Ylenia Bartolacelli^*, Giulia Bragantini

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 59-68, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011448 - 23 June 2020

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to assess left ventricle (LV) function and remodeling by three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) in patients who underwent arterial switch procedure (ASO) for transposition of great arteries (TGA) in long-term follow-up. Methods and Results: We studied 54 asymptomatic patients (39 male) who have undergone single-stage ASO for TGA, aged 13.7 ± 4.7 years, with a normal LV ejection fraction (EF), compared to healthy peers. We evaluated LV volume and function in asymptomatic patients with normal ejection fraction by 3DE. All patients had normal EF, measured by modified Simpson’s method (mean 60.9 ±… More >

Lingtong Li¹, Zaiguo Fu^{1, *}, Benxiang Li², Qunzhi Zhu¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.124, No.1, pp. 23-44, 2020, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2020.09299 - 19 June 2020

Abstract The earth to fluid pipe (ETFP) system has been widely applied to various energy engineering. The numerical model of the heat transfer process in the ETFP system with a shallow-buried horizontal or a deep-buried vertical U-shape pipe adopted in practical engineering was established and the model distinctions were pointed out. The comparison of the thermal performance between the two types of ETFP system under various schemes was conducted on the basis of numerical prediction. The results showed that the thermal parameters of the ETFP system with a shallow-buried horizontal pipe were influenced by the inlet… More >

Mengge Yu^{1, 2}, Zhenkuan Pan^{3, *}, Jiali Liu⁴, Haiqing Li¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.16, No.1, pp. 55-66, 2020, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2020.07774 - 01 February 2020

Abstract The operational safety characteristics of trains exposed to a strong wind have caused great concern in recent years. In the present paper, the effect of the strong gust wind on a high-speed train is investigated. A typical gust wind model for any wind angle, named “Chinese hat gust wind model”, was first constructed, and an algorithm for computing the aerodynamic loads was elaborated accordingly. A vehicle system dynamic model was then set up in order to investigate the vehicle system dynamic characteristics. The assessment of the operational safety has been conducted by means of characteristic… More >

Hui Zhi^1,2, Sanyang Liu¹

Intelligent Automation & Soft Computing, Vol.25, No.4, pp. 815-825, 2019, DOI:10.31209/2019.100000085

Abstract In this paper, we proposed a hybrid algorithm, which is embedding the genetic operators in the global-best-guided artificial bee colony algorithms called GABCGA to solve the nonlinear design optimization problems. The genetic algorithm has no memory function and good at find global optimization with large probability, but the artificial bee colony algorithm not have selection, crossover and mutation operator and most significant at local search. The hybrid algorithm balances the exploration and exploitation ability further by combining the advantages of both. The experimental results of five engineering optimization and comparisons with existing approaches show that More >

Liang Zhao^1,2,3, Wenshun Wang², Wei Zhang¹

Intelligent Automation & Soft Computing, Vol.25, No.4, pp. 705-713, 2019, DOI:10.31209/2019.100000074

Abstract The energy consumption in operation and maintenance stage of construction project accounts for 80% of the whole project life cycle and therefore research on influence factors of energy consumption in project operation and maintenance stage is of great practical significance. Based on data of 260 valid questionnaires in Jiangsu area, structural equation model is adopted in the Thesis for empirical research on influence factors in operation and maintenance stage. Based on theoretical analysis and factor analysis, the conceptual model and research hypothesis for influence factors of energy consumption in operation and maintenance stage are proposed… More >

Brooke T. Davey¹, Olga H. Toro‐Salazar¹, Naomi Gauthier^2,3, Anne Marie Valente², Robert W. Elder⁴, Fred M. Wu², Norman Berman³, Phyllis Pollack⁵, Ji Hyun Lee¹, Rahul H. Rathod²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1013-1023, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12854

Abstract Introduction: Surveillance and management guidelines for Fontan patients are lacking due to the paucity of evidence in the literature of screening efficacy on outcome measures.
Methods: The Fontan Working Group within the New England Congenital Cardiology Association designed an electronic survey to assess surveillance practices for pa‐ tients with Fontan procedures among New England congenital cardiologists and to explore variability in screening low‐risk vs high‐risk Fontan patients across regional programs.
Results: Fifty‐six cardiologists representing 12 regional programs responded to the survey, comprising ~40% of the total New England congenital cardiac physicians. The majority of desired testing and consultation… More >

Erin K. Davis¹, Salil Ginde¹, Jessica Stelter², Peter Frommelt¹, Garick D. Hill³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 720-725, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12814

Abstract Background/Hypothesis/Objectives: Postoperative complications after the Fontan operation for single ventricle heart disease are common and include persistent pleural drainage and prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS). Diastolic ventricular dysfunction may increase risk for postoperative complications by raising central venous pressures. We sought to determine the relationship between preoperative echocardiographic measurements of diastolic function, including myocardial deformation imaging, on (a) preoperative invasive catheterization measurements and (b) postoperative outcomes after the Fontan procedure.
Design/Methods: All patients that underwent Fontan procedure from 2011 to 2017 were included. Echocardiograms performed within 6 months prior to Fontan operation were evaluated. Measurements of… More >

Danielle Kirelik^1,2, Mark Fisher², Michael DiMaria², Danielle E. Soranno³, Katja M. Gist²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 760-764, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12776

Abstract Background: There are several limitations when using creatinine to estimate glomerular filtration rate, especially in children with chronic medical conditions who are at high risk of kidney dysfunction. Cystatin C has been the recent focus of research as a replacement biomarker for creatinine. Our objective was to compare the 2 biomarkers in pediatric single‐ventricle heart disease patients who have undergone the Fontan operation. We hypothesized that there would be poor correlation and agreement between the 2 estimates of renal function.
Methods: This was a single center retrospective chart review of 20 patients who had previously undergone Fontan… More >

Mehmet Salih Bilal¹, Arda Özyüksel^1,2, Mustafa Kemal Avşar¹, Şener Demiroluk³, Osman Küçükosmanoğlu⁴, Yalım Yalçın⁵

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 464-469, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12749

Abstract Objective: Management of the patients with transposition of the great arteries and intact ventricular septum may be challenging beyond the newborn period. Herein, we would like to present our alternative strategy for training the left ventricle in these patients.
Methods: Six patients with transposition of the great arteries and intact ventricular septum were evaluated in our clinic. Two of them were palliated with Glenn procedure and pulmonary banding as a definitive treatment strategy at other centers. Four patients were operated on and a bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis in combination with pulmonary artery banding was performed (stage‐1: palliation and… More >

Emily M. Engelhardt¹, Andrew T. Trout^2,3, Rachel M. Sheridan⁴, Gruschen R. Veldtman⁵, Jonathan R. Dillman^2,3

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 380-388, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12730

Abstract Purpose: Patients who have undergone Fontan palliation of single ventricle physiol‐ ogy congenital heart disease are prone to developing focal liver lesions. In our experi‐ ence, the variety of lesions occurring in this population is greater than that described in the literature. The purpose of this study was to describe the breadth of biopsy‐ proven liver lesions in patients post–Fontan palliation of single ventricle physiology cared for at our institution.
Methods: We retrospectively identified patients who had previously undergone the Fontan operation and had a focal liver lesion biopsied between January 2000 and June 2018. Medical records… More >