Jing Wu¹, Li Kuang¹, Lijuan Fu²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 194-202, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12586

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.
Design: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINHAL, and CBMdisc to collect controlled trials on the application of inspiratory muscle training in CHF patients from the establishment of these databases to November 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the quality of literature. Meta-analysis was conducted by software RevMan5.3.
Results: Eight studies involving 302 patients were identified. Meta-analysis indicated that IMT significantly improved PI_max, V_E/VCO₂ slope and More >

Laura S. Kverneland^1,2, Peter Kramer², Stanislav Ovroutski²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 181-193, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12570

Abstract Almost fifty years after its first clinical application, the modified Fontan operation is among the most frequently performed procedures in congenital heart disease surgery in children today. The objective of this review is to systematically summarize the international evolution of outcomes in regard to morbidity and mortality of patients with Fontan palliation. All studies published over the past five decades with more than 100 Fontan patients included were screened. In eligible studies, information concerning preoperative patients’ characteristics, Fontan modifications employed, early mortality, long-term survival and frequency of relevant complications was extracted. Ultimately, thirty-one studies published… More >

Rohit S. Loomba^1,2, Andrew N. Pelech^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 92-97, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12510

Abstract Background: Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum is a unique congenital malformation of the heart in which patients may undergo single-, two- or 1½- ventricle repair. Size of the tricuspid valve annulus, morphology of the right ventricle and presence of ventriculocoronary connections can all impact the selection of appropriate palliative strategy. We developed the aortic perfusion score, a novel scoring system based on anterograde coronary perfusion with the aim of being able to identify patients at risk for death or transplant.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. Patients were included if an initial catheterization was done prior… More >

Moya ME^1,2, AA Galussi^1,2, N Sattler², MS Fontana², YG Gillij^1,2

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.87, pp. 231-235, 2018, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2018.87.231

Abstract The objective of this study was to analyze the anatomy of stems and roots of Mnesithea selloana. Free hand cross sections were made from fresh material of reproductive stems and adventitious roots; they were colored with safranin and mounted on glycerin jelly. Observations were made using an Olympus CH2 light microscope and photographed. In cross section, the stems were circular towards the distal end of the synflorescence and semicircular toward the proximal end, and have two ribs. A uniseriate, continuous epidermis presenting a smooth and thick cuticle and no hairs was observed. Parenchyma cells increased in… More >

Vázquez Núñez E¹, S Awate², MC Carrasco Monrroy³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.87, pp. 216-224, 2018, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2018.87.216

Abstract The effect of scarification methods and silver nanoparticles on plantlets growth were tested on seeds of plants belonging to the Fabaceae family (Prosopis laevigata, Acacia farnesiana and Erythrina americana), which are predominant species in semi-arid ecosystems in Mexico. The scarification methods consisted in using coarse sand paper and two different concentrations of sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄ 98% and H₂SO₄ 50%); immersion of seeds in distilled water was used as a control. The percentage of germination was calculated and the Kotowski´s coefficient was determined. After scarification, the seeds were immersed in silver nanoparticles solutions at different concentrations i.e., 100 mg/L, More >

Xin ZM^1,2, MH Liu², Q Lu^1,3, CA Busso⁵, YJ Zhu^1,3, Z Li², YR Huang², XL Li2, FM Luo², F Bao¹, JQ Qian^4*, YH Li^1,3*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.87, pp. 144-155, 2018, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2018.87.144

Abstract Leaf δ¹³C is widely used to explain plant strategies related to resource availability in different environments. However, the coupled response of leaf δ¹³C to precipitation and temperature as well as the relationship between leaf δ¹³C and leaf traits remain unclear. The leaf δ¹³C and its relationship with leaf traits [leaf size (LS), leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW), leaf length to width ratio (L:W), specific leaf area (SLA) and mass-based leaf nitrogen concentration (N_mass)] were investigated on the dominant shrub species Nitraria tangutorum Bobr. in the arid region (Dengkou and Minqin) of northwestern China under the simulated increasing precipitation… More >

Serhat Berat Efe^1,*

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.116, No.3, pp. 391-406, 2018, DOI:10.31614/cmes.2018.01784

Abstract Flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) components are used to utilize the electrical transmission lines at their optimum capacity. The best way to achieve this optimization is to manage the active and reactive power flows. A unified power flow controller (UPFC) is one of the most significant devices developed for the effective control of power flows. Although conventional UPFC structures can be used to achieve this process, the expansion of power systems has led to the necessity of developing various UPFC devices. This paper focuses on an advanced real time control approach of UPFC… More >

Deborah Fowler¹, Garrett Lopp², Dhiraj Bansal³, Ryan Schultz⁴, Matthew Brake⁵, Micah Shepherd⁶

Sound & Vibration, Vol.52, No.3, pp. 12-17, 2018, DOI:10.32604/sv.2018.03864

Abstract Acoustoelastic coupling occurs when a hollow structure’s in-vacuo mode aligns with an acoustic mode of the internal cavity. The impact of this coupling on the total dynamic response of the structure can be quite severe depending on the similarity of the modal frequencies and shapes. Typically, acoustoelastic coupling is not a design feature, but rather an unintended result that must be remedied as modal tests of structures are often used to correlate or validate finite element models of the uncoupled structure. Here, however, a test structure is intentionally designed such that multiple structural and acoustic… More >

Xi Liu, Xinjun Dong, Yang Wang^*, Jacob Dodson, Bryan Joyce

Sound & Vibration, Vol.52, No.3, pp. 6-11, 2018, DOI:10.32604/sv.2018.03857

Abstract This article reports the latest development of a wireless sensing system, named Martlet, on high-g shock acceleration measurement. The Martlet sensing node design is based on a Texas Instruments Piccolo microcontroller, with clock frequency programmable up to 90 MHz. The high clock frequency of the microcontroller enables Martlet to support high-frequency data acquisition and high-speed onboard computation. In addition, the extensible design of the Martlet node conveniently allows incorporation of multiple sensor boards. In this study, a high-g accelerometer interface board is developed to allow Martlet to work with the selected microelectromechanical system (MEMS) high-g accelerometers. Besides low-pass More >

Yesica Romina FRONTINI-LÓPEZ¹, Aldana Daniela GOJANOVICH¹, Diego MASONE^1,2, Diego Martín BUSTOS^1,3, Marina UHART¹

BIOCELL, Vol.42, No.3, pp. 67-78, 2018, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2018.07013

Abstract In the last years, much work has shown that the most effective repair system of the body is represented by stem cells, which are defined as undifferentiated precursors that own unlimited or prolonged self-renewal ability, which also have the potential to transform themselves into various cell types through differentiation.All tissues that form the body contain many different types of somatic cells, along with stem cells that are called ‘mesenchymal stem (or stromal) cells’ (MSC). In certain circumstances, some of these MSC migrate to injured tissues to replace dead cells or to undergo differentiation to repair… More >