Hydrogen-designed spin-states of 2D silicon carbide and graphene nanostructures.

Identifying and manipulating spin in two-dimensional materials is of great interest in advancing quantum information and sensing technologies, as well as in the development of spintronic devices. Here, we investigate the influence of hydrogen adsorption on the electronic and magnetic properties of graphene-like triangulenes. We have constructed triangulenes from SiC monolayers, which have been successfully synthesized very recently, extending our investigation to include graphene triangulenes. This advancement in the synthesis of SiC monolayers allows us to investigate deeper into the unique properties of SiC-based triangulenes and compare them with their graphene counterparts. The addition of hydrogen has been found to induce a magnetic moment in the SiC monolayer, with a more localized spin density when H is adsorbed in the C sites while spreading through the lattice when adsorbed on the Si sites. In triangular flakes, the ground spin state changes with the adsorption site: decreasing multiplicity on edge-defined sublattices and increasing it on the opposite sublattice. These findings suggest hydrogen adsorption as a tool for tuning spin-state properties in SiC and graphene nanostructures, with potential applications in spintronics and spin quantum dot devices.

Optimized infrared spectrum of ( H 2 O ) m : ( H C N ) n $$ {\left({H}_2O\right)}_m:{(HCN)}_n $$ mixtures.

Using density functional theory at D3-B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level combined with the conductor-like polarizable continuum model (CPCM) solvent model, a study of the IR spectrum of H 2 O $$ {\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O} $$ :HCN mixtures is reported. The CPCM solvent effect notably enhances the accuracy of the IR spectra compared to gas-phase calculations, while the dielectric constant value has minimum impact on the final spectrum. An optimized methodology is suggested that effectively minimizes the root mean square deviation between theoretical and experimental data. This novel approach not only enhances the quality of the final IR spectra but also captures relevant spectral features, highlighting its potential to decipher molecular interactions in such intricate mixtures.

Perspective of obstetric care-providers on being involved in cervical cancer screening during antenatal care in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine attitude of Dutch midwifes, gynecologists and general practitioners (GPs) towards involvement in antenatal cervical cancer screening (CCS) in the Netherlands. METHODS: In 2021, Dutch midwives, gynecologists, and GPs were offered a single digital questionnaire assessing perceived feasibility, benefits, and harms of antenatal CCS. RESULTS: A total of 6943 Questionnaires were send and response rate was 18% (N = 1260). Of all respondents, 78% considered antenatal CCS via obstetric care providers feasible. Most respondents (85%) agreed that offering CCS in person can increase motivation to attend. Most midwives (93%) considered that women would feel less encumbered if cervical sampling would be performed by obstetric care providers, rather than by GPs. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that introduction of antenatal CCS is considered feasible by a majority of Dutch midwifes, gynecologists, and GPs. Considered benefits include improved motivation to attend and reduced test related barriers.

On the rearrangement and dissociation mechanism of SiH4+ in its triply-degenerate ground state.

An ab initio molecular orbital study has been performed to explore the structural rearrangement and dissociation of SiH4+ radical cation at the X̃2T2 ground electronic state. All stationary points located on the lowest adiabatic sheet of Jahn-Teller (JT) split X̃2T2 state are fully optimized and characterized by performing harmonic vibrational frequency calculations. The structural rearrangement is predicted to start with JT distortions involving the doubly-degenerate (e) and triply-degenerate (t2) modes. The e mode reduces the initial Td symmetry of the SiH4+ ground state to a D2d saddle point, which eventually dissociates into the SiH3+(2A1) + H products via C3v local minimum. In turn, an e-type bending of αH-Si-H yields the SiH2+(2A1) + H2 products through the first C3v local minimum and then the Cs(2A') global minimum. In the alternative pathway, the t2 mode distorts the initial Td symmetry into a loosely bound C3v local minimum, which further dissociates into the SiH3+(2A1) + H asymptote via totally symmetric Si-H stretching mode, and SiH2+(2A1) + H2 products via H-Si-H bending (e) mode through the Cs(2A') global minimum. It is further predicted that the Cs global minimum interconverts equivalent structures via a C2v transition structure. In addition, the two dissociation products are found to be connected by a second C2v transition structure.

Single-channel qEEG characteristics distinguish delirium from no delirium, but not postoperative from non-postoperative delirium.

OBJECTIVE: This exploratory study examined quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) changes in delirium and the use of qEEG features to distinguish postoperative from non-postoperative delirium. METHODS: This project was part of the DeltaStudy, a cross-sectional,multicenterstudy in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and non-ICU wards. Single-channel (Fp2-Pz) four-minutes resting-state EEG was analyzed in 456 patients. After calculating 98 qEEG features per epoch, random forest (RF) classification was used to analyze qEEG changes in delirium and to test whether postoperative and non-postoperative delirium could be distinguished. RESULTS: An area under the receiver operatingcharacteristic curve (AUC) of 0.76 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.71-0.80) was found when classifying delirium with a sensitivity of 0.77 and a specificity of 0.63 at the optimal operating point. The classification of postoperative versus non-postoperative delirium resulted in an AUC of 0.50 (95%CI 0.38-0.61). CONCLUSIONS: RF classification was able to discriminate delirium from no delirium with reasonable accuracy, while also identifying new delirium qEEG markers like autocorrelation and theta peak frequency. RF classification could not distinguish postoperative from non-postoperative delirium. SIGNIFICANCE: Single-channel EEG differentiates between delirium and no delirium with reasonable accuracy. We found no distinct EEG profile for postoperative delirium, which may suggest that delirium is one entity, whether it develops postoperatively or not.

Extracorporeal bullet trajectory determination from scanned phantoms with bullet defects.

Shots with two different calibres (0.32 Auto and 9 mm Luger) were fired through phantoms that simulated human torsos, mounted on undercarriages with witness panels. The perforated phantoms were scanned with computed tomography (Siemens) using 80 kV and 140 kV and a slice thickness of 1 mm. The intracorporeal trajectories in the phantoms were compared to the known extracorporeal trajectories, derived from the perforations in witness panels. The discrepancy between the intracorporeal and extracorporeal trajectories, denoted as the absolute angle, was calculated for the trajectories before (front) and after (rear) the phantoms. Mean absolute angles at the front were lower than at the rear (2.27° vs. 4.54°) and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The results of the study imply that the line between the entrance and the exit wound in a scanned victim can be extended to the extracorporeal bullet trajectory leading towards the entrance wound. The absolute angles presented in this study give an impression of the expected errors with the two calibres. This can be helpful in shooting investigations to assess the position of the shooter from entrance and exit wounds in a scanned victim.

Production of new ent-hardwickiic acid derivatives by microbial transformation and their antifungal activity.

Ent-hardwickiic acid is the major compound of Copaifera pubiflora Benth oleoresin traditionally used in Brazilian folk medicine as an antimicrobial agent. Microbial transformation of ent-hardwickiic by Cunninghamella elegans ATCC 10028b resulted in two and five antifungal derivatives (four new ones) produced in the Czapek modified and Koch's K1 media, respectively. The derivatives were isolated and their structures were determined by spectral analysis, namely 1D/2D NMR and HR-ESIMS. All compounds were tested for cytotoxic and antifungal activities and they were not cytotoxic to the tested cell lines, but all derivatives showed fungicidal activity against Candida glabrata and Candida krusei, which have emerged as resistant to fluconazole. One of the yet unreported biotransformation products displayed the strongest activity with minimum fungicidal concentration values smaller than the other compounds, including fluconazole.

Pre-hospital ECPR in an Australian metropolitan setting: a single-arm feasibility assessment-The CPR, pre-hospital ECPR and early reperfusion (CHEER3) study.

INTRODUCTION: Survival from refractory out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) without timely return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) utilising conventional advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) therapies is dismal. CHEER3 was a safety and feasibility study of pre-hospital deployed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for refractory OHCA in metropolitan Australia. METHODS: This was a single jurisdiction, single-arm feasibility study. Physicians, with pre-existing ECMO expertise, responded to witnessed OHCA, age < 65 yrs, within 30 min driving-time, using an ECMO equipped rapid response vehicle. If pre-hospital ECPR was undertaken, patients were transported to hospital for investigations and therapies including emergent coronary catheterisation, and standard intensive care (ICU) therapy until either cardiac and neurological recovery or palliation occurred. Analyses were descriptive. RESULTS: From February 2020 to May 2023, over 117 days, the team responded to 709 "potential cardiac arrest" emergency calls. 358 were confirmed OHCA. Time from emergency call to scene arrival was 27 min (15-37 min). 10 patients fulfilled the pre-defined inclusion criteria and all were successfully cannulated on scene. Time from emergency call to ECMO initiation was 50 min (35-62 min). Time from decision to ECMO support was 16 min (11-26 min). CPR duration was 46 min (32-62 min). All 10 patients were transferred to hospital for investigations and therapy. 4 patients (40%) survived to hospital discharge neurologically intact (CPC 1/2). CONCLUSION: Pre-hospital ECPR was feasible, using an experienced ECMO team from a single-centre. Overall survival was promising in this highly selected group. Further prospective studies are now warranted.

The association between antiplatelet therapy and changes in intraplaque hemorrhage in patients with mild to moderate symptomatic carotid stenosis: a longitudinal MRI study.

INTRODUCTION: Carotid atherosclerotic intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) predicts stroke. Patients with a history of stroke are treated with antiplatelet agents to prevent secondary cardiovascular events. A positive association between previous antiplatelet use and IPH was reported in a cross-sectional analysis. We investigated changes in IPH over two years in patients who recently started versus those with continued antiplatelet use. METHODS: In the Plaque at Risk (PARISK) study, symptomatic patients with <70% ipsilateral carotid stenosis underwent carotid plaque MRI at baseline and after two years to determine IPH presence and volume. Participants were categorized into new users (starting antiplatelet therapy following the index event) and continued users (previous use of antiplatelet therapy before the index event). The association between previous antiplatelet therapy and the presence of IPH at baseline MRI was investigated using multivariable logistic regression analysis. IPH volume change over a period of two years, defined as the difference in volume between follow-up and baseline, was investigated in each group with a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The IPH volume change was categorized as progression, regression, or no change. Using multivariable logistic regression, we investigated the association between new antiplatelet use and 1) newly developed ipsilateral or contralateral IPH and 2) IPH volume progression. RESULTS: A total of 108 patients underwent carotid MRI at baseline and follow-up. At baseline, previous antiplatelet therapy was associated with any IPH (OR=5.6, 95% CI: 1.3-23.1; p=0.02). Ipsilateral IPH volume did not change significantly during the two years in patients who continued receiving antiplatelet agents (86.4 mm3 [18.2-235.9] vs. 59.3 mm3 [11.4-260.3]; p=0.6) nor in the new antiplatelet users (n=31) (61.5 mm3 [0.0-166.9] vs. 27.7 mm3 [9.5-106.4]; p=0.4). Similar results of a nonsignificant change in contralateral IPH volume during those two years were observed in both groups (p>0.05). No significant associations were found between new antiplatelet use and newly developed IPH at two years (odds ratio (OR)=1.0, 95% CI:0.1-7.4) or the progression of IPH (ipsilateral: OR=2.4, 95% CI:0.3-19.1; contralateral: OR=0.3, 95% CI:0.01-8.5). CONCLUSION: Although the baseline association between IPH and previous antiplatelet therapy was confirmed in this larger cohort, the new onset of antiplatelet therapy after TIA/stroke was not associated with newly developed IPH or progression of IPH volume over the subsequent two years.

The effectiveness of immediate versus delayed tubal flushing with oil-based contrast in women with unexplained infertility (H2Oil-timing study): study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In women with unexplained infertility, tubal flushing with oil-based contrast during hysterosalpingography leads to significantly more live births as compared to tubal flushing with water-based contrast during hysterosalpingography. However, it is unknown whether incorporating tubal flushing with oil-based contrast in the initial fertility work-up results to a reduced time to conception leading to live birth when compared to delayed tubal flushing that is performed six months after the initial fertility work-up. We also aim to evaluate the effectiveness of tubal flushing with oil-based contrast during hysterosalpingography versus no tubal flushing in the first six months of the study. METHODS: This study will be an investigator-initiated, open-label, international, multicenter, randomized controlled trial with a planned economic analysis alongside the study. Infertile women between 18 and 39 years of age, who have an ovulatory cycle, who are at low risk for tubal pathology and have been advised expectant management for at least six months (based on the Hunault prediction score) will be included in this study. Eligible women will be randomly allocated (1:1) to immediate tubal flushing (intervention) versus delayed tubal flushing (control group) by using web-based block randomization stratified per study center. The primary outcome is time to conception leading to live birth with conception within twelve months after randomization. We assess the cumulative conception rate at six and twelve months as two co-primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes include ongoing pregnancy rate, live birth rate, miscarriage rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, number of complications, procedural pain score and cost-effectiveness. To demonstrate or refute a shorter time to pregnancy of three months with a power of 90%, a sample size of 554 women is calculated. DISCUSSION: The H2Oil-timing study will provide insight into whether tubal flushing with oil-based contrast during hysterosalpingography should be incorporated in the initial fertility work-up in women with unexplained infertility as a therapeutic procedure. If this multicenter RCT shows that tubal flushing with oil-based contrast incorporated in the initial fertility work-up reduces time to conception and is a cost-effective strategy, the results may lead to adjustments of (inter)national guidelines and change clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The study was retrospectively registered in International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (Main ID: EUCTR2018-004153-24-NL).

Carbon-[n]Triangulenes and Sila-[n]Triangulenes: Which Are Planar?

Using our recently suggested concept of a quasi-molecule ("tile") and, in the case of the planarity here at stake, its generalization to larger than tetratomics, we explain why carbon [n]triangulenes tend to be planar, while hybrids, where just a few or even all a- or b-type carbon atoms are silicon-substituted (sila-[n]triangulenes), tend to be planar/nonplanar when compared with the unsubstituted carbon-[n]triangulenes. Because other spin states of the parent carbon- and sila-[n]triangulenes tend to correlate with the same tiles, it is conjectured that no structural changes are expected to depend on their spin state. Other polycyclic and sila-compounds are also discussed.

The (in)effectiveness of anticipatory vibrotactile cues in mitigating motion sickness.

The introduction of (fully) automated vehicles has generated a re-interest in motion sickness, given that passengers suffer much more from motion sickness compared to car drivers. A suggested solution is to improve the anticipation of passive self-motion via cues that alert passengers of changes in the upcoming motion trajectory. We already know that auditory or visual cues can mitigate motion sickness. In this study, we used anticipatory vibrotactile cues that do not interfere with the (audio)visual tasks passengers may want to perform. We wanted to investigate (1) whether anticipatory vibrotactile cues mitigate motion sickness, and (2) whether the timing of the cue is of influence. We therefore exposed participants to four sessions on a linear sled with displacements unpredictable in motion onset. In three sessions, an anticipatory cue was presented 0.33, 1, or 3 s prior to the onset of forward motion. Using a new pre-registered measure, we quantified the reduction in motion sickness across multiple sickness scores in these sessions relative to a control session. Under the chosen experimental conditions, our results did not show a significant mitigation of motion sickness by the anticipatory vibrotactile cues, irrespective of their timing. Participants yet indicated that the cues were helpful. Considering that motion sickness is influenced by the unpredictability of displacements, vibrotactile cues may mitigate sickness when motions have more (unpredictable) variability than those studied here.

[Electroencephalography and connectivity in delirium]. / Eeg en innovatieve behandeling van verminderde hersenconnectiviteit bij delirium.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is associated with neurophysiological changes that can be identified with quantitative EEG analysis techniques (qEEG). AIM: To provide an overview of studies on neurophysiological changes in delirium using various qEEG analysis techniques. METHOD: Literature review. RESULTS: In delirium, there is an increase in delta and theta activity but a decrease in activity in the alpha frequency band. Additionally, there is a decrease in functional connectivity and efficiency of the brain network in the alpha frequency band. CONCLUSION: Delirium is characterized by diffuse slowing of the EEG, reduced functional connectivity, and decreased efficiency of the brain network. Improved functional connectivity could be a new approach to treat delirium.

Scale-free-modeling (harmonic) vibrational frequencies: Assessing accuracy and cost-effectiveness by CBS extrapolation.

Empirical scaling of calculated vibrational harmonic frequencies is a popular approach used in the field of molecular sciences. A nonempirical scheme that aims at reducing their basis set error is suggested here. Nearly as cost-effective as the scaled Kohn-Sham density functional theory (KS DFT), it consists of splitting the frequencies into Hartree-Fock and electron correlation contributions, followed by their extrapolation to the complete basis set (CBS) limit. Since the former converges exponentially, the overall cost may actually equal that of CBS extrapolation of the correlation part. Despite shifts in the molecular geometry during vibration, reasons are advanced to justify the approach, with extrapolation from the first two steps of the basis set ladder being effective in accelerating convergence. As benchmark data, a set of harmonic frequencies and zero-point energies for 15 molecules is employed at the second-order Moller-Plesset and coupled-cluster single double triple [CCSD(T)] levels of theory. The results outperform the optimized KS DFT scaled values. As a second test set, equilibrium structures and harmonic frequencies were computed for H2O2, CH2NH, C2H2O, and the trans-isomer of 1,2-C2H2F2. The results are also encouraging, particularly when improved for excess correlation at the CCSD(T)/VDZ level via the focal-point approach. In extreme cases, CBS extrapolation is done from two double-ζ calculations: one canonical and the other using explicit correlation theory. As a further case study, benzene is considered. While the CCSD(T) results show the smallest deviation from the best estimates, the MP2 results also attain good quality: When improved for excess correlation, they show 6-10 cm-1 errors relative to the best data, only slightly outperformed at the CCSD(T)/CBS level. Tentative results for the fundamental frequencies are also presented.

Reconciling spectroscopy with dynamics in global potential energy surfaces: The case of the astrophysically relevant SiC2.

SiC2 is a fascinating molecule due to its unusual bonding and astrophysical importance. In this work, we report the first global potential energy surface (PES) for ground-state SiC2 using the combined-hyperbolic-inverse-power-representation method and accurate ab initio energies. The calibration grid data are obtained via a general dual-level protocol developed afresh herein that entails both coupled-cluster and multi-reference configuration interaction energies jointly extrapolated to the complete basis set limit. Such an approach is specially devised to recover much of the spectroscopy from the PES, while still permitting a proper fragmentation of the system to allow for reaction dynamics studies. Besides describing accurately the valence strongly bound region that includes both the cyclic global minimum and isomerization barriers, the final analytic PES form is shown to properly reproduce dissociation energies, diatomic potentials, and long-range interactions at all asymptotic channels, in addition to naturally reflect the correct permutational symmetry of the potential. Bound vibrational state calculations have been carried out, unveiling an excellent match of the available experimental data on c-SiC2(A11). To further exploit the global nature of the PES, exploratory quasi-classical trajectory calculations for the endothermic C2 + Si → SiC + C reaction are also performed, yielding thermalized rate coefficients for temperatures up to 5000 K. The results hint for the prominence of this reaction in the innermost layers of the circumstellar envelopes around carbon-rich stars, hence conceivably playing therein a key contribution to the gas-phase formation of SiC, and eventually, solid SiC dust.

Self-motion perception without sensory motion.

Various studies have demonstrated a role for cognition on self-motion perception. Those studies all concerned modulations of the perception of a physical or visual motion stimulus. In our study, however, we investigated whether cognitive cues could elicit a percept of oscillatory self-motion in the absence of sensory motion. If so, we could use this percept to investigate if the resulting mismatch between estimated self-motion and a lack of corresponding sensory signals is motion sickening. To that end, we seated blindfolded participants on a swing that remained motionless during two conditions, apart from a deliberate perturbation at the start of each condition. The conditions only differed regarding instructions, a secondary task and a demonstration, which suggested either a quick halt ("Distraction") or continuing oscillations of the swing ("Focus"). Participants reported that the swing oscillated with larger peak-to-peak displacements and for a longer period of time in the Focus condition. That increase was not reflected in the reported motion sickness scores, which did not differ between the two conditions. As the reported motion was rather small, the lack of an effect on the motion sickness response can be explained by assuming a subthreshold neural conflict. Our results support the existence of internal models relevant to sensorimotor processing and the potential of cognitive (behavioral) therapies to alleviate undesirable perceptual issues to some extent. We conclude that oscillatory self-motion can be perceived in the absence of related sensory stimulation, which advocates for the acknowledgement of cognitive cues in studies on self-motion perception.

Quasiclassical Trajectory Study of the Si + SH Reaction on an Accurate Double Many-Body Expansion Potential Energy Surface.

An accurate potential energy surface (PES) for the HSiS system based on MRCI+Q calculations extrapolated to the complete basis set limit is presented. Modeled with the double many-body expansion (DMBE) method, the PES provides an accurate description of the long-range interactions, including electrostatic and dispersion terms decaying as R-4, R-5, R-6, R-8, R-10 that are predicted from dipole moments, quadrupole moments, and dipolar polarizabilities, which are also calculated at the MRCI+Q level. The novel PES is then used in quasiclassical trajectory calculations to predict the rate coefficients of the Si + SH → SiS + H reaction, which has been shown to be a major source of the SiS in certain regions of the interstellar medium. An account of the zero-point energy leakage based on various nonactive models is also given. It is shown that the reaction is dominated by long-range forces, with the mechanism Si + SH → SiSH → SSiH → SiS + H being the most important one for all temperatures studied. Although SSiH corresponds to the global minimum of the PES, the contribution from the direct reaction Si + SH → SSiH → SiS + H is less than 0.5% for temperatures higher than 500 K. The rovibrational distributions of the products are calculated using the momentum Gaussian binning method and show that as the temperature is increased the average vibrational quantum number decreases while the rotational distribution spreads up to larger values.

From six to eight Π-electron bare rings of group-XIV elements and beyond: can planarity be deciphered from the "quasi-molecules" they embed?

Ab initio molecular orbital theory is used to study the structures of six and eight π-electron bare rings of group-XIV elements, and even larger [n]annulenes up to C18H18, including some of their mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-anions. While some of the above rings are planar, others are nonplanar. A much spotlighted case is cyclo-octatetraene (C8H8), which is predicted to be nonplanar together with its heavier group-XIV analogues Si8H8 and Ge8H8, with the solely planar members of its family having the stoichiometric formulas C4Si4H8 and C4Ge4H8. A similar situation arises with the six π-electron bare rings, where benzene and substituted ones up to C3Si3H6 or so are planar, while others are not. However, the explanations encountered in the literature find support in ab initio calculations for such species, often rationalized from distinct calculated features. Using second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory and, when affordable (particularly tetratomics, which may allow even higher levels), the coupled-cluster method including single, double, and perturbative triple excitations, a common rationale is suggested based on a novel concept of quasi-molecules or the (3+4)-atom partition scheme. Any criticism of tautology is therefore avoided. The same analysis has also been successfully applied to even larger [n]annulenes, to their mixed family members involving silicon and germanium atoms, and to the C18 carbon ring. Furthermore, it has been extended to annulene anions to check the criteria of the popular Hückel rule for planarity and aromaticity. Exploratory work on cycloarenes is also reported. Besides a partial study of the involved potential energy surfaces, equilibrium geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies have been calculated anew, for both the parent and the actual prototypes of the quasi-molecules.

Proximal Region of Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque Shows More Intraplaque Hemorrhage: The Plaque at Risk Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intraplaque hemorrhage contributes to lipid core enlargement and plaque progression, leading to plaque destabilization and stroke. The mechanisms that contribute to the development of intraplaque hemorrhage are not completely understood. A higher incidence of intraplaque hemorrhage and thin/ruptured fibrous cap (upstream of the maximum stenosis in patients with severe [≥70%] carotid stenosis) has been reported. We aimed to noninvasively study the distribution of intraplaque hemorrhage and a thin/ruptured fibrous cap in patients with mild-to-moderate carotid stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight symptomatic patients with stroke (<70% carotid stenosis included in the Plaque at Risk study) demonstrated intraplaque hemorrhage on MR imaging in the carotid artery plaque ipsilateral to the side of TIA/stroke. The intraplaque hemorrhage area percentage was calculated. A thin/ruptured fibrous cap was scored by comparing pre- and postcontrast black-blood TSE images. Differences in mean intraplaque hemorrhage percentages between the proximal and distal regions were compared using a paired-samples t test. The McNemar test was used to reveal differences in proportions of a thin/ruptured fibrous cap. RESULTS: We found significantly larger areas of intraplaque hemorrhage in the proximal part of the plaque at 2, 4, and 6 mm from the maximal luminal narrowing, respectively: 14.4% versus 9.6% (P = .04), 14.7% versus 5.4% (P < .001), and 11.1% versus 2.2% (P = .001). Additionally, we found an increased proximal prevalence of a thin/ruptured fibrous cap on MR imaging at 2, 4, 6, and 8 mm from the MR imaging section with the maximal luminal narrowing, respectively: 33.7% versus 18.1%, P = .007; 36.1% versus 7.2%, P < .001; 33.7% versus 2.4%, P = .001; and 30.1% versus 3.6%, P = .022. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that intraplaque hemorrhage and a thin/ruptured fibrous cap are more prevalent on the proximal side of the plaque compared with the distal side in patients with mild-to-moderate carotid stenosis.