Since human bodies are good reflectors of wireless signals, human activities can be recognized by monitoring changes in WiFi signals. However, existing WiFi-based human activity recognition systems ...do not build models that can quantify the correlation between WiFi signal dynamics and human activities. In this paper, we propose a Channel State Information (CSI)-based human Activity Recognition and Monitoring system (CARM). CARM is based on two theoretical models. First, we propose a CSI-speed model that quantifies the relation between CSI dynamics and human movement speeds. Second, we propose a CSI-activity model that quantifies the relation between human movement speeds and human activities. Based on these two models, we implemented the CARM on commercial WiFi devices. Our experimental results show that the CARM achieves recognition accuracy of 96% and is robust to environmental changes.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia. In 2050, it is estimated that there will be 72 million AF patients in Asia, accounting for almost 2.9 million patients ...suffering from AF-associated stroke. Asian AF patients share similar risk factor profiles as non-Asians, except that more Asians have a history of previous stroke. Clinical challenges are evident in the field of stroke prevention in AF, amongst Asians. Existing stroke and bleeding risk scores have not been well-validated in Asians. Asians are prone to bleeding when treated with warfarin, and the optimal international normalised ratio (INR) for warfarin use is yet to be determined in Asians, though Asian physicians tend to keep it in a lower range (e.g. INR 1.6-2.6) for elderly patients despite limited evidence to justify this. In general, warfarin is 'difficult' to use in Asians due to higher risk of bleeding and higher stroke rate in Asians than in non-Asians, as shown in randomised controlled trials. Excess of bleeding was not found in Asians when novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) were used. Besides, the superiority of NOACs to warfarin in reducing thromboembolism was maintained in Asians. Therefore NOACs are preferentially indicated in Asians in terms of both efficacy and safety. Also, some preliminary data suggest that Asian patients with AF might not be the same. Future prospective randomised trials are needed for the selection of NOACs according to different ethnic background.
The goal of this study was to determine whether aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) improves prediction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events beyond conventional risk factors.
Several studies have ...shown that aPWV may be a useful risk factor for predicting CVD, but they have been underpowered to examine whether this is true for different subgroups.
We undertook a systematic review and obtained individual participant data from 16 studies. Study-specific associations of aPWV with CVD outcomes were determined using Cox proportional hazard models and random effect models to estimate pooled effects.
Of 17,635 participants, a total of 1,785 (10%) had a CVD event. The pooled age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) per 1-SD change in loge aPWV were 1.35 (95% confidence interval CI: 1.22 to 1.50; p < 0.001) for coronary heart disease, 1.54 (95% CI: 1.34 to 1.78; p < 0.001) for stroke, and 1.45 (95% CI: 1.30 to 1.61; p < 0.001) for CVD. Associations stratified according to sex, diabetes, and hypertension were similar but decreased with age (1.89, 1.77, 1.36, and 1.23 for age ≤50, 51 to 60, 61 to 70, and >70 years, respectively; pinteraction <0.001). After adjusting for conventional risk factors, aPWV remained a predictor of coronary heart disease (HR: 1.23 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.35; p < 0.001), stroke (HR: 1.28 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.42; p < 0.001), and CVD events (HR: 1.30 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.43; p < 0.001). Reclassification indices showed that the addition of aPWV improved risk prediction (13% for 10-year CVD risk for intermediate risk) for some subgroups.
Consideration of aPWV improves model fit and reclassifies risk for future CVD events in models that include standard risk factors. aPWV may enable better identification of high-risk populations that might benefit from more aggressive CVD risk factor management.
China has been experiencing fine particle (i.e., aerodynamic diameters ≤ 2.5 μm; PM2.5) pollution and acid rain in recent decades, which exert adverse impacts on human health and the ecosystem. ...Recently, ammonia (i.e., NH₃) emission reduction has been proposed as a strategic option to mitigate haze pollution. However, atmospheric NH₃ is also closely bound to nitrogen deposition and acid rain, and comprehensive impacts of NH₃ emission control are still poorly understood in China. In this study, by integrating a chemical transport model with a high-resolution NH₃ emission inventory, we find that NH₃ emission abatement can mitigate PM2.5 pollution and nitrogen deposition but would worsen acid rain in China. Quantitatively, a 50% reduction in NH₃ emissions achievable by improving agricultural management, along with a targeted emission reduction (15%) for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, can alleviate PM2.5 pollution by 11−17% primarily by suppressing ammonium nitrate formation. Meanwhile, nitrogen deposition is estimated to decrease by 34%, with the area exceeding the critical load shrinking from 17% to 9% of China’s terrestrial land. Nevertheless, this NH₃ reduction would significantly aggravate precipitation acidification, with a decrease of as much as 1.0 unit in rainfall pH and a corresponding substantial increase in areas with heavy acid rain. An economic evaluation demonstrates that the worsened acid rain would partly offset the total economic benefit from improved air quality and less nitrogen deposition. After considering the costs of abatement options, we propose a region-specific strategy for multipollutant controls that will benefit human and ecosystem health.
The Bangong–Nujiang suture zone (BNSZ) is located in the central Tibetan Plateau, and represents the relict of the Bangong–Nujiang Tethyan Ocean (BNTO). This paper presents zircon U–Pb ages and ...whole-rock geochemical and Sr–Nd isotope data for the ophiolitic rocks from the Rutog, Dongco, Dongqiao, Amdo, and Dengqen areas (from west to east) in the BNSZ. Zircon U–Pb ages obtained from five gabbros and one leucogabbro from the five areas are 169±2, 167±2, 187±2, 184±2, 177±3, and 164±2Ma, respectively. Mafic rocks (gabbros and basalts) in the BNSZ can be divided into MORB-like and OIB-type, based on geochemical data. The MORB-like rocks are tholeiitic and can be further divided into N- and E-MORB subtypes, marked by depleted and flat REE patterns, respectively. All MORB-like rocks show supra-subduction zone (SSZ) geochemical affinities such as mild enrichment in the large ion lithophile elements and depletion in the high field strength elements, coupled with high and positive whole-rock εNd(t) values (+8.1 to +5.4). The OIB-type rocks, which formed in the Early Cretaceous (~132–108Ma), are exposed in the Dongco, Dongqiao, and Tarenben areas, and they consist mostly of alkali basalts with within-plate geochemical characteristics and positive εNd(t) values (+5.9 to +4.5). On the basis of these new data, combined with information from the literature, we further support that the BNTO was an intra-oceanic arc–backarc basin that existed between the North Lhasa subterrane (NLT) and the South Qiangtang subterrane (SQT) during the Early–Middle Jurassic. This basin may have been active until the Early Cretaceous, when the OIB-type basalts erupted.
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•The new zircon U–Pb age, geochemical and Sr–Nd isotopic study of the Bangong–Nujiang ophiolites•Bangong–Nujiang MORB-like ophiolites were a short magmatic duration in the Early–Middle Jurassic.•Bangong–Nujiang Tethyan ocean was an intra-oceanic arc–backarc basin.•Presenting a synthetic model for the tectonic evolution of the Bangong–Nujiang Tethyan ocean
•The F heteroatoms and S vacancies can effectively modulate the electronic structure of CuCo2S4.•The induced F heteroatoms and S vacancies contribute to forming Cu and Co species with low oxidation ...states.•The F-CuCo2S4−x exhibits superior electrochemical performance.
The intriguing features of copper cobalt sulfide (CuCo2S4), such as multiple Faradaic reactions and abundant valance states, enable it a promising electrode material for supercapacitors. However, the sluggish transfer kinetics of charges and the insufficient number of active sites hamper its practical application. Herein, an efficient strategy was proposed to boost the electrochemical performance of CuCo2S4 through a synergetic incorporation of F dopants and S vacancies. The induced effects of F dopant and S vacancy of CuCo2S4 (denoted as F-CuCo2S4−x) on the physical characteristics and the electrochemical behaviors were investigated systemically. Experimental results reveal that through introduction of F dopants and S vacancies in dominant lattice, the low oxidation state concentrations of Cu and Co species are boosted remarkably, which lead to the improved electric conductivity and the enhanced interfacial activities of F-CuCo2S4−x, and facilitate the reaction kinetics. The as-synthesized F-CuCo2S4−x exhibits the ultrahigh specific capacity of 2202.7 C g−1 at 1 A g−1, and the excellent capacity retention of 96.7% after 5000 cycles at 20 A g−1. An asymmetric supercapacitor assembled with F-CuCo2S4−x and activated carbon as the positive and the negative electrodes, respectively, delivers the favorable energy density of 49.8 W h kg−1 at 897.39 W kg−1, as well as the long-term cycling lifetime. This study offers an effective strategy to optimize the transition metal compounds for electrochemical energy-storage devices.
The use of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), the cornerstone treatment for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, is limited by the perceived risk of serious bleeding in Asia. Non-VKA ...oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are safer alternatives. Here, we evaluate performance differences of NOACs between Asians and non-Asians.
We compared efficacy and safety of NOACs between patients enrolled in Asian and non-Asian countries using aggregative data from phase III clinical trials. The odds ratios (ORs 95% confidence interval) were calculated by a random effects model.
Comparing with VKAs, standard-dose NOACs reduced stroke or systemic embolism (OR=0.65 0.52-0.83 versus 0.85 0.77-0.93, P interaction= 0.045) more in Asians than in non-Asians and were safer in Asians than in non-Asians about major bleeding (OR=0.57 0.44-0.74 versus 0.89 0.76-1.04, P interaction=0.004), hemorrhagic stroke (OR=0.32 0.19-0.52 versus 0.56 0.44-0.70, P interaction=0.046) in particular, whereas gastrointestinal bleeding was significantly increased in non-Asians (OR=0.79 0.48-1.32 versus 1.44 1.12-1.85, P interaction=0.041). Generally, low-dose NOACs were safer than VKAs without heterogeneity in efficacy and safety between Asians and non-Asians, except for ischemic stroke, major, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Our findings suggest that standard-dose NOACs were more effective and safer in Asians than in non-Asians, whereas low-dose NOACs performed similarly in both populations.
Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the association of statin exposure and incident diabetes, and subsequent outcomes in the general population. Background Cardiovascular events as consequences ...of atherosclerosis and diabetes are reduced by statins. However, statins are associated with excessive risk of diabetes occurrence according to clinical trial analyses. From daily-practice perspectives, it remains unclear whether statin use increases risk; prognoses of diabetes after exposure require further clarification. Methods From Taiwan National Health Insurance beneficiaries age ≥45 years (men) and ≥55 years (women) before 2004, subjects continuously treated with statins ≥30 days during 2000 to 2003 and nonusers before 2004 were identified. Among nondiabetic individuals at the cohort entry, controls were matched to statin users on a 4:1 ratio by age, sex, atherosclerotic comorbidities, and year of their entry. Outcomes as diabetes, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, the composite of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke), and in-hospital deaths were assessed. Results Over a median of 7.2 years, annual rates of diabetes were significantly higher in statin users (2.4% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.001), whereas MACE (hazard ratio HR: 0.82; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.68 to 0.98 for myocardial infarction; HR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.86 to 1.03 for ischemic stroke; HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.84 to 0.99 for MACE) and in-hospital mortality (HR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.67) were less. The risk–benefit analyses suggested that statin treatment was favorable in high-risk (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.83 to 0.95) and secondary prevention (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.83 to 0.96) populations. Among diabetic patients, prior statin use was associated with fewer MACE (HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.59 to 0.97). In-hospital deaths were similar in statin-related diabetes among high-risk (HR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.83 to 1.49) and secondary prevention (HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.79 to 1.47) subjects compared with nondiabetic controls. Conclusions Risk of diabetes was increased after statins, but outcomes were favorable.
Systemic inflammatory factors can predict the survival prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). However, whether longitudinal changes in systemic inflammatory ...factors are associated with short - and long-term outcomes has not been reported.
This study is a retrospective analysis of 216 patients with advanced gastric cancer who received NACT between January 2011 and June 2019, comparing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for screening suitable inflammatory markers. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was used to analyze longitudinal changes in inflammatory markers during NACT to identify different potential subgroups and to compare postoperative complications, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) among subgroups.
Ultimately, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) had the highest area under the curve (AUC) value in predicting prognosis was included in the GBTM analysis. Three trajectories of NLR were obtained: Stable group (SG) (n = 89), Ascent-descend group (ADG) (n = 80) and Continuous descend group (CDG) (n = 47). Compared with SG, ADG and CDG are associated with an increased risk of postoperative recurrence and death. The median time of RFS and OS of SG was longer than that of ADG and CDG (median RFS 81 vs. 44 and 22 months; median OS 69 vs. 41 and 30 months). In addition, CDG had significantly higher postoperative serious complications than SG and ADG (17 (36.2%) vs. 17 (19.1%) and 12 (15.0%); p = 0.005).
There were different trajectories of NLR during NACT, and these potential trajectories were significantly associated with severe postoperative complications, recurrence, and mortality in patients with GC.
To evaluate efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulant regimens and aspirin for extended venous thromboembolism (VTE) treatment.
We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL and conference proceedings for ...randomised controlled trials studying vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) or aspirin for secondary prevention of VTE beyond 3 months. ORs (95% credible intervals) between treatments were estimated using random-effects Bayesian network meta-analysis.
Sixteen studies, totaling more than 22 000 patients, were included. Compared with placebo or observation and with aspirin, respectively, the risk of recurrent VTE was lower with standard-intensity VKAs (0.15 (0.08 to 0.24) and 0.23 (0.09 to 0.54)), low-dose factor Xa inhibitors (0.16 (0.06 to 0.38) and 0.25 (0.09 to 0.66)), standard-dose factor Xa inhibitors (0.17 (0.08 to 0.33) and 0.27 (0.11 to 0.65)) and the direct thrombin inhibitor (0.15 (0.04 to 0.37) and 0.23 (0.06 to 0.74)) although the risk of major bleeding was higher with standard-intensity VKAs (4.42 (1.99 to 12.24) and 4.14 (1.17 to 18.86)). Effect estimates were consistent in male patients and those with index pulmonary embolism or with unprovoked VTE and in sensitivity analyses. In addition, compared with placebo or observation, the risk of all-cause mortality was reduced with standard-intensity VKAs (0.44 (0.20 to 0.87)) and low-dose factor Xa inhibitors (0.38 (0.12 to 0.995)).
Standard-intensity VKAs and DOACs are more efficacious than aspirin for extended VTE treatment. Despite a higher risk of major bleeding, standard-intensity VKAs was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. Since overall efficacy and safety of standard-intensity VKAs and DOACs are in equipoise, patient factors, costs and patient preferences should be considered when recommending extending anticoagulation treatment.
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