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Self-driving laboratories (SDLs), powered by robotics, automation and artificial intelligence, accelerate scientific discoveries through autonomous experimentation. However, their adoption and transferability are limited by the lack of standardized software across diverse SDLs. In this work, we introduce IvoryOS – an open-source orchestrator that automatically generates web interfaces for Python-based SDLs. It ensures interoperability by dynamically updating the user interfaces with the plugged components and their functionalities. The interfaces enable users to directly control SDLs and design workflows through a drag-and-drop user interface. Additionally, the workflow manager provides no-code configuration for iterative execution, supporting both human-in-the-loop and closed-loop experimentation. We demonstrate the integration of IvoryOS with six SDLs across two institutes, showcasing its adaptability and utility across platforms at various development stages. The plug-and-play and low-code feature of IvoryOS addresses the rapidly evolving demands of SDL development and significantly lowers the barrier to entry for building and managing SDLs.

The genome of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is 7.2 kilobases long and has three open reading frames. The largest one is ORF1, encoding a non-structural protein involved in the replication process, and whose processing is ill-defined. The ORF1 protein is a multi-modular protein which includes a macro domain (MD). MDs are evolutionarily conserved structures throughout all kingdoms of life. MDs participate in the recognition and removal of ADP-ribosylation, and specifically viral MDs have been identified as erasers of ADP-ribose moieties interpreting them as important players at escaping the early stages of host-immune response. A detailed structural analysis of the apo and bound to ADP-ribose state of the native HEV MD would provide the structural information to understand how HEV MD is implicated in virus-host interplay and how it interacts with its intracellular partner during viral replication. In the present study we present the high yield expression of the native macro domain of HEV and its analysis by solution NMR spectroscopy. The HEV MD is folded in solution and we present a nearly complete backbone and sidechains assignment for apo and bound states. In addition, a secondary structure prediction by TALOS + analysis was performed. The results indicated that HEV MD has a α/β/α topology very similar to that of most viral macro domains.

Previous case series have described the safety and efficacy of different stent models for stent-assisted aneurysm coiling (SAC), but comparative analyses of procedural results are limited. This study investigates the procedural outcome and safety of three different stent models (Atlas™, LEO+™ (Baby) and Enterprise™) in the setting of elective SAC treated at a tertiary neuro-endovascular center. We retrospectively reviewed all consecutively treated patients that received endovascular SAC for intracranial aneurysms between 1 July 2013 and 31 March 2020, excluding all emergency angiographies for acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. The primary procedural outcome was the occlusion rate evaluated with the Raymond–Roy occlusion classification (RROC) assessed on digital subtraction angiography (DSA) at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Safety assessment included periprocedural adverse events (i.e., symptomatic ischemic complications, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, iatrogenic perforation, dissection, or aneurysm rupture and in-stent thrombosis) and in-house mortality. Uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify patient baseline and aneurysm characteristics that were associated with complete aneurysm obliteration at follow-up. A total of 156 patients undergoing endovascular treatment via SAC met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 62 years (IQR, 55–71), and 73.7% (115) of patients were female. At first follow-up (6-month) and last available follow-up (12 and 18 months), complete aneurysm occlusion was observed in 78.3% (90) and 76.9% (102) of patients, respectively. There were no differences regarding the occlusion rates stratified by stent model. Multivariable logistic analysis revealed increasing dome/neck ratio (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.26.; 95% CI, 0.11–0.64; p = 0.003), increasing neck size (aOR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51–0.96; p = 0.027), and female sex (aOR, 4.37; 95% CI, 1.68–11.36; p = 0.002) as independently associated with treatment success. This study showed comparable rates of complete long-term aneurysm obliteration and safety following SAC for intracranial aneurysm with three different stent-models highlighting the procedural feasibility of this treatment strategy with currently available stent-models. Increased neck size and a higher dome/neck ratio were independent variables associated with less frequent complete aneurysm obliteration.

Stroke, a vascular disease of the brain, is the #1 cause of disability and a major cause of death worldwide. Stroke has a major negative impact on the life of stroke-affected individuals, their families and the society. A significant proportion of stroke victims indicate that would have preferred death over their after-stroke quality of life. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT), opening the occluded artery using mechanical aspiration or a thrombus-entrapment device, is a guideline-mandated (class I, level of evidence A) treatment modality in patients with large vessel occlusion stroke. MT clinical benefit magnitude indicates that a universal access to this treatment strategy should be the standard of care. Today there is a substantial geographic variation in MT deliverability, with large-scale disparities in MT implementation. In many countries effective access to MT remains severely limited. In addition, many of the MT-treated patients are treated too late for a good functional outcome because of logistic delays that include transportations to remotely located, scarce, comprehensive stroke centres. Position Paper from the European Society of Cardiology Council on Stroke and European Association for Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions on interdisciplinary management of acute ischaemic stroke, developed with the support of the European Board of Neurointervention fills an important gap in systematically enabling interventional cardiologists to support stroke intervention in the geographic areas of unmet needs in particular. We review strengths and weaknesses of the document, and suggest directions for the next steps that are swiftly needed to deliver MT to stroke patients more effectively.

Alteration of muscle activation sequence is a key mechanism in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Successful cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), which has become standard therapy in these patients, is limited by the lack of precise dyssynchrony quantification. We implemented a computational pipeline that allows assessment of ventricular dyssynchrony by vectorcardiogram reconstruction from the patient’s electrocardiogram. We defined a ventricular dyssynchrony index as the distance between the voltage and speed time integrals of an individual observation and the linear fit of these variables obtained from a healthy population. The pipeline was tested in a 1914-patient population. The dyssynchrony index showed minimum values in heathy controls and maximum values in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) or with a pacemaker (PM). We established a critical dyssynchrony index value that discriminates electrical dyssynchronous patterns (LBBB and PM) from ventricular synchrony. In 10 patients with PM or CRT devices, dyssynchrony indexes above the critical value were associated with high time to peak strain standard deviation, an echocardiographic measure of mechanical dyssynchrony. Our index proves to be a promising tool to evaluate ventricular activation dyssynchrony, potentially enhancing the selection of candidates for CRT, device configuration during implantation, and post-implant optimization.

Numerous natural products and designed molecules have been evaluated as tyrosinase inhibitors that impede enzymes’ oxidation activity. In the present study, new potent natural inhibitors were retrieved from the ZINC database by the similarity-screening of 37 previously reported tyrosinase inhibitors. The screening resulted in 42 candidate inhibitory molecules that were categorized into five groups. Molecular-docking analysis for these compounds, as well as for three others known for their inhibition activity (caffeic acid, naringenin, and gallic acid), was carried out against the tyrosinase structure from Agaricus bisporus (AbTYR). The top-scoring compounds were used for further comparative analysis with their corresponding naturally occurring glycosides. The results suggested that the glycosylated inhibitors could interact better with the enzyme than their aglycon forms. In order to further examine the role of the sugar side group of potent tyrosinase inhibitors, the dynamic behavior of two such pairs of glycosidic/aglycol forms (naringin–naringenin and icariin–icaritin) in their complexes with the enzyme were studied by means of 20-ns MD simulations. The increased number of intermolecular hydrogen bonds and their augmented lifetime between AbTYR and the glycosidic analogues showed that the naringin and icariin molecules form more stable complexes than naringenin and icaritin with tyrosinase, and thus are more potent inhibitors.

Objectives This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of NIHSS extinction and inattention item, compared to the results of the Oxford Cognitive Screen (OCS) heart subtest. Additionally, the possible role of the NIHSS visual field subtest on the NIHSS extinction and inattention subtest performance is explored and discussed. Methods We analysed scores on NIHSS extinction and inattention subtest, NIHSS visual field subtest, and OCS heart subtest on a sample of 118 post-stroke patients. Results Compared to OCS heart subtest, the results on NIHSS extinction and inattention subtest showed an accuracy of 72.9% and a moderate agreement level (Cohen’s kappa = 0.404). Furthermore, a decrease in NIHSS accuracy detecting neglect (61.1%) was observed in patients with pathological scores in NIHSS visual field item. Conclusions Extreme caution is recommended for the diagnostic performance of extinction and inattention item of NIHSS. Signs of neglect may not be detected by NIHSS, and may be confused with visual field impairment. Trial registration This study refers to an observational study protocol submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov with identifier: NCT03968627 . The name of the registry is “Development of a National Protocol for Stroke Rehabilitation in a Multicenter Italian Institution” and the date of the registration is the 30th May 2019.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risks of endovascular therapy, aneurysm regrowth, recanalization and the need for reembolization. A prospective analysis was performed on 211 aneurysms treated endovascularly from February 2000 to December 2003. Of these 211 aneurysms, 81 were asymptomatic and 130 were ruptured. The risks of endovascular therapy, aneurysm regrowth, recanalization and the need for reembolization were evaluated. The mean observation time was 10 months (ranging from 178 to 830 days). Complete occlusion (100%) in the initial intervention was achieved in 171 of 201 aneurysms (85%), 80-95% occlusion in 24 aneurysms (12%), and <80% occlusion in 6 aneurysms (3%). Recanalization had occurred at the first follow-up in 34 of all 153 aneurysms reassessed (22.2%). Of 133 aneurysms with initial 100% occlusion, 107 (80.4%) remained completely occluded, 17 (12.7%) showed recanalization, and 9 (6.7%) showed neck regrowth. Among those with 80-95% occlusion, 20 were reassessed, and of these 2 showed spontaneous occlusion, 10 (50%) still showed the initial neck, and 8 (40%) showed increased recanalization. One aneurysm which initially showed <80% occlusion remained unchanged, and another showed showed recanalization. Of the 153 aneurysms, 12 (7.8%) were recoiled, 2 initially <80% occluded, 7 initially 80-95% occluded and 3 initially totally occluded. In spite of low morbidity and mortality, one in four aneurysms will show recurrence. The initial degree of occlusion seems to have an influence on the likelihood of recanalization.

Introduction There have only been a few studies on cognitive changes in patients with carotid occlusive disease, and the results of these show major discrepancies in the extent to which treatment affects neuropsychological function. We sought to clarify these discrepancies by evaluating the effects of carotid artery stenting (CAS) on the cognitive function. Methods Forty-one asymptomatic CAS patients were administered a test battery of neuropsychological tests measuring cognitive speed and memory function before and 3 months after the procedure. A control group was also evaluated. To test for thromboembolic lesions, diffusion-weighted imaging was used. Results CAS led to a significant increase in cognitive speed ( p  < 0.001) but did not afford any change in memory function. This was regardless of the degree or side of stenosis or patient age or gender. Conclusion CAS significantly improved functions that involve cognitive speed. Earlier studies did not differentiate between speed and memory tests and thus might have missed these changes. Further studies correlating changes in brain perfusion with increase in cognitive speed are needed.

Conventional materials synthesis schemes can be labor and time-intensive, which significantly impedes the pace of new materials discovery and their applications. To achieve innovative solutions to global challenges, such as climate change and an ever-growing sustainable energy demand, a new paradigm of science movement arose in the past five years to adapt traditional materials science workflows to ones with the potential to accelerate the pace of materials discovery. This novel approach to science has been called “Materials Acceleration Platforms” (MAPs) or “Self-driving Laboratories” (SDLs) and it relies on autonomous robotic systems designed to conduct scientific experiments and research with minimal human intervention. However, new initiatives of MAPs are still too costly, and their rigid design limits their implementation. It is also essential to acknowledge and address the diverse needs and challenges of different scientific fields. In this context, open-hardware principles have allowed the use of laboratory automation to be more accessible and more easily implemented for a variety of applications. In this work, workflows with various levels of automation of experimental and computational tasks are presented implementing a combination of off-the-shelf open-source robotic platforms, high-throughput, small scale characterization tools, and custom open-hardware solutions. A semi-automated protocol was designed for the synthesis, physical and electrochemical characterization of novel electrolytes based on deep eutectic solvents and organic redox active molecules for use in electrochemical storage systems. Next, a human-in-the-loop SDL was developed to explore a large design space for the investigation of CdSe nanoparticles’ optical properties at a fraction of the time compared to traditional techniques. This work implements a repurposed multi-tool, open-hardware 3D printer platform, Jubilee, reconfigured for sonochemical processing. Furthermore, data-driven methods were also used to obtain a holistic view of the space and learn trends in the data based on all variables tested. Finally, a new python-based control library for Jubilee is presented, along with the broadening of tool library with new synthesis, processing, and characterization tools. These efforts enabled the creation of closed-loop workflows, such as the benchmarking protocol for SDLs, an autonomous color-mixing problem. These tools hold immense scientific and educational value for both new materials discovery and more interdisciplinary skill development. The increased access through low-costs solution will broaden the application space of this new science paradigm, empowering a larger number of (materials) scientists to take advantage of the precision of automation, and enabling automation tools to be included in hands-on educational curricula.