Evolution of bubble clouds induced by pulsed cavitational ultrasound therapy - histotripsy

Mechanical tissue fractionation can be achieved using successive, high-intensity ultrasound pulses in a process termed histotripsy. Histotripsy has many potential clinical applications where noninvasive tissue removal is desired. The primary mechanism for histotripsy is believed to be cavitation. Using fast-gated imaging, this paper studies the evolution of a cavitating bubble cloud induced by a histotripsy pulse (10 and 14 cycles) at peak negative pressures exceeding 21MPa. Bubble clouds are generated inside a gelatin phantom and at a tissue-water interface, representing two situations encountered clinically. In both environments, the imaging results show that the bubble clouds share the same evolutionary trend. The bubble cloud and individual bubbles in the cloud were generated by the first cycle of the pulse, grew with each cycle during the pulse, and continued to grow and collapsed several hundred microseconds after the pulse. For example, the bubbles started under 10 microm, grew to 50 microm during the pulse, and continued to grow 100 microm after the pulse. The results also suggest that the bubble clouds generated in the two environments differ in growth and collapse duration, void fraction, shape, and size. This study furthers our understanding of the dynamics of bubble clouds induced by histotripsy.     

High speed imaging of bubble clouds generated in pulsed ultrasound cavitational therapy--histotripsy

Our recent studies have demonstrated that mechanical fractionation of tissue structure with sharply demarcated boundaries can be achieved using short (< 20 micros), high intensity ultrasound pulses delivered at low duty cycles. We have called this technique histotripsy. Histotripsy has potential clinical applications where noninvasive tissue fractionation and/or tissue removal are desired. The primary mechanism of histotripsy is thought to be acoustic cavitation, which is supported by a temporally changing acoustic backscatter observed during the histotripsy process. In this paper, a fast-gated digital camera was used to image the hypothesized cavitating bubble cloud generated by histotripsy pulses. The bubble cloud was produced at a tissue-water interface and inside an optically transparent gelatin phantom which mimics bulk tissue. The imaging shows the following: (1) Initiation of a temporally changing acoustic backscatter was due to the formation of a bubble cloud; (2) The pressure threshold to generate a bubble cloud was lower at a tissue-fluid interface than inside bulk tissue; and (3) at higher pulse pressure, the bubble cloud lasted longer and grew larger. The results add further support to the hypothesis that the histotripsy process is due to a cavitating bubble cloud and may provide insight into the sharp boundaries of histotripsy lesions.     

WOLD decomposition of the backscatter echo in ultrasound images of soft tissue organs

Deals with a method of detecting and estimating the scatterer spacing between the regularly spaced resolvable coherent scatterers in tissue. Scatterer spacing has been successfully used in classifying tissue structure, in differentiating between normal and cirrhotic liver, and in detecting diffuse liver disease. This paper presents a WOLD decomposition of the radio frequency (RF) field into its diffused and coherent components from which maximum likelihood estimates (MLE) or minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimates of the scattering spacing are easily computed. The MLE are efficient and for relatively long record are unbiased. They result in accurate estimates in low signal-to-noise (SNR) ratios. Unfortunately, they require nonlinear minimization and knowledge of the probability density associated with the RF backscatter echo. The MMSE estimates, on the other hand, are computationally simple, yield unique closed form solutions, do not require a-priori knowledge of the probability distribution function of the backscatter echo, and result in accurate estimates in low SNR ratios. This paper also presents an unbiased decision rule to detect whether or not an RF echo exhibits any specular scattering relative to the wavelength of the interrogating ultrasonic pulse. The approach has been tried on simulations as well as on in-vivo scans of liver data, and appears to perform well.     

A real-time measure of cavitation induced tissue disruption by ultrasound imaging backscatter reduction

A feedback method for obtaining real-time information on the mechanical disruption of tissue through ultrasound cavitation is presented. This method is based on a substantial reduction in ultrasound imaging backscatter from the target volume as the tissue structure is broken down. Ex-vivo samples of porcine liver were exposed to successive high-intensity ultrasound pulses at a low duty cycle to induce mechanical disruption of tissue parenchyma through cavitation (referred to as histotripsy). At the conclusion of treatment, B-scan imaging backscatter was observed to have decreased by 22.4 +/- 2.3 dB in the target location. Treated samples of tissue were found to contain disrupted tissue corresponding to the imaged hypoechoic volume with no remaining discernable structure and a sharp boundary. The observed, substantial backscatter reduction may be an effective feedback mechanism for assessing treatment efficacy in ultrasound surgery using pulsed ultrasound to create cavitation.     

超声治疗中耦合液对声聚焦影响的研究

本文推导了凹球面聚焦换能器产生的声波经耦合液进入软组织后的声场计算公式，并对不同耦合液，耦合层厚度，温度对声聚焦的影响进行了研究，得到一一些对超声热疗具有指导意义的结果。     

Regularized autoregressive analysis of intravascular ultrasound backscatter: improvement in spatial accuracy of tissue maps

Autoregressive (AR) models are qualified for analysis of stochastic, short-time data, such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) backscatter. Regularization is required for AR analysis of short data lengths with an aim to increase spatial accuracy of predicted plaque composition and was achieved by determining suitable AR orders for short data records. Conventional methods of determining order were compared to the use of trend in the mean square error for determining order. Radio-frequency data from 101 fibrous, 56 fibro-lipidic, 50 calcified, and 70 lipid-core regions of interest (ROIs) were collected ex vivo from 51 human coronary arteries with 30 MHz unfocused IVUS transducers. Spectra were computed for AR model orders between 3-20 for data representing ROIs of two sizes (32 and 16 samples at 100 MHz sampling frequency) and were analyzed in the 17-42 MHz bandwidth. These spectra were characterized based on eight previously identified parameters. Statistical classification schemes were computed from 75% of the data and cross-validated with the remaining 25% using matched histology. The results determined the suitable AR order numbers for the two ROI sizes. Conventional methods of determining order did not perform well. Trend in the mean square error was identified as the most suitable factor for regularization of short record lengths.     

Electrochemical production of Palladium and its use as indicator electrode

The electrodeposition of palladium from electrolytes containing palladium chloride along with potassium-dihydrogen phosphate, sodium fluoride or oxalic acid was studied under a variety of condition. The conditions used were: 1.0 M palladium chloride, 0.15 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate, pH 1.5 at 298 K and current density 0.85 mA cm^?2/ The current efficiency was calculated and the crystal structure confirmed by X-ray analysis. Spectrophotomteric and chemical analysis reveals that the purity of the metal is better than 99%. Palladium electrode can function satisfactorily as indicator electrode for hydrogen ions in acid-base titrations. Titration of acids with sodium hydroxide and of salts of weak acids with hydrochloric acid showed that palladium can indicate very accurately the end point. The end point coincide to great extent with the visual values with an error not more than ± 2%.     

Vertical variability of aerosol backscatter from an airborne-focused continuous-wave CO2 lidar at 9.1-microm wavelength

Atmospheric aerosol backscatter measurements taken with a continuous-wave focused Doppler lidar at 9.1-mum wavelength were obtained over western North America and the Pacific Ocean from 13 to 26 September 1995 as part of a NASA airborne mission. Backscatter variability was measured for ~52 flight hours, covering an equivalent horizontal distance of ~30,000 km in the troposphere. Some quasi-vertical backscatter profiles were also obtained during various ascents and descents at altitudes that ranged from ~0.1 to 12 km. Similarities and differences for aerosol loading over land and ocean were observed. A midtropospheric aerosol backscatter background mode near 3 x 10(-11) to 1 x 10(-10) m(-1) sr(-1) was obtained, which is consistent with those of previous airborne and ground-based data sets.     

Evaluation of polyvinyl alcohol cryogel as an acoustic coupling medium for low‐intensity transcranial focused ultrasound

Transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) has emerged as a noninvasive neuromodulatory modality with exquisite depth penetration and spatial selectivity. Liquids, such as degassed water or mineral oil, are used as acoustic coupling media between the ultrasound‐generating transducer and the brain; however, they require a separate container that limits the spatial orientation of the transducers with respect to the sonication target. Nonliquid, gel‐like materials that do not require a housing container have been sought after as coupling media to overcome such limitations. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), when dissolved in water and undergone freeze–thaw cycle(s), forms a flexible hydrogel having a high level of acoustic transmission. To examine the feasibility of the PVA cryogel as the coupling material for transcranial FUS, the mechanical properties (in terms of its Young's modulus) and acoustic attenuation of the PVA cryogel were examined using different concentrations and number of freeze–thaw cycles. The cryogel with 6 or 7% (w/v) concentrations and two freeze–thaw cycles showed minimum pressure attenuation (on the order of 1%) across the different ultrasound frequencies (250–650 kHz). The cryogel was molded to fit around a single‐element FUS transducer and was applied to a head phantom, showing the flexibility in orienting the sonication paths at different angles and depths. The use of the cryogel did not alter the location and shape of acoustic focal profile compared to the one measured in the degassed water. The present work suggests that PVA cryogel may be used as an alternative acoustic coupling medium for low‐intensity FUS applications.     

Hair analysis as an indicator of exposure to uranium

Medical examinations performed on four monks of a monastery in the northern Greece revealed heavy metal contamination. Hair analysis, performed by a toxicological laboratory abroad, indicated, among other, the presence of uranium. The uranium concentrations determined in a laboratory of "Elemental Hair Analysis' indicated a uranium level that was about five times the maximum value of the reference range, which has been adopted by the measuring laboratory. After these diagnostic findings, on request of 10 monks, uranium determination in hair and urine samples was performed by means of alpha spectrometry in GAEC's laboratory. The measured uranium concentrations in hair varied from 0.15 to 2.10 mBq g(-1), which correspond to 12.1 and 170 ng g(-1), respectively. The uranium concentrations in urine were between 41 and 174 ng d(-1). For comparison purposes, urine and non-dyed hair samples from the staff of the laboratory were analysed. Because one of the major sources of uranium intake is through drinking water, water samples were also analysed. The mean value of the uranium concentration in the two drinking water samples collected from the residence area was found to be 2.35 μg l(-1).     

Competition for funding as an indicator of research competitiveness

Summary Research quality is the cornerstone of modern science, it is used in the understanding of reputational differences among scientific and academic institutions. Traditionally, scientific activity is measured by a set of indicators and well-established bibliometric techniques based on the number of academic papers published in top-ranked journals or on the number of citations of these papers. These indicators are usually critical in measuring differences in research performance, both at individual and at scientific institutional levels. In this paper, we introduce an alternative and complementary set of indicators based on the results of competition for research funding, that aims to enlarge the framework in which research performance has traditionally been measured. Theoretical support for this paper is found in the role that the search for funding plays in the researchers’ credibility cycle as well as in peer review, the basic instrument for the allocation of public R&D funds. Our method analyses the outcomes of the researchers’ struggle for funding, using data from research proposal applications and awards, as the unit of observation, and aggregating them by research institutions to rank them in relative scales of research competitiveness.     

High-ranked citations percentage as an indicator of publications quality

Scientometrics - A publications quality indicator called high-ranked citations percentage (HCP) is based on an idea that good papers are well cited. HCP was computed as a portion of cumulative...     

Autoignition temperature as an indicator of thermal oxidation stability

The concept and selection of Principal Organic Hazardous Constituents (POHCs) is an important part of the United States Environmental Protection Agency     

Assessment of shear modulus of tissue using ultrasound radiation force acting on a spherical acoustic inhomogeneity

An ultrasound-based method to locally assess the shear modulus of a medium is reported. The proposed approach is based on the application of an impulse acoustic radiation force to an inhomogeneity in the medium and subsequent monitoring of the spatio-temporal response. In our experimental studies, a short pulse produced by a 1.5-MHz highly focused ultrasound transducer was used to initiate the motion of a rigid sphere embedded into an elastic medium. Another 25 MHz focused ultrasound transducer operating in pulse-echo mode was used to track the displacement of the sphere. The experiments were performed in gel phantoms with varying shear modulus to demonstrate the relationship between the displacement of the sphere and shear modulus of the surrounding medium. Because the magnitude of acoustic force applied to sphere depends on the acoustic material properties and, therefore, cannot be used to assess the absolute value of shear modulus, the temporal behavior of the displacement of the sphere was analyzed. The results of this study indicate that there is a strong correlation between the shear modulus of a medium and spatio-temporal characteristics of the motion of the rigid sphere embedded in this medium.     

In vivo measurement technique of 40K as an indicator of the amount of skeletal muscle tissue in the human body

Potassium is an essential element for human metabolism. It is present in all living cells, predominantly in the skeletal muscle tissue. The energy of the 40K photon and its uniform distribution within the human body allow its in vivo measurement. Subjects of both sexes were monitored at the whole-body counter of the IRD facility for the evaluation of 40K body burden, being divided into two groups: (1) subjects who do not exercise routinely, and (2) subjects who do exercise routinely. The average values found for potassium mass and potassium concentration in group 1 were 99 +/- 17 g of K and 1.3 +/- 0.2 g of K kg(-1) of body mass, respectively, and in group 2 the average values found for potassium mass and potassium concentration were 118 +/- 33 g of K and 1.6 +/- 0.2 g of K kg(-1) of body mass, respectively. The comparison between average values for potassium mass and concentration shows a significant statistical difference.     

Operation of the alula as an indicator of gear change in hoverflies

The alula is a hinged flap found at the base of the wings of most brachyceran Diptera. The alula accounts for up to 10 per cent of the total wing area in hoverflies (Syrphidae), and its hinged arrangement allows the wings to be swept back over the thorax and abdomen at rest. The alula is actuated via the third axillary sclerite, which is a component of the wing hinge that is involved in wing retraction and control. The third axillary sclerite has also been implicated in the gear change mechanism of flies. This mechanism allows rapid switching between different modes of wing kinematics, by imposing or removing contact with a mechanical stop limiting movement of the wing during the lower half of the downstroke. The alula operates in two distinct states during flight—flipped or flat—and we hypothesize that its state indicates switching between different flight modes. We used high-speed digital video of free-flying hoverflies (Eristalis tenax and Eristalis pertinax) to investigate whether flipping of the alula was associated with changes in wing and body kinematics. We found that alula state was associated with different distributions of multiple wing kinematic parameters, including stroke amplitude, stroke deviation angle, downstroke angle of incidence and timing of supination. Changes in all of these parameters have previously been linked to gear change in flies. Symmetric flipping of the alulae was associated with changes in the symmetric linear acceleration of the body, while asymmetric flipping of the alulae was associated with asymmetric angular acceleration of the body. We conclude that the wings produce less aerodynamic force when the alula is flipped, largely as a result of the accompanying changes in wing kinematics. The alula changes state at mid-downstroke, which is the point at which the gear change mechanism is known to come into effect. This transition is accompanied by changes in the other wing kinematic parameters. We therefore find that the state of the alula is linked to the same parameters as are affected by the gear change mechanism. We conclude that the state of the alula does indeed indicate the operation of different flight modes in Eristalis, and infer that a likely mechanism for these changes in flight mode is the gear change mechanism.     

Statistical reliability of citation frequency as an indicator of scientific impact

The article deals with the statistical problem of the difference between the mean citation frequencies of two sets of papers required to be significantly different. An analysis of citation data indicated that, as a first-order approximation, (1) The relative spread due to a short observation interval is independent of the long-term citation frequency and (2) the relative spread in long-term citation frequencies of different papers from the same author is independent of the mean citation score for the papers by that author. As a rule-of-thumb, these two sources of variance can be characterized by standard deviations of a ratio (factor) of 2 and 3, respectively. By applying these results to citation data published in the literature, it is shown that sometimes statistically unjustified conclusions have been drawn in the past.     

超声阵列换能器设计及声场模拟

聚焦超声采用的聚焦方式有许多种,电子聚焦是其中之一,与其它聚焦方式相比,电子聚焦技术有很多优点,然而一些相互矛盾的条件对其设计有很大影响。通过用快速算法对阵元声场、以及频率对场的影响进行模拟,对阵列设计中的几个主要考虑方面进行了分析,提供了一般设计思路。采用伪逆矩阵算法,对变迹技术和多焦点技术进行计算机模拟,为焦域控制提供了新的思路,结果表明：将电子聚焦阵列换能器用于高强度聚焦超声治疗设备,比其它     

Trademarks as an indicator of innovation: towards a fuller picture

Scientometrics - Encouraged by the emergence of a new and growing literature on the use of trademark data as complementary indicators of innovation, this paper strengthens the case for such use by...     

Measurement of acoustic output parameters from medical ultrasound devices with an RF power meter system

Current national and international standards for the measurement of acoustic output parameters of diagnostic medical ultrasound devices rely for their strict implementation on the ability to measure pulse intensity integral or pressure squared integral. A relatively inexpensive measurement system that utilizes a calibrated hydrophone in conjunction with a thermal RMS device is described. It is shown that this system can be used to locate maximum pulse average parameters in static beam devices and true maximum temporal average parameters in complex real-time diagnostic systems. The advantages of the system are discussed and measurement uncertainties are assessed.