MRI overview for fat quantification in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the clinical and research settings

The general purpose of this master’s thesis is to describe the MRI techniques used in scanning and post processing for quantifying liver fat percentages for the purpose of diagnosis and research. At the onset we will look at epidemiological data regarding nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is often called by the name of hepatic steatosis. Based on the prevalence of this disease it is worthwhile to fully understand non-invasive (MRI) analysis, and its use in the clinical and research setting. Following an introductory section regarding the basis of magnetic resonance imaging, we will take a more in-depth look at current methods utilized for liver fat quantification. Due to the massive population of those of suffer from this disease worldwide it is prudent to analyze current methods, as well as the implications that such research has and will have on the pharmaceutical approach to treating this disease. The purpose of this thesis is to elucidate the MRI techniques utilized for liver fat quantification and provide a comprehensive view of how these techniques are used for diagnosis in the clinical setting, and longitudinal studies in the research setting to measure liver fat levels and how they react to various treatment approaches

Global search algorithm for optimal control

Random-search algorithm employs local and global properties to solve two-point boundary value problem in Pontryagin maximum principle for either fixed or variable end-time problems. Mixed boundary value problem is transformed to an initial value problem. Mapping between initial and terminal values utilizes hybrid computer

Gender differences in emergency department pain management: Results from a multi-site study

Pain is one of the most frequent primary complaints that bring patients into the Emergency Department (ED) – and pain treatment is known to be ineffective for half of these people (Galinski et al., 2010). For this reason, timely and effective pain management is essential. Previous research on gender differences in pain treatment has produced mixed results, and few data from ED settings are available. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in the timeliness, type/amount of opioid pain medication, or pre- and post-pain scores following medication administration between male and female patients in two large EDs. Retrospective patient visit data on chief complaint, pre- and post-medication pain score, and timeliness of medication administration from N = 1,966 patients were combined with three months’ worth of prospectively collected hourly ED departmental conditions data. ED conditions included unit census, and staffing and acuity levels, among other variables. The analysis revealed no statistically significant gender differences in the timeliness of treatment, choice of opioid pain medication, or number of doses. These results present an encouraging picture where male and female patients received equally timely and consistent pain treatment.No embargoAcademic Major: Nursin

Architecture in the Age of Digital Representation

Wissenschaftliches Kolloquium vom 19. bis 22. April 2007 in Weimar an der Bauhaus-Universität zum Thema: ‚Die Realität des Imaginären. Architektur und das digitale Bild

Leading Change Through Reactivity: Preparing Congregations for Change and Processing the Resultant Reactivity in a Healthy Manner

When a pastor introduces systemic change to a congregation, it injects anxiety into the congregational system, which in turn leads to reactivity. The result is resistance to change, which often becomes hostile. Pastors who do not adequately prepare their people for change or who do not know how to help their people process the conflict that results from change resistance in a healthy manner face hostilities that most likely result in their termination or resignation. Consequently, this work seeks to analyze how reactivity results from proposed changes; what pastors can do to better prepare their people for change; and how pastors can nurture their people through change in a healthy manner. Chapter one examines physiological reactions to change. Chapter two examines two ways that Jesus introduced change in his setting and his motives for driving change in an effort to intentionally stir up reactivity. There were other times when he nurtured change, meaning he introduced change in a way that allowed him to pastor the people he was leading. Chapter three looks at change through church history, focusing on examples of reactivity that turned violent, as well as a few examples of change that was led in a healthy manner. Chapter four examines the dynamics of internal family systems as a necessary focus for pastors who wish to successfully navigate change. Chapter five looks at how to lead a congregation in healthy conflict, as well as how to provide safe environments to allow people time and space to process the grief associated with change

Limnoarchaeology Using Commercially Available Side Scan Sonar: The Locks of the Muscle Shoals Canal, Alabama

This research aims to introduce, utilize and analyze commercially available side-scan sonar units as a viable scientific research tool in the interest of historic preservation and archaeological inventory of submerged structures and landscapes using a case study of the Muscle Shoals Canal in Alabama. Opened in November 1890, the nine locks of the Muscle Shoals Canal allowed traffic on the Tennessee River to circumvent the treacherous Muscle Shoals , an achievement that replaced an abandoned attempt from over a half century earlier. The canal would continue operations until April 1918, when construction of Wilson Dam blocked river traffic through the canal. After completion of the dam in 1924, the canal system was flooded by the newly formed Wilson Reservoir. This study used commercial grade sonar equipment to image flooded remains of the canal system. Along with inexpensive commercial software, a single low-cost sonar unit was capable of producing 3D bathymetry, side-scan imagery of the canal system, and detailed down-scan imagery of individual features of remaining lock components. Sonar output was compared to historical photographs of the canal and lock structures in order to examine what level of detail is possible from this consumer grade technology. Results show that the consumer grade sonar used in this study is capable of providing data suitable for creation of resource inventories of historical sites in the interest of historic preservation. The low cost and efficiency of consumer grade sonar units have potential to open the doors to future research and exploration of underwater treasures

An Annotated Bibliography of Creative Interventions Within Dance/Movement Therapy

This annotated bibliography explores how creativity is integrated in dance/movement therapy (DMT) interventions. The central question guiding this research was: How is creativity explicitly implemented in DMT interventions, approaches, and/or theoretical frameworks? Literature was gathered from journal articles, books, book chapters, and online peer reviews; a total of fifteen sources were annotated. During the research process, several challenges emerged when searching for explicit explanations of creativity used within DMT. This included annotations from sources which described creativity used within DMT interventions, approaches and theoretical frameworks that did not explicitly define creativity. This bibliography uncovers several themes related to the concept of creativity used in DMT, along with multiple perspectives and descriptions of the term. The final chapter includes findings and limitations from the collected sources, and considerations for the future of DMT. 51 pages

Project Learning Garden: A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of the Evaluation Techniques on School Gardens

Introduction: For decades, school gardens have been on the rise, globally. These programs are all-encompassing programs that provide hands-on activities, such as planting and harvesting fruit and vegetables, with preparing and cooking foods which grow in the garden. There are not many studies that have looked into these school gardens, let alone how these school gardens get evaluated. The aim of this systematic review is to examine how intensely school gardens get assessed and how useful their evaluation tools can be. Methods: Studies chosen for this review included peer-reviewed journal articles, found on PubMed, assessing the impact of learning gardens on elementary and middle school students. The items found focused on the change in children\u27s attitude toward, preference for, knowledge and consumption of fruit and vegetables, along with their progress in school. The articles were not limited to date or location; therefore materials from other countries were included. From the search results, the author obtained eight full-text articles. Results: All of the eight papers reviewed showed a positive change in children\u27s health and behaviors as a result of having access to a school gardening and getting an additional nutritional education. Three papers showed no change in the consumption of fruit and vegetables, while four articles found significant increases in preference for fruit and vegetables. Also, one paper showed no major differences in fruit and vegetable knowledge, while four papers showed marked improvement. All eight of the studies used surveys in some way, one study used a food diary, three studies focused on 24-hour recall, and one looked at lunchroom observations to evaluate the research. Conclusion: This systematic review showed that school gardens have a positive effect on children’s attitude toward, preference for, knowledge and consumption of fruit and vegetables. The evaluation techniques used in these eight studies showed that surveys were more intensely written, as well as tools with less bias, were more efficient in determining the status of school garden effectiveness