Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Microscopic-Assisted Decompression Surgery Without Instrumented Fixation in Patients With Spinal Canal Stenosis and First-Degree Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: A Prospective Case Series

Objective: To describe the minimally invasive, microscopic-assisted over-the-top technique and report its clinical and radiological outcomes in cases of spinal canal stenosis and first-degree degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.Methods: Twenty-two patients with grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal canal stenosis who underwent microscopic decompression without fusion between April 2017 and December 2020 were included in the study. Results: The study population included 13 men and 9 women, with an average age of 66.7 years (range, 55–79 years) and a mean duration of symptoms of 14.8 ± 11.6 months. The mean follow-up was 49.3 months (range, 24–67 months). At the last follow-up, 13 patients were fully satisfied, 7 patients were partially satisfied, and 2 patients (9%) were not satisfied and required revision surgery with fusion. At the final follow-up, the mean leg pain numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), back pain NPRS, Oswestry Disability Index score, and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire showed significant improvements in all patients, and no patients showed progression of the degree of spondylolisthesis.Conclusion: The minimally invasive, over-the-top technique using surgical microscopy is a viable option in cases with first-degree degenerative spondylolisthesis and predominantly stenosis symptoms.
Status of Onchocerciasis Elimination in Gabon and Challenges: A Systematic Review

Control and treatment programs (CDTI) have been set up nationally in all endemic countries to overcome the impact of onchocerciasis on the affected populations. However, Gabon must still succeed in setting up real onchocerciasis control programs. Here, various database articles have been used to provide the scientific community with a summary document showing the mapping of this disease in Gabon. The articles dealing with onchocerciasis, animal reservoirs, surveillance, and elimination were analyzed. Results showed that little research has been performed. Most studies are concentrated in one region (The area of Lastourville). In addition, we observed that the distribution of the disease varies significantly across the country. Indeed, specific environments present a hyper-endemicity of the disease, while others are meso and hypo-endemic. So, we found some departments with a prevalence ranging from 0% to over 20%; within them, villages had infection levels comprising 10% to 60%, indicating potential hotspots. Vectors activities were studied in some areas. This paper showed the challenges encountered in the country to eliminate this disease. One solution is a deeper understanding of the disease’s bioecology to establish effective health policies to eliminate onchocerciasis in Gabon effectively.
Predicting the Evolution of Literature on Industrial Symbiosis Using Topic Modeling

The aim of this literature review is to suggest future research on industrial symbiosis. This study is based on the analysis of the latent topics related with the industrial symbiosis found in a collection of 611 scientific articles retrieved from Web of Science on 2022/3/11. Our research process applies the topic modelling technique, which allows the grouping of documents that discuss similar topics, even if these topics are not explicitly mentioned in the documents themselves The initial classification of the existing body of works made it possible to identify current trends and developments in the field and the most promising lines of future research. Specifically, we identified 12 themes, which we characterised with a short sentence rather than a single label. Among the 12 themes, we have highlighted those that are attracting increasing attention from scholars, while others are declining or remaining stable over time.
Navigating the Halal Food Ingredients Industry: Exploring the Present Landscape

Due to their religious obligations, Muslims strongly believe that halal food ingredients are crucial to protecting their health and faith. As a result, the halal food ingredient industry is growing very rapidly. This review focuses on the latest trends and advancements involving halal food ingredients. In this review, halal certification and the standards governing the production of halal ingredients are discussed. The latest technological developments for authenticating and tracking halal components are also brought up in this review. It addresses the impact of halal ingredient manufacturing on the environment, promotes social responsibility, and places emphasis on procuring ingredients sustainably and ethically. It also examines customer awareness and preferences and the marketing of halal food ingredient brands. In conclusion, this study analyses the current condition of halal food ingredients and emphasises the importance of continuous improvement and adaptation to fulfil the requirements set out by the customers. By navigating the market for halal food ingredients, those involved should ensure that Muslim customers everywhere have access to items that are authentic and in compliance with relevant standards.
Multiple outliers detection in sparse high-dimensional regression

ABSTRACT The presence of outliers would inevitably lead to distorted analysis and inappropriate prediction, especially for multiple outliers in high-dimensional regression, where the high dimensionality of the data might amplify the chance of an observation or multiple observations being outlying. Noting that the detection of outliers is not only necessary but also important in high-dimensional regression analysis, we, in this paper, propose a feasible outlier detection approach in sparse high-dimensional linear regression model. Firstly, we search a clean subset by use of the sure independence screening method and the least trimmed square regression estimates. Then, we define a high-dimensional outlier detection measure and propose a multiple outliers detection approach through multiple testing procedures. In addition, to enhance efficiency, we refine the outlier detection rule after obtaining a relatively reliable non-outlier subset based on the initial detection approach. By comparison studies based on Monte Carlo simulation, it is shown that the proposed method performs well for detecting multiple outliers in sparse high-dimensional linear regression model. We further illustrate the application of the proposed method by empirical analysis of a real-life protein and gene expression data.
Optimization of Discharge Plasma Reactor for Dry Reforming of Methane using Response Surface Methodology

This research provides a study of the dry reforming of methane (DRM), which converts two main greenhouses gases (CO2 and CH4) to synthesis gas (H2 and CO) by a Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma reactor at atmospheric pressure. The Box-Behnken Design (BBD) method based on the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied to determine the optimum experimental conditions on the plasma stability and the synthesis gas production. The synergistic effects of input power (P), CO2/CH4 ratio (R), and flow rate (FR) on the CO2, CH4 conversions, H2, CO yields, and the syngas ratio of H2 to CO were studied. With the desirability value of 0.97, the optimum values of 10.05 W (P), 1.03 (R), and 1.58 L.min−1 FR were identified with CO2 conversion of 48.56% and CH4 conversion of 86.67%; H2 and CO yields of 45.87% and 39.43% respectively; and syngas ratio of H2 to CO of 0.88. The study shows that both P and FR have a major significant effect on the reactant conversions and syngas ratio, followed by R. Meanwhile, the value of R has a significant impact on the H2, CO yields followed P and FR. In contrast, the synergistic effects between P-R, P-FR, and R-FR had a weak significant on the CO2 and CH4 conversions, H2 and CO yields, and H2 to CO ratio respectively. The quadratic term coefficients of P, R, and FR had a remarkable effect on all responses. Thus, the synergistic effect of the most important parameters improves the process efficiency. Copyright © 2023 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Demographic and Clinical Predictors of Drug Response in Epileptic Children in Jeddah

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease of the brain. Over 20 antiseizure medications are available on the market, but a third of patients still have drug-resistant epilepsy. This study was designed to assess the impact of the demographic and clinical characteristics of epileptic children on their likelihood of developing drug resistance. This study was a multicenter, hospital-based, cross-sectional, case–control study of pediatric patients diagnosed with epilepsy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The study included 101 children with epilepsy. Fifty-six patients showed good response to antiseizure medications (ASMs), and forty-five patients had a poor response. A statistically significant good response to ASMs was reported among younger patients, those who did not report parental consanguinity, those who did not have a family history of epilepsy, and those diagnosed with partial seizures, with no reported adverse effects. The levetiracetam regimen was statistically significant regarding the responsiveness to ASMs. Patients on a monotherapy regimen elicited a significantly better response to levetiracetam than patients on polytherapy (p < 0.001). No significant association was found between the response to ASMs and the sex, nationality, body mass index, complete blood count, or vitamin B12 level. In conclusion, the ASM response in epileptic patients can be predicted by knowing the patient’s demographic and epileptic history. However, the complete blood count and vitamin B12 level failed to predict patients’ response to ASMs.
Selectivity‐relaxed classical and inverse least squares calibration and selectivity measures with a unified selectivity coefficient

Two popular calibration strategies are classical least squares (CLS) and inverse least squares (ILS). Underlying CLS is that the net analyte signal used for quantitation is orthogonal to signal from other components (interferents). The CLS orthogonality avoids analyte prediction bias from modeled interferents. Although this orthogonality condition ensures full analyte selectivity, it may increase the mean squared error of prediction. Under certain circumstances, it can be beneficial to relax the CLS orthogonality requisite allowing a small interferent bias if, in return, there is a mean squared error of prediction reduction. The bias magnitude introduced by an interferent for a relaxed model depends on analyte and interferent concentrations in conjunction with analyte and interferent model sensitivities. Presented in this paper is relaxed CLS (rCLS) allowing flexibility in the CLS orthogonality constraints. While ILS models do not inherently maintain orthogonality, also presented is relaxed ILS. From development of rCLS, presented is a significant expansion of the univariate selectivity coefficient definition broadly used in analytical chemistry. The defined selectivity coefficient is applicable to univariate and multivariate CLS and ILS calibrations. As with the univariate selectivity coefficient, the multivariate expression characterizes the bias introduced in a particular sample prediction because of interferent concentrations relative to model sensitivities. Specifically, it answers the question of when can a prediction be made for a sample even though the analyte selectivity is poor? Also introduced are new component‐wise selectivity and sensitivity measures. Trends in several rCLS figures of merit are characterized for a near infrared data set.
Evaluate and analyze land cover change dynamics, driving force and their implications to biodiversity in the western escarpment of the Rift valley

Land use land cover (LULC) changes are caused by natural and human alterations of the landscape that could largely affect forest biodiversity and the environment. The study aimed to analyze LULC change dynamics and driving forces in the western escarpment of the rift valley of the Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Digital satellite images, which are downloaded from USGS, were analyzed using ERDAS Imagine (14) and Arc GIS 10.2 software and supervised image classification was used to generate LULC classification, accuracy assessment, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Drivers of LULC change were identified and analyzed. Four land classes were identified such as forest, farmland, settlement, and water‐wetlands. Settlement and farmlands have increased by 8% and 6%, respectively. On the other hand, both forest and water‐wetlands decreased by aerial coverage of 9% and 5%, respectively. The overall accuracy of the study area was 92.86%, 94.22%, and 94.3% with a kappa value of 0.902, 0.92, and 0.922, respectively. NDVI values ranged between −0.42 and 0.73. Agricultural expansion (31.4%), expansion of settlement (25.7%) and Fuelwood collection and Charcoal production (22.9%) were the main driving forces that affected the biodiversity of the vegetation in the study area. Integrated land use and policy to protect biodiversity loss, forest degradation and climate changes are deemed necessary.
Detection of Genes Related to Linezolid Resistance (poxtA, cfr, and optrA) in Clinical Isolates of Enterococcus spp. from Humans: A First Report from Iran

Background: Enterococci may develop resistance to linezolid through chromosomal mutations that involve specific linezolid resistance genes, such as cfr, optrA, and poxtA. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility of enterococcal isolates and identify cfr, optrA, and poxtA genes in MDR isolates. Materials and Methods: Enterococcal isolates were collected from various clinical specimens at Al-Zahra, Amin, and Khorshid Hospitals in Isfahan. The Enterococcus isolates were identified as belonging to the E. faecalis and E. faecium species by using specific gene (D alanine D alanine ligase ddl) sets in PCR. To detect cfr, optrA, and poxtA genes among the species, a multiplex-PCR assay was performed. Results: Out of 175 isolates, E. faecalis predominated 129/175 (73.7%). Furthermore, the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) and linezolid-resistant Enterococci (LRE) was 29.7% and 4%, respectively. The overall prevalence of MDR was 91.1%, 68.9%, and 66.6% of E. faecium, E. faecalis, and other Enterococcus spp. , respectively. Interestingly, the frequency of optrA (71.4%) in E. faecium and poxtA and crf (42.8%) in E. faecalis were detected among LRE species. A statistically significant relationship (P < 0.05) was found between the presence of the three genes and the occurrence of LRE. Conclusion: This is the first study to report the detection of linezolid resistance genes (cfr, optrA, and poxtA) in clinical Enterococcus spp. isolates from Iran, conducted at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences hospitals. The emergence of enterococcal strains that resist linezolid is concerning as it can lead to the spread of resistant strains among patients, resulting in treatment failure.
Mycotoxins in Cereal-Based Products and Their Impacts on the Health of Humans, Livestock Animals and Pets

Cereal grains are the most important food staples for human beings and livestock animals. They can be processed into various types of food and feed products such as bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, cake, snacks, beer, complete feed, and pet foods. However, cereal grains are vulnerable to the contamination of soil microorganisms, particularly molds. The toxigenic fungi/molds not only cause quality deterioration and grain loss, but also produce toxic secondary metabolites, mycotoxins, which can cause acute toxicity, death, and chronic diseases such as cancer, immunity suppression, growth impairment, and neural tube defects in humans, livestock animals and pets. To protect human beings and animals from these health risks, many countries have established/adopted regulations to limit exposure to mycotoxins. The purpose of this review is to update the evidence regarding the occurrence and co-occurrence of mycotoxins in cereal grains and cereal-derived food and feed products and their health impacts on human beings, livestock animals and pets. The effort for safe food and feed supplies including prevention technologies, detoxification technologies/methods and up-to-date regulation limits of frequently detected mycotoxins in cereal grains for food and feed in major cereal-producing countries are also provided. Some important areas worthy of further investigation are proposed.
The influence of social media communication on perspectives towards the Samsung brand

This study aims to examine and analyze the influence of social media communications created by companies (Firm-created Communication – FCC) and users (User-generated Communication – UGC) on the user's perspective on brand equity and brand attitudes that have an impact on the purchase intention of Samsung products. The population of this study is users who do not use Samsung products to describe their interest in buying Samsung products. The object of this research is social media communications made by companies and users about Samsung products. The research sample consisted of 218 respondents who were not Samsung users and who at the time of the study were domiciled in Java or outside Java. The research data were then analyzed using the Structural Equation Model (AMOS v 23). Based on the research results, it is known that social media communications made by companies positively influence brand attitudes. User-generated social media communications positively influence brand equity and brand attitudes. Brand attitude positively affects brand equity. Brand equity and brand attitude positively influence purchase intention. However, social media communications made by the company have no effect on brand equity. This study reveals that communication made by users has more influence on purchase intention through brand equity and attitudes. Where equity and brand attitude are important in buying interest in a product.
Unveiling the Carbon Footprint: Biomass vs. Geothermal Energy in Indonesia

Global climate change, caused by greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), has an enormous and unprecedented impact on our planet's ecosystem, development, and long-term sustainability. This study investigates the dynamic impact of biomass and geothermal energy on CO2 emissions in Indonesia from 2000 to 2020. Employing the Green Solow model with the approach of Fully-Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Pairwise Granger causality test. The cointegration tests suggest the existence of a long-term equilibrium relationship between CO2 emissions, biomass, and geothermal energy. Empirical evidence reveals that although biomass and geothermal energy positively influence CO2 emissions, their overall impact is relatively low. This highlights the potential for these renewable energy sources to contribute to CO2 reduction and promote environmental sustainability. The Granger causality test confirms a causal relationship between CO2 emissions, biomass, and geothermal energy. Important policy recommendations for promoting sustainable energy practices in Indonesia involve investing in high-quality biomass and geothermal facilities to reduce emissions, implementing energy efficiency programs and fossil fuel conservation measures, and encouraging the use of electricity-based biomass and geothermal energy sources to reduce dependence on non-renewable fuels. These recommendations play a crucial role in achieving environmental and economic sustainability.
Health literacy, cancer literacy, comprehensions and knowledge among men attending a urology clinic

Health literacy (HL) is essential for men receiving urological treatment so that they can be involved in the shared decision making process. HL is supported by domain specific background knowledge which also informs cancer literacy and comprehension. Comprehension is in turn a determinant of HL. This study aimed to assess the level of HL among a group of men receiving urological treatment and to investigate if there were any correlations between the two different measures of HL, cancer literacy and comprehension, and prostate cancer knowledge. A survey was mailed to 200 men attending a urological clinic. The survey included: demographic questions, two validated tests of HL, (1) the Brief Health Literacy Score (BHLS) and (2) the Health Literacy Management Scale (HeLMS); a test of cancer comprehension; the Cancer Message Literacy Tests Reading (CMLT); and a prostate cancer knowledge test. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Surveys from 72 respondents, average age of 65 years, were included in the final analysis. Based on the BHLS, 22%of respondents had inadequate HL and 50% of respondents had inadequate HL in one or more of the HeLMS domains. Overall, the study participants had relatively high cancer literacy, comprehensions, and knowledge. However, for men with inadequate HL, based on the BHLS and the HeLMS, there were strong correlations with poor cancer literacy, comprehension, and knowledge. Our study highlights that many men receiving urological treatment with inadequate HL, require additional support to access health information which they can understand and act on to be part of the shared decision-making process.
Interventions to Address Cardiovascular Risk in Obese Patients: Many Hands Make Light Work

Obesity is a growing public health epidemic worldwide and is implicated in slowing improved life expectancy and increasing cardiovascular (CV) risk; indeed, several obesity-related mechanisms drive structural, functional, humoral, and hemodynamic heart alterations. On the other hand, obesity may indirectly cause CV disease, mediated through different obesity-associated comorbidities. Diet and physical activity are key points in preventing CV disease and reducing CV risk; however, these strategies alone are not always sufficient, so other approaches, such as pharmacological treatments and bariatric surgery, must support them. Moreover, these strategies are associated with improved CV risk factors and effectively reduce the incidence of death and CV events such as myocardial infarction and stroke; consequently, an individualized care plan with a multidisciplinary approach is recommended. More precisely, this review explores several interventions (diet, physical activity, pharmacological and surgical treatments) to address CV risk in obese patients and emphasizes the importance of adherence to treatments.
Good Corporate Governance Dan Financial Distress Pada Perusahaan Manufaktur Di Indonesia

Good Corporate Governance is important for companies to overcome financial difficulties. This study intends to analyze good corporate governance and its influence on predicting the condition of companies in financial distress. Good corporate governance is proxied by institutional ownership, managerial ownership, directors, the board of commissioners, and the audit committee. By using logistic regression for 21 manufacturing companies from 2015 to 2019, it was found that the board of directors and audit committee had a negative effect on financial distress. The board of commissioners has a positive effect on financial distress. The other variables, namely institutional and managerial ownership, have no effect on financial distress. To avoid financial distress in manufacturing companies, it is necessary to have a large board of directors and an audit committee, but not a board of commissioners. The fewer the boards of commissioners, the easier it will be for companies to control financial conditions to avoid financial distress.