Three-dimensional Imaging Research Articles

In Vitro Research Methods Used to Evaluate Shaping Ability of Rotary Endodontic Files-A Literature Review.

In this article, we present a literature review of methods used to measure the shaping ability of endodontic rotary files, including the selection of endodontic sample type (extracted teeth versus simulated blocks) and an imaging evaluation method. This review was conducted as background research to identify concerns that arise when designing research studies in this domain and propose how the field can plan more systematic studies going forward. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and e B-on databases, including studies published in English from January 2010 to June 2024. Only studies that specified in vitro or ex vivo methods for evaluating the endodontic performance of NiTi rotary files on canal transportation and centering ability were considered. A total of 86 studies met the inclusion criteria from an initial pool of 651. Of these, 67 studies used extracted teeth, while 20 utilized simulated root canals in resin blocks. For evaluation methods, 55 studies employed Micro-Computed Tomography and Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (MCT + CBCT), 30 used Double Digital Images/Radiographs/Photographs (DDIR + DDIP) with software analysis, 1 used both DDIR and MCT, 1 used high-precision nano-CT, and 1 used a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera. The findings indicate that the MCT method and its advanced variations appear superior in many cases for evaluating the quality of root canal instrumentation due to their ability to provide detailed three-dimensional images. We also discuss the pros and cons of other evaluation methods, including CBCT and DDIR. Finally, we identify important factors to consider for optimizing future cross-study comparisons. This work highlights the importance of being familiar with shaping ability assessment methods as new instruments are introduced to the market.

Joint subarray acoustic tweezers enable controllable cell translation, rotation, and deformation

Contactless microscale tweezers are highly effective tools for manipulating, patterning, and assembling bioparticles. However, current tweezers are limited in their ability to comprehensively manipulate bioparticles, providing only partial control over the six fundamental motions (three translational and three rotational motions). This study presents a joint subarray acoustic tweezers platform that leverages acoustic radiation force and viscous torque to control the six fundamental motions of single bioparticles. This breakthrough is significant as our manipulation mechanism allows for controlling the three translational and three rotational motions of single cells, as well as enabling complex manipulation that combines controlled translational and rotational motions. Moreover, our tweezers can gradually increase the load on an acoustically trapped cell to achieve controllable cell deformation critical for characterizing cell mechanical properties. Furthermore, our platform allows for three-dimensional (3D) imaging of bioparticles without using complex confocal microscopy by rotating bioparticles with acoustic tweezers and taking images of each orientation using a standard microscope. With these capabilities, we anticipate the JSAT platform to play a pivotal role in various applications, including 3D imaging, tissue engineering, disease diagnostics, and drug testing.

Impacted mandibular third molars: a comparison of orthopantomography and cone-beam computed tomography imaging in predicting surgical difficulty.

This study investigated the predictive value of orthopantomography (OPG) for the difficulty of extracting impacted mandibular third molars, in comparison with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). In this descriptive quantitative investigation, two oral and maxillofacial radiologists evaluated OPG and three-dimensional CBCT images according to the Pell-Gregory and Winter classifications. The results for the classification were compared using the chi-square test, and the prediction of difficulty was assessed using the Pederson scale, with a significance level of p< 0.05. The study included 30 patients (14 men and 16 women), providing a total of 53 samples of impacted mandibular third molars. Of these, 30 (56.6%) were from the right side and 23 (43.4%) from the left. There was a statistically significant difference between the OPG and CBCT images concerning their relation to the mandibular ramus (p< 0.05). However, evaluations based on occlusal lines and angulation showed no significant differences (p> 0.05). According to the Pederson scale, significant differences were observed between OPG and CBCT in predicting extraction difficulty (p< 0.05). CBCT offered a more accurate assessment of the surgical difficulty associated with mandibular third molars than OPG. OPG views frequently failed to adequately visualize the region of the mandibular ramus, influencing the perceived difficulty of mandibular third molar surgery. In certain cases, the use of CBCT imaging is crucial.

Research on improving permeability of granite reservoir: Polyhydrogen chelating acid acidizing

ABSTRACT Acidization is a highly effective technique for increasing oil well productivity. Therefore, it is critical to study effective stimulation of low-permeability granite reservoirs using acidification. Using the granite reservoir of Baobab oilfield in Chad as the research object, the properties of reservoir rocks were tested using XRD and rock thin section analysis. Dissolution experiments, core flooding experiments, and CT scanning were used to investigate the increased permeability and changes in the pore structure of the cores during acidification. The minerals in the rocks are primarily plagioclase, kalifeldspar, and quartz, with trace amounts of calcite, chlorite, magnetite, illite, biotite, hornblende, sphene, and sericite. At 80°C and 10 mL of main acid injection, polyhydrogen chelating acid (6% HCl + 5% SA601 + 7% SA701) improved granite permeability more than mud acid (8% HCl + 2% HF) and fluoroboric acid (8% HCl + 8% HBF4), with permeability increase of 3.68. The CT three-dimensional images of the rocks show that both the cores acidified with polyhydrogen chelating acid and mud acid formed continuous acid-etched wormholes, while the cores acidified with fluoroboric acid did not. Compared to the mud acid, the core acidified by the polyhydrogen chelating acid produced more visible acid-etched wormholes. Meanwhile, the polyhydrogen chelating acid was more effective at improving the pore throats and expanding the flow channels in the core. This study serves as a reference for the application of acidification and increasing production in low-permeability granite reservoirs.

Imaging of Live Cells by Digital Holographic Microscopy

Imaging of microscopic objects is of fundamental importance, especially in life sciences. Recent fast progress in electronic detection and control, numerical computation, and digital image processing, has been crucial in advancing modern microscopy. Digital holography is a new field in three-dimensional imaging. Digital reconstruction of a hologram offers the remarkable capability to refocus at different depths inside a transparent or semi-transparent object. Thus, this technique is very suitable for biological cell studies in vivo and could have many biomedical and biological applications. A comprehensive review of the research carried out in the area of digital holographic microscopy (DHM) for live-cell imaging is presented. The novel microscopic technique is non-destructive and label-free and offers unmatched imaging capabilities for biological and bio-medical applications. It is also suitable for imaging and modelling of key metabolic processes in living cells, microbial communities or multicellular plant tissues. Live-cell imaging by DHM allows investigation of the dynamic processes underlying the function and morphology of cells. Future applications of DHM can include real-time cell monitoring in response to clinically relevant compounds. The effect of drugs on migration, proliferation, and apoptosis of abnormal cells is an emerging field of this novel microscopic technique.

An Omni-Mesoscope for multiscale high-throughput quantitative phase imaging of cellular dynamics and high-content molecular characterization.

The mesoscope has emerged as a powerful imaging tool in biomedical research, yet its high cost and low resolution have limited its broader application. Here, we introduce the Omni-Mesoscope, a high-spatial-temporal and multimodal mesoscopic imaging platform built from cost-efficient off-the-shelf components. This system uniquely merges the capabilities of label-free quantitative phase microscopy to capture live-cell morphodynamics across thousands of cells with highly multiplexed fluorescence imaging for comprehensive molecular characterization. This Omni-Mesoscope offers a mesoscale field of view of ~5 square millimeters with a high spatial resolution down to 700 nanometers, enabling the capture of detailed subcellular features. We demonstrate its capability in delineating molecular characteristics underlying rare morphodynamic cellular phenomena, including cancer cell responses to chemotherapy and the emergence of polyploidy in drug-resistant cells. We also integrate expansion technique to enhance three-dimensional volumetric super-resolution imaging of thicker tissues, opening the avenues for biological exploration at unprecedented scales and resolutions.

Three-dimensional electrical imaging of the Aravali-Tural-Rajwadi geothermal system, West Coast of India

Three-dimensional electrical imaging of the Aravali-Tural-Rajwadi geothermal system, West Coast of India

Emerging Applications of Image Post-Processing 3D Visualisation for Cerebrovascular Diseases.

Intracranial vascular-related diseases are a common occurrence in neurosurgery. They have complex and diverse pathogeneses; further, their diagnosis and treatment remain unclear. Three-dimensional image post-processing technology is an emerging technology that involves converting a brain image scan into a digital model using image post-processing software, thus establishing a 3D view of the region of interest. Three-dimensional visualisation of the brains of patients with cerebrovascular diseases can allow a more intuitive examination of the local anatomy of the lesion as well as the adjacency between the lesion and peripheral nerves, brain tissue, and skull bones. Subsequently, this informs pre-operative planning, allows more accurate diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases, and improves the safety of surgical treatment. This review summarised the current literature regarding cerebrovascular diseases and the application of 3D image post-processing technology in different cerebrovascular diseases.

A new metric method for sex estimation using three-dimensional imaging of the nuchal crest.

In Walker's nonmetric method, the nuchal crest serves as the representative region for indicating sexual dimorphism in cranial bones. However, the accuracy of sex estimation using the nuchal crest is lower than that using other anatomical regions. Furthermore, because of the protruding processes and structurally challenging features characterized by uneven and rough surfaces, there is a lack of metric methods for sex estimation, making quantification challenging. In this study, we aimed to validate a derived metric method for sex estimation by reconstructing the nuchal crest region in three-dimensional (3D) images obtained from computed tomography scans of cranial bones and compare its accuracy with that of the nonmetric method. A total of 648 images were collected, with 100 randomly selected for use in the nonmetric method. We applied our metric method to the remaining 548 images. Our findings showed that the surface area of the nuchal crests was greater in male individuals than in female individuals. The nuchal crest surface area quantified by the metric method increased the accuracy of sex estimation by 48% compared with that by the nonmetric method. Our metric method for sex estimation, which quantifies the nuchal crest surface area using 3D images of the skull, led to a high sex estimation accuracy of 93%. Future studies should focus on proposing and quantifying new measurement methods for areas showing sexual characteristics in the skull that are difficult to measure, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reliability of sex estimation in human skeletal identification across various fields.

Image processing tools for petabyte-scale light sheet microscopy data.

Light sheet microscopy is a powerful technique for high-speed three-dimensional imaging of subcellular dynamics and large biological specimens. However, it often generates datasets ranging from hundreds of gigabytes to petabytes in size for a single experiment. Conventional computational tools process such images far slower than the time to acquire them and often fail outright due to memory limitations. To address these challenges, we present PetaKit5D, a scalable software solution for efficient petabyte-scale light sheet image processing. This software incorporates a suite of commonly used processing tools that are optimized for memory and performance. Notable advancements include rapid image readers and writers, fast and memory-efficient geometric transformations, high-performance Richardson-Lucy deconvolution and scalable Zarr-based stitching. These features outperform state-of-the-art methods by over one order of magnitude, enabling the processing of petabyte-scale image data at the full teravoxel rates of modern imaging cameras. The software opens new avenues for biological discoveries through large-scale imaging experiments.

Body composition estimation from mobile phone three-dimensional imaging: evaluation of the USA army one-site method.

Within the USA military, monitoring body composition is an essential component of predicting physical performance and establishing soldier readiness. The purpose of this study was to explore mobile phone three-dimensional optical imaging (3DO), a user-friendly technology capable of rapidly obtaining reliable anthropometric measurements and to determine the validity of the new Army one-site body fat equations using 3DO-derived abdominal circumference. Ninety-six participants (51 F, 45 M; age: 23·7 ± 6·5 years; BMI: 24·7 ± 4·1 kg/m2) were assessed using 3DO, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and a 4-compartment model (4C). The validity of the Army equations using 3DO abdominal circumference was compared with 4C and DXA estimates. Compared with the 4C model, the Army equation overestimated BF% and fat mass (FM) by 1·3 ± 4·8 % and 0·9 ± 3·4 kg, respectively, while fat-free mass (FFM) was underestimated by 0·9 ± 3·4 kg (P < 0·01 for each). Values from DXA and Army equation were similar for BF%, FM and FFM (constant errors between -0·1 and 0·1 units; P ≥ 0·82 for each). In both comparisons, notable proportional bias was observed with slope coefficients of -0·08 to -0·43. Additionally, limits of agreement were 9·5-10·2 % for BF% and 6·8-7·8 kg for FM and FFM. Overall, while group-level performance of the one-site Army equation was acceptable, it exhibited notable proportional bias when compared with laboratory criterion methods and wide limits of agreement, indicating potential concerns when applied to individuals. 3DO may provide opportunities for the development of more advanced, automated digital anthropometric body fat estimation in military settings.

Distinguishing the XUV-induced Coulomb explosion dynamics of iodobenzene using covariance analysis

Abstract The primary and secondary fragmentation dynamics of iodobenzene following its ionization at 120 eV were determined using three-dimensional velocity map imaging and covariance analysis. Site-selective iodine 4d ionization was used to populate a range of excited polycationic parent states, which primarily broke apart at the carbon-iodine bond to produce I+ with phenyl or phenyl-like cations (CnHx + or CnHx 2+, with n = 1-6 and x = 1-5). The molecular products were produced with varying degrees of internal excitation and dehydrogenation, leading to stable and unstable outcomes. This further allowed the secondary dynamics of C6Hx 2+ intermediates to be distinguished using native-frame covariance analysis, which isolated these processes in their own centre-of-mass reference frames. The mass resolution of the imaging mass spectrometer used for these measurements enabled the primary and secondary reaction channels to be specified at the level of individual hydrogen atoms, demonstrating the ability of covariance analysis to comprehensively measure the competing fragmentation channels of aryl cations, including those involving intermediate steps.

A preliminary investigation of the left atrial suspended cord and its significance as revealed by coronary CT angiography: an observational study with a systematic literature review

BackgroundThe occurrence of suspended cords of the left atrium (SCLA) is rare and has seldom been described. The purpose of this study was to summarize the cases of SCLA accidentally detected by coronary CT angiography (CCTA), describe their imaging features, conduct a preliminary analysis of their clinical significance, and review relevant literature.MethodsA total of 10,796 patients who underwent CCTA examinations from July 2020 to November 2021 were consecutively selected. The original and three-dimensional reconstruction images were reviewed to identify patients with SCLA. A control group was selected in a 1:2 ratio based on age, BMI, sex, and education level. The imaging characteristics and clinical data of the two groups were collected and compared. The case group was divided into two subgroups based on the starting and ending positions of the SCLA: Group 1 with the SCLA between the free wall and free wall, and Group 2 with the SCLA between the septum wall and free wall. The clinical features of these subgroups were compared. Furthermore, a review of literature on SCLA published in the past fifteen years that includes its clinical and imaging features was conducted.ResultsIn this study, a total of 35 patients were found to have SCLA, resulting in an incidence rate of approximately 0.32%. After excluding 1 patient for whom clinical features could not be obtained, the case group included a total of 18 males and 16 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1 and a median age of 57.00 (52.00–64.00) years. It was found that 19 (55.88%) cases of SCLA were located near the right superior pulmonary vein ostia, while no SCLA was found near the left lower pulmonary vein orifice. A significant difference in the incidence of atrial arrhythmia between the two groups was observed (p = 0.009). Additionally, 3 patients (8.82%) in the SCLA group had a history of transient cerebral ischemic attack (TIA), which was significantly different from that in the control group (p = 0.035). The anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the left atrium were longer in the case group than in the control group (p < 0.05), but there was no significant change in left atrial volume. Subgroup analyses found no significant difference in the incidence of cerebral infarction, atrial arrhythmia, or other intracardiac structural malformations, although there was a significant difference in cord length (p = 0.013), with the length of SCLA in Group 1 and Group 2 being 2.64 ± 0.99 cm and 3.39 ± 0.68 cm, respectively. Notably, only 1 of these 34 patients was diagnosed based on echocardiography, whereas all cases were perfectly visualized using CCTA.ConclusionSCLA is rare. CCTA can accurately detect and depict this abnormal structure as compared to echocardiography. SCLA may be linked to a higher incidence of atrial arrhythmias or transient ischemic attacks. It is important for radiologists and cardiovascular experts to recognize this structure, and further investigation is necessary to determine its clinical significance.

Real-Time 3D Imaging and Inhibition Analysis of Human Serum Amyloid A Aggregations Using Quantum Dots.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is one of the most important precursor amyloid proteins discovered during the study of amyloidosis, but its underlying aggregation mechanism has not yet been well elucidated. Since SAA aggregation is a key step in the pathogenesis of AA amyloidosis, amyloid inhibitors can be used as a tool to study its pathogenesis. Previously, we reported a novel microliter-scale high-throughput screening (MSHTS) system for screening amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation inhibitors based on quantum dot (QD) fluorescence imaging technology. In this study, we report the aggregation of human SAA (hSAA) in phosphate-buffered saline, in which we successfully visualized hSAA aggregation by QD using fluorescence microscopy and confocal microscopy. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional image analyses showed that most aggregations were observed at 40 μM hSAA, which was the optimal aggregation concentration in vitro. The accuracy of this finding was verified by a Thioflavin T assay. The transmission electron microscopy results showed that QD uniformly bound to hSAA aggregation. hSAA aggregation inhibitory activity was also evaluated by rosmarinic acid (RA). The results showed that RA, which is a compound with high inhibitory activity against Aβ aggregation, also exhibited high inhibitory activity against 40 μM hSAA. These results indicate that the MSHTS system is an effective tool for visualizing hSAA aggregation and for screening highly active inhibitors.

Virtual thoracoscopic imaging for accurate pulmonary nodule localization: clinical experience.

The increasing detection of small pulmonary nodules on computed tomography (CT) warrants simple and effective nodule localization methods. We describe our clinical experience using an experimental computer that displays virtual thoracoscopic images. This device constructs three-dimensional images from preoperative CT scans and simulates the deflated lung parenchyma in the lateral decubitus position. Five patients underwent lung resection using this technology. The device provided images that closely resembled actual thoracoscopic images in all cases. This method addresses the limitations of other localization techniques such as allergic reactions and mechanical marker-related complications. The method only requires preoperative CT images, and the process is semi-automatically performed by specifying the nodule location, thoracoscopic camera insertion site, and camera angle. This study is still in the preliminary phase and has several limitations. However, this method has the potential to accurately predict nodule locations and eliminate the many risks associated with other techniques.

Fast reconstruction 3D computed tomography image of stacked cell under faster scanning by dual-branch cross-fusion flat bottom network

Abstract Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) fast scanning and reconstruction is a key step to achieve rapid detection of internal defects in batteries. In this work, we have achieved a faster CT scanning just in 5 seconds by reducing the X-ray exposure time in sparse view CT. However, the CT data is extremely incomplete by faster scanning; the existing reconstruction methods are difficult to reconstruct a high quality three-dimensional (3D) CT image of stacked cells. To address this issue, we propose a 3D CT image reconstruction network, which can reconstruct higher quality CT images from low quality 3D volume data. The input data of the reconstruction network is not 2D projection data, but 3D volume data. In this network, a high and low resolution dual-branch cross-fusion flat bottom structure is designed. The high resolution flat bottom branch aims to preserve detailed information, while the low resolution flat bottom branch focuses on capturing more semantic information. Cross-fusion between these branches mitigates the loss of semantic details. Additionally, the auxiliary loss function, the main loss function, and the 3D attention module are designed to enhance semantic accuracy and the learning performance of the network. The 3D training data is collected under a fast scanning strategy spanning 5-60 seconds. During the training phase, we use clipping block technology to cut the 3D volume data, enabling direct training on the 3D volume data. Our experimental results demonstrate that our 3D reconstruction network outperforms mainstream algorithms under this faster scanning strategy, which is able to reconstruct higher quality 3D CT images just in 15 seconds. Ablation experiments confirm the positive impact of the dual-branch cross-fusion flat bottom structure, attention module, and loss functions on improving the quality of 3D CT images.

Micro-Coring: A Novel Approach to Perioral Rejuvenation.

A long philtrum and poor perioral skin quality are stigmata of the aging face. Micro-Coring is a novel technology that allows for scarless skin removal. In this study we aimed to determine whether micro-coring can shorten the philtrum and improve perioral skin quality. A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients who underwent facelift with perioral micro-coring and age- and BMI-matched controls who underwent facelift alone. Preoperative and postoperative 3-dimensional facial imaging was performed. Standard perioral distances and percentage of change were calculated. Perioral skin quality was evaluated by blinded raters with the Scientific Assessment Scale of Skin Quality (SASSQ) and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS). Thirteen patients and 13 controls were included, with a mean follow-up of 8.9 months (range 3.0-21.5). Patients had significantly shorter mean philtrum length postoperatively compared to preoperatively, with an average decrease of 6.18% (±2.25%; P < .05). Controls did not experience significant changes in philtrum length (P > .05). There were no significant changes in other perioral measurements. Perioral skin elasticity and wrinkles significantly improved in patients compared to controls and patients had significantly greater GAIS scores (P < .05). Micro-Coring can achieve perioral rejuvenation through measurable shortening of the philtrum and observable improvement in skin quality. Nonsurgical techniques continue to find new ways to achieve aesthetic goals without significant recovery or scarring and offer value to patients and clinicians.

Three-Dimensional Interferometric Imaging With Vortex Electromagnetic Wave Radar Based on Uniform Circular Array

Three-Dimensional Interferometric Imaging With Vortex Electromagnetic Wave Radar Based on Uniform Circular Array

Flexible X-ray Imaging and Stable Information Storage of SrF2:Eu Based on Radio-Photoluminescence.

X-ray imaging has garnered widespread interest in biomedical diagnosis and nondestructive detection. The exploration of radio-photoluminescence has hastened the advancement of X-ray information storage. However, significant challenges persist in achieving the prolonged imaging of curved objects without attenuation. Here, europium-doped strontium fluoride (SrF2:Eu) is meticulously created to exhibit a linear response to an extensive range of X-ray doses (maximum dose > 5000 Gy), showcasing excellent X-ray information reading/erasing reusability properties (10 cycles). This is accompanied by a red-to-blue emission transition under UV excitation, sustaining for 150 days without attenuation. To elucidate the phenomena of irradiated photoluminescent discoloration and the reversible X-ray storage of SrF2:Eu, we propose an electron-vacancy trap (valence conversion) mechanism, information stably retained by the SrF2:Eu-based device under ambient conditions due to high energy barriers. The time-lapse readout capability is further demonstrated for three-dimensional imaging of curved objects (10 lp mm-1) based on SrF2:Eu embedded within a polydimethylsiloxane (SrF2:Eu@PDMS). The SrF2:Eu demonstrates time-lapse imaging, reversible radio-photoluminescence, and recoverable X-ray storage, offering a promising avenue for optical information encryption and anticounterfeiting applications.

Synchrotron X-ray imaging of soft biological tissues - principles, applications and future prospects.

Synchrotron-based tomographic phase-contrast X-ray imaging (SRµCT or SRnCT) is a versatile isotropic three-dimensional imaging technique that can be used to study biological samples spanning from single cells to human-sized specimens. SRµCT and SRnCT take advantage of the highly brilliant and coherent X-rays produced by a synchrotron light source. This enables fast data acquisition and enhanced image contrast for soft biological samples owing to the exploitation of phase contrast. In this Review, we provide an overview of the basics behind the technique, discuss its applications for biologists and provide an outlook on the future of this emerging technique for biology. We introduce the latest advances in the field, such as whole human organs imaged with micron resolution, using X-rays as a tool for virtual histology and resolving neuronal connections in the brain.