Solar panels simulation data generated using LTSpice under different operating conditions.

This paper presents a detailed description of the circuit simulation data obtained using LTspice, a high-performance SPICE simulation software for easing the simulation of solar panel circuit data. The data represents the photovoltaic modules with different configurations and cells placed in series and parallel. The data are obtained from automated Python creation and simulation of PV cells in specified formats. The collected data are then organized in a CSV (Comma Separated Value) file. Each file contains properties of the photovoltaic cell, such as individual cell voltage, current, and others. The data are then used to evaluate each of the photovoltaic modules of an array.

Feasibility of dual-phase 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT imaging in rheumatoid arthritis evaluation.

BACKGROUND: To prospectively demonstrate the feasibility of performing dual-phase SPECT/CT for the assessment of the small joints of the hands of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and to evaluate the reliability of the quantitative and qualitative measures derived from the resulting images. METHODS: A SPECT/CT imaging protocol was developed in this pilot study to scan both hands simultaneously in participants with RA, in two phases of 99mTc-MDP radiotracer uptake, namely the soft-tissue blood pool phase (within 15 minutes after radiotracer injection) and osseous phase (after 3 hours). Joints were evaluated qualitatively (normal vs. abnormal uptake) and quantitatively [by measuring a newly developed metric, maximum corrected count ratio (MCCR)]. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations were repeated to assess reliability. RESULTS: Four participants completed seven studies (all four were imaged at baseline, and three of them at follow-up after 1-month of arthritis therapy). A total of 280 joints (20 per hand) were evaluated. The MCCR from soft-tissue phase scans was significantly higher for clinically abnormal joints compared to clinically normal ones; P<0.001, however the MCCR from the osseous phase scans were not different between the two joint groups. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) for MCCR was excellent [0.9789, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9734-0.9833]. Intra-observer agreement for qualitative SPECT findings was substantial for both the soft-tissue phase (kappa =0.78, 95% CI: 0.72-0.83) and osseous-phase (kappa =0.70, 95% CI: 0.64-0.76) scans. CONCLUSIONS: Extracting reliable quantitative and qualitative measures from dual-phase 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT hand scans is feasible in RA patients. SPECT/CT may provide a unique means for assessing both synovitis and osseous involvement in RA joints using the same radiotracer injection.

Synchronous thoracic and head-and-neck malignancies-double trouble-challenges, pitfalls, and lessons learnt.

Synchronous malignancies arising from head and neck and thorax are rare presentation, and only few cases are reported in the scientific literature. We report three cases of double primary malignancies treated at our hospital.

Risk of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm after ectatic aorta detection from initial screening.

OBJECTIVE: Current abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surveillance guidelines lack any follow-up recommendations after initial abdominal aortic screening diameter of less than 3.0 cm. Some reports have demonstrated patients with late AAA formation and late ruptures after initial ultrasound screening detection of patients with an aortic diameter of 2.5 to 2.9 cm (ectatic aorta). The purpose of this study was to determine ectatic aorta prevalence, AAA development, rupture risk, and risk factor profile in patients with detected ectatic aortas in a AAA screening program. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients screened for AAA from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2016, within a regional health care system was conducted. Screening criteria were men 65 to 75 years of age that smoked a minimum of 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. An ectatic aorta was defined as a maximum aortic diameter from 2.5 to 2.9 cm. An AAA was defined as an aortic diameter of 3 cm or greater. Patients screened with ectatic aortas who had subsequent follow-up imaging of the aorta with a minimum of 1-year follow-up were analyzed for associated clinical and cardiovascular risk factors. All data were collected through December 3,/2018. A logistic regression of statistically significant variables from univariate and χ2 analyses were performed to identify risks associated with the development of AAA from an initially diagnosed ectatic aorta. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess survival data. A P value of less than .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: From a screening pool of 19,649 patients, 3205 (16.3%) with a mean age of 72.1 ± 5.3 years were identified to have an ectatic aorta from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2016. The average screening ectatic aortic diameter was 2.6 ± 0.1 cm. There were 672 patients (21.0%) with a mean age of 73.0 ± 5.7 years who received subsequent imaging for other clinical indications and 193 of these patients (28.7%) with ectatic aortas developed an AAA from the last follow-up scan (4.2 ± 2.5 years). The average observation length of all patients was 6.4 ± 2.9 years. No ruptures were reported, but 27.8% of deaths were of unknown cause. One patient had aortic growth to 5.5 cm or greater (0.15%). Larger initial screening diameter (P < .01), presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P < .01), and active smoking (P = .01) were associated with AAA development. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with diagnosed ectatic aortas from screening who are active smokers or have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are likely to develop an AAA.