Follow-up results of BI-RADS 3 lesions on magnetic resonance imaging: a retrospective study

PURPOSE: The categorization of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 3 lesions is not as clear in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as it is in mammography (MG). With the increasing number of MRI scans currently being conducted globally, incidentally detected lesions falling into the probably benign category are frequently being observed. In this study, our aim was to investigate the imaging characteristics and follow-up results of BI-RADS 3 lesions detected by MRI and to determine their malignancy rates. METHODS: Breast MRI scans performed between January 2010 and January 2020 and classified as BI-RADS 3 lesions were retrospectively analyzed. The study included 216 lesions with known biopsy or surgical excision results or with at least one year of radiological follow-up. We assessed the patients' age, the presence of breast cancer, the follow-up interval, and the imaging findings at the beginning and during the follow-up. Lesions that remained stable, disappeared, or decreased in size and had a benign histopathological diagnosis were classified as benign. Lesions with the histopathological diagnosis of malignancy, identified by either biopsy or surgical excision, were classified as malignant. We determined the malignancy rate based on the histopathology and follow-up results. RESULTS: Considering the follow-up results of all cases, 8% of lesions were excised, 0.5% decreased in size, 1.4% became enlarged, 17.1% disappeared, and 73% remained stable. The malignancy rate was 2.8%. A significant relationship was found between lesion shape and malignancy, as progression to malignancy was more likely in round lesions than in other types. An irregular margin, heterogeneous enhancement, and kinetic curve (type 2) features were significant for lesion upgrade to malignancy. CONCLUSION: The malignancy rate in BI-RADS 3 lesions detected by MRI is low and falls within the accepted cancer rate for MG and sonography. Changes in size, morphology, and enhancement pattern should be considered in terms of malignancy development during follow-up. The follow-up intervals should be determined on a case-by-case basis.

A novel adaptive state-of-charge balancing control scheme for cascaded H-bridge multilevel converter based battery storage systems.

Variations in state-of-charges (SOCs) of batteries in a cascaded H-bridge multilevel converter (CHB-MLC) based battery storage system (BSS) could lead to undesired efficiency and performance drops, even failure of the whole system. Hence, SOC balancing is crucial for BSSs. Avoiding over-modulation region, ensuring zero common-mode voltage and reaching balanced SOC condition as quickly as possible are the key points to consider while performing SOC balancing. In this paper, a gain-scheduling based adaptive SOC balancing method is proposed for single-phase CHB-MLC based BSSs. In the proposed method, gains of the proportional controllers are updated at each sampling time based on the mathematical relationship between instantaneous SOCs and voltage reference of the CHB-MLC. Performance of the proposed method is validated through a Monte Carlo simulation based numerical analysis and experimental studies on a single-phase three-module CHB-MLC based BSS. Results reveal that the proposed method achieves SOC balancing at least two times faster than the traditional constant gain methods while avoiding over-modulation region and having zero common-mode voltage.

A Systematic Characterization Approach for Vacuum Bag Only Prepregs towards an Accurate Process Design.

Aerospace-grade composite parts can be manufactured using Vacuum Bag Only prepregs through an accurate process design. Quality in the desired part can be realized by following process modeling, process optimization, and validation, which strongly depend on a primary and systematic material characterization methodology of the prepreg system and material constitutive behavior. The present study introduces a systematic characterization approach of a Vacuum Bag Only prepreg by covering the relevant material properties in an integrated manner with the process mechanisms of fluid flow, consolidation, and heat transfer. The characterization recipe is practiced under the categories of (i) resin system, (ii) fiber architecture, and (iii) thermal behavior. First, empirical models are successively developed for the cure-kinetics, glass transition temperature, and viscosity for the resin system. Then, the fiber architecture of the uncured prepreg system is identified with X-ray tomography to obtain the air permeability. Finally, the thermal characteristics of the prepreg and its constituents are experimentally characterized by adopting a novel specimen preparation technique for the specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity. Thus, this systematic approach is designed to provide the material data to process modeling with the motivation of a robust and integrated Vacuum Bag Only process design.