Mario Sofer^1,2, Silvia Proietti³, Yuval Bar-Yosef², Snir Dekalo², Marco Rosso³, Ishay Mintz², Piera Bellinzoni³, Guido Giusti³

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.24, No.6, pp. 9114-9120, 2017

Abstract Introduction: To assess the outcome of same-session bilateral tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (BPCNL) in supine and prone positions and to compare them to unilateral tubeless PCNL (UPCNL).
Materials and methods: Consecutive PCNL patients treated at two institutions between 2006-2016 were analyzed. Tubeless BPCNL was performed when indicated.
Results: Fifty-eight patients underwent BPCNLs [30 supine (SBPCNL) and 28 prone (PBPCNL)], while 1395 patients underwent UPCNLs. Demographics and baseline data were similar for all groups (p > 0.05). SBPCNL had a longer operating time (124 ± 38 minutes versus 105 ± 36 minutes; p = 0.49) and a significantly longer hospital… 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 >

Mike Lawrence

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.3, pp. 163-174, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634105

Abstract The relative importance of embodied energy and operational energy on the environmental impact of construction are examined in this article. It highlights the fact that the targets set by the Kyoto Protocol are primarily being met by the reduction of in-use energy, and that the implications of that are that the energy embodied in buildings will increase in signifi cance from its current 17% level to 50% by 2050. The article describes how the use of bio-based renewable materials can make a signifi cant contribution to reducing not only the embodied energy of buildings by More >

Riitta Molarius¹, Pekka Tuomaala¹, Kalevi Piira¹, Minna Räikkönen¹, Christoph Aubrecht², Maria Polese³, Giulio Zuccaro^3,4, KaroliinaPilli-Sihvola⁵, Kalev Ranna

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.109-110, No.2, pp. 131-158, 2015, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2015.109.131

Abstract In northern regions, society can be seriously interrupted by a prolonged electricity network blackout due to a winter storm that cuts off power, communication and road networks. Due to hard winter weather it is essential to enhance the resilience of society to avoid danger to life. This can be achieved by developing new models to enhance preparedness for coming disaster events and to support rescue and other authorities to focus their resources on the most vulnerable targets in actual cases of emergencies. This paper presents a part of the results of activities performed within the… More >

Kazem Hejranfar¹, Mohammad-Hadi Azampour¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.106, No.6, pp. 395-439, 2015, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2015.106.395

Abstract In this study, cell-centered (CC) and cell-vertex (CV) finite volume (FV) approaches are applied and assessed for the simulation of two-dimensional structural dynamics on arbitrary quadrilateral grids. For the calculation of boundary nodes’ displacement in the CC FV approach, three methods are employed. The first method is a simple linear regression of displacement of boundary nodes from the displacement of interior cell centers. In the second method, an extrapolation technique is applied for this purpose and, in the third method; the line boundary cell technique is incorporated into the solution algorithm in an explicit manner.… More >