Clinically Guided Adaptive Machine Learning Update Strategies for Predicting Severe COVID-19 Outcomes.

Background: Machine learning algorithms are essential for predicting severe outcomes during public health crises like COVID-19. However, the dynamic nature of diseases requires continual evaluation and updating of these algorithms. This study aims to compare three update strategies for predicting severe COVID-19 outcomes postdiagnosis: "naive" (a single initial model), "frequent" (periodic retraining), and "context-driven" (retraining informed by clinical insights).

The stink bug Dichelops furcatus: a new pest of corn that emerges from soybean stubble.

Over the last decades, Argentine and Brazilian farmers have adopted no-tillage cultivation systems and multiple cropping, which have decreased the abundance of traditional pests, such as Nezara viridula, and favored the development of some stink bugs of secondary importance, like Dichelops furcatus, D. melacanthus and Euschistus heros. No-till farming leaves the soil undisturbed, to mitigate erosion, and sufficient crop residue on the field, which is used by D.

Development and evaluation of a computer-based decision support system for diffuse lung diseases at high-resolution computed tomography.

Background: High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is essential in narrowing the possible differential diagnoses of diffuse and interstitial lung diseases.

Purpose: To investigate the value of a novel computer-based decision support system (CDSS) for facilitating diagnosis of diffuse lung diseases at HRCT.

Material And Methods: A CDSS was developed that includes about 100 different illustrations of the most common HRCT signs and patterns and describes the corresponding pathologies in detail.

Plant volatiles guide the new pest Dichelops furcatus to feed on corn seedlings.

Background: Recently, in temperate and neotropical regions of South America the generalist stink bug Dichelops furcatus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) became a new pest of corn (Zea mays) seedlings. Implementation of no-tillage cultivation system left organic matter covering the soil, which shelters adults of stink bugs during winter. In spring, corn is sowed under soybean stubble and D.

Lung Ultrasound Findings in Patients with COVID-19.

The current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak leads to a growing need of point-of-care thoracic imaging that is compatible with isolation settings and infection prevention precautions. We retrospectively reviewed 17 COVID-19 patients who received point-of-care lung ultrasound imaging in our isolation unit. Lung ultrasound was able to detect interstitial lung disease effectively; severe cases showed bilaterally distributed B-Lines with or without consolidations; one case showed bilateral pleural plaques.

Digestive activity and organic compounds of Nezara viridula watery saliva induce defensive soybean seed responses.

The stink bug Nezara viridula is one of the most threatening pests for agriculture in North and South America, and its oral secretion may be responsible for the damage it causes in soybean (Glycine max) crop. The high level of injury to seeds caused by pentatomids is related to their feeding behavior, morphology of mouth parts, and saliva, though information on the specific composition of the oral secretion is scarce. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the biochemical damage produced by herbivory to developing soybean seeds.

CD4 T cell lymphopenia predicts mortality from Pneumocystis pneumonia in kidney transplant patients.

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PcP) remains a life-threatening opportunistic infection after solid organ transplantation, even in the era of Pneumocystis prophylaxis. The association between risk of developing PcP and low CD4 T cell counts has been well established. However, it is unknown whether lymphopenia in the context of post-renal transplant PcP increases the risk of mortality.

High-pitch Dual-source CT Angiography before TAVI - the Value of ECG Gating.

Purpose: To investigate image quality, and radiation dose between ECG-gated singlesource and dual-source CT Angiography (CTA) protocols for planning of Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) with a reference non ECG-gated single-source protocol.

Methods: A total of 120 patients were included in four groups: Non ECG-gated single-source (SS), ECG-gated single-source (SSECG), ECG-gated dual-source high-pitch (DSECG), or non-ECG-gated dual-source high-pitch mode (DS). Qualitative image quality of the aortic annulus, aortic valve, and coronary ostia as well as presence of motion or stair-step artefacts of the thoracic aorta were independently assessed by two readers.

Volatiles mediate host-selection in the corn hoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and (Hemiptera: Delphacidae).

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by plants are generally involved in host recognition and host selection for many phytophagous insects. However, for leafhoppers and planthoppers, host recognition is mainly thought to involve a phototactic response, but it is not clear if a host plant could be selected based on the volatile cues it emits. In this study we evaluated olfactory responses in dual choice tests of two Hemiptera species, Dalbulus maidis (De Long) (Cicadellidae) and Peregrinus maidis (Ashmead) (Delphacidae), vectors of maize-stunting diseases, to three maize (Zea mays L.

Endoleaks after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair: Improved detection with noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic dual-energy CT.

Purpose: To assess image quality and diagnostic performance of a noise-optimized algorithm to reconstruct virtual monoenergetic images (VMI+) for the detection of endoleaks after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) using dual-energy CT angiography (DE-CTA).

Materials And Methods: Seventy-five patients (42 men; 66.2±11.

CT-guided hook-wire localisation prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery of pulmonary lesions.

Aim: To assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided pulmonary nodule localisation using a hooked guide wire before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Materials And Methods: The study included 79 patients with a history of malignancies outside the lung associated with pulmonary nodules. Mean lesion size was 0.

Treatment Planning Considerations for Robotic Guided Cardiac Radiosurgery for Atrial Fibrillation.

Purpose: Robotic guided stereotactic radiosurgery has recently been investigated for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Before moving into human treatments, multiple implications for treatment planning given a potential target tracking approach have to be considered.

Materials & Methods: Theoretical AF radiosurgery treatment plans for twenty-four patients were generated for baseline comparison.

Pneumothorax Complicating Coaxial and Non-coaxial CT-Guided Lung Biopsy: Comparative Analysis of Determining Risk Factors and Management of Pneumothorax in a Retrospective Review of 650 Patients.

Purpose: To assess the scope and determining risk factors related to the development of pneumothorax throughout CT-guided biopsy of pulmonary lesions in coaxial and non-coaxial techniques and the outcome of its management.

Materials And Methods: The study included CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsies in 650 consecutive patients (407 males, 243 females; mean age 54.6 years, SD 5.

Functional annotation of the Ophiostoma novo-ulmi genome: insights into the phytopathogenicity of the fungal agent of Dutch elm disease.

The ascomycete fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi is responsible for the pandemic of Dutch elm disease that has been ravaging Europe and North America for 50 years. We proceeded to annotate the genome of the O. novo-ulmi strain H327 that was sequenced in 2012.

Direct lymphangiography as treatment option of lymphatic leakage: indications, outcomes and role in patient's management.

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of lymphography as a minimally invasive treatment option of lymphatic leakage in terms of local control and to investigate which parameters influence the success rate.

Method: This retrospective study protocol was approved by the ethic committee. Patient history, imaging data, therapeutic options and follow-up were recorded and retrospectively analyzed.

Treatment of unresectable stage IV metastatic melanoma with aviscumine after anti-neoplastic treatment failure: a phase II, multi-centre study.

Background: Aviscumine, a recombinant plant protein, is an immune modulator that induces ribotoxic stress at the 28S ribosomal RNA subunit. In this way cytokine release and T-cell responses are enhanced. This phase II trial was conducted to test the efficacy and safety of aviscumine in patients with systemically pre-treated metastatic melanoma stage IV.

Risk factor analysis of pulmonary hemorrhage complicating CT-guided lung biopsy in coaxial and non-coaxial core biopsy techniques in 650 patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the risk factors involved in the development of pulmonary hemorrhage complicating CT-guided biopsy of pulmonary lesions in coaxial and non-coaxial techniques.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective study included CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsies in 650 consecutive patients (407 males, 243 females; mean age 54.6 years, SD: 5.

Enteroclysis: Current clinical value.

Aim: To retrospectively analyze changes in clinical indication, referring medical specialty and detected pathology for small bowel double-contrast examinations.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-one (n = 143 females; n = 98 males; 01.01.

Effect of contrast material on radiation dose in an adult cardiac dual-energy CT using retrospective ECG-gating.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of contrast material and retrospective ECG-gating on radiation dose in an adult cardiac dual-energy computed tomography (DECT). Sixty-two patients underwent CT cardiac examination with a Somatom Definition Flash DECT using tube voltages of 100 kV without filter and 140 kV with a tin filter (mean effective mA s: arterial 72.39 and 62.

Sequencing of the Dutch elm disease fungus genome using the Roche/454 GS-FLX Titanium System in a comparison of multiple genomics core facilities.

As part of the DNA Sequencing Research Group of the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities, we have tested the reproducibility of the Roche/454 GS-FLX Titanium System at five core facilities. Experience with the Roche/454 system ranged from <10 to >340 sequencing runs performed. All participating sites were supplied with an aliquot of a common DNA preparation and were requested to conduct sequencing at a common loading condition.

Bolus timing in high-pitch CT angiography of the aorta.

Objective: To investigate the bolus geometry in high-pitch CT angiography (CTA) of the aorta without ECG synchronisation in comparison to single-source CT.

Methods: Overall 160 consecutive patients underwent CTA either in conventional single-source mode with a pitch of 1.2 (group 1), or in dual-source mode with a pitch of 3.

Radiation dose and image quality of X-ray volume imaging systems: cone-beam computed tomography, digital subtraction angiography and digital fluoroscopy.

Objective: Radiation dose and image quality estimation of three X-ray volume imaging (XVI) systems.

Methods: A total of 126 patients were examined using three XVI systems (groups 1-3) and their data were retrospectively analysed from 2007 to 2012. Each group consisted of 42 patients and each patient was examined using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and digital fluoroscopy (DF).

Diagnostic accuracy of CT readings on coin lesions in the lung as compared with transthoracic CT-guided needle biopsy results.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare chest CT film reading results with histopathological results after CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy of the lung. In addition, lung lesion morphology was evaluated and compared with the nature of the lesions.

Patients And Methods: Pulmonary lesions of 133 patients who underwent chest CT were retrospectively grouped into benign, malignant or uncertain.

Quantitative analysis of motion artifacts in high-pitch dual-source computed tomography of the thorax.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to objectively analyze motion artifacts on thoracic computed tomography (CT) with dual-source high-pitch and single-source techniques when using a no-breath-hold technique to examine patients who have difficulty complying with breath-holding instructions.

Materials And Methods: A total of 120 patients who received CT of the thorax with a free-breathing technique in single-source (16 slices and 128 slices; pitch = 1.2) and dual-source (pitch = 3.

Intravenous contrast material administration at high-pitch dual-source CT pulmonary angiography: test bolus versus bolus-tracking technique.

Purpose: To compare test bolus and bolus tracking for the determination of scan delay of high-pitch dual-source CT pulmonary angiography in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism using 50 ml of contrast material.

Materials And Methods: Data of 80 consecutive patients referred for CT pulmonary angiography were evaluated. All scans were performed on a 128-channel dual-source CT scanner with a high-pitch protocol (pitch 3.