bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transcatheter mitral valve implantation using TENDYNE valve for the treatment of residual severe mitral regurgitation post-transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair: a case report
Authors: Abunab Mohammed Ali , Alamri Bandar Naim , Shah Muhammad Azam , Alshehri Halia Zain 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with heart failure can be treated medically or by transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) if medical therapy fails. Patients who are not suitable for TEER or surgical intervention might benefit from transcatheter mitral valve implantation using the TENDYNE valve.

Case summary
A 58-year-old male with a history of heart failure was admitted frequently with acute heart failure and functional MR, treated medically without significant improvement. He underwent mitral TEER therapy using MitraClip. A few months later, he was admitted with acute decompensated heart failure. Echocardiography showed severe MR with a detached clip from the posterior leaflet. He underwent redo mitral TEER using MitraClip as an option for treating single leaflet device detachment. He was readmitted with the same symptoms and his echocardiography showed detachment of both clips from the posterior leaflet. The patient underwent TMVI using the TENDYNE valve being not suitable for another attempt of mitral TEER. On follow-up, he was asymptomatic and echocardiography showed normal functioning mitral bioprosthesis with a mean gradient of 4 mm/Hg and no paravalvular leak.

Discussion
Transcatheter mitral valve implantation using TENDYNE valve is an option for treating patients with functional MR and detached MitraClips.
Physiologic pacing in congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries with electroanatomic mapping guidance: a case report
Authors: Brem Ofir , Buturlin Kirill , Kolker Shimon , Schamroth Pravda Nili 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
This case report details the application of left bundle branch pacing in a patient with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (cc-TGA), a rare congenital heart defect characterized by anatomical complexities that pose unique challenges in the management of device-related complications and heart failure. The patient’s history is notable for complex anatomical considerations, cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infection, and heart failure.

Case summary
The patient underwent a series of interventions, including treatment for pocket-site infections, abandonment of epicardial leads, and an unsuccessful attempt at trans-catheter leadless pacemaker implantation. Given the patient’s complex anatomy and prior CIED infection, traditional pacing methods were deemed unsuitable, leading to the selection of left bundle branch pacing. The lead implantation was guided using 3D electro-anatomical mapping to ensure synchronous physiologic pacing in a patient with heart failure.

Discussion
The case underscores the heightened risks faced by cc-TGA patients, with a focus on systemic right ventricular dysfunction and pacing-induced ventricular dysfunction. In these patients, ventricular synchrony is critical and can be achieved with biventricular pacing. Physiologic pacing emerges as a promising alternative to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), especially in cases where endovascular CRT is unfeasible. This case demonstrates the utilization of 3D electro-anatomical mapping for achieving successful physiologic pacing in complex congenital heart lesions. At the 12-month follow-up, the patient presented with stable clinical status and a narrow QRS complex. Echocardiography indicated improvement in the right systemic ventricular function.
CardiacField: computational echocardiography for automated heart function estimation using two-dimensional echocardiography probes
Authors: Shen Chengkang , Zhu Hao , Zhou You , Liu Yu , Yi Si , Dong Lili , Zhao Weipeng , Brady David J , Cao Xun , Ma Zhan , Lin Yi 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Aims
Accurate heart function estimation is vital for detecting and monitoring cardiovascular diseases. While two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) is widely accessible and used, it requires specialized training, is prone to inter-observer variability, and lacks comprehensive three-dimensional (3D) information. We introduce CardiacField, a computational echocardiography system using a 2DE probe for precise, automated left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (EF) estimations, which is especially easy to use for non-cardiovascular healthcare practitioners. We assess the system’s usability among novice users and evaluate its performance against expert interpretations and advanced deep learning (DL) tools.

Methods and results
We developed an implicit neural representation network to reconstruct a 3D cardiac volume from sequential multi-view 2DE images, followed by automatic segmentation of LV and RV areas to calculate volume sizes and EF values. Our study involved 127 patients to assess EF estimation accuracy against expert readings and two-dimensional (2D) video-based DL models. A subset of 56 patients was utilized to evaluate image quality and 3D accuracy and another 50 to test usability by novice users and across various ultrasound machines. CardiacField generated a 3D heart from 2D echocardiograms with &lt;2 min processing time. The LVEF predicted by our method had a mean absolute error (MAE) of 2.48%, while the RVEF had an MAE of 2.65%.

Conclusion
Employing a straightforward apical ring scan with a cost-effective 2DE probe, our method achieves a level of EF accuracy for assessing LV and RV function that is comparable to that of three-dimensional echocardiography probes.
Sex-specific differences in alive hospital discharge following infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
Authors: Pouncey Anna Louise , Sweeting Michael J , Bicknell Colin , Powell Janet T , Lübcke Jenny , Gunnarsson Kim , Wanhainen Anders , Mani Kevin 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background and Aims
A longer time to alive hospital discharge following infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is associated with reduced patient satisfaction and increased length of stay, hospital-acquired deconditioning, infection, and costs. This study investigated sex-specific differences in, and drivers of, the rate of alive hospital discharge.

Methods
Examination of UK National Vascular Registry (UK NVR), 2014–19, and Swedish National Patient Registry (SE NPR) elective AAA patients, 2010–18, for endovascular (EVAR) or open aneurysm repair (OAR). Cox models assessed sex-specific difference in the rate of alive hospital discharge, adjusting for co-morbidity, anatomy, standard of care, post-operative complications, and year, with in-hospital death as the competing risk.

Results
A total of 29 751 AAA repairs (UK NVR: EVAR 12 518:1532; OAR 6803:837; SE NPR: EVAR 4234:792; OAR 2638:497, men:women) were assessed. For EVAR, the unadjusted rate of alive hospital discharge was ∼25% lower for women [UK NVR: hazard ratio (HR) 0.75 (0.71–0.80), P &lt; .001; SE NPR: HR 0.75 (0.69–0.81), P &lt; .001]. Following adjustment, the sex-specific HR narrowed but remained significant [UK NVR: HR 0.83 (0.79–0.88), P &lt; .001; SE NPR: HR 0.83 (0.76–0.89), P &lt; .001]. For OAR, the rate of alive hospital discharge was 23%–27% lower for women [UK NVR: HR 0.73 (0.67–0.78), P &lt; .001; SE NPR: HR 0.77 (0.70–0.85), P &lt; .001]. Following adjustment, the sex-specific HR narrowed [UK NVR: HR 0.82 (0.76–0.88), P &lt; .001; SE NPR: HR 0.79 (0.72–0.88), P &lt; .001] but remained significant.

Conclusions
Women have a 25% lower rate of alive discharge after aortic surgery, despite adjustment for pre/peri- and post-operative parameters. Efforts to increase the rate of alive hospital discharge for women should be sought.
Point-of-care ultrasonography for cardiovascular conditions in family practice: between risk and opportunity
Authors: Magro Valerio Massimo 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Several articles have appeared in the medical literature on the use of ultrasound in primary care. Point-of-care ultrasound refers to ultrasound protocols performed at the bedside to evaluate many conditions such as aortic aneurysm or assessment of left ventricular function by estimation of ejection fraction. Primary care physicians can play a key role in evaluating such conditions for their patients. It should be considered that the use of ultrasound in general practice can not only be an aid to diagnosis but also an active screening tool, accessible even to those with basic training in ultrasound; the left ventricle and large abdominal vessels are indeed clearly visible with this technique, which with little training can become accessible to many. In a working organization, so few trained physicians would be sufficient to screen the target population of the entire group and extend the assessment to a large number of participants.
The tectonic development of the Central African Plateau: evidence from shear-wave splitting
Authors: Kounoudis R , Kendall J -M , Ogden C S , Fishwick S , Chifwepa C , Daly M C 
Published: September 2024

SUMMARY
The Central African Plateau comprises a mosaic of numerous Archean terranes—the Congo, Bangweulu and Kalahari Cratons—sutured in a series of Proterozoic to early Cambrian orogenic events. Major upper-crustal deformation and complex craton margin fault zones reflect the region’s diverse tectonic history: rifting during the Neoproterozoic, collision during the Pan-African orogeny, and more recently, Permo-Triassic Karoo rifting and the Pliocene development of the Southwestern branch of the East African Rift. The tectonic evolution and extent to which the lithospheric mantle has been re-worked by each tectonic event is poorly understood. New seismograph networks across the Plateau provide fresh opportunity to place constraints on the plate-scale Precambrian-to-Phanerozoic processes that have acted across the region. Utilizing data from seismograph deployments across the Central African Plateau, including the new Copper Basin Exploration Science network—a NW–SE-trending, 750-km-long profile of 35 broad-band stations—we explore lithospheric deformation fabrics associated with past and present tectonic events via a shear-wave splitting study of mantle seismic anisotropy. Results reveal short length-scale variations in splitting parameters (fast direction: $\phi$, delay time: $\delta$t), suggestive of a fossil lithospheric fabric cause for the observed anisotropy. A lack of fault-parallel $\phi$ across the Mwembeshi shear zone, suggests it may be too narrow at mantle depths, a thin-skinned, crustal-scale feature, and/or did not experience sufficient fault parallel shear-strain during its last active phase to form a lithospheric deformation fabric discernible via teleseismic shear-wave splitting. In the heart of the Lufilian Arc, we observe abrupt changes in splitting parameters with NE–SW, N–S and NW–SE $\phi$ and 0.5 s $&lt; $$\delta$t$&lt; $ 1.2 s evident at short length-scales: no single, uniform, anisotropic lattice preferred orientation (LPO) fabric defines the entire region. This is consistent with the view that multiple episodes of deformation shaped the Lufilian Arc, or perhaps that pre-existing fabrics, relating to Neoproterozoic Katangan Basin development, have failed to be completely overprinted by the Pan-African orogeny. Near the Domes, where most intense crustal re-working is thought to have taken place during the Pan-African orogeny, there is a cluster of null and low $\delta$t splits which likely reflects the lack of organized LPO fabrics, perhaps due to the presence of depth-dependent anisotropy. The neighbouring Congo Craton margin is marked by consistently weak anisotropy ($\delta$t$\lt $ 0.7 s) indicating a weak horizontal alignment of olivine at mantle lithospheric depths, typical of several Archean terranes worldwide.
On the v-Picard Group of Stein Spaces
Authors: Ertl Veronika , Gilles Sally , Nizioł Wiesława 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
We study the image of the Hodge–Tate logarithm map (in any cohomological degree), defined by Heuer, in the case of smooth Stein varieties. Heuer, motivated by the computations for the affine space of any dimension, raised the question whether this image is always equal to the group of closed differential forms. We show that it indeed always contains such forms but the quotient can be non-trivial: it contains a slightly mysterious $\mathbf{Z}_{p}$-module that maps, via the Bloch–Kato exponential map, to integral classes in the pro-étale cohomology. This quotient is already non-trivial for open unit disks of dimension strictly greater than $1$.
Clinical Characteristics of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Adult Patients: A 10-year Retrospective Study in Stockholm, Sweden
Authors: Bartholdsson Sofia , Hergens Maria-Pia , Hansson Karin E , Ragnarsson Josef , Hodosi Peter , Kus Ismail , Insulander Mona , Vene Sirkka , Lindquist Lars , Askling Helena H , Gredmark-Russ Sara 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
The incidence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has increased during the last decades in Europe. Our aim was to assess the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with TBE in Region Stockholm, as a high-risk area in Sweden.

Methods
The notification database at the regional Department of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention was used to identify TBE cases during 2006–2015. Clinical data were retrieved from the included patients’ medical records. The associations of specific variables to predefined outcomes of disease severity were evaluated with multivariate logistic regression models.

Results
Of 1004 identified TBE cases, 703 adult patients were included. Sixty-one percent were men, and the median age was 50 years (range, 18–94 years). The majority of patients were nonvaccinated. Comorbidity was present in 34%, and 4% were receiving immunomodulatory therapy. Seventy-five percent were hospitalized, and 11% had severe disease. More than 70% of the 79 patients followed up for &gt;6 months had persisting symptoms. The case fatality rate was 1.4%, 15% in the group with immunomodulatory treatment. In the multivariate analysis, severe disease was associated with underlying comorbid conditions, age ≥50 years, and previous complete TBE vaccination.

Conclusions
This is the largest cohort of patients with TBE in Scandinavia. Our findings of a more severe course of disease in older patients, those receiving immunomodulatory therapy, those with comorbid conditions, and those with vaccination breakthrough infections must be interpreted in the context of hospitalized patients. Optimized prevention is needed for patients receiving immunomodulatory therapy, given the considerable case fatality rate. Follow-up visits and rehabilitation should be better standardized.
Rational Design of Live Biotherapeutic Products for the Prevention of Clostridioides difficile Infection
Authors: Ke Shanlin , Gálvez Javier A Villafuerte , Sun Zheng , Cao Yangchun , Pollock Nira R , Chen Xinhua , Kelly Ciarán P , Liu Yang-Yu 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major cause of healthcare- and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. While fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) shows promise for recurrent CDI, its mechanisms and long-term safety are not fully understood. Live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) using predefined bacterial consortia offer an alternative option, but the rational design of LBPs remains challenging. Here, we employ a computational pipeline and three metagenomic datasets to identify microbial strains for LBPs targeting CDI. We constructed the CDI-related microbial genome catalog, comprising 3741 nonredundant metagenome-assembled genomes (nrMAGs), and identified multiple potential protective nrMAGs, including strains from Dorea formicigenerans, Oscillibacter welbionis, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Importantly, some of these protective nrMAGs were found to play an important role in FMT success, and most top protective nrMAGs can be validated by various previous findings. Our results demonstrate a framework for selecting microbial strains targeting CDI, paving the way for the computational design of LBPs against other enteric infections.
Challenges to Meaningful Youth E-Participation in Political Decision-Making in Finland
Authors: Spurava Guna , Varsaluoma Jari , Väänänen Kaisa 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
This article explores the factors that make youth e-participation in political decision-making meaningful and identifies the challenges associated with it from the perspectives of government officials. Empirical data for the research are collected by conducting in-depth interviews with Finland’s government officials from nine ministries who possess experience working with young people. The results reveal that there is a lack of inclusion and understanding of existing digital tools and governmental processes. Furthermore, officials perceive feedback to young people as an essential component of meaningful participation, emphasising the importance of dialogue in this process and the necessity for innovative digital solutions to support it. The study contributes to developing the evidence base necessary for designing e-participation services that would bridge the gap between the needs of young people and the realities of the political environment.
A chromosome phased diploid genome assembly of African hunting dog (Lycaon pictus)
Authors: Kliver Sergei , Kovacic Iva , Mak Sarah , Sinding Mikkel-Holger S , Stagegaard Julia , Petersen Bent , Nesme Joseph , Gilbert Marcus Thomas Pius 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
The African hunting dog (Lycaon pictus, 2n = 78) once ranged over most sub-Saharan ecosystems except its deserts and rainforests. However, as a result of (still ongoing) population declines, today they remain only as small fragmented populations. Furthermore, the future of the species remains unclear, due to both anthropogenic pressure and interactions with domestic dogs, thus their preservation is a conservation priority. On the tree of life, the hunting dog is basal to Canis and Cuon and forms a crown group with them, making it a useful species for comparative genomic studies. Here, we present a diploid chromosome-level assembly of an African hunting dog. Assembled according to Vertebrate Genomes Project guidelines from a combination of PacBio HiFi reads and HiC data, it is phased at the level of individual chromosomes. The maternal (pseudo)haplotype (mat) of our assembly has a length of 2.38 Gbp, and 99.36% of the sequence is encompassed by 39 chromosomal scaffolds. The rest is included in only 36 unplaced short scaffolds. At the contig level, the mat consists of only 166 contigs with an N50 of 39 Mbp. BUSCO (Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologue) analysis showed 95.4% completeness based on Carnivora conservative genes (carnivora_odb10). When compared with other available genomes from subtribe Canina, the quality of the assembly is excellent, typically between the first and third depending on the parameter used, and a significant improvement on previously published genomes for the species. We hope this assembly will play an important role in future conservation efforts and comparative studies of canid genomes.
The Geopolitics of Global Infrastructure Projects: Challenges and Opportunities for Health and Wellbeing
Authors: Khan Abdul Moiz 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Global infrastructure projects have emerged as pivotal instruments in shaping economic growth and geopolitical dynamics in the contemporary world. Infrastructure, traditionally associated with physical structures like roads, bridges and utilities, now extends to include services vital for societal standards and economic progress. This evolution reflects a broader recognition of infrastructure’s role in fostering development, with distinctions drawn between physical infrastructure such as transport and energy networks, and services-oriented infrastructures encompassing health and education. Scholarly discourse on the correlation between infrastructure development and economic growth varies significantly. While some researchers assert a positive relationship, citing infrastructure’s stimulative effects on economies, others argue that this link is not universally conclusive, highlighting nuances in variables and methodologies used in studies. Nevertheless, the consensus underscores the critical role of infrastructure in enhancing economic activities, particularly in developing countries where the infrastructure gap remains stark. Central to contemporary infrastructure dynamics is China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global development policy launched in 2013 aimed at enhancing connectivity and economic integration across Asia, Europe and beyond. The USA and its allies have also initiated the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), to promote sustainable infrastructure development aligned with Western values and global governance standards. As these global powers focus on infrastructure development, the implications for health and well-being emerge as critical considerations. Infrastructure projects not only promise economic benefits but also present opportunities to address public health challenges, enhance connectivity and promote sustainable development goals. However, they also pose challenges such as environmental impact, debt sustainability and geopolitical tensions, underscoring the complex interplay between infrastructure development, global governance and human welfare. This paper explores the multifaceted dimensions of global infrastructure projects, examining their implications for health and well-being amidst evolving geopolitical competition. By analyzing key initiatives like BRI and PGII, it aims to provide insights into how infrastructure investments can be leveraged to foster equitable socio-economic development while navigating the challenges posed by climate change, governance issues and geopolitical rivalries. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for harnessing the transformative potential of global infrastructure projects to promote health and well-being on a global scale.
Transcription factor VRT2 reinitiates vernalization when interrupted by warm temperatures in a temperate grass model
Authors: Kennedy Alice , Li Meixia , Vandeperre Anja , Hameed Muhammad Usama , Van Dyck Michelle , Engelen Sarah , Preston Jill C , Geuten Koen 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Vernalization-responsive plants use cold weather, or low temperature, as a cue to monitoring the passing of winter. Winter cereals can remember the extent of coldness they have experienced, even when winter is punctuated by warm days. However, in a seemingly unnatural process called “devernalization,” hot temperatures can erase winter memory. Previous studies in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) have implicated the MADS-box transcription factor VEGETATIVE TO REPRODUCTIVE TRANSITION 2 (VRT2) in vernalization based on transcriptional behavior and ectopic expression. Here, we characterized 3 BdVRT2 loss-of-function alleles in the temperate model grass Brachypodium distachyon. In addition to extended vernalization requirements, mutants showed delayed flowering relative to wild-type plants when exposed only briefly to warm temperatures after partial vernalization, with flowering being unaffected when vernalization was saturating. Together, these data suggest a role for BdVRT2 in both vernalization and in its reinitiation when interrupted by warm temperatures. In controlled constant conditions, BdVRT2 transcription was not strongly affected by vernalization or devernalization. Yet, by monitoring BdVRT2 expression in seasonally varying and fluctuating conditions in an unheated greenhouse, we observed strong upregulation, suggesting that its transcription is regulated by fluctuating vernalizing–devernalizing conditions. Our data suggest that devernalization by hot temperatures is not a peculiarity of domesticated cereal crops but is the extreme of the reversibility of vernalization by warm temperatures and has broader biological relevance across temperate grasses.