Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Groundwater Monitoring through Citizen Science: A Review of Project Designs and Results

Citizen science is increasingly prominent in the field of freshwater monitoring. Although there is a large body of literature related to surface water monitoring, less experience exists regarding citizen‐based monitoring of groundwater resources. This calls for a better understanding of the actual experiences of citizen science in the field of groundwater monitoring, including specific project designs and results. Based on a systematic review of 33 citizen‐based groundwater monitoring activities, we analyze (1) the design of citizen science projects, including their general project characteristics, institutional characteristics, citizen characteristics, and forms of interactions, as well as (2) their results, including their data outputs, outcomes on citizens, and impacts on problem‐solving. Results show that projects mainly have positive results on data quantity and quality and partly influence the citizens themselves and their contributions to groundwater‐related problem‐solving. Information on project design characteristics is scarce and mostly hints at the relevance of specific process mechanisms such as training and feedback. Based on these results, we suggest groundwater‐related projects to consider involving citizen scientists in monitoring activities in order to benefit research and citizens alike. Such involvement needs, however, careful design including relevant training to unfold its full potential for both sides. Researchers are advised here to rigorously report on both design and results to further improve citizen science practice in the future.
Intrinsic variability and field statistics for pulsars B1641–45 and B0950+08

The ‘burstiness’ and time variability of pulsars B1641–45 and B0950+08 are investigated by calculating and fitting the field statistics as a function of pulse phase. Pulsar B1641–45 has a simple average profile with minimal evidence for microstructure, while B0950+08 has a complicated pulse profile with strong microstructure and multiple active components. Detailed fitting shows that the primary emission from both pulsars corresponds to lognormal statistics, consistent with stochastic growth theory (SGT) and implying the radiation is generated by a linear micro-instability (either directly or via linear mode conversion). Evidence exists for multiple emission components, with the lognormal parameters and overall field statistics varying with phase. A Gaussian-distributed secondary component for both pulsars, which increases towards the peak in the average profile, may be the result of scattering by density irregularities or multiple superposed subsources. Weak evidence exists for B0950+08 that a non-linear decay process limits the highest fields in a restricted phase domain. Non-linear processes (e.g. modulational instability and wave collapse) and self-organized criticality (SOC), which typically yield power-law statistics, are viable only under stringent conditions: suitably ensemble averaged they must yield lognormal statistics. These conclusions are very similar to those for the Vela pulsar (B0833–45), suggesting they are applicable to many pulsars. Giant micropulses, precursor and diffuse emissions are identified for B0950+08. They are distinguished from each other and the normal pulsar emission by changes with phase bin of the functional form of the field statistics and the rarity and phase localization of signals. This brings to four the number of pulsars with giant micropulses, all with very similar characteristics: their statistics are most consistent with non-linear wave collapse. Precursor emissions are best interpreted in terms of local enhancements of the normal pulsar emission, while interpretations for diffuse emissions are poorly constrained. The strongly similar field statistics for normal pulsar emission and giant micropulses for the Vela pulsar (B0833–45), B1641–45 and B0950+08 suggest that these properties and their theoretical implications are widely applicable to pulsars.
Métodos de superficie Multirespuesta: Un Estudio Comparativo

The simultaneous optimization problem may not to have a complete satisfactory solution from the point of view of the individual responses, in the sense that individual optimums are different respect to global optimum; but always it is possible to say that it exists the process operation conditions (point in the factors space) where the responses fit “in the best way” to their specification limits and target values. It is always possible to obtain a compromise solution, which look for the best balancebetween the responses. This paper discusses several methods that have been proposed for analyzing multi-response data, and it is shown that the graphical method can raise the best solution compared with the analytical methods. The performance of the methods is compared in the context of one example. Finally, in two of the methods we suggest alternative weighting of the responses in order to improve the results.
Dispersive properties of optical filters for WDM systems

Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) communication systems invariably require good optical filters meeting stringent requirements on their amplitude response, the ideal being a perfectly rectangular filter. To achieve high bandwidth utilization, the phase response of these filters is of equal importance, with the ideal filter having perfectly linear phase and therefore constant time delay and no dispersion. This aspect of optical filters for WDM systems has not received much attention until very recently. It is the objective of this paper to consider the phase response and resulting dispersion of optical filters in general and their impact on WDM system performance. To this end we use general concepts from linear systems, in particular, minimum and nonminimum phase response and the applicability of Hilbert transforms (also known as Kramers-Kronig relations). We analyze three different classes of optical filters, which are currently being used in WDM systems and compare their performance in terms of their phase response. Finally, we consider possible ways of linearizing the phase response without affecting the amplitude response, in an attempt to approximate the ideal filter and achieve the highest bandwidth utilization.
Origin of Unidentified Structures in Resonant Dissociative Photoionization of H{sub 2}

We present theoretical evidence that strong interference effects between resonant and nonresonant amplitudes are responsible for unidentified peaks observed in recent experiments on dissociative photoionization of H{sub 2} . We show that, at photon energies smaller than 27eV, the various peaks can be explained in terms of a single {sup 1}{Sigma}{sup +}{sub u} doubly excited state. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Collocation of metformin and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor is associated with increased risk of diabetes-related vascular dementia: A single hospital study in Northern Taiwan

ABSTRACT Background Recent studies have established a close link between diabetes mellitus (DM) and an increased risk of vascular dementia (VD). In this study, we evaluated the risk of VD in patients with type 2 diabetes who were on antidiabetic medications. Methods There is a growing interest in observational and data-driven studies to answer specific research questions for defined populations. In line with this, 67,281 patients (age range, 61.95 ± 13.88 years; length of follow up, 3.2 ± 3.4 years) diagnosed with DM were divided into two groups:48,072 subjects who had not used dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) medication and 19,209 subjects who had taken DPP-4 medication. Each patient underwent follow-up examination after the date of the latest diagnosis. Results Among 10,884 DM patients with dementia, the combination therapy of metformin and DPP-4 inhibitor may increase the risk of dementia compared with that in the control group (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.15; p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion In this study, patients who received a combination therapy of metformin and DPP-4 inhibitor for DM were at a higher risk of dementia than those who received monotherapy.
Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics and the Degradation of Polymers under Shear Flow

A nonequilibrium Gibbs function previously used in the theoretical analysis of the shift of the spinodal line of some polymer solutions under shear is applied in this paper to the analysis of the shear-induced degradation. The agreement of the predictions and the experimental data underlines the usefulness of the generalized thermodynamic potential depending on the shear rate.
Cognition in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: A prospective multicentre study of 217 patients (CogniNMO-Study)

Background: There is limited and inconsistent information on the prevalence of cognitive impairment in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). Objective: To assess cognitive performance and changes over time in NMOSD. Methods: This study included data from 217 aquaporin-4-IgG-seropositive (80%) and double-seronegative NMOSD patients. Cognitive functions measured by Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Paced Auditory Serial-Addition Task (PASAT), and/or Multiple Sclerosis Inventory Cognition (MuSIC) were standardized against normative data (N = 157). Intraindividual cognitive performance at 1- and 2-year follow-up was analyzed. Cognitive test scores were correlated with demographic and clinical variables and assessed with a multiple linear regression model. Results: NMOSD patients were impaired in SDMT (p = 0.007), MuSIC semantic fluency (p < 0.001), and MuSIC congruent speed (p < 0.001). No significant cognitive deterioration was found at follow-up. SDMT scores were related to motor and visual disability (pBon < 0.05). No differences were found between aquaporin-4-IgG-seropositive and double-seronegative NMOSD. Conclusions: A subset of NMOSD patients shows impairment in visual processing speed and in semantic fluency regardless of serostatus, without noticeable changes during a 2-year observation period. Neuropsychological measurements should be adapted to physical and visual disabilities.
L-MOVES AND MARKOV THEOREMS

Given a knot theory (virtual, singular, knots in a 3-manifold etc.), there are deep relations between the diagrammatic knot equivalence in this theory, the braid structures and a corresponding braid equivalence. The L-moves between braids, due to their fundamental nature, may be adapted to any diagrammatic situation in order to formulate a corresponding braid equivalence. In this short paper, we discuss and compare various diagrammatic set-ups and results therein, in order to draw the underlying logic relating diagrammatic isotopy, braid structures, Markov theorems and L-move analogues. Finally, we apply our conclusions to singular braids.
Linking cognitive and affective heuristic cues to interpersonal risk perceptions and behavior

People often use cognitive and affective heuristics when judging the likelihood of a health outcome and making health decisions. However, little research has examined how heuristics shape risk perceptions and behavior among people who make decisions on behalf of another person. We examined associations between heuristic cues and caregivers’ perceptions of their child's asthma risk, the frequency of caregivers’ asthma management behaviors, and child health outcomes. We used Ipsos KnowledgePanel to recruit 814 U.S. adult caregivers of children with asthma of the age <18 years. Participants completed a survey at baseline (T1) and 3 months later (T2). Caregivers who, at T1, reported greater negative affect about their child's asthma (affect heuristic cue), greater ease of imagining their child experiencing asthma symptoms (availability heuristic cue), and greater perceived similarity between their child and a child who has ever experienced asthma symptoms (representativeness heuristic cue) reported statistically significantly (p < 0.05) higher interpersonal perceived risk of their child having an exacerbation or uncontrolled asthma at T1. They also indicated at T2 that their child had poorer asthma control and more frequent exacerbations. Greater T1 negative affect was associated with more frequent T2 actions to reduce inflammation, manage triggers, and manage symptoms, and with poorer T2 child health outcomes. Heuristic cues are likely important for interpersonal—not just personal—risk perceptions. However, the interrelationship between caregivers’ ratings of heuristic cues (in particular, negative affect) and risk judgments may signify a struggle with managing their child's asthma and need for extra support from health care providers or systems.
Low glutaminase and glycolysis correlate with a high transdifferentiation efficiency in mouse cortex

Both exogenous transcriptional factors and chemical‐defined medium can transdifferentiate astrocytes into functional neurons. However, the regional preference for such transdifferentiation has not been fully studied. A previously reported 5C medium was infused into the mouse cortex and striatum to determine the regional preference for transdifferentiation from astrocytes to neurons. The numbers of NeuN+GFAP+EdU+ cells (intermediates) and NeuN+EdU+ cells (end products) were determined by immunofluorescence to explore the regional preference of transdifferentiation. In addition, to optimize the delivery of the transdifferentiation medium, three key growth factors, insulin, bFGF and transferrin, were loaded onto chitosan nanoparticles, mixed with gelatin methacryloyl and tested in animals with motor cortex injury. A higher transdifferentiation efficiency was identified in the mouse cortex. Differences in cellular respiration and the balance between glutaminase (Gls) and glutamine synthetase were confirmed to be key regulators. In addition, the sustained drug release system induced transdifferentiation of cortex astrocytes both in vivo and in vitro, and partially facilitated the behaviour recovery of mice with motor cortex injury. We also applied this method in pigs and obtained consistent results. In summary, low Gls and glycolysis can be used to predict high transdifferentiation efficiency, which may be useful to identify better indications for the current transdifferentiation system. In addition, the current drug delivery system has the potential to treat diseases related to cortex injuries.
How we measure language skills of children at scale: A call to move beyond domain-specific tests as a proxy for language

Abstract Purpose The aim of this research note is to encourage child language researchers and clinicians to give careful consideration to the use of domain-specific tests as a proxy for language; particularly in the context of large-scale studies and for the identification of language disorder in clinical practice. Method We report on data leveraged through the prospective Raine Study cohort. Participants included 1626 children aged 10 years (n = 104 with developmental language disorder [DLD] and n = 1522 without DLD). We assessed the predictive utility of common language measures including subtests of a standardised omnibus language assessment, non-verbal intelligence, and a domain-specific receptive vocabulary test. Result Children with DLD performed within the average range on a measure of non-verbal intelligence (z = −0.86) and receptive vocabulary (z = −0.38), as well as two out of the six subtests on the omnibus language assessment (zs > −1.50). The magnitude of the predictive relationship between language assessments and the likelihood of a child meeting criteria for DLD at 10 years was assessed using a logistic regression model, which was significant: χ 2(8) = 16.91, p = 0.031. Semantic Relationships (OR = 1.13, CI = 1.04 − 1.23, p = .004), Formulated Sentences (OR = 1.07, CI = 1.01 − 1.13, p = .028), Recalling Sentences (OR = 1.20, CI = 1.15 − 1.26, p < .001), and Sentence Assembly (OR = 1.17, CI = 1.07 − 1.30, p = .001) were significant predictors of DLD. Conclusion Domain-specific language assessments, particularly those testing receptive vocabulary, may overestimate the language ability of children with DLD. Caution is urged when using such tests by clinicians and researchers, especially those measuring language skills of children at scale. Future directions for measuring the functional impact of DLD are presented.
Alpha oscillatory activity is causally linked to working memory retention

Although previous studies have reported correlations between alpha oscillations and the “retention” subprocess of working memory (WM), causal evidence has been limited in human neuroscience due to the lack of delicate modulation of human brain oscillations. Conventional transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is not suitable for demonstrating the causal evidence for parietal alpha oscillations in WM retention because of its inability to modulate brain oscillations within a short period (i.e., the retention subprocess). Here, we developed an online phase-corrected tACS system capable of precisely correcting for the phase differences between tACS and concurrent endogenous oscillations. This system permits the modulation of brain oscillations at the target stimulation frequency within a short stimulation period and is here applied to empirically demonstrate that parietal alpha oscillations causally relate to WM retention. Our experimental design included both in-phase and anti-phase alpha-tACS applied to participants during the retention subprocess of a modified Sternberg paradigm. Compared to in-phase alpha-tACS, anti-phase alpha-tACS decreased both WM performance and alpha activity. These findings strongly support a causal link between alpha oscillations and WM retention and illustrate the broad application prospects of phase-corrected tACS.
Effect of different dialysis duration on the prognosis of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis: a single-center, retrospective study

Abstract Background Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis is a serious complication observed in peritoneal dialysis patients. Herein, we investigated the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of PD peritonitis in patients with different PD durations. Methods All peritonitis episodes from January 2007 to December 2020 at Peking University People’s hospital PD center were retrospectively analyzed and divided into the long-dialysis duration (≥60 months, LDD) and short-dialysis duration (<60 months, SDD) groups. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between these groups. The risk factors for treatment failure were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Results During 14 years, 156 patients had 267 peritonitis episodes. There were 83 (31.1%) peritonitis episodes in the LDD group and 184 (68.9%) in the SDD group. No statistical difference was noted in peritonitis causes and the composition of causative pathogens between the two groups. The hospitalization, treatment failure, and transfer-to-hemodialysis rates, and peritonitis-related mortality were significantly higher in the LDD group than in the SDD group (all p < .05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that PD duration was an independent risk factor for PD-associated hospitalization, treatment failure and peritonitis-related death (p < .05). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis results showed that when the cutoff value of PD duration was 5.5 years, the sensitivity of predicting PD peritonitis treatment failure was 51.1%, specificity was 78.8%, and the area under the curve was 0.679 (95% confidence interval: 0.594–0.765, p < .001). Conclusions PD duration is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in PD peritonitis. Careful and active attention should be paid to the prevention of peritonitis in PD patients with long PD duration.
Longitudinal Assessment of Chest CT Findings and Pulmonary Function after COVID-19 Infection

Background Information on pulmonary sequelae and pulmonary function 2 years after recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection is lacking. Purpose To longitudinally assess changes in chest CT abnormalities and pulmonary function in individuals after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Materials and Methods In this prospective study, participants discharged from the hospital after SARS-CoV-2 infection from January 20 to March 10, 2020, were considered for enrollment. Participants without chest CT scans at admission or with complete resolution of lung abnormalities at discharge were excluded. Serial chest CT scans and pulmonary function test results were obtained 6 months (June 20 to August 31, 2020), 12 months (December 20, 2020, to February 3, 2021), and 2 years (November 16, 2021, to January 10, 2022) after symptom onset. The term interstitial lung abnormality (ILA) and two subcategories, fibrotic ILAs and nonfibrotic ILAs, were used to describe residual CT abnormalities on follow-up CT scans. Differences between groups were compared with the χ2 test, Fisher exact test, or independent samples t test. Results Overall, 144 participants (median age, 60 years [range, 27–80 years]; 79 men) were included. On 2-year follow-up CT scans, 39% of participants (56 of 144) had ILAs, including 23% (33 of 144) with fibrotic ILAs and 16% (23 of 144) with nonfibrotic ILAs. The remaining 88 of 144 participants (61%) showed complete radiologic resolution. Over 2 years, the incidence of ILAs gradually decreased (54%, 42%, and 39% of participants at 6 months, 12 months, and 2 years, respectively; P < .001). Respiratory symptoms (34% vs 15%, P = .007) and abnormal diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (43% vs 20%, P = .004) occurred more frequently in participants with ILAs than in those with complete radiologic resolution. Conclusion More than one-third of participants had persistent interstitial lung abnormalities 2 years after COVID-19 infection, which were associated with respiratory symptoms and decreased diffusion pulmonary function. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry no. ChiCTR2000038609 © RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by van Beek in this issue.
Bereavement outcomes of carers of patients with high grade glioma: Experiences of support before and after the death

Abstract Carers of people with High Grade Glioma (HGG) completed a survey assessing their anxiety, depression, and grief in addition to open-ended questions exploring their experiences of support pre- and post-death (N = 25). One-third reported borderline or clinical levels of anxiety, depression, and grief related distress. Given the poor prognosis and rapid deterioration of patients with HGG, the findings highlight the importance of sensitive communication about prognosis early in the disease trajectory, information tailored to disease stage, the initiation of a referral to psychological support services, and timely discussions about the preferred place of care and death.