PCI

Abstract In this paper, a new approach for car license plate detection will be presented. The proposed method is faster than previous methods as it avoids time-consuming image transformations such as Hough transform, Fourier transform, wavelet transform, etc. The suggested method is based on modified mathematical template matching and colour analysis to detect the location of the car's plate. This new method detects all plates in a matching cycle using avoidance dynamic templates such as classic template matching ...

ABSTRACT Transverse reinforcement requirements specified by ACI for compressive members penalize precast prestressed piles, which typically have large ratios of cover-to-diameter. These requirements can make prestressed piles uneconomical, even though they have been shown to provide good seismic performance when designed to less stringent specifications. A simple design-chart-based methodology is presented which uses current confined concrete models in conjunction with ACI performance requirements to allow for lower levels of transverse reinforcement which will allow for economical pile construction.

ABSTRACT Transverse reinforcement requirements specified by ACI for compressive members penalize precast prestressed piles, which typically have large ratios of cover-to-diameter. These requirements can make prestressed piles uneconomical, even though they have been shown to provide good seismic performance when designed to less stringent specifications. A simple design-chart-based methodology is presented which uses current confined concrete models in conjunction with ACI performance requirements to allow for lower levels of transverse reinforcement which will allow for economical pile construction.

This study sought to investigate the efficacy and performance of the XIENCE V everolimus-eluting stent (EES) (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) in the treatment of de novo coronary lesions in patients with 2- to 3-vessel multivessel coronary artery disease (MV-CAD). Drug-eluting stents (DES) have emerged as an alternative to conventional coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with MV-CAD although first-generation DES yielded inferior efficacy and safety compared with surgery. Prospective, randomized (1:1), multicenter feasibility trial was designed to assess angiographic efficacy of EES compared with the TAXUS paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) in 200 patients, and a prospective, open-label, single-arm, controlled registry was designed to analyze the clinical outcome of EES at 1-year follow-up in 400 MV-CAD patients. For the randomized trial, the primary endpoint was in-stent late loss at 9 months. For the registry, the primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization at 12 months. The primary endpoint per single lesion was significantly lower in the EES group compared with the PES group (-0.03 ± 0.49 mm vs. 0.23 ± 0.51 mm, p = 0.001). Similar results were observed when analyzing all lesions (0.05 ± 0.51 mm vs. 0.24 ± 0.50 mm, p < 0.001). Clinical outcome at 1 year yielded a composite of major adverse cardiac events of 9.2% in the single-arm registry, and 11.1% and 16.5% in the EES and PES randomized groups, respectively (p = 0.30). The EXECUTIVE trial was a randomized pilot trial dedicated to the comparison of the efficacy of 2 different DES among patients with 2- to 3-vessel MV-CAD. The study shows lower in-stent late loss at 9 months with the EES XIENCE V compared with the PES TAXUS Libertè, and a low major adverse cardiac event rate at 1 year in patients with 2-to 3-vessel MV-CAD. (EXECUTIVE [EXecutive RCT: Evaluating XIENCE V in a Multi Vessel Disease]; NCT00531011).

This study sought to evaluate in-hospital outcomes and 3-year mortality of patients presenting with unprotected left main stem occlusion (ULMSO) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Limited data exists about management and outcome following presentation with ULMSO. From January 1, 2007 to December 21, 2012, 446,257 PCI cases were recorded in the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society database of all PCI cases in England and Wales. Of those, 568 were patients having emergency PCI for ST-segment elevation infarction (0.6% of all PPCI) who presented with ULMSO (TIMI [Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction] flow grade 0/1 and stenosis >75%), and they were compared with 1,045 emergency patients treated with nonocclusive LMS disease. Follow-up was obtained through linkage with the Office of National Statistics. Presentation with ULMSO, compared with nonocclusive LMS disease, was associated with a doubling in the likelihood of periprocedural shock (57.9% vs. 27.9%; p < 0.001) and/or intra-aortic balloon pump support (52.5% vs. 27.2%; p < 0.001). In-hospital (43.3% vs. 20.6%; p < 0.001), 1-year (52.8% vs. 32.4%; p < 0.001), and 3-year mortality (73.9% vs 52.3%, p < 0.001) rates were higher in patients with ULMSO, compared with patients presenting with a patent LMS, and were significantly influenced by the presence of cardiogenic shock. ULMSO and cardiogenic shock were independent predictors of 30-day (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.61 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07 to 2.41], p = 0.02, and HR: 5.43 [95% CI: 3.23 to 9.12], p<0.001, respectively) and 3-year all-cause mortality (HR: 1.52 [95% CI: 1.06 to 2.17], p = 0.02, and HR: 2.98 [95% CI: 1.99 to 4.49], p < 0.001,…

To evaluate the effect of wearing a dorsiflexion assist orthosis (DAO) on walking distance, physiological cost, fatigue, and strength and balance measures after a modified 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Randomized crossover trial. Hospital Movement Laboratory. People with moderate MS and Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 3.7±0.7 (N=34; 26 women). Modified 6MWT with and without a DAO worn on the weaker leg. Distance walked, perceived fatigue, and the physiological cost of walking were compared between walking conditions. Pre- and postwalk changes in knee extensor and ankle dorsiflexor isometric strength and standing postural sway with eyes open and closed were compared between walking conditions. There were no differences in distance walked or perceived fatigue between the 2 walking conditions. However, there was a reduced physiological cost of walking (P<.05), a smaller reduction in knee extensor strength (P<.05), and a smaller increa...

The goal of this study was to assess the immediate and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for in-stent restenosis (ISR) in an unprotected distal left main coronary artery (UDLM). PCI for UDLM-ISR can be complex. Limited information is available on procedural and clinical outcomes. Between May 2002 and February 2011, UDLM-ISR after drug-eluting stent implantation was observed in 79 of 1,102 patients (7%). Seventy-five were treated by repeat PCI using a simple approach (balloon/in-stent implantation) or a complex strategy (additional stent/double-stenting technique). A diagnosis of mild or severe restenosis was considered depending on the number of bifurcation segments affected (1 vs. >1). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as cardiac death, target lesion revascularization, and myocardial infarction. ISR treatment was performed using a simple approach in 44 (58%) patients, and using a complex strategy in 31 (42%). After 46 ± 26 months, the MACE rate was 22%. Patients treated with a simple approach had a lower incidence of MACE at follow-up compared with patients treated with a complex strategy, regardless of the restenosis extent (mild restenosis: 93% vs. 67%, p < 0.05; severe: 70% vs. 23%, p < 0.05). On Cox regression analysis, diabetes was the only predictor of MACE (hazard ratio [HR]: 4.94; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03 to 23.70; p…

Low latency high bandwidth network interface architectures are described. This paper proposes two types of architectures, atomic on-the-fly (OTF) sending with a header TLB, and block on-the-fly sending with protection stampable window memory. These techniques work very effectively with MEMOnet which is a class of network interface card (NIC) plugged into a memory slot. We are developing a network interface

Current Web search engines are not able to adapt their operations to the evolving needs, interests and preferences of the users. To cope with this problem we developed a system able to classify HTML (or, XML) documents into user pre-specified categories of interests. The system processes the user profile and a set of representative documents- for each category of interest,

In a previous randomized trial, we found that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was not inferior to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for the treatment of unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis at 1 year. We now report the 5-year results. We randomly assigned 600 patients with unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis to undergo PCI with a sirolimus-eluting stent (n=300) or CABG (n=300). The primary endpoint was a major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular event (MACCE: a composite of death from any cause, myocardial infarction, stroke, or ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization) and compared on an intention-to-treat basis. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov. number NCT00422968. At 5 years, MACCE occurred in 52 patients in the PCI group and 42 patients in the CABG group (cumulative event rates of 17.5% and 14.3%; hazard ratio [HR], 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 1.90; p=0.26). The two groups did not differ significantly in t...

Um dos principais objetivos da inventariação de elementos do Património Cultural Imaterial (PCI) é o registo sistematizado e a organização do conhecimento produzido sobre esse património. O art.º 12.º da Convenção (UNESCO, 2003) refere a necessidade de se promoverem os inventários PCI e qualquer elemento candidato à inscrição numa das duas listas mundiais do PCI tem, obrigatoriamente, de figurar num Inventário. Muito por esse motivo, nos últimos 10 anos, iniciaram-se vários processos de inventariação e, para respeitar a recomendação do acesso público, o recurso à Web tornou-se uma opção lógica. O Mapa dos e-inventários do Património Cultural Imaterial apresentado neste artigo permite aceder diretamente a 158 e-inventários a partir dos links assinalados nos países onde estes foram realizados. Neste artigo apresenta-se uma análise preliminar de alguns dados que caracterizam esses inventários e apela-se à participação na revisão e atualização deste mapeamento.