[Creation of 3D Stereo and MPR Color Anatomical Charts in the Hepatic Segments].

We used the Voronoi diagram of a computed tomography (CT) application (i.e., CT liver volume measurement) to depict the liver area, and we obtained depictions of the hepatic segments as a three-dimensional (3D) image based on clinical data; this information can be used for the patient's education and for surgical planning. The hepatic segments use the inter-relationships among the eight subsegments illustrated by Couinaud, those indicated by the portal veins and those provided by hepatic veins. The liver has dual portal and arterial innervation, with the thick portal vein intertwined with thin arteries similar to the intertwining of ivy plants. Couinaud divided the liver into eight segments (S1 to S8) based on portal vein casts. The Voronoi diagram estimates the dominant region of the portal vein, divides the liver into segments, and produces 3D images and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images in color. To support understanding of Couinaud's eight hepatic segments (which are explained only in the illustration of the frontal view of the liver), using 3D images created by the Voronoi diagram, we created 3D stereo color anatomical charts of the liver that Couinaud's eight hepatic segments can be confirmed from multiple directions. In addition, we created the MPR color anatomical charts of the liver (S1 to S8) that can be confirmed by color from three directions: axial images, coronal images, and sagittal images in the same way. We converted the data of this anatomical chart into an electronic file that provides a tool that can be easily used in radiological examinations, and we were able to make improvements based on requests from users.

[Accuracy of Virtual Non-contrast Image Reconstruction Using Material Decomposition for Fast kV-switching Dual-energy CT].

PURPOSE: Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) system can generate virtual non-contrast (VNC) images. Although several reconstruction algorithms are defined, there are not many researches using deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithm. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of the VNC image reconstruction under various conditions using DLIR algorithm. METHODS: At first, each iodine insert with variable concentrations (2.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 mg/ml) or diameters (2.0, 5.0, 10.0, 28.5 mm), or mixed insert including blood-mimicking material with iodine (iodine concentrations: 2.0, 4.0 mg/ml) was put in the center of the multi-energy CT phantom (Gammex, USA). This phantom was placed in the isocenter of DECT, and it scanned and reconstructed the VNC images. In addition, the VNC images were reconstructed with various display field of view (DFOV) sizes (240, 350 mm) or reconstruction algorithms (filtered back projection, advanced statistical iterative reconstruction, deep learning image reconstruction) for each iodine diameter. Attenuation values of these images (CTVNC) were measured and assessed by placing a circular region of interest (ROI) on each insert. RESULTS: CTVNC form iodine inserts increased with iodine concentration became lower, whereas CTVNC form blood plus iodine inserts were stable regardless of low iodine concentration. As iodine diameter became smaller, CTVNC increased remarkably. CTVNC remained steady even though reconstruction parameters were varied. CONCLUSION: In our study, the VNC image reconstruction using DLIR algorithm was affected by various conditions such as iodine concentration and size. In particular, its accuracy was reduced by the size of target.

Image Quality Assessment of Deep Learning Image Reconstruction in Torso Computed Tomography Using Tube Current Modulation.

Novel deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) reportedly changes the image quality characteristics based on object contrast and image noise. In clinical practice, computed tomography image noise is usually controlled by tube current modulation (TCM) to accommodate changes in object size. This study aimed to evaluate the image quality characteristics of DLIR for different object sizes when the in-plane noise was controlled by TCM. Images acquisition was performed on a GE Revolution CT system to investigate the impact of the DLIR algorithm compared to the standard reconstructions of filtered-back projection (FBP) and hybrid iterative reconstruction (hybrid-IR). The image quality assessment was performed using phantom images, and an observer study was conducted using clinical cases. The image quality assessment confirmed the excellent noise- reduction performance of DLIR, despite variations due to phantom size. Similarly, in the observer study, DLIR received high evaluations regardless of the body parts imaged. We evaluated a novel DLIR algorithm by replicating clinical behaviors. Consequently, DLIR exhibited higher image quality than those of FBP and hybrid-IR in both phantom and observer studies, albeit the value depended on the reconstruction strength, and proved itself capable of providing stable image quality in clinical use.

[Creation of a Stereo-paired Bone Anatomical Chart Using Human Bone Specimens for X-ray Anatomical Education Part III: Addition of Anaglyph Three-dimensional Images for Those Who Hardly See Stereo-paired Photographs with the Naked Eye].

We published a report entitled "Creation of a stereo-paired bone anatomical chart using human bone specimen for radiation education" in this journal in order to accurately understand the surface structure and three-dimensional structure of bones, and assist in bone image interpretation. However, some people cannot see stereoscopically with the naked eye. Therefore, we created anaglyph three-dimensional (3D) images from stereo-paired images of the stereo X-ray anatomical chart of the bone specimen. The anaglyph of the bone surface and X-ray images facilitates stereoscopic viewing with red-blue 3D glasses. The stereo X-ray anatomical chart of the bone specimen with anaglyph 3D images was converted into an electronic data file in the same manner as the stereo X-ray anatomical chart of the bone specimen, which can be easily used in any radiological examination rooms or at home through an electronic medium. We made it possible to perform correlative stereoscopic observations of the bone surface and X-ray images using red-blue 3D glasses.

[Creation of Bone X-ray Radiography Manual Using Human Bone Specimens for Bone X-ray Radiography Education].

Senior radiological technologists have made various improvements and have supported the clinical and educational fields by explaining bone X-ray radiography to students and junior radiological technologists to understand the procedure using illustrations, X-ray images, and photographs in a way that corresponds to the design software available for that era. Because human bone specimens are only available in the anatomy laboratory of medical schools, they could not be used for the explanation of bone X-ray radiography until now. Therefore, we have developed a bone X-ray radiography manual using bone specimens for the bone X-ray radiography education, which helps students to understand the procedure of bone X-ray radiography. Previous bone X-ray radiography manuals had not been illustrated by bone specimens and bone specimen X-ray images, but this bone X-ray radiography manual using bone specimens has made it possible to understand the surface morphology of bone specimens and X-ray images of them. In addition, the data of bone X-ray radiography using this bone specimen were made into an electronic file, which can be easily used at the place of radiological examination or at home through electronic media.

[Creation of Stereo-paired Color Vascular Anatomical Charts Using 3-dimentional Images].

Three-dimensional (3D) images of blood vessels in the human body, which are acquired by X-ray computed tomography (CT) and cone-beam CT of Angiography devices, are widely used in medical diagnosis and treatment. Using the 3DCT images of blood vessels, we created stereo-paired color vascular anatomical charts for better understanding of vascular anatomy in clinical settings, patient explanations, and student education. Since it is difficult to distinguish branches of blood vessels that show three-dimensionally complicated running such as cerebral blood vessels, we made it easier to identify them anatomically by color-coding each branch of the blood vessel. Also, by using stereo-paired images, we can see the three-dimensional blood vessel running. In the past anatomical books and vascular anatomy atlas, there was no anatomical chart of the whole body blood vessels that could be color-coded and stereoscopically viewed. We have made it possible to identify blood vessels by the stereoscopic vision of the blood vessels using this stereo-paired color anatomical chart. In addition, this vascular anatomical chart can be additionally revised according to the needs of the clinical and educational settings to be used, and the data can be converted into an electronic file so that it can be easily used in the field of radiological examination or at home through electronic media.

[Creation of a Stereo-paired Bone Anatomical Chart Using Human Bone Specimens for X-ray Anatomical Education Part II: Addition of Stereo-paired X-ray Bone Images to the Anatomical Chart].

In a previous issue of this journal, we published a report entitled "Creation of Stereo-paired Bone Anatomical Charts Using Human Bone Specimens for Radiation Education" To understand how the bone specimen is visualized as an X-ray image, we newly created a bone specimen stereo-paired X-ray anatomical chart by adding the X-ray images of the same bone specimen. When a bone is X-rayed, the surface structure and internal structure of the bone are visualized as a composite image of the difference in X-ray absorption, and each bone becomes a unique X-ray image. Therefore, we took stereo-paired X-ray images of the bone specimens by the same method as the stereo-paired anatomical chart of the bone specimens. Then, we arranged the stereo-paired X-ray images and surface images of the same bone specimen in the one sheet to be readily compared. Similar to the previous bone specimen anatomical charts, these data of X-ray image anatomical chart were also made into an electronic file, so that we can do the three-dimensional observation of bone X-ray images even at the place of radiological examination or at home through electronic media. Until now, none of the specialized anatomy books and pictorial books are available for stereoscopic viewing of bone specimens and bone X-ray images. However, this stereo-paired X-ray image anatomical chart enabled us to learn accurate three-dimensionalization of bones by comparing the bone surface morphology and bone X-ray images.

[Creation of Stereo-paired Bone Anatomical Charts Using Human Bone Specimens for Radiation Education].

In radiological examinations of patients, we often take stacked images and three-dimensional (3D) images of human bone radiological images such as X-ray images and CT images. In general, learning of bone structure using specialized anatomy books is currently performed at medical radiological technologist education facilities. In the anatomy education of the medical school, in order to understand the structure of human and the individual bone shapes in detail, a real human bone specimen is used to gain knowledge of skeleton, bone shape, bone name and bone function. But it is actually difficult for a radiological technologist to obtain such learning opportunities. Therefore, we had to depend on two-dimensional information from an anatomical atlas so far. Therefore, as a method to solve this, we devised this stereo-paired bone anatomical chart by stereoscopic photography of a real human bone specimen that is available only in the anatomy laboratory. In classical anatomy textbooks, there are no figures that enable us to view 3D structures of human bones. Our stereo-paired bone anatomical charts make it possible to observe accurate bone structures three-dimensionally. In addition, we saved the data as a PDF file and uploaded to an internet server so that we can freely download and readily observe 3D images of human bones at all times and all places with a tablet or a PC monitor.

[Creation of Stereo Color Anatomical Charts Showing Nerve Fibers in the Cerebral Lobe and Gyrus of the Brain for Use in the MR Examination].

In anatomical charts in conventional books, the pathways of nerve fibers are drawn in illustrations. Conversely, with diffusion tensor tractography (DTT), we can visually understand the trajectory of nerve fibers through color. We created a stereo color anatomical chart of the nerve fibers that can be used for magnetic resonance (MR) examination to diagnose the pathway of nerve fibers and that can be used to explain the results of MR examination to visually understand how nerve fiber information is transmitted from the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, temporal lobe, cerebellar lobe, and cerebral cortex.

Reaction of the Mo3S4 cluster with dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate: an ESR-active cluster and an organometallic cluster formed by alpha,beta-conjugate addition.

A seven-electron cluster [Mo3(mu3-S){mu3-SC(CO(2)CH(3))=C(CO(2)CH(3))S}{mu-SC(CO(2)CH(3))=CH(CO(2)CH(3))}(dtp)3(mu-OAc)] [2, S2P(OC(2)H(5))2-; dtp = diethyldithiophosphate] and an organometallic cluster [Mo3(mu3-S){mu3-SC(CO(2)CH(3))=C(CO(2)CH(3))S}{mu-SC(CO(2)CH(3))CH(OCH(3))(CO2)}(dtp)2(CH(3)OH)(mu-OAc)](Mo-C) (3) were obtained by reaction in methanol of the sulfur-bridged trinuclear complex [Mo3(mu3-S)(mu-S)3(dtp)3(CH(3)CN)(mu-OAc)] (1) with dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD). The X-ray structures of 2 and 3 revealed the adduct formation of two DMAD molecules to the respective Mo(3)S(4) cores. 2 is paramagnetic and obeys the Curie-Weiss law: the mu(eff) value at 300 K is 1.90 muB. The electron spin resonance signal was observed at 173 K. The density functional theory calculation of 2 demonstrated that the main components of the singly occupied molecular orbitals of alpha and beta spins are Mo d electrons and the main components of lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals are of Mo and the olefin moiety with one C-S bond. A one-electron reversible oxidation process of 2 was observed at E1/2 = -0.11 V vs Fc/Fc+. The electronic spectrum of 2 has a peak at 468 nm (epsilon = 2170 M(-1) cm(-1)) and shoulders at 640 (918) and 797 (605) nm, and 3 has shoulders at 441 (1740) and 578 (625) nm and a distinct peak at 840 (467) nm. An intermediate [Mo3(mu3-S){mu3-SC(CO(2)CH(3))=C(CO(2)CH(3))S}{mu-SC(CO(2)CH(3))=CH(CO(2)CH(3))}(dtp)3(mu-OAc)]+ (4) is tentatively suggested: a one-electron reduction of 4 gives 2, and a nucleophilic conjugate addition of CH(3)O- to the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl group of 4 gives 3.

Adducts of acetylene and dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate at sulfurs in sulfur-bridged incomplete cubane-type tungsten clusters.

Reactions are reported of sulfur-bridged incomplete cubane-type tungsten clusters having W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(3) cores with acetylene and its derivative dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD). The reaction of the isothiocyanate tungsten cluster [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(3)(NCS)(9)](5)(-) (5) with acetylene in 0.1 M HCl afforded a novel complex having two acetylene molecules in different adduct formation modes, [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro(3)-SCH=CHS)(micro-SCH=CH(2))(NCS)(9)](4)(-) (6), and the presence of two kinds of intermediates [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(micro(3)-SCH=CHS)(NCS)(9)](5)(-) (7) and [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(2)(micro-SCH=CH(2))(NCS)(9)](4)(-) (8) was observed. The reaction of the diethyldithiophosphate (dtp) tungsten cluster [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(3)(micro-OAc)(dtp)(3)(CH(3)CN)] (10) with DMAD in acetonitrile containing acetic acid resulted in the formation of another complex having two DMAD molecules of different adduct formation modes, [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-SC(CO(2))=CH(CO(2)CH(3)))(micro(3)-SC(CO(2)CH(3))=C(CO(2)CH(3))S)(micro-OAc)(dtp)(3)] (11), where hydrolysis of one of the four ester groups of the two DMAD groups occurred and the resultant carboxylic group coordinated to tungsten. The conformation of the micro-SCH=CH(2) moiety in 6 is different from that of the corresponding moiety in [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-O)(micro-S)(micro-SCH=CH(2))(NCS)(9)](4)(-) (4). Introduction of the second acetylene molecule to the intermediate [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(2)(micro-SCH=CH(2))(NCS)(9)](4)(-) (8) resulted in the formation of 6. The clusters were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography (for (Hpy)(4).6.1.33py.0.5H(2)O and 11.CH(3)CN), and the formation of 6 and 11 was examined in detail from a mechanistic point of view.

Photochromic isomerization of a dinuclear molybdenum complex with ethylene-1,2-dithiolate and disulfur ligands: x-ray structures of the two isomers.

A photochromic complex with disulfur and dimethyl-ethylene-1,2-dithiolate ligands, [Mo(2)(mu-S(2))(mu-S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2)(S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2)] (3), was synthesized and characterized. Photoirradiation of 3 with visible light resulted in the formation of the isomer (3'). The electronic spectrum of 3' has a new intense peak in the near infrared region, and in the dark, the spectrum returns to that of 3. X-ray structural analyses of 3.C(6)H(6) and 3' revealed a large conformational change of the bridging dithiolate ligands: the two ligands in 3' come very close to each other compared to those in 3.C(6)H(6). Crystal data: 3.C(6)H(6), monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 15.193(4) A, b = 14.287(3) A, c = 14.685(4) A, beta = 105.30(1) degrees, V = 3074(1) A(3), Z = 4; 3', monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 21.5400(8) A, b = 9.5232(5) A, c = 13.9828(2) A, beta = 118.924(1) degrees, V = 2510.5(2) A(3), Z = 4. (1)H NMR spectra of 3 (3.06, 3.05, 1.66, and 1.31 ppm) and 3' (2.90, 2.75, 2.14, and 1.97 ppm) are also reported: each spectrum has four signals due to methyl groups, which accords well with the fact that each of the molecules, 3.C(6)H(6) and 3', has a crystallographic 2-fold axis.