The performance of the convolutional neural network exceeded that of orthopedic surgeons in detecting intertrochanteric hip fractures from proximal femoral radiographs under limited conditions. The convolutional neural network has a significant potential to be a useful tool for screening for fractures on plain radiographs, especially in the emergency room, where orthopedic surgeons are not readily available.

The absolute eigenvalues of the diffusion tensor of white matter in sixteen normal subjects in two groups representing the early developmental stage (ages 1-10 years, n=8) and young adult stage (ages 18-34 years, n=8) were assessed using a high-field (3.0 T) magnetic resonance (MR) system. All three eigenvalues, including the largest eigenvalue, decreased significantly with brain maturation. The rate of the decline in the two small eigenvalues was, however, much higher than that of the largest eigenvalue, resulting in an actual increase in fractional anisotropy, a commonly measured relative index. The data demonstrate that an increase in anisotropy associated with brain maturation represents a significant decline in the small eigenvalue components, rather than an increase in the largest eigenvalue. The observed pattern of eigenvalue changes is best explained by the simultaneous occurrence of two of several independent phenomena within the axonal microenvironment during the myelination process, namely, (1) decline in unrestricted water content in extra-axonal space, and (2) increase in apparent diffusivity within the axon.

In order to provide a uniform and desirable dose distribution over a large radiation field, spot beam scanning is one of the most useful methods. A new spot beam scanning system was constructed for a 70 MeV proton beam. The lateral dose distribution was uniform with +/- 2.5% for an 18 cm square field. It was possible to control the dose at each point in the radiation field by this spot scanning method. This system has been confirmed to be satisfactory for delivering a proton beam in the desired field shape and dose level.

Although the precise mechanisms leading to the higher susceptibility rendering SP-like pathology observable within the cortical mantle are not totally understood, the study unambiguously demonstrated that MR microscopy is capable of directly visualizing cortical pathology in AD patients in vivo.