Cardiac Phenotyping of SARS-CoV-2 in British Columbia: A Prospective Echo Study With Strain Imaging.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data on the residual echocardiographic findings including strain analysis among post-coronavirus disease (COVID) patients. The aim of our study is to prospectively phenotype post-COVID patients. METHODS: All patients discharged following acute COVID infection were systematically followed in the post-COVID-19 Recovery Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital. At 4-18 weeks post diagnosis, patients underwent comprehensive echocardiographic assessment. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was assessed by 3D, 2D Biplane Simpson's, or visual estimate. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) was measured using a vendor-independent 2D speckle-tracking software (TomTec). RESULTS: A total of 127 patients (53% female, mean age 58 years) were included in our analyses. At baseline, cardiac conditions were present in 58% of the patients (15% coronary artery disease, 4% heart failure, 44% hypertension, 10% atrial fibrillation) while the remainder were free of cardiac conditions. COVID-19 serious complications were present in 79% of the patients (76% pneumonia, 37% intensive care unit admission, 21% intubation, 1% myocarditis). Normal LVEF was seen in 96% of the cohort and 97% had normal right ventricular systolic function. A high proportion (53%) had abnormal LV GLS defined as < 18%. Average LV GLS of septal and inferior segments were lower compared to that of other segments. Among patients without pre-existing cardiac conditions, LVEF was abnormal in only 1.9%, but LV GLS was abnormal in 46% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Most post-COVID patients had normal LVEF at 4-18 weeks post diagnosis, but over half had abnormal LV GLS.

The use of the SPT-based seismic soil liquefaction triggering evaluation methodology in engineering hazard assessments.

Probabilistic and deterministic seismic soil liquefaction triggering methodologies are proposed in Cetin et al. [1]. This manuscript: i) presents the protocols, which need to be followed for the correct use of this methodology for forward engineering (design) assessments, ii) guides the engineers through the procedure, and iii) discusses the "tricks" alongside the protocol. An illustrative soil profile shaken by a scenario earthquake is presented, through which consistent estimations of representative SPT blow-counts along with fines content are discussed. Additionally, the estimation of CSR input parameters are illustrated. Last but not least the uncertainty estimations of these input parameters are presented along with the probability and factory of safety for the assessment of liquefaction triggering. •A simplified methodology and its use to assess liquefaction triggering hazard of a soil site under an earthquake scenario event.•The consistent and unbiased mean estimates of input parameters of SPT blow-counts( N 1,60 ), fines content ( F C ), vertical effective ( σ ' v ) and total ( σ v ) stresses, maximum ground acceleration ( a m a x ), stress reduction (or non-linear shear mass participation) factor ( r d ) and moment magnitude ( M w ) along with their uncertainties are discussed.•Outlined methodology enables engineers to estimate the probability of- and factor of safety against- seismic soil liquefaction triggering for design problems.

Dataset on SPT-based seismic soil liquefaction.

This data article provides a summary of seismic soil liquefaction triggering and non-triggering case histories, which were compiled, screened for data completeness and quality, and then processed for the development of triggering relationships proposed in "SPT-based probabilistic and deterministic assessment of seismic soil liquefaction triggering hazard" [1]. The database is composed of 113 liquefaction, 95 non-liquefaction, and 2 marginal liquefaction case histories, from seismic events with moment magnitude Mw values varying in the range of 5.9 to 8.3. A spreadsheet summary of these case histories are included along with a separate spreadsheet, by which maximum likelihood assessment was performed. These data transparently enable researchers to access case history input parameters and processing details, and to compare the case history processing protocols with the ones of different researchers (e.g.: "The influence of SPT procedures in soil liquefaction resistance evaluations." [2], "SPT-based liquefaction triggering procedures." [3]).