Color blending based on viewpoint and surface normal for generating images from any viewpoint using multiple cameras

A color blending method for generating a high quality image of human motion is presented. The 3D (three-dimensional) human shape is reconstructed by volume intersection and expressed as a set of voxels. As each voxel is observed as different colors from different cameras, voxel color needs to be assigned appropriately from several colors. We present a color blending method, which calculates voxel color from a linear combination of the colors observed by multiple cameras. The weightings in the linear combination are calculated based on both viewpoint and surface normal. As surface normal is taken into account, the images with clear texture can be generated. Moreover, since viewpoint is also taken into account, high quality images free of unnatural warping can be generated. To examine the effectiveness of the algorithm, a traditional dance motion was captured and new images were generated from arbitrary viewpoints. Compared to existing methods, quality at the boundaries was confirmed to improve.</p

Coordination of appearance and motion data for virtual view generation of traditional dances

A novel method is proposed for virtual view generation of traditional dances. In the proposed framework, a traditional dance is captured separately for appearance registration and motion registration. By coordinating the appearance and motion data, we can easily control virtual camera motion within a dancer-centered coordinate system. For this purpose, a coordination problem should be solved between the appearance and motion data, since they are captured separately and the dancer moves freely in the room. The present paper shows a practical algorithm to solve it. A set of algorithms are also provided for appearance and motion registration, and virtual view generation from archived data. In the appearance registration, a 3D human shape is recovered in each time from a set of input images after suppressing their backgrounds. By combining the recovered 3D shape and a set of images for each time, we can compose archived dance data. In the motion registration, stereoscopic tracking is accomplished for color markers placed on the dancer. A virtual view generation is formalized as a color blending among multiple views, and a novel and efficient algorithm is proposed for the composition of a natural virtual view from a set of images. In the proposed method, weightings of the linear combination are calculated from both an assumed viewpoint and a surface normal.</p

Arthralgia and Osteolytic Lesions Associated with Traumatic Pancreatitis in a 10-Year-Old Girl

A case of traumatic pancreatitis with subsequent joint pain and osteolytic lesions is presented. A 10-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital with abdominal pain caused by blunt epigastric injury. She was diagnosed with traumatic pancreatitis, and multiple pancreatic pseudocysts subsequently developed. Two weeks after admission, she complained of joint pain, and MR revealed osteolytic lesions of both knee joints. On the 58th day, endoscopic transgastric pseudocyst drainage was performed. Joint pain and osteolytic lesions resolved rapidly, in parallel with the decrease in serum amylase level and pseudocyst size

R-Ferrite-type barium cobalt stannate, BaCo2Sn4O11

BaCo2Sn4O11 is isotypic with R-ferrite, BaTi2Fe4O11. The Co atoms fully occupy trigonal–bipyramidal sites () and are disordered with Sn atoms in octa­hedral sites (.2/m symmetry), as represented in the formula BaCoSn2(Co0.34Sn0.66)4O11. Ba atoms are situated in a 12-fold coordinated site ( symmetry)

Impact of chronic lung allograft dysfunction, especially restrictive allograft syndrome, on the survival after living-donor lobar lung transplantation compared with cadaveric lung transplantation in adults: a single-center experience

PURPOSE: The differences in chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) between living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT) and cadaveric lung transplantation (CLT) remain unclear. We conducted this study to compare the impact of CLAD on the outcomes after LDLLT vs. CLT. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of the data of 97 recipients of bilateral lung transplantation, including 51 recipients of LDLLT and 46 recipients of CLT. RESULTS: The CLAD-free survival and overall survival after LDLLT were similar to those after CLT. CLAD and restrictive allograft syndrome (RAS), but not bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), developed significantly later after LDLLT than after CLT (p = 0.015 and p = 0.035). Consequently, patients with CLAD and RAS, but not those with BOS, after LDLLT had a significantly better overall survival than those after CLT (p = 0.037 and p = 0.0006). Furthermore, after the diagnosis of CLAD, the survival of patients with RAS after LDLLT tended to be better than that after CLT (p = 0.083). CONCLUSION: CLAD, especially RAS, appears to develop later after LDLLT than after CLT and seems to have a lower impact on the overall survival after LDLLT than that after CLT

Feasibility of lung transplantation from donors mechanically ventilated for prolonged periods

PURPOSE: When patients are mechanically ventilated for more than 5 days, they are usually declined as donors for lung transplantation (LTx); thus, the long-term outcomes of LTx from such donors remain unclear. We investigated the feasibility of LTx from donors that had been mechanically ventilated for prolonged periods. METHODS: The subjects of this retrospective comparative investigation were 31 recipients of LTx from donors who had been mechanically ventilated for RESULTS: The median duration of donor mechanical ventilation was 3 days in the short-term group and 8.5 days in the long-term group. However, other than the difference in the duration of donor ventilation, there were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics of the donors or recipients between the groups. The overall survival rate after LTx was comparable between the long-term group and short-term group (5-year survival rate, 66.6% vs. 75.2%). CONCLUSION: The potential inclusion of donors who have been on mechanical ventilation for more than 5 days could be a feasible strategy to alleviate donor organ shortage

Right single lung transplantation using an inverted left donor lung: interposition of pericardial conduit for pulmonary venous anastomosis-a case report

BACKGROUND: Lung transplantation (LTx) is still limited by the shortage of suitable donor lungs. Developing flexible surgical procedures can help to increase the chances of LTx by unfolding recipient-to-donor matching options based on the pre-existing organ allocation concept. We report a case in which a successful left-to-right inverted LTx was completed using the interposition of a pericardial conduit for pulmonary venous anastomosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A left lung graft was offered to a 59-year-old male who had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with predominant damage in the right lung. He had been prescribed bed rest with constant oxygen inhalation through an oxymizer pendant and had been on the waiting list for 20 months. Considering the condition of the patient (LAS 34.3) and the scarcity of domestic organ offers, the patient was highly likely to be incapable of tolerating any additional waiting time for another donor organ if he was unable to accept the presently reported offer of a left lung. Eventually, we decided to transplant the left donor lung into the right thorax of the recipient. Because of the anterior-posterior position gap of the hilar structures, the cuff lengths of the pulmonary veins had to be adjusted. The patient did not develop any anastomotic complications after the transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: A left-to-right inverted LTx is technically feasible using an autologous pericardial conduit for pulmonary venous anastomosis in selected cases. This technique provides the potential benefit of resolving challenging situations in which surgeons must deal with a patient's urgency and the logistical limitations of organ allocation

Thoracoscopic repair of neonatal congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Purpose: To describe the surgical technique and criteria for neonatal congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) repair. Methods:CDH repairs were carried out by a thoracoscopic approach between February 2013 and April 2014. Preoperatively, the neonateswere stabilized with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation and nitric oxide inhalation. They had no associated cardiac anomalies. Confirmation of the appropriateness of thoracoscopic repair was determined based on the patient’s stability in the decubitus position and no clinical signs of pulmonary hypertension. The operation was carried out with one optical and two operating trocars. The hernia defect was closed by interrupted nonabsorbable sutures. The more lateral portion of the defect was repaired with a U-shaped stitch using a laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure needle. Results: Three neonates underwent repair via thoracoscopy. Two patients underwent primary CDH repair, and conversion to laparotomy was required in the other because of a large diaphragmatic defect. There was no intraoperative cardiorespiratory instability or postoperative complications. Conclusions: Thoracoscopic repair of neonatal CDH is a feasible and safe procedure for the patients who have respiratory stability in the decubitus position, no pulmonary hypertension and no intra-thoracic liver herniation

Lung perfusion scintigraphy to detect chronic lung allograft dysfunction after living-donor lobar lung transplantation

Because chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) develops predominantly on one side after bilateral living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT), lung perfusion scintigraphy (Q-scinti) was expected to show a perfusion shift to the contralateral unaffected lung with the development of CLAD. Our study examined the potential usefulness of Q-scinti in the diagnosis of CLAD after bilateral LDLLT. We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of 58 recipients of bilateral LDLLT. The unilateral shift values on Q-scinti were calculated and compared between the CLAD group (N=27) and the non-CLAD group (N=31) from 5 years before to 5 years after the diagnosis of CLAD. The unilateral shift values in Q-scinti were significantly higher in the CLAD group than in the non-CLAD group from 5 years before the diagnosis of CLAD to 5 years after the diagnosis (P<0.05). The unilateral shift values in Q-scinti were significantly correlated with the percent baseline values of the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (P=0.0037), the total lung capacity (P=0.0028), and the forced vital capacity (P=0.00024) at the diagnosis of CLAD. In patients developing unilateral CLAD after bilateral LDLLT, Q-scinti showed a unilateral perfusion shift to the contralateral unaffected lung. Thus, Q-scinti appears to have the potential to predict unilateral CLAD after bilateral LDLLT