Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Safety and Efficacy of Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Cages and Cadaveric Allografts in Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) for Treating Lumbar Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis

Purpose There have been many studies in the operative management of pyogenic spondylodiscitis with foreign materials. However, it still remains an issue of debate on whether the allografts may be used in pyogenic spondylodiscitis. This study sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of PEEK cages and the cadaveric allograft in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for treating lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Methods From January 2012 to December 2019, 56 patients underwent surgery for lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis. The posterior debridement of all patients and their fusion with allografts, local bone grafts, and bone chip cages were performed before posterior pedicle screw fusion. An assessment of the residual pain, the grade of neurological injury, and the resolution of infection was conducted on 39 patients. The clinical outcome was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and neurological outcomes were appraised based on Frankel grades. The radiological outcomes were evaluated via focal lordosis, lumbar lordosis, and the state of the fusion. Results Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the most common causative organisms. The mean preoperative focal lordosis was −1.2° (−11.4° to 5.7°), and the mean postoperative focal lordosis increased to 10.3° (4.3°–17.2°). At the final follow-up, there were five cases with subsidence of the cage, no case of recurrence, and no case with cage and screw loosening or migration. The mean preoperative VAS and ODI scores were 8.9 and 74.6%, respectively, and improvements in VAS and ODI were 6.6 ± 2.2 and 50.4 ± 21.3%, respectively. The Frankel grade D was found in 10 patients and grade C in 7. Following the final follow-up, only one patient improved from Frankel grade C to grade D while the others recovered completely. Conclusion The PEEK cage and cadaveric allograft combined with local bone grafts is a safe and effective choice for intervertebral fusion and restoring sagittal alignment without increased incidence of relapse for treating lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis.
Development of the SMIQ questionnaire measuring interest, sense of self-efficacy and perception of the links existing between mathematics and science in an integrated context

The integration of academic disciplines such as science and mathematics (M&S) can help foster students’ interest and sense of self-efficacy (S-E). However, few questionnaires appear to have been developed to measure these perceptual variables in this type of context. Nor do any appear to exist that are suitable for elementary students from low-income and multicultural schools. This article reports the results of the validation process of such a questionnaire comprising six scales conducted among 1,553 Grade 5 or 6 students from schools in Canada’s Montréal area. In its final version, the Science and Mathematics Integration Questionnaire (SMIQ) measures six perceptual variables: S-E in science, S-E in mathematics, interest in science, interest in mathematics, interest in integrated M&S activities and perception of the links between science and mathematics. To our knowledge, the last two variables have never been measured and the proposed scales to measure them are new.
Vocabulary Learning Through Audio-Visual Input of Thai Primary School EFL Students

This research aims to improve the vocabulary knowledge of Thai EFL students by using audio-visual aids as instructional tools. Hopefully, this study serves as an initial foundation to develop students’ vocabulary knowledge and benefit the pedagogical development in Thailand. Consequently, this research aimed to explore the effectiveness of audio-visual instruction in acquiring vocabulary knowledge, with a specific focus on the form-meaning links in Thai EFL primary school students. Additionally, this study investigated the students’ perceptions of audio-visual input in enhancing vocabulary knowledge. The study included one experimental group consisting of 51 sixth-grade students. Two tests were used to measure the reception and production of form-meaning links (L2-to-L1 Translation Test and L1-to-L2 Translation Test). A questionnaire was used to examine the students’ perceptions of the form-meaning links of vocabulary knowledge through audio-visual input. The results showed that the participants achieved higher scores on the reception and production tests of form-meaning links in the post-test than in the pre-test, revealing statistically significant differences. Furthermore, the students performed better on the reception test of the form-meaning link than on the production test in both time points, and the reception test was also higher in advancement than the production test. Finally, the reports demonstrated that the instructional intervention of form-meaning links of vocabulary knowledge (audio-visual input) positively benefits the development of students’ vocabulary. The findings suggest that students’ reception of vocabulary knowledge through audio-visual input is more advanced than their production of vocabulary knowledge. Moreover, the input of students’ vocabulary knowledge contributes to acquiring and developing their knowledge.
Multiplications aléatoires et dimensions de Hausdorff

Un produit de poids aleatoires normalises independants sur un espace metrique T definit un operateur aleatoire Q operant sur les mesures σ∈M + (T). L'operateur σ→EQσ est une projection dans M + (T), dont on etudie, dans des cas particuliers, le noyau et l'image
Broadband 10 Gb/s operation of graphene electro‐absorption modulator on silicon

High performance integrated optical modulators are highly desired for future optical interconnects. The ultra‐high bandwidth and broadband operation potentially offered by graphene based electro‐absorption modulators has attracted a lot of attention in the photonics community recently. In this work, we theoretically evaluate the true potential of such modulators and illustrate this with experimental results for a silicon integrated graphene optical electro‐absorption modulator capable of broadband 10 Gb/s modulation speed. The measured results agree very well with theoretical predictions. A low insertion loss of 3.8 dB at 1580 nm and a low drive voltage of 2.5 V combined with broadband and athermal operation were obtained for a 50 μm‐length hybrid graphene‐Si device. The peak modulation efficiency of the device is 1.5 dB/V. This robust device is challenging best‐in‐class Si (Ge) modulators for future chip‐level optical interconnects.
A Shallow Pooled Weighted Feature Enhancement Network for Small-Sized Pine Wilt Diseased Tree Detection

Pine wild disease poses a serious threat to the ecological environment of national forests. Combining the object detection algorithm with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to detect pine wild diseased trees (PWDT) is a significant step in preventing the spread of pine wild disease. To address the issue of shallow feature layers lacking the ability to fully extract features from small-sized diseased trees in existing detection algorithms, as well as the problem of a small number of small-sized diseased trees in a single image, a Shallow Pooled Weighted Feature Enhancement Network (SPW-FEN) based on Small Target Expansion (STE) has been proposed for detecting PWDT. First, a Pooled Weighted Channel Attention (PWCA) module is presented and introduced into the shallow feature layer with rich small target information to enhance the network’s expressive ability regarding the characteristics of two-layer shallow feature maps. Additionally, an STE data enhancement method is introduced for small-sized targets, which effectively increases the sample size of small-sized diseased trees in a single image. The experimental results on the PWDT dataset indicate that the proposed algorithm achieved an average precision and recall of 79.1% and 86.9%, respectively. This is 3.6 and 3.8 percentage points higher, respectively, than the recognition recall and average precision of the existing state-of-the-art method Faster-RCNN, and 6.4 and 5.5 percentage points higher than those of the newly proposed YOLOv6 method.
Role of Intermittent Energy Restriction (IER) in Weight Loss and Metabolic Parameters of Overweight/Obese Patients

Currently, obesity became a prevalence concern in terms of its scale and health-related impact among the global. Medical comprehensive intervention among dietary pattern and living manners are recommended by guidelines as foundation of obesity treatment. Identifying alternative dietary weight loss strategies become a common and safe choice for many obsess peoples medical consolers and clinical doctors. Many positive impacts of Intermittent Energy Restriction (IER) have been suggested by preliminary study, but it still lacks well-powered intervention studies. This passage objects at clarify the metabolic parameters, summarized evidence of preclinical studies of IERs role in used as a weight loss strategy compared to other common strategies the guideline recommended, for instance, continuous energy restriction (CER), etc. Specifically, the randomized studies last 8-26 weeks performing in overweight and obsess adults. The result is compared in a paradigm of IER with CER, suggesting the outcome of weight loss and change in biomarkers of metabolic parameters. The evidence suggests that IER produce positive impact on weight loss and some positive but indirect effect on metabolic diseases.
On some dynamical properties of the Phocaea region

In this work we study two specific characteristics of the Phocaea region. First we analyze the presence of the secular resonances involving the inner planets. Our results show that some of these are present, and relevant for the dynamics of asteroids in this region. The most important seems to be the s− s4+ g3− g7 resonance. Second, we study the role of the 7/2 mean motion resonance with Jupiter as a border of the region in term of semi–major axis. In particular, we check whether or not this resonance could be crossed under the combined influence of gravitational and non–gravitational forces. The obtained results show that a significant fraction of our test particles successfully transit across the resonance, without being removed from the region. Moreover, we found that most of the asteroids below a few hundred meters in diameter should be able to cross the 7/2 resonance. This means, despite being relatively effective in pumping up asteroid eccentricities in this region, this resonance is not an absolute dynamical boundary.
Slowness Learning: Mathematical Approaches and Synaptic Mechanisms

In this thesis, we investigate slowness as an unsupervised learning principle of sensory processing. Two aspects are given particular emphasis: (a) the mathematical analysis of Slow Feature Analysis (SFA) as one particular implementation of slowness learning and (b) the question, how slowness learning can be implemented in a biologically plausible fashion. In the first part of the thesis, we develop a mathematical framework for SFA and show that the optimal functions for SFA are the solutions of a partial differential eigenvalue problem. The theory allows (a) to make analytical predictions for the behavior of complicated applications and (b) an intuitive understanding of how the statistics of the input data are reflected in the optimal functions of SFA. The theory is applied to the learning of place and head-direction representations and to the learning of complex cell receptive fields as found in primary visual cortex. As a technical application, we use the theoretical results to develop and test a new algorithm for nonlinear blind source separation. The first part of the thesis is concluded by an information-theoretic analysis of the relation between slowness learning and predictive coding. In the second part of the thesis, we study the question, how slowness learning could be implemented in a biologically plausible manner. To this end, we first show that spike timing-dependent plasticity can under certain conditions be interpreted as an implementation of slowness learning. Finally, we show that both gradient-based slowness learning and spike timing-dependent plasticity lead to receptive field dynamics that can be described in terms of reaction-diffusion equations.
Joint scheduling optimization of a microgrid with integration of renewable energy sources and electric vehicles considering energy and reserve minimization

To lower operational costs as well as emissions when wind and solar resources are available in a microgrid (MG), this study discusses the scheduling of electric vehicles (EVs) and responsive demands simultaneously. To mitigate the effects associated with undispatchable energy sources such as wind and solar, the proposed system makes use of EVs for peak shaving and load curve changes, while responsive demands provide the reserves required to do so. In addition, a two‐stage model is provided to evaluate MG's planned running costs (energy and reserve). Costs related to generating and reserving electricity are minimized in Stage 1, while costs related to adjusting unit scheduling to account for fluctuations in wind and photovoltaic output are minimized in Stage 2. Converged barnacles mating optimizer (CBMO) is a highly effective and powerful optimization tool that is used to handle the resultant objective optimization issue. An MG consisting of multiple dispersed generations is used to implement the proposed model. It is worth mentioning that three scenarios have been defined to analyze the impact of joint scheduling of EVs and controllable loads on the MG's day‐ahead operation. The three cost terms, that is, the generation cost, the reserve cost, and the startup cost of units in this scenario, are derived as $745.6913, $10.5278, and $6.35, respectively, remarkably less than the values reported in Scenarios 1 and 2. In Scenario 1, the CBMO algorithm yielded a lower MG operational cost than methods by a margin of 843.2 $/day. Costs per day of operation in Scenario 2 are derived to be $819.3 using the CBMO technique, whereas in Scenario 3, they are determined to be $743.1.
Dislocation mechanisms of low-temperature internal friction in nanostructured materials

A new method of statistically describing the dislocation component of low-temperature internal friction in nanostructured materials. The latter term is applied to ultrafine polycrystals with high density intragranular and grain boundary dislocations, the lines of which are divided into nanometer-scale fragments (dislocation relaxants) with random geometrical and energy parameters. The resonant interaction of elastic vibrations and thermally activated excitations of such relaxators are examined, and the maxima caused by these relaxators along the internal friction temperature dependence are analyzed. It is shown that at low temperatures, the shape of the peaks and the region of their localization along the temperature axis are largely determined by the dispersion of the relaxator activation energy. An algorithm is written in order to analyze the internal friction recorded in the experiment, allowing us to identify the physical model corresponding to the relaxator, and obtain empirical estimates of its para.
Organization of Tropical Convection in Low Vertical Wind Shears: The Role of Water Vapor

Abstract A modeling study is conducted to gain insight into the factors that control the intensity and organization of tropical convection, and in particular to examine if organization occurs in the absence of factors such as vertical wind shear or underlying sea surface temperature (SST) gradient. The control experiment integrates a cloud-resolving model for 15 days using a 3D domain exceeding 1000 km in length, with no imposed winds, and horizontally uniform SST and forcing for convection. After 2 days of random activity, the convection organizes into clusters with dimensions of approximately 200 km. Convective systems propagate through the clusters at speeds of 2–3 m s−1, while the clusters themselves propagate at minimal speeds of around 0.5 m s−1. Examining the thermodynamic structure of the model domain, it is found that the convective free bands separating the clusters are very dry throughout the troposphere, and due to virtual temperature effects, are correspondingly warmer in the lower tropospher.
Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Centranthus longiflorus Stems Extracts Recovered Using Ired-Irrad®, an Innovative Infrared Technology, Compared to Water Bath and Ultrasound

Extraction of polyphenols from Centranthus longiflorus stems was conducted using ultrasound and infrared Ired-Irrad® techniques, and compared to the conventional water bath method. Response surface methodology was used to analyse the effect of time, temperature, and ethanol percentage, as well as to optimize the three extraction methods. The highest phenolic content (81 mg GAE/g DM) and antioxidant activity (76% DPPH inhibition) were recorded with the Ired-Irrad® extract obtained under the optimal conditions: 55 °C, 127 min, 48% (v/v) ethanol. Biological activities (antioxidant, antibacterial and antibiofilm) of the three extracts were assessed. All C. longiflorus stems extracts showed limited antibacterial effects regardless of the extraction method (MIC = 50 mg/mL), whereas Ired-Irrad® extract exhibited the highest biofilm eradication and prevention capacities (93% against Escherichia coli and 97% against Staphylococcus epidermidis, respectively). This bioactivity is likely related to abundant caffeoylquinic acid and quercetin rutinoside, as identified by RP-UHPLC-PDA-MS analysis. The results obtained further promote the effectiveness of Ired-Irrad® as a highly flexible and cost-efficient extraction technique.
Unraveling the Myths Around Epilepsy: A Cross-Sectional Study of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Among Pakistani Individuals

Introduction: Across its historical trajectory, epilepsy has frequently been linked to evil forces, particularly in the sub-continent. This research was created to find out if educated Pakistanis still believe that epilepsy is caused by being possessed by spirits (Jinns). The objective of the study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding epilepsy within the educated populace of Pakistan. Method: After approval from the Ethical Review Committee, a population-based cross-sectional design was conducted in Chakwal District, Pakistan between February 1, 2018, and June 1, 2020, to evaluate the general knowledge and attitudes of the public toward epilepsy. A non-probability convenience sampling technique was utilized to recruit participants from different socioeconomic backgrounds across Chakwal District, and only individuals aged 18 years or older with at least 12 years of education were eligible to participate. A previously validated structured questionnaire was used to document findings. The study focused on several variables, such as knowledge about epilepsy and the percentage of people who have witnessed seizures, as well as sources of knowledge, subjective causes of epilepsy, beliefs in cure, transmission, and treatment options. Results: The survey included 512 participants, and the age distribution was as follows: 18-29 years old accounted for 18% of the respondents, 30-44 years old accounted for 35%, and 45-60 years old accounted for 31%. There was a female predominance with a frequency of 312 (60.9%). When asked about their sources of knowledge about epilepsy, the majority of participants (59.57%) reported learning about epilepsy from friends and relatives. A smaller percentage (18.36%) reported learning about epilepsy from schools, while another 20.31% heard about epilepsy from media and relatives. Conclusion: The results of this research show that the general populace of Pakistan has a serious dearth of comprehension and information about epilepsy. Participants frequently held misconceptions about epilepsy being a hereditary disease and a mental condition, highlighting the need for focused education and information efforts to dispel these falsehoods. The fact that most participants got their knowledge about epilepsy from peers and family also emphasizes the value of peer education and social networks in spreading awareness of the disease.
Optical properties of quasars – I. Observations

A large set of spectra of low-redshift, radio-loud quasars at low resolution (20-25 A) is presented. The spectral range covers most of the important optical spectral lines, ranging from Hα 6562 A in some objects to [Ne v] 3426 A in others. The sample has the advantage of being observed and reduced in a uniform manner, as well as being considerably larger than previous surveys of radio-loud quasars.
Statistically related coupled modes of South Asian summer monsoon interannual variability in the tropics

Statistically coupled patterns of South Asian Summer Monsoon (SASM) interannual variability in the tropical oceans have been explored. Maximum covariance analysis (MCA) performed between global tropical sea surface temperature (SST) and SASM precipitation shows that El‐Niño southern oscillation (ENSO) is the leading mode in the tropics, whereas the eastern pole of the Indian Ocean Dipole contributes to the second global mode and is the leading mode in the Indian Ocean. South tropical Atlantic SST variability is contributing to the second and third mode in the tropics and is the leading mode in the tropical Atlantic MCA coupled with SASM.
Teleconnections in the Geopotential Height Field during the Northern Hemisphere Winter

Abstract Contemporaneous correlations between geopotential heights on a given pressure surface at widely separated points on earth, referred to as teleconnections in this paper, are studied in an attempt to identify and document recurrent spatial patterns which might be indicative of standing oscillations in the planetary waves during the Northern Hemisphere winter, with time scales on the order of a month or longer. A review of existing literature on the subject reveals the existence of at least four such patterns: the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oscillations identified by Walker and Bliss (1932). a zonally symmetric seesaw between sea level pressures in polar and temperature latitudes, first noted by Lorenz (1951), and what we will refer to as the Pacific/North American pattern, which has been known to operational long-range forecasters in this country since the 1950's. A data set consisting of NMC monthly mean sea level pressure and 500 mb height analyses for a 15-year period is used as a basis fo.
A Coordinated Control of Saddle-node and Hopf Bifurcations via a Secondary Voltage Regulation Scheme

This paper presents a coordinated methodology to control saddle-node and Hopf bifurcations in power systems based on the use of a Secondary Voltage Regulation scheme (SVR). The sensitivities of these bifurcations to SVR parameters are used to determine the most effective control action. The numerical results obtained for the South-Brazilian and the Italian systems demonstrate the necessity to adopt a coordinated control on both b ifurcations in order to obtain optimal results in terms of the resulting stability margin.