Comparison of T1 mapping techniques for ECV quantification. histological validation and reproducibility of ShMOLLI versus multibreath-hold T1 quantification equilibrium contrast CMR

BACKGROUND: Myocardial extracellular volume (ECV) is elevated in fibrosis or infiltration and can be quantified by measuring the haematocrit with pre and post contrast T1 at sufficient contrast equilibrium. Equilibrium CMR (EQ-CMR), using a bolus-infusion protocol, has been shown to provide robust measurements of ECV using a multibreath-hold T1 pulse sequence. Newer, faster sequences for T1 mapping promise whole heart coverage and improved clinical utility, but have not been validated. METHODS: Multibreathhold T1 quantification with heart rate correction and single breath-hold T1 mapping using Shortened Modified Look-Locker Inversion recovery (ShMOLLI) were used in equilibrium contrast CMR to generate ECV values and compared in 3 ways.Firstly, both techniques were compared in a spectrum of disease with variable ECV expansion (n=100, 50 healthy volunteers, 12 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 18 with severe aortic stenosis, 20 with amyloid). Secondly, both techniques were correlated to human histological collagen volume fraction (CVF%, n=18, severe aortic stenosis biopsies). Thirdly, an assessment of test:retest reproducibility of the 2 CMR techniques was performed 1 week apart in individuals with widely different ECVs (n=10 healthy volunteers, n=7 amyloid patients). RESULTS: More patients were able to perform ShMOLLI than the multibreath-hold technique (6% unable to breath-hold). ECV calculated by multibreath-hold T1 and ShMOLLI showed strong correlation (r(2)=0.892), little bias (bias -2.2%, 95%CI -8.9% to 4.6%) and good agreement (ICC 0.922, range 0.802 to 0.961, p<0.0001). ECV correlated with histological CVF% by multibreath-hold ECV (r(2)= 0.589) but better by ShMOLLI ECV (r(2)= 0.685). Inter-study reproducibility demonstrated that ShMOLLI ECV trended towards greater reproducibility than the multibreath-hold ECV, although this did not reach statistical significance (95%CI -4.9% to 5.4% versus 95%CI -6.4% to 7.3% respectively, p=0.21). CONCLUSIONS: ECV quantification by single breath-hold ShMOLLI T1 mapping can measure ECV by EQ-CMR across the spectrum of interstitial expansion. It is procedurally better tolerated, slightly more reproducible and better correlates with histology compared to the older multibreath-hold FLASH techniques

Adapting Kwl Strategy for Teaching Science Practicals to Children with Special Needs for Effectives Learning

The learning of science is imperative for development in every society, and so it should not be limited to some persons. Therefore, these study sets out to use KWL strategy to adapt science teaching to the children with special needs for effective learning.The research design used in this study was the quazi experimental design specifically the pretest-posttest method. Three research questions guided the study. The sample of the study was made up of eight junior secondary one students from one public school in Lamingo, Jos plateau Nigeria. Intact class was used because there was no randomization. Base line data was collected from the class teacher on the students previous performance on the topic Classification of food. The researcher later taught same topic using KWL strategy for three weeks after which a test is given to collect data in form of scores. The data was analysed using percentage.The findings showed that KWL engaged students in the topic taught and also activated prior knowledge. KWL also enhanced good performance, thinking skill and promote curiosity.The researchers recommended that: teachers should ensure that appropriate activities be planned to take care of student needs; Government to ensure that all children have an equal right to education of any type

Effect of a Previous Acid Adaptation of Zygosaccharomyces bailii on its Growth Kinetic in Acidic Media

The growth response of Zygosaccharomyces bailii acid adapted cells was assessed in acidified media. Yeast cells were first pre-cultured in nutrient broth adjusted with hydrochloric, citric and malic acid to pH 4; 4.5; 5; 5.5; 6 and 6.5. Moreover, they were also grown in two controls consisting of nutrient broth and nutrient broth supplemented with 1% of glucose both adjusted at pH 7. The variation of pH before and after the growth along with yeast concentration was measured. The cells pre-cultured in controls conditions and in the three conditions at pH 5 were then each inoculated in six BHI medium consisting of BHI adjusted with hydrochloric, citric and malic acid at pH 5.5 and 3.5. The growth was monitored by spectrophotometry and the yeast concentration after incubation was obtained by microscopy using a Thoma cell chamber. DMFit 2.1 was used to plot the growth curves and to estimate the growth parameters. All the pre-cultures and cultures were made at 37°C during 24 hours. During the pre-cultures, an important decrease of pH was noted in nutrient broth supplemented with glucose, moving from 7 to 3.81. In all the other pre-cultures, just a little variation was observed ranging from -0.57 to 0.50. Growth was observed in all the conditions, except at pH4. By growing the cells coming from the selected pre-cultures conditions in the different acidic BHI media, it appears that acid adaptation enhance the growth at pH 5.5 no matter the acid contains in the medium and the acid to which the cells were adapted. However, this acid adaptation was not sufficient to initiate growth at pH 3.5 after 24 hours of incubation at 37°C. Growth rate was significantly affected by the pH of the pre-culture medium and the acid present in the culture medium. Pre-culture with glucose supplementation was the only parameter studied affecting the latency

Synchronous motion of two vertically excited planar elastic pendula

The dynamics of two planar elastic pendula mounted on the horizontally excited platform have been studied. We give evidence that the pendula can exhibit synchronous oscillatory and rotation motion and show that stable in-phase and anti-phase synchronous states always co-exist. The complete bifurcational scenario leading from synchronous to asynchronous motion is shown. We argue that our results are robust as they exist in the wide range of the system parameters.Comment: Submitte