Time-optimized high-resolution readout-segmented diffusion tensor imaging

Readout-segmented echo planar imaging with 2D navigator-based reacquisition is an uprising technique enabling the sampling of high-resolution diffusion images with reduced susceptibility artifacts. However, low signal from the small voxels and long scan times hamper the clinical applicability. Therefore, we introduce a regularization algorithm based on total variation that is applied directly on the entire diffusion tensor. The spatially varying regularization parameter is determined automatically dependent on spatial variations in signal-to-noise ratio thus, avoiding over- or under-regularization. Information about the noise distribution in the diffusion tensor is extracted from the diffusion weighted images by means of complex independent component analysis. Moreover, the combination of those features enables processing of the diffusion data absolutely user independent. Tractography from in vivo data and from a software phantom demonstrate the advantage of the spatially varying regularization compared to un-regularized data with respect to parameters relevant for fiber-tracking such as Mean Fiber Length, Track Count, Volume and Voxel Count. Specifically, for in vivo data findings suggest that tractography results from the regularized diffusion tensor based on one measurement (16 min) generates results comparable to the un-regularized data with three averages (48 min). This significant reduction in scan time renders high resolution (1×1×2.5 mm3) diffusion tensor imaging of the entire brain applicable in a clinical context

Beauty’s Struggles against Gender Discrimination in Patriarchal Society depicted in Jacqueline Wilson’s Cookie

This research is aimed (1) to identify kinds of gender discrimination faced by Beauty in patriarchal society found in Jacqueline Wilson’s Cookie, (2) to explain the struggles that Beauty does to fight against gender discrimination in patriarchal society, and (3) to find out the impacts of struggles that Beauty does. Therefore, this research applied feminism theory that is combined with children’s literature and children’s empowerment since the novel is a children literature novel. To analyze the data, this research used qualitative descriptive content analysis. The data of the research were the words, phrases, clauses and sentences related to (1) kinds of gender discrimination faced by Beauty in patriarchal society, (2) the struggles that Beauty does to fight against gender discrimination in patriarchal society, and (3) the impacts of struggles that Beauty does to gain independence which are embedded in Jacqueline Wilson’s Cookie. The primary instrument in this research was the researcher herself whereas the secondary instruments were any devices and media which were used in the data collection technique and data analysis process. To ensure the data trustworthiness, triangulation was applied in this research. The results of this research show that there are three kinds of gender discrimination faced by Beauty in Patriarchal society: violence, subordination and stereotype. Beauty also does some struggles to survive against gender discrimination in patriarchal society: gaining consciousness, being bond in sisterhood, getting education and working. The third result is three impacts that Beauty gets to gain independence in patriarchal society: boosting her self-esteem, improving her pride and strengthening her friendship. Keywords: Beauty, struggle, gender discrimination, patriarchal society, Cooki

A Media Framing Analysis of Child Marriages in Pakistan : What is the Problem Represented to be?

In November of 2014, The United Nations passed their first resolution on Child, Early and Forced Marriages. The resolution has been though of as a historic one of its kind. Most of the member states have decided to co-sponsor the resolution. One of the countries that first brought up the issue was Pakistan, which has a very young population where many girls are at risk of being victims of child marriages every day. The purpose of this thesis is to conduct a qualitative study in order to shed light on one of the most important issues of Pakistan – child marriage. In order to answer this purpose, news articles of the media were examined with the qualitative method of What’s the problem represented to be? approach by Carol Bacchi. The five biggest newspapers in Pakistan were used to gain the results. Three times periods were chosen, one when a national restraint act was put into power, one when UN adopted its first child marriages resolution and one at a seemingly neutral time period. Only articles that contained certain phrases were chosen and then three answers from Bacchi were answered through the article. Both the articles and the different perspectives of child marriages were shown to be many. The results showed that child marriages seem to be a constant topic on the media agenda, as the issue was widely discussed throughout all time periods. Four aspects of child marriages were found to be the most common and they can explain how child marriage resolutions are failing to be implemented in the society. The four aspects that were the most common ones are: Religion/tradition, Sindh and Punjab, Health/population and Legislation/Council of Islamic Ideology.Validerat; 20150902 (global_studentproject_submitter

Linguistic change in mennonite sociolect

Während sich die Geschwindigkeit der linguistischen Veränderung und des Sprachverfalles beschleunigt, werden isolierte Sprachen zu Forschungspunkten, da sie es LinguistInnen ermöglichen, Faktoren zu bestimmen, die zur Aufrechterhaltung der Sprache beitragen. Diese Studie untersucht lexikalische und phonologische Aspekte des Choritzio-Soziolekts, der von Mennoniten in Aylmer, Ontario, Kanada, und Chihuahua, Mexiko, gesprochen wird. Die geographisch getrennten Sprachgemeinschaften werden verglichen. Die Word-Elicitation-Strategie wurde verwendet, um lexikalische Varianzen zwischen den beiden Gemeinschaften zu bestimmen; die Voice-Onset Time (VOT), d.h. die Zeit zwischen der Geräuschbildung und dem Auftreten der Stimme, sowie Formantfrequenzen wurden gemessen und verglichen, um phonologische Varianzen zu bestimmen. Zusätzlich wird ein Matched-guise-Test verwendet, um das wahrgenommene Sprachprestige zu bestimmen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass zwischen den beiden untersuchten Sprachgemeinschaften nur sehr wenige Unterschiede bestehen und somit ein hoher Grad an Spracherhaltung und Veränderungsresistenz vorzufinden ist. Außerdem wird anhand der Untersuchung der globalen Sprachen Spanisch und Englisch gezeigt, dass diese einen höheren Grad an Overt Prestige aufweisen, wohingegen der Soziolekt einen höheren Grad an Covert Prestige hat, und damit auch, dass linguistischen Veränderungen in isolierten Gemeinschaften entgegengewirkt werden kann.As the rate of linguistic change and death accelerates, isolated languages become research gems as they allow linguists to determine factors that contribute to language maintenance. This study investigates lexical and phonological aspects of the Chortitza sociolect spoken by Mennonites in Aylmer, Ontario, Canada and Chihuahua, Mexico. The geographically seperate communities are compared. Word elicitation was used in order to determine any lexical variances between the two communities, and voice onset time and formant frequencies were measured and compared in order to determine phonological variances. Additionally, a matched-guise technique is employed as a means of determining perceived language prestige. The results show that there are very few variances between the two communities, and thus a high degree of language maintenance and resistance to change is indicated. Additionally, the results indicate that the global languages, Spanish and English, have a higher degree of overt prestige, whereas the sociolect has a higher covert prestige. The study shows that linguistic change can indeed be resisted in isolated communities.vorgelegt von Jehna DanbrookZusammenfassungen in Deutsch und EnglischKarl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Masterarbeit, 2018(VLID)279182

The sensory-motor profile awake: A new tool for pre-, intra-, and postoperative assessment of sensory-motor function

Objectives Awake craniotomy is a well-established procedure in surgery of intracranial tumors in eloquent areas. However, sufficiently standardized instruments for the assessment of sensory-motor function before, during and after the operation are currently lacking, despite their importance for evaluation of operative outcome. Patients and Methods To address this issue, we designed a standardized assessment tool (the “sensory-motor profile awake scale”; SMP-a). The final scale consists of three motor sections (face, arm and leg) assessing both gross and fine motor skills and one sensory section. It differentiates between six grades of impairment and its tasks are applicable for intraoperative continuous monitoring of sensory-motor functions and supporting processes. We analyzed the data of 17 patients with intracranial tumors eligible for awake craniotomy who were preoperatively assessed with the SMP-a. In addition, we present an exemplary case. Results Our data support the assumption that the SMP-a is feasible in patients eligible for awake craniotomy, even in patients with symptoms of mild aphasia or more severe sensory-motor deficits caused by tumor recurrence. The exemplary case demonstrates the feasibility of repeated measures with the SMP-a in a tumor patient, including the adaption of tasks to the individual requirements of an intraoperative setting. Conclusion This exploratory study suggests that the SMP-a might be a feasible rating scale in patients with intracranial tumors. The flexibility of the scale enables individual adaption, but preserves the standardized scoring system to allow comparison between assessment dates, patients and, hopefully in the future, institutions. However, future studies are mandatory to provide data on the instrument’s diagnostic properties with respect to feasibility, objectivity, validity and reliability

Aging associated changes in the motor control of ankle movements in the brain.

Although age-related gait changes have been well characterized, little is known regarding potential functional changes in central motor control of distal lower limb movements with age. We hypothesized that there are age-related changes in brain activity associated with the control of repetitive ankle movements, an element of gait feasible for study with functional magnetic resonance imaging. We analyzed standardized functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 102 right-foot dominant healthy participants aged 20-83 years for age-associated effects using FSL and a meta-analysis using coordinate-based activation likelihood estimation. For the first time, we have confirmed age-related changes in brain activity with this gait-related movement of the lower limb in a large population. Increasing age correlated strongly with increased movement-associated activity in the cerebellum and precuneus. Given that task performance did not vary with age, we interpret these changes as potentially compensatory for other age-related changes in the sensorimotor network responsible for control of limb function

Aging associated changes in the motor control of ankle movements in the brain

Although age-related gait changes have been well characterized, little is known regarding potential functional changes in central motor control of distal lower limb movements with age. We hypothesized that there are age-related changes in brain activity associated with the control of repetitive ankle movements, an element of gait feasible for study with functional magnetic resonance imaging. We analyzed standardized functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 102 right-foot dominant healthy participants aged 20-83years for age-associated effects using FSL and a meta-analysis using coordinate-based activation likelihood estimation. For the first time, we have confirmed age-related changes in brain activity with this gait-related movement of the lower limb in a large population. Increasing age correlated strongly with increased movement-associated activity in the cerebellum and precuneus. Given that task performance did not vary with age, we interpret these changes as potentially compensatory for other age-related changes in the sensorimotor network responsible for control of limb function. © 2014 Elsevier Inc