Intimate Spaces

Drawing from Claire Mortimer’s historical framing of the romantic comedy, I argue that Hollywood cinema since the 1930s has been developing a genre with plots limited to heteronormative conceptions of love, intimacy, success and sex. My research project Intimate Spaces is a limited series of six episodes with characters created to interrogate the stereotypical nature and predictable flow of intimacies depicted in the mainstream genre. My aim is to destabilize the dominant form by taking up what Lauren Berlant and Michael Warner theorize as ‘normal intimacy’. The script of Intimate Spaces is a reflection on the idea that normative relationships require constant work, what Laura Kipnis notes as a capitalistic reality. Pulling from my personal archive of writing as a queer, BIPOC, first-generation Canadian woman, I alter the romantic comedy genre, making it a site for mutual interpersonal understanding. I present these stories episodically, as a way to center non-conjugal intimate relationships alongside romantic ones, focusing individually on diverse examples of intimate scenes – parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, friends and roommates. These imagined stories were developed and are set in the context of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto. They depict how being jolted into this time of isolation has altered ordinary life differently for each of us, placing new emphasis on our intimate experiences

Two- versus three-dimensional dual gradient-echo MRI of the liver: a technical comparison

Objective: To compare 2D spoiled dual gradient-echo (SPGR-DE) and 3D SPGR-DE with fat and water separation for the assessment of focal and diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver. Methods: A total of 227 consecutive patients (141 men; 56 ± 14years) underwent clinically indicated liver MRI at 1.5T including multiple-breath-hold 2D SPGR-DE and single-breath-hold 3D SPGR-DE with automatic reconstruction of fat-only images. Two readers assessed the image quality and number of fat-containing liver lesions on 2D and 3D in- and opposed-phase (IP/OP) images. Liver fat content (LFC) was quantified in 138 patients without chronic liver disease from 2D, 3D IP/OP, and 3D fat-only images. Results: Mean durations of 3D and 2D SPGR-DE acquisitions were 23.7 ± 2.9 and 97.2 ± 9.1s respectively. The quality of all 2D and 3D images was rated diagnostically. Three-dimensional SPGR-DE revealed significantly more breathing artefacts resulting in lower image quality (P < 0.001); 2D and 3D IP/OP showed a similar detection rate of fat-containing lesions (P = 0.334) and similar LFC estimations (mean: +0.4%; P = 0.048). LFC estimations based on 3D fat-only images showed significantly higher values (mean: 2.7% + 3.5%) than those from 2D and 3D IP/OP images (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Three dimensional SPGR-DE performs as well as 2D SPGR-DE for the assessment of focal and diffuse fatty infiltration of liver parenchyma. The 3D SPGR-DE sequence used was quicker but more susceptible to breathing artefacts. Significantly higher LFC values are derived from 3D fat-only images than from 2D or 3D IP/OP images. Key Points: • Magnetic resonance imaging can assess focal and diffuse hepatic fatty infiltration • Both 2D and 3D dual-echo MRI techniques can be used for chemical shift imaging of the liver. • The single breath-hold 3D dual-echo technique is faster but more susceptible to breathing artefacts. • Three-dimensional fat-only images show higher fat estimates than in- and out-of-phase image

In vivo identification of uric acid stones with dual-energy CT: diagnostic performance evaluation in patients

Background: To prospectively investigate the in vivo diagnostic performance of dual-energy (DE) computed tomography (CT) for the differentiation between uric acid (UA)-containing and non-UA-containing urinary stones. Methods: DE CT scans were performed in 180 patients with suspected urinary stone disease using a dual-source CT scanner in the DE mode (tube voltages 80 and 140kV). Urinary stones were classified as UA-containing or non-UA-containing based on CT number measurements and DE software results. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) for the detection of UA-containing urinary stones were calculated using the crystallographic stone analysis as the reference standard. Results: DE CT detected 110/180 patients (61%) with urinary stone disease. In 53 patients, stones were sampled. Forty-four out of 53 stones (83%) were non-UA-containing; and nine stones (17%) were UA-containing. The software automatically mapped 52/53 (98%) stones. One non-UA-containing stone (UA, 2mm) was missed; one UA-containing stone (3mm) was misclassified by software analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for the detection of UA-containing stones was 89% (8/9, 95% CI: 52-100%), 98% (43/44, 95% CI: 88-100%), 89% (8/9, 95% CI: 52-100%), and 98% (43/44, 95% CI: 88-100%). Conclusion: Our results indicate that DE dual-source CT permits for the accurate in vivo differentiation between UA-containing and non-UA-containing urinary stone

Magnetization transfer for the assessment of bowel fibrosis in patients with Crohn's disease: initial experience

Object: To assess the feasibility of magnetization transfer (MT) imaging of the bowel wall in patients with Crohn's disease (CD), and to evaluate its utility for the detection of intestinal fibrosis. Materials and methods: In this prospective study, 31 patients (age 39.0±13.2years) with CD were examined in a 1.5T MR scanner. To establish a standard of reference, two independent readers classified the patients in different disease states using standard MR enterography, available clinical data and histological findings. In addition to the standard protocol, a 2D gradient-echo sequence (TR/TE 32ms/2.17ms; flip angle 25°) with/without 1,100Hz off-resonance prepulse was applied. MT ratios (MTR) of the small bowel wall were computed off-line on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Results: The MT sequences acquired images of sufficient quality and spatial resolution for the evaluation of the small bowel wall without detrimental motion artefacts. In normal bowel wall segments, an intermediate MTR of 25.4±3.4% was measured. The MTR was significantly increased in bowel wall segments with fibrotic scarring (35.3±4.0%, p<0.0001). In segments with acute inflammation, the mean MTR was slightly smaller (22.9±2.2%). Conclusion: MT imaging of the small bowel wall is feasible in humans with sufficient image quality and may help with the identification of fibrotic scarring in patients with C

The protein and contrast agent-specific influence of pathological plasma-protein concentration levels on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure the protein-specific response of r1 and r2 relaxivities of commercially available gadolinium-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents to variation of plasma-protein concentrations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this in vitro study, contrast agent (gadofosveset trisodium, gadoxetate disodium, gadobutrol, and gadoterate meglumine) dilution series (0-2.5 mmol Gd/L) were prepared with plasma-protein (human serum albumin [HSA] and immunoglobulin G [IgG]) concentrations at physiological (42 and 10 g/L HSA and IgG, respectively, Normal) and at 3 pathological levels with HSA/IgG concentrations of 10/10 (solution Alb low), 42/50 (IgG mild), and 42/70 (IgG severe) g/L. Contrast-agent molar relaxivities and relaxivity-enhancing protein-contrast-agent interaction coefficients were determined on the basis of inversion-recovery and spin-echo data acquired at 1.5 and 3.0 T at 37°C. Protein-induced magnetic resonance imaging signal changes were calculated. RESULTS: The effective r1 and r2 molar relaxivities consistently increased with albumin and IgG concentrations. At 1.5 T, the r1 values increased by 10.2 (gadofosveset), 4.3 (gadoxetate), 1.3 (gadobutrol), and 1.1 L s mmol (gadoterate), respectively, from the Alb low to the IgG severe solution. At 3.0 T, the r1 values increased by 2.9 (gadofosveset), 2.3 (gadoxetate), 0.7 (gadobutrol), and 0.9 (gadoterate) L s mmol, respectively. An excess of IgG most strongly increased the r1 of gadoxetate (+40 and +19% at 1.5 and 3.0 T, respectively, from Normal to IgG severe). An albumin deficiency most strongly decreased the r1 of gadofosveset (-44% and -20% at 1.5 and 3.0 T, respectively, from Normal to Alb low). The modeling confirmed a strong gadofosveset r1 enhancement by albumin and suggested stronger IgG than albumin effects on the apparent molar relaxivity of the other agents per protein mass concentration at 1.5 T. CONCLUSIONS: Pathological deviations from normal plasma-protein concentrations in aqueous solutions result in changes of effective r1 and r2 contrast-agent relaxivities and projected signal enhancements that depend on the contrast agent, the blood-serum protein profile, and the field strength

Combining automated attenuation-based tube voltage selection and iterative reconstruction: a liver phantom study

Objectives: To determine the value of combined automated attenuation-based tube-potential selection and iterative reconstructions (IRs) for optimising computed tomography (CT) imaging of hypodense liver lesions. Methods: A liver phantom containing hypodense lesions was imaged by CT with and without automated attenuation-based tube-potential selection (80, 100 and 120kVp). Acquisitions were reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) and sinogram-affirmed IR. Image noise and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured. Two readers marked lesion localisation and rated confidence, sharpness, noise and image quality on a five-point scale (1 = worst, 5 = best). Results: Image noise was lower (31-52%) and CNR higher (43-102%) on IR than on FBP images at all tube voltages. On 100-kVp and 80-kVp IR images, confidence and sharpness were higher than on 120-kVp FBP images. Scores for image quality score and noise as well as sensitivity for 100-kVp IR were similar or higher than for 120-kVp FBP and lower for 80-kVp IR. Radiation dose was reduced by 26% at 100kVp and 56% at 80kVp. Conclusions: Compared with 120-kVp FBP images, the combination of automated attenuation-based tube-potential selection at 100kVp and IR provides higher image quality and improved sensitivity for detecting hypodense liver lesions in vitro at a dose reduced by 26%. Key Points: • Combining automated tube voltage selection/iterative CT reconstruction improves image quality. • Attenuation values remain stable on IR compared with FBP images. • Lesion detection was highest on 100-kVp IR images

Consequences of Internet Use in College Students

The purposes of the research project were to explore how much time college students spend on the Internet and the consequences for college students who use the Internet

Introductory programming: a systematic literature review

As computing becomes a mainstream discipline embedded in the school curriculum and acts as an enabler for an increasing range of academic disciplines in higher education, the literature on introductory programming is growing. Although there have been several reviews that focus on specific aspects of introductory programming, there has been no broad overview of the literature exploring recent trends across the breadth of introductory programming. This paper is the report of an ITiCSE working group that conducted a systematic review in order to gain an overview of the introductory programming literature. Partitioning the literature into papers addressing the student, teaching, the curriculum, and assessment, we explore trends, highlight advances in knowledge over the past 15 years, and indicate possible directions for future research

Calcification of the breasts due to loiasis

A 53-year-old HIV-positive female from Cameroon was diagnosed with loiasis in 2013 due to symptoms of polyarthritis and laboratory confirmed eosinophilia. Because of high microfilaremia primary treatment was given with two courses of albendazol and ivermectin and completed with a course of diethylcarbamazine. Therapy was successful as symptoms, eosinophilia and microfilaremia disappeared. In 2015, she had a gynecology check-up where a screening mammography showed several round and linear, meandering calcifications in both breasts, the latter are typically seen in filariasis

MR Imaging by Using Very Short Echo Time Sequences after Syngeneic Lung Transplantation in Mice

Purpose:To test the in vivo feasibility of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of ischemia reperfusion injury after syngeneic lung transplantation in mice and to characterize tissue relaxation properties by using very short echo-time (TE) sequences at 4.7 T.Materials and Methods:The experimental protocol was approved by the institutional animal committee. MR imaging was performed in six C57BL/6 mice 24 hours after the animals underwent syngeneic orthotopic left lung transplantation. A small-animal MR imager was equipped with a linear polarized hydrogen birdcage mouse coil. In addition to conventional T1-weighted spoiled gradient-echo and T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequences, three-dimensional very short TE sequences (50-5000 μsec) were performed. Color-encoded parametric maps of T2* transverse relaxation times were calculated on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Quantitative T2* values of the parenchyma of the transplanted lungs and relative spin density were compared by using region-of-interest analysis with the two-sided paired Student t test. After MR imaging, transplanted lungs were processed for histologic examination.Results:Transplanted ventilated lungs in all the mice showed similar low signal intensity with the conventional T1- and T2-weighted sequences. The very short TE sequence exhibited signal yield in the lungs that was higher than that of the noise level. Increased spin density (50.8% ± 26.9 [standard deviation], P = .006) and longer T2* relaxation time (1041 μsec ± 424, P = .016) were found in the transplanted lungs. Best visualization was possible using color-encoded log-transformed parametric T2* maps. Conventional T2-weighted sequences revealed small pleural effusions. Histologic examination demonstrated ischemia reperfusion injury with a predominance of either cell influx or edema.Conclusion:Ischemia reperfusion injury after syngeneic lung transplantation can be visualized and characterized using very short TE sequences showing different MR imaging relaxation properties when compared with normal lung parenchyma.© RSNA, 2012