A New Pseudo-Spectral Method Using the Discrete Cosine Transform.

The pseudo-spectral (PS) method on the basis of the Fourier transform is a numerical method for estimating derivatives. Generally, the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) is used when implementing the PS method. However, when the values on both sides of the sequences differ significantly, oscillatory approximations around both sides appear due to the periodicity resulting from the DFT. To address this problem, we propose a new PS method based on symmetric extension. We mathematically derive the proposed method using the discrete cosine transform (DCT) in the forward transform from the relation between DFT and DCT. DCT allows a sequence to function as a symmetrically extended sequence and estimates derivatives in the transformed domain. The superior performance of the proposed method is demonstrated through image interpolation. Potential applications of the proposed method are numerical simulations using the Fourier based PS method in many fields such as fluid dynamics, meteorology, and geophysics.

Three-Dimensional Block Matching Using Orthonormal Tree-Structured Haar Transform for Multichannel Images.

Multichannel images, i.e., images of the same object or scene taken in different spectral bands or with different imaging modalities/settings, are common in many applications. For example, multispectral images contain several wavelength bands and hence, have richer information than color images. Multichannel magnetic resonance imaging and multichannel computed tomography images are common in medical imaging diagnostics, and multimodal images are also routinely used in art investigation. All the methods for grayscale images can be applied to multichannel images by processing each channel/band separately. However, it requires vast computational time, especially for the task of searching for overlapping patches similar to a given query patch. To address this problem, we propose a three-dimensional orthonormal tree-structured Haar transform (3D-OTSHT) targeting fast full search equivalent for three-dimensional block matching in multichannel images. The use of a three-dimensional integral image significantly saves time to obtain the 3D-OTSHT coefficients. We demonstrate superior performance of the proposed block matching.

Primary Cardiac Lymphoma: A Lesson Learned from an Unsuccessful Experience.

A 79-year-old man was admitted because of complete heart block. Echocardiograms showed an abnormal mass adjacent to the sinus of Valsalva. Subsequent surgical resection was not successful. Despite chemotherapy, the patient died from multiple organ failure. It is important to recognize that approximately 80% of cases of cardiac lymphoma are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which is the only malignant neoplasm that may respond well to chemotherapy with rituximab. In order to save patients' lives, the early implementation of chemotherapy with rituximab is critical and should be considered as a therapeutic diagnostic option in select patients.

Usefulness of soluble dietary fiber for the treatment of diarrhea during enteral nutrition in elderly patients.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the clinical usefulness of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) for the treatment of diarrhea during enteral nutrition in elderly patients. METHODS: This study included 10 men and 10 women (mean age +/- standard deviation: 79.3 +/- 5.1 y) who had diarrhea during long-term nutrition management. When administering SDF, the initial dose was 7 g and thereafter gradually increased at 1-wk intervals. After 4 wk, the administration was discontinued for 2 wk to confirm the effects of SDF. RESULTS: After the administration of SDF, serum diamine oxidase activity significantly increased (P < 0.001): The water content of the feces decreased significantly after the administration of fiber (P < 0.01). The frequency of daily bowel movements also decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Simultaneously, the fecal features improved. Concerning intestinal flora, there were no significant changes in the total number of bacteria or the number of anaerobic bacteria. The fecal pH decreased significantly 4 wk after the administration of fiber (P < 0.05). The total level of short-chain fatty acids increased significantly 4 wk after the administration of fiber (P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in the various nutritional indices. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of SDF is useful for controlling spontaneous, favorable bowel movement by improving symptoms of small intestinal mucosal atrophy and normalizing the intestinal flora.