Right main pulmonary artery distensibility on dynamic ventilation CT and its association with respiratory function.

BACKGROUND: Heartbeat-based cross-sectional area (CSA) changes in the right main pulmonary artery (MPA), which reflects its distensibility associated with pulmonary hypertension, can be measured using dynamic ventilation computed tomography (DVCT) in patients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during respiratory dynamics. We investigated the relationship between MPA distensibility (MPAD) and respiratory function and how heartbeat-based CSA is related to spirometry, mean lung density (MLD), and patient characteristics. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed DVCT performed preoperatively in 37 patients (20 female and 17 males) with lung cancer aged 70.6 ± 7.9 years (mean ± standard deviation), 18 with COPD and 19 without. MPA-CSA was separated into respiratory and heartbeat waves by discrete Fourier transformation. For the cardiac pulse-derived waves, CSA change (CSAC) and CSA change ratio (CSACR) were calculated separately during inhalation and exhalation. Spearman rank correlation was computed. RESULT: In the group without COPD as well as all cases, CSACR exhalation was inversely correlated with percent residual lung volume (%RV) and RV/total lung capacity (r = -0.68, p = 0.003 and r = -0.58, p = 0.014). In contrast, in the group with COPD, CSAC inhalation was correlated with MLDmax and MLD change rate (MLDmax/MLDmin) (r = 0.54, p = 0.020 and r = 0.64, p = 0.004) as well as CSAC exhalation and CSACR exhalation. CONCLUSION: In patients with insufficient exhalation, right MPAD during exhalation was decreased. Also, in COPD patients with insufficient exhalation, right MPAD was reduced during inhalation as well as exhalation, which implied that exhalation impairment is a contributing factor to pulmonary hypertension complicated with COPD. RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Assessment of MPAD in different respiratory phases on DVCT has the potential to be utilized as a non-invasive assessment for pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease and/or hypoxia and elucidation of its pathogenesis. KEY POINTS: • There are no previous studies analyzing all respiratory phases of right main pulmonary artery distensibility (MPAD). • Patients with exhalation impairment decreased their right MPAD. • Analysis of MPAD on dynamic ventilation computed tomography contributes to understanding the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease and/or hypoxia in patients with expiratory impairment.

Immune-related aseptic meningitis diagnosed by Cube FLAIR on enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for a lung cancer patient administered atezolizumab: A case report.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs), such as neurological toxicity. A 46-year-old man was diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer. Lung cancer recurred 3 years after he experienced left segmental lung rejection. Therefore, he received atezolizumab as fourth-line chemotherapy. He experienced fever, headache, and decreased consciousness 10 days after the first dose of atezolizumab. Plain head computed tomography and cerebrospinal fluid examination showed no significant findings. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a Gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced Cube fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence showed nodular abnormalities with contrast enhancement. Thus, aseptic meningitis caused by ICIs was suspected. His consciousness level gradually improved with glucocorticoid therapy. Moreover, most nodular abnormalities observed on cerebral MRI disappeared concurrently. Thus, Gd-enhanced Cube FLAIR sequence has the unique ability to reveal immune-related aseptic meningitis.

Computed tomography imaging findings of nivolumab-induced thyroid dysfunction.

The thyroid gland is most frequently involved in immune-related adverse events (irAEs) by nivolumab. We reviewed the thyroid function and thyroid gland volume and volume change ratio between baseline and follow-up CT (volume follow-up/volume baseline) in 24 patients treated with nivolumab for lung cancer and renal cell carcinoma. Among them, four (16.7%) demonstrated nivolumab-induced thyroid dysfunction that shows either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Three and one cases were treated with nivolumab for lung cancer and renal cell carcinoma, respectively. Two patients with hypothyroidism (cases 1 and 2) showed reduced thyroid volume (volume change ratio: 0.80 and 0.84) on computed tomography (CT) images. Besides, remarkably diminished CT attenuation of the thyroid gland was observed in a patient with hypothyroidism (case 2). One of the two patients with hyperthyroidism showed increased thyroid volume (volume change ratio: 1.32) (case 3), whereas no difference in the thyroid gland volume was observed between the previous and follow-up CT in another patient with hyperthyroidism (case 4). Thyroid volume change ratio >0.1 was observed even in 6 of 20 (30%) patients without thyroid dysfunction. Considering the wide use of nivolumab in cancer treatment, radiologists should be aware that changes in the thyroid volume and attenuation on CT are associated with thyroid dysfunction caused by nivolumab, as well as thyroid volume may change even in patients with normal thyroid function during nivolumab therapy.

Verification of algorithm for automatic detection of electronic devices mounted on waste printed circuit boards.

In this study, an algorithm for sorting waste products that is capable of automatically determining the value of raw materials during the sorting process is proposed. The algorithm automatically measures the sum of the top surface areas of integrated circuits (ICs), memory assemblies, and connectors (which account for over 80% of the resource value) from two-dimensional (2D) digital images of waste printed circuit boards. The sum of top surface areas is directly correlated with the total resource value. This algorithm continuously identifies the characteristics (e.g., color, size, and shape) of each device and performs relatively simple sequences of image processing. Tests on 46 types of waste digital-camera boards reveal the detection rates for ICs/memories and connectors to be 73% and 86%, respectively. The first measure is low because ICs/memories with long-side lengths of 2-5 mm are incorrectly identified as transistors or diodes in several cases. However, the proportion of ICs and memories with sides ≥5 mm is determined to be approximately 90% based on the sum of top surface areas, and the estimated values are 105% and 95% of the measured values, respectively. Furthermore, the sum of the top surface areas of both ICs and connectors is 101%. This reveals that the resource values can be estimated with a certain degree of accuracy. The analysis of cases of false detection and non-detection enable the identification of the major factors causing non-identification. The use of machine learning algorithms is determined to be an effective countermeasure. Furthermore, mitigation methods are specified.Implications: An automatic detection algorism of electric devices mounted on waste printed circuit boards was constructed to straightforwardly and rapidly evaluate the resource values of printed circuit boards in small waste home appliances. A program developed based on the algorithm automatically measures the sum of the top surface areas of ICs/memory and connectors, which account for over 80% of the resource value of mounted devices. Because the structure of the algorithm is simple and can be applied to multiple target devices, high-speed processing can be achieved when implementing a waste product sorter.

Detailed short-term follow-up high-resolution CT series of differentiation syndrome.

A 57-year-old man with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML) received induction therapy including all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). At day 15, he developed dyspnoea, haemoptysis and hypoxia. Thorax CT demonstrated diffuse ground-glass opacity and consolidation predominantly in dorsal regions, which may reflect increased vascular permeability. He was diagnosed with differentiation syndrome. After dexamethasone was administered and chemotherapy suspended, his symptoms improved and abnormal lesions mostly disappeared on follow-up CT examinations. We report a short-term high-resolution CT series of differentiation syndrome.

Design-of-experiment analysis of non-destructive detachment of electric parts from printed circuit boards of mobile phones using a cross-flow shredder.

For minor metal recycling from electric parts, detachment without breakage (non-destructive detachment) of the electric parts from printed circuit boards (PCBs) is required. A cross-flow shredder (CFS), a drum-type chain mill, is often used in PCB recycling, but the effects of its individual features (e.g., chain thickness) on the non-destructive detachment of the PCB parts have yet to be understood. In this study, a CFS suited to the design-of-experiment (DoE) approach was developed; 27 different experimental conditions were evaluated, with three repetitions under each condition for a single PCB crushing, and the effect of nine CFS factors on the non-destructive detachment of parts from the PCBs of mobile phones was investigated. It was revealed that two factors (rotation rate and vent screen) have a statistically significant influence on such non-destructive detachment, and two other factors (chain-wall distance and crushing time) have a significant influence on related results such as the overcrushing of boards (PCBs after parts detachment) and powder generation. Based on these results, a future perspective on CFS improvement is presented.

Constructing an automatic object-recognition algorithm using labeling information for efficient recycling of WEEE.

In an attempt to select an efficient recycling process for waste electrical and electronic equipment based on the value of individual products, we are engaged in the development of an automatic object-recognition system for discarded equipment. As part of this initiative, we developed a new object-recognition algorithm that uses the information from the labels on the bottoms of digital cameras discarded in Japan, which have a relatively high value. In addition, we created a program that can continuously process multiple two-dimensional digital images of the bottoms of the discarded cameras. The algorithm developed consists of the following: 1. Identifying the manufacturer using template matching with the manufacturer's logo on the label as a template image; 2. reading the model name located close to the logo using optical character recognition (OCR) processing; and 3. extracting the model-name candidates via a similarity calculation between the result of the OCR and the model-name list. After analyzing the information on the label of the discarded cameras, we carried out an object-recognition test using the images captured inside a photography box. The results demonstrated that on average, 48% of the total number of template images was necessary to identify all the manufacturers. This value varies from manufacturer to manufacturer; however, the template image with the "highest versatility" correctly matched 42% of the models of a certain manufacturer. The model-name identification for each manufacturer was successful 92% of the time on average, which indicated the effectiveness of this algorithm and emphasized the necessity of extracting the model-name candidates from the OCR result. Finally, assuming that a continuous process will be feasible in the future, a test was carried out using the photographed images of the discarded cameras moving on a conveyor belt at a speed of 0.5 m/s. The results demonstrated that the percentage of the number of template images required to identify the manufacturer was almost identical to that for static images. Notwithstanding the limitations of the image resolution (58% lower than that of the still images), the model-name identification rate was 81%.

Recovery of LaPO4:Ce,Tb from waste phosphors using high-gradient magnetic separation.

LaPO4:Ce,Tb (LAP) containing high terbium concentration was successfully recovered from waste phosphor from end-of-life fluorescent lamps by high-gradient magnetic separation (HGMS). In addition to HGMS, some contaminants in the waste phosphor, e.g., iron oxide and glass powder, were also removed by sieving and sedimentation. Repeating the magnetic separation procedure three times yielded LAP with a purity of 87%. Luminescence spectra intensities of recovered LAP were as high as 95% compared with virgin LAP. This recovery method will be useful during rare-earth crises.

Selective recovery of catalyst layer from supporting matrix of ceramic-honeycomb-type automobile catalyst.

Natural resources of platinum group metals (PGMs) are limited and their demand is increasing because of their extensive uses in industrial applications. The low rate of production of PGMs due to low concentration in the related natural ores and high cost of production have made the recovery of PGMs from previously discarded catalytic converters a viable proposition. The ceramic-honeycomb-type automobile catalytic converter contains appreciable amount of PGMs. These valuable substances, which are embedded in the catalyst layer and covered on the surface of the supporting matrix, were selectively recovered by attrition scrubbing. The attrition scrubbing was effective for the selective recovery of catalyst layer. The process was convinced as the comminution and separation process by physical impact and shearing action between particles in the scrubbing vessel. The catalyst layer was dislodged from the surface of the supporting matrix into fine particles by attrition scrubbing. The recovery of Al(2)O(3) and total PGMs in the fraction less than 300 µm increased with the residence time whereas their contents in the recovered materials slightly decreased. The interparticle scrubbing became favorable when the initial input size increased. However, the solid/liquid ratio in the mixing vessel was slightly affected by the low density of converter particles.