Clinical utility of left atrial strain in predicting atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation: An up-to-date review

Rhythm control is the core part of the integrated management of atrial fibrillation(AF),especially in the early stages.Despite advances in catheter ablation(CA),the recurrence rate of AF after CA remains high.As a result,stratification and early management of AF recurrence after CA are critical.Currently,predictors of recurrence of AF after CA are mostly based on dysfunction caused by structural remodeling,apart from traditional risk factors.Atrial strain is a recently developed important parameter for detecting the deformability of atrial myocardium during the cardiac cycle prior to atrial remodeling.Although there is only preliminary evidence,atrial strain is still a promising parameter in predicting the recurrence of AF after CA at an early stage.This review focuses on the evaluation of atrial strain,the current applications of atrial strain in assessing atrial function,and predicting the recurrence of AF after CA.We summarize the contents related as follows:(1)CA for rhythm control in AF;(2)Evaluation methods of atrial strain;(3)Atrial strain in the remodeling and reverse remodeling of AF;and(4)Clinical applications of atrial strain in predicting the recurrence of AF after CA.Although there is accumulating evidence on the role of decreased atrial strain in the early prediction of AF recurrence,atrial strain is limited in clinical practice for lacking exact cut-off values and difficulty in distinguishing specific function phases of the atrium.More research is needed in the future to add strength to the early prediction value of atrial strain in AF recurrences.

National water use of coal-fired power generation:Hybrid life cycle assessment in China

Previous studies of water use for coal-fired power generation may have overlooked inter-sectoral impacts in the supply chain.Indeed,to devise effective water conservation strategies during the ongoing energy transition,it is of utmost importance to analyze the sectoral water use structures and flows in the supply chain and identify the sources of water scarcity.Therefore,based on the power sector-split environmentally extended input-output(EEIO)model and the life cycle assessment(LCA)idea,we comprehensively analyze the nexus between coal-fired power generation and water use from a sectoral perspective.Our findings reveal a complex and diverse water use structure in coal-fired power generation.The technology of production inherently determines the high intensity of water withdrawal,and the close intersectoral linkages,particularly with agriculture,construction,and some industrial sectors,in the production process result in an intricate web of indirect water withdrawal and blue water footprint(WF).Moreover,the grey WF,primarily sourced from coal mining and indirectly tied to tertiary industries,underscores critical areas for attention in water pollution management.Finally,water use in the coal-fired power sector is projected to remain at elevated levels in the short to medium term under various transition strategies.Following an in-depth exploration of the coal-fired power-water use nexus,the findings can offer new perspectives and specific entry points for sustainable energy development and water resource management.