6th–8th Grade: English Level 2, Learning Packet #5 • Theme: Egypt

Day 1 • Traveling to Egypt!, Vocabulary you need to know, Where in the world are we?, Egypt\u27s flag, Pack your suitcase! What do you know? What do you want to learn? Day 2 • Vocabulary review, The desert in Egypt, Desert questions, Math practice Day 3 • Math practice. Whirling in Egypt, Good luck animals in Egypt, Your turn! Day 4 • Vocabulary practice, Pyramids in Egypt, Your turn!, Way of life in Egypt Day 5 • Make a pyramid, Falafel, Reflection activity, Goodbye, Egypt! My Packet Journal Reference Sheet Answer Key

Three-dimensional ultrasound scanning

The past two decades have witnessed developments of new imaging techniques that provide three-dimensional images about the interior of the human body in a manner never before available. Ultrasound (US) imaging is an important cost-effective technique used routinely in the management of a number of diseases. However, two-dimensional viewing of three-dimensional anatomy, using conventional two-dimensional US, limits our ability to quantify and visualize the anatomy and guide therapy, because multiple two-dimensional images must be integrated mentally. This practice is inefficient, and may lead to variability and incorrect diagnoses. Investigators and companies have addressed these limitations by developing three-dimensional US techniques. Thus, in this paper, we review the various techniques that are in current use in three-dimensional US imaging systems, with a particular emphasis placed on the geometric accuracy of the generation of three-dimensional images. The principles involved in three-dimensional US imaging are then illustrated with a diagnostic and an interventional application: (i) three-dimensional carotid US imaging for quantification and monitoring of carotid atherosclerosis and (ii) three-dimensional US-guided prostate biopsy

Lake Superior Drowning in Microplastics

Billions of microplastic particles litter the shores and waters of Lake Superior. However, the ecological impact of microplastics on the flora and fauna of Lake Superior have not been fully realized. Microplastic saturation of our waterways affects us by suffocating our natural ecosystems and contaminating our food and water sources. Beyond monitoring, however, research relating to potential solutions remains limited. Our goal is to encourage continued research into the ecological impacts of microplastics in the Lake Superior ecosystem, while increasing awareness in the community about microplastic contamination. To accomplish our goal, we conducted an extensive literature review to examine the ecological implications of microplastic contamination on aquatic ecosystems. Through synthesis of primary sources, a baseline understanding of the issue in the region was determined, including potential solutions to be taken. Our team is working to develop this baseline to share with the community, as well as justify the continuance of solution-based research. Beyond the Lake Superior region, research on microplastics in freshwater systems can be broadly applied along with research on remediation efforts

Non-Tariff Barriers, Environmental Scanning and Export Performance: the Case of Uganda’s Dairy Exports to Kenya

This research was prompted by the significantly low levels of intra-East African Community (EAC) trade, despite the presence of preferential trade agreements in the region. By focusing on Uganda’s dairy sector, the study sought to establish the structure of the sector’s exports, establish the competitiveness of the sector’s exports into the Kenyan market, to determine the extent to which specific Non-Tariff Barriers are hindering dairy exports from Uganda into the Kenyan dairy market and to establish the mediating role of environmental scanning in the relationship between NTBs and export performance of Uganda’s dairy exporters into the Kenyan dairy market.  A cross-sectional survey of all Ugandan milk and cream (concentrated or sweetened) dairy exporters was undertaken. The findings revealed that Uganda’s diary exports are concentrated and dependent on mainly two product categories accounting for 92 % of the dairy exports and that the exports are concentrated in only one export market; Kenya (80%). The most detrimental NTBs were: Procedural Problems, Charges on Imports and Customs & Administration Entry Procedures. They study also established that environmental scanning was not significantly related to NTBs and therefore could not mediate the relationship between NTBs and Export performance. Keywords: Non-tariff barriers, Environmental scanning, export performance, dairy exports, International business, Ugand

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Thoracic CT Texture Analysis and Machine Learning to Predict Pulmonary Ventilation

Background Fixed airflow limitation and ventilation heterogeneity are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Conventional noncontrast CT provides airway and parenchymal measurements but cannot be used to directly determine lung function. Purpose To develop, train, and test a CT texture analysis and machine-learning algorithm to predict lung ventilation heterogeneity in participants with COPD. Materials and Methods In this prospective study

Analysis of carotid lumen surface morphology using three-dimensional ultrasound imaging

Carotid plaque surface irregularity and ulcerations play an important role in the risk of ischemic stroke. Ulcerated or fissured plaque, characterized by irregular surface morphology, exposes thrombogenic materials to the bloodstream, possibly leading to life- or brain-threatening thrombosis and embolization. Therefore, the quantification of plaque surface irregularity is important to identify high-risk plaques that would likely lead to vascular events. Although a number of studies have characterized plaque surface irregularity using subjective classification schemes with two or more categories, only a few have quantified surface irregularity using an objective and continuous quantity, such as Gaussian or mean curvature. In this work, our goal was to use both Gaussian and mean curvatures for identifying ulcers from 3D carotid ultrasound (US) images of human subjects. Before performing experiments using patient data, we verified the numerical accuracy of the surface curvature computation method using discrete spheres and tori with different sampling intervals. We also showed that three ulcers of the vascular phantom with 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm diameters were associated with high Gaussian and mean curvatures, and thus, were easily detected. Finally, we demonstrated the application of the proposed method for detecting ulcers on luminal surfaces, which were segmented from the 3D US images acquired for two human subjects

Quantification of carotid vessel wall and plaque thickness change using 3D ultrasound images

Quantitative measurements of carotid plaque burden progression or regression are important in monitoring patients and in evaluation of new treatment options. 3D ultrasound (US) has been used to monitor the progression or regression of carotid artery plaques. This paper reports on the development and application of a method used to analyze changes in carotid plaque morphology from 3D US. The technique used is evaluated using manual segmentations of the arterial wall and lumen from 3D US images acquired in two imaging sessions. To reduce the effect of segmentation variability, segmentation was performed five times each for the wall and lumen. The mean wall and lumen surfaces, computed from this set of five segmentations, were matched on a point-by-point basis, and the distance between each pair of corresponding points served as an estimate of the combined thickness of the plaque, intima, and media (vessel-wall-plus-plaque thickness or VWT). The VWT maps associated with the first and the second US images were compared and the differences of VWT were obtained at each vertex. The 3D VWT and VWT-Change maps may provide important information for evaluating the location of plaque progression in relation to the localized disturbances of flow pattern, such as oscillatory shear, and regression in response to medical treatments

Volume of carotid artery ulceration as a predictor of cardiovascular events

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown the presence of ulceration in atherosclerotic plaque either by categorizing the plaque as complex (irregular morphology with ulcers) or smooth or by quantifying the number of ulcers observed in a specific region of interest. The aim of this study was to quantify carotid total ulcer volume by 3-dimensional ultrasound to investigate the relationship of total ulcer volume to vascular events (strokes, transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, revascularization, or death because of cardiovascular reasons). METHODS: In total, 349 at-risk subjects provided written informed consent to carotid 3-dimensional ultrasound and were analyzed for ulcerations. Ulcer volume was defined as a distinct discontinuity in an atherosclerotic plaque, with a volume≥1.00 mm3 as measured using manual segmentation. The sum of the volumes of all ulcers seen in both carotids was the total ulcer volume. Participants were monitored for ≤5 years for outcomes, including cardiovascular events and death. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that subjects with total ulcer volume≥5 mm3 experienced a significantly higher risk of developing stroke, transient ischemic attack, or death (P=0.009) and of developing stroke/transient ischemic attack/death/myocardial infarction/revascularization (P=0.017). Lower ulcer volumes did not predict events nor did ulcer depth. CONCLUSIONS: Volume of carotid ulceration on 3-dimensional ultrasound predicts cardiovascular events. In addition to improving risk stratification, ulceration is a potential therapeutic target

Carotid ultrasound phenotypes in vulnerable populations

BACKGROUND: Biomarkers of carotid atherosclerosis range from those that are widely available and relatively simple to measure such as serum cholesterol levels, and B-mode Ultrasound measurement of intima media thickness (IMT) to those that are more complex and technologically demanding but perhaps potentially more sensitive and specific to disease such as total plaque volume and total plaque area measured from 3-dimensional ultrasound images. In this study we measured and compared intima media thickness (IMT), total plaque volume (TPV) and total plaque area (TPA) in two separate populations, both vulnerable to carotid atherosclerosis. METHODS: In total, 88 subjects (mean age 72.8) with carotid stenosis of at least 60%, based on a peak Doppler flow, and 82 subjects (mean age 60.9) with diabetic nephropathy were assessed in a cross-sectional study. Conventional atherosclerotic risk factors were examined and the associations and correlations between these and carotid ultrasound phenotypes measured from B-mode and 3-dimensional ultrasound images were assessed. RESULTS: IMT and TPV were only modestly correlated in the two separate populations (r = .6, p < .01). ANOVA analyses indicated that both IMT and TPV were significantly associated with age (p < .001) and Framingham score (p < .05), but only TPV was associated with diabetes (p < .001) and presence of plaque ulcerations (p < .01) CONCLUSION: IMT and TPV were modestly correlated in a diabetic patient population and only TPV was associated with diabetes and the presence of plaque ulcerations in a diabetic population and carotid stenosis group. The 3-dimensional information provided by TPV can be critically important in unmasking association with risk factors not observed with less complex single-dimension assessments of carotid atherosclerosis such as those provided by IMT

EEG reinvestigations of visual statistical learning for faces, scenes, and objects

The objective of this ongoing, replication study is to understand temporal and spatial patterns in our environment by using the technique of electroencephalography (EEG). Visual statistical learning (VSL) helps us to understand conditional probabilities from our environments. This concept is why we know that chairs are located under tables, not above. The goal of this study is to understand whether participants can unconsciously associate pairs of items (faces, scenes, and objects) from their short-term memory. Strong pairs become more similar to each other, as compared to weak pairs, which become less similar. In the main task, participants saw items appear on the screen, on at a time, for 100ms each. Items directly followed each other without transitions. In the post-task, participants were asked to rate how familiar pairs of items were, using a sliding scale. There were three types of pairs presented: strong pairs where item B followed item A 100% of the time; weak pairs where item B followed item A 11% of the time; and foil pairs where item B followed item A 0% of the time. In conclusion, results are similar to the current study (n = 10) in that there are behavioral differences between strong vs. foil and strong vs. weak pairs