Interobserver Variability in Assessing Segmental Function can be Reduced by Combining Visual Analysis of CMR Cine Sequences with Corresponding Parametric Images of Myocardial Contraction

Objectives.The purpose of our study was to identify the suitability of various skeletal muscles as reference regions for calculating the T2 SI ratio for a semiautomated quantification of the extent of myocardial edema with T2-weighted images.Methods. Thirty-four patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) were enrolled. The extent of myocardial edema was determined by T2 SI ratio map, using 4 different muscles as reference: major and minor pectoralis, serratus anterior, teres minor-infraspinatus, and subscapularis. The size of myocardial edema as visually quantified was used as the standard of truth. The control group consisted of 15 patients with chronic MI. Intra- and interobserver variability were assessed.Results. Due to poor image quality four patients were excluded from the analysis. In acute MI patients, serratus anterior muscle showed the strongest correlation with the visual analysis (r=0.799;P<0.001) and low inter- and intraobserver variability, while the other muscles resulted in a significant interobserver variability. In contrast, the use of other muscles as a reference led to overestimating edema size.Conclusions. In acute MI patients, serratus anterior resulted to be the most reliable and reproducible muscle for measuring the extent of myocardial edema.

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Comparative Effects of High-Tech Visual Scene Displays and Low-Tech Isolated Picture Symbols on Engagement From Students With Multiple Disabilities

Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools ◽

10.1044/2019_lshss-19-0007 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (4) ◽

pp. 693-702 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Christine Holyfield ◽

Sydney Brooks ◽

Allison Schluterman

Keyword(s):

Language Learning ◽

Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽

Visual Analysis ◽

Multiple Disabilities ◽

Visual Scene ◽

Future Research ◽

High Tech ◽

Single Subject ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Difference

Purpose Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is an intervention approach that can promote communication and language in children with multiple disabilities who are beginning communicators. While a wide range of AAC technologies are available, little is known about the comparative effects of specific technology options. Given that engagement can be low for beginning communicators with multiple disabilities, the current study provides initial information about the comparative effects of 2 AAC technology options—high-tech visual scene displays (VSDs) and low-tech isolated picture symbols—on engagement. Method Three elementary-age beginning communicators with multiple disabilities participated. The study used a single-subject, alternating treatment design with each technology serving as a condition. Participants interacted with their school speech-language pathologists using each of the 2 technologies across 5 sessions in a block randomized order. Results According to visual analysis and nonoverlap of all pairs calculations, all 3 participants demonstrated more engagement with the high-tech VSDs than the low-tech isolated picture symbols as measured by their seconds of gaze toward each technology option. Despite the difference in engagement observed, there was no clear difference across the 2 conditions in engagement toward the communication partner or use of the AAC. Conclusions Clinicians can consider measuring engagement when evaluating AAC technology options for children with multiple disabilities and should consider evaluating high-tech VSDs as 1 technology option for them. Future research must explore the extent to which differences in engagement to particular AAC technologies result in differences in communication and language learning over time as might be expected.

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A Pilot Study of Early Storybook Reading With Babies With Hearing Loss

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2019_jslhr-l-17-0305 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 (9) ◽

pp. 3397-3412

Author(s):

Michelle I. Brown ◽

David Trembath ◽

Marleen F. Westerveld ◽

Gail T. Gillon

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Visual Analysis ◽

Single Case ◽

Eye Contact ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Storybook Reading ◽

Book Selection ◽

Turn Taking ◽

Parent Child

Purpose This pilot study explored the effectiveness of an early storybook reading (ESR) intervention for parents with babies with hearing loss (HL) for improving (a) parents' book selection skills, (b) parent–child eye contact, and (c) parent–child turn-taking. Advancing research into ESR, this study examined whether the benefits from an ESR intervention reported for babies without HL were also observed in babies with HL. Method Four mother–baby dyads participated in a multiple baseline single-case experimental design across behaviors. Treatment effects for parents' book selection skills, parent–child eye contact, and parent–child turn-taking were examined using visual analysis and Tau-U analysis. Results Statistically significant increases, with large to very large effect sizes, were observed for all 4 participants for parent–child eye contact and parent–child turn-taking. Limited improvements with ceiling effects were observed for parents' book selection skills. Conclusion The findings provide preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of an ESR intervention for babies with HL for promoting parent–child interactions through eye contact and turn-taking.

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229 2D strain imaging as a new modality to determine dyssynchronous myocardial contraction

European Journal of Heart Failure Supplements ◽

10.1016/s1567-4215(06)80131-1 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 46-46

Author(s):

N ARTIS ◽

D OXBOROUGH ◽

G WILLIAMS ◽

L TAN ◽

C PEPPER

Keyword(s):

Strain Imaging ◽

Myocardial Contraction ◽

2D Strain ◽

2D Strain Imaging

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Second Harmonic Imaging Without Left Heart Contrast Agents Improves Wall Motion Analysis and Reduces Interobserver Variability in Stress Echocardiography

Journal of the American College of Cardiology ◽

10.1016/s0735-1097(97)84040-5 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 76A-77A ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A Franke

Keyword(s):

Contrast Agents ◽

Motion Analysis ◽

Stress Echocardiography ◽

Wall Motion ◽

Interobserver Variability ◽

Second Harmonic ◽

Harmonic Imaging ◽

Left Heart ◽

Wall Motion Analysis

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Basic Ideas and Principles for Quantifying Regional Blood Flow with Nuclear Medical Techniques

Nuklearmedizin ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1629805 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 35 (05) ◽

pp. 181-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

H. Herzog

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Nuclear Medicine ◽

Regional Blood Flow ◽

Visual Presentation ◽

Regional Cerebral Blood ◽

Basic Principles ◽

Parametric Images ◽

Major Application ◽

Basic Ideas ◽

The Brain

SummaryThe measurement of blood flow in various organs and its visual presentation in parametric images is a major application in nuclear medicine. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the most important nuclear medicine procedures used to quantify regional blood flow. Starting with the first concepts introduced by Fick and later by Kety-Schmidt the basic principles of measuring global and regional cerebral blood are discussed and their relationships are explained. Different applications and modifications realized first in PET- and later in SPECT-studies of the brain and other organs are described. The permeability and the extraction of the different radiopharmaceuticals are considered. Finally some important instrumental implications are compared.

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The impact of a mega-event on city branding: The European Capital of Culture 2010 and the image of Istanbul

BORDER CROSSING ◽

10.33182/bc.v3i1.524 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 29-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Evinç Doğan ◽

Ibrahim Sirkeci

Keyword(s):

Visual Analysis ◽

Place Branding ◽

World City ◽

City Branding ◽

City Image ◽

European Capital Of Culture ◽

National Boundaries ◽

Symbolic Production ◽

The Impact ◽

The City

This study examines the ways in which the city image of Istanbul is re-created through the mega-events within the context of the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) 2010. Istanbul “took the stage” as one of the three ECoC cities (Essen for the Ruhr in Germany and Pécs in Hungary), where the urban spaces were projected as the theatre décor while residents and visitors became the spectators of the events. Organisers and agents of the ECoC 2010 seemed to rebrand Istanbul as a “world city” rather than a “European capital”. With a series of transnational connotations, this can be considered as part of an attempt to turn Istanbul to a global city. In this study we examine posters used during the ECoC 2010 to see whether this was evident in the promoted images of Istanbul. The research employs a hermeneutic approach in which representations, signs and language are the means of symbolic meaning, which is analysed through qualitative methods for the visual data (Visual Analysis Methods), namely Semiotics and Discourse Analysis. The analysed research material comes from a sample of posters released during the ECoC 2010 to promote 549 events throughout the year. Using stratified random sampling we have drawn 28 posters (5% of the total) reflecting the thematic groups of events in the ECoC 2010. Particular attention is also paid to the reflexivity of the researchers and researchers’ embeddedness to the object of research. The symbolic production and visual representation are therefore investigated firstly through the authoritative and historically constituted discourses in the making of Istanbul image and secondly through the orders of cultural consumption and mediatisation of culture through spectacular events. Hence enforcing a transnationalisation of the image of the city where the image appears to be almost stateless transcending the national boundaries. Findings and methodology used in this study can be useful in understanding similar cases and further research into the processes of city and place branding and image relationships.

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