Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (L-TGA) with situs inversus totalis in adulthood: findings with magnetic resonance imaging

Diagnosis of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (L-TGA) with situs inversus totalis in two adult patients was made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Visualization of the complete anatomy and quantification of ventricular function was possible. Relevant concomitant disease such as perimembraneous ventricular septal defect, atrial secundum septal defect, tricuspid regurgitation, valvular pulmonic stenosis, and pulmonary artery dilatation were clearly depicted by MRI using standard spin-echo and gradient-echo techniques. Findings were confirmed by cardiac catheterization in both patients. In this rare and complex congenital cardiac anomaly, MRI is an excellent imaging modality as echocardiography may be difficult to interpret due to restricted imaging windows. MRI may help in the decision about the necessity to undergo further invasive evaluation and may help to make cardiac catheterization a straightforward procedure.     

Assessment of normal flow patterns in the pulmonary circulation by using 4D magnetic resonance velocity mapping

Objective

The purpose of this study was to analyze flow patterns in the pulmonary circulation of healthy volunteers by using 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging.

Materials and Methods

The study was approved by the local ethics committee and all subjects gave written informed consent. Eighteen volunteers underwent a 4D flow scan of the whole-heart. Two patients with congenital heart disease were also included to detect possible patterns of flow abnormalities (Patient 1: corrected transposition of great arteries (TGA); Patient 2: partial anomalous pulmonary venous return and atrial septal defect). To analyze flow patterns, 2D planes were placed on the main pulmonary artery (PA), left and right PA. Flow patterns were assessed manually by two independent viewers using vector fields, streamlines and particle traces, and semi-automatically by vorticity quantification.

Results

Two counter-rotating helices were found in the main PA of volunteers. Right-handed helical flow was detected in the right PA of 15 volunteers. Analysis of the helical flow by particles traces revealed that both helices contributed mainly to the flow in the right PA. In the patient with corrected TGA helical flow was not detected. Abnormal vortical flow was visualized in the main PA of patient 2, suggesting elevated mean PA pressure.

Conclusions

Helical flow is normally present in the main PA and right PA. 4D flow is an excellent tool to evaluate noninvasively complex blood flow patterns in the pulmonary circulation. Knowledge of normal and abnormal flow patterns might help to evaluate patients with congenital heart disease adding functional information undetectable with other imaging modalities.     

Analyses of the endoreversible Carnot cycle with entropy theory and entransy theory

The endoreversible Carnot cycle is analyzed based on the concepts of entropy generation, entropy generation number, entransy loss, and entransy loss coefficient. The relationships of the cycle output power and heat-work conversion efficiency with these parameters are discussed. For the numerical examples discussed, the preconditions of the application for these concepts are derived. When the inlet temperatures and heat capacity flow rates of hot streams and environment temperature are prescribed, the results show that the concepts of entropy generation and entransy loss are applicable. However, in the presence of various inlet temperatures of streams, larger entransy loss rate still leads to larger output power, while smaller entropy generation rate does not. When the heat capacity flow rates of hot streams are various, neither larger entransy loss rate nor smaller entropy generation rate always leads to larger output power. Larger entransy loss coefficient always leads to larger heat-work conversion efficiency for the cases discussed, while smaller entropy generation number does not always.     

Entropy resistance analyses of a two-stream parallel flow heat exchanger with viscous heating

Heat exchangers are widely used in industry, and analyses and optimizations of the performance of heat exchangers are important topics. In this paper, we define the concept of entropy resistance based on the entropy generation analyses of a one-dimensional heat transfer process. With this concept, a two-stream parallel flow heat exchanger with viscous heating is analyzed and discussed. It is found that the minimization of entropy resistance always leads to the maximum heat transfer rate for the discussed two-stream parallel flow heat exchanger, while the minimizations of entropy generation rate, entropy generation numbers, and revised entropy generation number do not always.     

The Value of Heart Rhythm Complexity in Identifying High-Risk Pulmonary Hypertension Patients

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a fatal disease—even with state-of-the-art medical treatment. Non-invasive clinical tools for risk stratification are still lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical utility of heart rhythm complexity in risk stratification for PH patients. We prospectively enrolled 54 PH patients, including 20 high-risk patients (group A; defined as WHO functional class IV or class III with severely compromised hemodynamics), and 34 low-risk patients (group B). Both linear and non-linear heart rate variability (HRV) variables, including detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) and multiscale entropy (MSE), were analyzed. In linear and non-linear HRV analysis, low frequency and high frequency ratio, DFAα1, MSE slope 5, scale 5, and area 6–20 were significantly lower in group A. Among all HRV variables, MSE scale 5 (AUC: 0.758) had the best predictive power to discriminate the two groups. In multivariable analysis, MSE scale 5 (p = 0.010) was the only significantly predictor of severe PH in all HRV variables. In conclusion, the patients with severe PH had worse heart rhythm complexity. MSE parameters, especially scale 5, can help to identify high-risk PH patients.     

Impaired pulmonary blood flow distribution in congestive heart failure assessed using synchrotron radiation microangiography

Synchrotron radiation microangiography is a powerful tool for assessing adverse changes in pulmonary vessel density associated with primary pulmonary hypertension (PH). Congestive heart failure (CHF) leads to a `secondary' onset of PH, yet it is unknown whether secondary PH is also associated with reduced vessel density. This study utilized synchrotron radiation to assess both pulmonary vessel density and endothelial function in a Dahl rat model of CHF with secondary PH. High salt‐fed Dahl salt‐sensitive (Dahl‐S) and salt‐resistant (Dahl‐R) rats were anesthetized and microangiography was performed to assess the pulmonary vessel density and vascular responses to (i) sodium nitroprusside (5.0 µg kg^?1 min^?1), (ii) acetylcholine (3.0 µg kg^?1 min^?1) and (iii) ET‐1_A receptor blockade, BQ‐123 (1 mg kg^?1). Dahl‐S rats developed CHF and secondary PH as evident by endothelial dysfunction, impaired vasodilatory responses to acetylcholine, enhanced vasodilatory responses to BQ‐123 and extensive pulmonary vascular remodeling. Consequently, the pulmonary vessel density was adversely reduced. Interestingly, the etiology of secondary PH manifests with structural and functional changes that are comparable with that previously reported for primary PH. One important discrepancy, however, is that ET‐1 modulation of pulmonary vessels is most striking in vessels with a diameter range of 100–200 µm in secondary PH, in contrast to a range of 200–300 µm in primary PH. Such discrepancies should be considered in future studies investigating primary and secondary forms of PH.     

用近红外组织血氧参数无损监测仪进行运动人体研究

利用我国自主生产的近红外组织血氧参数无损监测仪对8名中长跑运动员在功率自行车上作等级递增负荷运动时, 大腿股四头肌组织中肌氧含量的变化进行监测与分析, 同时测量运动员的血乳酸浓度、血容量和心率的变化。结果显示肌氧含量与运动负荷、血乳酸、血容量、心率密切相关(p<0.01)。对一人经过多次测定肌氧含量和血乳酸浓度,结果呈规律性的下降和上升,每次之间数值的横向比对,没有明显变化。由此表明,可以根据运动时骨骼肌中肌氧含量的变化来判断受试者所能承受的运动强度和在对应强度下所对应的血乳酸浓度以及肌氧下降的拐点所对应的血乳酸上升的拐点。通过调查,了解NIRS 技术在运动领域中的研究及应用的现状,分析存在的主要问题和今后的研究趋向。目的在于使大家通过对NIRS技术的不断了解,认识到我国自主生产的近红外组织血氧参数无损监测仪所测的肌氧含量指标,作为测定运动氧代谢能力是一项敏感的、无损的、实时可靠的指标, 与传统有创的、离体的、繁琐的检测手段相比较具有不可替代的优势。     

Magnetic resonance imaging of coronary arteries and heart valves in a living mouse: techniques and preliminary results

New investigations in MRI of a mouse heart showed high-contrast cardiac images and thereby the possibility of doing functional cardiac studies of in vivo mice. But is MRI, in addition, capable of visualizing microstructures such as the coronary arteries and the heart valves of a living mouse? To answer this question, 2D and 3D gradient echo sequences with and without flow compensation were used to image the coronary arteries. To increase signal-to-noise ratio, a birdcage resonator was optimized for mouse heart imaging. Contrast between blood and myocardium was achieved through the inflow effect. A segmented three-dimensional FLASH sequence acquired with a multiple overlap thin slab technique showed the best results. With this technique an isotropic resolution of 100 microm was achieved. The left coronary artery could be visualized up to the apex of the heart. This is demonstrated with short axis views and 3D surface reconstructions of the mouse heart. The four cardiac valves were also visible with the 3D method.     

A comparison of different entransy flow definitions and entropy generation in thermal radiation optimization

In thermal radiation, taking heat flow as an extensive quantity and defining the potential as temperature T or the black body emissive power U will lead to two different definitions of radiation entransy flow and the corresponding principles for thermal radiation optimization. The two definitions of radiation entransy flow and the corresponding optimization prin ciples are compared in this paper. When the total heat flow is given, the optimization objectives of the extremum entransy dissipation principles （EEDPs） developed based on potentials T and U correspond to the minimum equivalent temperature difference and the minimum equivalent blackbody emissive power difference respectively. The physical meaning of the definition based on potential U is clearer than that based on potential T, but the latter one can be used for the coupled heat transfer optimization problem while the former one cannot. The extremum entropy generation principle （EEGP） for thermal radiation is also derived, which includes the minimum entropy generation principle for thermal radiation. When the radiation heat flow is prescribed, the EEGP reveals that the minimum entropy generation leads to the minimum equivalent thermodynamic potential difference, which is not the expected objective in heat transfer. Therefore, the minimum entropy generation is not always appropriate for thermal radiation optimization. Finally, three thermal radiation optimization examples are discussed, and the results show that the difference in optimization objective between the EEDPs and the EEGP leads to the difference between the optimization results. The EEDP based on potential T is more useful in practical application since its optimization objective is usually consistent with the expected one.     

Thermodynamics Irreversibilities Analysis of Oxy-Fuel Diffusion Flames: The Effect of Oxygen Concentration

In studies on the combustion process, thermodynamic analysis can be used to evaluate the irreversibility of the combustion process and improve energy utilization efficiency. In this paper, the combustion process of a laminar oxy-fuel diffusion flame was simulated, and the entropy generation due to the irreversibilities of the radiation process, the heat conduction and heat convection process, the mass diffusion process, and the chemical reaction process was calculated. The effect of the oxygen concentration in the oxidizer on the entropy generation was analyzed. The results indicated that, as the oxygen concentration in the oxidizer increases, the radiative entropy generation first increases and then decreases, and the convective and conductive entropy generation, the mass diffusion entropy generation, the chemical entropy generation, and the total entropy generation gradually increase.     

Analyses of an air conditioning system with entropy generation minimization and entransy theory

In this paper,based on the generalized heat transfer law,an air conditioning system is analyzed with the entropy generation minimization and the entransy theory.Taking the coefficient of performance(denoted as COP) and heat flow rate Q~(out) which is released into the room as the optimization objectives,we discuss the applicabilities of the entropy generation minimization and entransy theory to the optimizations.Five numerical cases are presented.Combining the numerical results and theoretical analyses,we can conclude that the optimization applicabilities of the two theories are conditional.If Q~(out) is the optimization objective,larger entransy increase rate always leads to larger Q~(out),while smaller entropy generation rate does not.If we take COP as the optimization objective,neither the entropy generation minimization nor the concept of entransy increase is always applicable.Furthermore,we find that the concept of entransy dissipation is not applicable for the discussed cases.     

Entropy Generation Analysis in Convective Ferromagnetic Nano Blood Flow Through a Composite Stenosed Arteries with Permeable Wall

The study of heat transfer is of significant importance in many biological and biomedical industry problems.This investigation comprises of the study of entropy generation analysis of the blood flow in the arteries with permeable walls. The convection through the flow is studied with compliments to the entropy generation. Governing problem is formulized and solved for low Reynold's number and long wavelength approximations. Exact analytical solutions have been obtained and are analyzed graphically. It is seen that temperature for pure water is lower as compared to the copper water. It gains magnitude with an increase in the slip parameter.     

(火积)理论在热功转换过程中的应用探讨

分析和讨论了(火积)理论在热功转换过程的应用及其局限性.对Carnot循环的分析表明,Carnot循环中系统的(火积)是平衡的,但(火积)和熵之间不存在dG=T2dS这样的联系.对于一般热力学过程,分析表明,在热量传递到内可逆循环中间接对外做功时,现有的(火积)理论可用于系统的分析.讨论了热功转换过程分析中(火积)理论与熵理论的不同.分析表明,两个理论的分析角度及优化输出功的前提条件是不同的.熵产从可用能损失的角度分析热功转换过程,而(火积)理论则从热量势能消耗的角度.当输入系统的可用能给定或者输入系统的热量及热量进、出系统的热力学力给定时,熵产最小化对应于输出功最大;对于(火积)理论,则当输入系统的热量及热量进、出系统的温度给定时,最大(火积)损失对应于最大输出功.同时,它们各自均有局限性.当相应的前提条件不满足时,最大(火积)损失或最小熵产可能不与最大输出功相对应.     

Entropy production in a cell and reversal of entropy flow as an anticancer therapy

The entropy production rate of cancer cells is always higher than healthy cells in the case where no external field is applied. Different entropy production between two kinds of cells determines the direction of entropy flow among cells. The entropy flow is the carrier of information flow. The entropy flow from cancerous cells to healthy cells takes along the harmful information of cancerous cells, propagating its toxic action to healthy tissues. We demonstrate that a low-frequency and lowintensity electromagnetic field or ultrasound irradiation may increase the entropy production rate of a cell in normal tissue than that in cancer and consequently reverse the direction of entropy current between two kinds of cells. The modification of the PH value of cells may also cause the reversal of the direction of entropy flow between healthy and cancerous cells. Therefore, the biological tissue under the irradiation of an electromagnetic field or ultrasound or under the appropriate change of cell acidity can avoid the propagation of harmful information from cancer cells. We suggest that this entropy mechanism possibly provides a basis for a novel approach to anticancer therapy.      

基于符号相对熵的心电信号时间不可逆性分析

心电图(ECG)信号的时间不可逆性能够反映出心脏的生理功能和健康状态.从短时ECG信号中探测时间不可逆性特征具有重要的现实意义. 文章提出符号相对熵方法(先进行符号化处理,再分别计算它们的时间不可逆性),研究了从MIT-BIH标准数据库中提取的正常窦性心律(normal sinus rhythm,NSR)、心室纤颤(ventricular fibrillation,VF)、心脏猝死(sudden cardiac death,SCD)三种信号.结果表明,这三种信号的时间不可逆性有所不同:NSR信号的时间不可 关键词： 心电信号 相对熵 时间不可逆性     

Lattice Boltzmann method simulating hemodynamics in the three-dimensional stenosed and recanalized human carotid bifurcations

By using the lattice Boltzmann method(LBM)pulsatile blood flows were simulated in three-dimensional moderate stenosed and recanalized carotid bifurcations to understand local hemodynamics and its relevance in arterial atherosclerosis formation and progression.The helical flow patterns,secondary flow and wall dynamical pressure spatiotemporal distributions were investigated,which leads to the disturbed shear forces in the carotid artery bifurcations.The wall shear stress distributions indicated by time-averaged wall shear stress(TAWSS),oscillatory shear index(OSI),and the relative residence time(RRT)in a cardiac cycle revealed the regions where atherosclerotic plaques are prone to form,extend or rupture.This study also illustrates the point that locally disturbed flow may be considered as an indicator for early atherosclerosis diagnosis.Additionally the present work demonstrates the robust and highly efficient advantages of the LBM for the hemodynamics study of the human blood vessel system.     

Effects of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy on Cardio-Respiratory Coupling

In this study, the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on the relationship between the cardiovascular and respiratory systems in heart failure subjects was examined for the first time. We hypothesized that alterations in cardio-respiratory interactions, after CRT implantation, quantified by signal complexity, could be a marker of a favorable CRT response. Sample entropy and scaling exponents were calculated from synchronously recorded cardiac and respiratory signals 20 min in duration, collected in 47 heart failure patients at rest, before and 9 months after CRT implantation. Further, cross-sample entropy between these signals was calculated. After CRT, all patients had lower heart rate and CRT responders had reduced breathing frequency. Results revealed that higher cardiac rhythm complexity in CRT non-responders was associated with weak correlations of cardiac rhythm at baseline measurement over long scales and over short scales at follow-up recording. Unlike CRT responders, in non-responders, a significant difference in respiratory rhythm complexity between measurements could be consequence of divergent changes in correlation properties of the respiratory signal over short and long scales. Asynchrony between cardiac and respiratory rhythm increased significantly in CRT non-responders during follow-up. Quantification of complexity and synchrony between cardiac and respiratory signals shows significant associations between CRT success and stability of cardio-respiratory coupling.     

Application of linear optimization techniques to MRI phase contrast blood flow measurements

The goal of this study was to use linear optimization techniques as a systematic method of cine phase contrast pulse sequence design and to apply this technique to the measurement of blood flow in vivo. The optimized waveforms were validated in a constant flow phantom with average velocities ranging from 5 to 50 cm/s. The same optimized sequence was also run in a segmented k-space variation with five phase encoding lines per segment. The magnetic resonance (MR) derived velocity measurements were accurate over the entire range of velocities tested (p < .05) in both cases. The same optimized pulse sequence was applied to the measurement of flow in the main pulmonary artery of five normal volunteers and compared with stroke volumes and cardiac outputs calculated from right ventricular volume measurements. These measurements showed a mean difference between the MR phase contrast calculated stroke volume and the volumetric stroke volume measurement of 9.8 ± 11.6%. The mean difference between the calculated phase contrast cardiac output and the volumetric cardiac output was 4.4 ± 10%. These results imply that optimization techniques are an efficient method for designing cine phase contrast pulse sequences.     

直接冷却高温超导电流引线的有限时间热力学分析

用有限时间热力学最小熵产率的方法对连续冷却电流引线进行优化 ,比较高温超导电流引线连续冷却和冷端冷却两种直接冷却方式。优化后的连续冷却电流引线上热流量随温度的降低而减小 ,温度在高温段变化较快 ,熵产率小。冷端冷却时在整个引线上热流量分布相同 ,温度在低温端变化较明显 ,熵产率较大。优化后的连续冷却方式比冷端冷却方式合理。     

带沟槽结构的平板流动中的熵产分析

基于大涡模拟，采用Fluent软件对带沟槽结构的平板流动过程进行熵产分析，探究沟槽结构引起的熵产变化规律.结果表明：沟槽结构能减少流动过程中的熵产，在30 m·s^-1时（Re≈20 000），近壁区总熵产减少约25%，40 m·s^-1时（Re≈27 000）减少约19%，但其结构对后续流动没有持续性影响，且随着法向高度的增加，影响逐渐变小；熵产在沟槽顶端部分的数值远大于其他区域，湍流作用引起的熵产起主要作用.所得结论为优化沟槽结构减阻提供了理论依据.