#Non-Invasive Imaging

[familythings]

Light-Absorbing Dye: Advancements in Medical Imaging and Research

The recent breakthrough of a light-absorbing dye that makes the skin of live mice nearly invisible represents a major advancement in both medical imaging and biological research. Here’s a deeper dive into its significance, functionality, and implications: How It Works The dye operates by absorbing specific wavelengths of light, primarily in the near-infrared spectrum. When applied to the skin,…

[perkypawspethospitalmckinney]

The Benefits of Pet Ultrasound for Early Disease Detection

When it comes to your pet's health, early detection is key to effective treatment and maintaining a high quality of life. One of the most valuable diagnostic tools available is pet ultrasound. Whether for a cat ultrasound or a dog ultrasound, this non-invasive procedure offers significant advantages in identifying health issues before they become serious. In this blog, we'll explore how trusted pet ultrasound services can aid in early disease detection and why it's an essential part of your pet’s health care routine.

What is Pet Ultrasound?

Pet ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create detailed images of your pet's internal organs and structures. Unlike X-rays, which involve radiation, ultrasound is completely safe and non-invasive. The process involves applying a gel to the area being examined and using a transducer to capture real-time images of your pet’s internal anatomy.

Early Detection of Diseases in Pets

The primary benefit of veterinary ultrasound is its ability to detect diseases at an early stage. Here’s how it contributes to early disease detection:

Identification of Internal Masses: Dog ultrasound and cat ultrasound can detect internal masses such as tumors or cysts. Early detection allows for prompt treatment, increasing the chances of successful outcomes.

Evaluation of Organ Health: Ultrasound can provide insights into the health of vital organs like the liver, kidneys, and heart. It helps in identifying issues such as organ enlargement, fluid buildup, or abnormal growths before they lead to serious problems.

Detection of Abnormalities: Ultrasound can uncover abnormalities such as congenital defects, bladder stones, or digestive tract issues. Early identification facilitates timely intervention and management.

Benefits of Early Detection

Early disease detection through pet ultrasound offers numerous benefits:

Improved Treatment Outcomes: Identifying health issues early enables veterinarians to implement more effective and less invasive treatment plans. Early intervention often results in better outcomes and a higher quality of life for your pet.

Prevention of Complications: Early detection helps prevent complications that could arise from untreated conditions, potentially reducing the need for more extensive and costly treatments later.

Better Management of Chronic Conditions: For pets with chronic health issues, regular pet ultrasound services can monitor disease progression and adjust treatment plans as needed, ensuring optimal management of their health.

Preparing Your Pet for an Ultrasound

Preparing your pet for a veterinary ultrasound is generally straightforward:

Follow Fasting Instructions: Your veterinarian may recommend fasting your pet for a few hours before the procedure to ensure clearer images and accurate results.

Keep Your Pet Calm: Try to keep your pet calm and relaxed before the appointment. Bringing their favorite toy or blanket can help comfort them.

Discuss Any Concerns: If you have any questions or concerns about the procedure, speak with your veterinarian beforehand. They can provide guidance and address any worries you might have.

Incorporating Ultrasound into Your Pet’s Healthcare Routine

Regular pet ultrasound services can be an important part of maintaining your pet’s health. For pets with a history of health issues or those of advanced age, incorporating ultrasound into their routine check-ups can be particularly beneficial. It offers a comprehensive view of internal health and helps catch potential problems early.

At Perky Paws Pet Hospital, we offer state-of-the-art pet ultrasound services to help ensure the best care for your furry companions. By including regular ultrasound exams in your pet’s healthcare routine, you’re taking a proactive step toward their well-being.

Conclusion

Pet ultrasound is a powerful diagnostic tool that plays a crucial role in early disease detection. Whether it's a dog ultrasound or a cat ultrasound, the benefits of identifying health issues early are substantial, leading to more effective treatments and improved quality of life for your pet. To learn more about how pet ultrasound services can benefit your pet’s health, consult with your veterinarian or visit Perky Paws Pet Hospital for expert care and guidance.

[usmanpuraimaging]

Learn about the critical role of MRI Orbit Scans in diagnosing and treating eye and orbital trauma. Discover why Usmanpura Imaging is your trusted partner for accurate imaging.

[myrawjcsmicasereports]

Artificial intelligence based model for Automatic Real-Time and Non-Invasive Estimation of blood potassium level in pediatric patients by Hamid Mokhtari Torshizi1, Negar Omidi2 in Journal of Clinical Case Reports Medical Images and Health Sciences

1PhD student of Biomedical Engineering and Physics Department, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2Associate Professor of Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 3Rajaie Heart Center and Department of Pediatric Cardiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 4Digestive Disease Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 5Associate professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

*Corresponding author

Mohsen Ahmadi, MD , Associate professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: 10.55920/JCRMHS.2023.05.001213

Abstract

Objective: During the last decade, heart disease has become the main cause of death worldwide. One of the main causes of mortality in pediatric patients, especially in the intensive care unit, is related to cardiac arrhythmia. An abnormal variation in blood electrolytes, such as potassium, contributes to mortality in pediatric patients. Continuous and real-time monitoring of potassium serum levels can prevent fatal arrhythmias but this is not currently practical. Our Real-Time and Non-Invasive ECG-related technique uses machine learning to estimate blood potassium with good accuracy.

Patients and Methods: Hospitalized patients in emergency department of the Rajai  Cardiology and Medical Research Center  and Tehran Heart Center were recruited from December 2021 to June 2022.The electrocardiographic(ECG) features of patients were evaluated. We defined 16 features for each signal and extracted them automatically. With the assistance of the correlation matrix, the dimension reduction operation was performed. Linear regression, polynomials, decision trees, random forests, and support vector machine(SVM) algorithms have been used to find the relationship between characteristics and serum potassium levels. Finally, we used a scatter plot and mean square error (MSE) to display the results.

Results: ECG of 428 patients was analyzed. Random Forest Regression algorithm has the best estimate with an MSE of 0.3.

Conclusion: Accurate estimation of serum potassium level based on ECG signals is possible. This can potentially be a useful tool in predicting serum potassium level in specific patients.

Keywords: Serum potassium level, Machine learning, Regression model, Non-Invasive Estimation

Introduction

As one of the main electrolytes, potassium plays an important role in cellular membrane potential variations, especially in the heart (1). Normal cardiac function depends on regular sequential cardiac myocyte depolarization and repolarization. Any disruption in this circle may lead to cardiac conduction disorders and severe arrhythmia. The manifestation of these changes in the ECG signal is usually related to potassium concentration measured as potassium blood level (2). Children with cardiac and kidney diseases are more susceptible to the effects of potassium changes (3). Factors such as acute systemic illness, injection of potassium for electrolyte balance, and drugs and medicine intake can cause acute changes in potassium blood levels.

It should be noted that 98% of K+ is intracellular (140 mEq/l), and 2% is extracellular (3.8 to 5.0 mEq/l) (4). Hypokalemia is the most common electrolyte imbalance in cardiac patients, delaying ventricular repolarization and downgrading conduction velocity, especially at the atrioventricular node. This can lead to various arrhythmias, such as sinus bradycardia and atrioventricular block (5, 6). Also, hypokalemia can increase atrial and ventricular ectopic pulses and enhance digoxin’s toxic effect (7).

Until today, K+ levels have been measured in blood serum or plasma (for example: (8-12)). Blood sampling in children is a harmful process especially when frequent sampling is required. In some ICU conditions this much blood sampling results in anemia or unwanted cyanosis or apnea in children with congenital heart diseases. Furthermore, this method is invasive, expensive, and requires blood samples and some time to get the test results. On the other hand, Serum K+ measurements require clotting before analysis. Therefore, an abnormal potassium level may be reported due to hemolysis which occurs if long waiting periods before the analysis takes place. This can yield miss corrected blood samples (13-15).

In the face of these challenges, we recently designed a method for serum potassium concentration quantification ([K+]) from ECG analysis. In the past, many studies have been done on the heart signal with the help of machine learning algorithms (for example: (16-21)). In this study, our [K+] estimator was validated and tested on a large group of patients. Potassium value extraction using a single lead would permit its use in wearable, wireless ECG patches and possibly in implantable loop recorders and cardiac implantable electronic devices (pacemakers and defibrillators)

Methods

The studied community

In Total 428 hospitalized patients in the Rajai Cardiology and Medical Research Center and Tehran Heart Center emergency department were recruited from December 2021 to June 2022. The electrocardiographic (ECG) features of patients were evaluated. The patient’s serum K level, ECG, and serum sample were taken within 2 hours of admission. Patients having a history of heart failure, end stage renal disease, bundle branch block, strain pattern in ECG, premature ventricular contraction, and digoxin use were excluded from the study. A specialist nurse took ECGs which were stored in files based on age and gender. Patients whose ECGs had noise or artifacts for any reason were excluded from the study too. Information about the eligible patients, including their basic demographic information, has been collected through interviews and questionnaires.

Feature Extraction

We recorded each patient’s heart signal over 2.8 seconds using a Saadat ECG machine (12 channels). To analyze the heart signals, the data was transferred from the device’s memory to an external memory. We then developed a program in Python language on the Windows platform that can extract the amplitude and time values of P, Q, R, S, and T (the sequence of steps is shown in Figure 1). In total, 16 features were calculated using these points.

RtoT  variable was defined as: The difference between the amplitude of the T wave and R wave

Dimensional reduction 

The cross-correlation matrix was used for dimensionality reduction. For every two signal features with a correlation greater than 0.7, one was removed .

Preprocessing

We used z-score standardization according to the following formula:

is a data point (x1, x2 … xn)

is the sample mean

S is the sample standard deviation

2-5 Regression

A Regression model is one of the most common types of supervised learning in Machine Learning. When evaluating the linear relationship between the ECG characteristics and potassium serum level, we used the Pearson Correlation Coefficient and evaluated the non-linear relationship using Decision Trees and Random Forest algorithms. Python version 3 was used for cardiac signal processing.

SVR, Decision Tree, Random Forest, Linear Regression, and Polynomial Regression algorithms were used to test the linear and non-linear relationship between characteristics and potassium serum level. Based on the results, the Random Forest algorithm has the best performance in this research.

Random Forest:

It is a group learning method that involves combining several trees. Each tree is trained, and several random features are sampled at each tree node. The average of the regression results from all the decision trees is assigned to the final decision.

Model Validation:

In this study, we used 20% of the population as a test sample. The estimated potassium level was calculated from the obtained ECG data using the corresponding patient-specific potassium prediction model developed during the training phase. To assess the accuracy, we calculated the mean absolute error, which is the mean absolute value of the difference between the estimated and measured potassium for each patient.

Results

Among the 463 patients who were admitted to the hospitals in 1 years, 35 patients were excluded from the study due to high noise and distortion of the heart signal. In our community, 56% were boys and 44% were girls. The potassium chart of these patients is shown in Figure 2. The results of the cross-correlation matrix of data .

Based on the information in Figure 3, we remove one of the two parameters that correlate more than 0.7. PR, Ps, PT, Twidth, QS, QR, QT, RS, RT, ST, and RtoT are variables that we use to teach regression methods. Table 1 shows the efficiency of each regression algorithm based on the MSE. As indicated in the table, the polynomial method has the lowest accuracy, and the random forest method has the highest measurement accuracy.

Considering that most of our studied patients have a potassium level between 4 and 4.5, we use the scatter diagram to get better feedback than regression methods. Figure 4, shows the scatter diagram for different approaches.

Another important goal of this study is to calculate the importance of each feature in determining the level of potassium. In Figure 5, the importance of each feature by the random forest algorithm is shown in percentage terms. Figure 6 shows how the decision tree algorithm yields decisions.

    How to allocate blood serum potassium level based on the input characteristics in the decision tree algorithm

Discussion

Acute electrolyte disturbance especially hyperkalemia in pediatrics is life-threatening and requires prompt attention. As well as the correct determination of K level, the on-time result is also critical because many children with acute ill conditions need immediate medical attention. Blood sampling is a well-known reliable method for the evaluation of this electrolyte. Yet, evaluation of K level has always been desirable and attempts have been made for K level determination with high accuracy and sensitivity.

The effect of potassium on the ECG cardiac signal has been known for many years (22-24). So far, several studies, generally based on T-wave morphology, have been conducted to determine serum potassium levels (25-29). ECG markers, which are defined as a specific time interval or range of neural signals, are prone to noise (30). To solve this problem, many studies have investigated T wave morphology over a long period of time (31-33). Major challenges with these studies have been the definition of morphologies based on complex mathematical rules, the long time to calculate optimal parameters (several hours), and the low statistical population.

Another group of studies has investigated blood potassium based on ECG and using deep learning algorithms. In this class of studies, only hyperkalemia is detected at high potassium levels.

The purpose of this study is to design and validate an online and non-invasive potassium level extraction technique based on machine learning algorithm. We allocated 2.8 seconds to determine the serum level of potassium. This time interval ensures that several cardiac cycles are considered. Another strength of this study is the application of two stages of filtering to remove the effect of unwanted distortion on heart signal parameters. Therefore, if a part of the signal is distorted, the result of evaluating the potassium level is still reliable. Another advantage of this method is that only one lead is considered. This helps to commercialize the mentioned method and assess the potassium level remotely. Considering the high number of subjects in the studied population, it can be assumed that all T-wave morphologies were covered. We are developing our algorithm in such a way that we can analyze different types of ECG signals.

So far, attempts have been made to measure blood potassium levels using cardiac signals. Shakil Aslam and her colleagues conducted a study on 74 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in 2002 (22). In their study, they tried to provide a linear relationship between T-wave amplitude or T-wave to R-wave ratio and the serum level of potassium in a patient's blood. In the same way that Szerlip et al. (34), could not provide a relationship between the T wave to R wave ratio and the level of serum potassium in the blood of individuals.

In 2018, with the introduction of two parameters, T-right slope, and T-amp, a group of researchers tried to discover the potassium serum level with ECG (35). By examining two parameters (T-amp and T-right slope) on five lead waveforms (V3, V4, V5, V6, and II), they found that T-wave-based features were not correlated with serum potassium level.

Omar Z. Yasin, MD, and her colleagues investigated the potassium serum level and heart signal of 21 dialysis patients (36). The average absolute error between estimated and blood potassium was 0.38- 0.32 mEq/L. The sample size of our study and the wide range of serum potassium levels are the strengths of our work compared to theirs.

John J. Dillon and his colleagues tried to quantify the amount of potassium using the cardiac signal and the serum level of potassium in the blood of 12 patients (29). They used the following variables for the regression operator in their work: The slope of the T wave down stroke (T right slope), the amplitude of the T wave (T amplitude), the center of gravity (COG) of the T wave (T COG), the ratio of the amplitude of the T wave to the amplitude of the R wave (T/R amplitude), and the center of gravity of the last 25% of the area under the T wave curve (T4 COG). However, they have recommended the use of the cardiac signal as a non-invasive method. Yet, due to the small sample size of their study, more research is required. In our study, we tried to overcome the weaknesses of previous studies by considering a large statistical population with a wide range of serum potassium levels, more features of the cardiac signal, and applying machine learning methods.

The high statistical community of this study has made it possible to examine all the clinical factors of the cardiac signal. Based on the results presented in Figures 5 and 6, the PT parameter is considered as the most important influencing factor in predicting the amount of potassium. This means that the combination of PQ, QRS, and ST intervals is influential. However, the second most important parameter in determining serum potassium levels is the difference in R and T wave amplitudes. This finding is similar to studies that have considered the slope of the T wave as an important parameter in the determination of serum potassium.

As shown in Figure 4, the linear and polynomial methods that were used in most studies do not have adequate predictive power. Although the Polynomial method has high accuracy in the training phase, it has the lowest accuracy in the test phase (Table 1). This is caused by the phenomenon of overfitting. The linear method also predicts all values in the range of 4 to 4.5 mmol. Although the decision tree method works well for wide potassium levels, it is not suitable for low potassium (under 4 mmol). Prediction of potassium level through the SVR method only works somewhat well in medium values. But the random forest method has solved the problem of the decision tree algorithm to a great extent, and has improved the detection of potassium in low amounts. Finally, it can be said that in this study, the random forest algorithm is more efficient than other algorithms.

Besides to potassium, other factors such as other electrolytes and the location of the leads affect the cardiac signal. Despite the presence of all the sources influencing the cardiac signal, we managed to calculate the serum potassium level with an average error of 0.3 in this study. Perhaps, in future studies, the effect of other electrolytes on ECG can be processed and by considering their effects on the cardiac signal, an increase in the accuracy of predicting blood potassium can be attained.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we defined a comprehensive noninvasive method for evaluating of k level in pediatrics based on ECG signal. This study may start a noninvasive portable method for the determination of K level by monitoring ECG signal results and fast measurement of k level changes in response to systemic conditions in acute ill adult and child groups.

[thermoeliteinc]

Thermography Services in Ottawa by Thermo Elite

When it comes to maintaining your property in Ottawa, precision and expertise are essential. At Thermo Elite, we specialize in advanced thermography services to detect hidden issues in residential, commercial, and industrial properties.

What is Thermography?

Thermography uses infrared imaging technology to identify temperature variations in your property. This non-invasive method helps detect:

Electrical faults

Moisture intrusion and water leaks

Insulation gaps and energy inefficiencies

Roof and structural issues

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Benefits of Thermography Services

Non-Invasive DetectionIdentify issues without causing damage to your property.

Cost SavingsEarly detection prevents costly repairs and energy loss.

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Applications of Thermography

Residential properties for leak and insulation checks

Commercial buildings for energy audits and HVAC inspections

Industrial facilities for machinery maintenance and pipeline monitoring

Contact Thermo Elite in Ottawa

Protect your property and save money with expert thermography services in Ottawa. At Thermo Elite, we are committed to delivering exceptional service and peace of mind.Website: https://thermoelite.com

[facts1590]

Ultrasound Imaging: Benefit & Use | Book Ultrasound or Sonography

Learn the benefits and uses of ultrasound imaging in modern medicine. Discover how this non-invasive technology aids diagnostics. Book your ultrasound or sonography.

[ipso-faculty]

Perisex allies: stop this shit

CW: intersexism

Came across this infographic during some google image searching and I'm still kind of a state of despair about it because it's not just offensively wrong about what intersex is, it was used to teach university students about queer issues:

Alt text: LGBTQIA+ are defined one by one. Intersex is defined erroneously as "These are people who were born with genital organs of both sexes (male and female). It is a genetic condition."

It's one thing for your rando perisex person to be getting this wrong on social media. It's another thing entirely when it's professionals getting this wrong in an educational setting. 😩 And that this infographic appears in a peer-reviewed publication. 😩

It's even worse to know the students that were taught with this infographic were medical students, who will be the ones traumatizing intersex people for decades to come 😩

It's so wrong in so many different ways:

Intersex is not limited to people with genital differences. Most intersex people have intersex variations that are not apparent at birth, with puberty being the most common time of life for variations to present. Many people find out in adulthood having no outward physical differences.

Of the intersex people with genital differences, they do not have two sets of genitals. Most genital differences are still recognizably female or male (e.g. spadias), and those who have ambiguous genitals have one set.

Intersex is not "male parts + female parts" or even "intermediate male/female parts", it is an umbrella term for anybody whose primary/secondary sex characteristics don't line up with what is expected for male and female bodies. Some intersex variations make women look more feminine, or make men look more masculine.

Defining intersex by genital differences doesn't just exclude most intersex people, it also sets the tone that we are defined by our genitals. To be publicly intersex is to have non-stop DMs about your genitals. This sort of framing sets up openly intersex people for invasive questions and harassment, and it keeps large numbers of intersex people from coming out.

Many intersex variations do not have a known genetic basis. Many intersex variations are caused by exposure to certain hormonal levels in the womb. Certain medications when taken during pregnancy can trigger intersex variations.

While bodily variation is necessary for being intersex, the social experience of stigma, discrimination, isolation, hyper-medicalization, and hyper-sexualization are all just as much a part of being intersex.

📣 Perisex allies: this is shit you can stop. When you see other perisex people parrot this sort of misinformation, correct them. Direct them to look up resources written by actually intersex people.

Here are some starter resources to give:

Intersex explained by Hans Lindahl

Media and style guide by IHRA

FAQ by intersex-support

A recent post I did compiling information for trans people who want to be better intersex allies

[vaidyaslaboratory]

Advanced Breast Cancer Screening with Thermalytix in Thane

Revolutionizing Breast Cancer Screening in Thane: Introducing NIRAMAI's Thermalytix at Dr. Vaidya's Laboratory

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Enhanced Accuracy with AI: By harnessing the power of AI, Thermalytix interprets thermal images with exceptional precision, increasing the likelihood of early detection, a crucial factor in successful treatment outcomes. This makes it an ideal choice for "breast cancer screening in Thane."

Comfortable and Accessible: The screening process is quick, comfortable, and accessible, addressing the common discomfort associated with traditional mammograms. This ease of access is vital for encouraging regular check-ups, a key factor in early detection.

Global Acceptance and Validation: Thermalytix's widespread adoption and validation across continents underscore its reliability and effectiveness, making Dr. Vaidya's Laboratory a preferred nearby cancer screening centre in Thane.

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[neha24blog]

Non-invasive Coronary Imaging Market Segmented On The Basis Of Modality, End-Use, Region And Forecast 2030: Grand View Research Inc.

San Francisco, 9 March 2023: The Report Non-invasive Coronary Imaging Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Modality (Radionuclide Imaging, Echocardiography, CAT, CMR), By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 – 2030 The global non-invasive coronary imaging market size is expected to reach USD 0.24 billion by the end of 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research,…

[skeletonmob]

Transcript & Alt ID: Poster labeled 'Israeli Propaganda' that details various types of propaganda tactics, each with a color coordinated label.

Greenwashing - Israel appeals to environmentalism in order to deflect attention from or mask its harmful practices. EX: JNF tree-planting campaigns of invasive species.

Redwashing - Israel appeals to the image of progressive politics on order to deflect attention from its harmful practices. EX: Historic exclusion of non-Jewish workers from unions

Bluewahing - Israel uses humanitarian aid campaigns in order to deflect attention from its harmful practices. EX: 'Water infrastructure upgrades' that divert 6x more water to settlers than to Palestinians

Pinkwashing - Israel appeals to LGBTQ+ rights in order to deflect attention from its harmful practices. EX: blackmailing queer Palestinians into being informants under the threat of being outed to their communities. (transcriber's note: I don't feel this is a good example of pinkwashing, I think that mentioning that Israel has a habit of promoting itself as a safe haven for LGBT+ folks, and promoting Palestine solely as homophobic, in order to justify their actions is a more appropriate example)

Purplewashing - Israel appeals to women's rights and feminism in order to deflect attention from its harmful ideals. EX: Israeli Occupation Force drafts woman to military service by law to participate in the ethnic cleansing of Palestine.

Faithwashing - Israel appeals to interfaith dialogue in order to deflect attention from its harmful practices. EX: conflating Zionism and Judaism in order to accuse all criticism of Zionism as anti-semitic.

[space-blue]

You know what time it is: Arcane trailer dissection time!!

Just your old Arcane obsessed terminally online person reviewing the most interesting screens (biased) from the teaser that just dropped.

Mamma Medarda just looks DOPE as FUCK in this mask, nothing else to say. She seems to be speaking to Mel, which would indicate she survives, which I hope for. We're clearly dealing with a soft Noxus invasion given the prevalence of Ambessa's troops.

Very interesting to see these troops activating. You have to wonder if they're a failsafe to Silco dying, or if they are being activated by Silco loyalists.

Not doing our girl any favours with that one.

VERY interesting to see Singed getting arrested in a teaser, because that hints it'll happen early on. I figure then that Warwick's escape would probably happen early as well. We may be looking at Singed and Heimerdinger old pal reunions weee

Gotta wonder if he ACTUALLY gets captured though, because Warwick might be a great get out of arrest card.

SEVIKA!!! WITH!! jINX'S GUN!!! I first though for SURE she must have stolen it, or found it, but do you know what?? She has a custom made Jinx arm!!!!

It doesn't seem haphazard, even if it's ungainly. There's a non zero chance that these two are united by Silco's death, instead of split apart!

This strike is clearly showing Medarda's fist. Mommy will be VERY active in this early on.

The previous fist image with projectile launch happens right after those shots. I wonder if that contraption has anything to do with Medarda instead of Jinx or someone else, because poison (spilling from the mouth?) is also a very Noxian thing (thank you, Singed)

What's with Smeech getting SUCH a highlight? What a dope design. Also that shot is the same colours and location style as Sevika shooting with her Jinx augment, so I am wondering if Sevika won't be the one killing him.

Freedom fight Jinx style art? Wow. With blue haired minions behind her? Unexpected! I wonder what Ekko and his firelights think about this, and whether they'll take her in despite everything. This seems to be very Zaun vs. Piltover now.

Our only proof of Viktor in season 2. He's in the Zaun depth with caped figures, most likely shimmer addicts. I wonder if the explosion is him saving them and starting his machine cult, or him defending himself. Anyway, he survives, and I also wonder how many physical augments he needs to heal himself from the explosion, courtesy of the hex core?

Of course the only proof we need that Jayce is alive is that Cait has an Arcane sniper rifle. I don't see Viktor making her one after the explosion........

All in all, interesting stuff!!

[usmanpuraimaging]

Learn about CT Coronary Angiography at Usmanpura Imaging. Discover how it works, what it detects, why it's preferred, procedure details, and associated costs.

[spitdrunken]

Vox x Reader Relationship Headcanons

This post contains SPOILERS in the sense that it is based off of the version of Vox as presented in episode 2. None of the actual plot points featured within are discussed. notes: background vox x valentino / polyamory (reader only dates vox), extremely unhealthy relationships, stalking, manipulation, hypnosis, power imbalance. kidnapping + physical abuse mention (neither done by vox)

To catch the eye of a demon as powerful as Vox is not an ideal situation. While he could be considered more levelheaded than your average demon, and certainly is when compared to his associates, he still has things that rile him up like no other. No, he doesn’t have a whole string of sexual partners to use and abuse like Valentino does, but that makes the weight of his gaze all the more crushing when it does fall upon someone.

Once you’ve got his interest, it’s practically impossible to slip away from him. He’s got vantage points all across the Pride Ring, being able to slip in and out of its many scattered screens with ease. While the usual tracking Vox Media subjects its customers to is already an invasion of privacy, yours would be on a whole other level.

With how inescapable his company is amongst Sinner demons, it’s more than likely you’ve at least got some kind of device he’d be able to peer into. As soon as your phone is being plugged into a port, he’d be skimming through your messages and search history. Though your face-to-face meetings might have been minimal or non-existent at this point, he would already know far more about you than most of your friends. …You should really clear out your search history more often. But, hey, he’s not unhappy about it! There’s no traces of his presence as soon as he’s done.

Vox cares a great deal about his reputation and image. Not only because he’s the very face of a high-earning brand, but it is also simply the kind of person he is. Whereas someone like Valentino might have gone right ahead and shot any possible partner in the head, Vox is much more careful than that. What would people think, if he simply went around and started electrocuting a bunch of unknowns to death? No, that’s just not his way of doing things whatsoever.

Even besides that, there’s also much more satisfaction in it, to him, to convince you to leave them and join him, of your own accord. Vox has always been the brain behind all operations, the meticulous and thoughtful one, the one who got investors on board and appeared in interviews. In other words, he’s become quite good with words, and can easily come off as charming whenever he so wishes. That is exactly the way he will present himself to you, at least at first: a demon unlike other demons, practically a gentleman.

You wouldn’t have known him from his early days, the time where he still made mistakes, and nobody knew his name. When he invites you over for dinner (through an email that you’re convinced is fake spam, the first couple of times you receive it), he wants to appear nothing but infallible and powerful to you. You, who is only familiar with him through screens, as a flawless news presenter, gameshow host, and much more. A smile would never leave his screen, and he is constantly courteous.

He’s got a couple of expensive gifts at the ready as well, ones that hail from his own company. Perhaps it’s the newest iteration in his own line of phones, or a brand-new kind of security system. He’ll wave off any kind of dismissal of his gift, telling to just take it, you don’t even know how many of those he has lying around! Trust him. (In fact, they are modified to grant him even more easy access into your life. A constant stream of information directed at him, with Vox never even having to enter your device anymore.)

In a place like the Pride Ring in Hell, existence is demeaning at best, and utterly miserable at worst, for the average demon. Vox is more than aware of this and, at first, doesn’t even try his absolute best to sweep you off your feet. The power and the safety net someone such as himself would provide would be more than enough for most people. For the average demon, time spent by his side would be a vast improvement, and no one can deny that.

And, in this case, he is most likely interested in someone with far less power than him: you. Whether actively aware of it or not, and if he was, he’d never admit it, a part of Vox desires to be with someone from whom affection comes more easily. And that is… Not Valentino. Not that he’d ever separate from him, mind you, you’d simply be the antithesis to him. If you aren’t, he’ll make you something closer to that.

One of the largest drawbacks that immediately becomes noticeable, is the political target spending time around Vox makes you. Whether he purposefully makes the two of you appear in Hell’s largest tabloid, or only goes someplace where the two of you are sure to be spotted, you’ll surely become a demon worthy of kidnapping after this. It is exactly this, and the fear that comes along with it, that Vox would weaponize against you.

Wouldn’t it be much better, and safer, to stay in one of the company’s buildings? You’re bound to get kidnapped anywhere else, you know. He’s just looking out for you! Really though, he’d never let something like that happened to you. Not only because such an occurence would cause his reputation to take a great hit, but also because he cares! The praises he heaps on top of you are never outright lies, though some are perhaps exaggerated. He wouldn’t spend so much time on a demon he wasn’t genuinely interested in.

Vox, to the vast majority of people, would come on too strong, and too fast. The kind of attention that comes from someone who hasn’t been denied anything in a long time. At the same time, underneath his collected demeanor, seen in his stalking and meticulous collection of information, there is something that could be seen as a glimmer of desperation.

One might stop and think that, if he truly were as capable and faultless as he makes himself out to be, why would he go through all of this trouble? Wouldn’t simply being himself, or something rather close to it, be enough? This is truly where the heart of the issue, his deeply-hidden insecurity, shines through. Besides just the way the thought of being rejected by you upsets him, as well as he tries to hide it, he can’t simply back out, now that he’s spent so much time around you. He’d never live it down.

If, for some reason, ‘diplomacy’ and his usual wooing doesn’t work… He’s an Overlord for a reason. He still has plenty of tricks left up his sleeve. He can manipulate any digital image he wants, including video, without ever touching editing software. Vox can show you the people closest to you saying outright brutal things about you, with their exact mannerisms and voice. All data gathered through the various devices of his he owns, then capable of creating replicas. In a limited way, he can bend reality to his will.

If even that doesn’t work, he has his powers of hypnosis as a last resort. In this case, he doesn’t like having to use them, would have preferred the satisfaction over getting you to fawn over him all on your own… But it’s just so much easier to plant a little trigger inside your brain. For him to snap his fingers, and have you become more agreeable. Your thoughts growing that tiniest bit hazier, your head the slightest bit heavier.

All you have to do is look into his eyes, and take a deep breath… That’s better, isn’t it? What were you even getting so upset about before, huh? (And again, hypnosis is a last resort here. He’s spent so many years dealing with Valentino’s temper tantrums that he’s an expert at diffusing any kind of argument, and nothing surprises anymore.)

Vox wouldn’t be likely to physically hurt you at all. He sees himself as being capable of more self-control than that, even when in the throes of jealousy. Really, the one you should be most afraid of during this entire ordeal is Valentino. While their relationship is by no means monogamous, and it never will be, he’s still used to being the center of attention. He uses violence and unpredictability to have Vox, largely, at his every beck and call. While Vox isn’t used to having denied things, Valentino’s is many times worse about it.

Initially, he ignores you. Designating you as some kind of fling, not even worthy of being one of his whores, soon ready to be forgotten. Vox doesn’t do those kinds of things all that often but, hey, anything’s bound to happen with an eternity of time to kill, right? It’s only when you become a more permanent fixture in their life that he really becomes more of a threat.

He’ll let his temper cut loose, specifically during times where the two of you are spending time together, causing mayhem around the company. If Vox’s attention is entirely unwanted, this may even be a welcome reprieve for you. Still, Valentino being jealous of you should be about the last thing you want. Frankly, it makes you liable to get shot on a bad day, or because of a poorly worded comment.

…Perhaps it would be better to stay close to Vox, then.

[astolfofo]

…I had a thought about the halovians(specifically sunday) and want to know peoples opinions. do u think he has nesting instincts? :3 thank u for listening to my ted talk.

hi (i did say i was gonna answer this 2 weeks ago unfortunately I forgot i'm so sorry.) But anyways, thank you for your ask, and 100% he does.

tw: non-con, forced pregnancy, dark content. truly the unedited sleep deprived trying to write.

Okay i finished writing this i know you didn't ask for acutal writing but i went ahead and did it anyways because why not hope u don't mind

also excuse the fact that thus was posted at 4am and I was half falling asleep already while writing this.

There were three days in your life that you could have called the worst.

The first one was the day when Sunday took your life away from you, and claimed you to be his "wife". The second was when first time he chose to be intimate. The third was when you got pregnant as a result.

Nothing had ever stuck to you like the day after that. You felt like washing the sheets until your hands would bleed. You wanted to submerge yourself in bleach until every fiber of your body burned, shriveled up, and died.

You wanted to forget that it happened. That the events in the previous night ever happened at all.

But the soreness between your legs was a constant reminder. And even though the pain went away after a few days, it was replaced by something much worse. Something you feared.

You saw the signs from the second you got them. Your body felt heavy. You were constantly tired. You had lost interest in eating. It was obvious what was going on.

And for a few days, you tried to hide it. The longer Sunday didn't know, the better it was for you. That way, you could slowly while away your last few moments in peace before everything was taken from you in entirety.

After a few weeks, you couldn't hide it anymore. You remember staring at the double line on the pregnancy test.

You almost instantly broke down into tears. It wasn't anything that you hadn't already know n, but maybe part of you still just believed you were ill, that maybe there was another reason why you had missed your period that month. That the pain you kept experiencing was just from some kind of illness.

The last thing you could keep away from Sunday was taken away from you that day. The sense of freedom you could've had.

To Sunday, you suppose this was the final step he needed to take to bind you to him. Another way to control you. Another way to keep you in his arms, and make sure you wouldn't let go.

And if you didn't want to get murdered by the press, if you didn't want to further sabotage both your own and Sunday's public image, you knew to take it.

You had no choice but to take it. You were no more than an insect trapped under his thumb.

-

out of the two of you, there was only one person that was particularly enthusiastic about having a child.

It certainly wasn't you.

Ever since you had first found out about the pregnancy, you had felt empty. As if someone directly sucked the soul out of your body.

You weren't yourself anymore. You hadn't been for a long time.

Sunday didn't seem too bothered by it though.

You weren't sure if it was just his own parental instincts, or whether he could tell that it was almost time for you go into labour. Maybe it was a combination of both. You didn't care. You couldn't care less.

All you knew was that his presence was suffocating. Overbearing. Invasive, even.

You couldn't do anything by yourself. Sunday felt the need to assist you with everything you did. Even basic tasks such as grabbing an object, he insisted that he would get for you.

But what set you off the most, was his intense urge to keep the house in order. You had never seen him having such intense urges to organize a room even when just the slightest thing was out of order. He couldn't stand seeing the slightest speck of dust, he couldn't stand seeing the furniture just an inch out of place.

It drove you to madness.

If you had even slightly misplaced something Sunday you would notice Sunday getting slightly agitated.

From the moment he came home, to the moment he would fall asleep, he spent every waking second making sure the house was perfectly in order, before obsessing over you. At some point you just wanted to wave him off. Lock yourself in the bathroom and sleep for a long period of time, until you had no concept of reality anymore.

You didn't have it in you to keep going. week after week, month after month, Sunday's final goal had always to perfect you into an obedient wife that would do as they were told. And no matter how you tried to fight it... you were always forced back into obedience.

There's two cold fingers touching your chin, and lifting your face up, until you're forced to meet a pair of eyes.

They're bright. Everytime you see them, you can't help but try to look away. They were as bright as the sun, and just like the sun, you felt as if you were going to be blinded jfyou looked at them for too long. You guess it could've also been a sentiment to the power he held over you too.

"Dear, did you hear a word I just said?"

It's an obvious answer. But, you know better by now just to answer the question. You slightly shake your head, which supposedly satisfied him enough, to let go of the fi gers holding your head up.

He sighs, you're not sure in annoyance or in disappointment.

"If you keep acting like this, I'm going to need to resort to drastic measures..."

You look at him one more time. You remember how when you first saw him, you thought of him to be beautiful. To be almost ethereal.

You regret falling into that hypnosis. You regret looking at him at all.

Look at where it got you.

[thermoeliteinc]

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