ABSTRACT
Visualizing the vascular territories of coronary arteries during echocardiography or electrocardiography (ECG) requires trainees to mentally relate and overlay 2D sonographic images or cardiac lead projections with 3D anatomical representations of the ventricular walls and their respective blood supply. To facilitate the acquisition of these competencies, this study focuses on the feasibility of developing low-cost, open-sourced 3D printed heart models with standard ultrasound views or ECG lead projections illustrating the myocardial perfusion territories. A 3D digital heart model was cut to reflect the typical cardiac ultrasound views. The 4-chamber view model was further punctured for the paths of the precordial and limb leads of an ECG. Painting coronary arteries on the surface and internal views of the 3D prints illustrated vessel territories. Students, residents, and staff were surveyed during bedside ultrasound simulation sessions and ECG teaching half-days. Results demonstrated clear appreciation of 3D printed models, which suggests such models can easily be implemented by other institutions to augment trainees' experience during skill acquisition.
ABSTRACT
Recent national strategic plans in China have set renewable energy targets for rural household energy programs, including those that advance the production of densified biomass fuels (e.g. pellets, briquettes) for use in household cooking and heating stoves. There is presently very little information on potential barriers to the successful development of densified biomass for household cooking and heating in China, but such knowledge may be informative in settings that aim to replace unprocessed coal and other polluting fuels with renewable, cleaner-burning energy sources. We designed a case study to coordinate data-gathering efforts at rural field sites in southwestern Sichuan province and northeastern Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, where production of densified biomass fuels is under development for household end-users. We conducted interviews with factory personnel, local administrative leaders, and sector experts involved in the production and distribution of densified fuel, including pellets and briquettes, for household use. Results from our qualitative textual data analysis yielded several recommendations for improving development of densified biomass fuels for household end-use. These included reducing heterogeneity of feedstocks, increasing financial support for operational costs (e.g. collection, transport, and storage of raw materials; storage and distribution of final products), improving household perceptions of and subsequent demand for densified biomass fuels, and increasing enforcement of national and provincial policies banning the use of coal and open-field biomass burning. Collection and storage of raw materials and the final densified fuel product were consistently noted as critical challenges to scaling up production at all three sites. Finally, the perspectives of factory managers and local village administrators that we present also indicated that production of densified biomass fuels would most likely be more successful and reproducible in places where national-level policies are viewed as obligatory.
