Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
#CivicEngagement: An Exploratory Study of Social Media Use and Civic Engagement Among Undergraduates

Civic engagement is an activity that supports communities at local and national levels (Colby et al., 2000; Putnam, 1993; 2000). Within higher education, there has long been a desire to produce civically engaged graduates that will serve as leaders in addressing current and future societal problems. The task of developing young Americans that become socially aware, community-minded, and publicly involved requires a full understanding of the college learning environment for today’s students. In recent years, the undergraduate environment has changed rapidly, with various digital social media presenting a new social and technological context for college students. Scholars have begun to explore the ways in which these social media have impacted the college environment, yet many areas for research have yet to be addressed. This exploratory qualitative study draws upon this growing literature base and social capital theory to ask: How do students understand the connection between social media use and their civic engagement while in college? This study presents data from six focus groups (n=35) and seven individual interviews conducted with students from campus organizations engaged in one of three pre-selected areas of civic engagement (Adler & Goggin, 2005).
New scoring system for intra-abdominal injury diagnosis after blunt trauma.

OBJECTIVE An accurate scoring system for intra-abdominal injury (IAI) based on clinical manifestation and examination may decrease unnecessary CT scans, save time, and reduce healthcare cost. This study is designed to provide a new scoring system for a better diagnosis of IAI after blunt trauma. METHODS This prospective observational study was performed from April 2011 to October 2012 on patients aged above 18 years and suspected with blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) admitted to the emergency department (ED) of Imam Hussein Hospital and Shohadaye Hafte Tir Hospital. All patients were assessed and treated based on Advanced Trauma Life Support and ED protocol. Diagnosis was done according to CT scan findings, which was considered as the gold standard. Data were gathered based on patient's history, physical exam, ultrasound and CT scan findings by a general practitioner who was not blind to this study. Chi-square test and logistic regression were done. Factors with significant relationship with CT scan were imported in multivariate regression models, where a coefficient (β) was given based on the contribution of each of them. Scoring system was developed based on the obtained total β of each factor. RESULTS Altogether 261 patients (80.1% male) were enrolled (48 cases of IAI). A 24-point blunt abdominal trauma scoring system (BATSS) was developed. Patients were divided into three groups including low (score<8), moderate (8≤score<12) and high risk (score≥12). In high risk group immediate laparotomy should be done, moderate group needs further assessments, and low risk group should be kept under observation. Low risk patients did not show positive CT-scans (specificity 100%). Conversely, all high risk patients had positive CT-scan findings (sensitivity 100%). The receiver operating characteristic curve indicated a close relationship between the results of CT scan and BATSS (sensitivity=99.3%). CONCLUSION The present scoring system furnishes a high precision and reproducible diagnostic tool for BAT detection and has the potential to reduce unnecessary CT scan and cut unnecessary costs.
The Determination of the Money Supply: Flexibility versus Control

During the last two centuries there have been four main approaches to analysing the determination of the money supply, to wit: (1) Deposits cause Loans, (2) The Monetary Base Multiplier, (3) The Credit Counterparts Approach and (4) Loans cause Deposits. All four approaches are criticized, especially (2) which used to be the standard academic model, and (4) which is now taking over as the consensus approach. Instead, I argue that banking is a service industry, which sets the terms and conditions whereby the private sector can create additional money for itself. The problem is that such money creation tends to be highly procyclical, so the question then becomes finding the best trade-off between official control of that process and allowing sufficient flexibility for the private sector. I conclude by reviewing how Lord King's reform proposals, in his book on The End of Alchemy, might fit into this broader analysis.
NIGERIA'S INFORMAL SECTOR: OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME GENERATION.

The unemployment problem in contemporary Nigeria reveals a gloomy labour market situation, not only for the illiterates and the less educated, but also graduates from tertiary educational institutions. The rapid increase in Nigeria urban population witnessed since the 1970’s as a result of the oil boom is a reflection of the rate of increase in total population, a great number of this increase in the urban population has been due to migration from rural areas in search of employment and income opportunities. Despite the considerable expansion in the formal sector and government related activities, the poor employment prospects in the formal sector in recent times have necessitated the consideration of employment in the informal sector. An in-depth interview of about 200 participants in informal sector activities was conducted. Using descriptive analysis, information regarding individual workers and their household and labour histories was analyzed. Empirical survey evidence showed that the bulk of the new entrants to the urban labour force seem to create their own employment and income by engaging in the production and distribution of goods and services in the informal sector. Also the study shows that there have been some shifts in the educational composition of the labour force in the informal sector. Therefore, there is need for a well articulated official policy as an integral part of a national policy on employment and an incentive scheme for the informal sector.
Drug therapy (Rauwolfia) of hypertension. II. A comparative study of different extracts of Rauwolfia when each is used alone (orally) for therapy of ambulatory patients with hypertension.

Rauwolfia has been used for many years in India for treating hypertension, nervous disorders, and as a sedative.1Since the introduction of the first Rauwolfia serpentina preparation to American clinics,* a large number of Rauwolfia derivatives have been investigated regarding effectiveness in treating arterial hypertension. A standardized alkaloidal extract (alseroxylon) was introduced into this country in 1952.4Since this time, a number of other preparations have been made available, including at least two isolated active alkaloids, reserpine6and rescinnamine.7 Although the Rauwolfia bibliography is quite large, there have been relatively few reported studies in which the efficacy of the various derivatives of Rauwolfia have been compared. This report is a comparative study of Rauwolfia in treating hypertension and has two major objectives, (1) to compare the clinical results obtained with single, pure alkaloids of Rauwolfia serpentina (e.g., reserpine and rescinnamine) and those obtained with preparations containing
Who Reacts to Income Tax Rate Changes? The Relationship between Income Taxes and the Motivation to Work: The Case of Azerbaijan

This research investigates the effects of income taxation on the motivation to work by employing a survey method for the Azerbaijan population. The two research questions of interest are, if subjects consider income taxes when deciding how many hours to work and how subjects would react to a hypothetical 5% income tax rate increase. Also examined are the responses to these questions between subjects with different socio-economic characteristics. Examining cross-sectional data of 326 respondents reveals that income taxes do not influence Azerbaijan labour market participants’ motivation to work, regardless of their socio-economic characteristics. Empirical results indicate that reactions to hypothetical income tax rate increases show that the strength of response differs significantly across gender, age, marital status, field of employment, and income level. However, there are no significant results for differences in gender and after-tax wages. Our study contributes to the labour supply literature with the theory that after an income tax is imposed, both the average price and the average utility of leisure is greater for high wage earners than low wage earners.
Unexpectedly Severe Metabolic Acidosis Associated with Sodium Thiosulfate Therapy in a Patient with Calcific Uremic Arteriolopathy

Calcific uremic arteriolopathy, formerly known as calciphylaxis is a devastating condition that primarily affects patients with end‐stage renal disease. The lesions can progress to massive ulcerations of the subcutaneous tissue that are associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality, usually related to sepsis. Although the pathophysiology of this condition is poorly understood, it appears to be related to a derangement in calcium–phosphate metabolism. Thus, treatments have focused on the treatment of hyperparathyroidism albeit with poor results. More recently, sodium thiosulfate (STS) has emerged as a promising therapy following multiple case reports of marked disease regression following its use. As STS is a strong acid, metabolic acidosis has been described following its administration, although relatively mild in degree. We report a case of a patient with calciphylaxis who repeatedly developed a severe anion gap metabolic acidosis following each dose of STS requiring a significant reduction in the dose.
Towards an optimized wearable neuromodulation device for urinary incontinence

The subject of this paper is a wearable device (probe) for treating urinary incontinence. The device is dedicated to trans-rectal stimulation of the pudendal nerve which is triggered by the external sphincter EMG signal. In an effort to identify the optimum stimulation parameters, a family of strength-duration curves with varying pulse repetition frequencies was generated. The electrode-tissue interface was modeled as an RC circuit and a heuristic method for estimating the model parameters was used. A 2D model of the electric field around the probe was also constructed, using finite element methods, to investigate further possibilities for optimization.
Essays In International Economics

This collection of essays examines different topics in international economics. The first two chapters study the role that declines in trade barriers play in shaping the world distribution of net exports, also known as trade imbalances, and sectoral reallocation of economic activity in the U.S., a process also known as structural transformation. The third chapter is co-authored with Gabriel Tenorio and studies optimal capital account policy in small open economies subject to the risks of volatility in international interest rates. The first chapter proposes a framework that embeds a quantitative multi-country general equilibrium model of international trade into a dynamic framework in which trade imbalances arise endogenously. I calibrate the model and provide a decomposition that shows that 69 percent of the increase in world trade imbalances between 1970 and 2007 can be explained by the decline in trade costs across countries. Moreover, the effect of lower trade costs on trade imbalances is heterogeneous across countries. The second chapter considers a static general equilibrium open economy model of structural transformation to explore the implications of lower trade costs and trade deficits on structural change in the U.S. The results show that declining trade costs and increasing trade deficits in the U.S. between 1970 and 2007 significantly contributed to the decline in manufacturing’s share in value added. In the absence of declines in trade costs and imbalances, the decline in this share is approximately half of the decline in the baseline calibration of the model. In the third chapter we study optimal policy responses to shocks in the mean and volatility of the external interest rate in a small open economy with an occasionally binding borrowing constraint. We show that the modeled evolution of interest rates around episodes of sudden stops is consistent with the empirical evidence for a group emerging markets. We solve the problem of a constrained social planner and show numerically that policy is contingent on the level and volatility of external interest iii rate shocks, and that the intensity of the optimal policy is nonmonotonic with respect to the volatility of external shocks.
Evidence Supporting the use of Probiotics for the Prevention and Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Intestinal Mucositis

Although chemotherapy remains the current best practice for the treatment of neoplasia, the severity of its associated side-effects continues to impact detrimentally on the quality of life. Mucositis can affect both the oral cavity and intestine, and represents one of the most common side-effects of chemotherapy. It is characterized by ulceration, inflammation, diarrhoea, and intense abdominal pain. Despite extensive research there remains no definitive therapy for mucositis. This may be due to the multiple factors which contribute to its pathogenesis, including up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, increased apoptosis of epithelial cells, alteration of the gastrointestinal microbiota, and damage to the epithelium. Although employed increasingly in other gastrointestinal disorders, probiotics are yet to be comprehensively investigated in the treatment or prevention of chemotherapy-induced mucositis. Probiotic-based therapies have been shown to exert beneficial effects, including modulation of the microbiota and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This review outlines the current evidence supporting the use of probiotics in intestinal mucositis, and suggests further research directions for the future.
Technical Briefs

Noise annoyance has caused significant adverse impacts on human beings and numerous efforts have been spent on mitigating annoyance problems. Natural greenery has been shown to be able to moderate annoyance problems at home but this conclusion was drawn without properly controlling the potential confounding factors. Furthermore, few have explored the moderation effect of a sea view. Accordingly, this study formulated a multivariate model to examine the impacts of natural views as well as personal characteristics on annoyance perception. A housing estate was selected in Hong Kong as the survey site for which some of the residents were exposed to greenery views, sea views, or both from their homes. Eight hundred and sixty-one responses were collected via questionnaire surveys and analyzed using an ordered logit model. The results suggest that both a greenery view and a sea view can moderate annoyance responses. Several individual's personal characteristics are found to affect individuals' annoyance perception. The duration of time spent daily at home is shown to have an influence on the moderation impact exerted by a greenery view, while the age of an individual is shown to have an influence on noise moderation effect exerted by a sea view.
Parallel Aspect‐Oriented Sentiment Analysis for Sales Forecasting with Big Data

While much research work has been devoted to supply chain management and demand forecast, research on designing big data analytics methodologies to enhance sales forecasting is seldom reported in existing literature. The big data of consumer‐contributed product comments on online social media provide management with unprecedented opportunities to leverage collective consumer intelligence for enhancing supply chain management in general and sales forecasting in particular. The main contributions of our work presented in this study are as follows: (1) the design of a novel big data analytics methodology that is underpinned by a parallel aspect‐oriented sentiment analysis algorithm for mining consumer intelligence from a huge number of online product comments; (2) the design and the large‐scale empirical test of a sentiment enhanced sales forecasting method that is empowered by a parallel co‐evolutionary extreme learning machine. Based on real‐world big datasets, our experimental results confirm that consumer sentiments mined from big data can improve the accuracy of sales forecasting across predictive models and datasets. The managerial implication of our work is that firms can apply the proposed big data analytics methodology to enhance sales forecasting performance. Thereby, the problem of under/over‐stocking is alleviated and customer satisfaction is improved.
Interactive Effects of Exchange Rate Volatilityand Foreign Capital Inflows on EconomicGrowth in Nigeria

Various literature have attested to the vital roles of foreign capital inflow in bridging the savingsinvestment gaps in the developing countries in other to bring about the so much desired development. The impediment of exchange rate volatility (EXRV) on sourcing for this much desired foreign capital is also notable. However it was observed in literature that the negative effect of EXRV could be mitigated by the level of financial development prevalent in the country. This study investigates the interaction of financial development with exchange rate volatility on one hand and of financial development with capital inflows on the other hand. The result of our GMM estimation indicates significant positive effect of FDI, FD, interaction of FDI with FD and interaction of EXRV with FD on GDP. However, remittance, lag of EXRV and interaction of remittance with FD has significant negative impact on GDP. This study posits that government in its efforts to diversify the economy for future growth should promote infrastructure and adequate financial development that will attract FDI to agric and agro allied industries and diversify remittances from consumption into investment
Comparative clinical trial of standard operative tracheostomy with percutaneous tracheostomy

ObjectiveTo compare percutaneous tracheostomy with conventional operative tracheostomy. DesignRandomized clinical trial. SettingThe medical and surgical critical care units of a large, tertiary-care, private hospital. PatientsTwenty-five male and 21 female translaryngeally intubated patients with respiratory failure, in whom tracheostomy was indicated on clinical grounds, were randomly assigned to one of two groups. InterventionsThe 24 patients in group 1 underwent conventional operative tracheostomy, and the 22 patients in group 2 underwent percutaneous tracheostomy. One patient in group 2 required tracheostomy on three separate occasions during a prolonged hospital stay. Measurements and Main ResultsPatients were examined daily throughout their hospital stays for adverse events related to the tracheostomy. In all patients who survived until decannulation, plain tomography of the trachea was performed within 3 days of decannulation. Repeat physical and tomographic examinations were performed 6 and 12 wks later.Fifty-eight percent (14/24) of the operative tracheostomies were associated with at least one complication, compared with 25% (6/24) of the percutaneous tracheostomies (p < .05, 95% confidence interval 7% to 59%). Predecannulation problems were more frequent in group 1 patients than in group 2 (46% vs. 13%, respectively; p < .01, 95% confidence interval 9% to 57%), as were later sequelae (88% vs. 27%; p < .05, confidence interval 26% to 96%) in survivors. Group 1 patients were more likely to have multiple complications, and their complications tended to be more serious. ConclusionIn this study, percutaneous tracheostomy appeared to be superior to the conventional operation.
Measurement of Young's Modulus in the in Vivo Human Vocal Folds

Currently, surgeons have no objective means to evaluate and optimize results of phonosurgery intraoperatively. Instead, they usually judge the vocal folds subjectively by visual inspection or by listening to the voice. This paper describes a new device that measures Young's (elastic) modulus values for the human vocal fold intraoperatively. Physiologically, the modulus of the vocal fold may be important in determining the nature of vocal fold vibration in normal and pathologic states. This study also reports the effect of recurrent laryngeal nerve stimulation on Young's modulus of the human vocal folds, measured by means of transcutaneous nerve stimulation techniques. Young's modulus increased with increases in current stimulation to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Ultimately, Young's modulus values may assist surgeons in optimizing the results of various phonosurgeries.
Deaths Analysis in Two Egyptian Governorates ( Gharbia and Qalubia ) : A Five-Year Retrospective Comparative Study ( 2006-2010 )

Violent deaths are examined to determine the cause and the manner of death. Homicidal victims referred to the two governorates departments of forensic medicine during a 5-year period from 2006 to 2010 were studied. Data of homicidal deaths was obtained from available medicolegal reports and statistically analyzed. The total number of postmortem examinations was 3235 in Gharbia, and 4233 in Qalubia; of these 9.2% and 8.8% were homicidal deaths respectively. The total incidence rate of homicidal deaths per 100,000 populations in Gharbia was (0.0092) and in Qalubia was (0.0088). The highest incidence of crimes in the two governorates occurred during summer months (41.4-48%), among family members (37.4-40.4%), took place outdoor (62.6-64.4%), and was among males (77.1-75.7%) in the age group 31-40 years (25.3-25.9%). Urban areas accounted for 61.5% in Gharbia and 68.2% in Qalubia. Victims were commonly unemployed in Gharbia (24.6%), while they were workers (24%) in Qalubia. Sharp, blunt and firearm weapons were commonly used in the two governorates. Stabbing was the most common cause of death in both Gharbia and Qalubia (40.745.0%), and commonly occurred among males. Burn was more common among females while asphyxia was equally distributed in the two governorates. Defense wounds were recorded in 32.7% of homicidal deaths in Gharbia and 21% in Qalubia. In conclusion, the pattern of homicide in the two governorates was very similar.
Credit Ratings across Asset Classes: A Long-Term Perspective

We test whether ratings are comparable across asset classes. We examine default rates by initial rating, accuracy ratios, migration metrics, instantaneous upgrade and downgrade intensities, and rating changes over bonds’ lives in multivariate regressions. These approaches reveal substantial and persistent differences across broad asset classes, as well as across subcategories of structured finance products. Our results are best explained by variation in rating agency incentives and variation in underlying risk profiles. We conclude that regulations requiring ratings to perform comparably across asset classes will prove difficult to enforce. We advocate instead a regulatory framework that better distinguishes risks and incentives across asset classes.