Towards Managing Variability in the Safety Design of an Automotive Hall Effect Sensor

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the merits and challenges of adopting software product line engineering (SPLE) as the main development process for an automotive Hall Effect sensor. This versatile component is integrated into a number of automotive applications with varying safety requirements (e.g., windshield wipers and brake pedals). This paper provides a detailed explanation as to why the process of safety assessment and verification of the Hall Effect sensor is currently cumbersome and repetitive: it must be repeated entirely for every automotive application in which the sensor is to be used. In addition, no support is given to the engineer to select and configure the appropriate safety solutions and to explain the safety implications of his decisions. To address these problems, we present a tailored SPLEbased approach that combines model-driven development with advanced model composition techniques for applying and reasoning about specific safety solutions. In addition, we provide insights about how this approach can reduce the overall complexity, improve reusability, and facilitate safety assessment of the Hall Effect sensor

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Right coronary artery chronic total occlusion after bypass grafting successfully treated using reverse controlled antegrade and retrograde subintimal tracking (cart) technique via the gastroepiploic artery : a case report

Objective: Unusual setting of medical care Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusions (CTO) is a well-established treatment option, improving health status and angina in selected patients with angina and/or a large area of documented ischemia and suitable anatomy. It has been used in patients with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) but remains controversial in unusual bypass constructions. This report is of a 63-year-old man with angina due to right coronary CTO, 6 years following CABG, successfully treated using the reverse controlled antegrade and retrograde subintimal tracking technique (reverse CART technique) via the gastroepiploic (GE) artery. Case Report: A 63-year-old man with a history of extensive coronary artery disease, including a CTO of the right coronary artery (RCA), previously treated with a right GE artery bypass graft, presented with unacceptable angina despite optimal medical treatment. A vascular CT scan suggested severe stenosis at the level of the anastomosis between the GE artery graft and the posterior descending (PD) artery. A PCI of the native RCA CTO was successfully performed using the GE artery bypass graft as a retrograde conduit, with good angiographical and clinical outcomes. Conclusions: PCI of a CTO via the GE artery has been described only occasionally before, and remains a rare treatment. This report shows that retrograde coronary artery recanalization of CTO using the reverse CART technique, via the GE artery bypass graft, was safe and effective in this case, and that it can and should be considered in selected patients

Effect of fat and sodium reduction on instrumental and sensory characteristics of liver paste

status: publishe

Dynamic changes of left atrial substrate over time following pulmonary vein isolation : the Progress-AF study

Abstract: Aims Little is known about dynamic changes of the left atrial (LA) substrate over time in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aims to evaluate substrate changes following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).Methods and results In our prospective observational study, consecutive patients undergoing first PVI-only and redo ablation were included. High-density maps of the two procedures were compared. Progression or regression was diagnosed if a significant concordant decrease or increase in bipolar voltages in >= 2 segments was observed, respectively. In 28 patients (61.2 +/- 9.5 years, 39% female, 53.5% persistent AF), 111.013 voltage points from 56 high-density LA maps (1.982 points/patient) were analysed. Comparing the high-density maps of the first and second procedures, in the progression group (17 patients, 61%), there was a decrease in global (-35%, P < 0.001) and all regional voltages. In the regression group (11 patients, 39%), there was an increase in global (+43%, P < 0.001) and regional voltages. Comparing the progression with the regression group, the area of low-voltage zone (LVZ) increased (+3.5 vs. -4.5 cm(2), P < 0.001) and LA activation time prolonged (+8.0 vs. -9.1 ms, P = 0.005). Baseline clinical parameters did not predict progression or regression. In patients with substrate progression, pulmonary veins (PVs) were more frequently isolated (P = 0.02) and the AF pattern at recurrence was more frequently persistent (P = 0.005).Conclusion Our study describes bidirectional dynamic properties of the LA substrate with concordant either progressive or regressive changes. Regression occurs with reduced AF burden after the first procedure, while progression is associated with persistent AF recurrence despite durable PV isolation. The dynamic nature of LA substrate poses questions about LVZ-based ablation strategies

Experimental gerontology in Belgium: from model organisms to age-related pathologies

peer reviewe