Mohammad Shorfuzzaman^{1, *}, Mehedi Masud¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.64, No.3, pp. 1359-1381, 2020, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2020.011326 - 30 June 2020

Abstract Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an extremely infectious disease and possibly causes acute respiratory distress or in severe cases may lead to death. There has already been some research in dealing with coronavirus using machine learning algorithms, but few have presented a truly comprehensive view. In this research, we show how convolutional neural network (CNN) can be useful to detect COVID-19 using chest X-ray images. We leverage the CNN-based pre-trained models as feature extractors to substantiate transfer learning and add our own classifier in detecting COVID-19. In this regard, we evaluate performance of five different pre-trained… More >

G. N. Baltas^{1, *}, F. A. Prieto¹, M. Frantzi², C. R. Garcia-Alonso¹, P. Rodriguez^{1, 3}

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.64, No.3, pp. 1343-1357, 2020, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2020.011243 - 30 June 2020

Abstract During the late months of last year, a novel coronavirus was detected in Hubei, China. The virus, since then, has spread all across the globe forcing Word Health Organization (WHO) to declare COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. In Spain, the virus started infecting the country slowly until rapid growth of infected people occurred in Madrid, Barcelona and other major cities. The government in an attempt to stop the rapssid spread of the virus and ensure that health system will not reach its capacity, implement strict measures by putting the entire country in quarantine. The duration of… More >

Muhammad Adnan Khan^{1, *}, Sagheer Abbas², Khalid Masood Khan¹, Mohammad A. Al Ghamdi³, Abdur Rehman²

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.64, No.3, pp. 1329-1342, 2020, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2020.011155 - 30 June 2020

Abstract An epidemic is a quick and widespread disease that threatens many lives and damages the economy. The epidemic lifetime should be accurate so that timely and remedial steps are determined. These include the closing of borders schools, suspension of community and commuting services. The forecast of an outbreak effectively is a very necessary but difficult task. A predictive model that provides the best possible forecast is a great challenge for machine learning with only a few samples of training available. This work proposes and examines a prediction model based on a deep extreme learning machine… More >

Coralie Katharina Dicks¹, Gerhard-Paul Diller¹, Kristina Wasmer², Paul C. Helm^3,4, Ulrike M. M. Bauer^3,4, Helmut Baumgartner¹, Stefan Orwat^1,#, Alicia Jeanette Fischer^1,#,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 117-125, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011520 - 23 June 2020

Abstract Background: Sudden cardiac death is a leading cause of death in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Risk stratification for implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) remains difficult due to limited data about use and outcome of device therapy in CHD patients in larger community-based cohorts. Methods and results: Out of a dataset with more than 50,000 patients registered at the German National Register for Congenital Heart Defects, 109 patients (median age 35.5; IQR 23.75–46.00), 68 (62%) male) with an ICD were identified and were retrospectively analyzed. Although the number of implantations increased steadily throughout the investigated time interval… More >

Shivani M. Bhatt^1,*, Michael L. O’Byrne², Michael McBride², Stephen M. Paridon², Elizabeth Goldmuntz², Laura Mercer-Rosa²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 101-115, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011287 - 23 June 2020

Abstract Objective: The determinants of exercise capacity in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) are multifactorial and remain incompletely understood. This study sought to evaluate the association of chronotropic response with exercise parameters and investigate the determinants of heart rate reserve (HRR) in a cohort of children and adolescents with rTOF. Design: We retrospectively analyzed patients with rTOF, age 8–18 years, who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) for research purposes. Linear regression models were performed to test associations among clinical, CMR and CPET parameters. Outcomes included percent-predicted maximum VO₂ (%mVO₂) and HRR. Results: A total… More >

Karina V. Bunting^1,2,*, Francesco Formisano³, Jennifer Green¹, Richard P. Steeds^1,2, Lucy Hudsmith¹, Paul Clift^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 89-100, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011376 - 23 June 2020

Abstract Objective: To determine the accuracy of assessing univentricular function in adult Fontan patients using three-dimensional (3D) volumetric echocardiography. Design: A prospective observational study in an adult Fontan patient cohort. Setting: University Hospitals Birmingham, NHS Foundation Trust. Patients: 26 patients were enrolled in the study all aged over 18 years, possessing the Fontan anatomy, with no contraindications to Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) imaging and in sinus rhythm. Intervention: All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography using a Philips EPIQ 7 and X5-1 transducer. End diastolic volume (EDV), end systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF) were obtained using… More >

Amira Nour^1,*, Heba Kamel¹, Yasmeen Abdelrazik¹, Khaled Shams², Noha Gamal³, Safaa Huessin⁴, Alaa Roushdy¹, Maiy El Sayed¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 79-87, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011249 - 23 June 2020

Abstract Background: Transcatheter closure of secudum atrial septal defect (ASD) has gained wide acceptance since its introduction more than 3 decades ago. Safety and efficacy of the procedure in everyday practice needs continuous update. Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the incidence of complications and identify everyday management protocols. Methods: This is a prospective nonrandomized study including all the patients with Secundum ASD or fenestrated IAS referred to two different congenital heart diseases centers in Ain Shams university and sohag university in Egypt over 2 years with an indication for closure according to American and… More >

Liesbeth van Dessel¹, Béatrice Santens², Els Troost², Pieter De Meester^2,3, Leen Roggen², Filip Rega^3,4, Bart Meyns^3,4, Bjorn Cools⁵, Marc Gewillig⁵, Philip Moons^6,7,8, Lukas Meier⁹, Werner Budts^2,3, Alexander Van De Bruaene^2,3,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 69-78, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011512 - 23 June 2020

Abstract Background: Left-to-right shunt in sinus venosus septal defect (SVSD) may affect resistive (pulmonary vascular resistance–PVR) and elastic (pulmonary artery compliance-PAC) pulmonary artery properties. This study aimed at evaluating (1) impact of age, (2) pulmonary hemodynamics, and (3) outcome in a large cohort of SVSD patients. Methods: This study included 136 patients with SVSD (median age at diagnosis 14 (IQR 5–48) years, 47% male) of which 87 underwent catheterization. Pressures were measured and cardiac output was evaluated using the Fick principle at diagnosis. PVR, PAC and their product (RC time) were calculated. Results: Surgical repair was performed in… More >

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 >

Mehdi Kahrizi, Mehrzad TahamouliRoudsari^*

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 165-185, 2020, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2020.07816 - 23 June 2020

Abstract The properties of infills and the way they are connected to frames may have significant effects on the seismic behavior of the structure. This study presents an experimental study on evaluation and testing of five single story, single bay samples with the scale 1:3. This study strives to evaluate the behavior of masonry infill walls encased in steel frames, with emphasis on different details of the connection of the wall to the frame. Four frames with masonry infills and one frame without infill are experimented on by applying lateral load to their upper beams. Different… More >