Penetration Depth of a Soil Moisture Profile Probe Working in Time-Domain Transmission Mode

Soil moisture is one of the most important soil parameters. Knowledge of volumetric water content (VWC) of the root zone as well as the VWC dynamics in the soil profile is especially important for agriculture. Monitoring VWC at several depths in the soil profile can be performed using several soil moisture sensors placed at various depths. However, the use of a profile probe is more convenient, because the installation of a single probe is less disturbing to the soil, as well as less laborious and more cost-effective. The objective of the paper is to present the design and performance of a novel profile probe working in the time-domain transmission mode (P-TDT probe) with emphasis put on the penetration depth and sensitivity zone. The performance of the probe was assessed with the use of finite element method (FEM) simulations in the frequency domain, transient simulations in the time domain and laboratory experiments with the use of a vector network analyzer (VNA) working in the 10 MHz–10 GHz frequency range. It was concluded that the effective soil volume measured by the profile probe of a given geometry is equivalent to a soil thickness of about 20 mm around the tested probe. The internal part of the probe body had a negligible effect on the measurement results, as it does not change with soil moisture. Moreover, the transmitted signal amplitude was related to the soil electrical conductivity

Can multi-slice computed tomography of the heart be useful in patients with epicardial leads?

New visualization methods are helpful in the noninvasive diagnosis of heart diseases. However, sometimes epicardial and endocardial leads can cause problems due to a large number of artifacts. Based on the presented case, we conclude that it is possible to perform multi-slice computed tomography of coronary arteries despite the coexistence of transvenous and epicardial leads

Optimal visualization of heart vessels before percutaneous mitral annuloplasty

Background: Multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) can be useful before percutaneous mitral annuloplasty (PMA) procedures to visualize the relations between the mitral valve (MV), left circumflex artery (LCx) and coronary sinus (CS). Methods and results: We performed a 64-slice MSCT in 196 patients (109 male; age 56.6 ± 11.4) with suspected coronary artery disease. A retrospective scan with ECG-gating was performed in each. In each case 3D VR and 2D MPR reconstructions were created. We used a subjective assessment of the quality of visualization to find the optimal phases of visualization for LCx, CS and both vessels together (relations). The quality of visualization were graded by 2 experts on 6-points scale. LCx was usually optimally visualized in the diastolic phases (70-80-90%) - 126/196 (64.3%). CS was usually optimally visualized in the systolic phases (30-40-50%) - 177/196 (90.3%). The optimal phase for parallel visualization of LCx/CS (to observe anatomical relations) was 70-80% - 140/196 (71.4%). Good quality visualization was obtained for both vessels: LCx: 3.6 ± 1.4/CS: 4.1 ± 1.1. Conclusions: Reconstructions of parallel visualization of LCx/CS for PMA procedures to observe the relations between those vessels should be considered during diastole. In addition, independent reconstructions should also be performed optimized for the LCx and the CS. (Cardiol J 2012; 19, 5: 459-465

Dyssynchronous Left Ventricular Activation is Insufficient for the Breakdown of Wringing Rotation

Cardiac resynchronization therapy is a valuable tool to restore left ventricular function in patients experiencing dyssynchronous ventricular activation. However, the non-responder rate is still as high as 40%. Recent studies suggest that left ventricular torsion or specifically the lack thereof might be a good predictor for the response of cardiac resynchronization therapy. Since left ventricular torsion is governed by the muscle fiber orientation and the heterogeneous electromechanical activation of the myocardium, understanding the relation between these components and the ability to measure them is vital. To analyze if locally altered electromechanical activation in heart failure patients affects left ventricular torsion, we conducted a simulation study on 27 personalized left ventricular models. Electroanatomical maps and late gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging data informed our in-silico model cohort. The angle of rotation was evaluated in every material point of the model and averaged values were used to classify the rotation as clockwise or counterclockwise in each segment and sector of the left ventricle. 88% of the patient models (n = 24) were classified as a wringing rotation and 12% (n = 3) as a rigid-body-type rotation. Comparison to classification based on in vivo rotational NOGA XP maps showed no correlation. Thus, isolated changes of the electromechanical activation sequence in the left ventricle are not sufficient to reproduce the rotation pattern changes observed in vivo and suggest that further patho-mechanisms are involved

Impact of routine invasive strategy on outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction during 2005–2014: A report from the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (PL-ACS)

Background: Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) has become the most frequently encountered type of myocardial infarction. The patient clinical profile and management has evolved over the past decade. As there is still a scarcity of data on the latest trends in NSTEMI, changes herein were observed and assessed in the treatment and outcomes in Poland between 2005 and 2014.Methods: A total of 197,192 patients with NSTEMI who enrolled in the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (PL-ACS) between 2005 and 2014 were analyzed. In-hospital and 12-month mortality were assessed.Results: Coronary angiography use increased from 35.8% in 2005–2007 to 90.7% in 2012–2014 (p < 0.05), whereas percutaneous coronary intervention increased from 25.7% in 2005–2007 to 63.6% in 2012–2014 (p < 0.05). There was a 50% reduction in in-hospital mortality (from 5.6% in 2005–2007 to 2.8% in 2012–2014; p < 0.05) and a 30% reduction in 1-year mortality (from 19.4% in 2005–2007 to 13.7% in 2012–2014; p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis confirmed an immense impact of invasive strategy on patient prognosis during in-hospital observation with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.31 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29–0.33; p < 0.05) as well as during the 12-month observation with an OR of 0.51 (95% CI 0.49–0.52; p < 0.05).Conclusions: Over the past 10 years, an important advance in the management of NSTEMI has taken place in Poland. Routine invasive strategy resulted in a significant decrease in mortality rates in all groups of NSTEMI patients

Tamponada serca jako powikłanie implantacji elektrod o aktywnej fiksacji

W pracy zaprezentowano dwa przypadki wystąpienia wczesnej tamponady serca po udanej implantacji stymulatora serca oraz kardiowertera-defibrylatora z użyciem elektrod o aktywnej fiksacji. W obu przypadkach po zabiegu implantacji w badaniu echokardiograficznym ujawniono istotną ilość płynu w worku osierdziowym. U jednej pacjentki nie wykazano perforacji wolnej ściany mięśnia sercowego, wykonano perikardiotomię z następowym 24-godzinnym drenażem worka osierdziowego bez repozycji elektrod. U drugiej chorej wykonano nakłucie worka osierdziowego z drenażem osierdzia, a po potwierdzeniu perforacji wolnej ściany prawej komory, elektrodę reponowano przeznaczyniowo z worka osierdziowego do przegrody międzykomorowej w warunkach kardiochirurgicznej sali operacyjnej. W niniejszej pracy przeanalizowano możliwe mechanizmy powstania i terapii tamponady serca po implantacji elektrod o aktywnej fiksacji, uwzględniając dane z piśmiennictwa. (Folia Cardiologica Excerpta 2012; 7, 2: 110-114

Low energy dynamics of U(1)^{N} Chern-Simons solitons

We apply the adiabatic approximation to investigate the low energy dynamics of vortices in the parity invariant double self-dual Higgs model with only mutual Chern-Simons interaction. When distances between solitons are large they are particles subject to the mutual interaction. The dual formulation of the model is derived to explain the sign of the statistical interaction. When vortices of different types pass one through another they behave like charged particles in magnetic field. They can form a bound state due to the mutual magnetic trapping. Vortices of the same type exhibit no statistical interaction. Their short range interactions are analysed. Possible quantum effects due to the finite width of vortices are discussed.Comment: keywords: vortex, vortices, anyons, fractional statistics, 20 pages in Latex, accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.D, ( the above keywords missing in the title were added

The role of balloon aortic valvuloplasty in the era of transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Streszczenie Balonowa walwuloplastyka zastawki aortalnej (balloon aortic valvuloplasty -BAV) to metoda leczenia chorych, u których wykonanie klasycznego zabiegu kardiochirurgicznego (aortic valve replacement -AVR) bądź przezcewnikowej wymiany zastawki aortalnej (transcatheter aortic valve implantation -TAVI) jest niemożliwe lub czasowo przeciwwskazane. W ciągu ostatnich lat obserwuje się wzrost liczby wykonywanych zabiegów BAV. Zabieg ten pozwala wyselekcjonować chorych z dużym uszkodzeniem lewej komory bądź z objawami niejasnego pochodzenia z powodu chorób współistniejących (w tym przewlekła obturacyjna choroba płuc) rokujących poprawę po leczeniu chirurgicznym lub TAVI. Balonowa walwuloplastyka zastawki aortalnej umożliwia przygotowanie chorych w ciężkim stanie do zabiegu AVR lub TAVI. Obecnie dzięki ulepszeniu sprzętu notuje się znacznie mniej powikłań niż w pierwszych latach po wprowadzeniu tej techniki. Zabiegi BAV są dobrze znoszone nawet przez chorych w stanie ciężkim lub bardzo ciężkim, lecz ich wyniki długoterminowe pozostają słabe. Wobec ograniczonej dostępności TAVI w Polsce uzasadniona wydaje się częstsza kwalifikacja chorych do zabiegu BAV jako relatywnie bezpiecznej procedury, która pozwala poprawić stan kliniczny w grupie chorych oczekujących na AVR lub TAVI. Słowa kluczowe: stenoza aortalna, balonowa walwuloplastyka, TAVI, AVR. CARDIAC SURGERY Abstract Balloon aortic valvuloplasty is recommended in patients not suitable for transcatheter aortic valve implantation/aortic valve replacement (TAVI/AVR) or when such interventions are temporarily contraindicated. The number of performed balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) procedures has been increasing in recent years. Valvuloplasty enables the selection of individuals with severe left ventricular dysfunction or with symptoms of uncertain origin resulting from concomitant disorders (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]) who can benefit from destination therapy (AVR/TAVI). Thanks to improved equipment, the number of adverse effects is now lower than it was in the first years after the advent of BAV. Valvuloplasty can be safely performed even in unstable patients, but long-term results remain poor. In view of the limited availability of TAVI in Poland, it is reasonable to qualify patients for BAV more often, as it is a relatively safe procedure improving the clinical condition of patients awaiting AVR/TAVI

Experimental study of three-nucleon dynamics in proton-deuteron breakup reaction

Proton–deuteron breakup reaction can serve as a tool to test stateof- the-art descriptions of nuclear interactions. At intermediate energies, below the threshold for pion production, comparison of the data with exact theoretical calculations is possible and subtle effects of the dynamics beyond the pairwise nucleon–nucleon interaction, namely the three-nucleon force (3NF), are significant. Beside 3NF, Coulomb interaction or relativistic effects are also important to precisely describe the differential cross section of the breakup reaction. The data analysis and preliminary results of the measurement of proton-induced deuteron breakup at the Cyclotron Center Bronowice, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków are presented