Objectives: The current study aimed to compare the adaptation of the restored class-I cavities with two self-etch adhesives bonded to two resin composite using cross-polarization optical coherence tomography (CP-OCT). Materials and Methods: Cylindrical class-I cavities were prepared on twenty, extracted human premolars. Two self-etch adhesives; Clearfil SE bond 2 (SE; Kuraray Noritake Dental, Japan) and Bond Force (Palfique Bond) adhesive (PL; Tokuyama Dental, Japan) were used in this study that were bonded to either resin composites materials; Herculite XRV microhybrid dental composite (HRV; Kerr, Italy) or Estelite Alpha composite (ESA; Tokuyama Dental, Japan). The specimens were divided into four groups (n=5); SE-HRV, SE-ESA, PL-HRV and PL-ESA. All specimens were varnished and stored in distilled water for 24h. Then, they were submerged in a contrasting medium. After that, all groups were optically imaged under CP-OCT at every 250 µm interval distance. Later, image binarization and gap quantification were carried out using Image analysis software. Result: There was a significant difference between all the groups except between SE-ESA and PL-ESA (p = 0.51). The highest median gap % was seen in PL-HRV group followed by SE-ESA, PL-ESA and SE-HRV. Conclusion: Other than composite filler loading and adhesive formula, the interactions of the adhesive and composite copolymers have great influence on composite adaptation.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. In late-stage AMD, geographic atrophy (GA) of dry AMD or choroidal neovascularization (CNV) of neovascular AMD results in macular atrophy (MA), leading to significant visual loss. Despite the development of innovative therapies, there are currently no established effective treatments for MA. As a result, early detection of MA is critical in identifying later central macular involvement throughout time. Accurate and early diagnosis is achieved through a combination of clinical examination and imaging techniques. Our review of the literature depicted advances in retinal imaging to identify biomarkers of progression and risk factors for late AMD. Imaging methods like fundus autofluorescence (FAF), near-infrared reflectance (NIR), widefield imaging, optical coherence tomography (OCT), multicolor confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO), and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) can be used to detect and monitor the progression of retinal atrophy. Multifocal electroretinogram (ERG) and microperimetry are methods for quantifying visual function to map disease progression. The evolving diverse imaging modalities optimize detection of pathology anatomy and measurement of visual function; they may also contribute to the understanding of the underlying mechanistic pathways, particularly the underlying MA changes in late AMD.

Tailoring treatment in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is paramount to maximize outcomes while avoiding unnecessary toxicity. We aimed to compare the performance of SUVmax reduction (ΔSUVmax%) versus Deauville score (DS) in assessing chemotherapy response in pediatric HL patients undergoing 18F-FDG PET-CT. Fifty-two patients with biopsy-proven HL (age 8-16 years) were enrolled at baseline, interim (after the 2nd or 3rd chemotherapy round), and post-therapy (upon completion of first-line chemotherapy) 18F-FDG PET-CT. Interim and post-therapy DS and ΔSUVmax% were compared as response predictors. Patients were classified as responders and non-responders based on 24-month clinical follow-up. Interim DS showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy of 100%, 80.4%, 100%, 40% and 82.7%, respectively in predicting response. Post-therapy DS showed a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of 66.7%, 97.8%, 95.7%, 80% and 94.2%. Interim ΔSUVmax% showed a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of 83.3%, 82.6%, 97.4%, 38.5% and 82.7%, with a 56.3% cutoff. Post-therapy ΔSUVmax% showed a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of 83.3%, 84.8%, 97.5%, 41.7% and 84.6%, with a 76.8% cutoff. Sensitivity, specificity (p<0.05) and NPV (p<0.01) were significantly higher using DS than ΔSUVmax%. In conclusion, DS can predict chemotherapy response better than ΔSUVmax% in pediatric HL patients.

Quantum contextuality describes situations where the statistics observed in different measurement contexts cannot be explained by a measurement independent reality of the system. The most simple case is observed in a three-dimensional Hilbert space, with five different measurement contexts related to each other by shared measurement outcomes. The quantum formalism defines the relations between these contexts in terms of well-defined relations between operators, and these relations can be used to reconstruct an unknown quantum state from a finite set of measurement results. Here, I introduce a reconstruction method based on the relations between the five measurement contexts that can violate the bounds of non-contextual statistics. A complete description of an arbitrary quantum state requires only five of the eight elements of a Kirkwood-Dirac quasi probability, but only an overcomplete set of eleven elements provides an unbiased description of all five contexts. A set of five fundamental relations between the eleven elements reveals a deterministic structure that links the five contexts. As illustrated by a number of examples, these relations provide a consistent description of contextual realities for the measurement outcomes of all five contexts.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to apply the Composite Radiographic Index modified (CRIm) in CBCT scans of patients with Medication related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) in order to detect its validity, and corelate the radiologic findings with the clinical staging of the disease. Methods: This study included 43 patients with MRONJ diagnosis and CBCT scans performed in the School of Dentistry and approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Clinical staging for every patient (0-3) was provided according to AAOMS 2022 guidelines. In cases of patients with both jaws affected, each jaw was evaluated independently resulting to 52 CBCT scans. The 52 CBCT scans were assessed under standardized viewing conditions by 2 observers who evaluated independently the following 8 radiologic features: lytic changes, sclerosis, periosteal reaction, sequestration, non-healing extraction sockets and other findings (sinus implication, inferior alveolar canal involvement, jaw fracture). The CRIm index was constructed to assess the extent of osseous changes. The radiologic features were scored as absent (0), localized/single (1), extensive/multiple (2), yielding a theoretical range of 0–12. For statistical analysis Fisher’s exact test and Spearman’s correlation coefficient were performed. Results: A statistically significant association of clinical stage with lytic changes, sequestration and inferior alveolar canal involvement was found. Also, a statistically significant correlation of clinical stage with CRIm index classification was obtained. Conclusions: The CRIm index tends to increase as the clinical stages of MRONJ advance, suggesting a correlation between the clinical stage of MRONJ and the CRIm index.

Breast cancer is a global health concern, necessitating continuous advancements in diagnostic medical imaging technologies for early detection and improvement of treatment. This paper presents an overview of the past, present and future of breast cancer imaging using light and some results from the current studies. The paper specifically presents the role of Diffuse Optical Tomography (DOT) in breast cancer imaging. Conventional methods, such as X-ray mammography, face limitations. Diffuse Optical Tomography, a non-invasive light-based imaging modality can provide quantitative descriptive and architectural information about breast tissue. The paper discusses the key challenges and recent developments in breast cancer imaging using DOT to overcome some key challenges. This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the evolving technological landscape in breast cancer imaging using light for improving early detection and patient outcomes.

CBCT significantly impacts dental procedures and has brought significant reforms in our approach to diagnosis & treatment planning despite its limitations in differentiating soft tissues. It is an excellent imaging modality and quickly identifies sinus opacification and provides valuable in-sight into paranasal sinus pathologies with considerably lower radiation exposure. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of maxillary sinus abnormalities in CBCT scans, identify the frequency, type, and location of these findings, and find the correlation between the distance of periapical lesions and radiographic changes in the maxillary sinus. Two examiners independently evaluated 117 patients to diagnose and classify the cases into different abnormality subtypes. The periapical lesions most closely related to the sinus were recorded. The diameters of the left and right maxillary sinus ostium and the distance of the ostium's lower border to the sinus's osseous floor were recorded. The findings were correlated with the age and gender of these patients. The present study revealed that sixty-one patients were diagnosed with mucosal thickening (52.1%). The sinus wall most affected by mucosal thickening was the maxillary sinus floor, followed by the medial and lateral walls. Of 19 patients with periapical lesions, 15 had maxillary sinus mucosal thickening and was statistically significant (p=0.004). The high occurrence of abnormalities in the maxillary sinus emphasizes the importance for the radiologist to comprehensively interpret the whole volume acquired in CBCT images, including the entire sinus. Incidental findings may be considered in the individual clinical context of signs and symptoms, reducing the risk of overes-timating the real impact of radiographic findings.

Coronary angiography, long considered the gold standard for coronary imaging, faces limitations in assessing coronary vessel wall anatomy and guiding percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Despite its prevalence, studies have demonstrated that it is suboptimal in estimating the severity of coronary disease and physiologic significance of stenosis. Intracoronary imaging techniques, such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), offer promising alternatives to overcome these limitations. This review delves into the nuances of IVUS and OCT, highlighting their strengths and limitations as adjuncts to PCI. IVUS, utilizing ultrasound technology, and OCT, based on near-infrared light, each provide unique insights into coronary pathology. They differ in terms of temporal and spatial resolution, influencing their capabilities in plaque characterization and vessel assessment. The discussion navigates their historical evolution, technical specifications, and clinical utility. Meta-analyses and adjusted observational studies suggest that both IVUS and OCT-guided PCI correlate with reduced cardiovascular risks compared to angiographic guidance alone. While IVUS has demonstrated consistent benefits in terms of clinical outcomes, the evidence supporting OCT is less robust. However, the utilization of these imaging modalities remains variable across regions, with increasing adoption in recent years, particularly in IVUS-guided PCIs. Intravascular ultrasound's journey from early motion detection to current high-resolution mechanical systems is traced, including improvements in catheter size and compatibility. On the other hand, optical coherence tomography has advanced significantly, utilizing near infrared light to achieve unparalleled resolutions, albeit requiring temporary blood clearance for optimal imaging. In conclusion, IVUS and OCT offer valuable insights into coronary pathophysiology and guide interventions with improved precision compared to traditional angiography. While IVUS remains more extensively utilized, OCT's growing potential is underscored by advancements in technology, culminating in enhanced imaging capabilities. Both modalities demonstrate comparable clinical outcomes, emphasizing the need for tailored imaging choices based on individual clinical scenarios. The continued refinement and broader integration of intravascular imaging are expected to play a pivotal role in optimizing coronary interventions and patient outcomes.

COVID-19 generated a scenario for global health with multiple systemic impairments. This retrospective study evaluated the clinical, radiological, and pulmonary functional evolution in 302 post-COVID-19 patients. Regarding post-COVID-19 pulmonary symptoms, dry cough, dyspnea, and chest pain were the most frequent. Of the associated comorbidities, asthma was more frequent (23.5%). Chest Tomography (CT) initially showed a mean pulmonary involvement of 69.7%, and the evaluation in the subsequent months showed an improvement in the evolutionary image, and with less than six months post-pathology, there was a commitment of 37 .7%, from six to twelve months, 20% and after 12 months, 9.9%. And as for most of the sample, 50.3% of the patients presented CT normalization in less than six months after infection, 23% normalized between six and twelve months, and 5.2% normalized the images after twelve months, with one remaining. Percentage of 17.3% who maintained post-COVID-19 pulmonary residual sequelae. Regarding spirometry, in less than six months after the pathology, 59.3% of the patients already showed a regular exam; 12.3% normalized their function within six to twelve months, and 6.3% concluded a normal exam after twelve months of post-pathology evaluation. Only 3.6% of the patients still showed some alteration in this period.

(1) Background: To identify the association between the presence or absence of raphe and aortic valve dysfunction as well as the presence of aortopathy in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV); (2) Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 312 participants (mean [SD] age, 52.7 [14.3] years; 227 men [72.8%]) with BAV. The BAVs were divided into those with presence (raphe+) or absence (raphe-) of raphe. Valvular function was classified as normal, aortic regurgitation (AR), or aortic stenosis (AS) using TTE. The pattern of BAV aortopathy was determined by the presence of dilatation at the sinus of Valsalva and the middle ascending aorta using CCT.; (3) Results: BAVs with raphe+ had a higher prevalence of AR (148 [79.5%] vs. 48 [37.8%], P < .001) but a lower prevalence of AS (90 [48.6%] vs. 99 [78.0%], P < .001) compared with those with raphe-. The types of BAV aortopathy were significantly different (P = 0.021) according to those with BAV-raphe+ and BAV-raphe-.; (4) Conclusions: The presence of a raphe was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of AR but a lower prevalence of AS and combined dilatation of the aortic root and middle ascending aorta. The presence of raphe was an independent determinant of AR.

The optical properties and physiology of biological tissue, as well as how near-infrared (NIR) light interacts with the tissue, both play a significant role in interpreting the tissue probing optical measurements, and in solving the inverse problem of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-based medical imaging modalities such as diffuse optical tomography and functional near-infrared spectroscopy. This paper discusses the optical properties of tissue, specifically in the NIR wavelength range, which influence NIRS measurements in NIRS-based medical imaging. There is an easy-to-understand explanation given in this paper of the NIR light-tissue interaction phenomenon. The mathematical explanation, the processes involved in the interaction, and the rationale for a few approximations are described. Various types of chromophores present in the tissue, their composition in the tissue, and how these chromophores overall affect the scattering and absorption of NIR light are presented. The absorption spectra of these chromophores are shown. Finally, the paper concludes with the author’s perspective on two NIRS-based medical imaging modalities, diffuse optical tomography, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

In the field of 18F-chemistry for the development of radiopharmaceuticals for positron emission tomography (PET), various labeling strategies by the use of prosthetic groups have been im-plemented, including chemoselective 18F-labeling of biomolecules. Among those, chemoselec-tive 18F-fluoroglycosylation methods focus on the sweetening of pharmaceutical radiochemistry by offering a highly valuable tool for the synthesis of 18F-glycoconjugates with suitable in vivo properties for PET imaging studies. A previous review covered the various 18F-fluoroglycosylation methods that have been developed and applied as of 2014 [Maschauer and Prante, BioMed. Res. Int. 2014, 214748]. This paper is an updated review, providing the recent progress in 18F-fluoroglycosylation reactions and the preclinical application of 18F-glycoconjugates, including small molecules, peptides, and high-molecular-weight proteins.

Tomography based on cosmic muon absorption is a rising technique because of its versatility and its consolidation as geophysics tool over the past decade. It allows to address major societal issues such as long-term stability of natural and man-made large infrastructures or sustainable underwater management. Traditionally, muon trackers consist of hodoscopes or multilayer detectors. For applications with challenging available volumes or wide field of view required, a thin time projection chamber (TPC) associated with a Micromegas readout plane can provide a good tradeoff between compactness and performance. This paper details the design of such a TPC aiming at maximizing primary signal and minimizing track reconstruction artifacts. The results of the measurements performed during a case study addressing the aforementioned applications are discussed. The current works lines and perspectives of the project are also presented.

The paper proposes a novel methodology for the stabilization of shallow foundations, with a simplified model combined with 3D Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT-3D) and conso- lidation injections. To determine its usefulness, the method has been applied in a case located in Estepona (southern Spain). The chosen tomography model is the dipole-dipole configuration, with an optimized distance between electrodes of 0.80 m for a better visualization of the foundation subsoil; with this parameterization, a total of 72 electrodes were installed in the analyzed case. In this work, the depth of the anomaly in the building's supporting subsoil was detected ranging from 2.00 m to 3.90 m deep. The study also delineates areas of high resistivity variations (50-1,000 Ω m) in the middle and eastern end of the field. These data have been validated and corroborated with a field campaign. The results of the ERT-3D monitoring are presented, once the investment data has been processed with the RES3DINV software, from the beginning to the end of the stabilization intervention. The novelty occurs with the interaction between the tomography and the foundation consolidation injections, until the final stabilization; very useful methodology in case of emergency consolidation, where there is a need to minimize damage to the building. Thus, people using this combined system; will be able to practically solve the initial anomalies of the subsoil that caused the damages, in a non-invasive way, considerably lowering the value of the resistivities.

Crystallization is a significant procedure in the manufacturing of many pharmaceutical and solid food products. In-situ Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) is a novel Process Analytical Tool (PAT) to provide a cheap and quick way to test, visualize, and evaluate the progress of crystallization processes. In this work, the spatial accuracy of the non-conductive phantoms in low conductivity solutions was evaluated. Gauss-Newton, Linear Back Projection, and iterative Total Variation reconstruction algorithms were used to compare the phantom reconstructions for tap water, industrial-grade saturated sucrose solution, and demineralized water. Cylindrical phantom measuring 10 mm in diameter and a cross-section area of 1.5 % of the total beaker area was detected at the center of the beaker. Two phantoms with a 10 mm diameter were visualized separately in non-central locations. The quantitative evaluations were done for the phantoms with radii ranging from 10 mm to 50 mm in demineralized water. Multiple factors such as ERT device and sensor development, FEM mesh density and simulations, image reconstruction algorithms, number of iterations, segmentation methods, and morphological image processing methods were discussed and analyzed to achieve spatial accuracy. The development of ERT imaging modality for the purpose of monitoring crystallization in low conductivity solutions was performed satisfactorily.

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is the second most common type of hematological disease and, although it is rare among patients under 40 years of age, its incidence rises in elderly subject. MM manifestations are usually known with the abbreviation CRAB (hyperCalcemia, Renal failure, Anaemia, and lytic Bone lesions). In particular, the extent of the bone disease is negatively related to a decreased patients’ quality of life and, in general, bone disease in MM increases both morbidity and mortality. The detection of lytic bone lesions on imaging, especially CT and MRI, is becoming crucial from the clinical viewpoint to separate asymptomatic from symptomatic MM patients and the detection of focal lytic lesion in these imaging data is becoming relevant even when no clinical symptoms are present. Therefore, radiology is pivotal in the staging and accurate management of patients with MM even in early phases of the disease. In this review we describe the opportunities offered by quantitative imaging and radiomics in multiple myeloma. At present time there is still high variability in the choice between various imaging methods to study MM patients and high variability in image interpretation with suboptimal agreement among readers even in tertiary centres. Therefore, the potential of medical imaging for patients affected by MM is still to be completely unveiled. In the next years, new insights to study MM with medical imaging will derive from artificial intelligence (AI) and radiomics usage in different bone lesions and from the wide implementations of quantitative methods to report CT and MRI. Eventually, medical imaging data can be integrated with the patient's outcomes with the purpose to find radiological biomarkers for predicting the disease prognostic flow and its therapeutic response.

This article offers an overview of congenital and acquired vascular anomalies involving the portal venous system in dogs and cats, as determined by multidetector-row computed tomography angiography. Congenital absence of the portal vein, portal vein hypoplasia, portal vein thrombosis and portal collaterals are described. Portal collaterals are further discussed as high- and low-flow connections, and categorized in hepatic arterioportal malformation, arteriovenous fistula, end-to-side and side-to-side congenital portosystemic shunts, acquired portosystemic shunts, cavoportal and porto-portal collaterals. Knowledge of different portal system anomalies helps understand the underlying physiopathological mechanism and is essential for surgical and interventional approaches.

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be both the largest radio telescope ever constructed and the largest Big Data project in the known Universe. The first phase of the project will generate on the order of 5 zettabytes of data per year. A critical task for the SKA will be its ability to process data for science, which will need to be conducted by science pipelines. Together with polarization data from the LOFAR Multifrequency Snapshot Sky Survey (MSSS), we have been developing a realistic SKA-like science pipeline that can handle the large data volumes generated by LOFAR at 150 MHz. The pipeline uses task-based parallelism to image, detect sources, and perform Faraday Tomography across the entire LOFAR sky. The project thereby provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the technological development of the SKA telescope, while simultaneously enabling cutting-edge scientific results. In this paper, we provide an update on current efforts to develop a science pipeline that can enable tight constraints on the magnetised large-scale structure of the Universe.

The technique of Faraday tomography is a key tool for the study of magnetised plasmas in the new era of broadband radio polarisation observations. In particular, observations at metre-wavelengths provide significantly better Faraday depth accuracies compared to traditional cm-wavelength observations. However, the effect of Faraday depolarisation makes the polarised signal very challenging to detect at metre wavelengths (MHz frequencies). In this work, Faraday tomography is used to characterise the Faraday rotation properties of polarised sources found in data from the LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey (LoTSS). Of the 76 extragalactic polarised sources analysed here, we find that all host a radio-loud AGN. The majority of the sources (∼64%) are large FRII radio galaxies with a median projected linear size of 710 kpc and median radio luminosity at 144 MHz of 4 × 10^26 W/Hz. In several cases, both hotspots are detected in polarisation at an angular resolution of ∼20". One such case allowed a study of intergalactic magnetic fields on scales of 3.4 Mpc. Other detected source types include an FRI radio galaxy and at least 8 blazars. Most sources display simple Faraday spectra, however, we highlight one blazar that displays a complex Faraday spectrum, with two close peaks in the Faraday dispersion function.

It is important for researchers in material domain to reconstruct and visualize the microstructure of alloy, which helps discover morphologies and properties that can only be found in three dimensional and microscopic space. However, because of the limitation of state-of-the-art sensors, the internal microstructure of the material is not easy to obtain. In this paper, a novel automatic 3D reconstruction method is proposed using diffraction contrast tomography technology to capture the 3D microstructure of Al-La alloy. The pipeline of the proposed method starts from the imaging of Al-La alloy with the LabDCT technique from Carl Zeiss AG, which produces a sequence of 2D microstructure sections. Then, a segmentation algorithm based on superpixel and lifted multicut is proposed to extract the 2D microstructure in an image section. Finally, 2D segmentations are joined together to reconstruct and visulize the 3D microstructure. As a result, a novel morphology of Al-La alloy is recovered with both dendrite and lamellar morphologies. The proposed method has the advantage of the ability to losslessly recover the internal microstructure.

The effective utilization of medium-high temperature geothermal energy is pivotal in reducing carbon emissions and plays a crucial role in developing clean energy technologies. The MiDu ge-othermal field, situated in the southeastern region of Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, lies within the Mediterranean-Himalayan high-temperature geothermal belt and is characterized by abundant geothermal resources. However, due to its considerable depth, exploration poses significant risks, resulting in a total utilization rate of less than 0.5% of the total reserves. This study employs natural seismic data to perform a tomographic analysis of the geothermal system in the Midu basin. By examining the P-wave velocity (Vp) and velocity ratio of P-wave and S-wave (Vp/Vs) at various depths, the findings reveal that the basin comprises two distinct structural layers: the thrust basement of the Mesozoic and Paleozoic eras and the strike-slip extensional sedimentary layer of the Cenozoic era. A low-velocity anomaly in the central basin corresponds to the loose Cenozoic sedimentary layer. In contrast, high-velocity anomalies at the basin edges correlate with boundary faults and the Mesozoic-Paleozoic strata. Below a depth of 4 km, the Red River Fault and MiDu Fault continue to dominate the basin's structure, whereas the influence of the Malipo Fault dimin-ishes. The MiDu Fault exhibits higher thermal conductivity than the Yinjie Fault. It interfaces with multiple carbonate and basalt formations characterized by well-developed pores and fractures, making it a crucial conduit for water and a control point for geothermal storage. Consequently, the existence of high temperature geothermal resources for power generation should be concentrated around the Midu fault on the western side of the basin, while the Yinjie fault area is more favorable for advancements in heating and wellness.

: Optical coherence tomography is a non-invasive imaging technique that provides three-dimensional visualization of subsurface tissue structures. OCT has been proposed and explored in literature as a tool to assess oral cancer status, select biopsy sites, or identify surgical margins. Our endoscopic OCT device can generate widefield (centimeters long) imaging of lesions at any location in the oral cavity – but it is challenging for raters to quantitatively assess and score large volumes of data. Leveraging a previously developed epithelial segmentation network, this work develops quantifiable biomarkers that provide direct measurements of tissue properties in three-dimensions. We hypothesize that features related to morphology, tissue attenuation, and contrast between tissue layers will be able to provide a quantitative assessment of disease status (dysplasia through carcinoma). This work retrospectively assesses seven biomarkers on a lesion-contralateral matched OCT dataset of lateral and ventral tongue (40 patients, 70 sites). Epithelial depth and loss of epithelial-stromal boundary visualization provide the strongest discrimination between disease states. The stroma optical attenuation coefficient provides distinction of benign lesions from dysplasia and carcinoma. The stratification biomarkers visualize subsurface changes which provides potential for future utility in biopsy site selection or treatment margin delineation.

Introduction Atherosclerotic disease is a major contributor to heart failure, stroke, and myocardial infarction, significantly lowering the quality of life and life expectancy, with a significant burden on healthcare. Not all lesions deemed non-significant are benign, and conversely, not all significant lesions are causative of ischemia. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) provides a functional assessment of coronary lesions, while optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers detailed imaging of plaque morphology, aiding in therapeutic decision-making. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of OCT and FFR as adjunctive tools in the catheterization laboratory for guiding therapeutic decisions in patients with multivessel disease for non-culprit vessels. Specifically, we aimed to assess how OCT and FFR influence therapeutic decision-making in patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease. Methods 36 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and multivessel disease were randomized 1:1 into two groups: one guided by FFR alone, and the other by a combination of FFR and OCT. For the FFR group, revascularization decisions for non culprit lesions were based solely on FFR measurements. If the FFR was >0.8, the procedure concluded, and the patient received maximal medical treatment. If the FFR was ≤0.8, a stent was placed. For the FFR + OCT group, if the FFR was >0.8, the revascularization decision was based on OCT findings. If there were no vulnerable plaques (VP), the procedure concluded, and the patient received maximal medical treatment. If OCT imaging indicated VP, then the patient underwent revascularization. If the FFR was ≤0.8, the patient underwent revascularization regardless of OCT findings. Results OCT imaging altered the therapeutic decision in 11 cases where FFR measurements were above 0.8, but the lesions were characterized as VP. Analyzing the total change in the decision to stent, 4 cases in the FFR group and 15 cases in the FFR and OCT group (4 based on FFR and 11 on OCT) revealed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0006; Relative Risk = 0.2556; 95% CI: 0.1013 to 0.5603). When analyzing the change in the total decision both to stent and not to stent, we observed a statistically significant difference, with Group 1 having 7 cases and Group 2 having 15 cases (p = 0.0153; Relative Risk = 0.4050; 95% CI: 0.2004 to 0.7698) Conclusion Based on the findings of this study, OCT significantly increases the percentage of stenting procedures by identifying vulnerable lesions. The use of intracoronary imaging facilitates the timely identification and treatment of these vulnerable lesions. This underscores the crucial role of OCT in enhancing the precision of coronary interventions by ensuring timely intervention for vulnerable lesions, thereby potentially improving patient outcomes Acknowledgment funding „This work was supported by the University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology ,, George Emil Palade’’ of Targu Mures Research Grant number 510/14/17.01.2022”

This research investigates the fatigue behaviour and fracture mechanics of high-performance concrete (HPC), including various compositions such as HPC with basalt aggregates (HPC-B), HPC with gravel (HPC-G), and high-strength coarse mortar (CM) static and cyclic tensile loading within the special priority program SPP 2020. The study aims to integrate fracture mechanics into structural analysis to enhance design guidelines for slender cross-sections and safety-related high-performance structural components. The experimental investigations reveal HPC-B's re-markable superiority, displaying higher compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, and tensile strength compared to HPC-G and CM. A modified disk-shaped compact tension (MDCT) based on ASTM standards, aided by digital image correlation (DIC) unveils fracture behaviour, empha-sizing fracture energy as a crucial parameter. HPC-B exhibits improved crack resistance and notch sensitivity reduction attributed to crushed basalt aggregates and enhanced interfacial transition zone (ITZ). The research scrutinizes factors like material characterization, aggregate morphology, stress levels, and displacement rate on crack formation. High-cycle fatigue tests show HPC-B's superior performance, and post-fatigue analysis reveals enhanced residual fracture toughness attributed to nano-level structural changes, stress redistribution and aggregate-matrix interac-tion. 3D image analysis via Computed Tomography (CT) scans captures mesostructural crack propagation and provide quantitative insights. This study advances the understanding of HPC fatigue behaviour, emphasizing the interplay of aggregate types, morphologies, and their dy-namic response to cyclic loading, offering valuable insights for optimizing design guidelines and fostering innovation in structural engineering.

Although ovarian cystic teratoma is the most common ovarian tumor, complications are quite rare. However, it is important to be recognized by the radiologist in order to avoid inaccurately diagnosing them as malignant lesions. This case report describes a 61-year-old postmenopausal woman, who presented to the emergency room with abdominal pain following a minor blunt abdominal trauma. In this context, a CT scan was performed, which showed the presence of round, hypodense masses randomly distributed in the peritoneum, with coexisting ascites in moderate amount; ovarian carcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis was suspected. The patient was hospitalized and an MRI of the abdomen and pelvis was recommended for a more detailed lesion characterization. Following this examination, the patient was diagnosed with mature cystic ovarian teratoma complicated by rupture. Surgery was performed, and the outcome was favorable. The cases of ruptured cystic teratomas are rare, and to our knowledge, this is the first occurrence described in literature. Special attention must be paid when confronting with such a case in medical practice, since it can easily misdiagnosed as peritoneal carcinomatosis

This research aimed to compare the measurements recorded by a traditional PCI technology biometer (Partial Coherence Interferometry) and by a SS-OCT (Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography) technology machine in preoperative screening of patients with age-related cataract. Optical biometry was performed with the IOLMaster 500 (version 5.5, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Germany) and the ANTERION (Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) in a total sample of 144 eyes, from 80 patients, (37 men and 43 women), with a mean age of 70.54 ± 0.739 years (range: 45-89 years) and the values of the Axial Length (AL), two meridians of the cornea (Kf, Kflat and Ks, Ksteep), astigmatism (Ast) as well as the Anterior Chamber Depth (ACD) were compared with the program IBM SPSS Statistics 27. The IOLMaster500 and ANTERION devices did not have statistically significant differences in terms of axial length and flat corneal meridian Kf, while they differed statistically significantly in terms of steep corneal meridian Ks, astigmatism and anterior chamber depth. This study suggests that a thorough pre-operative check must be performed, sometimes with more than one device, aiming at greater accuracy in the measurements of the ocular biometrics, so that we achieve more successful postoperative outcomes and ultimately more satisfied patients.

The black hole (BH) phenomenon is an intraluminal restenotic lesion. It was identified by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) after intracoronary brachytherapy and drug-eluting stent implantation. Despite the similarity in the mode of action of brachytherapy and drug-eluting stent implantation, the BH phenomenon appears to be uncommon after drug-eluting stent implantation. Specifically, the BH phenomenon is better identified by OCT than by IVUS. Herein, we present a case of in-stent restenosis with suspected BH phenomenon on IVUS confirmed by OCT.

(1) Background: This study evaluated the spatial position and anatomical characteristics related to impacted third molars by map-reading strategy using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). (2) Methods: To determine the positioning of impacted third molars on CBCT it was used Winter's and Pell &amp; Gregory's classifications, and the presence of external root resorption in mandibular second molars were based on Herman´s classification. The relationship between the mandibular third molar root apex and the mandibular canal was also analyzed. Fisher’s exact test was used to comparative statistical analysis. The significance level considered was 5%. (3) Results: The results showed that according to Winter's classification, 48.06 % of impacted teeth were in the mesioangular position. Using Pell &amp; Gregory's classification, 43.22% of the impacted molars were in the position B and C, and 54.2% of the teeth were class II. 69.7% of teeth showed an absence of contact between the root apex and the mandibular canal and there was no occurrence of external root resorption in the distal of second molar in 88.7%. (4) Conclusions: The map-reading strategy using CBCT scans for anatomical positions and characteristics of impacted third molars increases professional confidence and establishes a parameter of quality and safety in the surgical procedure for the patient.

About half of the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) recipients exhibit some degree of coronary artery disease (CAD), and controversial results have been reported regarding the impact of the presence and severity of CAD on clinical outcomes post-TAVR. In addition to coronary angiography, promising data has been recently reported on the use of both cardiac computed tomography angiography and the functional invasive assessment of coronary lesions whether by FFR or iFR in the work-up pre-TAVR. Despite mitigated available data, percutaneous revascularization of significant coronary lesions has been the routine strategy in TAVR candidates with CAD. Also, scarce data exists on the incidence, characteristics and management of coronary events post-TAVR, and increasing interest exist on potential coronary access challenges in patients requiring coronary angiography/intervention post-TAVR. This review provides an updated overview of the knowledge of CAD in TAVR recipients, focusing on its prevalence, clinical impact, pre- and post-procedural evaluation and management.

Introduction: CT perfusion (CTP) is an alternative tool to assess cerebral hemodynamics in brain trauma. As traumatic acute subdural hematomas (ASH) are severe lesions commonly associated with poor outcome, we aimed to evaluate the brain hemodynamics in this population. Methods: Five patients admitted at the emergency department sustaining traumatic acute subdural hematoma were evaluated. Preoperative CTP was performed immediately after nonenhanced head CT scan. Postoperative CTP was performed in four patients. The outcome was assessed 6 months after surgery using the extended Glasgow Outcome Scale. Results: 4 male and 1 female were evaluated. Mean age was 46y (SD: 8.1). Mean preoperative midline brain shift was 10.1 mm (SD: 1.8). The main mechanism of trauma was falling (four patients). There was a general improvement in cerebral blood flow (CBF) after surgery from 23.9 (SD: 6.1) to 30.7 ml/100g/min, (SD: 5.1) and in mean transit time (MTT) from 7.3 (SD: 1.3) to 5.8s (SD:1.0), although it is not statistically significant (p=0.06 and p=0.06, respectively). There was still a reduction in the cerebral blood volume (CBV) media when compared to the value after surgery, from 2.63 (SD: 1.10) to 2.34 ml/100g (SD: 0.67), which is not statistically significant (p=0.31). Spearman correlation test of postoperative and preoperative CBF ratio with outcome was 0.94 (p=0.054). Only one patient died (three days after surgery). This patient was victim of car crash and had the highest preoperative MTT (9.97 seconds) and CBV (4.51 ml/100 g). Conclusion: Post-operative improvement of hemodynamic CTP parameters may be correlated with outcomes after ASH. Further studies with larger samples are required to confirm this hypothesis.

Using the OCT platform, we can generate high-resolution data on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in a given eye at a large number of angular-points defined on a circular coordinate system. However, insightful characteristics of OCT RNFL data such as its circularity and granularity generally remain unutilized in its common downstream statistical analyses. We present a new circular statistical framework that defines an Angular Decay function and thereby provides a directional representation of an eye in terms of its focused RNFL loss. By applying to a clinical cohort of Asian Indian eyes, the generated circular data was modeled with a finite mixture of von Mises distributions, which led to unsupervised identification in different age-groups of 2 recurrent clusters of glaucomatous eyes with distinct directional signatures of RNFL decay. New indices of global and local RNFL loss were computed for comparing the structural differences between these glaucoma clusters across the age-groups.

Background: As coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to pose a threat to the entire world, it is critical to developing strategies for containing its spread. The purpose of this study was to assess the demographic characteristics, brain tomography characteristics, and diffusion magnetic resonance findings of COVID-19 positive individuals. Material and Method: Between January 1 and December 31, 2021, 317 patients over the age of 18 were admitted to the emergency department with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Three groups were formed based on clinical findings in patients, divided into light, medium, and severe, and four groups were formed based on radiological imaging findings. Results: The mean age of the 317 patients included in the study was 67.28±12.06 years, with a range of 28-91 years. The clinical classification of the patients was based on laboratory parameters and radiological imaging, not on their age or gender. Mild cases were classified as CO-RADS 0-4; moderate and severe cases were classified as CO-RADS 5-6 (p=0.001). While 60 (18.9%) of patients were followed outpatient, 144 (45.4%) were admitted to the hospital, 73 (23%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 40 (12.7%) died (p=0.001). Direct radiographs revealed bilateral involvement in 224 (70.7%) cases, peripheral involvement in 259 (81.7%) cases, and mid-lower lobe lung involvement in 194 (61.2%) cases (p=0.001). Brain tomography revealed infarction in 42 (13.2%) of the patients who were followed and hospitalized and hemorrhage in 22 (6.9%) of the patients. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffusion involvement in 68 (21.5%) of the cases (p=0.001). Conclusion: A standardized reporting system for COVID-19 data is required, and it must be simple to use, quick to understand, and focused on determining the risk of pneumonia. Additionally, the diagnostic role of radiological imaging, prognosis prediction, and severity scoring of lung involvement should be included.

Deep Learning is developing interesting tools which are of great interest for inverse imaging applications. In this work, we consider a medical imaging reconstruction task from subsampled measurements, which is an active research field where Convolutional Neural Networks have already revealed their great potential. However, the commonly used architectures are very deep and, hence, prone to overfitting and unfeasible for clinical usages. Inspired by the ideas of the green-AI literature, we here propose a shallow neural network to perform an efficient Learned Post-Processing on images roughly reconstructed by the filtered backprojection algorithm. The results obtained on images from the training set and on unseen images, using both the non-expensive network and the widely used very deep ResUNet show that the proposed network computes images of comparable or higher quality in about one fourth of time.

Higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (HR-MDS) has a poor prognosis in the absence of efficient therapy. The evaluation of new therapies in animal models of HR-MDS is hampered by the absence of accurate in vivo biomarkers of the disease. In this study we compared [18F]Fluoro-desoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) and [18F]Fluoro-thymidine (FLT)-PET imaging for disease follow-up in a triple transgenic MMTVtTA/TetoBCL-2/MRP8NRASD12 mouse model of HR-MDS. Normal control FVB/N mice (G1,n=9) and HR-MDS mice (G2,n=12) underwent both FDG- and FLT-PET procedures at 2-day intervals, on a dedicated small animal device. Blood cell counting, BCL-2 and Mac-1hi/Gr-1lo expression measurements in blood were performed before each PET procedure. Visually, PET images of G2 mice demonstrated homogeneous FDG uptake in the whole skeleton similar to that observed in G1 mice, and abnormal FLT hot spots in bone marrow not observed in G1 mice. The intensity of FLT hot spots in bone marrow was higher in 3-months old G2 mice than in 2-months old G2 mice, concordant with a higher percentage of cells expressing Mac-1hi/Gr-1lo and lower platelets counts. We conclude that FLT-PET/CT imaging is a more valuable surrogate non-invasive quantitative marker of HR-MDS bone marrow involvement than FDG-PET/CT in our mouse model of HR-MDS.

To investigate the impact of radiologic experience on the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography CT vs. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reporting for liver metastases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (LM of PDAC). Intra-individual CT and MRI examinations of 112 patients with clinically proven LM of PDAC were included. Four radiologists with varying years of experience (A > 20, B > 5, C > 1 and D < 1) assessed liver segments affected by LM of PDAC, as well as associated metastases occurring in each patient. Their sensitivity and specificity in evaluating the segments were compared. Cohen's Kappa (κ) for diagnosed liver segments and Intra-class Correlation Coefficients (ICC) for the number of metastatic lesions in each patient were calculated. The radiologists’ sensitivity and specificity for the CT vs. MRI were, respectively: Reader A -94.4, 90.3% vs. 96.6, 94.8%; B - 86.7, 79.7% vs. 83.9, 82.0%; C - 78.0, 76.7% vs. 83.3, 78.9% and D - 71.8, 79.2% vs. 64.0, 69.5%. Reviewers A and B achieved greater agreement in assessing results from the MRI (κ = 0.72, p < 0.001; ICC = 0.73, p < 0.001) vs. the CT (κ = 0.58, p < 0.001; ICC = 0.61, p < 0.001), in contrast to readers C and D (MRI: κ = 0.34, p < 0.001; ICC = 0.42, p < 0.001, and CT: κ = 0.48, p < 0.001; ICC = 0.59, p < 0.001). Our results indicate that accurate diagnosis of LM of PDAC depends more on radiologic experience in MRI over CT scans.

Cachexia is a syndrome characterized by an ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass associated with poor patient prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, prognostic cachexia biomarkers in NSCLC are unknown. Here, we analyzed computed tomography (CT) images and tumor transcriptome data to identify potentially secreted cachexia biomarkers (PSCB) in NSCLC patients with low-muscularity. We integrated radiomics features (pectoralis muscle, sternum, and T10 vertebra) from CT of 89 NSCLC patients, which allowed us to identify an index for screening muscularity. Next, a tumor transcriptomic-based secretome analysis from these patients (discovery set) was evaluated to identify potential cachexia biomarkers in patients with low-muscularity. The prognostic value of these biomarkers for predicting recurrence and survival outcome was confirmed using expression data from eight lung cancer datasets (validation set). Finally, C2C12 myoblasts differentiated into myotubes were used to evaluate the ability of the selected biomarker, IL-8, in inducing muscle cell atrophy. We identified 75 over-expressed transcripts in patients with low-muscularity, which included IL6, CSF3, and IL8. Also, we identified NCAM1, CNTN1, SCG2, CADM1, IL8, NPTX1, and APOD as PSCB in the tumor secretome. These PSCB were capable of distinguishing worse and better prognosis (recurrence and survival) in NSCLC patients. IL8 was confirmed as a predictor of worse prognosis in all validation sets. In vitro assays revealed that IL-8 promoted C2C12 myotube atrophy. Tumors from low-muscularity patients presented a set of upregulated genes encoding for secreted proteins, including pro-inflammatory cytokines that predict worse overall survival in NSCLC. Among these up-regulated genes, IL8 expression in NSCLC tissues was associated with worse prognosis and the recombinant IL-8 was capable of triggering atrophy in C2C12 myotubes.

The External Occipital Protuberance (EOP) is a notable anatomical landmark connected to neck musculature. With the rise of tech neck syndrome due to prolonged smartphone use, concerns have emerged regarding its influence on EOP morphology. This study compares EEOP characteristics in contemporary individuals (aged 18-30 years) from Abruzzo with ancient skulls from the Opi necropolis (VII-Vth century BC) Methods: Four null hypotheses were tested concerning EEOP prevalence and severity: (1) no gender differences, (2) no differences between modern and ancient populations, (3) no gender-based variations in severity, and (4) no temporal differences in severity. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the significance of these hypotheses. Results: The study found a higher prevalence of EEOP in modern individuals compared to ancient populations, with no significant gender differences in prevalence. However, severity of EEOP showed significant variation by gender and historical period, with modern individuals exhibiting greater severity. Conclusions: The observed increase in EEOP prevalence and severity in modern populations suggests a potential influence of tech neck posture associated with increased screen time. These findings underscore the need for further research into the effects of contemporary lifestyle factors on cranial morphology.

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition that can affect multiple organ systems and is characterized by the formation of non-caseating granulomas in various organs, including heart. Due to suboptimal diagnostic rates, the true prevalence and incidence of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) remain to be determined. In patients with suspected CS, initial examination should include 12-lead ECG or ambulatory ECG monitoring, as well as echocardiography with the estimation of LV, RV function and strain rate. In patients with confirmed extracardiac sarcoidosis and with high clinical suspicion for CS, sophisticated imaging modalities, including cardiac MRI and PET are indicated. Typical patterns of inflammation and myocardial scarring should pose a high suspicion for CS. In patients without diagnosed extracardiac sarcoidosis and high clinical suspicion, although with low diagnostic porobability, endomyocardial biopsy should be considered to establish the diagnosis of definite isolated cardiac sarcoidosis. Timely diagnosis enables the initation of therapy and close monitoring of adverse cardiac events that can be life-threatening, including sudden cardiac death, ventricular tachycardia, high-degree AV block, and heart failure. Implementation of biomarkers in correlation to cardiac imaging can determine the disease severity and progression, but also be helpful in following the treatment response. The formation of larger global registries can be helpful in the identification of independent predictors of adverse clinical events and development of specific diagnostic algorithms to reduce the overal risk of this serious condition.

The trigeminal nerve is responsible for innervating the periorbita. Ultrasound-guided trigeminal block is employed in humans for trigeminal neuralgia or periorbital surgery. There are no studies evaluating this block in dogs. This study aims to evaluate and compare two approaches (coronoid and temporal) of the trigeminal nerve block. We hypothesized superior staining with the coronoid approach. Thirteen dog heads were used. After a preliminary anatomical study, two ultrasound-guided injections per head (right and left, coronoid and temporal approach, randomly assigned), with an injectate volume of 0.15 mL cm-1 of cranial length were performed (iodate contrast and tissue dye mixture). The ultrasound probe was placed over the temporal region, visualizing the pterygopalatine fossa. For the temporal approach, the needle was advanced from the medial aspect of the temporal region in a dorsoventral direction. For the coronoid approach, it was advanced ventral to the zygomatic arch in a lateromedial direction. CT scans and dissections were conducted to assess and compare the position of the needle, spread of injectate, and nerve staining. No significant differences were found. Both approaches demonstrated effective interfascial distribution of injectate, with some minimal intracranial spread. Although the coronoid approach did not yield superior staining as hypothesized, it presents a viable alternative to the temporal approach. Studies in live animals are warranted to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety.

Ultra-wide field optical coherence tomography (UWF-OCT) has been recently introduced into clinical ophthalmological practice. To date, there is little data on the reference values of retinal thickness (RT) and choroidal thickness (CT) measured with this technique. This study aimed to analyze the variance of RT and CT in healthy eyes with UWF-OCT tests performed with the largest available scan size of 23 x 20 mm. The data were analyzed with reference to the patients' age, gender, and the axial length of the eyeball. The results of UWF-OCT scanning enabled us to picture the shape of the retina and choroid in a large portion of the eyeball. Both anatomical entities become significantly thinner at the periphery. The peripheral CT is greater in the upper and temporal sectors; the RT is higher in the nasal compared to the temporal sectors. Both choroid and retina lose thickness with age, however, CT and RT do not show a statistically significant correlation with the axial length after adjusting for age and gender. Age-related variations in thickness are especially prominent in the choroid. The CT in UWF-OCT testing is significantly greater in females while the RT is greater in males. UWF-OCT testing provides additional information on the anatomical structure of the retina and choroid compared to standard-field OCT

κ Draconis is a binary system with a classical Be star as the primary component. Its emission-line spectrum consists of hydrogen lines, notably the Hα line with a peak intensity ratio (V/R) variations phase-locked with the orbital period P = 61.55 days. Among binaries demonstrating the Be phenomenon, κ Dra stands out as one of a few systems with a discernible mass of its secondary component. Based on more than 200 spectra obtained in 2014 − 2023, we verified the physical parameters and constructed the mass function. We used part of these data obtained in 2014 − 2021 to investigate regions in the circumstellar disk of the primary component that emit the Hα line using the Doppler tomography method. The results show that the disk has a non-uniform density distribution with a prominent enhancement at Vy≈ 99 km s−1 and Vx≈−6 km s−1 that corresponds to a cloud-like source of the double-peaked Hα line profile. We argue that this enhancement’s motion is responsible for the periodic variations of the Hα V/R ratio, which is synchronised in orbital phase with the radial velocity (RV) of absorption lines from the atmosphere of the primary component.

Background: We aimed to explore microvascular changes evaluated with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients undergoing epiretinal membrane (ERM) pars-plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with intravitreal Ozurdex implantation, compared with standard PPV. (2) Methods: Prospective interventional analysis on 25 eyes undergoing PPV+Ozurdex (Group A) and 25 eyes undergoing PPV alone. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and OCTA parameters, such as vessel density (VD) of the superficial and deep capillary plexi (SCP and DCP) in the whole 6.4x6.4 mm and fovea area, were evaluated preoperatively and 3 months after surgery. (3) Results: Postoperative BCVA significantly improved in both groups. No cases of post-operative cystoid macular edema (CME) were reported in Group A vs. 2 eyes in Group B. In Group A we found a statistically significant increase of SCP’s VD in either the whole image (from 42.1±4.1 to 45.6±4.3 %, p=0.01) and the fovea image (from 38.5±7.5 to 41.7±4.2%, p=0.03). In Group B, we reported no significant variations in the SCP’s VDs. In the DCP, VD significantly increased only in the whole image in Group A. Stage 4 ERMs showed the greatest improvement in VD, especially in Group A. (4) Conclusions: In conclusion, intraoperative Ozurdex prompted a significant BCVA recover and limited the occurrence of postoperative CME compared to the standard procedure. Moreover, Ozurdex implant is associated with a better restoration of microvascular structure in either SCP and DCP.

This research investigates the microstructure and mechanical behaviour of a polylactic acid (PLA)-iron (PLI) composite designed to enable magnetic actuation. Tensile specimens of PLI are produced through Fused Filament Fabrication, incorporating diverse printing angles ranging from 0° to 90°, thereby facilitating the creation of a variety of layups. The microstructure of these 3D-printed composites is analysed using X-ray micro-tomography. Furthermore, the tensile mechanical properties of all composites are evaluated, and the findings are deliberated in relation to the conditions of the printing angle. Additionally, the fractography of broken specimens is examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The findings indicate that the printing angle plays a significant role in influencing the tensile properties of the 3D-printed PLI composites, particularly in adjusting mechanical anisotropy. Moreover, an optimal layup of 45°/45° is attained, resulting in an enhanced ranking of the tensile performance. These findings related to 3D-printed PLI composites present a cost-efficient option for manufacturing bio-sourced light-adaptive composites through 3D printing, enabling the generation of intricate magnetic actuation performance.

This article reports a protocol on the application of Amp-TB2 (single-amphibole ther-mobarometry; [1]) based on detailed electron microprobe analyses performed on homogeneous natural standards and synthetic glasses, and amphibole crystals (mostly phenocrysts) of volcanic products erupted by Bezymianny volcano during its activity through time. The application of this protocol is facilitated by a new version of the model (Amp-TB2.1.xlsx) including an equation to identify heterogeneous domains (disequilibrium; not suitable for thermobarometric constraints) and homogenous (equilibrium) zones within amphibole crystals, which can be used to quantify the physico-chemical parameters (i.e., pressure, P; temperature, T; volatile content in the melt, H2Omelt; oxygen fugacity, fO2) of “steady-state” magmatic crystallization. Application examples of the protocol, showing detailed core-rim microprobe data and physico-chemical parameter variations in representative amphibole phenocrysts of Bezymianny are also reported. The depth (and P) estimated by Amp-TB2.1 for this volcano are compared to seismic tomography results. Amp-TB2.1 results mainly shows (1) that Bezymianny is characterized by a very dynamic feeding system where the magma is stored at shallow crustal levels before recent activity periods characterized by climatic events and (2) that the pre-eruptive depth of magma storage generally increases with the age of the investigated products.

To compare the quality of low-energy VMIs obtained with three DECT platforms according to phantom diameter. Three sections of the Mercury Phantom 4.0 were scanned on two generations of split-filter CTs (SFCT-1st and SFCT-2nd) and on one Dual-source CT (DSCT). Noise power spectrum (NPS), task-based transfer function (TTF) and detectability index (d’) were assessed on VMIs from 40 to 70keV. Highest noise magnitude values were found with SFCT-1st and noise magnitude was higher with DSCT than with SFCT-2nd for 26-cm (10.2±1.3%) and 31-cm (7.0±2.5%), and the opposite for 36-cm (-4.2±2.5%). The highest average NPS spatial frequencies and TTF values at 50% (f50) values were found with DSCT. For all energy levels, f50 values were higher with SFCT-2nd than SFCT-1st for 26-cm (3.2±0.4%) and the opposite for 31-cm (-6.9±0.5%) and 36-cm (-5.6±0.7%). The lowest d’ values were found with SFCT-1st. For all energy levels, d’ values were lower with SFCT-2nd than with DSCT for 26-cm (-6.2±0.7%), similar for 31-cm (-0.3±1.9%) and higher for 36-cm (5.4±2.7%). In conclusion, compared to SFCT-1st, SFCT-2nd exhibited lower noise magnitude and higher detectability values. Compared with DSCT, SFCT-2nd had lower noise magnitude and higher detectability for the 26-cm but the opposite was true for the 36-cm.

We performed a retrospective, observational study for 51 eyes of 51 treatment-naive patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), whose lesion ranged within the 6x6mm scope of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Patients were divided into two groups based on the pattern of branching vascular network (BVN) on OCTA: ill-defined group and well-defined group. BVN morphology was not related to baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). But the BCVA in the ill-defined BVN group (-0.18 [interquartile range: -0.40 to 0.00]) was significantly improved after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections, compared with that (0.00 [interquartile range: -0.18 to 0.00]) in the well-defined group (z=2.143, p=0.032). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that male sex, smaller number of injections, and presence of polypoidal lesions on OCTA images at baseline predicted a poor prognosis of polypoidal lesions on OCTA images after anti-VEGF therapy (all p&lt;0.05). Finally, BCVA at baseline and the number of injections were protective factors for BCVA after anti-VEGF therapy (all p&lt;0.05). In contrast, history of hypertension and macular edema at baseline were risk factors for BCVA after anti-VEGF injections (all p&lt;0.05). Our results revealed the visual and morphological prognosis of patients with active subfoveal circumscribed PCV after anti-VEGF therapy.

Recently, Medical Radiology has undergone significant improvements in patients’ management due to advancements in image acquisition by last generation machines, data processing, and integration of artificial intelligence. In this way, cardiovascular imaging is one of the fastest growing radiological subspecialty. A compressive review was focused on addressing how and why CT and MR have gained a I class indication in most cardiovascular diseases, and the potential impact of the tissue and functional characterization by CT photon counting, quantitative MR mapping, and 4-D flow. Regarding rectal imaging, advances in cancer imaging by using diffusion-weighted MRI sequences for identifying residual disease after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and [18F] FDG PET/MRI were provided for high-resolution anatomical and functional data in oncological patients. We offered a large overview on the approach to the imaging of diffuse and focal liver diseases by US elastography, contrast-enhanced US, quantitative MRI, and CT for the patient’s risk stratification. Italy is riding the wave of these improvements. The development of large networks will be crucial to create high-quality databases for a patient-centered precision medicine by artificial intelligence. dedicated radiologists with specific training and a close relationship with the referring clinicians will be the essential human factor.

OCTA is an imaging modality used in the assessment of the retinal vasculature. It operates on the principle of coherence tomography used in standard OCT with the addition of delineating the retinal vascular. This provides a modern non-invasive retinal vascular imaging method compared to conventional dye-based imaging. High quality depth resolution of the superficial and deep capillary networks is possible on OCTA whereas this was not possible prior. OCTA may be limited by image quality degradation from factors such as motion artefact or media opacities, and therefore may not be the investigation of choice for all patient groups. There are multiple potential clinical applications for OCTA in retinal and choroidal vascular disease. Ongoing research is necessary to substantiate the more widespread use of OCTA due to its significant cost burden compared to current modalities.

A novel physiologically based algorithm (PBA) for the computation of fractional flow reserve (FFR) in coronary artery trees (CATs) using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is proposed and developed. The PBA is based on the extension of Murray's law and additional inlet conditions prescribed iteratively, and is implemented in OpenFOAM for testing and validation. 3D models of CATs are created using CT scans and computational meshes, and the results are compared to in-vasive coronary angiographic (ICA) data to validate the accuracy and effectiveness of the PBA. The discrepancy between calculated and experimental FFR is within 2.33-5.26% in steady-state and transient simulations, respectively, when convergence is reached. The PBA is a reliable and physiologically sound technique compared to the current lumped parameter model (LPM), which is based on empirical scaling correlations and requires nonlinear iterative computing for conver-gence. The accuracy of the PBA method is further confirmed using the FDA nozzle, which demonstrates good alignment with CFD-validated values.

Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is an optical medical imaging method that can assess the structural properties of tissues and their functional characteristics, such as hemoglobin concentration, water content, as well as lipid concentration, via three-dimensional image reconstruction. This paper presents the theoretical basis and working principle of diffuse optical tomography. The paper explains how the optical properties of tissue can be imaged by photon migration techniques based on diffusion theory. The author presents the reasoning for near-infrared (NIR) imaging as the most effective technique in terms of quantitative recovery of spectroscopic optical parameters. This work also listed various advantages, applications, and challenges of DOT. The paper also briefly discusses current progress in near-infrared medical imaging and its future direction.

Over recent years, the importance of patent literature has become more recognized in the academic setting. In the context of artificial intelligence, deep learning, and data sciences, patents are relevant to not only industry but also academe and other communities. In this article, we focus on deep tomographic imaging and perform a preliminary landscape analysis of the related patent literature. Our search tool is PatSeer . Our patent bibliometric data is summarized in various figures and tables. In particular, we qualitatively analyze key deep tomographic patent literature.

Introduction. Strontium-82/Rubidium-82 (⁸²Sr/⁸²Rb) generators are used widely for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of myocardial perfusion. In this study, the ⁸²Rb isotope yield and production efficiency of two FDA-approved ⁸²Sr/⁸²Rb generators were compared.Methods. N=515 sequential daily quality assurance (QA) reports from 9 CardioGen-82® and 9 RUBY-FILL® generators were reviewed over a period of 2 years. A series of test elutions was performed at different flow-rates on the RUBY-FILL® system to determine an empirical correction-factor used to convert CardioGen-82® daily QA values of ⁸²Rb activity (dose-calibrator ‘maximum’ of 50 mL elution at 50 mL/min) to RUBY-FILL® equivalent values (integrated ‘total’ of 35 mL elution at 20 mL/min). The generator yield (⁸²Rb) and production efficiency (⁸²Rb yield / ⁸²Sr parent activity) were measured and compared after this conversion to a common scale. Results. At the start of clinical use, the system reported ⁸²Rb activity from daily QA was lower for CardioGen-82® vs RUBY-FILL® (2.3 ± 0.2 vs 3.0 ± 0.2 GBq, p<0.001) despite having similar ⁸²Sr activity. Dose-calibrator ‘maximum’ (CardioGen-82®) values were found to under-estimate the integrated ‘total’ (RUBY-FILL®) activity by ~24% at 50 mL/min. When these data were used to convert the CardioGen-82 values to a common measurement scale (integrated total activity) the CardioGen-82® efficiency remained slightly lower than the RUBY-FILL® system on average (88 ± 4% vs 95 ± 4%, p<0.001). The efficiency of ⁸²Rb production improved for both systems over the respective periods of clinical use.Conclusions. ⁸²Rb generator yield was significantly under-estimated using the CardioGen-82® vs RUBY-FILL® daily QA procedure. When generator yield was expressed as the integrated total activity for both systems, the estimated ⁸²Rb production efficiency of the CardioGen-82® system was ~7% lower than RUBY-FILL® over the full period of clinical use.

Bioimpedance measurements are used increasingly in health applications because bioelectric parameters have been associated with anatomical and physiological properties, thus enabling to distinguish medical conditions. For bone fracture diagnostics, nevertheless, there is no established non-invasive method. Ex vivo studies and In vivo bioimpedance procedures, both invasive and non-invasive, on mammalians long bones are associated with promising results. In this work, out of a total of 568 papers, we reviewd 59 articles that mention long bone integrity by electric properties, be it Bioimpedance Analysis, Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy or Electrical Impedance Tomography. The papers are described in three sections, “Ex vivo measurements”, “In vivo invasive measurements” and “In vivo non-invasive measurements”. This review allows to establish the basics to planning the development of new technology to detect bone fracture via bioimpedance measurements.

The article presents a cyber-physical system for acquiring, processing and reconstructing images from measurement data. The technology was based on process tomography, intelligent measurement sensors, machine learning, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Internet of Things as a solution for Industry 4.0. Industrial tomography enables observation of physical and chemical phenomena without the need of internal penetration and allows real-time monitoring of production processes. The application includes specialized intelligent devices for tomographic measurements and dedicated algorithms for solving the inverse problem. The work focuses mainly on electrical tomography and image reconstruction using deterministic methods and machine learning, the reconstruction results were compared, different measurement models were used. The researches were carried out for synthetic data and laboratory measurements. The main advantage of the proposed system is the possibility of spatial data analysis and their high processing speed. The presented research results show that the process tomography gives the possibility to analyse the processes taking place inside the facility without disturbing the production, analysis and detection of obstacles, defects and various anomalies. Knowing the characteristics of a given solution, the application allows you to choose the appropriate method to reconstruct the image.

The article presents a non-destructive test system based on electrical impedance tomography for monitoring flood embankments. The technology of cyber-physical systems and the Internet of Things with the use of electrical impedance tomography enables real-time monitoring of flood embankments. This solution provides a visual analysis of damage and leaks, which allows for quick and effective intervention and possible prevention of danger. A dedicated solution based on the IT structure, dedicated laboratory models and a dedicated measurement system with various types of sensors and machine learning algorithms for image reconstruction has been developed. The system includes specialized intelligent devices for tomographic measurements. The application contains the analysis of anomalies occurring in the structure of the object as a result of damage or danger and breaking the shaft during the flood. The presented solution enables ongoing monitoring of objects by collecting measurement results, forecasts and simulations. The main advantage of the proposed system is the spatial ability to analyse shafts, high accuracy of imaging and high speed of data processing. The use of tomographic techniques in conjunction with image reconstruction algorithms allow for non-invasive and very accurate spatial assessment of humidity and damages of flood embankments. The presented results show the effectiveness of the presented research.

The article presents the results of research on a new method of spatial analysis of walls and buildings moisture. Due to the fact that destructive methods are not suitable for historical buildings of great architectural significance, a non-destructive method based on electrical tomography has been adopted. A hybrid tomograph with special sensors was developed for the measurements. This device enables the acquisition of data, which are then reconstructed by appropriately developed methods enabling spatial analysis of wet buildings. Special electrodes that ensure good contact with the surface of porous building materials such as bricks and cement were introduced. During the research, a group of algorithms enabling supervised machine learning was analyzed. They have been used in the process of converting input electrical values into conductance depicted by the output image pixels. The conductance values of individual pixels of the output vector made it possible to obtain images of the interior of building walls, both flat intersections (2D) and spatial (3D) images. The presented group of algorithms has a high application value. The main advantages of the new methods are: high accuracy of imaging, low costs, high processing speed, ease of application to walls of various thickness and irregular surface. By comparing the results of tomographic reconstructions, the most efficient algorithms were identified.

For esophageal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT), restaging using F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET-CT) following nCRT can detect interval metastases, including liver metastases, in almost 10% of patients. However, in clinical practice, focal FDG liver uptake, unrelated to liver metastases, is observed after chemoradiotherapy. This radiation-induced liver injury (RILI) can potentially lead to overstaging. Liver radiation damage is also a concern during distal esophageal cancer radiotherapy due to proximity to the left liver lobe, typically included in the radiation field. Post-CRT, if FDG activity appears in the left or caudate liver lobes, thorough investigation is needed to confirm or rule out distant metastases. The increased FDG uptake in liver lobes post-CRT often presents a diagnostic dilemma. Distinguishing between radiation-induced liver disease and metastasis is vital for appropriate patient management, necessitating a combination of imaging techniques and an understanding of the factors influencing radiation response. Diagnosis involves identifying new foci of hepatic FDG avidity on PET/CT scans. Geographic regions of hypoattenuation on CT and well-demarcated regions with specific enhancement patterns on contrast-enhanced CT scan and MRI are characteristic of radiation-induced liver disease (RILD). Lack of mass effect on all three modalities (CT, MRI, PET) indicates RILD. Resolution of abnormalities on subsequent examinations also helps in diagnosing RILD. Moreover, it can also help to rule out occult metastases, thereby excluding those patients from further surgery who will not benefit from esophagectomy with curative intent.

Pulmonary artery stenosis represents a group of disorders involving main, branch or peripheral pulmonary arteries resulting either in pain, dyspnea, hemoptysis or even no symptoms. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are crucial for reducing mortality, while timely diagnosis is challenging due to the nonspecific symptoms. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is useful in the diagnosis because it can provide more details about the abnormal changes in the lumen, vessel wall and adjacent mediastinal structures. Congenital and acquired pulmonary artery anomalies have some characteristics on CTPA, which can be useful for differential diagnosis. Awareness of these conditions and is important for the radiologists. This pictorial review provides an overview of CTPA imaging features of pulmonary artery stenosis.

Purpose: To simplify the application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for examination of subsurface morphology in the oral cavity and reduce barriers towards adoption of OCT as a biopsy guidance device. The aim of this work was to develop automated software tools for simplified analysis of the large volume of data collected during OCT. Methods: Imaging and corresponding histopathology were acquired in-clinic using a wide-field endoscopic OCT system. An annotated dataset (n = 294 images) from 60 patients (34 male, 26 female) was assembled to train four unique neural networks. A deep learning pipeline was built using convolutional and modified u-net models to detect the imaging field of view (network 1), detect artifacts (network 2), identify the tissue surface (network 3), and identify the presence and location of the basement membrane (network 4). Results: The area under the curve of the image and artifact detection networks was 1.00 and 0.94 respectively. The Dice similarity score for the surface and basement membrane segmentation networks was 0.98 and 0.83 respectively. Conclusion: Deep Learning (DL) techniques can identify the location and variations in the epithelial surface and basement membrane in OCT images of the oral mucosa. Segmentation results can be synthesized into accessible en face maps to allow easier visualization of changes.

Introduction: Migraine is one of the most prominent headache disorders with a global burden of over one billion patients and presented as a disabling and painful disorder. Pathophysiological mechanism of migraine is not fully understood, but the most accepted theory suggests that migraine is caused primarily by neural dysfunction leading to secondary changes in cerebral perfusion. Methods: Authors conducted a case-control study in 175 patients; 88 of them were migraineurs and 87 health controls. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed in all patients using spectral-domain OCT device in the same environmental conditions. All participants met both inclusion and exclusion criteria in order to achieve more homogeneous groups. OCT was performed to scan all retinal layers with an emphasis on the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Results: Among 175 examined subjects, 84% of them were women and in the group of migraineurs we found 56% without aura and 44 % with aura. After collecting tomography data authors did not find subjects in which changes of IPL were found. Nevertheless, only moderate differences in the IPL thickness in all quadrants except the central area were found in the group of migraineurs with aura using Pearson’s test. Conclusion: According to presented results, no significant changes of the IPL thickness in migraine patients were found. Authors have to emphasize the need for further investigation of the relationship between average migraine headache days per month and the thickness of the IPL.

Abstract: Background: Aging is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and con-vincing data has shown that chronic low-grade inflammation, which develops with advanced age, contributes significantly to cardiovascular risk. Objectives: The present study aimed to use ¹⁸F-FDG/¹⁸F-NaF-PET/CT imaging to respectively gauge arterial inflammation and microcalcifi-cation in healthy elderly and to assess the potential benefits of a tyrosol- and hydroxytyrosol-rich diet on these two markers of atherosclerotic plaque fragility. Methods: Eleven healthy partici-pants (mean age 75 ± 5.67 years) were supplemented for 6 months with high polyphenol-rich extra virgin olive oil (HP-EVOO), extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), or refined olive oil (ROO). The partic-ipants underwent PET/CT imaging with ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁸F-NaF radiotracers at baseline and after 6 months. ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁸F-NaF uptakes were quantified using standardized uptake values (SUV) and were categorized based on artery calcification and olive oil type. Results: A total of 324 slices of the aortas of the imaged participants were analyzed for arterial inflammation and 327 slices were analyzed for microcalcification. 18F-FDG uptake was significantly higher in the non-calcified segments than in the calcified segments (SUVmax = 2.70  0.62 and SUVmax = 2.54  0.44, respectively, p<0.042). Conversely, the non-calcified segments displayed significantly lower 18F-NaF uptake than the calcified segments (SUVmax = 1.90 0.37 and 2.09  0.24, respec-tively, p<0.0001). The 6-month supplementation with HP-EVOO induced a significant reduction in 18F-FDG uptake in both the non-calcified (2.93  0.23 to 2.75  0.38, p<0.004) and calcified seg-ments of the aortas (2.25  0.29 to 2.15  0.19, p<0.02). 18F-NaF uptake was also significantly low-er in patients supplemented with HP-EVOO (SUVmax = 1.98  0.33 at baseline compared to 1.85  0.28, after the 6-month supplementation, p<0.004), whereas no significant effect was observed with EVOO. Conversely, participants supplemented with ROO displayed a significant increase in 18F-NaF uptake (SUVmax = 1.78  0.34 to 1.95  0.34, p<0.0001). Conclusion: The present study confirmed that ¹⁸F-FDG/¹⁸F-NaF-PET/CT imaging is a valuable approach for assessing age-related arterial damage and demonstrated that a phenolic compound-rich diet reduces both arterial inflammation and atherosclerotic lesion microcalcification.

The health and stability of trees are essential information for the safety of people and property in urban greenery, parks or along roads. The stability of the trees is linked to root stability but essentially also to trunk decay. Currently used internal tree stem decay assessment methods, such as tomography or penetrometry, are reliable but usually time-consuming and unsuitable for large-scale surveys. Therefore, a new method based on close-range remote sensed data, specifically close-range photogrammetry and iPhone LiDAR, was tested to detect decayed standing tree trunks automatically. The proposed study used the PointNet deep learning algorithm for 3D data classification. It was verified in three different datasets consisting of pure coniferous trees, pure deciduous trees or mixed data to eliminate the influence of the detectable symptoms for each group and species itself. The mean achieved validation accuracies of the models were 65.5 % for Coniferous trees, 58.4 % for Deciduous trees and 57.7 % for Mixed data classification. The accuracies indicate promising data, which can be either used by practitioners for preliminary surveys or for other researchers to acquire more input data and create more robust classification models.

Esterases are hydrolases that catalyze the hydrolysis of esters into the corresponding acids and alcohols. The development of fluorescent probes for detecting esterases is of great importance due to their wide spectrum of biological and industrial applications. These probes can provide a rapid and sensitive method for detecting the presence and activity of esterases in various samples, including biological fluids, food products, and environmental samples. Fluorescent probes can also be used for monitoring the effects of drugs and environmental toxins on esterase activity, as well as to study the functions and mechanisms of these enzymes in several biological systems. Additionally, fluorescent probes can be designed to selectively target specific types of esterases, such as those found in pathogenic bacteria or cancer cells. In this review, we summarize the recent fluorescent probes described for the visualization of cell viability and some applications for in vivo imaging. On the other hand, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a nuclear-based molecular imaging modality of great value to study the activity of enzymes in vivo. We provide some examples of PET probes for imaging acetylcholinesterases and butyrylcholinesterases in brain, which are valuable tools for diagnosing dementia and monitoring the effects of anticholinergic drugs on the central nervous system.

In a context of exponential demographic growth, the imbalance between human resources and public health problems is impelling us to envision other solutions to the difficulties faced in the diagnosis, prevention and large-scale management of the most common diseases. Cardiovascular diseases represent the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A large-scale screening program would make it possible to promptly identify patients with high cardiovascular risk in order to manage them adequately. Optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A), as a window into the state of the cardiovascular system, is a rapid, reliable, and reproducible imaging examination that enables prompt identification of at-risk patients through the use of automated classification models. One challenge that limits the development of computer-aided diagnostic programs is the small number of open-source OCT-A acquisitions available. To facilitate the development of such models, we have assembled a set of images of the retinal microvascular system from 499 patients. It consists of 814 angiocubes as well as 2005 en face images. Angiocubes were captured with a swept-source OCT-A device of patients with varying overall cardiovascular risk. To the best of our knowledge, our dataset, RASTA, is the only publicly available dataset comprising such a variety of images from healthy and at-risk patients. This dataset will enable the development of generalizable models for screening of cardiovascular diseases from OCT-A retinal images.

The current work investigates the auxetic tensile deformation behavior of the inversehoneycomb structure with 5 × 5 cells made of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-coterephthalate) (PBAT). Fused deposition modeling, an additive manufacturing method, produced such specimens. Residual stress (RS) and warpage, more or less, always exist in such specimens due to layer-by-layer fabrication, i.e., repeated heating and cooling. The RS influences the auxetic deformation behavior, but its measurement is challenging due to the very fine structure. Instead, the finite-element(FE)-based process simulation realized by an ABAQUS plug-in numerically predicts the RS and warpage. The predicted warpage shows a negligible slight deviation compared to the design topology. This process simulation also delivers the temperature evolution of a small volume material, revealing the local cyclic heating and cooling. The achieved RS serves as the initial condition for the FE model used to investigate the auxetic tensile behavior. With the outcomes from FE calculation without considering RS at hand, the effect of the RS on the deformation behavior is discussed for the global force-displacement curve, the structural Poisson’s ratio evolution, the deformed structural status, the stress distribution, and evolution, where the first three and the warpage are also compared with experimental results. Furthermore, the FE simulation can easily provide the global stress-strain flow curve with the total stress calculated from the elemental ones.

United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of 2006 report was the first document released by an abandoned the classical paradigm that ionizing suppressive, considering the idea that at low doses enhances the appearance of antiinflammatory biomarkers [UNSCEAR 2006]. It considers energetic an immune modulation agent due to the multitude the innate immune system, depending on various age, health status, co-morbidities, genetic background, co-stressors [Lumniczky et al.]. Natural background radiation is the most hazardous public health, followed by medical imaging as a close Naturally occurring radionuclides attach to particulate ionizing radiation after inhalation and deposition in the in this article that exposure to particle radioactivity of inflammation. With that purpose, we have done an on common anti-inflammatory biomarkers between cases on COVID-19 elderly patients, and those found low-intensity natural ionizing radiation in locations with hypothesize that radioactivity increases biomarkers of strategy involved the use of databases from PubMed, (e.g., dose response, hormesis, J-shaped, NLRP3 LNT model, etc.). Extrapolating these effects to artificial ionizing radiation drawn conclusions on the over use of X-ray computed images in elderly ICU admitted patients with pulmonary oxygen species (ROS) generation by this action seems inflammation of leucine-rich protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, waking up an over cytokine production.

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) can monitor the real-time hemodynamic state of a conscious and spontaneously breathing patient noninvasively. However, cardiac volume signal (CVS) extracted from EIT images has a small amplitude and is sensitive to motion artifacts (MAs). This study aimed to develop a new algorithm to reduce MAs from the CVS for more accurate heart rate (HR) and cardiac output (CO) monitoring in patients undergoing hemodialysis based on the source consistency between the electrocardiogram (ECG) and the CVS of heartbeats. Two signals were measured at different locations on the body through independent instruments and electrodes, but the frequency and phase were matched when no MAs. As the number of motions per hour (MI) increased over 30, the proposed algorithm had a correlation of 0.83 and a precision of 1.65 beats per minute (BPM) compared to the conventional statical algorithm of a correlation of 0.56 and a precision of 4.04 BPM. For CO monitoring, the precision and upper limit of the mean ∆CO were 3.41 and 2.82 liters per minute (LPM), respectively, compared to 4.05 and 3.82 LPM of the statistical algorithm. The developed algorithm could reduce MAs and improve HR/CO monitoring accuracy and reliability, particularly in high-motion environments.

Arborists commonly investigate the extent of stem decay to assess the likelihood of stem failure when conducting tree risk assessments. Studies have shown that (i) arborists can sometimes judge the extent of internal decay based on external signs; (ii) sophisticated tools can reliably illustrate the extent of internal decay; and (iii) assessing components of tree risk can be highly subjective. We recruited 18 experienced tree risk assessors who held the International Society of Arboriculture’s Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) to assess the likelihood of stem failure due to decay after each of 5 consecutive assessments on 30 individuals of 2 genera. Five assessment techniques, in stepwise order, were 1) visual, 2) sounding the trunk with a mallet, 3) viewing a scaled diagram of the cross-section that revealed sound and decayed wood ascertained from resistance drilling, 4) viewing sonic and electrical resistance tomograms, and 5) consulting with a peer. For each technique, assessors assigned two or more likelihood of failure ratings (LoFRs) for at least 83% of trees, which were proportionally greatest after assessors viewed tomograms; the proportions did not differ among the other four assessment techniques. Covariates that influenced the distribution of LoFRs included percent of the cross-section that was decayed, and assessors’ experience using resistance drilling devices and tomography in regular practice. Practitioners should be aware that disagreement on the likelihood of tree failure exists even among experienced arborists.

Assessing corneal biomechanics in vivo has long been a challenge in the field of ophthalmology. Although recent wave-based optical coherence elastography (OCE) methods have shown promise in this area, the effect of intraocular pressure (IOP) on mechanical wave propagation in the cornea remains unclear. To address this, we constructed an artificial eye model and performed surface wave OCE measurements in the radial directions (54–324°) of the silicone cornea at varying IOP levels (10–40 mmHg). The results demonstrated increases in wave propagation speeds (mean ± STD) from 6.55 ± 0.09 m/s (10 mmHg) to 9.82 ± 0.19 m/s (40 mmHg), leading to an estimate of Young’s modulus, which increased exponentially from 145.23 ± 4.43 kPa to 326.44 ± 13.30 kPa. Our implementation of an artificial eye model highlighted that the impact of IOP on Young’s modulus (ΔE = 165.59 kPa, IOP: 10–40 mmHg) was more significant than the effect of stretching of the silicone cornea (ΔE = 15.79 kPa, relative elongation: 0.98%–6.49%). Our study sheds light on the potential of using an artificial eye model in OCE research for corneal biomechanics. Furthermore, it is critical to consider the impact of IOP on measurement results when utilizing wave-based OCE in clinical settings for enhanced assessment of corneal biomechanics.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) surrounding tumor cells is a complex and highly dynamic system that promotes tumorigenesis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key elements in TME playing a pivotal role in cancer cells’ proliferation and metastatic spreading. Considering the high expression of the fibroblast activation protein (FAP) on cell membrane, CAFs emerged as appealing TME targets, namely for molecular imaging, leading to a pan-tumoral approach. Therefore, FAP inhibitors (FAPis) have been recently developed for PET imaging and radioligand therapy, exploring the clinical application in different tumor sub-types. The present review aimed to describe recent developments on radiolabeled FAP inhibitors and evaluate the possible translation of this pan-tumoral approach in clinical practice. At present, the application of FAPi-PET has been explored mainly in single-center studies, generally performed in small and heterogeneous cohorts of oncological patients. However, preliminary results were promising, in particular in low FDG-avid tumors such as primary liver and gastro-entero-pancreatic cancer, or in regions with unfavorable tumor-to-background ratio at FDG-PET/CT (i.e. brain), as well as in radiotherapy planning of head and neck tumors. Further promising results have been obtained in the detection of peritoneal carcinomatosis, especially in ovarian and gastric cancer. Data regarding the theranostics approach are still limited at presents, and definitive conclusion about its efficacy cannot be drawn at present. Nevertheless, the use of FAPi-based radio-ligand to treat the TME has been evaluated in first-in-human studies and appears feasible. Although the pan-tumoral approach in molecular imaging showed promising results, its real impact in day-to-day clinical practice has yet to be confirmed, and multi-center, prospective studies powered for efficacy are needed.

Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) has been used in the literature to monitor the gas-liquid separation. However, the image reconstruction algorithms used in the studies take a considerable amount of time to generate the tomograms, which is far above the time scales of the flow inside the inline separator and, as a consequence, the technique is not fast enough to capture all the rele-vant dynamics of the process, vital for control applications. This article proposes a new strategy based on the physics behind the measurement and simple logics to monitor the separation with a high temporal resolution by minimizing both the amount of data and the calculations required to reconstruct one frame of the flow. To demonstrate its potential, the electronics of an ERT system are used together with a high-speed camera to measure the flow inside an inline swirl separator. For the 16-electrode system used in this study, only 12 measurements are required to reconstruct the whole flow distribution with the proposed algorithm, 10x less than the minimum number of measurements of ERT (120). In terms of computational effort, the technique was shown to be 1000x faster than solving the inverse problem non-iteratively via the Gauss-Newton approach, one of the computationally cheapest techniques available. Therefore, this novel algorithm has the potential to achieve measurement speeds in the order of 104 times the ERT speed in the context of inline swirl separation, pointing to flow measurements at around 10kHz while keeping the aver-age estimation error below 6 mm in the worst case scenario.

Seismic travel time tomography using surface waves is an effective tool for three-dimensional crustal imaging. Historically, these surface waves are the result of active seismic sources or earthquakes. More recently, however, also surface waves retrieved through the application of seismic interferometry are exploited. Conventionally, two-step inversion algorithms are employed to solve the tomographic inverse problem. That is, a first inversion results in frequency-dependent, two-dimensional maps of phase velocity, which then serve as input for a series of independent, one-dimensional frequency-to-depth inversions. As such, a two-dimensional grid of localized depth-dependent velocity profiles are obtained. Stitching these separate profiles together subsequently yields a three-dimensional velocity model. Relatively recently, a one-step three-dimensional non-linear tomographic algorithm has been proposed. The algorithm is rooted in a Bayesian framework using Markov chains with reversible jumps, and is referred to as transdimensional tomography. Specifically, the three-dimensional velocity field is parameterized by means of a polyhedral Voronoi tessellation. In this study, we investigate the potential of this algorithm for the purpose of recovering the three-dimensional surface-wave-velocity structure from ambient noise recorded on and around the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest Iceland. To that end, we design a number of synthetic tests that take into account the station configuration of the Reykjanes seismic network. We find that the algorithm is able to recover the 3D velocity structure at various scales in areas where station density is high. In addition, we find that the standard deviation on the recovered velocities is low in those regions. At the same time, the velocity structure is less well recovered in parts of the peninsula sampled by fewer stations. This implies that the algorithm successfully adapts model resolution to the density of rays. Also, it adapts model resolution to the amount of noise on the travel times. Because the algorithm is computationally demanding, we modify the algorithm such that computational costs are reduced while sufficiently preserving non-linearity. We conclude that the algorithm can now be applied adequately to travel times extracted from (time-averaged) station-station cross correlations by the Reykjanes seismic network.

Intravitreal injection is the gold standard therapeutic option for posterior segment pathologies, and long-lasting release is necessary to avoid reinjections. There is no effective intravitreal treatment for glaucoma or other optic neuropathies in daily practice, nor is there a non-invasive method to monitor drug levels in the vitreous. Here we show that a glaucoma treatment combining a hypotensive and neuroprotective intravitreal formulation (IF) of brimonidine-Laponite (BRI/LAP) can be monitored non-invasively using vitreous imaging captured with optical coherence tomography (OCT) over 24 weeks of follow-up. Qualitative and quantitative characterization was achieved by analysing the changes in vitreous (VIT) signal intensity, expressed as a ratio of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) intensity. Vitreous hyperreflective aggregates mixed in the vitreous and tended to settle on the retinal surface. Relative intensity and aggregate size progressively decreased over 24 weeks in treated rat eyes as the BRI/LAP IF degraded. VIT/RPE relative intensity and total aggregate area correlated with brimonidine levels measured in the eye. The OCT-derived VIT/RPE relative intensity may be a useful and objective marker for non-invasive monitoring of BRI/LAP IF.

This communication reports an improvement of the quality of the electrical data obtained from the application of electrical resistivity tomography method on archaeological studies. The electrical contact between ground and electrode enhances significantly by using carbomer-based gel during the electrical resistivity tomography measurements. Not only does the gel promote the conservation of the building surface under investigation, but it also virtually eliminates the necessity of conventional spike electrodes, which in many archaeological studies are inadequate or not permitted. Results evidenced an enhancement in the quality of the electrical data obtained in the order of thousands of units compared with those without using the carbomer-based gel. The potential and capabilities of this affordable gel make it appropriate to be applied to other geoelectrical studies beyond archaeological investigations. Moreover, it might solve corrosion issues on conventional spike electrodes, and electrical multicore cables usually provoked for added saltwater attempting to improve the electrical contact.

The COVID-19 is a highly contagious viral infection which played havoc on everyone's life in many different ways. According to the world health organization and scientists, more testing potentially helps governments and disease control organizations in containing the spread of the virus. The use of chest radiographs is one of the early screening tests to determine the onset of disease, as the infection affects the lungs severely. This study will investigate and automate the process of testing by using state-of-the-art CNN classifiers to detect the COVID19 infection. However, the viral could of many different types; therefore, we only regard for COVID19 while the other viral infection types are treated as non-COVID19 in the radiographs of various viral infections. The classification task is challenging due to the limited number of scans available for COVID19 and the minute variations in the viral infections. We aim to employ current state-of-the-art CNN architectures, compare their results, and determine whether deep learning algorithms can handle the crisis appropriately. All trained models are available at https://github.com/saeed-anwar/COVID19-Baselines

An important aspect of PET imaging in clinical application is the localization and detection of tumors and lesions by administering a predetermined amount of radiotracer. This allows for example, a detailed view of what is going inside the patient body in cellular level. The quality of PET image is strongly dependent on the amount of administrated radiotracer and the patient’s body parameters. As the amount of injection radiotracer increases, the quality of resulting image increases and the lesion detection efficiency increases. The PET examiner society recognizes that any dose of radiotracer is associated with some possible radiation risks. It can harmful to the patient if essential PET imaging session is not made due to fear of radiation risk. In order to ensure the highest quality diagnosis and the smallest radiation risk, the patient should receive the smallest amount of radiotracer that provide image with sufficient quality. Our study is focused on proposing an efficient PET simulation tool that predict the smallest possible amount of administrated radiotracer to provides the appropriate diagnostic information based on significant patient’s body parameters (weight, age) at fixed scanning to improve the clinical diagnostic process in term of tumor detecting and localization. We have built a model of particular PET scanner and model of patient based on real MRI image and digital anthropomorphic phantom of our region of interest (brain). We have performed Monte Carlo simulation for whole PET procedure with special parameter In evaluating stage, a dataset of 60 patient is used and 11 independent dose prediction simulation for each patient are performed. We conclude that our simulator perform a desirable and efficient prediction of injection radiotracer amount that optimizes the current clinical amount up to 28%. In addition, we found that the total injected radiotracer dosage for adult patients are mostly affected when considering patient weight rather than patient age.

Purpose: To correlate outflow function and outflow tract vessel diameter changes induced by nitric oxide (NO). Methods: In a porcine anterior segment perfusion model, the effects of a nitric oxide donor (100 µM DETA-NO) on outflow facility were compared to controls (n=8 per group) with trabecular meshwork (TM) and after circumferential ab interno trabeculectomy (AIT). Outflow structures were assessed with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) before and after NO, or an NO synthase inhibitor (100 µM L-NAME) and the vasoconstrictor, endothelin-1 (100 pg/mL ET-1). Scans were processed with a custom macro script and aligned for automated reslicing and quantification of cross-sectional outflow tract areas (CSA). Results: The facility increased after DETA-NO (0.189±0.081 μL/min·mmHg, p=0.034) and AIT (0.251±0.094 μL/min·mmHg, p=0.009), respectively. Even after AIT, DETA-NO increased the facility by 61.5% (0.190±0.074 μL/min·mmHg, p=0.023) and CSA by 13.9% (p<0.001). L-NAME + ET-1 decreased CSA by -8.6% (p<0.001). NO increased the diameter of focal constrictions 5.0±3.8 fold. Conclusions: NO can dilate vessels of the distal outflow tract and increase outflow facility in a TM-independent fashion. There are short, focally constricting vessel sections that display large diameter changes and may have a substantial impact on outflow.

Background: The goal of the study was to analyze variations in central, perifoveal, and peripheral retinal thickness (RT) and choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) measured with ultra-wide-field optical coherence tomography (UWF-OCT). Additionally, correlations between RT and CT in the central, perifoveal, and peripheral sectors and the presence of selected systemic factors were evaluated. Methods: A total of 74 consecutive adult diabetic patients with DME and 75 healthy controls were included. Study participants were divided into three groups: DME patients without panretinal photocoagulation (PRP; 84 eyes), DME patients after PRP (56 eyes), and healthy controls (125 eyes). RT and CT were analyzed in three zones: a central circle of 3 mm diameter (Central), a ring contained between a centered 9 mm circle and the central 3 mm circle (Perifoveal), and a second, more peripheral ring between centered 18 mm and 9 mm circles (Peripheral). Additionally, DME subgroups were analyzed according to the correlation of RT and CT with age, axial length, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), diabetes duration, insulin therapy duration, body mass index (BMI), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values, intravitreal injection (IVI) count, and the advancement of retinopathy assessed by the simplified diabetic retinopathy severity scale (DRSS). Results The increase in RT in the far peripheral sectors in DME patients was not significant. The increase in central and perifoveal RT and CT in PRP-naïve DME patients was strongly associated with poorer BCVA. Patients with DME after PRP presented with BCVA improvements significantly related to the number of IVIs. The amount of DME and RT in peripheral sectors were both independent of systemic factors such as BMI, duration of diabetes, duration of insulin intake, retinopathy severity, and HbA1c levels. Conclusion Peripheral retinal sectors in DME patients are less affected in terms of increase in their thickness compared to central ones. UWF-OCT provides valuable information on retinal and choroidal involvement in diabetic retinopathy complicated by DME.

Objectives- The aim of the study is to describe and validate an optical-coherence-tomography (OCT) based method to easily calculate specific volumes, overcoming the inability of current OCT software to automate a volumetric analysis for specific entities in retinal pathologies. Methods- After manual drawing with caliper of the specific entity on linear OCT scans and consequent automated measurement of its area, the following formula was used for volumetric calculation: Volume [mm³] = ∑area [mm²] x OCT-scan distance [mm]. Two independent observers calculated the retinal volume (RV) in eyes with normal foveal profile (NFP) and compared it with the automated measurements performed by the OCT software; as well as the volume of the foveal cavity (FC) or foveoschisis (FS) in eyes with lamellar macular hole (LMH). The measurements were re-acquired after six weeks. Intra- and inter-observer variability and variability with automated RV calculations were analysed. Results- The study included 62 eyes: 30 NFP and 32 LMH eyes. High degree of agreement was determined for inter-observer and intra-observer variability between the two observers or singular observer with Spectralis for RV in NFP eyes; as well as between the two observers for FC/FS volume in LMH eyes. Conclusions- We describe and validate, showing excellent inter- and intra-observer agreement, an easy, reliable and widely applicable method to calculate volumes which can be applied to any entity requiring a specific study in the context of retinal pathologies.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can help in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious keratitis, but it has not been studied in cases occurring after corneal refractive surgery procedures such as femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) and keratorefractive lenticule extraction (KLEx). In these procedures a surgical interface is created, where infections usually start, thus determining a different OCT pattern compared to non-surgical infections, which instead begin in the corneal surface. A total of 4 cases of post-refractive surgery infectious keratitis are reported (2 after FS-LASIK and 2 after KLEx), in which the OCT identified an initial infiltrate in the interface, followed by interface inflammation. In 1 case after FS-LASIK, interface fluid accumulation occurred. In 1 case after KLEx, diffuse interface inflammation led to stromal reabsorption, later compensated by stromal reformation and epithelial hyperplasia, well documented by OCT.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has become a key modality in medical imaging, finding application in both brain and breast imaging. This paper discusses the current trends in NIRS for brain and breast imaging, exploring advances in multi-modal integration with modalities such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG). Challenges related to spatial resolution, depth sensitivity, and the impact of extracerebral tissues on signal specificity are examined. In addition, ongoing efforts to enhance hemodynamic measurements’ quantitative accuracy. Challenges, including limited spatial resolution and tissue heterogeneity, are discussed. The discussion extends to diffuse optical tomography and ongoing instrumentation development, clinical trials and studies validating NIRS diagnostic efficacy in breast imaging. The paper emphasizes the need for standardization, integration into routine clinical practice, and motivates for future work.

Background: Early rehabilitation is an important strategy for the treatment of severe diseases. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of early rehabilitation of patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Methods: The retrospective single-center study with propensity score matching. Results: 180 patients (54 (44 - 62.3) yo) divided into three equal groups: 1 - physical exercises; 2 - physical exercises and chest massage in an electrostatic field; 3 - no rehabilitation. The length of stay (LOS) in the hospital in group 1 was 14 (11-15) days, group 2 - 13 (11-15) days, group 3 - 15 (13-18) days, p=0.0026. Physical exercises for patients with CT-1 improved the quality of life, assessed by the EQ-5D questionnaire, by reducing the level of anxiety and depression. The Hazard Ratio (HR) for desaturation (<93%) was 2.34 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.18-4.63) for group 2, p=0.001. The HR for C-reactive protein level above 50 mg/l in patients with CT-2 was 2.33 (95% CI 1.56-3.47), p=0.0001. Conclusions: Rehabilitation programs are safe for СOVID-19-patients; reduce hospital LOS; improve the quality of life. Continuous monitoring of a patient's condition during rehabilitation is essential. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT0580836

The standard treatment for early-stage lung cancer is complete tumor excision by limited resection of the lung. Pre-operative localization is used before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) to improve the accuracy of pulmonary nodule excision. However, lung atelectasis and hypoxia resulting from controlling apnea during the localization procedure may affect the localization accuracy. Pre-procedural pulmonary recruitment may improve respiratory mechanics and oxygenation during localization. In this study, we investigated the potential benefits of pre-localization pulmonary recruitment prior to pulmonary ground-glass nodule localization in a hybrid operating room. We hypothesized that pre-localization pulmonary recruitment would increase localization accuracy, improve oxygenation, and prevent the need for re-inflation during the localization procedure. We retrospectively enrolled patients with multiple pulmonary nodule localizations before surgical intervention in our hybrid operating room. We compared localization accuracies between patients who had undergone pre-procedure pulmonary recruitment and patients who had not. Saturation, re-inflation rate, apnea time, procedure-related pneumothorax, and procedure time were also recorded as secondary outcomes. Patients who had undergone pre-procedure recruitment had better saturation, shorter procedure time, and higher localization accuracy. The pre-procedure pulmonary recruitment maneuver was effective in increasing regional lung ventilation, leading to improved oxygenation and localization accuracy.

Tuberculosis (TB) is still a worldwide major health problem and models using non-human primates (NHP) provide the most relevant approach for vaccine testing. In this study we have analysed CT images collected from cynomolgus and rhesus macaques, following exposure to ultra-low dose Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) aerosols, and monitored them for 16 weeks to evaluate the impact of prior intradermal or inhaled BCG-vaccination on the progression of lung disease. All lesions found (2553) have been classified according to their size and we have subclassified small micronodules (<4.4 mm) as ‘isolated’, or as ‘daughter’ when they are in contact with consolidation (described as lesions ≥ 4.5 mm). Our data links the higher capacity to contain Mtb infection in cynomolgus with the reduced incidence of daughter micronodules, thus avoiding the development of consolidated lesions and their consequent enlargement and evolution to cavitation. In the case of rhesus, intradermal vaccination has a higher capacity to reduce the formation of daughter. This study supports the ‘Bubble Model’ defined with the C3HBe/FeJ mice and proposes a new method to evaluate outcome in experimental models of TB in NHP based on CT images, which would fit a future machine learning approach to evaluate new vaccines.

A right frontoparietal neoplastic lesion was found in a young-aged patient with analgesic refractory headache. Surgical resection was performed, and the pathologist analysis turned out a cellular ependymoma with signs of anaplasia. In the follow-up, a MRI showed a suspicious lesion, so a [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT was performed. An increased uptake was described in the right parietal region on the margin of residual cystic lesion. The patient got a complete resection which was confirmed later by MR. In the pathology analysis, a focally congestive cerebral parenchyma with a central histiocytic reaction to foreign body area was described. Foreign body reaction in brain tissue is a very rare immune response that has not been well studied. Haemostatic material has been reported as a possible trigger of this response in other organs and could be detected by [18F]FDG PET/CT. Following the experience of the current case report, [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT could also show a false positive related to foreign body reaction.

In an industrial environment, the quality assurance of weld seams requires extensive efforts. The most commonly used methods for that are expensive and time-consuming destructive tests, since quality assurance procedures are difficult to integrate into production processes. Beyond that, available test methods allow only the assessment of a very limited set of characteristics. They are either suitable for determining selected geometric features or for locating and evaluating internal seam defects. The presented work describes an evaluation methodology based on microfocus X-ray computed tomography scans (µCT scans) which enable the 3D characterization of weld seams, including internal defects such as cracks and pores. A 3D representation of the weld contour, i.e., the complete geometry of the joint area in the component with all quality-relevant geometric criteria, is an unprecedented novelty. Both the dimensions of the weld seam and internal defects can be revealed, quantified with a resolution down to a few micrometers and precisely assigned to the welded component. On the basis of the methodology developed within the framework of this study, the results of the scans performed on the alloy AA 2219 can be transferred to other aluminum alloys. In this way, the data evaluation framework can be used to obtain extensive reference data for the calibration and validation of inline process monitoring systems employing Deep Learning-based data processing.

In Acropora, the complex canals in a coral colony connect all polyps into a holistic network to collaborate in performing biological processes, while axial canal is the largest canal amongst the network and distributes at the center of a coral branch. However, previous studies indicated that, in the non-radial symmetry transport system of Acropora, axial canal do not play a major role in the transport of hydroplasm, and the action of axial canal in coral growth is still obscure. In this study, we reconstructed six Acropora muricata samples by high resolution micro-computed tomography to investigate the growth patterns of axial canals during the processes of new branch forming and truncated branch rebuilding. We found that the axial canal of a new branch is transformed from a calice and the polyps in the new branch are budded from the polyp in the axial canal. Meanwhile, the axial canal can transport the calcareous skeletons to rebuild the tip of a truncated branch, which represents as the change in the diameter of axial canal and calcareous deposition/reduction in it. This work indicate the regulation of axial canal in the growth processes including budding, branching, and mineralising of an Acropora colony.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is one of the most promising, innovative and rapidly emerging intraoperative imaging modalities for neurosurgical guidance in brain tissue imaging, "optical biopsy", brain cerebral vascular detection, nerve fibers and white matter tracts detection. In this article, we provide a short survey of cross-polarization OCT and different types of OCT probes that can be used in routine neurosurgical practice. Through different types of probes there are multiple applications where OCT can play a highly complementary role in offering the real-time microscopic assessment and imaging of normal and pathological brain tissues. The biopsy-needle based probe for CP OCT was shown to be an effective instrument for brain tissue mapping and express estimation of tissue status as well as for detecting large blood vessels to prevent causing bleeding during biopsy sampling. The folded CP OCT probe for intraoperative use for brain tissue examination was shown as a potentially efficient sensor head for CP OCT. The probe demonstrated high lateral resolution in diffractive limited probing beam quality. The length of dismountable probe tip allows using the probe under operating microscope. Due to the designed family of specialized probes CP OCT fills in the niche of devices for express brain tissue examination in situ.

ABC-OCT, Affordable B-scan Camera-based Optical Coherence Tomography, implements Fourier-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography with real-time display using cross-platform C++ and the OpenCV framework. The software can be compiled using current versions of GCC for *nix/Mac and Microsoft^® Visual Studio for Windows. Full functionality of ABC-OCT needs the camera SDK from QHYCCD and a QHYCCD camera to be connected; but the code can be easily modified to support other camera drivers, as is shown by an included demo version which can use any installed webcam. The code is made available under the MIT license. The software is available from GitHub (https://github.com/hn-88/FDOCT).

Purpose: To investigate the relationship of lamina cribrosa displacement to corneal biomechanical properties and visual function after mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy. Method: Eighty-one primary open angle eyes were imaged before and after trabeculectomy using an enhanced depth spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT). Corneal biomechanical properties were measured with the Ocular Response Analyser before the surgery. The anterior lamina cribrosa (LC) was marked at several points in each of six radial scans to evaluate LC displacement in response to Intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction. A Humphrey visual field test (HVF) was performed before the surgery as well as three and six months postoperatively. Results: Factors associated with a deeper baseline anterior lamina cribrosa depth (ALD) were cup-disc ratio (P=0.04), baseline IOP (P= 0.01), corneal hysteresis (P= 0.001), and corneal resistance factor (P= 0.001). After the surgery, the position of LC became more anterior (negative), posterior (positive) or remained unchanged. The mean LC displacement was -42 μm (P= 0.001) and was positively correlated with the magnitude of IOP reduction (regression coefficient: 0.251, P=0.02), and negatively correlated with age (regression coefficient: - 0.224, P= 0.04) as well as baseline cup-disk ratio (Regression coefficient: -0.212,P= 0.05) Eyes with a larger negative LC displacement were more likely to experience an HVF improvement of more than 3 dB gain in mean deviation (P= 0.002). Conclusion: A lower SDOCT cup-disc ratio, younger age, and a larger IOP reduction were correlated with a larger negative LC displacement and improving HVF. Corneal biomechanics did not predict LC displacement.

This review focuses on the pivotal role of radiotracers in breast cancer imaging, emphasizing their importance in accurate detection, staging, and treatment monitoring. Radiotracers, labeled with radioactive isotopes, are integral to various nuclear imaging techniques, including positron emission tomography (PET) and positron emission mammography (PEM). The most widely used radiotracer in breast cancer imaging is 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), which highlights areas of increased glucose metabolism, a hallmark of many cancer cells. This allows for the identification of primary tumors, metastatic sites, and assessment of tumor response to therapy. In addition to 18F-FDG, this review will explore newer radiotracers targeting specific receptors, such as estrogen receptors or HER2, which offer more personalized imaging options. These tracers provide valuable insights into the molecular characteristics of tumors, aiding in tailored treatment strategies. By integrating radiotracers into breast cancer management, clinicians can enhance early disease detection, monitor therapeutic efficacy, and guide interventions, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Ongoing research aimed at developing more specific and sensitive tracers will also be highlighted, underscoring their potential to advance precision medicine in breast cancer care.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) represents a significant global public health burden, characterized by low survival and few established diagnostic tools to guide intervention. OHCA presents with a wide variety of etiologies in a heterogeneous population, posing a clinical challenge to care teams. In this review, we describe evolving research focused on diagnostic approaches to OHCA following resuscitation, including electrocardiography, coronary angiography, computed tomography, ultrasonography, and serologic biomarker assessment. These diagnostic tools have been employed in post-resuscitative efforts for diagnosing ischemic and non-ischemic cardiac, respiratory, neurologic, vascular, traumatic, and metabolic causes of arrest.

In the last decade, the role of Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) in diagnosing and managing pulmonary embolism (PE) has significantly evolved. Once a purely diagnostic tool, CTPA now plays a crucial role in initial emergency department assessments and treatment planning tailored to the patient’s condition. Advances in CTPA technology, including image quality enhancements and artificial intelligence (AI) applications, necessitate a reassessment of its current utility. This narrative review updates on new CTPA tools and techniques and focuses on data extraction challenges in emergency settings. CTPA studies, often conducted with multidetector scanners, provide essential information for risk stratification and treatment planning. The quantification of thrombotic burden using CTPA is vital for predicting mortality and determining appropriate treatments. Classical scoring systems, such as those developed by Qanadli, Mastora, and Ghanima, convert CTPA findings into quantifiable data to assist clinical decision-making. Despite CTPA not being a standard mortality predictor, significant research suggests including CTPA data, especially RV dysfunction indicators, for prognostic purposes. Recent studies highlight automated techniques for quantifying pulmonary perfusion and thrombus composition, enhancing the accuracy of PE severity assessment. The integration of AI in CTPA, particularly through deep learning algorithms, shows promise in automating thrombus load assessment and improving risk stratification. The continuous development of imaging techniques positions CTPA as a potential tool for comprehensive PE management, aiding in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment decisions.

The study investigates the evolution of soil pore structure and shear strength deterioration in compacted clayey soil under controlled wetting and drying (wd) cycles, which are expected to become more frequent due to climate change. Thirty soil samples were compacted at optimal moisture content and 90% of maximum dry density. These samples were then subjected to 0, 1, 5, 10, and 15 controlled wd cycles from saturation to the wilting point, and volumetric changes were recorded during each cycle. After the wd treatment, the soil samples were scanned using X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) at 50 μm resolution and then sheared under unconsolidated-undrained and consolidated-undrained conditions in a triaxial test. Significant shrinkage and swelling of soil samples were observed during wd cycles, with average volumetric strain fluctuating between +12% at saturation and -5% at the wilting point. X-ray CT visualisation and analysis revealed higher porosity, more prominent pores and increased pore length in soil samples with increasing wd cycles. Both undrained and effective soil shear strength markedly decreased with increasing wd cycles. CT-derived macroporosity and pore length were significant predictors of the soil's undrained and effective shear strength when exposed to wd cycles. The findings emphasise the considerable impact of climate change, specifically wd cycles, on clayey soil, highlighting the need for consideration in the design of earth-based infrastructure.

Background: Swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography (SS-AS- OCT) is a suitable examination for the vitreolenticular interface. Methods: In a prospective study using Anterion (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) 102 eyes of 102 patients were examined, in pupil dilation, preoperatively and 6 times over 1-year follow-up. Preoperatively anterior hyaloid membrane (AHM) visibility was determined with Imaging App with high reliability. Postoperatively capsular bag–AHM distance was measured on six points by using Metrics App. Results: The AHM was visible in 18.6% preoperatively and postoperatively as well (Group 1), 49% of the preoperatively adherent AHMs became visible (Group 2A), 32.4% remained attached (Group 2B). Group 1: the average deepest point first day was 782.5 ± 324.1 microns, and it significantly differed from the later follow-up values. Group 2A: the average deepest value was 184.1 ± 220.1 microns, and there was no statistically significant difference between the postoperative visit values. The difference between the groups was statistically significant at every location and at each time points. Conclusions: AS-SS-OCT can be used to check BS both preoperatively(with limitations) and postoperatively.

The aim of this paper is to investigate whether multifractal analysis can be applied to study choroidal blood vessels and help ophthalmologists for the early diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). In a case study, we use Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SDOCT), which is a non-invasive and highly sensitive imaging technique of the retina and choroid. The image of a choroidal branching pattern can be regarded as a multifractal. Therefore, we calculate generalized Renyi point-centered dimensions, which is considered a measure of inhomogeneity of data, to prove that it increases in the patients with RP with respect to the control group.

Abstract Purpose Despite a considerable amount of literature on dual-energy-CT(DECT) iodine uptake of the head and neck, the physiologic iodine uptake of this region has not been defined yet. This study aims to establish reference values for the iodine uptake of healthy organs to facilitate clinical application. Material and Methods: Consecutive venous DECT scans of head and neck were reviewed, and unremarkable exams were included (n=617). 35 region of interest measurements were performed in 16 anatomical regions. Iodine uptake was compared among different organs/tissues and subgroup analysis was performed (male [n=403] vs female [n=214]; young [n=207] vs middle-aged [n=206] vs old [n=204]; normal weight [n=314] vs overweight [n=196] vs obese [n=107]]). Results: Overall mean iodine uptake values ranged between 0.5 and 9.4mg/ml. Women showed higher iodine concentration in the cervical vessels and higher uptake for the parotid gland, masseter muscle, submandibular glands, sublingual glands, palatine tonsils, tongue body, thyroid gland, and the sternocleidomastoid muscle than men (p0.04). With increasing age, intravascular iodine concentrations increased as well as iodine uptake for cerebellum and thyroid gland, while values for tongue and palatine tonsils were lower compared to younger subjects (p0.03). Iodine concentrations for parotid glands and sternocleidomastoid muscles decreased with higher BMI (p0.004), while normal-weighted patients showed higher iodine values inside the jugular veins, other cervical glands, and tonsils versus patients with higher BMI (p0.04). Conclusion: Physiologic iodine uptake values of cervical organs and tissues show gender-, age-, and BMI-related differences, which should be considered in clinical routine of head and neck DECT.

Permeability is an important transport property of porous materials, and its accurate evaluation is relevant in studying applied tasks such as CO2 injection into reservoirs and investigating groundwater quality issues. This study examines the dependence of permeability on total and connected porosity, hydraulic tortuosity, specific surface area, and mean pore radius based on the data of 408 cubic sub-volumes extracted from heterogeneous and naturally fractured cylindrical carbonate samples before and after injection of HCl solutions into them. These parameters were computed using pore-scale modeling of fluid flow. It has been shown that permeability correlates well with porosity and mean pore radius with correlation coefficients of R2≈0.65-0.79 for heterogeneous samples. It was found that the presence of natural fractures significantly influenced the relationship between permeability and other parameters. The relationship between permeability k, tortuosity τ, and specific surface area S is described by power laws k~τ-α and k~S-β, with coefficients α and β substantially exceeding those in the Kozeny-Carman equation. It was also found that there is a parabolic relationship between connected and total porosities both before and after rock dissolution with R2≈0.96-0.99. This allowed for estimation of percolation threshold porosity that are in good agreement with the literature data.

This study employed e-Vol DX cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) software to assess dentin remnants in the furcation area of mesial canals in mandibular molars during root canal retreatment (RCR). Four groups (Reciproc®, ProTaper Next®, Race Evo®, Protaper Gold®) were subjected to RCR, and CBCT images were captured before (T1) and after (T2) treatment. Measurements of remaining dentin thickness at 1 mm and 3 mm below the furcation were scrutinized. Results revealed no significant differences in mean thicknesses of mesiobuccal (MB) and mesiolingual (ML) canals at 1 mm and 3 mm from the furcation pre-treatment (T1). Post-treatment (T2) showed analogous findings, with no significant differences in mean thicknesses. However, disparities surfaced between MB and ML canals at both distances, both before and after retreatment. In essence, the evaluated instruments exhibited safety in RCR, implying their appropriateness for use in critical areas of mandibular molars without inducing excessive wear. This study underscores the instruments' reliability in navigating danger zones during RCR, contributing valuable insights for dental practitioners handling complex root canal scenarios in mandibular molars.

Cervical injuries from athletic activities are rare; they can have severe consequences if not diagnosed and managed promptly. The choice of diagnostic imaging modality is pivotal in ensuring timely and accurate diagnosis. We detail the case of a 19-year-old female athlete who sustained a C2 Durel Type II Subclass C fracture during a short-track speed skating championship. Initial evaluation using X-ray imaging at the athletic center medical facility did not detect the injury, allowing her to continue competing. Persistent pain led to further evaluation at our institution, where MRI and CT scans confirmed the fracture. Approximately 45 days post-injury, the patient underwent a successful surgical intervention utilizing O-arm CBCT navigation for C1-C2 dorsal fusion. Post-surgery, she embarked on a comprehensive rehabilitation program and fully recovered within 12 weeks. This case underscores the limitations of relying solely on X-ray imaging for diagnosing cervical fractures post-trauma. Our findings advocate prioritizing CT scans as a primary diagnostic tool in such scenarios, emphasizing the need for a robust diagnostic approach to ensure athlete safety and well.