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The sloshing in a tank with a specific geometric shape containing fluid was modeled numerically to reduce its effects by applying a porous medium to the tank wall. The thickness and position of the porous layer and the geometric shape of the tank were investigated as the main parameters to select an optimal approach to reduce the effects of sloshing. Different fluid tank filling percentages (Hw/Htot) were evaluated. Results indicate that performance at Hw/Htot = 0.33 and two tank modes with and without a porous environment layer have the greatest impact on reducing sloshing. A thickness of 30 cm and placement on the side walls are determined to be the ideal thickness and location of the porous layer. A porous layer with a thickness (t) relative to the tank length at the middle (Lm), t/Lm= 0.1 applied to the side walls of the tank effectively reduces the pressure by 65%. This study provided suggestions for the aspect ratio of a chamfered tank designed against sloshing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofibers show promise for wound healing by facilitating active agent delivery, moisture retention, and tissue regeneration. However, selecting suitable dressings for diverse wound types and managing varying exudate levels remains challenging. This study synthesized carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from citrate salt and thiourea using a hydrothermal method. The CQDs displayed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. A nanoscaffold comprising gelatin, chitosan, and polycaprolactone (GCP) was synthesized and enhanced with silver nanoparticle-coated CQDs (Ag-CQDs) to form GCP-Q, while citrate addition yielded GCP-QC. Multiple analytical techniques, including electron microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, UV–Vis, photoluminescence, X-ray diffraction, porosity, degradability, contact angle, and histopathology assessments characterized the CQDs and nanofibers. Integration of CQDs and citrate into the GCP nanofibers increased porosity, hydrophilicity, and degradability—properties favorable for wound healing. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed accelerated wound closure with GCP-Q and GCP-QC compared to GCP alone. Overall, GCP-Q and GCP-QC nanofibers exhibit significant potential for skin tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a numerical code for modelling liquid sloshing. The coupled boundary element-finite element method was used to solve the Laplace equation for inviscid fluid and nonlinear free surface boundary conditions. Using Nakayama and Washizu's results, the code performance was validated. Using the developed numerical mode, we proposed artificial neural network (ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA) methods for evaluating sloshing loads and comparing them. To compare the efficiency of the suggested methods, the maximum free surface displacement and the maximum horizontal force exerted on a rectangular tank's perimeter are examined. It can be seen from the results that both ANNs and GAs can accurately predict ηmax and Fmax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wideband linear frequency modulation (LFM) signals are widely used in radar, sonar, mobile, and similar applications. One of the common problems of algorithms for estimating the direction of arrival (DOA) of LFM signals is that the number of snapshots must be large for good estimation. Therefore, they are not suitable for real-time and low-power applications. In this paper, we proposed a method of estimating DOA based on the sparse iterative covariance (SPICE) algorithm, which has features such as low computational complexity for the uniform linear array (ULA) using the Fourier transform (FFT). We first developed the dechirp process for linear frequency modulation signals using the Fourier transform. Then we modified the SPICE algorithm for linear arrays. Finally, we have obtained the calculation of the DOA estimation for a few snapshots with low computational complexity and high resolution. Compared to other methods, the simulation results of the proposed LSPICE algorithm show an increase in estimation accuracy, higher resolution, more acceptable accuracy in low SNRs, less error in high SNRs, favorable response with low snapshots, and lower computational complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring systems have become increasingly prevalent in order to increase the safety of elderly people who live alone. These systems are designed to raise alerts when adverse events are detected, which in turn enables family and carers to take action in a timely manner. However, monitoring systems typically suffer from two problems: they may generate false alerts or miss true adverse events. This motivates the two user studies presented in this paper: (1) in the first study, we investigate the effect of the performance of different monitoring systems, in terms of accuracy and error type, on users' trust in these systems and behaviour; and (2) in the second study, we examine the effect of recommendations made by an advisor agent on users' behaviour. Our user studies take the form of a web-based game set in a retirement village, where elderly residents live in smart homes equipped with monitoring systems. Players, who "work" in the village, perform a primary task whereby they must ensure the welfare of the residents by attending to adverse events in a timely manner, and a secondary routine task that demands their attention. These conditions are typical of a retirement setting, where workers perform various duties in addition to keeping an eye on a monitoring system. Our main findings pertain to: (1) the identification of user types that shed light on users' trust in automation and aspects of their behaviour; (2) the effect of monitoring-system accuracy and error type on users' trust and behaviour; (3) the effect of the recommendations made by an advisor agent on users' behaviour; and (4) the identification of influential factors in models that predict users' trust and behaviour. The studies that yield these findings are enabled by two methodological contributions: (5) the game itself, which supports experimentation with various factors, and a version of the game augmented with an advisor agent; and (6) techniques for calibrating the parameters of the game and determining the recommendations of the advisor agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in cardiovascular imaging to enhance non-invasive screening for coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic male marathon runners. The study evaluates the diagnostic performance of two AI models, CorEx and Spimed-AI, in detecting significant CAD using CCTA scans. While the AI models showed high sensitivity and negative predictive value, they also exhibited lower positive predictive value, indicating potential false-positive results. The study highlights the potential of AI as a screening tool for CAD diagnosis but emphasizes the need for caution in integrating AI into clinical practice to avoid overdiagnosis. [Extracted from the article]

Embracing an interaction between the phase change material (PCM) and the droplets of a heat transfer fluid, the direct contact (DC) method suggests a cutting-edge solution for expediting the phase change rates of PCMs in thermal energy storage (TES) units. In the direct contact TES configuration, when impacting the molten PCM pool, droplets evaporate, provoking the formation of a solidified PCM area (A). Then, they reduce the created solid temperature, leading to a minimum temperature value (Tmin). As a novelty, this research intends to maximize A and minimize Tmin since augmenting A expedites the discharge rate, and by lowering Tmin, the generated solid is preserved longer, resulting in a higher storage efficacy. To take the influences of interaction between droplets into account, the simultaneous impingement of two ethanol droplets on a molten paraffin wax is surveyed. Impact parameters (Weber number, impact spacing, and the pool temperature) govern the objective functions (A and Tmin). Initially, through high-speed and IR thermal imaging, the experimental values of objective functions are achieved for a wide range of impact parameters. Afterward, exploiting an artificial neural network (ANN), two models are fitted to A and Tmin, respectively. Subsequently, the models are provided for the NSGA-II algorithm to implement multi-objective optimization (MOO). Eventually, utilizing two different final decision-making (FDM) approaches (LINMAP and TOPSIS), optimized impact parameters are attained from the Pareto front. Regarding the results, the optimum amount of Weber number, impact spacing, and pool temperature accomplished by LINMAP and TOPSIS procedures are 309.44, 2.84 mm, 66.89 °C, and 294.98, 2.78 mm, 66.89 °C, respectively. This is the first investigation delving into the optimization of multiple droplet impacts for TES applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergency imaging of the scrotum is part of routine medical practice. Indications include epididymitis/epididymo-orchitis, testicular torsion, trauma, tumors and infarction. Prompt diagnosis and management are needed to ensure optimal patient outcome. Ultrasound (US) is the initial, and often the only, imaging modality for testicular pathologies. Usually, B-mode and color Doppler US are adequate. In challenging cases, contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) facilitates final diagnosis or increases the examiner's confidence by confirming findings on non-enhanced US. This paper elaborates on the examination technique of CEUS for testicular pathologies, thereby showing its added value over baseline US techniques in the emergency setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate Quiescent Interval Slice Selective (QISS) balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) and QISS fast low-angle shot (FLASH) sequences for non-contrast Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) of iliac arteries regarding image quality and diagnostic confidence in order to establish these sequences in daily clinical practice. A prospective study of healthy subjects (n = 10) was performed. All subjects underwent the QISS MRI protocol with bSSFP und FLASH sequences. Vessel contrast-to-background ratio (VCBR) were measured in pre-defined vessel segments. Image quality and diagnostic confidence was assessed using a Likert scale (five-point scale). Inter-reader agreement was determined using Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ). Ten healthy subjects (median age 29 years, IQR: 26.25 to 30 years) were included in this prospective study. Median MR examination time was 2:05 min (IQR 1:58 to 2:16) for QISS bSSFP and 4:11 min (IQR 3:57 to 4:32) for QISS FLASH. Both sequences revealed good VCBR in all examined vessel segments. VCBR (muscle tissue) were marginally higher for FLASH sequences (e.g., 0.82 vs. 0.78 in the right femoral artery, p = 0.035*), while bSSFP sequence showed significantly higher VCBR (fat tissue) in the majority of examined arterials vessels (e.g., 0.78 vs. 0.62 in right femoral artery, p = 0.001*). The image quality and diagnostic confidence of both sequences were rated as good to excellent. Moderate to good inter-reader agreement was found. QISS MRA using bSSFP and FLASH sequences are diagnostic for visualization of iliac arterial vasculature. The QISS bSSFP sequence might offer advantages due to the markedly shorter exam time and superior visualization of smaller vessels. The QISS FLASH sequence seems to be a robust alternative for non-contrast MRA since it is less sensitive to magnetic field inhomogeneities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Proximal splenic artery embolization (pSAE) has been advocated as a valuable tool to ameliorate portal hyper-perfusion (PHP). The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of pSAE to treat refractory ascites (RA) and/or refractory hydrothorax (RH) in the setting of PHP post-liver transplant. Material and Methods: A total of 30 patients who underwent pSAE for RA and/or RH after liver transplantation (LT) between January 2007 and December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into groups according to the time frame from pSAE to clinical resolution in order to identify predictors of RA/RH response to the procedure. Results: Twenty-four (80%) patients responded to pSAE within three months, whereas 6 (20%) still required additional treatments for RA/RH at three months post-pSAE. In all cases clinical symptoms resolved within six months. Complications after pSAE were as follows: 2 cases of splenic infarction (6.6%), one case of post-splenic embolization syndrome (3.3%), one case of hepatic artery thrombosis (3.3%) and one case of portal vein (PV) thrombosis (3.3%). Increased intraoperative PV flow volume and increased pre-pSAE PV velocity, as well as higher estimated glomerular filtration rate were associated with early RA/RH resolution. Conclusion: pSAE is safe and effective in treating RA and RH due to PHP after LT. This study suggests that clinical parameters indicating more severe PHP and better kidney function are possible predictors for early response to pSAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the imaging findings of hepatic infarction after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement and identify risk factors, clinical manifestations, and outcomes of infarction after TIPS.Materials and Methods: In this retrospective analysis of a TIPS registry (1995-2021), cirrhotic patients with hepatic infarction (n = 33) and control patients without infarct (n = 33) after TIPS were identified. Laboratory values, ultrasound findings, and clinical variables were compared between groups to identify risk factors and differences in outcomes. A Cox proportional hazards regression model with propensity score was used to assess the effect of hepatic infarction on mortality and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) score.Results: Hepatic infarction involved the right posterior segments (segments VI or VII) in 32 of 33 patients. Prolonged vasopressor requirement (p = 0.003) and intensive care unit stay (p = 0.001) were seen in patients with hepatic infarct, as well as trends toward lower post-TIPS portosystemic pressure gradient (p = 0.061) and higher risk of ACLF (p = 0.056). Procedure-related portal vein thrombosis or hepatic artery injury was identified in 12 and 5 patients with infarct, respectively. Patients with infarct had higher postprocedural aspartate aminotransferase (p < 0.001) and alanine aminotransferase (p < 0.001) levels, higher international normalized ratio (p = 0.016), lower platelet count (p = 0.042), and a greater decrease in hemoglobin level (p = 0.003).Conclusion: Hepatic infarction most frequently affects the right posterior hepatic segments after TIPS and results in a worse postprocedural course. Procedure-related complications and critically low portosystemic pressure gradient may contribute to TIPS-associated hepatic infarct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasound (US) remains a valuable modality for the assessment of vascular diseases, with conventional sonographic techniques such as grayscale and Doppler US used extensively to assess carotid atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysms. However, conventional US techniques are inherently limited by factors such as operator dependency and limited field of view. There is an increasing interest in the use of advanced sonographic techniques such as contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) and 3-dimensional (3D) US to mitigate some of these limitations. Clinical applications of advanced sonographic techniques include surveillance of abdominal aortic aneurysm, post-endovascular aortic repair, and carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Recently published studies have demonstrated that CEUS and 3D US are superior to conventional US and comparable to computed tomography for certain vascular applications. Further research is required to fully validate the application of advanced sonographic techniques in evaluating various atherosclerotic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess diagnostic accuracy of automated 3D volumetry of cardiac chambers based on computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for the differentiation of pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease (group 2 PH) from non-group 2 PH compared to manual diameter measurements. Methods: Patients with confirmed PH undergoing right heart catheterisation and CTPA within 100 days for diagnostic workup of PH between August 2013 and February 2016 were included in this retrospective, single-centre study. Automated 3D segmentation of left atrium, left ventricle, right atrium and right ventricle (LA/LV/RA/RV) was performed by two independent and blinded radiologists using commercial software. For comparison, axial diameters were manually measured. The ability to differentiate group 2 PH from non-group 2 PH was assessed by means of logistic regression. Results: Ninety-one patients (median 67.5 years, 44 women) were included, thereof 19 patients (20.9%) classified as group 2 PH. After adjustment for age, sex and mean pulmonary arterial pressure, group 2 PH was significantly associated with larger LA volume (p < 0.001), larger LV volume (p = 0.001), lower RV/LV volume ratio (p = 0.04) and lower RV/LA volume ratio (p = 0.003). LA volume demonstrated the highest discriminatory ability to identify group 2 PH (AUC, 0.908; 95% confidence interval, 0.835–0.981) and was significantly superior to LA diameter (p = 0.009). Intraobserver and interobserver agreements were excellent for all volume measurements (intraclass correlation coefficients 0.926–0.999, all p < 0.001). Conclusions: LA volume quantified by automated, CTPA-based 3D volumetry can differentiate group 2 PH from other PH groups with good diagnostic accuracy and yields significantly higher diagnostic accuracy than left atrial diameter. Key Points: • Automated cardiac chamber volumetry using non-gated CT pulmonary angiography can differentiate pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease from other causes with good diagnostic accuracy. • Left atrial volume yields significantly higher diagnostic accuracy than left atrial axial diameter for identification of pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease without time-consuming manual processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asmari reservoir in Haftkel field is one of the most prolific naturally fractured reservoirs in the Zagros folded zone in the southwest of Iran. The primary production was commenced in 1928 and continued until 1976 with a plateau rate of 200,000 bbl/day for several years. There was an initial gas cap on the oil column. Gas injection was commenced in June 1976 and so far, 28% of the initial oil in place have been recovered. As far as we concerned, fracture network is a key factor in sustaining oil production; therefore, it needs to be characterized and results be deployed in designing new wells to sustain future production. Multidisciplinary fracture evaluation from well to reservoir scale is a great privilege to improve model's accuracy as well as enhancing reliability of future development plan in an efficient manner. Fracture identification and modeling usually establish at well scale and translate to reservoir using analytical or numerical algorithms with the limited tie-points between wells. Evaluating fracture network from production data can significantly improve conventional workflow where limited inter-well information is available. By incorporating those evidences, the fracture modeling workflow can be optimized further where lateral and vertical connectivity is a concern. This paper begins with the fracture characterization whereby all available data are evaluated to determine fracture patterns and extension of fracture network across the field. As results, a consistent correlation is obtained between the temperature gradient and productivity of wells, also convection phenomenon is confirmed. The findings of this section help us in better understanding fracture network, hydrodynamic communication and variation of temperature. Fracture modeling is the next step where characteristics of fractures are determined according to the structural geology and stress directions. Also, the fault's related fractures and density of fractures are determined. Meanwhile, the results of data evaluation are deployed into the fracture model to control distribution and characteristics of fracture network, thereby a better representation is obtained that can be used for evaluating production data and optimizing development plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, nanoemulsions (NEs) of Trachyspermum copticum (TCEO-NE), Mentha pulegium (MPEO-NE) and Satureja hortensis (SHEO-NE) essential oils were formulated and characterized. Their chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The NEs were formulated by ultrasound method using 15% EO (w/w), 80% water (w/w) and 5% surfactant (w/w). The droplet size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI) and surface tension were measured. The NEs were characterized by ATR-FTIR. Their antimicrobial activity against four food-borne pathogens and their antioxidant effect were examined by DDPH and FRAP assays. MPEO-NE showed the smallest droplet size (125.40 nm) and the lowest PDI (0.37). The count of S. aureus decreased from 6.52 to 3.54 log cfu/ml after 2 h likely due to the presence of pulegone, germacrene D and isopulegone in M. pulegium EO while TCEO-NE had the most desirable IC50 value measured by FRAP test and 82.47% inhibitory activity against DPPH at concentration of 3 μg/ml. This high antioxidant activity could be attributed to thymol, limonene and α-terpinene in T. copticum EO. The results revealed that TCEO-NE and MPEO-NE could be incorporated into the food packaging materials to increase the shelf life of foods because of their favorable properties, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Therefore, they can be considered as natural alternatives for synthetic preservatives, however, some investigations are necessary to evaluate their use in food, potential health risks, and consumer acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a challenging complication after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement. Despite recent advances, much is still uncertain regarding risk factors, preventative measures, and the management of HE after TIPS placement. Appropriate patient selection and pre-procedural risk stratification remain areas of focus. In this manuscript, we discuss the current state of research related to HE after TIPS placement, including information regarding risk stratification, complication prevention, and treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modified Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman model, that considers shear decohesion as an increment in the total void volume fraction, is used to investigate the effect of superimposed hydrostatic pressure on the ductility of a round bar specimen. Experiments indicate that the fracture mode is not uniform across the cross section of a round bar specimen–no shear damage exists at the center while it is pronounced at the edge. The damage mechanisms of shear decohesion and void growth are delayed by applying superimposed hydrostatic pressure, which leads to an increase in the fracture strain and ductility. However, the effect of pressure on ductility depends on the location within the cross section. Void growth at both the center and the edge becomes increasingly delayed with increasing pressure, but this effect is more significant at the edge because of the existence of shear stress. Shear decohesion at the edge becomes the dominant damage mechanism, rather than void growth, when pressure is increased. The numerical results presented herein are used to explain and discuss this phenomenon in depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the temporal and spatial variation of temperature in a three-dimensional triple-layer skin tissue under the laser heating is determined. Using the method of separation of variables along with the Laplace transform, the so-called Pennes bio-heat equation is analytically solved in a 3D triple-layer tissue in which each layer has its own thermo-physical properties. The laser heating of the skin, with both single and multiple laser beams, is modelled based on time-dependent Gaussian-shaped irradiance distributions with exponential axial attenuation. For the presented solution approach, it can be shown that the laser can be considered as an arbitrary function of time such as pulses with a specified time interval with each desired spatial distribution. Besides the analytical solution, the governing equations are solved numerically by using the standard finite element method and the results are compared with the analytical solution to investigate the effects of laser heating on human skin. The effects of using single and multiple-point laser beams on the temperature increment are investigated. A good agreement between both analytical and numerical solutions is observed. The obtained results indicate that a better temperature distribution in the skin tissue is obtained; whenever, a multi-point laser is employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of multidetector computed tomography (CT), CT angiography (CTA) has gained widespread popularity for noninvasive imaging of the arterial vasculature. Peripheral extremity CTA can nowadays be performed rapidly with high spatial resolution and a decreased amount of both intravenous contrast and radiation exposure. In patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), this technique can be used to delineate the bilateral lower extremity arterial tree and to determine the amount of atherosclerotic disease while differentiating between acute and chronic changes. This article provides an overview of several imaging techniques for PAD, specifically discusses the use of peripheral extremity CTA in patients with PAD, clinical indications, established technical considerations and novel technical developments, and the effect of postprocessing imaging techniques and structured reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the value of dual-phase parenchymal blood volume (PBV) C-arm mounted cone-beam-CT (CBCT) to enable assessment of radiopaque, doxorubicin-loaded drug-eluting embolics (rDEE) based on the visual degree of embolization, embolic density and residual tumor perfusion as early predictors for tumor recurrence after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Material and Methods: Thirty patients (50 HCCs) were prospectively enrolled, underwent cross-sectional imaging before and after TACE using 100–300 µm rDEE and had regular follow-up examinations. Directly before and after the TACE procedure, PBV-CBCT was acquired. The response was evaluated and compared to visual degree of embolization (DE) and embolic density (ED) of rDEE deposits, as well as the presence of residual tumor perfusion (RTP) derived from PBV-CBCT. Outcome was assessed by mid-term tumor response applying mRECIST and patient survival after 12 months. Results: RTP was detected in 16 HCCs and correlated negatively with DE (p =.03*) and ED (p =.0009*). The absence of RTP significantly improved lesion-based mid-term response rates regarding complete response (CR, 30/34 (88%) vs 2/16 (12.5%), p =.0002*), lesion-based complete response rate was 75% (21/28) for DE ≥ 50% vs. 50% (11/22) for DE < 50% (p =.08) and 82% (27/33) for ED ≥ 2 vs. 29% for ED < 2 (5/17), p =.005*). Thirteen patients were treated with re-TACE within 12 months, 11 of which had shown RTP. 12-month survival rate was 93%. Conclusion: Residual tumor perfusions as assessed by PBV-CBCT during rDEE-TACE proved to be the best parameter to predict mid-term response. "Level of Evidence: Level 3" [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban facilities within a neighborhood are among the most important factors affecting residential satisfaction. According to the definitions of neighborhood by different scholars, initial impression is that the facilities whose service scope exceeds the border of the neighborhood (cross-neighborhood facilities) can be considered as a source of citizens' dissatisfaction. However, it seems that such facilities can also be associated with potential positive effects for residents. This study tries to assess residential satisfaction regarding different cross-neighborhood facilities in Jahanshar neighborhood (Karaj, Iran) through the existing methods in order to solve this paradox that the existence of cross-neighborhood facilities inside a neighborhood will ultimately lead to residents' satisfaction or not. To this end, required data was collected through documentary studies and field operations including interview and questionnaire. Sample size of 377 was determined using the Cochran formula and the questionnaires were randomly distributed among the residents living in the neighborhood. A conceptual model was presented and Importance-Satisfaction Analysis was selected. Nevertheless, since the method was found to have limitations, it was improved by Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process for a more accurate evaluation. The results indicate that contrary to initial impression, the existence of cross neighborhood facilities within a neighborhood does not always have negative impacts on resident's satisfaction. Despite some dissatisfactions which must be considered by decision makers using the results of this study, there are the areas where these facilities promoted the residents' quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at to formulate a food-grade nanoemulsion of tarragon essential oil (NEO) and investigate its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Oil in water NEO was formed by blending 10% of tarragon EO (TEO), 85% water, and a mixture of 5% surfactants, then antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were evaluated. The main components of TEO were estragole, beta-cis-ocimene, beta-trans-ocimene, and l-limonene. NEO droplet had a diameter of 50 nm and a zeta potential of − 30 mV. Results of free radical DPPH scavenging activity revealed that hydrogen donating capacity of the nanoemulsion was significantly higher than TEO and at 2.5 µg/mL concentration it showed complete inhibitory activity against DPPH. The ferric reducing potential was almost similar for TEO and NEO. NEO showed higher antibacterial potential against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes and Shigella dysenteriae. The results of this work indicated that NEO had higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activity compared with free TEO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel point of view for the performance investigation and optimization of energy absorber devices, which is numerically introduced using the finite element method employing corrugated tubes. The numerical results show that structural or material softening leads to an optimal configuration at which the corrugated or circular tube achieves its peak performance. The performance and optimization parameters used in this study are absorbed crash energy and specific energy absorption. The force-displacement (f-d) diagram of the energy absorbers is divided into three parts for numerical investigation. The optimum point of each corrugated tube is observed when the values of energy absorption (EA) at different stages of the stroke (i.e., in the first, middle, and last portions of deformation) are almost equal or close to one another. Furthermore, the effect of material softening is discussed. The effects of cladding a ductile layer on f-d diagram, EA and deformation of thin-walled circular tubes are numerically investigated. Adding soft material layers oriented at 30° to 70° to the model can increase the performance of energy absorbers by approximately 10 % compared with the model that uses only the core material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hesperidin (HD), a bioflavanone glycoside, was isolated from orange peel and converted to hesperetin (HT) using a simple and efficient green procedure. Then dextran-hesperetin conjugate (Dex-HT) was prepared by free radical grafting reaction and the functionalization degree of it was assessed by the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant activity of HD, HT and Dex-HT was tested by DPPH⋅ radical method. Presence of dextran as a backbone in the Dex-HT structure, improved antioxidant activities of the hesperetin. In addition, antimicrobial effect of these compounds was evaluated against some food pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium). According to the results, L. monocytogenes was more sensitive to these compounds than S. typhimurium. Also, Dex-HT was more bacteriostatic than HD and HT. In addition, cytotoxic effect of Dex-HT against MCF-7(human breast adenocarcinoma), AGS (gastric adenocarcinoma) and normal fibroblast cells was determined in 48 and 72 h using MTT assay. The outcomes indicated that Dex-HT induced a significant dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on both AGS and MCF-7 cells. Moreover, Dex-HT showed a greater cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells than on AGS and normal cells. In this study, dextran, a biodegradeble carbohydrate polymer, was employed as a versatile scaffold to develop highly efficient antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer hybrid material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manuscript discusses the application of CT pulmonary angiography, ventilation–perfusion scan, and magnetic resonance angiography to detect acute pulmonary embolism and to plan endovascular therapy. CT pulmonary angiography offers high accuracy, speed of acquisition, and widespread availability when applied to acute pulmonary embolism detection. This imaging modality also aids the planning of endovascular therapy by visualizing the number and distribution of emboli, determining ideal intra-procedural catheter position for treatment, and signs of right heart strain. Ventilation–perfusion scan and magnetic resonance angiography with and without contrast enhancement can also aid in the detection and pre-procedural planning of endovascular therapy in patients who are not candidates for CT pulmonary angiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of superimposed hydrostatic pressure on the ductility of compressed rings are investigated numerically by using the finite element method and employing the Johnson–Cook (J–C) model. The ductility and fracture strain increase considerably by imposing hydrostatic pressure, which delays the initiation of cracks at the corners of the rings. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the ductile fracture parameters in the J–C model on compressibility and crack initiation is considered. The effect of the shape factor on fracture in compressed rings under hydrostatic pressure is also investigated, and the predicted fracture strains are compared. Results show that fracture strain increases linearly with hydrostatic pressure regardless of the geometry of the rings. However, the initial value of fracture strain is small for tall rings. The numerical results are found to be in good agreement with experimental observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Small bowel transplant (SBT) is a surgical procedure that may be used in patients with pathology resulting in severe intestinal failure resistant to conventional forms of surgical and nonsurgical treatment. Intestinal failure is defined as the failure of enterocytes to absorb sufficient macronutrients, water, and/or electrolytes to sustain homeostasis and/or promote growth. With the advancement of surgical techniques and advancements in perioperative transplant management, SBT has become an increasingly common treatment for intestinal failure, with survival rates for SBT comparable to those for other solid organ transplants. Materials and methods: This review provides background on SBT, its variations, and the associated preoperative and postoperative imaging studies with regard to surgical planning and anticipated complications. Results and conclusions: With the increasing use of SBT, radiologists will be expected to be familiar with the diagnostic studies and available endovascular interventions associated with this procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The hepatocyte growth factor/c-MET pathway has been implicated in the pathobiology of multiple myeloma, and c-MET inhibitors induce myeloma cell apoptosis, suggesting that they could be useful clinically. We conducted a phase II study with the c-MET inhibitor tivantinib in patients with relapsed, or relapsed and refractory myeloma whose disease had progressed after one to four prior therapies. Tivantinib, 360 mg orally per dose, was administered twice daily continuously over a 4-week treatment cycle without a cap on the number of allowed cycles, barring undue toxicities or disease progression. Primary objectives were to determine the overall response rate and the toxicities of tivantinib in this patient population. Sixteen patients were enrolled in a two-stage design. Notable grade 3 and 4 hematological adverse events were limited to neutropenia in five and four patients, respectively. Nonhematological adverse events of grade 3 or higher included hypertension (in four patients); syncope, infection, and pain (two each); and fatigue, cough, and pulmonary embolism (one each). Four of 11 evaluable patients (36%) had stable disease as their best response, while the remainder showed disease progression. Overall, tivantinib as a single agent did not show promise for unselected relapsed/refractory myeloma patients. However, the ability to achieve stable disease does suggest that combination regimens incorporating targeted inhibitors in patients with c-MET pathway activation could be of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of automated 3D volumetry of central pulmonary arteries using computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for suspected pulmonary hypertension alone and in combination with echocardiography.Methods: This retrospective diagnostic accuracy study included 70 patients (mean age 66.7, 48 female) assessed for pulmonary hypertension by CTPA and transthoracic echocardiography with estimation of the pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP). Gold standard right heart catheterisation with measurement of the invasive mean pulmonary arterial pressure (invasive mPAP) served as the reference. Volumes of the main, right and left pulmonary arteries (MPA, RPA and LPA) were computed using automated 3D segmentation. For comparison, axial dimensions were manually measured. A linear regression model was established for prediction of mPAP (predicted mPAP).Results: MPA, RPA and LPA volumes were significantly increased in patients with vs. without pulmonary hypertension (all p < 0.001). Of all measures, MPA volume demonstrated the strongest correlation with invasive mPAP (r = 0.76, p < 0.001). Predicted mPAP using MPA volume and echocardiographic PASP as covariates showed excellent correlation with invasive mPAP (r = 0.89, p < 0.001). Area under the curves for predicting pulmonary hypertension were 0.94 for predicted mPAP, compared to 0.90 for MPA volume and 0.92 for echocardiographic PASP alone. A predicted mPAP > 25.8 mmHg identified pulmonary hypertension with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 86%, 93%, 95% and 81%, respectively.Conclusions: Automated 3D volumetry of central pulmonary arteries based on CTPA may be used in conjunction with echocardiographic pressure estimates to noninvasively predict mPAP and pulmonary hypertension as confirmed by gold standard right heart catheterisation with higher diagnostic accuracy than either test alone.Key Points: • This diagnostic accuracy study derived a regression model for noninvasive prediction of invasively measured mean pulmonary arterial pressure as assessed by gold standard right heart catheterisation. • This regression model using automated 3D volumetry of the central pulmonary arteries based on CT pulmonary angiography in conjunction with the echocardiographic pressure estimate predicted pulmonary arterial pressure and the presence of pulmonary hypertension with good diagnostic accuracy. • The combination of automated 3D volumetry and echocardiographic pressure estimate in the regression model provided superior diagnostic accuracy compared to each parameter alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-energy computed tomography (MECT) refers to acquisition of CT data at multiple energy levels (typically two levels) using different technologies such as dual-source, dual-layer and rapid tube voltage switching. In addition to conventional/routine diagnostic images, MECT provides additional image sets including iodine maps, virtual non-contrast images, and virtual monoenergetic images. These image sets provide tissue/material characterization beyond what is possible with conventional CT. MECT provides invaluable additional information in the evaluation of pulmonary vasculature, primarily by the assessment of pulmonary perfusion. This functional information provided by the MECT is complementary to the morphological information from a conventional CT angiography. In this article, we review the technique and applications of MECT in the evaluation of pulmonary vasculature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure is a clinical condition that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. With the advent of left ventricular assist device (LVAD), an increasing number of patients have received an artificial heart both as a bridge-to-therapy and as a destination therapy. Clinical trials have shown clear survival benefits of LVAD implantation. However, the increased survival benefits and improved quality of life come at the expense of an increased complication rate. Common complications include perioperative bleeding, infection, device thrombosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, right heart failure, and aortic hemodynamic changes. The LVAD-associated complications have unique pathophysiology. Multiple imaging modalities can be employed to investigate the complications, including computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), catheter angiography and echocardiography. Imaging studies not only help ascertain diagnosis and evaluate the severity of disease, but also help direct relevant clinical management and predict prognosis. In this article, we aim to review the common LVAD complications, present the associated imaging features and discuss the role of imaging in their management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, design and assembly of a simple, easy-to-make and low-cost piezoelectric actuator (PZA) with one degree of freedom for application in phase-shifting interferometry is described. The PZA is designed in a way that its components can easily be manufactured and assembled. In the developed PZA, a series of ring-shaped piezo-ceramics are assembled inside a stainless steel case and through a couple of plate springs are preloaded. Planar electrodes are cut from a thin beryllium copper plate using wire-cut EDM and used on top and bottom sides of each ceramic plate. The supply voltage is applied to the electrodes by a designed control electronic circuit connected directly to a computer through a standard parallel port. A graphical user interface is developed in the MATLAB environment for controlling the converter. The electromechanical response of the PZA is studied by applying a calibration procedure based on using a Michelson interferometer. It is shown that by increasing the DC voltage from 0 to 200 V, the PZA has a good linear response. By using the PZA for strain field measurement in a rectangular steel plate, it is shown that the linear response of the designed PZA makes it a suitable candidate for use in Carré phase-shifting interferometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of factors can affect embolization success, including patient characteristics, operator experience, choice of embolization agent, and embolization technique. A large percentage of patients presumably underwent gelfoam embolization only (44%), which can be a temporary embolization agent depending on the vessel size. [Extracted from the article]

This paper presents results from a web-based study that investigates users' attitudes toward smart devices, focusing on acceptability. Specifically, we conducted a survey that elicits users' ratings of devices in isolation and devices in the context of tasks potentially performed by these devices. Our study led to insights about users' attitudes towards devices in isolation and in the context of tasks, and about the influence of demographic factors and factors pertaining to technical expertise and experience with devices on users' attitudes. The insights about users' attitudes provided the basis for two recommendation approaches based on principal components analysis (PCA) that alleviate the new-user and new-item problems: (1) employing latent features identified by PCA to predict ratings given by existing users to new devices, and by new users to existing devices; and (2) identifying a relatively small set of key questions on the basis of PCs, whose answers account to a large extent for new users' ratings of devices in isolation and in the context of tasks. Our results show that taking into account latent features of devices, and asking a relatively small number of key questions about devices in the context of tasks, lead to rating predictions that are significantly more accurate than global and demographic predictions, and substantially reduce prediction error, eventually matching the performance of strong baselines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The hematological side effects associated with mycophenolic acid (MPA) are relatively common and have severe consequences. The majority of literature data have not shown clear consistency in the MPA exposure-neutropenia relationship. We hypothesized that (i) adult de novo kidney transplant recipients who develop neutropenia have relatively higher dose-normalized MPA exposure than patients without neutropenia, and (ii) the observed neutropenia may be explained by polymorphisms in metabolism and/or transporter genes responsible for MPA disposition.Methods: Adult kidney transplant recipients on steady-state tacrolimus and MPA, not receiving a corticosteroid, and with stable renal function were recruited for investigation at three periods post-transplant (1, 3, and 12 months; n = 21, 17, and 13, respectively). Clinical variables (age, weight, MPA daily dose, albumin, serum creatinine, absolute neutrophil count), tacrolimus and MPA concentrations (for exposure calculation), and genotypes (UGT2B7 G211T, UGT2B7 C802T, UGT1A9 T-275A, UGT1A9 T98C, MRP2 C-24T, MRP2 G1249A, OATP1B1 A388G, OATP1B1 C463A) were characterized.Results: A significant inverse association between dose-normalized MPA exposure (a surrogate marker for apparent MPA clearance) and absolute neutrophil count in all three study periods (r2 ~ 0.3-0.7) was observed. No associations between characterized single nucleotide polymorphisms and MPA exposure or absolute neutrophil count were established. However, significant alterations in the minor allele frequencies of UGT2B7*2 C802T, UGT1A9 T275A, and MRP2 G1249A were evident.Conclusion: These findings support the clinical strategy for conducting MPA therapeutic drug monitoring in adult kidney transplant patients on steroid-free immunosuppressant therapy. The novel population genomic analysis data warrant further epidemiological investigations in a larger study sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate indications, technical success rate and complications of CT-guided translumbar catheter placement in the inferior vena cava for long-term central venous access (Port and Hickman catheters) as a bail-out approach in patients with no alternative options for permanent central venous access.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 12 patients with a total of 17 interventions. All patients suffered from bilaterally chronically occluded venous vessels of their upper extremities, without patent internal jugular and/or subclavian veins. Catheter implantation was performed as a hybrid procedure with CT-guided translumbar access into the inferior vena cava with subsequent angiography-guided catheter placement of a Hickman-type catheter (7×) or a Port catheter (10×).Results: All interventions were technically successful. The total 30-day complication rate was 11.8% (n = 2). The two detected complications were bleeding at the subcutaneous port hub and subcutaneous kinking of the venous tube. Mean follow-up time was 68.4 ± 41.4 months (range 3.4-160 months). Six patients (50%) died during follow-up from non-procedure-related complications associated with the underlying disease. Late complications occurred in 8/17 (47.1%) cases and were infections of the catheter system in 35.3% (n = 6), mechanical defect of the catheter system in 5.8% (n = 1) and dislocation of the catheter system in 5.8% (n = 1). The overall infection rate was 0.77 per 1000 catheter days.Conclusions: CT-guided translumbar placement of permanent catheters is a technically feasible and safe method for permanent central venous access as last resort in chronically occluded veins of the upper extremities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To retrospectively compare the diagnostic performance of isotropic 3D steady-state free precession (3D-SSFP) sequences with 2D turbo spin-echo proton density-weighted fat-saturated (2D-TSE-PD fs) images in hip magnetic resonance arthrography; arthroscopy was a standard of reference.Methods: Eighty-one patients with suspected labral tears who underwent hip MR arthrography (3-T scanner) were included. 2D-TSE-PD fs sequences were acquired in three planes and a singular sagittal 3D-SSFP. Labral tears, cartilage pathology and bone marrow were independently assessed by two blinded radiologists using a 5-point Likert scale. Accuracy was determined in 39 patients using invasive arthroscopy.Results: Diagnostic confidence of labral and cartilaginous pathologies based on image quality was rated higher for 3D-SSFP (4.5 ± 0.8; 4.35 ± 0.7; p < 0.0001), but inferior for bone marrow pathology (3.9 ± 0.7; 4.0 ± 0.7; p < 0.0001). In the arthroscopy patients, similar sensitivity (85.9%) but higher specificity (74.4vs.42.9%) and higher positive and negative predictive values were found in 3D-SSFP of labral and cartilage pathologies.Conclusions: 3D-SSFP in hip magnetic resonance arthrography offers increased accuracy in detecting labral and cartilage pathologies compared with 2D-TSE-PD, while reducing the acquisition time. A drawback of 3D-SSFP was the inferior diagnostic confidence for bone marrow evaluation; thus, 3D-SSFP should be combined with conventional 2D-TSE sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite 90 % of glioblastoma (GBM) recurrences occurring in the peritumoral brain zone (PBZ), its contribution in patient survival is poorly understood. The current study leverages computerized texture (i.e. radiomic) analysis to evaluate the efficacy of PBZ features from pre-operative MRI in predicting long- (>18 months) versus short-term (<7 months) survival in GBM.Methods: Sixty-five patient examinations (29 short-term, 36 long-term) with gadolinium-contrast T1w, FLAIR and T2w sequences from the Cancer Imaging Archive were employed. An expert manually segmented each study as: enhancing lesion, PBZ and tumour necrosis. 402 radiomic features (capturing co-occurrence, grey-level dependence and directional gradients) were obtained for each region. Evaluation was performed using threefold cross-validation, such that a subset of studies was used to select the most predictive features, and the remaining subset was used to evaluate their efficacy in predicting survival.Results: A subset of ten radiomic 'peritumoral' MRI features, suggestive of intensity heterogeneity and textural patterns, was found to be predictive of survival (p = 1.47 × 10-5) as compared to features from enhancing tumour, necrotic regions and known clinical factors.Conclusion: Our preliminary analysis suggests that radiomic features from the PBZ on routine pre-operative MRI may be predictive of long- versus short-term survival in GBM.Key Points: • Radiomic features from peritumoral regions can capture glioblastoma heterogeneity to predict outcome. • Peritumoral radiomics along with clinical factors are highly predictive of glioblastoma outcome. • Identifying prognostic markers can assist in making personalized therapy decisions in glioblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time MRI-guided percutaneous sclerotherapy is a novel and evolving treatment for congenital lymphatic malformations in the head and neck. We elaborate on the specific steps necessary to perform an MRI-guided percutaneous sclerotherapy of lymphatic malformations including pre-procedure patient work-up and preparation, stepwise intraprocedural interventional techniques and post-procedure management. Based on our institutional experience, MRI-guided sclerotherapy with a doxycycline-gadolinium-based mixture as a sclerosant for lymphatic malformations of the head and neck region in children is well tolerated and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much eyewitness research has addressed memory for persons and scenes, but limited work has addressed memory for firearms, frequently an important point in investigations and in court. The present research addressed this topic using the format of a traditional police interview, in which seventy subjects provided unrestricted free recall of a weapon seen in a crime situation, followed by responses to specific questions. Three firearms were used in a between-subjects format: a typical modern semi-automatic pistol, a less-typical Old West revolver, and an atypical single-shot muzzle-loading pistol. In the free recall stage, respondents provided about four times as many correct as incorrect details. However, in the specific-question stage, there were only 1.2 times as many new correct responses as new incorrect details, consistent with current cognitive theory. No difference between the weapons was observed in the production of correct responses, but the revolver and single-shot pistol resulted in more incorrect responses than did the modern semi-automatic, regardless of the saliency of weapon features. These results demonstrate the importance of the original, initial free recall phase in developing accurate identification of a given weapon, and of the type of weapon involved, and have important implications for police interviewing for accurate weapon identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health concern worldwide and atherosclerosis is the main cause of CVD. Atherosclerosis is a systemic and chronic inflammatory disease, which is characterized by plaque formation and can affect different vascular beds. Imaging of atherosclerosis could guide therapeutic interventions. Ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and interventional angiography are the main imaging modalities available for the assessment of atherosclerotic burden and for potential prediction of future events. In addition, the introduction of new hybrid imaging techniques like PET/MRI allow for the simultaneous evaluation of anatomical and metabolic characteristics tissues. This article provides an overview of coronary and non-coronary atherosclerosis and summarizes the current understanding of different available imaging techniques. The integration of these techniques in clinical practice may allow for superior risk stratification and therapeutic planning as well as monitoring of interventional and medication based treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We report our initial clinical experience from a pilot study to compare the diagnostic accuracy of hybrid PET/MRI with PET/CT in colorectal cancer and discuss potential PET/MRI workflow solutions for colorectal cancer. Methods: Patients underwent both FDG PET/CT and PET/MRI (Ingenuity TF PET/MRI, Philips Healthcare) for rectal cancer staging or colorectal cancer restaging. The PET acquisition of PET/MRI was similar to that of PET/CT whereas the MRI protocol was selected individually based on the patient's medical history. One nuclear medicine physician reviewed the PET/CT studies and one radiologist reviewed the PET/MRI studies independently. The diagnostic accuracy of each modality was determined in consensus, using available medical records as a reference. Results: Of the 12 patients enrolled, two were for initial staging and ten for restaging. The median scan delay between the two modalities was 60 min. The initial imaging was PET/CT in nine patients and PET/MRI in three patients. When PET/CT was performed first, the SUV values of the 16 FDG avid lesions were greater at PET/MRI than at PET/CT. In contrast, when PET/MRI was performed first, the SUV values of the seven FDG avid lesions were greater at PET/CT than at PET/MRI. PET/MRI provided more detailed T staging than PET/CT. On a per-patient basis, with both patient groups combined for the evaluation of N and M staging/restaging, the true positive rate was 5/7 (71%) for PET/CT and 6/7 (86%) for PET/MRI, and true negative rate was 5/5 (100%) for both modalities. On a per-lesion basis, PET/CT identified 26 of 29 (90%) tumor lesions that were correctly detected by PET/MRI. Our proposed workflow allows for comprehensive cancer staging including integrated local and whole-body assessment. Conclusions: Our initial experience shows a high diagnostic accuracy of PET/MRI in T staging of rectal cancer compared with PET/CT. In addition, PET/MRI shows at least comparable accuracy in N and M staging as well as restaging to PET/CT. However, the small sample size limits the generalizability of the results. It is expected that PET/MRI would yield higher diagnostic accuracy than PET/CT considering the high soft tissue contrast provided by MRI compared with CT, but larger studies are necessary to fully assess the benefit of PET/MRI in colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report describes a low-grade parosteal osteosarcoma of the ulna with dedifferentiation into high-grade osteosarcoma. The clinical, pathological, and imaging findings are described and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare and correlate standardized uptake values (SUV) derived from magnetic resonance attenuation correction (MRAC) with those derived from computed tomography attenuation correction (CTAC) in an oncology patient population. Procedures: The HIPAA-compliant study was approved by the Internal Review Board and all subjects gave written informed consent prior to inclusion in the study. Forty patients (mean age 61 ± 15.1; 20 male) referred for clinically indicated 2-deoxy-2-[ 18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans also underwent a PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. MRAC was performed using an automatic three-segment model. Regions of interest were drawn over eight normal structures in order to obtain SUVmax and SUVmean values. Spearman rank correlation coefficients ( r) were calculated and two-tailed paired t tests were performed to compare the SUVmax and SUVmean values obtained from CTAC with those from MRAC. Results: The mean time after FDG injection was 66 ± 7 min for PET/CT and 117 ± 15 min for PET/MRI examination. MRAC SUV values were significantly lower than the CTAC SUV values in mediastinal blood pool ( p < 0.001 for both SUVmax and SUVmean) and liver ( p = 0.01 for SUVmean). The MRAC SUV values were significantly higher in bone marrow ( p < 0.001 for both SUVmax and SUVmean), psoas major muscle ( p < 0.001 for SUVmax), and left ventricular myocardium ( p < 0.001 for SUVmax and p = 0.01 for SUVmean). For the other normal structures, no significant difference was observed. When comparing SUV values generated from CTAC versus MRAC, high correlations between CTAC and MRAC were observed in myocardium ( r = 0.96/0.97 for SUVmax/mean), liver ( r = 0.68 for SUVmax), bone marrow ( r = 0.80/0.83 for SUVmax/mean), lung tissue ( r = 0.70 for SUVmax), and mediastinal blood pool ( r = 0.0.68/.069 for SUVmax/mean). Moderate correlations were found in lung tissue ( r = 0.67 for SUV mean), liver ( r = 0.66 for SUVmean), fat ( r = 0.48/0.53 for SUVmax/mean), psoas major muscle ( r = 0.54/0.58 for SUVmax/mean), and iliacus muscle ( r = 0.41 for SUVmax). Low correlation was found in iliacus muscle ( r = 0.32 for SUVmean). Conclusions: Using the automatic three-segment model, our study showed high correlation for measurement of SUV values obtained from MRAC compared to those from CTAC, as the reference standard. Differences observed between MRAC and CTAC derived SUV values may be attributed to the time-delay between the PET/CT and PET/MRI scans or biologic clearance of radiotracer. Further studies are required to assess SUV measurements when performing different MR attenuation correction techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]