A simple approach is presented for the modeling of complex oscillatory thermal-fluid systems capable of converting low grade heat into useful work. This approach is applied to the NIFTE, a novel low temperature difference heat utilization technology currently under development. Starting from a first-order linear dynamic model of the NIFTE that consists of a network of interconnected spatially l...

Background This study was performed to determine independent predictors of long-term outcome after percutaneous balloon dilation of congenital pulmonary valve stenosis. Smaller follow-up series of patients after balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty have shown inconsistent results regarding the independent relation between prognostic factors and longterm outcome, as many patient selection and technic...

PURPOSE The goal of this study is to model changes in fibre content in aortic valve leaflet material due to mechanical stimuli. METHODS The fibre remodelling process is associated with the redistribution of the internal forces acting in the shell. The process is characterized by the occurrence of extreme stresses and strains. The load distribution function is asymmetrical. The optimization pr...

Introduction: Prosthetic valve thrombosis is a rare and severe complication of valve replacement, most often encountered with a mechanical prosthesis. The significant morbidity and mortality associated with this condition warrant rapid diagnostic evaluation. Although surgery is the first-line therapy in symptomatic obstructive mechanical valve thrombosis, thrombolytic therapy has been used as a...

In recent years, sequential optimality conditions are frequently used for convergence of iterative methods to solve nonlinear constrained optimization problems. The sequential optimality conditions do not require any of the constraint qualications. In this paper, We present the necessary sequential complementary approximate Karush Kuhn Tucker (CAKKT) condition for a point to be a solution of a ...

BACKGROUND This study was performed to determine independent predictors of long-term outcome after percutaneous balloon dilation of congenital pulmonary valve stenosis. Smaller follow-up series of patients after balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty have shown inconsistent results regarding the independent relation between prognostic factors and long-term outcome, as many patient selection and techni...