Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality of life among cancer patients approaching healthcare facilities in United Arab Emirates

Background: The main aim of the study was to compare the quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients and healthy adults according to different domains. Methods: The study was conducted in Gulf medical university, Tawam hospital, Al Ain and Thumbay hospital, Ajman from March 2018 until January 2019. In addition, our study was a cross sectional study that included 250 cancer patients and 250 healthy adults. The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and a self-administered questionnaire were used. The research was conducted in Tawam hospital, Gulf medical university and Thumbay hospitals/clinics over a period of 9 months. SPSS version 24 was used for analysis. F test and t test were used to assess the difference between mean QOL levels in various groups. Results: The highest mean score for healthy subjects accounts for the social domain followed by physical, then psychological and the lowest is the environmental domain with values of (73.9, 70.7, 70.3 and 68.9 respectively). While the highest mean score of QOL for cancer patients was related to psychological domain followed by environmental, then social and lastly the lowest domain is associated with physical accounting for values of (66.6, 66.5, 66.2 and 60.6 accordingly). Over all the mean scores regarding all the domains of healthy adults with is higher than in cancer patients. Conclusions: Healthy adults had higher mean QOL score levels than cancer patients. Moreover, cancer patients have a 1.65-fold risk of having poor QOL. It has been concluded that the highest mean score for healthy subjects accounts for the social domain (73.9) followed by physical (70.7), then psychological (70.3) and the lowest is the environmental domain (68.9).
A review of the literature on gender and chemical fertiliser use in maize production in sub-Saharan Africa

Are there differences in men’s and women’s access to and use of fertiliser in sub-Saharan Africa? This article explores the issue through a systematic review of the extant literature on gender and fertiliser use in maize production. The findings show that indeed a gender gap in the use of fertiliser exists. More than a decade after the World Bank identified a gender gap in fertiliser use, there are no systematic national or global data sets comparing fertiliser use by gender. While farm input subsidies can improve women farmer’s access to fertiliser and have a positive effect on agricultural productivity for both men and women farmers, this approach has little effect on reducing the gender gap in agricultural productivity. The challenges associated with gender and fertiliser access and use are complex and there is no silver bullet intervention that can address the problem, particularly in relation to intra-household dynamics and social norms. Thus solving the noted problem, will require a holistic approach rather than “simple” sectoral interventions. Over time, suboptimal fertiliser use depletes soils. Nutrient use efficiencies worsen under soil nutrient mining and degradation, thus economic incentives for fertiliser investments are also eroded in such situations, resulting in a vicious cycle. The development of nutrient use efficient maize seed technologies could be an intermediate step towards closing the gender gap in fertiliser use.
The Role of Cultural Differences in Customer Retention: Evidence from the High-Contact Service Industry

Current tourism landscape and dynamism of the business environment have increased market competitiveness in the high-contact service industry. Hotel operators must now pay greater heed to customer retention by exploring ways to improve customer engagement and experience. Toward this end, this study aimed to examine the interplays between relationship marketing, perceived service quality, corporate image, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty, as well as the moderating effect of cultural difference between Asian and Western tourists. Using a questionnaire, data were collected from 400 international tourists and analyzed with the structural equation modeling technique. While the direct relationships pertaining the variables of interest were found to be significant, Asian tourists appeared to hold stricter standards in employee–customer interactions and satisfaction-based loyalty than Western tourists. Discussion and implications are provided to promote the development of fruitful hotel–customer relationships in this industry with a heightened customer orientation.
Double-core helical auxetic yarn: a Novel structure, geometrical modeling and experimental verification

Abstract In this work, a new structure for designing auxetic yarn and its geometrical analysis is presented. The proposed structure is referred to as a double-core helical auxetic yarn (DC-HAY). It consists of two core components of soft yarn with a larger diameter and one wrap component of stiff yarn with a smaller diameter. A primary geometrical model for predicting the Poisson’s ratio of the structure was presented through the deformation analysis of the DC-HAY during the tensile loading. Also, the primary proposed model was modified by considering the non-linear behavior of Poisson’s ratio of the core components. For the verification of the proposed models, some experiments were conducted based on the initial wrapping angle, as well as the diameter ratio and modulus ratio of components. The results showed that the proposed yarn structure exhibits an apparent auxetic outcome. Moreover, the modified model is capable of predicting the maximum negative Poisson’s ratio of the DC-HAY with a desirable error. Furthermore, it was found that the higher modulus ratio of components, higher diameter ratio of components and the lower initial wrapping angle will result in a higher maximum NPR, which were −8.23, −8.16 through the main lateral directions of samples.
The Hubungan Infeksi Saluran Pernafasan Akut dengan Kejadian Stunting

Pendahuluan; stunting merupakan masalah gizi karena dapat meningkatkan morbiditas dan mortalitas, penurunan kognitif, motorik, perkembangan bahasa, kemampuan belajar, dan kapasitas kerja. Tujuan: mengetahui hubungan antara ISPA dengan kejadian stunting. Metode: menggunakan literatur dengan mencari kata kunci stunting, infeksi saluran pernafasan akut, dan infeksi saluran pernafasan akut di Google Scholar and Pubmed. Pencarian pustaka baik dari jurnal nasional maupun internasional kemudian merangkum topik diskusi dan membandingkan hasil yang disajikan dalam artikel. Hasil; Infeksi meningkatkan kebutuhan energi untuk memimpin kekebalan dan perbaikan sel. Asupan energi yang kurang karena nafsu makan menurun dan malabsorpsi memperburuk kondisi ini. Ketidakseimbangan antara permintaan dan pendapatan menyebabkan anak jatuh dalam kondisi kerdil. Kesimpulan: ada hubungan antara infeksi saluran pernafasan akut dengan kejadian stunting
Effect of Mouth Mask and Face Shield on Speech Spectrum in Slovak Language

In this paper, with the aim of assessing the deterioration of speech intelligibility caused by a speaker wearing a mask, different face masks (surgical masks, FFP2 mask, homemade textile-based protection and two kinds of plastic shields) are compared in terms of their acoustic filtering effect, measured by placing the mask on an artificial head/mouth simulator. For investigating the additional effects on the speaker’s vocal output, speech was also recorded while people were reading a text when wearing a mask, and without a mask. In order to discriminate between effects of acoustic filtering by the mask and mask-induced effects of vocal output changes, the latter was monitored by measuring vibrations at the suprasternal notch, using an attached accelerometer. It was found that when wearing a mask, people tend to slightly increase their voice level, while when wearing plastic face shield, they reduce their vocal power. Unlike the Lombard effect, no significant change was found in the spectral content. All face mask and face shields attenuate frequencies above 1–2 kHz. In addition, plastic shields also increase frequency components to around 800 Hz, due to resonances occurring between the face and the shield. Finally, special attention was given to the Slavic languages, in particular Slovak, which contain a large variety of sibilants. Male and female speech, as well as texts with and without sibilants, was compared.
Relationship Between Psychodemograhic Factors And Perceived Stigmatization Among People Living With Hiv/Aids In Ibadan, Nigeria

The issue of perceived stigmatization among PLWHAs remains a major hindrance in the prevention and post-exposure control of HIV/AIDS. The relationship between HIV/AIDS cognition (HAC), HIV self- disclosure (HSD) and perceived stigmatization (PS) was investigated. The influence of age and gender on PS was also examined. PLWHA (N=421) in Ibadan, Nigeria were purposively selected to participate in the cross- sectional study, using a 70-item structured self report questionnaire. A positive relationship of HAC (r=.10, df =421, P<.05) and HSD (r=.60, df =421, P<.05) with PS was observed. A 2x2x2x2 factorial analysis showed that young females with poor HAC, but high on HSD (n=38, =106.57, SD=4.8) were most likely to experience Perceived stigmatization. HAC and HSD jointly predicted PS (R 2 =.36; F (2,418) =120.29; P<. 05). Female PLWHA experience PS more than males (t (419) =-4.40; P <. 05). Age had no significant influence on PS. This establishes that a relationship exist between HAC, HSD, and PS. Policies and actions should therefore focus on these issues in HIV prevention, care and support.
Western pond turtles in the Mojave Desert? A review of their past, present, and possible future

The western pond turtle (WPT) was formerly considered a single species (Actinemys or Emys marmorata) that ranged from southern British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, México. More recently it was divided into a northern and a southern species. WPTs are found primarily in streams that drain into the Pacific Ocean, although scattered populations exist in endorheic drainages of the Great Basin and Mojave deserts. Populations in the Mojave Desert were long thought to be restricted to the Mojave River, but recently another population was documented in Piute Ponds, a terminal wetland complex associated with Amargosa Creek on Edwards Air Force Base. WPT fossils in the Mojave Desert are known from the Miocene to the Pleistocene. Recently, Pleistocene fossils have been found as far into the desert as Salt Springs, just south of Death Valley. The oldest fossil records suggest that WPTs were present in wetlands and drainages of the geological feature known as the Mojave block prior to the uplift of the Sierra Nevada Range about 8 Ma and prior to the ~ 3 Ma uplift of the Transverse Ranges. Archaeological records document use of turtles by Native Americans for food and cultural purposes 1,000 or more years ago at the Cronese Lakes on the lower Mojave River and Oro Grande on the upper river. The first modern publication documenting their presence in the Mojave River was 1861. Museum specimens were collected as early as 1937. These fossil and early literature records support the indigenous status of WPTs to the Mojave River. However, mtDNA-based genetic evidence shows that Mojave River turtles share an identical haplotype with turtles on the California coast. Limited nuclear data show some minor differences. Overdraft of water from the Mojave River for municipal and agricultural uses, urban development, and saltcedar expansion are threats to the continued survival of WPTs in the Mojave River.
Effects of different tillage systems on soil properties, and yield and yield components of barley

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to assess the influence of tillage systems on soil characteristics as well as barely yield. The two-year experiment with the tillage systems (NT, no-tillage; MT, minimum-tillage; and CT, conventional-tillage) and barley cultivars was done. Vetch was pre-planting in the rotation with barley. About 30% of vetch residue remained in the NT and MT systems, but in CT, these residues were buried by moldboard. Results showed that NT was superior to MT and CT in terms of the soil properties, earthworm number and earthworm body mass. Remains of vetch, as a pre-planted crop, were effective in increasing these indicators. Also, the improvement of these indicators made the no-tillage superior to the MT and CT in terms of geometric mean diameter, mean weight diameter and soil moisture content. In contrast, soil porosity was higher in CT system. In conclusion, soil structure improved during the two years of the experiment when MT or NT was used, while CT was not effective in improving the soil structure. Grain yield (5973 kg ha−1) and NFS (5163) were higher in NT than MT and CT, suggesting that the change in soil structure has provided a better environment for the yield.
Predictors of hepatatis B prevention and awareness among barbers in Gwer West Local Government area, Benue state, Nigeria

Background: The rapid increase in the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection is an important public health issue worldwide. Millions of the general population is at an increased risk of being infected but they lack the awareness and preventive measures against this infection. This study was carried out among barbers in Naka, Gwer West Local Government area of Benue state, to determine the predictors of awareness and preventive measures against hepatitis B. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study involving all barbers in Naka were carried out. Structured interviewer administered questionnaires were used in collecting data from the respondents. Data were analyzed using statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23.0. Adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were used as point and interval estimates on the logistic model while a p value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The total number of respondents in this study was 57. The mean age of the respondents was 25.9±2.10. Majority (92.2%) of the respondents had heard of hepatitis B, 48.9% were able to identify the cause of the disease as virus. Majority of the respondents (78.7%) identified vaccination as a preventive measure against hepatitis B. On vaccination, more than half (51.1%) had been vaccinated against hepatitis B. Vaccination and information significantly affect prevention and awareness p=0.015 and 0.001 respectively. Conclusions: Awareness of hepatitis B was high in this study but awareness about causes and clinical presentations were low. There is need for proper health education programmes to improve their knowledge about hepatitis B and its prevention.
Precise measurement of stable potassium isotope ratios using a single focusing collision cell multi-collector ICP-MS

High precision potassium isotope ratio measurements were made using a collision-cell equipped single focusing Multi-Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS). Interferences on 41K from 40ArH+ were largely suppressed through collision with He gas atoms, and reaction with H2 or D2 gas molecules in the collision cell under optimum collision gas flow conditions. Using H2 or D2 as the collision gas, we distinguish charged argon–deuterium molecules (ArD+) generated in the collision cell from argon hydride (ArH+) generated in the plasma or in the interface region (referred to as “plasma-related AH+” hereafter), and demonstrate, for the first time, that both plasma-related and collision cell-generated ArH+ are important sources of ArH+ that interfere with 41K+ in collision-cell ICP-MS instruments that use H2 as a collision gas. The use of D2 instead of H2 as a reactive gas in the collision cell resulted in better overall performance in K isotope ratio measurements. By combining these mass spectrometry methods with chemical purification of K by ion exchange chromatography, we achieved an internal precision of <±0.07‰ (2 standard error) and an external reproducibility of <±0.21‰ (2 standard deviation, or 95% confidence) in the 41K/39K ratio measurement for geological and biological samples. With the improved precision, it is possible to distinguish a ∼1.3‰ variation in K isotope compositions (41K/39K ratios) among seawater, igneous rocks, and biological samples. The K isotope system is likely to be beneficial in providing a better understanding of potassium cycling during continental weathering and the uptake of nutrients by plants.
Solvent Extraction of Bitumen from Jordan Oil Shale Assisted by Low Frequency Ultrasound

In this work, the efficiency of 20 kHz frequency ultrasounds versus the classical stirring procedure was investigated on the solvent extraction of Jordanian El-Lajjun oil shale by employing a horn type sonicator. The influence of sonication parameters (sonication time and ultrasonic power) and extraction parameters (extraction solvent and oil shale particle size) on the solubilization of organic matter (bitumen) from oil shale are reported here. The influence of seven individual solvents, namely: tetrahydrofuran, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, kerosene, toluene, acetone and a mixture of methanol-acetone-chloroform on the fraction extracted was investigated and it was found that the fraction extracted was 90% after only ten minutes of sonication at 33 W when tetrahydrofuran was used as extraction solvent. It was found that the fraction extracted percentage is strongly influenced by the solvent extraction, ultrasonic power and exposure time and less influenced by the particle size. Under the current experimental conditions and using the tetrahydrofuran as extraction solvent, the extraction time was decreased by four folds while the fraction extracted percentage (E%) was increased by three times.
Moderating influences on the entrepreneurial orientation-business performance relationship in SMEs

Calls for more in-depth research on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and business performance have been dominant. Thus, this research explores whether the relationship between EO and the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) is conditioned (or affected) by some moderating factors. A framework is proposed which considers how networks, environmental conditions, entrepreneur’s experience, and entrepreneur’s level of education can moderate this relationship. From a sample of 204 SMEs, our study shows that not all factors, internal and external to the EO, have the same effect. Although the entrepreneur’s experience (as an internal factor) and the nature of the environment (external factor) have not been shown to influence the relationship between the EO and the performance of the SMEs, we found that both education and networks positively impact the EO and performance relationship.
Formation of a vanillic Mannich base — theoretical study

One-pot anti-Mannich reaction of vanillin, aniline and cyclohexanone was successfully catalyzed by ionic liquid triethanolammonium chloroacetate, at room temperature. Yield of the obtained Mannich base was very good and excellent diastereoselectivity was achieved. Mechanism of the reaction was investigated using the density functional theory. The reaction started with a nucleophilic attack of aniline nitrogen at the carbonyl group of vanillin. The intermediate α-amino alcohol formed in this way was further subjected to protonation by the triethanolammonium ion yielding the imminium ion. Theoretically, the obtained imminium ion and the enol form of cyclohexanone can build the protonated Mannich base via the anti and syn pathways. The chloroacetic anion spontaneously abstracts the proton yielding the final product of the reaction anti 2-[1-(N-phenylamino)-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)]methylcyclohexanone (MB-H). The syn pathway requires lower activation energy but the anti pathway yields a thermodynamically more stable product, which implies that the examined Mannich reaction is thermodynamically controlled.
Abusive Supervision and Career Adaptability: The Role of Self-Efficacy and Coworker Support

ABSTRACT Recent literature on abusive supervision has suggested its negative impact on a number of work outcomes. However, we still have little knowledge about the impact of destructive leadership on employee career outcomes. Drawing on social cognitive theory (SCT), we propose that abusive supervision challenges employee career adaptability by damaging career self-efficacy beliefs in the workplace. Three-wave data collected from 287 employees working in different organizations situated in China has shown that abusive supervision is negatively related to employee career adaptability through career self-efficacy. Moreover, coworker support was found to buffer the association between abusive supervision and career adaptability such that the relationships are weaker at higher levels of coworker support. Implications for researchers and practitioners and research directions for the future are discussed.
Cyber Risks in Microfinance Digitization: Exposures and Preventions among Female Headed Farm Households in Southern Nigeria

Digital finance is widely regarded as one of the most effective means of financially empowering women and increasing their financial inclusion. On the other hand, cybercriminals are constantly looking for new ways to exploit vulnerabilities and developing ever more sophisticated attack methods. As a result, the cyber risk exposures and prevention of female heads of farm households in Southern Nigeria were investigated in this paper. Unsuccessful transactions by mobile applications and POINT OF SALES (POS) terminals were often encountered by female heads, and yet their money was debited, and it took a long time for their money that was debited from unsuccessful transactions to be reversed. Avoiding lonely ATMs and not going to the ATM during late hours, ignoring emails and text messages instructing them to provide online banking details, no longer using birthdates, addresses, and other words or numbers that would make it easier for attackers to figure out their passwords, and not using the same passwords for all their different accounts were the most common cybersecurity measures used by female heads. Access to digital financial products and services was influenced by factors such as marital status, household size, business experience, internet access, possession of an ICT device, and perceived security risks. These findings call for interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through policies that will improve consumer education and reduce vulnerabilities, especially among women. The CBN should also develop a forum that is easily accessible to customers for filing complaints, and erring banks should be sanctioned.
Evaluating the Service Quality of Mobile Health Versus Clinic Based Intervention in Hearing Healthcare. A Comparative Study

Hearing Healthcare is in midst of a paradigm shift and the use of mobile health technologies plays therefore a major role. Through the Bluetooth connectivity between the hearing aids and the smartphone with an accompanying app, the HCP can remotely access hearing aid settings during an online video session. In this study, 30 subjects were divided into a tele-audiology intervention and a clinic-based control group and followed up after an initial fitting for four weeks. At the beginning, structured interviews were used to determine the expectations on the service quality of a Hearing Aid Company, and these were compared with the actual perceived performances at the end of the study using the SERVQUAL model. Various advantages and disadvantages of both forms of intervention were identified. It could be concluded that a combination of both variants ensures the greatest possible perception of service quality.