Yuen Lo Yau¹, Matthew S. Purlee², Lindsey M. Brinkley², Dipankar Gupta¹, David M. Saulino³, Dalia Lopez-Colon¹, John-Anthony Coppola¹, Dhanashree Rajderkar⁴, Himesh Vyas^1,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.2, pp. 265-272, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.065661 - 30 April 2025

Abstract Background: Patients with Fontan physiology are predisposed to congestive hepatopathy, progressive liver fibrosis, and end-stage liver disease. Ultrasound-based shear wave elastography (SWE) is a non-invasive tool to diagnose and monitor liver fibrosis. We sought to determine whether the degree of hemodynamic derangement prior to and after the Fontan operation is associated with increased liver stiffness measured by SWE. Methods: A single-center retrospective study of patients with Fontan circulation who underwent ultrasound elastography between 2008 and 2024 was conducted. Liver stiffness was measured by SWE and reported as velocity in m/s. Hemodynamic assessment with cardiac catheterization and… More >

Suhaila Abuowaida^1,*, Hamza Abu Owida², Deema Mohammed Alsekait^3,*, Nawaf Alshdaifat⁴, Diaa Salama AbdElminaam^5,6, Mohammad Alshinwan⁴

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.83, No.2, pp. 3303-3333, 2025, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.063470 - 16 April 2025

Abstract Segmenting a breast ultrasound image is still challenging due to the presence of speckle noise, dependency on the operator, and the variation of image quality. This paper presents the UltraSegNet architecture that addresses these challenges through three key technical innovations: This work adds three things: (1) a changed ResNet-50 backbone with sequential 3 convolutions to keep fine anatomical details that are needed for finding lesion boundaries; (2) a computationally efficient regional attention mechanism that works on high-resolution features without using a transformer’s extra memory; and (3) an adaptive feature fusion strategy that changes local and… More >

Tianpeng Li^1,*, Yujun Duan², Qianghu Ji³

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.21, No.3, pp. 623-644, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2024.053862 - 01 April 2025

Abstract A centrifugal pump with a specific speed n_s = 67 is considered in this study to investigate the impact of blade cutting (at the outlet edge) on the fluid-induced noise, while keeping all the other geometric parameters unchanged. The required unsteady numerical calculations are conducted by applying the RNG k-ε turbulence model with the volute dipole being used as the sound source. The results indicate that the internal pressure energy of the centrifugal pump essentially depends on the blade passing frequency and its low-frequency harmonic frequency. Moreover, the pressure pulsation distribution directly affects the noise caused More >

Mohamad Firdaus Omar¹, Fathilah Ali^1,*, Mohammed Saedi Jami¹, Azlin Suhaida Azmi¹, Farah Ahmad¹, Mohd Zahid Marzuki², Shantha Kumari Muniyandi³, Zuraidah Zainudin⁴, Minsoo P. Kim⁵

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 497-538, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.057248 - 20 March 2025

Abstract This review provides a comprehensive overview of natural rubber (NR) composites, focusing on their properties, compounding aspects, and renewable practices involving natural fibre reinforcement. The properties of NR are influenced by the compounding process, which incorporates ingredients such as elastomers, vulcanizing agents, accelerators, activators, and fillers like carbon black and silica. While effective in enhancing properties, these fillers lack biodegradability, prompting the exploration of sustainable alternatives. The potential of natural fibres as renewable reinforcements in NR composites is thoroughly covered in this review, highlighting both their advantages, such as improved sustainability, and the challenges they More > Graphic Abstract

HUAFANG HUANG^1,2,#, GUILIN WANG^3,#, DONGYUN ZENG^4,5, LUZ ANGELA TORRES-DE LA ROCHE², RUI ZHUO^1,2, RUDY LEON DE WILDE², WANWAN WANG⁶, ULF D. KAHLERT^7,*, WENJIE SHI^7,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.3, pp. 631-640, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.054642 - 28 February 2025

Abstract Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) significantly enhances clinical outcomes in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); however, chemoresistance frequently results in treatment failure. Consequently, understanding the mechanisms underlying resistance and accurately predicting this phenomenon are crucial for improving treatment efficacy. Methods: Ultrasound images from 62 patients, taken before and after neoadjuvant therapy, were collected. Mitochondrial-related genes were extracted from a public database. Ultrasound features associated with NAC resistance were identified and correlated with significant mitochondrial-related genes. Subsequently, a prognostic model was developed and evaluated using the GSE58812 dataset. We also assessed this model alongside clinical factors… More >

Ioana Fugaru¹, David Bouhadana¹, Gautier Marcq^2,3, Joseph Moryousef⁴, Alexis Rompré-Brodeur¹, Andrew Meng⁴, Oleg Loutochin¹, George Loutochin¹, Maurice Anidjar¹, Frank Bladou⁵, Rafael Sanchez-Salas¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.31, No.1, pp. 11784-11793, 2024

Abstract Introduction: Partial gland ablation (PGA) using high intensity focal ultrasound (HIFU) is an alternative to active surveillance for low to intermediate risk localized prostate cancer. This pilot study assessed quality of life (QoL) outcomes during the implementation of PGA HIFU at our institution.
Materials and methods: We prospectively enrolled 25 men with a diagnosis of localized low/intermediate risk prostate cancer who elected to undergo PGA-HIFU in a pilot study at our institution between 2013 and 2016. Patients underwent pre-treatment mpMRI and transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsies. The primary endpoints were impact on patient-reported functional outcomes (erectile, urinary function, QoL)… More >

Sarah Azari, Darcy Wolfman², Armine Smith³

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.31, No.2, pp. 11854-11857, 2024

Abstract The majority of solid testicular tumors are treated with orchiectomy given the high risk of malignancy. We present a case of a testicular mass in an adult patient in the setting of recent hand, foot, and mouth disease that was managed conservatively with serial ultrasounds. Even though cases of viral-associated testicular masses are rare, this differential diagnosis should be considered in patients with a new testicular mass in the setting of recent viral infection and negative tumor markers. For these patients, observation may be an option instead of immediate orchiectomy. More >

Bassem Toeama¹, Nathan Perlis², Paul Grootendorst¹, William Orovan³, Emmanuel Papadimitropoulos^1,4

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.31, No.4, pp. 11963-11970, 2024

Abstract Introduction: Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of death from cancer among Canadian men. High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a novel approach for primary treatment of localized prostate cancer. Little is known, however, about its costs. We aimed to collect the direct costs and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data of HIFU in primary treatment of localized low and intermediate risk prostate cancer in Ontario.
Materials and methods: We collected direct costs and HRQoL data of 20 patients with localized low or intermediate risk prostate cancer who received whole gland HIFU at a privately owned… More >

Muyideen Olaitan Bamidele¹, José Sandoval-Cortés¹, María Liliana Flores-López², Olga Berenice Álvarez Pérez¹, Monica Lizeth Chavez González¹, Cristóbal Noe Aguilar^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.11, pp. 3091-3107, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.058422 - 30 November 2024

Abstract Postharvest losses remain a significant challenge, particularly in developing countries that have inadequate infrastructure. Medicinal plants offer an eco-friendly and sustainable solution for managing diseases and pests in agricultural systems. These plants are rich in bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, and essential oils, many of which have proven antimicrobial, antifungal, insecticidal, and antioxidant properties. These characteristics make medicinal plants viable candidates for postharvest disease and pest control. Among these, Larrea tridentata (creosote bush) is particularly notable for its bioactive compounds with strong antifungal properties. Their potential applications include agriculture, food preservation, and medicine.… More > Graphic Abstract

Xinwei Li^1,*

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.31, No.2, pp. 1-2, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.011083

Abstract The emergence of 3D printing opens new possibilities for the development of advanced and innovative metamaterials, particularly in the realm of microlattices. Microlattices are characterized as periodic cellular solids with submillimeter-sized features, such as struts, shells, or plates, arranged spatially in a three-dimensional way. Herein, based on four published studies, we provide a perspective on the design, employing analytical and numerical methods, as well as the performance of 3D-printed microlattices for sound absorption.
The first study focuses on face-centered cubic-based plate and truss structures [1]. Impedance tube measurements reveal that all the microlattices display absorption curves… More >