Geographical Location Research Articles

Student perspectives on learning transfer from online postgraduate sonography courses to traineeships: A pilot survey

AbstractIntroductionThis survey aims to understand how postgraduate sonography students perceive to apply knowledge from online coursework to traineeships. It also explores the impact of students' age, gender, traineeship duration and geographic location on learning transfer. The ability to apply learnt knowledge is a key factor for student success in higher education and the workplace, yet it is an under‐researched topic.MethodThe Human Research Ethics Committee of an Australian university granted ethical approval. A pilot online survey was sent to 279 medical sonography students enrolled in an online postgraduate program. These students had an industry traineeship as a corequisite to online coursework. The survey was sent via email on Microsoft Forms from October to December 2023. Descriptive, Likert scale and free‐text data were analysed using Microsoft Excel, IBM SPSS Statistics (version 29) and Lumivero NVivo (version 14).ResultsThe response rate was 38% (n = 106). Most respondents agreed that they developed transfer skills from online courses. Practice questions, lectures and interactive sessions emerged as the key online learning activities that helped to facilitate knowledge transfer. With summative assessments, case studies enhanced knowledge transfer. No significant difference was seen in the transfer ability based on geographical location, age and gender.ConclusionIt is challenging for online educators to foster transfer skills to prepare safe, competent, job‐ready graduates. Our study has provided initial insights on enablers of online learning transfer to online educators on students' perspectives of how they see the relevance and how they apply knowledge from online courses to traineeships.

Optimizing Agricultural Labour: An Examination of On-Demand Workforce Solutions for Seasonal Demands

To address the growing challenges in managing on-demand Labour within the agricultural sector, we introduce Agro Finder, an innovative application developed using Figma for design and flutter for frontend development and firebase for backend. This research presents a comprehensive overview of the current state of Labour management in agriculture and proposes Agro Finder as a solution tailored to the sector's unique needs. The app leverages real-time data and sophisticated algorithms to streamline the connection between farmers and Labourers, optimizing Labour allocation based on geographic location, skills, and availability. Further analysis reveals that Agro Finder significantly enhances Labour utilization efficiency, reducing downtime in agricultural operations. The app's intuitive design, supported by Figma, ensures a user-friendly experience, while the fronted, powered by Flutter, provides reliable performance. The integration of these technologies facilitates efficient Labour management, leading to increased productivity and operational efficiency in agriculture. The research findings underscore the potential of applying modern development tools and methodologies to solve traditional problems in agriculture. By harnessing the power of Figma and Flutter, Agro Finder sets a new standard in on- demand Labour management, offering valuable insights and practical solutions. This study provides a solid foundation for future advancements in agricultural Labour management and highlights the importance of technological innovation in enhancing agricultural productivity. Key Words: on-demand Labour, agricultural management, mobile application development, Figma, Flutter, Labour allocation, real-time data processing, Firebase.

A Study on the Water Management Knowledge of Traditional Villages from the Perspective of Stormwater Resilience—A Case Study of Changqi Ancient Village in Guangdong, China

With the advancement of resilience concepts, enhancing resilience capacity has become an effective approach to addressing rainwater and flooding issues. Most rural planning and construction efforts adopt urban planning models from economically developed regions, often leading to surface hardening, which subsequently causes drainage difficulties and severe surface water accumulation during the rainy season. In contrast, traditional Lingnan villages, exemplified by Guangdong’s Changqi Ancient Village, continue to function normally in flood-prone areas, suggesting that their water management knowledge merits investigation. Previous research on rainwater management in traditional Chinese villages has predominantly been qualitative, lacking scientific data support. This study employs an eco-social resilience perspective, combining field surveys and interviews with villagers, and utilizes the SWMM (Storm Water Management Model) software to conduct both qualitative and quantitative analyses of Changqi Ancient Village. The findings reveal the following: (1) The SWMM effectively quantifies rainwater and flood management in traditional villages. (2) From an ecological resilience perspective, the village’s geographical location is crucial. The topography, along with a rainwater regulation system comprising rivers, ponds, ditches, and permeable pavements, significantly influences the village’s drainage performance. (3) From a social resilience perspective, community participation is vital to the long-term stable development of traditional villages. This includes post-disaster collective fundraising by villagers for the restoration of rainwater and flood management facilities, the formulation of village regulations, and the construction and restoration of spiritual sites. (4) From an eco-social resilience perspective, the eco-social resilience system exhibits adaptive cyclical characteristics, where the geographical environment and the local economy significantly shape the ecological spatial patterns of Changqi, while positive interaction between nature and human society ensures the system’s dynamic equilibrium.

Digital Divide: Examining Socioeconomic Inequalities in Internet Access and Usage

The term "digital divide" refers to the disparity that exists between those who have access to digital technologies, most notably the internet, and those who do not have such access. This disparity is caused by several socioeconomic, regional, and demographic reasons. The digital gap not only exacerbates existing disparities but also creates challenges for marginalized communities. This is because the Internet is becoming an increasingly vital instrument for education, communication, employment, and social involvement. The purpose of this review article is to analyze the underlying factors that contribute to these disparities, such as income, education, geographic location, and age, and to investigate the influence that uneven access to the internet has on different elements of contemporary life. In addition to this, it examines the policies and activities of the government, as well as the technical advancements that are being made to narrow this gap. Although attempts have been made to bridge the difference, the results imply that there is still a great deal of work to be done, especially in tackling structural inequities that continue to interfere with development. In conclusion, the article makes recommendations for comprehensive methods that aim to overcome socioeconomic obstacles and encourage fair access to Internet resources.

The Impact of Foreign Control on The Economic Factor in Southern Arabia Before Islam

Yemen's geographical location, which connects East to West, helped the recovery of its economy. Agriculture was one of the most important factors that characterized the economy of southern Arabia before Islam, as a result of its fertile soil and the availability of water in it, including rainwater, dams and valleys. The agricultural crops varied with Tayeb and incense were the top of Yemeni goods, so they called it the “land of Tayoub”. Yemen was also called “Green Yemen” because of its abundance of goods. The commercial factor also played an important role in raising the Yemeni economy as it served as a link between the countries of the old world. Various trade routes branched out, including land roads, as the incense road is one of the most famous roads that gained wide fame before Islam, as well as sea routes for the transport of commercial caravans. The industrial sector was equally important, with Yemeni workers excelling in diverse industries, the availability of raw materials in the country led to flourishing industries. All these factors contributed to the development of the economy, making it vulnerable to foreign ambitions. Several foreign powers, including the Romans, sought to acquire its wealth. Later, other external powers such as the Al-Ahbash, supported by the Byzantine Empire, and the Sassanid Empire extended their influence over Yemen's riches, ultimately affecting and leading to the demise of the Yemeni civilization. Economic factors were the main drivers of foreign control over southern Arabia.

Analysis of Price Transmission Chili at the Level from Producer to Consumer in Tapin Regency

The fluctuating prices of chili peppers can significantly impact farmers positively and negatively. Farmers cultivating bird’s eye chili can reap substantial profits with high prices. However, they earn less when bird’s eye chili prices are low. Currently, market integration refers to the evolution of costs across different market sectors and the extent to which market sectors in various geographical locations are informed about the supply and demand occurring in a market. This study aims to: 1) analyze the price developments of bird’s eye chili at the producer, wholesale, and consumer levels in Tapin Regency; 2) examine the price transmission of bird’s eye chili from the producer level to the consumer level through prices at the wholesale level and the production of bird’s eye chili in Tapin Regency. The data used in this research are secondary in the form of monthly time series data. The study utilized the documentation method, with data collected from January 2017 to December 2022, totaling 72 data points. The data analysis method employed is the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), with tests including the Stationarity Test, Optimal Lag Length Test, Stability Test, Cointegration Test, VECM Estimation, Impulse Response Function (IRF), and Forecast Error Variance Decomposition (FEVD). The findings indicate that the prices of bird’s eye chili exhibit monthly fluctuations. The higher price fluctuations at the producer level indicate that farmers have weak bargaining power in setting the prices of bird’s eye chili. The stationarity test shows that the prices of bird’s eye chili at the consumer (HK), wholesale (HG), and producer (HP) levels, along with bird’s eye chili production (PC), are stationary at the first difference. The optimal lag test, with the smallest Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), is lag 2. The cointegration test shows that the trace statistic and max-eigen values are greater than the critical value, thus accepting H1, indicating a long-term relationship. In the short term, the increase in bird’s eye chili prices is influenced by the two previous periods. The analysis results demonstrate asymmetric price transmission from the producer level to the consumer price level.

Understanding the Status Quo between Taiwan and China: International Law, the Power Transition Theory and Case Studies

Based on international law, the power transition theory as well as case studies, this research note aims to illustrate the reasons Taiwan’s situation represents a fundamental matter for the international order and to approach the island not only as a major stake for dominant nations but also as a central actor in the stability of the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. This paper demonstrates the essential role that the Taiwanese status quo plays in the power competition between Washington and Beijing and how Taiwan’s geographic location and its military, economic, and technological value can redistribute power both at the regional and international levels. Moreover, this research highlights how the notion of power must not only be understood in terms of military and economic factors but also in legal terms. Analyzing Taiwan’s situation under this framework shows how the power transition occurs equally in the legal sphere and how legal factors could contribute to reinforce Taiwan in the face of growing threats in the Strait.

Improving Rainfall Prediction Accuracy in the USA Using Advanced Machine Learning Techniques

The key aim of this research project is to design and evaluate advanced machine learning models for increasing accuracy in rainfall forecasting over the USA. We intended to investigate nonlinear relationships typical of the atmospheric variables using state-of-the-art ML methods for more accurate rainfall predictions. For this research project on rainfall forecasting in the USA, we utilized an extensive dataset that comprises historical rainfall data collected from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other meteorological agencies. The main dataset we use in this paper consists of daily rainfall measurements across various geographical locations of the USA, thus capturing the wide-ranging historical data necessary for both training and validation of the model. Besides measuring rainfall, we included meteorological data from sources such as NOAA's Global Historical Climatology Network and NASA's Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications. These datasets further provided key variables that are known to affect rain, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. The performance metrics used in this research work for the models considered include accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The above table shows that the Random Forest Classifier outperformed the other models, achieving perfect accuracy. That indicated that it rightly classified all the instances in the test set. The Logistic Regression and Support Vector Machine models gave a quite good performance by giving above average accuracy but had lower precision and recall for the rainfall prediction. Accurate rainfall forecasting has direct consequences on agriculture, greatly empowering farmers and agricultural planners to make more effective decisions regarding planting, harvesting, and crop management. The forecasts of rainfall are also of critical importance in disaster management regarding planning for flood emergencies. Moreover, precise forecasting of rainfall, particularly in sustainable water resources management, presents the most important data in planning for and conserving these resources.

Mapping barriers to food, energy, and water systems equity in the United States

Barriers to affordable, accessible, high-quality food, energy, and water systems (FEWS) harm social equity. Connections within and across FEWS suggest that co-occurring barriers to equity can compound vulnerability. We hypothesized that barriers to FEW resources are strongly associated with geographic location, both within and across FEWS, as they rely heavily on localized sociopolitical and natural environments. This study explored the geographic relationships between FEWS barriers and social equity through a spatial analysis of census tracts within the United States. Cluster analyses showed that all FEWS barriers had a positive spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I = 0.12–0.94), with energy barriers being the most spatially clustered and affordability barriers being the least spatially clustered. In 54 % of census tracts, we observed the co-occurrence of low barriers to water quality and access. Barriers to FEWS affordability almost always co-occurred in parallel (e.g., high barriers to affordability in one system co-occurred with high barriers to affordability in another system). Finally, we developed a spatial index of the barriers to FEWS equity to determine vulnerability at the census tract scale, which had a positive spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I = 0.41). Clusters and intersections of FEWS equity barriers suggest that resources are interconnected, resulting in additional challenges for people living in these areas. The maps of barriers to equity in FEWS are useful tools that could help stakeholders (e.g., federal agencies, city planners, utilities) distribute FEWS resources fairly and begin engagement with communities about FEWS barriers in their local context.

Personal income in New Zealand at the current stage of economic development

Any socio-economic processes occurring in the country and world have an impact on the standard of living of the population. There are many indicators that determine the standard of living of citizens, among which we can highlight the income of people as the main component of their financial well-being. In a period of global political and economic upheavals, the relevance of the topic of human quality of life is beyond doubt. During the economic war organised by the West against Russia, the countries participating in this war are of interest. These include New Zealand, although it is clear that due to the distance from Russia and weak economic ties between the countries, there will be no significant mutual influence of the sanctions restrictions. The study has analysed the income of the population of New Zealand over the past 10 to 15 years, considering differentiation by various categories, such as geographical location, qualification, and source of income. The analysis has showed a certain increase in the income and, accordingly, in the standard of living of the country’s population in the period under review. An insignificant impact on this indicator of restrictive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic is revealed, however, with the certain social policy of the state, fluctuations in the income of citizens during this period were hardly noticeable. Their assessment by sources has reflected the significant share of small businesses in the country’s economy, which shows a high degree of liberalisation of the national economy of the state. The analysis of the citizens’ incomes by geographic regions has revealed a significant impact of urbanisation on the standard of living of the New Zealand’s population, which is a global trend.

CO2 transport in supercritical state: Nikiski, Alaska pipeline study

AbstractCarbon dioxide (CO2) in the supercritical state, being denser yet less viscous, is suitable for long‐distance transportation. Despite this well‐known principle, implementing an operational scheme with appropriate inlet pressure and mass flow rate for supercritical CO2 (srCO2) transportation is challenging due to the complex interplay among state variables, fluid properties, pipeline dimensions and materials, and the intricate boundary and ambient conditions surrounding the pipeline. This paper utilizes PIPESIM software to conduct a feasibility study of srCO2 transportation over a 10‐mile‐long model pipeline in the Cook Inlet region of Alaska, USA. The study aims to understand the limitations of operational parameters and develop a scheme for selecting feasible parameters for srCO2 transportation. Considering geographic location, elevation profiles, and ambient conditions, the simulations calculated pressure and temperature profiles, erosion kinetics, and fluid states for various conditions derived from a combinatorial set of pipeline diameters ranging from 11 to 16 in, inlet pressures between 1,400 and 1,900 psia, and mass flow rates from 10 to 275 lbm/s, with an inlet temperature of 200 °F. The major findings indicate that larger pressure losses are expected in smaller pipelines that are well‐insulated and/or operated at lower inlet pressures. Turbulent flow is more likely to occur in smaller pipelines and at higher mass flow rates, potentially altering the state of the transported fluid. The parametric modeling results provide a scenario‐driven approach to determining a feasible range of mass flow rates, pipeline inner diameters, and inlet pressures for srCO2 transportation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Bilingual Language Experience May Alter Perception of the Tritone Paradox Evidence from Spanish/English Bilingual and English Monolingual Listeners in Texas

ABSTRACT In the tritone paradox, tones separated by a half octave are heard by some as descending and by others as ascending. The phenomenon has been variously interpreted in a psychoacoustic manner or in terms of pitch class templates shaped by early language experience. If early language experience is a critical factor affecting tritone perception, would the paradox be perceived differently depending on whether the language experience was monolingual or bilingual? Monolingual (n=42) and bilingual (n=65) participants were recruited from the same geographic location. Bilinguals were subdivided by onset of bilingualism and – further, for late bilinguals - by first acquired language (Spanish or English). Participants judged whether they heard pairs of synthesized tritones as ascending or descending in pitch. Analysis of peak pitch distribution showed a significant difference between monolinguals and late bilinguals. No differences were noted between English-Spanish and Spanish-English late bilinguals, nor between early and late bilinguals. Additionally, among Spanish-English late bilinguals, significant differences were found in tritone perception between low and high envelope presentation. Our findings suggest that acquisition of two languages, under some conditions, may alter perception of musical pitch relative to acquisition of a single language. The finding of language experience-based differences in tritone perception is more compatible with an account based on pitch class templates shaped by language experience than by existing psychoacoustic accounts. It is not possible to completely rule out a psychoacoustic account, if we assume that individuals with different linguistic backgrounds may differ in the position of the preference region in the frequency axis such models rely on. Also other variables at play in this study cannot be ruled out with certainty. Our findings are consistent with other research suggesting that bilingual language experience is associated with greater perceptual flexibility, in both language and non-language contexts.

Prevalence of Open Defecation Practice and Associated Factors Poverty and Geography in Palembang Indonesia

Palembang is one of the large cities in Indonesia which has a specific geography. A study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and determine poverty factors associated with open defecation practices.An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted for one year among 397 respondents as a sampling. Prevalence was calculated with 95% confidence intervals and binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with open defecation.32.5 percent of people still practice open defecation which is influenced by poverty and geographical factors. Influence of income ) AOR of 13,891 (Cl 8,345 – 23,123), education AOR of 20,328 (Cl 11,881 – 34,780), clean AOR 6,192 (Cl 3,747 – 10,234), water source AOR of 28,882 (16,403 - 50,854), characteristics of the house AOR of 3,977 (2,555 – 6,191), facilities or the availability of toilets at home AOR of 7,066 (4,167 – 11,983), geographical location of the house towards the river or water AOR of 478.995 (173.112 – 1325.1399), knowledge of open defecation behavior AOR of 3.607 , attitudes AOR of 3.277. Respondents who practice open defecation have low income and education, no water source available from the government, geographical location of the house near a river or swamp, no defecation facilities, lack of knowledge and bad behavior.

The molecular and histopathological investigations of TLR2 rs5743708 and TLR4 (rs4986790 and rs4986791) polymorphisms effects on cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a zoonotic and neglected disease, is prevalent in numerous regions, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical countries. In Iran, endemic foci of leishmaniasis exist in specific regions, with zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) caused by Leishmania major being common in most rural areas. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immunities, and the investigation of TLR2 rs5743708 and TLR4 (rs4986790 and rs4986791) polymorphisms in parasitic diseases can have significant implications for patient treatment. In the present study, a total of 88 leishmaniasis patients using the patients' lesions from Khuzestan province health-treatment centers, Iran, including 50 cases (56.8%; Central region) and 38 cases (43.2%; Western region) underwent examination between the years 2022 and 2023. Two direct smears from the lesions of each patient were prepared and one of the smears was stained with Giemsa for parasitological examination. Among the 88 patients, the highest frequency was observed in the 21–30 years' age group (35.2%), while the lowest was in the 11–20 years’ age group (10.2%). No statistically significant relationship was found between gender and age (P > 0.05). Following disease confirmation via microscopic examination, TLR2 rs5743708 and TLR4 (rs4986790 and rs4986791) polymorphisms in the patients were assessed using PCR-RFLP. Fragments of 264, 249, and 406 base pairs were successfully amplified, targeting the TLR2 and TLR4 genes, respectively. Out of the 88 leishmaniasis patients, 14 cases (15.9%) exhibited polymorphisms. Notably, all individuals in the polymorphism group carried both the TLR2 rs5743708 homozygous and the TLR4 rs4986791 heterozygous genotype combinations. There were no observations of TLR2 rs5743708 heterozygous, TLR4 rs4986790 heterozygous and homozygous and TLR4 rs4986791 homozygous genotypes within the polymorphism group. Biopsies from lesions for all contributors were prepared for histopathological examination. All patients with polymorphism showed larger lesions than patients without polymorphism (P < 0.05). Histophatological study showed abnormal cases in patients with polymorphism including mild hyperkeratosis, mild acanthosis, focal parakeratosis in the epithelium surface and mild hyperpigmentation of melanocytes in the basal layer. Furthermore, a strong infiltration of immune cells such as PMNs and a small number of lymphocytes was observed in the epidermal region of patients with polymorphisms. There was no statistically significant relationship between age and the quantity of lesions (P > 0.05). Additionally, some regions of the epidermal surface layer displayed pustule formation in patients with polymorphisms. No significant difference was discerned in the dermal layers of patients with polymorphisms compared to other patients. Considering that all patients with polymorphisms concurrently had TLR2 rs5743708 homozygous and TLR4 rs4986791 heterozygous genotype combinations, the anomalies observed in conjunction with histological changes in the skin lesions of patients with CL may plausibly be linked to the polymorphisms. Nonetheless, a more expansive dataset involving a larger population is imperative to comprehensively elucidate the pathogenesis of the Leishmania parasite and the potential impact of TLR2 rs5743708 and TLR4 (rs4986790 and rs4986791) gene polymorphisms in individuals afflicted with CL across diverse geographical locales.

Association Between Geographic Location and Radiotherapy Treatment Delay in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study

Association Between Geographic Location and Radiotherapy Treatment Delay in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study

Career success and geographical location: A systematic review and future research agenda

Career success and geographical location: A systematic review and future research agenda

When do tourists prefer to continue using online travel agencies? An empirical study from Vietnam

Online travel agencies have profoundly influenced the travel industry by offering numerous essential advantages to both consumers and service providers. This paper aims to examine the factors that influence the intention to continue using online travel agencies in Vietnam, while also assessing the moderating effect of e-loyalty on the relationship between perceived usefulness and continuance intention. An integrated research framework was constructed using the Technology Acceptance Model as its foundational basis. The study utilized the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling approach to analyze the data. The survey data were obtained through an online survey administered to a valid sample of 301 Facebook users with prior experience using online travel agencies. Compared to conventional approaches such as telephone or mail surveys, utilizing Facebook for data collection offers a more cost-efficient alternative. This platform also enables researchers to reach a broad and diverse population of potential respondents, representing a wide range of demographics, geographic locations, and backgrounds. The results reveal that perceived compatibility, perceived ease of use, innovativeness, electronic word-of-mouth, and subjective norms all positively influenced perceived usefulness. Additionally, perceived usefulness is found to have a significant impact on the intention to continue using online travel agencies, while e-loyalty positively moderates the relationship between perceived usefulness and continuance intention to use online travel agencies. These findings extend the Technology Acceptance Model within the context of online travel agencies and provide practical insights for enhancing strategies among online travel agencies in Vietnam. AcknowledgmentThe author would like to thank the International University, Vietnam National University (VNU), HCMC, for providing research assistance.

The Widening Role of the Digital Economy on Regional Income Differences - Evidence from the National Pilot Zone for Innovative Development of the Digital Economy

A growing body of research suggests that the digital economy may create opportunities to combat income inequality. However, these studies have focused more on the difference between countryside and city areas, neglecting the intervene of the state, regional differences and labour market in digital economy. Therefore, this paper collects data on the average income of different cities and the average wage of their digital economy workforce, and uses the Theil Index, DID and mediated-effects methods to study the setup of the National Pilot Zone for the Innovative Development of the Digital Economy as well as the status of income equality within the pilot zone. The paper also analyses heterogeneity based on geographic location, and uses a mediation effect model to measure the role of the income of digital economy practitioners in the impact of the National Pilot Zone for the Innovative Development of the Digital Economy on inter-regional income disparities. Study finds that the pilot zone widens the inter-regional income gap. This result is caused by the uneven spatial distribution between regions and industries. Labour wages in the relevant industries are also an important factor mediating the effect between developing the digital economy and the elimination of income inequality.

Levels of Asymmetric Dimethylar Ginine and Risk of Neurovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The purpose of this study was to provide clear evidence that reliably quantifies the association of Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels with the risk of neurovascular diseases. The Pubmed, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically searched to identify eligible studies published until August 2024. A total of 31 eligible studies were identified. Pooled results indicated that patients with stroke yielded a higher ADMA level than healthy controls [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.92-1.12, P = 0.001]. Subgroup analyses showed that geographical location, sample type, number of events and the proportion of male participants were statistically significant sources of heterogeneity. Similarly, a significant association with a pooled risk ratio (RR) of 1.60 (95% CI = 1.60-1.91) was shown between ADMA exposure and the risk of stroke from seven cohort studies. There was a statistically significant difference between ADMA level and small vessel disease (SVD) (SMD = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.07-0.58, p = 0.001). In addition, migraine patients tend to have elevated ADMA levels compared to healthy controls (SMD = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.11-0.67, P = 0.001). Our results indicate that ADMA levels have significant effects in patients with stroke, SVD, and migraine.

Multiple-wave admixture and adaptive evolution of the Pamirian Wakhi people.

While whole-genome sequencing has been applied extensively to investigate the genetic diversity of global populations, ethnic minority groups in Pakistan are generally underrepresented. In particular, little is known about the genetic origin and highland adaptation of the Pamirian Wakhi people. According to Chinese historical records, the geographical location and language usage of Wakhi may be closely related to Xinjiang Tajiks (XJT). In this study, based on high-coverage (∼30×) whole-genome sequencing of eight Wakhi and 25 XJT individuals, we performed data analyses together with worldwide populations to gain insights into their genetic composition, demography, and adaptive evolution to the highland environment. The Wakhi derived more than 85% of their ancestry from West Eurasian populations (European ∼44.5%, South Asian ∼42.2%) and 10% from East Eurasian populations (Siberian ∼6.0%, East Asian ∼4.3%). Modeling the admixture history of the Wakhi indicated that the early West-East admixture occurred approximately 3,875-2,250 years ago and that the recent admixture occurred 750-375 years ago. We identified selection signatures across EGLN3, in particular, a distinctive evolutionary signature was observed, and a certain underlying selected haplotype showed higher frequency (87.5%) in the Wakhi than in nearby XJT and other highlanders. Interestingly, we found high-frequency archaic sequences in the Wakhi genome, which overlapped with several genes related to cellular signaling transduction, including MAGI2, previously associated with high-altitude adaptation. Our analysis indicates that the Wakhi are distinct from the XJTs and Tajikistan Tajiks, and shed light on the Wakhi's ancestral origin and genetic basis of high-altitude adaptation.