Performance Analysis of Electric Vehicles Available in the Current Automotive Market

In the current car market, electric vehicles have begun to be accepted more and more by consumers, which has led the conventional vehicles’ manufacturers (and not only) to produce and sale a wider range of such vehicles. However, there is still a huge potential for development in this respect, with every car class still being available to accept new electric vehicle models. In this context, the present paper presents a research on identifying the main technical and performance characteristics of electric vehicles available in the current automotive market and establishing degrees of correlation between them. The strongest statistical correlation has been identified as finding that of the battery's energy capacity and the possible autonomy/range can be achieved for a full battery’s charge

Focal hepatic lesion ultrasound-guided biopsies

Abstract Purpose: To compare the results of pathologic and cytologic reports of specimens acquired from focal liver lesions using ultrasound-guided biopsy and to evaluate the necessity of performing both techniques in the same patient. Materials and methods: 21 patients were eligible for enrollment in the study. Specimens for both pathologic and cytologic examination were obtained from 16 lesions using a 17G needle guide in a single puncture attempt. In 2 cases the diagnosis was based on cytologic smears. In 3 cases only histologic sections were acquired. The needle was introduced under continuous ultrasonographic control using a freehand technique. A cytologist was present at all times. Results: The diagnostic sensitivity of cytologic examination was 83.33% and that of histologic examination was 94.74%. Histology diagnosed all cases of benign lesions and was proved inconclusive in 1 patient. The diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy of both methods combined reached 100%. In 94.4% malignancy was immediately diagnosed by cytology. Conclusions: Combination of both methods should increase the sensitivity and accuracy in diagnosing focal liver lesions performing a safe minimally invasive technique. Keywords: focal liver lesions, ultrasound-guided biopsy, pathologic and cytologic examination Rezumat Scopul lucrării: de a compara rezultatele examenelor anatomopatologic şi citologic ale probelor obţinute prin puncţie hepatică ghidată ecografic din leziuni hepatice focale şi de a evalua necesitatea efectuării ambelor tehnici la acelaşi pacient. Material şi metodă: în studiu au fost incluşi 21 de pacienţi. Din 16 leziuni s-au obţinut probe atât pentru examenul anatomopatologic, cât şi pentru cel citologic, folosind un ac de ghidaj de 17G prin efectuarea unei singure puncţii. În 2 cazuri diagnosticul a fost bazat pe probele citologice. În 3 cazuri s-au obţinut doar secţiuni histologice. Acul a fost introdus sub control ultrasonografic continuu folosind tehnica freehand. Medicul citolog a fost prezent în toate cazurile. Rezultate: Diagnosticul citologic are o sensibilitate de 83,33%, iar cel histologic de 94,74%. Examenul histopatologic a diagnosticat toate cazurile de leziuni benigne, într-un caz diagnosticul s-a dovedit neconclusiv. Sensibilitatea şi acurateţea ambelor metode combinate ajunge la 100%. În 94,4% malignitatea a fost imediat diagnosticată citologic. Concluzii: Asocierea celor două metode creşte sensibilitatea şi acurateţea diagnosticului leziunilor hepatice focale utilizându-se o metodă sigură şi puţin invazivă. Cuvinte cheie: leziuni hepatice focale, biopsie ghidată ultrasonografic, examen histologic şi citologi

“I Don’t Understand!” : Toward a Model to Evaluate the Role of User Story Quality

User stories are popular for conveying requirements in agile software projects. Despite existing quality criteria, authors make formal mistakes that result in “bad” user story quality. If developers have insufficient experience in balancing quality problems, the creation of a shared mental model is impossible, thus increasing the risk of impacts on the project’s success. This article provides a work-in-progress research model to set these variables in relation and establish a systematic method to uncover answers regarding their correlation. Details on the effects support research in agile requirements engineering to gain a better understanding of cognitive processes in the comprehension of user stories. In addition, insights can help to develop design recommendations and AI tools to improve user stories. A first evaluation of the model provides promising insights into the behavior and forms a basis for future research

Imaging of intrahepatic progression of hepatocellular carcinoma post transarterial chemoembolization. A long-term, prospective evaluation of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS)

Aims: To assess the diagnostic efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the context of intrahepatic progression (IHP) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Material and methods: Sixty HCC patients were prospectively included in the study. They were treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with doxorubicin-eluting microspheres (231 sessions). Imaging follow-up was performed 1 month after each session and at 3-6 month intervals after the last session of TACE and included CEUS and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (reference modality). The diagnosis of IHP was based on mRECIST criteria and the respective findings of MR and CEUS were recorded, categorized and correlated. Results: A total of 441 CEUS studies were compared with the corresponding MR studies. During a follow-up period of 5-82 months (mean: 22 months), MR diagnosed 51 cases of IHP in 34/60 (56.6%) patients. CEUS correctly diagnosed 12/14 (85.7%) cases of IHP of target tumors, 2/5 (40%) cases of IHP of non-target tumors, 13/18 (72.2%) cases of distal and 6/9 (66.6%) cases of proximal new lesions, and 5/5 (100%) cases of major vessel involvement. On a per-lesion basis, CEUS was significantly inferior to MR in the detection of new lesions (p=0.002). No false positive CEUS diagnoses of IHP were observed. 54% of the diagnostic failures of CEUS were considered clinically significant. Conclusion: In the long term evaluation of HCC post TACE, CEUS appears to have limitations in the detection of IHP, which are more prominent in the case of new lesions and of progressive non-target tumors

Early post-interventional sonographic evaluation of prostatic artery embolization. A promising role for contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS)

Aims: To assess the feasibility, findings and potential value of early post-interventional, contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic (CEUS) study of prostate artery embolization (PAE). Material and methods: Fourteen patients treated with PAE for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia were prospectively included in the study. Sonographic evaluation of the prostate included: 1) baseline transabdominal and transrectal CEUS (ta-CEUS and tr-CEUS, respectively) 1-3 days prior to PAE; 2) early post PAE CEUS, with ta-CEUS immediately post PAE and tr-CEUS 3 days post PAE; and 3) follow-up with ta-CEUS and tr-CEUS 3 months post PAE. A brief unenhanced US study preceded each CEUS. Post-therapeutic changes in size, echogenicity and enhancement of the prostate were recorded and were correlated with clinical outcomes. Results: PAE resulted in clinical success in 11/14 patients (78.5%). All sonographic studies were technically adequate, with the exception of ta-CEUS immediately post PAE in 2/14 (14.2%) patients. CEUS studies immediately post PAE and 3 days post PAE showed non-enhancing, welldefined infarctions of the prostate in 10/14 patients (71.4%). There was a strong correlation between ta-CEUS immediately post PAE and tr-CEUS 3 days post PAE regarding the measurements of prostatic infarctions (r =0.98, p< 0.01). The presence of infarctions on early post PAE CEUS was associated with clinical success (p=0.01) and their extent correlated with the degree of prostate shrinkage on 3-month follow-up (r=0.84, p<0.05). The 3 cases of failed PAE showed no infarctions and no prostate shrinkage. Conclusions: Early post-interventional CEUS of PAE is feasible and may have clinical and prognostic value. © 2017, Societatea Romana de Ultrasonografie in Medicina si Biologie