Mosaic Pattern Research Articles

Protein folds as synapomorphies of the tree of life.

Several studies showed that folds (topology of protein secondary structures) distribution in proteomes may be a global proxy to build phylogeny. Then, some folds should be synapomorphies (derived characters exclusively shared among taxa). However, previous studies used methods that did not allow synapomorphy identification, which requires congruence analysis of folds as individual characters. Here, we map SCOP folds onto a sample of 210 species across the tree of life (TOL). Congruence is assessed using retention index of each fold for the TOL, and principal component analysis for deeper branches. Using a bicluster mapping approach, we define synapomorphic blocks of folds (SBF) sharing similar presence/absence patterns. Among the 1232 folds, 20% are universally present in our TOL, whereas 54% are reliable synapomorphies. These results are similar with CATH and ECOD databases. Eukaryotes are characterized by a large number of them, and several SBFs clearly support nested eukaryotic clades (divergence times from 1100 to 380 mya). Although clearly separated, the three superkingdoms reveal a strong mosaic pattern. This pattern is consistent with the dual origin of eukaryotes and witness secondary endosymbiosis in their phothosynthetic clades. Our study unveils direct analysis of folds synapomorphies as key characters to unravel evolutionary history of species.

Dissecting Cell-Autonomous Function of Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein in an Auditory Circuit by In Ovo Electroporation.

Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) is an mRNA-binding protein that regulates local protein translation. FMRP loss or dysfunction leads to aberrant neuronal and synaptic activities in fragile X syndrome (FXS), which is characterized by intellectual disability, sensory abnormalities, and social communication problems. Studies of FMRP function and FXS pathogenesis have primarily been conducted with Fmr1 (the gene encoding FMRP) knockout in transgenic animals. Here we report an in vivo method for determining the cell-autonomous function of FMRP during the period of circuit assembly and synaptic formation using chicken embryos. This method employs stage-, site-, and direction-specific electroporation of a drug-inducible vector system containing Fmr1 small hairpin RNA (shRNA) and an EGFP reporter. With this method, we achieved selective FMRP knockdown in the auditory ganglion (AG) and in one of its brainstem targets, the nucleus magnocellularis (NM), thus providing a component-specific manipulation within the AG-NM circuit. Additionally, the mosaic pattern of the transfection allows within-animal controls and neighboring neuron/fiber comparisons for enhanced reliability and sensitivity in data analyzing. The inducible vector system provides temporal control of gene editing onset to minimize accumulating developmental effects. The combination of these strategies provides an innovative tool to dissect the cell-autonomous function of FMRP in synaptic and circuit development.

Formation of bilateral arteriovenous malformations

A 58-year-old Japanese man, with no family history of vascular anomalies, had presented with swelling of the right lower extremity (A). He did not have a thrill, edema, or any symptoms specific to well-described syndromes. Computed tomography angiography revealed an arteriovenous (AV) shunt and a mosaic pattern of various signal intensities, indicating a chronic expanding hematoma in the right lower extremity (A [arrowhead]; and B/Cover). It also described an AV shunt in the left lower extremity (A [arrow] and B).

Dermatosis Neglecta in Inpatients of a Tertiary Care Center

Background: Dermatosis neglecta (DN) is an underdiagnosed localized pigmentary disorder, characterized by asymptomatic hyperpigmented patches and plaques with adherent scales in an inadequately cleansed area. It is a diagnostic challenge leading to unnecessary interventions and burden to patients. Dermoscopy is a noninvasive handy diagnostic tool, though its utility in the diagnosis of DN is unexplored. Objective: To describe the various clinical and dermoscopic patterns in patients with DN. Materials and Methods: An observational study in 10 admitted patients of a tertiary hospital with DN was done, who consulted in department of dermatology in view of hyperpigmented lesions. After a thorough history and clinical examination, dermoscopy was done over the lesions. Results: In 10 patients, DN was confirmed with a resolution of part of lesion on the application of water-soaked gauze. On dermoscopy, dark-brown polygonal, cornflake-like scales are seen arranged in a mosaic pattern with intervening normal skin, sometimes over an erythematous background. On further probing, most patients gave the history of unintentional neglect of the affected part related to their primary illness. Limitations: Small sample size. Conclusions: DN is an underreported localized hyperpigmented disorder, mimicking other dermatoses. It should always be kept in mind in patients with morbidities that lead to the inability to maintain hygiene in the relevant areas, which may not be the classically described sites of DN. Dermoscopy helps to differentiate it from other hyperpigmented lesions, especially in its milder forms, avoiding the act of wiping the lesions especially in areas associated with hyperesthesia and helps in reinforcing the diagnosis. However, the criteria to diagnose DN based on dermoscopy is not definite.

Clinical Analysis and Risk Factors of Bronchiolitis Obliterans After Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia.

PurposeSevere mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) pneumonia can cause bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). In order to improve the prognosis of BO, it is necessary to grasp the clinical characteristics and risk factors of BO after severe MP pneumonia and intervene as soon as possible.Patients and MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 110 patients with severe MP pneumonia, and divided them into BO group (22 cases) and non-BO group (88 cases). The clinical characteristics of BO group were analyzed, and the clinical data of two groups were compared to identify the risk factors of BO.ResultsAt the time of diagnosis, all BO patients had symptoms of cough and wheezing, and 10 (45.45%) had decreased exercise intolerance. Lung function showed moderate to severe obstructive ventilatory dysfunction, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) showed mosaic perfusion patterns. Multivariate binomial regression analysis showed that higher levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and hypoxemia were independent risk factors for BO after severe MP pneumonia.ConclusionHigher levels of serum LDH and hypoxemia were independent risk factors for BO after severe MP pneumonia. For patients with risk factors, clinicians should regular follow-up for early diagnosis and intervention of BO.

Reliability of Toluidine Blue and Colposcopy in Determining Biopsy Site Among Patients with Oral Leukoplakia – A Comparative Study

Background: To date, no simple and reliable method can replace oral biopsy site detection using Toluidine blue for early identification and treatment of potentially malignant oral disorders (OPMDs). Aims and Objectives: The study was conducted to assess the feasibility of using the colposcope and compare the findings with the toluidine blue staining method for selecting the biopsy site. Materials and Methodology: Study group included 30 patients; five patients dropped out as regression was seen in the lesion. Twenty patients with homogenous leucoplakia and five patients with nonhomogenous Leukoplakia formed a study group. An area with the most extensive cell change in the colposcopic examination was selected by the first version, Image J 1. x Software. After toluidine, blue staining was done. Dark blue-stained sites were considered positive, and site selection for the biopsy was made. Results: Normal vascular pattern in six (24%) cases, 10 (40%) cases showing punctuate vascular pattern, four (16%) of cases showed the mosaic vascular pattern, five (20%) of cases were with the atypical vascular pattern were assessed in colposcopic examination with statistically significant P value (0.009). Fourteen cases out of 20 cases of homogenous and all five cases of nonhomogenous leukoplakia were correctly diagnosed for the biopsy site with both toluidine blue and colposcopic techniques. Conclusion: In this study, Toluidine blue and colposcopic technique showed 76% accuracy for detecting the biopsy site. So colposcope can be an alternative diagnostic aid to toluidine blue in detecting biopsy sites for PMD.

A Rare Case of Ulcerative Colitis with Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease, Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum and Subcutaneous Emphysema

A 50-year-old male, a tobacco smoker, who was known to have ulcerative colitis presented with dry cough, chest pain, dysponea and frequent passage of blood and mucous mixed stools. Physical examination revealed clubbing, subcutaneous emphysema of upper chest and auscultatory findings of crunching sound over pre-cordial area and basal crepitations. Spirometry was suggestive of restrictive pattern. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of thorax revealed pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema, bilateral diffuse centrilobular nodules and ground-glass haziness with mosaic pattern along with posterior basal fibrotic changes. The present case documents the uncommon pulmonary involvement of spontaneous pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema diffuse parenchymal lung disease, in a patient with ulcerative colitis.

Deep Spatial Adaptive Network for Real Image Demosaicing

Demosaicing is the crucial step in the image processing pipeline and is a highly ill-posed inverse problem. Recently, various deep learning based demosaicing methods have achieved promising performance, but they often design the same nonlinear mapping function for different spatial location and are not well consider the difference of mosaic pattern for each color. In this paper, we propose a deep spatial adaptive network (SANet) for real image demosaicing, which can adaptively learn the nonlinear mapping function for different locations. The weights of spatial adaptive convolution layer are generated by the pattern information in the receptive filed. Besides, we collect a paired real demosaicing dataset to train and evaluate the deep network, which can make the learned demosaicing network more practical in the real world. The experimental results show that our SANet outperforms the state-of-the-art methods under both comprehensive quantitative metrics and perceptive quality in both noiseless and noisy cases.

Endoscopic Features of Autoimmune Gastritis: Focus on Typical Images and Early Images.

Autoimmune gastritis (AIG) is chronic atrophic gastritis caused by an autoimmune mechanism of unknown etiology and presents with various pathological conditions by causing an achlorhydria state through parietal cell damage. The most characteristic endoscopic finding in AIG is advanced corpus-dominant mucosal atrophy. A recent study that examined several cases in Japan revealed the presence of endoscopic features other than corpus-dominant advanced atrophy. Remnants of oxyntic mucosa and sticky adherent dense mucus were found in ≥30% of cases, and hyperplastic polyps were found in ≥20% of cases. In image-enhanced endoscopy (IEE), white globe appearance (WGA) was observed in 32% of AIG cases. Additionally, some reports have stated that the findings in AIG cases using IEE showed cast-off skin appearance (CSA) and foveola type mucosa; however, a consensus is yet to be achieved. These endoscopic results were found in cases of advanced-stage AIG. There have been few reports concerning early-stage AIG cases. In these few reports, all of the cases were pathologically diagnosed as early AIG. In all of the cases, the pathological findings almost always showed neither parietal cell destruction nor atrophy. Endoscopic findings such as “mosaic pattern with slight swelling of the areae gastricae”, “diffuse reddened and edematous gastric fundic gland mucosa”, and “pseudopolyp-like nodules” may be common characteristics of early images. In such early cases, high antibody titers, no atrophic changes, and few clinical abnormal findings were shown. Endoscopists are expected to update their knowledge regarding AIG diagnosis with the evolution of imaging equipment.

Identification of Caveolae-Associated Protein 4 Autoantibodies as a Biomarker of Immune-Mediated Rippling Muscle Disease in Adults

Immune-mediated rippling muscle disease (iRMD) is a rare myopathy characterized by wavelike muscle contractions (rippling) and percussion- or stretch-induced muscle mounding. A serological biomarker of this disease is lacking. To describe a novel autoantibody biomarker of iRMD and report associated clinicopathological characteristics. This retrospective cohort study evaluated archived sera from 10 adult patients at tertiary care centers at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, and Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, who were diagnosed with iRMD by neuromuscular specialists in 2000 and 2021, based on the presence of electrically silent percussion- or stretch-induced muscle rippling and percussion-induced rapid muscle contraction with or without muscle mounding and an autoimmune basis. Sera were evaluated for a common biomarker using phage immunoprecipitation sequencing. Myopathology consistent with iRMD was documented in most patients. The median (range) follow-up was 18 (1-30) months. Diagnosis of iRMD. Detection of a common autoantibody in serum of patients sharing similar clinical and myopathological features. Seven male individuals and 3 female individuals with iRMD were identified (median [range] age at onset, 60 [18-76] years). An IgG autoantibody specific for caveolae-associated protein 4 (cavin-4) was identified in serum of patients with iRMD using human proteome phage immunoprecipitation sequencing. Immunoassays using recombinant cavin-4 confirmed cavin-4 IgG seropositivity in 8 of 10 patients with iRMD. Results for healthy and disease-control individuals (n = 241, including myasthenia gravis and immune-mediated myopathies) were cavin-4 IgG seronegative. Six of the 8 individuals with cavin-4 IgG were male, and the median (range) age was 60 (18-76) years. Initial symptoms included rippling of lower limb muscles in 5 of 8 individuals or all limb muscles in 2 of 8 sparing bulbar muscles, fatigue in 9 of 10, mild proximal weakness in 3 of 8, and isolated myalgia in 1 of 8, followed by development of diffuse rippling. All patients had percussion-induced muscle rippling and half had percussion- or stretch-induced muscle mounding. Four of the 10 patients had proximal weakness. Plasma creatine kinase was elevated in all but 1 patient. Six of the 10 patients underwent malignancy screening; cancer was detected prospectively in only 1. Muscle biopsy was performed in 7 of the 8 patients with cavin-4 IgG; 6 of 6 specimens analyzed immunohistochemically revealed a mosaic pattern of sarcolemmal cavin-4 immunoreactivity. Three of 6 patients whose results were seropositive and who received immunotherapy had complete resolution of symptoms, 1 had mild improvement, and 2 had no change. The findings indicate that cavin-4 IgG may be the first specific serological autoantibody biomarker identified in iRMD. Depletion of cavin-4 expression in muscle biopsies of patients with iRMD suggests the potential role of this autoantigen in disease pathogenesis.

Vehicular-Network-Intrusion Detection Based on a Mosaic-Coded Convolutional Neural Network

With the development of Internet of Vehicles (IoV) technology, the car is no longer a closed individual. It exchanges information with an external network, communicating through the vehicle-mounted network (VMN), which, inevitably, gives rise to security problems. Attackers can intrude on the VMN, using a wireless network or vehicle-mounted interface devices. To prevent such attacks, various intrusion-detection methods have been proposed, including convolutional neural network (CNN) ones. However, the existing CNN method was not able to best use the CNN’s capability, of extracting two-dimensional graph-like data, and, at the same time, to reflect the time connections among the sequential data. Therefore, this paper proposed a novel CNN model, based on two-dimensional Mosaic pattern coding, for anomaly detection. It can not only make full use of the ability of a CNN to extract grid data but also maintain the sequential time relationship of it. Simulations showed that this method could, effectively, distinguish attacks from the normal information on the vehicular network, improve the reliability of the system’s discrimination, and, at the same time, meet the real-time requirement of detection.

Productivity of sago palms on smallholder plantations after rewetting in previously drained peatland: a case study on Tebing Tinggi Island, Riau Province, Indonesia

Sustainable land use through rewetting is becoming increasingly important in drained peatlands. We assessed the recovery of productivity of smallholder paludiculture using sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) in a rewetted peatland on Tebing Tinggi Island, Riau Province, Indonesia, which had been drained and burned in 2014. Stand structure and productivity of sago palms in smallholder plantations were measured in December 2016, November 2017, and March 2020. The sago stands were divided into three stands structure groups (pre-harvest stands, mid- to post-harvest stands, and growing period stands) according to gaps in the harvesting cycle, which were distributed in a mosaic pattern. Only those sago palms that had reached their maximum size were harvested, and as a result the mosaic pattern varied over time (spatial variation). The estimated harvest trunk height after rewetting was 8.9±1.5 m (mean±SD), which was not significantly different from that before drainage (9.7±0.4 m). The average annual yield of sago was 26.8 trunks ha－1, and there was large annual variation. Annual yield of paludiculture conducted after rewetting recovered to the same yield as that before drainage (26.0 trunks ha－1). Such size distribution patterns and large fluctuations in yield are characteristic of semi-traditional smallholder sago cultivation. Despite fluctuations in annual yield, harvesting only suitable individuals allows sago palms to be supplied every year. The findings obtained in this study will contribute to national and regional efforts to initiate paludiculture using sago palms.

Mosaic gene expression analysis of semaphorin-plexin interactions in Caenorhabditis elegans using the IR-LEGO single-cell gene induction system.

Genetic mosaic analysis is a powerful means of addressing the sites of gene action in multicellular organisms. In conventional genetic analysis, the generation of desired mosaic patterns is difficult to control due to the randomness of generating the genetic mosaic which often renders the analysis laborious and time consuming. The infrared laser-evoked gene operator (IR-LEGO) microscope system facilitates genetic mosaic analysis by enabling gene induction in targeted single cells in a living organism. However, the level of gene induction is not controllable due to the usage of a heat-shock promoter. Here, we applied IR-LEGO to examine the cell-cell interactions mediated by semaphoring-plexin signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans by inducing wild-type semaphorin/plexin in single cells within the population of mutant cells lacking the relevant proteins. We found that the cell contact-dependent termination of the extension of vulval precursor cells is elicited by the forward signaling mediated by the semaphorin receptor, PLX-1, but not by the reverse signaling via the transmembrane semaphorin, SMP-1. By utilizing Cre/loxP recombination coupled with the IR-LEGO system to induce SMP-1 at a physiological level, we found that SMP-1 interacts with PLX-1 only in trans upon contact between vulval precursor cells. In contrast, when overexpressed, SMP-1 exhibits the ability to cis-interact with PLX-1 on a single cell. These results indicate that mosaic analysis with IR-LEGO, especially when combined with an in vivo recombination system, efficiently complements conventional methods.

In vitro fertilization and preimplantation genetic diagnosis outcomes in mosaic Turner's syndrome: A retrospective cohort study from a single referral center experience

Background: Patients with mosaic Turner syndrome who have normal phenotype and pubertal development may be diagnosed based on karyotype examination which is performed due to recurrent abortion or recurrent implantation failure; but according to the literature review, reproductive and obstetric consequences of these cases are based on case reports. There are contradictory publications on this subject recommending pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) may be a solution to reduce the high risk for the fetus and perform normal embryo transfer. Aim: In this study, our aim was to evaluate the results of in vitro fertilization and preimplantation genetic diagnosis in patients with low-grade and high-grade mosaic Turner syndrome. Methods: We collected data of patients between 2012 and 2018 from a single center retrospectively. The study analyzed 36 mosaic Turner syndrome patients, of whom, 10 patients were evaluated as high, 26 patients were evaluated as low-grade mosaic pattern for Turner syndrome. Results: Mean age (35,46±0,87 vs. 36,2 ± 1,85) body mass index (25,26±0,74 vs. 30,8 ± 0,63) baseline follicle stimulating hormone (5,73±0,74 vs. 6,70±1,17) basal luteinizing hormone (4,78±0,43 vs. 4,92±0,99) were similar between two groups. In the high-grade mosaic Turner Syndrome patients, duration of stimulation (7,60±0,16 vs. 8,0 ± 0,28, p<0,001), total gonadotrophin dose (1540,0 ± 165,12 vs. 2046,15± 111,47, p<0,001) and the number of normal karyotype embryos was statistically significantly higher (1,58±0,17 vs. 2,00±0,55, p<0,001). The Pregnancy rates in the low-grade and high-grade mosaic Turner syndrome patients’ cycles were 30,8% versus 30%, (p = 0.76) respectively. IVF results were also evaluated by the presence of triploidy were accompanying Turner syndrome or not. In the presence of one or 2 X chromosomes, none of the included in the study could achieve live birth. The most common abnormality in the embryos was monosomy and trisomy of the chromosome13. In 30% of the cases, there were 2 or 3 abnormalities present together. In embryos with 2 abnormal chromosomes, the most common 2 abnormalities were monosomy 13 and trisomy 21, while trisomy 13, trisomy X and monosomy 18 were found in 3 or more abnormalities, respectively. Conclusion: In vitro fertilization and Preimplantation genetic diagnose should be considered in the infertility treatment of the patient with mosaic Turner Syndrome.

Estimating the Clinical Impact of Photon-Counting-Detector CT in Diagnosing Usual Interstitial Pneumonia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of a higher spatial resolution, full field-of-view investigational photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) on radiologist confidence in imaging findings and diagnosis of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) compared with conventional energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT). Patients suspected of interstitial lung disease were scanned on a PCD-CT system after informed consent and a clinically indicated EID-CT. In 2 sessions, 3 thoracic radiologists blinded to clinical history and scanner type evaluated CT images of the right and left lungs separately on EID- or PCD-CT, reviewing each lung once/session, rating confidence in imaging findings of reticulation, traction bronchiectasis, honeycombing, ground-glass opacities (GGOs), mosaic pattern, and lower lobe predominance (100-point scale: 0-33, likely absent; 34-66, indeterminate; 67-100, likely present). Radiologists also rated confidence for the probability of UIP (0-20, normal; 21-40, inconsistent with UIP; 41-60, indeterminate UIP; 61-81; probable UIP; 81-100, definite UIP) and graded image quality. Because a confidence scale of 50 represented completely equivocal findings, magnitude score (the absolute value of confidence scores from 50) was used for analysis (higher scores were more confident). Image noise was measured for each modality. The magnitude score was compared using linear mixed effects regression. The consistency of findings and diagnosis between 2 scanners were evaluated using McNemar test and weighted κ statistics, respectively. A total of 30 patients (mean age, 68.8 ± 11.0 years; M:F = 18:12) underwent conventional EID-CT (median CTDI vol , 7.88 mGy) and research PCD-CT (median CTDI vol , 6.49 mGy). The magnitude scores in PCD-CT were significantly higher than EID-CT for imaging findings of reticulation (40.7 vs 38.3; P = 0.023), GGO (34.4 vs 31.7; P = 0.019), and mosaic pattern (38.6 vs 35.9; P = 0.013), but not for other imaging findings ( P ≥ 0.130) or confidence in UIP (34.1 vs 22.2; P &lt; 0.059). Magnitude score of probability of UIP in PCD-CT was significantly higher than EID-CT in one reader (26.0 vs 21.5; P = 0.009). Photon-counting detector CT demonstrated a decreased number of indeterminate GGO (17 vs 26), an increased number of unlikely GGO (74 vs 50), and an increased number of likely reticulations (140 vs 130) relative to EID-CT. Interobserver agreements among 3 readers for imaging findings and probability of UIP were similar between PCD-CT and EID-CT (intraclass coefficient: 0.507-0.818 vs 0.601-0.848). Photon-counting detector CT had higher scores in overall image quality (4.84 ± 0.38) than those in EID-CT (4.02 ± 0.40; P &lt; 0.001) despite increased image noise (mean 85.5 vs 36.1 HU). Photon-counting detector CT provided better image quality and improved the reader confidence for presence or absence of imaging findings of reticulation, GGO, and mosaic pattern with idiosyncratic improvement in confidence in UIP presence.

Postmortem Diagnosis of the Proteus Syndrome by Next Generation Sequencing of Affected Brain Tissue.

We report a case of a somatic overgrowth syndrome diagnosed at forensic autopsy with the aid of next generation sequencing as Proteus syndrome. Somatic overgrowth syndromes result from spontaneous somatic mutations that arise early in development and display a mosaic pattern of expression in patient tissues. Due to the temporal and anatomic heterogeneity of these syndromes, phenotypes vary widely, resulting in clinical overlap. Furthermore, the variable ratio of mutated to nonmutated cells in patient tissue can result in low-level mutations that could be missed using Sanger sequencing. Due to these factors, recent literature points to next generation sequencing (NGS) as an adjunct to diagnosis of these rare entities. A male in his fourth decade of life presented to our forensic autopsy service with physical features suggestive of a somatic overgrowth syndrome. Due to the paucity of clinical information accompanying the individual, a definitive diagnosis based on physical characteristics, alone, was not possible. Next generation sequencing of affected formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded brain tissue confirmed the presence of the variant in AKT1 (c.49G>A, p.Glu17Lys, in 14.13% of reads) found in Proteus syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the mosaic variant of AKT1 detected in brain tissue and the first reported case of a postmortem diagnosis of Proteus syndrome with the aid of NGS. We conclude that NGS can be used as an adjunctive method to support a specific diagnosis among the somatic overgrowth syndromes postmortem in the absence of sufficient clinical history.

Single-cell transcriptomics provides insights into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic heart disease that is characterized by unexplained segmental hypertrophy that is usually most pronounced in the septum. While sarcomeric gene mutations are often the genetic basis for HCM, the mechanistic origin for the heterogeneous remodeling remains largely unknown. A better understanding of the gene networks driving the cardiomyocyte (CM) hypertrophy is required to improve therapeutic strategies. Patients suffering from HCM often receive a septal myectomy surgery to relieve outflow tract obstruction due to hypertrophy. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on septal myectomy samples from patients with HCM, we identify functional links between genes, transcription factors, and cell size relevant for HCM. The data show the utility of using scRNA-seq on the human hypertrophic heart, highlight CM heterogeneity, and provide a wealth of insights into molecular events involved in HCM that can eventually contribute to the development of enhanced therapies.

Production technology for Roman mosaic glass vessels: new data from the domus of Tito Macro in Aquileia (Italy)

• Focus on Roman mosaic glass vessels, dated to the 1st cent. AD, from Aquileia (Italy). • Base glass, colourants and opacifiers consistent with Roman glass-making tradition. • No links between mosaic glass vessels and specific primary furnaces. • Mosaic vessels-makers acquired coloured rods and canes from different suppliers. • Production model of mosaic glass vessels seems to be composed of at least three steps. The present work focuses on five mosaic glass vessels from the domus of Tito Macro in Aquileia (northeastern Italy). The vessels were typogically attributed to three kinds of mosaic glass (marbled, striped mosaic, and composite mosaic patterns), all dated to the 1st century AD and obtained by the juxtaposition of translucent/transparent and opaque coloured glass pieces for a total of 25 analytical samples., They were texturally and chemically analysed by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), and electron microprobe (EPMA). The results show that base glass, colourants and opacifiers are consistent with the early Roman glass-making tradition. Textural and chemical data suggest that the vessel makers acquired coloured rods and canes from different suppliers. There were no links between vessels and specific primary furnaces or amongst various colours of different vessels and similar colours in the same object, suggesting a complex production organisation, especially for composite canes, where the production of the single colour rods was probably separated from that of the canes. The effects of working processes on glass composition are also investigated.

The effect of mosaic pattern and winding angle on radially compressed filament-wound CFRP composite tubes

In this paper, the two key parameters of the filament winding technology process are investigated using both experimental and numerical approaches. While the winding angle is a commonly discussed issue, the mosaic pattern is widely disregarded. To examine its influence, nine configurations of the tubular specimens were manufactured (three winding angles and three mosaic patterns). The novelty of the work is that special attention was paid during the manufacturing process to produce comparable one-layered tubular specimens with 100% degree of coverage, which was so far disregarded in the literature. The radial compression test according to ASTM D2412 was performed. Numerical simulations in the elastic regime were carried out using the finite element method (FEM) as a reference for the experimental results. The calculations of corrected stiffness showed a statistically significant difference between the mosaic patterns for a particular winding angle. Compared to the basic mosaic pattern 1/1, for 45° winding angle the growth was 6.3% and 20.9%, for 55° it was 25.1% and 32.2%, and for 75° the increase was 16.5% and 13.5%, for 2/1 and 3/1 mosaic pattern in each winding angle, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed characteristic fracture modes depending on the mosaic pattern and winding angle.

Rapid Screening: Post Computerized Tomography Incidence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Features in Asymptomatic Patients

Background: It is to document the frequency of incidental Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) specific findings in patients imaged after the initial ten days of lockdown relief and the sensitivity of computed tomography (CT) in picking unknown ongoing disease processes. Case presentations: In this study, we presented seven cases—three cases in plain CT pyelogram and four cases of post-contrast scans. Post-contrast scans of chest findings in case 1 showed few pre-vascular, pre-tracheal, and sub-carinal lymph nodes with calcified granuloma in the left lower zone accompanied by extensive bilateral peripheral Ground Glass Haze with alveolar opacification. In Case 2, multiple non-homogeneous areas of ground-glass haze diffusely involving both lung fields were seen. Case 3 showed a few sub-centimeters mediastinal lymph nodes with diffuse mosaic attenuation patterns in both lung fields along with multiple soft tissues density nodules in both lungs. While in Case 4, Patchy areas of alveolar opacification with surrounding ground-glass haze were noted in lower lobes. Management and Results: Total 64 CT C/A/P (chest/abdomen/pelvis) with contrast scans and 120 plain pyelograms were done within ten days after lockdown relief, and it was observed that during the stricken lockdown, no incidental case of positive CT finding was observed. However, afterward, within this time, 44 cases (23.9%) were recorded in asymptomatic patients of COVID-19. Conclusions: CT chest is highly sensitive in detecting COVID-19 with high accuracy of featuring progress in the disease and associated findings even in the initial stages.