scholarly journals Automated non-invasive pressure-volume loop analysis of cardiac aging in a large cohort of healthy community dwellers

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J B Ruijsink ◽  
E Puyol-Anton ◽  
J Mariscal Harana ◽  
L E Juarez-Orozco ◽  
A P King ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Arterial Elastance ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Volume Curve ◽  
Lv Volume ◽  
Healthy Community ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cine Cmr ◽  
Community Dwellers

Abstract Background/Introduction Pressure-volume loops (PVloops) provide a wealth of information on cardiac function that is not readily available from cardiac imaging alone. Methods To estimate left ventricular (LV) PVloops non-invasively have been available, but have so far not been used to interrogate ventricular function in large patient cohorts, due to the complexity of estimating PVloops. A new method was recently validated that construct PVloops non-invasively from cine cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), based on the time-varying elastance model [1]. At the same time, we have validated a framework for automated, quality controlled analysis of cine CMR in large cohorts of patients/subjects [2]. Combining these two methods could automated PVloop estimation, enabling analysis of ventricular pressure-volume relationships in large study populations. Purpose Evaluate if CMR-based non-invasive PVloops can be used to interrogate the impact of cardiac ageing on LV function occurring in a large population of healthy community dwellers. Methods Non-invasive PVloops were calculated from a full cardiac cycle LV volume curve and brachial blood pressure data using a recently validated method based on the time-varying elastance model [1], in 7,650 healthy community dwellers from the UKBiobank population study. The LV volume curve was automatically obtained using our state-of-the-art, quality controlled deep learning (DL) based cine CMR analysis framework [2]. External Work, pressure-volume-area (PVA), end-systolic pressure (Pes), ventricular elastance (Ees, an estimate of contractility) and arterial elastance (Ea) and energy per ejected volume (EEV: PVA/ stroke volume) were calculated from the PVloops. We performed univariate regression between PVloop parameters and age. We also calculated the additional impact of cardiovascular risk-factors in a multivariate analysis. Results See results in table 1. With age, LV volumes fall (p<0.001) in healthy subjects, while systolic blood pressure and Pes increases (both p<0.001). As a result of the higher afterload, PVA (p=0.894) and EW (p=0.499) do not significantly change with age despite a lower SV. Arterial elastance (Ea) increased, and so did contractility, as measured by Ees (p<0.001). Due to all these changes, EEV increased with age (p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, cardiovascular risk factors hypercholesterolemia and hypertension negatively impacted Pes, PVA, Ees and EEV. Diabetes and smoking habits did not. Conclusion Non-invasive CMR-based PVloop analyses capture the impact of known changes occurring during cardiac ageing on cardiac work, contractility and energetic expenditure. Obtaining PVloops automatically using our AI analysis system in this large cohort of healthy subjects allows to formulate reference for assessment of cardiac disease. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): The authors acknowledge financial support (support) the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cardiovascular MedTech Co-operative (previously existing as the Cardiovascular Healthcare Technology Co-operative 2012 - 2017) award to the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with King's College London and the NIHR comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre of the Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health Univariate regression analysis Example of estimated PV loop

scholarly journals Effects of Algorithmic Music on the Cardiovascular Neural Control

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1084
Author(s):  
Alfredo Raglio ◽  
Beatrice De Maria ◽  
Francesca Perego ◽  
Gianluigi Galizia ◽  
Matteo Gallotta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Domain ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Neural Control ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Systolic Arterial Pressure ◽  
Favorable Effect ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Algorithmic Music ◽  
Integrated Response ◽  
The Impact

Music influences many physiological parameters, including some cardiovascular (CV) control indices. The complexity and heterogeneity of musical stimuli, the integrated response within the brain and the limited availability of quantitative methods for non-invasive assessment of the autonomic function are the main reasons for the scarcity of studies about the impact of music on CV control. This study aims to investigate the effects of listening to algorithmic music on the CV regulation of healthy subjects by means of the spectral analysis of heart period, approximated as the time distance between two consecutive R-wave peaks (RR), and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) variability. We studied 10 healthy volunteers (age 39 ± 6 years, 5 females) both while supine (REST) and during passive orthostatism (TILT). Activating and relaxing algorithmic music tracks were used to produce possible contrasting effects. At baseline, the group featured normal indices of CV sympathovagal modulation both at REST and during TILT. Compared to baseline, at REST, listening to both musical stimuli did not affect time and frequency domain markers of both SAP and RR, except for a significant increase in mean RR. A physiological TILT response was maintained while listening to both musical tracks in terms of time and frequency domain markers, compared to baseline, an increase in mean RR was again observed. In healthy subjects featuring a normal CV neural profile at baseline, algorithmic music reduced the heart rate, a potentially favorable effect. The innovative music approach of this study encourages further research, as in the presence of several diseases, such as ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and heart failure, a standardized musical stimulation could play a therapeutic role.

scholarly journals Comparative of Meibomian Gland Morphology in Patients With Evaporative Dry Eye Versus Non-Dry Eye

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricaurte Ramiro Crespo-Treviño ◽  
Anna Karen Salinas-Sánchez ◽  
Francisco Amparo ◽  
Manuel Garza-Leon
Keyword(s):  
Dry Eye ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Tear Film ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Meibomian Gland ◽  
Ocular Surface Disease Index ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Evaporative Dry Eye ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Many recent studies have demonstrated that morphological changes are one of the key signs of Meibomian gland disease (MGD) . These changes can be seen even before symptom onset, potentially underestimating the prevalence of MGD; however, Until now, there is no conclusive information about the impact of MG morphology in tear film physiology and disease. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anatomical and morphological MG alterations between patients with evapo-rative DED and healthy controls. Retrospective chart review of Seventy-five patients with evaporative dry eye and healthy individuals who had dry eye assesments included Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, Meibum quality, meibum expressibility, lid margin abnormality, ocular staining, non-invasive tear film break-up time, and Meibography. We did not find significant differences in MG alterations in the upper lid between healthy and dry-eye subjects. Patients with evaporative dry eye presented MG alterations in the lower lid more frequently than healthy subjects (54.8 vs 30.3%; p=0.03). The presence of shortened glands was the only MG alteration that was more prevalent in the lower lid in dry-eye patients than in healthy subjects (p <0.05). Subjects with evaporative dry eye presented more alterations in the lower lid than healthy subjects.

scholarly journals Collective or Individual? What Types of Tourism Reduce Economic Inequality in Peripheral Regions?

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4898
Author(s):  
Andrzej Tucki ◽  
Korneliusz Pylak
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Region ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Tourism Impacts ◽  
Economic Distress ◽  
Regional Inequalities ◽  
Local Agriculture ◽  
Northeastern Poland ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
The Impact

Regional inequalities are a major concern for governments and policymakers. There is no doubt that tourism impacts the reduction of inequalities, but this impact is not entirely clear. We consider this ambiguity to be related to both the level of study and type of accommodation. In the present study, we examine the inequality level measured by the Gini coefficient in 108 municipalities of the peripheral region of northeastern Poland from 2009 to 2018. We employ a directional spillover index to measure the impact of two accommodation types on tax incomes per capita. The empirical results indicate that collective accommodation-based tourism only reduced inequality during the financial crisis, while individual accommodation-based tourism started to reduce inequality from 2014, when Russian sanctions hit local agriculture and businesses. These results indicate that the role of accommodation types is time-varying and evident in measuring economic distress during and after shocks.

scholarly journals Modeling regional impacts and resilience to water service disruptions in urban economies

2021 ◽  
pp. 239980832199870
Author(s):  
Sheree A Pagsuyoin ◽  
Joost R Santos
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Urban Region ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Drought Severity ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
National Capital Region ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
The Impact

Water is a critical natural resource that sustains the productivity of many economic sectors, whether directly or indirectly. Climate change alongside rapid growth and development are a threat to water sustainability and regional productivity. In this paper, we develop an extension to the economic input-output model to assess the impact of water supply disruptions to regional economies. The model utilizes the inoperability variable, which measures the extent to which an infrastructure system or economic sector is unable to deliver its intended output. While the inoperability concept has been utilized in previous applications, this paper offers extensions that capture the time-varying nature of inoperability as the sectors recover from a disruptive event, such as drought. The model extension is capable of inserting inoperability adjustments within the drought timeline to capture time-varying likelihoods and severities, as well as the dependencies of various economic sectors on water. The model was applied to case studies of severe drought in two regions: (1) the state of Massachusetts (MA) and (2) the US National Capital Region (NCR). These regions were selected to contrast drought resilience between a mixed urban–rural region (MA) and a highly urban region (NCR). These regions also have comparable overall gross domestic products despite significant differences in the distribution and share of the economic sectors comprising each region. The results of the case studies indicate that in both regions, the utility and real estate sectors suffer the largest economic loss; nonetheless, results also identify region-specific sectors that incur significant losses. For the NCR, three sectors in the top 10 ranking of highest economic losses are government-related, whereas in the MA, four sectors in the top 10 are manufacturing sectors. Furthermore, the accommodation sector has also been included in the NCR case intuitively because of the high concentration of museums and famous landmarks. In contrast, the Wholesale Trade sector was among the sectors with the highest economic losses in the MA case study because of its large geographic size conducive for warehouses used as nodes for large-scale supply chain networks. Future modeling extensions could potentially include analysis of water demand and supply management strategies that can enhance regional resilience against droughts. Other regional case studies can also be pursued in future efforts to analyze various categories of drought severity beyond the case studies featured in this paper.

scholarly journals The Impact of Participation in PPP Projects on Total Factor Productivity of Listed Companies in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7603
Author(s):  
Xiangdong Liu ◽  
Guangxi Cao
Keyword(s):  
Total Factor Productivity ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Operation Mode ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Financing Constraints ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Factor Productivity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
China’S Economy

The key to transforming China’s economy from high-speed growth to high-quality development is to improve total factor productivity (TFP). Based on the panel data of China’s listed companies participating in PPP (Public–Private Partnerships) projects from 2010 to 2019, this paper constructs the time-varying DID method to test the impact of participation in PPP projects on the company’s TFP empirically, explore the mechanism of the effect of participation in PPP projects on the company’s TFP, and then conduct heterogeneous analysis from four perspectives: region, industry, ownership form, and operation mode. The empirical results show that participation in PPP projects can significantly promote the growth of the company’s TFP, which mainly comes from the promotion of the innovation level of listed companies and the alleviation of financing constraints by participating in PPP projects. In addition, participation in PPP projects has a significant impact on TFP of listed companies in the eastern region, listed companies in the secondary and tertiary industries, state-owned listed companies, and listed companies participating in PPP projects under the BOT mode.

scholarly journals Flexible Potentiometric Sensor System for Non-Invasive Determination of Antioxidant Activity of Human Skin: Application for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Phytocosmetic Products

Chemosensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Aleksey V. Tarasov ◽  
Ekaterina I. Khamzina ◽  
Maria A. Bukharinova ◽  
Natalia Yu. Stozhko
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Human Skin ◽  
Skin Diseases ◽  
Silver Chloride ◽  
Potentiometric Sensor ◽  
Sensor System ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Pet Film ◽  
The Impact

In contemporary bioanalysis, monitoring the antioxidant activity (AOA) of the human skin is used to assess stresses, nutrition, cosmetics, and certain skin diseases. Non-invasive methods for skin AOA monitoring have certain advantages over invasive methods, namely cost-effectiveness, lower labor intensity, reduced risk of infection, and obtaining results in the real-time mode. This study presents a new flexible potentiometric sensor system (FPSS) for non-invasive determination of the human skin AOA, which is based on flexible film electrodes (FFEs) and membrane containing a mediator ([Fe(CN)6]3–/4–). Low-cost available materials and scalable technologies were used for FFEs manufacturing. The indicator FFE was fabricated based on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film and carbon veil (CV) by single-sided hot lamination. The reference FFE was fabricated based on PET film and silver paint by using screen printing, which was followed by the electrodeposition of precipitate containing a mixture of silver chloride and silver ferricyanide (SCSF). The three-electrode configuration of the FPSS, including two indicator FFEs (CV/PET) and one reference FFE (SCSF/Ag/PET), has been successfully used for measuring the skin AOA and evaluating the impact of phytocosmetic products. FPSS provides reproducible (RSD ≤ 7%) and accurate (recovery of antioxidants is almost 100%) results, which allows forecasting its broad applicability in human skin AOA monitoring as well as for evaluating the effectiveness of topically and orally applied antioxidants.

Has tourism driven house prices in Germany? Time-varying evidence since 1870

2021 ◽  
pp. 135481662110088
Author(s):  
Sefa Awaworyi Churchill ◽  
John Inekwe ◽  
Kris Ivanovski
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
House Prices ◽  
Housing Prices ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Time Series Modelling ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Tourism Flows ◽  
Non Parametric

Using a historical data set and recent advances in non-parametric time series modelling, we investigate the nexus between tourism flows and house prices in Germany over nearly 150 years. We use time-varying non-parametric techniques given that historical data tend to exhibit abrupt changes and other forms of non-linearities. Our findings show evidence of a time-varying effect of tourism flows on house prices, although with mixed effects. The pre-World War II time-varying estimates of tourism show both positive and negative effects on house prices. While changes in tourism flows contribute to increasing housing prices over the post-1950 period, this is short-lived, and the effect declines until the mid-1990s. However, we find a positive and significant relationship after 2000, where the impact of tourism on house prices becomes more pronounced in recent years.

scholarly journals Does the Opening of High-Speed Railway Lines Reduce the Carbon Intensity of China’s Resource-Based Cities?

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4648
Author(s):  
Zhipeng Tang ◽  
Ziao Mei ◽  
Jialing Zou
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
National Average ◽  
Carbon Intensity ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
High Speed Railway ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Endogenous Selection ◽  
Mode Of Development ◽  
The Impact

The carbon intensity of China’s resource-based cities (RBCs) is much higher than the national average due to their relatively intensive mode of development. Low carbon transformation of RBCs is an important way to achieve the goal of reaching the carbon emissions peak in 2030. Based on the panel data from 116 RBCs in China from 2003 to 2018, this study takes the opening of high-speed railway (HSR) lines as a quasi-experiment, using a time-varying difference-in-difference (DID) model to empirically evaluate the impact of an HSR line on reducing the carbon intensity of RBCs. The results show that the opening of an HSR line can reduce the carbon intensity of RBCs, and this was still true after considering the possibility of problems with endogenous selection bias and after applying the relevant robustness tests. The opening of an HSR line is found to have a significant reducing effect on the carbon intensity of different types of RBC, and the decline in the carbon intensity of coal-based cities is found to be the greatest. Promoting migration of RBCs with HSR lines is found to be an effective intermediary way of reducing their carbon intensity.

scholarly journals Cerebellar rTMS and PAS effectively induce cerebellar plasticity

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martje G. Pauly ◽  
Annika Steinmeier ◽  
Christina Bolte ◽  
Feline Hamami ◽  
Elinor Tzvi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Motor Pathways ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Cerebellar Plasticity

AbstractNon-invasive brain stimulation techniques including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS), paired associative stimulation (PAS), and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have been applied over the cerebellum to induce plasticity and gain insights into the interaction of the cerebellum with neo-cortical structures including the motor cortex. We compared the effects of 1 Hz rTMS, cTBS, PAS and tDCS given over the cerebellum on motor cortical excitability and interactions between the cerebellum and dorsal premotor cortex / primary motor cortex in two within subject designs in healthy controls. In experiment 1, rTMS, cTBS, PAS, and tDCS were applied over the cerebellum in 20 healthy subjects. In experiment 2, rTMS and PAS were compared to sham conditions in another group of 20 healthy subjects. In experiment 1, PAS reduced cortical excitability determined by motor evoked potentials (MEP) amplitudes, whereas rTMS increased motor thresholds and facilitated dorsal premotor-motor and cerebellum-motor cortex interactions. TDCS and cTBS had no significant effects. In experiment 2, MEP amplitudes increased after rTMS and motor thresholds following PAS. Analysis of all participants who received rTMS and PAS showed that MEP amplitudes were reduced after PAS and increased following rTMS. rTMS also caused facilitation of dorsal premotor-motor cortex and cerebellum-motor cortex interactions. In summary, cerebellar 1 Hz rTMS and PAS can effectively induce plasticity in cerebello-(premotor)-motor pathways provided larger samples are studied.

scholarly journals Evaluation and Validation of a Joint Stress Test to Induce Activity-Related Knee Joint Discomfort — a Prospective Case-Control Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Schön ◽  
Claudia Reule ◽  
Katharina Knaub ◽  
Antje Micka ◽  
Manfred Wilhelm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knee Joint ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Stress Test ◽  
Osteoarthritis Of The Knee ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Short Time Interval ◽  
Joint Stress ◽  
Joint Health ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health Function

Abstract Background The assessment of improvement or maintenance of joint health in healthy subjects is a great challenge. The aim of the study was the evaluation of a joint stress test to assess joint discomfort in subjects with activity-related knee joint discomfort (ArJD). Results Forty-five subjects were recruited to perform the single-leg-step-down (SLSD) test (15 subjects per group). Subjects with ArJD of the knee (age 22–62 years) were compared to healthy subjects (age 24–59 years) with no knee joint discomfort during daily life sporting activity and to subjects with mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis of the knee joint (OA, Kellgren score 2–3, age 42–64 years). The subjects performed the SLSD test with two different protocols: (I) standardization for knee joint discomfort; (II) standardization for load on the knee joint. In addition, range of motion (ROM), reach test, acute pain at rest and after a single-leg squat and knee injury, and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) were assessed. In OA and ArJD subjects, knee joint discomfort could be reproducibly induced in a short time interval of less than 10 min (200 steps). In healthy subjects, no pain was recorded. A clear differentiation between study groups was observed with the SLSD test (maximal step number) as well as KOOS questionnaire, ROM, and reach test. In addition, a moderate to good intra-class correlation was shown for the investigated outcomes. Conclusions These results suggest the SLSD test is a reliable tool for the assessment of knee joint health function in ArJD and OA subjects to study the improvements in their activities. Further, this model can be used as a stress model in intervention studies to study the impact of stress on knee joint health function.

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