Assesment and optimisation techniques for an electrical impedance mammography system

Breast cancer detection through the use of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) has been proposed for a number of years. Typically in an EIT or when in use in breast cancer detection, Electrical Impedance Mammography (EIM) system, the patient interface is that of electrodes. Positive and negative sinusoidal signals are injected into a patient multiple times at multiple frequencies, recording the developed surface voltages that naturally develop from the impedance of the body. A 2D or 3D reconstruction and visualisation of the impedance distribution is possible through the use of the recorded voltage amplitude and phase. Higher resolution images are achieved through higher electrode density (i.e.smaller electrode distance). Furthermore, tissue has a characteristic frequency response,which can be recorded if different injection frequencies are utilised. The higher thefrequency, the deeper the signal can penetrate into tissue and deeper through the cellular structures, potentially leading to tissue characterisation through its frequency response. Our group has suggested a unique combined EIT and ultrasound multimodal imaging system to detect breast cancer. This will use an EIT system to initially scan the breast,combining this parametric data with the high-resolution images of ultrasound to give a more accurate diagnosis. The prototype, known as V2, was functional but performed poorly, especially with respect to the signal to noise ratio. Images generated with this system were unclear. My role within the group was to analyze the performance of the V2 system and research best practice methods to improve the existing design, taking into consideration the intricacies of EIT hardware design and the targeted application. The improvements I suggested were incorporated into the V3 system, which was then compared with the V2 system, and showed significant performance improvement

Some racial displacements in Roman history

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston Universit

Insider\u27s guide to getting published

The \u27Insider\u27s guide to getting published\u27 features keynote speaker Associate Professor Jeffrey Faux from Victoria University, editor of the Asian Review of Accounting and editorial board member of the Malaysian Accounting Review and the International Journal of Management Education.  Associate Professor Faux will provide tips and techniques about getting published in journals - specifically, those of leading independent publisher Emerald

Learning Lessons: Using Inquiries for Change

This article is not about the procedure of inquiry investigation, nor is it about the content of the inquiry report or recommendations. Our focus here is on the post-inquiry process – what happens after an inquiry’s recommendations are made

The size of Wiman–Valiron discs for subharmonic functions of a certain type

Wiman–Valiron theory and the results of Macintyre about “flat regions” describe the asymptotic behaviour of entire functions in certain discs around maximum points. We use a technique of Bergweiler, Rippon and Stallard to describe the asymptotic behaviour of a certain type of subharmonic function, and a technique of Bergweiler to estimate the size of its Wiman–Valiron discs from above and below. The results are extended to -subharmonic functions

Inside guide to getting published

In this seminar Dr Georgina Kelly gave useful advice to Higher Degree students and early career researchers on &ldquo;When to publish what during your PhD; publishing in conferences and journals; impact versus reputation; and how to get your paper read by others&rsquo;. Professor Terry Evans spoke of the importance of &lsquo;Being strategic about publishing with(in) a thesis: the public and accessible nature of contemporary PhD theses and the implications for publishing during candidature and for subsequent publications&rsquo;. In her presentation, &lsquo;Transitioning: riding the wave&rsquo;, Associate Professor Karen Stagnitti&rsquo;s drew on her experiences as an HDR student and Early Career Researcher, raising the importance of recognizing opportunities for presenting at conferences, networking and publishing. Associate Professor Rohan Bastin, discussed benefits of &lsquo;Developing pragmatic and rewarding publishing strategies; strategies and opportunities for having multiple publication projects on the go; tailoring one\u27s output to the esteem criteria relevant to disciplines as well as one\u27s own esteem criteria relevant to one\u27s specialist area&rsquo;. <br /

The Mosasaur Prognathodon (Reptilia, Mosasauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Belgium

The osteology of the mosasaurs Prognathodon solvayi and P. giganteus is extensively described for the first time. P. solvayi is known from the holotype IRSNB R33, a complete skull and partially preserved postcranial remains as well as from fragmentary material from specimens IRSNB R107 and IRSNB R108. P. giganteus is based wholly on the fragmentary cranial and postcranial remains of the type specimen IRSNB R106. Both species are compared with the North American taxa P. overtoni (KU 950, the holotype), P.? overloni (SDSM 3393), P. rapax (AMNH 1490),? Prognathodon (FMNH PR 165) and "Prognathodon" crassartus (AMNH 1562). P. sotvayi and P. giganteus are less similar to each other than are P. giganteus and SDSM 3393, referred to P. overtoni by RUSSELL (1967), especially with regard to overall shape and size. Because of the very fragmentary holotype material of P. overtoni comparisons with it are restricted. Characters critical in the classification of Prognathodon (such as dentition, zygosphenes, zygantra and haemal arches) are re-assessed. Re-evaluation of these characters induces changes in the generic assignments of the taxa within the Plioplatecarpinae. "Prognathodon" crassartus is reassigned to Plioplatecarpus. The status of FMNH PR 165, referred to Prognathodon by RUSSELL (1970) is questioned on the basis of conflicting diagnostic characters; it is a large plioptatecarpine mosasaur probably more closely related to Selmasaurus or Plioplatecarpus. Dollosaurus IAKOVLEV, 1901 is synonymised wiih Prognathodon. The ecology of Prognathodon and certain other mosasaurs of Belgium is discussed and comparisons are made with other aquatic vertebrates

A proactive collaborative workshop approach to supporting student preparation for graduate numerical reasoning tests

Numerical competency and reasoning skills are of high importance and high concern to graduate recruiters. The use of numerical reasoning tests in graduate recruitment is increasing. Many students are unaware of the prevalence of these tests, and the need for refreshment and practice of numerical skills. We describe a stand-alone workshop that is jointly run by the Maths Learning Centre and the Careers And Employability Service at De Montfort University. This workshop helps students to proactively prepare for these tests by providing test information, preparation tips and signposting to further maths and career support. The workshop’s main feature is a testing activity that is run individually and for small groups. Findings suggest that these workshops have been effective and are popular with students

Studies towards the synthesis of Salvinorin A

Salvinorin A 1, a psychoactive neoclerodane diterpenoid from the Mexican sage S. divinorum, has gained interest as a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist. Non-racemic 3-furylamines 9a and 9b have been prepared from (+)-pseudoephedrine and (-)-ephedrine for application in the stereoselective synthesis of the ketone ring of 1. Diels-Alder reaction of 9b with methyl acrylate in aqueous media, followed by selective ether bridge cleavage, has allowed access to the cyclohexenone 17 with preservation of stereochemistry at C2. A model route to the lactone ring has also been achieved through a one-pot deconjugation/esterification procedure of 2-bromocrotonyl chloride 20 to the furyl alcohol 19 followed by Reformatski-mediated ring closure