The use of digital magnification to reduce radiation dose in the cardiac catheter laboratory

Objectives: To audit whether using magnification of images by use of a large viewing screen using digital matrix magnification which enlarges the image by 33% without using the X-ray machine zoom magnification protocols on a Siemens Artis Zee X-ray machine in a cardiac catheter laboratory results in a reduction of kerma–area product (KAP) for both diagnostic and interventional procedures. This reduction was predicted in an in vitro study in our laboratory, which has previously shown a 20.4% reduction in KAP. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the radiation exposure to compare the measured KAP recorded during the period when conventional magnification with automatic brightness and dose control was used on a Siemens Artis Zee X-ray machine with a flat panel detector and when magnification settings were avoided by using a large screen to enlarge and project a non-magnified image by digital magnification. The analysis was carried out for patients having a diagnostic coronary angiogram and those having an interventional coronary procedure. Results: For diagnostic coronary angiograms the median KAP per procedure in the period using conventional magnification was 2124.5 µGy.m2 compared to 1401 µGy.m2 when image matrix magnification was used, a 34% reduction (p < 0.0001). For interventional coronary procedures, the median KAP per procedure in the period using conventional magnification was 3791 µGy.m2 compared to 2568.5 µGy.m2 when image matrix magnification was used, a 32% reduction (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Avoiding using conventional magnification in the cardiac catheter laboratory and using a large screen to magnify images was associated with a statistically significant greater than 30% reduction in KAP. Advances in knowledge: This paper is the proof in clinical practice of a theoretical conclusion that radiation dose (KAP) is reduced by use of Image matrix magnification using a large viewing screen without the need to use X-ray tube magnification without significant loss of image resolution in interventional cardiology. The same approach will be useful in interventional radiology.

Current and Future Photography Techniques in Aesthetic Surgery

Background The rapidly increasing modalities and mediums of clinical photography, use of 3D and 4D patient modeling, and widening implementation of cloud-based storage and artificial intelligence call for an overview of various methods currently in use as well as future considerations in the field. Objectives Through a close look at the methods used in aesthetic surgery photography, clinicians will be able to select the modality best suited to their practice and goals. Methods Review and discussion of current data pertaining to: 2D and 3D clinical photography, current photography software, augmented reality reconstruction, artificial intelligence photography, and cloud-based storage. Results Important considerations for current image capture include a device with a gridded viewing screen and high megapixel resolution, a tripod with leveling base, studio lighting with dual-sourced light, standardized matte finish background, and consistency in patient orientation. Currently, 3D and 4D photography devices offer advantages such as improved communication to the patient on outcome expectation and better quality of patient service and safety. Artificial intelligence may contribute to post-capture processing and 3D printing of post-operative outcomes. Current smartphones distort patient perceptions about their appearance and should be used cautiously in an aesthetic surgery setting. Cloud-based storage provides flexibility, cost, and ease of service while remaining vulnerable to data breaches. Conclusions While there are advancements to be made in the physical equipment and preparation for the photograph, the future of clinical photography will be heavily influenced by innovations in software and 3D and 4D modeling of outcomes.

Correlates of Screen Time in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review Study

Introduction: The use of screen media by children and adolescents is increasing and has destructive effects on various development aspects. This study was done to determine the correlates of Screen Time (ST) in children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: Published articles from January 2000 to September 2020 were searched through PubMed, PsycNet, Science Direct, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Magiran, SID, and IranDoc databases were searched for Persian studies with no time limitation. The used keywords were correlates OR predictors + screen time, screen use, screen viewing, screen media, mobile use, cellphone use, TV/ television viewing, TV/ television use, TV/ television, computer use, video game, Media exposure, Media use, electronic media, digital media, digital devices, tablet use + adolescent, youth, infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and children. The literature search identified 51 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Results: After reviewing the studies according to the PRISMA checklist, the correlates were Grouped in five categories: (i) child biological and demographic correlates, (ii) behavioral correlates, (iii) family biological and demographic correlates, (iv) family structure related correlates, and (v) socio-cultural and environmental correlates. The most common correlates found were age, sex, and Body Mass Index (BMI) of children, age and education of parents, socio-economic status, physical activity, quality of the neighborhood, parents’ ST, rules, and Digital Devices (DD) in the child/ adolescent’s bedroom. Conclusion: The ST in children and adolescents is associated with several factors at intrapersonal, interpersonal, and social/ cultural levels. It is suggested that health promotion programs to reduce the use of these devices should be implemented with a comprehensive view of the individual, family, and society.

Relationship Between the Use of Digital Devices and Personal and Emotional Development in Preschool Children

As the use of electronic media device is becoming widespread in preschool children, there is an obvious need to explore this new social situation of development and to analyse the effects of digital environment on children’s personality and emotional development.The paper presents data from 65 studies conducted from 2010 to 2020 which were aimed at exploring the effects of screen time and electronic content on child development at preschool age.The results suggest that viewing of inappropriate content is associated with higher aggression levels and lower levels of social skills and prosocial behavior, whereas viewing of appropriate content is associated with higher prosocial behavior and social skills level.The amount of viewing (screen time) is related to higher levels of aggressive behavior and lower levels of prosocial behavior, social skills and cognitive aspects of personality and emotional development.

Readies for Bob Brown's Machine

This is the much-anticipated new edition of the important volume of avant-garde writing, Readies for Bob Brown's Machine. The original collection of Readies was published by Brown’s Roving Eye Press in 1931. Despite including works by leading modernist writers including Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, William Carlos Williams, Kay Boyle, F.T. Marinetti, and 35 other writers and artists, this volume has never been re-issued. Like the ‘talkies’ in cinema, Brown’s machine and the ‘readies’ medium he created for it proposed to revolutionise reading with technology by scrolling texts across a viewing screen. Apart from its importance to modernism, Brown’s research on reading seems remarkably prescient in light of text messaging, e-books, and internet media ecologies. Brown’s designs for a modernist style of reading, which emphasised speed, movement, and immediacy, required a complete re-design of reading and writing technology. Complete with a new Preface by Eric White and a new Introduction and a separate chapter on the contributors by Craig Saper, this critical facsimile edition restores to public attention the extraordinary experiments of writing readies for a reading machine.

A SPINNING POLARIZER AND SPINNING ANALYZER METHOD FOR VISUALIZING THE ISOCHROMATES IN CONOSCOPIC INTERFEROMETERS

We have developed a spinning polarizer and spinning analyzer (SPSA) method to visualize the whole isochromatic fringes in conoscopic interferometers for the study of optically anisotropic materials. This simple method completely eliminates the broad and dark isogyre fringes appearing in a conventional conoscopic interferometer where a linear polarizer and a linear analyzer (LPLA) are used. Our method allows the direct visualization of the isochromates on the viewing screen by eyes in real time, without the need of additional optics or detectors other than those used in a conventional conoscopic interferometer, and no additional computation is required. This method works at any polarization state of the input light, and at any wavelength permitted by the polarizers. In the case of polychromatic illumination our method reveals the isochromates of all colors indiscriminatively, in comparison to the method of circular polarizer and circular analyzer (CPCA), which is considerably subject to spectrum modulation due to the dispersion in the retardation of the quarter-wave plates. The proposed method is demonstrated in a lithium niobate ( LiNbO 3) crystal driven by an external electric field.

Automatic Recording of Low Dose Images with Slow-Scan CCD Cameras

Recording of images under low dose conditions is a rather critical operation including many intermediate steps. Moreover, there is not a single fully agreed protocol concerning low dose operation but several competing ones potentially including individual variations. In any case, however, there should be a very well defined sequence of steps which must not allow for any mistake. Therefore tailored individual automation is the only way to obtain reliable results with maximum throughput at the same time.Such automation requires the functional integration of a fully remote controllable digital TEM, a Slow-Scan camera with a high sensitivity, and an acquisition/remote control software providing macro capabilities dedicated to different logical cameras. These requirements are met by LEO (EF)TEMs, by the ProScan SSCCD 14 bit camera, and the analySIS software 3.0.Three different logical cameras have to be configured in the SIS image processing software. The first camera is defined for searching for suitable specimen areas. It operates with 5 MHz and 8 bit image depth providing 1k×1k field size and resolution. The exposure time should be as short as possible, e.g. 50 ms for each frame. Via a preprocessing macro image brightness and EM magnification are set to the appropriate values, the desired shutter is activated, and the viewing screen is lifted for the exposure. A second postprocessing macro blanks the beam and does additional settings when the camera is stopped.