Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Deformation Imaging By Feature Tracking For Assessment Of Left And Right Ventricular Structure And Function

The copyright of this thesis rests with the author and no quotation from it or information derived from it may be published without the prior written consent of the authorCardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is the gold standard imaging technique for assessment of ventricular dimensions and function. CMR also allows assessment of ventricular deformation but this requires additional imaging sequences and time consuming post processing which has limited its widespread use. A novel CMR analysis software package, ‘feature tracking’ (Tom Tec, Germany) can measure ventricular deformation directly from cine CMR images. This thesis seeks to further our understanding of the feasibility of feature tracking to assess myocardial deformation and volumetric measures. Chapter 3 validates normal ranges for deformation parameters and compares values against traditional tagging measures. The work identifies global circumferential strain measures as being the most reproducible. In chapters 4 and 5, feature tracking values for left and right ventricular strain are compared with echocardiography derived speckle tracking indices of deformation. For left ventricular (LV) parameters, circumferential and longitudinal strain are most consistent and for the right ventricular (RV) measures, assessment of free wall strain using feature tracking shows promise and with modifications in algorithms is likely to further improve in the future. Chapter 6 assesses the ability of feature tracking to measure diastolic function. The results show that radial diastolic velocities and longitudinal diastolic strain rates can predict diastolic dysfunction (as diagnosed by echocardiography) with acceptable levels of sensitivity and specificity, particularly when used in combination. 11 The use of feature tracking to provide automated measures of ventricular volumes, mass and ejection fraction is assessed in chapter 7. Feature tracking in this context shows acceptable correlation but poor absolute agreement with manual contouring and further adjustments to algorithms is necessary to improve its accuracy. This work offers insights into the use of feature tracking for the assessment of ventricular deformation parameters. It is a technique with advantages over CMR tagging methods and given the speed of post processing has the potential to become the CMR preferred assessment for strain quantification in the future.I am indebted to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the British Heart Foundation and the National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre for funding this work

Plants of Mahaska County, Iowa

During the growing season of 1938 the opportunity to collect plants of the central section of southeastern Iowa was made possible. This flora is of importance because it represents the significant floristic features of the southeastern quarter of the state. Since its purchase from the Indians 97 years ago, there has been a very definite change in the floristic aspects of this section of Iowa. This change is still taking place and is resulting in the extinction of some of the native plants in the region. However, many of these plants are still to be found in Mahaska County, although they are fewer in number than formerly. The chief purposes of this work were to ascertain as fully as possible the flora of the county, to bring up to date the names of the plants treated in this survey, and to point out possible floristic changes in the county

Improving Pre-Service Teachers’ Performance in the Teaching of Common Fraction Using Cuisenaire Rods

This research study was undertaken to assess the difficulties pre-service teachers face using Cuisenaire Rods in teaching Common Fractions and how often these concrete models are used in their mathematics lessons. The extent of pupils’ participation and understanding the basic concept of common fractions, the student-teachers’ preference of using Cuisenaire Rods as against the use of fractional rules in teaching common fractions formed the integral part of the research study. Action research design was used for this study. The design allows the researcher to obtain answers to the questions raised directly from the respondents. The target population was pre-service teachers of Berekum College of Education.  Random sampling procedure was used to select 50 student-teachers and JHS2 pupils as sample for the study so as to enhance the validity and generalization of the result. Observation of student-teachers’ teaching practices, model teaching by the researcher, questionnaire, and interviews granted to pupils on the study of common fraction on the use of Cuisenaire Rods were among the research instruments used. Descriptive statistics in terms of frequencies with their percentages were also used in analyzing the data obtained from the questionnaire. The research findings revealed that the use of Cuisenaire Rods to teach Common Fractions stimulates motivates and arouses the interest of learners to participate fully in the teaching and learning process. This helps pupils to actively partake in learning basic concepts in mathematics whenever concrete models were used in the lesson presentation. The research findings strongly indicated that no matter how different the pre-service teachers are prepared; the competencies of teacher education in our contemporary world would much depend on student-teachers’ teaching methods and teaching practices that can bring real meaning into the lives of their pupils. It is recommended that the supply of mathematics syllabus into the Colleges of Education should be accompanied with adequate teaching and learning aids for pre-service teachers. This would allow them to receive sufficient pre-training in all aspects of the curriculum before becoming professional teachers DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-9-01 Publication date:March 31st 201

A history of the settlement of liberated Africans in the colony of Sierra Leone during the first half of the 19th century.

No abstract supplie

Community-Led Assessment of Risk from Exposure to Mercury by Native Amerindian Wayana in Southeast Suriname

This study was a collaboration between Western public health researchers and Suriname indigenous communities. The question asked was “how can Western researchers effectively engage traditional indigenous communities in Suriname, South America, in public health research”. The approach used a combination of Participatory Action Research methods in which “Western” researchers became participating observers in an indigenous-led research initiative. The Wayana communities of Puleowime (Apetina) and Kawemhakan (Anapayke) defined a single objective: determine for themselves whether they are at risk from exposure to mercury (Hg) contamination. Community members collected hair samples for analysis. Hair samples were analyzed using a portable Hg analyzer. Individual, community and hazard quotient indices were used to quantify risk. Results showed the Wayana were at a high lifetime risk of adverse effects from exposure to Hg. This study showed that the community-led approach is an effective way Westerners can engage indigenous communities and address serious public health threats. While factors that appealed to indigenous communities were identified, obstacles inherent to Western research methodology were also encountered

The Impediments of Corruption on the Efficiency of Healthcare Service Delivery in Nigeria

There is a growing interest among health policymakers, planners and donors on the extent to which corruption affects access to health care and outcomes, and possible ways of eliminating it in the health sector. This paper therefore focuses on reviewing various perspectives on the nature, types dimension and the susceptibility of the health sector to corruption. It demonstrates the extent to which corruption negatively effects the health and welfare of citizens at the level of individuals and households. It presents a description identifying how opportunities and pressures influence corruption in the health sector. The paper also analyses the implications for intervention by providing recommendations that would help reduce corruption. These include: the need to establish watchdogs and whittle blowers; increased efforts in ensuring compliance with regulating rules and ethics; motivations for workers and penalty for deviation; and ensuring accountability and transparency in all its decision making and services