Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
More motivated but equally good: no effect of gamification on visual working memory performance

Gamification refers to the introduction of gaming elements such as scores and leaderboards in non-gaming contexts. While there is growing evidence that gamification has positive effects on intrinsic motivation and engagement, it is largely unknown whether these effects translate to improved cognitive performance. Here, we examine whether gamification affects performance on a visual working memory (VWM) task. In Experiment 1, we gamified a standard delayed-estimation task by introducing scores and a leveling system. On each trial, the subject’s estimation error was mapped to a score between −100 and +100 and added to their total score. Subjects started at a set size of 1 and “leveled up” to the next set size each time they had accumulated 1,500 points. Post-experiment questionnaire data confirmed that subjects who performed the gamified version of the task were more motivated than control subjects. However, we found no difference in VWM performance between these two groups, nor between below-median and above-median motivated subjects. In Experiment 2, we tested for effects of trial-by-trial manipulations of motivation on VWM performance, by varying the scoring function across trials. Three scoring functions were used, with maxima of 7, 21, and 101 points. At the beginning of each trial, the subject was informed whether the potential reward was “low”, “medium”, or “high”. Post-questionnaire data showed that subjects were more motivated on high-reward trials. However, we found no evidence for a difference in performance between the three reward levels. Our results suggest that gamification increases people’s motivation to carry out visual working memory tasks, but it does not necessarily increase their performance.
Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Land Use in the Bouba Ndjidda National Park and Its Adjacent Zone (North Cameroun)

We evaluated the dynamics of land use in the Bouba Ndjidda National Park (BNNP) and adjacent areas, in northern Cameroon. Using a maximum likelihood supervised classification of satellite images from 1990 to 2016, coupled with field and a socio-economic survey, we performed a robust land-use classification. Between 1990 and 2016, the area included eight classes of land use, with the largest in 1990 being the woody savannah (42.9%) followed by the gallery forest (20.2%) and the clear forest (16.3%). Between 1990 and 1999, the gallery forest lost 64.8% of its area mostly to the benefit of woody savannahs. Between 1999 and 2016, the largest loss of area was that of the clear forest, which decreased generally by 43.2% in favor of woody savannah. Rates of increase of crop field areas were 59.6% and 78.8% respectively for the periods of 1990 to 1999 and 1999 to 2016 to the detriment of woody savannahs. We attribute the changes in land use observed mainly to the increasing human population and associated agriculture, overgrazing, fuelwood harvesting and bush fires. The exploitation of non-timber forest products and climatic factors may also have changed the vegetation cover. We recommend the implementation of farming techniques with low impact on the environment such as agroforestry.
Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty For Fracture Of The Neck Of Femur In The Elderly

Background: Fracture of the neck of femur is a common injury seen in orthopaedic practice. Its treatment becomes all the more difficult due to the problems of decision making involved and medical, surgical and rehabilitative complications encountered. However, the aim has always been to restore optimum function, minimize the morbidity and mortality and reduce the geriatric health load on the society. Methods: One hundred and twenty three elderly patients with fracture of neck of the femur were operatively treated by bipolar hemiarthroplasty and were followed up for a mean period 38 months. Results: They were assessed clinically, radiologically and by the Harris Hip score. The results were analyzed and also compared with standard accepted studies. Conclusion: Our study conclusively showed that bipolar hemiarthroplasty for fracture neck of femur in elderly is a sound treatment modality with many benefits and certainly superior to the unipolar replacement.
Dendroindication of ecoclimatic condition in forest remediation area within Northern Steppe of Ukraine

We analyzed ring width, latewood width and earlywood width of Pinus sylvestris trees under normal and flood condition in Dnipropetrovsk region, within Northern Steppe of Ukraine. Precipitation from February to August seems to be the most stable climatic factor which influenced Scots pine growth rate and caused the difference between maximum and minimum ring width in normal conditions. Meteorological conditions were mainly associated with general ring values and earlywood width, and were less associated with latewood width values. Assessment of the effect of climatic signals on tree rings’ growth process in living and dead trees and in the normal and flood condition by analyses of correlation and response function was conducted. Average annual temperatures affected the tree growth negatively in normal conditions and tree increment positively in flood conditions. Annual precipitation was correlated positively with ring width, earlywood width series in normal conditions, but negatively with these series in flood conditions.
The Role of Pre-writing Strategies to Enhance the Students’ Idea Generating Abilities: The Case of First-Year Computer Science Students of Haramaya University

This research was aimed at fostering students’ idea generating abilities via the implementation of pre-writing strategies. The study adopted an action research design. The first phase involved problem identification and causes of the problems through focus group discussion and classroom observation. After identifying the challenges, systematically planned actions were implemented for eight successive weeks. During the intervention phase, awareness was created among the students on the importance of using idea-generating strategies before starting to write a text. As a result, four idea-generating strategies were employed; brainstorming, clustering, free-writing and questioning. Finally, the results of the actions taken were evaluated via observation, questionnaire, and focus group discussion. The findings reveal that the students showed interest in using idea-generating strategies, and the strategies used helped them to come up with adequate ideas in order to develop a text. The strategy also helped them to think exhaustively about what to write and how to support their argument before starting writing the actual text. Out of the four strategies employed, brainstorming was found to be the most convenient strategy to generate ideas. The strategies used were found to prevent students from unnecessary pen pause and frequent deletion of what they produced. Therefore, it is possible to comprehend from this action research that using idea-generating strategies will ease the practice of developing a text. This research was aimed at fostering students’ idea generating abilities via the implementationof pre-writing strategies. The study adopted an action research design. The first phase involvedproblem identification and causes of the problems through focus group discussion and classroomobservation. After identifying the challenges, systematically planned actions were implementedfor eight successive weeks. During the intervention phase, awareness was created among thestudents on the importance of using idea-generating strategies before starting to write a text.As a result, four idea-generating strategies were employed; brainstorming, clustering, freewritingand questioning. Finally, the results of the actions taken were evaluated via observation,questionnaire, and focus group discussion. The findings reveal that the students showed interestin using idea-generating strategies, and the strategies used helped them to come up with adequateideas in order to develop a text. The strategy also helped them to think exhaustively about whatto write and how to support their argument before starting writing the actual text. Out of the fourstrategies employed, brainstorming was found to be the most convenient strategy to generateideas. The strategies used were found to prevent students from unnecessary pen pause andfrequent deletion of what they produced. Therefore, it is possible to comprehend from this actionresearch that using idea-generating strategies will ease the practice of developing a text.
Impact of CD4 Count on sputum smear for AFB in HIV-TB Co infection

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a major threat in the world population and in the control of tuberculosis in developing countries. HIV-TB co infected patients with CD4 counts above 200 cells/cu μl, are likely to have typical symptoms and most of the sputum shows positive for acid fast bacilli (AFB). Patient withCD4 count less than 200 are with high risk of getting (Tuberculosis) TB, but diagnosis is difficult as there is more chances of sputum becoming negative, which requires sputum culture for diagnosis of (TB). Although sputum smear negativity is high in most cases of dual infection, particularly in patients with low immunity, it is an essential component in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in countries like India. Methodology: A cross sectional study of 50 HIV-TB patients admitted to tertiary care hospital were studied for correlation between CD4 count and sputum smear results. Results: 50 HIV-TB patients studied for a period of 1 year. Majority were in the age group of 30-40 years 20 (78%). In the study 29 (58%) were males and 21(42%) were females. The common presentations were cough 48 (96%), fever 44 (88%), weight loss 42(84%) and diarrhoea 25(50%). Mean CD4 count being 146.6±88. Most patients had CD4 count < 200 cells/cu μl. Mean CD4 count in sputum positive TB was 254.8±77.3 and in sputum negative TB was 97.2±33.8. Conclusion: Patients with CD4 count > 200cells/cuμl are likely to have sputum positive pulmonary TB and typical presentations. Patients with CD4count < 200cells/cuμl are more of sputum negative pulmonary TB with atypical presentations which poses diagnostic difficulty and needs newer diagnostic tests.
Circular economy innovations, growth and employment at the firm level: Empirical evidence from Germany

Circular economy (CE) describes a concept that aims at saving resources by minimizing the use of material and energy over the entire life‐cycle of products, including production and repair, as well as reuse and recycling. CE innovations help to realize the goals of sustainable development by targeting environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability. This paper looks at the economic and social dimensions by investigating whether firms with CE innovations perform better or worse in terms of sales growth and employment. Our econometric analysis uses data from two waves of the German part of the Community Innovation Survey. Quantile regressions show that CE innovations are positively linked to turnover and employment growth. While there is no statistically significant impact on labor productivity, at the same time, firms with CE innovations show a significantly better financial standing.
Being given a diagnosis of dementia : the experiences of people with dementia and people who care for someone with dementia

This study explores the issues raised for people with dementia and their carers when they receive a diagnosis of dementia. Previous research suggests that more people with dementia than other serious illnesses such as cancer will not be told their diagnosis. The implications of this for the way that people with dementia adjust psychologically to their situation are reviewed. It is suggested that the complex illness concept and the particular nature of dementia as an illness influence communication about it The research had three groups of participants. Twenty-six people caring for a relative with dementia completed a short survey. Two people with dementia and seven people caring for someone with dementia were interviewed face-to-face to gather in-depth information about their experiences of receiving and coping with a diagnosis. Grounded theory was used to analyse the interviews and a descriptive summary of the survey was produced. The survey confirmed that many people with dementia do not get told their diagnosis. The interviews described the issues raised for people with dementia, such as the feelings raised for them by having dementia and highlighted their ways of coping with dementia. The interviews with carers suggested that if sharing was an issue, the carers tried to strike a balance between remaining honest and protecting the person from the implications of the knowledge. Maintaining a sense of hope for the person seemed to be very important. A critical discussion of the methodology is presented. The implications for future research and the clinical relevance of the research are also discussed.
A Test of the Impact of Mergers on Bank Competition

We propose a new test to evaluate the impact of horizontal mergers on competition in the banking industry. The test is designed to be applied ex ante to potential mergers while being parsimonious in terms of data, as it only uses information on branches in local markets. The test is a counterfactual exercise based on a two‐stage model where banks compete in branching and interest rates and requires comparing the estimated degree of competition in the status quo, where branching networks by banks are those actually observed, with a counterfactual scenario, where the branching network of the new entity is the sum of the branches of the banks involved in the horizontal merger. The statistical difference between the two estimated measures of competition quantifies the impact of the merger. We apply our test to French and Italian mergers.
U–Pb geochronology and Raman spectroscopy of zircons from the granites in the Xihuashan and Tieshanlong Deposit: Implications for W‐Sn mineralization in Southern Jiangxi Province, South China

The Xihuashan and Tieshanlong tungsten deposit is an important large quartz vein‐type W‐polymetallic deposit in the southern Jiangxi Province, eastern Nanling Range. Zircon U–Pb analyses of representative ore‐forming granites from the Xihuashan and Tieshanlong tungsten deposit yield ages of 146.3 ± 2.9 Ma and 146.0 ± 3.8 Ma, respectively. According to the zircon Raman spectroscopy, these granitic rocks are disturbed by different degrees of hydrothermal alteration, whereas most zircons exhibit primary oscillatory zoning and Th/U ratios in the range of magmatic zircon, which means the analysis results represent the crystallization age of metallogenetic granitic assemblages. In combination with regional geological data, it is suggested that the Late Jurassic is probably another important episode of granitic magmatism and W‐Sn mineralization in southern Jiangxi Provinces, even South China.
The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes in Mazandaran Province, Iran

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health concern and the third most common cause of death from cancer worldwide. This infection is the most common risk factor for the progression of chronic liver disease, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis C virus infection is classiﬁed into six major genotypes and multiple subtypes. The distribution of HCV genotypes seems to vary in diﬀerent areas around the globe. Objectives: Inthisstudy,weaimedtoidentifyHCVRNAandperformgenotypinginanti-HCV-positivepatientsthroughpolymerase chainreaction(PCR). Wecomparedtheresultsof PCRandELISAtestsamongpatientsreferredtoseveralhealthcarecentersof Mazandaran province, situated in North of Iran, during 2015 - 2016. Methods: A total of 157 patients with anti-HCV-positive specimens were enrolled in this study during 2015-2016. Hepatitis C virus-RNA was extracted from the serum samples, using pure link viral RNA Mini kit. Detection of HCV nucleic acids was performed by using the serum samples from anti-HCV positive specimens. The genotypes of the HCV genome were determined by PCR, using the RNA-PCR kit according to the speciﬁed protocol. Also, the PCR products (DNA fragments) from these samples were run on 1.5% agarose gel and visualized on a UV analyzer. All the samples were examined at the virology laboratory of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Results: Themeanageof thepatientswas39 ± 14.3years(range: 20-68years). Intotal,110(70.06%)and47(29.94%)anti-HCV-positive patients were male and female, respectively. Hepatitis C virus–RNA was detected in 84 (53.50%) out of 157 patients with positive HCV antibodies. Basedontheﬁndings,themajorityof HCV-RNApositivepatientswereintravenousdrugusers(46.43%). Inthisstudy,the 3a HCV genotype was predominant (59.52%), followed by the 1a/b genotype (40.48%). Conclusions: The present ﬁndings indicate that the 3a genotype is the most frequent HCV genotype, followed by 1a/b in the study region. The prevalence and incidence of HCV genotypes seem to vary in diﬀerent areas, with each genotype showing a diﬀerent response to interferon therapy. Therefore, it is essential to determine the predominant subtypes of HCV.
Towards light weight multifunctional hybrid composite housing for satellite electronics

The present paper provides an overview of the fabrication and testing of multifunctional hybrid composite radio frequency (RF) electronic housing for satellite applications. An oversized hybrid composite block containing carbon fiber (CF) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as reinforcement in epoxy matrix were fabricated through hand layup and compression molding technique. Fabricated block was machined to desired size and shape to form multifunction hybrid composite housing for satellite electronics. DC electrical resistivity was measured on sample panels to assess the influence of MWCNTs on CFRP and 30 times decrease in volume resistance was observed. EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) and Radiated Emission Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) tests were performed on developed prototype RF electronic housing. Results showed that the addition of MWCNT in CFRP has increased the overall electrical conductivity leading to higher EMI SE than neat CFRP without MWCNTs. Moreover, the developed electronic unit also qualified the RE EMC test in 10 kHz to 18 GHz range. The increment in electrical characteristics was attributed to formation of MWCNTs conductive network inside the epoxy matrix. Hybrid composite housing was also subjected to vibration test and compared with aluminum alloy (AA 6061-T6) housing, which is typically used in satellite structure. Finite element analysis (FEA) for vibration test was also carried out on both housings and obtained results are in great agreement with experimental findings. It can be concluded that hybrid composite housing can replace the metallic counterpart with an added advantage of 50% lighter in weight for satellite electronics applications.
Anxiety among patients with diabetes mellitus evaluated using generalized anxiety disorder 7-item scale

Abstract Background: Anxiety has been shown to be associated with poor outcomes in people with diabetes. However, there has been limited data, especially from India, which has specifically examined whether diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased likelihood of comorbid anxiety. Aim: The aim was to estimate the prevalence of anxiety in patients with diabetes and to determine the association of anxiety with age, sex, and other related parameters. Setting: Endocrine clinic, tertiary care hospital. Design: Cross-sectional. Materials and Methods: The study was cross-sectional carried out in endocrinology clinic of tertiary care hospital in North India. Cases were patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus above 30 years of age. Anxiety was assessed using the generalized anxiety disorders 7-item (GADs-7) scale. The relationship with a sociodemographic profile, duration of diabetes, hypertension, and microvascular complications was also analyzed. Results: Seventy-three subjects (42.5% females) with mean age 50.8 ± 9.2 years were evaluated. The prevalence of anxiety was 34%. Severe anxiety (GAD-7 score ≥15) was present in three (4%) subjects, moderate anxiety (GAD-7 score ≥10) was present in six (8%) subjects, and mild anxiety was present in 16 (22%) of subjects. Anxiety increased with fasting plasma glucose, hypertension, was more in women, but the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a higher prevalence of anxiety in patients with type 2 diabetes. No factor was significantly associated with anxiety. Therefore, anxiety should be assessed in each and every patient, irrespective of other factors.
Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Evaluation of the Brain Lesions in HIV-infected Patients: A Prospective Observational Study

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of the central nervous system may lead to various neurological complications including opportunistic infections of the brain and neurocognitive disorders. Characterization and differentiation of the pathological changes in the central nervous system (CNS) may help in the right diagnosis and treatment. Material and Methods: The study included 34 patients diagnosed as HIV-positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of all the patients was carried out using 1.5 Tesla Symphony Maestro class-MRI. The test was performed using field-of-view of 230 mm, slice thickness of 4 mm and a matrix size of 256 × 256. Spin-echo T1 and T2-weighted (axial/sagittal), fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (axial), diffusion-weighted imaging, and gadoliniumenhanced fat-suppressed T1-weighted sequences were obtained and analyzed. Results: Toxoplasmosis was the most prevalent diagnosis observed (26.5%). The majority of the lesions were observed in both supratentorial and infratentorial regions (58.8%). T1-weighted MRI showed more hypointense lesions in 70.6% of patients, whereas T2-weighted MRI showed more hyperintensive lesions (79.4%). Diffusion restriction was present in cases of tubercular etiology (11.7%), toxoplasmosis (8.8%) and lymphoma (8.8%). Conclusion: MRI can be used to differentiate and characterize various brain lesions in HIV-infected patients. Its high sensitivity in identifying lesions benefits to understand the pathological changes and disease progression in HIV-infected patients.
Clinical efficacy of enrofloxacin against bovine respiratory disease comparing different treatment regimens

Enrofloxacin is being successfully used for the treatment of respiratory disease of cattle in many countries. The established treatment regimen is a daily injection for 3 to 5 days with a dose range from 2.5 - 5.0 mg/kg. A predominant finding is that a single treatment with an higher dose of 7.5 - 12.5 mg/kg shows excellent clinical efficacy under feedlot conditions. The results of several clinical field trials conducted in the USA and Europe during the last years were used to compare the clinical efficacy of the daily and single treatment regimens. The studies were carried out under varied housing and weather conditions. The results show the equivalency of both treatment regimens. Consequently, the usage of enrofloxacin enables veterinarians to utilize their experience and medical expertise to design either a daily or a single treatment regimen according to the specific infection and management situation.