Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE CHEMICAL AND ISOTOPIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME NORTHEAST GREENLAND SURFACE AND PINGO WATERS

Water samples have been collected in Scores- 18 contents. The combined results are examined by Land, northeast Greenland, from glacier, in an attempt to elucidate the origins of waters meltwater, stream, river, and pingo sources in from individual sources, with particular reference the Delta Dal; from pingo sources in the Schu- to the problem of pingo genesis. It is concluded chert Dal and on Traill Island; and from fiords that all the waters discharging from these pingos adjoining these areas. The samples were an- are of recent meteoric origin, and that waters alyzed chemically for their principal solute ions, discharging from a group of related pingos do and isotopically for their deuterium and oxygen- not necessarily have a common aquifer source.
Anterior versus Posterior Approach in Surgical Treatment of Dorsolumber Spondylodiscitis

Background: Spinal infections exhibit a wide range of clinical signs. The clinical effects can encompass the vertebral bodies, spinal canal, intervertebral discs, and adjacent paravertebral structures. Surgical treatment becomes necessary when there's a presence of neurological deficits, epidural abscess, or the development of kyphotic deformity. The approach involving anterior debridement and fusion has demonstrated its efficacy in managing pyogenic spondylodiscitis. This method facilitates direct reach to the infected disc, allowing thorough debridement and proper placement of bone graft to ensure adequate stabilization. On the other hand, the posterior approach is more proficient in correcting kyphosis. Aim: The aim of this thesis is to conduct a comprehensive comparison of the clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes between the surgical approaches of anterior and posterior methods in the treatment of spondylodiscitis. Patients and methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in Benha university hospital including thirty patients with dorsolumber spondylodiscitis were admitted and managed operatively between May 2020 and June 2023. Patients were divided into two groups. Group (A): 15 patients (50%) were operated via anterior approach and group (B): 15 patients (50%) were operated via posterior approach. The diagnosis was confirmed through a combination of clinical presentation, laboratory analyses, and radiological evaluations. The study involved a 12-week follow-up period to assess the progression and outcomes of the condition. Results: The mean age of patients of group A was 52 ±8 and group B was 52 ±7. The most frequent site in group A was lumbar (46.7%), followed by thoracolumbar (40%) and thoracic (13.3%), while in group B, the most frequent was lumbar (40%), followed by thoracic (33.35) and thoracolumbar (26.7%). Functional outcome (regarding Oswestry disability index) was improved from 84% and 82% preoperatively to 28% and 30% postoperatively in Group A and Group B respectively. Regarding Local Kyphotic Angle, group B demonstrated significantly higher correction degrees than the anterior approach group A. Regarding hospital stay in our study, Group B demonstrated significantly higher hospital stay than group A. Also, Posterior group exhibited significantly higher operative time and blood loss. Conclusion: Both the anterior and posterior approaches are effective in accomplishing the objectives of surgical intervention for thoracic and lumbar Spondylodiscitis. However, the posterior approach provides notably superior correction of the kyphotic angle, albeit at the cost of increased operative time, prolonged hospital stay, and greater blood loss.
Impact of unfair purchasing policies on the retail price

This paper provides empirical evidence of the negative aspects of unfairness within the food supply chain concerning the purchasing policies of a micro-food producer who is also a supplier of large retail chains in the Republic of Croatia. When looking at the business relations between micro-enterprises and retailers, the authors identify a problem in the form of purchasing policies of retailers that contradict the legislative intention of the Act on the Prohibition of Unfair Trading Practices in the Food Supply Chain and the Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on the same subject. The paper aims to point out to the legislators that their approach to the issue has not led to the economic sustainability of the vulnerable links in the food supply chain, i.e., the supply side companies, as the problem has mostly been diverted to unfair prices. The authors point out the undue rigidity of the legislation concerning market competition in prohibited vertical agreements and the undue flexibility in price intelligence. In addition, this paper points out that unfair purchasing policies may constitute inflationary pressures not yet recognized by macroeconomic theory. The limitation of the paper stems from the likely generalization based on inductive inferences based on a case study. There is the possibility of further research on this topic in the short term to make informed economic and policy decisions.
Glycyrol Prevents the Progression of Psoriasis-like Skin Inflammation via Immunosuppressive and Anti-Inflammatory Actions

Glycyrol (GC) is one natural active product. Imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like Balb/c mouse models were established. The model mice were intraperitoneally injected with cyclosporine A (CsA) and GC for 8 days followed by a series of biological detections. GC had little toxicity according to the levels of peripheral blood cells, hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (CRE), while CsA significantly increased the levels of BUN and CRE. GC decreased the splenic index and reduced the expressions of IL-6, IL-23, and CXCL-3 in the model mice and IL-6, CXCL-1, and CXCL-2 in the inflammatory HaCaT cells. The half inhibition concentration (IC50) of GC on HaCaT cells was 29.72 μmol/L, resulting in improved apoptosis, enhanced expressions of p21, BAX, and BIK, and reduced expressions of BCL-2. GC is an immunosuppressive agent against psoriasis-like symptoms by anti-inflammatory effects, which provides a strategy for the discovery of anti-psoriatic natural products.
Gamma Spectrum Analysis of IAEA International Intercomparison Samples

In 2006,the international intercomparision of gamma-radionuclides was conducted by ultra-low background HPGe γ-spectrometer systems in our lab.According to IAEA's rules,activities of 54Mn,60Co,65Zn,134Cs,137Cs,241Am,109Cd,and 210Pb in soil and water,and 40K,137Cs in grass have to be measured.The activies of these radionuclides were performed by Genie 2000 for γ-spectra analysis and by LabSOCS for efficiency calibration.Our laboratory obtained excellent scores with 89% for acceptable and 0 for not acceptable.The percentage of acceptable is obviously higher than average value 64% in all the participant labs,while those of not acceptable are lower than average 29%.
Feature Aggregation with Two-Layer Ensemble Framework for Multilingual Speech Emotion Recognition

In this study, we present a framework for improving the accuracy of speech emotion recognition in a multilingual environment. In our prior experiments, where machine learning (ML) models were trained to predict emotions in Korean and then tested in English, as well as vice versa, we observed a dependency on language in emotion recognition, resulting in poor accuracy. We suspect that this may be related to the spectral differences in certain emotions between Korean and English and to the tendency for different formant values to have different acoustic frequencies. For this study, we investigated several different methods, including models with mixed databases, a single database, and bagging, boosting, and voting ML algorithms. Finally, we developed a framework consisting of two branches: one for the aggregation of high-dimensional features from multilingual data and one for a two-layered ensemble framework for emotion classification. In the ensemble framework for Korean and English (EF-KEN), features are extracted and ensemble models are trained, boosted, and evaluated by applying them to different spoken languages (English and Korean). The final experimental result demonstrates a meaningful improvement in an environment with two different languages.
Secondary mineralogy and microtextures of weathered sulfides and manganoan carbonates in mine waste-rock dumps, with implications for heavy-metal fixation

Abstract The secondary mineralogy and microtextures of weathered waste-rock dumps derived from the mining of galena-sphalerite ore in quartz veins containing manganoan carbonates were examined using back-scattered electron imaging, X-ray diffraction, and chemical analysis. Sphalerite, pyrrhotite, and arsenopyrite were coated or replaced by iron oxyhydroxides in the earliest stage of the weathering, and were then replaced by sulfur. Galena shows a thin alteration rim of anglesite. Oxidation of pyrite has resulted in porous boxworks of Fe oxyhydroxides. The relative resistance to oxidation, from most resistant to least resistant, was observed to be pyrite ≈ galena > arsenopyrite ≈ sphalerite > pyrrhotite. Rhodochrosite dissolved to form hydrohetaerolite pseudomorphs, and manganoan calcite has an outer alteration rim of hydrohetaerolite and an inner zone of smithsonite. Rock and mineral fragments were cemented by fine aggregates of plumbojarosite, Fe oxyhydroxides/sulfates, and manganates. Microchemical analysis and sequential extractions showed a close association of As with Fe oxyhydroxides/sulfates, of Pb, Cu, Zn, and As with plumbojarosite, and of Pb and Zn with manganates. Despite their lower acid-neutralizing capacity, manganoan carbonates played an important role in the fixation of Pb and Zn by the formation of manganates.
Talent development in the digital age: implications for self-employability in films and television industry

Talent development in the modern age needs to translate into self-employability. The study aims to investigate the relationship between Talent Development and Self Employability amongst Actors in the creative industry of South Africa and how Talent Development impacts Employability amongst this group. This study is important for Actors to have a framework to assist them with developing their talent for employability purposes. Underpinned by the post-positivism philosophy and using a deductive reasoning approach, the study chose a quantitative research design and Cagne’s Expanded Model of Talent Development as the theoretical framework of the study. The population of the study was the film and television Actors (N=325) as the study’s participants and accounting for the entire population. Simple random probability sampling was chosen (n=150) as it seeks to generalize the findings of the study to the entire population. The data collection tool was a 5-point self-administered structured questionnaire. The data collection instrument was pre-tested using a small sample and the data gathered was analyzed using quantitative data analysis methods which will be used for the main analysis, aided by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. The study found a clear association between Talent Development and Self-perceived Employability with both constructs having a positive medium correlation. The main elements making a significant contribution were the Actors' cognitive abilities as well as their motivation and they needed to work on their mentorship. The finding of the study seeks to improve the theoretical understanding of talent development and further recommendations for managers within the creative industry to create formal mentorship programmes to aid upcoming Actors.
Reduced interocular suppression after inverse patching in anisometropic amblyopia

Purpose Recent investigations observed substantial enhancements in binocular balance, visual acuity, and stereovision among older children and adults with amblyopia by patching the amblyopic eye (i.e., inverse patching) for 2 h daily over 2 months. Despite these promising findings, the precise neural mechanisms underlying inverse patching remain elusive. This study endeavors to delve deeper into the neural alterations induced by inverse patching, focusing on steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs). We specifically investigate the changes in SSVEPs following monocular deprivation of either the fellow eye or the amblyopic eye in older amblyopic children and adults. Method Ten participants (17.60 ± 2.03 years old; mean ± SEM), clinically diagnosed with anisometropic amblyopia, were recruited for this study. Each participant underwent a 120 min patching session on their fellow eye on the first day, followed by a similar session on their amblyopic eye on the second day. Baseline steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) measurements were collected each day prior to patching, with post-patching SSVEPs measurements obtained immediately after the patching session. The experimental design incorporated a binocular rivalry paradigm, utilizing SSVEPs measurements. Results The results revealed that inverse patching induced a heightened influence on neural plasticity, manifesting in a reduction of interocular suppression from the fellow eye to the amblyopic eye. In contrast, patching the fellow eye demonstrated negligible effects on the visual cortex. Furthermore, alterations in interocular suppression subsequent to inverse patching exhibited a correlation with the visual acuity of the amblyopic eye. Conclusion Inverse patching emerges as a promising therapeutic avenue for adolescents and adults grappling with severe anisometropic amblyopia that proves refractory to conventional interventions. This innovative approach exhibits the potential to induce more robust neural plasticity within the visual cortex, thereby modulating neural interactions more effectively than traditional amblyopia treatments.
Evidence of the Beneficial Impact of Three Probiotic-Based Food Supplements on the Composition and Metabolic Activity of the Intestinal Microbiota in Healthy Individuals: An Ex Vivo Study

Scientific evidence has increasingly supported the beneficial effects of probiotic-based food supplements on human intestinal health. This ex vivo study investigated the effects on the composition and metabolic activity of the intestinal microbiota of three probiotic-based food supplements, containing, respectively, (1) Bifidobacterium longum ES1, (2) Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM®, and (3) a combination of L. acidophilus NCFM®, Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37™, Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07™, and Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04™. This study employed fecal samples from six healthy donors, inoculated in a Colon-on-a-plate® system. After 48 h of exposure or non-exposure to the food supplements, the effects were measured on the overall microbial fermentation (pH), changes in microbial metabolic activity through the production of short-chain and branched-chain fatty acids (SCFAs and BCFAs), ammonium, lactate, and microbial composition. The strongest effect on the fermentation process was observed for the combined formulation probiotics, characterized by the significant stimulation of butyrate production, a significant reduction in BCFAs and ammonium in all donors, and a significant stimulatory effect on bifidobacteria and lactobacilli growth. Our findings suggest that the combined formulation probiotics significantly impact the intestinal microbiome of the healthy individuals, showing changes in metabolic activity and microbial abundance as the health benefit endpoint.
Effect of Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program on Nurses' Performance and Orthopedic Patients' Outcomes

: Background: Pressure ulcers in orthopedic patients are a major health concern with greater expectations of their development. It should be monitored in all admitted patients with a high risk for developing it. Orthopedic nursing staff must be aware with procedures required to avoid and minimize its incidence. Aim of this study: To evaluate the effect of pressure ulcer prevention program on nurses' performance and orthopedic patients' outcomes. Method: Quasi-experimental design was used to carry out the study. Sample of thirty-six nurses and eighty patients were recruited from orthopedic departments at South Valley University Hospital. Tools: Four tools included as follow a structured interview questionnaire; nurses' pressure ulcer preventive practices observational checklist, comprehensive skin assessment tool, and Braden Scale were utilized to assemble data. Results: The study showed that nurses' knowledge and practices were significantly improved towards pressure ulcer prevention after program implementation when compared to preprogram. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant difference in patient outcomes between the study and control groups (p< 0.05). Conclusion: The pressure ulcer prevention program has improved both nurses' performance and patients' outcomes. Recommendation: Providing continuing educational and training programs for nurses caring of orthopedic patients in order to strengthen their knowledge and practice related prevention of pressure ulcer.
Task identity of outsourced versus core employees in Nigerian financial institutions: exploring the role of employment status

The work environment in Nigerian financial institutions reflects the polarization and segregation of employees into different employment statuses. However, the implications of this on employee task identity are rarely discussed. This study, therefore, examined the difference in the task identity between the outsourced and core employees in Nigerian financial institutions. A cross-sectional survey research design was employed. A total of 359 employees were selected from six commercial banks in Southeast Nigeria using a multistage sampling method. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to analyze data at the bi-variate level, while logistic regression analysis was used at the multi-variate level, all at p<0.05. Outsourced employees experienced a lower level of task identity than core employees. Employment status (OR =5.501, 95% CI 3.051-9.919) and education (OR=2.896, 95% CI 1.329-6.313) were significantly associated with task identity. Banks should design enriched jobs that will enable the completion of entire job functions for all employees without discrimination or favor to any groups or persons, as this will help employees to identify with their tasks when completed and feel pride and important, as well as enhance employee motivation, satisfaction, and commitment.
MASLD treatment—a shift in the paradigm is imminent

MASLD prevalence is growing towards the leading cause of end-stage liver disease. Up to today, the most effective treatment is weight loss. Weight loss interventions are moving from lifestyle changes to bariatric surgery or endoscopy, and, more recently, to a new wave of anti-obesity drugs that can compete with bariatric surgery. Liver-targeted therapy is a necessity for those patients who already present liver fibrosis. The field is moving fast, and in the near future, we will testify to a disruptive change in MASLD treatment, similar to the paradigm-shift that occurred for hepatitis C almost one decade ago with direct antiviral agents.
Earthquake source properties of a shallow induced seismic sequence in SE Brazil

We study source parameters of a cluster of 21 very shallow (<1 km depth) small‐magnitude (Mw < 2) earthquakes induced by percolation of water by gravity in SE Brazil. Using a multiple empirical Green's functions (meGf) approach, we estimate seismic moments, corner frequencies, and static stress drops of these events by inversion of their spectral ratios. For the studied magnitude range (−0.3 < Mw < 1.9), we found an increase of stress drop with seismic moment. We assess associated uncertainties by considering different signal time windows and by performing a jackknife resampling of the spectral ratios. We also calculate seismic moments by full waveform inversion to independently validate our moments from spectral analysis. We propose repeated rupture on a fault patch at shallow depth, following continuous inflow of water, as the cause for the observed low absolute stress drop values (<1 MPa) and earthquake size dependency. To our knowledge, no other study on earthquake source properties of shallow events induced by water injection with no added pressure is available in the literature. Our study suggests that source parameter characterization may provide additional information of induced seismicity by hydraulic stimulation.
The Relationship Between Corporate Governance Mechanisms and Financing Decision: Evidence from Listed Egyptian Firms

The primary objective of this study is to conduct an empirical investigate how mechanisms of Corporate Governance are associated with the Financing Decisions made by corporations in Egypt. Financing decision is measured by using debt ratio. The Corporate Governance mechanisms are measured by the board size, board independence, CEO duality, managerial ownership, and institutional ownership. Furthermore, this study incorporates four control variables that represent characteristics of the company, specifically, company size, company age, profitability, and liquidity. Historical data from Egyptian firms listed and traded on the Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX) consisting of 90 firm-year observations for the period between 2019 and 2021 are utilized. The study utilized multiple linear regression analysis to assess the association between mechanisms of corporate governance and financing decisions. The findings revealed a significant association between board size and CEO duality and financing decisions, proxied by the debt ratio, among the leading Egyptian firms. Moreover, the results highlighted the considerable influence of profitability, liquidity, and firm size on the way these firms make financing decisions. Conversely, the findings of the study also imply that the variables of the board independence, managerial ownership and institutional investor may not have a significant influence shaping the financing choices within these companies.
Des pistes de Dinosaures et de Crocodiliens dans les dolomies de l'Hettangien du Causse du Larzac

A new Ichnofauna has been discovered in the Hettangian dolomites of the Causse du Larzac . In addition to known Dinosaur and Crocodilian footprints including Grallator variabilis, G. minusculus, Dilophosauripus williamsi, and Batrachopus deweyi, a new Dinosaur ichnospecies, Grallator sauclierensis, and an unnamed, orginal and enigmatic footprint are presented
Response of Carrot (Daucus carota L.) to Multi-Contaminated Soil from Historic Mining and Smelting Activities

A pot experiment was undertaken to investigate the effect of Cd, Pb and Zn multi-contamination on the physiological and metabolic response of carrot (Daucus carota L.) after 98 days of growth under greenhouse conditions. Multi-contamination had a higher negative influence on leaves (the highest Cd and Zn accumulation) compared to the roots, which showed no visible change in terms of anatomy and morphology. The results showed the following: (i) significantly higher accumulation of Cd, Zn, and Pb in the multi-contaminated variant (Multi) compared to the control; (ii) significant metabolic responses—an increase in the malondialdehyde content of the Multi variant compared to the control in the roots (by 20%), as well as in the leaves (by 53%); carotenoid content in roots decreased by 31% in the Multi variant compared with the control; and changes in free amino acids, especially those related to plant stress responses. The determination of hydroxyproline and sarcosine may reflect the higher sensitivity of carrot leaves to multi-contamination in comparison to roots. A similar trend was observed for the content of free methionine (significant increase of 31% only in leaves); (iii) physiological responses (significant decreases in biomass, changes in gas-exchange parameters and chlorophyll a); and (iv) significant changes in enzymatic activities (chitinase, alanine aminopeptidase, acid phosphatase) in the root zone.