Application of acoustic radiation force impulse imaging for the evaluation of focal liver lesion elasticity

BACKGROUND: Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging is a new elastography method for the evaluation of tissue stiffness. This study aims to evaluate the performance of ARFI in noninvasive assessment of the tissue stiffness of focal liver lesion (FLL) and to explore its potential value in the differential diagnosis of FLL. METHODS: ARFI was performed in 140 patients with 154 FLLs, which included 28 hemangiomas (ANGIs), 14 focal nodular hyperplasias (FNHs), 61 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 39 metastases and 12 cholangiocellular carcinomas (CCCs). Virtual touch tissue quantification (VTTQ) values were obtained, analyzed and compared. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and optimal cut-off values were obtained using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to assess diagnostic performance. All cases were definitively diagnosed using histopathology, CT, MRI or contrast-enhanced ultrasound. RESULTS: The VTTQ median values of ANGI, FNH, HCC metastasis and CCC were 1.30, 1.80, 2.52, 3.08 and 3.89 m/s respectively. A significant increase in the VTTQ values of different lesions was observed: ANGI【FNH【HCC【metastasis 【CCC (P【0.001). The AUROC (95% CI) of VTTQ values was 0.94 (0.90-0.98) for ANGI, 0.91 (0.87-0.96) for malignant lesions and 0.87 (0.79-0.94) for CCC. The sensitivity and specificity for ANGI (86.5%, 89.3%, respectively), malignancy (81.3% 92.9%, respectively), and CCC (91.7%, 72.5%, respectively) were associated with VTTQ cut-off values of 1.76, 2.22 and 3.00 m/s respectively.CONCLUSIONS: ARFI can accurately and objectively assess the elasticity of lesions by obtaining the shear wave elastic value of FLL with VTTQ. Therefore, ARFI is a novel, simple, noninvasive and useful diagnostic method for the characterization of FLL.

A Modified Monte Carlo Model of Speckle Tracking of Shear Wave Induced by Acoustic Radiation Force for Acousto-Optic Elasticity Imaging

A modified Monte Carlo model of speckle tracking of shear wave propagation in scattering media is proposed. The established Monte Carlo model mainly concerns the variations of optical electric field and speckle. The two- dimensional intensity distribution and the time evolution of speckles in different probe locations are obtained. The fluctuation of speckle intensity tracks the acoustic-radiation-force shear wave propagation, and especially the reduction of speckle intensity implies attenuation of shear wave. Then, the shear wave velocity is estimated quantitatively on the basis of the time-to-peak algorithm and linear regression processing. The results reveal that a smaller sampling interval yields higher estimation precision and the shear wave velocity is estimated more efficiently by using speckle intensity difference than by using speckle contrast difference according to the estimation error. Hence, the shear wave velocity is estimated to be 2.25 m/s with relatively high accuracy for the estimation error reaches the minimum （0.071）.

Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging-based evaluation of optic-radiation shape and position in meningioma

Employing magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging, three-dimensional white-matter imaging and conventional magnetic resonance imaging can demonstrate the tumor parenchyma, peritumoral edema and compression on surrounding brain tissue. A color-coded tensor map and three-dimensional tracer diagram were applied to clearly display the optic-radiation location, course and damage. Results showed that the altered anisotropy values of meningioma patients corresponded with optic-radiation shape, size and position on both sides. Experimental findings indicate that the magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging technique is a means of tracing and clearly visualizing the optic radiation.

Propagating disturbances along a coronal loop from simultaneous EUV imaging and spectroscopic observations

Propagating disturbances（PDs） were studied along an active region loop using simultaneous imaging and spectroscopy. An image sequence recorded in the Fe Ⅸ/Fe X 171 channel, from TRACE and spectral data in the Si Ⅻ 520.6 line obtained from CDS/SOHO, are analyzed. A space-time map constructed from the TRACE image sequence shows the presence of PDs close to the loop foot point propagating with an apparent speed of 39 km s-1. The periodicity was found to be 5.4 min.The corresponding spectroscopic data from CDS, at a location away from the foot point, show oscillations in all three line parameters roughly at the same period. At locations farther from the foot point, the line width oscillation seems to disappear while the Doppler velocity oscillation becomes prominent. We attribute this to the signature of propagating slow waves that get affected by flows/other events close to the foot point. Spectral line profiles do not show much asymmetry, however, it is difficult to infer anything due to the broadened Gaussian shape of the CDS line profiles.

Assessment and Assimilation of FY-3 Humidity Sounders and Imager in the UK Met Office Global Model

China＇s FengYnn 3 （FY-3） polar orbiting satellites axe set to become an important sonrce of observational data for nu- merical weather prediction （NWP）, atmospheric reanalyses, and climate monitoring studies over the next two decades. As part of the Climate Science for Service Partnership China （CSSP China） prograln, FY-3B Microwave Humidity Sounder 1 （MWHS-1） and FY-3C MWHS-2 observations have been thoroughly assessed and prepared for operational assimilation. This represents the first time observations from China＇s polar orbiting satellites have been used in the UK＇s global NWP model. Since 2016, continuous data quality monitoring has shown occasional bias changes found to be correlated to changes in the energy supply scheme regulating the platform heating system and other transient anomalies. Nonetheless, MWHS-1 and MWHS-2 significantly contribute to the 24-h forecast error reduction by 0.3% and 0.6%, respectively, and the combination of both instruments is shown to improve the fit to the model background of independent sounders by up to 1%. The observations from the Microwave Radiation Imager （MWRI） also are a potentially significant source of benefits for NWP models, but a solar-dependent bias observed in the instrument half-orbits has prevented their assimilation. This paper presents the bases of a correction scheme developed at the Met Office for the purpose of a future assimilation of MWRI data.

Liquid Water Path Retrieval Using the Lowest Frequency Channels of Fengyun-3C Microwave Radiation Imager(MWRI)

The Microwave Radiation Imager （MWRI） on board Chinese Fengyun-3 （FY-3） satellites provides measurements at 10.65, 18.7, 23.8, 36.5, and 89.0 GHz with both horizontal and vertical polarization channels. Brightness temperature measurements of those channels with their central frequencies higher than 19 GHz from satellite-based microwave imager radiometers had traditionally been used to retrieve cloud liquid water path （LWP） over ocean. The results show that the lowest frequency channels are the most appropriate for retrieving LWP when its values are large. Therefore, a modified LWP retrieval algorithm is developed for retrieving LWP of different magnitudes involving not only the high frequency channels but also the lowest frequency channels of FY-3 MWRI. The theoretical estimates of the LWP retrieval errors are between 0.11 and 0.06 mm for 10.65- and 18.7-GHz channels and between 0.02 and 0.04 mm for 36.5- and 89.0-GHz channels. It is also shown that the brightness temperature observations at 10.65 GHz can be utilized to better retrieve the LWP greater than 3 mm in the eyewall region of Super Typhoon Neoguri （2014）. The spiral structure of clouds within and around Typhoon Neoguri can be well captured by combining the LWP retrievals from different frequency channels.

A Multivariable Approach for Estimating Soil Moisture from Microwave Radiation Imager(MWRI)

Accurate measurements of soil moisture are beneficial to our understanding of hydrological processes in the earth system. A multivariable approach using the random forest(RF) machine learning technique is proposed to estimate the soil moisture from Microwave Radiation Imager(MWRI) onboard Fengyun-3 C satellite. In this study, Soil Moisture Operational Products System(SMOPS) products disseminated from NOAA are used as a truth to train the algorithm with the input of MWRI brightness temperatures(TBs) at 10.65, 18.7, 23.8, 36.5, and 89.0 GHz, TB polarization ratios(PRs) at 10.65, 18.7, and 23.8 GHz, height in digital elevation model(DEM), and soil porosity. The retrieved soil moisture is also validated against the independent SMOPS data, and the correlation coefficient is about0.8 and mean bias is 0.002 m^3 m^-3 over the period from 1 August 2017 to 31 May 2019. Our retrieval of soil moisture also has a higher correlation with ECMWF ERA5 soil moisture data than the MWRI operational products. In the western part of China, the spatial distribution of MWRI soil moisture is much improved, compared to the MWRI operational products.

Synthesis of True Color Images from the Fengyun Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager

The production of true color images requires observational data in the red,green,and blue(RGB)bands.The Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager(AGRI)onboard China’s Fengyun-4(FY-4)series of geostationary satellites only has blue and red bands,and we therefore have to synthesize a green band to produce RGB true color images.We used random forest regression and conditional generative adversarial networks to train the green band model using Himawari-8 Advanced Himawari Imager data.The model was then used to simulate the green channel reflectance of the FY-4 AGRI.A single-scattering radiative transfer model was used to eliminate the contribution of Rayleigh scattering from the atmosphere and a logarithmic enhancement was applied to process the true color image.The conditional generative adversarial network model was better than random forest regression for the green band model in terms of statistical significance(e.g.,a higher determination coefficient,peak signal-to-noise ratio,and structural similarity index).The sharpness of the images was significantly improved after applying a correction for Rayleigh scattering,and the images were able to show natural phenomena more vividly.The AGRI true color images could be used to monitor dust storms,forest fires,typhoons,volcanic eruptions,and other natural events.

In-Orbit Calibration Uncertainty of the Microwave Radiation Imager on board Fengyun-3C

This study evaluates the in-orbit calibration uncertainty(CU)for the microwave radiation imager(MWRI)on board the Chinese polar-orbiting meteorological satellite Fengyun-3 C(FY-3 C).Uncertainty analysis of the MWRI provides a direct link to the calibration system of the sensor and quantifies the calibration confidence based on the prelaunch and postlaunch measurements.The unique design of the sensor makes the uncertainty in the calibration of the sensor highly correlate to the uncertainty in the brightness temperature(TB)measured at the hot view,while the cold view has negligible impacts on the calibration confidence.Lack of knowledge on the emission of the hot-load reflector hampers the MWRI calibration accuracy significantly in the descending passes of the orbits when the hotload reflector is heated nonuniformly by the solar illumination.Radiance contamination originating from the satellite and in-orbit environments could enter the primary reflector via the hot view and further impinge on the CU,especially at the 10.65-GHz channels where the main-beam width is much broader than that of higher-frequency channels.The monthly-mean CU is lower than 2 K at all channels,depending on the observed earth scenes and in-orbit environments,and the month-to-month variation of CU is also noticed for all channels.Due to the uncertainty in the emissive hot-load reflector,CU in the descending passes is generally larger than that in the ascending orbits.Moreover,up to 1-K CU difference between the ocean and land scenes is found for the 10.65-GHz channels,while this difference is less than 0.1 K at the 89-GHz channels.

基于FY-3B/MWRI数据的青藏高原地区积雪深度反演

以青藏高原地区(25°N-40°N,70°E-105°E)为研究区域,基于积雪深度与微波辐射计18.7 GHz水平极化通道和36.5 GHz水平极化通道的亮温差(Tb18H-Tb36H)具有良好的线性相关性,得出了适用于FY-3B/MWRI(Microwave Radiation Imager)亮温数据反演青藏高原地区雪深的新算法.利用FY-3B/MWRI一级亮温数据,通过新的半经验算法反演了青藏高原地区的积雪深度,进而运用AMSR2(the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2)的二级雪深产品验证了反演结果.结果表明:针对青藏高原地区,新算法相对于全球积雪深度算法具有更小的平均相对误差以及更小的均方根误差,在该研究区域具有更好的适用性.今后可以结合该地区的地表类型分类,对积雪深度反演算法进行更加细致化的拟合,以期提高反演精度,为青藏高原地球物理参数的遥感反演提供支持.

Impact of FY-3D MWRI Radiance Assimilation in GRAPES 4DVar on Forecasts of Typhoon Shanshan

In this study, Fengyun-3 D(FY-3 D) Micro Wave Radiation Imager(MWRI) radiance data were directly assimilated into the Global/Regional Assimilation and Pr Ediction System(GRAPES) four-dimensional variational(4 DVar) system. Quality control procedures were developed for MWRI applications by using algorithms from similar microwave instruments. Compared with the FY-3 C MWRI, the bias of FY-3 D MWRI observations did not show a clear node-dependent difference from the numerical weather prediction background simulation. A conventional bias correction approach can therefore be used to remove systematic biases before the assimilation of data. After assimilating the MWRI radiance data into GRAPES, the geopotential height and humidity analysis fields were improved relative to the control experiment. There was a positive impact on the location of the subtropical high, which led to improvements in forecasts of the track of Typhoon Shanshan.

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)often present with underlying liver disease and significant comorbidities,limiting treatment tolerance.With the development of improved toxicity models and highly conformal radiation delivery systems,external beam radiotherapy has become a valuable treatment option for liver cancer.Using cutting edge technology,stereotactic ablative radiotherapy(SABR)allows for the delivery of ablative doses in few fractions while sparing uninvolved liver tissue.This approach permits dose escalation and precise tumor targeting with minimal risk of radiation induced liver disease.This review clarifies SABR's role alongside liver-directed treatments such as radiofrequency ablation,transarterial radioembolization,and transarterial chemoembolization in the management of HCC.It also examines the promising potential of SABR combined with immunotherapy to treat advanced HCC.