Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gamiﬁcation in Physical Activity: State-of-the-Art

—Physical activity is decreasing globally, and more people are becoming sedentary, which is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes. To counter this trend, gamiﬁcation emerges as a promising strategy for enhancing participation in physical activity interventions. The review investigates the inﬂuence of gamiﬁed systems on the promotion of physical activity and examines associated behavioral and psychological outcomes. The analysis incorporates empirical studies focused on adult participants, published in peer-reviewed English-language journals over the last ﬁve years. Several critical aspects are considered in the analysis, including speciﬁc types of physical activity targeted, employed gamiﬁcation systems, involved motivational features, and behavioral and psychological outcomes, thus offering a state-of-the-art overview of gamiﬁcation and physical activity. Findings conﬁrm that gamiﬁcation serves as an effective mechanism for promoting physical activity. To address gaps in existing research, recommendations for future work include broadening the range of metrics used for measuring physical activity and investigating the psychological beneﬁts of gamiﬁcation in physical activity interventions. Moreover, future research could beneﬁt from leveraging addictive game design elements and utilizing artiﬁcial intelligence and computer vision models to monitor user progress and suggest appropriate challenges. In conclusion, the review outlines the considerable potential of gamiﬁcation to positively affect participation in physical activity, highlighting the need for additional research to fully realize this potential.
CRS-Que: A User-Centric Evaluation Framework for Conversational Recommender Systems

An increasing number of recommendation systems try to enhance the overall user experience by incorporating conversational interaction. However, evaluating conversational recommender systems (CRSs) from the user’s perspective remains elusive. The GUI-based system evaluation criteria may be inadequate for their conversational counterparts. This paper presents our proposed unifying framework, CRS-Que, to evaluate the user experience of CRSs. This new evaluation framework is developed based on ResQue, a popular user-centric evaluation framework for recommender systems. Additionally, it includes user experience metrics of conversation (e.g., understanding, response quality, humanness) under two dimensions of ResQue (i.e., Perceived Qualities and User Beliefs). Following the psychometric modeling method, we validate our framework by evaluating two conversational recommender systems in different scenarios: music exploration and mobile phone purchase. The results of the two studies support the validity and reliability of the constructs in our framework and reveal how conversation constructs and recommendation constructs interact and influence the overall user experience of the CRS. We believe this framework could help researchers conduct standardized user-centric research for conversational recommender systems and provide practitioners with insights into designing and evaluating a CRS from users’ perspectives.
Effect of feeding diets containing levels of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on digestibility and nitrogen balance of red Sokoto bucks

The apparent digestibility and nitrogen balance of nutrients in isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 250, 500 and 750 g ginger inclusion levels was studied in a 14-day trial involving twenty (20) red Sokoto bucks (RSB) weighing on the average 17.86 kg. The treatments were replicated five times in a completely randomized design. The animals were individually fed at 4% of their body weight for both the concentrate (1.5% as supplement) and Digitaria smutsii hay (2.5% as basal diet). The trial consisted of 7-day adjustment period followed by a 7-day total collection of faeces and urine. Nutrient digestibility, faecal and urine outputs were recorded. Results indicated a similar dry matter intake across the treatments. Crude protein and crude fiber intakes were significantly (P<0.05) affected by ginger inclusion levels with higher values recorded in the group fed 250 g. Dry matter digestibility significantly (P<0.05) increased with increase in ginger levels. Nitrogen retention was significantly (P<0.05) higher in bucks fed with 750 g ginger. It was therefore concluded that, varying inclusion levels of ginger improved nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention of RSB. RSB can be fed up to 750 g/100 kg diet ginger.
Prediction of Soil Erosion in a Water Catchment of Miyun Reservoir

Choosing the Water Catchment of Miyun Reservoir as a research object,based on USLE model and correlative research results home and abroad,the present paper established database of Miyun reservoir's soil erosion model using GIS and RS,it computed the erosion gene and evaluated it and then added them to the data-base;using the evaluate function of ARC/INFO data-base to predict the soil erosion modulus,and to classify them based on the standard of the intensity of the soil erosion.The result showed that the total area of soil and water losses is 1073.10 km2 and the erosion degree is mainly from light to moderate intensity,while the light erosion area is 791.19 km2,the moderate erosion area is 202.80 km2,respectively.
Deep learning in optics—a tutorial

In recent years, machine learning and deep neural networks applications have experienced a remarkable surge in the field of physics, with optics being no exception. This tutorial aims to offer a fundamental introduction to the utilization of deep learning in optics, catering specifically to newcomers. Within this tutorial, we cover essential concepts, survey the field, and provide guidelines for the creation and deployment of artificial neural network architectures tailored to optical problems.
The Effects of Transcript Use on Advanced ESL Listening Comprehension

This study examined the efficacy of transcript use with repeated listening exercises to improve advanced ESL student listening comprehension. Thirty-one students enrolled in an intensive English program from various L1 backgrounds participated with 15 in the treatment group and 16 in the control group. Between a pretest and posttest at the beginning and end of a 14-week semester, students in both the treatment and control groups completed a repeated listening exercise twice each week with novel recordings. Treatment group students participated in repeated listening exercise including a sequence of listening without the transcript, listening with the transcript, and finally listening again without the transcript. They answered comprehension questions between the first and second listening. Students in the control group listened to the same audio repeated the same number of times and answered the same comprehension questions but never had access to the transcript. Repeated measures ANOVA results for this quasi-experimental study show that the treatment group students outperformed the control group students on listening comprehension test items between the pretest and posttest. These findings suggest the potential benefit of transcript use to improve overall listening comprehension for advanced ESL learners. We encourage TESOL practitioners to consider whether transcript use might facilitate listening comprehension in their classrooms, and we call for additional research to determine the appropriateness of transcript use in other TESOL contexts.
Label-Free SERS and MD Analysis of Biomarkers for Rapid Point-of-Care Sensors Detecting Head and Neck Cancer and Infections

For the progress of point-of-care medicine, where individual health status can be easily and quickly monitored using a handheld sensor, saliva serves as one of the best-suited body fluids thanks to its availability and abundance of physiological indicators. Salivary biomarkers, combined with rapid and highly sensitive detection tools, may pave the way to new real-time health monitoring and personalized preventative therapy branches using saliva as a target matrix. Saliva is increasing in importance in liquid biopsy, a non-invasive approach that helps physicians diagnose and characterize specific diseases in patients. Here, we propose a proof-of-concept study combining the unique specificity in biomolecular recognition provided by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in combination with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which give leave to explore the biomolecular absorption mechanism on nanoparticle surfaces, in order to verify the traceability of two validated salivary indicators, i.e., interleukin-8 (IL-8) and lysozyme (LYZ), implicated in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral infection. This strategy simultaneously assures the detection and interpretation of protein biomarkers in saliva, ultimately opening a new route for the evolution of fast and accurate point-of-care SERS-based sensors of interest in precision medicine diagnostics.
Monte Carlo Study of an Electron-Based Neutron Source for Bragg Edge Imaging

Abstract Neutron imaging is a powerful and nondestructive tool for testing materials in industrial and research applications. Compact accelerator neutron sources are gaining interest in neutron application techniques, such as Bragg edge transmission imaging. Delivering a high neutron flux with a narrow pulse width and suppressed photons at the sample position are fundamental factors for designing a neutron source for Bragg edge imaging. In this study, Monte Carlo calculations were performed to simulate a 40-MeV electron beam impinging on a cylindrical tungsten target. Different target moderator and reflector (TMR) geometries were investigated to produce cold neutrons, and their results were compared. Polyethylene (PE) and graphite were used as the moderator and the reflector, respectively. The structures and dimensions of the moderator and reflector were optimized using a Monte Carlo simulation with the PHITS-3.28 code. The effect of the PE moderator temperature on the cold neutron flux was investigated. The results showed that the optimum size of the PE at 77 K inside the reflector was 3 $ \times $× 15 $ \times $× 15 cm3 to achieve the wavelength resolution of 1.05% and the neutron flux of 1.16 $ \times $× 104 n/cm2/s at 1000 cm from the target station by assuming the electron beam current of 275 µA. In addition, the FLUKA 4-2.1 code was used to calculate the neutron spectrum from the designed neutron production target at room temperature, and the results were consistent with the PHITS calculations. The neutron spectrum together with its pulse width from the designed TMR were used to simulate the Bragg edges of an $\alpha $α-Fe sample, and it was concluded that the TMR is suitable for performing Bragg edge imaging.
Deglacial surface circulation changes in the northeastern Atlantic: Temperature and salinity records off NW Scotland on a century scale

Sea surface temperature and salinity estimates reconstructed from a core collected on the Barra Fan, northwest Scotland (56°43′N, 09°19′W; water depth 1320 m), show a series of rapid oscillations during the last deglacial period that are very similar to those observed in the δ18O records from Greenland ice cores. These records indicate that the transport of heat and salt toward the Nordic Seas was highest during the Bolling period. This “superconveyor” weakened after the Bolling, probably as a consequence of increased meltwater flux reducing the oceanic salt content, as suggested by the Barbados sea-level record. Evidence for a phase of ice rafting during the Allerod is presented for the first time from this latitude in the northeast Atlantic. The Younger Dryas stadial, resolved here at a century/decadal scale, is characterized by very rapid oscillations in temperature and salinity, indicating that warm, relatively saline waters repeatedly displaced cool polar waters at this latitude. These observations attest to the inherent instability of the deglacial climate system.
National Phytosociological Database of Namibia

The National Phytosociological Database of Namibia (GIVD ID AF-NA-001) is a collection of true releve data, excluding typical rangeland surveys or forestry inventories concentrating on either the graminoid and/or phanerophyte strata. At present consisting of 10,683 releves collected by various researchers since 1956, the database is continuously being expanded with more releves being sampled each year. Releves have been collected for various purposes, including vegetation description and mapping, conservation planning, land use planning and environmental impact assessments. An important criterion for inclusion in this database is the collection of data according to the guidelines used for the Vegetation Survey of Namibia project. Ecoregions covered include the hyper-arid Namib, the arid Nama-Karoo, the Kalahari basin (including the southernmost Miombo transitional woodlands), as well as the central and north-western Namibian highlands.
NATIONWIDE FLOOD INUNDATION MAPPING IN BANGLADESH BY USING MODIFIED LAND SURFACE WATER INDEX

Near-real-time flood flood mapping is one of the most important parts of emergency response efforts. This paper aims to estimate extreme flood inundation area over the entire Bangladesh, where monsoon river floods are dominant and frequent, affecting over 80% of the total population. The authors improved a water-extent extraction method for a better discrimination capacity to discern flood areas from cloud and mixed areas by using a modified land surface water index (MLSWI) based on the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) 8-day composites (approx. 500m resolution) data. Flood areas in the Brahmaputra River were verified by comparing them with ALOS AVNIR2 (approx. 10m resolution) data. The results showed the superiority of the developed method in providing instant and accurate nationwide mapping of floodwater extent in the three main rivers for the 2007 extreme event in the Bangladesh.
Pengaruh Genistein terhadap Penurunan Kadar Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A pada Kultur Sel Endometriosis

Terapi genistein dikembangkan karena bersifat anti-estrogenik, berfungsi sebagai antioksidan, inhibitor proliferasi, dan anti-kanker.Tujuan penelitian ini adalah menganalisa pengaruh genistein berbagai dosis dan waktu inkubasi terhadap penurunan kadarVascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A (VEGF-A) pada kultur sel endometriosis. Penelitian ini merupakan studi eksperimental yangdilakukan dilaboratorium Fisiologi Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Brawijaya Malang dengan menggunakan kultur selendometriosis. Sampel berasal dari dinding kista endometriosis dari tindakan laparoskopi. Kultur dibagi 7 kelompok, yaitukelompok tanpa perlakuan dan 6 kelompok yang masing-masing ditambahkan genistein dosis 5 μm/L, 10 μm/L, 20 μm/L, 30 μm/L, 40μm/L, dan 50 μm/L. Setelah di inkubasi 6, 24, dan 48 jam, supernatannya dilakukanpemeriksaan kadar VEGF-A dengan teknikELISA. Data hasil pengamatan dianalisis dengan uji ANOVA, uji Tukey, dan uji korelasi. Perbandingan kadar VEGF-A antarakelompok kontrol tidak berbeda signifikan dengan kelompok genistein 5 μM/L dan 10 μM/L pada jam ke-6, tetapi dalam kelompokdosis yang sama berbeda signifikan pada jam ke-24 dan 48. Rerata kadar VEGF-A terendah terdapat pada kelompok genistein 50μM/L inkubasi 48 jam (97.44 ± 3.42 pg/ml), tetapi tidak berbeda signifikan dengan 40 μM/L Peningkatan dosis Genistein pada jamke-6, 24, dan 48 akan menurunkan kadar VEGF-A pada kultur sel endometriosis (p<0,05). Simpulan, genistein berbagai dosis danwaktu inkubasi dapat menurunkan kadar VEGF-A. Semakin tinggi dosis genistein dan semakin lama inkubasi kadar VEGF-A padakultur sel endometriosis cenderung menurun. (MOG 2014;22 94-100)
EEG Biofeedback Decreases Theta and Beta Power While Increasing Alpha Power in Insomniacs: An Open-Label Study

Insomnia, often associated with anxiety and depression, is a prevalent sleep disorder. Biofeedback (BFB) treatment can help patients gain voluntary control over physiological events such as by utilizing electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) power. Previous studies have rarely predicted biofeedback efficacy by measuring the changes in relative EEG power; therefore, we investigated the clinical efficacy of biofeedback for insomnia and its potential neural mechanisms. We administered biofeedback to 82 patients with insomnia, of whom 68 completed 10 sessions and 14 completed 20 sessions. The average age of the participants was 49.38 ± 12.78 years, with 26 men and 56 women. Each biofeedback session consisted of 5 min of EMG and 30 min of EEG feedback, with 2 min of data recorded before and after the session. Sessions were conducted every other day, and four scale measures were taken before the first, fifth, and tenth sessions and after the twentieth session. After 20 sessions of biofeedback treatment, scores on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were significantly reduced compared with those before treatment (−5.5 ± 1.43,t = −3.85, p = 0.006), and scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) (−7.15 ± 2.43, t = −2.94, p = 0.012) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) (STAI-S: −12.36 ± 3.40, t = −3.63, p = 0.003; and STAI-T: −9.86 ± 2.38, t = −4.41, p = 0.001) were significantly lower after treatment than before treatment. Beta and theta power were significantly reduced after treatment, compared with before treatment (F = 6.25, p = 0.014; and F = 11.91, p = 0.001). Alpha power was increased after treatment, compared with before treatment, but the difference was not prominently significant (p > 0.05). EMG activity was significantly decreased after treatment, compared with before treatment (F = 2.11, p = 0.015). Our findings suggest that BFB treatment based on alpha power and prefrontal EMG relieves insomnia as well as anxiety and depression and may be associated with increased alpha power, decreased beta and theta power, and decreased EMG power.
Willingness to pay for Irrigation Advisory Services: Based on Integrated Use Of Earth Observation Data And Information Technologies

The present research by the use of discrete choice model (CM) has analysed the willingness to pay for satellite based of irrigation advisory services in an area of Italy characterized of intensive use of water for irrigation. One original aspect of this study concerns the case study where our work has been implemented. In fact, several studies that used CM have been implemented in agricultural areas and considered water resources management, but we do not fund studies concerning the irrigation advisory service (IAS), specially characterized by a i) highly innovative and technological value offering by the use of Earth Observation (EO) techniques for water saving. The innovative approach of this work was to understand and learn about the different expectations of farmers than consulting services to irrigation in an area of Italy where such services have achieved levels of excellence. The study was carried out in the Campania region in area of Italy covered by IAS called IRRISAT. In 2013, the service has provided support for three Irrigation and Land Reclamation Consortia (ILRC), with 669 farmers and extension of 55.03,57 hectares. Based on these considerations, the specific aims of this work has been i) to analyse the importance of technological innovation in the agricultural water management ii) to define throughout the use of choice experiment (CE) the preferences of the farmers regarding the main characteristic, attributes, of the IRRISAT, iii) to analyse marginal willingness to pay for this service. The main results of the research have confirmed that water is a primary asset for farms and the most important factor for agricultural production. Therefore, there is a clear need for greater use of tools and methodologies to account for water use in irrigation practice. The results have shown the general appreciation for IRRISAT and their willingness to pay for this service.
Associations between teacher-student relationship and externalizing problem behaviors among Chinese rural adolescent

The primary objective of this study is to present a fresh perspective on the correlation between teacher-student relationships and externalizing problem behaviors among adolescents. While previous research has examined this connection, there is still an insufficient understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, the crucial role of peer relationships, mental health, and parental knowledge has been overlooked. In this study, a total of 6,919 Chinese rural adolescents aged 13–19 years participated by completing an anonymous self-report questionnaire. The results show that: (1) teacher-student relationship has a protective effect against the development of externalizing problem behaviors; (2) peer relationship and mental health both have a mediating role in the relationship between teacher-student relationship and externalizing problem behaviors; (3) teacher-student relationship can indirectly affect externalizing problem behaviors through the chain mediation of peer relationship and mental health; (4) parental knowledge plays a moderating role between the teacher-student relationship and externalizing problem behaviors. As the level of parental knowledge increases among rural adolescents, the impact of the teacher-student relationship on externalizing problem behaviors becomes more pronounced; and (5) the impact of teacher-student relationship on externalizing problem behaviors has no significant gender differences. Given the study’s empirical outcomes, we discuss potential explanations and advocate for a comprehensive pedagogical approach to mitigate rural adolescent externalizing behaviors. This entails nurturing teacher-student relations, fostering inclusive peer environments, emphasizing mental health literacy, and synergizing with caregivers for a holistic home-school intervention.
Considerations of Scale in Water Quality Monitoring and Data Analysis

: An assumption of scale is inherent in any environmental monitoring exercise. The temporal or spatial scale of interest defines the statistical model which would be most appropriate for a given system and thus affects both sampling design and data analysis. Two monitoring objectives which are strongly tied to scale are the estimation of average conditions and the evaluation of trends. For both of these objectives, the time or spatial scale of interest strongly influences whether a given set of observations should be regarded as independent or serially correlated and affects the importance of serial correlation in choosing statistical methods. In particular serial correlation has a much different effect on the estimation of long-term means than it does on the estimation of specific-period means. For estimating trends, a distinction between serial correlation and trend is scale dependent. An explicit consideration of scale in monitoring system design and data analysis is, therefore, most important for producing meaningful statistical information.