Selected Issues on Material Properties of Objects in Computer Simulations of Floodlighting

This paper addresses issues with computer simulation involved in designing illumination for architectural structures. In particular, the reflectance and transmittance of materials were studied with respect to their influence on luminance values, thus directly the power levels for luminaires applied under particular projects. Raster images derived from digitally processed daytime pictures were used to precisely define material properties. Bitmaps were tested with regard to measuring and editing materials with a widely used graphic application. A real architectural object, the Basilica of the Dormition in Jerusalem, served as the test object. A floodlighting design was performed following a complete analysis of all electrical and photometric parameters. Luminance distributions were analysed comprehensively. Hence, the data allowed for an assessment of the lighting design compliance with guidance given by International Commission on Illumination (CIE) for floodlighting objects and its required standards. The floodlighting utilization factor of the lighting solution developed was also verified, as it is the input parameter for evaluating not only the energy efficiency for the installed lighting system, but also the impact it has on the surroundings, in this case, the project that is to be implemente

Synchronous extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma/PNET and gallbladder carcinoma : a case report and literature review

Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) and primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) are now considered to be the same tumour and usually occur in long bones. Extraskeletal Ewing’s sarcoma is an extremely rare neoplasm, accounting for 1% of soft tissue sarcomas, with most common location in the thorax. Gallbladder cancer (GBC) represents the most common type among the biliary tract cancers with a poor prognosis even among patients undergoing aggressive therapy. We present study of extraskeletal ES/PNET found in the hilus of the liver of an elderly, diagnosed one month prior with GBC woman. The patient underwent two cycles of chemotherapy SAIME/SAVAC for ES and thereafter was operated. During three-year follow-up no recurrence of ES/PNET has been reported. However, two years after chemotherapy the patient suffered a relapse of adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder and thus received palliative chemotherapy of gemcitabine and cisplatin. After 16 months of recurrence she died. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of ES/PNET located in the hilus of the liver and as a synchronous neoplasm

Effect of ventricular function and volumes on exercise capacity in adults with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot

Objectives: Investigate the effects of left and right ventricular function and severity of pulmonary valve regurgitation, quantified by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), on exercise tolerance in adult patients who underwent ToF repair at a young age. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 52 patients after ToF surgery and 33 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. CMR and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) were performed on all patients; CPET was performed on control subjects. Results: The main finding of CPET was a severe decrease in oxygen uptake at peak exercise VO2peak in TOF patients. The patients were characterized also by lower pulse O2peak and heart rate at peak exercise. Ejection fraction of the right and left ventricles was correlated (r = 0,32; p = 0,03). Left ventricle ejection fraction was negatively correlated with right ventricular volumes (r = −0,34; p = 0,01) and right ventricular mass (r = −046; p < 0,00). Right ventricular mass was positively correlated with left ventricular variables (left ventricle end diastolic volume, r = 0,43; p = 0,002; left ventricle end systolic volume, r = 0,54; p < 0,00) as was VO2peak: LVEDV (r = 0,38; p = 0,01); LVESV (r = 0,33; p = 0,03) and LV mass (r = 0,42; p = 0,006). Conclusion: Exercise intolerance in adults with repaired ToF is markedly depressed. The decreased exercise capacity is correlated with impaired RV function and may be associated also with LV dysfunction, which suggests right-to-left ventricular interaction

Using simulation to calibrate real data acquisition in veterinary medicine

This paper explores the innovative use of simulation environments to enhance data acquisition and diagnostics in veterinary medicine, focusing specifically on gait analysis in dogs. The study harnesses the power of Blender and the Blenderproc library to generate synthetic datasets that reflect diverse anatomical, environmental, and behavioral conditions. The generated data, represented in graph form and standardized for optimal analysis, is utilized to train machine learning algorithms for identifying normal and abnormal gaits. Two distinct datasets with varying degrees of camera angle granularity are created to further investigate the influence of camera perspective on model accuracy. Preliminary results suggest that this simulation-based approach holds promise for advancing veterinary diagnostics by enabling more precise data acquisition and more effective machine learning models. By integrating synthetic and real-world patient data, the study lays a robust foundation for improving overall effectiveness and efficiency in veterinary medicine

Topographical anatomy of the left ventricular summit: implications for invasive procedures

Background: Recent clinical reports have emphasized the clinical significance of the left ventricular summit (LVS), a specific triangular epicardial area, as the source of ventricular arrhythmias where radiofrequency ablation is of great difficulty. Materials and methods: The macroscopic morphology of the LVS has been assessed in 80 autopsied and 48 angio-CT human hearts. According to Yamada’s equation, the size was calculated based on the distance to the first, most prominent septal perforator. Results: The size of the LVS varies from 33.69 to 792.2 mm2, is highly variable, and does not correlate with BMI, sex, or age in general. The mean size of the LVS was 287.38 ± 144.95mm2 in autopsied and angio-CT (p=0.44). LVS is mostly disproportionately bisected by cardiac coronary veins to superior – inaccessible and inferior–accessible areas. The superior aspect dominates over the inferior in both groups (p=0.04). The relation between superior and inferior groups determines three possible arrangements: the most common type is superior domination (50.2%), then inferior domination (26.6%), and finally, equal distribution (17.2%). In 10.9 %, the inferior aspect is absent. Only 16.4% of the LVS were empty, without additional trespassing coronary arteries. Conclusions: The difference in size and content of the LVS is significant, with no correlation to any variable. The size depends on the anatomy of the most prominent septal perforator artery. The superior, inaccessible aspect dominates, and the LVS is seldom free from additional coronary vessels, thus making this region hazardous for electrophysiological procedures

Link between fibrosis-specific biomarkers and interstitial fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background: Cardiac fibrosis is a hallmark of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and has proven unfavorable clinical significance. Replacement fibrosis is better known, and has already been studied on a larger scale, whereas interstitial fibrosis is less explored. Aims: We aimed to analyze relationship between serum biomarkers and interstitial fibrosis, as assessed with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in HCM. Methods: We performed 3T CMR scans in 50 HCM patients to assess interstitial fibrosis as expressed by extracellular volume (ECV). In all patients, we determined levels of serum cardiac-specific (troponin T [TnT], N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP]) and fibrosis-specific (procollagen I C-terminal propeptide, procollagen III N-terminal propeptide, transforming growth factor β1, galectin 3) biomarkers. Patients were divided based on their median value of ECV.  Results: The final study population consisted of 49 patients. The median value of ECV in our cohort was 28.1%. Patients stratified according to median ECV differed in terms of several variables: body mass index, late gadolinium extent, NT-proBNP and galectin 3 levels (all P &lt; 0.05). Cardiac biomarkers (TnT and NT-proBNP) and galectin 3 were significantly correlated with ECV (rS  = 0.34; P = 0.02; rS = 0.39; P = 0.006; rS = 0.43; P = 0.002, respectively). Galectin 3 and body mass index were found to be independent predictors of ECV (odds ratio [OR], 2.29 [1.07–4.91]; P = 0.03; OR, 0.81 [0.68–0.97]; P = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions: Galectin 3 was an independent predictor of interstitial fibrosis in HCM patients expressed as elevated ECV values. The other fibrosis-specific biomarkers measured were not useful in detecting interstitial fibrosis in HCM. In addition, there was a positive correlation between classical cardiac biomarkers and interstitial fibrosis in HCM patients