Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Immersive Serious Game for the Behavioral Assessment of Psychological Needs

Motivation is an essential component in mental health and well-being. In this area, researchers have identified four psychological needs that drive human behavior: attachment, self-esteem, orientation and control, and maximization of pleasure and minimization of distress. Various self-reported scales and interviews tools have been developed to assess these dimensions. Despite the validity of these, they are showing limitations in terms of abstractation and decontextualization and biases, such as social desirability bias, that can affect responses veracity. Conversely, virtual serious games (VSGs), that are games with specific purposes, can potentially provide more ecologically valid and objective assessments than traditional approaches. Starting from these premises, the aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a VSG to assess the four personality needs. Sixty subjects participated in five VSG sessions. Results showed that the VSG was able to recognize attachment, self-esteem, and orientation and control needs with a high accuracy, and to a lesser extent maximization of pleasure and minimization of distress need. In conclusion, this study showed the feasibility to use a VSG to enhance the assessment of psychological behavioral-based need, overcoming biases presented by traditional assessment.
Adaptive eco-physiological mechanisms of Alhagi graecorum in response to severe aridity in the Western Desert of Egypt

Abstract The present work aimed to evaluate some eco-physiological responses of Alhagi graecorum to elucidate its osmotic adjustment and physiological adaptation mechanisms to withstand hyper-aridity. The plant samples were collected from eight locations in the Dakhla Oasis during the winter and summer of 2017. The chlorophyll (Chl a & b) contents and their ratio increased significantly during summer enabling the plants to adapt to light condition changes. There was a greater accumulation of anions and cations in plant tissues during winter more than in summer except, for K +that exhibited the opposite trend during summer. Soluble sugars (SS) and soluble proteins (SP) were higher than total free amino acids (TAA) during summer. The total phenolics (Ph) and total antioxidants (Anti. Ox.) in this plant were higher during winter than in summer; whereas total flavonoids (Flav) displayed the opposite response. The results indicated close relationships among the high macronutrient contents, cool-moist conditions, and Ph and Anti. Ox. accumulation in winter. Ph and Anti. Ox. served as active compounds for perseverance or raw material for metabolic processes that let such plants maintain an abundant rate of growth under severe arid conditions.
Impact Features Induced by Single Fast Ions of Different Charge-State on Muscovite Mica

The influence of the charge state q on surface modifications induced by the impact of individual fast, heavy ions on muscovite mica was investigated. Beams of 593 MeV 197Auq+ with well-defined initial charge states over a relatively broad range of values (30 to 51) and at different irradiation geometries were used. At normal incidence, the impact features are rounded protrusions (hillocks) with ≳20 nm in diameter. At grazing angles, besides the hillocks, craters and elongated tails (up to 350 nm-long) extending along the direction of ion penetration are produced. It is shown that the impact features at normal incidence depend strongly on the initial charge state of the projectiles. This dependence is very weak at grazing angles as the ion reaches the equilibrium charge state closer to the surface. At normal ion incidence, the hillock volume scales with q3.3 ± 0.6. This dependence stems largely from the increase in the hillock height, as a weak dependence of the diameter was observed.
Demographic profiles, etiology and management of patients presenting with acute pancreatitis in AIMS, B. G. Nagara: a prospective study

Acute pancreatitis is a common acute clinical condition requiring emergent care. Acute pancreatitis includes a wide spectrum of disease, from mild self-limiting symptoms to a fulminant process with multiple organ failure and high mortality. Several scoring systems are available involving clinical and laboratory data, which can differentiate mild from severe pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis has been recognized since antiquity but the importance of pancreas and the severity of its inflammatory disorders were realized only in middle of 19th century. The nature of disease was recognized way back in 1925 when Moynihan described acute pancreatitis asthe most terrible of all the calamities that occur in connection with abdominal viscerabut even today with technical advantage in medical and surgical field acute pancreatitis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Acute pancreatitis is related to alcohol or biliary tract stone disease in 80% of cases. The remaining 10% is related to metabolic factor, drugs and other condition and 10% are idiopathic. Acute pancreatitis is a pathological broad spectrum of disease ranging from parenchymal edema to severe necrotizing pancreatitis. Clinical presentations vary from mild abdominal discomfort to hypotension, metabolic derangement, ABSTRACT
Nutritional, functional and microbiological characteristics of Jordanian fermented green Nabali Baladi olives

Características nutricionales, funcionales y microbiológicas de las aceitunas verdes jordanas fermentadas Nabali Baladi. Hasta la fecha, no se han estudiado las características de calidad de las aceitunas verdes producidas por el método tradicional de fermentación espontánea en Jordania. En este trabajo, investigamos las características nutricionales, funcionales y microbiológicas de las aceitunas Nabali Baladi verdes fermentadas jordanas (GNBFO). La composición proximal, los ácidos grasos y los polifenoles totales se determinaron mediante protocolos estándar. La microflora cultivable se controló durante 3 meses de fermentación. Se identificaron microorganismos aislados por secuenciación molecular y se probaron los rasgos probióticos in vitro. GNBFO contenía fibra (3g/100g), polifenoles totales (306mg/100g), aceite (19,3g/100g) y ácido oleico (70%). Las cepas de levaduras (Candida diddensiae y Candida naeodendra) fueron predominantes y mostraron acidez (pH=2.5) y sales biliares (0,1% y 0,3%) resistentes y alta capacidad de adhesión (ca ∼ 10CFU/ml) a las líneas celulares intestinales; fueron positivos para catalasa y negativos para lipasa y ninguno poseía actividad antimicrobiana contra patógenos seleccionados. No se detectaron bacterias del ácido láctico. En conclusión, GNBFO tiene características funcionales prometedoras, ya que contienen valiosos nutrientes, antioxidantes y cepas de levaduras con posibles rasgos probióticos.
Costly information acquisition in centralized matching markets

When applying to a university, students and their parents devote considerable time acquiring information about university programs in order to form preferences. We explore ways to reduce wasteful information acquisition, that is, to help students avoid acquiring information about out‐of‐reach schools or universities, using a market design approach. Focusing on markets where students are ranked by universities based on exam scores, we find that, both theoretically and experimentally, a sequential serial dictatorship mechanism leads to higher student welfare than a direct serial dictatorship mechanism. This is because the sequential mechanism informs students about which universities are willing to admit them, thereby directing their search. Our experiments also show that the sequential mechanism has behavioral advantages because subjects deviate from the optimal search strategy less frequently than under the direct mechanism. Furthermore, providing historical cutoff scores under the direct mechanism can increase student welfare, especially when the information costs are high, although the observed effect is weaker than that of a sequential mechanism.
Modelling the Influence of Soil Properties on Crop Yields Using a Non-Linear NFIR Model and Laboratory Data

This paper introduces a new non-linear correlation analysis method based on a non-linear finite impulse response (NFIR) model to study and quantify the effects of ten soil properties on crop yield. Two versions of the NFIR model were implemented: NFIR-LN, accounting for both the linear and non-linear variability in the system, and NFIR-L, accounting for linear variability only. The performance of the NFIR models was compared with a non-linear random forest (RF) model, to predict oilseed rape (2013) and wheat (2014) yields in one field at Premslin, Germany. The ten soil properties were used as system inputs, whereas crop yield was the system output. Results demonstrated that the individual and total contribution of the soil properties on crop yield varied throughout the different cropping seasons, weather conditions, and crops. Both the NFIR-LN and RF models outperformed the NFIR-L model and explained up to 55.62% and 50.66% of the yield variation for years 2013 and 2014, respectively. The NFIR-LN and RF models performed equally during yield prediction, although the NFIR-LN model provided more consistent results through the two cropping seasons. Higher phosphorus and potassium contributions to the yield were calculated with the NFIR-LN model, suggesting this method outperforms the RF model.
Brucella infection in migratory cattle herds in Jigawa State Nigeria: A cross sectional study

Publication History: Received: 10-06-2020 Accepted: 17-08-2020 Abstract A cross sectional study on Brucella infection was carried out in Jigawa State in order to evaluate seroprevalence and transmission exposure factors among migratory cattle herds. A total of 1,810 cattle of different ages and sexes were systematically selected from 147 herds across four agricultural zones in the State and screened using Serum Agglutination Test (SAT) while closed ended questionnaire was used to evaluate exposure factors. From the results out of the 1,810 (serum samples) (3.37%) tested positive. Females showed higher seropositivity (3.6%) to the infection, compared to males (2.7%). Cattle of age 4-5 years had the highest prevalence (7%), compared to 3-4 years (4.5%), 2-3years (2%), 1-2years (0.8%), with no positive reactor among cattle of less than one year (0%). Seropositive animals according to the locations was found to be highest in Zone III (5.2%), followed by Zone IV (3.9%) and Zone I (2.4%), and least in Zone II (1.5%). A higher herd prevalence was recorded in Zone III (29%), followed by Zone IV (21%) and Zone I (17%), with lowest in Zone II (12%). The overall herd prevalence was 20.4%. There was association between herds that do not practice quarantine, raise multiple species, share communal pastures and water points with Brucella infection (P< 0.05) and they are more likely to acquire the infection as indicated by odds ratio. In conclusion the results have indicated that Brucella infection exists in the studied herds and some exposure factors were identified. It is hereby recommended that herd owners should practice quarantine of newly purchased animals, avoid herding multiple species of animals together, carryout routine testing and minimize contacts at grazing and water points.
Performance Evaluation of LoRa 920 MHz Frequency Band in a Hilly Forested Area

Long-range (LoRa) wireless communication technology has been widely used in many Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications in industry and academia. Radio wave propagation characteristics in forested areas are important to ensure communication quality in forest IoT applications. In this study, 920 MHz band propagation characteristics in forested areas and tree canopy openness were investigated in the Takakuma experimental forest in Kagoshima, Japan. The aim was to evaluate the performance of the LoRa 920 MHz band with spreading factor (SF12) in a forested hilly area. The received signal strength indicator (RSSI) was measured as a function of the distance between the transmitter antenna and ground station (GS). To illustrate the effect of canopy openness on radio wave propagation, sky view factor (SVF) and a forest canopy height model were considered at each location of a successfully received RSSI. A positive correlation was found between the RSSI and SVF. It was found that between the GS and transmitter antenna, if the canopy height is above 23 m, the signal diffracted and RSSI fell to −120 to −127 dBm, so the presence of the obstacle height should be considered. Further research is needed to clarify the detailed tree density between the transmitter and ground station to propose an optimal propagation model for a forested environment.
Sexual Stimulants: Prevalence and Associated Factors Amongst Married Women in Sokoto Metropolis, Sokoto State, Nigeria

Aim: This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence and factors associated with the use of sexual stimulants (aphrodisiacs) among married women in Sokoto metropolis, Sokoto state, Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 215 married women in Sokoto metropolis selected by multistage sampling technique. A set of pre-tested, semi-structured intervieweradministered questionnaire was used to collect data on the research variables. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20 statistical package. Results: A total of 215 married women were interviewed, out of which 209 were aware of sexual stimulants. Of the 209 respondents who were aware of sexual stimulants, majority 183 (85.0%) reported using one form of sexual stimulants or the other and up to 135 (73.8%) of those who used sexual stimulants were from monogamous setting, their main source of information concerning Original Research Article Ango et al.; ACRI, 21(1): 24-33, 2021; Article no.ACRI. 66066 25 sexual stimulants was from family relatives 101 (55.2%). A large proportion of the respondents 127 (69.4%) used it to satisfy their spouses while majority (84.3%) of them reported increased sexual pleasure/satisfaction by them and their husbands. Complications developed by the respondents while using sexual stimulants include: vaginal itching 8(30.8%), vaginal discharge 5(19.2%), dryness of the vagina and irregular menstrual period 2 (7.7%) each, vaginal bruises, lower abdominal pain and painful intercourse 3 (11.5%) each. Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of use of sexual stimulants among the respondents, with the substances being obtained from various sources and used for different reasons. A sizeable number of them opined that they used the substances to enhance their sexual satisfaction and that of their husbands. Since the pharmacological compositions of these substances have not been ascertained, there is need for community education on the health risks associated with the use of sexual stimulants as some of them may have adverse effects on the organs of the body.
Inferior pedicle with inverted-T procedure for bilateral reduction mammoplasty provided satisfactory surgical and aesthetic outcome

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate surgical and aesthetic outcomes of bilateral reduction mammoplasty (RM) through the inferior pedicle with inverted-T approach (PO). Methods: 23 women with bilateral symptomatizing macromastia underwent preoperative breast measurements, calculation of breast volume (BV), determination of quality of life (QoL) and self-esteem scorings using the breast reduction assessed severity scale (BRASS) and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES). RM was performed and intraoperative and PO data were collected. At 3-m PO, aesthetic outcome was evaluated using the ABNSW score, which assesses breasts asymmetry and shape, nipple deformation, skin condition and wound scar, and QoL outcome and overall satisfaction were determined. Results: Mean operative time was 240.4±39.7 min and mean weight of excised breast tissue was 2778.3±307.7 gm. Minor PO complications were managed conservatively and no patient required revision surgery. PO breast measurements were significantly improved with decreased BV and increased breast projection. Median ABNSW score was 10 and PO median BRASS and RSES scores were 9 and 17 with significant change in comparison to preoperative data. Preoperative BRASS score was negatively correlated age and body mass index, while RSES score was positively correlated with age. Nine women were highly satisfied by aesthetic outcome, 10 women were satisfied and 16 women were highly satisfied with overall outcome. Conclusions: RM significantly improved women QoL, aesthetic appearance and psychological status. Inferior pedicle with inverted T-mammoplasty is a safe, and applicable pattern of mammoplasty, allow significant reduction of BV with improved breast measurements and projection and provide satisfactory aesthetic outcome.
Hierarchical Cluster Analysis of Human Value Priorities and Associations with Subjective Well-Being, Subjective General Health, Social Life, and Depression across Europe

Human values are a central component in understanding individuals’ choices. Using the Schwartz’s Values instrument, this study aimed to identify patterns of human value priorities of 35,936 participants across 20 European countries and analyse their relations with subjective well-being (SWB), subjective general health (SGH), social life, and depression indices in Europe. A hierarchical cluster analysis of data from the seventh European Social Survey (ESS) round 7, based on the higher order dimensions of the Schwartz values model, allowed identifying four European groups with distinct indicators. Indices of SWB, SGH, social life, and depression showed statistically significant differences among the four different sociodemographic groups. The graphical representation of the monotonic correlations of each of these indices with the value priorities attributed to the ten basic human values was ordered according to the Schwartz circumplex model, yielding quasi-sinusoidal patterns. The differences among the four groups can be explained by their distinct sociodemographic characteristics: social focus, growth focus, strong social focus, and weak growth focus. The results of this study suggest a rehabilitation of the notion of hedonism, raising the distinction between higher and lower pleasures, with the former contributing more to well-being than the latter.
Autonomy support and school adjustment: The mediating role of basic psychological needs

ABSTRACT There is a broad literature that depicts the relationship between mothers’ and teachers’ autonomy support on students’ adjustment at school; yet the mechanisms underlying this link have received less attention. Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), the present study aimed to address this gap in the literature by testing a model where basic psychological needs satisfaction and their frustration act as mediators in the association between autonomy support and school adjustment. The sample consisted of 271 Mauritian adolescent students (127 boys, 144 girls) in 10th and 11th grades (mean age of 15.5 years old) who responded to a questionnaire measuring their perceived relationships with their mother and teachers as well as their academic, social, and emotional adjustment. Path analyses showed that basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration mediated the relationship between perceived autonomy support and school adjustment. However, distinct patterns of mediation were observed from mothers and teachers. In addition, gender differences were detected in perceived teachers’ autonomy support, the need for competence, and adjustment dimensions. These results are presented and discussed based on SDT. The limitations and implications of the present study are also highlighted.
Heart or Mind? The Impact of Power Distance Belief on the Persuasiveness of Cognitive Versus Affective Appeals in Education Marketing Messages

One of the greatest challenges in education marketing is designing effective marketing messages, especially when targeting consumers with different cultural backgrounds. This research examines the impact of power distance belief (PDB) on the persuasiveness of affective appeal versus cognitive appeal in education marketing messages. The authors theorize that low-PDB consumers tend to prefer education products presented with affective appeal because of their process learning mindset, which focuses on self-discovery and self-development. By contrast, high-PDB consumers tend to prefer education products presented with cognitive appeal because of their outcome learning mindset, which focuses on acquiring skills and social/economic gains relevant to such skills. These effects were supported by converging results from four experiments, a field study, and a content analysis across 37 countries using a wide range of education products and services. This research contributes to the literature on PDB, education, and cross-cultural consumer behavior and provides guidelines for global education marketers.
Temporal Trends in Obesity and Chronic disease risks among Young Adults: a 10-year Review at a Tertiary institution, Nigeria

BackgroundThere is an increasing prevalence of obesity among college/university students in developing countries similar to the trend being observed in industrialized countries. Of great concern is the persistence of weight gain among this young population with the risk of being overweight and obese increasing with years of study and till adulthood. The aim of this study is to describe the trend and burden of overweight/obesity and emerging associated chronic disease risks among adolescents and young adults at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.MethodThis is a 10-year retrospective review of medical records of students (undergraduate and post-graduate) admitted between 2009 and 2018 at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. A total of 60,168 participants were analysed. The Body mass index (BMI) categories were determined according to WHO standard definitions and blood pressure was classified according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7) ResultThe mean age of the study participants was 24.8, SD 8.4 years. A large majority was ≤ 40 years (95.1%). There was a slight male preponderance (51.5%) with a male to female ratio of 1.1:1; undergraduate students constituted 51.9%. The prevalence of BMI categories was underweight (10.5%), overweight and obesity 18.7% and 7.2% respectively. We found significant association between overweight/obesity and older age, being female and undergoing postgraduate study (p = 0.01). Furthermore, females had a higher burden of coexisting abnormal BMI characterized by co-occurrence of underweight, overweight and obesity. Hypertension was the most prevalent obesity-associated non-communicable disease in this study with a prevalence of 8.1%. Also, a third of the study population (35.1%) had prehypertension. Hypertension is significantly associated with age, male sex, overweight/obesity and family history of hypertension. Other rare obesity-associated diseases include asthma, diabetes, dyslipidemia, osteoarthritis and gallstones.ConclusionThis study identified rising trends in the prevalence of obesity, a double burden of malnutrition among the study population and the emergence of non-communicable disease risks with a lifelong implication on their health and concomitant burden on the healthcare system. Cost-effective interventions are urgently needed at the secondary and tertiary-level educational institutions to address these issues.