Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Implementing an Electronic Medical Record Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool Score Which Identifies Patients at Risk for Osteoporosis Promotes Osteoporosis Evaluation

Introduction: Osteoporosis affects nearly half of the U.S. population. Screening methods are improving but remain inadequate, leaving the disease underdiagnosed and undertreated. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of an EMR implemented system that identifies patients at risk for osteoporosis via an OST (osteoporosis screening tool) score in prompting patients toward osteoporosis evaluation. Methods: OST scores are generated on every patient 50 years of age and older that is admitted to the Penn State Hershey Medical Center (PSHMC) and recorded in their electronic medical record. An OST score < 2 indicates that a patient has a potential risk for osteoporosis. Information Technology (IT) implemented the EMR OST calculation, which currently generates a daily filtered list of all patients with an OST score <2; patients with an OST score < 2 are then mailed letters approximately 3 months after their admission informing them of their risk for osteoporosis and suggesting that they schedule a follow-up appointment with a physician for further evaluation. To test the effectiveness of this system in prompting patients toward osteoporosis evaluation, approximately 3 months after letters were mailed, the patients were contacted via telephone and asked a series of questions to determine if the patients had sought osteoporosis evaluation. Results: In the intervention group, 67 (58.26%) of 115 did not schedule a follow-up, while the remaining 48 (41.74%) did seek a follow-up. Thus, the patient follow-up response rate improved with letter intervention using the OST score as an indicator (P < .0001) compared to historical controls (14.29%). Conclusion: Implementing an EMR OST score which identifies patients at risk for osteoporosis, which generates an automatic letter to the patient, significantly promotes patient driven osteoporosis evaluation compared to historical controls.
Effect of maleic anhydride grafted polylactic acid concentration on mechanical and thermal properties of thermoplasticized starch filled polylactic acid blends

Polylactic acid (PLA) is blended with native starch or thermo plasticized starch (TPS) for preparing biodegradable composites. However, poor compatibility of PLA with starch results in the composites with inferior mechanical properties. This study examines the effect of Maleic Anhydride-Grafted-PLA (GMAPLA) coupling agent and its concentration on the extent of improvements in mechanical and thermal properties of PLA –TPS blends. Maleic anhydride was grafted on PLA in Haake torque rheometer, characterized and used as the coupling agent. PLA/TPS (wt/wt) blends (70/30 and 50/50) were prepared by twin screw extrusion. GMAPLA at three different levels 5%, 10% and 15% (wt%) with respect to PLA content was taken to study its effect on mechanical properties of blends. Presence of GMAPLA significantly improved the mechanical properties (tensile, flexural and impact strength) of TPS/PLA blends. Among the three concentrations, 10% GMAPLA in the blend was found to give the maximum improvement in strength properties. Dynamic mechanical analysis and thermo-gravimetric analysis indicated no significant effect of GMAPLA content on transition temperatures and thermal degradation behavior of the blends.
In vitro antifungal and cytotoxicity activities of selected Tanzanian medicinal plants

Purpose: To evaluate the antifungal and cytotoxic activities of four medicinal plants from Tanzania, namely, Mystroxylon aethiopicum , Lonchocarpus capassa , Albizia anthelmentica and Myrica salicifolia . Methods: The plant materials were subjected to extraction using dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and distilled water. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of the extracts against Candida albicans and C ryptococcus neoformans was determined by microdilution method. The lowest concentration which showed no fungal growth was considered as MIC. The cytotoxic effect of the extracts was determined using brine shrimp toxicity assay. Results: Lonchocarpus capassa leaf extracts exhibited antifungal activity against test fungal strains with MIC range of 0.78 – 3.13 mg/mL with Lonchocarpus capassa aqueous leaf extract (LCAL) inhibiting C. albicans and C. neoformans at MIC value of 0.78 mg/mL. Cytotoxicity assay revealed that LCAL extract which displayed good antifungal activity, was cytotoxic against brine shrimp larvae with halfmaximal lethal concentration (LC,sub>50) value of 17.86 μg/mL. Interestingly, 33 % of plant extracts exhibited high cytotoxicity with LC 50 values below that of the standard anticancer drug, cyclophosphamide (16.57 μg/mL). Conclusion: The results obtained suggest that LCAL needs to be further investigated for its phytochemical composition to unravel its antifungal secondary metabolites. Furthermore, some of the plant extracts are potential anticancer agents. Keywords: Antifungal, Cytotoxicity, Brine shrimp, Mystroxylon aethiopicum , Lonchocarpus capassa , Albizia anthelmentica , Myrica salicifolia
Penapisan Fitokimia, Kadar Kurkuminoid dan Aktivitas Antibakteri Temu Hitam (Curcuma aeruginosa (Christm) Roscoe.), Temu Putih (Curcuma zedoaria Roxb.) dan Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb.)

The content of secondary metabolites in the rhizome of the Curcuma genus such as Black turmeric (Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.), White turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe) and Java turmeric (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb.) play a role in various pharmacological activities. One of them is the content of the curcuminoid compounds which have been proved to have antibacterial activity. This study aims to screen the content of secondary metabolite compounds, determine curcuminoid content and verify the antibacterial activity of the extracts of Black turmeric (Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.), White turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe) and Java turmeric (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb.). Extraction was carried out by the maceration method using 95% ethanol as solvent. Phytochemical screening was tested for the content of alkaloid, polyphenols, flavonoids, quinones, tannins, saponins, and steroids/ triterpenoids compounds. Determination of curcuminoid content by UV-Vis Spectrophotometry method. The antibacterial activity test was carried out by the microdilution method against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Propionibacterium acne bacteria. The results of phytochemical screening showed that the three extracts contained polyphenols and flavonoids. Quinone compounds are only contained in the extract of Black turmeric and Java turmeric. Saponin compounds were only detected in Black turmeric and White turmeric extracts. Meanwhile, steroid/ triterpenoid compounds were detected in the extract of White turmeric and Java turmeric. The results of curcuminoid content determination on the three extracts showed that the Java turmeric extract had the highest content of curcuminoids (16.07 ± 0.023 mg CE/g extract). The results of the antibacterial test showed the strongest activity of the three test samples shown by Java turmeric extract with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 64 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria; 256 mg/mL against Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria; and 32 mg/mL against the Propionibacterium acne bacteria. These results indicate that Java turmeric extract is more active against Propionibacterium acne bacteria.
The Devonian landscape factory: plant–sediment interactions in the Old Red Sandstone of Svalbard and the rise of vegetation as a biogeomorphic agent

The Devonian Period was a crucial interval in the evolution of plants. During its 60 myr duration, it witnessed the successive evolution of roots, wood, trees and forests. In addition, many of the biogeomorphic phenomena that operate in modern terrestrial environments came online for the first time. The ‘Old Red Sandstone’ of Svalbard consists of a near-continuous Silurian to Late Devonian record of sedimentary environments colonized by land plants and provides a perfect natural laboratory to aid our understanding of the facies signatures and evolution of these phenomena. We describe and illustrate a catalogue of ‘Old Red Sandstone’ features that provide evidence for the stepwise appearance of novel plant–sediment interactions, including preserved plant material and rooting structures, early large woody debris accumulations, cannel coal deposits and the oldest known vegetation-induced sedimentary structures, in addition to vegetation-influenced motifs of elevated mudrock content and complex alluvial sand bodies. These characteristics are combined to reconstruct changes to non-marine environments in this Devonian ‘landscape factory’. In addition to tectonic and climate influences, plant evolution first served as a control on the construction of the sedimentary record during this period and has persisted as a fundamental influence on Earth surface processes and landforms ever since.
Nanotechnology in Diabetes Management

Nanotechnology is a scientific and technological combination, integrating various fields, such as physics [1], chemistry [2], biotechnology and engineering [3]. It is considered as the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers [4]. The interesting potential of nanotechnology, due to the special properties of nanomaterials, leads to a great number of applications, which are developed in order to improve the quality of life [5]. Nanomedicine is a specialized branch of medicine that applies the fundamentals of nanotechnology to the prevention and/or the treatment of various diseases [6]. Thus, nanomedicine involves the utilization of nanostructured materials for diagnosis, delivery, detection or actuation purposes in a living organism [7]. There are numerous companies specializing in the fabrication of new forms of nanosized matter, with anticipated applications that include medical therapeutics and diagnostics, energy production, molecular computing and structural materials [4,8]. Nanotechnology can enhance drug delivery to those areas which were unfavorable for macromolecules to approach [9]. Furthermore, it offers new implantable sensing technologies, providing accurate medical information [10]. Cancer and cardiovascular diseases diagnosis and treatment, dental applications and development of bone implants are among the most famous applications of nanomedicine [11-16]. Diabetes is considered to be among the major afflictions of modern western society. Recent studies demonstrated that around approximately 9.3 percent of the global adult population suffered from diabetes in 2019 [17]. According to mathematical models, based on clinical data, by the year 2045, this percentage is expected to rise to almost 11 percent [17,18]. Diabetes is typically characterized by increased thirst, excessive weight loss or excessive desire to eat, increased urge for urination and thus resulting in abnormal increase in blood glucose level [19,20]. It is classified as Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes mellitus, depending on the reason for high blood sugar [19-21]. In type 1-diabetes, the body cannot produce insulin due to loss of β-cells, as a result of T-cell mediated autoimmune attack [22]. The common approach of this condition is a prescribed insulin replacement therapy, including injections of long-acting insulin at mealtimes [23]. An insulin-resistance combined with insulin deficiency Crimson Publishers Wings to the Research Review Article
Segmenting Mobile Banking Users Based on the Usage of Mobile Banking Services

Mobile banking is transforming the way the banking industry creates and delivers value to its customers. This channel of banking has not only reduced the cost of access to banking services but has also created opportunities for service differentiation. Thus, for banks, their understanding of customer segments in terms of the degree of various mobile banking services availed by consumers is critical to the sustainability of the banking industry. This study integrates trust and lifestyle compatibility in the technology acceptance model (TAM) to develop a conceptual framework for discussing consumer attitude and intention towards mobile banking services. A sample of 367 respondents was asked to complete a survey. This article attempts to segment the consumers into distinct groups based on whether users avail mobile banking services or not. The hierarchical clustering technique was used for segmentation. Three clusters were obtained which were labelled as Active User, Traditional Follower and Laggard. A profile of each cluster was developed in terms of their demographics (age, gender, income, etc.). Further, analysis of variance was conducted to determine whether antecedents to mobile banking, namely ease of use, convenience, efficiency, trust and lifestyle compatibility significantly differ between the clusters. For antecedents where the difference was found to be significant, a post-hoc analysis was conducted to determine the difference between various cluster pairs. A similar analysis was conducted for Attitude and Intention variables to find out whether it varies between the cluster pairs. The results showed that a statistically significant difference exists between clusters with respect to the various antecedents to mobile banking, attitude and intention. Managerial implications and social implications of the study are also discussed.
Laboratory Evaluation on Performance of Recycled Asphalt Binder and Mixtures under Short-Term Aging Conditions

As asphalt materials are exposed to very high temperatures before construction, such as in the transportation stage or the storage stage, short-term aging of asphalt material occurs. At these stages, diffusion or blending between RAP (reclaimed asphalt pavement) binder and virgin binder may occur. In this study, recycled blends, incorporating SBS modified binder, RAP binder and recycling agents, were prepared with incremental RAP binders of up to 40%, and RTFO (Rolling Thin-Film Oven) tests in condition times of 300 and 600 min were conducted on the recycled blends. Characterization tests included ΔTcr, complex modulus master curve, a G-R (Glover-Rowe) parameter on recycled blends, and dynamic modulus, fracture test, and midpoint bending fatigue tests on mixtures. The ΔTcr and the G-R parameter results showed that aging time significantly affected the cracking resistance of the recycled blends. Compared to the virgin SBS modified asphalt binder, the recycled blends tended to be more sensitive to the aging process. The complex modulus master curve of binders and the dynamic modulus and phase angle results of mixtures show that the binder/mixtures appear to be stiffer with an increase in the RAP binder dosage. Generally, the low temperature cracking and fatigue cracking resistance of virgin mixtures is better than that of RAP mixtures, especially for high RAP binder dosage mixtures, and longer aging times have a negative impact on the cracking resistance of mixture. However, when we extend RTFO aging time, the higher dosage of RAP mixtures show better cracking resistance than the lower dosage of RAP mixtures. The reason for this could be that the chemical process may occur between the virgin SBS modified asphalt binder and the RAP binder at high temperatures.
Determination of glycidyl esters and 3-MCPD esters in edible oils by sample pretreatment with the combination of lipase hydrolysis and modified QuEChERS for GC-MS analysis

Glycidyl esters (GEs) and 3-chloroprapane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDEs) are processing contaminants in refined edible oils that have raised concerns globally owing to their potentially carcinogenic properties. Official analytical methods for GEs and 3-MCPDEs, such as AOCS Cd 29a-13 and AOCS Cd 29b-13, require up to 16 h for chemical hydrolysis. Also, parallel experiments should be conducted to correct for the conversion of analytes during hydrolysis in AOCS Cd 29b-13. For AOCS Cd 29c-13 with the shortest operating time, the reaction time (3.5–5.5 min) and temperature of alkaline hydrolysis should be carefully controlled, implying the accuracy may be influenced by human errors. Here, we propose a novel method based on Candida rugosa lipase hydrolysis and direct detection of free form GEs, glycidol, which was achieved by sample preparation with modified QuEChERS, to prevent side reactions in previous approaches, and also to shorten the overall sample preparation time. Glycidol was directly analyzed without halogenation and derivatization, whereas 3-MCPD required derivatization for analysis by GC-MS. Our method showed good accuracy and precision in terms of repeatability, intermediate precision, and reproducibility (inter-laboratory precision). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for glycidol were 0.02 and 0.1 mg/kg, which is sufficient for practical applications. The proposed method was further compared with AOCS Cd 29c-13 by determination of GEs content in commercial oil samples and spiked samples. Our method with a streamlined procedure seems to possess potential advantage of reduced errors from operational factors. This proposed method based on direct detection of glycidol may serve as a simplified alternative for routine analysis of GEs and 3-MCPDEs in edible oils.
Development of the Global to Mesoscale Air Quality Forecast and Analysis System (GMAF) and Its Application to PM2.5 Forecast in Korea

This paper presents the development of the global to mesoscale air quality forecast and analysis system (GMAF) and its application to particulate matter under 2.5 μm (PM2.5) forecast in Korea. The GMAF combined a mesoscale model with a global data assimilation system by the grid nudging based four-dimensional data assimilation (FDDA). The grid nudging based FDDA developed for weather forecast and analysis was extended to air quality forecast and analysis for the first time as an alternative to data assimilation of surface monitoring data. The below cloud scavenging module and the secondary organic formation module of the community multiscale air quality model (CMAQ) were modified and subsequently verified by comparing with the PM speciation observation from the PM supersite. The observation data collected from the criteria air pollutant monitoring networks in Korea were used to evaluate forecast performance of GMAF for the year of 2016. The GMAF showed good performance in forecasting the daily mean PM2.5 concentrations at Seoul; the correlation coefficient between the observed and forecasted PM2.5 concentrations was 0.78; the normalized mean error was 25%; the probability of detection for the events exceeding the national PM2.5 standard was 0.81 whereas the false alarm rate was only 0.38. Both the hybrid bias correction technique and the Kalman filter bias adjustment technique were implemented into the GMAF as postprocessors. For the continuous and the categorical performance metrics examined, the Kalman filter bias adjustment technique performed better than the hybrid bias correction technique.
Talent management in turbulent times: Selection, negotiation, and exploration strategies for talent management in the aeronautics and space industries

Abstract Talent Management (TM) is traditionally analyzed as a set of interrelated processes that firms use to develop their human capital in accordance with their needs. Turbulent environmental conditions are pushing TM to evolve in order to cope with change and uncertainty and is prompting talent managers to attempt to change the nature of TM. We investigate how talent managers are conducting this change through a framework based on social agency. We present exploratory research conducted on 20 companies in the aeronautics and space sectors, a set of industries facing turbulence. On the basis of 35 formal and 27 informal interviews, we outline three strategies being used by talent managers that are enabling TM to evolve: selection, negotiation, and exploration strategies. Our research reveals that TM is a flexible construct within companies facing turbulence, which gives TM a role as a method of planning and a vehicle for change.
Does Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist Compared to Pressure Support Ventilation Decrease Patient Ventilator Asynchrony?

BACKGROUND: Patient-mechanical ventilator (MV) asynchrony despite optimal adjustment of MV parameters is a common problem that is partly associated with difficult weaning of MV. Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) is a mode of proportional ventilation that count on diaphragmatic activity (measured by special esophageal probe and expressed as diaphragm electrical [Edi]) to provide proportional support to patient effort which differs from one breath to another according to Edi signal. AIM: The purpose of this trial is to determine the impact of NAVA compared to pressure support ventilation (PSV) mode in decreasing patient-MV asynchrony and hemodynamic effect in patients on MV with expected difficult weaning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective interventional trial was conducted on 30 critically ill on MV with expected difficult weaning. First, patients were put on PSV mode for 24 h. Then, patients were put on NAVA mode (for weaning) for the next 24 h. The incidence of different types of asynchrony in both modes was investigated. RESULTS: NAVA mode significantly reduced the asynchrony index when compared to PSV (1.1 ± 0.39% vs. 2.8 ± 1.1, respectively, p < 0.001), P/F ratio was significantly higher during NAVA (250 in NAVA vs. 210 in PSV, p < 0.001), heart rate, and mean arterial blood pressure were significantly reduced during NAVA (p < 0.001 and 0.015, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to PSV, NAVA-reduced patient-MV asynchrony significantly and increased the P/F ratio significantly with better hemodynamics. Edited by: Ksenija Bogoeva-Kostovska Citation: Mohamed HAE, Fakher MA, Arafa M, Selem KAW, Fatah AA. Does Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist Compared to Pressure Support Ventilation Decrease Patient Ventilator Asynchrony? Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2021 Jan 30; 9(B):96-100. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2021. 5643
Management to Promote Flowering Understoreys Benefits Natural Enemy Diversity, Aphid Suppression and Income in an Agroforestry System

Agroforestry systems, where productive trees are integrated into agricultural land, can deliver benefits to biodiversity, natural pest control, and pollination, but the effects are highly variable. Recent advances in our understanding of flower strips in agricultural systems suggest that the management of the tree row understorey could be an important contributor to this variation. Here, we compare two cutting regimes for an understorey, originally seeded with the same flower mix, in the tree rows of an apple-arable agroforestry system: (i) uncut vegetation to promote a flowering understorey, and (ii) regularly mown vegetation. We recorded the effects of management on invertebrate pests, natural enemies, and pollinators, in both the apple and arable components. Apple trees above flowering understoreys supported significantly: (i) more natural enemies early in the season, (ii) fewer aphid colonies, (iii) fewer aphid-damaged fruits, and (iv) higher pollinator visitation, compared with those above mown understoreys. In the arable crop alleys, both the taxonomic richness and Shannon diversity of ground-based natural enemies were significantly higher adjacent to flowering understoreys, compared with those adjacent to mown understoreys, early in the season. Financial modelling based on aphid damage to apples, mowing costs, and income from Countryside Stewardship grants, indicated that flowering understoreys increased farm income by GBP 231.02 per ha of agroforestry compared with mown understoreys. Our results provide the first empirical evidence that management to promote flowering understoreys in agroforestry systems can be a win-win option to improve invertebrate diversity, associated ecosystem services, and farm income.