Computation of residence time in the simulation of pulsatile ventricular assist devices

A continuum-based model of particle residence time for moving-domain fluid mechanics and fluid–structure interaction (FSI) computations is proposed, analyzed, and applied to the simulation of an adult pulsatile ventricular assist device (PVAD). Residence time is a quantity of clinical interest for blood pumps because it correlates with thrombotic risk. The proposed technique may be easily implemented in any flow or FSI solver. In the context of PVADs the results of the model may be used to assess how efficiently the pump moves the blood through its interior. Three scalar measures of particle residence time are also proposed. These scalar quantities may be used in the PVAD design with the goal of reducing thrombotic risk.     

Toward Empowered Design

Pragmatic design requires no radical alterations to the existing digital ecology and has successfully provided many viable solutions. Given the skills limitations within the developing world, however, developers also need a new design focus that views the user as designer.     

Interworking IEEE 802/FDDI LANs via the ISDN frame relay bearerservice

The author presents a generic architecture for interconnecting LANs (local area networks) through the ISDN (integrated services digital network) bearer services, particularly the frame relay bearer service. The architecture is derived from the IEEE 802.1 MAC (medium access control) bridge and ISDN frame relay standards. An algorithm for MAC/ISDN address resolution that makes minimal use of the WAN (wide area network) bandwidth (which is potentially the most expensive resource) is presented. The algorithm uses a MAC/ISDN address resolution server to resolve addresses for new stations, the resolution in all other cases (e.g. stations moving from the ISDN address to another) being fully distributed. To prevent a server failure from inhibiting communication to new stations, a backup server may be provided. A practical implementation of the architecture has been found capable of supporting full throughput at ISDN hyperchannel rates (384-1920 kb/s) for all IEEE 802.3 frame lengths. Frame relay is seen as having a number of important advantages for LAN interconnection, including the following: a large number of virtual circuits available, giving the potential for a rich interconnection architecture with single-hop connections across the ISDN; and low processing overhead enabling efficient use of ISDN channels, including ISDN hyperchannels (384-1920 kb/s)     

Adaptive and maladaptive behaviour in children with epileptic encephalopathies: correlation with cerebral glucose metabolism

In the childhood epileptic encephalopathies mental impairment is common and severe. Traditional cognitive assessment is difficult because of the low level of performance, autistic features, and the unpredictable effect of seizures. An alternative is to measure adaptive and maladaptive behaviour using instruments administered to the caregivers. Adults with different types of dementia have characteristic patterns of cortical glucose hypometabolism. Thirty-two children were studied using visual and semiquantitative analysis of 18fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomographic (PET) scans. The Vineland Scales and the Conners' Questionnaires were used to assess adaptive and maladaptive behaviour. The mean adaptive behaviour composite score was 37.3+/-15.6; all but one subject had a low adaptive level. A profile of relative strength in socialisation and weakness in daily living skills emerged. Up to two-thirds of children had abnormal behaviour patterns, particularly attention-deficit disorders and hyperactivity. Adaptive and maladaptive behaviour was not related to the presence or absence of focal cortical PET abnormalities. However, adaptive behaviour scores showed an inverse correlation with the degree of metabolic abnormality in the frontal lobes.     

The relationship between irradiation induced dimensional change and the coefficient of thermal expansion: a modified Simmons relationship

In the 1960s, a theoretical relationship between the dimensional changes and the coefficient of thermal expansion of irradiated graphite was derived by J.H.W. Simmons. The theory was shown to be comparable with experimental observations at low irradiation doses, but shown to diverge at higher irradiation doses. However, various modified versions of this theory have been used as the foundation of design and life prediction calculations for graphite-moderated reactors.This paper re-examines the Simmons relationship, summarising its derivation and assumptions. The relationship was then modified to incorporate the high dose, high strain changes that were assumed to be represented in the changes in Young’s modulus with irradiation dose. By scrutinising the behaviour of finite element analyses, it was possible to use a modified Simmons relationship to predict the dimensional changes of an isotropic and anisotropic graphite to high irradiation doses.These issues are important to present high-temperature reactors (HTRs) as the life of HTR graphite components is dependent upon their dimensional change behaviour. A greater understanding of this behaviour will help in the selection and development of graphite materials.     

Embolization in the treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts

The successful stent placement for treatment of recurrent vasospastic angina in a patient with nonstenotic coronary arteries is described. Use of the Palmaz-Schatz stent resulted in successful vasodilation that completely prevented anginal attacks. This procedure represents an alternative treatment for patients with vasospastic angina refractory to aggressive medical therapy.     

Perception of spatial orientation in spasmodic torticollis. Part 2: The visual vertical

Heparan sulphates, the N-sulphated polysaccharides components of proteoglycans, are common constituents of cell surfaces and the extracellular matrix. The heparan sulphate polysaccharide chain has a unique molecular design in the which the clusters of N- and O-sulphated sugar residues, separated by regions of low sulphation, determine specific protein binding properties. The heparan sulphate chains are attached to various protein cores, which determine the location of the proteoglycan in the cell membrane and extracellular matrix. The diverse functions of heparan sulphate, which range from the control of blood coagulation to the regulation of cell growth and adhesion, depend on the capacity of the chains to activate protein ligands, such as antithrombin III and members of the fibroblast growth factor family. These properties are currently being exploited in the development of synthetic heparan sulphates as anticoagulants and promoters of wound healing. Conversely organic mimics of growth factor activating saccharides could possibly be designed to suppress tumour growth and prevent restenosis after coronary vessel angioplasty.     

The energy-momentum method for the stability of non-holonomic systems

In this paper, we analyze the stability of relative equilibria of non-holonomic systems (that is, mechanical systems with non-integrable constraints such as rolling constraints). In the absence of external dissipation, such systems conserve energy, but nonetheless can exhibit both neutrally stable and asymptotically stable, as well as linearly unstable relative equilibria. To carry out the stability analysis, we use a generalization of the energy-momentum method combined with the Lyapunov-Malkin theorem and the center manifold theorem. While this approach is consistent with the energy-momentum method for holonomic systems, it extends it in substantial ways. The theory is illustrated with several examples, including the rolling disk, the roller racer and the rattleback top     

Aortic compliance measured by non-invasive Doppler ultrasound: application of a personal computer based MkII system and its repeatability

A non-invasive pulse-wave-velocity Doppler ultrasound technique for the assessment of aortic compliance is described. A computational approach for correcting for the effect of non-chronic changes in blood pressure is considered and applied to compliance measurements performed on an age-select cohort of 70 normotensive, normal healthy volunteers. In order to permit the wider availability of the pulse-wave-velocity Doppler ultrasound technique, the authors have developed a MkII system based on a standard 80486/33 MHz IBM compatible WINDOWS based personal computer; real-time spectral analysis being achieved using a relatively inexpensive but fast analogue to digital signal processing card. An overview of the new apparatus is provided and verification work to compare the repeatability of the MkI and MkII systems is described. Medical disorders such as atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, familial hypercholesterolaemia, growth hormone deficiency, and Ehlers-Danlos and Marfan's syndromes have all been shown to affect arterial wall compliance. We suggest that the in vivo clinical measurement of blood pressure corrected aortic distensibility using the MkII system may be a useful, reproducible, non-invasive tool for assessing such patients' susceptibility to atheromatous arterial disease as well as for monitoring their response to therapeutic interventions. Measurements in the aorta may be especially pertinent since the natural history of fatty streaks there tends to parallel that in the coronary vasculature thereby potentially affording a convenient surrogate estimate of coronary heart disease.