Background: In response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak that unfolded across Europe in 2020, the World Health Organisation called for repurposing existing influenza surveillance systems to monitor COVID-19. This analysis aimed to compare descriptively the extent to which influenza surveillance systems were adapted and enhanced, and how COVID-19 surveillance could ultimately benefit or disrupt routine influenza surveillance. Methods: We used a previously developed framework in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom to describe COVID-19 surveillance and its impact on influenza surveillance. The framework divides surveillance systems into 7 sub-systems and 20 comparable outcomes of interest, and uses 5 evaluation criteria based on WHO guidance. Information on influenza and COVID-19 surveillance systems were collected from publicly available resources shared by European and national public health agencies. Results: Overall, non-medically attended, virological, primary care and mortality surveillance were adapted in most countries to monitor COVID-19, whilst community, outbreak, and hospital surveillance were reinforced in all countries. Data granularity improved, with more detailed demographic and medical information recorded. A shift to systematic notification for cases and deaths enhanced both geographic and population representativeness whilst the sampling strategy benefited from the roll out of widespread molecular testing. Data communication was greatly enhanced, contributing to improved public awareness. Conclusions: Well-established influenza surveillance systems are a key component of pandemic preparedness and their upgrade allowed European countries to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, uncertainties remain on how both influenza and COVID-19 surveillance can be jointly and durably implemented.

We have developed a new model for compressible clathrates that extends the well-known van der Waals and Platteeuw model. The new model is derived by dispensing with the assumption of constant cages radii in the partition function level, resulting in new thermodynamically consistent expressions relating thermodynamic properties of the hydrate phase and the empty lattice isochoric reference. One set of additional parameters to the clathrate modeling framework is introduced, consisting of a scaling factor for each cage radius relative to the edge length of the unit cell. No additional guest-dependent empirical parameters are required. The model exhibits two features not previously reported in the literature: (i) a pressure shift between the clathrate being described and the empty lattice isochoric reference, and (ii) differences in the edge length of the unit cell and in the cages radii for different guest species at the same temperature and pressure, as a consequence of the sorption of guests. We also propose a test for thermodynamic consistency at high pressure, based on the multicomponent and multiphase Clapeyron equation. Using this test, we show that the proposed model solves an inconsistency issue observed in phase equilibrium calculations with some of the compressible clathrate models currently in use. We have performed parameter optimization for methane, ethane, and xenon in sI hydrates. Two sets of results are presented: 3-phase equilibrium conditions; and lattice size versus temperature or pressure for each of these substances, along with available experimental data.

Background The Task Force classification (TFC) identifies weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV) in adults as: simple (SW), difficult (DW) and prolonged (PW). The usefulness of this classification is unknown in pediatric patients. Methods Prospective, descriptive, multicenter study in 29 pediatric intensive care units from Argentina during a three-month period including all admitted patients who required MV and met weaning criteria. The evolution of these patients was analyzed according to TFC. Results 474 patients were included, 454 (95.8 %) of whom were successfully extubated. Eighty percent (n=370) were extubated after the first attempt and classified as SW, 84 (18,2%) were DW and only 7 (1,5%) faced a PW. Successful extubation on the first trial was 77.9% (n=356) and for subsequent trials, 56.7%, 64.5% and 66.7%. The duration of MV (in days) by group was [median (interquartile range)]: 5.4 (2.8-9.7) (SW), 10.6 (7.7-18.8) (DW) and 27.4 (15.1-28.4) (PW). Fourteen patients underwent tracheostomy without any weaning attempt, 3 patients were on MV at the end of the study and 3 patients died without any attempt. The only variable associated with PW and DW (as a single group, with SW as reference) in multivariable analysis was ventilator-associated pneumonia (OR 2.58, 95%CI 1.01-6.11). Conclusions We observed a low prevalence of PW. Patients with PW and DW showed no significant differences from patients with SW, albeit a higher incidence of VAP.

a 9-year-old girl with UAM of the mandible, which also involved the impaction of the first and second premolars. Marsupialization with orthodontic treatment was performed to shrink the lesion and upright the first premolar involved in the tumor. Ten months after marsupialization, the lesion was completely healed.

Edwardsiella ictaluri is an emerging bacterial pathogen that affects farmed tilapia ( Oreochromis spp.). This study reports the arrival, establishment, and widespread findings of E. ictaluri in farmed tilapia in Vietnam. Among 26 disease outbreaks from 9 provinces in Northern Vietnam during 2019–2021, 19 outbreaks originated from imported seeds, while outbreaks in seven farms were from domestic sources. Clinically sick fish showed the appearance of numerous white spots in visceral organs, and accumulative mortality reached 30%–65%. Twenty-six representative bacterial isolates recovered from 26 disease outbreaks were identified as E. ictaluri based on a combination of phenotypic tests, genus- and species-specific polymerase chain reaction assays, 16S rRNA and gyrB sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. All isolates harbored the same virulence gene profiles esrC +, evpC +, ureA-C +, eseI-, escD-, and virD4-. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed that 80.8%–100% of isolates were multidrug resistant, with resistance to 4–8 antimicrobials in the groups of penicillin, macrolides, sulfonamides, amphenicols, and glycopeptides. The experimental challenge successfully induced disease that mimicked natural infection. The median lethal doses (LD 50) of the tested isolates (n = 4) were 42–61 colony forming units/fish, indicating their extremely high virulence. This emerging pathogen is established and has spread to various geographical locations, causing serious impacts on farmed tilapia in northern Vietnam. It is likely that this pathogen will continue to spread through contaminated stocks (both imported and domestic sources) and persist. Thus, increased awareness, combined with biosecurity measures and emergent vaccination programs is essential to mitigate the negative impact of this emerging disease on the tilapia farming industry.

Background: Pulmonary dysfunction has been reported in patients with β-thalassaemia major but data are conflicting and the association with iron overload remains unclear. Objectives: To determine the pattern of pulmonary dysfunction in patients with β-thalassaemia major and their associations with iron overload. Methods: Subjects with β-thalassaemia major were recruited for lung function assessment. Serum ferritin and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of iron status of the myocardium and the liver were used as surrogate indexes of body iron content. A subgroup of this cohort provided data on the longitudinal progress of their lung function. Results: One hundred and one patients were recruited with a mean age of 25.1 years (SD 7.9 years). Thirty-eight (38%) and five (5%) had restrictive and obstructive lung function deficits, respectively. There was a significant correlation between MRI myocardial T2* relaxation time and forced vital capacity (r=0.291, p=0.048). Higher MRI cardiac T2* relaxation time was associated with lower risk of having restrictive lung function deficit (Odds ratio (OR): 0.94; 95% CI: 0.89-0.99; p=0.023) after adjusting for age, gender and BMI. Twenty-three subjects underwent lung function reassessment with a mean follow-up duration of 13 years. Overall, they did not demonstrate significant changes in pulmonary function over time, 3 patients who had normal lung function at baseline developed restrictive abnormality at follow-up. Conclusions: Restrictive lung disease is prevalent in patients with β-thalassaemia major, and the severity correlates with myocardial iron overload. Monitoring of lung function in this group of patients is important, particularly for those with iron overload.

Agroforestry systems provide soil microorganisms with a rich variety of carbon sources and a relatively stable living environment. In this study, five planting systems were investigated; a pure poplar (Populus × euramericana ‘Nanlin 895’) plantation (P) system, a pure crop (wheat [Triticum aestivum L.] and soybean [Glycine max (Linn.) Merr.]) (WS) system, a poplar + wheat + soybean agroforestry (PWS) system, a poplar + potherb mustard (Brassica juncea var. multiceps) agroforestry (PP) system, and a poplar + native chicken agroforestry (PN) system. The Biolog EcoPlate method was used to determine the vertical and seasonal variations in soil microbial metabolic capacity. The average well color development, carbon source utilization ability, and microbial diversity index values were higher throughout the soil profile, and highly stable with seasonal changes in the PWS and PP agroforestry systems. Furthermore, the influence of the planting systems and seasonal changes on the metabolic activity of soil microorganisms decreased with an increase in soil depth. Overbreeding chickens in the forest reduced the metabolic activity of soil microorganisms. It was also found that plants influenced soil microbial metabolism through the available carbon source types. Therefore, agroforestry systems improved the metabolic potential of the soil microbial community. Our results demonstrated that soil microbial communities are affected by the planting system and soil depth. The findings enhance our understanding of the functional diversity of soil microorganisms in agroforestry systems.

The article outlines an effort to build and provide to the research community an open cloud platform, specifically focusing on the use of FPGAs. There is a description of the overall design and an example of using a multi-FPGA setup for a machine learning application. This is a well-written article, accessible for a broad range of readers, very clear and clean description of the provided infrastructure, its purpose and capabilities. I think the article will generate some interest in CS&E community.   There is not much to change in it, the writeup is already tailored towards a magazine format. One comment is that the example application section describes the deployed architecture very well, but does not say much about how successful this application is. Can the authors provide any performance numbers, or at least lessons learned? 

Background It has been hypothesized that epigenomic modifications such as genomic methylation changes are an intermediate step linking environmental exposures with allergic disease development. Associations between individual DNA methylation CpG sites and allergic diseases have been reported, but they have not been assessed regarding their joint predictive capability. Methods Data were obtained from 240 children of the German LISA cohort. Blood-based DNA methylation was measured at six and ten years. Aeroallergen sensitization, at least RAST class 1, was measured in blood at six, ten and 15 years. We calculated six methylation risk scores (MRS) for allergy-related phenotypes based on available publications and assessed their performance both cross-sectionally and prospectively. Dose-response associations between aeroallergen sensitization and MRS, their correlation and mapping of common hits were evaluated. Results All six atopy-related MRS were highly correlated (r>0.86) and seven CpGs were included in more than one MRS. Cross-sectionally, we observed an 80% increased risk for aeroallergen sensitization at six years with an increased risk score by one standard deviation (best MRS: relative risk = 1.81, 95% confidence interval = [1.43; 2.27]). Significant associations were also seen at ten years and in prospective models, though the effect of the latter was attenuated when only including participants not sensitized at baseline. A clear dose-response relationship with RAST classes of aeroallergen sensitization could be established cross-sectionally, but not prospectively. Conclusion We found good classification and prediction capabilities of calculated allergy-related MRS, particularly cross-sectionally for the allergy prevalence, underlining the relevance of altered gene-regulation in allergic diseases.

The authors present an revolutionary study aiming to evaluate the effect of alterations in potassium concentrations in transfused packed red blood cells (PRBC) on neonate and infant potassium levels after congenital cardiac surgery. By establishing a strict protocol which restricts the rate of transfusion, the age of the transfused PRBC, and not transfusing a PRBC with a potassium level above 15 mmol/L, they accomplished to suggest a safe and easy way for preventing transfusion associated hyperkalemia.

Social media has been embraced by different people as a convenient and official medium of communication. People write messages and attach images and videos on Twitter, Facebook and other social media which they share. Social media therefore generates a lot of data that is rich in sentiments from these updates. Sentiment analysis has been used to determine opinions of clients, for instance, relating to a particular product or company. Knowledge based approach and Machine learning approach are among the strategies that have been used to analyze these sentiments. The performance of sentiment analysis is however distorted by noise, the curse of dimensionality, the data domains and size of data used for training and testing. This research aims at developing a model for sentiment analysis in which dimensionality reduction and the use of different parts of speech improves sentiment analysis performance. It uses natural language processing for filtering, storing and performing sentiment analysis on the data from social media. The model is tested using Naïve Bayes, Support Vector Machines and K-Nearest neighbor machine learning algorithms and its performance compared with that of two other Sentiment Analysis models. Experimental results show that the model improves sentiment analysis performance using machine learning techniques.

Aiming at the problem of huge energy consumption in the Fog Wireless Access Networks (F-RANs), the resource allocation scheme of the F-RAN architecture under the cooperation of renewable energy is studied in this paper. Firstly, the transmission model and Energy Harvesting (EH) model are established, the solar energy harvester is installed on each Fog Access Point (F-AP), and each F-AP is connected to the smart grid. Secondly, the optimization problem is established according to the constraints of Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), available bandwidth and energy harvesting, so as to maximize the average throughput of F-RAN architecture with hybrid energy sources. Finally, the dynamic power allocation scheme in the network is studied by using Q-learning and Deep Q Network (DQN) respectively. Simulation results show that the proposed two algorithms can improve the average throughput of the whole network compared with other traditional algorithms.

Purpose Using three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function in patients with triple vessel coronary artery disease(TVD) without myocardial infarction. Methods Sixty patients with TVD without myocardial infarction were divided into two groups according to the results of coronary angiography. Group B (n=31)：50%≤the stenosis rates of all triple vessel coronary artery＜75%; Group C (n=29)：the stenosis rates of all triple vessel coronary artery≥75%. Thirty healthy subjects were recruited as the group A. We measured LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volume (LVEDV, LVESV) and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography. The 3D-STE parameters of LV included global longitudinal strain (GLS), global area strain (GAS), global radial strain (GRS) and global circumferential strain (GCS). Results In group C, LVEDV and LVESV were significantly increased (all P＜0.05), while LVEF, GLS, GRS, GCS and GAS were significantly decreased compared with groups A and B (all P＜0.05). In groups A and B, there were no statistical differences in LVEDV, LVESV and LVEF. However, GLS, GCS and GAS were lower in group B than in group A (all P＜0.05). Conclusion Our study shows that 3D-STE can evaluate the LV function in patients with triple vessel coronary artery disease without myocardial infarction through multiple strain parameters.

Introduction:L’article « Next generation reservoir computing » est un article récent publié en 21 septembre 2021 dans le journal à accès libre « Nature communication ». Il a pour référence et identifiant sont  Nat Commun 12, 5564 (2021) ; DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25801-2. Les contributeurs de cet article sont :Daniel J. Gauthier: Un professeur de physique à l’Université d’État de l’Ohio, aux États-Unis. Il a  aussi contribué en plus de 200 articles dans différents domaines scientifiques.Erik Bollt:  Un professeur au sein de l’université de Clarkson aux États-Unis, Département d’ingénierie électrique et informatique. Aussi c’est le directeur du centre de science des systèmes complexe du Clarkson, Il est contributeur dans plus de 200 articles scientifiques.Aaron Griffith: Lauréat de l’Université d’état de l’Ohio, aux États-Unis. Ses 3 d'autres contributions dans la recherche traitent aussi le réservoir computing. Wendson A. S. Barbosa: Un chercheur au sein du département de physique à Université d’État de l’Ohio, aux États-Unis, il est contributeur dans 4 autres articles dont un est aussi sur le réservoir computing.Par ce présent rapport nous allons en premier temps discuter le contexte de cet article et son positionnement par rapport à l’existant. Après nous allons voir les contributions apportées par les auteurs et qu'est-ce qu'ils ont trouvé comme résultats après leur recherche.Contexte de l'articleLe contexte de cet article est la prédiction des systèmes dynamiques. Un système dynamique est un système qui évolue au cours du temps. Nous cherchons toujours à prévoir cette évolution afin de savoir le comportement futur du système en se basant sur ses états précédemment observés. Comme exemple : la prédiction du système météorologique de la terre. Les méthodes et les  approches récentes du Machine learning nous génèrent des modèles à travers lesquels nous obtenons ces prévisions.Le paradigme du ML (Machine learning) le plus adapté à ce type de système est le Réservoir  Computing¬ RC. Il traite les données chronologiques observées et nous donne une estimation d’état futur, même dans les systèmes les plus complexes et difficiles. Ici  dans cet article l'auteur lance la nouvelle génération de ce Réservoir Computing.Positionnement par rapport à l'existant Le Réservoir Computing traditionnel est basé sur le réseau neuronal récurrent dont les neurones sont interconnectés. Il est efficace dans la prévision des systèmes dynamiques, sa force vient de son pouvoir calculer et se prêter très bien la descente du gradient ce qui permet d'ajuster les paramètres de ses neurones pour mieux expliquer les données. La figure suivante montre la prédiction du Réservoir computing traditionnel appliquée sur le cas de lorenz en temps discret.

Endometriosis constitutes a benign condition, occurring in 10-12% of menstruating women. Bowel involvement is estimated to occur in 5-12% with the rectosigmoid region involved in up to 90% of these cases. We present the case of a 45-year-old Caucasian female patient with rectosigmoid endometriosis.

Abstract Development of serious complications after COVID-19 infection can occur even in very young patients without any comorbidities. Appropriate, non-aggressive ventilation and adequate treatment is essential for COVID-19 convalescents and may prevent them from aggravating surgical procedures.

Anesthetic management of patients with severe pulmonary hypertension combined with a difficult airway is challenging. The present case suggests that the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is useful for safe anesthetic management.

Vascular injuries with significant blood loss causing ischemia and revascularization for limb salvage are rarely done in developing countries. Hence, most hospitals and surgeons lack the experience to deal with vascular injuries. We report successful management of a 9 years child with left subclavian artery transection and massive blood transfusions.

We report the first case of isolated Cor triatriatum sinister in a 36-year-old male with metabolic syndrome in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a rare congenital heart disease that consists of a fibromuscular ring that divides the atrium into two chambers. It can mimic mitral valve stenosis.

Taste is one of the most basic and important sensations that is able to monitor the food quality and avoid intake of potential danger materials. Whether as an inevitable symptom of aging or a complication of cancer treatment, taste loss so seriously affects the patient’s life quality. Taste bud organoids provide a great convenience for the research of taste functions and the underlying mechanisms due to their characteristics of availability, strong maneuverability, and high similarity to the in-vivo taste buds. This review gives a systemic and comprehensive introduction to the preparation and application of taste bud organoids towards chemical sensing mechanisms. For the first, the basic structure and function of taste buds in biomedicine will be brief introduced. Then, the currently available approaches for the preparation of taste bud organoids are summarized and discussed, which are mainly divided into two categories, i.e. stem/progenitor cell-derived approach and tissue-derived approach. For the next, different applications of taste bud organoids in biomedicine are outlined based on their central roles such as disease modeling, biological sensing, gene regulation, and signal transduction. Finally, the current challenges, future development trends and prospects of research in taste bud organoids are proposed and discussed.

Background: Behçet’s disease is a systemic vasculitis that can affect all sizes of arteries and veins. Arterial stiffness is a term used to describe the visco-elastic properties of vessel wall. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) and the right ventricular (RV) functions in asymptomatic Behçet’s patients with no cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: We studied 40 patients who were diagnosed by the international diagnostic criteria of Behçet’s disease and 40 healthy individuals who were matching demographic properties with the patients. Two groups were matched by age, gender, clinical history and other clinical features. Substantial medical history concerning the factors that can affect right ventricle diastolic function (such as medications, smoking status, other comorbities, etc.) was taken and general physical examination was carried out. The right and left ventricular functions as well as valvular functions were evaluated by using echocardiography. Also Two-dimensional, M-mode, pulsed wave (PW) Doppler echocardiographic parameters were measured for right ventricular functions. PW Doppler flow trace was obtained from the pulmonary valve with regards to pulmonary artery stiffness. Results: There was no significant difference in terms of clinical and demographic properties. No statistically significant difference was found upon comparison of the left ventricular end of systole and diastole diameters, the diastolic and systolic thicknesses of the interventricular septum (IVS) and left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW), left atrium (LA) diameter and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) values (p>0.05) of the two groups. Right ventricular myocardial performance index (MPI) value was found higher in Behçet’s patients and a statistically significant difference was detected between the groups (p<0.01). Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) values were found to be statistically significantly lower in the patient group as compared to the control group (p<0.01). In PW Doppler measurements, early passive filling (E) wave flow velocity and E/A ratio were found to be statistically significantly lower, deceleration time (DT) was higher in the patient group (p<0.01). In Behçet’s patients without clinical pulmonary involvement, the pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was found to be statistically significantly higher in the patient group (p<0.01). The values of pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) were found to be significantly higher in the patient group (p<0.01). The relationship between the right ventricular function markers and PAS were evaluated in the patient group. There was no statistically significant relationship between PAS and MPI and TAPSE. But there was a significant correlation between PAS and PASP and duration of illness (p<0.001 and r=0.682 ; p=0.047 and r=0,316). Conclusion: Behçet’s patients without cardiac symptoms and signs, reduction in right ventricular functions and increase in PAS was detected. Although there is no correlation between right ventricular functions and PAS, increased PAS may be an early marker of reduction of the right ventricular functions. Consequently, routine cardiological examination and detailed evaluation of biventricular functions by using echocardiography should be greatly beneficial in Behcet’s patients, even though there are no signs or symptoms.

This work analyzes the existence of solution and approximate controllability for higher order non-linear fractional integro-differential systems with Riemann-Liouville derivatives in Banach spaces. Firstly, the definition of mild solution for the system is derived. Then a set of sufficient conditions for the existence of mild solution and approximate controllability of the system is obtained. The discussions are based on fixed point approach, and the theory of convolution and fractional resolvent. To illustrate the feasibility of developed theory, an example is given.

DNA metabarcoding has been widely used to access and monitor species. However, several challenges remain open for its mainstream application in ecological studies, particularly when dealing with a quantitative approach. In a from the Cover article in this issue of Molecular Ecology, Cédric et al. (2021) report species-level ichthyoplankton dynamics for 97 fish species from two Amazon river basins using a clever quantitative metabarcoding approach employing a probe capture method. They clearly show that most species spawned during the rainy season when the floods started, but interestingly, species from the same genus reproduced in distinct periods (i.e., inverse phenology). Opportunistically, Cédric et al. (2021) reported that during an intense hydrological anomaly, several species had a sharp reduction in spawning activity, demonstrating a quick response to environmental cues. This is an interesting result since the speed at which fish species can react to environmental changes, during the spawning period, is largely unknown. Thus, this study brings remarkable insights into basic life history information that is imperative for proposing strategies that could lead to a realistic framework for sustainable fisheries management practices and conservation, fundamental for an under-studied and threatened realm, such as the Amazon River basin.

Ascending aortic cannulation was successfully performed in 64 consecutive patients, using the Seldinger technique, with the hands-free continuous-echo monitoring, utilizing a new stabilizer. This stabilizer-assisted method can safely provide a rapid and reliable route for antegrade central perfusion during in type A dissections repair.