Cost-efficient HEVC-based quadtree splitting (HEQUS) for VVC Video Transcoding

The release of the latest video coding standard, known as Versatile Video Coding (VVC), has created the need to convert current High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) content to this new standard. However, the traditional cascade transcoding pipeline is not effective due to the exorbitant computational complexity of VVC. With this in mind, this paper proposes a fast HEVC-VVC transcoder that implements a probabilistic classifier based on Naïve-Bayes at the first partitioning level (128 × 128 pixels). This model uses features extracted from the 128 × 128 size blocks of the residual and reconstructed frames in the HEVC bitstream, and their correlation with the block partitioning structure. For the subsequent VVC coding depth levels, partitioning decisions are derived from the HEVC structure. The results achieve a 57.08% transcoding time reduction with a BD-rate penalty of 2.40%, compared with a traditional transcoding approach for the random access encoding configuration

Cerebral Vasoreactivity in HeartMate 3 Patients

BACKGROUND: While rates of stroke have declined with the HeartMate3 (HM3) continuous flow (CF) left ventricular assist device (LVAD), the impact of non-pulsatile flow and artificial pulse physiology on cerebrovascular function is not known. We hypothesized that improved hemodynamics and artificial pulse physiology of HM3 patients would augment cerebrovascular metabolic reactivity (CVR) compared with HeartMate II (HMII) CF-LVAD and heart failure (HF) patients. METHODS: Mean, peak systolic and diastolic flow velocities (MFV, PSV, MinFV, respectively) and cerebral pulsatility index (CPI) were determined in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) before and after a 30s breath-hold challenge in 90 participants : 24 healthy controls; 30 HF, 15 HMII, and 21 HM3 patients. RESULTS: In HM3 patients, breath-holding increased MFV (Δ8±10 cm/s, P<0.0001 vs. baseline) to levels similar to HF patients (Δ9±8 cm/s, P>0.05), higher than HMII patients (Δ2±8 cm/s, P<0.01) but lower than healthy controls (Δ13±7 cm/s, P<0.05). CF-LVAD altered the proportion of systolic and diastolic flow responses as reflected by a differential CPI (P=0.03). Baseline MFV was not related to CVR (r2=0.0008, P=0.81). However, CF-LVAD pump speed was strongly inversely associated with CVR in HM II (r2=0.51, P=0.003) but not HM3 patients (r2=0.01, P=0.65). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with HMII, HM3 patients have a significantly improved CVR. However, CVR remains lower in HM3 and HF patients than in healthy controls, therefore suggesting that changes in cerebral hemodynamics are not reversed by CF-LVAD therapy. Further research on the mechanisms and the long-term impact of altered cerebral hemodynamics in this unique patient population are warranted

Impact and the Research Environment: An Art And Design Case Study

There is much debate on how to successfully create impact. Discussions often centre on the role of discipline, researcher skills and behaviour, or institutional systems to capture impact evidence, but little consideration is given to the relationship between research impact and the research environment. Focussing on the Impact Case Studies submitted to Unit of Assessment 34: Art & Design: History, Practice and Theory, this research used Content and Narrative Analysis to review a sample of the most and least successful Impact submissions as ranked by Times Higher Education. The aim was to identify the characteristics of high-scoring Impact Case Studies to inform strategies for supporting the generation of research impact, but what emerged was evidence of a nuanced relationship between research environment and research impact. For Research and Management Practitioners, these findings highlight a need to extend beyond the development of training, advice and databases and respond directly to the core purpose and ethos of research impact. This can be achieved through the cultivation of an open, flexible and dynamic research environment capable of responding to institutional and researcher needs in order to allow impact to flourish

The acute effects of accentuated eccentric loading on drop jump kinetics in adolescent athletes

The purpose of the study was to determine the acute effects of accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) on drop jump kinetics in adolescent athletes. Fifteen male rugby players (mean sd: age = 16.2 ± 1.01, weight = 73.38 ± 9.94 and height = 178.91 ± 6.74) completed three trials of a drop jump with and without an accentuated eccentric load using a dumbbell release technique that equated to 15% body mass. The addition of the AEL stimulus resulted in significant, moderate increases in jump height (p < 0.05; Wilcoxon r = 0.47) and braking and propulsive impulse (p < 0.05, Hedges’ g = 0.43; p < 0.05, g = 0.61 respectively) but did not significantly influence reactive strength index. Concurrently, there were significant, moderate increases in ground contact times (p < 0.05; r = 0.45) and reductions in spring-like correlations (p < 0.05; g = 0.94). Neither the magnitude or timing of peak landing force were significantly altered in the AEL protocol (p < 0.05, g = 0.38; p < 0.05, r = 0.10 respectively). Cumulatively, these data indicate that implementation of AEL resulted in meaningful improvements in jump height, driven by significant increases in braking and propulsive impulse. Despite extensions in ground contact times and reductions in spring-like behavior, neither peak landing force or time to peak force were negatively altered by the AEL. These results indicate that adolescent athletes can realize superior vertical jump heights during drop jumps using AEL, without displaying marked changes in the magnitude or timing of peak landing forc

A service evaluation specifying the active components of a Functional Restorative Programme to promote management of persistent non-specific low back pain

Background: Functional Restorative Programmes (FRP) for persistent non- specific lower back pain have been shown to be effective, but they often lack sufficient detailed reporting of the intervention components to allow for accurate replication. Objectives: This study used the Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy (v1) (BCTi) [1] to identify the main components of one such programme and interviewed patients to identify the most effective programme components and areas for improvement. Design: A mixed methods design was used. Methods: Intervention data were coded using the BCT Taxonomy (v1) to identify the BCTs utilised. Following this, semi-structured interviews with nine patients evaluated the BCTs included using thematic analysis and identified possible techniques for inclusion in future developments of the programme. Results: Forty-one different BCTs were identified in the coding phase with frequency of occurrence in the programme ranging from forty-nine to one. Four main themes emerged from the interviews: Social Support, Shaping Knowledge, Repetition and Substitution and Changes in Mindset. Conclusion: The results of this study identify the key ingredients in a programme for persistent, non-specific lower back pain, which facilitates the replication of this intervention and identified areas patients appreciated most as well as areas for improvement

Higher sRAGE levels predict mortality in frail older adults with cardiovascular disease

Introduction: The evidence that blood levels of the soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) predict mortality in people with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is inconsistent. To clarify this matter, we investigated if frailty status influences this association. Methods: We analysed data of 1016 individuals (median age, 75 years) from three population-based European cohorts, enrolled in the FRAILOMIC project. Participants were stratified by history of CVD and frailty status. Mortality was recorded during 8 years of follow-up. Results: In adjusted Cox regression models baseline serum sRAGE was positively associated with an increased risk of mortality in participants with CVD (HR 1.64, 95%CI 1.09-2.49, P=0.019), but not in non-CVD. Within the CVD group, the risk of death was markedly enhanced in the frail subgroup (CVD-F, HR 1.97, 95%CI 1.18- 3.29, P=0.009), compared to the non-frail subgroup (CVD-NF, HR 1.50, 95%CI 0.71- 3.15, P=0.287). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the median survival time of CVDF with high sRAGE (>1554 pg/mL) was 2.9 years shorter than that of CVD-F with low sRAGE, whereas no survival difference was seen for CVD-NF. Area under the ROC curve analysis demonstrated that for CVD-F, addition of sRAGE to the prediction model increased its prognostic value. Conclusions: Frailty status influences the relationship between sRAGE and mortality in older adults with CVD. sRAGE could be used as a prognostic marker of mortality for these individuals, particularly if they are also frail

Role of adipocyte-derived extracellular vesicles in vascular inflammation

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanometre-sized vesicles released from most cells, including adipocytes. Relatively little is known about adipocyte-derived EVs (ADEVs) in comparison to other EV subtypes, though interest in ADEVs as potential paracrine and endocrine communicators of adipose tissue in obesity is building. Current evidence indicates that ADEVs contribute to the development of adipose tissue dysfunction; a key feature of obese adipose tissue that it is associated with obesity-related comorbidities including cardiovascular disease (CVD). This review summarises our current knowledge of ADEVs in the development of adipose tissue dysfunction and the potential of ADEVs to disrupt redox signalling and exert vascular effects that may exacerbate CVD in obesity

Numerical study of pipeline leak detection for gas-liquid stratified flow

Multiphase flows are of paramount importance in the oil and gas industry, considering that most petroleum industries produce and transport oil and gas simultaneously. However, systematic research on pipeline leakage conveying more than one phase at a time is lacking attention. In this work, a numerical method is proposed to investigate the effect of two-phase gas-liquid leak flow behaviour in a subsea natural gas pipeline. The results of the simulations have been validated against the latest experimental and numerical data reported in the literature, and a good agreement has been obtained. The effect of leak sizes, longitudinal leak locations, multiple leakages and axial leak positions on the pressure gradient, flow rate and volume fractions in the pipeline were systematically investigated. The results show that the flow field parameters provide pertinent indicators in pipeline leakage detection. In particular, the upstream pipeline pressure could serve as a critical indicator for detecting leakage even if the leak size is small. Whereas, the downstream flow rate is a dominant leakage indicator if the flow rate monitoring is chosen for leak detection. The results also reveal that when two leaks with different sizes co-occur in a single pipe, detecting the small leak becomes difficult if its size is below 25% of the large leak size. However, in the event of a double leak with equal sizes, the leak closer to the pipe upstream is easier to detect

The influence of training status on right ventricular morphology and segmental strain in elite pre-adolescent soccer players

Purpose: Cardiac modifications to training are a product of the, genetic pre-disposition for adaptation and the repetitive haemodynamic loads that are placed on the myocardium.  Elite pre-adolescent athletes are exposed to high intensity training at a young age with little understanding of the physiological and clinical consequences. It is unclear how right ventricular (RV) structure and function may respond to this type of stimulus. The aim of this study was to compare RV structure and strain across the cardiac cycle and within individual segments in elite soccer players (SP) and controls (CON). Methods: Twenty-two highly trained, male pre-adolescent SP and 22 age-and sex-matched recreationally active individuals CON were investigated using 2D echocardiography, including myocardial speckle tracking to assess basal, mid-wall, apical and global longitudinal strain and strain rate during systole (SRS) and diastole (SRE and SRA). Results: Greater RV cavity size was identified in the SP compared to CON (RVD 1   SP: 32.3 ± 3.1 vs. CON: 29.6±2.8 (mm/m 2 ) 0.5 ; p=0.005). No inter-group differences were noted for peak global RV strain (SP: -28.6 ± 4.9 vs CON: -30.3 ± 4.0 %, p=0.11). Lower mid-wall strain was demonstrated in the SP compared to CON (SP: -27.9 ± 5.8 vs CON: -32.2 ± 4.4 %, p=0.007). Conclusion: Soccer training has the potential to increase RV size in pre-adolescent players. The unique segmental analyses used in this study has identified inter-group differences that were masked by global strain evaluations. The clinical and physiological implications of these findings warrant further investigation

Exploring the relationship between conductive hearing loss and cleft speech characteristics in children born with cleft palate

Background Children with cleft palate are at high risk of both conductive hearing loss and cleft speech characteristics (CSCs) yet there is limited research to understand whether hearing loss impacts speech development in this population by contributing to the development of CSCs. Aims This study used data from a large national cohort study in the UK (The Cleft Collective) to explore the relationship between those with a history of diagnosed hearing loss and presence of CSCs in children with cleft palate (+/- cleft lip) aged between 18 to 24 months. Method Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) provided uniformed information from assessment for 123 participants who had been recruited to the Cleft Collective study. History of diagnosed hearing loss, intervention for hearing loss, and presence of CSCs were reported. A consonant inventory for each participant was completed. Statistical analysis of relationships between hearing loss and CSCs and analysis of consonant inventories was undertaken to provide information related to speech acquisition and its relationship with hearing. Results There was a statistically significant relationship between history of diagnosed hearing loss and presence of CSCs (p <0.05). Analysis of the consonant inventories highlighted that children with diagnosed hearing loss used fewer oral consonants compared to those with normal hearing (p <0.05) Conclusion This study provides some evidence that a conductive hearing loss can affect speech in children with cleft palate resulting in CSCs developing. Therefore, children with cleft palate should be closely monitored by audiology from birth to ensure that hearing is optimised for speech and language development. SLT services should also closely monitor the speech development of those children where a hearing loss has been identified, so that early intervention can be provided if appropriate. Continued data collection, with a large sample of children, will provide additional evidence regarding how this hearing loss is best managed. It will also allow increased knowledge of the long term impact of conductive hearing loss on speech development in children with cleft palate