Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
POST-OPERATIVE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT ADMISSION FOR ELECTIVE BRAIN TUMOUR SURGERIES: A NIGERIAN NEUROSURGICAL UNIT EXPERIENCE

Background: Patients, post elective brain tumour surgeries, are usually admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for quick identification of life-threatening complications or for elective ventilation. The Covid-19 pandemic exerted additional strain on the limited ICU spaces. This study was to probe the need for ICU admission following elective surgery for brain tumour in our environment on the background of enormous constraints. Methods: Data was collected prospectively from patients who had elective brain tumour surgery over 12-months at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Data included the indications for ICU admission and outcome. Chi-square test and Student t-test were used for analysis at α ≤ 0.05. Results: There were 56 patients with a mean age of 44.6 years and M:F ratio of 1:1. 61.8% of the patients were admitted into the ICU for observation. Patients who had open surgeries were 2 times more likely to be admitted (p<0.01; OR = 2.2, CI: 2.0 - 36.8) than those who had endoscopic surgeries. Awake craniotomy patients did not require ICU care compared with the 63% of the patients who had General Anaesthesia + Endo Tracheal Tube (GA+ETT). Patients with skull base and posterior fossa tumours were more likely to be admitted into the ICU (p=0.036). Of the 34 patients admitted into the ICU, 11(19.6%) had prolonged ICU stay and were 2 times more likely to die compared with those with short admissions (p<0.01; OR = 2.5, CI: 2.29 - 70.02). Conclusion: Observation is the main reason patients are admitted into the ICU. The endoscopic and awake surgery approaches appear to preclude the need for ICU admission, thus capable of cutting costs.
Analyzing campaign's outcome in reward-based crowdfunding

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to probe how reward-based crowdfunding campaigns accomplish their goal by adopting the theoretical constructs of social capital dimensions: structural, cognitive and relational. Design/methodology/approach The approach used is a design model for concluded campaigns in a Mexican crowdfunding platform, which determines social capital from operating social networks (Facebook and Twitter). By using this model, the associations between the dimensions are revealed, verifying how social capital flourishes during the campaign and how it alters the campaign’s outcome. Findings The findings demonstrate how social interaction through a wide social network (structural dimension), shared vision and values among entrepreneurs and their potential funders (cognitive dimension), and the development of trustworthiness within the campaign (relational dimension) boost the probability of achieving the crowdfunding goal. Research limitations/implications The results inform researchers on how social capital is forged from social networks during a crowdfunding campaign. However, the method must be validated with other crowdfunding models and other social network platforms commonly used by campaign creators. Practical implications Contributions from this paper include tools (design model and evaluation method) associating theory with the crowdfunding mechanism, complementing previous work. Crowdfunding providers, as well as campaign creators, have now an approach to appraise social capital and obtain the desired goal. Originality/value In addition to providing much-needed research on the current state of crowdfunding, this paper analyzes the link between practice and theory, which can be valuable in confining the mechanism to an accurate theory and ensuring the theory’s longevity.
Emerging Tools and Techniques for Catheter Ablation of Cardiac Arrhythmias: A 2024 Update

5-French (Fr) externally irrigated ablation catheter designed to deliver RF energy via a 4.1-mm catheter-tip electrode. The tip consists of a composite electrode and two ring electrodes, both made of platinum–iridium. However, unique to the catheter’s design, the two-part composite ablation electrode tip is embedded with two industrial-grade diamonds interconnected at the distal electrode, which allow rapid heat shunting by virtue of their high thermal “diffusivity. ” This permits accurate temperature estimation along the entire length of the electrode. There are three surface thermocouples at the distal end and three at the proximal end to monitor the tip–tissue interface temperature during irrigated RF ablation. In addition, the tip is electrically insulated to allow for high-resolution electrogram sensing. B: The 8-Fr, contact force–enabled, 3.5-mm-tip, QDOT catheter-tip design is shown, highlighting the microelectrodes and the six thermocouples. The biophysical parameters of the catheter include a 2-s pre-cooling phase, followed by a 4-s high-power (90 W), short-duration RF ablation. C: The 9-Fr, open-irrigated SMT (Sirona Medical Technologies) RF ablation catheter consists of a central electrode measuring 2.3 × 4 mm that is surrounded by four peripheral electrodes. The insulated-tip design is intended to block the path of RF energy into the bloodstream and the surrounding tissue in order to focus a greater magnitude of the delivered energy into the targeted tissue.
Gamma oscillation plasticity is mediated via parvalbumin interneurons

Understanding the plasticity of neuronal networks is an emerging field of (patho-) physiological research, yet the underlying cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Gamma oscillations (30 to 80 hertz), a biomarker of cognitive performance, require and potentiate glutamatergic transmission onto parvalbumin-positive interneurons (PVIs), suggesting an interface for cell-to-network plasticity. In ex vivo local field potential recordings, we demonstrate long-term potentiation of hippocampal gamma power. Gamma potentiation obeys established rules of PVI plasticity, requiring calcium-permeable AMPA receptors (CP-AMPARs) and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). A microcircuit computational model of CA3 gamma oscillations predicts CP-AMPAR plasticity onto PVIs critically outperforms pyramidal cell plasticity in increasing gamma power and completely accounts for gamma potentiation. We reaffirm this ex vivo in three PVI-targeting animal models, demonstrating that gamma potentiation requires PVI-specific signaling via a Gq/PKC pathway comprising mGluR5 and a Gi-sensitive, PKA-dependent pathway. Gamma activity–dependent, metabotropically mediated CP-AMPAR plasticity on PVIs may serve as a guiding principle in understanding network plasticity in health and disease.
Quantitative somatosensory assessments in patients with persistent pain following groin hernia repair: A systematic review with a meta-analytical approach

Objectives Quantitative sensory testing (QST) provides an assessment of cutaneous and deep tissue sensitivity and pain perception under normal and pathological settings. Approximately 2–4% of individuals undergoing groin hernia repair (GHR) develop severe persistent postsurgical pain (PPSP). The aims of this systematic review of PPSP-patients were (1) to retrieve and methodologically characterize the available QST literature and (2) to explore the role of QST in understanding mechanisms underlying PPSP following GHR. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted from JAN-1992 to SEP-2022 in PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. For inclusion, studies had to report at least one QST-modality in patients with PPSP. Risk of bias assessment of the studies was conducted utilizing the Newcastle Ottawa Scale and Cochrane’s Risk of Bias assessment tool 2.0. The review provided both a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the results. A random effects model was used for meta-analysis. Results Twenty-five studies were included (5 randomized controlled trials, 20 non-randomized controlled trials). Overall, risk of bias was low. Compared with the contralateral side or controls, there were significant alterations in somatosensory function of the surgical site in PPSP-patients. Following thresholds were significantly increased: mechanical detection thresholds for punctate stimuli (mean difference (95% CI) 3.3 (1.6, 6.9) mN (P = 0.002)), warmth detection thresholds (3.2 (1.6, 4.7) °C (P = 0.0001)), cool detection thresholds (-3.2 (-4.9, -1.6) °C (P = 0.0001)), and heat pain thresholds (1.9 (1.1, 2.7) °C (P = 0.00001)). However, the pressure pain thresholds were significantly decreased (-76 (-123, -30) kPa (P = 0.001)). Conclusion Our review demonstrates a plethora of methods used regarding outcome assessments, data processing, and data interpretation. From a pathophysiological perspective, the most consistent findings were postsurgical cutaneous deafferentation and development of a pain generator in deeper connective tissues. Trial registration CRD42022331750.
Leg length discrepancy should be assessed based on the whole length of the lower limb in patients with osteoarthritis secondary to developmental dysplasia of the hip

Aims This study aimed to investigate the incidence of ≥ 5 mm asymmetry in lower and whole leg lengths (LLs) in patients with unilateral osteoarthritis (OA) secondary to developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH-OA) and primary hip osteoarthritis (PHOA), and the relationship between lower and whole LL asymmetries and femoral length asymmetry. Methods In total, 116 patients who underwent unilateral total hip arthroplasty were included in this study. Of these, 93 had DDH-OA and 23 had PHOA. Patients with DDH-OA were categorized into three groups: Crowe grade I, II/III, and IV. Anatomical femoral length, femoral length greater trochanter (GT), femoral length lesser trochanter (LT), tibial length, foot height, lower LL, and whole LL were evaluated using preoperative CT data of the whole leg in the supine position. Asymmetry was evaluated in the Crowe I, II/III, IV, and PHOA groups. Results The incidences of whole and lower LL asymmetries were 40%, 62.5%, 66.7%, and 26.1%, and 21.7%, 20.8%, 55.6%, and 8.7% in the Crowe I, II/III, and IV, and PHOA groups, respectively. The incidence of tibial length asymmetry was significantly higher in the Crowe IV group (44.4%) than that in the PHOA group (4.4%). In all, 50% of patients with DDH-OA with femoral length GT and LT asymmetries had lower LL asymmetry, and 75% had whole LL asymmetry. The incidences of lower and whole LL asymmetries were 20% and 42.9%, respectively, even in the absence of femoral length GT and LT asymmetries. Conclusion Overall, 43% of patients with unilateral DDH-OA without femoral length asymmetry had whole LL asymmetry of ≥ 5 mm. Thus, both the femur length and whole LL should be measured to accurately assess LL discrepancy in patients with unilateral DDH-OA. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(2):79–86.
ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES USING SUNFLOWER HUSK, RICE HUSK AND THEIR ASHES

CO2 is produce that contribute 4% of total CO2 emission in global.During production of one ton of cement one ton CO 2 is emitted, half of the CO 2 from the chemical process of cement production, 40% from burning fuel, and the remaining 10% is split between transportation and electricity use. A study was conducted in the Global worries of sustainability in construction engineering and to extend the use of bushed aggregates in concrete production contribute towards bettering are minimizing the problems. Pakistan is rich in sunflower and rice production. Cement was replaced with different levels of rice husk, sunflower seed husk and their ashes with the proportions 10%, 20% and 30% of each. The aim of this research work was to find the workability properties of concrete and mortar by using rice husk and sunflower seed husk and their ashes in the respect of low cost and environment friendly structures for the rural areas of Pakistan and to workout strength properties and the variation pattern due to mixing in different proportions for different tests such as slump test, compressive and tensile strength were performed after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days curing. The results showed that when 10% of rice husk ash and sunflower seed husk ash was used the compressive and tensile strength of concrete and mortar increased with increase of curing time. While at 20% and 30% proportions there was decrease in strength and, when rice husk and sunflower seed husk was used there was a descending trend in strength along with decease in weight. However, the cost was reduced more in 20% and 30% replacement of ashes but their strength and workability was also decreased. Such construction material might be used in lightweight constructions like farm structures.
Effects of repetitive baseball throwing on hip muscle strength and trunk and pelvic motions at the shoulder’s maximum external rotation position during the late cocking phase and ball release

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the changes in the trunk and pelvic lateral tilt angles at the shoulder’s maximum external rotation during the late cocking phase (MER) and ball release (BR) and hip muscle strength during repetitive throwing. [Participants and Methods] In this study, 12 male baseball players participated. During the throwing, which was filmed using a high-speed video camera, the trunk and pelvic lateral tilt angles toward the nonthrowing side were measured at the MER and BR. Hip muscle strength during abduction, adduction, and external internal rotations were measured on the throwing and nonthrowing sides. Repetitive throwing was performed for nine innings, with 15 pitches per inning. Throwing motion was compared during innings 1, 7, 8, and 9. Hip muscle strength was measured before and after repetitive throwing. [Results] Compared with the trunk lateral tilt angle toward the nonthrowing side at BR in inning 1, the angle in innings 8 and 9 increased. The strength of hip abduction, adduction, and external and internal rotations on the throwing and nonthrowing sides decreased after repetitive throwing. [Conclusion] Hip muscle strength decreases after 135 pitches, and throwing >120 pitches changes the trunk lateral tilt angle at BR.
Detection of TEM and SHV genes in Escherichia coli and Klebseilla species isolated from cancer patients in Al-Diwaniya Governorate

The aim: Detection of some genes that encode to some extended spectrum beta-lactamase enzymes in E. coli and Klebseilla spp. isolates from colon and bladder cancer patients by using the phenotypic and genotypic method. Methods: A total of 61 stool and urine samples collected from 61 patients definitely and clinically diagnosed with cancer. All these isolates were identified by conventional methods and confirmed by VITEK-2 system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was determined using disk diffusion methods. Investigation of production of ESBL was done by DDST methods while screening of Î²-lactamase genes was done by PCR technique.Results: The study revealed that Klebsiella species and E. coli were detected in 17 (73.9 %) from urine samples, and 19 (73 %) from stool samples, the vast majority of isolates were found to be resistant to ÃŸ-lactam antibiotics (ampicillin and amoxicillin) in the primary screening test at percentage 19 (86.4 %) of E. coli isolates and 13 (92.8 %) Klebsiella spp. and all the tested isolates are resistant to a minimum of three classes of antibiotics to which they are tested, hence the isolates are considered to be multidrug resistant. the confirmative detection of ESBL by double disk synergy test showed that out of 32 Î²-lactam resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae examined in this study, ESBLs were detected in 9 (28.1 %) isolates. The results of molecular detection of ESBL genes (blaTEM and blaSHV) by using PCR technique showed that all the tested ESBL producing isolates were carried at least one of the ESBL genes SHV and (66.7 %), TEM (55.6 %). Conclusion: There is a high occurrence of the tow ESBL genes in clinical isolates of colon and bladder cancer patients.
Asynchrony in terrestrial insect abundance corresponds with species traits

Abstract Asynchrony in population abundance can buffer the effects of environmental change leading to greater community and ecosystem stability. Both environmental (abiotic) drivers and species functional (biotic) traits can influence population dynamics leading to asynchrony. However, empirical evidence linking dissimilarity in species traits to abundance asynchrony is limited, especially for understudied taxa such as insects. To fill this knowledge gap, we explored the relationship between pairwise species trait dissimilarity and asynchrony in interannual abundance change between pairs of species for 422 moth, butterfly, and bumblebee species in Great Britain. We also explored patterns differentiating traits that we assumed to capture ‘sensitivity to environmental variables’ (such as body mass), and traits that may reflect ‘diversity in exposure’ to environmental conditions and lead to niche partitioning (for example, habitat uses, and intra‐annual emergence periods). As expected, species trait dissimilarity calculated overall and for many individual traits representing response and exposure was positively correlated with asynchrony in all three insect groups. We found that ‘exposure’ traits, especially those relating to the phenology of species, had the strongest relationship with abundance asynchrony from all tested traits. Positive relationships were not simply due to shared evolutionary history leading to similar life‐history strategies: detected effects remained significant for most traits after accounting for phylogenetic relationships within models. Our results provide empirical support that dissimilarity in traits linked to species exposure and sensitivity to the environment could be important for temporal dissimilarity in insect abundance. Hence, we suggest that general trait diversity, but especially diversity in ‘exposure’ traits, could play a significant role in the resilience of insect communities to short‐term environmental perturbations through driving asynchrony between species abundances.
Effect of dietary methionine hydroxy analogue‐free acid (MHA‐FA) supplementation levels on growth performance, blood metabolites and immune responses in broiler chickens

Abstract Background Broiler diets are commonly supplemented by liquid methionine hydroxy analogue‐free acid (MHA‐FA) containing as product with 88% of active substance to meet sulphur amino acid (SAA) requirements. Objectives Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of different dietary MHA‐FA levels on growth performance, blood metabolites and immune responses in broilers. Methods In experiments 1 and 2, 432 and 360 male broilers were fed either a basal corn–soya bean meal diet that met the energy and nutrient requirements with the exception of SAAs or the basal diet supplemented with 5 graded levels of MHA‐FA (+0.9 and +0.8 g/kg), for 1–11 and 11–24‐day ages, respectively. Chicks were vaccinated with inactivated H9N2/Newcastle disease (ND) and live‐ND on days 5 and 11, respectively. Results Responses in both experiments had similar tendency at corresponding dietary MHA‐FA levels. By increasing dietary MHA‐FA level, weight gain (WG), feed efficiency (FE), relative breast weight (RBW) and immunity against ND and avian influenza virus inoculation improved with quadratic trend. Blood serum triglyceride, low‐density lipoprotein, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase concentration were affected in response to dietary MHA‐FA levels with quadratic trends. By using broken‐line regression analysis, the optimum dietary MHA‐FA levels for optimized WG, FE and RBW during 1–10‐day age were obtained at 2.20, 3.31 and 3.33 g/kg, respectively; based on MHA‐FA content of Met equivalent, the digestible SAA requirements were estimated 0.81%, 0.91% and 0.92%, respectively. Similarly, for the 11–24‐day age period, the optimum dietary MHA‐FA supplementation levels were obtained 1.79, 2.21, 2.41 and 2.53 g/kg, with the digestible SAA requirements estimated 0.75%, 0.79%, 0.80% and 0.81% for optimized WG, FE, RBW and immune responses, respectively. Conclusions Supplemental levels of MHA‐FA that optimize performance, breast meat and immunity in broilers fed corn–soya bean meal diet, varied from 0.18% to 0.33%, correspond to age and what traits are considered for optimization.
Adaptation and validation of the Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire (WEL) in a Chilean sample

Self-efficacy is a cognitive-emotional factor that is consistently associated with behavioral change and, in particular, with changes in health behavior. Eating self-efficacy, understood as adopting and maintaining behaviors such as controlling one’s weight and trusting in one’s ability to control one’s eating behavior, has been proposed for managing obesity. This study aimed to validate the Chilean version of the Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire (WEL) in a sample of adults from the general population. Four hundred sixty-nine individuals (69.08% women, mean age = 38.02; SD = 10.31) participated in the study. An instrumental design was used geared toward developing tests and psychometric instruments, including adapting existing ones. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. The instrument version validated in Spain was applied in the study. The analysis obtained an instrument of 11 items with adequate psychometric properties allowing its use in clinical and research settings. It can help assess eating self-efficacy in the general population.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the Brazilian maternal mortality ratio: A comparative analysis of Neural Networks Autoregression, Holt-Winters exponential smoothing, and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average models

Background and objectives The acute respiratory infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in increased mortality among pregnant, puerperal, and neonates. Brazil has the highest number of maternal deaths and a distressing fatality rate of 7.2%, more than double the country’s current mortality rate of 2.8%. This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Brazilian Maternal Mortality Ratio (BMMR) and forecasts the BMMR up to 2025. Methods To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the BMMR, we employed Holt-Winters, Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), and Neural Networks Autoregression (NNA). We utilized a retrospective time series spanning twenty-five years (1996–2021) to forecast the BMMR under both a COVID-19 pandemic scenario and a controlled COVID-19 scenario. Results Brazil consistently exhibited high maternal mortality values (mean BMMR [1996–2019] = 57.99 ±6.34/100,000 live births) according to World Health Organization criteria. The country experienced its highest mortality peak in the historical BMMR series in the second quarter of 2021 (197.75/100,000 live births), representing a more than 200% increase compared to the previous period. Holt-Winter and ARIMA models demonstrated better agreement with prediction results beyond the sample data, although NNA provided a better fit to previous data. Conclusions Our study revealed an increase in BMMR and its temporal correlation with COVID-19 incidence. Additionally, it showed that Holt-Winter and ARIMA models can be employed for BMMR forecasting with lower errors. This information can assist governments and public health agencies in making timely and informed decisions.