Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of fascia iliaca compartment block combined with ropivacaine on post-operative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture repair

Objective: To explore the effect of fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) in combination with ropivacaine on post-operative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture (HF) repair. Methods: Retrospective analysis included data of 111 elderly patients who underwent HF surgery with FICB in Changxing County People’s Hospital from October 2018 to October 2022. Observation group received 0.25% ropivacaine combined with FICB (n=52), and the control group was administered an intravenous injection of parecoxib sodium (n=59). Baseline characteristics of the patients, and indexes such as mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, were collected at one-, six-, 12- and 24-hours past surgery, both at rest and after passive movement. Results: VAS scores, MAP and HR at rest and after a passive movement in both groups were comparable before the surgery. VAS sores were significantly lower in the observation group at one-, six-, 12- and 24-hours after the surgery (P<0.05). Postoperative MAP in the observation group (80.83 ± 8.31) was significantly lower compared to the control group (95.29 ± 8.45 (t = -9.0659, p < 0.0001). Similarly, HR of the observation group was significantly lower one-hour post-surgery both at rest (t = -2.0468, p = 0.0431) and after passive movement (t = -6.0625, p < 0.001), and at all subsequent time intervals after the passive movement (P<0.05). Conclusions: Ropivacaine combined with FICB was associated with improved post-operative outcomes such as lower post-surgery VAS scores, MAP and HR compared to the intravenous injection of parecoxib sodium.
Tophaceous Drop Not to be Ignored Before Periarticular Tumors: About A Case

Tophaceous gout is a chronic disease related to the metabolism of uric acid. It develops after several years of evolution often 10 to 30 years of an undiagnosed or untreated gouty disease [1]. It is characterized by the appearance of sodium urate deposits in soft tissues (tophi) and kidney (uratic nephropathies) [2-6]. It remains in the male subject of more than 40 years the most frequent inflammatory rheumatism [7]. In western countries it is estimated that 1-2% of adults are affected by gout [8]. In Africa very few data exist on the subject [1]. It is observed especially in patients who do not follow the treatment correctly. High levels of uric acid, high blood pressure (hypertension), obesity, diuretic intake, age, kidney failure, a familial notion of gout and alcohol are the main risk factors to develop a gouty disease [3]. The lesions are frequently located in the ears, fingers, elbows and ankles near the joints. All causes of hyperuricemia may be responsible for gout tophacee [8,9]. The tophus is a subcutaneous mass, yellowish-white in color, of firm consistency, and of variable size. It can ulcerate leaving dull a whitish chalky porridge. The classical sites are helix, anthelix, retro-olecranon and pre-patellar stock exchanges, the dorsal surface of the metacarpophalangeal joints and the tendons of the ankle. These tophi are sometimes responsible for tendonitis resulting in tendon ruptures. We thus report a case of tophaceous gout long treated as a joint tumor.
Changes in patterns of biodiversity of marine mollusks along the Brazilian coast during the late Holocene inferred from shell-mound (sambaquis) data

An archaeological dimension expands the concept of biodiversity by generating long-term perspectives, combining multiple approaches and methodologies to enhance understanding of environmental changes. Aiming to investigate the patterns of biodiversity of marine mollusks over time, a comparison was made between three sets of archaeological sites (shellmounds) located in three geographic areas of the south-southeastern Brazilian coast. Sites dated between 1000–2000 and 4000–5000 yr BP were analyzed. A total of 37 bivalves and 26 gastropods were recorded. To describe the malacological community two indices of taxonomic diversity were used: average taxonomic distinctness and variation in taxonomic distinctness. The results showed a tendency of reduction in biodiversity patterns in the last 5000 years measured as average taxonomic distinctness. The observed reduction in biodiversity does not seem to be directly related to climate change over the period and there is a lack of data which could demonstrate any association between reduction in biodiversity and cultural causes such as preferences, technical level or food taboos of the prehistoric human populations. On the other hand, changes in sea level during this period are well documented and have been responsible for dramatic changes along the coast of this region. Therefore, it is likely that it could have affected local biodiversity and caused the observed pattern.
Cellular Alterations Due to Direct and Indirect Interaction of Nanomaterials with Nucleic Acids

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) represents the main reservoir of genetic information in the cells, which is why it is protected in the nucleus. Entry into the nucleus is, in general, difficult, as the nuclear membrane is a selective barrier to molecules longer than 40 kDa. However, in some cases, the size of certain nanoparticles (NPs) allows their internalization into the nucleus, thus causing a direct effect on the DNA structure. NPs can also induce indirect effects on DNA through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In this context, nanomaterials are emerging as a disruptive tool for the development of novel therapies in a broad range of biomedical fields; although their effect on cell viability is commonly studied, further interactions with DNA or indirect alterations triggered by the internalization of these materials are not always clarified, since the small size of these materials makes them perfectly suitable for interaction with subcellular structures, such as the nucleus. In this context, and using as a reference the predicted interactions presented in a computational model, we describe and discuss the observed direct and indirect effects of the implicated nanomaterials on DNA.
Efficient Embedded Fixed-Point Direction of Arrival Method

Radio direction finding, traditionally used for localizing radio signal sources, has been adapted for Bluetooth to enable indoor localization of wireless devices. This adaptation is particularly relevant for achieving accurate indoor localization within Internet-of-Things (IoT) networks, especially in battery-powered and resource-limited embedded systems. However, the intricacies of implementing direction of arrival (DOA) methods in such systems, notably those lacking a floating-point unit (FPU), present significant computational challenges. This article addresses these challenges by introducing an innovative fixed-point DOA method, rooted in the estimation of signal parameters via rotation invariance techniques (ESPRIT). Diverging from traditional complex eigenvalue decomposition, our approach employs a simpler power method for DOA estimation and phase offset compensation, utilizing a straightforward trigonometric equation. It also integrates an improved carrier frequency estimator, also based on ESPRIT, which is tens of times more accurate than the conventional method of averaging phase differences. We conducted bare-metal level experiments on an nRF52840 system on chip to evaluate execution time, memory footprint, angle accuracy, and energy consumption. The fixed-point implementation demonstrated an execution time of 2.3 ms and an energy consumption of just 0.348 nWh. These figures represent a 5.9-fold increase in energy efficiency and a 4.4-fold improvement in speed compared to the conventional software-based floating-point approach while maintaining an angle accuracy ranging from nearly 2° to under 0.5°, depending on the signal-to-noise ratio. However, in IoT devices equipped with an FPU, the hardware-based floating-point technique still edges out, being 0.8 ms faster and slightly more energy efficient at 0.319 nWh.
Comprehensive evaluation of antiacne properties: HPLC analysis of crude extract from Aloe buettneri leaves against Cutibacterium acnes-induced acne

The hydroethanolic extract of Aloe buettneri was assessed for its anti-acne activity in a Cutibacterium acnes -induced acne model in rats as part of this study. Conventional therapies for acne often entail serious side effects. Total phenols, quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, were found to be at a concentration of 16 ± 0.3 mg GAE/g, while total flavonoids, determined using the aluminum chloride method, were measured at 2.83 ± 0.5 mg QE/g. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques identified four polysaccharidic flavonoids in the extract: protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, homo-orientin, and ferulic acid. In the acne-induced rat model, the disease group exhibited increased ear thickness, rectal temperature, and MDA level, along with a decrease in glutathione level (###p < 0.001). However, significant improvement in these parameters was observed after 12 days of topical treatment (***p < 0.001). The identified molecules in the A. buettneri extract, including protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, homo-orientin, and ferulic acid, may contribute to the observed anti-acne properties.
Vulnerability of the Hippocampus to Insults: Links to Blood–Brain Barrier Dysfunction

The hippocampus is a critical brain substrate for learning and memory; events that harm the hippocampus can seriously impair mental and behavioral functioning. Hippocampal pathophysiologies have been identified as potential causes and effects of a remarkably diverse array of medical diseases, psychological disorders, and environmental sources of damage. It may be that the hippocampus is more vulnerable than other brain areas to insults that are related to these conditions. One purpose of this review is to assess the vulnerability of the hippocampus to the most prevalent types of insults in multiple biomedical domains (i.e., neuroactive pathogens, neurotoxins, neurological conditions, trauma, aging, neurodegenerative disease, acquired brain injury, mental health conditions, endocrine disorders, developmental disabilities, nutrition) and to evaluate whether these insults affect the hippocampus first and more prominently compared to other brain loci. A second purpose is to consider the role of hippocampal blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown in either causing or worsening the harmful effects of each insult. Recent research suggests that the hippocampal BBB is more fragile compared to other brain areas and may also be more prone to the disruption of the transport mechanisms that act to maintain the internal milieu. Moreover, a compromised BBB could be a factor that is common to many different types of insults. Our analysis indicates that the hippocampus is more vulnerable to insults compared to other parts of the brain, and that developing interventions that protect the hippocampal BBB may help to prevent or ameliorate the harmful effects of many insults on memory and cognition.
Deep Vein Thrombosis Prophylaxis in Orthopedic Surgery

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a complex and multifactorial process arising from a variety of factors, including recent surgical procedures, traumatic events, and periods of prolonged immobility. The extended period of stasis post-orthopedic surgery places patients at a notably high risk of developing DVT, and DVT-related pulmonary embolism (PE) ranks as the third most common cause of death in orthopedic surgery patients. This review examines the multifaceted risk factors contributing to the development of DVT in orthopedic patients. Additionally, it addresses the importance of DVT prophylaxis in orthopedic settings, the efficacy and safety of various prophylactic methods encompassing both mechanical and pharmacological approaches, and the economic dimensions of DVT prophylaxis, including scrutiny of cost-effectiveness and the exploration of strategies for optimization.
Multidecadal wind‐driven shifts in northwest Pacific temperature, salinity, O2, and PO4

The North Pacific gyre boundaries are characterized by stark contrasts in physical and biogeochemical properties. Meridional movement of gyre boundaries, influenced by climate change, can therefore exert a large influence not only on marine ecosystems but also on climate. We examine the evidence for wind‐driven southward shifts in subsurface temperature, salinity, PO4, and O2 within the northwest Pacific from the 1950s to the 2000s. Gyre boundary shifts can explain 30–60% of temperature and salinity trends zonally averaged in the northwest Pacific and observed PO4 and O2 trends along the 137°E and 144°E meridians. The close tie between the wind‐driven shifts in gyre boundaries and the tracer distributions is further supported by results from an eddy‐resolving (0.1° × 0.1°) Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory climate model, suggesting that the physical and biogeochemical properties averaged within the northwest Pacific gyre boundaries closely follow the latitude changes of the zero Sverdrup stream function with lags of 0 to 3 years. The gyre shift effect on tracer distribution is poorly represented in a coarse resolution (1° × 1°) model due partly to poor representations of fronts and eddies. This study suggests that future changes in northwest Pacific PO4 and O2 content may depend not only on ocean temperature and stratification but also on the ocean gyre response to winds.
Marginal changes in the linear relationship of ENSO‐PDO in the CMIP5 RCP4.5 scenario

Kwon et al. (2013) recently reported that the linear relationship of the El Niño Southern Oscillation‐Pacific Decadal Oscillation (ENSO‐PDO) increased significantly from the present climate to a warmer climate using the Climate Model Inter‐comparison Project Phase 3 (CMIP3) multi‐model datasets. We conducted the same analysis in the CMIP5 Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 scenario in which the increase of the atmospheric CO2 concentration from the present climate to the future climate is slightly smaller than that in the CMIP3. It is found that the linear relationship of the ENSO‐PDO marginally increases in the CMIP5 RCP4.5. Our further analysis indicated that the composited sea surface temperature (SST) for the in‐phase ENSO‐PDO occurrence changes slightly in terms of its spatial structure in the equatorial Pacific from the present climate to the CMIP5 RCP4.5 in comparison to that in the CMIP3. Furthermore, there is little systematic change in the anomalous precipitation in the western‐to‐central equatorial Pacific from the present climate to the CMIP5 RCP4.5, which was in contrast to the results in the CMIP3. Concurrently, the intensification of the ENSO's associated atmospheric circulation over the North Pacific, which is associated with the increase in the ENSO‐PDO linear relationship, is smaller from the present climate to the CMIP5 RCP4.5 than in the CMIP3. In addition, it is also found that the ENSO‐PDO linear relationship little changes from the present climate to the CMIP5 RCP8.5, indicating that the changes in the ENSO‐PDO linear relationship might be non‐linear in a warmer climate.
WRBSNet: A Novel Sea–Land Segmentation Network With a Wider Range of Batch Sizes

Based on the high-resolution remote sensing images and deep learning models, more and more detailed spatial information around the coastlines can be extracted automatically nowadays. As so far, most of the sea–land segmentation networks choose batch normalization (BN) as the normalization layer. However, the accuracy of segmentation results is easily affected by the batch size, and the error increases markedly when the batch size is small. Aiming at this problem, this letter proposes a new sea–land segmentation network wider range of batch sizes (WRBSNet) using the XBNBlockGN_P2 module. We also construct a high-resolution sea–land segmentation dataset to evaluate the performance of the WRBSNet under different batch sizes. Experiments show that the WRBSNet has a wider available range of batch sizes and also has a better performance. When the batch size is 2, the aAcc, mIoU, and mAcc of WRBSNet’s optimal segmentation results can reach more than 0.89, and when the batch size is 4, 8, and 16, the corresponding three metrics can reach 0.97.
COVID-19 Distribution in Pregnancy, Drug Use Patterns and COVID-19 Medication during the Pandemic in Spain: Data from Real-World Electronic Health Records

Although pregnant women were considered a risk population for COVID-19, little is known of their drug use during the pandemic. We aimed to investigate COVID-19 distribution, drug use patterns and COVID-19 medication. We conducted a retrospective cohort of validated pregnancies aged 15–49 years, from January 2020 to December 2022, using the BIFAP database. An identified cohort of pregnant women with COVID-19 was matched by age, gestational age, length of pregnancy and outcome to a cohort free of COVID-19 (8413 vs. 24,975). We performed a descriptive analysis on COVID-19 cases, estimated the drug use patterns and assessed COVID-19-specific drugs within the week prior/after diagnosis, stratified by pandemic wave and gestational week. The results showed that 72% of pregnant women with COVID-19 received at least one prescription vs. 66.6% of those free of COVID-19, with analgesics, antibiotics and thyroid hormones being the most prescribed drugs in both groups. In the COVID-19 group, they were antithrombotics (40 prescriptions per 100 women), analgesic/NSAIDs (19.64/6.29) and antibiotics (6.95). COVID-19 cases gradually increased, peaking at the fifth and second waves. Prescription rates were similar when compared to pre-pandemic studies. The use of drugs compatible with COVID-19 treatments was in line with recommendations.
Hypervirulent Capsular Serotypes K1 and K2 Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains Demonstrate Resistance to Serum Bactericidal Activity and Galleria mellonella Lethality

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) is a variant that has been increasingly linked to severe, life-threatening infections including pyogenic liver abscess and bloodstream infections. HvKps belonging to the capsular serotypes K1 and K2 have been reported worldwide, however, very scarce studies are available on their genomics and virulence. In the current study, we report four hypermucoviscous extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing hvKp clinical strains of capsular serotype K1 and K2 isolated from pus and urine of critically ill patients in tertiary care hospitals in Oman. These strains belong to diverse sequence types (STs), namely ST-23(K1), ST-231(K2), ST-881(K2), and ST-14(K2). To study their virulence, a Galleria mellonella model and resistance to human serum killing were used. The G. mellonella model revealed that the K1/ST-23 isolate was the most virulent, as 50% of the larvae died in the first day, followed by isolate K2/ST-231 and K2/ST-14, for which 75% and 50% of the larvae died in the second day, respectively. Resistance to human serum killing showed there was complete inhibition of bacterial growth of all four isolates by the end of the first hour and up to the third hour. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) revealed that hvKp strains display a unique genetic arrangement of k-loci. Whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that these hvKp isolates were phylogenetically distinct, belonging to diverse clades, and belonged to different STs in comparison to global isolates. For ST-23(K1), ST-231(K2), ST-881(K2), and ST-14(K2), there was a gradual decrease in the number of colonies up to the second to third hour, which indicates neutralization of bacterial cells by the serum components. However, this was followed by a sudden increase of bacterial growth, indicating possible resistance of bacteria against human serum bactericidal activity. This is the first report from Oman detailing the WGS of hvKp clinical isolates and assessing their resistance and virulence genomics, which reinforce our understanding of their epidemiology and dissemination in clinical settings.
Aphid Resistance Segregates Independently of Cardenolide and Glucosinolate Content in an Erysimum cheiranthoides (Wormseed Wallflower) F2 Population

Plants in the genus Erysimum produce both glucosinolates and cardenolides as a defense mechanism against herbivory. Two natural isolates of Erysimum cheiranthoides (wormseed wallflower) differed in their glucosinolate content, cardenolide content, and their resistance to Myzus persicae (green peach aphid), a broad generalist herbivore. Both classes of defensive metabolites were produced constitutively and were not further induced by aphid feeding. To investigate the relative importance of glucosinolates and cardenolides in E. cheiranthoides defense, we generated an improved genome assembly, genetic map, and segregating F2 population. The genotypic and phenotypic analysis of the F2 plants identified quantitative trait loci, which affected glucosinolates and cardenolides, but not the aphid resistance. The abundance of most glucosinolates and cardenolides was positively correlated in the F2 population, indicating that similar processes regulate their biosynthesis and accumulation. Aphid reproduction was positively correlated with glucosinolate content. Although the overall cardenolide content had little effect on aphid growth and survival, there was a negative correlation between aphid reproduction and helveticoside abundance. However, this variation in defensive metabolites could not explain the differences in aphid growth on the two parental lines, suggesting that processes other than the abundance of glucosinolates and cardenolides have a predominant effect on aphid resistance in E. cheiranthoides.
Circulating Myokines as Novel Biomarkers for Cardiovascular Diseases

Myokines are a group of cytokines or polypeptides released from skeletal muscle during exercise. Growing evidence suggests that myokines are associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Moreover, several myokines in peripheral blood exhibit dynamic changes in different CVD stages. This review summarizes the potential roles of myokines such as myostatin, irisin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, mitsugumin 53, meteorin-like, and apelin in various CVD, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, atherosclerosis, hypertension
Helminthosis in Livestock Slaughtered in Dei-Dei Abattoir, F.C.T Abuja

A survey of helminthes parasites associated with 1002 goats and sheep slaughtered at Dei-Dei abattoir was carried out between the months of September 2012 to March 2013. Six different parasites species were encountered with their prevalence namely, Taenia sp. (119; 11.88%), Ascaris sp. (118; 11.78%), Hookworm (179; 17.86%), Trichostrogylus (103; 10.28%), Hymenlopsis sp. (18; 1.80%) and Trichiuris sp. (15; 1.50%). A total of 552 animals (55.09%) infected. Out of the 552 positive cases 266 (48.19%) were sheep and 286 (51.81%) were goats and173 (31.34%) were male and 379 (68.66%) were females. There was no statistical significant relationship (P >0.05) between infection and type of animal slaughtered. However, there was significant statistical relationship (P <0.05) between infection and sex of animal slaughtered, with females having a higher infection rate than males. There was also significant statistical relationship (P <0.05) between infection and age of animal slaughtered. There was also significant statistical relationship (P <0.05) between infection and the month which the animals were slaughtered.