Real-time Assessment of Right and Left Ventricular Volumes and Function in Children Using High Spatiotemporal Resolution Spiral bSSFP with Compressed Sensing

Background: Real-time (RT) assessment of ventricular volumes and function enables data acquisition during free-breathing. However, in children the requirement for high spatiotemporal resolution requires accelerated imaging techniques. In this study, we implemented a novel RT bSSFP spiral sequence reconstructed using Compressed Sensing (CS) and validated it against the breath-hold (BH) reference standard for assessment of ventricular volumes in children with heart disease. Methods: Data was acquired in 60 children. Qualitative image scoring and evaluation of ventricular volumes was performed by 3 clinical cardiac MR specialists. 30 cases were reassessed for intra-observer variability, and the other 30 cases for inter-observer variability. Results: Spiral RT images were of good quality, however qualitative scores reflected more residual artefact than standard BH images and slightly lower edge definition. Quantification of Left Ventricular (LV) and Right Ventricular (RV) metrics showed excellent correlation between the techniques with narrow limits of agreement. However, we observed small but statistically significant overestimation of LV end-diastolic volume, underestimation of LV end-systolic volume, as well as a small overestimation of RV stroke volume and ejection fraction using the RT imaging technique. No difference in inter-observer or intra-observer variability were observed between the BH and RT sequences. Conclusions: Real-time bSSFP imaging using spiral trajectories combined with a compressed sensing reconstruction is feasible. The main benefit is that it can be acquired during free breathing. However, another important secondary benefit is that a whole ventricular stack can be acquired in ~20 seconds, as opposed to ~6 minutes for standard BH imaging. Thus, this technique holds the potential to significantly shorten MR scan times in children

Why a new report attacking Scottish education policy is based on bad methodology

First paragraph: Nicola Sturgeon famously said in 2015 that she should be judged on her record in tackling educational issues – especially her efforts to close Scotland’s persistent attainment gap between advantaged and disadvantaged young people. So it’s not a surprise that Scottish education has been a major talking point in the election campaign – centring on the Scottish government’s flagship education policy, the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE).https://theconversation.com/why-a-new-report-attacking-scottish-education-policy-is-based-on-bad-methodology-12695

Sentiment affirmé de priorité : temps de réponse, comportement de conduite et infrastructure routière. Projet SANTAFE. Rapport intermédiaire n°1

Contrant Ifsttar/Fondation Sécurité RoutièreSANTAFE pose l'hypothèse de l'existence d'un sentiment de priorité, sentiment qui pourrait être amorcé et/ou renforcé par l'infrastructure et par l'optimisme comparatif, et qui entrainerait les conducteurs à réagir tardivement en situation d'accident. Il s’agit de mesurer sur simulateur le temps de réponse de conducteurs confrontés à un véhicule non prioritaire engagé dans une intersection en manipulant un certain nombre d’indices environnementaux (absence, présence de signalisation) mais aussi en manipulant la consigne donnée aux participants afin de mieux estimer l’influence de ces facteurs sur le sentiment de priorité. Le circuit simulé est directement inspiré d’une infrastructure réelle située en milieu péri-urbain issue d’aménagements routiers décrits dans les Etudes Détaillées d’accidents. Le type de réaction, le temps de réponse et les moyens mis en ½uvre par le participant seront enregistrés. Les données recueillies, temps de réponse, vitesse, témoignent de la confiance du conducteur quant à la situation. Par ces résultats, nous tenterons de mesurer le 'sur–temps de réponse' généré par le sentiment affirmé de priorité. Par ailleurs, outre les variables objectives manipulées et mesurées, la recherche tente de faire le lien avec la variable psycho-sociale d'optimisme comparatif en ayant recours à un questionnaire. Nous faisons l'hypothèse que le sentiment de priorité pourra être modulé par l'optimisme comparatif quant à la probabilité d'être victime d'un accident de la route, mais également quant aux capacités de conduite. Il sera alors possible de comparer des données comportementales objectives, enregistrées par le simulateur, à des données subjectives, issues des questionnaires et d’établir ainsi l’importance des liens entre données objectives et subjectives. Ce premier rapport réalisé à 12 mois du lancement du projet, définit les différentes étapes de préparation des expérimentations : élaboration du scénario et des images utilisées sur le simulateur de conduite et la réalisation du questionnaire préliminaire de psychologie sociale

Structural insights on TRPV5 gating by endogenous modulators.

TRPV5 is a transient receptor potential channel involved in calcium reabsorption. Here we investigate the interaction of two endogenous modulators with TRPV5. Both phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) and calmodulin (CaM) have been shown to directly bind to TRPV5 and activate or inactivate the channel, respectively. Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we determined TRPV5 structures in the presence of dioctanoyl PI(4,5)P2 and CaM. The PI(4,5)P2 structure reveals a binding site between the N-linker, S4-S5 linker and S6 helix of TRPV5. These interactions with PI(4,5)P2 induce conformational rearrangements in the lower gate, opening the channel. The CaM structure reveals two TRPV5 C-terminal peptides anchoring a single CaM molecule and that calcium inhibition is mediated through a cation-π interaction between Lys116 on the C-lobe of calcium-activated CaM and Trp583 at the intracellular gate of TRPV5. Overall, this investigation provides insight into the endogenous modulation of TRPV5, which has the potential to guide drug discovery

Questioning fact-checking in the fight against disinformation: An audience perspective

Fact-checking has been identified as a significant journalistic tool in the fight against disinformation. Relevant studies have focused on its emergence as a movement within journalism aiming at renewing the profession, as well as its effectiveness in challenging disinformation, especially during elections. However, little has been said about how audiences themselves understand fact-checking and employ it in their daily consumption of news. In this article, we answer these questions by drawing upon two sets of data. The first consists of fourteen focus group discussions in the UK, which included 52 participants, and were conducted online between April and May 2021. The second consists of two qualitative surveys that explored news consumers’ understandings of fact-checking and their evaluations of current fact-checking practices of UK media during the same period. We conclude that the use of fact-checking remains largely peripheral, and its influence is minimal in people’s news consumption. However, there is an appetite for more fact-checking in television news, as a way of holding politicians into account and helping the public better understand politics. In this context, we argue, if fact-checking is to play an important role in political discourse, it should become a regular part of broadcast journalism

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance findings in repaired anomalous left coronary artery to pulmonary artery connection (ALCAPA)

Background: Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare coronary artery anomaly. This study shows the role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in assessing young patients following surgical repair of ALCAPA.Methods: 6 patients, aged 9-21 years, with repaired ALCAPA (2 Tackeuchi method, 4 direct re-implantation) underwent CMR because of clinical suspicion of myocardial ischemia. Imaging used short and long axis cine images (assess ventricular function), late-gadolinium enhancement (LGE) (detect segmental myocardial fibrosis), adenosine stress perfusion (detect reversible ischaemia) and 3D whole-heart imaging (visualize proximal coronary arteries).Results: The left ventricular (LV) global systolic function was preserved in all patients (mean LV ejection fraction = 62.7% +/- 4.23%). The LV volumes were within the normal ranges, (mean indexed LVEDV = 75.4 +/- 3.5 ml/m(2), LVESV = 31.6 +/- 9.4 ml/m(2)). In 1 patient, hypokinesia of the anterior segments was visualized. Five patients showed subendocardial LGE involving the basal, antero-lateral wall and the anterior papillary muscle. Three patients had areas of reversible ischemia. In these 3, 3D whole-heart MRA showed that the proximal course of the left coronary artery was occluded (confirmed with cardiac catheterisation).Conclusions: CMR is a good, non-invasive, radiation-free investigation in the post-surgical evaluation of ALCAPA. In referred patients we show that basal, antero-lateral sub-endocardial myocardial fibrosis is a characteristic finding. Furthermore, stress adenosine CMR perfusion, can identify reversible ischemia in this group, and was indicative of left coronary artery occlusion