Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Minimum Caseload Requirements on Management and Outcome in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

BACKGROUND The German quality assurance guideline on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) was implemented by the Joint Federal Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss, G-BA) in 2008. The aims of this study were to verify the association between hospital case volume and outcome and to assess the hypothetical effect of minimum caseload requirements. METHODS The German diagnosis-related groups statistics for the years 2012 to 2016 were scrutinized for AAA (ICD-10 GM I71.3/4) with procedure codes for endo - vascular or open surgical treatment. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Logistic regression models were used for risk adjustment, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated as a function of the annual hospital-level case volume of AAA. In a hypo - thetical approach, the linear distances for various minimum caseloads (MC) were evaluated to assess accessibility. RESULTS The mortality of intact AAA (iAAA) was 2.7% (men [M] 2.4%, women [W] 4.2%); ruptured AAA (rAAA), 36.9% (M 36.9%, F 37.5%). An inverse relationship between annual hospital case volume of AAA and mortality was confirmed (iAAA/rAAA: from 3.9%/51% [<10 cases/year] through 3.3%/37% [30-39 cases/year] to 1.9%/28% [≥ 75 cases/year]). For a reference category of 30 AAA procedures/year, the following significant OR were found: 10 AAA cases/year, OR 1.21 (95% confidence interval [1.20; 1.21]); 20 cases, OR 1.09 [1.09; 1.09]; 50 cases, OR 0.89 [0.89; 0.89]; 75 cases, OR 0.82 [0.82; 0.82]. In a hypothetical centralization scenario with assumed MC of 30/year, 86% of the population would have to travel less than 100 km to the nearest hospital; with an MC of 40, this would apply to only 50% (without redistribution effects). CONCLUSION In the observed period, a significant correlation was confirmed between high annual case volume and low in-hospital mortality. A minimum caseload requirement of 30 AAA operations/year seems reasonable in view of the accessibility of hospitals. Cite this.
Evaluation of Combat Helmet Behavior under Blunt Impact

New threats are a challenge for the design and manufacture of modern combat helmets. These helmets must satisfy a wide range of impact velocities from ballistic impacts to blunt impacts. In this paper, we analyze European Regulation ECE R22.05 using a standard surrogate head and a human head model to evaluate combat helmet performance. Two critical parameters on traumatic brain analysis are studied for different impact locations, i.e., peak linear acceleration value and head injury criterion (HIC). The results obtained are compared with different injury criteria to determine the severity level of damage induced. Furthermore, based on different impact scenarios, analyses of the influence of impact velocity and the geometry impact surface are performed. The results show that the risks associated with a blunt impact can lead to a mild traumatic brain injury at high impact velocities and some impact locations, despite satisfying the different criteria established by the ECE R22.05 standard. The results reveal that the use of a human head for the estimation of brain injuries differs slightly from the results obtained using a surrogate head. Therefore, the current combat helmet configuration must be improved for blunt impacts. Further standards should take this into account and, consequently, combat helmet manufacturers on their design process.
DIFFERENCES AMONG MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI FOR MINERAL UPTAKE PER ROOT LENGTH OF SWITCHGRASS GROWN IN ACIDIC SOIL

ABSTRACT Plants commonly encounter deficient and/or toxic levels of mineral elements when grown in acidic soil, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have potential to overcome many of these effects. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) was grown in acidic Lily soil (Typic Hapludult) at pHCa 4 and 5 (soil:10 mM CaCl2, 1 :emsp14;1) and inoculated with Glomus (G.) clarum, G. diaphanum, G. etunicatum, G. intraradices, Gigaspora (Gi.) albida, Gi. margarita, Gi. rosea, and Acaulospora (A.) morrowiae to determine differences among mycorrhizal (AM) plants for mineral uptake per root length (RL). Shoots of AM plants grown in pHCa 4 and 5 soil had extensive mineral nutrient content (per plant) differences, and AM plants grown in pHCa 4 soil generally had higher and wider ranges of mineral contents than plants grown in pHCa 5 soil. Mineral uptake per RL varied extensively among AM plants. The AM plants generally enhanced uptake of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) and reduced uptake of manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), boron (B), and aluminum (Al). The G. etunicatum plants particularly had higher P, N, S, K, Mg, Zn, and Cu uptake compared to the other AM plants. Most AMF isolates used were effective in enhancing mineral uptake and reducing excess amounts of toxic elements in shoots.
Chemical Composition and Larvicidal Effects of Essential Oil from Bauhinia acuruana (Moric) against Aedes aegypti

Abstract The essential oil from leaves of Bauhinia acuruana Moric was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). In total, thirty compounds comprising 91.4% of the total peak area were identified. The main constituents of the essential oil were the sesquiterpenes spathulenol (23.4 ± 0.08%), epi-α-cadinol (20.7 ± 0.12%) and caryophyllene oxide (16.4 ± 0.04%). The essential oil was tested against Aedes aegypti larvae and showed LC50 value of 56.2 ± 0.4 μg/mL.
SDToW: A Slowloris Detecting Tool for WMNs

Denial of service (DoS) attacks play a significant role in contemporary cyberspace scenarios. A variety of different DoS attacks pollute networks by exploring various vulnerabilities. A group of DoS called application DoS attacks explore application vulnerabilities. This work presents a tool that detects and blocks an application DoS called Slowloris on wireless mesh networks (WMNs). Our tool, called SDToW, is designed to effectively use the structure of the WMNs to block the Slowloris attack. SDToW uses three different modules to detect and block the attack. Each module has its specific tasks and thus optimizes the overall detection and block efficiency. Our solution blocks the attacker on its first WMN hop, reducing the malicious traffic on the network and avoiding further attacks from the blocked user. The comparison results show that SDToW performs with 66.7% less processing consumption and 89.1% less memory consumption than Snort. Our solution does not limit the number of parallel connections per user. Hence, by avoiding this limitation, SDToW has a lower incidence of false positive errors than Snort.
Environmentally driven escalation of host egg rejection decimates success of an avian brood parasite

The black-headed duck (Heteronetta atricapilla) of South America is the only known avian obligate brood parasite with precocial offspring. In Argentina, it relies on two species of coots as primary hosts, which typically reject 35–65% of duck eggs. We show that environmentally driven increases in host egg rejection behavior lead to substantial reductions in the reproductive success of the brood parasite. Episodes of flooding and vegetation loss caused dramatic shifts in host egg-rejection behavior, resulting in rejection (85–95%) of almost all duck eggs. Coots respond to fluctuating water levels by building up their nest, raising their own eggs but leaving duck eggs behind. Coots can apparently recognize parasitic duck eggs, but large-scale rejection is triggered only when hosts must actively make a choice. We use a simple population model to illustrate the unique demographic challenges that black-headed ducks face with their parasitic lifestyle and to explore the potential impact of environmentally induced escalation of egg rejection. Using the best available estimates for key vital rates, we show that obligate parasitism may provide a demographically precarious existence for black-headed ducks, even under benign environmental conditions. Environmentally mediated increases in egg rejection rates by hosts could impact significantly the viability of this enigmatic species of brood parasitic duck. Our results demonstrate that egg rejection rates are not fixed properties of host populations or individuals but are strongly influenced by social and ecological factors. Shifts in these environmental drivers could have important and unforeseen demographic consequences for brood parasites.
The relationship between financial distress and well-being: Exploring the role of self-employment

This article investigate the relationship between financial distress, well-being and employment status. Using several indicators of financial distress and of well-being, our econometric analysis shows that the negative association between financial distress and well-being is moderated by employment status in the sense that financial problems are more strongly associated with poor well-being for the self-employed compared to the wage-employed. Hence, when self-employed workers find themselves in a situation of financial distress, the negative consequences for their well-being are more severe. This is found to hold both for the self-employed with and without employees.
Empirical analysis of intellectual capital, potential absorptive capacity, realized absorptive capacity and cultural intelligence on innovation

Article history: Received: July 10, 2020 Received in revised format: October 18 2020 Accepted: October 25, 2020 Available online: October 25, 2020 The purpose of this research is to reveal the influence of intellectual capital, potential absorptive capacity, realized absorptive capacity, and cultural intelligence on innovation in the tourism sector in Batam City. Batam has geopolitical and geographic advantages, located in the Malacca Strait, adjacent to and directly facing Singapore and Malaysia. It has not been optimal in exploring the potential for innovation in the tourism sector. Thus, this sector does not yet have a significant contribution to economic development. The research was conducted on the management of companies that are members of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies in Batam City, totaling 54 people. By using the analysis of Structural Equation Model (SEM) with SmartPLS version 3.0, the results show that 1) intellectual capital has no effect on innovation; 2) potential absorptive capacity has no effect on innovation; 3) Realized absorptive capacity has a significant positive effect on innovation, and 4) Cultural Intelligence has a significant positive effect on innovation. The results of this study will give some insight to company managers in the tourism sector for developing innovation to maintain business continuity. © 2021 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada
Selective Exposure During Uprisings: Examining the Public’s News Consumption and Sharing Tendencies During the 2019 Lebanon Protests

This study examines selective exposure and trust during uprisings. It studies major uses of traditional and social media and assesses the public’s trust in these media and their engagement in sharing news. Focusing on the October 2019 Lebanon uprising, the research surveys thousand Lebanese individuals using a nationally representative probability sample. The findings provide support for selective exposure theory beyond the Western context, particularly for people undergoing stressful political change. The findings also provide support to the robustness of issue publics as a theoretical construct that predicts selective exposure to pro-attitudinal news content, as well as support for attitude strength and attitude importance as two separate predictors.
New Method for Quantitative Preparation of Lignin- Carbohydrate Complex from Unbleached Softwood Kraft Pulp: Lignin-Polysaccharide Networks I

Summary A new method for the quantitative preparation of pulp representative lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCC) has been developed, in which LCC has been systematically prepared at quantitative yield, fractionated and qualitatively determined. At least 90% of residual lignin in softwood kraft pulp is proposed to be chemically bonded to carbohydrates. A major part of LCC (92%) in softwood kraft pulp was observed between lignin, xylan and glucomannan, whereas a minor part (8%) was linked to cellulose. Half of the hemicelullosic LCC is a lignin-glucomannan complex. The other half is lignin-xylan complex and xylan-lignin-glucomannan complex. Thus, part of the residual lignin in softwood kraft pulp crosslinks xylan and glucomannan. The proposed linkages are of covalent type. At most 10% of the residual lignin is not bonded covalently to carbohydrates.
Cytotoxic and Morphological Effects of Chrysanthemum Indicum Aqueous Extracts of Bud and Flower on Human Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) HL-60 Cell Lines in vitro

Chrysanthemum indicum (C.indicum) plants, also known as “bunga kekwa” in Malaysia has long history used in Chinese traditional herbal medicines, with anti-oxidants, anti‐inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. This study was to determine the anti-cancer activity of buds and flowers of C.indicum in aqueous extracts on human acute promyelocytic leukaemia cancer HL-60 cell lines. The powder of bud and flower were macerated in the sterile distilled water for 24 hr. The bud aqueous (BA) and flower aqueous (FA) extracts were concentrated under reduced pressure using rotary evaporator. The cells were treated at 12.5 μg/ml, 25 μg/ml, 50 μg/ml, 100 μg/ml, 200 μg/ml and 400 μg/ml and incubated for 24, 48 and 72 hr. The cellular morphology of HL-60 cells was observed by phase contrast microscopy while the cytotoxic activity was determined using MTT assay. BA and FA extracts showed significant reduction of HL-60 cell viability at 100, 200 and 400 μg/ml in all incubation period. Both extract also showed low cytotoxic activity against HL-60 cells (p <0.05) with IC50 value of 305 μg/ml and 320 μg/ml respectively at 24 hr, 310 μg/ml and 205 μg/ml respectively at 48 hr and 180 μg/ml and 170 μg/ml respectively at 72 hr. Even though BA and FA aqueous extracts were unable to kill the HL-60 cell lines effectively, the results still show some promising effect for C.indicum plant in treatment of blood cancer.
In vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of the root extract of Aspilia mossambicensis (Oliv) Wild (Asteraceae)

Aspiliamossambicensis(Oliv) Wild is used by Traditional Health Practitioners in northeastern Tanzania, for treatment of cancers. In order to evaluate these claims root powder of the plant was extracted with dichloromethane: methanol (1:1), followed by vacuum liquid chromatography fractionation to obtain dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol fractions which were screened for brine shrimp toxicity and antioxidant activity using DPPH and FRAP assays. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited higher toxicity on brine shrimp larvae (LC50 = 12.87 µg/ml) than cyclophosphamide (LC50 = 16.12 µg/ml), and antioxidant activity with an EC50 of 200 µg/ml for DPPH and 53.92 μM ECGC equivalent/g dry weight for FRAP assay. The ethyl acetate fraction was cytotoxic against HeLa cancer cells (IC50 50.77 ± 1.69 µg/ml), causing cell cycle arrest at the M phase, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization and activation of caspase 3 and 8. Four compounds were isolated from this fraction; (-)-Angeloylgrandifloric acid and 16α–hydroxykauran-19-oic acid, which were cytotoxic to the HeLa cervical cancer cells with IC50 = 27.75 and 40.19 μg/ml, respectively, and 16αHydroxy-9(11)-kauren-19-oic acid and grandifloric acid which were non-toxic to the HeLa cells. Further research is recommended to establish the clinical significance of the current findings. Key words: Aspiliamossambiscensis, cytotoxic activity, brine shrimp toxicity, antioxidant
Treatment of Low-Strength Rubber Industry Wastewater Using a Combined Adsorbents and Membrane Technologies

The discharge of liquid waste from rubber industry poses a significant threat to human beings and environment; therefore, it ought to be addressed. Meanwhile, activated sludge technologies are usually used in Indonesia by this industry to handle liquid waste and tackle discharge issues. The combined adsorbents and hybrid membrane UF/RO were proposed in this study to decrease contaminants parameter of rubber industry wastewater (RIW). Furthermore, to achieve this goal three steps of treatments were applied in the current experiment. The first step is filtration using sand filter columns containing silica sand and activated carbon. In addition, the second stage is categorized by adsorption using three types of adsorbents, namely calcium carbide residue (CCR), coal fly ash (CFA) and bentonite. The third stage is separation process using adsorbents and UF/RO. This investigation was conducted using three types of adsorbents arranged in series configuration followed by UF/RO.Results showed that combined adsorbent (CCR-CFA-bentonite) followed by UF/RO membranes increases the acidity of RIW from 4.70 to 7.28 with removal efficiency of turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solid (TSS), ammonia-nitrogen (AN), and total nitrogen (TN) at 99.0, 88.1, 92.5, 89.5, and 67.5%, respectively.The currently proposed method is advantageous because it does not require a long processing time or an intensive treatment area. This is applicable in rubber industries wastewater treatment process and is therefore an alternative method to active sludge technologies. In addition, final permeate RO are potentially used as clean water for rubber factory needs.
The challenges of measuring epistemic beliefs across cultures: evidence from Nigerian teacher candidates

ABSTRACT Available evidence indicates that teacher candidates undergo shifts in beliefs throughout the process of learning to teach, and various contextual realities contribute to reshaping their general teaching beliefs. The concept of epistemic beliefs is key to understanding teacher development as cross-cultural teacher education becomes increasingly common. This study examines Nigerian teacher candidates’ conceptions about the nature and process of knowing, epistemic beliefs. This exploration of these epistemic beliefs is framed within the United States-based Schommer model. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to examine a sample of 1009 full-time teacher candidates at two large public institutions in southwestern Nigeria. Findings indicate that Nigerian teacher candidates expressed dependently complex, yet distinct epistemic beliefs compared to their U.S. counterparts. The findings are contextualized within the effective deployment of teacher education research across cultures, highlighting sociocultural antecedents to the nature of reality in the measures of teacher candidates’ epistemic beliefs in non-Western contexts. Implications for educational theory, research, and practice are discussed.
Microstructured collagen films for 3D corneal stroma modelling

ABSTRACT Purpose/aim Corneal injury is a major cause of impaired vision around the globe. The fine structure of the corneal stroma plays a pivotal role in the phenotype and behavior of the embedded cells during homeostasis and healing after trauma or infection. In order to study healing processes in the cornea, it is important to create culture systems that functionally mimic the natural environment. Materials and methods Collagen solution was vitrified on top of a grated film to achieve thin collagen films with parallel microgrooves. Keratocytes (corneal stromal cells) were cultured on the films either as a single layer or as stacked layers of films and cells. SEM and F-actin staining were used to analyze the pattern transference onto the collagen and the cell orientation on the films. Cell viability was analyzed with MTS and live/dead staining. Keratocytes, fibroblasts, and myofibroblasts were cultured to study the pattern’s effect on phenotype. Results A microstructured collagen film-based culture system that guides keratocytes (stromal cells) to their native, layerwise perpendicular orientation in 3D and that can support fibroblasts and myofibroblasts was created. The films are thin and transparent enough to observe cells at least three layers deep. The cells maintain viability in 2D and 3D cultures and the films can support fibroblast and myofibroblast phenotypes. Conclusions The films provide an easily reproducible stroma model that maintains high cell viability and improves the preservation of the keratocyte phenotype in keratocytes that are differentiated to fibroblasts.
Does privatizing advisory services guarantee better services? Evidence from advisory services pertaining to cocoa certification in Côte d’Ivoire

ABSTRACT Purpose This study investigated the impact of privatization of advisory services on the quality of the services. Design/methodology/approach The front- and back-office dimensions of advisory activities were analyzed through interviews with 43 advisers involved in the advisory services provided as part of a cocoa exporter's certification program. Findings Our results showed that the ratio of advisors per producer in the private advisory system is too high, and the means of transport for advisors are inadequate. The training received by the advisors is strongly oriented towards mastering technical subjects related to certification requirements, while soft or process topics that would provide them with knowledge and skills required to co-produce with farmers is neglected. Regarding the front office dimension, advice to cocoa producers is largely prescriptive and fails to co-produce knowledge that is relevant to their needs. Practical implications The study produced empirical data that allows us to go beyond the theoretical farm advice approach derived from micro-economic modeling. Theoretical implications Our findings weaken the arguments in favor of privatization of farm advisory services. Originality/value The study provides insights into the consequence of privatizing farm advisory services in the West Africa context by producing one of the first study on this subject in Côte d'Ivoire.
RIM-ONE DL: A Unified Retinal Image Database for Assessing Glaucoma Using Deep Learning

The first version of the Retinal IMage database for Optic Nerve Evaluation (RIM-ONE) was published in 2011. This was followed by two more, turning it into one of the most cited public retinography databases for evaluating glaucoma. Although it was initially intended to be a database with reference images for segmenting the optic disc, in recent years we have observed that its use has been more oriented toward training and testing deep learning models. The recent REFUGE challenge laid out some criteria that a set of images of these characteristics must satisfy to be used as a standard reference for validating deep learning methods that rely on the use of these data. This, combined with the certain confusion and even improper use observed in some cases of the three versions published, led us to consider revising and combining them into a new, publicly available version called RIM-ONE DL (RIM-ONE for Deep Learning). This paper describes this set of images, consisting of 313 retinographies from normal subjects and 172 retinographies from patients with glaucoma. All of these images have been assessed by two experts and include a manual segmentation of the disc and cup. It also describes an evaluation benchmark with different models of well-known convolutional neural networks.