Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developing real‐world evidence from real‐world data: Transforming raw data into analytical datasets

Development of evidence‐based practice requires practice‐based evidence, which can be acquired through analysis of real‐world data from electronic health records (EHRs). The EHR contains volumes of information about patients—physical measurements, diagnoses, exposures, and markers of health behavior—that can be used to create algorithms for risk stratification or to gain insight into associations between exposures, interventions, and outcomes. But to transform real‐world data into reliable real‐world evidence, one must not only choose the correct analytical methods but also have an understanding of the quality, detail, provenance, and organization of the underlying source data and address the differences in these characteristics across sites when conducting analyses that span institutions. This manuscript explores the idiosyncrasies inherent in the capture, formatting, and standardization of EHR data and discusses the clinical domain and informatics competencies required to transform the raw clinical, real‐world data into high‐quality, fit‐for‐purpose analytical data sets used to generate real‐world evidence.
Adolescent Mental Health Disorders and Upper Secondary School Completion – The Role of Family Resources

ABSTRACT This article investigates the role of socioeconomic family resources in modifying the relationships with upper secondary school completion (SSC) for three mental health dimensions, i.e., externalizing, internalizing and substance use disorders. Using data from administrative registers, we follow a cohort in Norway born in 1996 into early adulthood. We find that having a mental health disorder in adolescence was associated with 12–17 percentage points lower SSC rate after adjustment for demographic and household factors, comorbidity and educational performance. In girls, high family income attenuated the negative relationships between all three mental health dimensions and SSC, while in boys, this was true only for substance use disorders. The paper concludes that access to family socioeconomic resources “buffers” the negative impact of mental health disorders on SSC, but less so in boys, contributing to aggravate social and health-related inequalities in SSC.
Prognostic significance of epicardial adipose tissue in heart failure with preserved and reduced ejection fraction

Increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness correlates with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, microvascular dysfunction and enhanced pericardial restraint. We measured echocardiographic EAT thickness in heart failure (HF) patients with reduced (HFrEF) or preserved (HFpEF) ejection fraction to determine whether EAT could bear prognostic significance at clinical follow-up. We prospectively enrolled 393 consecutive HF outpatients (205 HFrEF, 188 HFpEF) referred to our hospital due to dyspnoea and/or effort intolerance. We performed a resting clinical and biohumoral evaluation, followed by combined cardiopulmonary-echocardiography exercise stress. A composite of cardiovascular death and HF-related hospitalization was chosen as endpoint during follow-up. Patients with HFpEF displayed higher EAT thickness (median 8 mm, interquartile range [IQR] 4–12 mm) than HFrEF (median 3 mm, IQR 2–6 mm; p<0.0001). During a median follow-up of 20.9 months (IQR 15–25 months), we reported 34 cardiovascular deaths and 146 HF hospitalizations, with no significant differences between the two HF subsets. EAT predicted adverse events independently from body mass index and well-established markers of poor prognosis (e.g., NT-proBNP, peak oxygen consumption). The risk of adverse events increased with increasing EAT thickness in HFpEF and with EAT thinning in HFrEF. Kaplan-Meier analyses for the composite endpoint showed that in HFpEF, the survival probability was significantly lower in patients with thicker EAT than those with thinner EAT. In HFrEF, conversely, patients with thicker EAT had a higher survival probability than those with reduced EAT thickness (Figure 1). EAT accumulation is more marked in HFpEF than HFrEF and carries different prognostic meanings in the two subsets. In HFpEF, EAT thickening portends adverse outcome, which may be due to increased mechanical restraint and secretion of pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic adipokines. In HFrEF, greater EAT thickness seems to have a protective role, while EAT thinning is associated with a worse prognosis, likely reflecting a catabolic state (i.e. cardiac cachexia). Larger studies will clarify whether EAT is a bystander or an active player in the different HF phenotypes. Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1
Mobile wallets: achieving intention to recommend by brick and mortar retailers

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to examine antecedents as well as consequences of mobile wallet usage for achieving the ultimate consequence of “intention to recommend to use” by brick and mortar retailers. The model incorporates attitude and subjective norms leading to perceived usefulness and usage intention for mobile wallets. It also reveals perceived cost having a negative impact and perceived trust having a positive impact on usage intention toward mobile wallets. The study was conducted on small brick and mortar retailers. Statistical techniques such as reliability, validity and mediation analyses were conducted to test the hypothesized model, using SPSS Macro Process Hayes. Results indicate a positive impact of intention to use on user’s tendency to recommend mobile wallets. This study provides valuable insights and a strategic direction for mobile wallet service providers and also government regulators, to prepare a holistic framework to enhance adoption and usage of the wallets among retailers and traders. This is a relatively under explored demographic with reference to mobile wallets. It explains, in totality, various facets of behavior of retailers, with reference to mobile wallets. A unique contribution of this research to the extant literature on mobile wallet adoption and usage is that it is based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and extends TRA by adding “intention to recommend” as a logical consequence of “usage intention” for mobile wallets.
Optimized Operation of the Full-Bridge Five-Branch Modular Multilevel Converter for Power Quality Enhancement of Cophase Railway Power System

This article investigates the recently proposed full-bridge five-branch modular multilevel converter (FB5B-MMC) for power quality enhancement of cophase railway power system (RPS) with high-level penetration of nonlinear inductive traction loads. Since the circuit topology of the FB5B-MMC is asymmetric with respect to its two ports, two different system configurations exist when connecting the FB5B-MMC into the cophase RPS. First, an optimized system configuration and the corresponding power quality compensation scheme are proposed. The optimized operation scheme features uniform distribution of branch current stresses among the FB5B-MMC’s two phase-units and lower total branch capacity requirement, which are beneficial for branch power loss reduction and better rating utilization of semiconductor devices for cost-saving. Since the traction loads are time-varying and highly distorted, repetitive controllers are applied to further enhance the harmonic compensation performance with efficient parameter tuning and robustness. The proposed optimized operation scheme and the repetitive control strategy are validated by simulations and experiments.
Snapin Specifically Up-Regulates Cav1.3 Ca2+ Channel Variant with a Long Carboxyl Terminus

Ca2+ entry through Cav1.3 Ca2+ channels plays essential roles in diverse physiological events. We employed yeast-two-hybrid (Y2H) assays to mine novel proteins interacting with Cav1.3 and found Snapin2, a synaptic protein, as a partner interacting with the long carboxyl terminus (CTL) of rat Cav1.3L variant. Co-expression of Snapin with Cav1.3L/Cavβ3/α2δ2 subunits increased the peak current density or amplitude by about 2-fold in HEK-293 cells and Xenopus oocytes, without affecting voltage-dependent gating properties and calcium-dependent inactivation. However, the Snapin up-regulation effect was not found for rat Cav1.3S containing a short CT (CTS) in which a Snapin interaction site in the CTL was deficient. Luminometry and electrophysiology studies uncovered that Snapin co-expression did not alter the membrane expression of HA tagged Cav1.3L but increased the slope of tail current amplitudes plotted against ON-gating currents, indicating that Snapin increases the opening probability of Cav1.3L. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that Snapin directly interacts with the CTL of Cav1.3L, leading to up-regulation of Cav1.3L channel activity via facilitating channel opening probability.
Religion and Populism in the Global South: Islamist Civilisationism of Pakistan’s Imran Khan

The fusion of religion and populism has paved the way for civilisationism. However, this significant issue is still unresearched. This paper attempts to address this gap by investigating the Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Islamist populism and civilisationism as an empirical case study. While Islamism has been explored in the context of Pakistan, this paper goes beyond and investigates the amalgamation of Islamist ideals with populism. Using discourse analysis, the paper traces the horizontal and vertical dimensions of Imran Khan’s religious populism. The paper provides an understanding of how “the people”, “the elite”, and “the others” are defined at present in Pakistan from an antagonistic and anti-Western civilisationist perspective. The paper finds that “New Pakistan” is indeed a “homeland” or an idolized society defined by Islamist civilisationism to which extreme emotions, sentimentality and victimhood are attached.
Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture by Communal Livestock Farmers in South Africa

The importance of adopting modern technology in agriculture, especially in a changing climate, cannot be underestimated in Africa. The aim of this review was to highlight the past and the status quo with regard to the adoption of current farming practices in relation to climate-smart agriculture (CSA) by communal livestock farmers in South Africa. The impact of animal agriculture on climate change was also deliberated. Different internet search engines and databases, like Google Scholar, EBSCO Host, Science Direct, etc., and peer-reviewed articles, books, and government and academic reports were employed to provide information to adequately address the aim. Keywords like “the impact of climate smart agriculture on communal livestock farmers”, “communal livestock in South Africa”, “communal farming and technology adoption”, etc. were used for the search. Various issues pertaining to the impact of animal agriculture on climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and implementing CSA in livestock farming were extensively discussed. The findings indicated that there is limited research on the adoption of CSA by communal livestock farmers in South Africa. The review concluded that strategies to adopt modern technology in communal areas should address the issues to enhance knowledge of farmers and all stakeholders, through increasing awareness, trainings, and skills programs. The government should build local capacity in innovative and affordable water and agricultural solutions, and reliable financial mechanisms should be in place to implement innovative sound technologies in communal areas.
Algorithmic control and gig workers: a legitimacy perspective of Uber drivers

ABSTRACT Organisations increasingly rely on algorithms to exert automated managerial control over workers, referred to as algorithmic control (AC). The use of AC is already commonplace with platform-based work in the gig economy, where independent workers are paid for completing a given task (or “gig”). The combination of independent work alongside intensive managerial monitoring and guidance via AC raises questions about how gig workers perceive AC practices and judge their legitimacy, which could help explain critical worker behaviours such as turnover and non-compliance. Based on a three-dimensional conceptualisation of micro-level legitimacy tailored to the gig work context (autonomy, fairness, and privacy), we develop a research model that links workers’ perceptions of two predominant forms of AC (gatekeeping and guiding) to their legitimacy judgements and behavioural reactions. Using survey data from 621 Uber drivers, we find empirical support for the central role of micro-level legitimacy judgements in mediating the relationships between gig workers’ perceptions of different AC forms and their continuance intention and workaround use. Contrasting prior work, our study results show that workers do not perceive AC as a universally “bad thing” and that guiding AC is in fact positively related to micro-level legitimacy judgements. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Impact of Residual Stress on a Polysilicon Channel in Scaled 3D NAND Flash Memory

The effects of residual stress in a tungsten gate on a polysilicon channel in scaled 3D NAND flash memories were investigated using a technology computer-aided design simulation. The NAND strings with respect to the distance from the tungsten slit were also analyzed. The scaling of the spacer thickness and hole diameter induced compressive stress on the polysilicon channel. Moreover, the residual stress of polysilicon in the string near the tungsten slit had greater compressive stress than the string farther away. The increase in compressive stress in the polysilicon channel degraded the Bit-Line current (Ion) because of stress-induced electron mobility deterioration. Moreover, a threshold voltage shift (△Vth) occurred in the negative direction because of conduction band lowering.
Spatial Patterns and Multilevel Analysis of Factors Associated with Antenatal Care Visits in Nigeria: Insight from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey

Despite global progress towards antenatal care (ANC) uptake, ANC utilization in a number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa, such as Nigeria, is low. Although several studies have identified the determinants and factors associated with ANC services utilization in Nigeria, there is a gap in knowledge about the spatial patterns in ANC use. Therefore, this study aims to map the spatial distribution and factors associated with ANC visits in Nigeria. A cross-sectional dataset was obtained from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. A total of 20,003 women aged 15–49 were considered in this study. Both spatial and multilevel analyses were carried out. The results were presented in spatial maps and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) at a 95% confidence interval (CI). Hot spot areas (high proportion of an incomplete ANC visit) were located in Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Niger, Borno, Gombe, and Bayelsa. Regional disparities in incomplete ANC visits were found in this study. Maternal age, maternal education, partner’s level of education, working status, ethnicity, parity, religion, exposure to media, place of residence, wealth index, region, and community literacy level were factors associated with incomplete ANC. There is a need to consider these factors in the design and strengthening of existing interventions (e.g., mini-clinics) aimed at increasing ANC visits to help attain maternal health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The regional disparities in incomplete ANC visits also need to be considered by encouraging pregnant women in hotspot areas to attend ANC visits.
Kinetics of Neutralizing Antibody Response Underscores Clinical COVID-19 Progression

Background Neutralizing antibody (nAb) response is generated following infection or immunization and plays an important role in the protection against a broad of viral infections. The role of nAb during clinical progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains little known. Methods 123 COVID-19 patients during hospitalization in Tongji Hospital were involved in this retrospective study. The patients were grouped based on the severity and outcome. The nAb responses of 194 serum samples were collected from these patients within an investigation period of 60 days after the onset of symptoms and detected by a pseudotyped virus neutralization assay. The detail data about onset time, disease severity and laboratory biomarkers, treatment, and clinical outcome of these participants were obtained from electronic medical records. The relationship of longitudinal nAb changes with each clinical data was further assessed. Results The nAb response in COVID-19 patients evidently experienced three consecutive stages, namely, rising, stationary, and declining periods. Patients with different severity and outcome showed differential dynamics of the nAb response over the course of disease. During the stationary phase (from 20 to 40 days after symptoms onset), all patients evolved nAb responses. In particular, high levels of nAb were elicited in severe and critical patients and older patients (≥60 years old). More importantly, critical but deceased COVID-19 patients showed high levels of several proinflammation cytokines, such as IL-2R, IL-8, and IL-6, and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in vivo, which resulted in lymphopenia, multiple organ failure, and the rapidly decreased nAb response. Conclusion Our results indicate that nAb plays a crucial role in preventing the progression and deterioration of COVID-19, which has important implications for improving clinical management and developing effective interventions.
Characterization of Nitro-Aromatic Compounds
of Ethylbenzene Secondary Organic Aerosol
with Acidic Sodium Nitrate Fine Particles

Acidic sodium nitrate (NaNO3) is the fine particles commonly found in urban atmosphere, which is beneficial to the formation of nitro-aromatic compounds (NACs). The NACs and optics of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) generated from the photo-oxidation of ethylbenzene with acid NaNO3 fine particles were characterized in the current study. The results demonstrated that acidic NaNO3 can significantly promote the formation of SOA. Compared with the carbonyls detected in SOA without fine particles, nitrophenols, nitrocatechols and their derivatives are measured as the major components of SOA with acid NaNO3. The N=O chromosphore in NACs enhanced the light absorption capacity of SOA. The mass absorption coefficient averaged over 200-600 nm (<MAC>) of SOA gradually increased with the increasing of acidic NaNO3. While, the <MAC> of SOA with 100 μg/m 3 acidic NaNO3 was comparable to that of biomass burning organic aerosols. These would provide the experimental basis for studying the formation and optics of anthropogenic NACs in the background of high concentration of acid NaNO3 fine particles.
Pinus

Ecological data and anatomical leaf characters of Pinus chiapensis, a threatened species, have been recorded in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Phytogeographical evidence suggests that the present distribution of the species is relictual. Although this species inhabits areas of high moisture and rainfall , the leaves are xeromorphic (sunken stomata, thick cuticle and subepidermic sclerenchyma). These resul ts support the hypothesis of a palaeoclimatic adaptation. INTRODUCCIÓN Pinus chiapensis (Martínez) Andresen, taxonómicamente ubicado hasta 1964 como Pinus strobus var. chiapensis Martínez, es un árbol nativo de Guatemala y México. En este último país, es más abundante en los estados de Oaxaca y Chiapas, aunque también se encuentra en manchones aislados en los estados de Guerrero, Puebla y Veracruz (Perry, 1991; Farjon & Styles, 1997). Se encuentra en las laderas bajas de las montañas y cañones aislados, en general entre los 1,200 y los 1,800 m de altitud (Rzedowski y Vela, 1966), predominantemente en suelos ácidos (pH 4.5 – 5.5), bien drenados y de una profundidad mayor a 1 m (Donahue et al., l99l). En el estado de Oaxaca, Pinus chiapensis se distribuye tanto en la vertiente del Pacífico como en la del Golfo de México, en un amplio intervalo altitudinal, en climas tropicales y subtropicales y condiciones geológicas y edafológicas muy diversas. En este estado se encuentran los extremos altitudinales máximo y mínimo de su distribución: 250 m en la región de Los Chimalapas y 2,300 m en la Sierra Madre del Sur (Del Castillo et al., 1995).
ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SYZYGIUM AROMATIUM AND CINNAMOMUM VERUM SEED EXTRACTS

The present study was carried out for the evaluation of antioxidant activities of clover (Syzygium aromatium L.) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum L.). The research work was carried out at the Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Lahore. The samples of clovers and cinnamon were collected from Lahore and were crushed to prepared sample in n-hexan, and ethanol extracts for evaluation of antioxidant activities. The highest antioxidant activities of ethanol extract from cinnamon indicated that the cinnamon may be used as an active ingredient to control stress conditions of cells for stress avoidance. The alkaloids, coumarins, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, sterols, quinons, triterpenoids, anthocyans, leucoanthocyans and terpenoids were tested for both ethanol and n-hexan extracts which indicated that most of the components were found present in both of the plant species, which revealed that these herbal plant seeds may be used as potential medicinal plants.
Scaling Laws for Mixed‐Heated Stagnant‐Lid Convection and Application to Europa

Because rocks and ices viscosities strongly depend on temperature, planetary mantles and ice shells are often thought to be animated by stagnant‐lid convection. Their dynamics is further impacted by the release of internal heat, either through radioactive isotopes decay or tidal dissipation. Here, we quantify the impact of internal heating on stagnant‐lid convection. We perform numerical simulations of convection combining strongly temperature‐dependent viscosity and mixed (basal and internal) heating in 3D‐Cartesian and spherical geometries, and use these simulations to build scaling laws relating surface heat flux, Φsurf, interior temperature, Tm, and stagnant lid thickness, dlid, to the Rayleigh number, heating rate, H, and top‐to‐bottom viscosity ratio, Δη. These relationships show that Tm increases with H but decreases with Δη, while Φsurf increases with H and Δη. Importantly, they also describe heterogeneously heated systems well, provided that the maximum dissipation occurs in hottest regions. For H larger than a value Hcrit, the bottom heat flux turns negative and the system cools down both at its top and bottom. Two additional interesting results are that (a) while the rigid lid stiffens (its mobility decreases) with increasing H, it also thins; and (b) Hcrit increases with increasing Δη. We then use our scaling laws to assess the impact of tidal heating on Europa's ice shell properties and evolution. Our calculations suggest a shell thickness in the range 20–80 km, depending on viscosity and dissipated power, and show that internal heating has a stronger influence than the presence of impurities in the sub‐surface ocean.