Abstract: This application provides picture or audio encoding and decoding methods and apparatuses, and relates to the field of artificial intelligence (AI)—based picture or audio encoding and decoding technologies, and specifically, to the field of neural network-based picture feature map or audio feature variable encoding and decoding technologies. The encoding method includes: obtaining a to-be-encoded target, where the to-be-encoded target includes a plurality of feature elements, and the plurality of feature elements include a first feature element. The method further includes: obtaining a probability estimation result of the first feature element; determining, based on the probability estimation result of the first feature element, whether to perform entropy encoding on the first feature element; and performing entropy encoding on the first feature element only when it is determined that entropy encoding needs to be performed on the first feature element.

Abstract: Methods for generating human arterial endothelial cells under defined conditions in the absence of insulin are described.

Abstract: A method for dynamically adjusting a number of virtual machines for a workload, includes: receiving a probability indicator for each of a plurality of N sequential stages, where N is a natural number greater than 1, of a likelihood that a virtual machine assigned to a workload will be evicted during the N sequential stages; predicting a target number of virtual machines to configure in a current stage for a subsequent stage from among the plurality of N sequential stages based on the probability indicator, a target capacity for the workload, and a current price for maintaining a virtual machine; and configuring a number of virtual machines for the workload during the current stage based on the target number to be loaded for the workload for the subsequent stage.

Abstract: A super-resolution reconstruction preprocessing method of contrast-enhanced ultrasound images includes: acquiring an image set to be preprocessed; acquiring grayscale fluctuation signal of a pixel point in the registered contrast-enhanced ultrasound images to be preprocessed; performing denoise reconstruction operation on the image set to be preprocessed to obtain a reconstructed feature parameter image, and performing interpolation calculation on the reconstructed feature parameter image to obtain a sparse microbubble image. By analyzing the grayscale fluctuation signals of the collocated pixel point set in the plurality of frames of the registered contrast-enhanced ultrasound images to be preprocessed, a signal-to-noise ratio and a signal-to-background ratio are improved.

Abstract: Methods for generating human arterial endothelial cells under defined conditions in the absence of insulin are described. In particular, provided herein are efficient, defined, and scalable methods for generating human arterial endothelial cells from human pluripotent stem cells. Also provided herein are uses of human arterial endothelial cells obtained according to these methods. For example, methods of treating peripheral arterial disease and methods of screening agents for that effect adhesion of leukocytes to arterial endothelial cells are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic blood perfusion imaging method for a single blood vessel, comprising: setting an ultrasound focusing label point in a blood vessel contour of a blood vessel to be measured in a region to be measured; obtaining a preactivated ultrasound image of the region to be measured when an ultrasound contrast agent is in an inactive state; activating the ultrasound contrast agent; obtaining an activated ultrasound image of the region to be measured when the ultrasound contrast agent is in an activated state; obtaining an activation map of the ultrasound contrast agent in the blood vessel to be measured; and obtaining a blood flow perfusion distribution map of the blood vessel to be measured. The ultrasound contrast agent is activated at the ultrasound focusing label point causing liquid-to-gas conversion, and the ultrasound signal changes from dark to bright.

Abstract: Disclosed are a super-resolution reconstruction method and an apparatus for three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound images, a computer readable storage medium and an electronic device. The method includes: performing at least one thinning operation on a first three-dimensional local image sequence, the thinning operation being configured to enhance motion trajectories of microbubbles; and performing an image reconstruction operation based on the first three-dimensional local image sequence subjected to the at least one thinning operation, so as to generate three-dimensional super-resolution images. The super-resolution reconstruction method for the three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound images, by means of performing thinning operations (for example, respectively performing a first thinning operation and a second thinning operation) on the first three-dimensional local image sequence, highlights motion trajectories of microbubbles, thereby improving a signal-to-noise ratio of an image.

Abstract: A method of delivery of an ultrasound-guided drug-loaded microbubble, an electronic device, and a computer-readable storage medium are provided. The method includes: emitting a first ultrasonic signal by utilizing an array transducer, to break a drug-loaded microbubble in a current breaking region; emitting a second ultrasonic signal by utilizing the array transducer, to obtain an ultrasound image; identifying a contour of a blood vessel of the breaking region based on the ultrasound image; and updating a characteristic parameter of the breaking region based on the contour of the blood vessel. According to the method, the breaking region is updated in real time based on the contour of the blood vessel, so that delivery accuracy of a drug-loaded microbubble is improved, and avoiding unnecessary tissue damage.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image processing method and an apparatus based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound images, a computer readable storage medium and an electronic device. The image processing method based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound images includes: performing a first decoupling operation on a first contrast-enhanced ultrasound image sequence to generate a second contrast-enhanced ultrasound image sequence corresponding to the first contrast-enhanced ultrasound image sequence, the first decoupling operation being used to improve spatial sparsity of microbubbles; and performing a second decoupling operation on the second contrast-enhanced ultrasound image sequence to generate a third contrast-enhanced ultrasound image sequence corresponding to the second contrast-enhanced ultrasound image sequence, the second decoupling operation being used to improve temporal sparsity of the microbubbles.

Abstract: A super-resolution reconstruction preprocessing method of contrast-enhanced ultrasound images includes: acquiring an image set to be preprocessed; acquiring grayscale fluctuation signal of a pixel point in the registered contrast-enhanced ultrasound images to be preprocessed; performing denoise reconstruction operation on the image set to be preprocessed to obtain a reconstructed feature parameter image, and performing interpolation calculation on the reconstructed feature parameter image to obtain a sparse microbubble image. By analyzing the grayscale fluctuation signals of the collocated pixel point set in the plurality of frames of the registered contrast-enhanced ultrasound images to be preprocessed, a signal-to-noise ratio and a signal-to-background ratio are improved.

Abstract: Provided herein are human arterial endothelial cell-seeded polymeric vascular grafts suitable for replacing or bypassing natural blood vessels and exhibiting increased long term patency rates and reduced leukocyte adhesion relative to grafts comprising venous endothelial cells. Methods for generating the human arterial endothelial cell-seeded vascular grafts and therapeutic uses of the same are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are a composition for ultrasound contrast agent, an ultrasound contrast agent, and a preparation method thereof. The composition for ultrasound contrast agent includes a lipid, a stabilizer and an acoustic-induced deformation material; relative to 100 parts by weight of the lipid, the content of the stabilizer is 20 to 100 parts by weight, and the content of the acoustic-induced deformation material is 1 to 15 parts by weight; and the acoustic-induced deformation material is deformed under a specific acoustic wave, and the characteristic response frequency of the acoustic-induced deformation material is 0.01 MHz to 50 MHz. The microbubble ultrasound contrast agent has better stability, thereby it circulates in vivo for a longer time, and has lower mechanical index, so that the inertial cavitation occurs under a low-energy ultrasonic wave.

Abstract: Disclosed are a composition for magnetic ultrasound contrast agent, a magnetic ultrasound contrast agent, a magnetic microbubble ultrasound contrast agent, and a preparation method thereof. The composition for magnetic ultrasound contrast agent includes a lipid, a surfactant and a magnetic nanoparticle; the surfactant consists of a surfactant A and a surfactant B, the surfactant A is in a free state, and the surfactant B is in a bonding state and is modified on the surface of the magnetic nanoparticle; the HLB value of the surfactant A is greater than 8. The magnetic microbubble ultrasound contrast agent obtained from the composition for magnetic ultrasound contrast agent has higher stability and may meet requirements for in vivo cyclic targeted delivery, thereby achieving the local high-concentration targeted delivery of a medication.

Abstract: Disclosed are a film-forming agent composition for contrast agent, a film-forming lipid solution including the film-forming agent composition, a contrast agent including the film-forming lipid solution, and a preparation method thereof. The film-forming agent composition for contrast agent includes a lipid, an emulsifier and a surface charge modifier; relative to 100 parts by weight of the lipid, the content of the emulsifier is 20-50 parts by weight, and the content of the surface charge modifier is 10-35 parts by weight; and the lipid is a carboxylated phospholipid, and the surface charge modifier is a polyelectrolyte. Based on the composition, the nanodroplets of the resulting contrast agent have more uniform particle size, higher stability and better controllability, as well as a lower threshold value for ultrasonic gasification.

Abstract: Disclosed is a super-resolution flow field reconstruction method, including: superimposing a plurality of frames of contrast-enhanced ultrasound images that are in one time interval and each of which includes images of a plurality of microbubbles, to obtain a superimposed image including a plurality of microbubble trajectories of the plurality of microbubbles; performing straight line fitting on the plurality of microbubble trajectories, to obtain a plurality of microbubble trajectory straight lines of the plurality of microbubbles, respectively; determining directions and velocities of instantaneous movements of the plurality of microbubbles in the time interval; and reconstructing a super-resolution flow field.

Abstract: Provided herein are human arterial endothelial cell-seeded polymeric vascular grafts suitable for replacing or bypassing natural blood vessels and exhibiting increased long term patency rates and reduced leukocyte adhesion relative to grafts comprising venous endothelial cells. Methods for generating the human arterial endothelial cell-seeded vascular grafts and therapeutic uses of the same are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chemically defined and xenogeneic material-free methods for deriving endothelial cells from human pluripotent stem cells. In particular, the present invention provides highly efficient and reproducible methods of obtaining human endothelial cells from human pluripotent stem cells, where endothelial cells derived from the methods provided herein are suitable for clinically relevant therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for deriving human hematopoietic progenitors, primitive macrophages, and microglial cells from human pluripotent stem cells. In particular, provided herein are highly efficient and reproducible methods of obtaining human primitive macrophages and microglia from human pluripotent stem cells, where the primitive macrophages and microglia can be suitable for clinically relevant therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chemically defined and xenogeneic material-free methods for deriving endothelial cells from human pluripotent stem cells. In particular, the present invention provides highly efficient and reproducible methods of obtaining human endothelial cells from human pluripotent stem cells, where endothelial cells derived from the methods provided herein are suitable for clinically relevant therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for deriving human hematopoietic progenitors, primitive macrophages, and microglial cells from human pluripotent stem cells. In particular, provided herein are highly efficient and reproducible methods of obtaining human primitive macrophages and microglia from human pluripotent stem cells, where the primitive macrophages and microglia can be suitable for clinically relevant therapeutic applications.