Determination of the Strongest Factor and Component in a Relationship between Lower-Extremity Assessment Protocol and Patient-Oriented Outcomes in Individuals with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Pilot Study

Although the Lower-Extremity Assessment Protocol (LEAP) assesses multidimensional aspects of a patient with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, there is a need to reduce the dimensionality of LEAP items to effectively assess patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to establish the validity of LEAP and to determine associated factors and components in a relationship between LEAP and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) questionnaire. Fifteen patients who had ACL reconstruction more than 1 year and less than 5 years earlier were recruited. Patients performed LEAP, including muscular strength, fatigue index, static balance, drop landing, and functional hopping assessment. They also completed the IKDC questionnaire and the Tegner Activity Score. Factor analysis and stepwise regression analysis were performed. The 14 components of LEAP were categorized into four factors (functional task, muscle strength, neuromuscular control, and fatigue), which accounted for 83.8% of the cumulative variance by factor analysis. In the stepwise regression analysis, the functional task (R2 = 0.43, p = 0.008) in factors and single-leg hop (R2 = 0.49, p = 0.004) in components were associated with patient-oriented outcomes, respectively. In conclusion, the functional task and single-leg hop may be used for providing valuable information about knee joints to patients and clinicians.

Risk Factors of Influenza-Associated Necrotizing Encephalopathy in Children

Objective: A case-control study of Influenza-Associated Necrotizing Encephalopathy (IANE) in children was conducted to explore the risk factors for the diagnosis of IANE, and to provide a predictive reference for the diagnosis of IANE. Methods: The children with IANE who received treatment in our hospital from January 2016 to December 2020 were selected as the study group, and the children with Influenza-Associated Encephalopathy (IAE) group who received treatment in the same period were selected as the control group. The blood biochemical, coagulation function and cerebrospinal fluid test results of the two groups were analyzed by univariate analysis. Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC) analysis was used to determine the optimal threshold point of each index for the indicators with statistically significant differences in univariate analysis results, and multivariate Logistic stepwise regression analysis was performed according to the optimal threshold points. Results: In the IANE group, there were 32 children, including 20 males and 12 females, aged 58 (23, 97) months. There were 40 children in IAE group, including 26 males and 14 females, aged 58 (23, 97) months. Univariate results showed that serum Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Cerebrospinal Fluid Lactate Dehydrogenase (CSF LDH) and Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein (CSF Pro) in the IANE group were significantly higher than those in the IAE group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P <0.001). The optimal threshold points of blood LDH, CSF LDH and CSF Pro by ROC curve analysis were 535U/L, 67U/L and 0.49g/L, respectively. Further Multivariate Logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that LDH >535U/L (OR=31.264, 95% CI: 5.892-165.878, P <0.001) and CSF PRO >0.49g/L (OR=7.695, 95% CI: 1.052-56.305, P=0.044) were independent risk factors for IANE. Conclusion: For children with influenza whose neurological symptoms appear rapidly and persist in the early stages of the disease, blood LDH >535U/L and CSF PRO >0.49g/L are independent risk factors for IANE.

Prediction Model of Concrete Initial Setting Time Based on Stepwise Regression Analysis

Mass concrete is usually poured in layers. To ensure the interlayer bonding quality of concrete, the lower layer should be kept in a plastic state before the upper layer is added. Ultimately, it will lead to the prediction of concrete setting time as a critical task in concrete pouring. In this experiment, the setting time of concrete in laboratory and field environments was investigated. The equivalent age of concrete at the initial setting was also analyzed based on the maturity theory. Meanwhile, factors affecting the setting time in the field environment were studied by means of multiple stepwise regression analysis. Besides, the interlayer splitting tensile strength of concrete subjected to different temperatures and wind speeds was determined. The results of laboratory tests show that both setting time and interlayer splitting tensile strength of concrete decrease significantly with the increase of air temperature and wind speed. In addition, the equivalent age of concrete at initial setting remains the same when subjected to different temperatures, while it decreases obviously with the increase of wind speed. In the field environment, the equivalent age of concrete at initial setting is greatly different, which is related to the variability of relative humidity and wind speed. The average air temperature and maximum wind speed are the main factors affecting the initial setting time of concrete. Furthermore, a prediction model is established based on the stepwise regression analysis results, which can predict the actual setting state in real-time, and hence controlling the interlayer bonding quality of dam concrete.

Determinants of In-Hospital Mortality in Elderly Patients Aged 80 Years or above with Acute Heart Failure: A Retrospective Cohort Study at a Single Rural Hospital

Heart failure is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Several predictive risk scores and factors associated with in-hospital mortality have been reported for acute heart failure. However, only a few studies have examined the predictors in elderly patients. This study investigated determinants of in-hospital mortality in elderly patients with acute heart failure, aged 80 years or above, by evaluating the serum sodium, blood urea nitrogen, age and serum albumin, systolic blood pressure and natriuretic peptide levels (SOB-ASAP) score. We reviewed the medical records of 106 consecutive patients retrospectively and classified them into the survivor group (n = 83) and the non-survivor group (n = 23) based on the in-hospital mortality. Patient characteristics at admission and during hospitalization were compared between the two groups. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis was used to evaluate the in-hospital mortality. The SOB-ASAP score was significantly better in the survivor group than in the non-survivor group. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis revealed that a poor SOB-ASAP score, oral phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor use, and requirement of early intravenous antibiotic administration were associated with in-hospital mortality in very elderly patients with acute heart failure. Severe clinical status might predict outcomes in very elderly patients.

Socio-Ecological Foundation of Marketable Surplus Generation in Agriculture: The Complexity and Compliances

The study was conducted on Rice and Poultry entrepreneurs in Memari-1 block, Purba Barddhaman district of West Bengal, India. This has been conducted to assess their socio-personal, agro-economical and techno-managerial skills. Several entrepreneurial aspects are considered in this study to portrait a well discernible picture of their entrepreneurship. The acquired data and other information was critically examined with several statistical tools like range, mean, standard deviation, variance, correlation coefficient, stepwise regression analysis, multiple regression analysis, factor analysis and cluster analysis. Total 18 variables were considered for the study in which 15 of them are independent variables and 3 of them dependent variables. Correlation coefficient is significant for the independent variables in case of one dependent variable i.e. produce marketed (y3). After performing Stepwise Regression analysis several satisfactory conclusions were drawn for the study which well described the current neo agricultural scenario in rural Bengal. It has been recorded that when the economic land is more, then the marketed surplus becomes lower as because small holdings entrepreneurs concentrate more in the production phase. Marketed surplus has a positive relationship with the Education level. It has been recorded that Marketed surplus has a positive relationship with electricity consumption also. Having a higher marketed surplus indicate more advancement and betterment in terms of entrepreneurial management and thus fuel use efficiency becomes more prominent and fuel consumption is reduced. It has been recorded that when the innovation proneness and market interaction is higher for the respondents, the marketed surplus is also higher.

Factors influencing treatment efficiency:

ABSTRACT Objectives The purpose of this cohort study was to evaluate the effect of self-ligating brackets (SB) and other related factors that influence orthodontic treatment time. Materials and Methods This was a two-armed prospective study. Consecutively treated patients who were recruited from a private practice were enrolled and asked to choose between SB and conventional brackets (CB). If the patient did not have a preference, that patient was randomly allocated. An identical archwire sequence was used, and all patients were treated by a single orthodontist. Treatment duration, number of bracket failures, poor oral hygiene, poor elastic wear, whether or not to orthodontic mini-implants (OMI) were used, OMI failure, extraction, American Board of Orthodontics Discrepancy Index, and arch length discrepancy were measured and statistically analyzed using t-tests, correlation analysis, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Stepwise regression analysis was conducted to generate an equation to predict treatment duration. Results A total of 134 patients with an average age of 22.73 years were included. The average treatment duration was 28.63 months. ANCOVA showed no significant difference in treatment duration between CB and SB. Stepwise regression analysis could explain 64.6% of the variance in treatment duration using five variables. Conclusions SB did not exhibit a significant reduction in treatment time as compared with CB. Patient cooperation, extractions, and malocclusion severity had a significant impact on treatment duration.