An RBF Interpolation Blending Scheme for Effective Shock-Capturing

In recent years significant focus has been given to the study of Radial basis functions (RBF), especially in their use on solving partial differential equations (PDE). RBF have an impressive capability of inter- polating scattered data, even when this data presents localized discontinuities. However, for infinitely smooth RBF such as the Multiquadrics, inverse Multiquadrics, and Gaussian, the shape parameter must be chosen properly to obtain accurate approximations while avoiding ill-conditioning of the interpolating matrices. The optimum shape parameter can vary significantly depending on the field, particularly in locations of steep gradients, shocks, or discontinuities. Typically, the shape parameter is chosen to be high value to render flatter RBF therefore yielding a high condition number for the ensuing interpola- tion matrix. However, this optimization strategy fails for problems that present steep gradients, shocks or discontinuities. Instead, in such cases, the optimal interpolation occurs when the shape parameter is chosen to be low in order to render steeper RBF therefore yielding low condition number for the interpolation matrix. The focus of this work is to demonstrate the use of RBF interpolation to capture the behaviour of steep gradients and shocks by implementing a blending scheme that combines high and low shape parameters. A formulation of the RBF blending interpolation scheme along with test- ing and validation through its implementation in the solution of the Burger’s linear advection equation and compressible Euler equations using a Localized RBF Collocation Meshless Method (LRC-MM) is presented in this paper

Computational Fluid Dynamics in Congenital Heart Disease

Computational fluid dynamics has been applied to the design, refinement, and assessment of surgical procedures and medical devices. This tool calculates flow patterns and pressure changes within a virtual model of the cardiovascular system. In the field of paediatric cardiac surgery, computational fluid dynamics is being used to elucidate the optimal approach to staged reconstruction of specific defects and study the haemodynamics of the resulting anatomical configurations after reconstructive or palliative surgery. In this paper, we review the techniques and principal findings of computational fluid dynamics studies as applied to a few representative forms of congenital heart disease

Blueberry blight caused by Bipolaris cynodontis in Argentina

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) production in Argentina has grown remarkably in the last 8 years due to the high demand worldwide in the off-season fresh market. Since it is a new crop in Argentina, diseases are just starting to become problematic for farmers. Surveys have been conducted since 2000 to detect new pathogenic associations and to evaluate their distribution, incidence and severity in different blueberry varieties and localities.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Blueberry blight caused by Bipolaris cynodontis in Argentina

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) production in Argentina has grown remarkably in the last 8 years due to the high demand worldwide in the off-season fresh market. Since it is a new crop in Argentina, diseases are just starting to become problematic for farmers. Surveys have been conducted since 2000 to detect new pathogenic associations and to evaluate their distribution, incidence and severity in different blueberry varieties and localities.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Computational Analysis of Hybrid Norwood Circulation with Distal Aortic Arch Obstruction and Reverse Blalock-Taussig Shunt

BACKGROUND: The hemodynamics characteristics of the hybrid Norwood (HN) procedure differ from those of the conventional Norwood and are not fully understood. We present a multi-scale model of HN circulation to understand local hemodynamics and effects of aortic arch stenosis and a reverse Blalock-Taussig shunt (RBTS) on coronary and carotid perfusion. METHODS: Four 3-dimensional models of four HN anatomic variants were developed, with and without 90% distal preductal arch stenosis and with and without a 4-mm RBTS. A lumped parameter model of the circulation was coupled to a local 3-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model. Outputs from the lumped parameter model provided waveform boundary conditions for the computational fluid dynamics model. RESULTS: A 90% distal arch stenosis reduced pressure and net flow-rate through the coronary and carotid arteries by 30%. Addition of the RBTS completely restored pressure and flow rate to baseline in these vessels. Zones of flow stagnation, flow reversal, and recirculation in the presence of stenosis were rendered more orderly by addition of the RBTS. In the absence of stenosis, presence of the shunt resulted in extensive zones of disturbed flow within the RBTS and arch. CONCLUSIONS: We found that a 4-mm × 21-mm RBTS completely compensated for the effects of a 90% discrete stenosis of the distal aortic arch in the HN. Placed preventatively, the RBTS and arch displayed zones with thrombogenic potential showing recirculation and stagnation that persist for a substantial fraction of the cardiac cycle, indicating that anticoagulation should be considered with a prophylactic RBTS

Design and development of a magnetically-driven ventricular assist device (MVAD): in vitro implementation in the fontan circulation

A rapidly testable novel Magnetically-Driven Ventricular Assist Device (MVAD) with no m ving parts that can be used to provide assistance to the cardiovascular circulation while reducing caval pressure in patients who have undergone the Fontan procedure to palliate the Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) is proposed and studied. A benchtop Mock Flow Loop (MFL) of the cardiovascular circulation with a Fontan total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) is configured to validate this hypothesis. The MFL is based on a Lumped-Parameter Model (LPM) comprised of upper and lower systemic circulation as well as left and right pulmonary circulation compartments. Needle valves are used to accurately replicate vascular resistance (R) while compliance chambers are used to mimic vascular compliance (C). The MFL centerpiece is the truncated aortic arch with an implanted MVAD. A ferro-fluid solution is mixed in water to simulate magnetically-charged blood. The pulsating flow is induced by drawing the ferro-fluid from a main reservoir with a Harvard Apparatus Medical pump while the MVAD provides assistive momentum to the TCPC. Flow and pressure sensor data at specific points in the MFL are acquired via a National Instruments multichannel data acquisition board and processed using LabView. Different prototypes of the MVAD are tested to validate the hypothesis

PNAS plus: plasmodium falciparum responds to amino acid starvation by entering into a hibernatory state

The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is auxotrophic for most amino acids. Its amino acid needs are met largely through the degradation of host erythrocyte hemoglobin; however the parasite must acquire isoleucine exogenously, because this amino acid is not present in adult human hemoglobin. We report that when isoleucine is withdrawn from the culture medium of intraerythrocytic P. falciparum, the parasite slows its metabolism and progresses through its developmental cycle at a reduced rate. Isoleucine-starved parasites remain viable for 72 h and resume rapid growth upon resupplementation. Protein degradation during starvation is important for maintenance of this hibernatory state. Microarray analysis of starved parasites revealed a 60% decrease in the rate of progression through the normal transcriptional program but no other apparent stress response. Plasmodium parasites do not possess a TOR nutrient-sensing pathway and have only a rudimentary amino acid starvation-sensing eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) stress response. Isoleucine deprivation results in GCN2-mediated phosphorylation of eIF2α, but kinase-knockout clones still are able to hibernate and recover, indicating that this pathway does not directly promote survival during isoleucine starvation. We conclude that P. falciparum, in the absence of canonical eukaryotic nutrient stress-response pathways, can cope with an inconsistent bloodstream amino acid supply by hibernating and waiting for more nutrient to be provided

Predictors of Successful Decannulation Using a Tracheostomy Retainer in Patients with Prolonged Weaning and Persisting Respiratory Failure

Background: For percutaneously tracheostomized patients with prolonged weaning and persisting respiratory failure, the adequate time point for safe decannulation and switch to noninvasive ventilation is an important clinical issue. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of a tracheostomy retainer (TR) and the predictors of successful decannulation. Methods: We studied 166 of 384 patients with prolonged weaning in whom a TR was inserted into a tracheostoma. Patients were analyzed with regard to successful decannulation and characterized by blood gas values, the duration of previous spontaneous breathing, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) and laboratory parameters. Results: In 47 patients (28.3%) recannulation was necessary, mostly due to respiratory decompensation and aspiration. Overall, 80.6% of the patients could be liberated from a tracheostomy with the help of a TR. The need for recannulation was associated with a shorter duration of spontaneous breathing within the last 24/48 h (p < 0.01 each), lower arterial oxygen tension (p = 0.025), greater age (p = 0.025), and a higher creatinine level (p = 0.003) and SAPS (p < 0.001). The risk for recannulation was 9.5% when patients breathed spontaneously for 19-24 h within the 24 h prior to decannulation, but 75.0% when patients breathed for only 0-6 h without ventilatory support (p < 0.001). According to ROC analysis, the SAPS best predicted successful decannulation {[}AUC 0.725 (95% CI: 0.634-0.815), p < 0.001]. Recannulated patients had longer durations of intubation (p = 0.046), tracheostomy (p = 0.003) and hospital stay (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In percutaneously tracheostomized patients with prolonged weaning, the use of a TR seems to facilitate and improve the weaning process considerably. The duration of spontaneous breathing prior to decannulation, age and oxygenation describe the risk for recannulation in these patients. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Blueberry blight caused by Bipolaris cynodontis in Argentina

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) production in Argentina has grown remarkably in the last 8 years due to the high demand worldwide in the off-season fresh market. Since it is a new crop in Argentina, diseases are just starting to become problematic for farmers. Surveys have been conducted since 2000 to detect new pathogenic associations and to evaluate their distribution, incidence and severity in different blueberry varieties and localities.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Nocturnal Hypoxemia and CT Determined Pulmonary Artery Enlargement in Smokers

Background: Pulmonary artery enlargement (PAE) detected using chest computed tomography (CT) is associated with poor outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is unknown whether nocturnal hypoxemia occurring in smokers, with or without COPD, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) or their overlap, may be associated with PAE assessed by chest CT. Methods: We analysed data from two prospective cohort studies that enrolled 284 smokers in lung cancer screening programs and completing baseline home sleep studies and chest CT scans. Main pulmonary artery diameter (PAD) and the ratio of the PAD to that of the aorta (PA:Ao ratio) were measured. PAE was defined as a PAD >= 29 mm in men and >= 27 mm in women or as a PA:Ao ratio > 0.9. We evaluated the association of PAE with baseline characteristics using multivariate logistic models. Results: PAE prevalence was 27% as defined by PAD measurements and 11.6% by the PA:Ao ratio. A body mass index >= 30 kg/m(2) (OR 2.01; 95%CI 1.06-3.78), lower % predicted of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (OR 1.03; 95%CI 1.02-1.05) and higher % of sleep time with O-2 saturation < 90% (T90) (OR 1.02; 95%CI 1.00-1.03), were associated with PAE as determined by PAD. However, only T90 remained significantly associated with PAE as defined by the PA:Ao ratio (OR 1.02; 95%CI 1.01-1.03). In the subset group without OSA, only T90 remains associated with PAE, whether defined by PAD measurement (OR 1.02; 95%CI 1.01-1.03) or PA:Ao ratio (OR 1.04; 95%CI 1.01-1.07). Conclusions: In smokers with or without COPD, nocturnal hypoxemia was associated with PAE independently of OSA coexistence