scholarly journals CT-scanning of the drying process of Eucalyptus nitens

Author(s):  
José Couceiro ◽  
Lars Hansson ◽  
Ahec Ambrož ◽  
Dick Sandberg

The drying of Eucalyptus nitens is a troublesome process as the species is extremely prone to drying defects. This paper reports ongoing research to improve the understanding of surface checking and cell collapse in Chilean grown Eucalyptus nitens during drying. Computed tomography (CT) scanning was used as a powerful tool for studying the internal changes in the wood-material during the drying process. Different levels of temperatures have been tested with the same equilibrium moisture content (EMC) conditions and low air velocity. The results confirm that a low drying temperature and a low air velocity, which results in a slow rate of drying, reduce internal cell collapse  and surface checking . Keywords: Cell collapse; computed tomography; surface checks; wood drying; internal checks

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 478-482
Author(s):  
Steven R. Manchester

Abstract—The type material on which the fossil genus name Ampelocissites was established in 1929 has been reexamined with the aid of X-ray micro-computed tomography (μ-CT) scanning and compared with seeds of extant taxa to assess the relationships of these fossils within the grape family, Vitaceae. The specimens were collected from a sandstone of late Paleocene or early Eocene age. Although originally inferred by Berry to be intermediate in morphology between Ampelocissus and Vitis, the newly revealed details of seed morphology indicate that these seeds represent instead the Ampelopsis clade. Digital cross sections show that the seed coat maintains its thickness over the external surfaces, but diminishes quickly in the ventral infolds. This feature, along with the elliptical chalaza and lack of an apical groove, indicate that Ampelocissites lytlensis Berry probably represents Ampelopsis or Nekemias (rather than Ampelocissus or Vitis) and that the generic name Ampelocissites may be useful for fossil seeds with morphology consistent with the Ampelopsis clade that lack sufficient characters to specify placement within one of these extant genera.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shota Ichikawa ◽  
Misaki Hamada ◽  
Hiroyuki Sugimori

AbstractBody weight is an indispensable parameter for determination of contrast medium dose, appropriate drug dosing, or management of radiation dose. However, we cannot always determine the accurate patient body weight at the time of computed tomography (CT) scanning, especially in emergency care. Time-efficient methods to estimate body weight with high accuracy before diagnostic CT scans currently do not exist. In this study, on the basis of 1831 chest and 519 abdominal CT scout images with the corresponding body weights, we developed and evaluated deep-learning models capable of automatically predicting body weight from CT scout images. In the model performance assessment, there were strong correlations between the actual and predicted body weights in both chest (ρ = 0.947, p < 0.001) and abdominal datasets (ρ = 0.869, p < 0.001). The mean absolute errors were 2.75 kg and 4.77 kg for the chest and abdominal datasets, respectively. Our proposed method with deep learning is useful for estimating body weights from CT scout images with clinically acceptable accuracy and potentially could be useful for determining the contrast medium dose and CT dose management in adult patients with unknown body weight.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Petri Paakkari ◽  
Satu I. Inkinen ◽  
Miitu K. M. Honkanen ◽  
Mithilesh Prakash ◽  
Rubina Shaikh ◽  
...  

AbstractPhoton-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) is a modern spectral imaging technique utilizing photon-counting detectors (PCDs). PCDs detect individual photons and classify them into fixed energy bins, thus enabling energy selective imaging, contrary to energy integrating detectors that detects and sums the total energy from all photons during acquisition. The structure and composition of the articular cartilage cannot be detected with native CT imaging but can be assessed using contrast-enhancement. Spectral imaging allows simultaneous decomposition of multiple contrast agents, which can be used to target and highlight discrete cartilage properties. Here we report, for the first time, the use of PCD-CT to quantify a cationic iodinated CA4+ (targeting proteoglycans) and a non-ionic gadolinium-based gadoteridol (reflecting water content) contrast agents inside human osteochondral tissue (n = 53). We performed PCD-CT scanning at diffusion equilibrium and compared the results against reference data of biomechanical and optical density measurements, and Mankin scoring. PCD-CT enables simultaneous quantification of the two contrast agent concentrations inside cartilage and the results correlate with the structural and functional reference parameters. With improved soft tissue contrast and assessment of proteoglycan and water contents, PCD-CT with the dual contrast agent method is of potential use for the detection and monitoring of osteoarthritis.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Masakatsu Tsurusaki ◽  
Keitaro Sofue ◽  
Masatoshi Hori ◽  
Kosuke Sasaki ◽  
Kazunari Ishii ◽  
...  

Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is an imaging technique based on data acquisition at two different energy settings. Recent advances in CT have allowed data acquisitions and simultaneous analyses of X-rays at two energy levels, and have resulted in novel developments in the field of abdominal imaging. The use of low and high X-ray tube voltages in DECT provide fused images that improve the detection of liver tumors owing to the higher contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the tumor compared with the liver. The use of contrast agents in CT scanning improves image quality by enhancing the CNR and signal-to-noise ratio while reducing beam-hardening artifacts. DECT can improve detection and characterization of hepatic abnormalities, including mass lesions. The technique can also be used for the diagnosis of steatosis and iron overload. This article reviews and illustrates the different applications of DECT in liver imaging.


2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 493-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vamseemohan Beeram ◽  
Sundaram Challa ◽  
Prasad Vannemreddy

✓ Craniocerebral maduromycetoma is extremely rare. The authors describe a case of maduromycetoma involving the left parietal cortex, bone, and subcutaneous tissue in a young male farm laborer who presented with left parietal scalp swelling that had progressed into a relentlessly discharging sinus. Computed tomography (CT) scanning of his brain revealed osteomyelitis of the parietal bone with an underlying homogeneously enhancing tumor. Intraoperatively, the mass was revealed to be a black lesion involving the bone, dura mater, and underlying cerebral cortex. It was friable and separated from the surrounding brain by a thick gliotic scar. Gross-total excision was performed, and the patient was placed on a 6-week regimen of itraconazole. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first instance of cerebral mycetoma with CT findings reported in the literature.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Younes Bahammou ◽  
Mounir Kouhila ◽  
Haytem Moussaoui ◽  
Hamza Lamsyehe ◽  
Zakaria Tagnamas ◽  
...  

PurposeThis work aims to study the hydrothermal behavior of mortar cement toward certain environmental factors (ambient air temperature and air velocity) based on its drying kinetics data. The objective is to provide a better understanding and controlling the stability of mortar structures, which integrate the sorption phenomenon, drying process, air pressure and intrinsic characteristics. This leads to predict the comportment of mortar structures in relation with main environmental factors and minimize the risk of cracking mortar structures at an early age.Design/methodology/approachThermokinetic study was carried out in natural and forced convection solar drying at three temperatures 20, 30 and 40°C and three air velocities (1, 3 and 5 m.s-1). The empirical and semiempirical models tested successfully describe the drying kinetics of mortar. These models simulate the drying process of water absorbed by capillarity, which is the most common humidity transfer mechanism in building materials and contain parameters with physical significance, which integrate the effect of several environmental factors and intrinsic characteristics of mortar structures.FindingsThe models simulate the drying process of water absorbed by capillarity, which is the most common humidity transfer mechanism in building materials and contain parameters with physical significance, which integrate the effect of several environmental factors and intrinsic characteristics of mortar structures. The average activation energy obtained expressed the temperature effect on the mortar diffusivity. The drying constant and the diffusion coefficient can be used to predict the influence of these environmental factors on the drying behavior of various building materials and therefore on their durability.Originality/valueEvaluation of the effect of several environmental factors and intrinsic characteristics of mortar structures on their durability.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Chatzinikolaou ◽  
Kleoniki Keklikoglou

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a high-resolution 3D-imaging technique which is now increasingly applied in biological studies focusing on taxonomy and functional morphology. The creation of virtual representations of specimens can increase availability of otherwise underexploited and inaccessible samples. This protocol aims to standardise micro-CT scanning procedures for embryos and juveniles of the marine gastropod species Hexaplex trunculus.


2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-187
Author(s):  
Magnus Fredriksson ◽  
Julie Cool ◽  
Stavros Avramidis

Abstract X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning of sawmill logs is associated with costly and complex machines. An alternative scanning solution was developed, but its data have not been evaluated regarding detection of internal features. In this exploratory study, a knot detection algorithm was applied to images of four logs to evaluate its performance in terms of knot position and size. The results were a detection rate of 67 percent, accurate position, and inaccurate size. Although the sample size was small, it was concluded that automatic knot detection in coarse resolution CT images of softwoods is feasible, albeit for knots of sufficient size.


2001 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 327-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isam Alobid ◽  
Manuel Bernal ◽  
Carlos Calvo ◽  
Isabel Vilaseca ◽  
Juan Berenguer ◽  
...  

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis (RCM) is an aggressive fungal infection with a high mortality rate. It frequently develops in patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or immunocompromised patients. RCM typically presents in a rapidly fulminant manner with headache, fever, mucosal necrosis, and ophthalmic symptoms. Although the definitive diagnosis is achieved by histopathological examination, computed tomography (CT) scanning and magnetic resonance (MR) are the best imaging procedures in early diagnosis to assess the extent of the disease.


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