bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract

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 &gt;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 (&gt;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

ABSTRACT
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 &lt; log(MBH/M⊙) &lt; 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

Abstract
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

AbstractThis 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.