Search Results (151)

Background and Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) after mitral valve repair surgery and is associated with adverse cardiac outcomes. Early identification of patients at high risk for AF development after repair surgery is crucial for early treatment and follow-up of these patients. This study aimed to identify ECG predictors of AF in patients with MVP following mitral valve repair surgery. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, non-randomized study included 62 patients who underwent mitral valve repair for MVP. The patients’ ECGs were analyzed preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-surgery to identify patients who developed AF. AF was diagnosed based on ECG findings or Holter monitoring. The P wave dispersion, P wave peak time (PWPT), P wave duration, PR interval, P wave terminal force in lead V1 (PWTF), interatrial block, P wave axis, biphasic P waves in inferior leads, QRS duration, corrected QT interval (QTc), fragmented QRS (fQRS), and ST segment-T wave abnormalities were analyzed on baseline ECG as AF predictors. Results: The PWPT, P wave dispersion, and maximum P wave duration were significantly longer on preoperative ECG in patients who developed AF postoperatively compared to those who did not. Biphasic P waves were more frequently observed in patients who developed AF postoperatively. Univariate analysis identified biphasic P waves, P wave dispersion, maximum P wave duration, PWPT, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) as potential predictors of postoperative AF. However, multivariate analysis revealed that P wave dispersion, PWPT, and left atrial volume index (LAVI) were independent predictors of AF in six months after mitral valve repair. No significant changes were observed in QRS duration, QT interval, or the fQRS. Conclusions: The P wave dispersion, PWPT, and LAVI are significant ECG predictors of AF following mitral valve repair surgery in MVP patients. These ECG markers may help identify individuals at higher risk for postoperative AF, allowing for targeted monitoring and management strategies. Full article

One type of pore fundamental to water dynamics is the intra-aggregate pore, which holds water vital for plant and root system development, mainly in finer-textured soils such as clays. The distribution of intra-aggregate pores also influences the redistribution of water. Thus, it is important to study the dynamics of the intra-aggregate pore network under processes such as wetting and drying cycles (WDC). Changes in these pore types can play essential roles in organic matter protection, water movement, microbial activity, and aggregate stability. To date, there are few studies analyzing the impact of WDC on intra-aggregate pore dynamics. This study aims to provide results in this regard, analyzing changes in the pore architecture of a subtropical Oxisol under no-tillage (NT), conventional tillage (CT), and forest (F) after WDC application. Three-dimensional X-Ray microtomography images of soil aggregate samples (2–4 mm) subjected to 0 and 12 WDC were analyzed. The results showed that WDC did not affect (p > 0.05) the imaged porosity, number of pores, fractal dimension, tortuosity, and pore connectivity for the different soil management types. To analyze the permeability and hydraulic conductivity of the soil pore system, the most voluminous pore (MVP) was examined. No differences were observed in the imaged porosity, fraction of aggregate occupied by the MVP, connectivity, tortuosity, hydraulic radius, permeability, and hydraulic conductivity between 0 and 12 WDC for the MVP. Comparing soil management types after 12 WDCs, for example, F samples became more porous than CT and NT samples. In contrast, the pore system of NT had a lower fractal dimension and was more tortuous than that of CT and F samples. Our results show that for highly weathered soils such as the Brazilian Oxisol studied, the intra-aggregate pore network proved resistant to changes with WDC, regardless of the type of management adopted. Full article

The livestock sector is a significant contributor to the economy and rural livelihoods, but it is exposed to high risk across the supply chain, which is detrimental and needs to be addressed for sustainable development. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the major risk mitigation strategies (RMSs) and associated factors that affect their adoption. This study conducted a comprehensive literature review to identify the eight major RMSs and prioritized them through an analytical hierarchical process (AHP). Thereafter, a multivariate probit (MVP) model was developed to identify the factors affecting the adoption of major RMSs. The primary RMSs are livestock insurance, vaccination of livestock, and advisory/extension services. Further, the multivariate probit regression analysis shows that ‘age’, ‘social category’, ‘economic status’, ‘educational level’, ‘income level’, ‘the total number of animals’, and ‘perceived risk of foot and mouth disease’ are significant factors that influence the adoption of RMSs. This study’s findings will be useful for livestock supply chain partners to mitigate the risks along the livestock supply chain. This research will also help policymakers to develop policies/plans for incorporating these RMSs by considering the influencing associated factors. Full article

Background: A growing body of evidence suggests that diet can modify Parkinson’s disease (PD) outcomes, although there is disagreement about what should be included and excluded in such a diet. Existing evidence suggests that adherence to the MIND and Mediterranean (MEDI) diets are associated with reduced PD symptoms, but only a few variables from the adherence scales are responsible for the statistically observed improvement. Objectives: The goal was to use patient-reported outcomes in a large cohort to identify the foods and dietary patterns (PRO diet) most strongly associated with the fewest PD symptoms over time, and to develop a composite adherence scale to enable comparisons between MEDI, MIND, and PRO. Methods: Data were obtained from the prospective longitudinal natural history study and from Modifiable Variables in Parkinsonism (MVP)—a study designed to identify behaviors associated with patient-reported outcomes (PRO-PD). Upon the completion of the binary and food frequency data collection, using various predictive models and considering congruence with historical data, the PRO diet was created via an iterative process. Our goal was to create a new scale and compare its performance to the existing MIND and MEDI scores. The comparison was made at baseline, using the regression models for PRO-PD and the different scales as the predictors. The models were compared via the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). To examine whether baseline adherence levels predicted subsequent symptom trajectories, the baseline PRO diet adherence and subsequent slope of progression were evaluated. Results: Data from 2290 individuals with PD were available for this analysis. The Mediterranean and MIND diets showed almost identical effects. For both the diets, the effect they had on non-motor symptoms was about twice the effect on motor symptoms. The slopes for the total PRO-PD for MEDI, MIND, and PRO-21 were −64.20467, −64.04220, and −28.61995, respectively. The AIC value differences were substantial (>2), indicating meaningful improvements in the model fit for total PRO-PD, as follows: MEDI: 28,897.24, MIND: 28,793.08, and PRO-21: 27,500.71. The subset of individuals who were most adherent to the PRO-21 diet at baseline had the slowest subsequent progression, as measured by a 43% reduced PRO-PD slope, compared to the less adherent groups. Conclusions: The PRO-21 outperformed the MIND and MEDI diets in the model fit, overcoming the ceiling effects and showing orders of magnitude and superior explanatory power for variance in PD outcomes, despite the smaller per-unit effect sizes. However, its rigorous demands may introduce barriers related to cost, feasibility, and sustainability, underscoring the need for future intervention trials to assess real-world feasibility, adherence, side effects, and clinical impact. Full article

Antiviral drugs like EIDD-2801 (molnupiravir; MPV) have been successfully used in the treatment of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). The previous study of the pharmacokinetics of MPV in healthy cats showed promise for its use and safety. The objective was to determine the pharmacokinetics of molnupiravir in cats with naturally occurring FIP by measuring MPV and EIDD-193 (β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine; NHC) serum levels. Blood was collected from seven cats diagnosed with naturally occurring FIP treated at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 12 h post oral MPV administration and at 12 h post pill administration 7 days later. Serum concentrations of MPV and NHC were determined using a previously published high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method. The mean dose of MPV was 15.44 mg/kg (SD ± 1.82). The mean peak serum concentration of MPV (C_max) after a single PO dose of MPV was 38 ng/mL (SD ± 5). The mean peak serum concentration of NHC (C_max) after a single PO dose of MVP was 1551 ng/mL (SD ± 720). the time to reach NHC C_max (T_max) was 2.6 h (SD ± 1.4), and the NHC elimination half-life was 1.6 h (SD ± 1.1). Minimal drug accumulation was seen in trough concentrations following twice-daily dosing for 7 days. The low MPV levels may be explained by fast conversion to its active metabolite NHC. The mean NHC concentrations at all time points were at least 4 times the reported in vitro IC₅₀ for feline coronavirus strains and twice-daily dosing for seven days did not lead to drug accumulation within the serum. The results support the use of MPV in the treatment of FIP, and if therapeutic drug monitoring is to be performed, NHC should be measured. Full article

The existing body of scholarly work on the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in Africa and Nigeria has predominantly concentrated on the experiences and practices of smallholder farmers. While these studies offer valuable insights into the general factors that influence the adoption of CSA practices, their findings may not be fully applicable to the burgeoning agritourism farmers in Nigeria. This study presents a novel perspective on the socio-economic determinants of CSA adoption among the nascent agritourism farmers in Nigeria. The data were collected through a well-structured questionnaire administered to 436 agritourism farmers in Nigeria. The five mutually inclusive endogenous variables that capture the impact of CSA practices were agroforestry system, improved livestock management, organic farming, crop rotation/intercropping, and farmer field schools. While the agritourism farmers possess moderate experience and education, significant gaps exist in access to critical resources like credit, climate information, extension services, and membership in agritourism cooperatives/associations. The multivariate probit (MVP) model revealed that agritourism farming experience significantly boosts crop rotation/intercropping adoption. Education enhances organic farming uptake but negatively impacts improved livestock management. Similarly, extension services access promotes farmer field schools while discouraging organic farming. Significant negative covariance matrix between CSA practices suggests overlapping demands for limited farm resources. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is commonly benign, but may result in life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Mitral annular disjunction (MAD) often coexists with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and has been implicated in the development of ventricular arrhythmias through myocardial stretch and fibrosis. Case Presentation: Here, we present a case that highlights the diagnostic value of multimodal imaging in evaluating ventricular ectopy in the context of MVP and MAD. A 72-year-old male presented to the cardiology clinic with palpitations and fatigue, compounded by an arrhythmia identified by his Apple Watch. Holter monitoring revealed premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) demonstrating MAD and basal inferolateral scarring. Despite minimal symptoms and normal echocardiographic imaging, CMR findings highlight the utility of advanced cardiovascular imaging in patients with newly detected ventricular arrhythmias. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of integrating consumer wearables and advanced imaging in evaluating ventricular ectopy and its evolving role in risk stratification for patients with MVP, even in the absence of overt symptoms. Full article

Minor visual phenomena (MVP), such as visual illusions, pareidolias, feeling of presence, and passage hallucinations, are often experienced by patients with Lewy Body Disease (LBD), in addition to complex visual hallucinations (VH), even in the early stages of the disease. This systematic review aimed to provide an up-to-date literature review of the occurrence and prevalence of MVP in LBD and to assess their potential associations both with VH and visuoperceptual and visuospatial deficits. A systematic literature search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, APA PsycInfo, Scopus, and Cochrane Library, and a total of 44 articles were included. The included studies showed significant variability in the occurrence of MVP in the LBD population and in the assessment methods used, such as standardized scales (e.g., the noise pareidolia test), semi-structured interviews (e.g., the North-East Visual Hallucinations Interview), and clinical descriptions. Similarly to VH, MVP appears to be highly specific to LBD, helping in differential diagnosis from Alzheimer’s Disease. The overall relationship between MVP, VH, and visuoperceptual/visuospatial deficits remains unclear. Some studies found that MVP (especially pareidolic responses and presence of hallucinations) was positively correlated with VH, yet it is challenging to determine whether MVP can be considered a precursor of future VH development. Negative associations were reported between MVP (especially pareidolias) and visuoperceptual/visuospatial abilities. However, it is not clear whether these deficits serve as independent, exclusive factors in MVP occurrence or if they interact with VH as a contributing component. Gaining insight into the occurrence of these phenomena could prove beneficial for differential diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of treatment outcomes in patients with LBD. Full article

Background/Objectives: Microvascular plug embolization in the distal feeding artery (FA-MVP) and coil embolization targeting the nidus and feeding artery (NiFA-coil) are effective treatments for pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs). This study compares their outcomes. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients who underwent NiFA-coil or FA-MVP embolization for PAVMs between October 2014 and May 2024, with initial (short-term) follow-up chest CT imaging performed within 18 months, and the latest (long-term) follow-up performed at least 3 years post-treatment. Durable occlusion was defined as ≥70% shrinkage of the nidus or draining vein on follow-up CT. A Cox proportional hazards regression model assessed the association between technique and durable occlusion, with inverse propensity score weighting used to adjust for patient and PAVM characteristics. Results: A total of 142 PAVMs (48 FA-MVP, 94 NiFA-coil) in 85 patients were analyzed. Durable occlusion was 97.2% (138/142) at a median short-term follow-up of 4.2 months and 90.2% (37/41) at a median long-term follow-up of 56.0 months. Simple PAVMs were more frequent in the FA-MVP group (93.8%, 45/48) than in the NiFA-coil group (61.2%, 58/94) (p < 0.001). The NiFA-coil group had larger feeding arteries (3.8 mm vs. 2.3 mm, p < 0.001) and sac sizes (13.1 mm vs. 7.7 mm, p = 0.040). Short and long-term durable occlusion rates were comparable (NiFA-coil: 96.8% and 88.9%; FA-MVP: 97.8% and 92.9%, respectively; p > 0.99, p > 0.99). After propensity score matching, compared to FA-MVP, NiFA-coil had a hazard ratio for short-term persistence of 1.06 (95% CI, 0.16–6.99; p = 0.956). Conclusions: Both NiFA-coil and FA-MVP embolization are highly effective for PAVM treatment, with similar success rates. Full article

Mycenaean glass artifacts, such as beads and relief plaques, are highly susceptible to degradation, which can significantly modify their visual attributes and pose classification challenges. Corrosion on glass and faience artifacts has often led to misinterpretation, since the visual manifestations of degradation can be similar for both materials, impacting research conclusions. This paper presents a segment of a broader study conducted within the Myc-MVP project, utilizing advanced scientific methods to analyze the compositional changes in corroded vitreous artifacts. Through Macro-X-ray Fluorescence (MA-XRF) and LED microscopy, we aim to understand the correlation between compositional alterations and visual degradation manifestations. The use of MA- XRF was particularly crucial for non-destructively mapping the elemental distribution over large surfaces, allowing for a more comprehensive analysis of corrosion patterns. The results presented in this study are from a subset of artifacts examined using MA- XRF, highlighting critical insights into the spatial compositional shifts that contribute to visible deterioration. This paper discusses the first real-life contribution of Macro X-ray Fluorescence (MA-XRF) imaging to mapping the spatial compositional changes that occur when Mycenaean vitreous materials undergo degradation, yielding visible deterioration. MA-XRF scanning offers a fully non-invasive and non-destructive method for recording compositional data across the entire surface of an object. The results can be visualized as distribution images, which are more accessible and interpretable for a broader audience compared to the spectra generated by traditional spectrometric techniques. These findings aspire to inform strategies for the accurate classification, effective management, appropriate conservation treatment, and long-term preservation of vitreous artifacts. Full article

Background: Mitral annular disjunction (MAD), a mitral annular abnormality involving the whole mitral valve annulus circumference, commonly detected in individuals with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), has been recently recognized as a potential risk factor for malignant ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and sudden cardiac death. Recent evidence indicates that a multimodality imaging assessment comprehensive of echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) may improve MAD detection. To date, no previous author has considered the potential influence of chest wall conformation on MAD presence. Considering the strong association between MVP and anterior chest wall deformities and the increased prevalence of MAD among MVP individuals, we have hypothesized that MAD presence might be more frequently detected among MVP individuals with a narrow anteroposterior (A-P) thoracic diameter and/or concave-shaped chest wall conformation, as noninvasively assessed by the modified Haller index (MHI). Methods: Herein, we present a case of MVP female with relevant MAD distance and moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) who underwent a diagnostic study comprehensive of transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, CMR, CCTA, and exercise stress echocardiography. Results: The patient was found with a concave-shaped chest wall conformation (MHI > 2.5) and narrow A-P thoracic diameter (<13.5 cm), with a moderate and non-hemodynamically significant MR, without areas of LGE on CMR and with low arrhythmic profile. Conclusions: A preliminary chest shape assessment by the MHI might improve the prognostic risk stratification of MVP patients with MAD, potentially identifying a benign phenotype of MVP individuals, i.e., those with a narrow A-P thoracic diameter. Full article

Background: Biologics is an exciting and growing area of medicine. Within the larger field of biologics, the use of viral vectors and virus-like particles (VLPs) is increasingly common, making it crucial to develop innovative and practical unit operations for the related purification process. Objective: Some scientists and engineers propose that membrane-based downstream virus purification (MVP) platforms would allow for more scalable and cost-effective production of these critical particles. However, the so-cial, political, and ethical implications of these advancements remain largely unex-plored. This paper aims to explore various pivotal facets of MVP technology govern-ance and regulations within the U.S. context, including (1) government policy ar-rangements related to the implementation of the technologies, (2) stakeholder atti-tudes, policy preferences, and behaviors, and (3) the fundamental factors that shape these attitudes, policy preferences, and behaviors. Methods: In doing so, we analyze publicly available federal and state government documents pertaining to biomanu-facturing, healthcare, and legislative attempts. Additionally, we will perform a stake-holder analysis on relevant industries, healthcare service providers, and recipients. Conclusions: Our goal is to outline the socio-political, ethical, and regulatory factors pertaining to the regulation and governance of these technologies. Full article

The growing interest in soft robotics arises from their unique ability to perform tasks beyond the capabilities of rigid robots, with soft actuators playing a central role in this innovation. Among these, electromagnetic soft actuators (ESAs) stand out for their fast response, simple control mechanisms, and compact design. Analytical and experimental studies indicate that smaller ESAs enhance the force per unit cross-sectional area (F/CSA) without compromising force efficiency. This work uses the magnetic vector potential (MVP) to calculate the magnetic field of an ESA, which is then used to derive the actuator’s generated force. A mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) optimization framework is introduced to maximize the ESA’s F/CSA. Unlike prior methods that independently optimized parameters, such as ESA length and permanent magnet diameter, this study jointly optimizes these parameters to achieve a more efficient and effective design. To validate the proposed framework, finite element-based COMSOL 5.4 is used to simulate the magnetic field and generated force, ensuring consistency between MVP-based calculations and the physical model. Additionally, simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of MINLP optimization in identifying the optimal design parameters for maximizing the F/CSA of the ESA. The data and code are available at GitHub Repository. Full article

In this paper, we compare three mathematical models for the mean velocity and Reynolds stress profiles for fully developed pressure-driven turbulent channel flow with the aim of assessing the level of accuracy of each model. Each model is valid over the whole boundary layer thickness (0 $\le y\le$ $\delta$), and it is formulated in terms of a law of the wall and a law of the wake. To calibrate the mathematical models, we use data obtained by direct numerical simulations (DNS) of pressure-driven turbulent channel flow in the range 182 $\le {Re}_{\tau }\le$10,049. The models selected for performance evaluation are two models (Musker’s and AL84) originally developed based on high Reynolds boundary layer experimental data and Luchini’s model, which was developed when some DNS data were also available for wall-bounded turbulent flows. Differences are quantified in terms of local relative or absolute errors. Luchini’s model outperforms the other two models in the “low” and “intermediate” Reynolds number cases (${Re}_{\tau }=$ 182 to 5186). However, for the “high” Reynolds number cases (${Re}_{\tau }=$ 8016 and ${Re}_{\tau }=$ 10,049). Luchini’s model exhibits larger errors than the other two models. Both Musker’s and AL84 models exhibit comparable accuracy levels when compared with the DNS datasets, and their performance improves as the Reynolds number increases. Full article

Background: Over the last two decades, a number of imaging studies have evaluated the characteristics and clinical implications of mitral annular disjunction (MAD) among patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP). The present systematic review has been primarily designed to summarize the main findings of these studies and to examine the overall impact of MAD in MVP patients. Methods: All imaging studies assessing the prevalence, pathophysiological role and determinants of MAD in MVP individuals, selected from the PubMed and EMBASE databases, were included. There was no limitation in terms of time period. The risk of bias was assessed by using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Results: The full texts of 23 studies on 7718 MVP individuals were analyzed. The overall pooled prevalence of MAD in MVP individuals was 40% (range 5.4–90%). When considering the different imaging modalities for assessing MAD, the average MAD prevalence was 20% for cardiac computed tomography studies, 31.3% for transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) studies, 44.7% for transesophageal echocardiography studies and 47% for cardiac magnetic resonance studies. MAD presence was more commonly associated with female sex, young age, narrow antero-posterior thoracic diameter, symptoms of palpitations and syncope, T-wave inversion in inferolateral leads and frequent and/or complex ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) on electrocardiogram, myxomatous leaflets, bileaflet prolapse, larger mitral valve annulus and non-severe mitral regurgitation on TTE. A total of 12 studies (52.2%) provided follow-up data. Over a median follow-up time of 3.9 yrs (range 1–10.3 yrs), MVP individuals with MAD showed increased risk of clinical arrhythmic events, no difference in survival rate and good surgical outcomes. Conclusions: MAD was present in more than one-third of MVP patients, with a wide range of variability depending on the specific imaging method used for assessing MAD presence and on a nonunivocal MAD definition, with a possible overestimation due to Pseudo-MAD rather than True-MAD measurement. A multimodality imaging approach comprehensive of noninvasive chest shape assessment might improve MAD detection among MVP individuals. It appears that careful serial monitoring for VAs should be mandatory for MAD patients. Full article