32 results on '"Stephen Ling"'
Search Results
2. Repetitive Strain Injuries of the Upper Extremity: Imaging of Tendon Pathology and Compressive Neuropathies
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Stephen Ling, Padmaja Jonnalagadda, Omer A. Awan, Irfan Taqi, Anup K. Bhattacharya, Sayed Ali, and Sarah Fenerty
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Diagnostic Imaging ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Tenosynovitis ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Cumulative Trauma Disorders ,business.industry ,Epicondylitis ,Neuritis ,Physical examination ,medicine.disease ,030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging ,Tendons ,Upper Extremity ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Repetitive strain ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,medicine ,Humans ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Radiology ,business ,Tendon pathology - Abstract
Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) encompass a broad clinicopathologic spectrum which includes discrete patterns of tissue injury involving tendons, bursae and nerves although an element of subjective symptomatology may be contributory. Upper extremity RSIs include De Quervain's tenosynovitis, intersection syndromes, epicondylitis, ulnar, and median neuritis as well as other compressive neuropathies. It is estimated that RSIs cost the US economy over $60 billion annually and while detailed clinical examination remains the diagnostic mainstay, imaging can aid in diagnosis, guide management and reduce costs.
- Published
- 2021
3. Lipomatous Soft Tissue Masses of the Extremities: A Spectrum From Benign to Malignant
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Sohn Nijor, Stephen Ling, Padmaja Jonnalagadda, and Sayed Ali
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medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,Medicine ,Soft tissue ,General Medicine ,Radiology ,business - Published
- 2021
4. BIPS: Building Information Positioning System
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Max Jwo Lem Lee, Hiu Yi Ho, Li-Ta Hsu, and Stephen Ling Ming Au
- Published
- 2021
5. Bursal lipohematoma: a CT sign of full thickness rotator cuff tear in patients with proximal humerus fractures
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Sarah Fenerty, Padmaja Jonnalagada, Omer A. Awan, Stephen Ling, Sayed Ali, and Yogesh Sean Gupta
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Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,animal structures ,Proximal humerus ,Full thickness rotator cuff tear ,Rotator Cuff Injuries ,030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging ,Diagnosis, Differential ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Hematoma ,Operative report ,Humans ,Medicine ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,In patient ,Rotator cuff ,Retrospective Studies ,business.industry ,Medical record ,030208 emergency & critical care medicine ,Bursa, Synovial ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Concomitant ,Shoulder Fractures ,Emergency Medicine ,Female ,Radiology ,Tomography, X-Ray Computed ,business - Abstract
The main purpose of the study is to determine if the presence of a particular computed tomography (CT) imaging finding, a bursal lipohematoma, portends the presence of a concomitant rotator cuff tear (RCT) in patients with proximal humerus fractures by reviewing previous CTs. Three hundred eighty-six CT scans were retrospectively reviewed by two board-certified radiologists to determine the presence of a proximal humerus fracture and to assess for the presence of a subacromial/subdeltoid or subcoracoid bursal hematoma. The medical record including operative documentation was then examined in the patients with proximal humerus fractures, with or without a concomitant bursal lipohematoma. Of the surgically managed patients, four had an intraoperative diagnosis of RCT. The preoperative CT scans of all of these patients demonstrated a bursal lipohematoma. Additionally, a non-surgically managed patient with a subacromial/subdeltoid bursal lipohematoma on CT scan was found to have a RCT on subsequent MRI. Of note, a rotator cuff tear was not documented in operative reports of patients with CT scans that were not found to contain a bursal lipohematoma. Bursal lipohematoma is a potentially useful preoperative CT sign of full thickness rotator cuff tear in patients with proximal humerus fractures, providing the clinician with more information in the optimization of the management approach.
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- 2019
6. Efficacy of 3D Printed Models on Resident Learning and Understanding of Common Acetabular Fracturers
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Jafar Hussain, Padmaja Jonnalagadda, Stephen Ling, I. Sullivan, Maunil Sheth, Sayed Ali, and Omer A. Awan
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Male ,Models, Anatomic ,3d printed ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Randomization ,Wilcoxon signed-rank test ,education ,3d model ,Surgical planning ,030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging ,Fractures, Bone ,Random Allocation ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Humans ,Learning ,Medicine ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Fracture type ,Conceptualization ,business.industry ,Significant difference ,Internship and Residency ,Acetabulum ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Printing, Three-Dimensional ,Physical therapy ,Radiology ,business - Abstract
Rationale and Objectives The conceptualization of acetabular fractures can present a daunting challenge to radiology residents. 3D models have been shown to aid in the spatial perception of complicated anatomy and may help residents grasp the elaborate classification systems for these anatomically complex fractures. Prior studies have explored the utility of 3D printed models for surgical planning in various settings. To our knowledge, no study has evaluated their efficacy in radiology resident training. Materials and Methods Following IRB approval, 22 radiology residents were randomized and stratified by Post Graduate Year into two groups of 11 residents. Both groups received separate identical presentations on the 5 most common acetabular fractures given by a musculoskeletal trained radiologist. Residents in the experimental group received 3D printed models of the five most common fracture types with which to interact during the presentation, while the control group did not. Both groups received a pretest and a follow up posttest three weeks later. Results A Wilcoxon rank sum test was performed to determine if statistically significant differences between the pretest and posttest scores of the experimental and control groups existed. There was no statistically significant difference in scores on the pre-test, which confirmed successful randomization. There was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.02) on the posttest scores between the experimental and control groups. Conclusion 3D printed models promise as an effective educational tool for resident learning with respect to acetabular fractures, improving short-term understanding of complex anatomy and classification systems.
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- 2019
7. Sciatic Nerve Variants in Patients Diagnosed With Sciatica
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Omer A. Awan, Frederick Ramsey, Hayat Khan, Stephen Ling, Sayed Ali, Mark Weiner, and Padmaja Jonnalagadda
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Male ,musculoskeletal diseases ,medicine.medical_specialty ,030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging ,Diagnosis, Differential ,Sciatica ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Pelvis ,Retrospective Studies ,Tibia ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,Magnetic resonance imaging ,Retrospective cohort study ,Piriformis Muscle Syndrome ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,Sciatic Nerve ,Sagittal plane ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Coronal plane ,Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ,Female ,Sciatic nerve ,Radiology ,medicine.symptom ,Piriformis muscle ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
PURPOSE Compression of the sciatic nerve in its path along the piriformis muscle can produce sciatica-like symptoms. There are 6 predominant types of sciatic nerve variations with type 1 being the most common (84.2%), followed by type 2 (13.9%). However, there is scarce literature on the prevalence of sciatic nerve variation in those diagnosed with sciatica. MATERIALS AND METHODS The charts of 95 patients clinically diagnosed with sciatica who had a magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis/hip were retrospectively studied. All patients had T1-weighted axial, coronal, and sagittal images. Magnetic resonance imagings were interpreted separately by 2 board-certified fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists to identify the sciatic nerve variant. RESULTS Seven cases were excluded because of inadequate imaging. Of the remaining 88 patients, 5 had bilateral sciatica resulting in a sample size of 93 limbs. Fifty-two (55.9%) had type 1 sciatic nerve anatomy, 39 (41.9%) had type 2, and 2 (2.2%) had type 3. The proportions of type 1 and 2 variations were significantly different from the normal distribution (P < 0.001), whereas type 3, 4, 5, and 6 variants were not (P = 1.00). CONCLUSIONS There is strong statistical significance regarding the relationship between sciatic nerve variation and the clinical diagnosis of sciatica. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging can be considered in sciatica patients to prevent iatrogenic injury in pelvic surgery.
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- 2019
8. Exploring Canadian Children’s Social Media Use, Digital Literacy, and Quality of Life: Pilot Cross-sectional Survey Study (Preprint)
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Lorie Donelle, Danica Facca, Shauna Burke, Bradley Hiebert, Emma Bender, and Stephen Ling
- Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding social media use and digital literacy among young Canadian children is an increasing area of concern, given the importance of digital inclusion for full and informed participation in evolving educational, civic, corporate, social, and economic spaces. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore internet and social media knowledge as well as social media use among Canadian children aged between 6 and 10 years. METHODS We conducted interview surveys with 42 children aged between 6 and 10 years who participated in an after-school health promotion program in an urban community in Southwestern Ontario to understand their digital literacy skills and social media use. The data were analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. RESULTS Of the 42 children who participated in this study, 24 (57%) reported that they used social media, specifically YouTube (19/24, 79% reported use), Snapchat (16/24, 67% reported use), and Facebook (8/24, 33% reported use). While using social media, children reported sharing personal information, including videos or pictures of themselves (12/24, 50%), videos or pictures of others (8/24, 33%), and their birthday (12/24, 50%), whereas only one-third (9/24, 38%) of the children believed that only close family and friends had access to the content they shared. When reporting on the quality of life in the context of using social media, most (17/24, 71%) children never felt sad, half (12/24, 50%) never had difficulty making new friends, and nearly one-third (7/24, 30%) indicated that they never had difficulty wanting to play outside. CONCLUSIONS Owing to the rapidly evolving uptake and use of social media among young Canadians, the implementation of childhood digital health literacy education is vital to best support digital inclusion and well-being in Canada. The findings of our study highlight the need for future research to understand where children receive their digital literacy knowledge from and whether this knowledge is gained through self-directed social media use or observation from other actors, such as parents, siblings, or friends.
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- 2020
9. Bone Tumors Occurring in the Soft Tissues: A Review of the Clinical, Imaging, and Histopathologic Findings
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Clinton A. Veselis, Omer A. Awan, Amandeep Aneja, A. Thomas, Stephen Ling, Padmaja Jonnalagadda, and Sayed Ali
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musculoskeletal diseases ,Osteoid osteoma ,Extraskeletal Osteosarcoma ,Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Chondrosarcoma ,Bone Neoplasms ,Soft Tissue Neoplasms ,Myxoid chondrosarcoma ,030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Medicine ,Humans ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Aged ,Osteosarcoma ,business.industry ,Osteoid ,Soft tissue ,medicine.disease ,Conventional Osteosarcoma ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Sarcoma ,business ,Tomography, X-Ray Computed - Abstract
Although rare in everyday practice, malignancies that classically arise from bone or cartilage have been reported to arise de novo in various soft tissues in the body, resulting in a diagnostic challenge for the clinician, radiologist, and pathologist. Differential diagnoses of bone tumors often depend on anatomic location of the lesion. For example, the classic location of osteosarcoma is in the metaphysis of long bones about the knee. Histologically osteosarcoma is characterized by tumor cells that directly produce osteoid, bone, or cartilaginous matrix. In extraskeletal osteosarcoma, the clinical and radiologic picture is very different from a conventional osteosarcoma. They occur in older patients, present as a soft tissue mass often coincidentally following trauma and have a worse prognosis. The imaging characteristics are often nonspecific with mineralized elements in a well-defined soft tissue mass. The mineralized elements may or may not be visible. Magnetic Resonance sequences demonstrate a well circumscribed soft tissue mass with hemorrhagic and enhancing solid components. The pathologic features of extraskeletal osteosarcoma on a microscopic scale are identical to that of skeletal lesions. Likewise, conventional chondrosarcomas present in older patients with a growing, painful soft tissue prominence most commonly involving the long tubular bones. In extraskeletal chondrosarcoma however, the presentation is in somewhat younger patients with a painful soft tissue prominence typically in the head (meninges), neck, or upper leg. The pathologic features are most often that of a myxoid chondrosarcoma which is characterized by strands of small cells over a myxoid matrix. Imaging features include chondroid matrix, heterogenous contrast enhancement, and amorphous internal calcification on Computed Tomography. On Magnetic Resonance sequences the matrix has a low signal on all sequences, and variable inhomogeneity depending on grade of the lesion. Other extraskeletal bone tumors include Ewing's sarcoma and osteoid osteoma amongst other lesions. Although these malignancies may be rare clinical entities, they often exhibit characteristic clinical, imaging, and histopathological findings although differing in treatment and prognosis. Knowledge of these and other common mimicking lesions will help guide the clinician and radiologist to make an accurate diagnosis.
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- 2020
10. Myanmar Country Environmental Analysis
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Stephen Ling and Martin Fodor
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Fishery ,Overexploitation ,Environmental analysis ,Aquaculture ,business.industry ,Corporate governance ,Marine fisheries ,Business ,Water use - Published
- 2019
11. Risk of fentanyl overdose among clients of the Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre
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Ian Flaherty, Allison M. Salmon, Julie Latimer, Marianne Jauncey, and Stephen Ling
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Adult ,Male ,Risk ,Clinical audit ,Prescription Drugs ,030508 substance abuse ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Poison control ,Context (language use) ,Fentanyl ,Heroin ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Medical prescription ,Substance Abuse, Intravenous ,Retrospective Studies ,Harm reduction ,Clinical Audit ,business.industry ,Health Policy ,Substance Abuse ,11 Medical and Health Sciences, 16 Studies in Human Society, 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences ,Analgesics, Opioid ,Needle-Exchange Programs ,Relative risk ,Anesthesia ,Female ,Drug Overdose ,New South Wales ,0305 other medical science ,business ,medicine.drug - Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fentanyl is a powerful analgesic, the prescription of which has increased markedly in recent years. The emergence of the drug at the Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) warranted a retrospective clinical audit to assess the risk of fentanyl overdose in comparison with other opioids, in the context of a drug consumption room. METHOD: Heroin, fentanyl or other prescription opioids (PO) injections resulting in overdose were audited (September 1, 2012 and August 31, 2015). Rates of overdose per 1000 injections and relative risks (RR) of overdose were calculated. RESULTS: In the audit period 189,203 injections by 4177 individuals occurred, with fentanyl injections increasing by 1000%, heroin injections increasing by 70% and, inversely, a sharp decline in other PO injections. Fentanyl injections had approximately four and half times the risk of resulting in overdose than heroin or other PO injections combined (RR=4.6); and, had two times the risk of heroin injections, and eight times the risk of resulting in overdose than other PO injections (RR=2.2 and RR=7.9). CONCLUSION: Findings from a drug consumption room, such as the Sydney MSIC can effectively inform harm reduction services and emergency services of the increased use of, and therefore risk of, fentanyl overdose relative to other opioids. The dynamic nature of drug markets mean that services such as MSIC are uniquely placed to provide not only real-time data on drug use trends, but also safer injecting advice to those engaging in new practices.Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V. Language: en
- Published
- 2016
12. Tendon pathology in trauma CT imaging: an under-recognized entity
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Stephen Ling, Yogesh Sean Gupta, and Sayed Ali
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030222 orthopedics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,Fracture Dislocations ,Magnetic resonance imaging ,Computed tomography ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging ,Tendon ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Tendon Injuries ,Emergency Medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Radiology ,Ct imaging ,Tomography, X-Ray Computed ,business ,Acute trauma ,Radiation treatment planning ,Tendon pathology - Abstract
Computed tomography (CT) scans are increasingly ordered in the emergent setting, for diagnosis of occult fractures and treatment planning of known fractures or fracture dislocations. Although having inferior soft tissue contrast resolution compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT may provide important information regarding tendon pathology that is often under-recognized but may better serve patient outcomes, whether in or out of the operative setting. In this pictorial essay, we present CT cases which demonstrate some of the more commonly encountered tendon abnormalities in patients with acute trauma.
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- 2016
13. Painless hand mass
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Stephen Ling, Omer A. Awan, Congli Wang, Sayed Ali, and Sarah Fenerty
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030222 orthopedics ,03 medical and health sciences ,medicine.medical_specialty ,0302 clinical medicine ,business.industry ,General surgery ,Orthopedic surgery ,Medicine ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,030229 sport sciences ,business - Published
- 2016
14. Addressing the Paradox – the Divergence Between Smallholders' Preference and Actual Adoption of Agricultural Innovations
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Miyuki Iiyama, Athanase Mukuralinda, Jean Damascene Ndayambaje, Bernard Musana, Alain Ndoli, Jeremias G. Mowo, Dennis Garrity, Stephen Ling, and Vicky Ruganzu
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- 2018
15. Addressing the Paradox – the Divergence Between Smallholders' Preference and Actual Adoption of Agricultural Innovations
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Jean Damascene Ndayambaje, Athanase Mukuralinda, Jeremias Mowo, Vicky Ruganzu, Bernard Musana, Alain Ndoli, Stephen Ling, Miyuki Iiyama, and Dennis Garrity
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0106 biological sciences ,Economics and Econometrics ,media_common.quotation_subject ,FARMER PERCEPTIONS ,ECOLOGY ,01 natural sciences ,TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION ,CLIMATE RISK ,Quality (business) ,TREES ON FARMS ,Agroecology ,FORESTRY ,media_common ,Divergence (linguistics) ,business.industry ,SMALLHOLDER FARMER ,Climate risk ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Environmental economics ,Preference ,AGROFORESTRY ,Intervention (law) ,Agriculture ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Business ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Tree species ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
Experiences in smallholder contexts indicate frequent mismatches between technologies introduced and needs of farmers who must make complex decisions in reallocating their limited resources under highly risky ecological and market contexts. This study proposes a cost- and time-effective, easy-to-implement approach to identify farmers’ priorities and critical intervention areas, and presents its application in guiding an agroforestry strategy in Rwanda. It was found that different tree species have distinctive enabling vs. constraining conditions under different agroecological contexts in the perspective of smallholder farmers. Tree species preferred by farmers were not necessarily widely adopted if multitudes of conditions were not enabling. The essential conditions for sustainable adoption include: quality materials/inputs are available; technologies are compatible with existing local farming systems; they are resilient to climate risks/resistant to pests-diseases; management is not complicated; and, there is guaranteed access to markets. The results show that there will not be a silver bullet national strategy to scale up agroforestry. Instead a matrix kind of strategies -to promote enabling conditions and address constraining conditions for priority species in specific agroecologies- will be required. The proposed concept should be further refined for wider agricultural technology transfer debates to break the myths of low uptakes by smallholders.
- Published
- 2018
16. The 2015 Amtrak Philadelphia Train Derailment: After-Action Review of the Emergency Radiology Response at Temple University Health System
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Padmaja Jonnalagadda, Sayed Ali, Omer A. Awan, Stephen Ling, Anup K. Bhattacharya, Gary Cohen, Sarah Fenerty, and Beverly L. Hershey
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Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Derailment ,030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Emergency radiology ,Interquartile range ,Medicine ,Humans ,Mass Casualty Incidents ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Railroads ,Retrospective Studies ,Philadelphia ,business.industry ,Tertiary Healthcare ,Process Assessment, Health Care ,Emergency department ,University hospital ,Triage ,After action review ,Blunt trauma ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Emergency medicine ,Wounds and Injuries ,Female ,business ,Emergency Service, Hospital ,Tomography, X-Ray Computed - Abstract
The aim of this article is to assess a large tertiary care medical center's emergency radiology response after the 2015 Amtrak Philadelphia train derailment.A total of 55 patients with 308 total CTs and radiographs ordered within 12 hours of arrival to Temple University Health System (combining Temple University Hospital and Episcopal Hospital) emergency departments on May 12 to 13, 2015, were included in this study. A retrospective PACS and electronic medical record chart review of emergency department imaging turnaround times (TAT) during this event was completed and compared with emergency department radiology operations for the same 12-hour period throughout the preceding year. Wilcoxon's rank-sum test analysis was performed.A total of 308 CTs and radiographs were performed, and 91 radiologically evident injuries were observed in a total of 30 patients, with fractures (n = 51) as the most common type of injury. There were no significant differences in time from patient arrival to beginning of radiological examination (26 min; interquartile range [IQR], 11-58 min) compared with annual median (28 min; IQR, 10-131 min; P = .232). Examination completion TATs were significantly increased (35 min; IQR, 17-112 min) compared with annual median (10 min; IQR, 5-15 min; P.001), and time required from viewing of the examination by the radiologist to the examination being marked as read was significantly decreased (17 min; IQR, 6-45 min) compared with annual median (248 min; IQR, 126-441 min; P.001).The analysis highlights areas of efficiency in our response but also indicates areas for process improvement in future potential mass casualty events.
- Published
- 2018
17. Imaging Patterns of Injuries After the 2015 Amtrak Philadelphia Train Derailment
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Omer A. Awan, Stephen Ling, Anup K. Bhattacharya, Gary Cohen, Beverly L. Hershey, Sayed Ali, Padmaja Jonnalagadda, and Sarah Fenerty
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Male ,Derailment ,Emergency treatment ,030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,hemic and lymphatic diseases ,medicine ,Humans ,Mass Casualty Incidents ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Emergency Treatment ,Railroads ,Philadelphia ,business.industry ,General Medicine ,medicine.disease ,Triage ,Mass-casualty incident ,Blunt trauma ,Accidents ,Wounds and Injuries ,Female ,Medical emergency ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
The purpose of this article is to describe the injury patterns observed in the 2015 Philadelphia Amtrak train derailment.Fractures accounted for most observed injuries, but uncommon and potentially serious injuries included posterior sternoclavicular dislocation and mesenteric contusion. Imaging plays a critical role in the triage of patients during mass-casualty events, and familiarity with the injury patterns associated with high-velocity unrestrained blunt force trauma will aid diagnosis in any future similar occurrence.
- Published
- 2018
18. Understanding an emerging treatment population: Protocol for and baseline characteristics of a prospective cohort of people receiving treatment for pharmaceutical opioid dependence
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Suzanne, Nielsen, Nicholas, Lintzeris, Bridin, Murnion, Louisa, Degenhardt, Raimondo, Bruno, Paul, Haber, Jennifer, Johnson, Mark, Hardy, Stephen, Ling, Craig, Saddler, Adrian, Dunlop, Apo, Demirkol, Catherine, Silsbury, Nghi, Phung, Jennie, Houseman, and Briony, Larance
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Adult ,Analgesics, Opioid ,Cohort Studies ,Male ,Treatment Outcome ,Substance-Related Disorders ,Population Surveillance ,Humans ,Female ,Prospective Studies ,Middle Aged ,Comprehension ,Opioid-Related Disorders - Abstract
Despite large increases in pharmaceutical opioid dependence and related mortality, few studies have focused on the characteristics and treatment experiences of those with pharmaceutical opioid dependence. We describe the formation of a prospective cohort of people receiving treatment for pharmaceutical opioid dependence and describe their baseline characteristics.People who had entered treatment for pharmaceutical opioid dependence (n = 108) were recruited through drug treatment services in New South Wales, Australia. We describe baseline characteristics of those that commenced pharmaceutical opioids for pain or other reasons and conducted a thematic analysis of responses regarding their treatment experience.Mean age was 41 years (SD 11), half were male (48%). Just over half reported lifetime heroin use (57%). Oxycodone (49%) and codeine (29%) were the most common opioids reported. Most (85%) reported past-year problematic pain, 38% reported chronic pain. Half (52%) reported moderate to severe depression symptoms. Most (66%) commenced opioids for pain, and this group were older, less likely to report a previous overdose and less likely to report use of illicit drugs compared to those commencing for other reasons. Five themes related to treatment expectations: (i) stigma; (ii) the restrictive nature of treatment; (iii) knowledge; (iv) pain; and (v) positive experience with buprenorphine.This study describes the complexities in an important emerging treatment population of pharmaceutical opioid-dependent people. Findings highlights that addressing knowledge and perceptions around treatment may be critical to address the rising mortality associated with pharmaceutical opioid dependence.
- Published
- 2017
19. Test yourself: painless hand mass. Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (Nora lesion) of the metacarpal
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Sarah, Fenerty, Stephen, Ling, Congli, Wang, Omer, Awan, and Sayed, Ali
- Published
- 2016
20. A Smoking Cessation Program in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
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Karen Rees, Stephen Ling, Susanne Wooderson, Rose Neild, and Ian M. R Wright
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Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,education.field_of_study ,Neonatal intensive care unit ,business.industry ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Population ,Psychological intervention ,Breastfeeding ,Advertising ,Nicotine ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Intensive care ,medicine ,Smoking cessation ,business ,education ,medicine.drug ,Nicotine replacement - Abstract
Background: Parental smoking remains a significant risk to the preterm infant both pre and post delivery. Pharmacologically supported interventions have been previously contraindicated in this group during the perinatal period and during breastfeeding. We designed an evidence-based intervention for use in our high-risk population. This report assesses our outcomes after one year. Method: Questionnaire administered a median of 6 months after intervention. Results: There was no significant difference between those participants who returned the survey (n = 42) versus the group as a whole (n = 70). A total of 33% ceased smoking, p < .0001. If no nonresponders ceased smoking then this gives an overall success rate of 20%, p < .0001. Successful quitters had been smoking for a mean of 11 (SD = 7) years. Self-reported light smokers (< 10 cigarettes per day) were significantly more likely to quit (p < .01). Purchase of follow-on nicotine patches was a significant predictor of success in quitting (p = .02). If relapse occurred, it appeared to happen early and was mainly associated with current stressors. Conclusions: We have designed and applied a multidisciplinary intervention for parents and carers to be used in the perinatal period to decrease the postnatal risk for neonatal intensive care graduates. Our rates of successful smoking cessation are as good as, or better than, many published rates for opportunistic intervention. We suggest that randomised trials be focused on ways to further improve interventions at this time of opportunity for these infants and their families.
- Published
- 2008
21. Developing an artificial ecology for use as a strategic management tool: A case study of ibex hunting in the North Tien Shan
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E. J. Milner-Gulland and Stephen Ling
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education.field_of_study ,Extinction ,Geography ,Ecology ,Ecological Modeling ,Ecology (disciplines) ,Population ,Profitability index ,Strategic management ,Resource management ,education ,Bioeconomics ,System dynamics - Abstract
We develop an artificial ecology that simulates the interaction between hunter decisions and prey behaviour, using ibex hunting in the North Tien Shan Mountains as a case study. The aim is to model hunter and prey behaviour at a low enough level that overall population dynamics and hunter costs are emergent properties of the system rather than being assumed, as is usually the case. A genetic algorithm linked to artificial neural networks is used to evolve hunter decisions about where to hunt. We demonstrate the importance of the number of people hunting, which is determined by the profitability of hunting, as a key driver of system dynamics. A fundamental difference emerges between outcomes on approach to equilibrium, and after stochastic equilibrium had been reached, with extinction being common on approach and virtually non-existent thereafter. This probably reflects naive ibex behaviour on commencement of hunting. The framework developed here is flexible and transferable, and is particularly useful for the strategic testing of management strategies.
- Published
- 2008
22. Extinction Risk: A Comparative Analysis of Central Asian Vertebrates
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Ben Collen, Elena Bykova, Stephen Ling, E. J. Milner-Gulland, and Andy Purvis
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Extinction ,Variables ,Ecology ,Occupancy ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Biodiversity ,Phylogenetic comparative methods ,Biology ,Threatened species ,Biological dispersal ,IUCN Red List ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Nature and Landscape Conservation ,media_common - Abstract
In 2004, IUCN listed 20% of all mammals, 12% of birds and 4% of reptiles as threatened with extinction. Why are these species, but not the others in their clades, at risk? Most comparative studies of Red List status to date have investigated the relationship between status and life history or ecology, either at a local level where species face a given situation which may be known in detail, or at a global level where threats are much more heterogeneous. The use of data at a sub-global level raises several issues, including the need to assess populations across geopolitical borders and how best to treat non-breeding phases of populations. However, regional-level data provide the opportunity to look in more detail at how threatening processes operate. We employ comparative analysis using phylogenetically independent contrasts and multiple regression to control for inter-related and confounding independent variables, to evaluate correlates of regional threat for three groups of central Asian vertebrates. We find that aspects of dispersal, area of occupancy, body mass and generation time are important in predicting the perceived risk of regional extinction.
- Published
- 2006
23. Protecting mammal diversity: opportunities and constraints for pragmatic conservation management in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam
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Gert Polet and Stephen Ling
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business.industry ,National park ,Environmental resource management ,Livelihood ,Geography ,Conservation designation ,Community-based conservation ,Resource management ,Conservation biology ,Natural resource management ,Protected area ,business ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Nature and Landscape Conservation - Abstract
A case study is given of a conservation management planning exercise underway in Cat Tien National Park and its surrounding areas in southern Vietnam. The importance of reliable information in this process is demonstrated using the Park's mammalian diversity. Opportunities and constraints to engage the local communities in conservation management planning and implementation are reviewed. The spatial element in protected area management planning is stressed; in some areas strict preservation management regimes are needed to conserve critical biodiversity values while in other areas conservation benefits could be gained from engaging local communities in resource management. Pragmatic conservation management planning decisions address identified threats, to be resolved by re-demarcation of boundaries, resettlement of people, and community-based conservation initiatives. These should result in a more viable Park as well as provide more secure livelihood conditions for the people elsewhere. This case study is put in the context of the wider conservation management debate.
- Published
- 2004
24. A time-varying observer for the flux magnitude of the induction motor using the synchronous reference frame model
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Trey Mock, Randi Bimeal, Stephen Ling, and Mihai Comanescu
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Direct torque control ,Control theory ,Computer science ,Observer (special relativity) ,Synchronous motor ,AC motor ,Induction motor ,Reference frame - Published
- 2014
25. A sensorless induction motor flux observer with inaccurate speed input based on an alternative state space model
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Trey Mock, Mihai Comanescu, Randi Bimeal, and Stephen Ling
- Subjects
Equilibrium point ,State-space representation ,Control theory ,State vector ,State observer ,Observer (special relativity) ,Flux observer ,Stationary Reference Frame ,Induction motor ,Mathematics - Abstract
The paper discusses the problem of flux estimation for the induction motor (IM) drive and presents a sensorless observer. The intention is to estimate the IM fluxes in the stationary reference frame in order to obtain both the magnitude and the angle of the rotor flux. The flux magnitude is typically used for d axis feedback; the flux angle is needed for field orientation. The paper presents an alternative state-space model of the IM. Based on this, a Lyapunov-type nonlinear state observer with continuous feedback is designed. The paper first assumes that the speed is known and develops a sensored observer; then, this is transformed into a sensorless observer by feeding it with a speed estimate (assumed inaccurate). This method eliminates the speed measurement. The paper shows that, despite the improper speed input, the design yields a partially accurate estimate of the state vector that is sufficient for obtaining the magnitude and angle of the flux. Previous observers developed under the same conditions based on the traditional IM model were only capable of estimating the angle of the flux (but not the magnitude). The novelty is that this method also yields an accurate flux magnitude. It is shown that the equilibrium point of the observer is influenced by the design gains; with high enough gain, the observer converges. The theoretical developments are supported by simulations.
- Published
- 2014
26. Imaging Modalities and Contrast Agents
- Author
-
Pallav Shah and Stephen Ling
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Modality (human–computer interaction) ,Multiple factors ,Clinical question ,business.industry ,Medical imaging ,medicine ,Medical physics ,business ,Organ system ,Imaging modalities - Abstract
This chapter discusses the spectrum of available imaging studies employed in routine diagnostic imaging. Many of the associated advantages, deficiencies, concepts, and applications covered here can guide referring clinicians in selection of the appropriate imaging modality across organ systems, i.e., neurologic, cardiothoracic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, vascular, and musculoskeletal (MSK). Regardless of the organ system, the choice of the appropriate study depends on multiple factors, including the clinical question to be addressed, the availability and accuracy of the imaging modality, study contraindications, risks of the imaging examination including those from contrast agent administration, and financial cost. Some very brief data regarding the Medicare reimbursements for several commonly ordered imaging examinations is also provided at the end of the chapter (Table 1.1).
- Published
- 2013
27. An examination of barriers to nurse practitioner endorsement in senior rural drug and alcohol nurses in New South Wales
- Author
-
Renee M Brighton, Stephen Ling, Janette Curtis, and Adrian Dunlop
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Nurse practitioners ,Attitude of Health Personnel ,Substance-Related Disorders ,Clinical settings ,law.invention ,Health services ,Nursing ,law ,medicine ,Humans ,Nurse Practitioners ,Education, Nursing, Graduate ,General Nursing ,business.industry ,Alcohol and drug ,Middle Aged ,Metropolitan area ,Career Mobility ,Family medicine ,Health Care Surveys ,CLARITY ,Workforce ,Female ,Rural Health Services ,New South Wales ,business - Abstract
Summary Introduction and aims To examine barriers senior rural nurses in New South Wales drug and alcohol clinical settings perceive when considering endorsement to Nurse Practitioner (NP). Design and methods A survey was designed to record views of senior alcohol and drug nurses in rural New South Wales about becoming a NP. Participants were identified by Area Health Service Directors of Drug and Alcohol Services for each Area Health Service in NSW excluding metropolitan Sydney. Forty eight surveys were distributed, with 17 (35%) completed surveys included in the results. Results Of the 17 participants, 12 (70.6%) expressed interest in becoming a NP. The majority (12, 70.6%) were unaware or unsure of endorsement processes. Lack of clarity about the NP role and processes and benefits to becoming a NP was found to be of most concern to all participants. Only 6 participants (35%) indicated they would consider seeking endorsement to NP. Discussion and conclusion Despite agreeing that NP positions in alcohol and drug settings would improve patient access to treatment and care, senior nurses working in these settings in regional areas are unfamiliar with pathways to becoming endorsed. Barriers, such as a lack of internal support from management and colleagues, as well as the fact that respondents reported no foreseeable financial gain in endorsement, also need to be addressed, before more nurses will consider endorsement. Further evaluation of the views of senior nurses in metropolitan alcohol and other drug settings in the process to NP endorsement is needed before clients will benefit from the expertise and enhanced care that NP's may provide.
- Published
- 2013
28. No new recipes for bushmeat
- Author
-
Lise Albrechtsen, Noëlle F. Kümpel, and Stephen Ling
- Subjects
Biodiversity conservation ,Geography ,Agroforestry ,Ecology (disciplines) ,Bushmeat ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Nature and Landscape Conservation - Published
- 2002
29. A preliminary investigation into handwriting examination by multiple measurements of letters and spacing
- Author
-
Stephen Ling
- Subjects
Handwriting ,Time Factors ,Computer science ,Speech recognition ,Graphology ,Humans ,Middle zone ,Law ,Word (computer architecture) ,Pathology and Forensic Medicine - Abstract
Theoretically, the scientific measurement of letters, letter spacing and word spacing provides a mathematical basis for the statistical comparison of handwriting. Ten volunteers were asked to write the same short passage. Ten features were measured, up to 10 times each, to characterise each writer. Measurements of repeat handwriting 2 years later failed to identify the writer, and this was attributed to a change in the height of the middle zone. Measurements of ‘it’ and ‘th’ spacings were the least affected.
- Published
- 2002
30. Epithelioid hemangioma of bone
- Author
-
Mahvash Rafii, Michael J. Klein, and Stephen Ling
- Subjects
Adult ,Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Osteolysis ,Spinal Neoplasms ,business.industry ,medicine.disease ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,Thoracic Vertebrae ,Vertebra ,Lymphoma ,Hemangioma ,Angioma ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Thoracic vertebrae ,medicine ,Humans ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Female ,business ,Tomography, X-Ray Computed ,Epithelioid cell ,Epithelioid Hemangioma ,Osteosclerosis - Abstract
Although no specific radiographic appearance has emerged to date for the epithelioid subtype of hemangioma, these lesions most typically exhibit well-defined osteolysis. Other relatively common features include surrounding sclerosis, cortical expansion and cortical destruction. We present a case of epithelioid hemangioma of the spine with an unusual radiological appearance which to our knowledge has not previously been reported: diffuse sclerosis of the involved vertebral body. The diffuse sclerosis seen in this case resembles the osteosclerotic process seen not only in benign entities such as subacute and chronic osteomyelitis, but also in malignant lesions such as osteoblastic metastatic disease and lymphoma.
- Published
- 2001
31. Behavioral therapy for rural substance abusers CARL LEUKEFELD, THEODORE GODLASKI, JAMES CLARK, CYNTHIA BROWN & LON HAYS
- Author
-
Stephen Ling
- Subjects
Gerontology ,Health (social science) ,Psychoanalysis ,Behavioral therapy ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Psychology - Published
- 2001
32. Tackling Alcohol Together: the evidence base for a UK alcohol policy
- Author
-
Stephen Ling
- Subjects
chemistry.chemical_compound ,Health (social science) ,Alcohol policy ,chemistry ,Public economics ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Alcohol ,Base (exponentiation) ,Psychology - Published
- 2000
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