Microwave Spectroscopy as a Potential Tool for Color Grading Diamonds

A diamond’s color grading is a dominant property that determines its market value. Its color quality is dependent on the light transmittance through the diamond and is largely influenced by nitrogen contamination, which induces a yellow/brown tint within the diamond, as well as by structural defects in the crystal (in rare cases boron contamination results in a blue tint). Generally, spectroscopic instrumentation (in the infrared or UV–visible spectral range) is used in industry to measure polished and rough diamonds, but the results are not accurate enough for precise determination of color grade. Thus, new methods should be developed to determine the color grade of diamonds at longer wavelengths, such as microwave (MV). No difference exists between rough and polished diamonds regarding stray light when the MW frequency is used. Thus, several waveguides that cover a frequency range of 3.95–26.5 GHz, as well as suitable resonator mirrors, have been developed using transmission/reflection and resonator methods. A good correlation between the S12 parameter and the nitrogen contamination content was found using the transmission/reflection method. It was concluded that electromagnetic property measurements of diamonds in the MW frequency range can be used to determine their nitrogen content and color grading. The MW technique results were in good agreement with those obtained from the infrared spectra of diamonds.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on the early-phase arterial healing after drug-eluting stent implantation

Background Early arterial healing after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation may enable short dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) strategy. The impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on this healing has not been elucidated. We used coronary angioscopy (CAS) to compare intravascular status of DM and non-DM patients in the early phase after DES implantation. Methods This study was a multicenter retrospective observational study. We analyzed CAS findings of 337 lesions from 270 patients evaluated 3–5 months after DES implantation. We divided the lesion into two groups: DM (n = 149) and non-DM (n = 188). We assessed neointimal coverage (NIC) grades (dominant, maximum and minimum), thrombus adhesion and maximum yellow color grade. NIC was graded as follows: grade 0, stent struts were not covered; grade 1, stent struts were covered by thin layer; grade 2, stent struts were buried under neointima. Yellow color was graded as grade 0, white; grade 1, light yellow; grade 2, yellow; grade 3, intensive yellow. Results Minimum NIC grade was significantly lower in DM than in non-DM groups (p = 0.002), whereas dominant and maximum NIC grades were similar between them (p = 0.59 and p = 0.94, respectively), as were thrombus adhesion (44.3% vs. 38.8%, p = 0.32) and maximum yellow color grade (p = 0.78). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that DM was an independent predictor of minimum NIC of grade 0 (odds ratio: 2.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.19–3.86, p = 0.011). Conclusions DM patients showed more uncovered struts than non-DM patients 3–5 months after DES implantation, suggesting that the recent ultra-short DAPT strategy might not be easily applied to DM patients.

Impact of Diabetes Mellitus on the Early-Phase Arterial Healing After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation

Background: Early arterial healing after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation may enable short dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) strategy. The impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on this healing has not been elucidated. We used coronary angioscopy (CAS) to compare intravascular status of DM and non-DM patients in the early phase after DES implantation.Methods: This study was a multicenter retrospective observational study. We analyzed CAS findings of 337 lesions from 270 patients evaluated 3-5 months after DES implantation. We divided the lesion into two groups: DM (n=149) and non-DM (n=188). We assessed neointimal coverage (NIC) grades (dominant, maximum and minimum), thrombus adhesion and maximum yellow color grade. NIC was graded as follows: grade 0, stent struts were not covered; grade 1, stent struts were covered by thin layer; grade 2, stent struts were buried under neointima. Yellow color was graded as grade 0, white; grade 1, light yellow; grade 2, yellow; grade 3, intensive yellow.Results: Minimum NIC grade was significantly lower in DM than in non-DM groups (p=0.002), whereas dominant and maximum NIC grades were similar between them (p=0.59 and p=0.94, respectively), as were thrombus adhesion (44.3% vs. 38.8%, p=0.32) and maximum yellow color grade (p=0.78). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that DM was an independent predictor of minimum NIC of grade 0 (odds ratio: 2.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.19-3.86, p=0.011).Conclusion: DM patients showed more uncovered struts than non-DM patients 3-5 months after DES implantation, suggesting that the recent ultra-short DAPT strategy might not be easily applied to DM patients.

Impact of Diabetes Mellitus on the Early-Phase Arterial Healing After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation

Background: Early arterial healing after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation may enable short dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) strategy. The impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on this healing has not been elucidated. We used coronary angioscopy (CAS) to compare intravascular status of DM and non-DM patients in the early phase after DES implantation.Methods: This study was a multicenter retrospective observational study. We analyzed CAS findings of 337 lesions from 270 patients evaluated 3-5 months after DES implantation. We divided the lesion into two groups: DM (n=149) and non-DM (n=188). We assessed neointimal coverage (NIC) grades (dominant, maximum and minimum), thrombus adhesion and maximum yellow color grade. NIC was graded as follows: grade 0, stent struts were not covered; grade 1, stent struts were covered by thin layer; grade 2, stent struts were buried under neointima. Yellow color was graded as grade 0, white; grade 1, light yellow; grade 2, yellow; grade 3, intensive yellow.Results: Minimum NIC grade was significantly lower in DM than in non-DM groups (p=0.002), whereas dominant and maximum NIC grades were similar between them (p=0.59 and p=0.94, respectively), as were thrombus adhesion (44.3% vs. 38.8%, p=0.32) and maximum yellow color grade (p=0.78). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that DM was an independent predictor of minimum NIC of grade 0 (odds ratio: 2.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.19-3.86, p=0.011).Conclusion: DM patients showed more uncovered struts than non-DM patients 3-5 months after DES implantation, suggesting that the recent ultra-short DAPT strategy might not be easily applied to DM patients.

The Pretibial edema strain ratio obtained by elastography can be used in differential diagnosis of patients with chronic heart failure and nephrotic syndrome

Objective: Pretibial edema (PTO) is a common examination finding in patients with both heart failure (HF) and nephrotic syndrome (NS). We aimed to evaluate the utility of PTO strain ratio (PTO-SR) obtained by strain elastography (SE) in the diagnosis of HF and NS. Materials and Methods: A total of 80 patients (40 patients with HF and 40 patients with NS) were included in this study. Physical examination echocardiography and laboratory examinations were performed. PTO elastographic color grade and PTO-SR measurements were performed in the PTO region by SE. Results: PTO-SR and presence of PTO elastographic color grade-I were found to be higher in HF. Tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TRPG), left ventricular (LV) diameters and volumes were significantly higher and LV ejection fraction (EF) was significantly lower in HF. LVEF and PTO-SR independently determined the presence of HF. The each-0.1 increase in PTO-SR was being to the risk of HF by 29.1%. In predicting the presence of HF, the area under the ROC curve was 0.827 for PTO-SR. The cut-off value for PTO-SR was taken as 0.70, it was determined the patients with HF disease with 80.0% sensitivity and 76.5% specificity. PTO-SR value was found to be closely related to TRPG, LVEF, and LV volumes. A close relationship was found between PTO-SR and TRPG. Conclusion: In patients with HF, the PTO-SR obtained by SE is higher than in patients with NS and can be used as an objective parameter for HF differential diagnosis in addition to conventional HF diagnostic methods.

The Method Research of Environmental Noise 3D Graphic Expression Based on CityEngine

Based on CityEngine as software platform, this paper put forward 3D graphic expression of environment noise, and establishes the environmental noise monitoring model of 3D space by CSG and B-Rep hybrid algorithm. Then, according to the noise data and the legend of the color grade, we render the surface area of ​​the 3D monitoring geometric model with the expression of grid method. Finally, the simulation shows that this method can be applied to 3D graphical expression of environmental noise.