Circadian patterns in postvoid residual and voided percentage among older women with urinary incontinence

Background: Women with urinary incontinence incur an increased risk of elevated postvoid residual (PVR) volume and impaired voiding efficiency (i.e., voided percentage (Void%)), but the clinical significance of these parameters remains poorly described. Further characterization of PVR and voiding efficiency may thus be useful in refining the evaluation and management of urinary incontinence. This study aims to explore possible circadian variations in PVR and Void% in older women with stress (SUI), urge (UUI) and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). Methods: A single center prospective study which enrolled a convenience sample of 90 older women who consulted a tertiary referral hospital for urinary incontinence. Participants underwent an extensive medical interview and were hospitalized to complete a 24-h frequency-volume chart (FVC) with PVR measurement after each void (FVCPVR). Results: FVCPVR analysis demonstrated no differences in mean PVR and Void% between patients with SUI, UUI and MUI. Likewise, no daytime or nighttime differences were observed in mean PVR or Void% within or between groups. Conclusions: No evidence of circadian variation in PVR or Void% was observed in older women with SUI, UUI or MUI

Development of a multivariate prediction model for nocturia, based on urinary tract etiologies

Purpose: The main objective of our study was to determine which combination of modifiable and non-modifiable parameters that could discriminate patients with nocturia from those without nocturia. This was a post-hoc analysis of 3 prospective, observational studies conducted in Ghent University. Participants completed frequency volume chart (FVC) to compare characteristics between patients with and without nocturia. Method: This was a post hoc analysis of three prospective, observational studies conducted in Ghent University. Participants completed frequency volume chart (FVC) to compare characteristics between adults with and without nocturia. Study 1: adults with and without nocturia (n = 148); Study 2: patients >= 65 years with and without nocturnal LUTS (n = 54); Study 3: menopausal women before and after hormone replacement therapy (n = 43). All eligible patients (n = 183) completed a FVC during 24 hours (n = 13), 48 hours (n = 30) or 72 hours (n = 140). The combination of algorithms and number of determinants obtaining the best average area under the receiver operating curve (AUC-ROC) led to the final model. Differences between groups were assessed using the AUC-ROC and Mann- Whitney-Wilcoxon tests. Holm corrections were applied for multiple statistical testing. Also, the stability of the feature selection was evaluated. Results: The best discrimination was obtained when 13 determinants were included. However, a logistic regression model based on seven determinants selected with random forest had comparable discrimination including an optimal signature stability. It was able to discriminate almost perfectly between nights with and without nocturia. Conclusion: Relevant information to accomplish the excellent predictability of the model is; functional bladder capacity, 24 hours urine output, nocturnal output, age, BMI. The multivariate model used in this analysis provides new insights into combination therapy as it allows simulating the effect of different available treatment modalities and its combinations

Can call detail records provide insights into women’s empowerment? A case study from Uganda

We use CDRs of mobile phone users in Uganda combined with data from a phone survey to train machine-learning models to predict the sex of the mobile phone user and several indicators of economic empowerment such as ownership of a house and land, occupation, and decision-making over household income. The most accurate of the models predicts the sex of the mobile phone user with 78% accuracy. The different indicators of economic empowerment are predicted with accuracies ranging from 57% to 61%. We also predict users’ sex and economic empowerment jointly. However, when we predict economic empowerment and then the sex of the user, we achieve high accuracy rates ranging from 81% to 87%. Mobile phone usage data hold potential for gender research although they are not without limitations

Alternativas de desarrollo agropecuario con proyección sostenible para el distrito de riego del Zulia y su zona de influencia

La asociación de usuarios del Distrito de Adecuación de Tierras de Gran Escala del Río Zulia (ASOZULIA) Norte de Santander, con un área de influencia de 45.536 hectáreas, está interesada en la planificación productiva de su territorio. Dentro de sus actividades agropecuarias se encuentran el arroz (12.000 a 17.000 ha), la palma de aceite (1.534 ha), cítricos (limón, naranja; 346 ha), caña de azúcar (100 ha) y la ganadería. Su principal sistema de producción durante más de 50 años es el cultivo de arroz, sistema que presenta reducción de la productividad (7 a 3 tha), degradación del suelo y problemas de plagas y enfermedades, debido entre otros al uso continuo del fangueo como sistema de preparación de suelos. Adicionalmente, a pesar de tener el distrito de riego del río Zulia una concesión de 13,5 m3.s1, en épocas de verano la oferta hidrica es mucho menor como, por ejemplo, la correspondiente a los meses de febrero a marzo de 2016, con un caudal en la bocatoma del distrito de 10,8 m3s'y una captación real del distrito de solo 6 m.s' Asimismo, la construcción del nuevo acueducto para el área metropolitana de la ciudad de Cúcuta tomará 2,95 m3s del caudal antes de la bocatoma que provee agua al distrito, lo que disminuirá aún más la disponibilidad de agua para riego en esa región. Por lo anterior, se requiere la recuperación de los suelos para el establecimiento de nuevos sistemas productivos que demanden un menor consumo de agua y sean una alternativa viable para los productores.Acelga-Remolacha de hoja, Beta vulgaris var. Cicl