An analysis of filmstrips for use in the improvement of oral communication skills in the first grade

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Ultrasonic colour Doppler imaging

Ultrasonic colour Doppler is an imaging technique that combines anatomical information derived using ultrasonic pulse-echo techniques with velocity information derived using ultrasonic Doppler techniques to generate colour-coded maps of tissue velocity superimposed on grey-scale images of tissue anatomy. The most common use of the technique is to image the movement of blood through the heart, arteries and veins, but it may also be used to image the motion of solid tissues such as the heart walls. Colour Doppler imaging is now provided on almost all commercial ultrasound machines, and has been found to be of great value in assessing blood flow in many clinical conditions. Although the method for obtaining the velocity information is in many ways similar to the method for obtaining the anatomical information, it is technically more demanding for a number of reasons. It also has a number of weaknesses, perhaps the greatest being that in conventional systems, the velocities measured and thus displayed are the components of the flow velocity directly towards or away from the transducer, while ideally the method would give information about the magnitude and direction of the three-dimensional flow vectors. This review briefly introduces the principles behind colour Doppler imaging and describes some clinical applications. It then describes the basic components of conventional colour Doppler systems and the methods used to derive velocity information from the ultrasound signal. Next, a number of new techniques that seek to overcome the vector problem mentioned above are described. Finally, some examples of vector velocity images are presented

Quantification of Renal Stone Contrast with Ultrasound in Human Subjects

Purpose: Greater visual contrast between calculi and tissue would improve ultrasound (US) imaging of urolithiasis and potentially expand clinical use. The color Doppler twinkling artifact has been suggested to provide enhanced contrast of stones compared with brightness mode (B-mode) imaging, but results are variable. This work provides the first quantitative measure of stone contrast in humans for B-mode and color Doppler mode, forming the basis to improve US for the detection of stones. Materials and Methods: Using a research ultrasound system, B-mode imaging was tuned for detecting stones by applying a single transmit angle and reduced signal compression. Stone twinkling with color Doppler was tuned by using low-frequency transmit pulses, longer pulse durations, and a high-pulse repetition frequency. Data were captured from 32 subjects, with 297 B-mode and Doppler images analyzed from 21 subjects exhibiting twinkling signals. The signal to clutter ratio (i.e., stone to background tissue) (SCR) was used to compare the contrast of a stone on B-mode with color Doppler, and the contrast between stone twinkling and blood-flow signals within the kidney. Results: The stone was the brightest object in only 54% of B-mode images and 100% of Doppler images containing stone twinkling. On average, stones were isoechoic with the tissue clutter on B-mode (SCR = 0 dB). Stone twinkling averaged 37 times greater contrast than B-mode (16 dB, p < 0.0001) and 3.5 times greater contrast than blood-flow signals (5.5 dB, p = 0.088). Conclusions: This study provides the first quantitative measure of US stone to tissue contrast in humans. Stone twinkling contrast is significantly greater than the contrast of a stone on B-mode. There was also a trend of stone twinkling signals having greater contrast than blood-flow signals in the kidney. Dedicated optimization of B-mode and color Doppler stone imaging could improve US detection of stones

First-in-human clinical trial of ultrasonic propulsion of kidney stones

PURPOSE: Ultrasonic propulsion is a new technology using focused ultrasound energy applied transcutaneously to reposition kidney stones. We report what are to our knowledge the findings from the first human investigational trial of ultrasonic propulsion toward the applications of expelling small stones and dislodging large obstructing stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects underwent ultrasonic propulsion while awake without sedation in clinic, or during ureteroscopy while anesthetized. Ultrasound and a pain questionnaire were completed before, during and after propulsion. The primary outcome was to reposition stones in the collecting system. Secondary outcomes included safety, controllable movement of stones and movement of stones less than 5 mm and 5 mm or greater. Adverse events were assessed weekly for 3 weeks. RESULTS: Kidney stones were repositioned in 14 of 15 subjects. Of the 43 targets 28 (65%) showed some level of movement while 13 (30%) were displaced greater than 3 mm to a new location. Discomfort during the procedure was rare, mild, brief and self-limited. Stones were moved in a controlled direction with more than 30 fragments passed by 4 of the 6 subjects who had previously undergone a lithotripsy procedure. The largest stone moved was 10 mm. One patient experienced pain relief during treatment of a large stone at the ureteropelvic junction. In 4 subjects a seemingly large stone was determined to be a cluster of small passable stones after they were moved. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonic propulsion was able to successfully reposition stones and facilitate the passage of fragments in humans. No adverse events were associated with the investigational procedure

Observations of Buried Lake Drainage on the Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Between 1992 and 2017, the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) lost ice equivalent to 7.6 ± 3.9 mm of sea level rise. AIS mass loss is mitigated by ice shelves that provide a buttress by regulating ice flow from tributary glaciers. However, ice-shelf stability is threatened by meltwater ponding, which may initiate, or reactivate preexisting, fractures, currently poorly understood processes. Here, through ground penetrating radar (GPR) analysis over a buried lake in the grounding zone of an East Antarctic ice shelf, we present the first field observations of a lake drainage event in Antarctica via vertical fractures. Concurrent with the lake drainage event, we observe a decrease in surface elevation and an increase in Sentinel-1 backscatter. Finally, we suggest that fractures that are initiated or reactivated by lake drainage events in a grounding zone will propagate with ice flow onto the ice shelf itself, where they may have implications for its stability

Evaluating the impact of enhanced horizontal resolution over the Antarctic domain using a variable-resolution Earth system model

Earth system models are essential tools for understanding the impacts of a warming world, particularly on the contribution of polar ice sheets to sea level change. However, current models lack full coupling of the ice sheets to the ocean and are typically run at a coarse resolution (1∘ grid spacing or coarser). Coarse spatial resolution is particularly a problem over Antarctica, where sub-grid-scale orography is well-known to influence precipitation fields, and glacier models require high-resolution atmospheric inputs. This resolution limitation has been partially addressed by regional climate models (RCMs), which must be forced at their lateral and ocean surface boundaries by (usually coarser) global atmospheric datasets, However, RCMs fail to capture the two-way coupling between the regional domain and the global climate system. Conversely, running high-spatial-resolution models globally is computationally expensive and can produce vast amounts of data. Alternatively, variable-resolution grids can retain the benefits of high resolution over a specified domain without the computational costs of running at a high resolution globally. Here we evaluate a historical simulation of the Community Earth System Model version 2 (CESM2) implementing the spectral element (SE) numerical dynamical core (VR-CESM2) with an enhanced-horizontal-resolution (0.25∘) grid over the Antarctic Ice Sheet and the surrounding Southern Ocean; the rest of the global domain is on the standard 1∘ grid. We compare it to 1∘ model runs of CESM2 using both the SE dynamical core and the standard finite-volume (FV) dynamical core, both with identical physics and forcing, including prescribed sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and sea ice concentrations from observations. Our evaluation reveals both improvements and degradations in VR-CESM2 performance relative to the 1∘ CESM2. Surface mass balance estimates are slightly higher but within 1 standard deviation of the ensemble mean, except for over the Antarctic Peninsula, which is impacted by better-resolved surface topography. Temperature and wind estimates are improved over both the near surface and aloft, although the overall correction of a cold bias (within the 1∘ CESM2 runs) has resulted in temperatures which are too high over the interior of the ice sheet. The major degradations include the enhancement of surface melt as well as excessive cloud liquid water over the ocean, with resultant impacts on the surface radiation budget. Despite these changes, VR-CESM2 is a valuable tool for the analysis of precipitation and surface mass balance and thus constraining estimates of sea level rise associated with the Antarctic Ice Sheet.</p

Determining Amino Acid Digestibility of Soybean Meal from South Carolina Soybean Varieties Fed to Broilers

At hatch, 240 male broilers (Ross 308, Aviagen, Sallisaw, OK) were placed in batteries (Petersime Brood Unit, Gettysburg, OH) for a 15-d study to evaluate amino acid digestibility of soybean meal (SBM) from specialty variety soybeans grown in South Carolina. There were 10 replicates per treatment and 6 broilers per cage. Broilers were given a common corn and soybean meal-based diet from d 0 to 9. On d 9, broilers were weighed, and cages were allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments within location block. Dietary treatments consisted of 1 of 4 soybean sources varying in quality determined by crude protein (CP) content and processed into SBM. Two sources consisted of soybeans from a similar region and processed either commercially solvent extracted or experimentally solvent extracted at Texas A&M University. Therefore, dietary treatments consisted of a commercially processed SBM with 44% CP (CON) or experimentally processed SBM with 50% CP (PCON), 52% CP (52SBM), or 56% CP (56SBM). Assay diets were dextrose and SBM-based, formulated to supply 20% dietary CP with titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. On d 15, broilers were euthanized by CO2 inhalation and ileal samples were collected for determination of apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of AA. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure in SAS v. 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC), with pen as the experimental unit, pen location as the blocking factor and adjusted using Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons. Broilers fed CON and 56SBM had increased (P \u3c 0.003) digestibility of total AA, Arg, His, Lys, Thr, and Trp compared to those fed PCON and 52SBM. Digestibility of Ile and Phe increased (P \u3c 0.001) in broilers fed 56SBM compared to CON and 52SBM, while PCON was intermediate to CON and 52SBM. Broilers fed 56SBM had increased (P \u3c 0.001) digestibility of Leu compared to all other sources. Digestibility of Met increased (P = 0.007) in broilers fed CON and 56SBM compared to 52SBM and there was no evidence for differences between those fed PCON and all other sources. Broilers fed CON and 56SBM had increased (P \u3c 0.001) digestibility of Val compared to PCON and 52SBM, with no evidence for differences between those fed CON and PCON. In conclusion, broilers fed commercially processed SBM had improved AA digestibility compared to those fed experimentally processed soybeans from a similar region. The high CP (57% CP) SBM variety had increased AA digestibility compared to the PCON and 52SBM

Update on clinical trials of kidney stone repositioning and preclinical results of stone breaking with one system

Our goal is an office-based, handheld ultrasound system to target, detach, break, and/or expel stones and stone fragments from the urinary collecting system to facilitate natural clearance. Repositioning of stones in humans (maximum 2.5 MPa, and 3-second bursts) and breaking of stones in a porcine model (maximum 50 cycles, 20 Hz repetition, 30 minutes, and 7 MPa peak negative pressure) have been demonstrated using the same 350-kHz probe. Repositioning in humans was conducted during surgery with a ureteroscope in the kidney to film stone movement. Independent video review confirmed stone movements (≥ 3 mm) in 15 of 16 kidneys (94%). No serious or unanticipated adverse events were reported. Experiments of burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) effectiveness on breaking human stones implanted in the porcine bladder and kidney demonstrated fragmentation of 8 of 8 stones on post mortem dissection. A 1-week survival study with the BWL exposures and 10 specific-pathogen-free pigs, showed all findings were within normal limits on clinical pathology, hematology, and urinalysis. These results demonstrate that repositioning of stones with ultrasonic propulsion and breaking of stones with BWL are safe and effective

Effect of the Pelleting Process on Diet Formulations with Varying Levels of Crystalline Amino Acids and Reducing Sugars on Digestibility in Growing Pigs

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of thermal processing on the digestibility of amino acids (AA) in diets with or without increased concentrations of free amino acids and reducing sugars (RS). To measure AA digestibility, a total of eight individually housed barrows (initially 69.2 ± 6.8 lb) that had a T-cannula installed in the distal ileum were allotted to a replicated 8 × 8 Latin square design with 8 diets and eight 7-d periods. Thus, each pig was fed each diet in one period and no pig received the same diet more than once. Each period lasted 7 days with the initial 5 days being the adaptation period, and ileal digesta was collected for 9 hours on d 6 and 7. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of crystalline AA concentration (low vs. high), reducing sugars (low vs. high), and diet form (mash vs. pellet). There was no feed form × crystalline AA inclusion × RS inclusion interaction for standardized ileal digestible (SID) AA. There was a feed form × RS interaction (P \u3c 0.026) for SID tryptophan. Feeding pelleted high RS diets resulted in decreased SID of tryptophan compared with mash high and low RS diets, and pelleted low RS diets. For the main effects of feed form, the SID of total AA, crude protein (CP), and indispensable AA increased (P \u3c 0.042) in pigs fed pelleted diets compared with those fed mash diets. For the main effects of crystalline AA inclusion, pigs fed low or high crystalline AA inclu­sion had similar SID of total AA and CP. Pigs fed high crystalline AA had increased (P = 0.007) SID of tryptophan compared with those fed low crystalline AA diets. The SID of lysine tended to increase (P = 0.076) in pigs fed high crystalline AA diets compared with those fed low crystalline AA inclusion diets. Pigs fed high crystalline AA had decreased (P = 0.050) SID histidine compared with those fed low crystalline AA diets. The SID of arginine and isoleucine tended to decrease (P \u3c 0.079), in pigs fed high crystalline AA. In pigs fed high crystalline AA, the SID of serine and glycine decreased (P \u3c 0.042) compared with those fed low crystalline AA. For the main effects of RS diets, pigs fed high RS diets had decreased (P \u3c 0.05) SID of total AA, CP, indispensable AA, alanine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, and serine. In conclu­sion, there was no evidence of interactions between diet types. Therefore, pelleting diets with increased concentration of crystalline AA or RS at the conditions reported herein did not reduce the AA digestibility. However, pelleting diets resulted in improved AA digestibility. Diets formulated with increased concentrations of crystalline AA had increased SID of tryptophan. Formulating diets with 20% DDGS and 15% bakery meal (high RS) resulted in decreased AA digestibility compared with the corn-soybean meal-based diets

Effect of Dietary Fiber Source on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Economic Return of Finishing Pigs

A total of 287 pigs (DNA 600 × 241; initially 111.8 lb) were used in an 86-d experiment to determine the effect of dietary fiber source on finishing pig growth performance and carcass characteristics. There were 12 pens per treatment with 7 or 8 pigs per pen. Pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments consisting of a control (8.7% neutral detergent fiber; NDF), 20% dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS; 13.6% NDF), or 14.5% sugar beet pulp (SBP; 13.6% NDF). Experimental diets were fed from d 0 to 86 in 3 phases; d 0 to 18, d 18 to 39, and d 39 to 86. From d 0 to 86, there was no evidence for treatment difference in ADG or ADFI. Pigs fed DDGS had marginally poorer F/G than the control or 14.5% SBP diets (P \u3c 0.10). Caloric efficiency of net energy (NE) in kcal per lb of live gain was marginally poorer (P \u3c 0.10) in pigs fed DDGS compared to those fed control and SBP. There was a decrease (P \u3c 0.10) in hot carcass weight (HCW) and carcass yield (P \u3c .0.05) in pigs fed DDGS and SBP compared to those fed the control diet. Loin depth marginally decreased (P \u3c 0.10) in pigs fed SBP compared to the control, with those fed DDGS intermediate. Feed cost per pig was greatest (P \u3c 0.05) for pigs fed SBP, followed by DDGS, with those fed the control diet having the least. Feed cost per lb of gain increased (P \u3c 0.05) in pigs fed SBP, followed by DDGS, with those fed the control having the least. Gain value decreased (P \u3c 0.05) in pigs fed SBP compared to the control, with those fed DDGS intermediate. Income over feed cost was poorest (P \u3c 0.05) in pigs fed SBP, followed by DDGS, with those fed the control diet being the greatest. In conclusion, pigs fed DDGS tended to have poorer F/G compared to those fed the control diet or SBP. This can be explained by the overestimation of NE of the diet as demonstrated by an increase in caloric efficiency. Increasing dietary NDF reduced carcass yield and economic return