Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decolonizing and provincializing audience and internet studies: contextual approaches from African vantage points

Researching African media audiences and users is urgent more than ever because of the rapidly changing media landscape on the continent in the last few decades. In recent years, media content on the continent has become more diversified as a result of the liberalization of broadcasting, the emergence of private radio and television stations and the growing availability of foreign channels via satellite television. Most African countries have also experienced a rather spectacular growth in access and availability of both mass media devices and digital technologies. In the late 1990s, access to television sets and radio receivers was limited, with 22 percent of Africans having access to a radio in 1997, and only 6 percent reporting to own a television set.1 Although no recent comprehensive statistics are available for the continent, country surveys suggest sharp increases in access to mass media devices in recent years. For example, in 2013, 76 percent of Ghanaians reported to have access to a television while 84 percent had access to a radio.2 Access is likely to be significantly lower in rural as compared to urban areas, and newspapers continue to have fairly modest circulation rates and are often only affordable to a minority of urban readers.
Comptes Rendus Géoscience Sciences de la Planète

The Estarreja area (North of Portugal) has been subject to intense industrial pollution and host the second largest chemical industry complex in the country, which produced mainly ammoniumsulphate,nitricacidandammoniumnitrate,butalsosyntheticresins.TheCNRS’Human– Environment International Observatory of Estarreja (OHMi Estarreja) aims to study the multiple e ff ects of this industrial activity on the man-environment relationship, considering the temporal ∗ Corresponding author.
Short-Term Effect of Sodium Glucose Co–Transporter 2 Inhibitors on Routine Laboratory Examinations

Background : In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) on routine laboratory test results at 12 weeks of follow-up among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients using empagliflozin and dapagliflozin. Material and Method : Three hundred ten patients with a diagnosis of T2DM (over 18 years of age) with SGLT-2i added to stable triple combination therapy were included in this study. Patients who received either empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) (n:170) or dapagliflozin (10 mg once daily) (n:140) in addition to their current treatment regimen were divided into two groups. Laboratory findings of all patients were recorded before treatment and during follow-up in the 12 weeks. Results : Both empagliflozin and dapagliflozin had similar profiles of improvement of mean fasting blood glucose, and HbA1c. High improvement in lipid profiles and spot urinary parameters were detected in dapagliflozin group compared to empagliflozin group. At 12-week follow-up, change in other laboratory parameters did not differ significantly between the groups. In terms of total side effects, no difference was observed between treatment groups. Conclusions : Empagliflozin and dapagliflozin had similar effects on fasting blood glucose and HbA1C at 12-week follow-up. It can be considered that dapagliflozin may be preferred due to its positive effect on the lipid profile, especially in the population with cardiovascular disease.
Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition

The terms “post-truth” and “fake news” have become increasingly prevalent in public discourse over the last year. This article explores the growing abundance of misinformation, how it inﬂuences people, and how to counter it. We examine the ways in which misinformation can have an adverse impact on society. We summarize how people respond to corrections of misinformation, and what kinds of corrections are most effective. We argue that to be effective, scientiﬁc research into misinformation must be considered within a larger political, technological, and societal context. The post-truth world emerged as a result of societal mega-trends such as a decline in social capital, growing economic inequality, increased polarization, declining trust in science, and an increasingly fractionated media landscape. We suggest that responses to this malaise must involve technological solutions incorporating psychological principles, an interdisciplinary approach that we describe as “technocognition. ” We outline a number of recommendations to counter misinformation in a post-truth world.
Empirical Risk Minimization with f-Divergence Regularization in Statistical Learning

: The solution to empirical risk minimization with f -divergence regularization (ERM-f DR) is presented under mild conditions on f . Under such conditions, the optimal measure is shown to be unique and examples for particular choices of the function f are presented. Previously known solutions are obtained as special cases, including the ERM with relative entropy regularization (Type-I and Type-II). The analysis of the solution unveils the following properties of f -divergences when used in the ERM-f DR problem: i q f -divergence regularization forces the support of the solution to coincide with the support of the reference measure, which introduces a strong inductive bias that dominates the evidence provided by the training data; and ii q any f -divergence regularization is equivalent to a diﬀerent f -divergence regularization with an appropriate transformation of the empirical risk function.
Parents' perception of children's fear: from FSSC-IT to FSSC-PP

Studies involving parents' reports about children's fears and multiple informant comparisons are less extended than investigations on children's self-reporting fear schedules. Starting with the Italian version of FSSC-R, the FSSC-IT, the main aims of this study were to adapt a schedule for parents' perception of their children's fear: the FSSC-Parent Perception. Its psychometric properties were examined in a large sample of parents (N = 2970) of children aged 8–10 years. Exploratory and confirmatory factorial structures were examined and compared with the Italian children's ones. Mother vs. father, children's gender and school age group effects were analyzed. The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a four correlated factors solution model (Fear of Danger and Death; Fear of Injury and Animals; Fear of Failure and Criticism; Fear of the unknown and Phobic aspects). Some effects related to child gender, age group, mother vs. father, were found. The FSSC-PP properties supported its use by parents to assess their children's fears. A qualitative analysis of the top 10 fears most endorsed by parents will be presented and compared with children's fears. Clinical implications about the quality of parent-child relationships where discussed, comparing mothers and fathers, and parents' perception about daughters' and sons' most endorsed fears.
Effect of Preventive Program about Reproductive Tract Infections on Knowledge, Beliefs and Practices among Rural Women Based on Health Belief Model

: Reproductive tract infections among women have become a widespread growing health issue worldwide as a main reason for women's morbidity during reproductive period. They carry a high social and economic burden in the community leading to serious health problems not only for the woman, but also for the infant. Aim of the study: to evaluate the effect of preventive program about reproductive tract infections on knowledge, beliefs and practices among rural women based on health belief model. Subjects and method: Study design: A quasi experimental research design was used. Setting: This study was carried out at El-Santa Health Center, Gharbeya governorate which affiliated to the Ministry of Health on 170 rural women selected by convenience sampling. Those women were divided equally into two groups (study group and control group). The preventive program was conducted for the study group only. Tools: Two tools were used. Tool 1: Structured interview schedule consisted of four parts. Part I: Socio-demographic characteristics of the women. Part II: Health history of the women. Part III: Knowledge of the studied women regarding RTIs. Part IV: Self-reported practices of the studied women regarding prevention of RTIs. Tool II: Beliefs of the studied women regarding RTIs based on health belief model (HBM). Results: Total knowledge, practice and belief scores significantly improved immediately and three months post-program than pre-program for the study group. Meanwhile, the control group showed no significant improvement. There was significant positive correlation between the total knowledge, practice and belief scores pre and three months post program for both groups. Conclusion: The preventive program based on health belief model (HBM) was effective and improved the studied rural women's knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding RTIs. Recommendations: Community health nurses working in rural areas need to design preventive health programs based on HBM for women in order to change negative and false beliefs about prevention of RTIs and emphasizing its benefits for the women, infants, family and community.
Studies on the position of the Qinghai-Xizang plateau region in zoogeographic divisions and its eastern demarcation line

In this paper, from a historically temporal and spatial point of view, we analysed the process and the uniqueness of the ichthyo-fauna differentiation in Qinghai-Xizang plateau from Tertiary to present, and suggested that the ichthyo-fauna differentiation due to the uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang plateau might have been reflected in zoogeographic divisions (i.e. the Qinghai-Xizang plateau should be considered as an independent unit). The formation of a certain zoogeographical division unit is surely related to a definite event in a given geological period, and the division of Holarctic Region and the Oriental Region is related to the temperature decrease that occurred in the middle stage of Tertiary Period. The formation of the Qinghai-Xizang plateau region is surely related to the uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang plateau. The upheaval of the plateau and the global temperature decrease occurred almost at the same period and might have made certain influences. These historical events jointly urged the differentiation of the Eurasia ichthyo-fauna, which led to the division among the Holarctic Region, the Oriental Region and the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau Region. As a Region reflection of those events that happened at the same period, the Holarctic Region, the Oriental Region and the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau Region must have equal positions in zoogeographic divisions. The natural distribution boundary of plateau fishes (i.e. the subfamily Schizothroacinae and the genus Triplophysa) formed the demarcation line of the Qinghai-Xizang plateau region. In the eastern part of the plateau region, concerning the cutting of the same river into two parts, the range of the plateau region was also limited in area where Eastern Asiatic or river-plain fishes can not reach.
Government debt and the excess sensitivity of private consumption to current income: an empirical analysis for OECD countries

Empirical studies typically find that private consumption is much more sensitive to changes in current disposable income than is predicted by Hall's (JPE, 1978) permanent income hypothesis. Standard explanations for this "excess sensitivity" of private consumption refer to liquidity constraints and/or myopia. Elaborating on existing theoretical literature, which suggests that the incidence of liquidity constraints and the degree of myopia may be affected by the government debt ratio, this paper investigates the role of government debt in the degree of excess sensitivity. Using a panel of OECD countries in the 1990s, we estimate a consumption function with the degree of excess sensitivity depending on the government debt ratio and the degree of financial liberalisation. We find that a higher government debt leads to more excess sensitivity. This result supports the idea that a higher debt induces private lenders to tighten credit conditions, which raises the incidence of liquidity constraints. As to the effects of financial liberalisation on excess sensitivity in the 1990s, we obtain no clear evidence.
Optimal due date assignment in project scheduling

In this paper we introduce the concept of due date assignment in the project scheduling literature. Despite the fact that due date assignment problems belongs to the core of the machine scheduling literature, no attempts have been made to tackle this problem in a project scheduling environment. However, of obvious practical importance, an optimal assignment of due dates is of primary interest to the project manager. In a recent research paper on project scheduling with due dates, the problem has been restricted to considering projects with pre-assigned due dates. In reality, due dates are the results of negotiations, rather than simply dictated by the client of the project. In this paper we consider this negotiation process and take a contractor's point of view who faces the problem of assigning due dates to a particular project, based on the negotiation arguments of the client. We show that the problem under study can be solved by means of the combination of different ideas from the operations research community.
Are fair trade labels good business ? Ethics and coffee buying intentions

On the basis of a sample of 808 Belgian citizens and using conjoint analysis, the importance of a ‘fair trade’ label for the coffee buying decision is studied, as well as the willingness-to-pay for such a label. Furthermore, the size of the consumer segment willing to buy ‘fair trade’ coffee and their characteristics are studied. On average, a fair trade label is considered to be the second most important coffee attribute, together with flavor, and almost as important as the brand. Ten percent of the sample is willing to pay at least the actual price premium for fair trade coffee (27%). On the basis of the relative importance they attach to various coffee attributes, coffee buyers can be divided into four segments: fair trade lovers (11%), fair trade likers (40%), flavor lovers (24%) and brand lovers (25%). A number of demographic characteristics are measured, as well as the personal values of the respondents (Rokeach). Five basic dimensions of personal values can be distinguished: civic spirit, competence, sincere and social, idealistic, and personal gratification. Fair trade lovers are relatively highly educated, and the 31-44 years age group is over represented. They score higher than the other segments on personal values such as idealism, but lower on the dimension ‘civic spirit’. The characteristics of fair trade likers are not significantly different from the average in the sample, except for their higher degree of idealism.
MAKING COMPETENCIES CROSS BUSINESS UNIT BOUNDARIES: THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN INTER-UNIT COORDINATION, TRUST AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFERABILITY.

The strategic value of knowledge sharing has long been recognized but valuable competencies are too often locked in one business unit. This paper provides insight into the role of organizational factors in spreading complex bundles of knowledge among business units. A study in a British multinational confirms the importance of knowledge transferability, headquarters' role, the close relationship between standardization and knowledge sharing, and the ambiguous role of informal networking.
Isokinetic strength in female soccer players by player position

This study aimed to establish reference values and compare isokinetic performance in female soccer players according to player position. Eighty-seven female soccer players from the Chilean first-division soccer clubs were evaluated in isokinetic strength. The player position was grouped as goalkeeper (GK), central defender (CD), lateral defender (LD), midfielder (MF), and forward (FW). Concentric knee extension and flexion muscle strength measurements were conducted using a standardized test protocol with an angular velocity of 60º/sec. There were no differences in peak torque of knee extension and flexion between player positions in both the dominant leg (DL) and the nondominant leg (NDL). The H:Q ratio shows significant differences (p=0.0379) in the dominant leg between CD vs. MF (GK: 63.1±11.1; CD: 55.6±4.6; LD: 62.5±9.6; MF: 64.8±12.0; FW: 61.1±10.9). Our results can be used for practitioners working with female professional soccer players to assess and monitor strength according to player position to improve performance. Future studies should confirm whether these values can be used as risk factors, complementing other functional metrics ( e.g ., eccentric force) and different angular velocities.
Assimilation of Gridded GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Estimates in the North American Land Data Assimilation System

AbstractThe objective of the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) is to provide best-available estimates of near-surface meteorological conditions and soil hydrological status for the continental United States. To support the ongoing efforts to develop data assimilation (DA) capabilities for NLDAS, the results of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) DA implemented in a manner consistent with NLDAS development are presented. Following previous work, GRACE terrestrial water storage (TWS) anomaly estimates are assimilated into the NASA Catchment land surface model using an ensemble smoother. In contrast to many earlier GRACE DA studies, a gridded GRACE TWS product is assimilated, spatially distributed GRACE error estimates are accounted for, and the impact that GRACE scaling factors have on assimilation is evaluated. Comparisons with quality-controlled in situ observations indicate that GRACE DA has a positive impact on the simulation of unconfined groundwater variability across th.
Recent multivariate changes in the North Atlantic Climate System, with a focus on 2005-2016: Observed changes in the North Atlantic Climate System 2005-2016

Robson, J., Sutton, R. T. , Archibald, A. , Cooper, F. , Christensen, M. , Gray, L. J., Holliday, N. P., Macintosh, C. , McMillan, M. , Moat, B. , Russo, M. , Tilling, R. , Carslaw, K. , Desbruy res, D. , Embury, O. , Feltham, D. L. , Grosvenor, D. P., Josey, S. , King, B. , Lewis, A. , McCarthy, G. D. , Merchant, C. , New, A. L. , O'Reilly, C. H. , Osprey, S. M. , Read, K. , Scaife, A. , Shepherd, A. , Sinha, B. , Smeed, D. , Smith, D. , Ridout, A. , Woollings, T. and Yang, M. (2018) Recent multivariate changes in the North Atlantic climate system, with a focus on 2005-2016. International Journal of Climatology, 38 (12). pp. 5050-5076. ISSN 0899-8418 doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.5815 Available at http://centaur.reading. ac.uk/78967/
Equilibrium Effects of Pay Transparency in a Simple Labor Market∗

The public discourse around pay transparency has focused on the direct effect: how workers seek to rectify newly disclosed pay inequities through renegotiations. The question of how wage-setting, bargaining, and hiring practices change with higher transparency has received less attention. To study these outcomes, we combine a dynamic wage-bargaining model with data from online labor markets for low-skill, temporary jobs. We exploit naturally occurring variation in pay transparency as well as experimentally-induced variation. Wages are more equal, but lower under transparency. An increase in transparency raises the hiring rate when workers have sufficient bargaining power. Employer profits rise with transparency, increasing 27% in a field experiment. A key insight is that increasing transparency decreases the bargaining power of workers, as employers credibly refuse to pay high wages to any one worker to avoid costly renegotiations with others. We discuss implications for the gender wage gap and employers’ endogenous transparency choices.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Diabetic Retinopathy among Adult Diabetes Patients in Southeast Ethiopia: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most prevalent microvascular consequence of diabetes mellitus, and it can result in blindness that is irreversible. Due to delayed diagnosis and limited access to diabetic care, the situation is even worse in developing countries. Scientific evidence on the prevalence of DR and its associated factors among diabetes patients in low-income countries, such as Ethiopia, is limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of DR and associated factors among adult diabetes patients in southeast Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among diabetes patients who visited Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital. Fundus and slit-lamp examination were performed for screening of DR. Multivariate binary logistic regression was computed to identify factors associated with DR. Results: A total of 256 patients (144 men, 56.2%) aged 50.15±15.71 years were included in the study. The prevalence of any DR was 19.9% (95% CI 15.4%–25.3%), mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) 10.9% (95% CI 7.6%–15.4%), moderate NPDR 5.9% (95% CI 3.5%–9.5%), severe NPDR 0.9% (95% CI 0.2%–3.9%), and proliferative DR 2.3% (95% CI 1.0%–5.1%). Duration of diabetes ≥10 years (AOR 10.22, 95% CI 1.70–61.44), central obesity (AOR 5.42, 95% CI 1.38–21.19), overweight/obese (AOR 2.65, 95% CI 1.02–6.92), lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (AOR 5.82, 95% CI 1.86–18.24), moderate triglyceride:HDL cholesterol ratio (AOR 4.13, 95% CI 1.13–15.15), and urban dwelling (AOR 2.84, 95% CI 1.04–7.78) were significantly associated with DR. Conclusion: One in every five DM patients had DR. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and blood lipids were independently associated with DR. To reduce the burden of diabetes, strategies that focus on lifestyle modifications targeted at identified modifiable risk factors are essential.
of transpedicular screw fixation with unstable thoracolumber spine injury

… Objective: to evaluate the role of transpedicular screw fixation of recovery. Study Design: Quasi experimental trial. Place and duration: Study was conducted in the department of orthopedic and spinal surgery in Nishter Hospital Multan. Study was Methodology: Study was initiated after permission from hospital academic affairs committee and written informed consent was obtained from patients. Sixty patients presented at orthopedic outpatient department with history of one week of unstable thoraco lumbar spine injury. Main variables were age, duration of surgery, duration of injury, control of pain, CSF leakage, nerv rout damage and wound infection. Results: Statistically significant between preoperative and postoperative, after one moth and after three months with regards to Frankel classification of neurological injury . Similarly,the difference was statistically significant between preoperative and postoperative, after one moth and after three months with regards to Denis pain scale at follow-up. Conclusion: Thoracolumbar junction injuries are common in young adults and Transpedicular screw fixation is useful choice for good pain control and achieving better neurological recovery in traumatic thoracolumbar fractures .