Imaging

Double-exposure techniques are currently being explored as alternatives to the low k1 problem that arises form the current absence of next-generation lithography (NGL) tools. Off-axis illumination conditions such as annular, used in conjunction with binary chrome masks are able to resolve features as small as 100nm. However, these off-axis approaches only improve a limited set of pitches. While certain features

Hippocampal volume reduction has been repeatedly demonstrated in schizophrenia. The relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to this is unclear. To address this question, we compared volumetric measurements of the left and right hippocampus, obtained using stereological methods from brain MRI scans, from two groups of patients with schizophrenia as well as healthy controls (n = 26). Patients (n = 27) in the first group, had no family history of schizophrenia and had experienced severe pregnancy and birth complications (PBCs). The second group comprised of patients (n = 21) without a history of severe PBCs from families multiply affected with schizophrenia. Reduction of the left hippocampal volume was associated with the diagnosis of schizophrenia but was present only in patients with a history of severe PBCs; in this group the smaller hippocampal volume, the earlier the onset of psychosis. Our findings suggest that environmental factors, in this case severe PBCs, make a significant contribution to hippocampal abnormalities in schizophrenia.

Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is a technically challenging intervention. For this reason, integration of three-dimensional imaging with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to enhance effectiveness and safety has been widely adopted. A novel imaging approach--intraprocedural rotational angiography and reconstruction of the left atrium and PVs--is feasible and provides high anatomic accuracy. The purpose of this study was to prove the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of this imaging approach as a single navigation tool for PV isolation. Forty-four patients (25 men and 19 women; age 57 +/- 11 years) with atrial fibrillation (AF) who presented for PV isolation were studied. Rotational angiography during adenosine-induced ventricular asystole was performed under sedation with propofol. The left atrium and PVs were reconstructed by three-dimensional atriography using specialized software (EP navigator prototype, Philips Medical Systems). Three-dimensional atriography was used as a single navigation tool for guiding PV isolation. Of 176 PVs, 174 (99%) were isolated. Total procedural and fluoroscopy times were 192 +/- 46 minutes and 44 +/- 12 minutes, respectively. During follow-up of 6 +/- 3 months, 31 (70%) patients were free of symptoms and had no evidence of AF without any antiarrhythmic medication. MRI examination of 41 patients at 3-month follow-up excluded PV stenosis. No major complications occurred. Three-dimensional atriography is a novel intraprocedural three-dimensional imaging technique that is based on rotational angiography. It can be safely and effectively used as a single navigation tool for performing PV isolation.

We present a method to make liquid lenses. It is based on the microfluidic method to make emulsions. An emulsion is a mixture of two immiscible liquids, where one liquid (the dispersed phase) is dispersed in the form of small droplets in another liquid that forms a ...

The clinical effects of neuroprotective and/or neurorestorative therapies may vary according to location and size of the ischemic injury. Imaging techniques can be useful in stratifying patients for trials that may be beneficial against particular ischemic lesion characteristics. To test the hypothesis that the efficacy of NeuroAiD compared with placebo in improving functional outcome and reducing neurological deficit in patients with cerebral infarction of intermediate severity varies between sub-groups of patients randomized in the main Chinese Medicine Neuroaid Efficacy on Stroke study when categorized according to baseline imaging characteristics. This is a retrospective cohort sub-group analysis of patients who participated in the main Chinese Medicine Neuroaid Efficacy on Stroke study, a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that recruited 1100 patients within 72 h of ischemic stroke onset with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale 6-14 and were randomized to either NeuroAiD or placebo taken four capsules three times daily for three months. Review of the baseline images to classify the acute stroke lesions in terms of size, location, and extent of involvement will be performed retrospectively by two readers who will remain blinded as to treatment allocation and outcomes of the subjects. The primary efficacy end-point in the main Chinese Medicine Neuroaid Efficacy on Stroke study is the modified Rankin Scale grades at three-months. Secondary efficacy end-points are the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at three-months; difference of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores between baseline and 10 days and between baseline and three-months; difference of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale sub-scores between baseline and 10 days and between baseline and three-months; modified Rankin Scale at 10 days, one-month, and three-months; Barthel index at three-months; and Mini Mental State Examination at 10 days and three-months. Analysis of these primary and secondary end-points will be performed for sub-groups defined in this study after review of the baseline brain imaging: nonlacunar and lacunar, cortical and sub-cortical, hemispheric vs. brainstem, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score <7 and 7-10, and score <8 and 8-10.

... The devised adaptive segmentation method is based on the IR histogram. ... acquires webcam images and thermographs in real ... adjusting mirrors, looking in the rear view mirror, looking left or right, using a swipe card to simulate entering a secured car park, mobile phone usage ...

Automatic target detection (ATD) systems using imaging sensors have played a critical role in site monitoring, surveillance, and object tracking. Although numerous research efforts and systems have been designed to quickly detect and recognize missile-like flying targets in cluttered environments, detection of flying targets from a long distance and large format imagery data is still a challenge. The accuracy of

Nuclear medicine bone imaging has been the optimum diagnosis for the detection of bone disorders because the lesion could be detectable before the appearance of symptomatic and radiographic changes. Over the past three decades, (99m)Tc-MDP and (99m)Tc-HMDP have been used as bone scintigraphic agents because of their superior biodistribution characteristics, although they are far from optimal from a chemical and pharmaceutical point of view. Recently, a more logical drug design has been proposed as a concept of bifunctional radiopharmaceuticals in which the carrier molecules (bisphosphonates) and radiometal chelating groups are separated within a molecule, specifically, (99m)Tc-mononuclear complex-conjugated bisphosphonate. Some of the (99m)Tc-mononuclear complex-conjugated bisphosphonate compounds showed superior biodistribution in preclinical studies. Moreover, the drug design concept could be applied to (68)Ga PET bone imaging agents. These studies would provide useful information...