Multicenter Validation of Abbreviated MRI for Detecting Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background Abbreviated MRI is a proposed paradigm shift for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance, but data on its performance are lacking for histopathologically confirmed early-stage HCC. Purpose To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of dynamic contrast-enhanced abbreviated MRI for early-stage HCC detection, using surgical pathologic findings as the reference standard. Materials and Methods This retrospective study was conducted at three U.

Use of a pectus bar for surgical stabilization of cardiopulmonary resuscitation induced flail chest.

A flail chest can occur when cardiopulmonary resuscitation causes extensive rib fractures. Despite successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if the flail chest is not treated, the patient may not survive regardless of the correction of the primary condition that caused the cardiac arrest. Therefore, if flail chest persists despite the appropriate conservative management to correct the flail chest, active surgical management is essential.

Two-Dimensional Gold Quantum Dots with Tunable Bandgaps.

Metallic gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with multilayer Au atoms are useful for plasmonic, chemical, medical, and metamaterial application. In this article, we report the opening of the bandgap in substrate-supported two-dimensional (2D) gold quantum dots (Au QDs) with monolayer Au atoms. Calculations based on density functional theory suggest that 2D Au QDs are energetically favorable over 3D Au clusters when coated on hexagonal boron nitride (BN) surfaces.

FDG PET/CT of Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma With Sarcomatoid Differentiation.

We report the case of a 49-year-old white man with a chromophobe renal cell carcinoma associated with sarcomatoid differentiation, an uncommon yet an aggressive form of dedifferentiated renal cell carcinoma. In opposite to the conventional renal cell carcinoma, which may not always demonstrate avid FDG activity, the sarcomatoid differentiated chromophobe renal cell carcinoma shows intense FDG uptake on PET. This case highlights the role of FDG PET/CT in staging and restaging this type of rare renal cell carcinoma.

Osseous Injury Associated With Ligamentous Tear of the Knee.

One of the most common knee injuries is ligament tear, which may initially manifest as an osseous injury in radiographs. Radiologists should therefore be able to recognize ligament tears of the knee as osseous abnormalities in images. This review focuses on the imaging features of knee ligament injuries and their related osseous injuries: anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear with Segond fracture; associated marrow contusion; ACL avulsion fracture; posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear with osseous avulsion of the ligament including arcuate sign; reverse Segond fracture; PCL avulsion fracture; medial collateral ligament tear with Pellegrini-Stieda disease; lateral collateral ligament tear with avulsion fracture of the fibular head; and patellar ligament injuries with Osgood-Schlatter and Sinding-Larsen-Johansson.

A Simple and Universal Technique To Extract One- and Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials from Contaminated Water.

We demonstrate a universal approach to extract one- and two-dimensional nanomaterials from contaminated water, which is based on a microscopic oil-water interface trapping mechanism. Results indicate that carbon nanotubes, graphene, boron nitride nanotubes, boron nitride nanosheets, and zinc oxide nanowires can be successfully extracted from contaminated water at a successful rate of nearly 100%. The effects of surfactants, particle shape, and type of organic extraction fluids are evaluated.

Management of a sandbag accident in an MRI unit.

Our aim is to report the cause and management of a ferromagnetic sandbag accident that occurred when an unconscious patient was sent for brain MRI. A 2-kg sandbag had been placed in the vicinity of his right groin to aid hemostasis after a femoral venous puncture for thrombocytopenia. His clothing and blanket had not been examined thoroughly before he was moved to the scanner and the sandbag went unnoticed.

Lipomatosis of the sciatic nerve secondary to compression by a desmoid tumor.

Lipomatosis of nerve is a rare benign tumor-like process characterized by infiltration of the epineurium by adipose and fibrous tissue leading to nerve enlargement. We describe a case of lipomatosis of the sciatic nerve compressed by an adjacent desmoid tumor. This case supports the hypothesis that lipomatosis of nerve may form as a result of irritation or compression by adjacent structures.

Room-temperature tunneling behavior of boron nitride nanotubes functionalized with gold quantum dots.

One-dimensional arrays of gold quantum dots (QDs) on insulating boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) can form conduction channels of tunneling field-effect transistors. We demonstrate that tunneling currents can be modulated at room temperature by tuning the lengths of QD-BNNTs and the gate potentials. Our discovery will inspire the creative use of nanostructured metals and insulators for future electronic devices.

Metal-insulator transition in variably doped (Bi(1-x)Sb(x))2Se3 nanosheets.

Topological insulators are novel quantum materials with metallic surface transport but insulating bulk behavior. Often, topological insulators are dominated by bulk contributions due to defect induced bulk carriers, making it difficult to isolate the more interesting surface transport characteristics. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of nanosheets of a topological insulator Bi2Se3 with variable Sb-doping levels to control the electron carrier density and surface transport behavior.

Ambipolar surface conduction in ternary topological insulator Bi₂(Te₁-xSex)₃ nanoribbons.

We report the composition- and gate voltage-induced tuning of transport properties in chemically synthesized Bi2(Te1-xSex)3 nanoribbons. It is found that increasing Se concentration effectively suppresses the bulk carrier transport and induces semiconducting behavior in the temperature-dependent resistance of Bi2(Te1-xSex)3 nanoribbons when x is greater than ∼10%. In Bi2(Te1-xSex)3 nanoribbons with x ≈ 20%, gate voltage enables ambipolar modulation of resistance (or conductance) in samples with thicknesses around or larger than 100 nm, indicating significantly enhanced contribution in transport from the gapless surface states.

Echocardiographic evaluation of mitral durability following valve repair in rheumatic mitral valve disease: impact of Maze procedure.

Objective: The data on echocardiographic evaluation of mitral durability after rheumatic mitral repair is scarce.

Methods: A total of 193 patients (mean age, 39.4 ± 12.

Field emission and strain engineering of electronic properties in boron nitride nanotubes.

The electrical properties of boron nitride (BN) nanostructures, particularly BN nanotubes (NTs), have been studied less in comparison to the counterpart carbon nanotubes. The present work investigates the field emission (FE) behavior of BNNTs under multiple cycles of FE experiments and demonstrates a strain-engineering pathway to tune the electronic properties of BNNTs. The electrical probing of individual BNNTs were conducted inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM) using an in situ electrical holder capable of applying a bias voltage of up to 110 V.

Origins of thermodynamically stable superhydrophobicity of boron nitride nanotubes coatings.

Superhydrophobic surfaces are attractive as self-cleaning protective coatings in harsh environments with extreme temperatures and pH levels. Hexagonal phase boron nitride (h-BN) films are promising protective coatings due to their extraordinary chemical and thermal stability. However, their high surface energy makes them hydrophilic and thus not applicable as water repelling coatings.

A simplified in vivo approach for evaluating the bioabsorbable behavior of candidate stent materials.

Metal stents are commonly used to revascularize occluded arteries. A bioabsorbable metal stent that harmlessly erodes away over time may minimize the normal chronic risks associated with permanent implants. However, there is no simple, low-cost method of introducing candidate materials into the arterial environment.

In situ observation of reversible rippling in multi-walled boron nitride nanotubes.

The recent observation of high flexibility in buckled boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) contradicts the pre-existing belief about BN nanotube brittleness due to the partially ionic character of bonding between the B and N atoms. However, the underlying mechanisms and relationships within the nanotube remained unexplored. This study reports for the first time the buckling mechanism in multi-walled BNNTs upon severe mechanical deformation.

Recent advancements in boron nitride nanotubes.

This article provides a concise review of the recent research advancements in boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) with a comprehensive list of references. As the motivation of the field, we first summarize some of the attractive properties and potential applications of BNNTs. Then, latest discoveries on the properties, applications, and synthesis of BNNTs are discussed.

Induction annealing and subsequent quenching: effect on the thermoelectric properties of boron-doped nanographite ensembles.

Boron-doped nanographite ensembles (NGEs) are interesting thermoelectric nanomaterials for high temperature applications. Rapid induction annealing and quenching has been applied to boron-doped NGEs using a relatively low-cost, highly reliable, laboratory built furnace to show that substantial improvements in thermoelectric power factors can be achieved using this methodology. Details of the design and performance of this compact induction furnace as well as results of the thermoelectric measurements will be reported here.

Noncovalent functionalization of boron nitride nanotubes with poly(p-phenylene-ethynylene)s and polythiophene.

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are functionalized and solubilized in organic solvents such as chloroform, methylene chloride, and tetrahydrofuran by using conjugated poly(p-phenylene ethynylene)s (PPEs) (polymers A and B) and polythiophene (polymer C) via a noncovalent functionalization approach through strong pi-pi stacking interactions between the conjugated polymers and BNNTs. The functionalization of BNNTs with PPEs enhanced planarization of PPEs with red shifts in both absorbance and emission of the composite materials with reference to free PPEs, whereas the functionalization of BNNTs with polythiophene disrupts the pi-conjugation, resulting in blue shifts in both the absorption and emission of the composite material.