bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automatic vessel segmentation in MR angiography
Authors: Weiss K J , Mittmann N , Stehning C , Doeblin P , Beyer R , Hashemi D , Kelle S
Published: June 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Vessel-to-background contrast (VBC), the ratio of signal intensities (SI) within a vessel segment compared to the surrounding tissue, is an essential objective parameter for assessing image quality in contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) of peripheral arteries. (1–3) Manual evaluation by the measurement of SIs within the vessel and in the surrounding area is labour-intensive and tedious. (2) An algorithm for automatic segmentation of the vessel lumen and background signal reduces the workload significantly. It has already been successfully applied to CE-MRA in peripheral arterial disease (PAD). (3) However, whether this algorithm is equal to a manual evaluation is not yet known.

Purpose

To compare the manual and automatic evaluation of VBC in CE-MRA in patients with PAD.

Methods

A patient with suspected peripheral arterial disease underwent first-pass subtraction MRA on a 3T scanner. Region-of-interests (ROIs) were drawn on predefined vessel segments (Figure 1), manually inside and outside the vessel lumen and additionally a comprehensive ROI with the vessel under investigation in the centre. The algorithm segmented the comprehensive ROI into the vessel and background by identifying a seed point for the vessel and then using a flood fill algorithm. The remaining vessel branches were removed in order to approximate the true background signal. SI of the manual and the automatic segmentation were compared to define the VBC using the formula SI lumen - SI background divided by the standard deviation (SD) of the background for both methods.

Results

43 vessel segments were evaluated. An example is given in Figure 2 with A) showing an axial view of the right thigh with a comprehensive ROI with the superficial femoral artery in the centre (green), and manual outlining of the lumen (red) and background (blue). Background signal (B1) and vessel lumen (B2) were used to evaluate the manuall values. Automated segmentation with C1) shows the ROI with the femoral artery in the centre. C2) shows the full extent of the vessel as identified by the flood-fill algorithm, and C3) the resulting mask. Background signal was calculated from SIs remaining in C4 after subtraction of the local maximas shown in C5). The mean SI in the vessel lumen was 4171 (standard deviation, SD 954) for the manual evaluation and 5014 (SD 830) for the automatic evaluation (p = 0.001) and in the background 601 (SD 542) for the manual evaluation and 493 (SD 229) for the automatic evaluation ((p = 0.231). The VBC was 10.3 (SD 5.9) for manual evaluation and 12.2 (SD 5.6) for automatic evaluation (p = 0.139).

Conclusion

Automatic segmentation of vessel lumen and background signal allows assessment of the VBC in CE-MRA in patients with PAD. The mean SI of the vessel lumen tends to be overestimated about 20% by the automatic algorithm. Higher patient numbers are required to further clarify the applicability of this algorithm for image quality evaluation.
Diverse changes of ramus coronary artery on computed tomography derived fractional flow reserve due to ramus artery in normal coronary artery disease
Authors: Tsugu T , Tanaka K , Nagatomo Y , Belsack D , Argacha J F , Cosyns B , Buls N , De Maeseneer M , De Mey J
Published: June 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

The ramus artery contributes to the development of turbulence, which may influence computed tomography (CT) derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) even without coronary artery disease. The relationship between ramus-induced turbulence and FFRCT is unclear.

Purpose

To investigate the effect of the ramus artery on FFRCT in normal coronary arteries.

Methods

A total of 120 consecutive patients who underwent both CT angiography including FFRCT and invasive coronary angiography, resulting in < 20% coronary artery stenosis were evaluated. The patients were divided into three groups: absent-ramus (n = 72), small-ramus that could not be analysed by FFRCT (n = 18), and large-ramus that could be analysed by FFRCT (n = 30). FFRCT was measured at the proximal and distal segments of the left anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (LCX), and ramus artery (in absent-ramus group, FFRCT was measured at just above the bifurcation between LAD and LCX) were measured. The proximal FFRCT segment (proximal LAD, yellow circle; proximal Ramus or just above the bifurcation angle, yellow square; proximal LCX, yellow triangle) was measured at the same level of each vessel and the distal segment (distal LAD, white circle; distal ramus, white square; distal LCX, white triangle) was measured at obtained by the FFRCT analysis (Figure 1). Vessel morphology (vessel length, lumen volume, plaque volume), bifurcation angle, and left ventricular mass were assessed.

Results

In the absent-ramus group, proximal FFRCT showed no significant difference between three vessels (LAD, 0.96 ± 0.02; MID, 0.97 ± 0.02; LCX, 0.97 ± 0.02). However, in small and large-ramus groups, proximal FFRCT was significantly higher in the ramus artery than LAD and LCX (small-ramus: LAD = 0.95 ± 0.03, Ramus = 0.97 ± 0.02, LCX = 0.95 ± 0.03; large-ramus: LAD = 0.95 ± 0.03, ramus = 0.98 ± 0.01; LCX = 0.96 ± 0.03; p < 0.05) (Figure 2). A large ramus was associated with a higher prevalence of a distal FFRCT ≤0.80 (odds ratio 7.0, 95% CI 1.2–40.1. p = 0.03). A proximal ramus diameter predicted distal FFRCT ≤ 0.80 (cut-off 2.1 mm, AUC 0.76, sensitivity 100%, specificity 52%, 95% CI 0.61–0.90).

Conclusions

The presence of a large-ramus artery may cause an FFRCT decline in normal coronary arteries.
Estimating elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure by automated left atrial strain analysis in patients with aortic stenosis
Authors: Nabeta T , Fortuni F , Meucci M C , Su J , Bax J J , Marsan N A
Published: June 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

The evaluation of left ventricular (LV) filling pressure using left atrial (LA) reservoir strain on echocardiography has demonstrated high feasibility and good accuracy. Other LA strain components, such as conduit and booster strain, may show additional diagnostic value for the detection of elevated LV filling pressure. The current automated LA strain analysis has the potential to predict elevated LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) using all LA strain components.

Aims

The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of automated LA strain for the detection of elevated LVEDP as measured by invasive catherization in comparison to conventional echocardiographic parameters.

Methods

We included the patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who underwent echocardiography within 48 hours prior to transcatheter aortic valve implantation and had LVEDP measured by catherization during procedure. Patients with atrial fibrillation, previous mitral valve surgery, and mitral stenosis were excluded. LA strain components were measured from apical 4-chamber view using commercial software (AutoStrain LA, Tomtec). (Abstract Picture 1) Elevated LVEDP was defined as a threshold of LVEDP ≥16 mmHg. The cut-off value of conventional echocardiographic parameters for detection of elevated LVEDP were determined according to current guidelines.

Results

A total of 95 patients (84 ± 7 years, 53% men) were included in this study. Elevated LVEDP was shown in 42 patients. The sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy for the detection of elevated LVEDP on automated LA strain were the best among conventional echocardiographic parameters, including peak reservoir LA strain. (Abstract picture 2) The diagnostic accuracy of automated LA strain was similar between in patients with LV ejection fraction ≥ 50% and those with LV ejection fraction <50% (82% vs 86%).

Conclusions

Automated LA strain analysis demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy for the detection of elevated LVEDP in patients with AS. It might thus serve as a non-invasive and accurate alternative method for assessment of elevated LV filling pressure.
Early effect of contemporary radiotherapy protocol on myocardium in patients with breast cancer assessed with cardiac magnetic resonance
Authors: Podlesnikar T , Zugwitz D , Berlot B , Dolenc J , Goricar K , Marinko T
Published: June 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): University Medical Centre Ljubljana Research Grant.

Introduction

Early cardiotoxicity of modern radiotherapy (RT) is not known.

Purpose

To study the early cardiotoxic effect of contemporary RT on myocardium with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with breast cancer (BC).

Methods

Patients with in-situ ductal carcinoma of the breast, scheduled for RT were included. All patients had undergone surgical tumorectomy. Exclusion criteria were prior systemic chemotherapy, prior RT or known cardiac disease. Patients were treated with 3-dimensional conformal RT or intensity-modulated RT, left-sided BC patients were also scheduled for deep inspiration breath hold protocol, if feasible. Patients underwent CMR imaging prior to RT and within 2 weeks after RT. Left and right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction, global native and postcontrast T1 values and T2 values, prior to and after completion of RT were analyzed. All patients provided written informed consent.

Results

A total of 40 female patients (mean age 55 ± 7 years) were included, 22 with left-sided BC. The mean radiation dose was 42 Gy. CMR results are presented in Table 1. Left-sided BC patients had statistically significant increase in global T2 values. There were no significant differences in other studied parameters. No patient developed pericardial effusion and no patient had presence of late gadolinium enhancement at both exams.

Conclusion

Modern RT of left-sided BC is associated with increased T2 values, most likely representing myocardial edema, early after completion of RT.
Association between fractional flow reserve and CMR-derived exercise capacity
Authors: Le T T , Bryant J A , Chin C Y , Yeo K K , Tan J W C , Ho K W , Chin C C W
Published: June 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): NMRC Open-Fund Young Individual Research Grant, Singapore. NMRC Open-Fund Individual Research Grant, Singapore.

Background

In-scanner exercise stress cardiac magnetic resonance (ExCMR) imaging using supine cycling ergometer offers assessment of perfusion defects, inducible regional wall motion abnormalities, viability and exercise capacity in a single examination (EMPIRE Trial).

Aim

We aim to investigate the role of CMR-derived exercise capacity to assess the physiological stenosis severity, measured by invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR).

Methods

107 patients (60±8 years, 80 males) with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent ExCMR (Siemens 1.5T) and invasive coronary angiogram with FFR measurement (PressureWireTMX Guidewire – Abbott Laboratories) followed previously published trial protocol [1]. Exercise capacity was derived as age- and sex-specific percentile of peak cardiac index, according to the reference range previously established [2].

Results

Exercise capacity remains the only predictor of FFR values (beta 0.005, P<0.001) with backward multivariate regression of clinical variables (age, sex, BMI, presence of hyperlipidema, blood pressure, presence of diabetes mellitus) and quantitative CMR parameters (LV mass, extracellular volume, LV stroke volume at rest and exercise capacity). Patients with haemodynamically significant CAD (FFR<0.8) had significantly lower exercise capacity (median 14 [IQR 4–20] vs 5 [IQR 1–10] age- and sex-specific percentile of peak cardiac index, P<0.001)

Conclusion

In addition to perfusion defects, regional wall motion abnormalities and viability assessment to detect coronary artery disease, exercise capacity predicts the physiological stenosis severity.
Epicardial adipose tissue and its association with atrial fibrillation in middle-aged patients without overt heart disease
Authors: Borizanova-Petkova A , Kinova E , Goudev A
Published: June 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Obesity and atrial fibrillation (AF) are emerging health problem, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is a significant relation between body mass index (BMI) on one hand and the amount of visceral fat and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) on the other (1,2). EAT volume is positively related to the incidence, duration, and recurrence of AF (2,3).

Aim

The aim of the study was to assess echocardiographic variables and their association with BMI and EAT in middle-aged patients with AF.

Methods

Prospective consecutive patients with AF (n= 936), who had been admitted for sinus rhythm restoration in our hospital for the period January 2016- December 2018, were screened for participation in the study. A total of 70 patients met the inclusion criteria- stable sinus rhythm, age between 40–60 years, without over heart disease. They were separated in two groups: with new onset AF (n=33) and recurrent episode of AF(n=37); 30 healthy subjects were enrolled in the control group. All patients underwent 2DE assessment with speckle tracking analyses. EAT thickness was measured perpendicularly on the free wall of the right ventricle at end-systole when both walls collapse and allow the widest measurement.

Results

There were significant differences in global longitudinal strain (GLS) of left ventricle (LV) and EAT between AF groups and healthy controls, but not in the other LV parameters. There were significant differences in left atrial (LA) structural and functional indices in AF groups in comparison to healthy controls- picture 1. There were significant correlations between BMI and EAT ( p = 0.001;r=0,710), GLS ( p = 0.001;r=0,557), LA volume index ( p = 0.001;r=0,701), LA reservoir strain ( p = 0.001;r=-0,626), LA stiffness index ( p = 0.001;r=0,557)- picture 2 .There were significant correlations between EAT and GLS ( p = 0.001;r=0,478), LA volume index ( p = 0.001;r=0,539), LA reservoir strain (p = 0.001;r=-0,479),LA stiffness index ( p = 0.001;r=0,487).

Conclusion

Epicardial adipose tissue, assessed by 2DE, was increased in middle-aged patients with obesity and AF. Obesity is significant risk factor for LA remodelling and AF, but further prospective investigation need to define the causality role of EAT in AF initiation and progression.
External validation of a deep learning algorithm for automated echocardiographic strain measurements
Authors: Myhre P , Hung C L , Frost M , Jiang Z , Ouwerkerk W , Teramoto K , Svedlund S , Saraste A , Hage C , Beussink-Nelson L , Fermer M , Hummel Y , Lund L , Shah S , Tromp J
Published: June 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Us2ai.

Background

Echocardiographic strain imaging reflects myocardial deformation and is a sensitive measure of cardiac function and wall-motion abnormalities. Manual strain analysis is time-consuming, prone to error and requires considerable expertise. Deep learning (DL) algorithms could automate interpretation of echocardiographic strain imaging.

Purpose

To develop and externally validate automated DL-based measurement of the left ventricle (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) and regional strain.

Methods

We developed and validated an automated DL workflow using convolutional neural networks to automatically annotate and assess individual 2D videos of apical 4-chamber, 2-chamber and 3-chamber views. We trained the algorithm in an internal dataset and validated GLS externally in (1) a real-world general population dataset from Taiwan, (2) a core-lab measured dataset from the multinational PROMIS-HFpEF study, and regional strain in (3) the HMC-QU-MI study of patients with suspected myocardial infarction (MI).

Results

In the external datasets, the DL workflow successfully analysed 3741 (89%) studies in the real-world cohort, 176 (96%) in PROMIS-HFpEF and 158 (98%) in HMC-QU-MI. Automated GLS showed good agreement with manual measurements in the real-world dataset (mean ± SD −18.9±4.5% vs −.18.2±4.4%, respectively; bias 0.7±2.5%, root-mean-squared error [RMSE] 2.6, Pearson’s correlation 0.84; Figure 1A) and in PROMIS-HFpEF (−15.4±4.1% vs −15.9±3.6%, respectively; bias −0.6±2.7%, RMSE 2.8, Pearson’s correlation 0.76; Figure 1B). In the general population cohort, automated GLS measurements accurately identified patients with vs without heart failure (ROC-AUC 0.89 for total HF and 0.98 for HF with reduced ejection fraction). In patients with suspected MI, automated regional strain identified regional wall-motion abnormalities with average ROC-AUC 0.80 (range 0.74–0.86 for apical 4-chamber view [Figure 2A] and 0.69–0.90 for apical 2-chamber view [Figure 2B]).

Conclusions

DL algorithms can interpret cardiac strain images with similar accuracy compared with conventional measurements. These results highlight the potential of DL algorithms to democratize the use of cardiac strain measurements.
Pulsed field ablation using focal contact force-sensing catheters for treatment of atrial fibrillation: acute and 90-day invasive remapping results
Authors: Anić Ante , Phlips Thomas , Brešković Toni , Koopman Pieter , Girouard Steven , Mediratta Vikramaditya , Jurišić Zrinka , Sikirić Ivan , Lisica Lucija , Vijgen Johan
Published: June 2023

Aims

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) has emerged as a promising alternative to thermal ablation for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). We report performance and safety using the CENTAURI™ System (Galvanize Therapeutics) with three commercial, focal ablation catheters.

Methods and results

ECLIPSE AF (NCT04523545) was a prospective, single-arm, multi-centre study evaluating safety and acute and chronic pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) durability using the CENTAURI System in conjunction with the TactiCath SE, StablePoint, and ThermoCool ST ablation catheters. Patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF were treated at two centres. Patients were analysed in five cohorts based upon ablation settings, catheter, and mapping system. Pulsed field ablation was performed in 82 patients (74% male, 42 paroxysmal AF). Pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in 100% of pulmonary veins (322/322) with first-pass isolation in 92.2% (297/322). There were four serious adverse events of interest (three vascular access complications and one lacunar stroke). Eighty patients (98%) underwent invasive remapping. Pulsed field ablation development Cohorts 1 and 2 showed a per-patient isolation rate of 38% and 26% and a per-PV isolation rate of 47% and 53%, respectively. Optimized PFA Cohorts 3–5 showed a per-patient isolation rate of 60%, 73%, and 81% and a per-PV isolation rate of 84%, 90%, and 92%, respectively.

Conclusion

ECLIPSE AF demonstrated that optimized PFA using the CENTAURI System with three commercial, contact force-sensing, solid-tip focal ablation catheters resulted in transmural lesion formation and high proportion of durable PVI with a favourable safety profile, thus providing a viable treatment option for AF that integrates with contemporary focal ablation workflows.
Does Awareness of Aging Matter? The Moderating Function of Awareness of Age-Related Change on the Relationships Between COVID-19 Disruption, Perceived Stress, and Affect
Authors: Kolovos Elli , Windsor Tim D
Published: June 2023

Objectives

How people reflect on their own age may influence their well-being in the face of disruptions associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19). Subjective aging was operationalized in terms of one’s awareness of age-related change (AARC), specifically, the gains and losses associated with aging. We developed a measure assessing disruptions to daily life associated with the COVID-19 pandemic across 3 dimensions (i.e., Social and Lifestyle Disruption, Work and Health Disruption, and Others Contracting COVID-19). We hypothesized that COVID-19 disruption would be positively associated with both AARC-losses and AARC-gains. Greater COVID-19 disruption would also be associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes (higher perceived stress and negative affect [NA] and lower positive affect [PA]) and these associations would be stronger for those reporting greater AARC-losses and weaker for those reporting greater AARC-gains.

Methods

Cross-sectional questionnaire data were collected from 263 participants from the United States (aged 40–83; mean age: 62.88 years, standard deviation = 9.00; 56.3% females).

Results

After controlling for age, gender, education, employment, socioeconomic status, and physical functioning, greater Work and Health Disruption was associated with greater AARC-losses. Greater Social and Lifestyle Disruption was associated with both greater AARC-gains and AARC-losses. Moderation effects showed an exacerbating effect of AARC-losses on NA in the face of Work and Health Disruption and a protective effect of AARC-gains on PA in the context of Social and Lifestyle Disruption.

Discussion

We extend research detailing antecedents of AARC and highlight the need for longitudinal research that considers the ever-changing nature of the pandemic.
En bloc resection of gastrobronchial fistula associated with mesh infection
Authors: Matsumiya Hiroki , Tahara Yuki , Shinohara Shinji , Tanaka Fumihiro
Published: June 2023

A 50-year-old woman presented with chief complaints of fever and cough. She had a poorly controlled left lung abscess and a history of congenital left diaphragmatic hernia treated 9 years prior with composite mesh. Computed tomography showed suspected fistula formation between the left lower lung lobe and stomach, and the tract was visualized in a contrast study from an upper gastrointestinal endoscope. We suspected a gastrobronchial fistula associated with mesh infection and performed en bloc resection of the mesh and inflamed organ tissue, comprising resection of the left lower lung lobe and left diaphragm, partial gastrectomy, and splenectomy. The diaphragm was reconstructed using the latissimus dorsi and rectus abdominis muscles. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing this treatment strategy for gastrobronchial fistula associated with mesh infection. The patient's postoperative course was favourable.
Dynamo script and a BIM-based process for measuring embodied carbon in buildings during the design phase
Authors: Alzara Majed , Yosri Ahmed M , Alruwaili Amer , Cuce Erdem , Eldin Sayed M , Ehab A
Published: June 2023

In recent years, worldwide efforts have been made towards reducing energy use and emissions, which have a variety of impacts such as contributing to climate change. Hence, environmental analysis in the construction sector is essential today to develop good products that perform adequately, are safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. A significant emission from various stages in the building sector is carbon dioxide, which can be separated into two categories: embedded emissions and operating emissions. The aim of this paper is to introduce a simple tool integrated into a building information modelling (BIM)-based framework that provides an analysis of embodied carbon (related to the SE2050 commitment to net zero) in order to produce a manual to guide designers in selecting appropriate materials, systems and alternatives during the design phase of a construction project. The suggested integration procedure was carried out using Autodesk Revit (to produce the 3D model), Dynamo (a visual programming tool), and BIM360 (to link with), with good interoperability between each product. To finish, a case study was carried out to apply and validate this process and verify that the tool is ready to use. The results show that the maximum variance was 0.047, which supports developers’ environmental strategies, and enables clients and other stockholders to consider environmental impacts during the early phases of construction projects.
Research on failure prediction of wind turbines in offshore wind clusters
Authors: Chen Wenjin , Huang Hao , Zhang Jun , Yao Silei , Zhang Ruoyi
Published: June 2023

Offshore wind is a very promising renewable energy source, and offshore wind power has been widely used. However, the maintenance of offshore wind power is a very inconvenient task, which not only is difficult to operate but also can be very costly, and it is essential to anticipate offshore wind power failures in advance. In this paper, we focus on wind turbine faults for analysis, wherein we use a high-performance radial basis function (RBF) neural network, and to obtain the center of its RBF, the normalization constant and the weighting coefficients from the hidden layer to the output layer for better performance, we use an optimized particle swarm optimization algorithm so as to obtain more accurate parameters and therefore seek better performance. We focus on two very high failure rates of wind turbines for testing, and the results show that our proposed method can predict the occurrence of failures 10–20 h in advance and thus have a good performance.
Assembly of the largest squamate reference genome to date: The western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis
Authors: Bishop Anusha P , Westeen Erin P , Yuan Michael L , Escalona Merly , Beraut Eric , Fairbairn Colin , Marimuthu Mohan P A , Nguyen Oanh , Chumchim Noravit , Toffelmier Erin , Fisher Robert N , Shaffer H. Bradley , Wang Ian J
Published: June 2023

Spiny lizards (genus Sceloporus) have long served as important systems for studies of behavior, thermal physiology, dietary ecology, vector biology, speciation, and biogeography. The western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis, is found across most of the major biogeographical regions in the western United States and northern Baja California, Mexico, inhabiting a wide range of habitats, from grassland to chaparral to open woodlands. As small ectotherms, Sceloporus lizards are particularly vulnerable to climate change, and S. occidentalis has also become an important system for studying the impacts of land use change and urbanization on small vertebrates. Here, we report a new reference genome assembly for S. occidentalis, as part of the California Conservation Genomics Project (CCGP). Consistent with the reference genomics strategy of the CCGP, we used Pacific Biosciences HiFi long reads and Hi-C chromatin-proximity sequencing technology to produce a de novo assembled genome. The assembly comprises a total of 608 scaffolds spanning 2,856 Mb, has a contig N50 of 18.9 Mb, a scaffold N50 of 98.4 Mb, and BUSCO completeness score of 98.1% based on the tetrapod gene set. This reference genome will be valuable for understanding ecological and evolutionary dynamics in S. occidentalis, the species status of the California endemic island fence lizard (S. becki), and the spectacular radiation of Sceloporus lizards.
Travel vaccines—priorities determined by incidence and impact
Authors: Steffen Robert , Chen Lin H , Leggat Peter A
Published: June 2023

Background

Infectious disease epidemiology is continuously shifting. While travel has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and travel-related epidemiological research experienced a pause, further shifts in vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) relevant for travellers have occurred.

Methods

We conducted a literature search on the epidemiology of travel-related VPD and synthesized data for each disease with a focus on symptomatic cases and on the impact of the respective infection among travellers, considering the hospitalization rate, disease sequela and case fatality rate. We present new data and revised best estimates on the burden of VPD relevant for decisions on priorities in travel vaccines.

Results

COVID-19 has emerged to be a top travel-related risk and influenza remains high in the ranking with an estimated incidence at 1% per month of travel. Dengue is another commonly encountered infection among international travellers with estimated monthly incidence of 0.5–0.8% among non-immune exposed travellers; the hospitalized proportion was 10 and 22%, respectively, according to two recent publications. With recent yellow fever outbreaks particularly in Brazil, its estimated monthly incidence has risen to >0.1%. Meanwhile, improvements in hygiene and sanitation have led to some decrease in foodborne illnesses; however, hepatitis A monthly incidence remains substantial in most developing regions (0.001–0.01%) and typhoid remains particularly high in South Asia (>0.01%). Mpox, a newly emerged disease that demonstrated worldwide spread through mass gathering and travel, cannot be quantified regarding its travel-related risk.

Conclusion

The data summarized may provide a tool for travel health professionals to prioritize preventive strategies for their clients against VPD. Updated assessments on incidence and impact are ever more important since new vaccines with travel indications (e.g. dengue) have been licensed or are undergoing regulatory review.
The SOUX AGN sample: optical/UV/X-ray SEDs and the nature of the disc
Authors: Mitchell Jake A J , Done Chris , Ward Martin J , Kynoch Daniel , Hagen Scott , Lusso Elisabeta , Landt Hermine
Published: June 2023

We use the SOUX sample of ∼700 active galactic nucleus (AGN) to form average optical-ultraviolet (UV)-X-rays spectral energy distributions (SEDs) on a two-dimensional (2D) grid of MBH and L2500. We compare these with the predictions of a new AGN SED model, qsosed, which includes prescriptions for both hot and warm Comptonization regions as well as an outer standard disc. This predicts the overall SED fairly well for 7.5 < log(MBH/M⊙) < 9.0 over a wide range in L/LEdd, but at higher masses the outer disc spectra in the model are far too cool to match the data. We create optical-UV composites from the entire Sloan Digital Sky Survey sample and use these to show that the mismatch is due to there being no significant change in spectral shape of the optical-UV continuum across several decades of MBH at constant luminosity. We show for the first time that this cannot be matched by standard disc models with high black hole spin. These apparently fit, but are not self-consistent as they do not include the General Relativistic effects for the emission to reach the observer. At high spin, increased gravitational redshift compensates for almost all of the higher temperature emission from the smaller inner disc radii. The data do not match the predictions made by any current accretion flow model. Either the disc is completely covered by a warm Comptonization layer whose properties change systematically with L/LEdd, or the accretion flow structure is fundamentally different to that of the standard disc models.
In skeletal muscle and neural crest cells, SMCHD1 regulates biological pathways relevant for Bosma syndrome and facioscapulohumeral dystrophy phenotype
Authors: Laberthonnière Camille , Delourme Mégane , Chevalier Raphaël , Dion Camille , Ganne Benjamin , Hirst David , Caron Leslie , Perrin Pierre , Adélaïde José , Chaffanet Max , Xue Shifeng , Nguyen Karine , Reversade Bruno , Déjardin Jérôme , Baudot Anaïs , Robin Jérôme D , Magdinier Frédérique
Published: June 2023

Many genetic syndromes are linked to mutations in genes encoding factors that guide chromatin organization. Among them, several distinct rare genetic diseases are linked to mutations in SMCHD1 that encodes the structural maintenance of chromosomes flexible hinge domain containing 1 chromatin-associated factor. In humans, its function as well as the impact of its mutations remains poorly defined. To fill this gap, we determined the episignature associated with heterozygous SMCHD1 variants in primary cells and cell lineages derived from induced pluripotent stem cells for Bosma arhinia and microphthalmia syndrome (BAMS) and type 2 facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD2). In human tissues, SMCHD1 regulates the distribution of methylated CpGs, H3K27 trimethylation and CTCF at repressed chromatin but also at euchromatin. Based on the exploration of tissues affected either in FSHD or in BAMS, i.e. skeletal muscle fibers and neural crest stem cells, respectively, our results emphasize multiple functions for SMCHD1, in chromatin compaction, chromatin insulation and gene regulation with variable targets or phenotypical outcomes. We concluded that in rare genetic diseases, SMCHD1 variants impact gene expression in two ways: (i) by changing the chromatin context at a number of euchromatin loci or (ii) by directly regulating some loci encoding master transcription factors required for cell fate determination and tissue differentiation.
About the compatibility between the perturbational complexity index and the global neuronal workspace theory of consciousness
Authors: Farisco Michele , Changeux Jean-Pierre
Published: June 2023

This paper investigates the compatibility between the theoretical framework of the global neuronal workspace theory (GNWT) of conscious processing and the perturbational complexity index (PCI). Even if it has been introduced within the framework of a concurrent theory (i.e. Integrated Information Theory), PCI appears, in principle, compatible with the main tenet of GNWT, which is a conscious process that depends on a long-range connection between different cortical regions, more specifically on the amplification, global propagation, and integration of brain signals. Notwithstanding this basic compatibility, a number of limited compatibilities and apparent differences emerge. This paper starts from the description of brain complexity, a notion that is crucial for PCI, to then summary of the main features of PCI and the main tenets of GNWT. Against this background, the text explores the compatibility between PCI and GNWT. It concludes that GNWT and PCI are fundamentally compatible, even though there are some partial disagreements and some points to further examine.
Measuring dietary intake in low-and middle-income countries: a systematic review of the methods and tools for estimating fish and seafood intake
Authors: Casey Elodie M D , Mojarrabi Misa , Hannan-Jones Mary T , Bogard Jessica R
Published: June 2023

Context

Fish and seafood consumption makes an important but often under-recognized contribution to dietary patterns and nutrition, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, valid, and reliable dietary assessment tools (DATs) and methods to measure seafood consumption in resource-poor settings are needed.

Objective

To review the available DATs that have been used to measure fish and seafood consumption in LMICs and to assess their quality.

Data sources

A systematic search of the electronic databases Scopus, Embase, and Medline was conducted, identifying 1541 initial articles, of which 122 eligible full-text articles were reviewed.

Data extraction

Data extraction focused on the purpose of dietary assessment, setting, target population group, DAT type, administration mode, type of fish and seafood assessed, specific measure of food intake, use of a portion-size-estimation aid, and details of validity, reliability, and pilot testing of the DATs.

Data analysis

The most common DATs used were food frequency questionnaires (n = 80; 58%), of which 36 (25%) were semi-quantitative. The majority of tools (n = 107; 78%) included measurement of consumption frequency; only 41 studies (30%) measured frequency, quantity, and type of seafood consumed. Only 41 DATs (30%) solely focused on fish or seafood intake. Most DATs were interviewer administered (n = 80; 58%), 23 (16%) mentioned the use of a portion-size-estimation aid, and validity was tested for only 13% of DATs (n = 18).

Conclusion

This systematic review reveals a lack of sufficient detail in the use of standard DATs to fully capture the contribution of fish and seafood to diets in LMICs. Consequently, the need to develop or adapt existing DATs to capture frequency, quantity, and type of fish and seafood intake with consideration of cultural eating practices has been highlighted. This is essential for informing appropriate interventions to leverage the nutritional benefits of seafood consumption in LMICs.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42021253607.
Autophagy during maize endosperm development dampens oxidative stress and promotes mitochondrial clearance
Authors: Barros Jessica A S , Chatt Elizabeth C , Augustine Robert C , McLoughlin Fionn , Li Faqiang , Otegui Marisa S , Vierstra Richard D
Published: June 2023

The selective turnover of macromolecules by autophagy provides a critical homeostatic mechanism for recycling cellular constituents and for removing superfluous and damaged organelles, membranes, and proteins. To better understand how autophagy impacts seed maturation and nutrient storage, we studied maize (Zea mays) endosperm in its early and middle developmental stages via an integrated multiomic approach using mutants impacting the core macroautophagy factor AUTOPHAGY (ATG)-12 required for autophagosome assembly. Surprisingly, the mutant endosperm in these developmental windows accumulated normal amounts of starch and Zein storage proteins. However, the tissue acquired a substantially altered metabolome, especially for compounds related to oxidative stress and sulfur metabolism, including increases in cystine, dehydroascorbate, cys-glutathione disulfide, glucarate, and galactarate, and decreases in peroxide and the antioxidant glutathione. While changes in the associated transcriptome were mild, the proteome was strongly altered in the atg12 endosperm, especially for increased levels of mitochondrial proteins without a concomitant increase in mRNA abundances. Although fewer mitochondria were seen cytologically, a heightened number appeared dysfunctional based on the accumulation of dilated cristae, consistent with attenuated mitophagy. Collectively, our results confirm that macroautophagy plays a minor role in the accumulation of starch and storage proteins during maize endosperm development but likely helps protect against oxidative stress and clears unneeded/dysfunctional mitochondria during tissue maturation.
In situ imaging of signaling molecule carbon monoxide in plants with a fluorescent probe
Authors: Cao Yuyao , Xu Yinxiang , Fang Ning , Jiao Qingcai , Zhu Hai-liang , Li Zhen
Published: June 2023

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a recently discovered gasotransmitter. In animals, it has been found that endogenously produced CO participates in the regulation of various metabolic processes. Recent research has indicated that CO, acting as a signaling molecule, plays a crucial regulatory role in plant development and their response to abiotic stress. In this work, we developed a fluorescent probe, named COP (carbonic oxide Probe), for the in situ imaging of CO in Arabidopsis thaliana plant tissues. The probe was designed by combining malononitrile-naphthalene as the fluorophore and a typical palladium-mediated reaction mechanism. When reacted with the released CO, COP showed an obvious fluorescence enhancement at 575 nm, which could be observed in naked-eye conditions. With a linear range of 0–10 μM, the limit of detection of COP was determined as 0.38 μM. The detection system based on COP indicated several advantages including relatively rapid response within 20 min, steadiness in a wide pH range of 5.0–10.0, high selectivity, and applicative anti-interference. Moreover, with a penetration depth of 30 μm, COP enabled 3D imaging of CO dynamics in plant samples, whether it was caused by agent release, heavy metal stress, or inner oxidation. This work provides a fluorescent probe for monitoring CO levels in plant samples, and it expands the application field of CO-detection technology, assisting researchers in understanding the dynamic changes in plant physiological processes, making it an important tool for studying plant physiology and biological processes.
Lessons from relatives: C4 photosynthesis enhances CO2 assimilation during the low-light phase of fluctuations
Authors: Arce Cubas Lucίa , Rodrigues Gabriel Sales Cristina , Vath Richard L , Bernardo Emmanuel L , Burnett Angela C , Kromdijk Johannes
Published: June 2023

Despite the global importance of species with C4 photosynthesis, there is a lack of consensus regarding C4 performance under fluctuating light. Contrasting hypotheses and experimental evidence suggest that C4 photosynthesis is either less or more efficient in fixing carbon under fluctuating light than the ancestral C3 form. Two main issues have been identified that may underly the lack of consensus: neglect of evolutionary distance between selected C3 and C4 species and use of contrasting fluctuating light treatments. To circumvent these issues, we measured photosynthetic responses to fluctuating light across 3 independent phylogenetically controlled comparisons between C3 and C4 species from Alloteropsis, Flaveria, and Cleome genera under 21% and 2% O2. Leaves were subjected to repetitive stepwise changes in light intensity (800 and 100 µmol m−2 s−1 photon flux density) with 3 contrasting durations: 6, 30, and 300 s. These experiments reconciled the opposing results found across previous studies and showed that (i) stimulation of CO2 assimilation in C4 species during the low-light phase was both stronger and more sustained than in C3 species; (ii) CO2 assimilation patterns during the high-light phase could be attributable to species or C4 subtype differences rather than photosynthetic pathway; and (iii) the duration of each light step in the fluctuation regime can strongly influence experimental outcomes.
Anti-polyelectrolyte and polyelectrolyte effects on conformations of polyzwitterionic chains in dilute aqueous solutions
Authors: Liu Zening , Keum Jong K , Li Tianyu , Chen Jihua , Hong Kunlun , Wang Yangyang , Sumpter Bobby G , Advincula Rigoberto , Kumar Rajeev
Published: June 2023

Polyzwitterions (PZs) are considered as model synthetic analogs of intrinsically disordered proteins. Based on this analogy, PZs in dilute aqueous solutions are expected to attain either globular (i.e. molten, compact) or random coil conformations. Addition of salt is expected to open these conformations. To the best of our knowledge, these hypotheses about conformations of PZs have never been verified. In this study, we test these hypotheses by studying effects of added salt [potassium bromide (KBr)] on gyration and hydrodynamic radii of poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) in dilute aqueous solutions using dynamic light scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering, respectively. Effects of zwitteration are revealed by direct comparisons of the PZs with the polymers of the same backbone but containing (1) no explicit charges on side groups such as poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)s and (2) explicit cationic side groups with tertiary amino bromide pendants. Zeta-potential measurements, transmission electron microscopy, and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the PZs acquire net positive charge in near salt-free conditions due to protonation but retain coiled conformations. Added KBr leads to nonmonotonic changes exhibiting an increase followed by a decrease in radius of gyration (and hydrodynamic radius), which are called antipolyelectrolyte and polyelectrolyte effects, respectively. Charge regulation and screening of charge–charge interactions are discussed in relation to the antipolyelectrolyte and polyelectrolyte effects, respectively, which highlight the importance of salt in affecting net charge and conformations of PZs.
Cognitive ability and ideology join forces in the culture war: A model of opinion formation
Authors: Eriksson Kimmo , Vartanova Irina , Hazin Isabela , Strimling Pontus
Published: June 2023

We propose a model of moral policy opinion formation that integrates both ideology and cognitive ability. The link from people's ideology to their opinions is assumed to go via a semantic processing of moral arguments that relies on the individual's cognitive ability. An implication of this model is that the relative quality of arguments that justify supporting vs. opposing a moral policy—the policy's “argument advantage”—is key to how opinions will be distributed in the population and develop over time. To test this implication, we combine polling data with measures of the argument advantage for 35 moral policies. Consistent with the opinion formation model, the argument advantage of a moral policy accounts for how public opinion moves over time, and how support for the policy ideologies varies across different ideological groups and levels of cognitive ability, including a strong interaction between ideology and cognitive ability.
Intergenerational transmission of height in a historical population: From taller mothers to larger offspring at birth (and as adults)
Authors: Floris Joël , Matthes Katarina L , Le Vu Mathilde , Staub Kaspar
Published: June 2023

Changes in growth and height reflect changes in nutritional status and health. The systematic surveillance of growth can suggest areas for interventions. Moreover, phenotypic variation has a strong intergenerational component. There is a lack of historical family data that can be used to track the transmission of height over subsequent generations. Maternal height is a proxy for conditions experienced by one generation that relates to the health/growth of future generations. Cross-sectional/cohort studies have shown that shorter maternal height is closely associated with lower birth weight of offspring. We analyzed the maternal height and offspring weight at birth in the maternity hospital in Basel, Switzerland, from 1896 to 1939 (N = ∼12,000) using generalized additive models (GAMs). We observed that average height of the mothers increased by ∼4 cm across 60 birth years and that average birth weight of their children shows a similarly shaped and upward trend 28 years later. Our final model (adjusted for year, parity, sex of the child, gestational age, and maternal birth year) revealed a significant and almost linear association between maternal height and birth weight. Maternal height was the second most important variable modeling birth weight, after gestational age. In addition, we found a significant association between maternal height and aggregated average height of males from the same birth years at time of conscription, 19 years later. Our results have implications for public health: When (female/maternal) height increases due to improved nutritional status, size at birth—and subsequently also the height in adulthood of the next generation—increases as well. However, the directions of development in this regard may currently differ depending on the world region.