Short-term and long-term revision rates after lumbar spine discectomy versus laminectomy: a population-based cohort study by Yao-Chun Hsu, Feng-Chen Kao, Chang-Bi Wang, Yuan-Kun Tu, Pao-Hsin Liu

“…This study aimed to compare these two surgical treatments in the postoperative revision rates.Design A population-based cohort study from analysis of a healthcare database.Setting Data were gathered from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD).Participants We enrolled 16 048 patients (4450 women and 11 598 men) with a mean age of 40.34 years who underwent lumbar discectomy or laminectomy for the first time between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2007. …”
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Diversity, distribution and threat status of Fabaceae plants in Costa Rica: a 135-year herbarium record by Donifer Campos Parra, Andres Blanco Picado, Keilor Rojas Jimenez

“…Methods: We cleaned databases from 1887 to 2022 at the University of Costa Rica (USJ) and the National Herbarium (CR). Results: We documented the presence of 154 genera of Fabaceae, with Inga being the most abundant and diverse. …”
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ANALYSIS OF METHODOLOGY AND MODELS OF STRATEGIC PLANNING OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA by Amra Abadžić, Bahrija Umihanić, Mirela Ćebić

“…By applying the centralized administrative model in managing society and economy, Bosnia and Herzegovina is not capable of handling efficient development at national, regional and local level. We believe that there is a need to change the model of social and economic development, taking into consideration that so far negative effects of the erroneously applied strategies and development policies have reached unexpected limits. …”
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A twinning initiative between midwife associations in Ghana and Sweden -A process evaluation study by Hanna Fjellström, Emelie Sandberg, Johanna Blomgren, Malin Grahn, Fredrica Hanson, Netta Ackon, Gifty Baidoo, Louise Nordström, Malin Bogren

“…Recognising the importance of midwives being supported by a national midwife association, the initiative was to strengthen the professional association in Ghana as a labour union and to inspire Swedish midwives to involve themselves in international work. …”
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Emission Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds from Typical Coal Utilization Sources: A Case Study in Shanxi of Northern China by Yang Xu, Hualong Yu, Yulong Yan, Lin Peng, Rumei Li, Cheng Wang, Zhiyong Li

“…As a major source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), coal utilization also led to high national emissions of these pollutants. In this study, we investigated the profiles; benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) ratios; ozone formation potential (OFP); and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation potential of VOCs generated by coal-utilizing steel plants, power plants, coking plants, and residential stoves in northern China. …”
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Improving compliance and evaluating physician–patient concerns in glaucoma: a pilot study by Mohannad Albdour, Aaron Shi, Chuhan Wang, Ibrahim Saleh, Karanjit S Kooner

“…Conclusion: We found that patients aged 65 or more were more compliant, and our intervention improved patient compliance to 94%, which is higher than the nationally reported rates. In addition, the disparity between patient and physician fears suggests that communication barriers must be addressed to improve patient care.…”
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Controls on the geotechnical properties of plastic-bonded pavement blocks produced by artisanal means in Bamenda, Cameroon by Bertrand Tatoh Aziwo, Moses Kuma Mbuh, Irene Bongsiysi Bame, Paul Venyite, Moyouwou Amadou Njoya, Fidelis Toke Ntam, M.V. Nsongka, Ndigui Billong

“…The results can serve as a guide for the production of quality plastic-bonded pavement blocks especially in nations where a bulk of their construction materials are produced by artisanal means.…”
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Impact of Side Friction Parameters to Road Performance, A Study of Road Side Activities to Jend. A Yani Road, Purbalingga by Hardini Probo, Indriyati Eva Wahyu, Termida Nursitihazlin Ahmad, Janudardono Wibowo

“…By addressing side friction and using the right traffic models, the research aids in developing data-informed approaches to enhancing the Level of Service (LOS) on roads with high friction, especially in developing nations facing similar traffic challenges. This work helps in managing urban traffic by laying the groundwork for planning that accommodates mixed traffic and lessens congestion.…”
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Characteristics of anthropogenic solid waste in some mangrove ecosystems of East Java, Indonesia by Retnaningdyah Catur, Vidayanti Viky

“…This research used the ex post facto method in ten mangrove ecosystems of East Java with different anthropogenic activities including Trenggalek (Cengkrong), Malang (Gedangan and Kondang Merak), Pasuruan (Penunggul), Probolinggo (Pantai Duta), Situbondo (Dubibir and Blekok), Surabaya (Gunung Anyar and Medokan Ayu) and Banyuwangi (Alas Purwo National Park/APNP). At each location, anthropogenic solid waste was monitored, including plastic, metal, glass, rubber, paper, cloth, and other waste, by making three plots with each size of 5 x 1 m2. …”
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An “initial-engineering-end use” quasi-market pricing mechanism under cascading risk for cross-regional water rights trading by Xuxia Li, Huimin Wang, Gang Liu, Liu Yang, Zhou Fang, Yi Xiao, Xiaoying Lai, Li Gao, Ying Teng

“…Empirical results and practical applications reveal several key findings. (1) A comparative analysis of national governance across different countries indicates that the quasi-market pricing mechanism effectively determines end use water prices in China. (2) Initial corporate and government investments mitigate trading risks and enhance stability. (3) Overlooking ecosystem service value leads to the undervaluation of initial and end use water prices. (4) Practical applications of the proposed mechanism in Inner Mongolia, China, and the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia, demonstrate that end use water prices are generally higher in water-scarce regions. …”
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Exploring the macro-level, meso-level and micro-level barriers and facilitators to the provision of good quality early inflammatory arthritis (EIA) care in England and Wales by Sam Norton, Cath Taylor, James Galloway, Magdalena Zasada, Mark Yates, Nicola Ayers, Zoë Ide

“…Background Evidence from a national clinical audit of early inflammatory arthritis (EIA) shows considerable variability between hospitals in performance, unexplained by controlling for case-mix.Objective To explore the macro-level, meso-level and micro-level barriers and facilitators to the provision of good quality EIA care.Methods A qualitative study within 16 purposively sampled rheumatology units across England and Wales. …”
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Reaching the Peripheral Regional Growth Centre by Jörgen Gren

“…More importantly, the centre-periphery concept is at the very heart of most national regional policies and aid schemes as well as being at the heart of the EU’s cohesion/convergence efforts undertaken in the framework of the Structural and cohesion funds. …”
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Associations of heavy metals and urinary sodium excretion with obesity in adults: A cross-sectional study from Korean Health Examination and Nutritional Survey. by Juyeon Lee, Sue K Park

“…<h4>Methods</h4>Data from 6,609 participants in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2008 to 2012 were analyzed. …”
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Characteristics of Singapore lung cancer patients who miss out on lung cancer screening recommendations by Chee Hong Loh, Pearly Wenjia Koh, Daniel Jia Ming Ang, Wei Chee Lee, Wui Mei Chew, Jansen Meng Kwang Koh

“…Introduction: The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) identified individuals at high risk for lung cancer and showed that serial low-dose helical computed tomography could identify lung cancer at an earlier stage, leading to mortality reduction. …”
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Cardiometabolic deaths in black and white men: Tracing the risks from early- to mid-adulthood by Rebecca Arden Harris, Sameed Ahmed M. Khatana, Judith A. Long

“…Methods: Using 2022 National Vital Statistics System data and standard period life table methods, we estimated the risk of CMD death in hypothetical cohorts of Black and White men from age 25 to 45 years. …”
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Action against birth defects: if not now, when? by Kathleen Strong, Judith Robb-McCord, Salimah Walani, Cecilia Mellado, Lorenzo D. Botto, Guillermo Lay-Son, Theresa Diaz, Tahmina Banu, Kokila Lakhoo, Anshu Banerjee

“…However, recent donor support and national government interest has waned. Without concerted global action to improve primary prevention and care for children born with birth defects, the Sustainable Development Goal targets for child survival will not be met. …”
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Prevalence and Associated Factors Related to Tobacco Consumption Among University Students in Malaysia by Chui Yi Chow, Md Zobaer Hasan, Anton Abdulbasah Kamil

“…In Pearson's chi square test and Fisher's exact test, current use of tobacco was significantly associated with nationality, ethnicity, religion, school, current level of education and parents, siblings and friends use of tobacco (*p*\<0.05). …”
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Association between magnesium depletion score and prevalence of hyperuricemia in American adults: a study based on NHANES 2007-2018 by Yongchun Xiao, Yong Mou, Yong Mou, Ping Wu, Ke Wang, Tianjun Chen, Zhiwan Chen, Hongsheng Lin, Hua Yang, Zhisheng Ji

“…This study aims to investigate the relationship between MDS and the prevalence of HUA.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). …”
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Investigating challenges and opportunities to achieve SDG 6: a study of Benin City, Nigeria by Ruth Ogbonmwan, Furat Al-Faraj

“…Although the Federal Government has put in measures such as the National Action Plan (NAP) to ensure that the objectives of SDG 6.1 and 6.2 are achieved, the findings of the study however have shown that there are still problems of accessibility, acceptability, availability, affordability, and quality. …”
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Effects of water nutrient concentrations on stream macroinvertebrate community stoichiometry: a large-scale study by Beck, Miriam, Billoir, Elise, Usseglio-Polatera, Philippe, Meyer, Albin, Gautreau, Edwige, Danger, Michael

“…Relying on a stoichiometric database for >200 taxa and >1300 standardized sampling events of macroinvertebrate assemblages from the French national monitoring programme, we investigated the effect of water phosphorus and nitrogen load on stream macroinvertebrate community stoichiometry. …”
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