Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a Prognostic Model for Stump Healing in Major Lower Limb Amputation among the Diabetic Population

Background: This study aimed to explore the effect of haematological markers as well as patient characteristics on stump healing in patients who underwent a lower limb amputation procedure. In addition, a practical model regarding factors that affected stump healing was developed. Methods: Patients who underwent a major lower limb amputation (above knee and below knee) at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh from the period of 2007 to 2010 were included in this study. A prognostic model utilizing backward stepwise logistical regression was developed to measure the probability of lower limb stump healing. The relationship between the dependent and independent variables was identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Three variables, namely serum sodium, serum creatinine and serum high density lipid cholesterol were identified which influenced stump healing. Patients with normal serum sodium were 75% more likely to have lower limb stump healing compared to that of patients with abnormal serum sodium (odds ratio [OR] 1.756; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.048–2.942). Patients with normal serum creatinine were 66% more likely to have their stump healed (OR 1.664; 95% CI 0.94 to 2.946). The healing rate of patients with a normal level of serum high density lipid cholesterol was 75%, in contrast to patients with an aberrant level of serum high density lipids cholesterol (OR 1.753; 95% CI 1.061 to 2.895). The effectiveness of the retrospective stump-healing model was demonstrated by the area under the ROC curve (0.612), which was supported by the Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test (p = 0.879). Conclusions: Serum sodium, serum high density lipid cholesterol and serum creatinine have a strong correlation with lower limb stump healing. However, serum sodium and serum high density lipid cholesterol secondary to multiple co-morbidities in this cohort group could be altered secondary to disease pathology itself.
Retracted: Control of Multiple Detachments on Structural Development in the Southern Junggar Fold‐and‐Thrust Belt, Northern Tian Shan: Implications for Seismic Hazard Assessment

As large earthquakes in contractional fold‐and‐thrust belts are usually associated with complex ruptures along multiple faults or fault splays, the evaluation of potential rupture extent and relevant hazards continues to be challenging. We present a case study on the geometry and kinematic evolution of the southern Junggar fold‐and‐thrust belt, northern Tian Shan, where the 1906 M 8 Manas earthquake occurred. Our interpretations of seismic reflection profiles acquired during oil and gas exploration demonstrate that multiple detachments played significant roles in controlling the structural segmentation. We speculate that seismic potential in active fold‐and‐thrust belts can be under‐estimated by relying on the mapped surface fault traces. Structural analysis of subsurface images in sufficient detail may provide important insights into seismic hazard evaluation and hence complement traditional paleo‐seismic studies, particularly in densely populated regions such as the city of Urumqi.
Active and Passive Microwave Signatures of Diurnal Soil Freeze-Thaw Transitions on the Tibetan Plateau

Active and passive microwave characteristics of diurnal soil freeze-thaw transitions and their relationships are crucial for developing retrieval algorithms of the soil liquid water content ( <formula> <tex>$θ_{liq}$</tex> </formula> ) and freeze/thaw state, which, however, have been less explored. This study investigates these microwave characteristics and relationships via analysis of ground-based measurements of brightness temperature ( <formula> <tex>$T_{B}$</tex> </formula> ) and backscattering coefficients (σ⁰) in combination with simulations performed with the Tor Vergata discrete radiative transfer model. Both an L-band (1.4 GHz) radiometer ELBARA-III and a wide-band (1-10 GHz) scatterometer are installed in a seasonally frozen Tibetan meadow ecosystem to measure diurnal variations of TB and copolarized σ⁰ at both hh (σ <formula> <tex>$_{hh}$</tex> </formula> ⁰) and vv (σ <formula> <tex>$_{vv}$</tex> </formula> ⁰) polarizations. Analysis of measurements collected between December 2017 and March 2018 shows that 1) diurnal cycles are observed in both T <formula> <tex>$_{B}$</tex> </formula> and σ ⁰ due to the change in surface θliq caused by diurnal soil freeze-thaw transitions; 2) a negatively linear relationship is found between e and σ⁰ regardless of frequency, polarization combinations, and observation angles; 3) slopes (β ) of linearly fit equations between eH and σ <formula> <tex>$_{hh}$</tex> </formula> ⁰ decrease with increasing observation angles of ELBARA-III, while the ones between eV and σ <formula> <tex>$_{vv}$</tex> </formula> ⁰ increase with increasing observation angles; and 4) correlations between e and σ⁰ increase with decreasing microwave frequency of σ⁰ measurements and ELBARA-III observation angles, and magnitudes of diurnal σ⁰ cycles also increase with decreasing microwave frequency. Moreover, the calibrated Tor Vergata model shows capability to reproduce both diurnal e and σ⁰ variations as well as to quantify their relationships at different frequencies and observation angles.
Blaming me, blaming you! The pendulum of blame in payday lending

Following a negative service experience, existing studies assert that consumers attribute blame either internally (self-blame) or externally (other-blame) with little indication that the attribution ever changes. This study explores blame to discover whether there are changes in attribution, specifically whether it may shift from self to other. Analysing qualitative data from borrowers in the payday lending market using I-/They-poems, this study finds firstly that blame oscillates between self and other and, secondly, that payday borrowers practice counterfactual thinking to alleviate negative emotions, which in turn prompts this blame oscillation. In revealing that blame attribution can act as a pendulum oscillating between self and other, this study makes a critical advance to existing blame research. The study also supports previous studies in I-/They-poems in uncovering novel insights into consumer theory. Evidence also emerges that the neoliberal view of the ‘empowered consumer’ interacts with the more traditional, organisation-oriented perspective, as from a consumer behaviour perspective, the attempts to improve psychological well-being and the oscillation of blame contribute to shifts in the perceived power in the loan market.
Functional Gait of Patients with Stroke after Strength Training: A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials

Background: Stroke is a major health challenge that impacts on the independence, quality of life, productivity and participation in social and economic lives of patients with stroke. Objective: To determine the effects of strength training on functional gait of stroke patients compared to conventional therapy Methods: Eleven databases (PubMed, Science Direct, MEDLINE, PEDRO, Cochrane, EBSCO Host, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Embase, Google Scholar and ERIC) were searched to identify eligible studies. All randomised controlled trials published between 2010 and 2020 were included and reviewed by two independent reviewers. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist for RCTs was used to assess and appraise the studies. Main Results: This review analysed 16 studies involving 946 patients with stroke that reported on aerobic exercises, task-oriented circuit training, treadmill gait training, high and medium intensity interval training, dynamic resistance training, progressive resistance training, stationary cycling, concentric isokinetic strengthening, functional strength training, resistance exercise strengthening, and isokinetic strengthening. The interventions revealed a statistical significance on walking speed, gait parameters, mobility, muscle strength, quality of life, functional parameters and balance of subjects from the strength training groups. The mean changes in gait speed, walking distance and mobility increased in the experimental (strength training) than the control (conventional) group (p = 0.003, p=.038; SD 0.25/0.33, p < .0001). Comparing walking speed at pre- and post-intervention, stride length increased (48.00 5.63: 53.00 5.38) with a p-value of p< 0.05. However, no statistical significance was recorded between the paretic and non-paretic limb during swing phase (paretic p = 0.0089; non-paretic p = 0.074). Strength training significantly improved all knee strength and ankle parameters, and gait velocity (p<0.01, p<0.05). Conclusion: Strength training appears to be an effective intervention improving functional gait of stroke patients compared to conventional therapy. Key words: Stroke patient, Functional gait, Strength training.
Revisiting multi‐stage models for upstream technology adoption: Evidence from rapid generation advance in rice breeding

Abstract Adoption of new plant varieties has played a significant role in eradicating global hunger. Previous research has mainly focused on farmer adoption and impact of new crop varieties, although upstream adoption of technologies in plant breeding can generate substantial multiplier effects on downstream impacts. This study moves upstream in the innovation system to generate policy advice on adoption and transfer of accelerated rice breeding technologies. More specifically, we assess the determinants of global adoption of rapid generation advance (RGA) through a sample of 158 rice breeders operating in various research institutes worldwide. Moving upstream in the innovation system has important theoretical and empirical implications due to the smaller number of decision‐making units in the adoption process and the increasing role of institutional and managerial factors that may overrule individual adoption motivations. We revisit multi‐stage models and devise the most robust estimation method that can be used in this situation. To generate insights on the impact of individual versus institutional adopter characteristics on upstream technology adoption, we juxtapose the response curves of the determinants of RGA adoption in rice breeding among alternative adoption stages, levels of conditionality and model specifications. Our findings confirm the importance of institutional and managerial factors and suggest that adoption and transfer of breeding technologies require breeding institutes to provide an enabling environment in which breeders are encouraged to take risks and are given sufficient freedom to experiment with and implement new technologies.
Monitoring intensity, investment inefficiency and institutional shareholders: Evidence from JSE listed companies in South Africa

This study investigates how variation in monitoring intensity affects the efficiency of firms’ investment decisions in an emerging market in South Africa. The study hypothesis argues that the distraction of institutional shareholders has a statistically significant positive effect on corporate investment inefficiency. Using a more robust Generalized Method of Moments (Sys GMM) estimation approach to analyze data collected for firms listed at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) for the period 2004–2019, the results showed that the distraction of institutional shareholders has a positive and statistically significant impact on investment inefficiency. That is, when the attention of institutional shareholders is shifted, the intensity of their monitoring drops, and the executive is involved in investment decisions that are not profitable. This insight has an implication for stakeholders and the value-creating corporate governance mechanism. The study concludes that institutional shareholders must always sustain their monitoring intensity to ensure that corporate decisions are consistent with the firm’s value.
Political Connections, Family Ownership, and Firm Performance: An Emerging Economy

Abstract Emerging economies are characterised by a high proportion of family-owned businesses, significant political corruption, and a weak legal system which creates a more favourable environment for politically-connected family firms. Hence, we investigate the effect of political connections on firm performance in family and non-family-owned firms through advanced panel estimation techniques. Our result is based on a sample of publicly listed 150 non-financial firms from Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) over the period 2013–2018. We demonstrate that politically connected family-owned firms perform better than non-family owned connected firms. These findings have important policy implications for countries such as Pakistan which have experienced recent increases in the number of family-owned firms.
Role of pregaming motives in accounting for links between maladaptive personality traits and drinking consequences.

College students are at heightened risk of engaging in unhealthy alcohol use that leads to negative consequences (e.g., motor vehicle accidents, poor academic performance). Understanding how individual differences, such as maladaptive personality traits, contribute to that risk could improve intervention efforts. A potential pathway through which personality confers risk for consequences is by influencing students' motivation to drink. In this study of 441 college students, we investigated whether different motivations to pregame, a particularly risky and common drinking practice on college campuses, accounts for links between maladaptive traits and alcohol-related consequences. Results of bivariate analyses showed that all pregaming motives and maladaptive traits (except detachment) were strongly correlated with negative consequences. In path analytic models that adjusted for shared variance between pregaming motives and between maladaptive traits, results showed that traits had indirect effects on total drinking consequences via individual differences in pregaming motives as well as direct effects that were independent of motives. Specifically, antagonism, disinhibition, and negative affectivity predicted more drinking consequences via stronger motives to pregame for instrumental reasons over and above the general motivation to pregame, whereas detachment predicted fewer consequences via weaker instrumental pregaming motives. Antagonism and disinhibition were also associated with more drinking consequences, and detachment with fewer consequences, over and above pregaming motives and general personality problems. Our study indicates that one way maladaptive personality traits may shape alcohol-related consequences in college students is by associations with their motivations to pregame. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Assessment of water availability in the period of 100 years at the head of the São Francisco river basin, based on climate change scenarios

In the last century, changes in climate trends have been observed around the planet, which have resulted in alterations in the hydrological cycle. Studies that take into account the impact of climate change on water availability are of great importance, especially in Brazil’s case, where water from rivers, beyond being destined for human consumption, animal watering and economic activities, has a great participation in electricity generation. This fact makes its energy matrix vulnerable to variations in the climate system. In this study, a flow analysis for the head of the São Francisco river basin was performed between 2010 and 2100, considering the precipitation data of the CCSM4 climate model presented in the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Projections of future flow were performed for the scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, based on the SMAP rain-flow model, followed by a comparative analysis with the present climate. In general, we can observe that the decades of 2010 to 2100 will be marked by the high levels of precipitation, interspersed by long droughts, in which the recorded flow will be lower than the Long Term Average (LTA) calculated for the basin. Therefore, new management strategies must be considered to maintain the multiple uses of the basin.
Sentiments in the housing market and the effectiveness of government interventions

ABSTRACT This paper examines the factors that drive the recent growth of house prices in Malaysia. By constructing a housing market sentiment index, we find contemporaneous sentiment to have a strong influence on future housing market returns especially in the short term. Government-introduced cooling measures were ineffective in dampening prices and market sentiment. We also find property developer behaviour to drive sentiments and prices. The study contributes to literature by providing an easily generalizable method of constructing a housing market sentiment index in other countries besides giving clear indication of the drivers of house prices and sentiment for more effective government intervention.
Sibling Social Comparison in Mid- to Later Life: Links with Well-Being and Relationship Quality

Social comparison processes between siblings play an important role in the ways siblings influence one another at younger ages, but to our knowledge, no studies have examined social comparison processes between siblings in mid- to later life. The current study examined (1) factors associated with the propensity for social comparisons with a sibling and (2) how social comparison is linked to well-being and sibling relationship quality. Data came from 491 adults from across the United States (M age = 58.96, SD = 6.25; 68% female). Results indicated that adults who are the same sex as their sibling are more likely to engage in social comparison with their sibling. Additionally, an inclination for social comparison with a sibling was linked to more depressive symptoms, more sibling conflict, and greater sibling closeness. Overall, comparison with a sibling in adulthood may be linked to both positive and negative outcomes.
First report of the mussel Mytella strigata (Hanley, 1843) in the Venezuelan Caribbean from an invasion in a shrimp farm

Individuals of mussels were collected in ponds from a commercial shrimp farm in the Unare region, Anzoátegui State, Venezuela. Identification was carried out using dichotomous keys and corroborated via analysis of similarities between the sequences of partial mitochondrial DNA of the cytochrome oxidase gene and Mytella strigata (Hanley, 1843) reported in GenBank with 99-100% similarity. Morphological analyses further supported the identification of the specimen. The first report of M. strigata in the Venezuelan Caribbean coast suggests that it could be a transplanted species. Possible negative effects of M. strigata on commercial shrimp production systems are discussed.
Three-Dimensional Imaging of Displaced Intra-articular Calcaneal Fractures Correlates With the Perioperative Diagnosis

Background: Intra-articular calcaneal fractures are complex injuries, and CT imaging has become the standard imaging in the preoperative assessment. Most classifications of these fractures are CT-based but have been associated with limited interobserver agreement. Three-dimensional imaging has become widely available and may give a better perspective but often with 1 image only. There is not much evidence of the added value of this imaging, compared with the CT imaging. Methods: Eight experienced trauma surgeons assessed 28 different intra-articular calcaneal fractures, on conventional radiology (CR), CT, and 3-D imaging. All had extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of this difficult injury. The main questions concerned Sanders classification, the severity of the injury and the difficulty of the operative procedure, choice of approach, and choice of procedure. Results: The classical 2-D CT imaging of the fractures were associated with a higher Sanders classification ranking, compared with the 3-D imaging scores. However, the interobserver agreement, as measured by the Fleiss kappa, was low for all 3 imaging modalities. We found more frequent Sanders III and IV classifications with CT scan imaging compared with 3-D imaging or CR. The scores obtained after assessing 3-D imaging were also not statistically significantly different from the scores of a consensus achieved by 2 authors and based on the 3 imaging modalities and the perioperative diagnosis. Conclusion: The 3-D imaging may result in a more realistic view, reducing the frequency of classifying Sanders III fractures than with the 2-D CT imaging series. 3-D imaging may be more reliable than CT in the planning of operative treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Level of Evidence: Level III.
Appraising the community in community-based tourism

Abstract Community-based tourism (CBT) emphasises attributes such as sustainability, local participation, and the maximisation of benefits to the community. However, limited scholarly interventions and critical debates have been conducted regarding what constitutes a community in tourism destinations. In Taman Negara, Malaysia, residents of various ethnic groups have considerably different interpretations of community and boundaries therein. Malay, Malaysian Chinese, and Orang Asli Batek people have contradicting claims and perceptions regarding who is Indigenous, who is a local, and who is the rightful host community of Taman Negara. The perceptions of such boundaries can be highly political; consequently, certain groups feel threatened when they are seemingly peripheral to official designations. The fuzzy boundaries of what constitutes a community make governance and the assessment of CBT considerably challenging. A suggestion is to resist predefining a community and to instead consider its fluid boundaries and heterogeneity in CBT planning and research.
Detection of Hookworm (Necator Americanus) and Other Intestinal Parasitic Infection among Primary School Children in Sokoto Metropolis

Background: Hookworm is an intestinal parasite of human and is one of the major public health burdens in developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that about 3.5 billion people globally and 450 million people are thought to be ill as a result of such infections, the majority being children. Aims: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of Hookworm and other intestinal parasitic infection among primary school children Study Design: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in among patients attending Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Sokoto state, between March to November, 2017. Methodology: A total of 224 participants were enrolled for the study. Standard parasitological examination was carried out on stool samples using microscopy followed by formal ether concentration methods Results: Finding revealed, an overall prevalence of 4.5% out of 224 samples examined recorded for both Hookworm and other intestinal parasitic infection. There was high prevalence rate of Hookworm and other intestinal parasitic infection among males (5.3%) than females (3.6%). 29 (12%) were positive for intestinal parasitic infections. Males recorded higher prevalence than the females with 19 (11.9%) and 10 (11.8%) respectively Conclusion: The total low prevalence rate of Hookworm and other intestinal parasitic infection may be as a result of improved standard of living and awareness of the Hookworm and other intestinal parasites in the study area. The government, non-governmental agencies and private individuals should help in the provision of social amenities to ensure total eradication of these diseases. The teaching of health education in both private schools should be encouraged by the government which will go a long way in reducing prevalence and intensity of Hookworm infections among the study community.