Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Frailty on Perioperative Outcomes in Patients Receiving Short-Level Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Stepwise Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Background: There are many studies on the impact of frailty on postoperative complications; however, there are few studies focusing on stepwise propensity score matching (PSM) to offset the influence of age. Methods: We gathered data for patients undergoing short-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion from January to December 2021. According to the Fried frailty phenotype, we categorized patients into non-frail, pre-frail, and frail groups, then, stepwise PSM for age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and fusion levels were performed to keep comparable clinical data between groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine the impact of clinical demographics on postoperative complications. Results: A total of 559 consecutive patients with complete medical records were enrolled (237 males and 322 females; mean age 72.55 ± 5.86 years). After PSM, we found that pre-frail patients were more vulnerable to develop urinary retention (p = 0.031) and surgical site infections (p = 0.021) than non-frail patients. Longer length of stay (LOS), delayed ambulation and removal of urinary catheter times were observed in pre-frail patients. However, there was a significant difference only in LOS between pre-frail and frail patients. Binary logistic regression revealed that C-reactive protein (CRP) and frail status were independently associated with postoperative complications between non-frail and pre-frail patients, while only CRP was independently correlated with complications between pre-frail and frail patients. Conclusion: After PSM, we found higher rates of urinary retention and surgical site infections in pre-frail patients than in non-frail patients. CRP was independently related to postoperative complications, while frail status was only independently associated with postoperative complications between pre-frail and non-frail patients. Pre-frail/frail patients tended to have more severe stress responses than non-frail patients. Clinical Interventions in Aging is an international, peer-reviewed journal focusing on evidence-based reports on the value or lack thereof of treatments intended to prevent or delay the onset of maladaptive correlates of aging in human beings. This journal is indexed on PubMed Central, MedLine, CAS, Scopus and the Elsevier Bibliographic databases. The manuscript management system is completely online and includes a very quick and fair peer-review system, which all easy to use. Visit to read real quotes from published
Evaluation of Doppler Parameters of Ophthalmic Artery and Central Retinal Artery in Type 2 Diabetics using Colour Doppler Imaging

Objectives: To investigate the doppler parameters of ophthalmic and central retinal artery in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with colour doppler imaging (CDI) and compare the results with non-diabetic controls. Materials and methods: This prospective study included 30 type 2 diabetic patients and 15 controls. Diabetic patients were further divided into subjects with no retinopathy ( n = 15) and subjects with retinopathy ( n = 15). CDI was performed using GE Logitech P9 ultrasound. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistivity index (RI) and pulsatile index (PI) of ophthalmic (OA) and central retinal artery (CRA) along with central retinal vein (CRV) were recorded. Results: RI in the ophthalmic artery was significantly higher in both diabetic groups than the control group ( P = 0.001,). Diabetics without retinopathy had decreased blood flow velocity (PSV and EDV) in OA compared to controls ( P = 0.002 and P = 0.0011, respectively). Diabetics with retinopathy had significantly reduced EDV and PSV and increased RI in CRA compared to diabetics without retinopathy ( P = 0.001). Significant correlation was noted among the groups. Pearson’s coefficient analysis analysed that RI of OA has a positive corelation with glycosylated haemoglobin and duration of diabetes. Conclusion: Significant changes in resistivity index and flow velocities were observed in the ophthalmic artery and central retinal artery in diabetics compared to controls. CDI could be useful to predict individuals at higher risk for developing severe DR.
Antibacterial and Flame Retardant Properties of Ag-MgO/Nylon 6 Electrospun Nanofibers for Protective Applications

Electrospun nanofibers are researched for protective applications. Ag nanoparticles promote antibacterial properties and MgO enhances fire retardancy. The main objective of this research was to develop Ag/MgO/Nylon 6 electrospun nanofibers that are scarcely reported. Nanofibers were synthesized using formic acid and acetic acid solvents and collected on cotton fabric. Nylon 6 in 20 wt% along with MgO in 3–5 wt% and AgNO3 in 0.25–0.75 wt% was used for electrospinning. Nanofibers of diameter 35–55 nm with no beads were obtained for MgO (5%)–AgNO3 (0.5%)/Nylon 6. Bacterial reduction of 88% for MgO (3%)–AgNO3(0.25%)/Nylon 6 against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and 54% against Escherichia coli was achieved. Nanofibers of MgO (3%)–AgNO3 (0.25%)/Nylon 6 and MgO (4%)–AgNO3 (0.5%)/Nylon 6 were rated V-0 in vertical burning test. Least burning rate of 1.56 mm/s corresponded to nanofibers of MgO (3%)–AgNO3 (0.25%)/Nylon 6 in horizontal burning test. Energy Dispersive X ray (EDX) confirmed the presence of Mg, O, and Ag. Fourier Transfer Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), the stretching of O–H and CH2.
The Association Between Medication Non-Adherence and Early and Late Readmission Rates for Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Purpose Unplanned hospital readmission forms costly, but preventable burdens on healthcare system. This study was designed to evaluate cardiovascular-related readmission rate after discharge of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients and its relationship with medication adherence at a university hospital, Saudi Arabia. Methods A total of 370 consecutive patients presenting with ACS were involved. The inclusion criteria were clinical and coronary angiography diagnostic data of ACS. Exclusion criteria included heart valve disease, myocarditis, hepatic disease, and history of acute infection during the previous two weeks. Patients were divided into index admission group (n = 291) and unplanned readmission group (n = 79). Readmission and medication adherence rates were evaluated during 1–30, 31–180, 181–365, and 366–548 days post-ACS discharge. Medication adherence was estimated with a (yes/no) questionnaire. Results The overall readmission rate was 21.4%; individual rates were 30.4%, 38.0%, 27.8%, and 3.8% and the overall medication adherence rate was 62.03%, while individual rates were 54.2%, 70.0%, 63.6%, and 33.3% during the four periods, respectively. There were strong correlations between medication non-adherence and readmission rates. Heart failure, ST-elevated myocardial infarction, unstable angina, cerebrovascular accident, and arrhythmia represented the top causes. Body mass index was higher in readmission group. There were significant correlations between smoking, hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, ischemic heart disease, previous stent, instent restenosis, and LDL-cholesterol as predictor factors and readmission rate. Conclusion The cardiovascular-related unplanned readmission rate post-ACS discharge was 21.4%, and medication non-adherence rate was 37.97%. There were strong correlations between them in the time frames from 1-month to 1.5-year post-discharge. The individual rates decreased by time, but the first month showed lower rates than the following 5 months and this indicated the role of factors other than medication non-adherence in readmission. The rates are generally consistent with the international levels but utilizing technology can further improve medication adherence and reduce readmission rates.
Heterochronies and allometries in the evolution of the hominid cranium: a morphometric approach using classical anthropometric variables

This article studies the evolutionary change of allometries in the relative size of the two main cranial modules (neurocranium and splanchnocranium) in the five living hominid species and a diverse sample of extinct hominins. We use six standard craniometric variables as proxies for the length, width and height of each cranial module. Factor analysis and two-block partial least squares (2B-PLS) show that the great apes and modern humans share a pervasive negative ontogenetic allometry in the neurocranium and a positive one in the splanchnocranium. This developmental constraint makes it possible to interpret the cranial heterochronies in terms of ontogenetic scaling processes (i.e., extensions or truncations of the ancestral ontogenetic trajectory) and lateral transpositions (i.e., parallel translations of the entire trajectory starting from a different shape for a given cranial size). We hypothesize that ontogenetic scaling is the main evolutionary modality in the australopithecines while in the species of Homo it is also necessary to apply transpositions. Both types of processes are coordinated in Homo, which result in an evolutionary trend toward an increase in brain size and in the degree of paedomorphosis from the earliest habilines.
Thrombosis in multiple myeloma: Risk estimation by induction regimen and association with overall survival

Lenalidomide‐containing (R) triplet and quadruplet regimens are the standard of care for multiple myeloma (MM) and have been shown to increase the risk of thrombosis. The association between thromboembolism (TE) and survival in the novel multidrug era is not yet delineated. In this study, we evaluated the incidence of TE during the first year of MM diagnosis, its association with the type of induction regimen, and its impact on overall survival. We studied 672 newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients who received a triplet or quadruplet lenalidomide‐based induction at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. TE was diagnosed in 83 patients (12.4%). Of these, 56 (8.3%) had a deep venous thrombosis (DVT), 23 (3.4%) had a pulmonary embolism (PE) with or without the DVT, and 4 (0.6%) patients had a stroke. Carfilzomib‐Rd (KRd) had the highest risk of TE (21.1%, 18/85), followed by quadruplets (11.1%, 5/45), bortezomib‐Rd (9.6%, 51/531), and 0/11 (0%), treated with other lenalidomide‐containing regimens. The difference in TE risk between KRd and the other regimens was statistically significant (OR = 2.6, p < .01). Nine patients developed a TE before being exposed to any treatment. Survival was significantly lower among patients that developed a TE (66 vs. 133 months, p < .01). The association of TE with reduced survival demonstrated in univariate analysis (HR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.6–3.3) was maintained in the multivariable analysis adjusted for high‐risk interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), sex, age, receipt of an upfront transplant, the response at induction, and the International Staging System (ISS) (HR = 2.61, CI = 1.74–3.9). We conclude that TE is an important aspect of MM management, and effective management is especially relevant in the novel treatment era.
Predictors of Brand Equity in the Contemporary Markets

Brand equity development has become a challenge for modern brands. Marketing innovation and changing consumer value perceptions are causing consumers to leapfrog, posing a challenge for brand equity development. The data for this study was collected with random sampling techniques. 450 respondents were considered to collect data on the Likert scale questionnaire. The Partial Least Square (PLS) method of data analysis was used in this study for data analysis. According to the findings of the study, brand personality, customer satisfaction, consumer lifestyle, marketing innovation, and consumer changing value perception all have a significant impact on brand equity. The significant framework of this study is a contribution to the body of knowledge as it describes the significant relationship between different variables critical for brand equity development. Furthermore, this study provides business implications for brands working in Pakistan to improve brand equity with realistic results to influence the consumers for brand equity.
Molecularly Imprinted Nanoparticles towards MMP9 for Controlling Cardiac ECM after Myocardial Infarction: A Predictive Experimental-Computational Chemistry Investigation

The recent advances in nanotechnology are revolutionizing preventive and therapeutic approaches to treating cardiovascular diseases. Controlling the extracellular matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation and expression in the failing human left ventricular myocardium represents a significant therapeutic target for heart disease. In this study, we used molecularly imprinting polymers (MIPs) to restore the correct balance between MMPs and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs), and explored the potential of this technique exhaustively through chemical synthesis, physicochemical and biological characterizations, and computational chemistry methods. By molecular dynamics simulations based on classical force fields, we simulated the early stages of the imprinting process in solution disclosing the pivotal interaction established between the monomers and the MMP9 protein template. The average interaction energies of methacrylic acid (MAA) and poly (ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate (PEG) units were in the ranges 17–22 and 30–37 kcal/mol, respectively. At low coverage, the PEG monomers seemed firmly anchored to the protein surface and were not displaced by water, while only about 20% of MAA was replaced by water. The synthesis of MIPs was successfully with a monomer conversion higher than 99% and the production of spherical particles with average diameter of 344 ± 33 nm. HPLC analysis showed a specific recognition factor of MMP9 on MIPs of about 1.3. FT-IR Chemical Imaging confirmed the mechanisms necessary to generate a “selective memory” of the MIPs towards the enzyme. HPLC results indicated that the rebound amount of both TIMP1 and MMP2 to MIPs is lower than that of the template, showing a selectivity factor of 2.1 and 2.3, respectively. Preliminary tests on the effect of MIPs on H9C2 cells revealed that this treatment has no cytotoxic effects.
Cost-Effectiveness of an Organized Lung Cancer Screening Program for Asbestos-Exposed Subjects

Simple Summary Lung cancer screening experiments in smokers are underway in Europe, and data in populations with other risk factors for lung cancer, such as asbestos exposure, are expected. Our original article yielded a cost-effectiveness analysis of a lung cancer screening program in a population exposed to asbestos, based on the data from National Lung Cancer Screening trial and a French asbestos-exposed cohort (ARDCO cohort). Individual data from 14,218 subjects in the ARDCO cohort, followed for 20 years (2002–2022), have allowed several screening models to be established according to exposure level, smoking status and presence of radiological signs of asbestos exposure. For the whole cohort, an annual screening programme is not cost-effective, while screening every 2 years for smokers with high asbestos-exposure and subjects with asbestosis is cost-effective. This analysis has never been reported in the literature and could help in the establishment of inclusion criteria for future experiments in this population. Abstract Background: The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) and NELSON study opened the debate on the relevance of lung cancer (LC) screening in subjects exposed to occupational respiratory carcinogens. This analysis reported the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) of an organized LC screening program for an asbestos-exposed population. Methods: Using Markov modelization, individuals with asbestos exposure were either monitored without intervention or annual low-dose thoracic computed-tomography (LDTCT) scan LC screening. LC incidence came from a prospective observational cohort of subjects with occupational asbestos exposure. The intervention parameters were those of the NLST study. Utilities and LC-management costs came from published reports. A sensitivity analysis evaluated different screening strategies. Results: The respective quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gain, supplementary costs and ICER [95% confidence interval] were: 0.040 [0.010–0.065] QALY, 6900 [3700–11,800] € and 170,000 [75,000–645,000] €/QALY for all asbestos-exposed subjects; and 0.144 [0.071–0.216] QALY, 13,000 [5700–26,800] € and 90,000 [35,000–276,000] €/QALY for smokers with high exposure. When screening was based on biennial LDTCT scans, the ICER was 45,000 [95% CI: 15,000–116,000] €/QALY. Conclusions: Compared to the usual ICER thresholds, biennial LDTCT scan LC screening for smokers with high occupational exposure to asbestos is acceptable and preferable to annual scans.
Banking Sector Development and Economic Growth in Nepal: Test of Cointegration

This paper examined the causal relationship between banking sector development and economic growth in Nepal using annual time series data from 1975 to 2019. The per capita real GDP growth rate is taken as the proxy of economic growth. Private sector credit is used as the indicator of banking sector development and inflation, trade openness, and government spending as control variables. Using the Johansen cointegration test and vector error correction method (VECM) in regression analysis, the study reveals that the development of the banking sector in Nepal is positively contributing to economic growth through efficient allocation of financial resources. The findings from this study conclude that there is a unidirectional causality running from banking sector development to economic growth in the long run, which supports the supply-leading hypothesis. However, this study found no support for causality running from economic growth to banking sector development neither in the long run nor in the short run. Therefore, the findings from this study recommend policies that increase the reach of the banking services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and individual investors, even in the rural areas of the country.
Knowledge Sharing Co-operative Structures: The Case of WikiProjects

The effects of cooperation that may be observed based on voluntary activities of a global institution online like Wikipedia illustrate the social potential arising from the spontaneous need for activity. The basic activity of a Wikipedia user by way of assumption comes down to the creation of verbal content. The maintenance of high quality in the contents presented through controlling their verifiability is already a multi-faceted form of cooperation. The quintessence of such cooperation is the organization of Wikipedia users around internal WikiProjects. The research presented in the paper aimed to verify the magnitude of WikiProjects from the viewpoint of the number of users of Wikipedia, the most frequent number of participants of WikiProjects, and their compliance with the numeracy of groups and communities in the notion of Dunbar. Moreover, it was assumed that the number of WikiProjects in a given language version, while also the number of their participants is associated with the indicator of individualism-collectivism (IDV) according to Hofstede. The method applied was the analysis of entries of the activities in WikiProjects, as well as the number of their participants. The research has shown that WikiProjects, as groups of Wikipedians working as a team, show a similarity to the layered community formation proposed by Dunbar. A positive correlation was also found between IDV and the number of WikiProjects for individual language versions. A high IDV mainly relates to countries with a high GDP per capita. In these countries, we are dealing with a developed IT infrastructure. The high level of participation in WikiProjects with a high IDV may also be motivated by the desire to build user’s position, as well as the desire to have an impact on the community as individuals. WikiProjects may fulfil the function of clubs, in which participants may try to build their autonomy in terms of activities to a certain extent, regardless of the entire system in which they operate. WikiProjects as a group of Wikipedia users working as a team indicate the similarity to the tiered creation of communities proposed by Dunbar.
New Perspectives for Knowledge Management in Inter-Organizational Networks and Relations in Agribusiness

Inter-organizational networks appear in the literature as an alternative to collaborative arrangements to help the agribusiness sector in obtaining a competitive advantage and for the promotion of innovation. Obtaining complementary knowledge is one of the main reasons for the emergence of these networks. In this way, knowledge management can help in the creation and transfer of knowledge in a collaborative way between the network participants. However, there is a gap in the literature when it comes to studies of inter-organizational relations and knowledge management, especially in relation to networks in the agribusiness sector. In this context, the present study aims to deepen the studies by addressing: a) how scientific research has worked on networks and inter-organizational relations in agribusiness; and b) the role of KM as an element of viability of this arrangement model. In order to answer these questions, a literature review was carried out through a systematic search in the databases Web of Science and Scopus, in order to verify how the researches are discussing the topic. As a result, the potential contribution of intensifying studies involving KM as an element of enhancing the capabilities of inter-organizational network participants is highlighted, and that the absorptive capacity presents itself as an important theory to explain how organizations manage to explore new innovative knowledge.
A theory of gravity as a pressure force. II. Lorentz contraction and "relativistic" effects

In a foregoing paper, gravity has been interpreted as the pressure force exerted on matter at the scale of elementary particles by a perfect fluid. Under the condition that Newtonian gravity must be recovered in the incompressible case, a scalar field equation has thus been proposed for gravity, giving a new theory in the compressible case. Here the theory is reinterpreted so as to describe the relativistic effects, by extending the Lorentz-Poincare interpretation of special relativity which is first recalled. Gravitational space-contraction and time-dilatation are postulated, as a consequence of the principle of local equivalence between the effects of motion and gravitation. The space-time metric (expressing the proper time along a trajectory) is hence curved also in the proposed theory. As the result of a modified Newton law, it is proved that free test particles follow geodesic lines of this metric. In the spherical static situation, Schwarzschild's exterior metric is exactly recovered and with it the experimental support of general relativity, but the interior solution as well as the problematic of singularities are different in the proposed theory, e.g. the radius of the body cannot be smaller than the Schwarzschild radius.