Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incidence and Clinical Risk Factors of Post-Operative Complications following Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A 10-Year Population-Based Cohort Study

Background: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) has become a growing treatment procedure for debilitating hip pathologies. Patients experienced post-operative complications and revision surgeries according to large THA registries. To fully understand the short-term and long-term post-operative outcomes following THA, the purpose of this study is to examine the incidence of post-operative complications following primary THA and to examine how this trend has changed over 10 years within community hospitals in the US using large databases. Methods: This study queried the State Inpatient Database (SID) for primary THA between 2006 and 2015. Individual patients were followed forward in time until the first instance of a post-operative complication. The multivariable logistic regression analyses were computed to examine which post-operative complications were independent predictors of pre-operative comorbidities. Results: Median age of patients was 67 years, and 56% of patients were female. Females with avascular necrosis (AVN) as an indication for THA had a 27% higher risk of complication. Females with osteoarthritis (OA) as an indication for THA had a 6% higher risk of complication. Post-operative complications occurred with higher frequencies in the first two months of THA and the highest risks of THA complications within the first 6 months. Conclusion: The most common indication is OA in elders with primary THA. Females and those of black ethnicity showed the greatest risks of THA complications. Data from our large study can be used to understand post-operative complications and readmissions after THA. Our study also provides data on risk factors associated with these complications.
Innovations in Positron Emission Tomography and State of the Art in the Evaluation of Breast Cancer Treatment Response

The advent of hybrid Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) and PET/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners resulted in an increased clinical relevance of nuclear medicine in oncology. The use of [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) has also made it possible to study tumors (including breast cancer) from not only a dimensional perspective but also from a metabolic point of view. In particular, the use of [18F]FDG PET allowed early confirmation of the efficacy or failure of therapy. The purpose of this review was to assess the literature concerning the response to various therapies for different subtypes of breast cancer through PET. We start by summarizing studies that investigate the validation of PET/CT for the assessment of the response to therapy in breast cancer; then, we present studies that compare PET imaging (including PET devices dedicated to the breast) with CT and MRI, focusing on the identification of the most useful parameters obtainable from PET/CT. We also focus on novel non-FDG radiotracers, as they allow for the acquisition of information on specific aspects of the new therapies.
Moderated ionic bonding for water-free recyclable polyelectrolyte complex materials

While nature extensively uses electrostatic bonding between oppositely charged polymers to assemble and stabilize materials, harnessing these interactions in synthetic systems has been challenging. Synthetic materials cross-linked with a high density of ionic bonds, such as polyelectrolyte complexes, only function properly when their charge interactions are attenuated in the presence of ample amounts of water; dehydrating these materials creates such strong Coulombic bonding that they become brittle, non-thermoplastic, and virtually impossible to process. We present a strategy to intrinsically moderate the electrostatic bond strengths in apolar polymeric solids by the covalent grafting of attenuator spacers to the charge carrying moieties. This produces a class of polyelectrolyte materials that have a charge density of 100%, are processable and malleable without requiring water, are highly solvent- and water-resistant, and are fully recyclable. These materials, which we coin “compleximers,” marry the properties of thermoplastics and thermosets using tailored ionic bonding alone.
Characterization of Băbească Neagră Grape Pomace and Incorporation into Jelly Candy: Evaluation of Phytochemical, Sensory, and Textural Properties

The influence of particle size intervals (<125 μm, ≥125–<200 μm, and ≥200–<300 μm) of grape pomace (Vitis vinifera var. Băbească Neagră) was analyzed in terms of the proximate composition, functional properties, and physicochemical parameters. The aim was to study the effect of the formulation variables (extract from grape pomace with different particle size intervals and gelatin doses—7, 8.5, and 10 g) on the mechanical properties (hardness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness, springiness, and gumminess), color, and sensorial, microbiological, and phytochemical parameters. The jelly candy formulated with grape pomace extract (<125 μm) and 7 g of gelatin showed the highest total phenolic content (156 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant activity (65.8% inhibition), while grape pomace jellies with a particle size of ≥125–<200 μm and different concentration of gelatin presented the greatest sensory acceptance in terms of sweetness, taste, odor, elasticity, color, and overall acceptability of the resulting jelly. The concluding observation was supported by the microbiological analysis, which also showed that there is no growth in jelly samples except the jelly candies prepared with a ≥200–<300 μm particle size interval of grape pomace extract.
Functional and Radiographic Outcomes of Open Proximal Femoral Fractures Caused by Gunshot Wounds in Yemen

Background: Open proximal femoral fractures caused by gunshot wounds are rare but devastating injuries that pose considerable challenges for prognosis and management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional and radiographic outcomes of patients with open proximal femoral fractures caused by gunshot wounds treated at 3 Level-I trauma centers in Yemen and to identify the factors that influence them. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 174 patients with open proximal femoral fractures caused by gunshot wounds. The fractures were classified according to the Gustilo-Anderson and OTA/AO systems. The primary outcome measures were fracture union, infection, and functional outcomes. The secondary outcome measures were the Harris hip score (HHS) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey score. We performed multivariable logistic regression modeling to identify the predictors of complications and poor functional outcomes. Results: The overall rate of fracture union was 87%. The complication rates were 18% for infection, 13% for nonunion, 23% for reoperation, 12% for delayed union, 4% for osteonecrosis, 6% for heterotopic ossification, and 2% for amputation. The mean HHS at the final follow-up was 78.4, and the mean SF-36 score was 67.3. Conclusions: Open proximal femoral fractures caused by gunshot wounds are associated with high rates of complications and poor functional outcomes in Yemen. Early debridement, appropriate fixation, infection control, and adequate soft-tissue coverage are essential for achieving satisfactory results. The type of wound, the type of fracture, and the type of definitive fixation are significant predictors of the outcomes. Future studies should compare different fixation methods and evaluate the long-term outcomes and complications of these injuries. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Recent Approaches to the Plasticization of Poly(lactic Acid) (PLA) (A Review)

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a polyester attracting growing interest every year in different application fields, such as packaging, cosmetics, food, medicine, etc. Despite its significant advantages, it has low elasticity that may hinder further development and a corresponding rise in volume of consumption. This review opens a discussion of basic approaches to PLA plasticization. These considerations include copolymerization and blending with flexible polymers, introducing oligomers and low-molecular additives, as well as structural modification. It was demonstrated that each approach has its advantages, such as simplicity and low cost, but with disadvantages, including complex processing and the need for additional reagents. According to the analysis of different approaches, it was concluded that the optimal option is the application of copolymers as the additives obtained via reactive mixing to PLA and its blends with other polymers.
Morphology Regulation of Zeolite MWW via Classical/Nonclassical Crystallization Pathways

The morphology and porosity of zeolites have an important effect on adsorption and catalytic performance. In the work, simple inorganic salts, i.e., Na salts were used to synthesize MWW zeolite using the organic compound 1-Butyl-2,3-dimethyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium hydroxide as a structure-directing agent and the morphology was regulated by the alkali metals. The sample synthesized without Na salts shows a dense hexagon morphology, while different morphologies like ellipsoid, wool ball, and uniform hexagon appear when using NaOH, Na2CO3, and NaHCO3, respectively. Moreover, the impact of Na salts on the induction, nucleation, and the evolution of crystal growth was studied. Different kinds of Na salts have a different impact on the crystalline induction time in the order of NaHCO3 (36 h) < Na2CO3 (72 h) = NaOH (72 h). Meanwhile, the crystalline mechanism with the cooperation of inorganic salts and the organic SDAs is proposed. NaOH- and Na2CO3-MWW zeolite crystallized with a network of hydrogel via the nonclassical pathway in the system; however, the product is synthesized via a classical route in the NaHCO3 environment. This work provides information about MWW zeolite crystallization and modulating diverse morphologies by adjusting the process.
Obstruction to Treatments Meeting International Standards for Lyme and Relapsing Fever Borreliosis Patients

Abstract—We reviewed how certain institutional policies and practices, as well as questionable research, are creating obstacles to care and informed consent for Lyme and relapsing fever Borreliosis patients. The interference is denying access to treatments that meet the internationally accepted standards as set by the Institute of Medicine. This obstruction to care contributes to significant human suffering, disability and negative economic effect across many nations and in many regions of the world. We note how evidence based medicine emphasizes the importance of clinical experience and patient-centered care and how these patients benefit significantly when their rights to choose among treatment options are upheld.
Mental health self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective cohort study in Australia

Pandemic public health measures have affected mental health for many people, resulting in varied approaches to mental health self-care. During 27 April - 26 July 2020, we surveyed a cohort of 1646 Australians, who were in paid employment prior to the pandemic, on changes in work, health, and managing their mental health concerns. Lifestyle changes were most the most frequently reported action to manage mental health concerns (78%), and were more common for women (OR=2.33, 95%CI=[1.82, 3.03]), and people experiencing recent work loss (OR=1.54, 95%CI=[1.04, 2.28]). Mental health self-care was more common for people experiencing psychological distress, or with pre-exisiting mental health conditions. Talking to friends about mental health, exercise and dietary changes, were more common for women and younger adults. Findings highlight potential benefits of reducing barriers to formal mental health services and supports during crises, particularly for people who less commonly seek help, and those experiencing psychological distress.
Predicting Neoadjuvant Treatment Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Using Machine Learning

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is the standard treatment for early-stage triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The primary endpoint of NAC is a pathological complete response (pCR). NAC results in pCR in only 30–40% of TNBC patients. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), Ki67 and phosphohistone H3 (pH3) are a few known biomarkers to predict NAC response. Currently, systematic evaluation of the combined value of these biomarkers in predicting NAC response is lacking. In this study, the predictive value of markers derived from H&E and IHC stained biopsy tissue was comprehensively evaluated using a supervised machine learning (ML)-based approach. Identifying predictive biomarkers could help guide therapeutic decisions by enabling precise stratification of TNBC patients into responders and partial or non-responders. Methods: Serial sections from core needle biopsies (n = 76) were stained with H&E and immunohistochemically for the Ki67 and pH3 markers, followed by whole-slide image (WSI) generation. The serial section stains in H&E stain, Ki67 and pH3 markers formed WSI triplets for each patient. The resulting WSI triplets were co-registered with H&E WSIs serving as the reference. Separate mask region-based CNN (MRCNN) models were trained with annotated H&E, Ki67 and pH3 images for detecting tumor cells, stromal and intratumoral TILs (sTILs and tTILs), Ki67+, and pH3+ cells. Top image patches with a high density of cells of interest were identified as hotspots. Best classifiers for NAC response prediction were identified by training multiple ML models and evaluating their performance by accuracy, area under curve, and confusion matrix analyses. Results: Highest prediction accuracy was achieved when hotspot regions were identified by tTIL counts and each hotspot was represented by measures of tTILs, sTILs, tumor cells, Ki67+, and pH3+ features. Regardless of the hotspot selection metric, a complementary use of multiple histological features (tTILs, sTILs) and molecular biomarkers (Ki67 and pH3) resulted in top ranked performance at the patient level. Conclusions: Overall, our results emphasize that prediction models for NAC response should be based on biomarkers in combination rather than in isolation. Our study provides compelling evidence to support the use of ML-based models to predict NAC response in patients with TNBC.
Molecular Gas-Phase Conformational Ensembles

Accurately determining the global minima of a molecular structure is important in diverse scientific fields, including drug design, materials science, and chemical synthesis. Conformational search engines serve as valuable tools for exploring the extensive conformational space of molecules and for identifying energetically favorable conformations. In this study, we present a comparison of Auto3D, CREST, Balloon, and ETKDG (from RDKit), which are freely available conformational search engines, to evaluate their effectiveness in locating global minima. These engines employ distinct methodologies, including machine learning (ML) potential-based, semiempirical, and force field-based approaches. To validate these methods, we propose the use of collisional cross-section (CCS) values obtained from ion mobility-mass spectrometry studies. We hypothesize that experimental gas-phase CCS values can provide experimental evidence that we likely have the global minimum for a given molecule. To facilitate this effort, we used our gas-phase conformation library (GPCL) which currently consists of the full ensembles of 20 small molecules and can be used by the community to validate any conformational search engine. Further members of the GPCL can be readily created for any molecule of interest using our standard workflow used to compute CCS values, expanding the ability of the GPCL in validation exercises. These innovative validation techniques enhance our understanding of the conformational landscape and provide valuable insights into the performance of conformational generation engines. Our findings shed light on the strengths and limitations of each search engine, enabling informed decisions for their utilization in various scientific fields, where accurate molecular structure determination is crucial for understanding biological activity and designing targeted interventions. By facilitating the identification of reliable conformations, this study significantly contributes to enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of molecular structure determination, with particular focus on metabolite structure elucidation. The findings of this research also provide valuable insights for developing effective workflows for predicting the structures of unknown compounds with high precision.
Estimating site occupancy and detectability of the threatened partridge pigeon (
 Geophaps smithii
 ) using camera traps

Since European settlement, many granivorous birds of northern Australia's savanna landscapes have declined. One such example, the partridge pigeon (Geophaps smithii), has suffered a significant range contraction, disappearing from at least half of its pre‐European range. Multiple factors have been implicated in this decline, including the loss of traditional Aboriginal burning practices, grazing by large exotic herbivores and predation by feral cats (Felis catus). While populations of partridge pigeon on the Tiwi Islands may be particularly important for the long‐term persistence of this species, they too may be at risk of decline. However, as a reliable method to detect this species has not yet been developed and tested, we lack the ability to identify, at an early stage, the species' decline in a given location or region. This severely limits our capacity to make informed management decisions. Here, we demonstrate that the standard camera trapping approach for native mammal monitoring in northern Australia attained an overall probability of detecting partridge pigeon greater than 0.98. We thus provide a robust estimate of partridge pigeon site occupancy (0.30) on Melville Island, the larger of the two main Tiwi Islands. The information presented here for the partridge pigeon represents a critical first step towards the development of optimal monitoring programmes with which to gauge population trajectories, as well as the response to remedial management actions. In the face of ongoing biodiversity loss, such baseline information is vital for management agencies to make informed decisions and should therefore be sought for as many species as possible.
Adolescent Screen Use: Problematic Internet Use and the Impact of Gender

Objective The relationship between screen use and problematic internet use (PIU; i.e., internet addiction) amongst adolescents has not been sufficiently explored. Further, there is even less research on how gender is associated with this relationship. The goal of the study was to examine adolescent screen use, PIU, and its impact on day-to-day routines of adolescents. Methods Participants were recruited from an outpatient pediatric clinic in São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 180 adolescents completed questionnaires related to their screen use, extracurricular activities, and symptoms of PIU. Univariate and multivariate statistics were used to determine correlates and predictors of PIU, and to explore gender differences. Results A total of 26.1% of adolescents met the criteria for PIU. There were no significant differences between boys and girls in PIU severity. However, there were significant gender differences in preferred use of the Internet, with boys being more likely to access the Internet to play video games (odds ratio [OR]=27.1) and girls being more likely to socialize with friends (OR=4.51). PIU severity increased proportionally to the number of hours of use of all screen devices with moderate-to-large effect sizes (η2=0.060–0.157). Using screens during meals and missing extracurricular activities were both associated with PIU. Conclusion Though gender was not associated with PIU, both excessive use of screen devices during meals and neglect of offline extracurriculars activities were identified as risk factors for PIU. Prevention measures should consider the impact of gender and associated patterns of motivation and Internet use.
Avortement au Maroc et virage au drame : femmes et professionnels de santé en parlent ! Une étude transversale mixte à Agadir

Résumé Les avortements à risque constituent une problématique majeure de santé publique, responsable de la mortalité et de la morbidité maternelles et absorbant les ressources des systèmes de santé publique à l’échelle mondiale. Malgré l’ampleur très probable du problème de l’avortement non sécurisé au Maroc, peu de données sont accessibles sur cette question. Cette recherche vise à analyser la situation de l’avortement du point de vue des femmes et des professionnels de santé dans la préfecture d’Agadir Idaoutanane au Sud du Maroc. Nous avons conduit une étude transversale mixte. De janvier à septembre 2018, 266 femmes ont été recrutées pour répondre à un questionnaire, et 45 entretiens avec les femmes et les professionnels de la santé impliqués dans la santé sexuelle et reproductive (SSR) ont été menés. Nous avons procédé à une analyse descriptive des données quantitatives et à une analyse de contenu thématique des données recueillies par les entretiens individuels. Les résultats de l’étude révèlent que les avortements sont la conjugaison de plusieurs facteurs multidimensionnels. Le manque d’informations en SSR et l’échec de la contraception sont les facteurs majeurs de grossesses non désirées. L’avortement provoqué est un sujet tabou, fortement stigmatisant, portant à l’image sociale de la personne. L’accessibilité aux services d’avortement est marquée de grandes disparités et de trajectoires différentes. Cette étude apporte une contribution à l’analyse du phénomène de l’avortement au Maroc et appelle à une action politique urgente sur plusieurs niveaux: l’accès aux programmes d’éducation sexuelle et à la contraception appropriée, l’élargissement des indications d’avortement préconisées dans le projet de loi, la mise en place des stratégies de lutte contre la stigmatisation de l’avortement par les professionnels de santé et l’accès à des soins post-avortement de haute qualité.