Management of Nuisance Macromoths in Expressways through Academic-Industrial Collaboration: Light Trap Designed on the Basis of Moths' Preferences for Light Attributes.

Aggregation of flying insects such as gypsy moths at commercial light sources in summer not only has an aesthetically negative impact on public facilities but also permits the establishment of new insect populations there from the next year. Although energy-efficient light traps equipped with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have recently been used for controlling pest insects in agriculture, there are very few maintenance-free light traps that are available on the market. Based on the results of field surveys, we fabricated a prototype light trap in which the preferences of insects for light irradiation angle and wavelength are implemented. Field experiments revealed that flying moths were attracted more to light with a narrow irradiation angle than to light with a wide irradiation angle. Moreover, there was a tendency for fewer moths to be collected when fluorescent paint was applied to the surface of the flight-interception board, indicating that a high contrast made by illumination and the background is preferred by flying moths. Taken together with our previous results, we found that the moth catch was influenced more by modification of the light design than by change in visible light wavelengths. A semi-portable light trap, named the "Kurihara trap" after the primary contributor to its development, is made of light-weight plastic and is driven by solar power. This light trap is omnidirectional and maintenance-free and is therefore suitable for deployment in the backyards of rest areas as well as at houses for long-term macromoth sampling.

Prediction of solid and micropapillary components in lung invasive adenocarcinoma: radiomics analysis from high-spatial-resolution CT data with 1024 matrix.

PURPOSE: To predict solid and micropapillary components in lung invasive adenocarcinoma using radiomic analyses based on high-spatial-resolution CT (HSR-CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this retrospective study, 64 patients with lung invasive adenocarcinoma were enrolled. All patients were scanned by HSR-CT with 1024 matrix. A pathologist evaluated subtypes (lepidic, acinar, solid, micropapillary, or others). Total 61 radiomic features in the CT images were calculated using our modified texture analysis software, then filtered and minimized by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression to select optimal radiomic features for predicting solid and micropapillary components in lung invasive adenocarcinoma. Final data were obtained by repeating tenfold cross-validation 10 times. Two independent radiologists visually predicted solid or micropapillary components on each image of the 64 nodules with and without using the radiomics results. The quantitative values were analyzed with logistic regression models. The receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to predict of solid and micropapillary components. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Two features (Coefficient Variation and Entropy) were independent indicators associated with solid and micropapillary components (odds ratio, 30.5 and 11.4; 95% confidence interval, 5.1-180.5 and 1.9-66.6; and P = 0.0002 and 0.0071, respectively). The area under the curve for predicting solid and micropapillary components was 0.902 (95% confidence interval, 0.802 to 0.962). The radiomics results significantly improved the accuracy and specificity of the prediction of the two radiologists. CONCLUSION: Two texture features (Coefficient Variation and Entropy) were significant indicators to predict solid and micropapillary components in lung invasive adenocarcinoma.

The evaluation of the reduction of radiation dose via deep learning-based reconstruction for cadaveric human lung CT images.

To compare the quality of CT images of the lung reconstructed using deep learning-based reconstruction (True Fidelity Image: TFI ™; GE Healthcare) to filtered back projection (FBP), and to determine the minimum tube current-time product in TFI without compromising image quality. Four cadaveric human lungs were scanned on CT at 120 kVp and different tube current-time products (10, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 175 mAs) and reconstructed with TFI and FBP. Two image evaluations were performed by three independent radiologists. In the first experiment, using the same tube current-time product, a side-by-side TFI and FBP comparison was performed. Images were evaluated with regard to noise, streak artifacts, and overall image quality. Overall image quality was evaluated in view of whole image quality. In the second experiment, CT images reconstructed using TFI and FBP with five different tube current-time products were displayed in random order, which were evaluated with reference to the 175 mAs-FBP image. Images were scored with regard to normal structure, abnormal findings, noise, streak artifacts, and overall image quality. Median scores from three radiologists were statistically analyzed. Quantitative evaluation of noise was performed by setting regions of interest (ROIs) in air. In first experiment, overall image quality was improved, and noise was decreased in images of TFI compared to that of FBP for all tube current-time products. In second experiment, scores of all evaluation items except for small vessels in images of 25 mAs-TFI were almost the same as that of 175 mAs-FBP (all p > 0.31). Using TFI instead of FBP, at least 85% radiation dose reduction could be possible without any degradation in the image quality.

Prognostic impact of tumor volume in patients with complete resection of thymoma.

BACKGROUND: The impact of tumor volume on prognosis is unclear. We therefore investigated the correlation between tumor volume and prognosis in patients with complete resection of thymoma. METHODS: A total of 177 patients who underwent curative surgical resection for thymoma were retrospectively collected and reviewed. We performed a volumetric analysis of each case using the modified version of "Watchin GGO" and evaluated the relationship between tumor volume and recurrence. RESULTS: The median tumor size was 5.0 (range 0.5-15) cm, and the median tumor volume was 35.1 (range 0.265-881.0) cm3 . The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was 0.658, suggesting a moderately strong connection between tumor volume and tumor size. To determine the impact of tumor volume on tumor recurrence, receiver operating characteristic curves of the recurrence and tumor volume were calculated. The area under the curve was 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51-0.80), and the optimal cutoff level of the tumor volume for recurrence was 82.6 cm3 , with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.64 (11/17) and 0.74 (119/160), respectively. Patients with tumors ≥82.6 cm3 had a significantly worse recurrence-free survival than those with smaller tumors (p = 0.0122, hazard ratio: 2.99), with 5-year recurrence rates of 74.9% (95% CI: 58.6%-86.3%) versus 88.9% (95% CI: 79.0%-94.4%). CONCLUSION: The volume of completely resectable thymoma may be a useful prognostic indicator.

Ascending pharyngeal-vertebral anastomosis demonstrated by computed tomography angiography of the ascending pharyngeal artery: a case report.

Ascending pharyngeal-vertebral anastomosis has been identified by angiography of the carotid artery in several cases. We present a case of ascending pharyngeal-vertebral anastomosis that was found incidentally in computed tomography angiography of the ascending pharyngeal artery. Images revealed that the anastomosis formed through the hypoglossal branch of the neuromeningeal trunk. The anastomosis seemed to be associated with hypoplasia of the right vertebral artery. Interventional radiologists should be aware of this dangerous anastomotic route of the APA to the VA. Discovery of hypoplasia of the major intracranial arteries before intra-arterial chemotherapy or embolization in head and neck area may avoid subsequent complications.

Quantitative volumetry of ground-glass nodules on high-spatial-resolution CT with 0.25-mm section thickness and 1024 matrix: Phantom and clinical studies.

OBJECTIVES: To compare high-resolution (HR) and conventional (C) settings of high-spatial-resolution computed tomography (CT) for software volumetry of ground-glass nodules (GGNs) in phantoms and patients. METHODS: We placed -800 and -630 HU spherical GGN-mimic nodules in 28 different positions in phantoms and scanned them individually. Additionally, 60 GGNs in 45 patients were assessed retrospectively. Images were reconstructed using the HR-setting (matrix size, 1024; slice thickness, 0.25 mm) and C-setting (matrix size, 512; slice thickness, 0.5 mm). We measured the GGN volume and mass using software. In the phantom study, the absolute percentage error (APE) was calculated as the absolute difference between Vernier caliper measurement-based and software-based volumes. In patients, we measured the density (mean, maximum, and minimum) and classified GGNs into low- and high-attenuation GGNs. RESULTS: In images of the -800 HU, but not -630 HU, phantom nodules, the volumes and masses differed significantly between the two settings (both p < 0.01). The APE was significantly lower in the HR-setting than in the C-setting (p < 0.01). In patients, volumes did not differ significantly between settings (p = 0.59). Although the mean attenuation was not significantly different, the maximum and minimum values were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, in the HR-setting (both p < 0.01). The volumes of both low-attenuation and high-attenuation GGNs were not significantly different between settings (p = 0.78 and 0.39, respectively). CONCLUSION: The HR-setting might yield a more accurate volume for phantom GGN of -800 HU and influence the detection of maximum and minimum CT attenuation.

Volumetric analysis of the thymic epithelial tumors: correlation of tumor volume with the WHO classification and Masaoka staging.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to investigate the correlation between tumor volume (TV) and each subtype of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) based on the World Health Organization (WHO) classification and Masaoka staging. METHODS: Sixty-one consecutive patients (45 thymomas and 16 thymic carcinomas) were studied. All were classified according to Masaoka staging: 31 non-invasive TETs (stage I) and 30 invasive TETs (8 stage II, 11 stage III, 3 stage IVa, and 8 stage IVb). TV on computed tomography (CT) were semi-automatically calculated using our software. The correlation of TV with each WHO subtype and Masaoka staging was analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Scheffe's F test. RESULTS: Thymic carcinoma (mean ± SD, 117.5±143.6 cm3) was significantly larger than thymoma (53.4±78.4 cm3) (P=0.0016). Stage IVb tumor (190.8±156.8 cm3) was significantly larger than stage I (33.1±42.6 cm3) (P<0.05). Invasive TETs were significantly larger than non-invasive TETs (P=0.0016). TV >54.3 cm3 indicated invasive TETs. CONCLUSIONS: TV of invasive TETs may be larger at the time of initial presentation. TV >54.3 cm3 indicates invasive TETs.

Lung nodule detection performance in five observers on computed tomography (CT) with adaptive iterative dose reduction using three-dimensional processing (AIDR 3D) in a Japanese multicenter study: Comparison between ultra-low-dose CT and low-dose CT by receiver-operating characteristic analysis.

PURPOSE: To compare lung nodule detection performance (LNDP) in computed tomography (CT) with adaptive iterative dose reduction using three dimensional processing (AIDR3D) between ultra-low dose CT (ULDCT) and low dose CT (LDCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was part of the Area-detector Computed Tomography for the Investigation of Thoracic Diseases (ACTIve) Study, a multicenter research project being conducted in Japan. Institutional Review Board approved this study and informed consent was obtained. Eighty-three subjects (body mass index, 23.3 ± 3.2) underwent chest CT at 6 institutions using identical scanners and protocols. In a single visit, each subject was scanned using different tube currents: 240, 120 and 20 mA (3.52, 1.74 and 0.29 mSv, respectively). Axial CT images with 2-mm thickness/increment were reconstructed using AIDR3D. Standard of reference (SOR) was determined based on CT images at 240 mA by consensus reading of 2 board-certificated radiologists as to the presence of lung nodules with the longest diameter (LD) of more than 3mm. Another 5 radiologists independently assessed and recorded presence/absence of lung nodules and their locations by continuously-distributed rating in CT images at 20 mA (ULDCT) and 120 mA (LDCT). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate LNDP of both methods in total and also in subgroups classified by LD (>4, 6 and 8 mm) and nodular characteristics (solid and ground glass nodules). RESULTS: For SOR, 161 solid and 60 ground glass nodules were identified. No significant difference in LNDP for entire solid nodules was demonstrated between both methods, as area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.844 ± 0.017 in ULDCT and 0.876 ± 0.026 in LDCT (p=0.057). For ground glass nodules with LD 8mm or more, LNDP was similar between both methods, as AUC 0.899 ± 0.038 in ULDCT and 0.941 ± 0.030 in LDCT. (p=0.144). CONCLUSION: ULDCT using AIDR3D with an equivalent radiation dose to chest x-ray could have comparable LNDP to LDCT with AIDR3D except for smaller ground glass nodules in cases with normal range body habitus.