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Simple Summary: This review paper deals with incidentally found focal liver lesions (IFLLs) in otherwise healthy subjects, which is a frequent occurrence in daily practice. The clinical presentation and the imaging aspects play an important role in deciding whether and what further evaluation is required. In low-risk patients (i.e., those without a history of malignant or chronic liver disease or related symptoms, younger than 40 years old), more than 95% of IFLLs are benign. Shear Wave liver Elastography of the surrounding liver parenchyma should be considered to exclude liver cirrhosis and for further risk stratification. If an IFLL in a low-risk patient has a typical appearance on a B-mode ultrasound of a benign lesion, no further imaging is needed. Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) should be considered as the first-line contrast imaging modality to differentiate benign from malignant IFLLs. In high-risk patients (i.e., with chronic liver disease or an oncological history), each IFLL should initially be considered as potentially malignant, and every effort should be made to confirm or exclude malignancy. An incidental focal liver lesion (IFLL) is defined as a hepatic lesion identified in a patient imaged for an unrelated reason. They are frequently encountered in daily practice, sometimes leading to unnecessary, invasive and potentially harmful follow-up investigations. The clinical presentation and the imaging aspects play an important role in deciding if, and what further evaluation, is needed. In low-risk patients (i.e., without a history of malignant or chronic liver disease or related symptoms), especially in those younger than 40 years old, more than 95% of IFLLs are likely benign. Shear Wave liver Elastography (SWE) of the surrounding liver parenchyma should be considered to exclude liver cirrhosis and for further risk stratification. If an IFLL in a low-risk patient has a typical appearance on B-mode ultrasound of a benign lesion (e.g., simple cyst, calcification, focal fatty change, typical hemangioma), no further imaging is needed. Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) should be considered as the first-line contrast imaging modality to differentiate benign from malignant IFLLs, since it has a similar accuracy to contrast-enhanced (CE)-MRI. On CEUS, hypoenhancement of a lesion in the late vascular phase is characteristic for malignancy. CE-CT should be avoided for characterizing probable benign FLL and reserved for staging once a lesion is proven malignant. In high-risk patients (i.e., with chronic liver disease or an oncological history), each IFLL should initially be considered as potentially malignant, and every effort should be made to confirm or exclude malignancy. US-guided biopsy should be considered in those with unresectable malignant lesions, particularly if the diagnosis remains unclear, or when a specific tissue diagnosis is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach for paper drying using airborne ultrasound technology is presented. A unique experimental setup is developed, and a systematic study is conducted using 23 factorial design of experiments and Analysis of Variance. Three controlling factors are considered in the experiments including the initial moisture content, basis weight and refining condition. The outcome of the experiments is compared to a previous work on direct-contact ultrasonic drying of paper. The results confirm that similar to direct-contact, for airborne ultrasonic drying, the basis weight/thickness of the sample is the most important factor in ultrasonic drying and it is followed by the effect of initial moisture content. Using linear regression model, a correlation for predicting the total time of ultrasonic drying is provided. Quality of the dried samples is evaluated, and the permeability measurements confirmed the effect of pore characteristics on ultrasonic drying. The analysis for energy consumption reveals that airborne ultrasonic drying is more efficient at higher moisture contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sonography is a highly specialized diagnostic imaging profession facing significant workforce challenges due to increased service delivery demands and a shortage of clinical training opportunities. Developing sustainable solutions is crucial for workforce growth. Using examples from the Australian workforce and education context, this paper explores the current sonography training pathways available and the benefits and challenges of each, highlighting the importance of work-integrated learning (WIL) in facilitating the development of professional identity, clinical competence and the quality of sonographer education. Conclusions are drawn that WIL is integral to the future of the sonography profession to improve patient outcomes and address workforce shortages. However, effective implementation requires careful planning and consideration of many factors, including regulatory requirements, industry partnerships, student and supervisor/tutor support, and issues related to equitable access and participation in WIL. Key recommendations are provided to encourage ethical student learning, university-industry collaboration, effective resource allocation, and WIL-specific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasound hip screening is suitable for the early identification of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Newborn and infant home visits are good opportunities for hip screening in the community, but studies focusing on nurse-led screenings are lacking. Based on a pre–post design, this study aims to develop and evaluate an ultrasound training program to improve nurses' assessment skills in detecting DDH cases during newborn and infant home visits. Said educational program will include e-learning, hands-on seminars, and clinical training. The primary outcome will be the success rate of imaging standard planes (standardized images for hip assessment) in clinical training. The secondary outcomes will include knowledge test results, objective structured clinical examination scores, time required for imaging, and inter-rater reliability between nurses and physicians. The educational program will address the issue of missed and late detection of DDH cases in resource-limited communities. This study will demonstrate the feasibility of procedures and the effectiveness of the educational program in 2024. The protocol was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry before starting the study (no. UMIN000051929, 16 August 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Transcerebellar diameter (TCD) has been utilized prenatally as a tool to estimate gestational age (GA) when fetal growth aberrations are suspected. Traditionally, first trimester ultrasound (1TUS) has been the gold standard of dating a pregnancy in spontaneous pregnancies. We sought to determine if neonatal TCD measurement was as accurate as 1TUS in the estimation of postconceptual gestational age (PCGA). Methods: A retrospective cohort from a registry of high‐quality transmastoid views of consecutive patients from July 2019 to November 2020, delivered from 24 to 34 weeks GA, and with a 1TUS were included. The reference PCGA was the sum of the GA at delivery by 1TUS and day of life. The PCGA by TCD was calculated from Chang et al for GA by TCD. Reference and experimental values were compared by correlation, agreement within 7 days, and Bland–Altman analysis. Results: Of the 154 individual patients in the registry of high‐quality transmastoid views during the study period, 62 met inclusion and exclusion criteria. PCGA by 1TUS and TCD were highly correlated (r = 0.86, P <.001; κ = 47% agreement within 7 days of PCGA). The bias of PCGA by TCD was 4.6 days earlier than the PCGA by 1TUS (95% confidence interval of agreement: −29.2, 20). Conclusions: PCGA estimation by neonatal transmastoid TCD was highly correlated with that of 1TUS. It generally underestimates GA by 4.6 days. This relationship warrants further investigation to determine if this method of estimating PCGA in undated gestations is generalizable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver cirrhosis is a serious disorder that causes liver tissue to get scarred and leads to severe complications such as Portal Hypertension and Liver Cancer. This paper uses the Prisma criteria to conduct a Systematic review. We analyzed papers in several search databases with the primary criteria of finding existing work on liver disease diagnosis with Non-Invasive - ultrasound scan using deep learning techniques. There are several ways to diagnose liver disease stages including Liver Biopsy, Ultrasound scan, Transient Elastography, Fibrosis scan. Main aim of review is to summarize the challenges in detecting stages of the liver disease, gaps in the current research around diagnosing the liver disease and determining the stage of the liver disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, there has been a notable increase in research focused on ultrasound imaging of thoracolumbar fascia (TLF). Nevertheless, published papers' results about the application of US imaging in TLF examination are still sparse. Background and Objevtives: Hence, this systematic review was performed aiming to firstly investigate the use and the methodology of ultrasound imaging to assess pathologic and healthy TLF. Secondarily, we aim to assess intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of US imaging in TLF assessment. Materials and Methods: The search was done on PubMed and Web of Science database from inception to April 2024. Furthermore, the references of included papers were thoroughly checked to find eligible publications. The MeSH keywords used were: "Thoracolumbar fascia", "Ultrasound Imaging", "Ultrasound", "Ultrasonography", and "Ultrasound examination". Results: Studies were aimed primarily at TLF diagnosis, treatment monitoring, or evaluating movement-related changes, underscoring the diverse clinical applications. The US parameters assessed included TLF thickness, echogenicity, stiffness, deformation, shear strain, and displacement, providing comprehensive insights into TLF features. Conclusions: Advanced US imaging holds promise as a reliable tool in musculoskeletal assessment, offering insights into TLF pathology/disfunction, treatment outcomes, and movement dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural communities are geographically isolated from large urban areas, affecting access to definitive care, specialists and other health services that only service urban areas. Rural decision-makers are often faced with numerous challenges regarding the availability, capacity, sustainability and performance of health systems in rural and remote areas. We evaluated the current body of literature on educational initiatives being used in under-resourced areas to increase the knowledge or skills of healthcare workers. This rapid review followed the methods laid out by the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group and included published articles from any of three databases that described and evaluated an educational intervention, in which healthcare workers were the learners and which took place in an under-resourced area. Papers were excluded if they were deemed to be too resource intensive, were an opinion or concept paper or took place in an urban area. Results were synthesised descriptively. Ten studies were identified that contained information on educational initiatives in a variety of countries. The healthcare workers targeted in the studies varied from physicians, nurses and midwives to community health workers and students. The quality of studies also varied and included randomised control trials, systematic reviews and both prospective and retrospective studies. Initiatives involving simulation or point-of-care ultrasound were most common and showed the most benefit to a learner's knowledge and skill development. A limited body of literature exists on educational initiatives for healthcare workers in under-resourced areas. While simulation and hands-on learning showed positive results, the opportunity remains for a low-cost, high-yield educational initiative tailored to the unique needs of healthcare workers in under-resourced areas. Résumé Les communautés rurales sont géographiquement isolées des grandes zones urbaines, ce qui affecte l'accès à des soins définitifs, à des spécialistes et à d'autres services de santé qui ne desservent que les zones urbaines. Les décideurs ruraux sont souvent confrontés à de nombreux défis concernant la disponibilité, la capacité, la durabilité et la performance des systèmes de santé dans les zones rurales et éloignées. Nous avons évalué l'ensemble de la littérature actuelle sur les initiatives éducatives utilisées dans les zones sous-dotées pour améliorer les connaissances ou les compétences des travailleuses et travailleurs de la santé. Cette examen rapide a suivi les méthodes définies par le Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group et a inclus des articles publiés dans l'une des trois bases de données qui décrivaient et évaluaient une intervention éducative dans laquelle les travailleuses et travailleurs de la santé étaient les apprenants et qui SE déroulait dans une zone manquant de ressources. Des articles jugés trop gourmands en ressources, des opinions, des documents conceptuels ou en lien avec des zones urbaines, ont été exclus. Les résultats ont été synthétisés de manière descriptive. 10 études ont été identifiées, contenant des informations sur des initiatives éducatives dans divers pays. Les travailleurs de la santé ciblés dans les études variaient des médecins, des infirmières et des sages-femmes aux travailleurs de la santé communautaire et aux étudiants. La qualité des études était également variable et comprenait des essais contrôlés randomisés, des revues systématiques et des études prospectives et rétrospectives. Les initiatives impliquant la simulation ou le POCUS étaient les plus courantes et présentaient le plus d'avantages pour le développement des connaissances et des compétences de l'apprenant. Il existe un nombre limité de documents sur les initiatives éducatives destinées aux travailleurs de la santé dans les zones sous-dotées. Bien que la simulation et l'apprentissage pratique aient donné des résultats positifs, il est toujours possible de mettre en place une initiative éducative peu coûteuse et à haut rendement, adaptée aux besoins spécifiques des travailleuses et travailleurs de la santé dans les zones sous-dotées. Mots-clés: Formation, éducation, rural, éloigné, manque de ressources, première ligne, prestataire de soins de santé [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of musculoskeletal tissue properties and loading patterns during physical activity is important for understanding the adaptation mechanisms of tissues such as bone, tendon, and muscle tissues, particularly with injury and repair. Although the properties and loading of these connective tissues have been quantified using direct measurement techniques, these methods are highly invasive and often prevent or interfere with normal activity patterns. Indirect biomechanical methods, such as estimates based on electromyography, ultrasound, and inverse dynamics, are used more widely but are known to yield different parameter values than direct measurements. Through a series of literature searches of electronic databases, including Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and IEEE Explore, this paper reviews current methods used for the in vivo measurement of human musculoskeletal tissue and describes the operating principals, application, and emerging research findings gained from the use of quantitative transmission-mode ultrasound measurement techniques to non-invasively characterize human bone, tendon, and muscle properties at rest and during activities of daily living. In contrast to standard ultrasound imaging approaches, these techniques assess the interaction between ultrasound compression waves and connective tissues to provide quantifiable parameters associated with the structure, instantaneous elastic modulus, and density of tissues. By taking advantage of the physical relationship between the axial velocity of ultrasound compression waves and the instantaneous modulus of the propagation material, these techniques can also be used to estimate the in vivo loading environment of relatively superficial soft connective tissues during sports and activities of daily living. This paper highlights key findings from clinical studies in which quantitative transmission-mode ultrasound has been used to measure the properties and loading of bone, tendon, and muscle tissue during common physical activities in healthy and pathological populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gallbladder polyps are increasingly being identified due to the widespread use of abdominal ultrasound imaging. They are concerning lesions due to their potential malignant risk. It is hoped that managing them correctly will play a role in improving poor survival rates of gallbladder cancer. Awareness of these lesions is lacking. Management continues to be guided by expert opinion and observational studies and a number of consensus statements exist. Objective: This paper reviews and summarises the current literature and provides an approach for general practitioners based on the available guidance. Discussion: Although minor variation exists between consensus statements, the risk of malignancy for gallbladder polyps is still largely dictated by size, with those ≤5 mm generally considered to pose little risk and not requiring follow-up, whereas those ≥10 mm considered at greater risk and requiring referral for cholecystectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae have rigid, complex cell walls hindering direct lipid extraction. Cell disruption techniques are used to rupture these cellular structures to increase lipid extraction. Researchers investigating the downstreamprocessing of microalgae do not always have access to microalgal cultivation systems to generate large amounts of fresh microalgal biomass. Using resuspended freeze-dried microalgal biomass as a model laboratory system for concentrated fresh biomass during cell disruption experiments offers greater flexibility in experimental planning and omits investment costs of microalgal cultivation equipment. So far, it however remains unclear whether freeze-dried resuspended biomass can be used as a model laboratory system to represent concentrated fresh biomass during cell disruption and lipid extraction experiments. This paper thus evaluated the suitability of resuspended freeze-dried Nannochloropsis as a model laboratory system for concentrated fresh Nannochloropsis during cell disruption. Ultrasound assisted cell disruption was used as example cell disruption technique and lipid extraction efficiency and free fatty acid content were investigated. Tap water and 3% sodium chloride are both suitable resuspension media for the resuspension of freeze-dried Nannochloropsis. Resuspension duration should be limited (< 120 min) to prevent the formation of free fatty acids. The condition of the biomass (concentrated fresh, or resuspended freeze-dried) prior to ultrasound assisted cell disruption did not influence the resulting lipid extraction efficiency. Resuspended freeze-dried Nannochloropsis biomass in tap water or 3% sodium chloride can thus be used as a model laboratory system for fresh microalgal biomass during research on ultrasound assisted lipid extraction. The generalization of the results to other cultivation conditions, cell disruption techniques, components of interest or microalgal species should be carefully assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) have shown promising performance in medical image analysis, including breast lesion classification in 2D ultrasound (US) images. Despite the outstanding performance of DCNN solutions, explaining their decisions remains an open investigation. Yet, the explainability of DCNN models has become essential for healthcare systems to accept and trust the models. This paper presents a novel framework for explaining DCNN classification decisions of lesions in ultrasound images using the saliency maps linking the DCNN decisions to known cancer characteristics in the medical domain. The proposed framework consists of three main phases. First, DCNN models for classification in ultrasound images are built. Next, selected methods for visualization are applied to obtain saliency maps on the input images of the DCNN models. In the final phase, the visualization outputs and domain-known cancer characteristics are mapped. The paper then demonstrates the use of the framework for breast lesion classification from ultrasound images. We first follow the transfer learning approach and build two DCNN models. We then analyze the visualization outputs of the trained DCNN models using the EGrad-CAM and Ablation-CAM methods. We map the DCNN model decisions of benign and malignant lesions through the visualization outputs to the characteristics such as echogenicity, calcification, shape, and margin. A retrospective dataset of 1298 US images collected from different hospitals is used to evaluate the effectiveness of the framework. The test results show that these characteristics contribute differently to the benign and malignant lesions' decisions. Our study provides the foundation for other researchers to explain the DCNN classification decisions of other cancer types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonic imaging, using ultrasonic phased arrays, has an enormous impact in science, medicine and society and is a widely used modality in many application fields. The maximum amount of information which can be captured by an array is provided by the data acquisition method capturing the complete data set of signals from all possible combinations of ultrasonic generation and detection elements of a dense array. However, capturing this complete data set requires long data acquisition time, large number of array elements and transmit channels and produces a large volume of data. All these reasons make such data acquisition unfeasible due to the existing phased array technology or non-applicable to cases requiring fast measurement time. This paper introduces the concept of an adaptive data acquisition process, the Selective Matrix Capture (SMC), which can adapt, dynamically, to specific imaging requirements for efficient ultrasonic imaging. SMC is realised experimentally using Laser Induced Phased Arrays (LIPAs), that use lasers to generate and detect ultrasound. The flexibility and reconfigurability of LIPAs enable the evolution of the array configuration, on-the-fly. The SMC methodology consists of two stages: a stage for detecting and localising regions of interest, by means of iteratively synthesising a sparse array, and a second stage for array optimisation to the region of interest. The delay-and-sum is used as the imaging algorithm and the experimental results are compared to images produced using the complete generation-detection data set. It is shown that SMC, without a priori knowledge of the test sample, is able to achieve comparable results, while preforming ∼ 10 times faster data acquisition and achieving ∼ 10 times reduction in data size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In radiology, several medical imaging modalities were used. In recent Biomedical systems, integrated circuits were used in the form of Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) to perform FFT. The raw data obtained from the acquiring equipment are reconstructed to image using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The contribution in the paper is to design an FFT integrated unit for converting the Magnetic Resonance (MR) signal into frequency spectrum of each phase encoding. Materials and Methods: The image created is been transformed from the spatial projection using inverse Fourier transform. The k-space FFT information were back projected to obtain the MRI image. This paper presents an integrated circuit implementation of FFT processing elements used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) reconstruction and ultrasonic imaging. The circuits designed in this work is to be used in the back-projection unit of MRI reconstruction. The complex periodic signal received from the receiver coils in MRI or piezoelectric disc in ultrasound and detector array in CT are analyzed using Fourier transform. The proposed single-path delay feedback (SDF) Decimation In Frequency (DIF) 4096-point FFT for image reconstruction was implemented in 65nm FPGA kit and programmed using VHDL in Quartus tool. Results: This block becomes the part of the reconstruction unit of MRI image. The proposed design reduces the execution of instruction per cycle and the fixed point arithmetic provides low roundoff error. Conclusions: Since in MRI reconstruction the frequency encoding and phase encoding is combined to develop the images the proposed FFT will be useful. In Future application specific integrated circuits will be designed for the entire MRI back projection and reconstruction unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous construction of urban traffic roads, more and more new roads are cut off by existing roads to form "dead end roads". There is an urgent need for a trenchless method suitable for urban ultra-shallow overburden to build the undercrossing tunnel. To solve this problem, this paper proposed the micro pipe jacking and joint assembly structure (MPJ & JAS) method, which has the characteristics of shallow burial depth, low cost, short construction time, flexible cross-section setting and high space utilization. The MPJ & JAS method construct a large cross-section tunnel through assembling small cross-section elements, quite different from traditional methods. Therefore, this paper designed a CT-shaped integrated joint, the mechanical performance of which was verified and clarified by tensile test. The bending test and finite element (FE) analysis proved the reliability of MPJ & JAS tunnel structure, and confirmed the structure performances such as the failure models, crack behaviors, load–deflection response and stress–strain distribution. Moreover, the influences of the steel plate thickness, concrete strength and shear connector spacing were determined by the FE analysis. On the basis of test results and reasonable assumptions, a theoretical design method considering the influence of the CT-shaped integrated joint was proposed, which can effectively predict the bending strength of the MPJ & JAS tunnel structure with an error of less than 10%. Finally, in view of the characteristics of the MPJ & JAS method, the suitable micro pipe jacking machine, soil reinforcement measure, hydraulic traction construction technology, high-precision guidance system and concrete construction quality detection method based on the phased array ultrasonic imaging technology were developed, supporting the accurate and efficient construction of the MPJ & JAS tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This paper delves into the issue of metastatic endometrial cancer (EC), which significantly impacts treatment success and overall survival rates. The study explores various factors contributing to metastasis, including the molecular profile of EC, hormone activity (like estrogen and prolactin), and pro-inflammatory adipocytokines. It also investigates how altered microRNA expression affects gene regulation linked to the dissemination of the cancer. The paper highlights the importance of imaging techniques, particularly transvaginal ultrasound with tumor-free distance (uTFD), in detecting metastases. Additionally, it discusses how diagnostic and therapeutic methods can influence the spread of EC, with hysteroscopy potentially increasing risk in advanced stages and laparoscopic hysterectomy being safer if performed with care. This research could improve our understanding of EC and guide better diagnostic and treatment strategies. The presence of metastatic endometrial cancer (EC) is a key problem in treatment failure associated with reduced overall survival rates. The most common metastatic location is the pelvic lymph nodes, and the least common is the brain. The presence of metastasis depends on many factors, including the molecular profile of cancer (according to the TCGA—Genome Atlas), the activity of certain hormones (estrogen, prolactin), and pro-inflammatory adipocytokines. Additionally, an altered expression of microRNAs affecting the regulation of numerous genes is also related to the spread of cancer. This paper also discusses the value of imaging methods in detecting metastases; the primary role is attributed to the standard transvaginal USG with the tumor-free distance (uTFD) option. The influence of diagnostic and therapeutic methods on EC spread is also described. Hysteroscopy, according to the analysis discussed above, may increase the risk of metastases through a fluid medium, mainly performed in advanced stages of EC. According to another analysis, laparoscopic hysterectomy performed with particular attention to avoiding risky procedures (trocar flushing, tissue traumatization, preserving a margin of normal tissue) was not found to increase the risk of EC dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid changes in artificial intelligence (AI) have already impacted the medical field. While the use of AI to assist medical diagnosis has been documented, AI is continually expanding within medical applications. AI applications in sonography and their effect on ultrasound examinations and sonographers are still indeterminate. Six papers were reviewed to investigate AI applications and effects within the sonography field. These papers provided results on a range of ultrasound applications including breast, obstetric, skin lesions, carotid, blood flow and cardiac ultrasound imaging when combined with AI. In this narrative review, the application of AI demonstrated that accuracy and speed of clinical diagnosis can be improved. These six aspects of ultrasound imaging combined with AI demonstrated the potential to assist the operator and clinicians with a diagnosis in various applications and settings. Additionally, AI can be beneficial to telehealth applications for rural and remote areas where healthcare access can be limited. These changes are opportunities to assist with medical care to provide benefits to patients, sonographers and clinicians as AI transitions to a positive integration within many aspects of clinical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filler injections in the upper face pose significant challenges due to its complex anatomy and proximity to vascular structures. High-frequency Doppler ultrasound offers real-time visualization of facial anatomy, improving both safety and aesthetic outcomes. This paper presents a detailed overview of the ultrasonographic anatomy of the temples, forehead, and glabella, along with reproducible, ultrasound-guided filler injection techniques for these areas. We use two scanning techniques previously described: "scan before injecting" and "scan while injecting", applicable to subdermal, interfascial, and supraperiosteal planes in the temporal region, as well as the glabella, forehead, and supraorbital region. Ultrasound guidance for filler injections in the upper face can enhance procedural efficacy and safety. By integrating real-time imaging, practitioners can navigate the intricate vascular anatomy more effectively, thereby minimizing the risk of complications. This study highlights the need for ongoing research and continuous education to further refine these techniques and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plane wave imaging persists as a focal point of research due to its high frame rate and low complexity. However, in spite of these advantages, its performance can be compromised by several factors such as noise, speckle, and artifacts that affect the image quality and resolution. In this paper, we propose an attention-based complex convolutional residual U-Net to reconstruct improved in-phase/quadrature complex data from a single insonification acquisition that matches diverging wave imaging. Our approach introduces an attention mechanism to the complex domain in conjunction with complex convolution to incorporate phase information and improve the image quality matching images obtained using coherent compounding imaging. To validate the effectiveness of this method, we trained our network on a simulated phased array dataset and evaluated it using in vitro and in vivo data. The experimental results show that our approach improved the ultrasound image quality by focusing the network's attention on critical aspects of the complex data to identify and separate different regions of interest from background noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an active ultrasound-based touchscreen technology is presented for real-time monitoring of multiple contacts on a glass panel of 20 × 19 cm. Both fundamental Lamb wave modes are generated by sending a linear chirp between 50 and 100 kHz to a single piezoelectric ceramic lead zirconate titanate. Measurement is performed using four piezoelectric ceramic lead zirconate titanate elements, and real-time localization and detection are performed on a system on module i.MX 8 M Nano. Results show that Lamb waves can be used for real-time multi-touch detection and localization on both sides of the panel. Moreover, the prototype developed allows for relative pressure measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, pectin derivatives obtained from the degradation of Citrus aurantium L. pectin was prepared by ultrasound-assisted enzymatic method. The effects of ultrasound pretreatment time, enzyme type and amount of enzyme addition on the antioxidant activity of degradation derivatives of Citrus aurantium L. pectin were investigated. Then the content, molecular weight distribution and structural properties of galacturonic acid from the degradation derivatives of Citrus aurantium L. pectin were analyzed by titration gel chromatography and infrared spectroscopy to verify the plausible explanation for the enhanced antioxidant activity of pectin degradation derivatives. The results confirm that the best scavenging rate of DPPH radicals and ABTS radicals as well as the reducing ability of potassium ferricyanide of the pectin degradation derivatives are obtained, when pectinase is selected as the degrading enzyme with the dosage of 6 000 U/g and the ultrasound-pretreatment time is 20 min. Under these conditions, the degradation derivatives of Citrus aurantium L. pectin prepared at a mass concentration of 3 mg/mL, shows a more significant increasing in antioxidant activity with a 62.94% scavenging of DPPH radicals, a 52.67% scavenging of ABTS radicals and a reducing capacity of 0.962 7, compared to the undegraded pectin. The content of galacturonic acid in the degradation derivatives of Citrus aurantium L. pectin varies significantly with the degradation process. Also it is verified that it is a positive correlation between galacturonic acid content and antioxidant activity, and that a lower molecular weight and lower methoxy content of the degradation derivatives are obtained compared to Citrus aurantium L. pectin, but the pyranose structure of the pectin is not changed in the degradation process. The results of this study provide theoretical basis and reference for the highvalue utilization of Citrus aurantium L. pectin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid nodules in pediatric patients are less common than in adults but show a higher malignancy rate. Accordingly, the management of thyroid nodules in pediatric patients is more complex the younger the patient is, needing careful evaluation by physicians. In adult patients, specific ultrasound (US) features have been associated with an increased risk of malignancy (ROM) in thyroid nodules. Moreover, several US risk stratification systems (RSSs) combining the US features of the nodule were built to define the ROM. RSSs are developed for the adult population and their use has not been fully validated in pediatric patients. This study aimed to evaluate the available data about US features of thyroid nodules in pediatric patients and to provide a summary of the evidence regarding the performance of RSS in predicting malignancy. Moreover, insights into the management of thyroid nodules in pediatric patients will be provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since deep learning is introduced to medical image segmentation, UNet and its variants have been extensively applied in medical image analysis. This paper proposes a multi-scale channel attention UNet (MSCA-UNet) to raise the accuracy of the segmentation in medical ultrasound images. Specifically, a multi-scale module is constructed to connect and to enhance the feature maps with different scales extracted by convolution. Subsequently, A channel attention mechanism is designed to compress feature maps through learnable depth separable convolutions. Eventually, we have explored the global feature module to establish the dependency between multi-level features. The proposed method is thoroughly evaluated and compared with the existing methods on four medical ultrasound image datasets. The experiments indicate that our method outperforms the SOTA method in accuracy on four medical ultrasound image datasets. Compared with UNet network, the parameters of our model have decreased 29.82%. In addition, visual comparisons further demonstrate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to conventional non-destructive testing (NDT) and non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methodologies, including radiography, ultrasound, and eddy current analysis, coplanar capacitive sensing technique emerges as a novel and promising avenue within the field. This paper endeavors to elucidate the efficacy of coplanar capacitive sensing, also referred to as capacitive imaging (CI), within the realm of NDT. Leveraging extant scholarly discourse, this review offers a comprehensive and methodical examination of the coplanar capacitive technique, encompassing its fundamental principles, factors influencing sensor efficacy, and diverse applications for defect identification across various NDT domains. Furthermore, this review deliberates on extant challenges and anticipates future trajectories for the technique. The manifold advantages inherent to coplanar capacitive sensing vis-à-vis traditional NDT methodologies not only afford its versatility in application but also underscore its potential for pioneering advancements in forthcoming applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presented a new approach for noncontact inspection of defects in milling groove brazed joints of thrust chamber with laser ultrasonic testing method and synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT). Firstly, laser ultrasonic testing methods for milling groove brazed joints of thrust chamber was studied. Subsequently, numerical models were constructed to analyze the influence of defects on laser-excited signals. The analysis revealed that the brazed defects caused internal waves to reflect on the rib surface, manifesting as defect echo signals preceding the outer wall echo. Through scanning setting, the obtained SAFT images illustrate the presence of the defect directly and clearly. Furthermore, an experimental system was established to detect and image artificial defects with different degrees of weld leakage. The experimental results are consistent with simulation results, validating the capability and effectiveness of the testing and imaging method. In general, the proposed laser ultrasound method offers inherent advantages of non-contact detection with high resolution and precision, and it is easy to achieve fast and automated scanning of large and complex structures like thrust chambers, demonstrating its potential for enhancing the safety and reliability of liquid rocket engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Super-resolution ultrasonography offers the advantage of visualization of intricate microvasculature, which is crucial for disease diagnosis. Mapping of microvessels is possible by localizing microbubbles (MBs) that act as contrast agents and tracking their location. However, there are limitations such as the low detectability of MBs and the utilization of a diluted concentration of MBs, leading to the extension of the acquisition time. We aim to enhance the detectability of MBs to reduce the acquisition time of acoustic data necessary for mapping the microvessels. Approach. We propose utilizing phase patterned waves (PPWs) characterized by spatially patterned phase distributions in the incident beam to achieve this. In contrast to conventional ultrasound irradiation methods, this irradiation method alters bubble interactions, enhancing the oscillation response of MBs and generating more significant scattered waves from specific MBs. This enhances the detectability of MBs, thereby enabling the detection of MBs that were undetectable by the conventional method. The objective is to maximize the overall detection of bubbles by utilizing ultrasound imaging with additional PPWs, including the conventional method. In this paper, we apply PPWs to ultrasound imaging simulations considering bubble–bubble interactions to elucidate the characteristics of PPWs and demonstrate their efficacy by employing PPWs on MBs fixed in a phantom by the experiment. Main results. By utilizing two types of PPWs in addition to the conventional ultrasound irradiation method, we confirmed the detection of up to 93.3% more MBs compared to those detected using the conventional method alone. Significance. Ultrasound imaging using additional PPWs made it possible to increase the number of detected MBs, which is expected to improve the efficiency of bubble detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distorted Born iterative (DBI) method is considered to obtain images with high-contrast and resolution. Besides satisfying the Born approximation condition, the frequency-hopping (FH) technique is necessary to gradually update the sound contrast from the first iteration and progress to the actual sound contrast of the imaged object in subsequent iterations. Inspired by the fact that the higher the frequency, the higher the resolution. Because low-frequency allows for low-resolution object imaging, hence for high-resolution imaging requirements, using low-frequency to possess a high-resolution image from the first iteration will be less efficient. For an effective reconstruction, the object's resolution at low frequencies should be small. And similarly, with high frequencies, the object resolution should be larger. Therefore, in this paper, the FH, and the resolution-turning (RT) technique are proposed to obtain object images with high-contrast and -resolution. The convergence speed in the initial iterations is rapidly achieved by utilizing low frequency in the frequency-turning technique and low image resolution in the resolution-turning technique. It is crucial to ensure accurate object reconstruction for subsequent iterations. The desired spatial resolution is attained by employing high frequency and large image resolution. The resolution-turning distorted Born iterative (RT-DBI) and frequency-hopping distorted Born iterative (FH-DBI) solutions are thoroughly investigated to exploit their best performance. This makes sense because if it is not good to choose the number of iterations for the frequency f1 in FH-DBI and for the resolution of N1 × N1 in RT-DBI, then these solutions give even worse quality than traditional DBI. After that, the RT-FH-DBI integration was investigated in two sub-solutions. We found that the lower frequency f1 used both before and after the RT would get the best performance. Consequently, compared to the traditional DBI approaches, the normalized error and total runtime for the reconstruction process were dramatically decreased, at 83.6% and 18.6%, respectively. Besides fast and quality imaging, the proposed solution RT-FH-DBI is promised to produce high-contrast and high-resolution object images, aiming at object reconstruction at the biological tissue. The development of 3D imaging and experimental verification will be studied further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a method for automatically detecting bolus in ultrasound videos using YOLOv5 to evaluate swallowing function. Neck ultrasound videos show promise for noninvasive swallowing function evaluation to prevent aspiration pneumonia. To effectively evaluate swallowing, it is essential to determine the position of the bolus, appearance frame, and size within the video. Currently, this evaluation relies on visual inspection by an examiner, requiring considerable effort. Therefore, this study aims to automate bolus detection in ultrasound videos using YOLOv5, widely used in object detection. The effectiveness of our method is assessed using ultrasound videos obtained from swallowing experiments involving jelly beverages and water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IoT-based acoustic data collection systems have been proposed for detecting anomalies in mechanical equipment. However, traditional systems using audible sound do not work well due to interference from various sound sources. To solve this problem, we have previously proposed an ultrasonic data collection system, but the clear and high-quality sound required for anomaly detection results in an increase in data volume. This paper proposes a method for extracting only the necessary frequency band based on the periodicity of the target signal, aiming to reduce the amount of data. Our experiments demonstrate that the proposed method efficiently determines the appropriate frequency band in which the characteristics of the target equipment appear, thereby enabling the amount of data to be reduced by more than 45%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effects of an ultrasonic power and the intensity of mechanical agitation for pulp on alkaline pretreatment of gold-bearing arsenopyrite were investigated. The effect of pulp temperature on leaching efficiency in alkaline pretreatment of arsenopyrite was investigated under ultrasound and non-ultrasound conditions. Pre-treatment was followed by gold leaching tests with a cyanide solution. Compared with the nonultrasound condition at the temperature of 60 ○C, arsenic extraction and gold extraction was increased 20 %, 14.4 %, respectively, in the presence of ultrasound at ambient temperature. The characteristics of the ultrasonic power level as a function of the intensity of mechanical agitation were evaluated by a numerical simulation with CFD software – Ansys Fluent. The simulation results demonstrated that the stronger intensity of mechanical agitation, the lower ultrasonic power level. These results were proved through leaching experiments at different rotation speeds of impeller and ultrasonic powers. The study results demonstrate that the ultrasound is an effective factor for pretreatment of gold bearing arsenopyrite and gold extraction is related to an ultrasonic power and the intensity of mechanical agitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated perimetrium segmentation of transvaginal ultrasound images is an important process for computer-aided diagnosis of uterine diseases. However, ultrasound images often contain various structures and textures, and these structures have different shapes, sizes, and contrasts; therefore, accurately segmenting the parametrium region of the uterus in transvaginal uterine ultrasound images is a challenge. Recently, many fully supervised deep learning-based methods have been proposed for the segmentation of transvaginal ultrasound images. Nevertheless, these methods require extensive pixel-level annotation by experienced sonographers. This procedure is expensive and time-consuming. In this paper, we present a bidirectional copy–paste Mamba (BCP-Mamba) semi-supervised model for segmenting the parametrium. The proposed model is based on a bidirectional copy–paste method and incorporates a U-shaped structure model with a visual state space (VSS) module instead of the traditional sampling method. A dataset comprising 1940 transvaginal ultrasound images from Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology is utilized for training and evaluation. The proposed BCP-Mamba model undergoes comparative analysis with two widely recognized semi-supervised models, BCP-Net and U-Net, across various evaluation metrics including Dice, Jaccard, average surface distance (ASD), and Hausdorff_95. The results indicate the superior performance of the BCP-Mamba semi-supervised model, achieving a Dice coefficient of 86.55%, surpassing both U-Net (80.72%) and BCP-Net (84.63%) models. The Hausdorff_95 of the proposed method is 14.56. In comparison, the counterparts of U-Net and BCP-Net are 23.10 and 21.34, respectively. The experimental findings affirm the efficacy of the proposed semi-supervised learning approach in segmenting transvaginal uterine ultrasound images. The implementation of this model may alleviate the expert workload and facilitate more precise prediction and diagnosis of uterine-related conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During neurosurgical procedures, the neuro-navigation system's accuracy is affected by the brain shift phenomenon. One popular strategy is to compensate for brain shift using intraoperative ultrasound (iUS) registration with pre-operative magnetic resonance (MR) scans. This requires a satisfactory multimodal image registration method, which is challenging due to the low image quality of ultrasound and the unpredictable nature of brain deformation during surgery. In this paper, we propose an automatic unsupervised end-to-end MR–iUS registration approach named the Dual Discriminator Bayesian Generative Adversarial Network (D2BGAN). The proposed network consists of two discriminators and a generator optimized by a Bayesian loss function to improve the functionality of the generator, and we add a mutual information loss function to the discriminator for similarity measurements. Extensive validation was performed on the RESECT and BITE datasets, where the mean target registration error (mTRE) of MR–iUS registration using D2BGAN was determined to be 0.75 ± 0.3 mm. The D2BGAN illustrated a clear advantage by achieving an 85% improvement in the mTRE over the initial error. Moreover, the results confirmed that the proposed Bayesian loss function, rather than the typical loss function, improved the accuracy of MR–iUS registration by 23%. The improvement in registration accuracy was further enhanced by the preservation of the intensity and anatomical information of the input images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uroperitoneum is a typical disease of the newborn foal, which occurs rarely but regularly. Ultrasonography is considered the most important imaging method for diagnosing this disease. Thus far, only one older case series comprising 31 foals suffering from uroperitoneum has systematically listed results of ultrasound examinations. Objective: This paper presents the findings of an ultrasonographic examination of 34 foals with uroperitoneum in order to inform future interpretation of ultrasonographic data in suspected uroperitoneum cases. Method: Ultrasonographic data of 34 neonatal foals up to the age of 14 days diagnosed with uroperitoneum between 2006 and 2022 were analysed. Results: Most foals demonstrated highly increased levels of free (97%), anechogenic (91%) fluid in the abdomen. Although the urinary bladder was frequently visible (50%), bladder wall discontinuity was only occasionally detectable (18%). Conclusion: Transabdominal ultrasonography has proved to be a very reliable imaging method for diagnosing suspected uroperitoneum. It is recommended that it be used in every case of suspected uroperitoneum in order to exclude differential diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoacoustic imaging integrates the strengths of optics and ultrasound, offering high resolution, depth penetration, and multimodal imaging capabilities. Practical considerations with instrumentation and geometry limit the number of available acoustic sensors and their "view" of the imaging target, which result in image reconstruction artifacts degrading image quality. To address this problem, YOLOv8-Pix2Pix is proposed as a hybrid artifact-removal algorithm, which is advantageous in comprehensively eliminating various types of artifacts and effectively restoring image details compared to existing algorithms. The proposed algorithm demonstrates superior performance in artifact removal and segmentation of photoacoustic images of brain tumors. For the purpose of further expanding its application fields and aligning with actual clinical needs, an experimental system for photoacoustic detection is designed in this paper to be verified. The experimental results show that the processed images are better than the pre-processed images in terms of reconstruction metrics PSNR and SSIM, and also the segmentation performance is significantly improved, which provides an effective solution for the further development of photoacoustic imaging technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast tumor segmentation of ultrasound images provides valuable tumor information for early detection and diagnosis. However, speckle noise and blurred boundaries in breast ultrasound images present challenges for tumor segmentation, especially for malignant tumors with irregular shapes. Recent vision transformers have shown promising performance in handling the variation through global context modeling. Nevertheless, they are often dominated by features of large patterns and lack the ability to recognize negative information in ultrasound images, which leads to the loss of breast tumor details (e.g., boundaries and small objects). In this paper, we propose a novel noise suppression and boundary refinement network, NSBR-Net, to simultaneously alleviate speckle noise interference and blurred boundary problems of breast tumor segmentation. Specifically, we propose two innovative designs, namely, the Noise Suppression Module (NSM) and the Boundary Refinement Module (BRM). The NSM filters noise information from the coarse-grained feature maps, while the BRM progressively refines the boundaries of significant lesion objects. Our method demonstrates superior accuracy over state-of-the-art deep learning models, achieving significant improvements of 3.67% on Dataset B and 2.30% on the BUSI dataset in mDice for testing malignant tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 3D imaging-based model reconstruction technology is being applied in various aspects of fruit planting management, picking, transportation, and promoting fruit industry automation development. The fruit model based on 3D imaging technology is closer to the external characteristics of the fruit itself. More accurate data is obtained when the model is imported into a computer for simulation and analysis for growth prediction, quality grading, and mechanical damage. The reconstructed fruit models can also be used to calibrate the parameters of the robot's vision system, optimize the grasping strategy of the picking machinery, and improve the identification sorting and picking accuracy. Some articles have been published on the principles of 3D imaging technology, and there are also numerous studies on the practical application of fruit models. However, no review article exists on applying 3D reconstruction and modeling of fruits using 3D imaging techniques. This paper will focus on the acquiring and processing of 3D data and analyzing the application of imaging principles and technologies such as triangulation, time-of-flight(TOF), interferometry, electromagnetic radiation(EMR), and ultrasound imaging(US). Also, this paper summarizes the application of fruit models for quality assessment, mechanical property study, and picking machinery. Finally, the latest progress in the application of fruit models is prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional ultrasound technology based on spot scanning or phased array encounters significant challenge in real-time imaging with a single detector. In this paper, we present a Hadamard acoustic correlated imaging based on photoacoustic modulation with one transducer. The process of accurately generating the Hadamard acoustic field is to apply the carbon-nanotubes–polydimethylsiloxane composite to absorb the optimized Hadamard basis pattern. Taking advantage of correlated imaging, our system without scanning can reduce imaging artifacts and its resolution could be about four times higher than that of traditional ultrasound imaging. The use of a single transducer rather than an array of transducers can reduce the cost of the imaging system. Therefore, the proposed scheme can find applications in biomedical imaging and nondestructive evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the efficient removal of organic pollutants from wastewater has emerged as a critical area of global research interest. Against this backdrop, an array of innovative technologies for wastewater treatment has been developed. Among numerous advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), periodate (PI), an emerging oxidizing agent in AOPs, has garnered significant attention from researchers. Particularly, the integration of ultrasound (US)-activated PI systems has been recognized as an exceptionally promising approach for the synergistic degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater. In this paper, we conducted a thorough analysis of the mechanisms underlying the degradation of organic pollutants using the US/PI system. Furthermore, we comprehensively delineated the effects of ultrasonic power, periodate concentration, temperature, pH, coexisting inorganic ions, and dissolved organic matter on the removal efficiency of organic pollutants and summarized application cases of the US/PI system for the degradation of different pollutants. Finally, we also offered prospective discussions on the future trajectories of US/PI technology development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current scenario, liver abnormalities are one of the most serious public health concerns. Cirrhosis of the liver is one of the foremost causes of demise from liver diseases. To accurately predict the status of liver cirrhosis, physicians frequently use automated computer-aided approaches. In this paper, through clustering techniques like fuzzy c-means (FCM), possibilistic fuzzy c-means (PFCM), and possibilistic c means (PCM) and sample entropy features are extracted from normal and cirrhotic liver ultrasonic images. The extracted features are classified as normal and cirrhotic through the Gaussian mixture model (GMM), Softmax discriminant classifier (SDC), harmonic search algorithm (HSA), SVM (linear), SVM (RBF), SVM (polynomial), artificial algae optimization (AAO), and hybrid classifier artificial algae optimization (AAO) with Gaussian mixture mode (GMM). The classifiers' performances are compared based on accuracy, F1 Score, MCC, F measure, error rate, and Jaccard metric (JM). The hybrid classifier AAO–GMM, with the PFCM feature, outperforms the other classifiers and attained an accuracy of 99.03% with an MCC of 0.90. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring temperature inside chemical reactors is crucial to ensuring process control and safety. However, conventional methods face a number of limitations, such as the invasiveness and the restricted dynamic range. This paper presents a novel approach using ultrasound transducers to enable accurate temperature measurements. Our experiments, conducted within a temperature range of 28.8 to 83.8 °C, reveal a minimal temperature accuracy of 98.6% within the critical zone spanning between 70.5 and 75 °C, and an accuracy of over 99% outside this critical zone. The experiments focused on a homogeneous environment of distilled water within a stainless-steel tank. This approach will be extended in a future research in order to diversify the experimental media and non-uniform environments, while promising broader applications in chemical process monitoring and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ultrasonography is a basic tool used in the evaluation of thyroid nodules, but there is no single feature of this method which predicts malignancy with statistical significance. The aim of the study is to assess the usefulness of contrast enhanced-ultrasound (CEUS) in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. The highest value of the study results from the multiparameter approach to the evaluation of thyroid lesions in the light of new diagnostics methods and assessment of the unique combinations of both B-mode and CEUS features as predictors of thyroid cancers. Moreover, several qualitative contrast features predicting benign lesions were evaluated. The preliminary results indicate that CEUS is a useful tool in assessing the risk of malignancy of thyroid lesions. The combination of the qualitative enhancement parameters and B-mode sonographic features significantly increases the method's usefulness. Further studies should be performed to introduce CEUS patterns in the diagnostic algorithm of thyroid nodules. Background: Ultrasonography is a primary method used in the evaluation of thyroid nodules, but no single feature of this method predicts malignancy with high accuracy. Therefore, this paper aims to assess the utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Methods: The study group comprised 188 adult patients (155 women and 33 men) who preoperatively underwent CEUS of a thyroid nodule classified as Bethesda categories II–VI after fine-needle aspiration biopsy. During the CEUS examination, 1.5 mL of SonoVue contrast was injected intravenously, after which 15 qualitative CEUS enhancement patterns were analysed. Results: The histopathologic results comprised 65 benign thyroid nodules and 123 thyroid carcinomas. The dominant malignant CEUS features, such as hypo- and heterogeneous enhancement and slow wash-in phase, were evaluated, whereas high enhancement, ring enhancement, and a slow wash-out phase were assessed as predictors of benign lesions. Two significant combinations of B-mode and CEUS patterns were noted, namely, hypoechogenicity with heterogeneous enhancement and non-smooth margins with hypo- or iso-enhancement. Conclusions: The preliminary results indicate that CEUS is a useful tool in assessing the risk of malignancy of thyroid lesions. The combination of the qualitative enhancement parameters and B-mode sonographic features significantly increases the method's usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the decorrelation calculation of diffusion ultrasound in time-frequency domain, this paper discusses the repeatability and potential significance of Disturbance Sensitive Zone (DSZ) in time-frequency domain. The experimental study of Barely Visible Impact Damage (BVID) on Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) is carried out. The decorrelation coefficients of time, frequency, and time-frequency domains and DSZ are calculated and compared. It has been observed that the sensitivity of the scattered wave disturbance caused by impact damage is non-uniformly distributed in both the time and frequency domains. This is evident from the non-uniform distribution of the decorrelation coefficient in time-domain and frequency-domain decorrelation calculations. Further, the decorrelation calculation in the time-frequency domain can show the distribution of the sensitivity of the scattered wave disturbance in the time domain and frequency domain. The decorrelation coefficients in time, frequency, and time-frequency domains increase monotonically with the number of impacts. In addition, in the time-frequency domain decorrelation calculation results, stable and repetitive DSZ are observed, which means that the specific frequency component of the scattered wave is extremely sensitive to the damage evolution of the impact region at a specific time. Finally, the DSZ obtained from the first 15 impacts is used to improve the decorrelation calculation in the 16-th to 20-th impact. The results show that the increment rate of the improved decorrelation coefficient is 10.22%. This study reveals that the diffusion ultrasonic decorrelation calculation improved by DSZ makes it feasible to evaluate early-stage damage caused by BVID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The sparse total focusing method (TFM) has been shown to enhance the computational efficacy of ultrasound imaging but the image quality of ultrasound regrettably deteriorates with an increase in the sparsity rate of array elements. Deep learning has made remarkable advancements in image processing and cycle-consistent generative adversarial networks (CycleGANs) have been extensively employed to reconstruct diverse image categories. However, due to the incomplete extraction of image feature information by the generator and discriminator in a CycleGAN, high-quality sparse TFM images cannot be directly reconstructed using CycleGANs. There is also a risk of losing crucial feature information related to minor defects. As a result, this paper modifies the generator and discriminator in the CycleGAN to construct a new relativistic discriminator and coordinate attention CycleGAN (RCACycleGAN) model, which enables high-precision reconstruction of sparse TFM images. The addition of the coordinate attention module to the CycleGAN enhances the defective feature representation by fully considering the channel and spatial correlation between regions and using the fusion of spatially perceived feature maps in different directions. It solves the problem of easy loss of defective key feature information. The relativistic discriminator replaces the PatchGAN discriminator in the CycleGAN and evaluates the quality of both real and sparse TFM reconstructed images to ensure a relative image quality evaluation. This process solves the problem of unstable image quality of the sparse TFM reconstructed image. Experimental results demonstrate that RCACycleGAN can stably reconstruct sparse TFM images even in small sample dataset scenarios. The proposed network model reconstructs images with better accuracy, including in terms of structural similarity, defect roundness and area, and has a shorter training time than several existing network models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an investigation on changes in viscosity and group composition of heavy oil samples after ultrasonic upgrading process. Heavy oil samples correspond to different oilfields (located in Russia) were processed under various ultrasonic mode, the cavitation consequence of which was controlled by acoustic method. The viscosity of samples was measured just after ultrasonic treatment, 10 minutes, and 1-34 days. The saturate, aromatic, resin and asphaltene (SARA) analysis was carried out after ultrasonic treatment with 34 days of relaxation and the achieved results were compared with the SARA fractions of original crude oil. The results of viscosity measurement showed viscosity reduction after the ultrasonic treatment. However, the viscosity was regressed after 1-4 days of relaxation with further reduction in 7 days. The degree of viscosity increase after 34 days was only 10% in contrast to viscosity of original crude oil. The power and the sonication time did not influence the relaxation process. In conclusion, attention was drawn to the results of SARA analysis, the content of saturates decreased and the relative content of heavy fragments such as resins and asphaltenes was increased, which determines the degree of viscosity increase after relaxation period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This paper aimed to investigate the association between Ultrasonography (USG) results and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules (TNs) in private and public hospitals in Yemen. In addition, it aimed to determine the sensitivity, specificity of USG and FNAC in diagnosing thyroid nodules (TNs). Materials and Methods: The study utilized a retrospective comparative study design, analyzing medical records of patients diagnosed with TNs between June 01, 2022 and May 01, 2023, in four private and public hospitals in Yemen. USG and FNAC reports, along with demographic data were collected. The author categorized the USG findings based on the American Thyroid Association guidelines, while FNAC results were classified according to the Bethesda reporting system for thyroid cytopathology. Results: The study included 94 diverse participants with TNs. The average age was 39.96 years, with a majority of female participants (85.1%). The distribution of nodules revealed varying consistencies, sizes, and shapes. The association between USG and FNAC diagnoses showed a significant relationship (χ2 = 34.914, P < 0.001), with a high proportion of benign cases in both USG and FNAC results. Validity analysis demonstrated a sensitivity of 88.68% and a specificity of 70.73% for USG in diagnosing thyroid carcinoma. The positive predictive value was 79.66%, and the negative predictive value was 82.86%. The overall accuracy of USG compared to FNAC was 80.85%. Conclusion: This study shows USG's potential as a diagnostic tool for TNs in Yemen. Insights improve understanding of TN diagnosis in Yemen's healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The anatomy of the forefoot is complex, and the sonographic assessment to image the plantar digital nerves and exclude, diagnose or discriminate between a Morton's neuroma and intermetatarsal bursitis can be challenging. Topic description and discussion: A good appreciation of the sonographic anatomy, technique, normal and abnormal appearances is required to undertake a sonographic assessment of the forefoot and its interspaces, particularly the plantar digital nerves. This is unpacked in this paper with associated pictorial aids. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the interspaces and the nearby metatarsophalangeal joints and their associated soft-tissue structures are helpful sonographic landmarks to guide imaging and assessment of the common and proper plantar digital nerves and the intermetatarsal bursa. These need to be appreciated from both dorsal and plantar sonographic approaches, in both short- and long-axis imaging planes. Conclusion: Improved understanding of the anatomy and sonographic appearances of the interspace structures can enhance the sonographic assessment of the forefoot and improve diagnosis of a Morton's neuroma and/or intermetatarsal bursitis when present to guide patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. High-fidelity mannequins are increasingly used to train the medical staff on many medical procedures. Lately, a new challenge regarding echogenic materials to build ultrasound-responding phantoms has emerged. The challenge is to find materials with a suitable combination of ultrasound velocity and consistency to the touch. Methods. Bibliographic research was performed to identify materials with promising stiffness, shape retention, and ultrasound velocity combinations. As-standardized-as-possible specimens were realized and tested using an A-mode ultrasound machine to evaluate the US velocity through them. Four differently doped silicones, five gelatin-based materials, five synthetic gelatins, and a 3D printable resin were included in the study. After being tested, the materials were monitored for 12 days to assess their durability and shape retention and tested again to evaluate the ultrasound velocity's stability. In the paper, the results of the characterization and follow-up of the materials are presented. Results. Outcomes show that gelatins are exceptional soft tissue-mimicking materials in terms of ultrasound velocity and consistency to the touch, but are poor in terms of overtime stability and therefore suitable for disposable short-term phantoms only. Doped silicones present lower ultrasound velocity compared to the reference value of 1540 m/s found in the literature, but excellent overtime stability, and shape retention properties. Values close to biological ones were also given by the Elastic 50A and by polyvinyl chloride plastisol. Conclusion. The paper gives a quantitative overview of the fidelity of both already-in-use and non-conventional materials, focusing on the ultrasound velocity value through them and their longevity in terms of macroscopically observed dehydration, shape retention, and bacterial onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic point-of-care ultrasound of the heart—also known as Focused Cardiac Ultrasound (FoCUS)—has emerged as a powerful bedside tool to narrow the differential diagnosis of causes of hypotension. The list of causes of hypotension that a FoCUS provider is expected to be able to recognize includes a compressive pericardial effusion due to hemopericardium (blood in the pericardial sac). But hemopericardium can be difficult to distinguish from a more common condition that is not immediately life-threatening: epicardial fat. This paper reviews illustrative images of both epicardial fat and hemopericardium to provide practice guidance to the FoCUS user on how to differentiate these two phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]