Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mobility Disadvantage and Livelihood Opportunities of Marginalized Widowed Women in Rural Uganda

The adverse effect of mobility restrictions on the livelihood of economically marginalized women in rural Africa is considerable. This study investigates the space–time paths of twenty-seven widowed women in rural Uganda through methodological pluralism that integrates multiple sources of quantitative and qualitative data collected from Global Positioning System tracking, in-depth interviews, and participant observation. Geographic information systems mapping of activity space suggests that mobility patterns are characterized by frequent short repetitive trips and less flexible space–time budgets. In turn, this reduces opportunities to pursue diversified sources of income that enhance livelihood. Statistical regressions and qualitative interviews also show, however, that access to use of motorized vehicles such as cars and motorcycle taxis significantly strengthens livelihood by reducing time poverty, rendering time as a resource for pursuing income opportunities.
Association Between the Characteristics of mHealth Apps and User Input During Development and Testing: Secondary Analysis of App Assessment Data

Background User involvement is increasingly acknowledged as a central part of health care innovation. However, meaningful user involvement during the development and testing of mobile health apps is often not fully realized. Objective This study aims to examine in which areas user input is most prevalent and whether there is an association between user inclusion and compliance with best practices for mobile health apps. Methods A secondary analysis was conducted on an assessment data set of 1595 health apps. The data set contained information on whether the apps had been developed or tested with user input and whether they followed best practices across several domains. Background information was also available regarding the apps’ country of origin, targeted condition areas, subjective user ratings, download numbers, and risk (as per the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Evidence Standards Framework [ESF]). Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Pearson chi-square analyses were applied to the data. Results User involvement was reported by 8.71% (139/1595) of apps for only the development phase, by 33.67% (537/1595) of apps for only the testing phase, by 21.88% (349/1595) of apps for both phases, and by 35.74% (570/1595) of apps for neither phase. The highest percentage of health apps with reported user input during development was observed in Denmark (19/24, 79%); in the condition areas of diabetes (38/79, 48%), cardiology (15/32, 47%), pain management (20/43, 47%), and oncology (25/54, 46%); and for high app risk (ESF tier 3a; 105/263, 39.9%). The highest percentage of health apps with reported user input during testing was observed in Belgium (10/11, 91%), Sweden (29/34, 85%), and France (13/16, 81%); in the condition areas of neurodiversity (42/52, 81%), respiratory health (58/76, 76%), cardiology (23/32, 72%), and diabetes (56/79, 71%); and for high app risk (ESF tier 3a; 176/263, 66.9%). Notably, apps that reported seeking user input during testing demonstrated significantly more downloads than those that did not (P=.008), and user inclusion was associated with better compliance with best practices in clinical assurance, data privacy, risk management, and user experience. Conclusions The countries and condition areas in which the highest percentage of health apps with user involvement were observed tended to be those with higher digital maturity in health care and more funding availability, respectively. This suggests that there may be a trade-off between developers’ willingness or ability to involve users and the need to meet challenges arising from infrastructure limitations and financial constraints. Moreover, the finding of a positive association between user inclusion and compliance with best practices indicates that, where no other guidance is available, users may benefit from prioritizing health apps developed with user input as the latter may be a proxy for broader app quality.
Predictive value of retinal atrophy for cognitive decline across disease duration in multiple sclerosis

Background We investigated the association between changes in retinal thickness and cognition in people with MS (PwMS), exploring the predictive value of optical coherence tomography (OCT) markers of neuroaxonal damage for global cognitive decline at different periods of disease. Method We quantified the peripapillary retinal nerve fibre (pRFNL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform (GCIPL) layers thicknesses of 207 PwMS and performed neuropsychological evaluations. The cohort was divided based on disease duration (≤5 years or >5 years). We studied associations between changes in OCT and cognition over time, and assessed the risk of cognitive decline of a pRFNL≤88 µm or GCIPL≤77 µm and its predictive value. Results Changes in pRFNL and GCIPL thickness over 3.2 years were associated with evolution of cognitive scores, in the entire cohort and in patients with more than 5 years of disease (p<0.01). Changes in cognition were related to less use of disease-modifying drugs, but not OCT metrics in PwMS within 5 years of onset. A pRFNL≤88 µm was associated with earlier cognitive disability (3.7 vs 9.9 years) and higher risk of cognitive deterioration (HR=1.64, p=0.022). A GCIPL≤77 µm was not associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline, but a trend was observed at ≤91.5 µm in PwMS with longer disease (HR=1.81, p=0.061). Conclusions The progressive retinal thinning is related to cognitive decline, indicating that cognitive dysfunction is a late manifestation of accumulated neuroaxonal damage. Quantifying the pRFNL aids in identifying individuals at risk of cognitive dysfunction.
Population pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid and dose optimisation in adult Chinese kidney transplant recipients

Abstract 1. This study aimed to establish a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model of mycophenolic acid (MPA), quantify the effect of clinical factors and pharmacogenomics of MPA, and optimise the dosage for adult kidney transplant recipients. 2. One-hundred and four adult renal transplant patients were enrolled. The PPK model was established using the Phoenix® NMLE software and the stepwise methods were filtered for significant covariates. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to optimise the dosage regimen. 3. A two-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination (including lag time) provided a more accurate description of MPA pharmacokinetics. Serum albumin (ALB) significantly affected the central apparent clearance (CL/F), whereas post-transplant time and creatinine clearance were associated with a central apparent volume of distribution (V/F). The estimated population values obtained by the final model were 17.5 L/h and 93.97 L for CL/F and V/F, respectively. Simulation results revealed that larger mycophenolate mofetil doses are required as the ALB concentration decreases. This study established a PPK model of MPA and validated it using various methods. ALB significantly affected CL/F and recommended optimal dose strategies were given based on the final model. These results provide a reference for the personalised therapy of MPA for kidney transplant patients.
Better Before—Better After

Total hip replacement is considered a successful intervention for pain relief and improved function. However, poor presurgery physical function may increase the likelihood of delayed postsurgery recovery. The purpose of this study was to describe community-dwelling older adults' experiences with a prehabilitation program (preoperative exercise) before total hip replacement. Four participants were interviewed 13 and 15 weeks postsurgery. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed with systematic text condensation. Physical, mental, and social limitations were, to a higher or lesser degree, part of the participants' life presurgery. The results indicate that tailored close supervised training presurgery increased the participants' amount of and adherence to exercise, confidence, and sense of control. The participants had a positive experience of increased strength during the training period and gained motivation to perform progressive training. The exercise program helped the participants be physically and mentally prepared. The results indicate that close supervised prehabilitation in community-dwelling older adults undergoing total hip replacement can contribute to improved function and increase the level of activity and self-efficacy postsurgery.
Chronic Toxoplasma infection affects gene expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes in mouse liver

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite causing toxoplasmosis, an infectious disease affecting warm-blooded vertebrates worldwide. Many drug-metabolizing enzymes are located in the liver, a major organ of drug metabolism, and their function can be affected by pathogen infection. Using next-generation sequencing (RNA-seq) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), changes in the hepatic expressions of drug-metabolizing enzymes were analysed in mice chronically infected with T. gondii. The analysis found that, among drug-metabolizing enzymes, 22 genes were upregulated and 28 genes were downregulated (≥1.5-fold); of these 5 and 17 genes, respectively, were cytochromes P450 (Cyp or P450). Subsequent qPCR analysis showed that six P450 genes were upregulated significantly (≥1.5-fold, p < 0.05), namely, Cyp1b1, Cyp2c29, Cyp2c65, Cyp2d9, Cyp2d12, and Cyp3a59, whereas nine P450 genes were downregulated significantly (≥1.5-fold, p < 0.05), namely, Cyp2c38, Cyp2c39, Cyp2c44, Cyp2c69, Cyp2d40, Cyp2e1, Cyp3a11, Cyp3a41, and Cyp3a44. Moreover, metabolic assays in infected mouse liver using typical P450 substrates revealed that midazolam 1′-hydroxylation and testosterone 2-hydroxylation activities decreased significantly (≥1.5-fold, p < 0.05), whereas testosterone 16-hydroxylation activity increased significantly (≥1.5-fold, p < 0.05). Chronic Toxoplasma infection affects drug metabolism, at least partly, by altering the gene expressions of drug-metabolizing enzymes, including P450s.
Seasonal controls on sediment transport and deposition in Lake Ohau, South Island, New Zealand: Implications for a high‐resolution Holocene palaeoclimate reconstruction

Laminated sediments in Lake Ohau, Mackenzie Basin, New Zealand, offer a potential high‐resolution climate record for the past 17 kyr. Such records are particularly important due to the relative paucity of detailed palaeoclimate data from the Southern Hemisphere mid‐latitudes. This paper presents outcomes of a study of the sedimentation processes of this temperate lake setting. Hydrometeorological, limnological and sedimentological data were collected over a 14 month period between 2011 and 2013. These data indicate that seasonality in the hydrometeorological system in combination with internal lake dynamics drives a distinct seasonal pattern of sediment dispersal and deposition on a basin‐wide scale. Sedimentary layers that accumulate proximal to the lake inflow at the northern end of the lake form in response to discrete inflow events throughout the year and display an event stratigraphy. In contrast, seasonal change in the lake system controls accumulation of light (winter) and dark (summer) laminations at the distal end of the lake, resulting in the preservation of varves. This study documents the key processes influencing sediment deposition throughout Lake Ohau and provides fundamental data for generating a high‐resolution palaeoclimate record from this temperate lake.
The Role of SGLT2 Inhibitors on Heart Failure Outcomes in Nondiabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). However, studies examining their benefits exclusively in nondiabetic patients on various HF outcomes are limited. By conducting a MEDLINE and ClinicalTrials.gov search for randomized controlled trials, we identified 4 studies on SGLT2i with data on HF outcomes in nondiabetic patients and performed a meta-analysis. There were 10.638 nondiabetic patients, with 5316 patients in the SGLT2i group and 5322 in the placebo group included in this meta-analysis. The composite of worsening HF (hospitalization for HF or urgent visit for HF) or cardiovascular death had 726 events (13.66%) in the SGLT2i group and 907 (17.04%) in the placebo group, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.78 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.71–0.86 (P < 0.0001). There were 551 events (10.36%) of hospitalization for HF in the SGLT2i group, compared with 751 (14.11%) in the placebo group with an HR of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.62–0.81; P < 0.0001). Cardiovascular death occurred in 396 patients (7.45%) in the SGLT2i group and 452 (8.49%) in the placebo group, with an HR of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.77–1.00; P = 0.059). All-cause mortality occurred in 552 patients (10.38%) in the SGLT2i group and 586 (11.01%) in the placebo group, with an HR of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.84–1.07; P = 0.37). This study showed that in patients with HF without diabetes mellitus, SGLT2i improve HF outcomes, including a significant decrease in hospitalizations for HF and a favorable response for the outcome of cardiovascular death.
Shear wave velocity structure of the Anatolian Plate: anomalously slow crust in southwestern Turkey

The Anatolian Plate is composed of different lithospheric blocks and ribbon continents amal-gamated during the closure of the Paleotethys Ocean and Neotethys Ocean along a subduction margin. Using ambient noise tomography, we investigate the crustal and uppermost mantle shear wave velocity structure of the Anatolian Plate. A total of 215 broad-band seismic stations were used spanning 7 yr of recording to compute 13 778 cross-correlations and obtain Rayleigh wave dispersion measurements for periods between 8 and 40 s. We then perform a shear wave inversion to calculate the seismic velocity structure of the crust and uppermost mantle. Our results show that the overall crustal shear wave velocities of the Anatolian crust are low ( ∼ 3.4 km s − 1 ), indicative of a felsic overall composition. We ﬁnd that prominent lateral seismic velocity gradients correlate with Tethyan suture zones, supporting the idea that the neotectonic structures of Turkey are exploiting the lithospheric weaknesses associated with the amalgamation of Anatolia. Anomalously slow shear wave velocities ( ∼ 3.15 km s − 1 at 25 km) are located in the western limb of the Isparta Angle in southwestern Turkey. In the upper crust, we ﬁnd that these low shear wave velocities correlate well with the projected location of a carbonate platform unit (Bey Da˘glari) beneath the Lycian Nappe complex. In the lower crust and upper mantle of this region, we propose that the anomalously slow velocities are due to the introduction of aqueous ﬂuids related to the underplating of accretionary material from the underthrusting of a buoyant, attenuated continental fragment similar to the Eratosthenes seamount. We suggest that this fragment controlled the location of the formation of the Subduction-Transform Edge Propagator fault in the eastern Aegean Sea during rapid slab rollback of the Aegean Arc in early Miocene times. Lastly, we observe that the uppermost mantle beneath continental Anatolia is generally slow ( ∼ 4.2 km s − 1 ), indicating higher than usual temperatures consistent with the inﬂux of asthenosphere to shallow depths as a result of the segmentation and break-up of the subducting African lithosphere.
Definition of the Tremadoc Series and the series of the Ordovician System in Britain

Abstract The Tremadoc Series and series of the Ordovician System are widely used in international correlations, and this review explains and summarizes how the base of each of these series is recognized in Britain. No type section in which the base of any one of them is displayed has ever been selected and formally designated, hence the basal horizon of each series is a matter of general understanding rather than precise definition. This general understanding is of particular biozones, or of assemblages of fossils and their relative ages. The geographical separation between type sections of series, and differences in facies, complicate the understanding of relative ages of biozones. Brachiopod and trilobite faunas of the Llandeilo, Caradoc and Ashgill Series have been studied in detail in recent years, and biozones proposed. These biozones have proved difficult or impossible to recognize outside their type areas in Britain, and brachiopod–trilobite faunas of the Tremadoc, Arenig and Llanvirn Series are likewise highly provincial. Thus for correlation within and outside Britain attention has been focused on the ‘standard’ graptolite biozones, particularly since such conodont faunas as have been found have not proved useful. Yet there are problems associated with these ‘standard’ biozones; for example, the Tetragraptus approximatus Biozone is unknown in Wales or England, the relationship between the base of the Glyptograptus teretiusculus Biozone and the earliest Llandeilo shelly faunas requires clarification, and at what level the base of the Caradoc Series may lie in the Nemagraptus gracilis Biozone is unknown. Thus to bring precision to definitions of Ordovician Series in Britain the identification of continuous, fossiliferous sequences that will serve as stratotypes, is required. Such a section for the basal portion of the Tremadoc Series has recently been proposed. Systematic studies related to particular biozones are needed, for example early Caradoc and early Ashgill brachiopods, and graptolites of the Didymograptus bifidus and Glyptograptus teretiusculus Biozones. The stratigraphical ranges and abundances of species in particular sections require documentation, so that the type of biozone (assemblage, acme, concurrent-range, etc.) may be recognized. Such work could lead towards chronostratigraphy, the provision of a standard stratigraphical scale in Britain for the Tremadoc Series and Ordovician series.
APP-Net: Auxiliary-Point-Based Push and Pull Operations for Efficient Point Cloud Recognition

Aggregating neighbor features is essential for point cloud neural network. In the existing work, each point in the cloud may inevitably be selected as the neighbors of multiple aggregation centers, as all centers will gather neighbor features from the whole point cloud independently. Thus, each point has to participate in the calculation repeatedly, generating redundant duplicates in the memory, leading to intensive computation costs and memory consumption. Meanwhile, to pursue higher accuracy, previous methods often rely on a complex local aggregator to extract fine geometric representation, further slowing down the processing pipeline. To address these issues, we propose a new local aggregator of linear complexity for point cloud analysis, coined as APP. Specifically, we introduce an auxiliary container as an anchor to exchange features between the source point and the aggregating center. Each source point pushes its feature to only one auxiliary container, and each center point pulls features from only one auxiliary container. This avoids the re-computation issue of each source point. To facilitate the learning of the local structure of point cloud, we use an online normal estimation module to provide explainable geometric information to enhance our APP modeling capability. Our built network is more efficient than all the previous baselines with a clear margin while still consuming a lower memory. Experiments on classification and semantic segmentation demonstrate that APP-Net reaches comparable accuracies to other networks. In the classification task, it can process more than 10,000 samples per second with less than 10GB of memory on a single GPU. We will release the code at https://github.com/MCG-NJU/ APP-Net.
Dynamics of surface currents over Qingdao coastal waters in August 2008

[1] Surface currents measured by High Frequency (HF) radar are used to investigate the dynamics in the coastal waters of Qingdao, China, on the western coast of the Yellow Sea. Different factors affecting the surface currents are revealed by dynamical analysis. Harmonic tidal analysis shows that the coastal tidal currents are barotropic and their temporal evolution is mainly influenced by the semidiurnal tidal constitutes, topography and geometry. It is also found that their horizontal distribution represents the effect of local topography. At sub-tidal frequencies, the high correlation between winds and the sub-tidal surface currents indicates a crucial role of wind-forcing in driving the currents. Varying wind direction coupled with small-scale features of the coastal geometry results in complicated sub-mesoscale circulation. In addition, the monthly coastal circulation is characterized by an eddy structure and is primarily determined by the outflow which is closely associated with the sea level slope along the coast. The variability of the residual currents is studied by analyzing the cross-shore momentum equation with wind stress, sea level records, and HF radar currents. It is shown that both the barotropic pressure gradient and the nonlinear tidal stress contribute to the variations of the residual currents near the bay mouth and further govern the coastal monthly circulation in August, 2008.
Innovation-facilitating networks create inequality

Theories of innovation often balance contrasting views that either smart people create smart things or smartly constructed institutions create smart things. While population models have shown factors including population size, connectivity and agent behaviour as crucial for innovation, few have taken the individual-central approach seriously by examining the role individuals play within their groups. To explore how network structures influence not only population-level innovation but also performance among individuals, we studied an agent-based model of the Potions Task, a paradigm developed to test how structure affects a group’s ability to solve a difficult exploration task. We explore how size, connectivity and rates of information sharing in a network influence innovation and how these have an impact on the emergence of inequality in terms of agent contributions. We find, in line with prior work, that population size has a positive effect on innovation, but also find that large and small populations perform similarly per capita; that many small groups outperform fewer large groups; that random changes to structure have few effects on innovation in the task; and that the highest performing agents tend to occupy more central positions in the network. Moreover, we show that every network factor which improves innovation leads to a proportional increase in inequality of performance in the network, creating ‘genius effects’ among otherwise ‘dumb’ agents in both idealized and real-world networks.
Cell‐free DNA extraction from urine of lung cancer patients and healthy individuals: Evaluation of a simple method using sample volume up‐scaling

Urine holds promise as a source for cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) analysis of cancer genetics due to its nature as a self‐collectable biospecimen available in large quantities. However, pre‐analytical variables such as preservation of cfDNA or efficiency of up‐scaling specimen volume need to be better explored to increase analysis sensitivity.