Giovanni Biglino^1,2, Claudio Capelli^2,3, Despina Koniordou³, Di Robertshaw², Lindsay-Kay Leaver², Silvia Schievano^2,3, Andrew M. Taylor^2,3, Jo Wray²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.1, pp. 113-118, 2017

Abstract Background: Nurse education and training are key to providing congenital heart disease (CHD) patients with consistent high standards of care as well as enabling career progression. One approach for improving educational experience is the use of 3D patient-specific models.
Objectives: To gather pilot data to assess the feasibility of using 3D models of CHD during a training course for cardiac nurses; to evaluate the potential of 3D models in this context, from the nurses’ perspective; and to identify possible improvements to optimise their use for teaching.
Design: A cross-sectional survey.
Setting: A national training week for cardiac nurses.
Participants: One… More >

Diego A. Lara¹, Mary K. Ethen², Mark A. Canfield², Wendy N. Nembhard³, Shaine A. Morris¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.1, pp. 105-112, 2017

Abstract Background: Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is strongly associated with Turner syndrome (TS); outcome data when these conditions coexist is sparse. We aimed to investigate long-term survival and causes of death in this population.
Methods: The Texas Birth Defects Registry was queried for all live born infants with HLHS during 1999–2007. We used Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses to compare survival among patients with HLHS with TS (HLHS/TS＋) to patients who had HLHS without genetic disorders or extracardiac birth defects (HLHS/TS–).
Results: Of the 542 patients with HLHS, 11 had TS (2.0%), 71 had other extracardiac birth defects or genetic… More >

Huajing Guo, Baijian Wu, Zhaoxia Li^*

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 37-50, 2020, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2020.08442

Abstract In order to resolve the safety problem of the existing crane runway girders (CRGs) with defects, the constraint-based R6 criterion is proposed to assess their structural integrity. The existing steel CRGs with defects at the weld joint between the upper flange and web plate, are characterized to three-dimensional finite element models with a semi-ellipse surface crack. The R6 criterion has been modified by considering the constraint effect which is represented by T-stress. The analysis results illustrate that working condition of the cracked CRGs leads to high constraint level along the crack front. The crack aspect ratio (a/c) and runway eccentricity… More >

Tarek A ATIA

BIOCELL, Vol.43, No.4, pp. 253-262, 2019, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2019.08180

Abstract Recurring miscarriage (RM) is a frustrating reproductive complication with variable etiology. Numerous genetic defects have been known to play a crucial role in the etiology of RM. Chromosomal abnormalities are frequently detected, while other genetic defects cannot be diagnosed through routine research, such as cryptic chromosomal anomalies, single nucleotide polymorphism, single-gene defect, and gene copy number variation. Diagnostic laboratories have recently used variable advanced techniques to detect potential genetic abnormalities in couples with RM and/or in products of conception. Here we aim to summarize the known genetic causes of RM, with a focus on the new diagnostic techniques. Knowledge of… More >

Yunfa Zhang¹, Xiaozhou Xia^{1, *}, Zhenjie Wu¹, Qing Zhang¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.62, No.1, pp. 413-442, 2020, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2020.04660

Abstract Considering the fact that the initial defects, like the imperfect interfacial transition zones (ITZ) and the micro voids in mortar matrix, weaken the mechanical properties of concrete, this study develops corresponding constitutive models for ITZ and matrix, and simulates the concrete failure with finite element methods. Specifically, an elastic-damage traction-separation model for ITZ is constructed, and an anisotropic plastic-damage model distinguishing the strength-difference under tension and compression for mortar matrix is proposed as well. In this anisotropic plastic-damage model, the weakening effect of micro voids is reflected by introducing initial isotropic damage, the distinct characteristic of tension and compression which… More >

S. Hadidi-Moud^1,2, H. Makari¹

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.6, No.2, pp. 113-122, 2010, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2010.006.113

Abstract A comprehensive numerical study has been carried out to investigate and to explore the impact of the presence of part through surface cracks of various size and orientation in a thick welded ferritic steel cylindrical vessel, on the beneficial effect of autofrettage loading. It is well known that autofrettage loading enhances the load carrying capacity of defect free pressure vessels. The results of this study suggest that in presence of cracks, the localised near crack tip residual stress fields interact with in service stresses and influence the enhancement in load carrying capacity of autofrettaged vessel. Furthermore it is concluded that… More >

Zihua Zhao¹, Yu Zhou, Zheng Zhang, Qunpeng Zhong

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.6, No.2, pp. 101-112, 2010, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2010.006.101

Abstract Annex H"Safety assessment method for straight pressure pipeline with local thinning area" of "Safety assessment for in-service pressure vessels containing defects"(GB/T 19426-2004) is briefly introduced. The maximum allowable hanging (unsupported) length of straight pressure pipeline with a local thinning area (LTA) is then determined by using this assessment method. This is the first time that the assessment method has been applied to the long-distance oil pipeline. As a typical case, we have analyzed a length of straight pressure pipeline with LTA and gave the relationship of maximum allowable unsupported length, operating pressure and the depth of LTA. More >

K. R. Gratz¹, B. L. Wong¹, W. C. Bae¹, R. L. Sah¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.3, No.4, pp. 199-200, 2006, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2006.003.199

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Xide Li

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 13-14, 2011, DOI:10.3970/icces.2011.020.013

Abstract The quantitatively assessment of defect characteristic parameters (DCP), such as coordinates, size, embedding depth and type of defects in structures or materials, is becoming increasingly important. One reason is for economy and safety, and the other for a defect in structures may lead to failure while it is growing to a critical size. Therefore, it is possible to estimate both remaining life of structures and extent of the degradation by knowing the dimensions of defects presenting in structures. In this paper, several research topics on quantitative detection of the DCP in our group are reviewed as follows:
1 )Nondestructive testing… More >

Longgang Tian^1,2,*, Xiao Wang^1,2, Qi Zhang^1,2

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.21, No.2, pp. 30-30, 2019, DOI:10.32604/icces.2019.04809

Abstract Various defects such as cracks and holes exist in coal-rock body and they have a large influence on the mechanical properties of coal-rock. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the fracture characteristics in order to understand the instability mechanism of coal body. In this study, a variety of defective coal-rock specimens with different cracks and holes were established by PFC software, and then the characteristics of stress-strain and crack evolution law of coal-rock were studied. Results show that the mechanical properties, crack propagating characteristics, propagation forms of initial crack and final crack distributions of coal-rock specimens with different… More >