Functional Testing Approaches for "BIFST-able" tlm_fifo

Evolution of Electronic System Level design methodologies, allows a wider use of Transaction-Level Modeling (TLM). TLM is a high-level approach to modeling digital systems that emphasizes on separating communications among modules from the details of functional units. This paper explores different functional testing approaches for the implementation of Built-in Functional Self Test facilities in the TLM primitive channel tlm_fifo. In particular, it focuses on three different test approaches based on a finite state machine model of tlm_fifo, functional fault models, and march tests respectivel

Half-dose photodynamic therapy for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

Purpose: To report the outcomes of half-dose photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods: A chart review of patients with chronic CSC who had received half-dose verteporfin PDT (3 mg/m2) was performed. The main outcome measures were resolution of subretinal fluid and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Results: Fifty-three eyes of 51 patients with mean age of 45.01 ± 8.9 years were studied. Three, 6 and 12 months after half-dose PDT, subretinal fluid was completely resolved in 51 eyes (96.2). In 2 eyes (one patient), subretinal fluid decreased at 3 months but one year later, an increase in subretinal fluid was detected on optical coherence tomography (OCT) which completely resolved following additional PDT. Another patient with recurrence of subretinal fluid rejected further treatment. Mean baseline central subfield thickness was 385 ± 113.0 μm which was decreased to 235 ± 39.7, 247 ± 49.7, and 244 ± 49.52 μm after 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively (all P-values < 0.001). Mean BCVA was 0.33 ± 0.27 LogMAR before PDT and 0.11 ± 0.18, 0.11 ± 0.17, 0.17 ± 0.26 and 0.10 ± 0.23 LogMAR, 3, 6 and 12 months and at final visit (up to 60 months) after PDT, respectively (all P-values < 0.001). Improvement �2 lines in BCVA occurred in 20 eyes (37.7). Statistically significant correlations were found between improvement in BCVA and baseline BCVA, baseline central subfield thickness and central subfield thickness after resorption of subretinal fluid (P < 0.001, P= 0.04 and P= 0.01, respectively). No complications attributed to PDT were observed. Conclusion: Half-dose PDT is effective for treatment of patients with chronic CSC. © 2016 Journal of Ophthalmic and Vision Research

Amino Acid Features of P1B-ATPase Heavy Metal Transporters Enabling Small Numbers of Organisms to Cope with Heavy Metal Pollution

Phytoremediation refers to the use of plants for extraction and detoxification of pollutants, providing a new and powerful weapon against a polluted environment. In some plants, such as Thlaspi spp, heavy metal ATPases are involved in overall metal ion homeostasis and hyperaccumulation. P1B-ATPases pump a wide range of cations, especially heavy metals, across membranes against their electrochemical gradients. Determination of the protein characteristics of P1B-ATPases in hyperaccumulator plants provides a new opportuntity for engineering of phytoremediating plants. In this study, using diverse weighting and modeling approaches, 2644 protein characteristics of primary, secondary, and tertiary structures of P1B-ATPases in hyperaccumulator and nonhyperaccumulator plants were extracted and compared to identify differences between proteins in hyperaccumulator and nonhyperaccumulator pumps. Although the protein characteristics were variable in their weighting, tree and rule induction models; glycine count, frequency of glutamine-valine, and valine-phenylalanine count were the most important attributes highlighted by 10, five, and four models, respectively. In addition, a precise model was built to discriminate P1B-ATPases in different organisms based on their structural protein features. Moreover, reliable models for prediction of the hyperaccumulating activity of unknown P1B-ATPase pumps were developed. Uncovering important structural features of hyperaccumulator pumps in this study has provided the knowledge required for future modification and engineering of these pumps by techniques such as site-directed mutagenesis

Acute type A aortic dissection missed as acute coronary syndrome

Although the aortic dissection is not common, its outcome is frequently fatal, and many patients with aortic dissection die before referral to the hospital or any diagnostic testing. The symptoms of aortic dissection can be similar to myocardial ischemia. A 66-year-old male referred to our hospital with suspicion of aortic dissection after echocardiography while evaluating for his high blood pressure. He had symptoms of acute coronary syndrome two years before and had done coronary angiography. On presentation to our hospital he had a high blood pressure. On reviewing his past medical history and examining, in the film of coronary angiography, the dissection flap in ascending aorta was identified. Although type A aortic dissection is a catastrophic condition with high mortality and requires prompt surgical treatment but in some cases it may be misdiagnosed as acute coronary syndrome. Sometimes against its high mortality when left untreated, patients survive and are diagnosed later in life incidentally. So it is of great importance to have great clinical suspicion for aortic dissection in patients referring to the hospital with chest pain and the predisposing factors. © 2016, Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. All rights reserved

Transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulae: A literature review

Coronary artery fistulae (CAFs) are anomalous connections that bypass the myocardial capillary bed between 1 or more coronary arteries and other cardiac chambers or other vessels. These fistulae are usually asymptomatic and are, thus, diagnosed incidentally. However, larger CAFs can cause various symptoms such as angina, exertional dyspnea, syncope, palpitation, and even sudden cardiac death. Treatment options include surgical closure and percutaneous transcatheter closure (TCC) with comparable safety and efficacy. The choice of device in TCC depends on the anatomic characteristics of the CAF, the age and size of the patient, the size of the occluded vessel, the appropriate size of the catheter to be used, and the tortuosity of the catheter course to reach the intended point. Herein, we present 4 cases treated via TCC and then offer an in-depth discussion regarding this coronary artery anomaly. © 2020, Tech Science Press. All rights reserved

Ocular higher-order aberrations changes after implantable collamer lens implantation for high myopic astigmatism

Purpose: To investigate the changes in higher-order aberrations (HOAs) induced by the implantation of implantable collamer lenses (ICLs) and Toric ICL (TICL) in eyes with high myopia and high myopic astigmatism. Methods: We investigated 33 eyes of 18 consecutive patients (in a prospective, interventional case series study), with spherical equivalent errors of �6.00 to �21.09 diopters (D) and cylindrical errors of �0.5 to �4.75 D, who underwent ICL and TICL implantation. Before and after 5 days, 2 and 6 months of surgery, the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), defocus and adverse events of the surgery were assessed. Ocular HOAs were also evaluated by Hartmann-Shack aberrometry (Technolas PV, Rochester, New York, USA) before and after 6 months of surgery. Results: At 6.0 months after surgery, the UCVA and BCVA in 40 and 66.7 of eyes were 20/20, respectively. Mean defocus refraction and astigmatism was reduced to �0.66 and 0.65 D from �12.79 and 2.18 at baseline, respectively. For a 6 mm pupil, HOAs were not significantly changed, merely from 0.417 ± 0.162 μ before surgery to 0.393 ± 0.119 μ after surgery (P = 0.45). Spherical aberration (Z400) increased significantly (P = 00.0). Surgical induced astigmatism was lower than 0.25 D, and there were no changes in trefoils and coma aberration. No vision-threatening complications occurred during the observation period. Conclusion: This study shows that the ICL and TICL performed well in correcting high myopic astigmatism without significant changes in HOAs during a 6-month observation period, although the spherical aberration (Z400) increased significantly. © 2017 Iranian Society of Ophthalmolog

Ocular higher-order aberrations changes after implantable collamer lens implantation for high myopic astigmatism

Purpose: To investigate the changes in higher-order aberrations (HOAs) induced by the implantation of implantable collamer lenses (ICLs) and Toric ICL (TICL) in eyes with high myopia and high myopic astigmatism. Methods: We investigated 33 eyes of 18 consecutive patients (in a prospective, interventional case series study), with spherical equivalent errors of �6.00 to �21.09 diopters (D) and cylindrical errors of �0.5 to �4.75 D, who underwent ICL and TICL implantation. Before and after 5 days, 2 and 6 months of surgery, the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), defocus and adverse events of the surgery were assessed. Ocular HOAs were also evaluated by Hartmann-Shack aberrometry (Technolas PV, Rochester, New York, USA) before and after 6 months of surgery. Results: At 6.0 months after surgery, the UCVA and BCVA in 40 and 66.7 of eyes were 20/20, respectively. Mean defocus refraction and astigmatism was reduced to �0.66 and 0.65 D from �12.79 and 2.18 at baseline, respectively. For a 6 mm pupil, HOAs were not significantly changed, merely from 0.417 ± 0.162 μ before surgery to 0.393 ± 0.119 μ after surgery (P = 0.45). Spherical aberration (Z400) increased significantly (P = 00.0). Surgical induced astigmatism was lower than 0.25 D, and there were no changes in trefoils and coma aberration. No vision-threatening complications occurred during the observation period. Conclusion: This study shows that the ICL and TICL performed well in correcting high myopic astigmatism without significant changes in HOAs during a 6-month observation period, although the spherical aberration (Z400) increased significantly. © 2017 Iranian Society of Ophthalmolog