Search Results (1,665)

The purpose of this study is to conduct a literature review on the current role of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in the diagnosis and prognosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). It addresses key topics such as the quantification of the thrombotic burden, its role as a predictor of mortality, new diagnostic techniques that are available, the possibility of analyzing the thrombus composition to differentiate its evolutionary stage, and the applicability of artificial intelligence (AI) in PE through CTPA. The only finding from CTPA that has been validated as a prognostic factor so far is the right ventricle/left ventricle (RV/LV) diameter ratio being >1, which is associated with a 2.5-fold higher risk of all-cause mortality or adverse events, and a 5-fold higher risk of PE-related mortality. The increasing use of techniques such as dual-energy computed tomography allows for the more accurate diagnosis of perfusion defects, which may go undetected in conventional computed tomography, identifying up to 92% of these defects compared to 78% being detected by CTPA. Additionally, it is essential to explore the latest advances in the application of AI to CTPA, which are currently expanding and have demonstrated a 23% improvement in the detection of subsegmental emboli compared to manual interpretation. With deep image analysis, up to a 95% accuracy has been achieved in predicting PE severity based on the thrombus volume and perfusion deficits. These advancements over the past 10 years significantly contribute to early intervention strategies and, therefore, to the improvement of morbidity and mortality outcomes for these patients. Full article

Background/Objectives: We aimed to establish biatrial and biventricular reference ranges using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters in SCD patients without heart damage. Methods: This study compared CMR parameters, quantified by cine SSFP sequences, in 48 adult SCD patients without apparent cardiac involvement (defined by the absence of known risk factors, normal electrocardiogram, and no macroscopic myocardial fibrosis or significant cardiac iron on T2* CMR) to matched cohorts of 96 healthy controls and 96 thalassemia major (TM) patients without cardiac damage. Nine paediatric SCD patients were also analysed and compared to age- and gender-matched groups of nine TM patients and nine healthy subjects. Results: In all groups, studied males displayed higher biventricular volumes and mass indexes than females. Male SCD patients showed significantly higher left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume index (EDVI), LV end-systolic volume index (ESVI), LV stroke volume index (SVI), cardiac index, LV and right ventricular (RV) mass index, and atrial areas than healthy subjects. Females with SCD exhibited increased LV EDVI, LV SVI, RV mass index, and left atrial area index compared to healthy controls. SCD and TM patients showed comparable biatrial areas and biventricular volumes and function. When compared to TM, SCD males exhibited a larger mass index, while SCD females showed an increased RV mass index. CMR parameters were similar across all paediatric groups. Conclusions: By establishing the biatrial and biventricular reference ranges through CMR for adult male and female SCD patients, we aimed to prevent possible misdiagnosis of cardiomyopathy in this population by taking into account cardiac adaptation due to anaemia. Full article

Orally administered immunomodulatory lactobacilli can stimulate respiratory immunity and enhance the resistance to primary infections with bacterial and viral pathogens. However, the potential beneficial effects of immunomodulatory lactobacilli against respiratory superinfection have not been evaluated. In this work, we showed that the feeding of infant mice with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 or Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MPL16 strains can reduce susceptibility to the secondary pneumococcal infection produced after the activation of TLR3 in the respiratory tract or after infection with RVS. The treatment of mice with CRL1505 or MPL16 strains by the oral route improved the production of interferons in the respiratory tract, differentially modulated the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, reduced bacterial replication, and diminished lung damage. Additionally, we demonstrated that orally administered lactobacilli confer longstanding protection against secondary Streptococcus pneumoniae infection and that this effect would be mediated by the stimulation of trained alveolar macrophages. This work contributes to revealing the mechanisms involved in the modulation of the gut–lung axis by beneficial microbes by demonstrating that specific lactobacilli strains, through the stimulation of the common mucosal immune system, would be able to support the development of trained alveolar macrophages that would confer longstanding protection against secondary bacterial challenges produced after a primary inflammatory event in the respiratory mucosa. Full article

Resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound found in various plants, has been extensively studied for its broad spectrum of beneficial biological effects. These encompass its potent antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory activities, anti-aging capabilities, cardioprotective functions, and neuroprotective potential. The diverse biological actions of resveratrol extend beyond these well-established properties. It also exerts a significant impact on metabolic processes and bioavailability, and critically, it demonstrates the ability to effectively traverse the blood–brain barrier. This capacity to penetrate the central nervous system renders resveratrol a promising therapeutic agent for the management of central nervous system malignancies, as it has been shown to inhibit tumor cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and modulate key signaling cascades, such as PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT, and NF-kB. The multifaceted nature of resveratrol’s biological effects, including its influence on diverse physiological processes, underscores its potential as a valuable therapeutic option for the treatment of central nervous system tumors. Full article

Introduction. Recently published data suggested significantly lower pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM) incidence with conduction system pacing (CSP). Because most data evaluated only the impact on the left ventricle, this study aimed to assess changes in echocardiographic parameters of morphology and function for all heart chambers in patients with baseline preserved and mid-range LVEF over a medium-term follow-up period after CSP. Methods. A total of 128 consecutive patients with LVEF > 40% and successful CSP for bradyarrhythmic indication were prospectively enrolled. A complete 2D echocardiographic examination was performed at baseline and the last follow-up. Results. In total, 38 patients received His bundle pacing (HBP) and 90 received left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP). The mean follow-up period was 699.2 ± 177.2 days, with 23 patients lost during this period. The ventricular pacing burden for the entire group was 97.2 ± 4.2%. Only three patients (2.9%) met the criteria for PICM. CSP led to a significant increase in LVEF (from 54.2 ± 7.9 to 56.7 ± 7.8%, p = 0.01) and a significant decrease in LV diastolic (from 107.2 ± 41.8 to 91.3 ± 41.8 mL, p < 0.001) and systolic (from 49.7 ± 21.4 to 39.5 ± 18.2 mL, p < 0.001) volumes. There were no significant changes in E/e′, mitral regurgitation, atrial volumes, and right ventricle (RV) diameter. There was a significant improvement in RV function. Tricuspid regurgitation was the only parameter that worsened. There were no differences in evolution for each echocardiographic parameter between the HBP and the LBBAP groups. Conclusions. HBP and LBBAP are equally protective for harmful changes in both atria and ventricles. The prevalence of PICM, defined as a decrease in LVEF, is very low with CSP. Full article

This study presents a 2D numerical simulation method for predicting the resistance of ships navigating in pack ice. The key contribution of this study lies in the derivation of analytical closed-form solutions for calculating the flexural deformation and stress distribution in an elastic plate using Symplectic Mechanics and Hooke’s laws. These solutions are used to determine the failure mode of ice floes. Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFMs) and the weight function method are utilized to analyze crack initiation, propagation, and fracture. Ice is broken when a crack propagates to 14.5% of the ice length. The compressive strength of ice and the contact area are used to calculate the ice load. A collision method was developed based on the Sweep and Prune (SAP) and Gilbert–Johnson–Keerthi (GJK) algorithms. A program for predicting the resistance of ships navigating in pack ice was developed based on MATLAB and the aforementioned theories. The navigation resistance of RV Xuelong at different ice concentrations and speeds was simulated and compared with the model test results from an ice tank. The comparison shows that the simulation results are consistent with the test results, with an average error of 9.05%, indicating the effectiveness and reliability of this numerical method. This study lays a solid foundation for future research on autonomous ship navigation in pack ice. Full article

Objectives: To evaluate correlations between cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) at rest including strain imaging and variables derived from quantitative cardiopulmonary exercise testing using a treadmill in patients with pectus excavatum. Methods: We retrospectively correlated the results of cMRI and cardiopulmonary exercise testing in 17 patients with pectus excavatum, in whom both examinations were performed during their pre-operative clinical evaluation. In addition to cardiac volumetry, we assessed the strain rates of both ventricles using a feature-tracking algorithm of a piece of commercially available post-processing software. Results: Right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction correlated negatively with heart rate at anaerobic threshold (rho = −0.543, p = 0.024). A positive correlation between radial strain rate at the RV base and percentage of predicted maximum heart rate (rho = 0.72, p = 0.001) was shown, with equivalent results for circumferential strain rate (rho = −0.64, p = 0.005). Radial strain rate at the RV base correlated in a strongly negative way with maximum oxygen uptake (rho = −0.8, p < 0.001), with a correspondingly positive correlation for circumferential strain rate (rho = 0.73, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Quantitative parameters derived from cMRI at rest, especially those acquired at the most severely compressed RV base, correlated with cardiopulmonary exercise testing variables. The compression of the RV base by the sternum might be partially compensated by an increased strain rate to induce higher heart frequencies during exercise. However, high strain rates were associated with a higher disease severity and a lower maximum oxygen uptake, indicating a limitation of this compensation mechanism. Full article

Monitoring anthocyanins is essential for assessing nutritional value and the growth status of plants. This study aimed to utilize hyperspectral technology to non-destructively monitor anthocyanin levels. Spectral data were preprocessed using standard normal variate (SNV) and first-derivative (FD) spectral processing. Feature wavelengths were selected using uninformative variable elimination (UVE) and UVE combined with competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (UVE + CARS). The optimal two-band vegetation index (VI2) and three-band vegetation index (VI3) were then calculated. Finally, dung beetle optimization (DBO), subtraction-average-based optimization (SABO), and the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) optimized the extreme learning machine (ELM) for modeling. The results indicated the following: (1) For the feature band selection methods, the UVE-CARS-SNV-DBO-ELM model achieved an R_m² of 0.8623, an RMSE_m of 0.0098, an R_v² of 0.8617, and an RMSE_v of 0.0095, resulting in an RPD of 2.7192, further demonstrating that UVE-CARS enhances feature band extraction based on UVE and indicating a strong model performance. (2) For the vegetation index, VI3 showed a better predictive accuracy than VI2. The VI3-WOA-ELM model achieved an R_m² of 0.8348, an RMSE_m of 0.0109 mg/g, an R_v² of 0.812, an RMSE_v of 0.011 mg/g, and an RPD of 2.3323, demonstrating good performance. (3) For the optimization algorithms, the DBO, SABO, and WOA all performed well in optimizing the ELM model. The R² of the DBO model increased by 5.8% to 27.82%, that of the SABO model by 2.92% to 26.84%, and that of the WOA model by 3.75% to 27.51%. These findings offer valuable insights for future anthocyanin monitoring using hyperspectral technology, highlighting the effectiveness of feature selection and optimization algorithms for accurate detection. Full article

Background: Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is a genetic disorder characterized by fibrofatty replacement of myocardial tissue, predominantly affecting the right ventricle (RV), but often involving the left ventricle (LV) as well. The early detection of fibrosis, crucial for risk stratification, has been enhanced by advanced imaging techniques. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) has shown promise as a surrogate marker for late enhancement (LE) in identifying myocardial fibrosis, yet precise cut-off values for strain are lacking. The aim of the study is to evaluate LV strain as a predictor of LE in ACM and to define strain cut-offs for early fibrosis detection, enhancing non-invasive diagnostic accuracy. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 64 patients diagnosed with ACM. Echocardiographic analysis using speckle-tracking echocardiography was performed to assess LV strain. LE was evaluated through cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) or via cardiac computed tomography (CCT) in cases with CMR contraindications. The study aimed to correlate regional LV strain values with the presence of LE, identifying cut-off values predictive of fibrosis. Results: The study found significant correlations between reduced LV strain values and the presence of LE, particularly in the anterolateral and inferolateral segments (p < 0.05). Specific strain thresholds, such as those for segment 12 (p = 0.02) and segment 17 (p = 0.03), were identified as predictive markers for LE. These findings suggest that strain imaging could serve as a non-invasive tool for the early detection of myocardial fibrosis in ACM patients. Conclusions: LV strain analysis offers potential as a non-invasive surrogate marker for myocardial fibrosis in ACM. Incorporating strain imaging into routine echocardiographic evaluations could improve early diagnosis and risk stratification, guiding patient management. Full article

The Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) is distinguished by unusually high tectonic activity, setting it apart from all other passive oceanic basins. Within the interior of the Indo-Australian lithospheric plate lies a unique area of intraplate deformation. This region is characterized by the highest recorded intraplate oceanic seismicity, with earthquake magnitudes reaching up to M = 8, abnormally high heat flow—measured to be two to four times higher than background levels for the ancient oceanic lithosphere of the Cretaceous age—and, most notably, intense folding and faulting of sediments and the basement, which are typically associated only with boundary zones of lithospheric plates. This anomalously tectonically active intraplate area was studied during regular research cruises in the 1970s–1980s, after which new conclusions were mainly drawn from satellite data modeling. Substantially new geophysical data were obtained in 2017 after a long gap. Bathymetric surveys using multibeam echosounders during the 42nd cruise of the R/V (Research Vessel) Akademik Boris Petrov and the SO258/2 cruise of the R/V Sonne provided full coverage of a large portion of the intraplate deformation area in the CIOB. This confirmed the mosaic-block structure of the intraplate deformation zone in the Central Indian Ocean Basin, consisting of numerous isometrically deformed tectonic blocks. A linear block at 0.2–0.6° S, which has a branch-like shape in plain view, is morphologically distinct from these blocks. It represents a system of structural elements of different scales (folds, flexures, ruptures), which constitute a structural paragenesis formed in the mechanical environment of a dextral transpressive tectonic setting. Full article

Purposes: To explore the optimization method and application of Au-NP-enhanced luminol––H₂O₂ luminescence system in TORCH (TOX, RV, CMV, HSVI, and HSVII) detection. Method: 4.5 × 10⁻⁵ mmol/L gold nano solution was prepared with chloroauric acid as the reducing agent and trisodium citrate as the stabilizer. After curing for 3 days, Au NPs participate in the luminal–H₂O₂ luminescence system to detect TORCH antibodies and establish the cut off value. SPSS 18.0 software was used to analyze the TORCH antibodies detected by the nano-gold-enhanced luminol luminescence method and TORCH kit. Additionally, its detection performance is studied. Results: The results of a paired t-test for the absorbance values of samples with and without gold nanoparticles showed that there were statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) between the two methods in the detection of TOX, RV, CMV, HSVI, and HSVII. The luminescence values with the addition of gold nanoparticles were significantly higher than those without gold nanoparticles. Using the Au NP–luminol–H₂O₂ chemiluminescence method, 127 serum samples were tested for TORCH antibodies. The sensitivities were 84.6%, 83.3%, 90.9%, 85.7%, and 84.6%, while the specificities were 94.7%, 96.5%, 96.6%, 97.3%, and 95.6%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the chemiluminescence method enhanced by gold nanoparticles are significantly improved compared to the chemiluminescence method without enhancers. Conclusions: Au NPs participate in the luminal–H₂O₂ luminescent system. The absorbance, sensitivity, and specificity of TORCH antibodies show that Au NPs can enhance the luminol–H₂O₂ luminescent system. Au NP–luminol–H₂O₂ luminescence system has broad application prospects in the detection of eugenics. Full article

Background Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a rare genetic disorder associated with an elevated risk of life-threatening arrhythmias and progressive ventricular impairment. Risk stratification is essential to prevent major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Our study aimed to investigate the incremental value of strain measured by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in predicting MACE in ARVC patients compared to conventional echocardiographic parameters. Methods and Results This was a retrospective, single-centre cohort study of 83 patients with ARVC (51% males, median age 37 years (IQR: 23, 53)) under the care of the Inherited Cardiac Conditions clinic at University Hospital Birmingham. MACE was defined as one of the following: sustained ventricular tachycardia (Sus VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), appropriate implantable cardio-defibrillator (ICD) therapy [shock/anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP)], heart failure (defined as decompensated heart failure, cardiac index by heart catheter, HF medication, and symptoms), cardiac transplantation, or cardiac death. Echocardiography images were analysed by a single observer for right ventricle (RV) and left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS). Multivariable Cox regression was performed in combination with RV fractional area change and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion. During three years of follow-up, 12% of patients suffered a MACE. ARVC patients with MACE had significantly reduced RV GLS (−13 ± 6% vs. −23 ± 6%, p < 0.001) and RV free wall longitudinal strain (−15 ± 5% vs. −25 ± 7%, p < 0.001) compared to those without MACE. Conclusions Right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS) may be a more sensitive predictor of MACE than conventional echocardiographic parameters of RV function. Moreover, RV-free wall longitudinal strain may have superior predictive value compared to RV GLS. Full article

Fly ash does not contain organic matter to initiate soil-forming processes and the proper development of plant cover. Therefore, in the reclamation of fly ash landfills, an integrated approach is required, including the introduction of exogenous organic matter into the top layer of ash. This study assessed changes in the content and quality of organic matter in soils developing on a reclaimed fly ash landfill. This study included reclaimed areas without the introduction of EOM (RV_1—the direct introduction of plants) and with the introduction of EOM (RV_2—surface humus and RV_3—sewage sludge). In samples taken 15 years after reclamation, the contents of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN), the fractional composition of organic matter, the susceptibility of organic matter to oxidation, and soil carbon management indices (carbon pool index (CPI), C lability (L), lability index (LI), and carbon management index (CMI)) were determined. The study results showed that the use of EOM in the reclamation of the ash dump significantly increased the content and improved the quality parameters of organic matter and thus influenced the initiation of the process of organic matter accumulation. In RV_1 soil, the accumulation of carbon resources was only found in the topsoil. An increase in carbon resources in the 15–40 cm layer was only noted in the variants in which EOM was introduced (RV_2 and RV_3). Carbon management indices showed that organic matter transformations covered only the top layers of these soils and were closely related to the EOM inflow. The interdependence of the CPI and L was most beneficial in the soil reclaimed with sewage sludge. In the soil of this reclaiming variant, the CMI had a value above 100, which indicates the initiation of the soil-forming process. Significant differences between the assessed reclamation variants were confirmed by means of PCA based on organic matter quality indicators. The organic matter content and quality indicators were the most favorable in the soil of variant RV_3. The obtained results confirmed that the introduction of EOM into the top layer of fly ash has a beneficial effect on the accumulation and quality indicators of organic matter and thus on the development of the soil-forming process in Technosols developing on a reclaimed fly ash landfill. Full article

One of the challenges in the current reactor is the gap between the outlet nozzle of the Reactor Vessel (RV) and the outlet opening of the Core Support Barrel (CSB). This gap causes bypass flow, reducing the overall efficiency. To address this issue, RV and CSB designs were modified with various configurations. Through finite element analysis, this study evaluated the structural integrity and dynamic response of an RV and CSB with these modified designs. The structural integrity was assessed against ASME code to determine the limits of design parameter changes that met code requirements. Additionally, the natural vibration characteristics of the CSB and RV were analyzed to evaluate improvements in the seismic response by modal analysis. The findings revealed that the CSB design in the case of 3-degree slanted contact with the RV outlet nozzle provided the most optimized results. Moreover, modal analysis indicated a substantial enhancement in seismic response, with the dominant CSB mode frequencies increasing by 30%. This shift, from the 15–20 Hz range to the 20–30 Hz range, is especially noteworthy given the concentration of seismic energy within the 1–20 Hz band. Full article

This work introduces a novel custom-designed 16-bit RISC-V processor, intended for educational purposes and for use in low-resource equipment. The implementation, despite providing registers of 16 bits, is based on RV32E RISC-V ISA, but with some key differences like a reduced instruction set that is optimized for embedded systems, the removal of floating-point instructions, reduced register count, and modified data types. These changes enable the processor to operate efficiently in resource-constrained environments while still maintaining assembly-level compatibility with the standard RISC-V architecture. The educational aspects of this project are also a key focus. By working on this project, students can gain hands-on experience with digital logic design, Verilog programming, and computer architecture. The project also includes tools and scripts to help students transform assembly code into binary format, making it easier for them to test and verify their designs. Additionally, the project’s open-source nature allows for collaboration and the sharing of knowledge among students and researchers worldwide. Full article