Seeing Beyond: Real-time Ultrasound Image Integration in Augmented Reality Based Telementoring

Ultrasound imaging, when aptly integrated with augmented reality based medical telementoring, may be beneficial as an assistive tool in a range of trauma procedures including removal of foreign objects from blast injuries and central or peripheral venous access. Expected benefits include reduced procedure completion time, higher efficiency, and higher incision accuracy. This paper describes the implementation strategy selected for the integration of real time ultrasound imaging in the trainee view of a telementoring system. The proposed strategy augments the view of the trainee surgeon by displaying the ultrasound image directly below and parallel to the ultrasound transducer. The developed system features a fiducial marker based tracking approach employing a triplanar geometric fixture. An experiment was designed to demonstrate the system function and validate its performance

Generation and characterization of bioactive peptides from flaxseed ( Linum usitatissimum L.) proteins

The potential of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) protein to release bioactive peptides upon enzymatic hydrolysis was evaluated. Flaxseed protein released angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory (ACEI) peptides during in vitro simulated gastrointestinal (GI) digestion in a static (no removal of digested products) and a dynamic model (removal o

An Overview of Weeds and Weed Management in Rice of South Asia

South Asia produces slightly above 225 million tons of rice (30.7% of global production) on 60 million hectares (37.6% of the global area). India and Bangladesh are the major rice-growing countries. India contributes around a quarter of global production from 43 million hectares (the largest rice cultivating area). In South Asia, manually transplanting rice seedlings into flooded soil (TPR) is the common method of rice establishment. But direct-seeded rice (DSR) is gaining importance due to shortage and increased cost of resources. In Sri Lanka 93% of rice is cultivated as wet-seeded rice. However, the weeds are major constraints in DSR causing higher (14 to 100%) than in TPR (7 to 80%). Major rice weeds in South Asia include: Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv., Echinochloa colona (L.) Link., Cyperus rotundus L., Cyperus iria Linn., Cyperus difformis L., red rice (Oryza sativa L.), Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees, Ischaemum rugosum Salisb., Paspalum distichum L., Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv., Eleusine indica (L.) Pers., and Fimbristylis miliacea (L.) Vahl. Weeds flora was reported to vary with location, method of rice establishment, cultural practices used and associated environment. The small-holders’ traditional weed control method is hand weeding by hand-held hoe and hand pulling. Hand weeding is still a major method of weed control. However, the herbicide use is increasing due to non-availability and increased cost of labour in several of the South Asian countries. Mechanical weeders are being used by farmers as they reduce labor use and cost of weeding (72 to 74%). Tillage, mulching, crop rotation, allelopathic competitive crop cultivars, intercropping, balanced nutrient and water management and preventive measures have proven to be effective as a component of integrated weed management in rice of South Asian countries. Herbicide resistance among weeds in rice was not reported in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. Herbicide resistant biotypes of E. crus-galli, I. rugosum and C. iria were reported in Sri Lanka. In South Asia, herbicide tolerant rice is yet to be made available to farming community. Weed management research must be focused on identifying location specific effective, environment friendly, economically viable integrated weed management strategies

A cross-cultural comparison of student learning patterns in higher education

Marambe, K. N., Vermunt, J. D., & Boshuizen, H. P. A. (2012). A cross-cultural comparison of student learning patterns in higher education. Higher Education, 64(3), 299-316. doi:10.1007/s10734-011-9494-zThe aim of this study was to compare student learning patterns in higher education across different cultures. A meta-analysis was performed on three large-scale studies that had used the same research instrument: the Inventory of learning Styles (ILS). The studies were conducted in the two Asian countries Sri Lanka and Indonesia and the European country The Netherlands. Students reported use of learning strategies, metacognitive strategies, conceptions of learning and learning orientations were compared in two ways: by analyses of variance of students' mean scale scores on ILS scales, as well as by comparing the factor structures of the ILS-scales between the three studies. Results showed most differences in student learning patterns between Asian and European students. However, many differences were identified between students from the two Asian countries as well. The Asian learner turned out to be a myth. Moreover, Sri Lankan students made the least use of memorising strategies of all groups. That Asian learners would have a propensity for rote learning turned out to be a myth as well. Some patterns of learning turned out to be universal and occurred in all groups, other patterns were found only among the Asian or the European students. The findings are discussed in terms of learning environment and culture as explanatory factors. Practical implications for student mobility in an international context are derived

Factors influencing the approaches to studying of preclinical and clinical students and postgraduate trainees

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Students can be classified into three categories depending on their approaches to studying; namely, deep approach (DA), strategic approach (SA) and surface apathetic or superficial approach (SAA). The aim of this study was to identify factors affecting the approaches to studying among Sri Lankan medical undergraduates and post graduate trainees and to analyze the change in the pattern of study skills with time and experience.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Pre-clinical and clinical students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo and postgraduate trainees in Surgery at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka were invited to complete the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 187 pre clinical (M: F = 96:91), 124 clinical (M: F = 61:63) and 53 post graduate trainees (M: F = 50:3) participated in the study. Approaches of male and female students were similar. SA was significantly affected by age among the preclinical students (p = 0.01), but not in other groups. Among pre-clinical students, males preferred a teacher who supported understanding (p = 0.04) but females preferred a passive transmission of information (p < 0.001). This, too, was not visible among other groups. A linear regression performed on group (batch), gender, island rank at GCE Advance Level (AL) examination, self appraisal score and the preference scores of type of teacher only managed to explain 35% or less of variance observed for each approach in individual groups.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Different factors affect the approach to studying in different groups but these explain only a small fraction of the variance observed.</p

Increased rate of potassium fertilizer at the time of heading enhances the quality of direct seeded rice

Abstract Background Potassium (K) is not easily assimilated into organic matter but helps to improve rice quality. Paddy yield and its quality depend on the correct time of fertilization and harvesting (days after flowering) in the field. Methods Changes in the grain quality of (Oryza sativa L.) were studied in a field experiment over two dry seasons using three rates of muriate of potash (MOP; 60% K2O) as 12.5, 25 and 37.5 kg/ha applied at the time of heading (7 weeks after planting—WAP). Paddy samples were harvested during 25, 30 (control), 35 and 40 days after 50% flowering (DAFF). Grain yield and physico-chemical characteristics of grain were studied after harvesting. Results The impact of seasons and treatments’ interactions was not statistically significant (P > 0.05) and, hence, data were averaged over two seasons. Length, breadth, true density and bulk density of rice grains were the highest with 37.5 kg MOP/ha applied at heading and harvested at 30–35 DAFF. Crude protein (6.24%) and crude fat (2.61%) contents in grains were the highest when harvested at 40 DAFF and 35–40 DAFF, respectively. Amylose content decreased with increased MOP rates at the time of heading and delayed paddy harvest. The highest average paddy yield (APY; 6.85 t/ha), head rice yield (HRY; 65%) and total rice milling yield (TMY; 67%) were recorded with 37.5 kg MOP/ha applied at heading of rice plant and paddy harvested at 35 DAFF. The APY, HRY and TMY were also 13.8, 7.7 and 5.9% higher, respectively, compared to the control. Applying K fertilizer at a rate 50% more (18.75 kg K/ha) than the recommended rate at the time of heading (7 WAP) and harvesting paddy at optimum maturity (35 DAFF), which is 5 days later than the recommendation, increase the yield and grain quality of direct seeded rice. Harvesting later than 35 DAFF resulted in a 10.5% loss of HRY (P < 0.05). Conclusions The present study showed that K fertilizer applied at the rate of 37.5 kg MOP/ha at the time of heading 50% higher than the recommended rate is the best among K fertilizer treatments to obtain the highest HRY