Three-dimensional imaging core laboratory of the endovascular aneurysm repair trials: validation of methodology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish and validate a three-dimensional imaging protocol for the assessment of Computed Tomography (CT) scans of abdominal aortic aneurysms in UK EVAR trials patients. Quality control and repeatability of anatomical measurements is important for the validity of any core laboratory. METHODS: Three different observers performed anatomical measurements on 50 preoperative CT scans of aortic aneurysms using the Vitrea 2 three-dimensional post-imaging software in a core laboratory setting. We assessed the accuracy of intra and inter observer repeatability of measurements, the time required for collection of measurements, 3 different levels of automation and 3 different automated criteria for measurement of neck length. RESULTS: None of the automated neck length measurements demonstrated sufficient accuracy and it was necessary to perform checking of the important automated landmarks. Good intra and limited inter observer agreement were achieved with three-dimensional assessment. Complete assessment of the aneurysm and iliacs took an average (SD) of 17.2 (4.1) minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic aneurysm anatomy can be assessed reliably and quickly using three-dimensional assessment but for scans of limited quality, manual checking of important landmarks remains necessary. Using a set protocol, agreement between observers is satisfactory but not as good as within observers.

The strength of badenya ties: siblings and social security in old age – the case of urban Burkina Faso

In urban Burkina Faso, siblings play a decisive role in local social security. Badenya, the unity of children of the same mother, compensates in particular for the economic failure of an eldest son no longer in a position to fulfill his familial duties. Although the institution of badenya is strengthened as it increasingly comes into play to help a family avoid social marginalization, it is also overburdened, which makes its future uncertain. This article enhances the anthropological understanding of kinship by focusing on sibling relationships. Findings are based on interviews conducted between 2007 and 2010 with two generations in households in Bobo-Dioulasso and on participant-observation over the course of more than a dozen research stays since 1989.

Oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and azaarenes in urban soils: A comparison of a tropical city (Bangkok) with two temperate cities (Bratislava and Gothenburg)

Environmental conditions in the tropics favor the formation of polar polycyclic aromatic compound (polar PACs, such as oxygenated PAHs [OPAHs] and azaarenes [AZAs]), but little is known about these hazardous compounds in tropical soils. The objectives of this work were to determine (i) the level of contamination of soils (0–5 and 5–10 cm layers) from the tropical metropolis of Bangkok (Thailand) with OPAHs and AZAs and (ii) the influence of urban emission sources and soil properties on the distribution of PACs. We hypothesized that the higher solar insolation and microbial activity in the tropics than in the temperate zone will lead to enhanced secondary formation of OPAHs. Hence, OPAH to related parent-PAH ratios will be higher in the tropical soils of Bangkok than in temperate soils of Bratislava and Gothenburg. The concentrations of ∑15OPAHs (range: 12–269 ng g−1) and ∑4AZAs (0.1–31 ng g−1) measured in soils of Bangkok were lower than those in several cities of the industrialized temperate zone. The ∑15OPAHs (r = 0.86, p < 0.01) and ∑4AZAs (r = 0.67, p < 0.01) correlated significantly with those of ∑20PAHs highlighting similar sources and related fate. The octanol–water partition coefficient did not explain the transport to the subsoil, indicating soil mixing as the reason for the polar PAC load of the lower soil layer. Data on PAC concentrations in soils of Bratislava and Gothenburg were taken from published literature. The individual OPAH to parent-PAH ratios in soils of Bangkok were mostly higher than those of Bratislava and Gothenburg (e.g. 9-fluorenone/fluorene concentration ratio was 12.2 ± 6.7, 5.6 ± 2.4, and 0.7 ± 02 in Bangkok, Bratislava and Gothenburg soils, respectively) supporting the view that tropical environmental conditions and higher microbial activity likely lead to higher OPAH to parent-PAH ratios in tropical than in temperate soils.