Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the timing and the usage of drains following cranioplasty on outcomes and the incidence of bone resorption

Background: Pediatric cranioplasty is associated with a high rate of complications, including bone resorption (BR) in 20–50% of cases. We aimed to evaluate factors contributing to BR, including the effect of the timing of cranioplasty and the use of post-surgical drains. Methods: This is a dual institution retrospective review of all patients under 18 years old who underwent a cranioplasty following a decompressive craniectomy (DC) for the treatment of traumatic brain injury between 2011 and 2021. Early cranioplasty was defined as within 30 days after DC and late cranioplasty as >30 days. Patients were grouped by BR and separately by timing to cranioplasty. Groups were compared based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and postoperative drain usage. Results: A total of 30 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 7.39 (standard deviation = 6.52) and 60% were male. The median time to cranioplasty was 13 days (interquartile range = 10–17). BR was present in 16.7% of cases. A subgaleal drain was utilized in 93.3% and an external ventricular drain (EVD) in 63.3% of patients following cranioplasty. Drain usage was not associated with BR and timing to cranioplasty was not associated with discharge or 6-month GOS. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that early cranioplasty following DC may have similar outcomes to late cranioplasty. Post-surgical EVDs and subgaleal drains did not increase the incidence of BR, suggesting their importance in the postoperative management of these patients.
Effect of Oral High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid (HMWHA), Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), Magnesium, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin D Supplementation in Pregnant Women: A Retrospective Observational Pilot Study

Background—Pregnancy represents a nutritional challenge, since macro- and micronutrients intake can affect mother’ health and influence negative outcomes. The aim of this retrospective pilot study is to evidence whether the oral supplementation with high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMWHA), in association with alpha lipoic acid (ALA), magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin D, in pregnant women, could reduce adverse effects, such as PTB, pelvic pain, contraction and hospitalization. Methods—Data were collected from n = 200 women treated daily with oral supplements of 200 mg HMWHA, 100 mg ALA, 450 mg magnesium, 2.6 mg vitamin B6 and 50 mcg vitamin D (treatment group) and from n = 50 women taking with oral supplements of 400 mg magnesium (control group). In both groups, supplementation started from the 7th gestational week until delivery. Results—Oral treatment with HMWHA, in association with ALA, magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin D in pregnant women, significantly reduced adverse events, such as PTB (p < 0.01), pelvic pain and contractions (p < 0.0001), miscarriages (p < 0.05) and admission to ER/hospitalization (p < 0.0001) compared with the control group. Conclusions—Despite HMWHA having been poorly used as a food supplement in pregnant women, our results open a reassuring scenario regarding its oral administration during pregnancy.
The Stability of Analytes of Ionized Magnesium Concentration and Its Reference Range in Healthy Volunteers

This study aimed to determine the stability of refrigerated analytes of iMg concentration at different time intervals and to establish iMg reference range in a cohort of healthy Omani volunteers (≥18 years). The concentrations of iMg were measured using the direct ion-selective electrode technique. Pearson’s and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficients along with the Bland–Altman plot were used to assess the levels of agreement between iMg concentrations of fresh and refrigerated blood samples at different time intervals. The study included 167 volunteers (51% females) with a median age of 21 (range: 20–25) years. The median, 2.5th, and 97.5th percentiles for fresh iMg reference ranges were 0.55, 0.47, and 0.68 mmol/L, respectively. The overall agreement between the fresh and refrigerated iMg concentrations was poor (rho-c = 0.51; p < 0.001). However, according to Altman’s definition, iMg concentrations of the refrigerated samples for a period of ≤1 h had an excellent correlation with the fresh iMg concentrations (Lin’s rho-c = 0.80), with a small average bias difference of 0.009 (95%CI; −0.025–0.043). A cut-off refrigeration period within ≤1 h at 2–8 °C can be considered an alternate time frame for the gold standard measurement (fresh or within 0.5 h).
INVESTIGATION INTO ROCK MECHANICS USING FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Research into metal cutting is an established area, whereas the behaviour of rock during cutting is somewhat more complex and not well understood. This makes the field of Rock Mechanics - in particular the use of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in studying the behaviour of the rock under cutting conditions where many parameters are involved - a challenging area to explore. Here experimental results are needed to justify and verify the results from FEA modelling. Based on the Brazilian Test (1) this paper analyses three types of rocks namely - limestone, sandstone and shale, which belong to the sedimentary rock category with sandstone having greater strength than limestone and shale. The Finite Element-Discrete Element coupled method (FEM-DEM) used in the proposed modelling enables the facture process of the rock to be studied closely in relation to the cutting force component causing the start of fracture and the behaviour of the propagating crack during this process (2). These results should prove to be useful in analysing the fundamental behaviour of the rock material at the extreme cutting edge of the tool.
Effect of fish antifreeze protein type iii supplementation to semen extender on cryopreserved dog spermatozoa

Ice binding protein such as antifreeze protein (AFP) type III have been used as a cryoprotectant and proven to improve sperm survival in some species but dog. Addition of Equex STM paste to semen freezing medium provides beneficial effects on cryopreserved dog sperm. Hence, the objectives of this study were to (a) evaluate the effects of AFP (Experiment I) and (b) its combination with Equex STM paste on cryopreserved dog spermatozoa (Experiment II). The semen samples were pooled to allow for a sufficient number of sperm and to reduce an individual variation. Only sperm-rich fractions with total motility more than 70% were used. Pooled semen from three dogs was split in equal portions according to the number of tested extenders in Experiment I or II. Two steps-dilution freezing methods with 4 different tris egg-yolk based extender were used in experiment I, e.g.� P0; no AFP added (control), P1; 0.01 ? g/mL, P2; 0.1 ? g/mL, P3; 1 ? g/mL (w/v) and experiment II, e.g. E1; 0.1? l/mL AFP), E2; 0.1? l/ml AFP plus 1% (v/v) Equex STM paste and E3; 1% (v/v) Equex STM paste. Sperm evaluation was done one week after the freezing. Thawing was performed by immerse freeze-straw into 37oC water for 60 second. Sperm motility and velocity were evaluated by Sperm Class Analyzer? (SCA Microptic SL, Barcelona, Spain). Post-thawed samples were stained for sperm viability (SBYR-PI fluorescent staining), acrosome integrity (FITC-PNA and PI) and mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1), and were evaluated. Plasma membrane functional integrity (PMFI) was evaluated by hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST). In Experiment I, overall, regardless of time post thawing, addition of AFP type III at a concentration of 1? g/ml (P3) significantly deteriorated total motility, progressive motility and sperm velocity compared to P0 (control), P1 and P2. Semen extenders supplemented with 0.01 or 0.1? g/ml AFP yielded no significantly better quality of frozen-thawed dog sperm than those of the control. Immediately post-thawing, there are no significant differences among 3 treatments and control groups (P>0.05) except for the progressive motility. The progressive motility was significantly lower in P3 (P>0.05). In general, all parameters decreased after 1h incubation at 37? C (P>0.05). However, post-thawed sperm velocity (VCL, VSL and VAP) did not significantly decline at 1h in P2. In Experiment II, overall, Equex-contained extenders (E2, E3) significantly improved sperm quality post-thawing compared to E1 (P<0.0001). A combination of AFP and Equex STM paste provided a beneficial effect on sperm viability immediately after thawing (P<0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of AFP type III at a concentration of 0.01? g/ml provided a beneficial effect on dog sperm velocity. Higher concentration of AFP (1? g/ml) deteriorated post-thawed sperm quality. Addition of 0.01 ? g/ml �into Equex-contained semen extenders was essential for maintaining sperm viability post-thawing.
Growth Characteristics and Yield of Mungbean Varieties Cultivated under Different Shading Conditions

A pot experiment on the growth and yield of mungbean varieties cultivated under different shading conditions was conducted in a field to identify the varieties suitable for pulse/cereal intercropping in Bangladesh. Six-mungbean varieties, namely Kanti, BARI mung-3, BARI-mung-4, BART-mung-5, BU-mung-1 and BINA mung-5 were tested at 100, 75, 50 and 25% light intensities. Seed yields of Kanti, BART-mung-3 and BAM-mung-4 were higher than those of the other three varieties for the all light intensities. Among the yield components, pod number plant-1 showed the highest correlation with the yield. The pod number plant-1 decreased by shading, under which the reduction rates in 3 high-yielding varieties were lower than those in the other varieties. The seed number pod-1 and 100 grain weight decreased slightly under shading conditions. The high-yielding varieties had a high pod number plant-1 per unit RGR, which was obtained at the pod initiation stage, indicating higher pod production efficiency. As the varieties with a low pod number were associated with a large seed, the reduction in the pod number plant-1 under the shading conditions led to a decrease of yield. The yield reduction in the-high yielding varieties at 25% light intensity ranged from 51 to 56%, while from 68 to 75% in the other three varieties. Based on the results, it was concluded that Kanti, BARI-mung-3 and BARI-mung-4 varieties were suitable for growing under shaded conditions.
Mutu Pelayanan Kesehatan Terhadap Kepuasan Pasien di Ruang IGD

Instalasi Gawat Darurat (IGD) adalah salah satu bagian terpenting dari rumah sakit,sehingga diperlukan evaluasi kepuasan pasien terhadap mutu pelayanan IGD. Studiini untuk mengetahui faktor yang mempengaruhi mutu pelayanan kesehatan terhadapkepuasan pasien di instalasi gawat darurat. Desain penelitian menggunakan desainkuantitatif, khususnya desain cross-sectional. Teknik sampling menggunakan purposivesampling dengan sebanyak 232 responden. Intrumen yang digunakan yaitu kuesioner.Analisis data yang digunakan analisis univariat yaitu menjelaskan berdisribusi frekuensidata dan bivariat dengan uji statistik Chi-Square. Kompetensi teknis ditentukan melaluianalisis statistik menggunakan uji Chi-Square, dengan hasil menunjukkan bahwa adahubungan antara faktor kompetensi teknis, akses pelayanan, kenyamanan, hubunganmanusia, dan ketepatan waktu terhadap kepuasan pasien dengan hasil (p-value = 0,000< 0,05). Hasil akses layanan, hasil kemudahan, dan hasil ketepatan waktu menunjukkanhubungan antara faktor kompetensi teknis sebesar (p-value = 0,014 < 0,05). Mutupelayanan berdasarkan kompetensi teknis, akses pelayanan, kenyamanan, hubunganantar manusia, dan ketepatan waktu mempengaruhi kepuasan pasien di IGD.
The relationship between unmet medical needs awareness and health care utilization in Korean adults with social activity restriction: a secondary analysis study using propensity score matching

Background : This study aimed to analyze the relationship between unmet medical needs (UMN) awareness and health care utilization in Korean adults with social activity restriction (SAR). Method : The 6~8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was used to analyze 41,720 people among groups aged 19 or older by applying individual weights imposed from the raw data. Weighted logistic regression and Weighted zero-in ﬂ ated Poisson regression analyzed the relationship. Additional analysis was performed using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to equalize all variables except UMN. Results : SAR due to health condition group (1.75 OR) had a higher UMN experience rate than the non-SAR group. The number of admissions (ADM) and outpatient department (OPD) in the SAR group was a higher than the non-SAR group. Analyzing the relationship between UMN and health care utilization according to the type of health problem using PSM showed that in the “ Non-SAR ” group, the number of ADM and OPD were higher in the UMN group than the met-medical-needs group. In the “ SAR due to Physical health (PH) ” group, ADM was lower, but OPD was higher than met-medical needs group. In the “ SAR due to PMH (Physical and mental health) ” group, ADM was higher, but OPD was lower than met-medical needs group. Conclusion : Current UMN awareness can increase health care utilization and is necessary to strengthen the medical service screening policy to prevent the overuse of health care utilization.
Exploring the Characteristics of Undergraduate Students’ Creative Thinking Skills

This study aims to develop a self-report inventory to measure University students’ perception of their creative thinking skills. Creative thinking is a critical learning outcome in higher education and one of the essential 21st Century Competency. The data were collected from 253 students of a university in Hong Kong. A structural equation model was applied to confirm the construct validity of the instrument. The result shows that the key characteristics of creative thinking skills are empirically constructed by creative character, originality, sensitivity, synthesizing and resistance to premature closure. The five characteristics of creative thinking can be considered as learning processes or outcomes to inform the design of instructional events and learning activities to nurture students’ creative thinking skills.
Stem-quality changes on young, mixed upland hardwoods after crop-tree release

Relative change of several types of stem defects was studied over an &year period to determine the effects of crop-tree thinning on the development of tree quality. Special interest was given to changes in relative quality associated with defect indicators of crop trees compared to trees in unthinned plots. The relative quality classes of the crop trees went from "poor" to "medium" for red maple and "poor" to "good" for aspen. The oaks stayed in the poor classification and yellow-poplar remained unchanged in the medium classification. Results showed a decrease in the number of epicormic branches on the crop trees, and an increase in the size of live limbs. Relative change of several types of stem defects was studied over an 8-year period to determine the effects of crop-tree thinning on the development of tree quality. Special interest was given to changes in relative quality associated with defect indicators of crop trees compared to trees in unthinned plots. The relative quality classes of the crop trees went from "poor" to "medium" for red maple and "poor" to "good" for aspen. The oaks stayed in the poor classification and yellow-poplar remained unchanged in the medium classification. Results showed a decrease in the number of epicormic branches on the crop trees, and an increase in the size of live limbs.
The Relationship between MZ Generation Screen Golf Participants’ Participation Motivation, Self-Esteem, and Psychological Happiness

The purpose of this study is to analyze and clarify the relationship between the MZ generation’s participation motivation in screen golf, self-esteem, and psychological happiness. To reach the goals of this study, 300 MZ generation screen golf participants were selected for this study. Accordingly, a questionnaire was distributed and 275 questionnaires were used for this study, excluding the answers that were omitted or unfaithful. SPSS Version 29.0 was used to show the frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis of the research. The results of this study are as follows. First, it was found that the participation motivation of MZ generation screen golf participants had significant effects on positive self-esteem. Second, it was found that the participation motivation of MZ generation screen golf participants had significant effects on negative self-esteem. Third, it was found that the participation motivation of MZ generation screen golf participants had significant effects on psychological happiness. Fourth, it was found that the self-esteem of MZ generation screen golf participants had significant effects on psychological happiness. This study shows how to screen golf as part of a healthy leisure culture for the MZ generation and can enhance its psychological factors.
Prevalence and Pattern of Hearing Loss among Young Adults in Tertiary Institutions with Habitual Headphone/Earphone Usage in Kaduna Metropolis

Background: World Health Organisation estimates that 1.1 billion young people worldwide could be at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening practises and nearly half of the teenagers and young adults are exposed to unsafe levels of sound from the use of personal audio devices. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of hearing loss among students with habitual use of headphone/earphone in tertiary institutions in Kaduna. Participants and Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of young adults with prolonged headphone/earphone usage in Kaduna and a group of nonheadphone/earphone users matched for age and sex as controls. Ethical approvals were obtained from relevant bodies and informed consent was also obtained from all participants. Data were obtained by clinical interview and audiometric evaluation of the participants and the data obtained were descriptively analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Frequency tables were generated and chi-square test and Student’s t test were used to test for a possible association of variables. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Two hundred and seventy-two prolonged headphone/earphone users with same number of controls participated in this study. The mean age for subjects and controls was 22.6 ± 3.4 and 23.2 ± 4.2, respectively. Using the better hearing ear, 48 and 20 of the subjects and controls, respectively, had hearing loss, giving a prevalence of 17.6% and 7.4% among the subjects and controls, respectively. Of the 48 subjects with hearing loss, 89.6% had a mild hearing loss. Majority, 91.7% had sensorineural hearing loss and the hearing loss was bilateral in all the participants (both subjects and controls). High frequencies were the most affected (64.6%). Conclusion: This study revealed that hearing impairment was more common among prolonged headphone/earphone users. In the majority of the prolonged headphone/earphone users, the hearing impairment was bilateral, mild, sensorineural, and mostly affects higher frequencies.
A Fisheries Evaluation of the Wapato, Sunnyside and Toppenish Creek Canal Fish Screening Facilities, Spring 1988 : Annual Report.

We evaluated the effectiveness of new screening facilities at the Toppenish Creek, Wapato, and Sunnyside canals in southcentral Washington State. Screen integrity tests indicated that fish released in front of the screens were prevented from entering the canal behind the screens. Screen efficiency estimates are 99% ({+-}0.6%) for Toppenish Creek, 99% ({+-}0.3%) for Wapato, and 98% ({+-}0.5%) for Sunnyside. During 1987 at the Wapato Canal, we estimated screen efficiency was 97% ({+-}l%). We conducted descaling tests at the Toppenish Creek Screens. We estimated that 0.2% of steelhead Qncorhynchus mykiss smelts released during tests were descaled. None of the fish released through the fish return pipe were descaled. We measured the time required for fish to move through the screen facilities. The time required for 50% of the test fish to exit the Toppenish Creek Screen forebay was 4 to 9 h for rainbow trout fry and up to 39 h for steelhead smelts. The time for 50% of the test fish to exit the Wapato and Sunnyside screen forebays was less than 8 h. As with past studies, exit times varied with canal flow and species. After 39 h at Toppenish Creek, half the steelhead smelts were still in themore » forebay when canal flows were 20 cfs. At Sunnyside, half the chinook salmon fry exited the forebay in 1 h or less. Methods used in 1988 were the same as those used at Sunnyside in 1985 and in subsequent years at Richland, Toppenish/Satus, and Wapato. The methods and previous results have been reviewed by the Washington State Department of Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Power Planning Council, and Yakima Indian Nation. « less
Sensitivity of Urban Water Consumption to Weather and Climate Variability at Multiple Temporal Scales: The Case of Portland, Oregon

The sensitivity of municipal water consumption to climate and weather variability is investigated for Portland’s water provider service area between 1960 and 2013. The relationship between detrended seasonal urban water use (the difference between total water use and base use) and weather and climate variables (precipitation, maximum temperature) is examined at daily, monthly, and seasonal scales using stepwise multiple regression and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models. At a seasonal and a monthly timescales, interannual variation in maximum temperature is the most important predictor of seasonal water consumption per capita, explaining up to 48% of the variation in seasonal monthly water consumption in June and July. At a daily scale, one-day lagged seasonal water demand and maximum temperature are the variables that are significant in all the daily models. Together with day of the week and precipitation, these variables explained up to 87 % of the variation in seasonal daily water consumption in summer. ARIMA models that take into account temporal autocorrelation explain between 70 and 81% of daily seasonal water consumption in summer months. This study provides useful climate information to urban water resource managers for seasonal water consumption forecasting at multiple temporal scales. Our results demonstrate the sensitivity of seasonal urban water consumption to climate variables as the scale of analysis changes. Urban water managers can use such information to establish proactive seasonal water resource management plans under increasing pressure from potential climate change, as understanding of the climatic sensitivity of seasonal water consumption is necessary for responding to changes.
The dynamics of French food industries: productivity, sunk costs and firm exit

: A semi-parametric approach is used to estimate the unobserved individual productivity of firms. This productivity is then introduced in a model of firm exit. We also introduce the firm’s level of sunk costs as an expected barrier to exit. By using an unbalanced panel of 4818 firms in French food industries from 1999 to 2002, we find a significantly negative relationship between the probability of exit of the firm and its individual efficiency, age and sunk costs level. At the opposite, the intensity of competition in an industry increases the propensity to exit for firms in that industry.