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
This comprehensive study investigates the formation and evolution of intermetallic compounds during the solidification process of magnesium alloys using advanced micro X-ray computed tomography.By analyzing both commo...This comprehensive study investigates the formation and evolution of intermetallic compounds during the solidification process of magnesium alloys using advanced micro X-ray computed tomography.By analyzing both common industrial Mg-Al-Zn alloys and a novel rare earth-containing Mg-Ni-Gd-Y alloy,we aim to characterize the nucleation,growth,and distribution of Al-Mn and eutectic intermetallics across various stages of solidification.The non destructive imaging technique employed in this research provides high-resolution,three-dimensional insights into the microstructural development,allowing for a detailed examination of the morphology,spatial arrangement,and interconnectivity of intermetallic phases.This approach overcomes limitations of traditional two-dimensional metallographic methods,offering a more comprehensive understanding of the complex three-dimensional structures formed during solidification.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
Controlling the morphology of Al_(2) Cu intermetallic compounds(IMCs)has been of importance to enhance the properties of Al-based alloys.However,the quantification of Al_(2) Cu IMCs with diversified morphologies is st...Controlling the morphology of Al_(2) Cu intermetallic compounds(IMCs)has been of importance to enhance the properties of Al-based alloys.However,the quantification of Al_(2) Cu IMCs with diversified morphologies is still lacking,and the morphological evolution of Al_(2) Cu dendrites remains poorly understood.Using synchrotron X-ray tomography,we have directly quantified the morphological evolution of proeutectic Al_(2) Cu IMCs in directionally solidified Al-Cu alloys.The three-dimensional(3D)morphologies of Al_(2) Cu IMCs under different growth rates were quantified using volume,specific surface area,interconnectivity,tortuosity,and Gaussian curvature.The faceted morphology under slow growth rate was divided into three different types,including single hollow prism,irregular prism lacking partial faces,and coalesced prism consisting of two adjacent crystals.The morphological transition from faceted prism to non-faceted algae-like,irregular tree-like,and typically dendritic shapes with increasing growth rates was determined,reflecting the growth modes varied from lateral mode to intermediary and continuous modes.The non-faceted Al_(2) Cu dendrite had one primary stem,three groups of secondary arms,and a faceted tip.The angles between secondary arms were 120°,and the tip consisted of(011)and(011^(-))planes.This work provides a deep understanding of the formation and growth of complex IMCs in metallic alloys.展开更多
Chaotic microcavities play a crucial role in several research areas,including the study of unidirectional microlasers,nonlinear optics,sensing,quantum chaos,and non-Hermitian physics.To date,most theoretical and exper...Chaotic microcavities play a crucial role in several research areas,including the study of unidirectional microlasers,nonlinear optics,sensing,quantum chaos,and non-Hermitian physics.To date,most theoretical and experimental explorations have focused on two-dimensional(2D)chaotic dielectric microcavities,but there have been minimal studies on three-dimensional(3D)ones because precise geometrical information of a 3D microcavity can be difficult to obtain.Here,we image 3D microcavities with submicron resolution using X-ray microcomputed tomography(μCT),enabling nondestructive imaging that preserves the sample for subsequent use.By analyzing the ray dynamics of a typical deformed microsphere,we demonstrate that a sufficient deformation along all three dimensions can lead to chaotic ray trajectories over extended time scales.Notably,using the X-rayμCT reconstruction results,the phase space chaotic ray dynamics of a deformed microsphere are accurately established.X-rayμCT could become a unique platform for the characterization of such deformed 3D microcavities by providing a precise means for determining the degree of deformation necessary for potential applications in ray chaos and quantum chaos.展开更多
Understanding the mechanisms of gas transport and the resulting preferential pathways formation through bentonite-based barriers is essential for their performance evaluation.In this experimental study,gas migration w...Understanding the mechanisms of gas transport and the resulting preferential pathways formation through bentonite-based barriers is essential for their performance evaluation.In this experimental study,gas migration within a heterogenous mixture of MX80 bentonite pellets and powder with a ratio of 80/20 in dry mass was investigated.A novel X-ray transparent constant volume cell has been developed to assess the effect of gas pressure,material heterogeneities,and water vapor gas saturation on breakthrough pressure and gas pathways.The new cell allows to perform high-resolution X-ray computed micro-tomography(X-ray μCT)scans to track microstructural changes during different phases of saturation and gas injection.Experimental results showed that the gas breakthrough occurred when the pressure was raised to 3 MPa.This is slightly higher than the expected swelling pressure(2.9 MPa)of the bentonite sample.Each gas injection was followed by a long resaturation phase restoring material homogeneity at μCT resolution scale(16 mm).However,the elapsed time needed for gas to breakthrough at 3 MPa diminished at each subsequent injection test.X-ray μCT results also revealed the opening of the specimen/cell wall interface during gas passage.This opening expanded as the injection pressure increased.The gas flow along the interface was associated with the development of dilatant pathways inside the sample,although they did not reach the outlet surface.It was observed that the water vapor gas saturation had no effect on the breakthrough pressure.These findings enhance the understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying microstructural evolution and gas pathway development within the highly heterogeneous mixture.The experimental outcomes highlight the effectiveness of X-ray μCT to improve quality protocols for engineering design and safety assessments of engineered barriers.展开更多
In order to investigate the damage tolerance of a metastable Ti-5Al-3V-3Mo-2Cr-2Zr-1Nb-1Fe(Ti5321)alloy with bimodal microstructure using void growth quantification and micromechanical modeling,in situ tensile testing...In order to investigate the damage tolerance of a metastable Ti-5Al-3V-3Mo-2Cr-2Zr-1Nb-1Fe(Ti5321)alloy with bimodal microstructure using void growth quantification and micromechanical modeling,in situ tensile testing was performed during X-ray microtomography experiments.Compared with investigations of surface voids by traditional two-dimensional(2D)methods involving post-mortem characterization,three-dimensional(3D)information on void evolution inside optically opaque samples obtained through X-ray microtomography is essential.The Rice and Tracey model and Huang model were applied to predict void growth and show good agreement with experimental data using calibration of the damage parameterα.The void growth kinetics of Ti5321 with bimodal microstructure was analyzed by comparing theαvalue with that of Ti64 for different microstructure morphologies.The damage mechanism of ductile fracture of Ti5321 with bimodal microstructure is discussed.It was found that the size of the voids apparently increases with the triaxiality of stress.Post-mortem scanning electron microscopy(SEM)was also used to demonstrate this damage mechanism of ductile fracture of Ti5321.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
Correctly tracking the evolution of spatial heterogeneity of local degree of saturation(Sr)in unsaturated soils is essential to explain the seepage phenomenon,which is crucial to assessing slope stability.Several meth...Correctly tracking the evolution of spatial heterogeneity of local degree of saturation(Sr)in unsaturated soils is essential to explain the seepage phenomenon,which is crucial to assessing slope stability.Several methods exist for quantifying the heterogeneity of local S_(r).However,a comprehensive comparison of these methods in terms of accuracy,relative advantages,and disadvantages is currently lacking.This paper presents a comparative analysis of local Sr obtained at multiple scales,ranging from the element scale to the slice,representative element volume(REV),pore,and voxel scales.The spatial heterogeneity of Sr in an unsaturated glass beads specimen at different matric suctions was visualised and quantified by multiscale X-ray micro-focus computed tomography image-based analysis methods.Local Sr obtained at different scales displayed a comparable trend along the sample depth,yet the REV-scale method showed a much scattered and discontinuous distribution.In contrast,the pore-scale method detected a distinct two-clustered,bimodal distribution of S_(r).The pore-scale method has the highest integrated resolution,as it has the highest spatial resolution(i.e.number of data points)and provides more information(i.e.number of extractable physical parameters).This method thus provides a more effective approach for tracking the spatial heterogeneity of S_(r).Based on this method,pore-scale water retention curves were determined,offering new quantitative means to characterise pore water heterogeneity and explainwater drainage processes such as hysteresis at the pore scale.展开更多
This study aims to investigate the responses of a perovskite-based direct-conversion dual-layer flat-panel detector(DL-FPD)numerically.To this end,the X-ray sensitivity,spatial resolution quantified by the modulation ...This study aims to investigate the responses of a perovskite-based direct-conversion dual-layer flat-panel detector(DL-FPD)numerically.To this end,the X-ray sensitivity,spatial resolution quantified by the modulation transfer function(MTF),and detective quantum efficiency(DQE)of the DL-FPD are evaluated numerically using a linear cascade model.In addition,both the single-crystal(SC)and polycrystalline(PC)structures of MAPbI_(3)are investigated,along with various other key parameters such as the material thickness,electric field strength,X-ray beam spectrum,and electronic readout noise.The results demonstrate that SC perovskite consistently exhibits better performance than PC perovskite owing to fewer material defects.Increasing the layer thickness may decrease the MTF,but can also enhance the sensitivity and DQE.Moreover,appropriately increasing the external electric field within the material can improve the sensitivity,MTF,and DQE.Finally,reducing the electronic readout noise can significantly enhance the DQE for low-dose imaging.This study demonstrates the potential of high-quality dual-energy X-ray imaging using direct-conversion perovskite DL-FPDs.展开更多
With the development of the semiconductor industry below the 7 nm scale,critical dimension small-angle X-ray scattering(CD-SAXS)has emerged as a powerful tool for quantitatively measuring nanoscale deviations.In this ...With the development of the semiconductor industry below the 7 nm scale,critical dimension small-angle X-ray scattering(CD-SAXS)has emerged as a powerful tool for quantitatively measuring nanoscale deviations.In this study,the effects of X-ray beam size and photon energy on the accuracy of critical dimension measurements were investigated.Critical dimensions measured using beams with different spot sizes showed different deviations from the expected values.Beam sizes that were either too large or too small did not improve confidence intervals.As the incident energy increased,the X-ray transmission rate increased,while the scattering cross section decreased,resulting in a gradual decrease in the signal-to-noise ratio of the diffraction peaks,which reduced the accuracy of the CD-SAXS measurements.An optimal accuracy was obtained at 12 keV with a smaller beam size.Using an effective trapezoid model,the results yielded an average pitch of 100.4±0.2 nm,width of 49.8±0.2 nm,height of 130.0±0.2 nm,and a sidewall angle below 1.1°±0.1°.These results provide crucial guidance for the future development of CD-SAXS laboratories and the construction of X-ray machines as well as robust support for research in related fields.展开更多
The unique advantage of x-ray ghost imaging(XGI)is its potential in low dose radiology.One of the practical ways to reduce the radiation exposure is to reduce the measurements while remaining sufficient image quality....The unique advantage of x-ray ghost imaging(XGI)is its potential in low dose radiology.One of the practical ways to reduce the radiation exposure is to reduce the measurements while remaining sufficient image quality.Synthetic aperture x-ray ghost imaging(SAXGI)is invented to achieve megapixel XGI with limited measurements,which is expected to implement XGI simultaneously with large field of view and low radiation exposure.In this paper,we experimentally investigate the effect of measurements reduction on the spatial resolution and image quality of SAXGI with standard sample and biomedical specimen.The results with a resolution chart demonstrated that at 360 measurements,SAXGI successfully retrieved the sample image of 1960×1960 pixels with spatial resolution of 4μm.With measurement reduction,the spatial resolution deteriorates but the sparser structures are still discernable.Even with measurements reduced to 10,a spatial resolution of 10μm can still be achieved by SAXGI.A biomedical sample of a fish specimen is employed to evaluate the method and the fish image of 2000×1000 pixels with an SSIM of 0.962 is reconstructed by SAXGI with 770measurements,corresponding to an accumulative exposure reduction of more than 2 times.With the measurements reduced to 10 which corresponds to 1/160 of the accumulative radiation exposure for conventional radiology,bulky structure like the fish skeleton can still be definitely discerned and the SSIM for the reconstructed image still retained 0.9179.Results of this paper demonstrate that measurements reduction is practicable for the radiation exposure reduction of the sample,which implicates that SAXGI with limited measurements is an efficient solution for low dose radiology.展开更多
Overt and harmful diabetes mellitus(DM)has detrimental effects on individuals and,by extension,the community.Among the microvascular DM complications is diabetic retinopathy(DR).DR may cause irreversible vision deteri...Overt and harmful diabetes mellitus(DM)has detrimental effects on individuals and,by extension,the community.Among the microvascular DM complications is diabetic retinopathy(DR).DR may cause irreversible vision deterioration in cases of poor blood glucose regulation.Changes in vascular permeability are key trigger points for diabetic macular edema(DME),a condition characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the macula.The development of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)pathway inhibitors has provided a pathogenesis-based treatment approach for DME.Optical coherence tomography(OCT)provides highresolution imaging of the anatomy,including the aging of DME and its structural damage,in distinct morphologic subtypes of macular edema,thereby supporting the assessment of macular edema treatment.The availability of repeated OCT monitoring provides clinical reassurance through the treatment.OCT angiography(OCTA)provides retinal blood flow maps with high spatial resolution.The ability promotes an understanding of disease pathogenesis and facilitates the implementation of new therapeutic methods.This review compares the potential of OCT and OCTA in the diagnosis and treatment of DME,as well as their respective therapeutic applications.展开更多
A large-scale view of the magnetospheric cusp is expected to be obtained by the Soft X-ray Imager(SXI)onboard the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer(SMILE).However,it is challenging to trace the three-d...A large-scale view of the magnetospheric cusp is expected to be obtained by the Soft X-ray Imager(SXI)onboard the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer(SMILE).However,it is challenging to trace the three-dimensional cusp boundary from a two-dimensional X-ray image because the detected X-ray signals will be integrated along the line of sight.In this work,a global magnetohydrodynamic code was used to simulate the X-ray images and photon count images,assuming an interplanetary magnetic field with a pure Bz component.The assumption of an elliptic cusp boundary at a given altitude was used to trace the equatorward and poleward boundaries of the cusp from a simulated X-ray image.The average discrepancy was less than 0.1 RE.To reduce the influence of instrument effects and cosmic X-ray backgrounds,image denoising was considered before applying the method above to SXI photon count images.The cusp boundaries were reasonably reconstructed from the noisy X-ray image.展开更多
Background:Diabetic macular edema is a prevalent retinal condition and a leading cause of visual impairment among diabetic patients’Early detection of affected areas is beneficial for effective diagnosis and treatmen...Background:Diabetic macular edema is a prevalent retinal condition and a leading cause of visual impairment among diabetic patients’Early detection of affected areas is beneficial for effective diagnosis and treatment.Traditionally,diagnosis relies on optical coherence tomography imaging technology interpreted by ophthalmologists.However,this manual image interpretation is often slow and subjective.Therefore,developing automated segmentation for macular edema images is essential to enhance to improve the diagnosis efficiency and accuracy.Methods:In order to improve clinical diagnostic efficiency and accuracy,we proposed a SegNet network structure integrated with a convolutional block attention module(CBAM).This network introduces a multi-scale input module,the CBAM attention mechanism,and jump connection.The multi-scale input module enhances the network’s perceptual capabilities,while the lightweight CBAM effectively fuses relevant features across channels and spatial dimensions,allowing for better learning of varying information levels.Results:Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed network achieves an IoU of 80.127%and an accuracy of 99.162%.Compared to the traditional segmentation network,this model has fewer parameters,faster training and testing speed,and superior performance on semantic segmentation tasks,indicating its highly practical applicability.Conclusion:The C-SegNet proposed in this study enables accurate segmentation of Diabetic macular edema lesion images,which facilitates quicker diagnosis for healthcare professionals.展开更多
The Urumqi foreland thrust tectonic belt exhibits complex geological structures and strong seismicity.Imaging its shallow crustal structure is of great significance for understanding its tectonic mechanism and seismog...The Urumqi foreland thrust tectonic belt exhibits complex geological structures and strong seismicity.Imaging its shallow crustal structure is of great significance for understanding its tectonic mechanism and seismogenic environment.We obtained a high-resolution S-wave velocity model of the shallow crust at depths of 0–8 km using ambient noise tomography applied to data from a dense seismic array.Sediments are generally thinner in the southeast and thicker in the northwest,with a maximum thickness of more than 8 km.Variations in the velocity structure near the Xishan,Wanyaogou,and Yamalike faults indicate that their formation was related to differences in the physical properties on either side of the fault.In addition,the faults exhibit thrusting of the low-velocity sides towards the high-velocity sides.In the study area,earthquakes rarely occur at depths of less than 3 km and are mostly concentrated in the high-velocity zone in the southern part.Below 3 km depth,more earthquakes were observed,mainly distributed near faults or in relatively high-velocity areas in the southern part.This suggests that high-velocity structures are more prone to stress accumulation,resulting in earthquakes.At 6–8 km depth,the densely distributed earthquakes in the northwestern part of the Bogda mountains are well-aligned with the northwest-oriented low-velocity zone observed in this study,suggesting that this weak zone likely controls seismicity in this area.展开更多
Van der Waals(vdW)heterostructures have attracted much attention due to their distinctive optical,electrical,and thermal properties,demonstrating promising potential in areas such as photocatalysis,ultrafast photonics...Van der Waals(vdW)heterostructures have attracted much attention due to their distinctive optical,electrical,and thermal properties,demonstrating promising potential in areas such as photocatalysis,ultrafast photonics,and free electron radiation devices.Particularly,they are promising platforms for studying thermionic emission.It is illustrated that using vdW heterostructure-based thermionic emission can enhance heat transfer in vacuum devices.As a proof of concept,the approach is demonstrated to offer a promising solution for the long-standing overheating issue in X-ray tubes.Specifically,it is shown that the saturated target temperature of a 2000 W X-ray tube can be reduced from around 1200℃ to 490℃.Additionally,it is also demonstrated that by reducing the height of the Schottky barrier formed in the vdW heterostructures,the thermionic cooling performance can be enhanced.The findings pave the way for the development of high-power X-ray tubes.展开更多
BACKGROUND Early screening,preoperative staging,and diagnosis of lymph node metastasis are crucial for improving the prognosis of gastric cancer(GC).AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of combined multidetector compu...BACKGROUND Early screening,preoperative staging,and diagnosis of lymph node metastasis are crucial for improving the prognosis of gastric cancer(GC).AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of combined multidetector computed tomography(MDCT)and gastrointestinal endoscopy for GC screening,preoperative staging,and lymph node metastasis detection,thereby providing a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.METHODS In this retrospective study clinical and imaging data of 134 patients with suspected GC who were admitted between January 2023 and October 2024 were initially reviewed.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,102 patients were finally enrolled in the analysis.All enrolled patients had undergone both MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy examinations prior to surgical intervention.Preoperative clinical staging and lymph node metastasis findings were compared with pathological results.RESULTS The combined use of MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy demonstrated a sensitivity of 98.53%,specificity of 97.06%,accuracy of 98.04%,positive predictive value of 98.53%,and negative predictive value of 97.06%for diagnosing GC.These factors were all significantly higher than those of MDCT or endoscopy alone(P<0.05).The accuracy rates of the combined approach for detecting clinical T and N stages were 97.06%and 92.65%,respectively,outperforming MDCT alone(86.76% and 79.41%)and endoscopy alone(85.29% and 70.59%)(P<0.05).Among 68 patients with confirmed GC,50(73.53%)were pathologically diagnosed with lymph node metastasis.The accuracy for detecting lymph node metastasis was 66.00%with endoscopy,76.00%with MDCT,and 92.00% with the combined approach,all with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The combined application of MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy enhanced diagnostic accuracy for GC,provided greater consistency in preoperative staging,and improved the detection of lymph node metastasis,thereby demonstrating significant clinical utility.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on retinal microcirculation by comparing different alcohol-consuming groups using optical coherence tomography(OCT)and OCT angiography(OCTA).METHODS:This o...AIM:To investigate the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on retinal microcirculation by comparing different alcohol-consuming groups using optical coherence tomography(OCT)and OCT angiography(OCTA).METHODS:This observational clinical study utilized a cross-sectional and prospective design,focusing on chronic alcohol consumers alongside a non-consuming control group.OCT/OCTA imaging parameters including central retinal subfield thickness(CST),subfoveal choroidal thickness(SCT),foveal avascular zone(FAZ)and vessel density(VD)in the superficial and deep capillary plexuses in both the macular and optic disc(OD)regions were recorded.Data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0;descriptive statistics were reported,group comparisons were performed with Chisquare,Kruskal–Wallis,and Bonferroni-corrected Mann–Whitney U tests,and relationships were assessed using Spearman correlation,with statistical significance set at P<0.05.RESULTS:A total of 160 eyes of 160 participants(110 females and 50 males with mean age 38.7±9.9y)who don’t smoke were divided into five groups:never,occasional,monthly,weekly and daily drinkers.The mean CST was 216.6±14.2μm and the mean SCT was 358.9±84.5μm.There was no statistically significantly difference in CST and SCT among the groups(P=0.890,0.799).Foveal superficial capillary plexuses(SCPs)VD was higher in monthly drinkers compared to occasional drinkers(P=0.015).Foveal VD in deep capillary plexus was also higher in monthly drinkers than in never and occasional drinkers(P=0.004,0.006).Nasal SCPs VD at the OD was higher in monthly drinkers compared to never drinkers(P=0.005).There was no significant difference FAZ area among the groups(P=0.071).CONCLUSION:Both superficial and deep microvascular structures in the inferior quadrants of macula are positively correlated with frequency of alcohol use.Also in our study results is that the monthly drinker group has uniquely higher VDs in both macula and OD.This leads us to consider moderate alcohol consumption may also have protective effects on retinal microcirculation.展开更多
BACKGROUND:Individualized positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP)titration is a crucial technique in mechanical ventilation therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)patients with intra-abdominal hypertensio...BACKGROUND:Individualized positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP)titration is a crucial technique in mechanical ventilation therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)patients with intra-abdominal hypertension(IAH).This study aimed to evaluate the eff ectiveness of electrical impedance tomography(EIT)-guided PEEP titration in this population.METHODS:This prospective study enrolled 36 ARDS patients,including 22 patients with IAH and 14 without IAH.All the patients underwent EIT-guided PEEP titration at the intersection point between alveolar overdistension and collapse during a decremental PEEP trial.The changes in pulmonary ventilation distribution,respiratory mechanics and hemodynamics during the titration process were observed.RESULTS:After EIT-guided PEEP titration was performed,the PEEP,peak inspiratory pressure and plateau pressure increased significantly(P<0.05).Furthermore,no significant differences were observed in respiratory system compliance,tidal volume,driving pressure,or the 4*DP+RR index between the two groups(P>0.05).The mechanical power increased in the non-IAH(NIAH)group after PEEP titration(P<0.05).Ventilation in gravity-dependent lung regions significantly increased(P<0.05),and the oxygenation index(PaO2/FiO2)improved signifi cantly(P<0.05)in both groups.However,blood pressure,heart rate,respiratory rate,central venous pressure,and lactate levels did not signifi cantly change.In the IAH group,the PaO2/FiO2 ratio improved less than that in the NIAH group did(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:In our study,individualized PEEP titration guided by EIT improved oxygenation in ARDS patients with concomitant IAH without signifi cantly aff ecting hemodynamics.The presence of IAH may limit the improvement of oxygenation during EIT-guided PEEP titration.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Project(2023YFB4606200)supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of ChinaProject(2023-SSRF-HZ-503114-2)supported by Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility,Instrument BL16U2,China。
文摘This comprehensive study investigates the formation and evolution of intermetallic compounds during the solidification process of magnesium alloys using advanced micro X-ray computed tomography.By analyzing both common industrial Mg-Al-Zn alloys and a novel rare earth-containing Mg-Ni-Gd-Y alloy,we aim to characterize the nucleation,growth,and distribution of Al-Mn and eutectic intermetallics across various stages of solidification.The non destructive imaging technique employed in this research provides high-resolution,three-dimensional insights into the microstructural development,allowing for a detailed examination of the morphology,spatial arrangement,and interconnectivity of intermetallic phases.This approach overcomes limitations of traditional two-dimensional metallographic methods,offering a more comprehensive understanding of the complex three-dimensional structures formed during solidification.
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supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China-Outstanding Young Scholars(No.52325407)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51904187)+1 种基金the Project funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2022M712919)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2023A1515140124).
文摘Controlling the morphology of Al_(2) Cu intermetallic compounds(IMCs)has been of importance to enhance the properties of Al-based alloys.However,the quantification of Al_(2) Cu IMCs with diversified morphologies is still lacking,and the morphological evolution of Al_(2) Cu dendrites remains poorly understood.Using synchrotron X-ray tomography,we have directly quantified the morphological evolution of proeutectic Al_(2) Cu IMCs in directionally solidified Al-Cu alloys.The three-dimensional(3D)morphologies of Al_(2) Cu IMCs under different growth rates were quantified using volume,specific surface area,interconnectivity,tortuosity,and Gaussian curvature.The faceted morphology under slow growth rate was divided into three different types,including single hollow prism,irregular prism lacking partial faces,and coalesced prism consisting of two adjacent crystals.The morphological transition from faceted prism to non-faceted algae-like,irregular tree-like,and typically dendritic shapes with increasing growth rates was determined,reflecting the growth modes varied from lateral mode to intermediary and continuous modes.The non-faceted Al_(2) Cu dendrite had one primary stem,three groups of secondary arms,and a faceted tip.The angles between secondary arms were 120°,and the tip consisted of(011)and(011^(-))planes.This work provides a deep understanding of the formation and growth of complex IMCs in metallic alloys.
基金support from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University(OIST),the China Scholarship Council(CSC)(Grant No.202306680004)the Korea Basic Science Institute(National Research Facilities and Equipment Center)grant funded by the Korean government(MSIT)(Grant Nos.RS-2024-00403036 and RS-202500521202)+2 种基金support from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(JSPS)KAKENHI through Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C)(Grant No.23K04617)Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists(Grant No.22K14621)Grant-in-Aid for JSPS fellows(Grant No.25KJ2244)。
文摘Chaotic microcavities play a crucial role in several research areas,including the study of unidirectional microlasers,nonlinear optics,sensing,quantum chaos,and non-Hermitian physics.To date,most theoretical and experimental explorations have focused on two-dimensional(2D)chaotic dielectric microcavities,but there have been minimal studies on three-dimensional(3D)ones because precise geometrical information of a 3D microcavity can be difficult to obtain.Here,we image 3D microcavities with submicron resolution using X-ray microcomputed tomography(μCT),enabling nondestructive imaging that preserves the sample for subsequent use.By analyzing the ray dynamics of a typical deformed microsphere,we demonstrate that a sufficient deformation along all three dimensions can lead to chaotic ray trajectories over extended time scales.Notably,using the X-rayμCT reconstruction results,the phase space chaotic ray dynamics of a deformed microsphere are accurately established.X-rayμCT could become a unique platform for the characterization of such deformed 3D microcavities by providing a precise means for determining the degree of deformation necessary for potential applications in ray chaos and quantum chaos.
基金funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program European Joint Program on RadioactiveWaste Management(EURAD)(2019e2024)WP-Gas‘Mechanistic understanding of gas transport in clay materials’under Grant agreement No.847593.
文摘Understanding the mechanisms of gas transport and the resulting preferential pathways formation through bentonite-based barriers is essential for their performance evaluation.In this experimental study,gas migration within a heterogenous mixture of MX80 bentonite pellets and powder with a ratio of 80/20 in dry mass was investigated.A novel X-ray transparent constant volume cell has been developed to assess the effect of gas pressure,material heterogeneities,and water vapor gas saturation on breakthrough pressure and gas pathways.The new cell allows to perform high-resolution X-ray computed micro-tomography(X-ray μCT)scans to track microstructural changes during different phases of saturation and gas injection.Experimental results showed that the gas breakthrough occurred when the pressure was raised to 3 MPa.This is slightly higher than the expected swelling pressure(2.9 MPa)of the bentonite sample.Each gas injection was followed by a long resaturation phase restoring material homogeneity at μCT resolution scale(16 mm).However,the elapsed time needed for gas to breakthrough at 3 MPa diminished at each subsequent injection test.X-ray μCT results also revealed the opening of the specimen/cell wall interface during gas passage.This opening expanded as the injection pressure increased.The gas flow along the interface was associated with the development of dilatant pathways inside the sample,although they did not reach the outlet surface.It was observed that the water vapor gas saturation had no effect on the breakthrough pressure.These findings enhance the understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying microstructural evolution and gas pathway development within the highly heterogeneous mixture.The experimental outcomes highlight the effectiveness of X-ray μCT to improve quality protocols for engineering design and safety assessments of engineered barriers.
基金supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2022M720399).
文摘In order to investigate the damage tolerance of a metastable Ti-5Al-3V-3Mo-2Cr-2Zr-1Nb-1Fe(Ti5321)alloy with bimodal microstructure using void growth quantification and micromechanical modeling,in situ tensile testing was performed during X-ray microtomography experiments.Compared with investigations of surface voids by traditional two-dimensional(2D)methods involving post-mortem characterization,three-dimensional(3D)information on void evolution inside optically opaque samples obtained through X-ray microtomography is essential.The Rice and Tracey model and Huang model were applied to predict void growth and show good agreement with experimental data using calibration of the damage parameterα.The void growth kinetics of Ti5321 with bimodal microstructure was analyzed by comparing theαvalue with that of Ti64 for different microstructure morphologies.The damage mechanism of ductile fracture of Ti5321 with bimodal microstructure is discussed.It was found that the size of the voids apparently increases with the triaxiality of stress.Post-mortem scanning electron microscopy(SEM)was also used to demonstrate this damage mechanism of ductile fracture of Ti5321.
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support provided by the research funds from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council(Grant Nos.16206623,N_HKUST603/22,and C6006-20G).
文摘Correctly tracking the evolution of spatial heterogeneity of local degree of saturation(Sr)in unsaturated soils is essential to explain the seepage phenomenon,which is crucial to assessing slope stability.Several methods exist for quantifying the heterogeneity of local S_(r).However,a comprehensive comparison of these methods in terms of accuracy,relative advantages,and disadvantages is currently lacking.This paper presents a comparative analysis of local Sr obtained at multiple scales,ranging from the element scale to the slice,representative element volume(REV),pore,and voxel scales.The spatial heterogeneity of Sr in an unsaturated glass beads specimen at different matric suctions was visualised and quantified by multiscale X-ray micro-focus computed tomography image-based analysis methods.Local Sr obtained at different scales displayed a comparable trend along the sample depth,yet the REV-scale method showed a much scattered and discontinuous distribution.In contrast,the pore-scale method detected a distinct two-clustered,bimodal distribution of S_(r).The pore-scale method has the highest integrated resolution,as it has the highest spatial resolution(i.e.number of data points)and provides more information(i.e.number of extractable physical parameters).This method thus provides a more effective approach for tracking the spatial heterogeneity of S_(r).Based on this method,pore-scale water retention curves were determined,offering new quantitative means to characterise pore water heterogeneity and explainwater drainage processes such as hysteresis at the pore scale.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12305349,12235006,12027812)Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(No.JSGGKQTD20210831174329010)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2021TQ06Y108).
文摘This study aims to investigate the responses of a perovskite-based direct-conversion dual-layer flat-panel detector(DL-FPD)numerically.To this end,the X-ray sensitivity,spatial resolution quantified by the modulation transfer function(MTF),and detective quantum efficiency(DQE)of the DL-FPD are evaluated numerically using a linear cascade model.In addition,both the single-crystal(SC)and polycrystalline(PC)structures of MAPbI_(3)are investigated,along with various other key parameters such as the material thickness,electric field strength,X-ray beam spectrum,and electronic readout noise.The results demonstrate that SC perovskite consistently exhibits better performance than PC perovskite owing to fewer material defects.Increasing the layer thickness may decrease the MTF,but can also enhance the sensitivity and DQE.Moreover,appropriately increasing the external electric field within the material can improve the sensitivity,MTF,and DQE.Finally,reducing the electronic readout noise can significantly enhance the DQE for low-dose imaging.This study demonstrates the potential of high-quality dual-energy X-ray imaging using direct-conversion perovskite DL-FPDs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.12175295)the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFA1601000)the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project。
文摘With the development of the semiconductor industry below the 7 nm scale,critical dimension small-angle X-ray scattering(CD-SAXS)has emerged as a powerful tool for quantitatively measuring nanoscale deviations.In this study,the effects of X-ray beam size and photon energy on the accuracy of critical dimension measurements were investigated.Critical dimensions measured using beams with different spot sizes showed different deviations from the expected values.Beam sizes that were either too large or too small did not improve confidence intervals.As the incident energy increased,the X-ray transmission rate increased,while the scattering cross section decreased,resulting in a gradual decrease in the signal-to-noise ratio of the diffraction peaks,which reduced the accuracy of the CD-SAXS measurements.An optimal accuracy was obtained at 12 keV with a smaller beam size.Using an effective trapezoid model,the results yielded an average pitch of 100.4±0.2 nm,width of 49.8±0.2 nm,height of 130.0±0.2 nm,and a sidewall angle below 1.1°±0.1°.These results provide crucial guidance for the future development of CD-SAXS laboratories and the construction of X-ray machines as well as robust support for research in related fields.
基金Project supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant Nos.2022YFA1603601,2021YFF0601203,and 2021YFA1600703)。
文摘The unique advantage of x-ray ghost imaging(XGI)is its potential in low dose radiology.One of the practical ways to reduce the radiation exposure is to reduce the measurements while remaining sufficient image quality.Synthetic aperture x-ray ghost imaging(SAXGI)is invented to achieve megapixel XGI with limited measurements,which is expected to implement XGI simultaneously with large field of view and low radiation exposure.In this paper,we experimentally investigate the effect of measurements reduction on the spatial resolution and image quality of SAXGI with standard sample and biomedical specimen.The results with a resolution chart demonstrated that at 360 measurements,SAXGI successfully retrieved the sample image of 1960×1960 pixels with spatial resolution of 4μm.With measurement reduction,the spatial resolution deteriorates but the sparser structures are still discernable.Even with measurements reduced to 10,a spatial resolution of 10μm can still be achieved by SAXGI.A biomedical sample of a fish specimen is employed to evaluate the method and the fish image of 2000×1000 pixels with an SSIM of 0.962 is reconstructed by SAXGI with 770measurements,corresponding to an accumulative exposure reduction of more than 2 times.With the measurements reduced to 10 which corresponds to 1/160 of the accumulative radiation exposure for conventional radiology,bulky structure like the fish skeleton can still be definitely discerned and the SSIM for the reconstructed image still retained 0.9179.Results of this paper demonstrate that measurements reduction is practicable for the radiation exposure reduction of the sample,which implicates that SAXGI with limited measurements is an efficient solution for low dose radiology.
文摘Overt and harmful diabetes mellitus(DM)has detrimental effects on individuals and,by extension,the community.Among the microvascular DM complications is diabetic retinopathy(DR).DR may cause irreversible vision deterioration in cases of poor blood glucose regulation.Changes in vascular permeability are key trigger points for diabetic macular edema(DME),a condition characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the macula.The development of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)pathway inhibitors has provided a pathogenesis-based treatment approach for DME.Optical coherence tomography(OCT)provides highresolution imaging of the anatomy,including the aging of DME and its structural damage,in distinct morphologic subtypes of macular edema,thereby supporting the assessment of macular edema treatment.The availability of repeated OCT monitoring provides clinical reassurance through the treatment.OCT angiography(OCTA)provides retinal blood flow maps with high spatial resolution.The ability promotes an understanding of disease pathogenesis and facilitates the implementation of new therapeutic methods.This review compares the potential of OCT and OCTA in the diagnosis and treatment of DME,as well as their respective therapeutic applications.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NNSFC)under Grant Numbers 42322408,42188101,and 42441809Additional support was provided by the Climbing Program of the National Space Science Center(NSSC,Grant No.E4PD3005)as well as the Specialized Research Fund for State Key Laboratories of China.
文摘A large-scale view of the magnetospheric cusp is expected to be obtained by the Soft X-ray Imager(SXI)onboard the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer(SMILE).However,it is challenging to trace the three-dimensional cusp boundary from a two-dimensional X-ray image because the detected X-ray signals will be integrated along the line of sight.In this work,a global magnetohydrodynamic code was used to simulate the X-ray images and photon count images,assuming an interplanetary magnetic field with a pure Bz component.The assumption of an elliptic cusp boundary at a given altitude was used to trace the equatorward and poleward boundaries of the cusp from a simulated X-ray image.The average discrepancy was less than 0.1 RE.To reduce the influence of instrument effects and cosmic X-ray backgrounds,image denoising was considered before applying the method above to SXI photon count images.The cusp boundaries were reasonably reconstructed from the noisy X-ray image.
基金supported by the Guangdong Pharmaceutical University 2024 Higher Education Research Projects(GKP202403,GMP202402)the Guangdong Pharmaceutical University College Students’Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Programs(Grant No.202504302033,202504302034,202504302036,and 202504302244).
文摘Background:Diabetic macular edema is a prevalent retinal condition and a leading cause of visual impairment among diabetic patients’Early detection of affected areas is beneficial for effective diagnosis and treatment.Traditionally,diagnosis relies on optical coherence tomography imaging technology interpreted by ophthalmologists.However,this manual image interpretation is often slow and subjective.Therefore,developing automated segmentation for macular edema images is essential to enhance to improve the diagnosis efficiency and accuracy.Methods:In order to improve clinical diagnostic efficiency and accuracy,we proposed a SegNet network structure integrated with a convolutional block attention module(CBAM).This network introduces a multi-scale input module,the CBAM attention mechanism,and jump connection.The multi-scale input module enhances the network’s perceptual capabilities,while the lightweight CBAM effectively fuses relevant features across channels and spatial dimensions,allowing for better learning of varying information levels.Results:Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed network achieves an IoU of 80.127%and an accuracy of 99.162%.Compared to the traditional segmentation network,this model has fewer parameters,faster training and testing speed,and superior performance on semantic segmentation tasks,indicating its highly practical applicability.Conclusion:The C-SegNet proposed in this study enables accurate segmentation of Diabetic macular edema lesion images,which facilitates quicker diagnosis for healthcare professionals.
基金supported by the Key Research and Development Program of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(No.2020B03006-1)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42304069,and 42102275).
文摘The Urumqi foreland thrust tectonic belt exhibits complex geological structures and strong seismicity.Imaging its shallow crustal structure is of great significance for understanding its tectonic mechanism and seismogenic environment.We obtained a high-resolution S-wave velocity model of the shallow crust at depths of 0–8 km using ambient noise tomography applied to data from a dense seismic array.Sediments are generally thinner in the southeast and thicker in the northwest,with a maximum thickness of more than 8 km.Variations in the velocity structure near the Xishan,Wanyaogou,and Yamalike faults indicate that their formation was related to differences in the physical properties on either side of the fault.In addition,the faults exhibit thrusting of the low-velocity sides towards the high-velocity sides.In the study area,earthquakes rarely occur at depths of less than 3 km and are mostly concentrated in the high-velocity zone in the southern part.Below 3 km depth,more earthquakes were observed,mainly distributed near faults or in relatively high-velocity areas in the southern part.This suggests that high-velocity structures are more prone to stress accumulation,resulting in earthquakes.At 6–8 km depth,the densely distributed earthquakes in the northwestern part of the Bogda mountains are well-aligned with the northwest-oriented low-velocity zone observed in this study,suggesting that this weak zone likely controls seismicity in this area.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(61921002 and 92163204)。
文摘Van der Waals(vdW)heterostructures have attracted much attention due to their distinctive optical,electrical,and thermal properties,demonstrating promising potential in areas such as photocatalysis,ultrafast photonics,and free electron radiation devices.Particularly,they are promising platforms for studying thermionic emission.It is illustrated that using vdW heterostructure-based thermionic emission can enhance heat transfer in vacuum devices.As a proof of concept,the approach is demonstrated to offer a promising solution for the long-standing overheating issue in X-ray tubes.Specifically,it is shown that the saturated target temperature of a 2000 W X-ray tube can be reduced from around 1200℃ to 490℃.Additionally,it is also demonstrated that by reducing the height of the Schottky barrier formed in the vdW heterostructures,the thermionic cooling performance can be enhanced.The findings pave the way for the development of high-power X-ray tubes.
文摘BACKGROUND Early screening,preoperative staging,and diagnosis of lymph node metastasis are crucial for improving the prognosis of gastric cancer(GC).AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of combined multidetector computed tomography(MDCT)and gastrointestinal endoscopy for GC screening,preoperative staging,and lymph node metastasis detection,thereby providing a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.METHODS In this retrospective study clinical and imaging data of 134 patients with suspected GC who were admitted between January 2023 and October 2024 were initially reviewed.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,102 patients were finally enrolled in the analysis.All enrolled patients had undergone both MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy examinations prior to surgical intervention.Preoperative clinical staging and lymph node metastasis findings were compared with pathological results.RESULTS The combined use of MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy demonstrated a sensitivity of 98.53%,specificity of 97.06%,accuracy of 98.04%,positive predictive value of 98.53%,and negative predictive value of 97.06%for diagnosing GC.These factors were all significantly higher than those of MDCT or endoscopy alone(P<0.05).The accuracy rates of the combined approach for detecting clinical T and N stages were 97.06%and 92.65%,respectively,outperforming MDCT alone(86.76% and 79.41%)and endoscopy alone(85.29% and 70.59%)(P<0.05).Among 68 patients with confirmed GC,50(73.53%)were pathologically diagnosed with lymph node metastasis.The accuracy for detecting lymph node metastasis was 66.00%with endoscopy,76.00%with MDCT,and 92.00% with the combined approach,all with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The combined application of MDCT and gastrointestinal endoscopy enhanced diagnostic accuracy for GC,provided greater consistency in preoperative staging,and improved the detection of lymph node metastasis,thereby demonstrating significant clinical utility.
文摘AIM:To investigate the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on retinal microcirculation by comparing different alcohol-consuming groups using optical coherence tomography(OCT)and OCT angiography(OCTA).METHODS:This observational clinical study utilized a cross-sectional and prospective design,focusing on chronic alcohol consumers alongside a non-consuming control group.OCT/OCTA imaging parameters including central retinal subfield thickness(CST),subfoveal choroidal thickness(SCT),foveal avascular zone(FAZ)and vessel density(VD)in the superficial and deep capillary plexuses in both the macular and optic disc(OD)regions were recorded.Data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0;descriptive statistics were reported,group comparisons were performed with Chisquare,Kruskal–Wallis,and Bonferroni-corrected Mann–Whitney U tests,and relationships were assessed using Spearman correlation,with statistical significance set at P<0.05.RESULTS:A total of 160 eyes of 160 participants(110 females and 50 males with mean age 38.7±9.9y)who don’t smoke were divided into five groups:never,occasional,monthly,weekly and daily drinkers.The mean CST was 216.6±14.2μm and the mean SCT was 358.9±84.5μm.There was no statistically significantly difference in CST and SCT among the groups(P=0.890,0.799).Foveal superficial capillary plexuses(SCPs)VD was higher in monthly drinkers compared to occasional drinkers(P=0.015).Foveal VD in deep capillary plexus was also higher in monthly drinkers than in never and occasional drinkers(P=0.004,0.006).Nasal SCPs VD at the OD was higher in monthly drinkers compared to never drinkers(P=0.005).There was no significant difference FAZ area among the groups(P=0.071).CONCLUSION:Both superficial and deep microvascular structures in the inferior quadrants of macula are positively correlated with frequency of alcohol use.Also in our study results is that the monthly drinker group has uniquely higher VDs in both macula and OD.This leads us to consider moderate alcohol consumption may also have protective effects on retinal microcirculation.
基金PEEP titration in ARDS patients using EIT combined with lung ultrasound,Key Laboratory of Emergency Trauma Research,Ministry of Education (KLET-202201)airway clearance protocol in ICU mechanically ventilated patients based on electrical impedance imaging technology,Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (2024JJ9148)effects of end expiratory positive pressure on lung re-expansion in patients with ARDS and intra-abdominal hypertension monitored using lung ultrasound,Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (2023JJ60308)
文摘BACKGROUND:Individualized positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP)titration is a crucial technique in mechanical ventilation therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)patients with intra-abdominal hypertension(IAH).This study aimed to evaluate the eff ectiveness of electrical impedance tomography(EIT)-guided PEEP titration in this population.METHODS:This prospective study enrolled 36 ARDS patients,including 22 patients with IAH and 14 without IAH.All the patients underwent EIT-guided PEEP titration at the intersection point between alveolar overdistension and collapse during a decremental PEEP trial.The changes in pulmonary ventilation distribution,respiratory mechanics and hemodynamics during the titration process were observed.RESULTS:After EIT-guided PEEP titration was performed,the PEEP,peak inspiratory pressure and plateau pressure increased significantly(P<0.05).Furthermore,no significant differences were observed in respiratory system compliance,tidal volume,driving pressure,or the 4*DP+RR index between the two groups(P>0.05).The mechanical power increased in the non-IAH(NIAH)group after PEEP titration(P<0.05).Ventilation in gravity-dependent lung regions significantly increased(P<0.05),and the oxygenation index(PaO2/FiO2)improved signifi cantly(P<0.05)in both groups.However,blood pressure,heart rate,respiratory rate,central venous pressure,and lactate levels did not signifi cantly change.In the IAH group,the PaO2/FiO2 ratio improved less than that in the NIAH group did(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:In our study,individualized PEEP titration guided by EIT improved oxygenation in ARDS patients with concomitant IAH without signifi cantly aff ecting hemodynamics.The presence of IAH may limit the improvement of oxygenation during EIT-guided PEEP titration.
