Atrial flutter (AFL) is a common atrial arrhythmia typically characterized by electrical activity propagating around specific anatomical regions. It is usually treated with catheter ablation. ...However, the identification of rotational activities is not straightforward, and requires an intense effort during the first phase of the electrophysiological (EP) study, i.e., the mapping phase, in which an anatomical 3D model is built and electrograms (EGMs) are recorded. In this study, we modeled the electrical propagation pattern of AFL (measured during mapping) using network theory (NT), a well-known field of research from the computer science domain. The main advantage of NT is the large number of available algorithms that can efficiently analyze the network. Using directed network mapping, we employed a cycle-finding algorithm to detect all cycles in the network, resembling the main propagation pattern of AFL. The method was tested on two subjects in sinus rhythm, six in an experimental model of
simulations, and 10 subjects diagnosed with AFL who underwent a catheter ablation. The algorithm correctly detected the electrical propagation of both sinus rhythm cases and
simulations. Regarding the AFL cases, arrhythmia mechanisms were either totally or partially identified in most of the cases (8 out of 10), i.e., cycles around the mitral valve, tricuspid valve and figure-of-eight reentries. The other two cases presented a poor mapping quality or a major complexity related to previous ablations, large areas of fibrotic tissue, etc. Directed network mapping represents an innovative tool that showed promising results in identifying AFL mechanisms in an automatic fashion. Further investigations are needed to assess the reliability of the method in different clinical scenarios.
Among all the forensic applications in which it has become an important exploration tool, ground penetrating radar (GPR) methodology is being increasingly adopted for buried landmine localisation, a ...framework in which it is expected to improve the operations efficiency, given the high resolution imaging capability and the possibility of detecting both metallic and non-metallic landmines. In this context, this study presents landmine detection equipment based on multi-polarisation: a ground coupled GPR platform, which ensures suitable penetration/resolution performance without affecting the safety of surveys, thanks to the inclusion of a flexible ballistic shielding for supporting eventual blasts. The experimental results have shown that not only can the blanket absorb blast-induced flying fragments impacts, but that it also allows for the acquisition of data with the accuracy required to generate a correct 3D reconstruction of the subsurface. The produced GPR volume is then processed through an automated learning scheme based on a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) capable of detecting buried objects with a high degree of accuracy.
Un gesuita spagnolo in Cina Lombardi, Federico
Miscelánea Comillas,
12/2022, Letnik:
80, Številka:
157
Journal Article
Recenzirano
L’articolo offre una visione d’insieme della vita e dell’opera di Diego de Pantoja (1571-1618), uno dei pionieri della missione gesuitica in Cina. Seguendo la strada aperta da Francesco Saverio, ...Diego de Pantoja raggiunse Pechino al seguito di Matteo Ricci, entrando in contatto con i letterati cinesi attivi nella corte imperiale e riuscendo così a dare alla missione la necessaria stabilità. Partendo dagli anni di formazione giovanile per giungere, attraverso l’epoca di attività missionaria svolta a Pechino come collaboratore prima e successore poi del padre Matteo Ricci, sino alla persecuzione di Nanchino, l’esilio e la morte avvenuta a Macao, il testo prende in esame i principali contributi offerti da Diego di Pantoja alla causa missionaria, tra cui la stesura della Relación de la entrada de algunos padres de la Compañia de Jesús en la China e de Le sette vittorie sui sette peccati capitali (Qikedaquan) e la riforma del calendario.
Un gesuita spagnolo in Cina Federico Lombardi
Miscelánea Comillas,
12/2022, Letnik:
80, Številka:
157
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
L’articolo offre una visione d’insieme della vita e dell’opera di Diego de Pantoja (1571-1618), uno dei pionieri della missione gesuitica in Cina. Seguendo la strada aperta da Francesco Saverio, ...Diego de Pantoja raggiunse Pechino al seguito di Matteo Ricci, entrando in contatto con i letterati cinesi attivi nella corte imperiale e riuscendo così a dare alla missione la necessaria stabilità. Partendo dagli anni di formazione giovanile per giungere, attraverso l’epoca di attività missionaria svolta a Pechino come collaboratore prima e successore poi del padre Matteo Ricci, sino alla persecuzione di Nanchino, l’esilio e la morte avvenuta a Macao, il testo prende in esame i principali contributi offerti da Diego di Pantoja alla causa missionaria, tra cui la stesura della Relación de la entrada de algunos padres de la Compañia de Jesús en la China e de Le sette vittorie sui sette peccati capitali (Qikedaquan) e la riforma del calendario.
Abstract Background Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is useful for the diagnosis of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC). However, there are limited data regarding its prognostic value. Objectives ...The goal of this study was to evaluate the prognostic relevance of CMR findings in patients with LVNC. Methods A total of 113 patients with an echocardiographic diagnosis of LVNC underwent CMR at 5 referral centers. CMR diagnostic criterion of LVNC (noncompacted/compacted ratio >2.3 in end-diastole) was confirmed in all patients. We performed left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular quantitative analysis and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) assessments and analyzed the following LVNC diagnostic criteria: left ventricular noncompacted myocardial mass (LV-ncMM) >20% and >25%, total LV-ncMM index >15 g/m2 , noncompacted/compacted ratio ≥3:1 ≥1 of segments 1 to 3 and 7 to 16 or ≥2:1 in at least 1 of segments 4 to 6 of the American Heart Association model. Outcome was a composite of thromboembolic events, heart failure hospitalizations, ventricular arrhythmias, and cardiac death. Results At a mean follow-up of 48 ± 24 months, cardiac events (CEs) occurred in 36 patients (16 heart failure hospitalizations, 10 ventricular arrhythmias, 5 cardiac deaths, and 5 thromboembolic events). LV dilation, impaired LV ejection fraction, and LV-ncMM >20% was significantly more frequent in patients with CEs. LV fibrosis was detected by using LGE in 11 cases. CMR predictors of CEs were LV dilation and LGE. LGE was associated with improved prediction of CEs, compared with clinical data and CMR functional parameters in all 3 models. No CEs occurred in patients without dilated cardiomyopathy and/or LGE. Conclusions In patients with LVNC evaluated by using CMR, the degree of LV trabeculation seems to have no prognostic impact over and above LV dilation, LV systolic dysfunction, and presence of LGE.
Software engineering is evolving quickly leading to an urgency to discover more efficient development models. DevOps and its security-oriented extension DevSecOps promised to speed up the development ...process while ensuring more robust code. However, many third-party libraries and infrastructure vulnerabilities may still pose security flaws. Besides, regulatory compliance and standards go beyond secure software asking for comprehensive security and accurate infrastructure hardening. Thus, we may wonder: is DevSecOps enough? In this paper, we propose CyberDevOps, a novel architecture which integrates cybersecurity within DevSecOps. Specifically, (i) we revise software composition analysis to deal with nondeterministic environments and (ii) we incorporate vulnerability assessment and compliance within a further pipeline step. To assess the effectiveness of CyberDevOps, we conduct an experimental evaluation. Specifically, we attack a web application and we show how CyberDevOps is able to detect hidden defects while a standard DevSecOps pipeline fails. Furthermore, we assess code quality and security by comparing DevOps, DevSecOps, and CyberDevOps by monitoring two Conio code bases over a year. The results show that CyberDevOps helps to fix up to 100% of known bugs and vulnerabilities and improve significantly the code quality.
Limited information is available on weight loss, metabolic control, cardiovascular disease and diabetic complications in morbidly obese patients undergoing gastric banding (LAGB) compared with ...morbidly obese patients receiving medical treatment.
To assess the long-term effects of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) on glucose tolerance, arterial hypertension, and cardiovascular disease and prevention of diabetic complications (retinopathy and renal function) in morbidly obese patients.
University hospitals, Italy.
In this retrospective study, 87 morbidly obese patients who underwent LAGB (20 with diabetes) and 87 morbidly obese patients who did not undergo surgery (36 with diabetes) for the treatment of obesity during the period 1995 to 2003 consented for re-examination after a mean (±standard deviation) period of 13.8±2.04 years. At baseline, all mobidly obese patients had a body mass index (BMI)≥35 kg/m(2) and were aged 18 to 65 years.
At follow-up, LAGB patients maintained a lower weight compared with baseline values and demonstrated significant decreases in both blood pressure and heart rate measurements compared with control patients. LAGB patients also experienced greater improvement of glucose tolerance than did control patients (28% versus 10%, respectively; P<.01) and reduction of insulin and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance. Fewer LAGB patients developed carotid plaques than did control patients (10% versus 26%, respectively; P<.01). Intensification of antihypertensive therapy was required in 31% of surgery versus 60% of control patients (P<.05). Among diabetic patients, improved glucose tolerance occurred in 55% of surgery patients versus 0% in the control group (P<.01). In addition, insulin treatment was necessary in 9 control patients versus 0 in the surgery group (P<.05), and carotid plaques occurred in 10% of LAGB patients versus 50% of control patients (P<.01). Creatinine levels and the estimated glomerular filtration rate improved in LAGB diabetic patients but not in control patients (P< .05).
Despite a very small weight loss over the long term (i.e., 2.2 kg/m(2)), improvement of glucose tolerance persisted for long periods after LAGB, with no unfavorable effect on kidney function and retinopathy. In contrast, no effect was observed on prevention of arterial hypertension or cardiovascular disease.
Background
Animal study results point to oxidative stress as a key mechanism triggering postoperative atrial fibrillation (PoAF), yet the extent to which specific biomarkers of oxidative stress might ...relate to PoAF risk in humans remains speculative.
Methods and Results
We assessed the association of validated, fatty acid–derived oxidative stress biomarkers (F2‐isoprostanes, isofurans, and F3‐isoprostanes) in plasma and urine, with incident PoAF among 551 cardiac surgery patients. Biomarkers were measured at enrollment, the end of surgery, and postoperative day 2. PoAF lasting ≥30 seconds was confirmed with rhythm strip or electrocardiography and centrally adjudicated. Outcomes were assessed until hospital discharge or postoperative day 10, whichever occurred first. Urine level of each oxidative stress biomarker rose at the end of surgery (2‐ to 3‐fold over baseline, P<0.001) and subsequently declined to concentrations comparable to baseline by postoperative day 2. In contrast, plasma concentrations remained relatively stable throughout the perioperative course. Urine F2‐isoprostanes and isofurans at the end of surgery were 20% and 50% higher in subjects who developed PoAF (P≤0.009). While baseline biomarker levels did not associate significantly with PoAF, end of surgery and postoperative day 2 isoprostanes and isofurans demonstrated relatively linear associations with PoAF. For example, the end of surgery extreme quartile multivariate adjusted OR (95% CI) for urine isofurans and F3‐isoprostanes were 1.95 (1.05 to 3.62; P for trend=0.01) and 2.10 (1.04 to 2.25, P for trend=0.04), respectively. The associations of biomarkers with PoAF varied little by demographics, surgery type, and medication use (P≥0.29 for each).
Conclusions
These novel results add to accumulating evidence supporting the likely key pathogenic role of elevated oxidative stress in PoAF.
Clinical Trial Registration
URL: Clinicaltrials.gov Unique identifier: NCT00970489.
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