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Abstract Contrast agents have transformed the field of medical imaging, significantly enhancing the visualisation of internal structures and improving diagnostic accuracy across X‐rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound. This review explores the historical development, physicochemical properties, and mechanisms of action of iodinated, gadolinium‐based, barium sulfate, microbubble, and nanoparticle contrast agents. It highlights key advancements, including the transition from high‐osmolar to low‐ and iso‐osmolar iodinated agents, the integration of gadolinium in MRI, and the innovative use of microbubbles and nanoparticles. The review critically examines the safety profiles and adverse reactions of these contrast agents, categorising them into hypersensitivity and physiological reactions. It outlines risk factors, common misconceptions, and management strategies for adverse reactions, emphasising the importance of personalised approaches in clinical practice. Additionally, it delves into broader implications, including ethical considerations, environmental impact, and global accessibility of contrast media. The review also discusses technological advancements such as targeted contrast agents and the integration of artificial intelligence to optimise contrast dosage. By synthesising current knowledge and emerging trends, this review underscores the pivotal role of contrast agents in advancing medical imaging. It aims to equip clinicians, researchers, and policymakers with a thorough understanding to enhance diagnostic efficacy, ensure patient safety, and address ethical and environmental challenges, thereby informing future innovations and regulatory frameworks to promote equitable access to advanced imaging technologies globally.

Abstract Direct X-ray detectors based on semiconductors have drawn great attention from researchers in the pursuing of higher imaging quality. However, many previous works focused on the optimization of detection performances but seldomly watch them in an overall view and analyze how they will influence the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) value. Here, we propose a numerical model which shows the quantitative relationship between DQE and the properties of X-ray detectors and electric circuits. Our results point out that pursuing high sensitivity only is meaningless. To reduce the medical X-ray dose by 80%, the requirement for X-ray sensitivity is only at a magnitude of 103 μCGy−1⋅cm−2. To achieve the DQE = 0.7 at X-ray sensitivity air from 1248 to 8171 μCGy−1 air⋅cm−2, the requirements on dark current density ranges from 10 to 100 nA⋅cm−2 and the fluctuation of current density should fall in 0.21 to 1.37 nA⋅cm−2. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL) is a rare primary liver tumor. The purpose of this study was to investigate the crucial imaging characteristics of PHL. Methods CT/MR data and clinical features of 16 patients with pathologically proven PHL were retrospectively reviewed. The assessed imaging characteristics included lesion distribution, growth appearance, density or signal characteristics, and typical signs during the dynamic enhancement. Results A total of sixteen patients were included in this study, ranging in age from 27 to 86 years (nine men and seven women; mean age, 62 years). Right upper abdominal pain, malaise, or first detection during physical examination were the chief complaint. Dynamic contrast-enhanced CT and MRI demonstrated focal masses in thirteen patients (13/16, 81%), and multiple nodules in three patients (3/16, 19%). The lesions showed vascular floating sign in 10 patients (10/16, 63%) and biliary pass-through sign in 6 patients (6/16, 37%). Necrosis in PHLs were observed in 10 patients (10/16, 63%) and presented target sign on T2WI in 5 out of 11 patients (5/11, 45%) undergoing MRI. After enhancement, PHLs had multinodular sign in the arterial phase in 10 patients (10/16, 63%), and presented washout of contrast medium in the portal-venous or delayed phase in 12 patients (12/16, 75%), pseudocapsule in the delayed phase in 15 patients (15/16, 94%), and double-ring sign in the delayed phase in 8 patients (8/16, 50%). Conclusion PHL is generally seen in elderly patients with elevated beta-2-microglobulin levels. Its distinctive imaging features including obviously low ADC value, biliary/vascular floating sign, multinodular sign and double-ring sign in the delayed phase, may help to diagnose and differentiate PHL.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between entrance surface dose (ESD) of gonads and physiological parameters such as sex, age, height, and weight in digital X-ray exposure of both lower limbs and to explore the feasibility of full-width long-plate imaging with single-dose radiation exposure. Methods: A total of 300 patients at a weight-bearing position of both lower limbs were prospectively enrolled in a hospital in Beijing, including 129 males and 171 females. The TLD detectors were set at the gonads on both sides of the patient during scanning. After exposure, the TLD detectors were measured with an RGD-3B thermoluminescence dosimeter, and the corresponding dose values were obtained and analyzed. Results: The average triple exposure dose (AP+bilateral view) in the full-length plate adult mode was (1281±202) µGy, which was approximately three times the single exposure dose (429±99) µGy. The triple exposure dose (AP+bilateral view) was significantly lower than the radiation dose recommended by international standards. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that only height and weight affected gonadal radiation dose. Under the scanning parameters of children, the ESD dose was (359±27) µGy and (627±155) µGy when the height was less or more than 160 cm, respectively, with a significant statistical difference. In adult mode, height and weight did not affect the ESD dose. Conclusions: This study showed that the exposure dose of gonads during full-length scanning of both lower limbs in a weight-bearing position with a single exposure was affected by height and weight. The dose received by the gonads was within the safe range, and a single exposure of the full-length plate radiation dose is feasible in clinical practice.

Understanding and controlling protein motion at atomic resolution is a hallmark challenge for structural biologists and protein engineers because conformational dynamics are essential for complex functions such as enzyme catalysis and allosteric regulation. Time-resolved crystallography offers a window into protein motions, yet without a universal perturbation to initiate conformational changes the method has been limited in scope. Here we couple a solvent-based temperature jump with time-resolved crystallography to visualize structural motions in lysozyme, a dynamic enzyme. We observed widespread atomic vibrations on the nanosecond timescale, which evolve on the submillisecond timescale into localized structural fluctuations that are coupled to the active site. An orthogonal perturbation to the enzyme, inhibitor binding, altered these dynamics by blocking key motions that allow energy to dissipate from vibrations into functional movements linked to the catalytic cycle. Because temperature jump is a universal method for perturbing molecular motion, the method demonstrated here is broadly applicable for studying protein dynamics.

Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) is a large membrane-bound hemeprotein that catalyzes the reduction of dioxygen to water. Unlike classical dioxygen binding hemeproteins with a heme b group in their active sites, CcO has a unique binuclear center (BNC) composed of a copper atom (CuB) and a heme a3 iron, where O2 binds and is reduced to water. CO is a versatile O2 surrogate in ligand binding and escape reactions. Previous time-resolved spectroscopic studies of the CO complexes of bovine CcO (bCcO) revealed that photolyzing CO from the heme a3 iron leads to a metastable intermediate (CuB-CO), where CO is bound to CuB, before it escapes out of the BNC. Here, with a pump-probe based time-resolved serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography, we detected a geminate photoproduct of the bCcO-CO complex, where CO is dissociated from the heme a3 iron and moved to a temporary binding site midway between the CuB and the heme a3 iron, while the locations of the two metal centers and the conformation of Helix-X, housing the proximal histidine ligand of the heme a3 iron, remain in the CO complex state. This new structure, combined with other reported structures of bCcO, allows for a clearer definition of the ligand dissociation trajectory as well as the associated protein dynamics.

Aerobic ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) initiate synthesis of DNA building blocks by generating a free radical within the R2 subunit; the radical is subsequently shuttled to the catalytic R1 subunit through proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). We present a high-resolution room temperature structure of the class Ie R2 protein radical captured by x-ray free electron laser serial femtosecond crystallography. The structure reveals conformational reorganization to shield the radical and connect it to the translocation path, with structural changes propagating to the surface where the protein interacts with the catalytic R1 subunit. Restructuring of the hydrogen bond network, including a notably short O-O interaction of 2.41 angstroms, likely tunes and gates the radical during PCET. These structural results help explain radical handling and mobilization in RNR and have general implications for radical transfer in proteins.

Human cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) is a major drug-metabolizing enzyme that shows extreme substrate promiscuity. Moreover, its large and malleable active site can simultaneously accommodate several substrate molecules of the same or different nature, which may lead to cooperative binding and allosteric behavior. Due to difficulty of crystallization of CYP3A4-substrate complexes, it remains unknown how multiple substrates can arrange in the active site. We determined crystal structures of CYP3A4 bound to three and six molecules of caffeine, a psychoactive alkaloid serving as a substrate and modulator of CYP3A4. In the ternary complex, one caffeine binds to the active site suitably for C8-hydroxylation, most preferable for CYP3A4. In the senary complex, three caffeine molecules stack parallel to the heme with the proximal ligand poised for 3-N-demethylation. However, the caffeine stack forms extensive hydrophobic interactions that could preclude product dissociation and multiple turnovers. In both complexes, caffeine is also bound in the substrate channel and on the outer surface known as a peripheral site. At all sites, aromatic stacking with the caffeine ring(s) is likely a dominant interaction, while direct and water-mediated polar contacts provide additional stabilization for the substrate-bound complexes. Protein-ligand interactions via the active site R212, intrachannel T224, and peripheral F219 were experimentally confirmed, and the latter two residues were identified as important for caffeine association. Collectively, the structural, spectral, and mutagenesis data provide valuable insights on the ligand binding mechanism and help better understand how purine-based pharmaceuticals and other aromatic compounds could interact with CYP3A4 and mediate drug-drug interactions.

BACKGROUND: Scholars at home and abroad consider New Zealand rabbits to be an ideal model animal because of the similar anatomical morphology of the lumbar spine to that of the human lumbar spine. There is a lack of systematic comparison of different ways to establish rabbit intervertebral disc degeneration models under X-ray guidance. OBJECTIVE: To establish a rabbit model of lumbar disc degeneration using X-ray guided acupuncture, end-plate injection and combined method, and to compare the modeling effects of these three methods. METHODS: Eighteen 6-month-old New Zealand white rabbits were randomly selected and divided into four groups: acupuncture group, endplate injection group, combined group and blank control group. In the acupuncture group, three consecutive segments of the intervertebral discs (L2/3, L3/4, L4/5) were needled and modeled; in the endplate injection group, 50 μL of anhydrous ethanol was injected at a single point on the endplates of the three consecutive segmental discs; in the combined group, three consecutive segmental intervertebral discs were needled and injected with 50 μL of anhydrous ethanol at four azimuthal points on the endplates of the corresponding segmental discs; and the blank control group received no interventions. X-ray examination was performed to measure the disc height index at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery. The intervertebral disc tissues were then taken for anatomical observation and pathological examination. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Anatomical examination showed that fibrous annulus rupture, nucleus pulposus degeneration, and total disc structure disorder were the main manifestation in the acupuncture group, endplate injection group, and combined group, respectively. (2) X-ray examination showed that the disc height index showed the most obvious reduction in the acupuncture group at 2 weeks after operation, significant reductions in the endplate injection group at 2 and 4 weeks after operation, and significant reductions in the combined group at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after operation. (3) Pathological examination showed that the fibrous ring structure was damaged and the inner annulus fibrosus protruded inward in the acupuncture group; endplate fissure, disordered arrangement and nucleus loss were observed in the endplate injection group; total disc structure disorder with the nucleus pulposus losing water and shrinking and no obvious border with the broken annulus fibrosus was found in the combined group. To conclude, acupuncture, endplate injection and the modified endplate injection method can establish the rabbit intervertebral disc degeneration model. Compared with the single method, the modified endplate injection method can greatly accelerate and aggravate the degeneration of the intervertebral disc, and can effectively shorten the experiment period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the discovery of a peculiar X-ray transient, EP240408a, by Einstein Probe (EP) and follow-up studies made with EP, Swift, NICER, GROND, ATCA and other ground-based multiwavelength telescopes. The new transient was first detected with Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT) on board EP on April 8th, 2024, manifested in an intense yet brief X-ray flare lasting for 12 s. The flare reached a peak flux of 3.9 × 10−9 erg cm−2 s−1 in 0.5–4 keV, ∼300 times brighter than the underlying X-ray emission detected throughout the observation. Rapid and more precise follow-up observations by EP/FXT, Swift and NICER confirmed the finding of this new transient. Its X-ray spectrum is non-thermal in 0.5–10 keV, with apower-law photon index varying within 1.8–2.5. The X-ray light curve shows a plateau lasting for ∼4 d, followed by a steep decay till becoming undetectable ∼10 d after the initial detection. Based on its temporal property and constraints from previous EP observations, an unusual timescale in the range of 7–23 d is found for EP240408a, which is intermediate between the commonly found fast and long-term transients. No counterparts have been found in optical and near-infrared, with the earliest observation at 17 h after the initial X-ray detection, suggestive of intrinsically weak emission in these bands. We demonstrate that the remarkable properties of EP240408a are inconsistent with any of the transient types known so far, by comparison with, in particular, jetted tidal disruption events, gamma-ray bursts, X-ray binaries and fast blue optical transients. The nature of EP240408a thus remains an enigma. We suggest that EP240408a may represent a new type of transients with intermediate timescales of the order of ∼10 d. The detection and follow-ups of more of such objects are essential for revealing their origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) is a congenital disease with a polygenic hereditary component, characterised by abnormal development of the coxo-femoral joint which results in poor coaptation of the femoral head in the acetabulum; the disease rapidly progresses to osteoarthritis of the hip. While dysplasia has been recognised in practically all canine breeds, it is much more common and of concern in medium and large dog breeds with rapid development. Dysplasia in predisposed breeds, particularly the German Shepherd, is the object of screening based on systematic radiological control in some countries. Our collected dataset comprises 507 X-ray images of dogs affected by hip dysplasia (HD). These images were meticulously evaluated using six Deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models. Following an extensive analysis of the top-performing models, VGG16 emerged as the leader, achieving remarkable accuracy, recall, and precision scores of 98.32%, 98.35%, and 98.44%, respectively. Leveraging deep learning (DL) techniques, this approach excels in diagnosing CHD from hip X-rays with a high degree of accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning methods have been extensively employed to predict COVID-19 using chest X-ray images in numerous studies. However, a machine learning model must exhibit robustness and provide reliable predictions for diverse populations, beyond those used in its training data, to be truly valuable. Unfortunately, the assessment of model generalisability is frequently overlooked in current literature. In this study, we investigate the generalisability of three classification models – ResNet50v2, MobileNetv2, and Swin Transformer – for predicting COVID-19 using chest X-ray images. We adopt three concurrent approaches for evaluation: the internal-and-external validation procedure, lung region cropping, and image enhancement. The results show that the combined approaches allow deep models to achieve similar internal and external generalisation capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two non‐fullerene acceptors (NFAs), DTBDT‐ICN and DTBDT‐SEH, based on dithienobenzodithiophene (DTBDT) and a 2‐(3‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydroinden‐1‐ylidene) malononitrile (IC) with different side chains of alkylthienyl and alkylthio‐thienyl, respectively, were designed and used as electron acceptors in organic solar cells (OSCs). Both NFAs provide suitable energy level configurations that ensure efficient charge transfer with the donor polymer PBDB‐T, as confirmed by significant photoluminescence reduction in the blend films. However, due to the high planarity together with strong π‐π stacking interactions, the DTBDT‐ICN presented significant aggregation and phase separation in the blend films, leading to suboptimal charge generation. In addition, grazing incidence wide‐angle x‐ray scattering measurements revealed a predominance of edge‐on molecular orientations, which are unfavorable for vertical charge transport. On the other hand, DTBDT‐SEH exhibited less pronounced molecular aggregation and edge‐on orientation properties compared to DTBDT‐ICN, resulting in improved carrier mobility (μe of 3.86 × 10−6 compared to 7.59 × 10−7) and mitigated recombination losses (1.19 kT/q compared to 1.21 kT/q) in OSC devices. The improved morphological features of PBDB‐T:DTBDT‐SEH led to a high power conversion efficiency of 3.31%, which is three times higher than that of PBDB‐T:DTBDT‐ICN‐based devices (1.55%). Furthermore, paired with the high performance polymer PM6, PM6:DTBDT‐SEH demonstrated an enhanced efficiency, reaching 7.03%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive characteristics of an ecologically viable cellulosic fiber from the leaf sheath of Licuala grandis L tree are alkaline modified and investigated in this study. The percentage of cellulose in ideally alkali‐modified Licuala grandis leaf sheath fiber (IALGLSF) increased by 15.8% following a 1 h treatment with a 5% (w/v) alkali buffer. Comparing IALGLSF to raw Licuala grandis leaf sheath fiber (LGLSF), an individual strand tensile testing revealed a 13.2% rise in tensile characteristics. Crystallinity index (CI) analysis using x‐ray diffraction (XRD) showed that IALGLSF had a 12.5% greater CI over LGLSF. Also, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) experiments validated partial removal of noncrystalline constituents from IALGLSF as a consequence of alkali alteration. Additionally, thermogravimetric (TGA‐DTG) study, which is supported by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) inquiry, demonstrated that alkali alteration‐enhanced IALGLSF's thermal resistance from 223 to 229°C. Similarly, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has shown that rougher surface appearance of IALGLSF results from selective removal of noncrystalline constituents, which also provides better matrix contact during reinforcement for the production of eco‐friendly composites. The indicated outcomes validated that IALGLSF serves as a beneficial substitute for potentially harmful synthetic fibers in the production of sustainable biocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) malposition has been linked to hemocompatibility‐related adverse events (HRAEs). This study aimed to identify preoperative anatomical landmarks and postoperative pump position, associated with HRAEs during LVAD support. Methods: Pre‐ and postoperative chest X‐ray measures (≤14 days pre‐implantation, first postoperative standing, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post‐implantation) were analyzed for their association with HRAEs over 24 months in 33 HeartMate 3 (HM3) patients (15.2% female, age 66 (9.5) years). Results: HM3 patients with any HRAE showed significantly lower preoperative distances between left ventricle and thoracic outline (dLVT) (25.3 ± 10.2 mm vs. 40.3 ± 15.5 mm, p = 0.004). A ROC‐derived cutoff dLVT ≤ 29.2 mm provided 85.7% sensitivity and 72.2% specificity predicting any HRAE during HM3 support (76.2% (>29.2 mm) vs. 16.7% (≤29.2 mm) freedom from HRAE, p < 0.001) and significant differences in cardiothoracic ratio (0.58 ± 0.04 vs. 0.62 ± 0.04, p = 0.045). Postoperative X‐rays indicated lower pump depths in patients with ischemic strokes (9.1 ± 16.2 mm vs. 38.0 ± 18.5 mm, p = 0.007), reduced freedom from any neurological event (pump depth ≤ 28.7 mm: 45.5% vs. 94.1%, p = 0.004), and a significant correlation between pump depth and inflow cannula angle (r = 0.66, p < 0.001). Longitudinal changes were observed in heart‐pump width (F(4,60) = 5.61, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Preoperative X‐ray markers are associated with postoperative HRAE occurrence. Applying this knowledge in clinical practice may enhance risk stratification, guide therapy optimization, and improve HM3 recipient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the automated detection of enchondromas, benign cartilage tumors, from x‐ray images using deep learning techniques. Enchondromas pose diagnostic challenges due to their potential for malignant transformation and overlapping radiographic features with other conditions. Leveraging a data set comprising 1645 x‐ray images from 1173 patients, a deep‐learning model implemented with Detectron2 achieved an accuracy of 0.9899 in detecting enchondromas. The study employed rigorous validation processes and compared its findings with the existing literature, highlighting the superior performance of the deep learning approach. Results indicate the potential of machine learning in improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing healthcare costs associated with advanced imaging modalities. The study underscores the significance of early and accurate detection of enchondromas for effective patient management and suggests avenues for further research in musculoskeletal tumor detection. STATEMENT OF CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: 1.Diagnostic Challenges of Enchondromas: Enchondromas, benign cartilage tumors commonly found in bones, present diagnostic complexities due to their potential for malignant transformation and overlapping radiographic features with other conditions.2.Importance of Accurate Detection: Accurate detection of enchondromas is crucial for effective patient management, as misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can lead to adverse outcomes, including malignant transformation and unnecessary interventions.3.Role of Deep Learning in Enhancing Diagnosis: This study demonstrates the utility of deep‐learning techniques, specifically Detectron2, in automating the detection of enchondromas from x‐ray images. Such advancements in imaging technology hold promise for improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency.4.Clinical Implications of Study Findings: The high accuracy achieved by the deep‐learning model underscores its potential as a valuable tool for radiologists and orthopedic surgeons in diagnosing enchondromas. Early and accurate detection can facilitate timely intervention and appropriate patient management strategies.5.Potential for Cost Reduction in Healthcare: By reducing the reliance on advanced imaging modalities and streamlining the diagnostic process, deep learning‐based approaches have the potential to mitigate healthcare costs associated with unnecessary imaging studies and interventions.6.Future Directions in Musculoskeletal Tumor Detection: This study sets the stage for further research in leveraging machine learning techniques for musculoskeletal tumor detection. Future studies could explore the integration of deep‐learning algorithms into clinical practice for real‐time diagnosis and decision support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increased Posterior Tibial Slope (PTS) angle has been reported to be a risk factor for primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. However, it is unknown whether increased PTS has an associated increased risk for non-contact versus contact ACL injury. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine whether patients with non-contact ACL injury have a higher PTS angle than those with contact ACL injury. Methods: A total of 1700 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction between January 2011 and June 2023 at a single academic institution were initially included. Electronic medical records were reviewed for demographic information as well as evidence that the patient sustained a contact or non-contact ACL injury. Patients in the contact cohort were propensity score matched to patients in the non-contact cohort by age, sex and BMI. Additionally, patients in the contact cohort were then propensity score matched to a control group of patients with intact ACLs also by age, sex and BMI. Results: One hundred and two patients with contact injury were initially identified and 1598 patients with non-contact injuries were identified. Of the 102, 67 had knee X-rays that were suitable for measurement. These 67 contact injury patients were propensity score matched to 67 noncontact patient and 67 patients with intact ACLs based on age, sex and BMI. There were no significant differences between contact and non-contact cohorts in age (28.7±6.3 vs. 27.1±6.5, p = 0.147), sex (Female: 36.0% vs. 34.3%, p = 0.858), or BMI (26.7±5.6 vs 26.1±3.4, p = 0.475). There was no significant difference in PTS angle between contact versus non-contact ACL injury patients (11.6±3.0 vs.11.6±2.8, p = 0.894). There was a significant difference in PTS between the contact ACL injury and the intact cohort (11.6±3.0 vs. 10.0±3.9, p = 0.010) and the non-contact ACL injury and the intact cohort (11.6±2.8 vs. 10.0±3.9, p = 0.010). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the degree of PTS between patients who sustained contact versus non-contact ACL injuries. Additionally, there was a significantly increased PTS in both the contact and non-contact ACL injury cohorts compared to patients with intact ACLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the prevalence of preexisting articular bone pathology in patients with hip or knee pain due to osteoarthritis (OA) screened for fasinumab clinical trials. This post-hoc analysis included patients with OA screened for three phase 3 fasinumab studies (NCT02683239, NCT03161093, NCT03304379). During screening, participants who met other clinical inclusion/exclusion criteria underwent radiography of knees, hips, and shoulders. Those with Kellgren–Lawrence grade (KLG) ≥ 2 for index joint and without an exclusionary finding proceeded to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of index, contralateral, and KLG ≥ 3 joints. Exclusionary findings included bone fragmentation/collapse, bone loss/resorption, osteonecrosis, and fracture, by either X-ray or MRI. Participants with extensive subchondral cysts were also excluded. Prevalence of abnormalities on radiographs and MRIs are reported. Of 27,633 participants screened, 21,997 proceeded to imaging. Of these, 1203 (5.5%) were excluded due to the presence of ≥ 1 joint with severe articular bone pathology (X-ray or MRI): bone fragmentation/collapse (2.60%), subchondral insufficiency fracture (SIF; 1.67%), osteonecrosis (1.11%), and significant bone loss (0.32%). Additionally, 3.13% screen-failed due to extensive subchondral cysts. More than half of the exclusions due to bone fragmentation/collapse (386/572), osteonecrosis (141/245) and significant bone loss (59/71), and approximately one third of SIF (133/367) and extensive subchondral cysts (229/689) were evident on X-rays. Approximately one in 20 participants with OA who met the clinical screening criteria for fasinumab phase 3 trials were later excluded due to preexisting severe articular bone pathology findings by X-ray or MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the global expansion of nuclear power generation, ensuring the integrity of nuclear fuel rods is crucial for the safe operation of nuclear power plants. As a vital component of fuel rods, the detection of defects in the end plugs is a key step in ensuring nuclear safety. Traditional manual detection methods are not only time-consuming and inefficient but also susceptible to subjective influences. To address these issues, this study proposed an automatic detection method for defects in fuel rod end plugs based on deep learning X-ray imaging, aiming to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of detection. The research began by collecting a large number of X-ray images of fuel rod end plugs and preprocessing these images, including single-rod segmentation and extraction of effective evaluation areas, to optimize image quality. Subsequently, an improved YOLOX model was adopted as the core detection algorithm, with adjustments made to the network structure and loss function to address the characteristics of small target defects. The introduction of a coordinate attention module enables the model to more accurately locate and identify tiny defects. Additionally, the CIoU loss function was employed in place of the traditional IoU loss function to improve the model’s localization precision for small targets. During the model training phase, data augmentation techniques such as Mosaic, Copy and Paste, and Mixup were implemented to enhance the model’s adaptability to new scenarios. The experimental results demonstrate that the improved model excels in the task of end plug defect detection, with significant enhancements in detection accuracy and speed compared to traditional methods and unimproved deep learning models. Tests on industrial datasets show a notable increase in the model’s mean average precision (mAP) while maintaining a fast detection speed, meeting the requirements of actual production. The model also performs well in detecting various types of defects, including accurate identification of porosity, swelling, incomplete welding, tungsten inclusion, and plug abnormalities. In summary, this study successfully develops an efficient and accurate automatic detection method for defects in fuel rod end plugs based on deep learning X-ray imaging. This method not only improves the level of detection automation but also provides strong technical support for the safe management and maintenance of fuel rods. Future research will continue to explore the potential for model optimization to better adapt to a wider range of industrial applications.

Dynamic, responsive materials can be built using photosurfactants (PS) that self-assemble into ordered nanostructures, such as micelles or liquid crystals. These PS contain photoswitchable groups, such as azobenzene (Azo) or, more recently, arylazopyrazoles (AAPs), which change shape and polarity on photoisomerisation between the E and Z states, thus changing the self-assembled structure. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a powerful technique to probe the morphology of PS and can be used to measure the mechanisms of structural changes using in-situ light irradiation with rapid, time-resolved data collection. However, X-ray irradiation has been shown previously to induce Z-to-E isomerisation of Azo-PS, which can lead to inaccuracies in the measured photostationary state. Here, we investigate the effect of light and X-ray irradiation on micelles formed from two different PS, containing either an Azo or AAP photoswitch using SAXS with in-situ light irradiation. The effect of X-ray irradiation on the Z isomer is shown to depend on the photoswitch, solvent, concentration and morphology. We use this to create guidelines for future X-ray experiments using photoswitchable molecules, which can aid more accurate understanding of these materials for application in solar energy storage, catalysis or controlled drug delivery.

Background and objective: Thoracic injuries are a common presentation in emergency hospitals in the Kurdistan region, mainly caused by road traffic accidents. Early and accurate diagnosis of rib fractures is essential in saving lives and preventing complications. The objective was to assess the validity of ultrasound in the diagnosis of rib fractures in comparison to plain x-ray. Methods: Present study was a cross-sectional study carried out in the Emergency department of Rozhalat Hospital in Erbil city-Kurdistan region/Iraq over ten months, from August 2021 to May 2022, on a sample of fifty-five (55) patients with suspected rib fractures. Rib fractures were diagnosed by the researcher based on clinical, ultrasound, and x-ray findings, and the findings of rib fracture were confirmed by CT-scan. All imaging methods were done at the Radiology department of Rozhalat hospital. Results: The validity findings of ultrasound examination taking CT scan as the gold standard was as follow: (97.7% sensitivity, 63.6% specificity, and 90.0% accuracy), while the validity findings of x-ray examination taking CT scan as the gold standard were (56.8% sensitivity, 54.5% specificity and 56.3% accuracy). The validity of ultrasound in detecting cortical disruption or hematoma was (93.8% sensitivity, 43.6% specificity, and 58.1% accuracy), while the validity of CXR in the detection of displacement was (31.3% sensitivity, 84.6% specificity, and 48.7% accuracy). Conclusion: Sonograph is an accurate diagnostic tool for detecting rib fracture with superior validity compared to a chest x-ray.

Radiation therapists, also known as radiotherapy technologists, are allied health professionals who specialise in providing high doses of radiation to patients with malignant growths. High-energy radiation damages cells’ genetic material {Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)}, stopping them from replicating and multiplying further. Radiation can be used to treat cancer or as a highly effective palliative therapy to alleviate cancer-related pain in patients. Radiation therapy can be used in conjunction with other treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Because radiation harms both healthy tissues and malignant cells, the primary objective of radiation therapy is to optimise radiation exposure to abnormal cancer cells while avoiding irradiation of healthy tissues adjacent to or in the path of radiation. Remarkable precision is required to provide ionising radiation to patients and target specific cells for consistent, accurate, and successful radiation treatment. A team consisting of radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiation therapists, medical dosimetrists, and nurses work together to achieve this goal. Radiation therapists are responsible for delivering radiation treatment, as well as maintaining and testing the equipment used to monitor and administer the treatment. The radiation therapist administers the patient’s treatment dose according to the prescription plan made by the radiation oncologists and medical physicists. Radiation therapists must communicate with patients and their families, respond to their inquiries, and clarify the radiation treatment plan. They must also track the patient’s progress and report any changes to their seniors. Radiation therapists must maintain high levels of precision while administering therapy, think critically, and exercise autonomous, professional, and ethical judgment in all aspects of their work. The field of radiotherapy is continuously evolving with new advancements in technology and treatment delivery techniques that maximise patient satisfaction and treatment delivery efficacy. Radiation therapists undergo continuing education and training to broaden their knowledge of the field and stay current with standard practice. This review addresses the critical role of radiation therapists in clinical radiation therapy practices. It highlights their significance in delivering safe and effective treatment to radiotherapy patients. The review covers various aspects, including the responsibilities of technologists in treatment planning, equipment operation, patient care and safety, quality assurance, and research. This present review provides a comprehensive understanding of the importance of well-trained and skilled radiation therapists in ensuring the success of radiation therapy treatments.

Abstract Twelve spiro thiazolidinone compounds (A–L) were synthesized via either conventional thermal or ultrasonication techniques using Fe2O3 nanoparticles. The modification of the traditional procedure by using Fe2O3 nanoparticles led to enhancement of the yield of the desired candidates to 78–93% in approximately half reaction time compared with 58–79% without catalyst. The products were fully characterized using different analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The structure of the two derivatives 4-phenyl-1-thia-4-azaspirodecan-3-one (A) and 4-(p-tolyl)-1-thia-4-azaspirodecan-3-one (B) were also determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction and Hirshfeld surface analysis. The two compounds (A and B) were crystallized in the orthorhombic system with Pbca and P2 1 2 1 2 1 space groups, respectively. In addition, the crystal packing of compounds revealed the formation of supramolecular array with a net of intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. The energy optimized geometries of some selected derivatives were performed by density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP). The reactivity descriptors were also calculated and correlated with their biological properties. All the reported compounds were screened for antimicrobial inhibitions. The two derivatives, F and J, exhibited the highest levels of bacterial inhibition with an inhibition zone of 10–17 mm. Also, the two derivatives, F and J, displayed the most potent fungal inhibition with an inhibition zone of 15–23 mm. Molecular docking investigations of some selected derivatives were performed using a B-DNA (PDB: 1BNA) as a macromolecular target. Structure and activity relationship of the reported compounds were correlated with the data of antimicrobial activities and the computed reactivity parameters.

Abstract Commonly used materials for protection against ionizing radiation (gamma and X-ray energy range) primarily rely on high-density materials, like lead, steel, or tungsten. However, these materials are heavy and often impractical for various applications, especially where weight is a key parameter, like in avionics or space technology. Here, we study the shielding properties of an alternative light material—a graphene-based composite with a relatively low density ~ 1 g/cm3. We demonstrate that the linear attenuation coefficient is energy of radiation dependent, and it is validated by the XCOM model, showing relatively good agreement. We also show that the mass attenuation coefficient for selected radiation energies is at least comparable with other known materials, exceeding the value of 0.2 cm2/g for higher energies. This study proves the usefulness of a commonly used model for predicting the attenuation of gamma and X-ray radiation for new materials. It shows a new potential candidate for shielding application.

Abstract A recent global health crisis, COVID-19 is a significant global health crisis that has profoundly affected lifestyles. The detection of such diseases from similar thoracic anomalies using medical images is a challenging task. Thus, the requirement of an end-to-end automated system is vastly necessary in clinical treatments. In this way, the work proposes a Squeeze-and-Excitation Attention-based ResNet50 (SEA-ResNet50) model for detecting COVID-19 utilizing chest X-ray data. Here, the idea lies in improving the residual units of ResNet50 using the squeeze-and-excitation attention mechanism. For further enhancement, the Ranger optimizer and adaptive Mish activation function are employed to improve the feature learning of the SEA-ResNet50 model. For evaluation, two publicly available COVID-19 radiographic datasets are utilized. The chest X-ray input images are augmented during experimentation for robust evaluation against four output classes namely normal, pneumonia, lung opacity, and COVID-19. Then a comparative study is done for the SEA-ResNet50 model against VGG-16, Xception, ResNet18, ResNet50, and DenseNet121 architectures. The proposed framework of SEA-ResNet50 together with the Ranger optimizer and adaptive Mish activation provided maximum classification accuracies of 98.38% (multiclass) and 99.29% (binary classification) as compared with the existing CNN architectures. The proposed method achieved the highest Kappa validation scores of 0.975 (multiclass) and 0.98 (binary classification) over others. Furthermore, the visualization of the saliency maps of the abnormal regions is represented using the explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) model, thereby enhancing interpretability in disease diagnosis.

Abstract Background In 2022, fewer than half of persons with tuberculosis (TB) had access to molecular diagnostic tests for TB due to their high costs. Studies have found that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) software for chest X-ray (CXR) interpretation and sputum specimen pooling can each reduce the cost of testing. We modeled the combination of both strategies to estimate potential savings in consumables that could be used to expand access to molecular diagnostics. Methods We obtained Xpert testing and positivity data segmented into deciles by AI probability scores for TB from the community- and healthcare facility-based active case finding conducted in Bangladesh, Nigeria, Viet Nam, and Zambia. AI scores in the model were based on CAD4TB version 7 (Zambia) and qXR (all other countries). We modeled four ordinal screening and testing approaches involving AI-aided CXR interpretation to indicate individual and pooled testing. Setting a false negative rate of 5%, for each approach we calculated additional and cumulative savings over the baseline of universal Xpert testing, as well as the theoretical expansion in diagnostic coverage. Results In each country, the optimal screening and testing approach was to use AI to rule out testing in deciles with low AI scores and to guide pooled vs individual testing in persons with moderate and high AI scores, respectively. This approach yielded cumulative savings in Xpert tests over baseline ranging from 50.8% in Zambia to 57.5% in Nigeria and 61.5% in Bangladesh and Viet Nam. Using these savings, diagnostic coverage theoretically could be expanded by 34% to 160% across the different approaches and countries. Conclusions Using AI software data generated during CXR interpretation to inform a differentiated pooled testing strategy may optimize TB diagnostic test use, and could extend molecular tests to more people who need them. The optimal AI thresholds and pooled testing strategy varied across countries, which suggests that bespoke screening and testing approaches may be needed for differing populations and settings.

Abstract In recent years, a novel x-ray imaging modality has emerged that reveals unresolved sample microstructure via a “dark-field image”, which provides complementary information to conventional “bright-field” images, such as attenuation and phase-contrast modalities. This x-ray dark-field signal is produced by unresolved microstructures scattering the x-ray beam resulting in localised image blur. Dark-field retrieval techniques extract this blur to reconstruct a dark-field image. Unfortunately, the presence of non-dark-field blur such as source-size blur or the detector point-spread-function can affect the dark-field retrieval as they also blur the experimental image. In addition, dark-field images can be degraded by the artefacts induced by large intensity gradients from attenuation and propagation-based phase contrast, particularly around sample edges. By measuring any non-dark-field blurring across the image plane and removing it from experimental images, as well as removing attenuation and propagation-based phase contrast, we show that a directional dark-field image can be retrieved with fewer artefacts and more consistent quantitative measures. We present the details of these corrections and provide “before and after” directional dark-field images of samples imaged at a synchrotron source. This paper utilises single-grid directional dark-field imaging, but these corrections have the potential to be broadly applied to other x-ray imaging techniques.

The BL17B beamline at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility was first designed as a versatile high-throughput protein crystallography beamline and one of five beamlines affiliated to the National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai. It was officially opened to users in July 2015. As a bending magnet beamline, BL17B has the advantages of high photon flux, brightness, energy resolution and continuous adjustable energy between 5 and 23 keV. The experimental station excels in crystal screening and structure determination, providing cost-effective routine experimental services to numerous users. Given the interdisciplinary and green energy research demands, BL17B beamline has undergone optimization, expanded its range of experimental methods and enhanced sample environments for a more user-friendly testing mode. These methods include single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder crystal X-ray diffraction, wide-angle X-ray scattering, grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS), and fully scattered atom pair distribution function analysis, covering structure detection from crystalline to amorphous states. This paper primarily presents the performance of the BL17B beamline and the application of the GIWAXS methodology at the beamline in the field of perovskite materials.

Background: A surgical removal of the lower third molars can lead to a number of complications, and bone restoration typically takes a large amount of time. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the combination of beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), plasmogel, and platelet-rich plasma on postsurgery bone tissue restoration by means of X-ray. Subjects and Methods: A total of 200 patients who underwent a complicated removal of the lower third molars were nonrandomly assigned to the experimental (EXP, n = 100) or control (CTR, n = 100) group. In the EXP group patients, sockets were filled with a combination of β-TCP, plasmogel, and platelet-rich plasma. In the CTR group, sockets were not treated. X-ray examinations were performed 3, 6, and 9 months (T1, T2, and T3) postsurgery to define bone quality on the Misch scale. The Mann–Whitney U-test was used for between-group comparison. Results: Aside from the overconsumption of sugars (more frequently in CTR) and marginally significant sex ratio difference (more females in CTR), the groups were equivalent. Although both groups improved on bone density with time, the EXP group demonstrated greater restoration at T1 (U = 3431, P < 0.001), T2 (U = 3190, P < 0.001), and T3 (U = 3505, P < 0.001) related to a greater percentage of D2 (dense thick porous cortical bone on the ridge and a coarse underlying trabecular bone). Conclusion: A combination of β-TCP, plasmogel, and platelet-rich plasma, compared to no treatment, facilitates bone tissue restoration after complicated surgical removal of the lower third molars.

Abstract Objective The potential influence of psychological factors on temporomandibular joint disorders has been clinically documented. To date, all research examining the impact of psychological stress on the temporomandibular joint has been conducted on animals. This study aims to explore the relationship between psychological stress and the structure of the human mandibular condyle. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed on individuals, who were referred to the radiology division of 5th Azar Hospital for head and neck Computed Tomography (CT) scans. All participants completed a perceived stress questionnaire to determine their level of stress. Bone density and cortical bone thickness were measured as indicators of mandibular condyle structure. Based on multi-slice CT scan data, bone density was calculated in the anterior, middle, and posterior mandibular condyle. The cortical bone thickness was also measured at the anterior and posterior mandibular condyle. Statistical analysis was performed in R 4.0.2 software. Results Seventy individuals, aged 18–59 years, participated in this study. The CT scans revealed a decrease in Hounsfield units (HU) and bone mineral density (BMD) in both the anterior and posterior regions. However, in the high-stress group, there was no significant difference in cortical bone thickness in the anterior and posterior regions of the condyle, nor in HU and BMD in the middle region of the condyle. An inverse correlation was observed between BMD and perceived stress in the anterior, middle, and posterior regions of both condyles. Conclusion The current findings indicate that recent psychological stress is associated with changes in the structure of the condyle.

Abstract This study constructed deep learning models using plain skull radiograph images to predict the accurate postnatal age of infants under 12 months. Utilizing the results of the trained deep learning models, it aimed to evaluate the feasibility of employing major changes visible in skull X-ray images for assessing postnatal cranial development through gradient-weighted class activation mapping. We developed DenseNet-121 and EfficientNet-v2-M convolutional neural network models to analyze 4933 skull X-ray images collected from 1343 infants. Notably, allowing for a ± 1 month error margin, DenseNet-121 reached a maximum corrected accuracy of 79.4% for anteroposterior (AP) views (average: 78.0 ± 1.5%) and 84.2% for lateral views (average: 81.1 ± 2.9%). EfficientNet-v2-M reached a maximum corrected accuracy 79.1% for AP views (average: 77.0 ± 2.3%) and 87.3% for lateral views (average: 85.1 ± 2.5%). Saliency maps identified critical discriminative areas in skull radiographs, including the coronal, sagittal, and metopic sutures in AP skull X-ray images, and the lambdoid suture and cortical bone density in lateral images, marking them as indicators for evaluating cranial development. These findings highlight the precision of deep learning in estimating infant age through non-invasive methods, offering the progress for clinical diagnostics and developmental assessment tools.

Abstract Background Recent advances in Vision Transformer (ViT)-based deep learning have significantly improved the accuracy of lung disease prediction from chest X-ray images. However, limited research exists on comparing the effectiveness of different optimizers for lung disease prediction within ViT models. This study aims to systematically evaluate and compare the performance of various optimization methods for ViT-based models in predicting lung diseases from chest X-ray images. Methods This study utilized a chest X-ray image dataset comprising 19,003 images containing both normal cases and six lung diseases: COVID-19, Viral Pneumonia, Bacterial Pneumonia, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and Tuberculosis. Each ViT model (ViT, FastViT, and CrossViT) was individually trained with each optimization method (Adam, AdamW, NAdam, RAdam, SGDW, and Momentum) to assess their performance in lung disease prediction. Results When tested with ViT on the dataset with balanced-sample sized classes, RAdam demonstrated superior accuracy compared to other optimizers, achieving 95.87%. In the dataset with imbalanced sample size, FastViT with NAdam achieved the best performance with an accuracy of 97.63%. Conclusions We provide comprehensive optimization strategies for developing ViT-based model architectures, which can enhance the performance of these models for lung disease prediction from chest X-ray images.

The study aims to develop a novel, lead-free, flexible and lightweight composite shielding material against ionizing radiation. For this, it was used bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) in RTV-2 silicon matrix. The shielding tests were carried out in both diagnostic X-ray energies and intermediate gamma-ray energy range of up to 662 keV to determine the radiation attenuation properties of this material in terms of attenuation ratio, half value layer, tenth value layer, mean free path and lead equivalency of samples in weight of 30%, 40%, 50% in Bi2O3. In the diagnostic X-ray energy range, half value layer, tenth value layer and lead equivalency (in mm Pb) of the produced samples were measured at 80 and 100 kVp narrow beam conditions according to the requirements of EN IEC 61331-1 standard. The results show that lead equivalent values of the produced novel sheets was measured to be 0.16 mm Pb, corresponding to a 6 mm thickness of the flexible sample when it contains 30% wt. Bi2O3 in RTV matrix. The experimental findings for durability and flexibility also indicated that this new RTV-based flexible, lead -free shielding composite can be used safely for especially for manufacturing aprons, garments and thyroid guards used in mammography, radiology, nuclear medicine and dental applications in practice.

Blown films from ethylene-propylene random copolymers (C2C3-RACOs) are used in many packaging applications today, constituting a major fraction of both mono- and multilayer packaging film constructions. Combining high processing speed and output with good mechanical and optical performance, mostly high toughness and low haze, requires understanding the structure-property-processing relations. To improve said understanding for C2C3-RACO blown films, two commercial grades with a nearly identical C2 content of ~4.4 wt% and identical melt flow rate (MFR) but different nucleation were selected. These were tested in a processing study, varying melt temperature, blow-up ratio (BUR) and neck length. The film structure was analysed by wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the performance by standard mechanical and optical tests. Variation of film crystallinity was found to be in the range of 62 to 65%, much smaller than in earlier cast film studies on comparable polymers. The tensile modulus is the only performance parameter for which a general positive correlation to crystallinity can be found, blown films being about 50% stiffer than the softest cast films of a comparable polymer. Ductility and toughness are enhanced by higher orientation, resulting from higher BUR and/or higher neck length. For transparency and haze, low surface roughness is decisive at comparable crystallinity, which can be achieved by increasing melt temperature.

Introduction Isfahan province is considered to be one of the top ten producing provinces of apple orchards with an area of 17,274 hectares and a production of 120,000 tons of apple. Determining the quality parameters of agricultural products requires the use of various methods, which are different according to the nature and characteristics of each product. The two main categories for dividing these methods include analytical (objective) methods and sensory (intrinsic) methods. Both qualitative assessment methods can be used in destructive and non-destructive ways. Apple is one of the fruits that can be stored for a relatively long time. Physiological changes during the storage period are inevitable and cause change to some quality characteristics of the fruit, such as firmness, moisture content, density, pH, and soluble solids. Using the methods of determining and extracting the quality characteristics of fruit during storage and monitoring the changes created, provides a suitable criterion for selecting and preparing the necessary conditions for storage and storage at the disposal of users and producers. X-ray imaging technique is among the methods used and computed tomography, which is now well-known in evaluation of various agricultural commodities and food quality. X-rays are electromagnetic waves with a short wavelength (0.01 to 10 nm) and high energy (from 120 electron volts to 120 kilo electron volts) that can penetrate many materials. Materials and Methods In order to determine the relationship between the physicochemical properties and the CT number of Golden Delicious apples, 280 Golden Delicious apples were collected from an orchard located in Semirom city of Isfahan province and stored in a cold room at 0 and 4 ºC and a humidity of 85±5%. These apples were harvested and collected from several trees after the fruit ripened completely. The weight and volume of apples were randomly selected based on the apples on the trees. The samples of stored apples were examined in 4 stages and based on the duration of storage on zero (the beginning of storage), 45, 90 and 135 days.. These tests included non-destructive tests of CT scan imaging and destructive tests to extract the physicochemical properties of apples, including CT number, pH, firmness, moisture, density, and soluble solids. In order to prepare CT scan images of apple samples (non-destructive X-ray test), a GE Healthcare multi-slice CT scan machine model 5122080-12 with 80 kV and 10 mA was used in the CT scan center of Al-Zahra Hospital in Isfahan. Moisture content was determined by weighing the samples and recording their moisture changes before and after drying in the oven at 105 ºC s for 24 hours. Total soluble solids were measured by refractometer device and reported as Brix degree. In order to measure the density of fruits, the weight and volume of each fruit was recorded. A digital pH meter was used to measure the pH of fruit. Penetrometer device was used to measure the firmness of apples. At the end, with the specified values, Pearson correlation coefficients between CT number and other physicochemical properties were determined. Also, by plotting the mentioned values, the most suitable regression equations with the highest coefficients of determination were obtained. Results and Discussion Based on the results, the average value of CT number, pH, firmness, moisture, density and total soluble solid of apple at two temperatures of zero and 4 ºC were -115.02 and -166.86, 3.85 and 3.86, 76 37.36 and 33.36 N, 0.82 and 0.80%, 0.76 and 0.72 g/cm3 and 15.30 and 15.79% Brix, respectively. The results showed that the CT number has a negative linear correlation with pH and total soluble solid and a positive linear correlation with the properties of apple firmness, moisture and fruit density. Based on the results, at two storage temperatures of 0 and 4 ºC, the coefficients of determination (R2) obtained from the linear regression model of CT number with pH levels of 0.75 and 0.55, apple firmness 0.32 and 0.57, moisture content 0.78 and 0.85, fruit density 0.82 and 0.84 and total soluble solid 0.85 and 0.62 were obtained. Conclusion These results shown that the non-destructive test of X-ray imaging can be used with a suitable approximation to determine some quality properties of apple products.

Objectives: Computed tomography CT scan is a medical device used in diagnosis; however, the radiation of CT will affect the human body such as blood components. Materials and Methods: In this study, the blood component of diabetic patients will examine the effect of CT radiation on blood components by withdrawing samples of 2 cc from diabetes patients’ blood before and after a CT scan on the body for patients who are exposed to the head, chest, and abdomen. Results: There were no significant statistical differences were between blood counts (WBC, RBC, and Hg) before and after the CT scan for the head, chest, and abdomen. Conclusions: The main conclusion of the current study is that, depending on the results, the CT scan is safe for patients.

Abstract A newly discovered coronavirus called COVID-19 poses the greatest threat to mankind in the twenty-first century. Mortality has dramatically increased in all cities and countries due to the virus's current rate of spread. A speedy and precise diagnosis is also necessary in order to treat the illness. This study identified three groups for chest X-ray images: Covid, normal, and pneumonia. This study's objective is to present a framework for categorizing chest X-ray images into three groups of pneumonia, normal, and Covid scenarios. To do this, chest X-ray images from the Kaggle database which have been utilized in previous studies were obtained. It is suggested to use an Efficientnet_b0 model to identify characteristics in raw data hierarchically. An unedited X-ray image of the chest is enhanced for more reasonable assumptions in order to apply the proposed method in real-world situations. With an overall accuracy of 93.75%, the proposed network correctly identified the chest X-ray images to the classes of Covid, viral pneumonia, and normal on the test set. 90% accuracy rate for the test dataset was attained for the viral pneumonitis group. On the test dataset, the Normal class accuracy was 94.7%, while the Covid class accuracy was 96%. The findings indicate that the network is robust. In addition, when compared to the most advanced techniques of identifying pneumonia, the concluded findings from the suggested model are highly encouraging. Since the recommended network is successful at doing so utilizing chest X-ray imaging, radiologists can diagnose COVID-19 and other lung infectious infections promptly and correctly.

Abstract Regarding to their unique physical and mechanical features, glasses and glass–ceramics are suitable materials for shielding purposes. The present study evaluates the shielding properties of the CaF2–CaO–B2O3–P2O5–SrO–Ta2O5 glass system using Monte Carlo GEANT4 and MCNPX codes for X-ray radiations with an energy range of 20 to 100 keV. MAC values of the Ta0, Ta1, Ta2, Ta2.5, and Ta3 samples of the CaF2–CaO–B2O3–P2O5–SrO–Ta2O5 glass were computed using Phy-X/PSD, GEANT4, and MCNPX codes and compared. According to the results, the programs have good compatibility with each other. For instance, in the energy of 40 keV and for the Ta2 sample, GEANT4 and MCNP codes are 1.445765406 and 1.517801204 cm2/g, respectively, indicating 7.419529525 and 2.829628418% differences with 1.562 cm2/g obtained using the Phy-X/PSD software. According to recent estimations, the Ta3 sample of the CaF2–CaO–B2O3–P2O5–SrO–Ta2O5 glass system can be selected as the best shield compared with the other samples.

Abstract Background To compare the diagnostic performance of the Node-RADS scoring system and lymph node (LN) size in preoperative LN assessment for rectal cancer (RC), and to investigate whether the selection of size as the primary criterion whereas morphology as the secondary criterion for LNs can be considered the preferred method for clinical assessment. Methods Preoperative CT data of 146 RC patients treated with radical resection surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The Node-RADS score and short-axis diameter of size-prioritized LNs and the morphology-prioritized LNs were obtained. The correlations of Node-RADS score to the pN stage, LNM number and lymph node ratio (LNR) were investigated. The performances on assessing pathological lymph node metastasis were compared between Node-RADS score and short-axis diameter. A nomogram combined the Node-RADS score and clinical features was also evaluated. Results Node-RADS score showed significant correlation with pN stage, LNM number and LNR (Node-RADS of size-prioritized LN: r = 0.600, 0.592, and 0.606; Node-RADS of morphology-prioritized LN: r = 0.547, 0.538, and 0.527; Node-RADSmax: r = 0.612, 0.604, and 0.610; all p

Abstract Objectives To establish a radiomics-based automatic grading model for knee osteoarthritis (OA) and evaluate the influence of different body positions on the model’s effectiveness. Materials and methods Plain radiographs of a total of 473 pairs of knee joints from 473 patients (May 2020 to July 2021) were retrospectively analyzed. Each knee joint included anteroposterior (AP) and lateral (LAT) images which were randomly assigned to the training cohort and the testing cohort at a ratio of 7:3. First, an assessment of knee OA severity was done by two independent radiologists with Kallgren–Lawrence grading scale. Then, another two radiologists independently delineated the region of interest for radiomic feature extraction and selection. The radiomic classification features were dimensionally reduced and a machine model was conducted using logistic regression (LR). Finally, the classification efficiency of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and the area under the curve (AUC). Results The AUC (macro/micro) of the model using a combination of AP and LAT (AP&LAT) images were 0.772/0.778, 0.818/0.799, and 0.864/0.879, respectively. The radiomic features from the combined images achieved better classification performance than the individual position image (p

Nickel and Tantalum alloys have a wide range of capabilities biomedical applications due to its high degree of biocompatibility, Favorable mechanical properties and high corrosion resistance The possibility of Osseointegration. In this study, all the alloys were prepared by powder metallurgy Then the alloying element (indium as a binder with different structural composition) in different groups (0.6, 0.7, and 0.8 wt.%) to the main alloy (75 wt.% Ni-25wt% Ta) for to study the effect of these elements on microstructure characterization (XRD, SEM, EDS, XRF and light optical microscopy) and mechanical properties (compression, hardness, Wet sliding corrosion tests) for this alloy. The compact pressure was determined as 800MPa and the green alloyed sintered at 700 oC for 5h in inert gas (Argon), then the samples cooled in the furnace.

Introduction: The fabella is a sesamoid bone found in the posterior and lateral region of the knee, identified on X-rays behind the femoral condyle in a true lateral view. Occasionally, it is a source of knee pain and is associated with radiological evidence of osteoarthritic knees. Due to its uncommon occurrence, there are very few studies related to an ossified fabella. While posteromedial pain and varus are common entities in knee arthritis, attention needs to be given to posterolateral structures like the fabella, as its radiological appearance may indicate the presence of arthritis. Aim: To determine the occurrence of the fabella and its association with arthritis and knee deformities, such as varus or valgus, in Indian knees on X-rays. Materials and Methods: This was a single-centre, X-ray-based, cross-sectional study conducted in the Joint Replacement Unit-II of the Department of Orthopaedics between June 2022 and March 2023 at KLE's Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital in Belagavi, Karnataka, India. A total of 500 knees were radiologically studied using Medsynapse/Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), and Cohen's Kappa Test statistics were employed to measure the agreement between the radiologist and orthopaedician regarding the presence or absence of the fabella interpreted on X-rays. Results: The occurrence of ossified fabella was observed in 87 (17.4%) subjects. Amongst these 27 (31.03%) had bilateral fabella, while remaining 60 (68.97%) had it either on left or right side. There was a high association between the occurrence of the fabella with age, Osteoarthritis (OA), and knee deformity (p-value0.05). Conclusion: The study revealed that ossified fabella is significantly associated with knee OA, age, and knee deformities.

A substantial source of death and morbidity in chest trauma patients is damage to the chest wall. The radiologists' accurate diagnosis and description of any damage to the chest wall can help direct the right care for the patient. The improvement in patient treatment results from catastrophic intra-thoracic injuries being diagnosed quickly. The imaging method used in an emergency situation must arrive at the right diagnosis as soon as feasible. Imaging is a crucial component of post-chest trauma care for both the initial diagnostic evaluation and the follow-up evaluation of prospective treatments. The anterio-posterior chest radiograph continued to be the first step in the imaging work-up despite its well-known limitations. Computed tomography with adjunctive imaging, which is now more frequently done on multi-detector computed tomography equipment, provides an important information that is not immediately available on the traditional radiograph. This enables a clearer description of thoracic injuries linked to trauma. This review aimed to examine and explain the radiological models connected with the diagnosis of chest trauma, as well as to explore the consequences for care. [SJEMed 2024; 5(1.000): 042-048]

الملخص أهداف البحث: يعتقد أن الأشعة المؤينة المستخدمة في أجهزة الأشعة يمكن أن تؤثر على أنسجة الجسم لدى موظفي قسم الأشعة. تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى مقارنة آثار التعرض طويل الأمد للأشعة السينية على خلايا الدم لدى الموظفين العاملين في أقسام الأشعة المختلفة في المستشفيات المختلفة في مدينة السليمانية / حكومة إقليم كردستان. طريقة البحث: أجريت هذه الدراسة المقطعية في الفترة من 2021 إلى 2022 على 250 موظفا في أقسام الأشعة المختلفة، والتي شملت أخصائيي الأشعة، ومصوري الأشعة، وغيرهم من الطاقم الطبي (طبيب، ممرض، ….إلخ)، وكانت لها معايير الاشتمال، على مستوى المستشفيات في مدينة السليمانية التابعة لحكومة إقليم كردستان. تم جمع البيانات باستخدام استبيان تم ملؤه من قبل المشاركين بعد أخذ الموافقة الشفهية. تم جمع عينة الدم من 250 من موظفي الأشعة ثم إرسالها إلى المختبر للتحقق من مؤشرات الدم. تم تحليل البيانات المجمعة وتم التحقق من المقارنة والعلاقات بين البيانات من خلال الاختبارات الإحصائية الوصفية. النتائج: أظهرت النتائج أن معظم العينات الذكور كانوا من فنيي الأشعة الحاصلين على درجة الدبلوم. كان هناك فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية بين مجموعتي الجنسين فيما يتعلق بمؤشرات الدم من خلايا الدم الحمراء، واختبار الهيماتوكريت، وحجم الكريات، والصفائح الدموية. كان هناك فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية بين المجموعات المهنية من حيث عرض توزيع خلايا الدم الحمراء - معامل التباين وعرض توزيع خلايا الدم الحمراء - الانحراف المعياري وفرق ذو دلالة إحصائية بين الموظفين الذين لديهم تاريخ من التدخين وغير المدخنين و المدخنين سابقاً من حيث متوسط كريات الدم البيضاء والخلايا الليمفاوية ووجود فرق ذو دلالة إحصائية بين الموظفين الذين لديهم تاريخ في استهلاك الكحول وغير الكحوليين ومدمني الكحول السابقين من حيث متوسط كريات الدم البيضاء. الاستنتاجات: بناء على نتائج هذه الدراسة يمكن استنتاج أن متغيرات الدم مثل عرض توزيع خلايا الدم الحمراء - معامل التباين وعرض توزيع خلايا الدم الحمراء - الانحراف المعياري تتأثر بناء على نوع الوظيفة ومدة التعرض لأشعة اكس. Abstract: Objectives: Ionizing rays used in radiology devices are believed to affect the body tissues of radiology department employees. This study was aimed at comparing the effects of long-term exposure to X-rays on the blood cells of staff working in the radiology departments of several hospitals in the Sulaimani City/Kurdistan region government. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2021 to 2022 on 250 employees—including radiologists, radiographers, and other medical staff such as physicians or nurses—in the radiology departments of hospitals in the city of Sulaimani, Kurdistan region government. Data were collected with a questionnaire completed by the participants after verbal consent was provided. Blood samples were collected from 250 radiology staff and sent to a laboratory for measurement of blood parameters. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS version 26 software, and relationships in the data were investigated with descriptive statistical tests, Student's t test, and ANOVA. Results: Most male participants were radiographers with a diploma degree. A statistically significant difference in RBC, HCT %, MCV, and PCT blood parameters was observed between sexes. Moreover, statistically significant differences were observed in RDW-CV and RDW-SD between occupational groups; in mean WBC and lymphocytes among staff who were current, never, or former smokers; and in mean WBC among employees who were current, never, or former drinkers (p

Our prior research has established that X-ray exposure induces pyroptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), with Cx43 playing a regulatory role in this process. However, the precise mechanism by which Cx43 regulates pyroptosis remains unclear. The objective of this study is to assess the involvement of the calcium signaling pathway in Cx43-mediated regulation of X-ray-induced pyroptosis in HUVECs.HUVECs were exposed to 10 Gy X-ray radiation either alone or combined with Cx43 overexpression or knockdown. Calcium ions (Ca2+) were stained using Fluo-4/AM and analyzed via flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Pyroptosis was assessed through flow cytometry by staining with FLICA (fluorescent-labeled inhibitor of caspase) and propidium iodide (PI). Calcium signaling was inhibited using BAPTA/AM, 2-APB, or nifedipine. Protein expression levels were assessed by western blotting.X-ray irradiation induced an increase in intracellular calcium levels in HUVECs in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The results demonstrated that regulating calcium release with BAPTA/AM, 2-APB, or nifedipine significantly reduced pyroptosis. Also, the overexpression of Cx43 significantly attenuated the increase in intracellular calcium. Conversely, Cx43 knockdown via siRNA significantly increased the intracellular calcium levels. Also, interfering with calcium signaling using BAPTA/AM, 2-APB, or nifedipine reduced the raised pyroptosis levels induced by Cx43 knockdown.Individual HUVECs exposed to high-dose X-ray irradiation exhibited an increase in intracellular calcium, leading to pyroptosis. Also, upregulating Cx43 expression reduced the pyroptosis levels by inhibiting intracellular calcium concentration. This study introduces new concepts for identifying targets for the prophylaxis and therapy of radiation-induced damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractX-ray diffraction (XRD) is an analytical technique that has found several applications focusing on the identification of crystal structure, space groups, plane, and orientation, in addition to qualitative and quantitative phase identification, and polymorphism behavior. An XRD diffractogram pattern/Bragg’s peak can also provide valuable information that can be used for various food applications. While this review details the fundamental principles of XRD, the types of XRD systems, instrumentation, and the components thereof, the focus is to serve as a structured resource on explored applications of XRD in food, majorly revolving around food quality and safety. While recent studies relevant to the field are highlighted, leads for futuristic prospects are presented. With its unique approach, the XRD analysis can prove to be a rapid, robust, and sensitive nondestructive approach to food quality evaluation. Recent reports indicate its scope for nonconventional applications such as the assessment of 3D printability of foods, ice crystal formation, and screening food adulterants. Studies also highlight its scope to complement or replace conventional food quality testing approaches that involve the usage of chemicals, extensive sample preparation procedures, derivatization steps and demand long testing times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biomechanical analysis of the sagittal alignment of the lumbar spine and pelvis on radiographs is common in clinical practices including chiropractic, physical therapy, scoliosis-related thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthosis (TLSO) management, orthopedics, and neurosurgery. Of specific interest is the assessment of pelvic morphology and the relationship between angle of pelvic incidence, sacral slope, and lumbar lordosis to pain, disability, and clinical treatment of spine conditions. The current state of the literature on the reliability of common methods quantifying these parameters on radiographs is limited. Methods: The objective of this systematic review is to identify and review the available studies on the reliability of different methods of biomechanical analysis of sagittal lumbo-pelvic parameters used in clinical practice. Our review followed the recommendations of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). The design of this systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023379873). Results: The search strategy yielded a total of 2387 articles. A total of 1539 articles were screened after deduplication and exclusion by automation tools, leaving 473 full-text articles that were retrieved. After exclusion, 64 articles met the inclusion criteria. The preponderance of the evidence showed good to excellent reliability for biomechanical assessment of sagittal lumbo-pelvic spine alignment. Conclusions: The results of this systematic review of the literature show that sagittal radiographic analysis of spinal biomechanics and alignment of the human lumbo-pelvic spine is a reliable tool for aiding diagnosis and management in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel organogermanium(IV) catecholates 1–9 of the general formula R'2Ge(Cat), where R' = Ph, Et, have been synthesized. Compounds were characterized by 1H, 13C NMR, IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of 1–3, 6, and 8 in crystal state were established using single-crystal X-ray analysis. The complexes are tetracoordinate germanium(IV) compounds containing a dioxolene ligand in a dianion (catecholato) form. Electrochemical transformations of target germanium(IV) complexes have been studied by cyclic voltammetry. The electro-oxidation mechanism of complexes 1–5, 7, and 10 (the related complex Ph2Ge(3,5-Cat) where 3,5-Cat is 3,5-di-tert-butylcatecholate) involves the consecutive formation of mono- and dicationic derivatives containing the oxidized forms of redox-active ligands. The stability of the generated monocations depends both on the hydrocarbon groups at the germanium atom and on the substituents in the catecholate ring. Compounds 6, 8, and 9 are oxidized irreversibly under the electrochemical conditions with the formation of unstable complexes. The radical scavenging activity and antioxidant properties of new complexes were estimated in the reaction with DPPH radical, ABTS radical cation, and CUPRACTEAC assay. It has been found that compounds 8 and 9 with benzothiazole or phenol fragments are more active in DPPH test. The presence of electron-rich moieties in the catecholate ligand makes complexes 5 and 7–9 more reactive to ABTS radical cation. The value of CUPRACTEAC for organogermanium(IV) catecholates varies from 0.23 to 1.45. The effect of compounds 1–9 in the process of lipid peroxidation of rat liver (Wistar) homogenate was determined in vitro. It was found that most compounds are characterized by pronounced antioxidant activity. A feature of complexes 1, 3, and 5–9 is the intensification of the antioxidant action with the incubation time. In the presence of additives of complexes 3, 5, 6, and 8, an induction period was observed during the process of lipid peroxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To retrospectively investigate scatter radiation (SCR) exposure among staff in the endourology operating theatre. Methods: During surgeries under fluoroscopic guidance, five professional groups (urological surgeon [US], surgical nurse [SN], assistant surgical nurse [ASN], anaesthetist [A], and anaesthesia care [AC]) wore real-time dosimeters (Philips DoseAware System) on their head and chest over lead aprons between July 2023 and February 2024. The SCR data were analysed and correlated with procedural and patient factors. Results: In total, 249 procedures were performed, including 86 retrograde intrarenal surgeries and 10 percutaneous nephrolithotomies. Median SCR exposure was 38.81, 17.20, 7.71, 11.58, 0.63, 0.23, 0.12, and 0.15 Microsievert (µSv) for US chest (USC), US head (USH), SN chest (SNC), SN head (SNH), A chest (AC), AC chest (ACC), ASN chest (ASNC), and ASN head (ASNH), respectively. There was a significant correlation between DAP and SCR doses detected by USC, USH, SNC, SNH, AC, and ACC dosimeters (p < 0.05). The median chest-to-eye conversion factor (CECF) was 2.11 for the US and 0.71 for the SN. Conclusions: This study, using real-time dosimetry, is among the first to assess staff occupational SCR exposure in endourology. It highlights a substantial SCR exposure, indicating an occupational health hazard that warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]