Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PREDICTORS OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG POSTGRADUATE AFRICAN STUDENTS IN A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN MALAYSIA, 2017

ABSTRACT Background: Globally, obesity is one of the major public health problems and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) increases with each rise in body mass index (BMI). Hence, obesity is considered as one of the leading risk factors for mortality due to NCD. Seventy percent (70%) of 56.4 million global deaths were due to NCDs in 2015 alone, with over three quarters (30.7million) of these mortalities happened in low and middle-income countries. Several studies have reported the association between overweight, obesity and several factors, for example, the socio-demographic factors, behavioural factors, eating pattern and psychological factors. Subsequently, this study aims to investigate the predictors of overweight and obesity among African postgraduate students in Public University Malaysia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered structured questionnaire. All registered full-time post graduate African students were included in the study. While the exclusion criteria were pregnant students, physically challenged that cannot stand without support and registered students that were on deferment or long medical leave. The study analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) was used to summarise categorical data while. Multiple logistic regressions were used to determine predictors of overweight and obesity. Result: Study respondents were 559 African post-graduate students in a public university in Malaysia who a selected randomly from list of post graduate students, out of which 77.3% were males and 22.7% were females. Overall there were 29.3% overweight respondents while 6.1% were obese. In multiple logistic regression, the significant predictors were: age group of 30 – 39 years (AOR=2.209; 95%CI=1.048 – 4.657) and 40 – 49 age group (AOR=2.530; 95%CI=1.043 – 6.134), gender (AOR=2.037; 95%CI 1.130 – 3.672), marital status (AOR=3.686; 95%CI=1.783 – 7.620), low physical activity level (AOR=2.478, 95%CI=1.191 – 5.157) and alcohol consumption (AOR=2.999, 95%CI=1.667 – 5.396). Conclusion: In conclusion, the males had a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity than females. Advancing age, being male gender, being married, as well as alcohol consumption were found to predictors of overweight and obesity. The study also found a high-level physical activity to be protective against overweight and obesity. Keywords: Overweight, Obesity, Predictor, African postgraduate students, Malaysia
Nudging Toward the Herd: Understanding the Multidimensional Role of Perceived Uncertainty

Understanding how herd behavior phenomenon occurs IS context is important because it influences many choice decisions, is the main reason for some adoption decision anomalies, and explains the reasons behind the rapid rise or collapse of various technology fads. Perceived uncertainty is a key factor that triggers herd mentality (i.e. through imitation) and despite its influential role, the IS literature has not adequately conceptualized and operationalized this broad concept. This research aims to contribute to the literature by decomposing perceived uncertainty to its dimensions and analyzing the influence of each dimension on triggering individuals’ herd mentality.
A novel antimicrobial electrochemical glucose biosensor based on silver–Prussian blue‐modified TiO
 2
 nanotube arrays

Glucose biosensors play an important role in the diagnosis and continued monitoring of the disease, diabetes mellitus. This report proposes the development of a novel enzymatic electrochemical glucose biosensor based on TiO2 nanotubes modified by AgO and Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles (NPs), which has an additional advantage of possessing antimicrobial properties for implantable biosensor applications. In this study, we developed two high performance glucose biosensors based on the immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOx) onto Prussian blue (PB) modified TiO2 nanotube arrays functionalized by Au and AgO NPs. AgOdeposited TiO2 nanotubes were synthesized through an electrochemical anodization process followed by Ag electroplating process in the same electrolyte. Deposition of PB particles was performed from an acidic ferricyanide solution. The surface morphology and elemental composition of the two fabricated biosensors were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) which indicate the successful deposition of Au and AgO nanoparticles as well as PB nanocrystals. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used to investigate the performance of the modified electrochemical biosensors. The results show that the developed electrochemical biosensors display excellent properties in terms of electron transmission, low detection limit as well as high stability for the determination of glucose. Under the optimized conditions, the amperometric response shows a linear dependence on the glucose concentration to a detection limit down to 4.91 μM with sensitivity of 185.1 mA M cm in Au modified biosensor and detection limit of 58.7 μM with 29.1 mA M cm sensitivity in AgO modified biosensor.
How Brand Authenticity and Consumer Brand Engagement Can Be Expressed in Reviews: A Text Mining Approach

Abstract The current study aims to explore brand authenticity (and the related constructs: the need for uniqueness and brand love) and consumer brand engagement in consumers’ sentiments toward restaurants on online reviews. This research uses a text mining technique, applying sentiment analysis to the reviews. The data is retrieved from Yelp.com, and uses a randomly selected sample of 3,877 reviews of restaurants, from seven cities in the USA. This paper proposes a specific aggregated dictionary for brand authenticity, consumer brand engagement and related constructs, based on previously validated scales which contribute to perform a more multi-faceted analysis. The findings contribute to the marketing research by unfolding a high level of consumer-brand engagement and brand authenticity in online reviews, revealing that positive sentimental attachment toward a focal object in reviews is an essential source of information.
A Comparative Study on Presently and Previously Obese Individuals in Food Diary Records, and Lifestyle Data by Subjects Attending a Weight Control Program

In an attempt to replicate and extend previous research on the validity off ood diary records, 18 obese and 16 previously obese individuals from the community were quizzed on food recording and kcalorie estimation in a controlled analogue of self-monitoring. Re ult of the experimental phase of the study replicate those of previou studie indicating that the food diaries of obese clients are invalid becau e of poor food descriptions, incorrect quantity estimates, and errors in converting . kcalories. The results also indicate that subjects tend to overestimate quantities and kcalories off oods. However, the present study extended previous research by examining the differences between obese and previously obese individuals. It was thought that weight differences might be a function, to some degree, of the person's accuracy at food recording, quantity of portion and kcaJorie e timation. The present results suggested no relatioship between current weight and accuracy. The implications of this finding suggests that success at weight Joss may not be significantly related to an individuals ability at food de cription, quantity of portion and ability in kcalorie estimation, as was uggested by previous studies. The results of this study strongly question the validity of self reports in food consumption. Its implications in research and practice were examined. The assessment phase of the study obtained information via a questionnaire on 177 individuals involved in a weight control program. The areas in the questionnaire consisted of: (a) general information, (b) health, (c) environment, (d) emotional aspects of eating, (e) exercise. The findings support past research on obesity, and revealed some areas of interest for future research. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to the committee members, Dr. john M. Ma;uire, Dr. Richard D. Tucker, and Connie Schneider R. D. for their support, participation, and contribution in the development of this thesis. Dr. McGuire has been a special source of unconditional support and encouragement since the time I began the graduate program, for which I am very grateful. I would like to give special thanks to Connie Schneider. Connie taught me many things about nutrition, and she was a source of motivation, and encouragement. I m also grateful to Mr. Charles F. Carmen, Area Director and Vice President of Weight Watchers of Central Florida. for his invaluable help and a i tance in recruiting volunteers for the study. And my heartiest thanks to all the coun elors, and staff at Weight Watchers for their kind assistance. I would like to give a very special thank you to my husband, Mr. Joseph F. Mancusi, for understanding how important it was for me to obtain this degree, and for his love, assistance, and commitment along with mine, during the pa t years. To my parents, and dear sister, I am thankful for their cheery disposition, support, and continuous reinforcement.
Consumer immersion in managed visitor attractions: The role of individual responses and antecedent factors

ABSTRACT While there is a growing interest in immersive experiences and visitor immersion within the tourism industry, there is still a deficiency of empirical research focusing on how visitors become immersed. This study explores the subjective nature of the immersion process by focusing on the moderating role of individual responses and the influence of antecedent factors in the process. Empirical evidence for the purpose of this study was collected through a combination of field observations and group interviews with guests visiting an Escape Room in Norway. Six individual responses that appeared to moderate the individual visitors’ immersion process were identified in the study; including affective, behavioral, and cognitive responses. Findings further indicated that these responses were influenced by personal, external and social antecedents, as well as by the visitors’ own appraisal of the core features of the experience product. The findings presented in this article shed light on the individual nature of the immersion process and the factors that moderate the visitors’ progression towards a state of immersion.
Nonlinear guided waves for fatigue crack evaluation in steel joints with digital image correlation validation

This paper presents a study of nonlinear guided-wave-based fatigue crack identification in a steel joint subjected to tensile fatigue loadings. The steel joint is considered as a section of a railway bogie, a vital component of the train structure. Finite element method and experiment were used to evaluate fatigue crack based on the second harmonic method. The symmetric mode (S1) of Lamb waves was selected as the input signal and excited in experiment by piezoelectric transducers installed on the upper surface of the joint. The sensing paths were aligned perpendicularly to and at various distances from the potential crack trajectory. When the waves interacted with the crack, higher order harmonics were produced owing to the phenomenon of contact acoustic nonlinearity. A nonlinear index based on the second harmonic characteristics was exploited to define the nonlinearity. To validate the outcomes based on nonlinear guided waves, a digital image correlation technique was implemented and the results were in good agreement. The findings indicated that the nonlinear guided-wave-based technique is capable of identifying crack initiation and growth in such joint type structures.
The Mediator Effect of Leader- Member Exchange on the Relationship Between Organizational Cynicism and Organizational Climate

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating role of leader-member exchange on the effects of organizational climate sub-dimensions on organizational cynicism dimensions. For this purpose, the research was carried out on 319 bank personnel. Structural equation modelling is used to test research hypotheses. According to research findings, it was found that all organizational climate dimensions had positive effect on leader-member exchange whereas leader-member exchange affected cognitive and affective cynicism negatively. When we analyzed the significant and negative effects of organizational climate sub-dimensions' on cognitive and affective cynicism, it was found that leader-member exchanges has partial and full mediatory roles. According to the results obtained from the research model, the positive climate (work atmosphere) in the organization allows the employee to interact with the leader more easily and positively. Through the leader-member exchange, the cognitive and affective cynicism perceived by the employee declines indirectly.
A Conceptual Model of Intention To Use Online Collaborative Consumption Platform

The objective of this study is trying to develop a comprehensive model referring to previous research of Hwang and Griffith's model of intention to participate in Collaborative Consumption (CC). The study applied exploratory research design which implements previous researches regarding online collaborative consumption focusing on a study by Hwang and Griffith. Hwang and Griffith's model of intention to participate in Collaborative Consumption (CC) is unique in that it recognizes both attitudes and sympathy as the primary predictors of the intention to use the CC platform. The model is also relevant to CC as it encompasses different values, which are utilitarian, hedonic and symbolic. This Study results in a comprehensive model which incorporating several variables from previous studies, such as online initial trusts and perceived behavioral control. We conclude that by trying to put Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) will enrich the global-scale model from the higher point of view besides the cognitive perception itself. Moreover, this conceptual model is developed as a suggestion for future research as well as the implementation of more sophisticated statistical analysis method should be included. Keywords: digital business; startup; user intention; online market; collaborative consumption
The Functional Organization of High-Level Visual Cortex Determines the Representation of Complex Visual Stimuli

A hallmark of high-level visual cortex is its functional organization of neighboring areas that are selective for single categories, such as faces, bodies, and objects. However, visual scenes are typically composed of multiple categories. How does a category-selective cortex represent such complex stimuli? Previous studies have shown that the representation of multiple stimuli can be explained by a normalization mechanism. Here we propose that a normalization mechanism that operates in a cortical region composed of neighboring category-selective areas would generate a representation of multi-category stimuli that varies continuously across a category-selective cortex as a function of the magnitude of category selectivity for its components. By using fMRI, we can examine this correspondence between category selectivity and the representation of multi-category stimuli along a large, continuous region of cortex. To test these predictions, we used a linear model to fit the fMRI response of human participants (both sexes) to a multi-category stimulus (e.g., a whole person) based on the response to its component stimuli presented in isolation (e.g., a face or a body). Consistent with our predictions, the response of cortical areas in high-level visual cortex to multi-category stimuli varies in a continuous manner along a weighted mean line, as a function of the magnitude of its category selectivity. This was the case for both related (face + body) and unrelated (face+wardrobe) multi-category pairs. We conclude that the functional organization of neighboring category-selective areas may enable a dynamic and flexible representation of complex visual scenes that can be modulated by higher-level cognitive systems according to task demands. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT It is well established that the high-level visual cortex is composed of category-selective areas that reside in nearby locations. Here we predicted that this functional organization together with a normalization mechanism would generate a representation for multi-category stimuli that varies as a function of the category selectivity for its components. Consistent with this prediction, in an fMRI study we found that the representation of multi-category stimuli varies along high-level visual cortex, in a continuous manner, along a weighted mean line, in accordance with the category selectivity for a given area. These findings suggest that the functional organization of high-level visual cortex enables a flexible representation of complex scenes that can be modulated by high-level cognitive systems according to task demands.
Lipid production and molecular studies of Anabaena torulosa treated with different types of stress

Lipid production in terms of oil percentage and fatty acid composition of Anabaena torulosa which was identified morphologically and genetically was studied to determine its ability for biodiesel production in response to salinity, nitrogen and phosphorus starvation stress; salinity ranging from 50 to 250mM NaCl, nitrogen and phosphorus regime (50%, NO(3)-N , 50% PO(4)-P of BG11 media). The results indicated that there was change in physiological behavior under these different stresses and illustration of these differences genetically. The results of oil analysis revealed that the lipid production increased when nitrogen and phosphorus decrease (68.83% and 160.97% respectively) and 200mM of NaCl increase oil content by 120%. GC/MS analysis of fatty acid composition revealed that methyl linoleate is the main constituent of fatty acids ester 57.9% which classified as a biodiesel due to its long methyl ester chain and is also used as a fuel in standard diesel engines. All these results explained genetically by using RAPD technique which revealed new bands appeared and other bands disappeared. DNA sequence was changed leading to DNA polymorphism 41.25%. Also, the DNA pattern indicated that stress of nitrogen and phosphorus were more related to control, While the other stresses (salinity and combined stresses) caused more changes comparing to control. So that stress changes in physiology was confirmed genetically.
Temperature Measuring-Based Decision-Making Prognostic Approach in Electric Power Transformers Winding Failures

The electric power transformer is a vital apparatus in power systems, and failure prognostics is significant for the protection of this asset. In addition to the asset damage, its unexpected failure would interrupt power delivery and jeopardize the stability of the system. There are several fault diagnosis methods introduced for the detection of this kind of fault; however, their functionality is for the postfault condition when the asset is already damaged, and the operation of the system is interrupted. Electric insulation deteriorations make the transformers susceptive to faults due to thermal and electrical stresses. In this article, the impact of early stages insulation deteriorations on the temperature inside the transformer is studied using a finite-element electromagnetic–thermofluid method and based on the observations an online sensor-based decision-making predictive fault diagnosis approach is proposed. Finally, the results are experimentally verified.
Hybrid Support Vector Regression with Parallel Co-Evolution Algorithm Based on GA and PSO for Forecasting Monthly Rainfall

Accurate and timely monthly rainfall forecasting is a major challenge for the scientific community in hydrological research such as river management project and design of flood warning systems. Support Vector Regression (SVR) is a very useful precipitation prediction model. In this paper, a novel parallel co-evolution algorithm is presented to determine the appropriate parameters of the SVR in rainfall prediction based on parallel co-evolution by hybrid Genetic Algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm, namely SVRGAPSO, for monthly rainfall prediction. The framework of the parallel co-evolutionary algorithm is to iterate two GA and PSO populations simultaneously, which is a mechanism for information exchange between GA and PSO populations to overcome premature local optimum. Our methodology adopts a hybrid PSO and GA for the optimal parameters of SVR by parallel co-evolving. The proposed technique is applied over rainfall forecasting to test its generalization capability as well as to make comparative evaluations with the several competing techniques, such as the other alternative methods, namely SVRPSO (SVR with PSO), SVRGA (SVR with GA), and SVR model. The empirical results indicate that the SVRGAPSO results have a superior generalization capability with the lowest prediction error values in rainfall forecasting. The SVRGAPSO can significantly improve the rainfall forecasting accuracy. Therefore, the SVRGAPSO model is a promising alternative for rainfall forecasting.
A Method of Stylized Drawing Non-Photorealistic Contours

Contour rendering is a hot issue in Non-photorealistic rendering research, the method in this paper used mathematical methods to achieve contours on the basis of the traditional method of free-form surfaces on the body. This method according to the principle of stylized contour rendering increased the right amount of contour lines in their neighborhood through detecting the pixels on contour lines to thickening and widening contour lines, and further improved the stylized rendering of contour lines by using texture mapping. And the method achieved texture stylized rendering without re-filling the gap between characteristics.
The Improved Interpolating Complex Variable Element Free Galerkin Method for Two-Dimensional Potential Problems

In this paper, the improved interpolating complex variable moving least squares (IICVMLS) method is applied, in which the complete basis function is introduced and combined with the singular weight function to achieve the orthometric basis function. Then, the interpolating shape function is achieved to construct the interpolating trial function. Incorporating the IICVMLS method and the Galerkin integral weak form, an improved interpolating complex variable element free Galerkin (IICVEFG) method is proposed to solve the 2D potential problem. Because the essential boundary conditions can be straightaway imposed in the above method, the expressions of final dispersed matrices are more concise in contrast to the non-interpolating complex variable meshless methods. Through analyzing four specific potential problems, the IICVEFG method is validated with greater computing precision and efficiency.