Creation and Validation of a Simulator for Neonatal Brain Ultrasonography: A Pilot Study.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Historically, skills training in performing brain ultrasonography has been limited to hours of scanning infants for lack of adequate synthetic models or alternatives. The aim of this study was to create a simulator and determine its utility as an educational tool in teaching the skills that can be used in performing brain ultrasonography on infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A brain ultrasonography simulator was created using a combination of multi-modality imaging, three-dimensional printing, material and acoustic engineering, and sculpting and molding. Radiology residents participated prior to their pediatric rotation. The study included (1) an initial questionnaire and resident creation of three coronal images using the simulator; (2) brain ultrasonography lecture; (3) hands-on simulator practice; and (4) a follow-up questionnaire and re-creation of the same three coronal images on the simulator. A blinded radiologist scored the quality of the pre- and post-training images using metrics including symmetry of the images and inclusion of predetermined landmarks. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare pre- and post-training questionnaire rankings and image quality scores. RESULTS: Ten residents participated in the study. Analysis of pre- and post-training rankings showed improvements in technical knowledge and confidence, and reduction in anxiety in performing brain ultrasonography. Objective measures of image quality likewise improved. Mean reported value score for simulator training was high across participants who reported perceived improvements in scanning skills and enjoyment from simulator use, with interest in additional practice on the simulator and recommendations for its use. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study supports the use of a simulator in teaching radiology residents the skills that can be used to perform brain ultrasonography.

The effects of counterion composition on the rheological and conductive properties of mono- and diphosphonium ionic liquids.

A series of monocationic and dicationic phosphonium ionic liquids was prepared and their thermal, rheological, and conductive properties were characterized. These phosphonium ionic liquids were paired with seven monoanionic counterions (chloride, hexafluorophosphate, hexafluoroantimonate, octanoate, perfluorooctanoate, dodecyl sulfate, dioctyl sulfosuccinate, and bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide) in order to examine the effects of the counterion size and chemical structure on bulk properties of the phosphonium ionic liquids. The length of the three alkyl chains surrounding the phosphorus atom was also varied from butyl, hexyl to octyl on the cation. All of the samples exhibited initial decomposition temperatures above 150 °C. The octanoate and its fluorinated analog possessed the lowest decomposition temperature and the dicationic hexyl sample bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide possessed the highest (>370 °C). The dicationic butyl and hexyl chloride samples displayed similar G', G″ and viscosity curves, whereas the dicationic octyl chloride sample exhibited significantly lower values. The frequency sweeps of the monocationic phosphonium ionic liquids were all similar and showed minimal side chain dependence. The monocationic phosphonium ionic liquids have higher conductivity than their dicationic analogs at all measured temperatures.