Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Reducing the Fasting Time on Postoperative Pain in Orthopaedic Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Patients undergoing orthopedics surgery experience the most severe postoperative pain. The fasting time is a factor that affects this complication. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of fasting time reduction by using oral carbohydrate on postoperative pain and analgesic consumption in orthopedic patients. Materials and Methods: This randomized control trial was conducted between November 2017 and December 2018. Sixty-four patients were randomly assigned into the intervention (which consumed 200 mL of the 12.50% carbohydrate, 2 h before the surgery) and the control group (which was fasted from midnight). Postoperative pain was measured by visual analog scale; the amount of the consumed analgesics was also recorded. The data were analyzed by using Chi-square and t-test. Results: The mean (SD) of the pain scores in the control group immediately and 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h after consciousness were 7.19 (2.64), 6.69 (2.17), 6.31 (2.05), 6.16 (2.08), 6.06 (2.24), and 5.38 (1.86), respectively. These scores for the intervention group were 7.44 (1.48), 6.31 (1.25), 5.72 (1.17), 5.59 (1.43), 5.25 (1.13), and 4.97 (1.57). The mean of the pain scores between two groups was not different (p > 0.05). The amount of the consumed morphine (t61 = -2.10, p = 0.039), pethidine (t62 = -2.25, p = 0.028), and diclofenac (t62 = -2.51, p = 0.015) were significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: The pain intensity in the patients with shortened fasting time was lower, but it was not statistically significant. Moreover, reducing fasting time by using carbohydrate significantly reduced the use of analgesics.
Primary Writing Tremor: Current Concepts

Primary Writing Tremor (PWT) is a type of task specific tremor which happens only while writing (Type A PWT) or assuming a writing position of the hand (Type B PWT). There is a considerable overlap of clinical features between PWT and writer's cramp which creates difficulty in diagnosing this condition in the clinic. PWT usually affects the dominant hand and is typically 5-7hz in frequency, worsened by anxiety, temporarily relieved by alcohol and associated with reduced writing speeds. There are a variety of hypotheses about the phenomenology of PWT (regarding whether it is a variant of essential tremor, focal dystonia or an independent entity). Unlike writer's cramp, PWT shows normal reciprocal inhibition of H reflex, does not exhibit excessive EMG activity in proximal muscles, and on fMRI shows underactivation of cingulum and overactivation of primary motor and supplementary areas. There are no randomised controlled trials currently for the treatment of PWT. Treatment modalities available are: medical treatment, botulinum toxin, surgical management (including DBS) as well as adaptive strategies and occupational therapy.
Femoral Hernia in Children: How to Avoid Misdiagnosis?

Background: Femoral hernias are an uncommon groin pathology among pediatric patients. Therefore, they are frequently misdiagnosed. In the present study, we review our experience with this rare surgical entity during the past 25 years. Methods: The medical records of 19 patients who underwent 22 femoral hernia repairs between January 1994 and December 2019 were retrospectively analysed. Results: Patients' age ranged from 2 to 12 years (mean age was 5. 5 years) with an approximately equal sex ratio (10 girls/9 boys). There were three bilateral cases identified separately. They were discovered and managed at different times. All the children were referred with a groin lump, but the correct pre-operative diagnosis was made in only 13 cases (59%). In the remaining cases, four were identified intraoperatively following negative exploration for a supposed inguinal hernia. The other five were found to have a femoral hernia 1 month to 12 months after ipsilateral inguinal hernia repair. All patients underwent elective surgery. The femoral canal was closed using either Lytle or McVay procedure. Recurrence occurred in only one patient 2 months after initial repair. Conclusion: Femoral hernias are often misdiagnosed. Pre-operative diagnosis can be obtained through careful clinical assessment. In equivocal cases, ultrasonography and laparoscopy could be useful. A correct pre-operative diagnosis will lead to suitable treatment, thus avoiding unnecessary reoperations and their related complications.
“Puddles on the Road”: Hurdles in the Pathway from Symptoms to Diagnosis and Treatment in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Introduction: This study was conducted to investigate the pathway from first symptoms to initiation of insulin regimen in children with new-onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) and explore the reasons behind diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) at onset among children with T1DM. Materials and Methods: An exploratory study was conducted using a pretested questionnaire, among parents of children diagnosed with T1DM within preceding 3 months. Results: Out of the total 105 children, 56.1% were males. The median age was 7 years. The commonest reported symptoms were polydipsia (97.8%), polyuria (75.2%), and nocturia (75.2%). The mean time taken by parents from onset of symptoms to decide to visit the physician (appraisal gap) was 7.85 ± 7.95 days. The help-seeking gap (from decision-making to visiting a physician) was 3.01 ± 8.31 days, diagnostic gap (from first visit to diagnosis) was 4.19 ± 6.72 days, and the treatment gap (from diagnosis to the start of insulin) was 2.12 ± 6.87 days. The DKA at onset (was present in 39 out of 105 children 37.1%) and was higher among children with lower per-capita income (P-0.017), lack of previous experience among parents (P-0.017), longer appraisal (P-0.023), and treatment gap (P-0.009). Conclusion: Increasing awareness about the diabetes among children among the public and primary healthcare workers can help prevent DKA at onset.
Inhibition of the poliomyelitis viral-induced cytopathic effect by extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam.

Extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae), a medicinal plant used in complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of diverse ailments, were studied for antiviral activity on poliomyelitis virus. The dried and powdered leaves of the plant, Moringa oleifera, were extracted with methanol, water and petroleum ether using standard methods. Cytotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated using the end-point cytopathic effect assay on L20B cell lines. Phytochemical evaluations of the extracts were also carried out. The poliovirus was titrated and determination of the 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID 50) done on L20B cells. Antiviral properties were determined against the three sero-types of poliovirus (SL1, SL2 and SL3) using the end-point cytopathic effect assay on L20B cell lines. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, carbohydrates, reducing sugar, resins, fats and oil, acidic compounds and proteins. Poliomyelitis viral infectivity was inhibited by the extracts giving a range of specificity indices of 2.47 - >125. This shows that the extracts selectively inhibited the virus and that their activity against the virus was not just a consequence of toxicity to the cells. The research has shown that the plant possesses potent antiviral potentials and could serve as a possible source of lead antiviral drug against poliomyelitis since the disease has no known drug for treatment.
Post-COVID-19 functional status: Relation to age, smoking, hospitalization, and previous comorbidities

RATIONAL: Recently, a new “Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) scale” is recommended in the current COVID-19 pandemic. It is proposed that it could be used to display direct retrieval and the functional sequelae of COVID-19. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to assess the PCFS and to evaluate if age, gender, smoking, hospitalization, and comorbidities have any effect on functional limitations in recovered COVID-19 patients. METHODS: A total of 444 registered confirmed COVID-19 patients were included. They were interviewed in our follow-up clinics and filled an Arabic translated PCFS scale as well as their demographic and clinical data. RESULTS: Eighty percent of COVID-19 recovered cases have diverse degrees of functional restrictions ranging from negligible (63.1%), slight (14.4%), moderate (2%), to severe (0.5%) based on PCFS. Furthermore, there was a substantial variance between the score of PCFS with age (P = 0.003), gender (P = 0.014), the duration since the onset of the symptoms of COVID-19 (P < 0.001), need for oxygen supplementation (P < 0.001), need for intensive care unit (ICU) admittance (P = 0.003), previous periodic influenza vaccination (P < 0.001), smoking status (P < 0.001), and finally, the presence of any comorbid disorder (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the COVID-19 recovered cases have diverse degrees of functional restrictions ranging from negligible to severe based on PCFS. These restrictions were affected by age, gender, periodic influenza vaccination, smoking, duration since symptoms onset, need for oxygen or ICU admittance, and finally the presence of coexisting comorbidity.
The Effect of Sedation Protocol on Sedation Level and Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions on Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Background: The use of analgesics and sedatives to provide sedation for Patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is inevitable. The present study aimed to determine the effect of sedation protocol using the Richmond Agitation- Sedation Scale on sedation level and amount of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions on patients under mechanical ventilation. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 79 patients under mechanical ventilation in Zanjan. The patients were recruited using the blocking randomized sampling method. In the experiment group, the sedation was provided hourly, using the Richmond sedation Protocol, during the mechanical ventilation period. The level of sedation and pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions were compared in the two groups using Fisher exact test. Results: Totally, 40 patients in the experiment and 39 patients in the control groups were evaluated. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of confounding variables (age, sex, level of consciousness, Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II criterion, underlying disease, and cause of hospitalization). The level of sedation in the experiment group was significantly closer to the ideal score of the Richmond Scale compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The experimental group received significantly more non-pharmacological interventions and fewer pharmacological interventions compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Using a sedation protocol could provide better sedation levels in patients under mechanical ventilation, and reduce the use of sedative medications, and consequently, the cost of hospitalization. Further research is suggested.
Lymphotoxin-alpha +252A/G single-nucleotide polymorphism in colorectal cancer in the ethnic kashmiri population: A case-control study

Background: Chronic inflammation is an important pathological factor in colorectal tumorigenesis. Lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-α), a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine has been shown to possess both cancer promoting and cancer inhibiting activities. Several studies have analyzed the association of intronic LT-α+252A/G single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in human LT-α gene with various cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC), but the outcome have been mixed and inconclusive. Materials and Methods: The present case-control study analyzed the association of LT-α+252A/G SNP with CRC risk in the ethnic Kashmiri population. The genotype frequencies of LT-α+252A/G intronic SNP were compared between 142 CRC patients and 184 individually matched healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The association between the LT-α+252A/G SNP and CRC risk was investigated through conditional logistic regression models adjusted for multiple possible confounding (third) variables. Further, the association between CRC risk and various clinico-pathological parameters, demographic variables, and environmental factors within the case group subjects and the SNP under study was also analyzed. Results: The overall association between the LT-α+252A/G SNP and the modulation of CRC risk was found to be significant (P = 0.013). Further, we found a significant effect modification of the association between the LT-α+252A/G SNP genotypes and CRC risk by gender (P = 0.046). We also found that the LT-α+252A/G SNP within the case group was significantly associated with gender (P = 0.0014) and lymph node status (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that LT-α+252A/G SNP is significantly associated with risk of CRC in the ethnic Kashmiri population although the nature of this association could not be deciphered further in a statistically significant manner. However, this study needs to be replicated with larger sample size and if possible in other ethnically defined populations that exhibit comparable incidence of CRC to substantiate and elaborate our findings in a more comprehensive manner.
Is the disease profile in metastatic colorectal cancer still driven by the mutational parameters as before? A tertiary care center study from India in 2020

Background: The pathophysiology of colorectal cancer (CRC) is believed to be driven primarily by anomalies in the molecular pathway mechanisms. Mutations in KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF genes are closely associated with tumor differentiation, invasion, and metastasis. These are now recognized as important targets for clinical treatment of metastatic CRC to determine the response to therapy and final prognosis of the disease. The study investigates the relationship of KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF gene mutations in the Indian population in the current era. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 patients including 50 patients having metastatic disease, all with proven histological diagnosis of CRC were included. They were followed up for examination of clinical signs and performance status. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Committee at Army Hospital (R and R), New Delhi (IRB No. 91/2016). Results: This prospective study shows that the young adults (<45 years) presented with an aggressive biology of disease with advanced disease at presentation and have higher mortality rates due to poor response to therapy. NRAS and BRAF mutations were found mainly with left and right sides, respectively. The right-side CRC had poor prognosis and responses to therapies (P = 0.07 and P = 0.005, respectively). NRAS and BRAF mutations were found mostly in women having comorbidities. Young individuals with a positive family history of CRC must be investigated early for tumor markers for better treatment outcomes. Conclusion: This planned investigation affirmed that the Indian populace had more right-side CRC which was metastatic predominantly. RAS and BRAF changes were related essentially with left- and right-side CRCs, respectively. However, both had a poor prognosis and reactions to treatments. NRAS mutation might be a significant marker as it is observed solely in young females with left-side CRC and had a poor prognosis due to an aggressive tumor. BRAF transformations are higher in the Indian populace in contrast to the western information.
THE SEISMIC BEHAVIOUR OF A PRE-CAST R/C INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX SUB-JECTED TO THE 1999 ATHENS-GREECE EARTHQUAKE

The dynamic and earthquake behavior of a pre-cast industrial complex, located at the epicentral area of the Athens 1999 Earthquake, is studied. It is composed of a large industrial hall and an adjacent office building. The columns, beams, roof girders and roof trusses of the industrial hall are all pre-cast reinforced / pre-stress concrete structural elements. Shear walls in both horizontal directions are added in its perimeter, cast in place and connected to the pre-cast structural columns. The foundation is also formed by pre-cast pocket elements and ground beams which are interconnected between with cast in-place parts. The three-story office building is separated from the industrial hall with a construction joint. The foundation and the columns of this building are cast in place whereas part of the beams and all the slabs are also pre-cast. The structural damage observed in this industrial complex was the dislocation of a heavy pre-cast girder at the façade of the office building as well as cracking of the horizontal beams at the locations where they joined the columns. On the contrary, no dislocation of the pre-cast girders could be observed at the industrial hall which performed rather satisfactorily with minor signs of distress. These two distinct structural systems were numerically simulated in an effort to study their dynamic and earthquake response and correlate it with the observed performance. The present investigation demonstrated that the use of pre-cast reinforced concrete members, when properly designed and detailed, can be employed with confidence in seismic regions.
THE ROLE OF WORK ENVIRONMENT, WORK MOTIVATION, AND LEADERSHIP TO IMPROVE EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE WITH JOB SATISFACTION AS AN INTERVENING VARIABLES

This study aims to determine the effect of the work environment (WE), work motivation (WM), leadership (Ld) on employee performance (EP) and job satisfaction (JS) as an intervening variable. The population is all furniture factory workers in the city of Semarang, Indonesia and sampling using a proportionate stratified random sampling technique. A questionnaire was distributed to 148 respondents to collect the data, all of whom were furniture factory workers. Variables are measured based on respondents’ perceptions using a Likert scale. The analytical tool used is the Structural Equation Model (SEM) with the AMOS 22 application’s help. The results show that the WE, WM, and Ld style significantly affect EP. Besides, JS has been shown to mediate EP.
EXAMINING CUSTOMERS’ INTENTION TO PURCHASE CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRODUCTS USING THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR AND MODERATING EFFECTS

The circular economy is the contemporary approach for environmental solution from the United Nations. It is relatively new in most emerging countries, including Thailand. Therefore, this research aims to explore Thai consumers' behavior for their purchase intention toward circular economy products to see whether market is ready for circular economy or not. The study has adopted the theory of planned behavior as it is well accepted and widely used in literature. This research was conducted in Thailand by using quantitative approach, collecting data from 559 respondents. The results showed that among the three main determinants in the theory, attitude toward behavior was found to have highest impact on purchase intention of circular economy products while the other two factors, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms, were also positively related to the purchase intention as well. In this research, the authors have also investigated three moderating variables: price sensitivity, perceived convenience, and product involvement. It is interesting to find that all three variables have moderating effects on the attitude towards purchase intention whereas none of these moderators have significant impacts on subjective norms.
DESIGNING OFFSHORE NATURAL GAS PIPELINES FACING THE GEOHAZARD OF SUBMARINE LANDSLIDES

The technological advances and the continuous rise of energy needs have increased the use of natural gas, which is one of the main energy sources of the 21 st century. Consequently, the exploitation of offshore natural gas deposits is constantly increasing and it is expected to develop further in certain regions, such as in South-Eastern Mediterranean. Typically, the long distances between natural gas deposits and urban and industrial centers are covered with pipeline networks, while their offshore parts may be placed on the seabed in very deep water and highly adverse conditions. Such pipelines are very important infrastructures and any possible damage may cause serious problems and devastating consequences. Earthquake related geohazards, such as strong ground motion, active faults, offshore landslides and debris flows, tsunamis, etc, consist crucial threats that an offshore pipeline has to overcome. The objective of this work is to study numerically, utilizing the finite-element method, the kinematic distress of offshore natural gas pipelines due to seismically induced submarine landslides and debris flows. Firstly, the proposed numerical models are validated using available analytical and numerical solutions. Subsequently, the most crucial soil parameters that affect the examined problem are investigated. Extra emphasis is given on the modeling of the impact of pipe-soil interaction on the pipeline response. The effect of the free pipe length, the critical landslide loads for each case and the response of under various conditions are presented. Realistic data are taken from the offshore part of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) in the Adriatic Sea.
Generative Modeling for Context-Aware Local Privacy: Final Report

As more personal data is entrusted to social networks, insurance conglomerates, and countless other aggregators, finding ways to maintain user privacy remain critical. Many current such methods have two key disadvantages. First, they are centralized, requiring difficult-to-earn user trust in the data aggregator. Second, they may protect even non-sensitive data from analysis, limiting utility while providing no benefit to the user.
FERTIRRIGAÇÃO NITROGENADA EM CULTIVARES DE MAXIXEIRO CULTIVADAS EM FIBRA DE COCO

Frutos de maxixeiro sao bastante apreciados na culinaria brasileira, no entanto ainda e uma cultura pouco estudada. O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da fertirrigacao nitrogenada em cultivares de maxixeiro em fibra de coco. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3 x 4, com quatro repeticoes, sendo tres cultivares de maxixe (Liso de Calcuta, Liso Gibao e Maxixe do Norte) e quatro concentracoes de nitrogenio (50, 100, 150 e 200 mg L -1 ). Foram realizadas cinco colheitas de frutos, nas quais avaliaram-se as seguintes variaveis: diâmetro longitudinal, diâmetro transversal, numero de frutos, massa fresca media de frutos e producao. A analise estatistica dos dados revelou que a cultivar Liso de Calcuta destacou-se das demais por apresentar maior numero de frutos (25,7) e maior producao (640,7 g planta -1 ). As cultivares apresentaram respostas variadas ao aumento da concentracao de nitrogenio na solucao nutritiva. Para as cultivares Liso de Calcuta e Maxixe do Norte, recomenda-se fertirrigacao nitrogenada em concentracao de 134 e 129 mg L -1 de N, respectivamente; e concentracao de 50 mg L -1 de N para a cultivar Liso Gibao.