Arterial diseases such as hypertension, carotid stenosis, and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) may progress silently without symptoms and contribute to acute cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, and aneurysm rupture, which are consistently among the leading causes of death worldwide. The arterial pulse wave, regarded as one of the fundamental vital signs of clinical medicine, originates from the heart and propagates throughout the arterial tree as a pressure, flow velocity, and wall displacement wave, giving rise to the natural pulsation of the arteries. The dynamic properties of the pulse wave are intimately related to the physical state of the cardiovascular system. Thus, the assessment of the arterial wall dynamics driven by the pulse wave may provide valuable insights into vascular mechanical properties for the early detection and characterization of arterial pathologies. The focus of this dissertation was to develop and clinically implement Pulse Wave Imaging (PWI), an ultrasound elasticity imaging-based method for the visualization and spatio-temporal mapping of the pulse wave propagation at any accessible arterial location. Motion estimation algorithms based on cross-correlation of the ultrasound radio-frequency (RF) signals were used to track the arterial walls and capture the pulse wave-induced displacements over the cardiac cycle. PWI facilitates the image-guided measurement of clinically relevant pulse wave features such as propagation speed (pulse wave velocity, or PWV), uniformity, and morphology as well as derivation of the pulse pressure waveform. A parametric study investigating the performance of PWI in two canine aortas ex vivo and 10 normal, healthy human arteries in vivo established the optimal image acquisition and signal processing parameters for reliable measurement of the PWV and wave propagation uniformity. Using this framework, three separate clinical feasibility studies were conducted in patients diagnosed with hypertension, AAA, and carotid stenosis. In a pilot study comparing hypertensive and aneurysmal abdominal aortas with normal controls, the AAA group exhibited significantly higher PWV and lower wave propagation uniformity. A “teetering” motion upon pulse wave arrival was detected in the smaller aneurysms (< 5 cm in diameter) but not in the larger aneurysms (> 5.5 cm in diameter). While no significant difference in PWV or propagation uniformity was observed between normal and hypertensive aortas, qualitative differences in the pulse wave morphology along the imaged aortic segment may be an indicator of increased wave reflection caused by elevated blood pressure and/or arterial stiffness. Pulse Wave Ultrasound Manometry (PWUM) was introduced as an extension of the PWI method for the derivation of the pulse pressure (PP) waveform in large central arteries. A feasibility study in 5 normotensive, 9 pre-hypertensive, and 5 hypertensive subjects indicated that a significantly higher PP in the hypertensive group was detected in the abdominal aorta by PWUM but not in the peripheral arteries by alternative devices (i.e. a radial applanation tonometer and the brachial sphygmomanometer cuff). A relatively strong positive correlation between aortic PP and both radial and brachial PP was observed in the hypertensive group but not in the normal and pre-hypertensive groups, confirming the notion that PP variation throughout the arterial tree may not be uniform in relatively compliant arteries. The application of PWI in 10 stenotic carotid arteries identified phenomenon such as wave convergence, elevated PWV, and decreased cumulative displacement around and/or within regions of atherosclerotic plaque. Intra-plaque mapping of the PWV and cumulative strain demonstrated the potential to quantitatively differentiate stable (i.e. calcified) and vulnerable (i.e. lipid) plaque components. The lack of correlation between quantitative measurements (PWV, modulus, displacement, and strain) and expected plaque stiffness illuminates to need to consider several physiological and imaging-related factors such as turbulent flow, wave reflection, imaging location, and the applicability of established theoretical models in vivo. PWI presents a highly translational method for visualization of the arterial pulse wave and the image-guided measurement of several clinically relevant pulse wave features. The aforementioned findings collectively demonstrated the potential of PWI to detect, diagnose, and characterize vascular disease based on qualitative and quantitative information about arterial wall dynamics under pathological conditions.

Includes bibliography (leaves 249-291). / xxiv, 291, [52] leaves : / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Discusses and evaluates the role of intra-operative ultrasound in colorectal surgery ; techniques of laparoscopic surgery and the impact on the incidence of hypothermia during surgery ; advanced prognostic techniques in colorectal cancer ; the impact of ambulatory anorectal surgery ; and, the potential of an information video to decrease the anxiety of patients through imparting essential information to patients. / Thesis (M.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Surgery, 1999

Este trabalho contribui para a busca de métodos rápidos para reconstrução esparsa em ultrassonografia. O objetivo é alcançado em três etapas: a validação de um modelo discreto de aquisição, uma avaliação comparativa de algoritmos adequados ao problema e uma proposição de aceleração para um dos métodos de melhor desempenho. A estratégia de validação do modelo consiste em reconstruções a partir de dados sintéticos de resultado conhecido e subsequente validação com dados reais, coletados por uma plataforma de pesquisa em ultrassom com um phantom de uso profissional. As reconstruções são realizadas por um conjunto selecionado de algoritmos iterativos de otimização convexa, que têm seus parâmetros, resultados e desempenhos analisados. O trabalho propõe a aceleração do método ADMM (Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers) que está entre os de melhor desempenho em termos de custo computacional, e que pode dobrar sua velocidade inicial de convergência com a modificação proposta. Como a aceleração também pode ser utilizada em outras aplicações do ADMM, a modificação proposta é validada em quatro casos de estudo, sendo dois em ultrassonografia e dois em imageamento por ressonância magnética. / This study contributes to the search for fast iterative methods for ultrasonic sparse image reconstruction. The goal is achieved in three steps: the validation of a discrete acquisition model, a comparative evaluation of algorithms suitable to the problem and an acceleration proposal for one of the best performing methods. The model validation strategy consists of image reconstructions from synthetic data with previously known results, and subsequent validation with real data, collected by an ultrasound research platform with a professional phantom. The reconstructions are performed by a selected set of iterative algorithms of convex optimization, which have their parameters, results and performances analyzed. This study proposes the acceleration of the ADMM (Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers), which is among the best performing methods in terms of computational cost, and which can have its initial convergence speed doubled by the proposed modification. Since the acceleration can also be used in other applications of ADMM, the proposed modification is validated in four cases of study: two in ultrasonography and two in magnetic resonance imaging.

Conotruncal anomalies are the leading causes of cyanotic congenital heart disease. We attempted to use live xPlane imaging of ductal arch view and in-plane view of IVS to screen the fetal conotruncal anomalies in 200 fetuses. There were 152 normal cases, 25 conotruncal anomalies and 23 other types of fetal CHDs were involved in this study. The visualization rate of the normal ductal arch view and in-plane view of IVS with live xPlane imaging was 100% (152/152), 100% (152/152) in normal cases, 8% (2/25), 12% (3/25) in conotruncal anomalies and 69.7% (16/23), 73.9% (17/23) in non-conotruncal CHDs, respectively. The visualization rate of abnormal ductal arch and in-plane view in conotruncal anomalies was much higher than that in non-conotruncal anomalies (P&lt;0.001). Therefore, it may be a useful tool for the assessment and diagnosis of fetal conotruncal anomalies. / In conclusion, real-time 3DE is a novel and promising technique to perform the prenatal examination, both the fetal heart and other system. It represents the future of 3D ultrasound and will become a useful tool for prenatal screening and diagnosis. / This thesis summarized real-time 3D ultrasound in obstetric application. With the introduction of matrix transducer, 3D scanning the fetus in real time became available. / We attempted to use real-time 3D ultrasound in obstetrics outside the fetal heart. We evaluated the feasibility of using real-time 3D ultrasound to assist in obtaining a true midsagittal view in first trimester. Eight sonographers, including FMF-certified and non FMF-certified operators, were asked to perform ultrasound examinations on five patients and forty patients were examined in total. It showed that the deviation from true midsagittal view was reduced greatly with the guidance of live xPlane imaging. Real-time 3D ultrasound can improve the accuracy of acquisition of a defined sonographic plane, and reduce the difference in performance between operators who are formally certified or not. / We demonstrated a novel method to visualize the aortic and ductal arch with live xPlane imaging. The visualization rate is 100%. Ductal arch view can be visualized by placing the reference line through pulmonary artery and descending aorta and aortic arch view can be acquired by putting the reference line along the transverse view of aortic arch and descending aorta on the 3VT view with live xPlane imaging. Therefore, live xPlane imaging is an easy and feasible method for real-time imaging of the ductal and aortic arch. / We explored the feasibility to perform the fetal heart screening using real-time 3DE with live xPlane imaging. We developed and reported the methodology of acquiring and examining the screening planes of the fetal heart with live xPlane imaging. The procedure was simple and straight. When performing the fetal heart screening with live xPlane imaging, we just need display the apical four-chamber view and mid-sagittal view of fetal upper thorax and other thing could be done by moving the reference line. The overall detection of four cardiac screen planes can reach 100%. / We explored to evaluate the entire fetal IVS with both live xPlane imaging and live 3D imaging. We can successfully assess the entire IVS in most fetuses (153/154). We also compared the images acquired by real-time 3DE and STIC in this thesis. It showed that less motion artifact encounters with real-time 3DE and the image quality of real-time 3DE is similar to STIC volume acquired from the sagittal view (P>0.05) and superior to STIC volume from the four-chamber view (P&lt;0.05). Therefore, real-time 3DE can be used to display the lateral view of the fetal IVS, and potentially may be a useful tool for the assessment and diagnosis of fetal VSDs. / Xiong, Yi. / Adviser: Tzekin Lau. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-02, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-138). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Humpback Chub Gila cypha are endangered cyprinids endemic to the Colorado River drainage and are adapted to live in fast currents of warm, turbid water. Although nine known aggregations of Humpback Chub currently exist in the main-stem Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, little is known about their reproduction. I hypothesized that Colorado River water temperatures below Glen Canyon Dam are too low due to hypolimnetic water releases from Lake Powell for female Humpback Chub to develop mature eggs for spawning. Ultrasonic imaging, also called ultrasound, is an effective, non-lethal method used to determine sex and maturity of a variety of freshwater, anadromous, and marine fishes. However, many previous studies have been performed in laboratory environments. I developed a standardized method for ultrasonically scanning endangered Humpback Chub Gila cypha in remote locations within Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA. This method minimized stress to individual fish and took less than 1 min to perform. I was able to identify female fish with eggs based on two jpeg images and one 10 s video clip collected in the field. I also used ImageJ®, a National Institute of Health image processing program, to develop a brightness index to evaluate the maturity of eggs in female fish. I collected ultrasonic scans of captive, ripe Humpback Chub held at the Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center (SNARRC) to determine that female fish were potentially ripe when a subsample of their eggs exhibited a brightness value within the 32-44 range. Although I was able to estimate egg maturity, I was not able to estimate egg mass of female fish. I used ultrasound to evaluate reproductive condition of 751 Humpback Chub in Grand Canyon. I documented egg development in female fish from the main-stem Colorado River, Little Colorado River, Havasu Creek, and Shinumo Creek. Egg development in Humpback Chub varies by location and time of year. Potentially ripe (stage 3) female fish were found at all sample locations and dates except at Shinumo Creek in 2013 and 2014. Potentially ripe females were also detected in every main-stem aggregation except for Pumpkin Springs and in two locations outside of established aggregations. Fisheries managers can use ultrasound to collect vital information about the reproductive status of fishes that cannot be killed and that are found in remote or rugged field locations. My findings indicate that female Humpback Chub are able to produce eggs throughout the main-stem Colorado River and that internal egg development and egg production likely do not limit recruitment. However, female fish may never experience the environmental triggers they need to spawn or may not experience conditions that would allow eggs and larvae to survive.

published_or_final_version / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005. Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 xiv, 99 leaves / Plantar Fasciitis (PF), also called ‘the painful heel syndrome’, is a common cause of heel pain (Barrett and O’Malley, 1999:2200), accounting for between 7% and 10% of all running injuries (Batt and Tanji, 1995:77; Chandler and Kibler, 1993:345). Primarily an overuse injury, resulting from tensile overload, it involves inflammation and micro-tears of the plantar fascia at its insertion on the calcaneus (Lillegard and Rucker, 1993:168; Barrett and O’Malley, 1999:2200). The body’s attempt to heal these micro-tears leads to chronic inflammation and the formation of adhesions (Ambrosius and Kondracki, 1992:30). Transverse friction massage has been found to be beneficial in the treatment of PF (Hyde and Gengenbach, 1997:478,481; Hertling and Kessler, 1996:137). Cyriax (1984) and Prentice (1994) state the effect of frictions to include the breakdown of adhesions (scar tissue), as well as preventing the formation of further adhesions. Graston Technique Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation (GISTM), based on the principles of frictions, aims to break down adhesions, realign collagen fibres and aid in the completion of the inflammatory process (Carey-Loghmani, 2003:31, 51-62; Hammer, 2001). Enabling us to see changes on ultrasonography, which has been found to be an objective, non-invasive way of evaluating PF (Wall and Harkness, 1993:468; Tsai et al, 2000:259; Cardinal et al, 1996:258). These changes include decreased thickness of the fascia. The aim of the study was to see the effect of GISTM on PF in runners, in terms of ultrasonography, and identify any correlation between these findings and other objective and subjective findings. / M

Thesis submitted in full compliance with the requirements for the Masters in Technology Degree: Radiography, Durban University of Technology, 2006. / This study aimed at determining and evaluating the prevalence of gallstones in the Black population of District 28 (D28) in relation to age, gender, diet and body mass index (BMI) in order to identify people at high risk and advise them so that they can avoid the complications and decrease the morbidity rate. Blacks are thought to have increased prevalence of gallstones but there has been no systematic evaluation of its prevalence in D28. METHODS AND MATERIALS 389 Black people from D28 were selected from referrals (for many different radiological examinations) coming to the X-ray and ultrasound departments. Some of the respondents were staff members who also met the selection criteria for the study. An interview was conducted at Ngwelezane hospital using a structured questionnaire on health, social and diet history of the respondents. All information was entered into the data sheet. All respondents were then scanned using Mid-range ultrasound machines to establish the presence of gallstones and this information was thereafter documented on the data sheet. SPSS version 11.5 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, III) was used for data analysis. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the Epitable module of Epi Info version 6.04 (CDC, 2001). Pearson's Chi square tests were used to assess associations between categorical variables and gall stones. Logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the independent effects of multiple risk factors on the development of gallstones. Backwards elimination method based on likelihood ratios was used with entry and exit probabilities set at 0.05 and 0.1 respectively / M

由線性彈性模型引起的多維系數反問題在很多範疇都有其應用，如斷層探測、油田檢測、鹽石檢測、礦石檢測及醫療成像等。瞬時成像技術是其中最有用的應用。它提供了一個快速及安全的醫療成像技術，可以用來檢測在身體內快速移動的器官的一些異常組織，如肝腫瘤。在這篇論文中，我們會重點討論兩個解決瞬時弹性成像反問題的數值方法，即水平集反演方法和近似全局收斂方法。我們會研究這兩種方法的推導和數值結果。 / 特別地，近似全局收斂方法是一種由Klibanov 新提出用來解決由雙曲偏微分引起的多維系數反問題的方法。因為這佪方法沒有使用求泛函極小值的步驟，因此能避免了一些眾所周知的問題，所以它特別穩定。數值結果顯示近似全局收斂方法對噪聲有很高的穩定性。這表明近似全局收斂方法是一個解決由線性彈性模型引起的多維系數反問題的其中一個有效方法。 / Multi-dimensional coefficient inverse problem (MCIP) in linear elasticity has found many applications, such as crack detection, oil/salt/ore detection, medical imaging. Transient elastography is among one of the most useful applications, providing a fast and safe medical imaging technique which can be used to detect tumors or abnormal tissue in “fast-moving“ organs such as the liver. In this thesis focus is casted on two of the numerical algorithms to solve inverse problems related to transient elastography, namely the level-set inversion method and the approximate globally convergent method. The derivations of both methods and numerical results are presented. In particular, the approximate globally convergent method is a newly developed stable method to solve coefficient determination inverse problem for hyperbolic partial differential equation proposed by Beilina and Klibanov in [6]. It achieves pproximately a global convergence by avoiding construction of a least squares functional, thus averting some of the well-known problems of trapping in the neighborhoods of local minima when one minimizes such a nonlinear functional. The results of the approximate globally convergent method have shown its strong stability and robustness. This suggests a good way for the reconstruction of the distribution of the shear modulus in the coefficient inverse problem of linear elasticity. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Chow, Yat Tin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-102). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.6 / Chapter 2 --- Linear Elasticity Model --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction to Linear Elasticity Model --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Physical Meanings of Elasticity Equation --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3 --- Derivations of Linear Elasticity Equation --- p.14 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion of Christoffel’s Equation --- p.17 / Chapter 3 --- Formulations of the Forward and Inverse Problem --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1 --- The Forward Problem --- p.29 / Chapter 3.2 --- The Inverse Problem --- p.29 / Chapter 3.3 --- A Uniqueness Result --- p.30 / Chapter 4 --- Algorithms for Inverse Problems in Elasticity --- p.33 / Chapter 5 --- Level Set Inversion Method --- p.37 / Chapter 5.1 --- Arrival Time Acquisition: Cross-Correlation --- p.37 / Chapter 5.2 --- The Distance Inversion Method --- p.41 / Chapter 5.3 --- Solving the Forward Eikonal Equation --- p.43 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Discretizing the eikonal equation --- p.43 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- A forward eikonal solver: fast marching algorithm --- p.47 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- A forward eikonal solver: fast sweeping algorithm --- p.50 / Chapter 5.4 --- Level Set Inversion Scheme --- p.54 / Chapter 5.5 --- Numerical Implementation --- p.57 / Chapter 5.6 --- Results of Reconstructions --- p.58 / Chapter 6 --- Approximate Globally Convergent Method --- p.63 / Chapter 6.1 --- The Forward Problem --- p.65 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Forward problem in time domain --- p.65 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Forward problem in Laplace domain --- p.67 / Chapter 6.2 --- The Inverse Problem --- p.67 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Inverse problem in time domain --- p.67 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Inverse problem in Laplace domain --- p.68 / Chapter 6.3 --- A Nonlinear Integral Differential Equation --- p.69 / Chapter 6.4 --- Approximation of the First Tail --- p.71 / Chapter 6.5 --- The Algorithm --- p.72 / Chapter 6.6 --- Notes About the Convergence Analysis --- p.76 / Chapter 6.6.1 --- Approximate global convergence --- p.76 / Chapter 6.6.2 --- Basic formulation of Theorem 2.9.4 of [6] --- p.78 / Chapter 6.6.3 --- Some ideas of the convergence analysis for the algorithm in section 6.5 --- p.80 / Chapter 6.7 --- Numerical Implementation --- p.81 / Chapter 6.8 --- Results of Reconstructions --- p.88 / Chapter 7 --- Conclusions --- p.96 / Bibliography --- p.98

在各种临床应用广泛使用的诊断和治疗工具中，超声成像是其中的一个。与其他成像模式相比，比如计算机断层照相法和磁共振成像，超声波检查法有许多优点:没有辐射风险，设备价格低以及能够实时获取图像。很多超声应用的第一步通常是对感兴趣组织和结构的检测和定位。然而，超声图像存在一些特有的伪影，比如高噪声，低信噪比和灰度不均，这些伪影使得检测任务变得困难。此外，感兴趣区域之间的低对比度也使得这一任务变得更加复杂。在这篇论文里，我们深入研究这些图像伪影并提出新的方法来促进临床中的超声应用。 / 首先，我们提出一个多尺度的框架来进行超声图像的分割，这个框架是基于各向异性去噪扩散和测地主动轮廓线的。各向异性去噪扩散是对边缘敏感且专门用于斑点噪声图像的扩散过程，这里它被用来去除超声图像的斑点噪声，我们对每幅输入图像构造一个多尺度的表示方法，随着尺度的增加，噪声被逐渐地消除。之后，多尺度测地主动轮廓线从粗到细渐进地应用到这些尺度来提取物体的边界线。为了避免在低对比度区域出现边界泄漏的情况，我们把不同尺度之间的边界形状相似性结合到传统的测地主动轮廓线模型里作为一个外部约束来指导轮廓线的演化。在合成和临床图像的实验结果证明了我们的方法的优越性。 / 其次，我们提出一个基于相位的方法来检查和测量超声图像里的胎儿腹部轮廓线。我们定义了一个基于局部相位的度量来检测胎儿腹部的边界线，这个度量称为多尺度特征非对称性，它与图像的亮度无关，并且能为图像里特征的重要程度提供一个绝对的测量。为了估计与腹部轮廓线相吻合的椭圆，我们使用一个迭代随机霍夫变换来排除内腹部边界线的影响，从而使得估计的椭圆逐渐收敛到外边界线。在临床超声图像里进行腹部周长测量的实验结果验证了我们的方法与手工的方法有很高的一致性，这也表明我们的方法可以作为一个可靠的工具来进行产科的护理和诊断。 / Ultrasound imaging is one of the most widely used diagnostic and therapeutic tools for a variety of clinical applications. Compared with other imaging modalities, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography has a lot of advantages: free of radiation risk, low cost of acquisition and images are available in real-time. The first step in many ultrasonic applications is usually the detection and localization of interested tissues and structures. However, there are a number of characteristic artifacts in ultrasound images that make the task difficult such as high speckle noise, low signal-to-noise ratio and intensity inhomogeneity. Besides, the low contrast between regions of interest further complicates the processing. In this thesis, we deeply investigate these image artifacts and propose new techniques to facilitate ultrasonic applications in clinic. / First, we propose a multiscale framework for ultrasound image segmentation based on speckle reducing anisotropic diffusion(SRAD) and geodesic active contours (GAC). SRAD is an edge-sensitive diffusion tailored for speckled images, and it is adopted here to reduce speckle noise by constructing a multiscale representation for each input image, where the noise is gradually removed as the scale increases. Multiscale geodesic active contours are then applied along the scales in a coarse-to-fine manner to capture the object boundaries progressively. To avoid boundary leakages in low contrast regions, traditional GAC model is modified by incorporating the boundary shape similarity between different scales as an external constraint to guide the contour evolution. Experimental results in both synthetic and clinical images demonstrate the superiority of the proposed approach. / Second, we propose a phase-based approach for fetal abdominal contour detection and measurement in ultrasound images.We define a local phase-based measure, called multiscale feature asymmetry (MSFA), from the monogenic signal to detect the boundaries of fetal abdomen. The MSFA measure is intensity invariant and provides an absolute measurement for the significance of features in the image. In order to estimate the ellipse that fits to the abdominal contour, we employ an iterative randomized Hough transform to exclude the interferences of the inner boundaries of the abdomen, after which the estimated ellipse gradually converges to the outer boundaries. Experimental results in clinical ultrasound images validate the high agreement between our approach and manual approach in the measurement of abdominal circumference, indicating that the proposed approach can be used as a reliable tool for obstetric care and diagnosis. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Wang, Weiming . / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-84). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Wang, Weiming .