Statistical Analysis System Software Research Articles

Hourly Feeding Regime of Modern Genetics Lactating Sows: Enhancing Productive Performance, Welfare, and Piglet Growth in Smart Farm-Based Systems

Effective management of lactating sows significantly influences various aspects of swine production. This study compared the impact of an hourly feeding regime and a five-times-daily feeding regime on the productive performance, body condition, and welfare of lactating sows, as well as on the growth performance of their offspring. Twenty-eight lactating sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were divided into two groups: Group 1 was fed five times a day, and Group 2 was fed according to an hourly regime. The data were analyzed using independent-samples T-tests and the Mann–Whitney U test using Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 2011, Version 9.3) software. An hourly feeding regime positively affected (p < 0.05) sows’ feed intake and body condition, significantly reducing the days from the weaning-to-estrus interval. Group 1 exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) reductions in backfat thickness (BFT) and body condition score (BCS) during the weaning period compared to Group 2. Additionally, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in regard to sow body weight loss, feed intake, piglet livability and mortality rate at weaning, sow index, and calculated milk yield. Feeding sows according to an hourly regime positively impacted their productive performance compared to those fed five times daily. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were recorded in regard to the total number of piglets born, live births, mummified piglets, stillbirths, piglet mortality, litter size at weaning, and sow feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, the number of piglets weaned per sow per year (PSY) was numerically higher in Group 2 (p > 0.05). The piglets from Group 2 had significantly higher (p < 0.05) weaning weights and exhibited lower feed intake, greater weight gain, improved average daily gain, and greater litter size weight gain than those from Group 1. Statistically, sows from Group 2 exhibited a higher frequency of standing (p < 0.05), which potentially contributed to the reduction in shoulder skin lesions in sows (p > 0.05). In conclusion, an hourly feeding regime could optimize sow productive performance, body condition, milk yield, welfare, and piglet growth in swine production.

Address matching using machine learning methods: An application to register-based census

Today, most activities of the statistical offices need to be adapted to the modernization policies of the national statistical system. Therefore, the application of machine learning techniques is mandatory for the main activities of statistical centers. These include important issues such as coding business activities, address matching, prediction of response propensities, and many others. One of the common applications of machine learning methods in official statistics is to match a statistical address to a postal address, in order to establish a link between register-based census and traditional censuses with the aim of providing time series census information. Since there is no unique identifier to directly map the records from different databases, text-based approaches can be applied. In this paper, a novel application of machine learning will be investigated to integrate data sources of governmental records and census, employing text-based learning. Additionally, three new methods of machine learning classification algorithms are proposed. A simulation study has been performed to evaluate the robustness of methods in terms of the degree of duplication and purity of the texts. Due to the limitation of the R programming environment on big data sets, all programming has been successfully implemented on SAS (Statistical analysis system) software.

Medication Trends in the Military: A Comparative Analysis of Prescribing Patterns Among Service Members Seen by a Pharmacist and Implications for Medical Readiness.

Medications play a critical role supporting the health of military service members. Little is known about the broad use of medications prescribed to this population. Active duty service members (ADSMs), while often younger and having fewer diagnosed comorbid conditions, face unique health challenges that benefit from pharmacotherapy. Understanding prescribing patterns is instrumental to illuminate potential areas for research and to guide education so that military health care professionals can maintain competency, improve outcomes, and support medical readiness. This study aimed to characterize commonly dispensed medications among ADSMs and to compare these prescriptions with those of the general population. A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis using data extracted contained in the Military Health System Information Platform focused on ADSMs who consulted with a clinical pharmacist during the 2019 fiscal year. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient and prescription data. The 100 most frequently prescribed medications and 20 most frequently prescribed therapeutic classes were identified. Analyses were performed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software, and a non-metric multidimensional scaling plot was generated in R to illustrate the relationships between the 20 most frequently used therapeutic classes and the branches of service. The study analyzed 719,788 prescriptions for 30,012 service members, revealing a high prescription rate for pain, inflammation, and psychiatric condition treatments. Antidepressants and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were among the most commonly prescribed across all military branches. Some medication uses varied, which may indicate distinct needs within different service branches. Understanding medication patterns among ADSMs may be able to help health care professionals proactively address pharmacological challenges and optimize pharmaceutical use in this unique population. This knowledge can also aid in the development of training modules focused on medication side effects, interactions, counseling, and implications on military deployment for the most commonly used medications. Future examination into prescribing cascades and medication use related to proton-pump inhibitors, docusate, benzonatate, and muscle relaxants may identify opportunities to provide better care or lower cost.

Audiological Manifestations in Patients with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis.

Background and Objectives: Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare, autoimmune, multisystemic disease characterized by vasculitis and necrotizing granuloma that commonly affects the upper and lower respiratory tract and kidneys. Audiovestibular dysfunction in GPA diseases may have different clinical presentations. The aim of the present study was to evaluate hearing function in patients with GPA and to compare the results with a healthy control group. Materials and Methods: A total of 34 individuals participated in the study. The GPA group consisted of 14 participants, and the control group was composed of 20 healthy participants with no signs or symptoms of ear disease. The ages ranged from 18 to 65 years old, with a mean age of 43.8 years. The participants underwent a complete audiological evaluation using otoscopy, impedance audiometry, pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry-evaluation of speech thresholds, and speech recognition in quiet. Both ears were tested. All of the participants of the study were native Lithuanian speakers. Data were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System software SAS® Studio 3.8. A p value < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: 92.85% of patients from the GPA group reported hearing-related symptoms: hearing loss, tinnitus, and fullness in the ears. The arithmetic means of all hearing thresholds at frequencies from 125 Hz to 8000 Hz were significantly higher in the GPA group. The results revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups in the Speech Detection Threshold, Speech Recognition Threshold, Speech Discomfort level, and Word Recognition Scores. Conclusions: The frequency of hearing loss, the average hearing thresholds, and speech thresholds were higher in GPA patients than in healthy individuals. The most common type of hearing loss was sensorineural. Audiological assessments should be considered during the routine evaluation of patients with GPA disease to prevent hearing-related disabilities.

Effectiveness of simulation-based medical education perceptions and attitudes

Simulation is a highly effective method often used in medical training. Simulation-based medical education (SBME) provides a way for healthcare professionals and patients to experience medical scenarios without actual risk to health or safety. This study focuses on comparing the views and opinions about SBME and traditional medical education (TME) among students from various levels and programs within medical colleges at Majmaah University in Saudi Arabia. A survey was used to gather information on students' perceptions and attitudes towards SBME and TME. The study analyzed responses from 472 healthcare students using Statistical Analysis System software. Of these participants, 52.33% were male and 47.67% were female. Most of the students, 80.30%, were pursuing bachelor's degrees, while 19.70% were in master's programs. The breakdown of their fields of study was as follows: 17.80% in medicine, 71.82% in applied medical sciences, and 10.38% in dentistry. A large majority, 93.43%, were familiar with SBME in general, and 90.89% knew about SBME in their specific field, indicating high awareness. Despite the challenges in using and maintaining SBME, the study found overall positive perceptions and attitudes towards it among healthcare students. Additionally, most participants believed that SBME offers a better learning environment, helps in reducing future medical mistakes, and supports every student's right to access SBME training.

Response of Carrot (Daucus carota L.) to Supplementary Irrigation under Rain-Fed Agriculture at Jimma and Gera, Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia

Evaluating supplementary irrigation under rain-fed agriculture could help to determine the amount of water depth for water management and increasing productivity. Thus, this study was conducted at the Jimma and Gera to determine the effect of supplementary irrigation (SI) on carrot production. Eight treatments with three replications on a field plot of 9 m2 were used for conducting the experiment. Crop water requirement (ETc) was calculated from reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and crop coefficient (Kc) using CropWat 8.0 software. Yield and yield component data were collected from the field and analyzed using the statistical analysis system (SAS) software 9.0. The result revealed that root shoulder diameter, fresh biomass, and fresh root weight had significant (p &lt;0.05) effects between the treatments, but there was no significant difference (p &gt;0.05) between treatments on plant height and carrot root length at both locations. The highest and lowest plant heights were recorded at 75% SI and at a rain-fed treatment. A root shoulder diameters of 38.37 and 37.86 mm were recorded at Jimma and Gera, respectively, from the application of 75% and two SI at flowering and fruit setting treatment. The application of 75% SI gave the highest root length. A maximum fresh biomass of 3,038.6 kg/ha was obtained at 75% SI, and a minimum fresh biomass of 1,640.00 kg/ha was recorded from the rain-fed treatment at JARC. Application of 75% SI gave the maximum fresh biomass (2,388.9 kg/ha) at Gera, and a minimum fresh biomass of 1,277.8 kg/ha was recorded from rain fed. An application of 75% SI gave the highest fresh root weight of 7,430.6 kg/ha at JARC. In the study, the application of 75% SI gave the highest (6,388.9 kg/ha) fresh root weight, and the lowest was recorded at rain fed (3,883.3 kg/ha). Therefore, for optimum production, 75% SI was recommended for the production of carrots. The total net benefit from the production of carrots was in the range of 36,659–46,950 ETB per hectare at Jimma and from 24,828 up to 39,399 ETB per hectar at Gera. The maximum and minimum marginal return rate (MRR) at Jimma were 300.97%, which is at 75% SI and 43.69%, which is at 25% supplementary irrigation, respectively. At Gera, the maximum and minimum MRR were 490.95%, which were at 25% supplementary irrigation, and the minimum was 23.18%, which was at full supplementary irrigation. Therefore, to get an economic benefit, supplementing carrot crop at 75% irrigation was recommended for both Gera and JARC.

COMPARING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY GUIDED BRONCHIAL WIDTH MEASUREMENT VERSUS CONVENTIONAL METHOD OF SELECTING DOUBLE LUMEN TUBE IN PATIENTS REQUIRING ONE LUNG VENTILATION-A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Aim:The study was conducted to compare CT guided bronchial width measurement against conventional method of DLT insertion for one lung ventilation. Materials and Methods: A prospective randomised observational study conducted in 52 adult patients who underwent elective thoracic surgery. GroupA-based on demographic characters.. GroupB-based CT scan measurement of LMB width. Data analysis : In this study, statistical analysis was done using SAS (statistical analysis system) software. All the categorical variables were described using mean and standard deviation, while the continuous variables were described in frequency and percentages. Results:Group A(male), revealed a correlation of 68.75% . Group B(male), revealed a correlation of (88.23%). Group A(female) revealed a correlation in 70% .Group B(female) revealed a correlation of 77.7%. Conclusion: We conclude that selection of DLT by Conventional method is reliable and in patients with height of less than 160 cm, selection of DLT by CT scan measured Left Main Bronchial Diameter improves the success rate and reduces the complications.

Development and Characterization of Biscuit Produce from Wheat, Carrot and Haricot Bean Composite Flour

In Ethiopia consumption of baked foods is greatly increasing. Moreover, products Protein and vitamin deficiency are still a major concern in the country and it cause disease and death in children under the age of 6 years. A blending of 100:0:0; 90:5:5; 80:10:10; 70:15:15; 60:20:20; 50:25:25 and 40:30:30 percent wheat: carrot: haricot bean flours were used to make composite biscuit. The proximate structure, functional properties, and sensory assessment were evaluated using standard methods. The experiment subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the statistical analysis system (SAS) software package. The results showed that partially replacing wheat with carrot and haricot bean increased the proximate composition of moisture (5.98-10.55%), protein (10.49-16.55%), ash (1.87-3.06%), fiber (1.36-3.22%), and fat (1.15-2.43%) significantly. Whereas carbohydrate (79.15-64.19%) and energy (368.91-344.83 kcal/g) decreased significantly. Sensory acceptability (appearance, Crispiness, color, flavor, taste, and overall acceptability) was higher in the composite biscuits with up to 30% wheat substitution by carrot and haricot bean than 100% wheat flour biscuits. Based on the findings of this report, using carrot and a haricot bean to wheat flour blend in biscuit formulation appears to be promising in terms of nutritional quality, acceptability, and cost. It is proposed that these products be marketed to vitamin A deficiency (VAD) customers and it have a chance to reduce food insecurity.

Bump Feeding Improves Sow Reproductive Performance, Milk Yield, Piglet Birth Weight, and Farrowing Behavior.

The late gestation period is crucial for fetal growth and development, impacting swine enterprises' profitability. Various nutritional strategies have been explored to enhance reproductive performance in sows, but findings regarding birth weight and litter size have been inconsistent. This study investigated the effects of increased feeding allowance during the late gestation period on the reproductive performance and farrowing behavior of primiparous and multiparous sows. A total of 28 sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were used in this experiment, and fed 2.50 kg/d or 3.50 kg/d from 84 days of gestation until farrowing. Farrowing behavior was monitored using a DeepEyesTM M3SEN camera. The data were analyzed using the 2 × 2 factorial within Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 2011, Version 9.3) software. The results indicated that regardless of the parity number, sows fed a high diet exhibited a numerical increase in the total number of born piglets and a significant increase in milk yield (p = 0.014) and piglet birthweight (p = 0.023). Backfat thickness loss was significantly higher in sows with a 2.50 kg feeding allowance (p = 0.022), and the total number of piglets born, live births, and litter size were numerically higher in sows fed 3.50 kg per day. Moreover, stillborn piglets, mortality rate, and re-estrus days were numerically lower in sows with a high feeding allowance. The diet and parity did not individually affect the average duration of farrowing and farrowing intervals. However, the duration of postural changes in sows after farrowing was significantly reduced (p = 0.012). The principal component analysis revealed 81.40% and 80.70% differences upon partial least-squares discriminant analysis. Therefore, increasing feeding allowance during the late gestation period, regardless of parity, could positively influence sows' reproductive performance and piglets' growth performance during the lactation phase.

Effects of Malt Extract on Nutritional and Functional Aspects in Healthy Adult Dogs

The co-product malt extract has prebiotic constituents, such as sugar and beta-glucans. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate how the malt extract inclusion in healthy dogs’ diet effects digestibility, fecal microbiota, fermentative metabolites, and immunity. Twelve healthy two-year-old dogs were used, randomly divided into two groups according to food consumed: control treatment (CT), without the addition of malt extract, and malt treatment (MT), with 1.0% malt extract inclusion (natural matter) during two experimental periods. The results obtained were analyzed by the computer software Statistical Analysis System (SAS, version 9.4). Values of p &lt; 0.05 were considered significant. No differences were observed in the apparent digestibility of nutrients and fermentation metabolites. However, a reduction was observed for metabolizable energy (p = 0.0004) in the malt diet. The predominant phylum for both treatments was Firmicutes (p &lt; 0.0001), the mean of which was higher in MT dogs. The bacterial groups belonging to the cluster Clostridium XIVa and genus Faecalibacterium, which are responsible for producing short-chain fatty acids, were higher after MT consumption (p &lt; 0.0001). On the other hand, MT dogs presented a reduction in the genus Bifidobacterium (p &lt; 0.0001), which is responsible for producing lactic acid. There was also an increase in lymphocyte proliferation index (p = 0.0071) and rate (p = 0.0025) and in CD4+:CD8+ lymphocyte ratio (p = 0.0098) after MT consumption. Thus, the inclusion of 1.0% of malt extract in the diet had a prebiotic effect in healthy adult dogs.

Effects of Storage Methods on Sprouting and Nutritional Quality of Ginger (ZingiberofficinaleRosc) Rhizomes in Different Storage Periods

Purpose: Harvested ginger rhizomes are highly vulnerable to damage during postharvest storage due to soil borne pathogens or pest attack. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of storage methods required for sprouting and maintaining the nutritional quality of ginger rhizomes under different storage periods in the laboratory. &#x0D; Methods: The rhizomes were stored inside five different storage methods viz., refrigerator, clay pots, pit lined with sand, pit lined with sawdust and black polythene bag with twelve perforations at three different storage periods of one, two and three months. The experiment was laid out in a complete randomized design and randomized complete block design for laboratory and field experiment respectively, replicated three times. Data were collected on temperature, percentage weight loss of stored rhizomes, percentage sprouting, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and nutritional quality of ginger rhizomes. Data were subjected to analysis of variance using Statistical Analysis System Software (SAS, 2005). Differences among treatment means were compared using Least Significance Difference (LSD) at 5% probability level.&#x0D; Results: The storage methods significantly (P≤0.05) influenced the percentage sprouting, weight loss, growth parameters and nutritional quality of ginger at various storage periods. The highest growth parameters were recorded from rhizomes stored for three months while the least value was recorded from rhizomes stored for one month. Highest percentage sprouting (94.90%) was recorded from rhizomes stored inside pit-sawdust followed by polythene (85.25%) while least percentage sprouting (66.28 %) was recorded from refrigerator. Rhizomes stored inside clay pots recorded least percentage weight loss of 27.89% closely followed by pit-sawdust (28.45%) and retained the nutritional quality of ginger at various storage periods while rhizomes stored inside refrigerator recorded highest percentage weight loss of 62.78.%.&#x0D; Conclusion: In conclusion, storage of rhizomes inside pit-sawdust as well as clay pots for a period of three months before planting produced better ginger growth on the field and maintain the quality of stored rhizomes.

The Factors Influencing the Prediction of Crash Frequency, Severity and Type: the Case of California Intersections

Traffic crashes are one of the most severe problems that affect communities worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, the annual number of global fatalities due to traffic crashes is about 1.35 million. Many factors affect the likelihood and the severity of a crash. In this paper, different factors are studied to evaluate their impact on the frequency, the severity, and the type of crashes at intersections, in order to boost road safety. California crash data have been obtained from the Highway Safety and Information System (HSIS) database and have been analyzed statistically. The analysis has included several factors such as severity, type of intersection, and the characteristics of the driver, roadway, environment, and vehicle. A negative binomial regression has been conducted by using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS®) Software for building three models. As a result, different parameters have been considered significant factors in each model. From all the models, the type of intersection and collision, the area of the crash, the type of surface type and its condition, the number of lanes, the age, and the gender have been considered significant factors for crashes at intersections. The result of this study could help reduce the likelihood and severity of crashes.

Urine glyphosate exposure and serum sex hormone disruption within the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination survey (NHANES)

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are one of the most commonly used herbicides worldwide. Numerous in vitro and in vivo model system studies have demonstrated endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) properties associated with glyphosate/GBH exposure. The present hypothesis-testing study evaluated the potential inverse dose-dependent relationship between increasing urinary glyphosate and decreasing concentrations of blood sex hormones. Demographic and newly available lab test data from the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed with survey regression modeling (adjusted for age, gender, race, and country of birth) in Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software. A total of 225, 615, 858 weighted-persons (sample n = 2130 persons) were examined for concentrations of urinary glyphosate and serum sex hormones (including: total testosterone, total estradiol, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)) among males and females, 6 years-old or older. This study revealed about 82% of the population of the United States examined had detectable urinary concentrations of glyphosate. A significant inverse correlation between concentrations of glyphosate and total estradiol and a trend towards an inverse correlation between concentrations of glyphosate and total testosterone were observed. Concentrations of SHBG and glyphosate did not correlate. Ratios of total testosterone:SHBG and total estradiol:SHBG (estimating the fraction of active sex hormones in the blood) were significantly inversely correlated with urinary concentrations of glyphosate. This epidemiological study associates widespread and ongoing glyphosate/GBH exposures with human endocrine-disruptions. Future studies should examine these phenomena in other databases and other endocrine-related disorders.

Epidemiology of mumps, mumps complications, and mumps orchitis in Korea using the National Health Insurance Service database.

To analyze the presentation of mumps and mumps orchitis using the National Health Insurance Service Database (NHISD). Using information from the NHISD representing all cases of mumps in Korea, data regarding mumps orchitis were analyzed. The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, and Clinical Modification codes were used for diagnosis. The incidence estimates of the number of mumps cases were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software. Based on the NHISD, 199,186 people were diagnosed with mumps, and males accounted for 62.3% cases. Teen males accounted for 69,870 cases, the largest number of patients diagnosed with mumps. The annual incidence of mumps increased every year (poisson regression, hazard ratio [HR] 1.026, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.024-1.027; p<0.025). The risk of mumps was lower in females than that in males (poisson regression, HR 0.594, 95% CI 0.589-0.599; p<0.001). Of the 199,186 patients diagnosed with mumps, 3,872 patients (1.9%) had related complications. Among the mumps complications, the most diagnosed complication was mumps orchitis, which was seen in 41.8% of the males. Mumps orchitis cases accounted for less than 1.5% of the patients with mumps in minors under the age of 20 years and was somewhat higher in 2009 and 2013-2015. Among the complications related to mumps, meningitis was most common in females, while orchitis was dominant in males. Mumps orchitis also shows periodic outbreaks but is particularly prevalent in adults, which suggests the potential need for additional vaccination against mumps.

Brucellosis trends in Majmaah city, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A trend of 5-year retrospective study (2016-2020)

Brucellosis, also called Malta fever, is a contagious disease caused by Brucella species and can affect one or more organs of the body. Globally, the number of brucellosis cases in the past five years (2016-2020) is 500,000 infections per year. However, in Saudi Arabia, infections of brucellosis are extremely low in the same past five years with a range of 4,167 infections per year. Therefore, the goal of conducting this cross-sectional study is to measure the prevalence and incidence rates of brucellosis in the past five years (2016-2020) in Majmaah city in Saudi Arabia and compare these rates with national rates of brucellosis in Saudi Arabia. Data of all patients of brucellosis in King Khaled hospital for the past five years (2016-2020) were collected from the hospital’s archives. Statistical analysis system software (SAS version 9.4) was used to clean, edit, and analyze these row data. As a result, incidence rates of brucellosis in Majmaah city in the last five years has been increased and decreased similarly in the line of Saudi Arabia. In 2016, in incidence rate was 78.27 and increased to 90.15 per 100,000 population in 2018. In 2020, that rate has decreased to 62.19 per 100,000 population. This cross-sectional study concluded that brucellosis infection rates among the population of Majmaah city are consistent with brucellosis infection rates in Saudi Arabia.

Adoption of electronic health records in Saudi Arabia hospitals: Knowledge and usage

BackgroundSaudi Arabia is paying a high attention to medically serve patients through advanced healthcare including: electronic health records (EHR). It is an electronic version of patient medical history that may incorporate essential administrative, clinical, laboratorial, radiological information. Locally, there were many researches and studies conducted to measure the awareness and implementation of e-health technologies including EHRs in Saudi Arabia. However, the aim of this research is to investigate the knowledge and usage levels of EHRs among different health care providers in Saudi Arabia. Materials and MethodsBy using a survey, this cross-sectional study is conducted to examine the knowledge and usage levels of EHRs among different health care providers at different sized hospitals from different provinces in Saudi Arabia. Statistical Analysis System software was employed in this study's analysis. ResultsThere were 521 participants from different healthcare occupations involved to examine the knowledge and usage levels of EHRs in Saudi Arabia. 84.84 % of those participants are Saudis while 15.16 % of them are non-Saudis. 54.52 % of the participants are males while 45.48 % of them are females. Most participants were in the age group 31–40 years. ConclusionsIt is showing a high rate of knowledge and usage levels among both Saudi and non-Saudi healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia. Also, the using of EHRs for patients’ services in hospitals have been increased including: laboratory reports, medication prescription, following up, and hospitalization. However, there might be a little lack of participants' skills of using EHRs because of the lack of attending training programs of EHRs.

Microbiological hazard identification in selective food products and their association with food safety practices in Hyderabad, India

Microbiological risk assessment (MRA) is an emerging tool for evaluating the safety of food and water supplies. In this study, identification of microbial hazards in selected samples and their association with food safety practices were seen. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) through the General Linear Models (GLM) procedure of the statistical analysis system software (SPSS version-11.5, 2003). The least significant differences were used to test means at p&amp;#60;0.05. Odds ratio (OR) values with 95% CI were computed to obtain the risk of the presence of the foodborne pathogen in a particular food. Analysis of 600 food samples indicated that (50%) was high in raw chicken samples followed by carrot salad (41%). The other emerging foodborne pathogens like (MRSA), , and were not detected in any of the food samples. Pathogens like (73.5%) in khoa, (45%) and (62.7%) in paneer were detected. A total of (n=143) cultures were analyzed for enterotoxin and coagulase enzyme. Nine cultures (6.3%) showed a positive result for enterotoxin production. For the risk assessment of contamination in foods, coagulase test and toxin production of isolates have to be evaluated. A significant association was found between the type of storage and log concentration of in khoa, whereas, with water for washing hands, the status of nails, and cleaning cloth were contributing to foodborne pathogens in other products. There is a need to provide food safety training to food handlers to improve food safety.

Contributing Factors to Operating Room Delays Identified from an Electronic Health Record: A Retrospective Study.

The operating room (OR) is considered a major cost center and revenue generator for hospitals. Multiple factors contribute to OR delays and impact patient safety, patient satisfaction scores, and hospital financial performance. Reducing OR delays allows better utilization of OR resources and staffing and improves patient satisfaction while decreasing operating costs. Accurate scheduling can be the basis to achieve these goals. The objective of this initial study was to identify factors not normally documented in the electronic health record (EHR) that may contribute to or be indicators of OR delays. Materials and Methods. A retrospective data analysis was performed analyzing 67,812 OR cases from 12 surgical specialties at a small university medical center from 2010 through the first quarter of 2017. Data from the hospital's EHR were exported and subjected to statistical analysis using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). Results. Statistical analysis of the extracted EHR data revealed factors that were associated with OR delays including, surgical specialty, preoperative assessment testing, patient body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification, daily procedure count, and calendar year. Conclusions. Delays hurt OR efficiency on many levels. Identifying those factors may reduce delays and better accommodate the needs of surgeons, staff, and patients thereby leading to improved patient's outcomes and patient satisfaction. Reducing delays can decrease operating costs and improve the financial position of the operating theater as well as that of the hospital. Anesthesiology teams can play a key role in identifying factors that cause delays and implementing mitigating efficiencies.

Epidemiology, Burden, and Association of Substance Abuse Amongst Patients With Cardiovascular Disorders: National Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are considered to be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disorders (CVDs). In 2019, as per the National Drug Use and Health Survey (NSDUH), 20.4 million American adults suffered from a substance use disorder. The main purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of several SUDs (cigarette smoking, cigar, smokeless tobacco, marijuana, cocaine/heroin/methamphetamine, and injectable illegal drug) amongst patients diagnosed with various CVDs (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and coronary heart disease).Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2013 to 2018, and respondents with CVDs were recognized using questionnaires. Different SUDs (active history) were identified amongst the adult population with a history of CVDs and without CVDs. Univariate analysis was performed using chi-square and unpaired t-test/Mann-Whitney test to identify characteristics of respondents with CVDs and mix effect multivariable logistic regression models were generated to find the prevalence of SUDs amongst the CVD population. Datasets were analyzed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software, and the p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Of the 263465 respondents, 7.90% respondents were diagnosed with CVDs and were noted to be in older age group (median age: 69 years). CVDs were more prevalent amongst 66-years and above (19.36% vs. 45-64 years: 6.81% vs. 18-44 years: 1.17%), male (10.40% vs. female: 5.66%), Non-Hispanic White race (10.92%), and lower annual household income population (<$25000 vs. >$100,000:12.21% vs. 4.01%) (p<0.0001). When compared with respondents without a history of CVDs, respondents with a history of CVDs were noted to be more prevalent with a concurrent diagnosis of hypertension (85.98% vs. 79.53%), hypercholesterolemia (68.78% vs. 34.54%), diabetes (37.86% vs. 12.70%), stroke (17.4% vs. 2.71%), and congestive heart failure (28.80% vs. 1.31%) (p<0.0001). History of CVDs were more prevalent amongst the respondents using marijuana (overall 53.14%; CVD vs. no-CVD 65.42% vs. 52.81%; p<0.0001), cigarette smoking (60.47% vs. 40.41%; p<0.0001), cigar-smoking (47.05% vs. 35.58%; p<0.0001), methamphetamine/cocaine/heroin (23.82% vs. 16.71%; p<0.0001), smokeless tobacco use (18.53% vs. 14.59%; p<0.0001), and injectable illegal drug use (4.67% vs. 2.43%; p<0.0001). Additionally, prevalence of history of CVDs was almost double in respondents using cigarettes without filters (2.28% vs. 1.10%; p<0.0001) when compared with respondents using cigarettes with filters.Conclusion: Respondents who used marijuana or hashish, injectable illegal drugs, and e-cigars were at elevated risk for cardiovascular disorders. Providing situational awareness and offering a good support system can be a strategy to prevent the development of cardiovascular disorders among substance users.

Optimization of response surface methodology (RSM) for defluorination of spent carbon cathode (SCC) in fire-roasting aluminum electrolysis

• Response surface methodology can effectively remove fluoride from SCC. • Determine the optimal treatment process in a conventional muffle furnace. • When the roasting temperature is 1499 °C, the treatment time is 3.33 h, and the average particle size is 10 mm, the fluorine removal rate reaches 88%. Spent carbon cathode (SCC) is a typical toxic and hazardous solid waste generated in aluminum electrolysis. The harmless treatment of SCC is extremely important for the aluminum electrolysis industry. Herein, the response surface methodology was used to investigate the best process for removing fluoride from the SCC of aluminum electrolysis using the roasting method. A Box–Behnken design (BBD) was used to investigate the effects of three independent variables, namely, particle size, roasting temperature, and treatment time, on the fluorine removal rate of the SCC. Seventeen groups of experiments were conducted according to these three factors. Statistical analysis system software and a second-order polynomial model were used to analyze the data and predict the response. The results showed that the particle size, roasting temperature, and treatment time significantly influenced fluoride removal in the SCC. Under optimum process conditions, the system predicted a fluoride removal rate of 87% for the SCC. Validation experiments were conducted on the fluoride removal rate of the SCC under optimum process conditions. The results showed that the actual value reached 88%. The X-ray diffraction analysis before and after calcination showed that a small amount of SiO 2 was converted into SiC through a carbon thermal reduction reaction after calcination. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the best process of roasting SCC to remove fluoride. It also has a certain guiding significance for other solid waste treatments.