Techniques for Model Deployment

Current practices of Asia-Pacific cardiologists in the utilization of bioresorbable scaffolds

By the year 2010 I had begun to seriously question the type of philosophy we learn and teach in universities in sub-Saharan Africa. I also questioned the technique of curriculum deployment. But besides the technique of curriculum deployment which can be blamed on the teachers, one ready suspicion for the poverty of the philosophy education in Africa is the dominance of a Western curriculum. On the basis of this, I identified some new models for Africanising the philosophy curriculum. They are: the B-model, the C-model and the D-model. Of the three, I recommended the C-model to the University of Calabar and am still awaiting approval. However, I realise now that it never occurred to me to double-check on the prospects and challenges of my proposed C-model and the other two models. This is the focus of this paper. First, I want to explain what it might mean to Africanise the philosophy curriculum. Second, I want to describe, however briefly, the structure of the three models. And third, I want to properly examine the prospects and challenges that might confront them in practice, and leave the judgement as to which is better to the reader. My method will consist in critical analysis.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the technique of transapical deployment of a thoracic endograft and to discuss the specifics of this access. The technique of endograft deployment through a transapical access is demonstrated in a patient with a symptomatic 14-cm aortic arch aneurysm. The 73-year-old patient, with concomitant chronic obstructive airway disease and cardiovascular disease, had been denied open surgery. Femoral artery access was deemed contraindicated because of a more distal concomitant type III thoracoabdominal aneurysm, borderline renal failure and heavily calcified iliac arteries. Bilateral iliac-subclavian debranching and thoracic endografting via a combined transapical and left subclavian access successfully excluded the thoracic aortic aneurysm. The patient died within 24 hours postoperatively due to a massive myocardial infarction. In conclusion, transapical access for thoracic endograft delivery is feasible. Combined with complex debranching procedures in a challenging aneurysmal anatomy, it carries a high risk for periprocedural complications.

By the year 2010 I had begun to seriously question the type of philosophy we learn and teach in universities in sub-Saharan Africa. I also questioned the technique of curriculum deployment. But besides the technique of curriculum deployment which can be blamed on the teachers, one ready suspicion for the poverty of the philosophy education in Africa is the dominance of a Western curriculum. On the basis of this, I identified some new models for Africanising the philosophy curriculum. They are: the B-model, the C-model and the D-model. Of the three, I recommended the C-model to the University of Calabar and am still awaiting approval. However, I realise now that it never occurred to me to double-check on the prospects and challenges of my proposed C-model and the other two models. This is the focus of this paper. First, I want to explain what it might mean to Africanise the philosophy curriculum. Second, I want to describe, however briefly, the structure of the three models. And third, I want to properly examine the prospects and challenges that might confront them in practice, and leave the judgement as to which is better to the reader. My method will consist in critical analysis.

BackgroundTracheobronchial stents types, uses, techniques for deployment and extraction have practice variations around the world.MethodsWe collected responses by sending an online survey of 8 questions to world interventional bronchology member societies and social media groups.ResultsThere were 269 respondents from 47 countries. Europe had 97 respondents from 22 countries. There were 8 respondents from Australia, 7 from Africa (3 countries) and 7 from 4 countries in South America (SA). North America (NA) had 72 respondents from 3 countries. Asia had 78 respondents from 14 countries. For stent placements 15% [41] used fiberoptic bronchoscope (FB) only. Rigid bronchoscopy (RB) was solely utilized by 38% [102]. Forty-six percent [123] used a combination of RB and FB (P value <0.00001). For stent extraction 13% [19] used FB alone, 57% [85] used RB, and 36% [54] used a combination of RB and FB (P value <0.00001). Placement of stents were 50.5% [135] only by direct visualization. Twenty-three percent [61] always used fluoroscopic guidance. Twenty-six-point-five percent [71] used fluoroscopy in certain cases (P value <0.00001). Sixty percent [162] decided stent sizing by measurements of stenotic and non-stenotic areas on radiology. Twelve percent [32] respondents used sizing devices. Sixty-five percent [177] used a ruler and bronchoscope to measure stenotic areas. Thirty-eight percent [104] used visual estimation and experience. Seven percent [19] used serial balloon dilatation size. To prevent clogging of stents, 22% [59] prescribed mucolytics. Seventy-three percent [195] nebulized saline, 26% [70] had Mucomyst Nebulization, 24% [65] Nebulized bronchodilators and other methods 11% [30] were advised. Covered self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) 44% was the commonest type of stent used around the world. Silicone stents 37%, Y stents 15%, uncovered SEMS 12%, Montgomery T tube 5% followed. Polyflex stents 3% and custom-made stents 3% were least used. Biodegradable stents were used by 7.5%, and not used by 92.5%.ConclusionsTracheobronchial stent practice norms have slowly evolved, but its practice variations lack uniformity, and have sparse evidence-based studies for its direction.

Deployment and recovery techniques used by the NOAA Data Buoy Office (NDBO) for both large and small buoy systems are discussed. Emphasis is placed on NDBO-designed equipment, including anchor.re1ease devices and chain faking boxes used during deployment; and new devices, including the underwater explosive line cutter and the line-cutting saw used for buoy retrieval. The state-of-the-art of buoy system deployment and retrieval is reviewed based upon current NDBO practices. These practices have been-applied in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as the Gulf of Mexico. INTRODUCTION This paper discusses deployment and retrieval of data buoys which have been developed by the NOAA Data Buoy Office (NDBO) located in Bay St.-Louis, Mississippi. NDBO is a developmental organization of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration whose goals are to develop buoy technology and buoy systems that satisfy requirements for collection of marine environmental data; and to operate data buoys on a reimbursable basis as specified by various government, scientific, and industry user elements. In the period between June 1972 and January 1976, deployment and retrieval operations for data buoys were conducted at 18 sites in waters adjacent to the Continental United States and in the Gulf of Alaska. Buoys are scheduled for deployments at four new locations in the Gulf of Alaska by the fall of 1976. The 22 sites are indicated in Figure 1. In accordance with governmental interagency agreements, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) supports deployment, servicing, and retrieval operations, making it possible to conduct deployment and recoveries on the broad scale indicated in Figure 1. In all, a total of 12 Coast Guard vessels have been used in moored data buoy deployment/retrieval operations. Of these, the USCG Cutter ACUSHNET, based in Gulfport, Mississippi, since 1971, is dedicated to data buoy activities. Although not a dedicated ship, ACUSHNET's sister ship, the USCGC YOCONA on the West Coast has often been available for operations providing for the standardization of techniques. There are three classes of data buoys in the NDBO program. The Deep Ocean Moored Buoy C (DOME) class consists of relatively large buoys having meteorological sensor suites at 10 meters above the sea surface, and are designed to survive severe environments. Their performance objectives include the capability of three years-on-station between shoreside refurbishments, and an average of no more than one visit per year to conduct repairs aboard the buoys by simple single unit change outs. These large buoys must be towed to and from sites in deployment and retrieval operations. The Continental Shelf (CONSHELF) class is comprised of physically smaller data buoys which can be transported as deck cargo to and from deployment sites. Their endurance and survival requirements are not as great as those-imposed on the DOMB systems. Generally, the CONSHELF buoys are too small to allow repairs at sea aboard the buoy.

Engineers and managers have been adopting quality function deployment (QFD) technique to translate the voice of customers into technical parameters and values for improving the quality of products. During the recent years, certain difficulties of applying QFD in practice have been reported. In order to overcome these difficulties, the researchers have been evolving advanced models of QFD. In the research being reported here, one of such advanced models namely total quality function deployment (TQFD) was applied in a manufacturing company to prevent water leakage in a type of pump called shallow well jet pump. The solutions evolved were implemented by releasing the work instructions in this company. This experience indicated that TQFD is a suitable technique for translating the voice of customers into technical languages in a manufacturing company in which employees possess inadequate expertise to develop House of Quality of QFD technique.

Shape-memory abnormalities are seen in some nitinol atrial septal occluders. Variably described as cobra-head, tulip, and others, their incidence, mechanisms, clinical impact, and outcome have not been systematically analysed. We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive device closures in the last 6 years for deformations. Type and size of the occluder, deployment technique, size, and angulation/kinking of the delivery sheath were analysed. Procedural success, duration, and other complications were studied. A total of 112 devices (11.8%) among 950 occluders used in 936 patients showed deformities. Fourteen of 936 received 2 devices. Deformities were transient and self-correcting in 40%. Multivariate analysis showed significant associations with oversized sheaths (p = 0.004), kinked/angulated sheaths (p < 0.001), special deployment techniques (p < 0.001), and twist in the device waist (p = 0.011). Despite more frequent deformities with Figulla (15.6%) and Amplatzer (13.9%) occluders than Cera occluders (6.6%) and larger devices (>24 mm - 14.6%) than smaller devices (less than or equal to 24 mm - 9.7%), they were not significant on multivariate analysis. In vivo manipulations corrected most deformities; nineteen needed in vitro reformations and four needed a change of device. Despite prolongation of the procedure, repeated attempts (mean 2.76 ± 1.7 attempts, with a range from 1 to 9 attempts), and supraventricular tachycardia in two patients, there were no serious adverse effects. Deformations were frequent in 11.8% of atrial septal occluders on a targeted search. Oversized and angulated/kinked sheaths, special techniques like pulmonary vein deployment and twist in device waist during procedure predisposed to deformities. While most deformities were corrected with manipulations, removal of the device was infrequently needed and change of device was rarely required. Long procedural time and multiple attempts for deployment did not affect procedural success.

B-10 | Off-label Use of KA Micro Plug in PDA Closure in Premature Infants Weighing Less than 1500 Grams: Tips for Success

Thinned aperture optical systems (including phased telescope arrays) pose unique problems in specifying or characterizing image quality. Traditional image quality criteria such as "resolution" and encircled energy are woefully inadequate for many thinned aperture applications. Variations in the subaperture geometry that produce only subtle effects upon the core of the point spread function may produce highly undesirable artifacts or spurious images as well as a modulation transfer function (MTF) that exhibits zero (or negligible) values over substantial regions within the cut-off spatial frequency of a filled aperture circumscribing the array. Clearly, some minimum value of the MTF exists below which spatial information cannot be retrieved in the presence of noise. An MTF property called the "practical resolution limit," defined as the reciprocal of the maximum spatial frequency within which no zeros occur in the MTF, thus becomes the image quality criterion of choice for those applications in which fine detail is required from extended objects. This practical resolution limit and its effect upon subaperture configuration will significantly impact the telescope mechanical architecture, stowage and deployment techniques, and perhaps even the booster vehicle selection for future large space telescopes.

Robust allocation of weighted dependency links in cyber–physical networks

Patients at high risk, such as those with marked left ventricular dysfunction, acute coronary syndromes with unstable haemodynamics and arrhythmias, as well as single target vessels that supply a large area of myocardium, are undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with increasing frequency. Percutaneous haemodynamic support devices, including intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation pumps, percutaneous cardiopulmonary support and left ventricular assist devices, have been developed as adjunctive therapies during these complex procedures. Improvements in haemodynamic profiles with the use of these devices enhance procedural safety, allowing successful PCI to be performed in a more stable environment. Nevertheless, the use of these devices is associated with potentially serious complications and solid evidence for their routine use in high-risk PCI is lacking. Ongoing improvements in device designs and deployment techniques may eventually allow earlier, prophylactic use of support devices. Until then, the use of haemodynamic support devices should be individualised after careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks involved.

This research highlights the need for more accurate wireless sensor network deployments (WSN) models to support decision-making. Specifically, it presents the effects of terrain variations on network connectivity in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) deployments. Through use of statistical hypothesis testing, visualization, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), results support significant difference in network connectivity when comparing deployment performance under ideal versus more practical or irregular terrains. These results point to the inadequacy of current simulation environments for supporting deployment decision-making, and point to the need for future research that that improves WSN performance via better deployment techniques.

Clinical studies have identified factors such as the stent design and the deployment technique that are one cause for the success or failure of angioplasty treatments. In addition, the success rate may also depend on the stenosis type. Hence, for a particular stenotic artery, the optimal intervention can only be identified by studying the influence of factors such as stent type, strut thickness, geometry of the stent cell, and stent-artery radial mismatch with the wall. We propose a methodology that allows a set of stent parameters to be varied, with the aim of evaluating the difference in the mechanical environment within the wall before and after angioplasty with stenting. Novel scalar quantities attempt to characterize the wall changes inform of the contact pressure caused by the stent struts, and the stresses within the individual components of the wall caused by the stent. These quantities are derived numerically and serve as indicators, which allow the determination of the correct size and type of the stent for each individual stenosis. In addition, the luminal change due to angioplasty may be computed as well. The methodology is demonstrated by using a full three-dimensional geometrical model of a postmortem specimen of a human iliac artery with a stenosis using imaging data. To describe the material behavior of the artery, we considered mechanical data of eight different vascular tissues, which formed the stenosis. The constitutive models for the tissue components capture the typical anisotropic, nonlinear and dissipative characteristics under supra-physiological loading conditions. Three-dimensional stent models were parametrized in such a way as to enable new designs to be generated simply with regard to variations in their geometric structure. For the three-dimensional stent-artery interaction we use a contact algorithm based on smooth contact surfaces of at least C-continuity, which prevents numerical problems known from standard facet-based contact algorithm. The proposed methodology has the potential to provide a scientific basis for optimizing treatment procedures and stent geometries and materials, to help stent designers examine new stent designs "virtually," and to assist clinicians in choosing the most suitable stent for a particular stenosis.

In Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), the coverage means how well a sensor network will monitor the total area of the region. Node deployment is one of the important issues that need to be solved. The number of sensor nodes has direct impact on the cost of the Wireless Sensor Networks. So, keeping this in mind, the proper deployment of nodes can reduce the complexity of problems, energy consumption can be reduced and thus extends the lifetime of the Wireless Sensor Networks. In this paper, we are considering the tactical environment, so the deployment of sensor node becomes random. We are forming the tessellation of the deployment as Rhombus other than Triangle, Square and Hexagon that are taken ideally for deploying the sensor nodes and after applying the proposed method the life time of the given network increases.