Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
California Undercurrent variability and eddy transport estimated from RAFOS float observations

[1] RAFOS float observations collected between 1992 and 2002 were analyzed to identify the seasonal variability of circulation in four geographical boxes which extended along the central and northern California coast and were successively located farther offshore. The mean pressure of the floats was 375 dbar. Poleward flow associated with the California Undercurrent dominated the two boxes closest to shore, extending from the 400-m isobath to a distance of 190 km offshore. For the box closest to shore, the monthly mean alongshore velocity was maximum (minimum), 5.4 cm/s (1.7 cm/s), in May–June (February), while the eddy kinetic energy (EKE) was minimum was 33 cm2/s2 (21 cm2/s2) in September (December–February). The mean EKE in the coastal region was 28 cm2/s2, increasing to 50 cm2/s2 for the region farthest offshore, a distance of about 400 km. For that region farthest offshore, EKE had a broad maximum from June to November and a minimum in April. Lagrangian correlation and dispersion tensors were estimated for floats that left the coastal region. Three different dispersive regimes of float motion were identified as ballistic transport, normal diffusion, and anomalous sub-diffusion. Westward sub-diffusion was induced by Rossby wave-like structures with a periodicity of 100–120 days.
Handling Non-Visible Referents in Situated Visualizations

Situated visualizations are a type of visualization where data is presented next to its physical referent (i.e., the physical object, space, or person it refers to), often using augmented-reality displays. While situated visualizations can be beneficial in various contexts and have received research attention, they are typically designed with the assumption that the physical referent is visible. However, in practice, a physical referent may be obscured by another object, such as a wall, or may be outside the user's visual field. In this paper, we propose a conceptual framework and a design space to help researchers and user interface designers handle non-visible referents in situated visualizations. We first provide an overview of techniques proposed in the past for dealing with non-visible objects in the areas of 3D user interfaces, 3D visualization, and mixed reality. From this overview, we derive a design space that applies to situated visualizations and employ it to examine various trade-offs, challenges, and opportunities for future research in this area.
Attribute-Aware RBFs: Interactive Visualization of Time Series Particle Volumes Using RT Core Range Queries

Smoothed-particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is a mesh-free method used to simulate volumetric media in fluids, astrophysics, and solid mechanics. Visualizing these simulations is problematic because these datasets often contain millions, if not billions of particles carrying physical attributes and moving over time. Radial basis functions (RBFs) are used to model particles, and overlapping particles are interpolated to reconstruct a high-quality volumetric field; however, this interpolation process is expensive and makes interactive visualization difficult. Existing RBF interpolation schemes do not account for color-mapped attributes and are instead constrained to visualizing just the density field. To address these challenges, we exploit ray tracing cores in modern GPU architectures to accelerate scalar field reconstruction. We use a novel RBF interpolation scheme to integrate per-particle colors and densities, and leverage GPU-parallel tree construction and refitting to quickly update the tree as the simulation animates over time or when the user manipulates particle radii. We also propose a Hilbert reordering scheme to cluster particles together at the leaves of the tree to reduce tree memory consumption. Finally, we reduce the noise of volumetric shadows by adopting a spatially temporal blue noise sampling scheme. Our method can provide a more detailed and interactive view of these large, volumetric, time-series particle datasets than traditional methods, leading to new insights into these physics simulations.
Organ Dysfunction in Children With Blood Culture-Proven Sepsis: Comparative Performance of Four Scores in a National Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies applying Sepsis-3 criteria to children were based on retrospective analyses of PICU cohorts. We aimed to compare organ dysfunction criteria in children with blood culture-proven sepsis, including emergency department, PICU, and ward patients, and to assess relevance of organ dysfunctions for mortality prediction. DESIGN: We have carried out a nonprespecified, secondary analysis of a prospective dataset collected from September 2011 to December 2015. SETTING: Emergency departments, wards, and PICUs in 10 tertiary children’s hospitals in Switzerland. PATIENTS: Children younger than 17 years old with blood culture-proven sepsis. We excluded preterm infants and term infants younger than 7 days old. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We compared the 2005 International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference (IPSCC), Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction-2 (PELOD-2), pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (pSOFA), and Pediatric Organ Dysfunction Information Update Mandate (PODIUM) scores, measured at blood culture sampling, to predict 30-day mortality. We analyzed 877 sepsis episodes in 807 children, with a 30-day mortality of 4.3%. Percentage with organ dysfunction ranged from 32.7% (IPSCC) to 55.3% (pSOFA). In adjusted analyses, the accuracy for identification of 30-day mortality was area under the curve (AUC) 0.87 (95% CI, 0.82–0.92) for IPSCC, 0.83 (0.76–0.89) for PELOD-2, 0.85 (0.78–0.92) for pSOFA, and 0.85 (0.78–0.91) for PODIUM. When restricting scores to neurologic, respiratory, and cardiovascular dysfunction, the adjusted AUC was 0.89 (0.84–0.94) for IPSCC, 0.85 (0.79–0.91) for PELOD-2, 0.87 (0.81–0.93) for pSOFA, and 0.88 (0.83–0.93) for PODIUM. CONCLUSIONS: IPSCC, PELOD-2, pSOFA, and PODIUM performed similarly to predict 30-day mortality. Simplified scores restricted to neurologic, respiratory, and cardiovascular dysfunction yielded comparable performance.
Natural bone inspired core–shell triple-layered gel/PCL/gel 3D printed scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Despite technological advancements in bone tissue engineering, it is still a challenge to fabricate a scaffold with high bioactivity as well as high mechanical strength that can promote osteogenesis as well as bear load. Here we developed a 3D printed gel-polymer multi-layered hybrid scaffold. The innermost layer is porous gel-based framework made of gelatin/carboxymethyl-chitin/nano-hydroxyapatite and is cryogenically 3D printed. Further, the second and middle layer of micro-engineered polycaprolactone (PCL) is infused in the gel with controlled penetration and tuneable coating thickness. The PCL surface is further coated with a third and final thin layer of gel matrix used for the first layer. This triple-layered structure demonstrates compression strength and modulus of 13.07 ± 1.15 MPa and 21.8 ± 0.82 MPa, respectively, post 8 weeks degradation which is >3000% and >700% than gel scaffold. It also shows degradation of 6.84 ± 0.70% (83% reduction than gel scaffold) after 12 weeks and swelling of 69.09 ± 6.83% (81% reduction) as compared to gel scaffolds. Further, nearly 300%, 250%, 50%, and 440% increase in cellular attachment, proliferation, protein generation, and mineralization, respectively are achieved as compared to only PCL scaffolds. Thus, these hybrid scaffolds offer high mechanical strength, slow degradation rate, high bioactivity, and high osteoconductivity. These multifunctional scaffolds have potential for reconstructing non-load-bearing bone defects like sinus lift, jaw cysts, and moderate load-bearing like reconstructing hard palate, orbital palate, and other craniomaxillofacial bone defects.
Low birth weight and reduced postnatal nutrition lead to cardiac dysfunction in piglets

Abstract Heart disease is the leading cause of death in humans and evidence suggests early life growth-restriction increases heart disease risk in adulthood. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the effects of low birth weight (LBW) and postnatal restricted nutrition (RN) on cardiac function in neonatal pigs. We hypothesized that LBW and RN would reduce cardiac function in pigs but this effect would be reversed with refeeding. To investigate this hypothesis, pigs born weighing <1.5 kg were assigned LBW, and pigs born >1.5 kg were assigned normal birth weight (NBW). Half the LBW and NBW pigs underwent ~25% total nutrient restriction via intermittent suckling (assigned RN) for the first 4 wk post-farrowing. The other half of piglets were allowed unrestricted suckling access to the sow (assigned NN). At 28 d of age (weaning), pigs were weaned and provided ad libitum access to a standard diet. Echocardiographic, vascular ultrasound, and blood pressure (BP) measurements were performed on day 28 and again on day 56 to assess cardiovascular structure and function. A full factorial three-way ANOVA (NN vs. RN, LBW vs. NBW, male vs. female) was performed. Key findings include reduced diastolic BP (P = 0.0401) and passive ventricular filling (P = 0.0062) in RN pigs at 28 d but this was reversed after refeeding. LBW piglets have reduced cardiac output index (P = 0.0037) and diastolic and systolic wall thickness (P = 0.0293 and P = 0.0472) at 56 d. Therefore, cardiac dysfunction from RN is recovered with adequate refeeding while LBW programs irreversible cardiac dysfunction despite proper refeeding in neonatal pigs.
Effectiveness and safety of safinamide in the Toledo Movement Disorders Unit

Introduction. The management of motor fluctuations in Parkinson’s disease (PD) can be challenging, and current therapeutic options include the use of monoamine oxidase B inhibitors (MAO-B inhibitors), among others. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of safinamide in the clinical practice carried out in the Toledo Movement Disorders Unit. Patients and methods. This is a retrospective study in which data were collected at baseline and at six months from PD patients who were started on safinamide as an add-on therapy with a stable dose of levodopa in line with standard clinical practice. An analysis was performed by subgroups: patients who were given low-dose safinamide and patients who previously received rasagiline. Results. Ninety patients (47 previously received rasagiline) completed the six-month follow-up. A statistically significant decrease in morning akinesia, nocturnal akinesia, wearing off, unpredictable off phenomenon and Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale-III was observed both in those who previously received rasagiline and in those treated with low doses of safinamide. No variation was found in the dyskinesias. The adverse events described were mild, with generalised weakness, dizziness, nausea, headache and alopecia. Conclusions. Safinamide has been shown to be effective and safe in improving motor fluctuations, motor symptoms and the subjective perception of disease severity in PD patients previously receiving rasagiline and in those receiving low-dose safinamide, all of which is accompanied by a good safety profile.
Vaccine approaches for antigen capture by liposomes

ABSTRACT Introduction Liposomes have been used as carriers for vaccine adjuvants and antigens due to their inherent biocompatibility and versatility as delivery vehicles. Two vial admixture of protein antigens with liposome-formulated immunostimulatory adjuvants has become a broadly used clinical vaccine preparation approach. Compared to freely soluble antigens, liposome-associated forms can enhance antigen delivery to antigen-presenting cells and co-deliver antigens with adjuvants, leading to improved vaccine efficacy. Areas covered Several antigen-capture strategies for liposomal vaccines have been developed for proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids. Specific antigen delivery methodologies are discussed, including electrostatic adsorption, encapsulation inside the liposome aqueous core, and covalent and non-covalent antigen capture. Expert opinion Several commercial vaccines include active lipid components, highlighting an increasingly prominent role of liposomes and lipid nanoparticles in vaccine development. Utilizing liposomes to associate antigens offers potential advantages, including antigen and adjuvant dose-sparing, co-delivery of antigen and adjuvant to immune cells, and enhanced immunogenicity. Antigen capture by liposomes has demonstrated feasibility in clinical testing. New antigen-capture techniques have been developed and appear to be of interest for vaccine development.
Remote Sensing Data Dissemination System for Earthquake Emergency Based on OpenGIS and Digital Earth Platform

After a devastating earthquake occurs,damage extraction and loss evaluation from the remote sensing image data in the disaster area can provide an important basis for the earthquake emergency management and rescue mission.However,the remote sensing images must go through complex mapping,transmission,print works,before they are applied to the emergency headquarter.Digital earth platform is not only convenient,but can provide rich information to users.This paper provides a solution to build a system to share the remote sensing images acquired in the disaster area.The system is built with the open source digital earth platform and open source WebGIS server which follows the OpenGIS specification.It has successfully published the post-earthquake remote sensing images in the disaster area of 2011 Yiliang-Zhaotong,Yunan earthquake on the Web and display them in three-dimensional style with the digital earth platform,the example significantly improves the effect of displaying of the remote sensing images.
Assessing the quality and completeness of reporting in health systems guidance for pandemics using the AGREE-HS tool

Background During health emergencies, leading healthcare organisations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provide guidance for public health response. Previous studies have evaluated clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) produced in response to epidemics or pandemics, yet few have focused on public health guidelines and recommendations. To address this gap, we assessed health systems guidance (HSG) produced by the WHO, the ECDC, and the CDC for the 2009 H1N1 and COVID-19 pandemics. Methods We extracted HSG for the H1N1 and COVID-19 pandemics from the organisations’ dedicated repositories and websites. After screening the retrieved documents for eligibility, five assessors evaluated them using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research & Evaluation – Health Systems (AGREE-HS) tool to assess the completeness and transparency of reporting according to the five AGREE-HS domains: “Topic”, “Participants”, “Methods”, “Recommendations”, and “Implementability”. Results Following the screening process, we included 108 HSG in the analysis. We observed statistically significant differences between the H1N1 and COVID-19 pandemics, with HSG issued during COVID-19 receiving higher AGREE-HS scores. The HSG produced by the CDC had significantly lower overall scores and single-domain scores compared to the WHO and ECDC. However, all HSG scored relatively low, under the median of 40 total points (range = 10-70), indicating incomplete reporting. The HSG produced by all three organisations received a median score <4 (range = 1-7) for the “Participants”, “Methods”, and “Implementability” domains. Conclusions There is still significant progress to be made in the quality and completeness of reporting in HSG issued during pandemics, especially regarding methodological approaches and the composition of the guidance development team. Due to their significant impact and importance for healthcare systems globally, HSG issued during future healthcare crises should adhere to best reporting practices to increase uptake by stakeholders and ensure public trust in healthcare organisations.
First description and phylogenetic analysis of coxsackie virus A non‐polio enteroviruses and parechoviruses A in South Sudanese children

Enteroviruses (EV) and parechoviruses A (PeV‐A) are commonly circulating viruses able to cause severe disease. Surveillance studies from sub‐Saharan Africa are limited and show high but variable infection rates and a high variation in genotypes. This is the first study to describe EV and PeV‐A circulation in children in South Sudan. Of the fecal samples collected, 35% and 10% were positive for EV and PeV‐A, respectively. A wide range of genotypes were found, including several rarely described EV and PeV‐A types. Coxsackie virus A (CVA) EV‐C types, particularly CVA13, were the most dominant EV types. The CVA13 types had a high diversity with the majority belonging to four different previously described clusters. PeV‐A1 and ‐A14 were the most common PeV‐A genotypes. A lack of representative data from our and other studies from sub‐Saharan Africa demonstrates the need for more systematic surveillance of non‐polio EV and PeV‐A types in this region.
Mediated Social Touch With Mobile Devices: A Review of Designs and Evaluations

Background: Mediated social touch has been widely studied for remote affective communication in the field of human-computer interaction. Goal: We conducted this literature review to comprehensively understand the state of the art of the designs and evaluations of mediated social touch for mobile devices. Method: We selected 52 articles based on related keywords from four main digital libraries, i.e., ACM, IEEE, Springer, and Scopus. Results: We summarized from these articles how mediated social touch signal is designed, prototyped, and evaluated, and what the main research findings are. Based on the analysis, we identified opportunities for later work.
Better Mobility Is Associated With Higher Incomes and Longer Working Years Among Older Adults

Abstract Background Robust physical mobility is the key to healthy independent aging. Although the association between socioeconomic status and health is well documented, it is unclear whether there is a relationship between mobility and income, because income data are not readily available. Questions/purposes (1) Do individuals with better mobility have higher incomes? (2) Does maintaining mobility over time allow individuals to keep working? (3) Is exercise associated with higher mobility over time? Methods We obtained longitudinal income and health data from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study. Three cohorts were used. First, we studied the relationship between household income and mobility (on a 6-point index of walking impairment) in 19,430 adults who were assessed in 2016 (representing 93% of the 20,805-person total cohort). We measured the association of mobility and household income in a multivariate linear regression analysis of age, gender, health conditions, and education. We then identified a second group of 1094 individuals with unrestricted mobility in the year 2000 and compared differences in income and working rates between those who maintained mobility and those who lost mobility after 10 years. Finally, we identified a third group of 7063 individuals who were 60 to 80 years old in 2012, divided the group by how often they engaged in exercise, and observed differences in mobility after 4 years. Results After adjusting for covariates, a drop of one level of mobility was associated with a USD 3410 reduction in annual household income (95% CI USD 2890 to USD 3920; p < 0.001). After 10 years, individuals who maintained their mobility had incomes that were USD 6500 higher than that of individuals who were not working (95% CI USD 2300 to USD 10,300; p < 0.001) and were more likely to be working (40% versus 34.5%; p < 0.001). Exercising at least once per week was associated with better mobility 4 years later (mobility score 4.46 ± 0.08 versus 3.66 ± 0.08; p < 0.001). Conclusion Better mobility was associated with more than USD 3000 in annual income. Regular exercise and other interventions that improve mobility may have meaningful returns on investment. Clinical Relevance Because greater mobility is strongly associated with higher income, orthopaedic interventions may be undervalued.
Remember walking in their shoes? The relation of self-referential source memory and emotion recognition

ABSTRACT Deficits in the ability to read the emotions of others have been demonstrated in mental disorders, such as dissociation and schizophrenia, which involve a distorted sense of self. This study examined whether weakened self-referential source memory, being unable to remember whether a piece of information has been processed with reference to oneself, is linked to ineffective emotion recognition. In two samples from a college and community, we quantified the participants’ ability to remember the self-generated versus non-self-generated origins of sentences they had previously read or partially generated. We also measured their ability to read others’ emotions accurately when viewing photos of people in affect-charged situations. Multinomial processing tree modelling was applied to obtain a measure of self-referential source memory that was not biased by non-mnemonic factors. Our first experiment with college participants revealed a positive correlation between correctly remembering the origins of sentences and accurately recognising the emotions of others. This correlation was successfully replicated in the second experiment with community participants. The current study offers evidence of a link between self-referential source memory and emotion recognition.
A novel screening method of DNA methylation biomarkers helps to improve the detection of colorectal cancer and precancerous lesions

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies, and early detection plays a crucial role in enhancing curative outcomes. While colonoscopy is considered the gold standard for CRC diagnosis, noninvasive screening methods of DNA methylation biomarkers can improve the early detection of CRC and precancerous lesions.
ASSESMENT OF PERMEABILITY COEFFICIENT OF VEGETATION AND ROUGHNESS COEFFICIENT UNDER VARIOUS FLOOD AND CHANNEL CONDITIONS

It is important to evaluate the effect of vegetations on the management of floods and river environment. In general, hydraulic effects of vegetation on flood flows are taken account by the permeability coefficient of vegetation and roughness coefficient, but these coefficients can not always be determined reasonably for various scales of flood and form of channel and vegetation. Objectives of this paper are to find a method assessing those coefficients from mutual relationship between flood, channel and vegetation. For that purpose, we use the permeability coefficient of vegetation and roughness coefficient distributions determined by Fukuoka et al.’s analysis conducted on the Tone River and the Edo River floods, and find the relationship between these coefficients and vegetations and channel conditions.