Radiomic Signatures Derived from Hybrid Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Images (CEUS) for the Assessment of Histological Characteristics of Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of radiomic features extracted from standardized hybrid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) data for the assessment of hormone receptor status, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, tumor grade and Ki-67 in patients with primary breast cancer. METHODS: This prospective study included 72 patients with biopsy-proven breast cancer who underwent CEUS examinations between October 2020 and September 2021. RESULTS: A radiomic analysis found the WavEnHH_s_4 parameter as an independent predictor associated with the HER2+ status with 76.92% sensitivity, and 64.41% specificity and a prediction model that could differentiate between the HER2 entities with 76.92% sensitivity and 84.75% specificity. The RWavEnLH_s-4 parameter was an independent predictor for estrogen receptor (ER) status with 55.93% sensitivity and 84.62% specificity, while a prediction model (RPerc01, RPerc10 and RWavEnLH_s_4) could differentiate between the progesterone receptor (PR) status with 44.74% sensitivity and 88.24% specificity. No texture parameter showed statistically significant results at the univariate analysis when comparing the Nottingham grade and the Ki-67 status. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary data indicate a potential that hybrid CEUS radiomic features allow the discrimination between breast cancers of different receptor and HER2 statuses with high specificity. Hybrid CEUS radiomic features might have the potential to provide a noninvasive, easily accessible and contrast-agent-safe method to assess tumor biology before and during treatment.

Hybrid images as part of the primary school chemistry class instruction: Mastering the concepts of amino acids and proteins.

In this study, a set of hybrid images was designed as a new and up-to-date unexamined type of external visual representations in the chemistry classroom. One challenging teaching theme was chosen ("Amino acids and proteins"), and the hybrid images were used among novices-primary school students. For the purpose of the study, two groups were formed: experimental and control. The experimental group was taught using the hybrid images, while the control group was subjected to a traditional approach. After conducting the experiment, no statistically significant difference in the average performances between the two groups was found. However, the experimental group outperformed the control group in several test items. Additionally, misconceptions appeared within the C group. The results showed that several hybrid images with a potentially good methodological design might help students to develop conceptual understanding of some important concepts of amino acids and proteins (e.g., formation of peptide bonds). © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(6):644-655, 2019.

Lesion Insertion in Projection Domain for Computed Tomography Image Quality Assessment.

To perform task-based image quality assessment in CT, it is desirable to have a large number of realistic patient images with known diagnostic truth. One effective way to achieve this objective is to create hybrid images that combine patient images with simulated lesions. Because conventional hybrid images generated in the image-domain fails to reflect the impact of scan and reconstruction parameters on lesion appearance, this study explored a projection-domain approach. Liver lesion models were forward projected according to the geometry of a commercial CT scanner to acquire lesion projections. The lesion projections were then inserted into patient projections (decoded from commercial CT raw data with the assistance of the vendor) and reconstructed to acquire hybrid images. To validate the accuracy of the forward projection geometry, simulated images reconstructed from the forward projections of a digital ACR phantom were compared to physically acquired ACR phantom images. To validate the hybrid images, lesion models were inserted into patient images and visually assessed. Results showed that the simulated phantom images and the physically acquired phantom images had great similarity in terms of HU accuracy and high-contrast resolution. The lesions in the hybrid image had a realistic appearance and merged naturally into the liver background. In addition, the inserted lesion demonstrated reconstruction-parameter-dependent appearance. Compared to conventional image-domain approach, our method enables more realistic hybrid images for image quality assessment.

Spatial frequency integration during active perception: perceptual hysteresis when an object recedes.

As we move through the world, information about objects moves to different spatial frequencies. How the visual system successfully integrates information across these changes to form a coherent percept is thus an important open question. Here we investigate such integration using hybrid faces, which contain different images in low and high spatial frequencies. Observers judged how similar a hybrid was to each of its component images while walking toward or away from it or having the stimulus moved toward or away from them. We find that when the stimulus is approaching, observers act as if they are integrating across spatial frequency separately at each moment. However, when the stimulus is receding, observers show a perceptual hysteresis effect, holding on to details that are imperceptible in a static stimulus condition. Thus, observers appear to make optimal inferences by sticking with their previous interpretation when losing information but constantly reinterpreting their input when gaining new information.