Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of analgesic effects of pericapsular nerve group block and fascia iliaca compartment block during hip arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Background and Aims: Postoperative pain for patients having hip arthroplasty ranges from moderate to severe. Many regional anaesthesia procedures treat postoperative pain to improve functional ability and quality of life. Evidence comparing the analgesic effects of the pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block and fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) remains unclear. The analgesic efficacies of PENG and FICB in hip arthroplasty were compared to determine which technique is associated with superior analgesia. Methods: The electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and Web of Sciences) were searched for published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) till 5 April 2023 comparing PENG block vs. FICB following hip arthroplasty. The primary outcome was pain scores [numerical rating scale (NRS) or visual analogue scale (VAS)] between 0 and 10 at rest and during movement at 24 h. Secondary outcomes included pain scores at rest and during movement within 30 min, at 6 h and 12 h, time to first rescue analgesia and cumulative postoperative opioid use in 24 h. We assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk-of-Bias 2 tool. Using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE), the certainty of the evidence was assessed. Subgroup analysis was performed to explore the source of heterogeneity. Results: We included 12 RCTs examining 644 patients. Pain scores at rest at 24 h (standardised mean differences (SMDs): 0.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.90 to 1.23; P = 0.76, moderate certainty) and during movement at 24 h (SMD: -0.58, 95% CI: -1.53 to 0.38, P = 0.24, moderate certainty) were not different in both PENG block and FICB. Pain scores at rest and during movement within 30 min may be lower with PENG block than FICB. However, the pain score at rest and during movement at 6 h and the time to first rescue analgesia were not different between the two treatment arms. The mean opioid consumption in oral morphine equivalents (mg) in 24 h may be lower with PENG than FICB. Conclusion: We observed no difference between the PENG block and the FICB at 24 h for pain at rest and movement with a moderate degree of certainty. However, PENG block showed improved analgesia within 30 min at rest and during movement, and reduce postoperative opioid consumption in 24 h with moderate certainty of evidence. Further large-scale and high-quality RCTs are required to supplement the present findings.
Growth and yield responses of commercial sugarcane cultivars to residue mulching in different environments

Approximately 70% of the total sugarcane production in South Africa occurs under rainfed conditions. Mulching (the physical removal and spreading of leaf material from the previous crop over the next ratoon crop) has been shown to have substantial impact on sugarcane growth, establishment and yield under low rainfall conditions. Recently, there have been industry reports of reduced growth vigour, establishment, and yields of certain South African cultivars produced under mulch blankets. However, no quantitative information exists on the reaction of popular commercial cultivars to mulching in the rainfed regions of the industry. A field trial was established in 2008 at Empangeni in the rainfed region of sugarcane production in South Africa. The trial comprised eight of the most popular cultivars in the coastal region (NCo376, N27, N35, N39, N41, N42, N45, and N47). The trial was planted as a 2 x 8 factorial strip-plot with four replicates, with burning vs. mulching as the main plot (strips) and cultivar as sub-plots. Cultivar responses to mulching were evaluated over a period of three summer crops (1, 2, and 3 ratoon) and one winter crop (5 ratoon). Cane yields (TCANE), estimated recoverable crystal (ERC) percentage, ERC yields (TERC), and mulch yields were determined at each harvest. The effects of mulching on stalk population dynamics, stalk height, soil temperatures, and soil water content were monitored during each growing season. Mulching significantly (p<0.05) improved cane and ERC yields of most cultivars across all four ratoons. Cane yield improvements ranged from as high as 85% (N45) in the winter ratoon to as low as 7% (N41) in the summer ratoon. The ERC% ranged from 20% improvement for cultivar N47 to an 11% reduction for cultivar NCo376. The improvements in cane and ERC yields were attributed to the higher soil water content prevalent under the mulch blanket. Cultivar N47 had the highest improvement (up to 74%) in TERC for the drier summer ratoons, while cultivar N39 had the greatest improvements (up to 92%) in the wet summer ratoons and in the winter ratoon. There were no significant differences in stalk population between burn and mulch treatment in the summer ratoons, however, most cultivars had significantly improved stalk populations when mulched in the winter ratoon. Stalk heights and mass were generally improved for most cultivars in all four ratoons. All cultivars showed delayed
Influence of weather factors and management of Septoria leaf spot of tomato in sub-tropics.

Studies conducted on the effect of weather factors on seasonal occurrence of Septoria lycopersici indicate that relative humidity coupled with rainy days/percentage of total rainfall elicit maximum disease build up. Only two varieties (S-12 and SH-12) out of 41 cultivars screened for disease resistance against Septoria leaf spot, showed resistance at each test locations (R.S. Pura and Paunichak). Spraying the tomato crop with Dithane Z-78 or Dithane M-45 at 0.2% each, proved highly efficacious in restricting the disease spread under field conditions and thereby stabilizing the yield returns.
Pre-Operative Predictors of Ossicular Status in Chronic Supportive Otitis Media

Introduction: Chronic suppurative otitis media is associated with ossicular necrosis. Both safe and unsafe CSOM have incidence of ossicular necrosis. This study will provide the much-needed insight, into the factors which can act as significant predictors for the intra operative ossicular status, and help in better preparing the patient before the surgery and need for ossiculoplasty. Furthermore, narrowing down to the most significant ly related predictors, it may also be»possib1eto reduce the financial burden on the patient, something which is of prime importance in a resource limited country like ours. Objectives: pre-operative predictors of intra operative ossicular status in chronic suppurative otitis media and effect of duration of disease on hearing threshold and ossicular-status. Material and methods: A descriptive observational study was done in a Tertiary care referral center. A total number of 124 patients with the clinical diagnosis of CSOM were selected from outpatient department and admitted. All patients were subjected to otoendoscopy, X-raymastt), 1d (Schiller’s view) and pure tone audiometry. All patients underwent tympanomastoidectomy. Preoperative findings on the basis of history, examination and investigations were noted along with findings of intraoperative ossicular status. Findings were tabulated and statistical test were applied to determine significant preoperative predictors of iv intraoperative ossicular status. Results: Intraoperative ossicular necrosis was seen in a total number of 43 patients. On; univariate analysis, blood-stained discharge (P<0.0001), purulent consistency of ear discharge (0<0.0()01), associated symptoms of vertigo (p=0.0047), otalgia (p=0.0019), size(p=0.0042) and f site(p=0.004l), severity of hearing loss (p=0.004), sclerotic mastoid air cell (p=0.0001) had significant association with ossicular necrosis. The duration of disease and hearing threshold did not have statistically significant association (p=0.227). Conclusion: Ossicular necrosis is best indicated by the presence blood-stained and purulent discharge, vertigo, otalgia, total perforation, severe degree of hearing loss and sclerosed mastoid. Incus was the most common necrosed ossicle followed by malleus followed by stapes, Duration of disease did not have a significant connotation with hearing threshold.
Parent attributions and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder knowledge as predictors of specific help-seeking interests

Many children diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not receive appropriate services following diagnosis. Although information about ADHD is widely available and abundant, sometimes conflicting information may impede parent help-seeking. The present study examined parent knowledge of ADHD and attributions of child behavior as predictors of interest in formal and informal help seeking at the point of child evaluation for possible ADHD. Participants (89 caregivers of children ages 5–12) completed a measure of ADHD knowledge, rated attributions of child behavior in response to vignettes depicting ADHD symptoms, and indicated their interest in a range of formal and informal services that could be recommended following the child’s evaluation. Parents reported strongest interest in academic services followed by medication, child focused therapy, and informal services (e.g., seeking information about ADHD). Family income, ADHD knowledge and attributions that child behavior will persist over time were associated with all types of help-seeking interest except academic services. Perceptions of child control over behavior predicted greater interest in medication. Findings suggest that increasing parent knowledge of ADHD and exploring parent goals and preferences for treatment may increase service utilization for children following assessment/diagnosis of ADHD.
Recognizing Geomagnetic Storms in Marine Magnetometer Data: Toward Improved Archaeological Resource Identification Practices

Abstract Strong magnetic field perturbations resulting from Earth-directed solar events, collectively referred to as geomagnetic storms, can adversely affect many aspects of marine archaeological survey. The immediate onset of geomagnetic storms and the fast compression of the magnetopause creates a short-duration, high amplitude spike in Earth’s magnetic field that appears similar to the signature of an archaeological anomaly. Aggressive processing, analysis, and comparison of single instrument, total field marine magnetometer survey and observatory datasets collected during geomagnetic storms on days of Kp 5 or greater resulted in no demonstrable ability to isolate and remove the storm sudden onset signature. Of the 34 storms analyzed, 34 possessed onset signatures that were considered to be potentially misleading, resulting in possible aliasing of temporal variation (the storm sudden onset signature) for spatial variation (archaeological anomalies of interest). Based on a 95% confidence level, it is estimated that 89.7 to 100 percent of geomagnetic storms occurring on days of Kp 5 or greater will generate signatures that may be misinterpreted as archaeological sites. Recommendations are made for marine magnetic data collection and processing methods that may adequately account for geomagnetic storms, allowing for improved precision in analytical interpretation and thus improved management of archaeological resources.
Radiocarbon Dating Khirbet Qeiyafa and the Iron I–IIA Phases in the Shephelah: Methodological Comments and a Bayesian Model

This article discusses methodological issues related to the radiocarbon dating of Khirbet Qeiyafa, mainly the question of whether the site should be dated solely according to samples retrieved there or dated as part of a regional sequence of stratigraphically based ceramic typology phases. For the latter, we deploy the large number of 14C determinations now available for several sites in the Shephelah, which are located in close proximity to each other, in order to establish a Bayesian model for the absolute chronology of the Iron I–IIA phases in the region. We argue that the information assembled from six neighboring sites in the Shephelah pushes forward the date of Qeiyafa to the 10th century, a date later than the one the excavators estimated based on the more limited 14C information from the site alone.
Exploring China's Whole-Process People's Democracy through the lens of the Double Reductions policy

The Chinese government promotes "Whole-Process People's Democracy" (WPPD) as a more genuine and advanced form of democracy. However, its practical implications are still unclear. The purpose of this study is to shed light on the practical implications of WPPD through the examination of the 2021 Double Reductions (DR) Policy. The policy aims to alleviate academic pressure on primary and middle school students and the associated stress on their parents. Our examination of official endorsed documents reveals that the DR policy aligns with China's aspiration for national rejuvenation by ensuring a highly skilled future workforce and potentially reversing the low birth rate trend. The policy also seeks to ease stress and burden on students and parents by strictly limiting the growth of the private education sector. Therefore, the policy demonstrates that China's WPPD purports to be focused on the long-term future of the nation and the well-being of the entire population. However, we raise concerns about the efficacy of the policy and whether all stakeholders were fully considered and included in the deliberation process during its formulation.
Effects of nitrogen fertiliser and wheat straw application on CH4 and N2O emissions from a paddy rice field

A 3-year field experiment was conducted to study the effects of nitrogen fertiliser and straw application on CH4 and N2O emissions from a paddy rice field in China from 2003 to 2005. Three rates of nitrogen fertiliser (0, 200, and 270 kg N/ha) and 2 levels of wheat straw (0 and 3.75 × 10 3 kg/ha) were adopted in this experiment. The effect of nitrogen fertiliser application on CH4 emission seemed to be affected by application rate. Nitrogen fertiliser decreased CH4 emission relative to the control when applied at a rate of 200 kg N/ha, but the effect lessened if the application rate was further increased to a rate of 270 kg N/ha. The depressive effect of nitrogen fertiliser application on CH4 emissions from rice fields became more pronounced when wheat straw was also incorporated with fertiliser, compared with nitrogen fertiliser application alone. Straw incorporation significantly enhanced CH4 emission by 3-11 times (P 0.05). More than 50% of seasonal total amount of N2O was emitted within 11 days after fertiliser application at panicle initiation. The global warming potential caused by both CH4 and N2O emissions was affected by nitrogen fertiliser application rate and significantly stimulated by wheat straw incorporation. The global warming potential was lowest when nitrogen fertiliser was applied at a rate of 200 kg N/ha. Additional keyword: GWP.
Effect of permafrost thaw on the dynamics of lakes recharged by ice‐jam floods: case study of Yukon Flats, Alaska

Large river floods are a key water source for many lakes in fluvial periglacial settings. Where permeable sediments occur, the distribution of permafrost may play an important role in the routing of floodwaters across a floodplain. This relationship is explored for lakes in the discontinuous permafrost of Yukon Flats, interior Alaska, using an analysis that integrates satellite‐derived gradients in water surface elevation, knowledge of hydrogeology, and hydrologic modelling. We observed gradients in water surface elevation between neighbouring lakes ranging from 0.001 to 0.004. These high gradients, despite a ubiquitous layer of continuous shallow gravel across the flats, are consistent with limited groundwater flow across lake basins resulting from the presence of permafrost. Permafrost impedes the propagation of floodwaters in the shallow subsurface and constrains transmission to ‘fill‐and‐spill’ over topographic depressions (surface sills), as we observed for the Twelvemile‐Buddy Lake pair following a May 2013 ice‐jam flood on the Yukon River. Model results indicate that permafrost table deepening of 1–11 m in gravel, depending on watershed geometry and subsurface properties, could shift important routing of floodwater to lakes from overland flow (fill‐and‐spill) to shallow groundwater flow (‘fill‐and‐seep’). Such a shift is possible in the next several hundred years of ground surface warming and may bring about more synchronous water level changes between neighbouring lakes following large flood events. This relationship offers a potentially useful tool, well suited to remote sensing, for identifying long‐term changes in shallow groundwater flow resulting from thawing of permafrost. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bacterial Biomarkers of the Oropharyngeal and Oral Cavity during SARS-CoV-2 Infection

(1) Background: Individuals with COVID-19 display different forms of disease severity and the upper respiratory tract microbiome has been suggested to play a crucial role in the development of its symptoms. (2) Methods: The present study analyzed the microbial profiles of the oral cavity and oropharynx of 182 COVID-19 patients compared to 75 unaffected individuals. The samples were obtained from gargle screening samples. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was applied to analyze the samples. (3) Results: The present study shows that SARS-CoV-2 infection induced significant differences in bacterial community assemblages, with Prevotella and Veillonella as biomarkers for positive-tested people and Streptococcus and Actinomyces for negative-tested people. It also suggests a state of dysbiosis on the part of the infected individuals due to significant differences in the bacterial community in favor of a microbiome richer in opportunistic pathogens. (4) Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection induces dysbiosis in the upper respiratory tract. The identification of these opportunistic pathogenic biomarkers could be a new screening and prevention tool for people with prior dysbiosis.
Glauconite Sandstone Exploration: A Case Study from the Lake Newell Project, Southern Alberta

Abstract Fluvial-estuarine Glauconite channel sands of the Lower Cretaceous are arguably one of the most prolific oil and gas reservoirs in Southern Alberta. The Countess-Alderson trend extends more than 70 km and is one of several incised-valley-fill systems that trend in a northwesterly direction away from the Kevin-Sunburst Dome in Northern Montana. Cumulative production along this trend has been in excess of 100 MM bbls of oil and 200 BCF of gas. Although exploration in the area began in the early 1950s, it was not until 1989 that the effectiveness of three-dimensional seismic programs in exploration and pool delineation became apparent. Existing well and seismic control indicated the Glauconite incised paleovalley likely extended beneath the man-made reservoir, Lake Newell. To enhance drilling success and maximize potential hydrocarbon recoveries, a shallow-water / land 3-D seismic survey was conducted over 40% of the lake. Based on the interpretation of several amplitude anomalies (diagnostic of reservoir porosity-meters), an exploratory drilling program was undertaken. Environmental concerns and recreational development plans around Lake Newell meant further oil and gas development beneath the lake was restricted to five surface-pad locations. Some of the drilling locations required horizontal displacements of more than 2,600 metres, and rather than using conventional equipment, preference was given to slant drilling technology. Interpretation of cores from five of the wells indicates that the portion of the Countess-Alderson Glauconite trend beneath Lake Newell is representative of facies within the bayhead-delta environment of a wave-dominated estuary. Channel deposits northwest of the lake are brackish, while those southeast of the lake are predominantly fluvial. Reservoir quality in the Glauconitic is best in the bayhead-delta sandstones; knowing this we can use the wave-dominated estuary model as a predictive tool to maximize the oil production from these reservoirs. At the completion of the exploration and development programs, more than 15 MM bbls of recoverable oil had been discovered beneath the lake. This case study illustrates the value of integrating geology, geophysics and drilling technology in hydrocarbon exploration and development of the Glauconite incised-valley-fill play in Southern Alberta.
Spectral Analysis of Seismic Waves in the Northern Indian Ocean Region

Abstract Attenuation of ground‐motion amplitudes away from the seismic source is recognized as a significant issue by researchers. Of particular interest is the attenuation or propagation of seismic waves from long‐distance sources. Regions like Sri Lanka have experienced tremors from events as far as 1500 km. A recently identified diffusing plate boundary just around 300 km away from the southern tip of Sri Lanka poses significant seismic risk. However, a comprehensive study of the region with respect to the propagation or attenuation of seismic waves has generally been lacking. With the availability of new archival data of 71 events recorded at three digital broadband stations, we have estimated Q value for the northern Indian Ocean region surrounding Sri Lanka. Multiple linear regression analysis of recorded vertical‐component Fourier acceleration amplitudes yields a relatively higher Q 0 value of about 389±2.35 for the subject region. Furthermore, the combined effect of upper crustal amplification and attenuation has been assessed using the standard horizontal‐to‐vertical ratio method. The negligible upper crustal modifications obtained from the analysis imply the presence of an older crustal rock stratigraphy at near‐source depths around the subject region. Source spectra of recorded events have also been derived by correcting the observed amplitudes for geometric and anelastic attenuation. The source spectra analysis resulted in a typical stress‐drop value of about 50 bars, which is consistent with Brune’s source spectra models. Stochastic modeling of a recent M w 8.6 event that occurred in the region was undertaken based on the parameters derived from the analysis and compared with the real recorded spectra. Results show a reliable match between the simulations and the recorded spectra, which supports the validity of the estimated parameters. Seismological parameters derived from this study can provide reliable estimates of seismic hazard of Sri Lanka.