QUALITY CONTROL IN ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY REPORTING (PART A)

For cardiac evaluation echocardiography is of immense importance. Easy availability, low cost, and portability lands it in the hands of novices at times. It has a learning curve and expertise must be obtained to keep the standard of reports high and reliable. The referring physician must be fully conversant with the indications of echocardiography. The echocardiographic machine should deliver images of high resolution and fully equipped with all the basic modalities. Availability of 3D (3-dimensional) imaging, tissue synchronization imaging and strain analysis are added advantages. Preliminary data of patient must be collected and the study should be recorded for off-line analysis. Finally, the findings should be narrated on a proforma in the form of a standardized report showing all the relevant features, especially directed to the query of referring physician, thus completing the loop.

Asymptotic quasinormal frequencies of different spin fields in d-dimensional spherically-symmetric black holes

While Hod's conjecture is demonstrably restrictive, the link he observed between black hole (BH) area quantisation and the large overtone ($n$) limit of quasinormal frequencies (QNFs) motivated intense scrutiny of the regime, from which an improved understanding of asymptotic quasinormal frequencies (aQNFs) emerged. A further outcome was the development of the ``monodromy technique", which exploits an anti-Stokes line analysis to extract physical solutions from the complex plane. Here, we use the monodromy technique to validate extant aQNF expressions for perturbations of integer spin, and provide new results for the aQNFs of half-integer spins within higher-dimensional Schwarzschild, Reissner-Nordstr{\"o}m, and Schwarzschild (anti-)de Sitter BH spacetimes. Bar the Schwarzschild anti-de Sitter case, the spin-1/2 aQNFs are purely imaginary; the spin-3/2 aQNFs resemble spin-1/2 aQNFs in Schwarzschild and Schwarzschild de Sitter BHs, but match the gravitational perturbations for most others. Particularly for Schwarzschild, extremal Reissner-Nordstr{\"o}m, and several Schwarzschild de Sitter cases, the application of $n \rightarrow \infty$ generally fixes $\mathbb{R}e \{ \omega \}$ and allows for the unbounded growth of $\mathbb{I}m \{ \omega \}$ in fixed quantities.

SoyFGB v2.0: a unique access to variations of Chinese Soybean Gene Bank (CNSGB) germplasm

In Chinese National Soybean GeneBank (CNSGB), we have collected more than 30,000 soybean accessions. However, data sharing for soybean remains an especially sensitive question, and how to share the genome variations within rule frame has been bothering the soybean germplasm workers for a long time. Here we release a big data source named Soybean Functional Genomics & Breeding database (SoyFGB v2.0) (https://sfgb.rmbreeding.cn/), which embed a core collection of 2,214 soybean resequencing genome (2K-SG) from the CNSGB germplasm. This source presents a unique example which may help elucidating the following three major functions for multiple genome data mining with general interests for plant researchers. 1) On-line analysis tools are provided by the Analysis module for haplotype mining in high-throughput genotyped germplasms with different methods. 2) Variations for 2K-SG are provided in SoyFGB v2.0 by Browse module which contains two functions of SNP and InDel. Together with the Gene (SNP & InDel) function embedded in Search module, the genotypic information of 2K-SG for targeting gene / region is accessible. 3) Scaled phenotype data of 42 traits, including 9 quality and 33 quantitative traits are provided by SoyFGB v2.0. With the scaled-phenotype data search and seed request tools under a control list, the germplasm information could be shared without direct downloading the unpublished phenotypic data or information of sensitive germplasms. In a word, the mode of data mining and sharing underlies SoyFGB v2.0 may inspire more ideas for works on genome resources of not only soybean but also the other plants.

Bayesian on-line anticipation of critical transitions

The design of reliable indicators to anticipate critical transitions in complex systems is an important task in order to detect a coming sudden regime shift and to take action in order to either prevent it or mitigate its consequences. We present a data-driven method based on the estimation of a parameterized nonlinear stochastic differential equation that allows for a robust anticipation of critical transitions even in the presence of strong noise levels like they are present in many real world systems. Since the parameter estimation is done by a Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach we have access to credibility bands allowing for a better interpretation of the reliability of the results. By introducing a Bayesian linear segment fit it is possible to give an estimate for the time horizon in which the transition will probably occur based on the current state of information. This approach is also able to handle nonlinear time dependencies of the parameter controlling the transition. In general the method could be used as a tool for on-line analysis to detect changes in the resilience of the system and to provide information on the probability of the occurrence of a critical transition in future.

ANALYSIS OF TOMATO MARKETING EFFICIENCY IN LOMBOK TIMUR DISTRICT

The tomato plant has a short life cycle, it can grow to one to three in hight. This study aims to determine the marketing channels of tomatoes in East Lombok Regency and to determine the efficiency of tomato marketing on farmers’ income in East Lombok Regency. For that, we can know how many marketing channels are in East Lombok Regency and whether the marketing channels are efficient. The study uses descriptive methods. The techniques used are survey and interview techniques. The study is conducted in Lombok east district, by taking three subdistricts as sample locations impressively sampling are Suralaga, Aikmel and Wanasaba district with consideration of the subdistrict have the largert harvest and highest production. The number of respondents was conducted quota sampling as is established by as many as 30 farmers. Whereas the approval of the responders was done by the method of snow ball. Data analysis using order line analysis and marketing efficiency analysis. Research shows that the marketing margin on channel I is Rp 3000 and the second marketing channel is 5000 in efficiency on channel I is 12.57and channel II is 44.31. Farmers share to channel I is 80% and channel II is 66.67%. So every marketing channel is efficient

Controllable molecule waves in the femtosecond regime

We investigate the nonautonomous molecule waves of the inhomogeneous Hirota equation describing the propagation of femtosecond pulses in inhomogeneous fibers. By employing the characteristic line analysis, the breather molecules of the inhomogeneous Hirota equation under different cases of dispersion and nonlinear modulation are obtained. We find that the inhomogeneous coefficients d2(z) and d3(z) have influences on the distance between atoms. In addition, we introduce the state transitions to the nonautonomous breather molecules and reveal that there is no full-transition mode for the inhomogeneous Hirota equation.

Oscillatory mechanics at birth for identifying infants requiring surfactant: a prospective, observational trial

Background Current criteria for surfactant administration assume that hypoxia is a direct marker of lung-volume de-recruitment. We first introduced an early, non-invasive assessment of lung mechanics by the Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) and evaluated its role in predicting the need for surfactant therapy. Objectives To evaluate whether lung reactance (Xrs) assessment by FOT within 2 h of birth identifies infants who would need surfactant within 24 h; to eventually determine Xrs performance and a cut-off value for early detection of infants requiring surfactant. Methods We conducted a prospective, observational, non-randomized study in our tertiary NICU in Milan. Eligible infants were born between 27+0 and 34+6 weeks’ gestation, presenting respiratory distress after birth. Exclusion criteria: endotracheal intubation at birth, major malformations participation in other interventional trials, parental consent denied. We assessed Xrs during nasal CPAP at 5 cmH2O at 10 Hz within 2 h of life, recording flow and pressure tracing through a Fabian Ventilator for off-line analysis. Clinicians were blinded to FOT results. Results We enrolled 61 infants, with a median [IQR] gestational age of 31.9 [30.3; 32.9] weeks and birth weight 1490 [1230; 1816] g; 2 infants were excluded from the analysis for set-up malfunctioning. 14/59 infants received surfactant within 24 h. Xrs predicted surfactant need with a cut-off − 33.4 cmH2O*s/L and AUC-ROC = 0.86 (0.76–0.96), with sensitivity 0.85 and specificity 0.83. An Xrs cut-off value of − 23.3 cmH2O*s/L identified infants needing surfactant or respiratory support > 28 days with AUC-ROC = 0.89 (0.81–0.97), sensitivity 0.86 and specificity 0.77. Interestingly, 12 infants with Xrs < − 23.3 cmH2O*s/L (i.e. de-recruited lungs) did not receive surfactant and subsequently required prolonged respiratory support. Conclusion Xrs assessed within 2 h of life predicts surfactant need and respiratory support duration in preterm infants. The possible role of Xrs in improving the individualization of respiratory management in preterm infants deserves further investigation.

Ion mobility spectrometry-tandem mass spectrometry strategies for the on-line monitoring of a continuous microflow reaction

Continuous flow chemistry is an efficient, sustainable and green approach for chemical synthesis that surpasses some of the limitations of the traditional batch chemistry. Along with the multiple advantages of a flow reactor, it could be directly connected to the analytical techniques for on-line monitoring of a chemical reaction and ensure the quality by design. Here, we aim to use ion mobility, mass and tandem mass spectrometry (IMS-MS and MS/MS) for the on-line analysis of a pharmaceutically relevant chemical reaction. We carried out a model hetero-Diels Alder reaction in a microflow reactor directly connected to the IMS-MS and MS/MS using either electrospray or atmospheric pressure photo ionization methods. We were able to monitor the reaction mechanism of the Diels Alder reaction and structurally characterize the reaction product and synthesis side-products. The chosen approach enabled identification of two isomers of the main reaction product. A new strategy to annotate the ion mobility spectrum in the absence of standard molecules was introduced and tested for its validity. This was achieved by determining the survival yield of each isomer upon ion mobility separation and density functional theory calculations. This approach was verified by comparing the theoretically driven collision cross section values to the experimental data. In this paper, we demonstrated the potential of combined IMS-MS and MS/MS on-line analysis platform to investigate, monitor and characterize structural isomers in the millisecond time scale.