Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
of Social Support on Self-Regulated Learning in Sarmag program Students

Social support is the existence of interpersonal interactions that are shown by providing assistance to other individuals, where the assistance is generally obtained from people who are meaningful to the individual concerned. In addition, social support also affects self-regulated learning which involves peer support, family support, facility support, information support and emotional support. Aspects of social support that affect self-regulated learning are emotional support, reward support, instrumental support, information support and social network support. The characteristics possessed by self-regulated learning are individuals who have the ability to be active in regulating their learning activities in various ways. The environment around the individual such as the family environment, community environment, academic environment, and group environment have an influence on individual success in learning. This study aims to see the effect of social support on self-regulated learning in Sarmag program students with a total of 121 students as respondents. The sampling method used an accidental sampling technique, while the data collection technique used a questionnaire. Hypothesis testing using simple regression analysis, which shows that there is a very significant effect of social support on self-regulated learning in Sarmag program students with an F value of 30.323 with a significance value of 0.000 (P < 0.05) and an R square value of 0.203 which indicates The effect of self-regulated learning which is very significant on social support is 20.3% with the remaining 79.7% influenced by other factors, namely self-efficacy, motivation, Intelligence Quotient.
Youths’ Perceptions and Aspiration towards Participating in the Agricultural Sector: A South African Case Study

Agriculture is considered as a leading source of employment while ensuring food security to the world and especially rural communities. However, the youth do not appear to be interested in the agricultural sector due to various reasons such as their perceptions and aspirations towards the sector. This research intends to explore whether perceptions, aspirations and access to resources affect youth participation in agriculture and related economic activities, under rain-fed production in two regions of the Free State province of South Africa. Principal component analysis was used to determine perception dimensions, while a probit model was used to investigate the effect of capital (human, social, physical, financial and natural), the perception dimensions and the respondents’ agricultural aspirations on agricultural participation. The results showed that the aspirations of youth do not affect their decision to participate in the agricultural sector. However, exposure to agriculture and support systems can increase youth participation in the industry. Results also show that grants, which are an easy source of income, and the uneducated and comfort perception dimension hinders youth participation in agriculture.
Optimal dense and random addressing design of emissive points in a retinal projection device

One of the big challenges of Augmented Reality (AR) is to create ergonomic smart glasses. Our laboratory proposes an unconventional concept of AR glasses based on self-focusing of multiple beams into the eye. The device comprises a dense electrode network that allows extracting light from a dense waveguide network at the intersections points. Each beam emitted at these points is reflected by a holographic element that directs light towards the eye with a proper angular direction. The image pixels are created on the retina by the interferences of various beam distributions. This paper presents a method to optimize the design of waveguides and electrodes to increase the number of pixels on the final image. Our method considers a first waveguide (resp. electrode) as a curve described by a succession of segments with a unique absolute angle crossing a horizontal (resp. vertical) axe. The other waveguides (resp. electrodes) are created by the translation of the curves so that the minimal distance between two curves is equal to a fixed value. We use the B-Splines mathematical model to approximate the succession of segments. An iterative method adapted to B-Splines allows calculating the intersections between waveguides and electrodes. An Emissive Point Distribution (EPD) is obtained by selecting random groups of waveguides and electrodes. Each EPD forms one pixel onto the retina. The Point Spread Function (PSF) of this EPD characterizes the self-focusing efficiency. We calculate the Signal-to-Noise-Ratio of each EPD to evaluate the quality of the whole self-focusing process and we compare it to the Airy function. Our new mathematical model improves by a factor 3.5 the number of pixels for an equivalent SNR in comparison to the model we previously used.
Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods Is Inversely Associated with Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet: A Cross-Sectional Study

Information on the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in relation to an adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) is limited. Our aim was to assess UPF consumption in a group of Italian adults and to evaluate the relationship with the MD adherence. A total of 670 participants (median age: 30 years) were included in the analysis. The consumption of UPF was assessed through the NOVA Food Frequency Questionnaire (NFFQ). Adherence to the MD was assessed through the Medi-Lite score. The percentage of UPF in the diet was 16.4% corresponding to 299 g of UPF per day. These amounts were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in men than in women and came mainly from ready-to-eat meals or pre-packaged bread, bread alternatives, pizza, frozen potato chips (24.5% of total UPF intake), pre-packaged biscuits and sweets (20.7%), soft drinks (15.8%), and dairy products such as flavored yogurt (12%). As to the MD adherence, a significant inverse association between the Medi-Lite score and the percentage of UPF in the diet (R = −0.35; p < 0.001) was observed. Participants with a low adherence to the MD had a significantly higher contribution of UPF in the diet (22.2%) compared to those with a moderate (16.2%) and high (12.6%) adherence. In terms of individual UPF, the largest difference between low and high MD adherents was observed for pre-packaged biscuits and sweets, soft and energy drinks, sausages and other reconstituted meat products, and pre-packaged bread and bread alternatives. These results suggest that public health strategies are needed to implement more effective actions to promote healthy eating habits in the population.
Modified Biochars and Their Effects on Soil Quality: A Review

Biochar (BC) has attracted attention due to its impacts on soil quality by enhancing soil fertility, carbon storage and contaminants immobilization. BC also induces changes in microbial community structure and enhances crop productivity in long term scenarios compared to many other organic amendments. However, information related to the role of modified BCs in altering the soil quality is still scarce. BC can be modified by using physical, chemical and microbial methods. Modified BC can change the functional groups, pore size, pore structure, surface area and chemical properties of soil, which plays a key role in changing the soil quality. The addition of modified BCs as soil amendment increased soil CEC (cation exchange capacity), EC (electron conductivity), pH, organic matter, hydraulic conductivity, soil porosity, infiltration rate, microbial activities (enzymes and community), nutrient profile and gas exchange properties, but it varies according to the soil structure and pervading environmental conditions. This study provides a basis for effective practical approaches to modifying BCs for improving soil quality.
Effect of School Infrastructure on Pupil Enrolment in Universal Primary Education Schools: A Case of Mbarara City, Uganda

This study investigated the relationship between school infrastructure and pupil enrolment among the universal primary education schools in Mbarara City, Uganda. School infrastructure was conceptualized in terms of physical, services and didactic aspects. The study adopted the cross-sectional research design with a sample of 230 from the population of 776 teachers. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and was analysed quantitatively. The study established that much as the schools had adequate infrastructure including appropriate buildings, enough classrooms, desks that enabled comfortable writing, comfortable classroom chairs, appropriate blackboards and classrooms with attractive charts, the UPE schools did not attract the expected number of pupils. Services infrastructure was at a fair level as a lot was still desired in the schools with respect to electricity, provision of drinking water, toilets for boys and girls and school clinics. The libraries were to a less extent spacious. The schools had very limited working computers and other technologies such as television sets and projectors. While physical infrastructure and services infrastructure had a positive and significant relationship with pupils’ enrolment, didactic infrastructure did not have a relationship. It was therefore recommended that leadership in schools under investigation should make effort to entice parents to take pupils to UPE schools. This could be accomplished by improving the quality of school infrastructure. Since the physical and service infrastructures had a significant relationship with the school enrolment, such factors should be improved in order to enable the schools attract the required number of pupils.
Constraint Mechanism of Power Device Design Based on Perovskite Quantum Dots Pumped by an Electron Beam

This paper studied the constraint mechanism for power device design based on perovskite quantum dots pumped by an electron beam. Combined with device designing, an experimental system of self-saturation luminescence and aging failure was designed for CsPbBr3 films. On this basis, we further completed the self-saturation luminescence and aging failure experiment and constructed a model of self-saturation luminescence and aging failure for CsPbBr3 device designing. Three constraints were proposed after analyzing and discussing the experimental data. Firstly, too high of a pumping current density makes it difficult to effectively promote the enhancement of luminescence efficiency. Secondly, radiation decomposition and aging failure of CsPbBr3 films are mainly related to the polarized degree of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals. Thirdly, by increasing the pumping electric field, the pumping energy can be effectively and widely delivered to the three-dimensional quantum dots film layer space, and there is a nonlinear relationship between the attenuation of the pumping energy density and the increment of the pumping electric field, which will effectively avoid the local high-energy density of instantaneous optical pumping.
The relationship between locus of control orientation and patients’ adherence to therapeutic recommendations after percutaneous coronary intervention

--- As life expectancy has increased and the global population has aged, the global burden of chronic diseases has risen alarmingly. This study aims to determine if there is any significant correlation between adherence to therapeutic recommendations and locus of control orientation. Cross-sectional quantitative correlational design carried out in Al-Najaf City. Non-randomized purposive sampling consisted of 120 patients with coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention. The date collected from June 20th, 2021 and last to November 27th, 2021 through interview method by Multi-dimensional health locus of control questionnaire form (C) which include 18 items, and adherence questionnaire which include 54 items in addition to multi-dimensional health locus of control instrument which include 18 items regarding internal, chance, and power full others domains. This study finds that patients adherence to therapeutic recommendations and their locus of control orientation is significantly correlated through statistical indicator of Pearson correlation of 0.539 at probability value of less than 0.05. The study findings also reveals that it is possible to predict patient’s adherence to therapeutic recommendations through their locus of control orientation. Internal LOC. Orientation appear to be associated with disease prevention and control in addition to health promotion. Patients descriptive
Integrated production–distribution planning in two-echelon systems: a resilience view

Global supply chains are increasingly exposed to operational and disruption risks that threaten their business continuity. This paper presents a novel two-stage scenario-based mixed stochastic-possibilistic programming model for integrated production and distribution planning problem in a two-echelon supply chain over a midterm horizon under risk. Operational risks are handled by introducing imprecise (i.e. possibilistic) parameters while disruption risks are accounted for through stochastic disruption scenarios. The proposed model accounts for the risk mitigation options and recovery of lost capacities in an integrated manner. In the first stage, the structure of the chain and proactive risk mitigation decisions are determined, while the second stage specifies the recovery plan of lost capacities in addition to production and distribution plans. Considering extra capacities in the production facilities, backup routes for transportation links and pre-positioning of emergency inventory in distribution centres are considered as feasible options to improve the resilience level of the supply chain. We propose a new indicator for optimising the resilience level of the chain based on restoration of lost capacities. For the sake of robustness, the expected worst case of the second stage’s objective function is considered by utilising the conditional value at risk (CVaR) measure. The validation and applicability of the proposed model are examined through several numerical experiments.
Podcasting in higher education as a component of Universal Design for Learning: A systematic review of the literature

ABSTRACT More students with disabilities are attending university than ever before. Many universities are adopting Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a framework for accessible course design and delivery. Audio podcasting is a strategy well-aligned with all three principles of UDL, providing students with options for engagement, representation, and expression. The current systematic review explored the use of audio podcasting in higher education and its impact on teaching and learning. A total of 17 studies were examined based on the three principles of UDL. Findings suggest that although there is limited evidence of its impact on learning, students and educators find podcasting to be a unique way to engage with content.
Effect of Relative Humidity on Transfer of Aerosol-Deposited Artificial and Human Saliva from Surfaces to Artificial Finger-Pads

Surface to hand transfer of viruses represents a potential mechanism for human exposure. An experimental process for evaluating the touch transfer of aerosol-deposited material is described based on controlling surface, tribological, and soft matter components of the transfer process. A range of high-touch surfaces were evaluated. Under standardized touch parameters (15 N, 1 s), relative humidity (RH) of the atmosphere around the contact transfer event significantly influenced transfer of material to the finger-pad. At RH < 40%, transfer from all surfaces was <10%. Transfer efficiency increased markedly as RH increased, reaching a maximum of approximately 50%. The quantity of material transferred at specific RHs above 40% was also dependent on roughness of the surface material and the properties of the aerosol-deposited material. Smooth surfaces, such as melamine and stainless steel, generated higher transfer efficiencies compared to those with textured roughness, such as ABS pinseal and KYDEX® plastics. Pooled human saliva was transferred at a lower rate compared to artificial saliva, indicating the role of rheological properties. The artificial saliva data were modeled by non-linear regression and the impact of environmental humidity and temperature were evaluated within a Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment model using SARS-CoV-2 as an example. This illustrated that the trade-off between transfer efficiency and virus survival may lead to the highest risks of fomite transmissions in indoor environments with higher humidity.
Cancer Survival in Adults in Spain: A Population-Based Study of the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN)

Simple Summary We studied cancer survival and its trends in adult patients in Spain. We included more than 600,000 patients with primary cancer diagnosed during 2002–2013 and followed them up to 2015. The study provides cancer survival estimates up to five years after diagnosis by sex and age for 29 cancer groups. We found survival improvements for most cancer groups from 2002–2007 to 2008–2013, although with differences by age, being greater for patients younger than 75 years than for older patients. The persistent poor prognosis for some cancers emphasizes the need to reinforce actions along the cancer continuum, from primary prevention to early diagnosis, optimal treatment, and supportive care. Further examination of possible sociodemographic inequalities is warranted. Abstract The assessment of cancer survival at the population level is essential for monitoring progress in cancer control. We aimed to assess cancer survival and its trends in adults in Spain. Individual records of 601,250 adults with primary cancer diagnosed during 2002–2013 and followed up to 2015 were included from 13 population-based cancer registries. We estimated net survival up to five years after diagnosis and analyzed absolute changes between 2002–2007 and 2008–2013. Estimates were age-standardized. Analyses were performed for 29 cancer groups, by age and sex. Overall, age-standardized five-year net survival was higher in women (61.7%, 95% CI 61.4–62.1%) than in men (55.3%, 95% CI 55.0–55.6%), and ranged by cancer from 7.2% (pancreas) to 89.6% (prostate) in men, and from 10.0% (pancreas) to 93.1% (thyroid) in women in the last period. Survival declined with age, showing different patterns by cancer. Between both periods, age-standardized five-year net survival increased overall by 3.3% (95% CI 3.0–3.7%) in men and 2.5% (95% CI 2.0–3.0%) in women, and for most cancer groups. Improvements were greater in patients younger than 75 years than in older patients. Chronic myeloid leukemia and myeloma showed the largest increases. Among the most common malignancies, the greatest absolute increases in survival were observed for colon (5.0%, 95% CI 4.0–6.0%) and rectal cancers (4.5%, 95% CI 3.2–5.9%). Survival improved even for some cancers with poor prognosis (pancreas, esophagus, lung, liver, and brain cancer). Further investigation of possible sociodemographic inequalities is warranted. This study contributes to the evaluation of cancer control and health services’ effectiveness.
Impaired Vagal Activity in Long-COVID-19 Patients

Long-COVID-19 refers to the signs and symptoms that continue or develop after the “acute COVID-19” phase. These patients have an increased risk of multiorgan dysfunction, readmission, and mortality. In Long-COVID-19 patients, it is possible to detect a persistent increase in D-Dimer, NT-ProBNP, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. To verify the dysautonomia hypothesis in Long-COVID-19 patients, we studied heart rate variability using 12-lead 24-h ECG monitoring in 30 Long-COVID-19 patients and 20 No-COVID patients. Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability was lower in Long-COVID-19 patients both for total power (7.46 ± 0.5 vs. 8.08 ± 0.6; p < 0.0001; Cohens-d = 1.12) and for the VLF (6.84 ± 0.8 vs. 7.66 ± 0.6; p < 0.0001; Cohens-d = 1.16) and HF (4.65 ± 0.9 vs. 5.33 ± 0.9; p = 0.015; Cohens-d = 0.76) components. The LF/HF ratio was significantly higher in Long-COVID-19 patients (1.46 ± 0.27 vs. 1.23 ± 0.13; p = 0.001; Cohens-d = 1.09). On multivariable analysis, Long-COVID-19 is significantly correlated with D-dimer (standardized β-coefficient = 0.259), NT-ProBNP (standardized β-coefficient = 0.281), HF component of spectral analysis (standardized β-coefficient = 0.696), and LF/HF ratio (standardized β-coefficient = 0.820). Dysautonomia may explain the persistent symptoms in Long COVID-19 patients. The persistence of a procoagulative state and an elevated myocardial strain could explain vagal impairment in these patients. In Long-COVID-19 patients, impaired vagal activity, persistent increases of NT-ProBNP, and a prothrombotic state require careful monitoring and appropriate intervention.
Implementation of alcohol minimum unit pricing (MUP): a qualitative study with small retailers

Abstract Minimum unit pricing for alcohol (MUP) came into effect on 1st May 2018 in Scotland, raising the price of the cheapest shop-bought alcohol. Small retailers are a key source of alcohol for communities, often located in areas of high alcohol-related harm. We sought to examine their experiences of MUP implementation and impact. We conducted semi-structured interviews in-store with 20 small retailers in central Scotland at two time points: October – November 2017 (6–7 months pre-implementation); and October – November 2018 (5–6 months post-implementation). Prior to implementation, some retailers did not understand MUP, including how prices would link to product strength, or were concerned about anticipated implementation burden. Several expressed support for reducing ‘problem’ drinking or suggested that MUP would increase alcohol prices in supermarkets bringing them into line with small retailers. Despite initial concerns, small retailers reported minimal disruption following implementation of MUP, which was generally straightforward. Compliance was taken seriously and price calculations relatively manageable. Few/no negative reactions from customers were reported. Some felt that the measure enabled them to better compete with larger retailers/supermarkets. Concerns about MUP expressed by some trade bodies prior to implementation were largely not borne out in the experiences of small retailers.
Quantitative Analysis Between Blackboard Learning Management System and Students’ Learning

: Proper use of the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) motivates students to engage with their studies but the students within Material Science and Engineering (MSE) often use these LMSs to copy mathematical derivations, scientific information and submit coursework tasks without spending much time interacting with the system. Quantitatively, there is a piece of missing information on how interaction with the Blackboard LMS influences students ’ performances. Statistical evaluations were made by using the average times students spent on Blackboard and their final examination grades for their three-year Bachelor's degree period. There was a linear positive correlation between the time students spent on the LMS and their grades. Observations also show that students engage more with LMS at certain periods within a week. It was recognised that the more students engage with the Blackboard, the more they construct information for themselves. This result provides a quantitative analysis that gives evidence of how time spent on LMS supports students’ learning.