Patient Risk-Minimizing Tube Current Modulation in X-Ray Computed Tomography

This dissertation proposes a patient-specific tube current modulation for computed tomography (CT) that minimizes the individual patient risk (riskTCM). Modern CT scanners use automatic exposure control (AEC) techniques including tube current modulation (TCM) to reduce the radiation dose delivered to the patient while maintaining image quality. Today's TCM implementations aim at minimizing the tube current-time (mAs) product as a surrogate for patient dose, which is why they are referred to as mAsTCM hereafter. However, the actual patient risk, e.g., in the form of risk measures such as the effective dose Deff representing the sensitivity of individual organs with respect to ionizing radiation, is not taken into account. In order to be able to optimize the effective dose Deff or another biologically meaningful measure, organ doses must be estimated before the actual CT scan in order to compute an optimized riskTCM curve. This can be achieved using a machine learning approach and based on these information, the new patient risk-minimizing TCM curve can be obtained. The proposed riskTCM algorithm was evaluated in a simulation study for circular scans and compared against the current gold standard method mAsTCM and to a constant tube current as well as an organ-specific tube current modulation technique. The results illustrate that all anatomical regions can benefit from riskTCM and a reduction of effective dose of up to 30% can be expected compared to mAsTCM. Furthermore, riskTCM was extended to a spiral trajectory that is commonly used in clinical routine and initial measurements with phantoms have been performed. The introduction of riskTCM into clinical practice would only require a software update since almost all CT systems are already capable of modulating the tube current

Rock/pop nacional: la discordia entra la retórica verbal y musical

La música tiene un lenguaje propio, diferente del verbal: su capacidad discursiva, narrativa y poética permite la modificación del sentido del lenguaje en el contexto musical. En el presente trabajo se explora cómo, a fin de desafiar las jerarquías lingüísticas, la música construye sentidos diferentes a partir de la interacción sonora con la palabra, y en el rock/pop nacional de un modo particular, en este caso mediante la modificación del énfasis prosódico de las palabras por la acentuación rítmica musical.Facultad de Bellas Arte

Rock/pop nacional: la discordia entra la retórica verbal y musical

La música tiene un lenguaje propio, diferente del verbal: su capacidad discursiva, narrativa y poética permite la modificación del sentido del lenguaje en el contexto musical. En el presente trabajo se explora cómo, a fin de desafiar las jerarquías lingüísticas, la música construye sentidos diferentes a partir de la interacción sonora con la palabra, y en el rock/pop nacional de un modo particular, en este caso mediante la modificación del énfasis prosódico de las palabras por la acentuación rítmica musical.Facultad de Bellas Arte

Argentine Rock/Pop. Prosodic Stress on the Sung Word

La música tiene un lenguaje propio, diferente del verbal: su capacidad discursiva, narrativa y poética permite la modificación del sentido del lenguaje en el contexto musical. En el presente escrito se explora cómo, a fin de desafiar las jerarquías lingüísticas, la música construye sentidos diferentes a partir de la interacción sonora con la palabra; en particular, en el caso del rock/pop nacional, mediante la modificación del énfasis prosódico de las palabras por la acentuación rítmica musical.Music has its own language, which is different from the verbal one: its discursive, narrative and poetic potential allows the meaning of words within a musical context to be changed. This paper explores how, in order to challenge the linguistic hierarchy, music creates different meanings from the interaction between sounds and words. This happens specifically in Argentinian rock/pop through the modification of the prosodic emphasis of words at the expense of the rhythmic musical stress.Facultad de Arte

Rock/pop nacional: la discordia entra la retórica verbal y musical

La música tiene un lenguaje propio, diferente del verbal: su capacidad discursiva, narrativa y poética permite la modificación del sentido del lenguaje en el contexto musical. En el presente trabajo se explora cómo, a fin de desafiar las jerarquías lingüísticas, la música construye sentidos diferentes a partir de la interacción sonora con la palabra, y en el rock/pop nacional de un modo particular, en este caso mediante la modificación del énfasis prosódico de las palabras por la acentuación rítmica musical.Facultad de Bellas Arte

Argentine Rock/Pop. Prosodic Stress on the Sung Word

La música tiene un lenguaje propio, diferente del verbal: su capacidad discursiva, narrativa y poética permite la modificación del sentido del lenguaje en el contexto musical. En el presente escrito se explora cómo, a fin de desafiar las jerarquías lingüísticas, la música construye sentidos diferentes a partir de la interacción sonora con la palabra; en particular, en el caso del rock/pop nacional, mediante la modificación del énfasis prosódico de las palabras por la acentuación rítmica musical.Music has its own language, which is different from the verbal one: its discursive, narrative and poetic potential allows the meaning of words within a musical context to be changed. This paper explores how, in order to challenge the linguistic hierarchy, music creates different meanings from the interaction between sounds and words. This happens specifically in Argentinian rock/pop through the modification of the prosodic emphasis of words at the expense of the rhythmic musical stress.Facultad de Arte

Ocean Acidification Carryover Effects from Oyster Broodstock to Larvae

Atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by approximately 40% since preindustrial times from 280 ppm (parts per million) to 400 ppm. The rise in Pco₂ is causing the ocean to become more acidic due to the uptake of carbon dioxide by the water, termed “ocean acidification”. As the Pco₂ in the ocean increases, the pH and the saturation state, Ω, of calcium carbonate decrease. Increased Pco₂ in the ocean has been shown to negatively affect calcifying organisms like the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). The effects of elevated Pco₂ on egg size and 24-hour old, D-hinge larval size and development were examined in this study. Adult Pacific oysters were conditioned in low and high levels of Pco₂. From these groups, two treatment groups were made for larval rearing, high and low Pco₂. Significant decreases in egg size and normal larval development were found due to the adult treatment. Larval size differed significantly between adult exposure treatments. These results suggest the negative effects of ocean acidification can be carried over from adult to offspring, with egg size acting as a mechanism. The evidence of carryover effects supports the study of ocean acidification across multiple life history stages rather than a single phase

Do GPs use electronic mental health resources? A qualitative study

BACKGROUNDThe Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care (BOMHC) initiative encourages general practitioners to use electronic mental health resources (EMHRs) during consultation with patients requiring psychological assistance. However, there is little data on GPs&rsquo; acceptance and use of EMHRs.METHODSemistructured interviews were conducted with 27 GPs to determine their attitude toward EMHRs, and their use during consultation with patients.RESULTSFew GPs reported frequently using EMHRs in consultation. Identified barriers to use included lack of familiarity with information technology, and insufficient knowledge of available resources. Identified advantages of electronic resources included high patient acceptance, time efficiency, and improved quality of information.DISCUSSIONGeneral practitioners recognise several advantages of utilising electronic resources for managing patients with mental illness. However, GPs are not sufficiently familiar with electronic resources to use them effectively. This could be overcome by education.<br /