The origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry apparently obligates the laws of physics to include some mechanism of baryon number (\(\mathcal{B}\)) violation. Searches for interactions violating ...\(\mathcal{B}\) and baryon-minus-lepton number \(\mathcal{(B-L)}\) represent a rich and underutilized opportunity. These are complementary to the existing, broad program of searches for \(\mathcal{L}\)-violating modes such as neutrinoless double \(\beta\)-decay which could provide deeper understandings of the plausibility of leptogenesis, or \(\mathcal{B}\)-violating, \(\mathcal{(B-L)}\)-conserving processes such as proton decay. In particular, a low-scale, post-sphaleron violation mechanism of \(\mathcal{(B-L)}\) could provide a \textit{testable} form of baryogenesis. Though theoretically compelling, searches for such \(\mathcal{(B-L)}\)-violating processes like \(\Delta\mathcal{B}=2\) dinucleon decay and \(n\rightarrow\bar{n}\) remain relatively underexplored experimentally compared to other rare processes. By taking advantage of upcoming facilities such as the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and the European Spallation Source, this gap can be addressed with new intranuclear and free searches for neutron transformations with very high sensitivity, perhaps greater than three orders of magnitude higher than previous experimental searches. This proceedings reports on recent theoretical and experimental advances and sensitivities of next-generation searches for neutron transformations were detailed as part of the Amherst Center for Fundamental Interactions Workshop, "Theoretical Innovations for Future Experiments Regarding Baryon Number Violation," directly coordinated with the Rare Processes and Precision Measurements Frontier.
Objectives
Position- and posture-dependent deformation of the vascular system is a relatively unexplored field. The goal of this scoping review was to create an overview of existing vascular imaging ...modalities in different body positions and postures and address the subsequent changes in vascular anatomy.
Methods
Scopus, Medline, and Cochrane were searched for literature published between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2022, incorporating the following categories: image modality, anatomy, orientation, and outcomes.
Results
Out of 2446 screened articles, we included 108. The majority of papers used ultrasound (US,
n
= 74) in different body positions and postures with diameter and cross-sectional area (CSA) as outcome measures. Magnetic resonance imaging (
n
= 22) and computed tomography (
n
= 8) were less frequently used but allowed for investigation of other geometrical measures such as vessel curvature and length. The venous system proved more sensitive to postural changes than the arterial system, which was seen as increasing diameters of veins below the level of the heart when going from supine to prone to standing positions, and vice versa.
Conclusions
The influence of body positions and postures on vasculature was predominantly explored with US for vessel diameter and CSA. Posture-induced deformation and additional geometrical features that may be of interest for the (endovascular) treatment of vascular pathologies have been limitedly reported, such as length and curvature of an atherosclerotic popliteal artery during bending of the knee after stent placement. The most important clinical implications of positional changes are found in diagnosis, surgical planning, and follow-up after stent placement.
Clinical relevance statement
This scoping review presents the current state and opportunities of position- and posture-dependent imaging of vascular structures using various imaging modalities that are relevant in the fields of clinical diagnosis, surgical planning, and follow-up after stent placement.
Key Points
• The influence of body positions and postures on the vasculature was predominantly investigated with US for vessel diameter and cross-sectional area.
• Research into geometrical deformation, such as vessel length and curvature adaptation, that may be of interest for the (endovascular) treatment of vascular pathologies is limited in different positions and postures.
• The most important clinical implications of postural changes are found in diagnosis, surgical planning, and follow-up after stent placement.
Background
Abdominal aortic endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair might be position-dependent, therefore undetectable using supine imaging. We aimed to determine the feasibility and benefit of ...using a low-field tiltable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner allowing to study patients who can be imaged in both supine and upright positions of endoleaks.
Methods
Ten EVAR patients suspected of endoleak based on ultrasound examination were prospectively included. MRI in upright and supine positions was compared with routine supine computed tomography angiography (CTA). Analysis was performed through (1) subjective image quality assessment by three observers, (2) landmark registration between MRI and CTA scans, (3) Euclidean distances between renal and endograft landmarks, and (4) evaluation of endoleak detection on MRI by a consensus panel. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way repeated measures analysis of variance.
Results
The image quality of upright/supine MRI was inferior compared to CTA. Median differences in both renal and endograft landmarks were approximately 6–7 mm between upright and supine MRI and 5–6 mm between supine MRI and CTA. In the proximal sealing zone of the endograft, no differences were found among all three scan types (
p
= 0.264). Endoleak detection showed agreement between MRI and CTA in 50% of the cases, with potential added value in only one patient.
Conclusions
The benefit of low-field upright MRI for endoleak detection was limited. While MRI assessment was non-inferior to standard CTA in detecting endoleaks in selected cases, improved hardware and sequences are needed to explore the potential of upright MRI in patients with endoleaks.
Relevance statement
Upright low-field MRI has limited clinical value in detecting position-dependent endoleaks; improvements are required to fulfil its potential as a complementary modality in this clinical setting.
Key points
• Upright MRI shows potential for imaging endoleaks in aortic aneurysm patients in different positions.
• The image quality of upright MRI is inferior to current techniques.
• Upright MRI complements CTA, but lacks accurate deformation measurements for clinical use.
• Advancements in hardware and imaging sequences are needed to fully utilise upright MRI capabilities.
Graphical Abstract
species have a single mitochondrion that is essential for their survival and has been successfully targeted by antimalarial drugs. Most mitochondrial proteins are imported into this organelle, and ...our picture of the
mitochondrial proteome remains incomplete. Many data sources contain information about mitochondrial localization, including proteome and gene expression profiles, orthology to mitochondrial proteins from other species, coevolutionary relationships, and amino acid sequences, each with different coverage and reliability. To obtain a comprehensive, prioritized list of Plasmodium falciparum mitochondrial proteins, we rigorously analyzed and integrated eight data sets using Bayesian statistics into a predictive score per protein for mitochondrial localization. At a corrected false discovery rate of 25%, we identified 445 proteins with a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 97%. They include proteins that have not been identified as mitochondrial in other eukaryotes but have characterized homologs in bacteria that are involved in metabolism or translation. Mitochondrial localization of seven Plasmodium berghei orthologs was confirmed by epitope labeling and colocalization with a mitochondrial marker protein. One of these belongs to a newly identified apicomplexan mitochondrial protein family that in P. falciparum has four members. With the experimentally validated mitochondrial proteins and the complete ranked P. falciparum proteome, which we have named PlasmoMitoCarta, we present a resource to study unique proteins of
mitochondria.
The unique biology and medical relevance of the mitochondrion of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum have made it the subject of many studies. However, we actually do not have a comprehensive assessment of which proteins reside in this organelle. Many omics data are available that are predictive of mitochondrial localization, such as proteomics data and expression data. Individual data sets are, however, rarely complete and can provide conflicting evidence. We integrated a wide variety of available omics data in a manner that exploits the relative strengths of the data sets. Our analysis gave a predictive score for the mitochondrial localization to each nuclear encoded P. falciparum protein and identified 445 likely mitochondrial proteins. We experimentally validated the mitochondrial localization of seven of the new mitochondrial proteins, confirming the quality of the complete list. These include proteins that have not been observed mitochondria before, adding unique mitochondrial functions to P. falciparum.
Francisella tularensis is a facultative intracellular bacterium in the class Gammaproteobacteria. This strain is of interest because it is the etiologic agent of tularemia and a highly virulent ...category A biothreat agent. Here we describe the draft genome sequence and annotation of Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica BD11-00177, isolated from the first case of indigenous tularemia detected in The Netherlands since 1953. Whole genome DNA sequence analysis assigned this isolate to the genomic group B.FTNF002-00, which previously has been exclusively reported from Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland and Germany. Automatic annotation of the 1,813,372 bp draft genome revealed 2,103 protein-coding and 46 RNA genes.
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