equivalent sphere diameter of the bubbles solidified in the mold flux gradually decreases.In one word,increasing the basicity,temperature,and holding time leading to an increase in the removal rate of bubbles especially for the large.These findings of bubbles escape behavior provide valuable insights into optimizing low basicity mold flux for high-Mn high-Al steels.
文摘AIM:To investigate the value of optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)indicators in the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy(DR),and to provide patients with diabetic nephropathy(DN)with more sensitive OCTA screening indicators to detect concurrent DR at an early stage.METHODS:A total of 200 patients who treated in the ophthalmology department of the Seventh Affiliated Hospital,Sun Yat-sen University from 2022 to 2023 were included,including 95 first-diagnosed DR patients and 105 patients without DR,and all patients underwent OCTA examination and a collection of demographics and renal function parameters.After a quality check,automated measurements of the foveal avascular zone area,vessel density(VD),and perfusion density(PD)of both 3 mm×3 mm and 6 mm×6 mm windows were obtained.RESULTS:Using random forest and multivariate Logistic regression methods,we developed a diagnostic model for DR based on 12 variables(age,FBG,SBP,DBP,HbA1c,ALT,ALP,urea/Scr,DM duration,HUA,DN,and CMT).Adding specific OCTA parameters enhanced the efficacy of the existing diagnostic model for DR(outer vessel density in 6 mm×6 mm window,AUC=0.837 vs 0.819,P=0.03).In the study of DN patients,the parameters in the 6 mm×6 mm window improved the diagnostic efficacy of DR(inner VD;outer VD;full VD;outer PD;full PD).CONCLUSION:The outer VD in the 6 mm×6 mm window can enhance the efficacy of the traditional DR diagnostic model.Meanwhile,compared with the 3 mm×3 mm window,the microvascular parameters in the 6 mm×6 mm window focusing on DN patients can be more sensitive to diagnosing the occurrence of DR.
基金the National Institute of Information and Communication Technology International Exchange Program 2024−2025(No.2024−007)for their invaluable support in this research.3D tomography software is available at Prof.Kosuke Heki’s(Hokkaido University,Japan)personal homepage(https://www.ep.sci.hokudai.ac.jp/~heki/software.htm).support from the 2024 Japan Student Services Organization Research Follow-up Fellowship for a 90-day research visit at the Institute for Space−Earth Environmental Research,Nagoya University,Japan.PA also acknowledges the support received from Telkom University under the“Skema Penelitian Terapan Periode I Tahun Anggaran 2024”,and the Memorandum of Understanding for Research Collaboration on Regional Ionospheric Observation(No:092/SAM3/TE-DEK/2021).
文摘Equatorial Plasma Bubbles(EPBs)are ionospheric irregularities that take place near the magnetic equator.EPBs most commonly occur after sunset during the equinox months,although they can also be observed during other seasons.The phenomenon significantly disrupts radio wave signals essential to communication and navigation systems.The national network of Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS)receivers in Indonesia(>30°longitudinal range)provides an opportunity for detailed EPB studies.To explore this,we conducted preliminary 3D tomography of total electron content(TEC)data captured by GNSS receivers following a geomagnetic storm on December 3,2023,when at least four EPB clusters occurred in the Southeast Asian sector.TEC and extracted TEC depletion with a 120-minute running average were then used as inputs for a 3D tomography program.Their 2D spatial distribution consistently captured the four EPB clusters over time.These tomography results were validated through a classical checkerboard test and comparisons with other ionospheric data sources,such as the Global Ionospheric Map(GIM)and International Reference Ionosphere(IRI)profile.Validation of the results demonstrates the capability of the Indonesian GNSS network to measure peak ionospheric density.These findings highlight the potential for future three-dimensional research of plasma bubbles in low-latitude regions using existing GNSS networks,with extensive longitudinal coverage.
基金Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Medical University,No.2023xkj130.
文摘BACKGROUND Mucosal healing(MH)is the major therapeutic target for Crohn's disease(CD).As the most commonly involved intestinal segment,small bowel(SB)assessment is crucial for CD patients.Yet,it poses a significant challenge due to its limited accessibility through conventional endoscopic methods.AIM To establish a noninvasive radiomic model based on computed tomography enterography(CTE)for MH assessment in SBCD patients.METHODS Seventy-three patients diagnosed with SBCD were included and divided into a training cohort(n=55)and a test cohort(n=18).Radiomic features were obtained from CTE images to establish a radiomic model.Patient demographics were analysed to establish a clinical model.A radiomic-clinical nomogram was constructed by combining significant clinical and radiomic features.The diagnostic efficacy and clinical benefit were evaluated via receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis and decision curve analysis(DCA),respectively.RESULTS Of the 73 patients enrolled,25 patients achieved MH.The radiomic-clinical nomogram had an area under the ROC curve of 0.961(95%confidence interval:0.886-1.000)in the training cohort and 0.958(0.877-1.000)in the test cohort and provided superior clinical benefit to either the clinical or radiomic models alone,as demonstrated by DCA.CONCLUSION These results indicate that the CTE-based radiomic-clinical nomogram is a promising imaging biomarker for MH and serves as a potential noninvasive alternative to enteroscopy for MH assessment in SBCD patients.
文摘Photon-counting computed tomography(PCCT)represents a significant advancement in pediatric cardiovascular imaging.Traditional CT systems employ energy-integrating detectors that convert X-ray photons into visible light,whereas PCCT utilizes photon-counting detectors that directly transform X-ray photons into electric signals.This direct conversion allows photon-counting detectors to sort photons into discrete energy levels,thereby enhancing image quality through superior noise reduction,improved spatial and contrast resolution,and reduced artifacts.In pediatric applications,PCCT offers substantial benefits,including lower radiation doses,which may help reduce the risk of malignancy in pediatric patients,with perhaps greater potential to benefit those with repeated exposure from a young age.Enhanced spatial resolution facilitates better visualization of small structures,vital for diagnosing congenital heart defects.Additionally,PCCT’s spectral capabilities improve tissue characterization and enable the creation of virtual monoenergetic images,which enhance soft-tissue contrast and potentially reduce contrast media doses.Initial clinical results indicate that PCCT provides superior image quality and diagnostic accuracy compared to conven-tional CT,particularly in challenging pediatric cardiovascular cases.As PCCT technology matures,further research and standardized protocols will be essential to fully integrate it into pediatric imaging practices,ensuring optimized diagnostic outcomes and patient safety.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(12102410)Fund of National Key Laboratory of Shock Wave and Detonation Physics(JCKYS2022212005)。
文摘The lattice parameter,measured with sufficient accuracy,can be utilized to evaluate the quality of single crystals and to determine the equation of state for materials.We propose an iterative method for obtaining more precise lattice parameters using the interaction points for the pseudo-Kossel pattern obtained from laser-induced X-ray diffraction(XRD).This method has been validated by the analysis of an XRD experiment conducted on iron single crystals.Furthermore,the method was used to calculate the compression ratio and rotated angle of an LiF sample under high pressure loading.This technique provides a robust tool for in-situ characterization of structural changes in single crystals under extreme conditions.It has significant implications for studying the equation of state and phase transitions.
基金supported by the Research Project of the Shanghai Health Commission,No.2020YJZX0111(to CZ)the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.82021002(to CZ),82272039(to CZ),82171252(to FL)+1 种基金a grant from the National Health Commission of People’s Republic of China(PRC),No.Pro20211231084249000238(to JW)Medical Innovation Research Project of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission,No.21Y11903300(to JG).
文摘Nowadays,presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography,which assesses deficiencies in dopamine synthesis,storage,and transport,is widely utilized for early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of parkinsonism.This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest developments in the application of presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography imaging in disorders that manifest parkinsonism.We conducted a thorough literature search using reputable databases such as PubMed and Web of Science.Selection criteria involved identifying peer-reviewed articles published within the last 5 years,with emphasis on their relevance to clinical applications.The findings from these studies highlight that presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography has demonstrated potential not only in diagnosing and differentiating various Parkinsonian conditions but also in assessing disease severity and predicting prognosis.Moreover,when employed in conjunction with other imaging modalities and advanced analytical methods,presynaptic dopaminergic positron emission tomography has been validated as a reliable in vivo biomarker.This validation extends to screening and exploring potential neuropathological mechanisms associated with dopaminergic depletion.In summary,the insights gained from interpreting these studies are crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of preclinical investigations and clinical trials,ultimately advancing toward the goals of neuroregeneration in parkinsonian disorders.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62101278,62001379,62271023)Beijing Natural Science Foundation(7242269).
文摘Deep learning(DL)-based image reconstruction methods have garnered increasing interest in the last few years.Numerous studies demonstrate that DL-based reconstruction methods function admirably in optical tomographic imaging techniques,such as bioluminescence tomography(BLT).Nevertheless,nearly every existing DL-based method utilizes an explicit neural representation for the reconstruction problem,which either consumes much memory space or requires various complicated computations.In this paper,we present a neural field(NF)-based image reconstruction scheme for BLT that uses an implicit neural representation.The proposed NFbased method establishes a transformation between the coordinate of an arbitrary spatial point and the source value of the point with a relatively light-weight multilayer perceptron,which has remarkable computational efficiency.Another simple neural network composed of two fully connected layers and a 1D convolutional layer is used to generate the neural features.Results of simulations and experiments show that the proposed NF-based method has similar performance to the photon density complement network and the two-stage network,while consuming fewer floating point operations with fewer model parameters.
基金Supported by the 2022 Provincial Quality Engineering Project for Higher Education Institutions,No.2022sx031the 2023 Provincial Quality Engineering Project for Higher Education Institutions,No.2023jyxm1071.
文摘BACKGROUND Inguinal hernias are common after surgery.Tension-free repair is widely accepted as the main method for managing inguinal hernias.Adequate exposure,coverage,and repair of the myopectineal orifice(MPO)are necessary.However,due to differences in race and sex,people’s body shapes vary.According to European guidelines,the patch should measure 10 cm×15 cm.If any part of the MPO is dissected,injury to the nerves,vascular network,or organs may occur during surgery,thereby leading to inguinal discomfort,pain,and seroma formation after surgery.Therefore,accurate localization and measurement of the boundary of the MPO are crucial for selecting the optimal patch for inguinal hernia repair.AIM To compare the size of the MPO measured on three-dimensional multislice spiral computed tomography(CT)with that measured via laparoscopy and explore the relevant factors influencing the size of the MPO.METHODS Clinical data from 74 patients who underwent laparoscopic tension-free inguinal hernia repair at the General Surgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Science and Technology between September 2022 and July 2024 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Transabdominal preperitoneal was performed.Sixty-four males and 10 females,with an average age of 58.30±12.32 years,were included.The clinical data of the patients were collected.The boundary of the MPO was measured on three-dimensional CT images before surgery and then again during transabdominal preperitoneal.All the preoperative and intraoperative data were analyzed via paired t-tests.A t-test was used for comparisons of age,body mass index,and sex between the groups.In the comparative analysis,a P value less than 0.05 indicated a significant difference.RESULTS The boundaries of the MPO on 3-dimensional CT images measured 7.05±0.47 cm and 6.27±0.61 cm,and the area of the MPO was 19.54±3.33 cm^(2).The boundaries of the MPO during surgery were 7.18±0.51 cm and 6.17±0.40 cm.The errors were not statistically significant.However,the intraoperative BD(the width of the MPO,P=0.024,P<0.05)and preoperative AC(the length of the MPO,P=0.045,P<0.05)significantly differed according to sex.The AC and BD measurements before and during surgery were not significantly different according to age,body mass index,hernia side or hernia type(P>0.05).CONCLUSION The application of this technology can aid in determining the most appropriate dissection range and patch size.
文摘BACKGROUND Migraine has been proposed as a potential contributing factor to ischemic complications involving the retina and optic nerve.Ophthalmic disorders connected with migraine encompass occlusions of the branch and central retinal arteries and veins,alongside anterior and posterior ischemic optic neuropathy.With the advent of optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA),it is easy to identify these macular subclinical microvascular and structural changes.AIM To evaluate macular and peripapillary structural and microvasculature changes in patients with migraine with aura(MA),migraine without aura(MW),and healthy control(HC)participants using OCTA.METHODS In this observational cross-sectional study,we studied a total of 100 eyes:(1)32 eyes of 16 patients with MA;(2)36 eyes of 18 patients with MW,recruited based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders;and(3)32 eyes of 16 age and sex-matched healthy participants.Foveal flux,foveal avascular zone(FAZ),peripapillary flux obtained from OCTA,and foveal and peripapillary ganglion cell layer(GCL)thickness calculated via optical coherence tomography were compared among the groups.RESULTS The mean FAZ area measured in patients with MA and MW was significantly larger than that in the control participants(P=0.002).However,there was no significant difference between the FAZ of the MA and MW groups.Macular perfusion in the superficial capillary plexus in patients with MA was significantly lower compared to MW(P=0.0018)and HCs(P=0.002).There was also significant thinning of the GCL in patients with MA and MW(P=0.001)compared to HCs.However,there was no significant difference in temporal GCL thickness between the MA and MW groups.CONCLUSION Significant changes have been found in structural and microvascular parameters in patients with migraines compared with HCs.OCTA can serve as a valuable non-invasive imaging technique for identifying microcirculatory disturbances,aiding in better understanding the pathogenesis of different types of migraine and establishing their link with other ischemic retinal and systemic pathologies.
文摘BACKGROUND Effective management of liver abscess depends on timely drainage,which is influenced by the liquefaction degree.Identifying predictive factors is crucial for guiding clinical decisions.AIM To investigate the predictive factors of liver abscess liquefaction and develop a predictive model to guide optimal timing of percutaneous drainage.METHODS This retrospective study included 110 patients with pyogenic liver abscesses who underwent percutaneous catheter drainage.Patients were divided into a poor liquefaction group(n=28)and a well liquefaction group(n=82)based on the ratio of postoperative 24-hour drainage volume to abscess volume,using a cutoff value of 0.3.Clinical characteristics,laboratory indicators,and computed tomography imaging features were compared.A predictive model was constructed using logistic regression and evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and five-fold cross-validation.RESULTS Independent predictive factors for good liquefaction included the absence of diabetes[odds ratio(OR)=0.339,P=0.044],absence of pneumonia(OR=0.218,P=0.013),left-lobe abscess location(OR=4.293,P=0.041),cystic features(OR=5.104,P=0.025),and elevated preoperative serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)levels(OR=1.013,P=0.041).The logistic regression model based on these factors demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.814,with a sensitivity of 90.24%and specificity of 67.86%.Five-fold cross-validation yielded an average accuracy of 83.61%and a kappa coefficient of 0.5209.CONCLUSION Pneumonia,diabetes,abscess location,abscess composition,and preoperative serum ALT levels are significant predictors of liver abscess liquefaction.The model can guide clinical decision-making.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.12025301)the Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program.
文摘Track reconstruction algorithms are critical for polarization measurements.Convolutional neural networks(CNNs)are a promising alternative to traditional moment-based track reconstruction approaches.However,the hexagonal grid track images obtained using gas pixel detectors(GPDs)for better anisotropy do not match the classical rectangle-based CNN,and converting the track images from hexagonal to square results in a loss of information.We developed a new hexagonal CNN algorithm for track reconstruction and polarization estimation in X-ray polarimeters,which was used to extract the emission angles and absorption points from photoelectron track images and predict the uncer-tainty of the predicted emission angles.The simulated data from the PolarLight test were used to train and test the hexagonal CNN models.For individual energies,the hexagonal CNN algorithm produced 15%-30%improvements in the modulation factor compared to the moment analysis method for 100%polarized data,and its performance was comparable to that of the rectangle-based CNN algorithm that was recently developed by the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer team,but at a lower computational and storage cost for preprocessing.
文摘BACKGROUND Atypical optic neuritis,consisting of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders(NMOSD)or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease(MOGAD),has a very similar presentation but different prognostic implications and longterm management strategies.Vascular and metabolic factors are being thought to play a role in such autoimmune neuro-inflammatory disorders,apart from the obvious immune mediated damage.With the advent of optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA),it is easy to pick up on these subclinical macular microvascular and structural changes.AIM To study the macular microvascular and structural changes on OCTA in atypical optic neuritis.METHODS This observational cross-sectional study involved 8 NMOSD and 17 MOGAD patients,diagnosed serologically,as well as 10 healthy controls.Macular vascular density(MVD)and ganglion cell+inner plexiform layer thickness(GCIPL)were studied using OCTA.RESULTS There was a significant reduction in MVD in NMOSD and MOGAD affected as well as unaffected eyes when compared with healthy controls.NMOSD and MOGAD affected eyes had significant GCIPL thinning compared with healthy controls.NMOSD unaffected eyes did not show significant GCIPL thinning compared to healthy controls in contrast to MOGAD unaffected eyes.On comparing NMOSD with MOGAD,there was no significant difference in terms of MVD or GCIPL in the affected or unaffected eyes.CONCLUSION Although significant microvascular and structural changes are present on OCTA between atypical optic neuritis and normal patients,they could not help in differentiating between NMOSD and MOGAD cases.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U1532113,11475170,11905041)Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.2208085MA18)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.JZ2022HGTB0244)。
文摘In x-ray dark-field imaging using dual phase grating interferometer,multi-contrast signals are extracted from a set of acquired phase-stepping data by using the least-squares fitting algorithm.The extracted mean intensity,amplitude and visibility signals may be intrinsically biased.However,it is still unclear how large these biases are and how the data acquisition parameters influence the biases in the extracted signals.This work set out to address these questions.Analytical expressions of the biases of the extracted signals were theoretically derived by using a second-order Taylor series expansion.Extensive numerical simulations were performed to validate the theoretical results.It is illustrated that while the estimated mean intensity signal is always unbiased,the estimated amplitude and visibility signals are both positively biased.While the biases of the estimated amplitude signals are proportional to the inverse of the total number of phase steps,the biases of the estimated visibility signals are inversely proportional to the product of the total number of phase steps and the mean number of photons counted per phase step.Meanwhile,it is demonstrated that the dependence of the biases on the mean visibility is quite different from that of Talbot-Lau interferometer due to the difference in the intensity model.We expect that these results can be useful for data acquisition optimizations and interpretation of x-ray dark-field images.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.12235006)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2020YFE0202002.
文摘X-ray detectors show potential applications in medical imaging,materials science,and nuclear energy.To achieve high detection efficiency and spatial resolution,many conventional semiconductor materials,such as amorphous selenium,cadmium telluride zinc,and perovskites,have been utilized in direct conversion X-ray detectors.However,these semiconductor materials are susceptible to temperature-induced performance degradation,crystallization,delamination,uneven lattice growth,radiation damage,and high dark current.This study explores a new approach by coupling an FC40 electronic fluorinated liquid with a specialized high-resolution and high-readout-speed complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor(CMOS)pixel array,specifically the Topmetal II−chip,to fabricate a direct conversion X-ray detector.The fluorinated liquid FC40(molecular formula:C_(21)F_(48)N_(2))is an electronic medium that is minimally affected by temperature and displays no issues with uniform conductivity.It exhibits a low dark current and minimal radiation damage and enables customizable thickness in X-ray absorption.This addresses the limitations inherent in conventional semiconductor-based detectors.In this study,simple X-ray detector imaging tests were conducted,demonstrating the excellent coupling capability between FC40 electronic fluorinated liquid and CMOS chips by the X-ray detector.A spatial resolution of 4.0 lp/mm was measured using a striped line par card,and a relatively clear image of a cockroach was displayed in the digital radiography imaging results.Preliminary test results indicated the feasibility of fabricating an X-ray detector by combining FC40 electronic fluorinated liquid and CMOS chips.Owing to the absence of issues related to chip-material coupling,a high spatial resolution could be achieved by reducing the chip pixel size.This method presents a new avenue for studies on novel liquid-based direct conversion X-ray detectors.
