Susan F. Saleeb¹, Sarah R. McLaughlin², Dionne A. Graham², Kevin G. Friedman¹, David R. Fulton¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 46-51, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12539

Abstract Objective: Using a Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plan (SCAMP) for pediatric patients presenting to clinic with chest pain, we evaluated the cost impact associated with implementation of the care algorithm. Prior to introduction of the SCAMP, we analyzed charges for 406 patients with chest pain, seen in 2009, and predicted 21% reduction of overall charges had the SCAMP methodology been used. The SCAMP recommended an echocardiogram for history, examination, or ECG findings suggestive of a cardiac etiology for chest pain.
Design: Resource utilization was reviewed for 1517 patients (7-21 years) enrolled in the SCAMP from July… More >

Qingyu Wang¹, Dalin Tang^1,2,*, Gador Canton³, Zheyang Wu², Thomas S. Hatsukami⁴, Kristen L. Billiar⁵, Chun Yuan⁶

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 189-201, 2018, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2018.04572

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases are closely linked to atherosclerotic plaque development and rupture. Assessment of plaque vulnerability is of fundamental significance to cardiovascular research and disease diagnosis, prevention, treatment and management. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) data of carotid atherosclerotic plaques from 8 patients (5 male, 3 female; age: 62-83, mean=71) were acquired at the University of Washington (UW), Seattle by the Vascular Imaging Laboratory (VIL) with written informed consent obtained. Patient-specific vessel material properties were quantified using Cine MRI data for modeling use. 3D thin-layer models were used to obtain plaque stress and strain for plaque assessment.… More >

Manyu Jin¹, Tao Wang¹, Zexuan Ji^1,*, Xiaobo Shen²

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.56, No.3, pp. 501-515, 2018, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2018.02371

Abstract Perceptual image quality assessment (IQA) is one of the most indispensable yet challenging problems in image processing and computer vision. It is quite necessary to develop automatic and efficient approaches that can accurately predict perceptual image quality consistently with human subjective evaluation. To further improve the prediction accuracy for the distortion of color images, in this paper, we propose a novel effective and efficient IQA model, called perceptual gradient similarity deviation (PGSD). Based on the gradient magnitude similarity, we proposed a gradient direction selection method to automatically determine the pixel-wise perceptual gradient. The luminance and More >

Zhaoyue Zhang^{1, *}, Jing Zhang², Peng Wang¹, Lei Chen³

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.57, No.1, pp. 151-166, 2018, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2018.02890

Abstract In order to explore the safe operation of UAVs in non-segregated airspace, a collision risk model for cylindrical UAVs based on conflict areas was constructed and the risk of conflict between manned and unmanned aerial vehicles was researched. According to the results of risk analysis, a strategy for solving the conflict of aircraft is proposed, and the risk assessment experiment of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in non-isolated airspace conflict is carried out. The results show that under the experimental conditions, large unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with ADS-B, TCAS and other airborne sensing systems will indeed More >

Rahul H. Rathod^1,2, Brittney Jurgen^1,2, Rose A. Hamershock³, Kevin G. Friedman^1,2, Audrey C. Marshall^1,2, Mihail Samnaliev⁴, Dionne A. Graham³, Kathy Jenkins^1,2, James E. Lock^1,2, Andrew J. Powell^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.6, pp. 768-776, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12508

Abstract Background: Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plans (SCAMPs) are a quality improvement initiative designed to reduce unnecessary utilization, decrease practice variation, and improve patient outcomes. We created a novel methodology, the SCAMP managed episode of care (SMEOC), which encompasses multiple encounters to assess the impact of the arterial switch operation (ASO) SCAMP on total costs.
Methods: All ASO SCAMP patients (dates March 2009 to July 2015) were compared to a control group of ASO patients (January 2001 to February 2009). Patients were divided into “younger” (<2 years) and “older” (2–18 years) subgroups. Utilization included all cardiology visits,… More >

Athar M. Qureshi^1,2,3, Hitesh Agrawal^2,3

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 615-618, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12500

Abstract Most diagnostic testing in patients with anomalous aortic origins of coronary arteries, myocardial bridges, and coronary artery changes after Kawasaki disease are performed with the use of noninvasive techniques. In some cases, however, further diagnostic information is needed to guide the clinician in treating these patients. In such instances, cardiac catheterization with invasive anatomic and functional testing is an invaluable tool. Moreover, interventional treatment in the cardiac catheterization laboratory may be performed in a small subset of these patients. As the diagnosis of these conditions is now becoming more common, it is important for pediatric More >

Carolyn A. Altman^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 636-640, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12496

Abstract Echocardiography is an excellent noninvasive imaging modality for evaluation and follow-up of cardiac lesions, especially coronary artery changes occurring as a result of Kawasaki disease. The information obtained has prognostic implications and can be complemented with other modes of imaging for risk stratification and optimization of both medical and interventional therapy. The aim of this article is to describe the time line of echocardiographic follow-up of patients affected with Kawasaki disease. The classification of coronary artery changes and transthoracic echocardiographic views recommended for detailed evaluation of the coronary arteries are delineated in detail in this More >

M. Čekon^*, K. Struhala, R. Slávik

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, Suppl.1, pp. 84-93, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634135

Abstract Cardboard-based packaging components represent a material that has significant potential as a renewable source for exploitation in buildings. This study presents the results of thermal and environmental analyses of existing packaging materials compared with standard conventional thermal insulations.
Experimental measurements were performed to identify the thermal performance of studied cardboard packaging materials. Real-size samples were experimentally tested in laboratory measurements. The thermal resistance and conductivity of all the analyzed samples were measured according to the procedure indicated in the ISO8032 standard. A life-cycle assessment according to ISO 14040 was also performed to evaluate the environmental More >

Subashini I^{1, a}, Smitha Gopinath^{2, *}, Aahrthy R^{3, b}

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.53, No.4, pp. 291-306, 2017, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2017.053.291

Abstract Present paper proposes a methodology by combining finite element method with smoothed particle hydrodynamics to simulate the response of textile reinforced concrete (TRC) slabs under low velocity impact loading. For the constitutive modelling in the finite element method, the concrete damaged plasticity model was employed to the cementitious binder of TRC and Von-Mises criterion was used for the textile reinforcement. Strain dependent smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) was used to assess the damage and failure pattern of TRC slabs. Numerical simulation was carried out on TRC slabs with two different volume fraction of glass textile reinforcement More >

Henning Roedel¹, Isamar Rosa Plata¹, Michael Lepech^1,*, David Loftus²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.3, pp. 183-194, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634107

Abstract This article presents the sustainability assessment of a novel biocomposite material that is under investigation by NASA for use in construction in limited resource environments. The composite consists of soil particles solidified by a protein binding agent. Preliminary compressive strength data suggests the biocomposite could be used for numerous construction applications. To assess the biocomposite’s potential for use in sustainable construction, a comparative process-based life cycle assessment between biocomposite and concrete pavers was performed to analyze the life cycle primary energy and IMPACT 2002+ points of both types of pavers. Results show that the concrete More >