Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cervical Cancer Awareness and Detection of Precancerous Lesions at Two District Health Centres in the West Region of Cameroon

Background: Due to the late diagnosis, resulting partly from the absence of national screening programs, Cervical cancer is a public health concern for women in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 34 over 100,000 are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 23 over 100,000 die yearly. We evaluated the knowledge and practices of the female population towards the prevention of cervical cancer in the city of Bafoussam, West Cameroon, considering that poor awareness about the disease and its prevention drives its progression in Africa.Methods: 228 women were recruited during a cross-sectional study with simple random selection of participants in two District Health Centres in Bafoussam from February to August 2017. They were administered a questionnaire aimed at asserting their knowledge about cervical cancer, risk factors and prevention. Subsequently, cervicovaginal smears were screened and gynaecological signs were assessed. Data analysis was done using Epi info version 7.2. 2.6. with Chi 2 test application.Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The most represented age group was [25-35] (50.88%). Only 89 participants (39.04%) had heard about cervical cancer, 63 (27.63%) had heard about risk factors with only 13 (5.70%) able to name at least one risk factor. Moreover, 72 participants (31.58%) had heard about cervical screening test, 48 (21.05%) were aware about the existence of means of prevention, and only 6 (2.63%) had heard about human papillomavirus (HPV) relationship to cervical cancer or HPV vaccine. An incidence of 07.63% was obtained. The most common reason reported for not attending cervical cancer screening was ignorance (68.92%). Conclusions: Our data suggest that there is a real need for raising the awareness about cervical cancer and its prevention in the western region of Cameroon.
The Influence of Reading Ability and Learning Interests on Learning Outcomes in Elementary School

The goals of this study were to examine: 1) the impact and influence of Reading Ability Level on Student Learning Outcomes, 2) the impact and influence of Learning Interest on Student Learning Outcomes, 3) the impact and influence of Reading Ability Level and Learning Interest collectively on Student Learning Outcomes. The observation and discussion of the research stated that: 1) there was an effect of Reading Ability Level on Student Learning Outcomes; 2) there is an effect of learning interest on student learning outcomes; and 3) there is an influence between Reading Ability Level and Learning Interest simultaneously on Student Learning Outcomes. We hope that this study will give a
Learning to teach climate change: students in teacher training and their progression in pedagogical content knowledge

ABSTRACT Climate change adaptation is a notorious example of a wicked problem. Teachers need to have extensive knowledge to design high-quality education that addresses the wickedness and contributes to wicked problem-solving. The components of the knowledge basis for teaching climate change issues can be highlighted with the Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) framework. In the international, interdisciplinary course EduChange, pre-service teachers built their content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge. They took part in a training week, where they explored issues related to climate change in different regions, acquainted themselves with place-based education and fieldwork, and were trained in educational design. Subsequently, they developed lessons for secondary schools. This paper describes the structure of the course, and explores how it contributed to the development of the PCK of the pre-service teachers. Survey data and interviews show that the participants valued the course. Although the pre-service teachers said the course contributed considerably to the development of their PCK, the lessons developed varied in respect to the wicked characteristics that were addressed and their potential for stimulating progression in wicked problem-solving.
What Makes a Hot-Spring Habitat “Hot” for the Hot-Spring Snake: Distributional Data and Niche Modelling for the Genus Thermophis (Serpentes, Colubridae)

Knowledge about species’ distributions is central to diverse applications in ecology, biogeography, and conservation science. Hot-spring snakes of the genus Thermophis share a distribution restricted to geothermal sites at the Tibetan Plateau (T. baileyi) and in the Hengduan Mountains (T. zhaoermii, T. shangrila). Although the suture zones of these regions are widely covered with hot springs, Thermophis populations are restricted to only a few of these habitats. Here, we use bioclimatic, topographic, and land cover data to model the potential distribution of the genus. Moreover, using logistic regression on field survey data of T. zhaoermii, we test whether hot-spring water parameters and landscape features correlate with the species’ presence or absence. Hot springs with temperatures between 45 and 100 °C and winter precipitation showed the most predictive power. At small scale, our data support the relevance of the hot-spring temperature on the species’ occurrence and indicate that also the along-valley distance from the hot-spring site to the major river might influence the distribution of Thermophis species. Our findings contribute to better understand factors shaping the current distribution of the genus and will aid in setting priorities in applied conservation biology for the hot-spring snakes.
Understanding the impact of Commercial Banks Lending Rate on Economic Growth: An Empirical Evidence from Ghana.

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of lending rate on economic growth in Ghana. To do this, we employ the autoregressive distributed lags model (ARDL) and the Toda and Yamamoto (1995) causal approach as estimation strategy. The estimates from the ARDL model suggest that ceteris paribus one percent increase in lending rate generates approximately 0.15 decrease in economic growth of Ghana in the long. In the short run, one percent increase in lending rate also generates approximately 0.112 percent decrease in economic growth. Contrary to the widespread belief that lending rate induce economic growth, we find that gross domestic product rather spurs lending rate, using Toda and Yamamoto (1995) causal approach. Our findings suggest that monetary authorities should embark on policy interventions that aim at taming lending rate towards growth enhancing targets. This will encourage individuals, firms and other institutions to borrow from commercial banks to increase investment and consumption to accelerate economic growth. Other policy interventions include strengthening inflation targeting policy to reduce and stabilize inflation while taming exchange rate, monetary policy and treasury bill rate towards economic growth enhancing targets.
Assessment of functional mobility of persons in the 3rd age of life after programmed therapeutic exercises

Introduction: Active aging is a process of optimizing of opportunities for health, participation, and safety to improve the quality of life as people age. Therapeutic exercises to strengthen muscles are especially important for the elderly, and the results of such exercises are positive in people with functional limitations. The aim of the study was to assess functional mobility of people in the 3rd age of life after programmed therapeutic exercises.Methods: The prospective study included two groups of 130 respondents over the age of 65 who came to the “Centre for Healthy Aging” in Novo Sarajevo in the period from September 1, 2014, until March 1, 2015. Using the time up and go test (TUG), the basic functional mobility was assessed and it represents the minimum time the respondent needs to get up from the armchair, walk a distance of three meters, turn around, and sit back in the armchair. We tested the respondents at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the study, which lasted for 6 months.Results: Analysis of the gender structure of the control and the test groups, using the Chi-square test, found a statistically significant difference, and in the test group, there were more female subjects than in the control group, χ2 = 50.620; p = 0.001. Analysis of the functional mobility of the respondents of the test groups using the TUG at the end of the study found that the respondents of the test group needed statistically significantly less time to perform the test (8.84 seconds) compared to the control group (9.59 seconds) and test Group B (9.41 seconds), F = 4.711; p = 0.041. Conclusion: Programmed therapeutic exercise leads to a significant improvement in functional mobility of persons in the 3rd age of life.
Increased Post-Drought Growth after Thinning in Pinus nigra Plantations

In Mediterranean seasonally dry regions, the rise in dieback and mortality episodes observed in pine afforestations has been related to higher drought intensity and lack of appropriate management, which enhance competition between trees for water and light. However, there is little understanding of the benefits of silviculture for plantations under seasonal drought stress. A combination of dendrochronology and wood C and O isotope analyses was used in three Black pine (Pinus nigra) plantations to work out the responses of radial growth (BAI, basal area increment) and water-use efficiency (WUEi) to thinning treatments (removal of 40% of the stand basal area). Thinning had a positive effect on BAI and WUEi, reduced drought sensitivity, and reduced the temporal dependence on the previous year’s growth. These results were significant even 13–14 years after thinning and coherent for the three study sites. Differences were found between the sites regarding the physiological mechanisms of adaptation. In two sites, we inferred the enhanced WUEi was due to increased photosynthetic rates (A) at constant stomatal conductance (gs). In the third site, which had higher tree density and therefore competition, we inferred increases in both A and gs, with the former being proportionally larger than the latter.
Optimum of Strategic Asset Allocation for Indonesian Hajj Fund

Hajj fund must be managed effectively with a diligent approach of standard risk management. This study examines the level of risk management The Hajj Fund Management Agency (BPKH) performs in optimizing its investments: fund and fixed asset portfolios. The measurement data was initially and purposively retrieved. It was later run and processed through linear programming for further analyses. The results indicate that Sharia banking deposits and gold are riskless assets. As far as other asset portfolios, investments are placed strictly based on direct and indirect participation according to the government's regulations to avoid the pressures of market volatility. This study serves as a reference for regulators in formulating appropriate strategic asset allocation to applied related optimized management of hajj fund investment.JEL Classification: C44, C51, C58, C61, D81, E22, E47How to Cite:Witjaksono, B. , & Hamzah. (2021). Optimum Strategic of Asset Allocation for Indonesian Hajj Fund. Signifikan: Jurnal Ilmu Ekonomi, 10(2), 195-208. https://doi.org/10.15408/sjie.v10i2. 20020.
Low-Speed Marine Diesel Engine Modeling for NOx Prediction in Exhaust Gases

Knowing the process of generating exhaust emissions and the determination of influential parameters are important factors in improving two-stroke slow-speed marine engines, particularly for further reductions in fuel consumption and stringent regulations on the limitation of nitrogen oxide emissions. In this article, a model of a marine low-speed two-stroke diesel engine has been developed. Experimental and numerical analyses of the nitrogen monoxide formations were carried out. When measuring the concentration of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust emissions, the amount of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is usually measured, because nitrogen monoxide is very unstable, and due to the large amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases, it is rapidly converted into nitrogen dioxide and its amount is included in the total emission of nitrogen oxides. In this paper, the most significant parameters for the formation of nitrogen monoxide have been determined. Model validation was performed based on measured combustion pressures, engine power, and concentrations of nitrogen oxides at 50% and 75% of maximum continuous engine load. The possibilities of fuel consumption optimization and reduction in nitrogen monoxide emissions by correcting the injection timing and changing the compression ratio were examined. An engine model was developed, based on measured combustion pressures and scavenging air flow, to be used on board by marine engineers for rapid analyses and determining changes in the concentration of nitrogen oxides in exhaust emissions. The amount of nitrogen oxide in exhaust emissions is influenced by the relevant features described in this paper: fuel injection timing and engine compression ratio. The presented methodology provides a basis for further research about the simultaneous impact of changing the injection timing and compression ratio, exhaust valve opening and closing times, as well as the impact of multiple fuel injection to reduce consumption and maintain exhaust emissions within the permissible limits.
Doomscrolling, Monitoring and Avoiding: News Use in COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes news use during the COVID-19 pandemic, asking how people balance between conflicting needs for information and disconnection in an extraordinary situation. We analyze empirical data from a qualitative questionnaire study of Norwegian media users conducted in March–April 2020, a period of early pandemic lockdown. The acute lockdown context accentuated intensified monitoring of constantly updated news streams, and perceptions of news use as immersive and emotionally draining, as captured in the notion of “doomscrolling”. To cope with feelings of being scared or overwhelmed, even the most connected citizens deliberately and intermittingly avoided news. Discussing these findings in light of the debate on news avoidance in journalism studies, we argue for the relevance of understanding news avoidance as a situational strategy. We conclude that the concept of news avoidance remains relevant to qualitatively understand a human experience of wanting to avoid news in particular contexts. Our analysis further outlines interconnections between different practices of pandemic news use, including a research-based conceptualization of doomscrolling as a phenomenon.
A review of opportunities and challenges of chatbots in education

ABSTRACT This study explores the trends of chatbots in education studies by conducting a literature review to analyze relevant papers published in the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) journals by searching the Web of Science (WoS) database. From the analysis results, it was found that the United States, Taiwan and Hong Kong are the top three contributing countries or regions. In addition, most studies adopted quantitative methods in their research design, such as ANOVA (Analysis of variance), descriptive statistics, t test, and correlation analysis. ANCOVA (Analysis of covariance) was the most frequently adopted approach for comparing the performances or perceptions of different groups of students. From the analysis results, the greatest proportion of studies adopted guided learning, followed by no learning activities. It was determined that the studies related to chatbots in education are still in an early stage since there are few empirical studies investigating the use of effective learning designs or learning strategies with chatbots. This implies much room for conducting relevant research to drive innovative teaching in terms of improving the learning process and learning outcomes. Finally, we highlight the research gaps and suggest several directions for future research based on the findings in the present study.
Effects of different interlaminar hybridization and cutout sizes on the vibration and buckling characteristics of fiber metal composite laminates under partial edge loads

Fiber reinforced polymer composites are quickly gaining market share in structural applications, but further growth is limited by their lack of toughness. Fiber hybridization is a promising strategy to toughen composite materials. By combining two or more fiber types, these hybrid composites offer a better balance in mechanical properties than non-hybrid composites. This study presents the effect of different interlaminar hybridization and cutout sizes on the vibration and buckling characteristics of hybrid fiber metal laminates (HFMLs) subjected to partial edge loads by developing finite element formulation. Since the stress distribution within the plate element is highly non-uniform in nature, the dynamic approach has been used to solve the buckling problems wherein two sets of boundary conditions are used, one for pre-buckling stresses and other one for buckling load calculations. A 9-noded heterosis plate element has been used to discretize the plate by taking into account the effect of shear deformation and rotary inertia. The present study consists of aluminum metal face sheets bound with four layered symmetric hybrid cross-ply laminate schemes. In this scheme, six different hybrid combinations have been considered. The performance of each hybrid combination is investigated under various loading combinations. Further, the effect of different parameters such as boundary condition, cutout ratio, width and position of localized edge loads, plate aspect ratio, and hybrid configurations are included in this work. It is revealed from the study that the hybrid configurations under different cutouts significantly affect the vibration and buckling characteristics under different localized edge loads.
Diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology in neoplasms of solitary nodule in thyroid gland: a retrospective study

Background: Common endocrine disorders like thyroid nodule may represent thyroid neoplasm either benign or malignant and are important to be diagnosed as they may progress and lead to thyroid dysfunction. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has emerged as an economic, rapid, effective, simple and accurate strategy for diagnosing neoplastic thyroid nodules. The basic aim of the current investigation was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in neoplasms of solitary thyroid nodules.Methods: Current investigation was a retrospective diagnostic test evaluation study conducted on 60 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for solitary nodule for a duration of one year. Routine blood investigation, thyroid function test, FNAC, chest X-ray, indirect laryngoscopy and ultrasound scanning of neck were done for all the patients. Collected data was coded and entered in excel sheets and was statistically analyzed using SPSS.Results: Mean age of the participating patients was 45.51±7.2 years and age range was 24 to 68 years. Female patients were observed to be more than male patients. In majority of the patients duration of nodule was less than or equal to one to three years. Maximum number of patients underwent either total or hemi thyroidectomy. FNAC diagnostic findings revealed patients with NCG, FN, LT, PC and MC. The results of FNAC findings resembled and were supported by HPR findings.Conclusions: Current investigation findings revealed that fine needle aspiration cytology can be considered as potential, accurate, rapid and efficient diagnostic technique for rapid primary investigation of neoplasms of solitary nodules in thyroid gland.
Railways redistribute plant species in mountain landscapes

1Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K, India; 2Department of Botany, Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K, India; 3Plant and Ecosystems Research Group, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; 4Laboratorio de Invasiones Biológicas (LIB), Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile; 5Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), Chile; 6Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA and 7Purdue Climate Change Research Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
Mitigating Effects of Beta-Carotene on Hydroponic Growth and Productivity of Amaranthus Hybridus L. under Aluminium Toxicity Induced Stress

Aluminium (Al) toxicity is one of the major sources of environmental stress that limit plant growth and productivity in many acidic soils, especially in the tropics and sub-tropics. Al toxicity subsequently leads to food insecurity in developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Though plants can synthesize their antioxidants; the need exists to investigate whether under Al toxicity-induced stress; beta-carotene (β-Carotene) supplementation could ameliorate the stress situation and enhance growth and productivity. A 3× 10− 2 mM aluminium chloride (AlCl3) at pH 4.6 was used to stress plants. β-Carotene was extracted from carrots and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine its peak absorbance at 295 nm. β-Carotene's activity was determined using the thiobarbituric acid method. The effects of 50 and 200 µM concentrations of β-Carotene on the hydroponic growth of Amaranthus hybridus, subjected to Al stress, were evaluated in this study. Pre- and post- β-Carotene treatments were applied to A. hybridus seedlings before and after Al treatment for 72 h. Results showed that post- β-Carotene treatments significantly ameliorated plants from Al stress when compared to pre- β-Carotene treatments. Higher doses of β-Carotene significantly increased leaf number, plant height, length and number of inflorescence, fresh and dry weights of shoot, root and inflorescence but significantly decreased root length. The present study suggests that plants of A. hybridus were susceptible to Al toxicity-induced stress and post-β-Carotene supplementation could significantly ameliorate the stress situation and enhance growth and productivity. However, intrinsic antioxidants could be adequate for plants not subjected to stress.