Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing Voluntary Blood Donation in General Population of Islamabad, Pakistan

Background: Most countries specially the developing ones are facing acute shortage of voluntary blood donors. A variety of factors seem to influence the behavior of people towards unpaid voluntary blood donation. The objectives of the study were to compare the sociodemographic factors between donors and non donors, to identify the factors behind motivation to donate blood and to determine the misconception associated with blood donation. Methodology: This was a cross sectional survey conducted on general population of Islamabad selected through non probability quota sampling. Sample size was 384 calculated by Open Epi size calculator with 95% confidence interval. Data was collected by structured questionnaire both in English and Urdu and analyzed by SPSS version 23. Results: Out of 384 study participant 67.2% were male and 32.8% were female with mean age of 31.21 ± 11.56. Study results showed that 62.9% were non donors and out of donors majority gave and received blood either from family members or friends/relative. A significant difference was observed in history of blood donations for age (p=0.087), gender (p=0.0001), area of residence (p=0.0001), educational level (p=0.0001) and income of the family (p=0.0001). Motivational factors behind donation were to help family or friend (74.5%) and spiritual satisfaction (54.7%) Regarding misconceptions, 47.9% respondents had some unknown fear, 32.8% were never asked, 32.6% had family constraints and 32.3% feared weakness after donation. Conclusion: In our society the practice of unpaid blood donation is extremely poor. Various socio demographic factors influence the behavior of people towards voluntary donation. Identifying these factors which motivate a person to donate blood or create misconceptions is the need of today because of ever increasing demand of blood in blood banks. Policies should be developed to inspire and educate the non-donors to donate blood on regular basis.
Relationships between Tongue and Lip Movement and Physical Fitness among Independent Community-Dwelling Elderly in Japan

Aim: The present study aims to examine the association between tongue and lip movement and physical fitness with a sample of independent community-dwelling elderly. Methods: A total of 119 older adults living in a city of Japan participated in this study. Tongue and lip movement was evaluated with oral diadochokinesis (ODK) rate for the syllable “pa”, “ta”, and “ka” measured by counting syllable repetitions within one second. Physical fitness was objectively evaluated with the Timed-Up and Go Test (TUG) and the 30-Second Chair Stand Test (CS-30). Subjective physical fitness was also assessed with a Physical Component Summary score (PCS) of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Partial correlation coefficients between ODK rates and physical fitness measures were obtained after adjusting the effects of age and the number of present teeth. Results: There were significant differences in ODK rates for the syllable “ta” and “ka” between the participants aged 65 - 74 and 75 or older. Significant differences in all the physical fitness measures were also observed in the two age groups. Partial correlation analysis with age and number of present teeth as covariates yielded significant correlations of ODK rates to TUG and PCS, but not with CS-30. Conclusion: Older adults whose functional mobility declined tended to maintain the movement of tongue and lips. Moreover, those who perceived declining physical fitness also tended to show a decline of tongue and lip movement. Thus, the present study added some knowledge on the relationships between general physical fitness and tongue and lip movement. It also made several suggestions for future interventions based on the findings.
Exploring Entrepreneurs' Perceptions of Venture Capitalists' Added Value

Recent research on the marketing-entrepreneurship interface has highlighted the importance of understanding the relationships between various actors that enable entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurs often depend on VCs not just for funding, but also for their expertise in environmental scanning, innovation, and strategic direction. This study takes the perspective of entrepreneurs as consumers of the value offered by VC firms and uses a broad survey of entrepreneurs to understand the factors that could affect long term relationships between these actors. The results show that entrepreneurs select VCs primarily on their perceptions of the fairness of the contract, reputation, and startup valuation. We also find evidence that entrepreneurs are uniformly disappointed in their experiences with VCs when comparing their pre- and post-financing views. Our findings contain important implications for a creating a balanced macromarketing view of the VC-entrepreneur relationship and holds practical implications for venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and policy makers.
‘They Put a Few Coins in Your Hand to Drop a Baby in You’: A Study of Peacekeeper-fathered Children in Haiti

ABSTRACT Many peace support operations have faced allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by UN personnel against members of local communities. Some of these intimate relations result in children being born but there is little empirical data on the experiences of women and girls who conceive and bear these children. We analyse 265 self interpreted narratives from community members in Haiti about children fathered by UN personnel and born to local women or girls. The mixed methods results highlight three important themes: (a) poverty is a key underlying factor contributing to sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeeping personnel, (b) the repatriation of implicated peacekeepers often leaves the woman and child in exacerbated poverty, and (c) intimate relations with fair-skinned peacekeepers and having fair-skinned children are sometimes perceived as desirable. The data highlight that children fathered by MINUSTAH personnel are typically being raised in settings of extreme economic deprivation and are often denied access to education and other basic services that would enable them to break the cycle of poverty. While the overarching need identified in this analysis is financial, additional research with the children themselves in warranted to identify other needs and to inform policies and programmes intended to improve their well-being.
Indication and short term outcome of Mechanical Ventilation in Neonates in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Mechanical ventilation of newborn has been practiced for several years with advances in many ways. As compared to the western world, neonatal ventilation in our country started in recent years. Subjects, Methods and Results: A retrospective chart review was conducted to analyze the common indications and outcome of neonates requiring mechanical ventilation in neonatal intensive care unit at Ad-Din Medical College Hospital from January 2012 to July 2013. Fifty eight neonates were ventilated over a period of 19 months of whom 39 (67.24%) survived. Respiratory distress syndrome was the commonest indication for ventilation (32.75%), followed by Perinatal asphyxia (18.96%), Pneumonia (13.79%), Neonatal Sepsis (13.79%), Meconium aspiration syndrome 6(10.16%) & Pneumothorax 6 (10.16%). Among the babies who survived, 35(89.74%) were managed solely with conventional ventilator and 4 babies required both conventional and High Frequency Oscillatory (HFOV) ventilation. Survival rate was higher where birth weight >2500gm (76.19%) and gestational age 34-37 weeks (88.88%). Survival rates was (69.23%) in <30 weeks and 60% in <1000 g. Prolong ventilator support was needed for Respiratory Distress Syndrome without surfactant (mean 254 hrs), Perinatal asphyxia (mean 187hrs) and Neonatal sepsis (mean 187hrs). Common complications were Pneumonia (12.06%), Pneumothorax (10.34%), sepsis (8.6%) & Pulmonary hemorrhage (3.4%). Survival rate was higher in babies requiring mechanical ventilation for respiratory distress syndrome (84.21%). Conclusion: Use of surfactant could decrease the duration of ventilation and mortality further in babies with respiratory distress syndrome. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.16(1) 2017 p.24-28
The impact of the great recession on overeducated and undereducated workers

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the labor market impact of the Great Recession on overeducated and undereducated workers. In March 2008, the U.S. economy was near full employment with an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent. The next year, the unemployment rate peaked at 10.0 percent. The pace of the economic decline allows us to observe the workers’ education-occupation match before the downturn and examine its impact on them. We find workers categorized as undereducated prior to the Great Recession less likely to become unemployed or have their hours reduced one year later relative to their just educated and overeducated counterparts, ceteris paribus.
Improved Online Optimization-Based Optimal Tracking Control Method for Induction Motor Drives

An online optimization-based optimal tracking control method to control IM drives in the entire speed and torque ranges is proposed in this article. The main feature of the proposed method is considering the nonlinear core saturation effects in generating the optimal reference currents in MTPA, field-weakening, and maximum torque per voltage (MTPV) regions. Constrained optimization problems are formulated and solved using Lagrange multipliers method to derive improved nonlinear MTPA and MTPV optimality conditions. Unlike most of the existing loss minimization methods in the literature, using optimal reference point look-up tables is avoided in the proposed method. Moreover, the effects of stator resistive drops, dc-link voltage variations, and inverter nonlinear voltage drop, which are usually neglected in the literature, are considered in generating optimal reference currents. A new straightforward and well-structured optimal reference point calculation scheme is proposed by dividing the operating plane of IM into four regions. The optimal reference currents in each region are then generated by solving the corresponding optimization problem. The smooth operation and transition of the proposed control method between MTPA and field-weakening regions are verified using simulations. The effectiveness of the proposed method is experimentally validated on a 4.7-kW, 4-pole, three-phase induction motor drive.
Living a healthy life : an evaluation of a self-management for chronic conditions course, Arthritis New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Health Psychology) at Massey University

Chronic disease management is a major challenge for health care systems in the developed world. Self-management has the ability to help improve health status, health behaviours and reduce health care utilisation for people with chronic disease. In this exploratory before-after cohort study, questionnaires were distributed to people with chronic disease attending a self-management course offered by Arthritis New Zealand. Ninety-four people at baseline, and at six months, 67 people, completed eight health status, four health behaviour, one self-efficacy, and six health care utilisation measures. The 67 participants at six months also completed seven course evaluation measures in addition to course delivery, social support, course barrier and course attendance measures. The relationship at onset between self-efficacy and health status was analysed using a stepwise regression. Self-efficacy, which accounted for 27% of variance, was significantly related to health distress and to the energy levels of participants. To determine the relationship between self-efficacy and self-management behaviours at baseline, standard multiple regressions were run. Self-efficacy was unrelated to the selfmanagement behaviours of the participants at the course onset. To analyse the mediation effect of self-efficacy on health status a stepwise regression was run, while holding self-efficacy constant. Self-efficacy at six months explained 42% of the variance in baseline self-efficacy, after controlling for baseline self-efficacy in the second model, self-efficacy at six months was significantly related to perceived illness intrusiveness and accounted for an additional 58% of the variance. Two hierarchical stepwise-regressions assessed the mediation effect of self-efficacy on self-management behaviours. Self-efficacy at six months accounted for no additional variance in the participants' self-management skills. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed ranks measured changes in health status, self-efficacy, health behaviours and health care utilisation. No significant improvements occurred in health status. Significant improvements occurred in four health outcomes. Independent t-tests and the MannWhitney tests identified significant differences between gender, age and location with health status, health behaviour and health care utilisation outcomes at baseline and at six months. The process evaluation of the course showed general satisfaction. Explanations for the results are offered, limitations of the study are highlighted, and suggestions for future chronic disease self-management research are proposed.
Equity Crowdfunding: High-Quality or Low-Quality Entrepreneurs?

Equity crowdfunding (ECF) has potential benefits that might be attractive to high-quality entrepreneurs, including fast access to a large pool of investors and obtaining feedback from the market. However, there are potential costs associated with ECF due to early public disclosure of entrepreneurial activities, communication costs with large pools of investors, and equity dilution that could discourage future equity investors; these costs suggest that ECF attracts low-quality entrepreneurs. In this paper, we hypothesize that entrepreneurs tied to more risky banks are more likely to be low-quality entrepreneurs and thus are more likely to use ECF. A large sample of ECF campaigns in Germany shows strong evidence that connections to distressed banks push entrepreneurs to use ECF. We find some evidence, albeit less robust, that entrepreneurs who can access other forms of equity are less likely to use ECF. Finally, the data indicate that entrepreneurs who access ECF are more likely to fail.
More than Meals: A Narrative Criminological Analysis of Inmate‐Authored Cookbooks

Cookbooks are cultural artifacts, providing glimpses into the ways in which a society views itself. Cookbooks of incarcerated individuals are notably absent from the landscape of scholarly work, although the genre can tell us much about a largely invisible segment of society. Using a narrative criminology approach, this project situates inmate&#8208;authored cookbooks as narrative and examines 13 inmate&#8208;authored cookbooks to determine how the structural elements of these narratives establish (or fail to establish) links with wider, mainstream society. Results suggest that the majority of inmate&#8208;authored cookbooks employ narrative structures and strategies that engage with outside society by challenging the nature of &#8216;otherness&#8217;. Only a few cookbooks utilise such strategies as inside humour or violent narratives to mark the boundaries of prison culture. Findings help to extend the theoretical usefulness of narrative criminology, broaden and deepen our understanding of the prison experience, and establish the prison cookbook as a valid form of narrative.
Genetic Diversity Estimation in Horsegram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (L) Verdcout] Genotypes Collected from Bastar Plateau

Horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum (L) Verdcout) is an under exploited arid legume crop with tolerance to drought. Horsegram is an important pulse crop as seeds are rich in protein and consumed in majority by poorest section of the society. Horse gram is an important component in the dryland crop production system due to its ability to with stand drought with minimum management. It is commonly known as kulthi and hirwa or harwa in Bastar Region. Horse gram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (L) Verdcourt] belonging to Family: Leguminosae, Subfamily: Faboidae, Tribe: Phaseoleae, Subtribe: Phaseolinae, Genus: Macrotyloma, Species: uniflorum. Macrotyloma uniflorum International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 8 Number 12 (2019) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Evaluation of the impact of preoperative assessment on length of stay after a total hip arthroplasty

Introduction To investigate if preoperative assessment delivered by occupational therapists, physiotherapists and social workers for people awaiting a total hip arthroplasty decreased the length of stay in hospital postoperatively. Method A retrospective data review was conducted on all patients who had a primary total hip arthroplasty across a 6-month period. A total of 101 patients (mean age 67.16 years) was included in this evaluation. Clinical notes were used to determine which patients attended or did not attend preoperative assessment. Statistical modeling was used to analyse the association of a series of variables and time spent in hospital after a total hip arthroplasty. Results There was no significant difference in the length of stay for patients who attended preoperative assessment (P < 0.05) while patients who were medically unfit, lived alone and/or required a care package experienced a significantly higher length of stay (P < 0.05). Conclusion These results do not support the British Orthopaedic Association’s recommendation that preoperative assessment delivered by allied health professionals helps reduce length of stay. However, it identifies variables which could be managed potentially to reduce length of stay. A large multisite clinical trial is required to determine if preoperative assessment reduces length of stay for people undergoing this surgical procedure.
Stability of chewing louse (Phthiraptera: Amblycera and Ischnocera) populations infesting great horned owls (Aves: Strigidae)

Abstract The annual abundance of chewing lice (Phthiraptera) was recorded on great horned owls (Bubo virginianus (Gmelin), Aves: Strigidae) from 1994 to 2015 in Manitoba, Canada. Kurodaia magna Emerson (Amblycera: Menoponidae) had a mean annual abundance about half that for Strigiphilus oculatus (Rudow) (Ischnocera: Philopteridae). Mean intensity, rather than prevalence, explained the variation in annual abundance. Temporal variation (measured as population variability) in abundance and mean intensity were high and similar (0.62–0.67), but lower for nymph to female ratio (0.36–0.38). Temporal variation of prevalence and sex ratio were higher for K. magna (0.34–0.35) than for S. oculatus (0.21–0.22), and typical for other louse species. The high temporal variability for abundance and mean intensity suggest lower year-to-year stability than exhibited by other chewing lice, but over 80% of this variability was due to sampling error resulting from small sample sizes in some years and extreme intensities in the aggregated distributions of intensity. The remaining variation, < 20%, revealed no significant differences in annual abundance or mean intensity among years, and therefore stable populations over 22 years. Populations of 12 species of chewing lice show lower temporal variability and therefore greater stability than three other insect taxa.
Correcting Misperceptions: The Causal Role of Motivation in Corrective Science Communication About Vaccine and Food Safety

Some people stick to beliefs that do not align with scientific consensus when faced with science communication that contradicts those misperceptions. Two preregistered experiments (total N = 1,256) investigated the causal role of motivated reasoning in the effectiveness of correcting misperceptions. In both experiments, accuracy-driven reasoning led to a larger corrective effect of a science communication message than reasoning driven by directional motivation. Individuals’ default reasoning made them just as receptive to the correction as accuracy-driven reasoning. This finding supports a more optimistic view of human receptivity to science communication than often found in the literature.
Diabète non insulino-dépendant : prévalence et facteurs de risque en Tunisie

Position du probleme : La prevalence du diabete a ete analysee a l'occasion d'une enquete sur l'epidemiologie des facteurs de risque cardio-vasculaire realisee sur un echantillon representatif de la population du Gouvernorat de Nabeul, Tunisie, âgee de 35 a 50 ans. Methodes : La proportion du diabete a ete estimee a partir de l'interrogatoire des sujets et du dosage de la glycemie a jeun. Au total 692 hommes et femmes sont concernes par l'etude, dont 35 % âges de 35 a 40 ans, 30 % de 40 a 45 ans et 35 % de 45 a 50 ans. Resultats : Dans cet echantillon qui comprend 46 % d'hommes, la prevalence du diabete etait globalement de 7,2 % avec 2/3 de diabetiques connus. Elle etait beaucoup plus importante dans la region urbaine (9,3 % chez l'homme et 10,4 % chez la femme) que dans la region rurale (2 % et 4,5 % respectivement). L'indice de masse corporelle etait significativement plus eleve chez les diabetiques. La frequence de l'obesite differait significativement entre les sujets diabetiques et les sujets non diabetiques : 37 % et 21 % respectivement (p < 0,01). La proportion d'hypertendus etait trois fois plus elevee chez les sujets diabetiques (33 %) que chez les non diabetiques (9 %). Les sujets diabetiques avaient en moyenne un taux de triglycerides plus eleve (1,92 ′ 1,72 mmol/l) que les sujets non diabetiques (1,29 ′ 1,02 mmol/l). Cette relation positive entre le taux moyen des triglycerides et le statut diabetique est independante de l'obesite chez la femme, mais pas chez l'homme. Conclusion: Dans la population tunisienne caracterisee par un niveau moyen des facteurs de risque cardio-vasculaire les associations entre le diabete d'une part et l'obesite, les hyperlipoproteinemies et l'hypertension arterielle d'autre part sont similaires a celles observees chez les populations a haut niveau des facteurs de risque cardio-vasculaire.
Reproducibility of an organoleptic method for halitosis assessment

Background: The organoleptic evaluation is considered the gold standard between evaluation methods of halitosis, but its main drawback is the difficulty of reproducibility. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of an organoleptic evaluation method using three levels of scores (0 = no odor, 1 = moderate odor, and 2 = strong odor) to increase reliability between researchers and clinicians. Methods: The evaluation was blindly conducted by two examiners previously calibrated by the Smell Identification Test and compliance in clinical trials. Statistical calculations were done with STATA ® software version 9.0. Results: The degree of agreement between examiners was 82.5%, with estimated Kappa (κ =0.69), with substantial agreement. Conclusion: The scale used in this study by organoleptic method was effective and reproducible but must be repeated and compared to other methods for better consistency of results.