Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonality in secular changes and interannual variability of European air temperature during the twentieth century

[1] A gridded terrestrial monthly surface air temperature (AT) data set for 1901–2000 from the Climatic Research Unit (CRU), University of East Anglia, is used to investigate seasonality in the long-term AT variability over Europe. Prominent seasonal differences are detected in all considered characteristics of AT variability. Significant warming trends over western and southern Europe are found during summer and fall. In winter, the largest positive trends are observed mostly in southern Europe, whereas during spring, they are detected over Scandinavia and northeastern European Russia. The spatial-seasonal differentiation of warming trends implies that, in different parts of Europe, different seasons play the role as major contributor to the warming trend. The first empirical orthogonal functions (EOF) modes of winter, spring, and fall AT over Europe are associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and explain about 50% of AT variability. For the summer season, the second EOF mode (explaining only 15% of AT variance) might be associated with the summer NAO but has a very different (compared to other seasons) spatial pattern and principal components. The second EOF mode of the winter AT might be linked to the East Atlantic/West Russia (EAWR) teleconnection pattern. Analysis of running correlations between the principal components of the leading EOF modes of AT and the NAO index has revealed nonstationarity of the links between European AT and the NAO and evident seasonality in their long-term changes. Subsequent singular value decomposition analysis performed for the climatic periods of strong/weak links to the NAO revealed considerable interdecadal changes both in the strength and the structure of the links between European AT and regional atmospheric circulation.
VALIDITY OF STRIDE LENGTH ESTIMATES OBTAINED FROM OPTOJUMP

The purpose of the present study was to ascertain the validity of stride length estimates obtained from OptoJump (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy) using displacement data derived from three-dimensional videography as criterion. One subject repeatedly ran through a 4 m section of OptoJump to obtain real-time stride length estimates. Corresponding criterion stride length estimates were also obtained from the displacement data derived from video. 95% limits of agreement were applied to the 56 pairs of measurements revealing an error interval of 4.2 ± 23.1 mm. We concluded that stride length estimates obtained from OptoJump lacked sufficient validity for use in motor control studies. However, the capability of this system to acquire other relevant data in real-time, provides sufficient scope to suggest pursuing the development of this system.
Sm-Nd data for granitoids across the Namaqua sector of the Namaqua-Natal Province, South Africa

Abstract Sm–Nd data for rocks of granitic composition in an east–west traverse across the Namaqua Sector of the Mesoproterozoic c. 1.2 Ga Namaqua–Natal Province of southern Africa provide new evidence about the timing of crustal extraction from the mantle. Recent ion probe zircon dating has shown that, contrary to previous indications that pre-Namaqua basement had been preserved in parts of the Namaqua Sector, the majority of the magmatic rocks were emplaced during the 1.4–1.0 Ga Namaqua tectogenesis and very little U–Pb evidence of older precursors remains. Sm–Nd model ages show that Mesoproterozoic crustal extraction did occur, but was also strong in the Palaeoproterozoic, with local evidence for the existence of Archaean crust. The distribution of model ages generally corresponds with the established terranes, subdivided using lithostratigraphic and structural criteria. The northern part of the Bushmanland Terrane shows early Palaeoproterozoic to Archaean model ages and is clearly different from the southern part, which has Mesoproterozoic model ages. This supports the previously published results of a north–south traverse and justifies the separation of the Garies Terrane from the Bushmanland Terrane, though further subdivisions are not supported. The continuation of the Richtersveld Province east of Pofadder is supported by one sample, and the terrane boundary between the Bushmanland and Kakamas terranes is marked by an abrupt change from Palaeoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic model ages. Model ages for the Kakamas and Areachap terranes do not distinguish them well. They suggest a Mesoproterozoic to late Palaeoproterozoic origin for both terranes, neither of which has a purely juvenile character. The influence of Palaeoproterozoic crust-forming events is clear in the Kaaien Terrane to the east, possibly reflecting reworking of the Kaapvaal Craton. The Namaqua Sector of the Province thus has a history of crustal extraction and evolution which reaches back locally to the Archaean, with major Palaeoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic crust-forming events. This differs from the Natal Sector, which has a largely juvenile character related to a Mesoproterozoic Wilson cycle. Attempts to reconstruct the Mesoproterozoic Supercontinent Rodinia will have to take into account the extensive Nd-isotopic evidence for older crustal events in the Namaqua sector.
Integrin-linked kinase expression in myeloid cells promotes colon tumorigenesis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide and treatment options for advanced CRC, which has a low 5-year survival rate, remain limited. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK), a multifunctional, scaffolding, pseudo-kinase regulating many integrin-mediated cellular processes, is highly expressed in many cancers. However, the role of ILK in cancer progression is yet to be fully understood. We have previously uncovered a pro-inflammatory role for myeloid-specific ILK in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. To establish a correlation between chronic intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer (CRC), we investigated the role of myeloid-ILK in mouse models of CRC. When myeloid-ILK deficient mice along with the WT control mice were subjected to colitis-associated and APCmin/+-driven CRC, tumour burden was reduced by myeloid-ILK deficiency in both models. The tumour-promoting phenotype of macrophages, M2 polarization, in vitro was impaired by the ILK deficiency and the number of M2-specific marker CD206-expressing tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) in vivo were significantly diminished in myeloid-ILK deficient mice. Myeloid-ILK deficient mice showed enhanced tumour infiltration of CD8+ T cells and reduced tumour infiltration of FOXP3+ T cells in colitis-associated and APCmin/+-driven CRC, respectively, with an overall elevated CD8+/FOXP3+ ratio suggesting an anti-tumour immune phenotypes. In patient CRC tissue microarrays we observed elevated ILK+ myeloid (ILK+ CD11b+) cells in tumour sections compared to adjacent normal tissues, suggesting a conserved role for myeloid-ILK in CRC development in both human and animal models. This study identifies myeloid-specific ILK expression as novel driver of CRC, which could be targeted as a potential therapeutic option for advanced disease.
Do Social Isolation and Loneliness Affect Healthcare Spending and Utilization in Japan?

Social isolation and loneliness are associated with worse health outcomes, and there is a growing literature that studies the economic cost of these conditions in terms of increased healthcare spending and utilization. However, a handful of existing studies mostly focus on Western countries. This article analyses the issue in the case of Japan using the Japanese Study of Aging and Retirement (JSTAR) dataset with the help of generalized linear and probit models. The results show that social isolation is associated with reduced healthcare spending, while loneliness does not have any statistically significant effect. Neither social isolation (living alone) nor loneliness has a statistically significant effect on healthcare utilization; that is, these measures are not associated with increased or decreased inpatient or outpatient visits. Therefore, care should be taken when launching social programs to tackle social isolation and loneliness to reduce healthcare spending and utilization because these two conditions might not be associated with increased healthcare spending universally.
Central Nervous System Neuromodulation Techniques for Management of Phantom Limb Pain: A Review of Clinical Trials

: Phantom limb pain (PLP) presents complex challenges in treatment, lacking standardized clinical approaches, and understanding its mechanisms remains elusive. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS), specifically transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), seems promising in treating chronic pain, including PLP. These modalities can modulate neural activity, offering potential benefits by acting on interconnected neural networks beyond the stimulation site. Studies from Jan 1, 2003, to 2021 were reviewed on PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Web of Science using the keywords PLP, neuromodulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, pain management, and their combinations. The language was limited to English. A single-session treatment has the potential to change the intensity of PLP for several hours. On the other hand, a multi-session treatment approach can decrease both the intensity and frequency of PLP for an extended period of several months. Additional research with a greater sample size and extended follow-up periods is necessary to determine the precedence of utilizing tDCS, rTMS and the potential for integration with other treatments for individuals with amputation experiencing PLP.
Improving adult behavioural weight management services for diverse UK Black Caribbean and Black African ethnic groups: a qualitative study of insights from potential service users and service providers

Background A significantly higher proportion of UK Black ethnic adults live with overweight or obesity, compared to their White British counterparts. The role of obesity in excess infection rates and mortality from COVID-19 has increased the need to understand if weight management interventions are appropriate and effective for Black ethnic groups. There is a paucity of existing research on weight management services in Black populations, and whether anticipated or experienced institutional and interpersonal racism in the healthcare and more widely affects engagement in these services. Understanding the lived experience of target populations and views of service providers delivering programmes is essential for timely service improvement. Methods A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted in June–October 2021 among 18 Black African and Black Caribbean men and women interested in losing weight and 10 weight management service providers. Results The results highlighted a positive view of life in the United Kingdom (UK), whether born in the UK or born abroad, but one which was marred by racism. Weight gain was attributed by participants to unhealthy behaviours and the environment, with improving appearance and preventing ill health key motivators for weight loss. Participants relied on self-help to address their overweight, with the role of primary care in weight management contested as a source of support. Anticipated or previously experienced racism in the health care system and more widely, accounted for some of the lack of engagement with services. Participants and service providers agreed on the lack of relevance of existing services to Black populations, including limited culturally tailored resources. Community based, ethnically matched, and flexibly delivered weight management services were suggested as ideal, and could form the basis of a set of recommendations for research and practice. Conclusion Cultural tailoring of existing services and new programmes, and cultural competency training are needed. These actions are required within systemic changes, such as interventions to address discrimination. Our qualitative insights form the basis for advancing further work and research to improve existing services to address the weight-related inequality faced by UK Black ethnic groups.
Underutilisation of Labour: Underemployment and Skills-Mismatch in Turkey

This paper aims to reveal the extent and characteristics of under and inadequate forms of employment in Turkey. Our descriptive analysis using the Household Labour Force Surveys of 2014-2021 shows that despite not being unemployed, many people do not work in their full capacity or cannot enter the workforce, although they are willing to do so. In addition, the size of these groups varies due to age, sex and education level. To better understand the demographic and socioeconomic determinants of skill-related underemployment, the incidence and evolution of education-occupation mismatch are investigated using the Income and Living Conditions Survey (SILC) of 2016-2021. The results of the multinomial logit models using SILC-2021 indicate that age and education effects are similar for both sexes, but marital status, number of kids and household size have diverging effects for men and women. Moreover, the effects of household income, excluding the respondents’ income, social transfers and social security registration in the household confirm the reservation income hypothesis.
Promoting Antibiotic Stewardship and Implementation of Sepsis Pathway in the Emergency Department: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Introduction Sepsis is a preventable cause of mortality and presents challenges in triage and management. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign care bundles improve patient outcomes; however, non-compliance with guidelines, understaffing, and scarcity of training opportunities undermine care quality in resource-limited countries. We aimed to implement the sepsis hour-1 care bundle in the emergency department of a tertiary-care hospital in Pakistan and develop hospital antimicrobial guidelines. Methods The baseline assessment included a survey of knowledge and confidence in sepsis management and a retrospective audit of inpatient medical records. The inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years with a systemic inflammatory response score ≥ 2 or a National Early Warning Score ≥ 3. Improvement strategies included (a) educational intervention, (b) adult sepsis screening tool and sepsis 1-hour bundle checklist, and (c) recommendations for empirical antibiotics. These were implemented and assessed via Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles: (a) multi-tiered educational campaigns, (b) implementation of hospital protocols/guidelines, and (c) antimicrobial policy and sustainability. The process measures were hour-1 bundle components and the outcome measures were in-hospital mortality, ICU admission, length of hospital stay, and ICU stay. Results The baseline survey revealed that the majority of participants had formal training and felt confident in managing septic patients but none of the respondents had used a sepsis scoring system, and only 29.4% had used an hour-1 bundle previously. There was a sustained improvement in bundle compliance from 0% at baseline to 57.7% at PDSA-3. Inappreciable variation (p > 0.05) was reflected in the length of hospital and ICU stay and in-hospital mortality, whereas ICU admission decreased insignificantly (p > 0.05). The antimicrobial therapy practice, as per the guidelines, increased remarkably (p < 0.05). Conclusion Regular training and feedback are pivotal for practice change, yet integrating structured screening tools and bundled checklists into current workflows can significantly improve compliance.
Constant Water Content Compression Tests on Unsaturated Compacted Soil with Suction Measurement Using a HCT

Abstract Soil compaction is a process used in different engineering works; from the most complex to the simplest, the quality of soil compaction indiscriminately affects the final condition of the compacted soil in terms of engineering projects. Moreover, aspects such as time of construction and cost are extremely important in works that require compacted soils, particularly because of the climate in tropical regions. In these regions, the abundance of residual soils makes this material a preferential candidate for use in engineering projects. Considering that most compacted soils will remain in an unsaturated condition, it is extremely important to study and to characterize these materials, not only in the saturated condition, but also in an unsaturated state. Within this context, this study analyzes the shear strength behavior of a compacted residual soil of gneiss, collected in two sampling campaigns from an area located at the experimental site of the University of Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The .
Stepwise Treatment for TAFRO Syndrome

TAFRO syndrome, a rapidly progressive and fatal disease, is rare, and its etiology remains unknown. It is characterized by thrombocytopenia, anasarca (edema, pleural effusion, and ascites), fever, reticulin fibrosis (or renal insufficiency), and organomegaly with Castleman disease (CD)-like histological features in the lymph nodes. CD is a rare, indolent, lymphoproliferative disorder with no established curative strategies. Most idiopathic multicentric CD cases are controlled with anti-interleukin (IL)-6 therapy (tocilizumab and siltuximab) and/or rituximab. However, it is unclear whether these therapies can be directly applied to treat TAFRO syndrome. Here, we describe stepwise immunotherapy (rituximab induction therapy and cyclosporine maintenance therapy) for two cases of steroid-refractory TAFRO syndrome. A 32-year-old man visited a local hospital with sudden onset of fever and epigastralgia. The diagnosis of TAFRO syndrome was established based on the diagnostic criteria. After rituximab administration, C-reactive protein and IL-6 levels were normalized. However, the ascites persisted, with increased resistance to rituximab. Tocilizumab was also ineffective; therefore, cyclosporine was administered. After the initiation of cyclosporine treatment, the ascites decreased and ultimately disappeared. Twelve months after immunotherapy, the patient remained asymptomatic under cyclosporine maintenance therapy. Similar stepwise immunosuppressive therapy was administered to a 72-year-old man with TAFRO syndrome complicated by renal failure. After rituximab infusion, C-reactive protein was decreased. Although methylprednisolone, rituximab, tocilizumab, and cyclosporine were administered, other laboratory data and clinical symptoms remained unchanged. His level of consciousness subsequently deteriorated due to herpes zoster encephalitis, and he died. We consider the combination of rituximab induction therapy and cyclosporine maintenance therapy to be effective for TAFRO syndrome if initiated at an early stage.
A space‐based, high‐resolution view of notable changes in urban NOx pollution around the world (2005–2014)

Nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) are produced during combustion processes and, thus may serve as a proxy for fossil fuel‐based energy usage and coemitted greenhouse gases and other pollutants. We use high‐resolution nitrogen dioxide (NO2) data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) to analyze changes in urban NO2 levels around the world from 2005 to 2014, finding complex heterogeneity in the changes. We discuss several potential factors that seem to determine these NOx changes. First, environmental regulations resulted in large decreases. The only large increases in the United States may be associated with three areas of intensive energy activity. Second, elevated NO2 levels were observed over many Asian, tropical, and subtropical cities that experienced rapid economic growth. Two of the largest increases occurred over recently expanded petrochemical complexes in Jamnagar (India) and Daesan (Korea). Third, pollution transport from China possibly influenced the Republic of Korea and Japan, diminishing the impact of local pollution controls. However, in China, there were large decreases over Beijing, Shanghai, and the Pearl River Delta, which were likely associated with local emission control efforts. Fourth, civil unrest and its effect on energy usage may have resulted in lower NO2 levels in Libya, Iraq, and Syria. Fifth, spatial heterogeneity within several megacities may reflect mixed efforts to cope with air quality degradation. We also show the potential of high‐resolution data for identifying NOx emission sources in regions with a complex mix of sources. Intensive monitoring of the world's tropical/subtropical megacities will remain a priority, as their populations and emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases are expected to increase significantly.
Multi-spectral front maps for automatic detection of ocean colour features from SeaWiFS

The aim of this research is to automatically detect and visualize dynamic ocean colour phenomena such as algae blooms, fronts and eddies from a sequence of cloudy satellite images. The composite front map methodology has been extended to combine feature observations from multiple ocean colour and temperature products in a single map, to explore the interaction between physical and biological oceanic processes. Sample maps showing chlorophyll, sediment and sea surface temperature fronts are presented, derived from long sequences of cloud-affected Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Sea viewing Wide Field of view Sensor (SeaWiFS) data. The successful detection and animation of many ocean colour features suggests a valuable application to summarize the increased multi-spectral data provided by the National Aeronautics & Space Administration's (NASA) Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument.
What Else Is Needed to Improve Survival from Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest to Hospital Admission? Data from a Prospective Registry for the Years 2020–2023 in the Italian Province of Varese

Around the world, data on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are heterogeneous in terms of outcomes and reporting, and not all registries follow the Utstein recommendations for uniform OHCA data collection. This study reports data on OHCA occurring in recent years in a limited territory to analyze, in a homogenous setting, the circumstances and interventions affecting survival to hospital admission. OHCA data from the province of Varese for the years 2020–2022 were extracted from a prospective registry. For survival to hospital admission, the impact of pandemic waves and variables known to affect survival was evaluated both in the overall population and in the subgroup of patients in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated or continued by the emergency medical service (EMS). Overall, 3263 OHCAs occurred mainly at home (88%), with a time to intervention of 13.7 min, which was significantly longer during lockdown (15.7 min). Bystanders performed CPR in 22% of the cases and used automatic external defibrillator (AED) in 2.2% of the cases. Overall survival to hospital admission was 7.7%. In the multivariate analysis, in the general population, occurrence near a public building (OR 1.92), the presence of witnesses (OR 2.65), and a shockable rhythm (OR 7.04) were independent predictors of survival to hospital admission, whereas age (OR 0.97) and occurrence during a pandemic wave (OR 0.62) were associated with significantly worse survival to hospital admission. In the group of patients who received CPR, AED shock by bystanders was the only independent predictor of survival (OR 3.14) to hospital admission. Among other factors, early defibrillation was of crucial importance to improve survival to hospital admission in possibly rescuable patients. The occurrence of OHCA during pandemic waves was associated with longer intervention time and worse survival to hospital admission.