Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heterotopic ossification and clinical results after total hip arthroplasty using the anterior minimally invasive and anterolateral approaches

Introduction Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is considered the gold standard in the treatment of advanced osteoarthritis of the hip. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of heterotopic ossification (HO), the quality of life and the function in two groups of patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA), performed using the anterior minimally invasive (MIS) and the anterolateral approaches. Material and methods Retrospective analysis of 597 patients who underwent THA in 2009–2013 was performed. In all 597 cohort data on medical history were retrieved. HO occurrence was recorded for 331 patients and was evaluated based on Brooker’s scale in the X-ray scan. Functional and quality of life scores were obtained for 238 patients. The following scales were used for the survey: Harris Hip Score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, Visual Analogue Scale, and Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Satisfaction Scale. Results Patients operated on from the MIS approach had statistically significantly (p < 0.05) better results with all the clinical scales used, except the Visual Analogue Scale (p > 0.05). HO was slightly more common after the MIS approach (52.5%) compared to the anterolateral approach (49.76%), though the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions The MIS approach was associated with better clinical and functional outcomes. In the aspect of HO, we were not able to show the superiority of the MIS approach in terms of incidence.
Postcolonial endgame

Abstract This position paper assesses the present-day situation of black and Asian writers against that of earlier generations; the generation of post-war migrants and a second generation born or raised in Britain wrote under the pressures of postcolonial independence struggles and charged race relations in the former mother country. Whereas the writers of these generations could – out of necessity – develop alliances and a clearer sense of their own position as “black” or “Asian” writers in British society, the situation for non-white writers is more complex today in light of new identity choices, new kinds of migration and a fast-changing world. The article asks whether race still trumps ethnicity in the marketplace of ideas; how citizenship interacts with nationality and nationalism; and, if so, in what ways it affects the work of writers.
“Women cannot lead”: empowering women through cultural tourism in Botswana

To rebalance the safari-tourism led tourism development policies in Botswana, the government has initiated a community-based cultural tourism policy, providing opportunities for women to become leaders and entrepreneurs. After reviewing the multifaceted, deeply contextualized and contested concept of women's empowerment, this paper examines perceptions of empowerment in Botswana and how far villagers felt that the new tourism policy has facilitated female agency and opportunity. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with female and male key informants in villages in southern Botswana. The new policy was found to have contributed significantly to a sense of female empowerment expressed in terms of freedom from economic dependency on men and society, and from depravity, emptiness and familial dependency. Women have progressed from passive involvement to active participation in culture-related tourism ventures. They also experienced vocational education but deferred formal educational opportunities to their offspring. Men were seen as facilitators and partners in women's involvement in tourism. However, barriers remain, including lack of startup capital, low levels of education, centralized control of protected tourism sites and low potential earnings. Ways are suggested to enhance the objectives and policies for women's participation in tourism in Botswana and other developing countries.
Board Governance and Tourism Firms' Performance: The Case of Taiwan

The purpose of this research is to examine the influence of board independence, CEO duality and managerial ownership on performance of tourism firms, measured by return on assets (ROA). The sample included seven publicly traded hotels in Taiwan. Ordinary least square (OLS) regression and two-stage least square (2SLS) regression were performed to test the hypotheses. The results demonstrate that performance of hotel firms had a significantly positive relationship with board independence and CEO duality. Board independence, CEO duality and managerial ownership were confirmed as endogenous variables. The results can help hotel firms realize the influence of board governance on performance and accordingly establish governance systems.
Letter to the Editor

Meyer-Bahlburg and Dolezal published a methodological critique and suggestions for improving the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI; Rosen et al., 2000) in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy (Meyer-Bahlburg & Dolezal; 2007, 33: 217–224). The FSFI has become one of the most widely used measures of women’s sexual response because of its brevity, clear scale structure, and translation into many languages. Despite its strengths and widespread use in a variety of research and clinical settings, in their article, Meyer-Bahlburg and Dolezal point out some potentially fatal flaws with the FSFI. Namely, because of the response option category defined as “Did not attempt intercourse,” which carries with it a rating of zero, this results in artificially inflated scores towards the sexual dysfunction pole. It also creates a number of statistical problems such as increasing the item score range and variance on each of the subscale and full scale domains. Using data from their study on 119 women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia and 24 controls, they made a number of suggested revisions to the FSFI. These included: reordering the items that do not contain a “no sexual activity” option to the beginning of the questionnaire, adding a new question (question 4) about whether or not the woman engaged in any kind of partnered or nonpartnered sexual activity over the past 4 weeks, and treating all zero responses as missing values. I applaud the steps taken by Meyer-Bahlburg and Dolezal in publishing their critique and for providing specific suggestions for improving its interpretation as these issues are of paramount importance for all researchers and clinicians using the FSFI. Using a version of the FSFI modified according to the specific suggestions by Meyer-Bahlburg and Dolezal (2007), I compared responses among women in two different samples. Sample 1 consisted of 133 asexual women recruited from the Asexuality Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) who completed online questionnaires (Brotto, Knudson, Inskip, Rhodes, & Erskine, in press). Included below is Table 1 which compares FSFI domain
Diagnosis and management of portal vein thrombosis in patients with cirrhosis of liver

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is an occlusion of the portal venous system and is a common complication of liver cirrhosis. It can present as either an acute or chronic complication. Acute PVT can present with abdominal pain, diarrhea, ileus, and bleeding. Chronic PVT is often asymptomatic; however, it can be discovered in cases of worsening portal hypertension. Portal vein thrombosis is diagnosed by imaging modalities, such as ultrasound and computed tomography. Contrast-enhanced imaging can be used in cases with difficult visualization. Despite the hemostatic imbalance in cirrhosis, anticoagulants can be safely used to recanalize the vein. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt procedures are also an effective method for recanalization.
Emerging trend in the etiology of postpartum hemorrhage in a low resource setting

Background: While rates of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) have continued to rise, it is not clear if the etiology and patterns have changed over time. Anecdotal reports have shown that, other than uterine atony, genital tract laceration is emerging as the chief causes of PPH. Objectives: This was to determine the changing trend in the prevalence, causes and maternal mortality associated with PPH in a low resource setting. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of all parturients that had PPH at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria from January 1st, 2006 to December 31st, 2015 was conducted. Post-partum blood loss was calculated by estimating blood losses in graduated containers and in bed lines and gauze packs. Results: During the period under review, a total of 10,502 deliveries were conducted, out of which 119 women were managed for PPH, giving a prevalence of 1.13%. Sixty-nine (58.0%) had primary PPH and 50 (42.0%) had secondary PPH. The overall leading cause of PPH was retained product of conception in 51 (42.9%). The commonest cause of primary PPH was genital tract laceration in 24 (34.8%) followed by uterine atony in 21 (30.4%). The leading cause of secondary PPH was retained products of conception in 37 (74.0%) cases, whereas its least causes were uterine sub-involution and gestational trophoblastic diseases in 1(2.0%) patient each. There was a significant association between the types of PPH and their risk factors/causes (genital tract laceration, uterine atony, retained product of conception, endometritis and coagulopathy; p<0.05 for all). The majority of the cases of primary PPH (94.6%) survived the condition and 5.4% died. Conclusion: Genital tract laceration has emerged as commonest cause of primary PPH followed by uterine atony, while the leading cause of secondary PPH was retained products of conception. This new trend in etiology warrants further investigation in other regions.
The debate

1. What is the extent to which ideologies delineate a consensual structure, reflecting a cultural grouping that may adopt constitutional forms? As against that, ideologies have to be investigated as the products of conflict over time, offering an increasing plurality of viewpoints, all of which may be contested. Connected to that was the question whether particular institutional arrangements, such as constitutions, offer ideological cohesion and delimit democratic ideologies from revolutionary ones. Indeed, the existence of a democratic culture—a constraint on ideological ranges—could itself be the ideational and constitutional environment in which a multiplicity of ideologies emerged. 2. Were the boundaries of an ideology determined by participants or observers, and how were those boundaries the products of discursive struggles to legitimate or outlaw certain idea configurations or idea paths? 3. What was the overlap between ideology analysis and Begriffsgeschichte? One way of looking at that was to present Begriffsgeschichte as exploring the conceptual struggle among concepts that built up different semantic fields of meaning from which ideologies emerged. 4. What were the reasons for the ascendancy of a particular ideology and its dependence on crucial points of appropriation of language? 5. Did ideologies require mass appeal and how did they relate to demagoguery? 6. What was the relative weight of institutions such as governments and parliaments in disseminating ideologies, and how important was the method of communicating an ideology in shaping it? 7. Was path dependence a useful notion in explaining the evolution of ideologies or was that too teleological an approach and one that diminished the role of agency and imagination? 8. Do crises have a special role in the formation of ideologies, because fear concerning the future is a catalyst in searching for new solutions? 9. Are ideologies mainly the product of large scale conscious change in relation to pre-ideological situations or are they discernible more generally in cultural and ideational combinations? Journal of Political Ideologies (June 2006), 11(2), 183–184
Assessment of TWIST1 as an immunotherapeutic target of cancer

CD8+ T lymphocytes are key mediators of anti-tumour immunity, eliminating tumour cells through the recognition of tumour antigens. Increasing the number of characterised tumour antigens, especially those with highly specific tumour expression, may enable the development of more effective immunotherapy of cancers. TWIST1 is a basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor (bHLB) with an important role in cell lineage determination and differentiation. It is expressed by a number of carcinomas where it functions as a pro-metastatic oncogene, but is absent or expressed at low levels in normal tissues. The main aim of this study was to investigate whether anti-TWIST1 immune responses could be generated and used to target cancer cells. Two potential HLA-A0201 restricted TWIST1-derived epitopes, SLNEAFAAL and KLAARYIDFL (referred to as SLN and KLA) were identified by in silico prediction methods and their binding to HLA-A*0201 confirmed in vitro. The peptides were assessed for their capacity to induce specific immune responses by generating cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) lines from the peripheral blood of HLA-A2-positive healthy donors. SLN peptide-specific CTLs were detected in 1 out of 5 healthy donors by peptide/MHC class I pentamers and the CTL line generated showed specific cytotoxicity and the release of interferon-γ on recognition of T2 target cells pulsed with SLN. KLA peptide-specific CTLs were not detected in the four healthy HLA-A2-positive donors tested. The immunogenicity of KLA was also assessed by peptide immunisation of HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice and the in vitro stimulation of alloreactive peptide-specific CD8+ T cells from HLA-A2-negative healthy blood donors. CTLs capable of specifically killing T2 cells pulsed with KLA peptide were isolated from an alloreactive CTL bulk line using peptide/HLA-A*0201 pentamer reagents and magnetic cell sorting. The data presented here shows the existence of functional anti-TWIST1 CTL precursors within the autologous and allogeneic HLA-A*0201-restricted T cell repertoires of healthy donors, and therefore merits the further evaluation of SLN and KLA as target epitopes for the treatment of TWIST1+ tumours.
Seed struggles and food sovereignty in northern Malawi

In this paper I use seeds in Malawi as both an analytical lens and an empirical focus of study to examine how food sovereignty is threatened or enhanced in a particular location and time. I argue that while food sovereignty was eroded for smallholders through neoliberal reforms to the agricultural system, community and kin practices help to maintain food sovereignty. The intersection of gender and class dynamics, combined with state policies, however, works to undermine food sovereignty for particular groups in northern Malawi. Historical processes of exclusion, dispossession and exploitation changed the division of labour and reduced time and land for diverse farming systems. State policies reduced knowledge and availability of preferred local varieties. While peasants, particularly women, have considerable knowledge of seed varieties, and seeds continue to be exchanged in agrarian communities, young women, tenant farmers, food insecure younger couples and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-affected families are particularly vulnerable to reduced food sovereignty, in part due to gender inequalities, unequal land distribution and social stigma. New efforts to strengthen food sovereignty need to build on community and kin relations, while addressing social inequalities. Understanding the struggles and relations linked to seeds helps us to understand ways in which food sovereignty is undermined or strengthened.
Patients’ Satisfaction About Health Care Services in Outpatient Department of General Surgery at PIMS, Islamabad

Objective: To assess the Patients’ satisfaction about health care services in the outpatient department of General Surgery at PIMS, Islamabad. Methodology: This is a prospective cross sectional study done for six months at General Surgery OPD, PIMS, Islamabad. All patients who attended the outpatient department of GSU-III were included. After consent patients answered a specially designed 30-item cross-sectional questionnaire regarding general convenience and satisfaction aspects regarding the OPD. Questions depicting the interpersonal relationships and the role of Doctors and the paramedic staff at the hospital are also included. All data was collected, recorded and analyzed using SPSS 17 and excel 2013. Results: A total of 410 patients were included with the mean age of 41 years and male to female ratio was≈ 1:3. 57.4% patients had completed their secondary or higher secondary education. 12.1% were labourers, 19.5% were students, 19.5% were unemployed and 34.1% were housewives. Most of the population was already registered at the general surgery department PIMS. Response to various questions regarding general convenience and satisfaction aspects regarding the OPD were averagely rated ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ by 96.3% patients, while 14.6% had their reservations. Answers depicting the interpersonal relationships and the role of Doctors and the paramedic staff at the hospital were appreciable in 71.95% and 64.6% of the cases respectively. 16.2% and 19.5% negated respectively. Interviews from all patients were taken into account in data analysis and conclusion. In sum, the patient’s satisfaction (58.5%) with the overall care (62.1%) were satisfactory. 59.7% patients wished to recommend this service to others. Conclusion: Most of the patients who visited the Outpatient department of General Surgery Unit III were satisfied regarding the overall care and the behavior of doctors and paramedical staff interacting with them.
The Association of Low Back Pain with Obesity and Abdominal Obesity among Koreans Aged 50 Years or More

Background: Both low back pain (LBP) and obesity are important public issues, but the association between them is controversial. This study was conducted to investigate the association of LBP with obesity and abdominal obesity among Koreans aged 50 years or more. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from participants aged 50 years or more (n=11,941) who measured height, weight and waist circumference and answered the questions about low back pain in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2013. To investigate the association of LBP with obesity and abdominal obesity, weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done after adjusting for socioeconomic variables and lifestyle variables. Results: The prevalence of LBP in men and women was 13.1% (standard error [SE], 0.6) and 31.0% (SE, 0.8) , respectively, higher in women than men ( P <0.001). For women only, abdominal obesity was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of LBP (odds ratio [OR] 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.44) after adjustment of confounding variables, and the odds ratio of LBP in the highest quartile of waist circumference was higher compared to the lowest quartile of waist circumference (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02-1.66). For men abdominal obesity was not associated with an increased prevalence of LBP. There were no associations between obesity and LBP in both men and women. Conclusions: This population-based, nationally representative study suggests that abdominal obesity in-creases the risk of LBP in women aged 50 years or more. Korean J Health Promot 2018;18(3):119-126
Kinetics of Manganese Uptake by Excised Roots of Sensitive and Tolerant Tobacco Genotypes

Abstract Understanding genotypic difference in ion uptake and toxicity is important in breeding plants that are able to adapt to unfavorable soil conditions and to phytoremediate contaminated soils. This investigation was carried out to study kinetic behavior of manganese (Mn) uptake by excised roots of two tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) genotypes with different sensitivities to Mn toxicity. Genotype KY 14 was shown previously to be sensitive to Mn toxicity whereas genotype Tobacco Introduction (T.I.) 1112 was shown to be resistant. Kinetic experiments were conducted by exposing the excised roots of the two genotypes to solution Mn containing 1 mM Mn plus 0.5 mM calcium (Ca). Total Mn uptake and the fraction of Mn that remained in the excised roots after desorption using 2 mM Cu–0.5 mM Ca solution at 5°C were determined to estimate Mn accumulation into the apoplast and symplast compartments. The two tobacco genotypes exhibited a similar biphasic total Mn uptake composed of an initial rapid phase followed by a slow linear phase for the first 180 min. The sensitive tobacco genotype, KY 14, maintained a similar kinetic behavior of total Mn uptake throughout the experiment whereas the tolerant genotype, T.I. 1112, showed a decrease in total Mn uptake after 180 min of exposure. This decrease was mainly due to an exclusion of Mn from the apoplast of T.I. 1112 although its symplastic Mn uptake continued. Comparison of the relative distribution of Mn between the two genotypes indicated a much higher percentage of Mn uptake in the apoplast of the tolerant genotype than that in the sensitive genotype. Overall, total Mn uptake difference by the two genotypes was dominated by the difference in apoplastic absorption characteristics. This apoplastic difference of the two tobacco genotypes appeared to be related to Mn‐cell wall binding characteristics.
Deception, Power, and Self-Differentiation in College Students' Romantic Relationships: An Exploratory Study

The relationships among deception, power, and self-differentiation in college students' romantic relationships were explored. As hypothesized, lower total deception scores were found to significantly predict higher self-differentiation scores. Both men and women reported that men held significantly more power in their relationships. A secondary analysis revealed that men were significantly more likely than women to indicate they would be inclined to use deceptive strategies. Counter to the hypotheses, a significant negative correlation was not detected between power scores and omission scores, and positive relationships between power scores and contradiction scores were not found.
Mental Health Services Structure: The Case of Older Puerto Ricans in Senior Centers

ABSTRACT This study examined 2 different structures (referral vs. integrated) of mental health service delivery and how they influence awareness of mental health by Puerto Rican older adults in community senior centers. Surveys on mental health awareness were conducted with Puerto Rican older adults (n = 167) utilizing senior centers and comparing results between a senior center in Puerto Rico (referral) and another in New York City (integrated), both serving a large Puerto Rican population. Findings indicate that the structure of mental health service is greater for mental health awareness among Puerto Ricans in the integrated location, where Puerto Rican older adults had greater exposure and access to mental health information and services. Two factors—age and mental health impairment—added strength to the regression model. Results indicate that service delivery organizations, regardless of location, need to become more aware of their inner structures and the factors that relate to better serving their client population. Better integration of the delivery of mental health services for older Puerto Ricans could benefit from a focused intervention using mental health education to help participants identify mental health needs.
Testing normality based on new entropy estimators

In this paper, we first introduce two new estimators for estimating the entropy of absolutely continuous random variables. We then compare the introduced estimators with the existing entropy estimators, including the first of such estimators proposed by Dimitriev and Tarasenko [On the estimation functions of the probability density and its derivatives, Theory Probab. Appl. 18 (1973), pp. 628–633]. We next propose goodness-of-fit tests for normality based on the introduced entropy estimators and compare their powers with the powers of other entropy-based tests for normality. Our simulation results show that the introduced estimators perform well in estimating entropy and testing normality.