Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patient preference as a predictor of outcomes in a pilot trial of person-centred counselling versus low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy for persistent sub-threshold and mild depression

The aim of this analysis was to explore whether pre-treatment intervention preferences were related to outcomes for patients with persistent sub-threshold and mild depression who received one of two treatment types. Thirty-six patients took part in a two-arm, parallel group, pilot randomized controlled trial that compared short term (3 month and 6 month) outcomes of person-centred counselling (PCC) compared with low-intensity, CBT-based guided self-help (LICBT). Patient preferences for the two interventions were assessed at baseline assessment, and analysed as two independent linear variables (pro-PCC, pro-LICBT). Eight out of 30 interactions between baseline treatment preferences and treatment type were found to be significant at the p < . 05 level. All were in the predicted direction, with patients who showed a stronger preference for a treatment achieving better outcomes in that treatment compared with the alternative. However, pro-LICBT was a stronger predictor of outcomes than pro-PCC. The findings provide preliminary support that treatment preferences should be taken into account when providing interventions for patients with persistent sub-threshold and mild depression. It is recommended that further research analyses preferences for different treatment types as independent variables, and examines preferences for format of treatment (e.g. guided self-help vs. face-to-face).
Textual Conversation Agent for Enhancing Attraction in E-Learning

E-Learning is one of the most pervasive applications of computer technique. Usually, the application presents textual knowledge through web-browser, others are implemented by real-time video broadcasting. Two methods are either static or bandwidth consuming, and both are monodirectional. New tools are needed with two main requirements: interactivity and durability. In this context, Conversational Agents are a promising approach for improving the experience between the learners and the application. A Conversational Agent embedded E-Learning application will express knowledge rely on the rational reasoning over the learner's utterances in stead of straightly displaying predefined context. In this paper, we described a framework of the tutoring conversational agent. Under the framework, we provide a practical method to rapid create new tutoring applications embedded with Conversational Agents. It has proved that the interactive mode of E-Learning system is more attractive for learners.
GAMIFICATION AND RULE BASED DESIGN STRATEGIES IN ARCHITECTURE EDUCATION

This paper discusses a gamification framework for architectural education within the Design Studio. It firstly defines and explains how gamification and rule based design methodologies enables knowledge generation and deep learning in architectural design. Then the paper presents details and demonstrates how the learning objectives leading to learning outcomes by employing a gamification methodology. Hereby we draw parallels to conventional design studios and explore the students learning. The paper presents a gamified design platform that lies in the context of urban mass housing involving multiple stake holders from developers, architects, landlords, to residents. The ‘players’ generate jointly design proposals in a gamified online platform. The final design is a novel design outcome that is bottom-up driven rather than current design methodologies of buildings that are exclusively designed in a top-down manner. The paper presents the findings and results of this learning methodology and how it compares to conventional students’ learning.
Solar Battery Charger Maintains High Efficiency in Low Light

While MPPC optimizes solar panel efficiency during periods of low illumination, the power conversion efficiency of the battery charger suffers when power levels are low, degrading the overall power transfer efficiency from the panel to the battery. This article shows how to improve battery charger efficiency by applying a simple PWM charging technique that forces the battery charger to release energy in bursts when power levels are low.
Quality Versus Fit : Market Design and Externalities on Multidimensional Matching Platforms

This paper studies externalities in one-to-one matching markets when agents have preferences over multidimensional types by utilizing a minimal search setting where agents are either high or low quality and have an idiosyncratic permatch “fit” shock. It identifies a novel source of externalities that does not exist in the one-dimensional models focused on in the previous literature, but is endemic in multidimensional settings, appearing in both search and frictionless matching models so long as nontransferabilities are present. Agents match too aggressively on traits where preferences are homogeneous across agents (quality), and too little on traits where preferences are heterogeneous across agents (fit). This effect is decomposed into an intermatch externality – when you match to someone, you impose a cost on the rest of the market by removing them from it, and an intramatch externality – you don’t account for your partner’s payoffs when choosing partners. Given these generic externalities, we provide a survey of instruments a matching platform could use to improve surplus, analyzing for each the efficiency properties of the solution and its ease of implementation under a variety of assumptions. These instruments include having the platform act as a middle-man to make the transfers that agents cannot make directly make, utilizing two-part tariffs, splitting the platform along quality, and censoring agents’ choice sets (i.e. curating the set of partners they can see on the platform). JEL classification: D21, C78, D83
Does the Political Environment Affect Inflows of Foreign Direct Investment? Evidence from Emerging Markets

The main aim of the paper is to identify and quantify the influence of the political environment on the inflows of foreign direct investment in emerging markets. The paper defines emerging markets as Middle Income Countries according to the evaluation of the World Bank. Our sample of countries contains 78 states. The reference period focuses on the period of 1996–2012 due to data availability. The evaluation of the political environment is based on three dimensions: the quality of democracy, political instability and the level of corruption, which are related to three subcomponents of the concept, Governance Matters, provided by the World Bank. The paper distinguishes between two types of political instability omitted in thematic literature, elite and non-elite. The former represents non-violent instability (minority governments, tension related to the holding of elections) while the latter deals with violent forms of instability (civil wars, coups, ethnic and religious riots). The paper uses panel data regression analysis for the purpose of identification and quantification. The research uses fixed effects model with a cluster option. According to the results, the influence of the political environment on FDI is not entirely unequivocal in emerging markets; nevertheless, there is a statistically significant dimension – political instability (both parts). The quality of democracy and the level of corruption are significant only in some cases. The paper combines indicators frequently occurring in empirical literature (the Corruption Perception Index, Freedom in the World, Governance Matters) with alternative proxies (the Herfindahl Index Government, the Political Terror Scale, the State Fragility Index), which seem to be a perspective for a future research.
Exploration of aircraft trails by Air Traffic Experts

In this paper, we describe a set of applications and findings performed by Air Traffic Control (ATC) experts while interactively exploring recorded aircraft trails. ATC experts deal with recorded radar data (aircraft positions, altitude, time, etc). This large quantity of information spoils their visualization with a lot of occlusion and cluttering. With a simple paradigm of brush, pick and drop, users can intuitively filter the dataset by direct manipulation of trails. Through applied examples, we show how a visualization tool and its real time applications take advantage of human vision and are therefore assets for data exploration and validation. This tool allows the visualization and the interaction with large quantity of information, hence enabling overview of the dataset at a whole and quick retrieval of insights.
On the Interaction between the Quantity and Quality of Children

The trade-off between quantity and quality is a much-discussed issue in economics. In recent decades, economists have increasingly turned their attention to behavior within families because of its direct implications for such diverse issues such as population growth, intergenerational transfers of wealth, human capital accumulation, and macroeconomic policy. In a pioneering paper written by Gary S. Becker (1960), an economic framework is built by analyzing the factors that determine fertility, in which children are viewed as a durable goods that yield income to parents. Becker maintains that the quality of children is directly related to the amount spent on them, and the number of children desired is directly related to income. Furthermore, many empirical studies performed in the past have demonstrated that quantity and quality of children within a given family often have a negative correlation. Based on this, the Becker and Lewis (1973) paper (that we will present) further explores the interaction between quantity and quality of children. Becker and Lewis explain why the quantity and quality of children are “more closely related than any two commodities chosen at random”(279). An increase in the quantity of children raises the shadow price (marginal cost) of the quality of children (and vice versa) and it demonstrates that the observed income elasticity of demand with respect to quality of children exceeds income elasticity with respect to quantity, while at the same time the observed price elasticity with respect to quantity is greater than price elasticity with respect to quality.
Slicing and Allocation of Transformable Resources for the Deployment of Multiple Virtualized Infrastructure Managers (VIMs)

In the context of 5G networks, the concept of network slicing allows network providers to flexibly share infrastructures with mobile service providers and verticals. While this concept has been widely investigated considering mostly the network issues, in this work we focus on a slice as a service model that takes into account the data center (DC) perspective. In particular, we propose an architecture where DC slices are created over transformable (compute and storage) resources, which can be virtualized or de-virtualized on-demand. Then, on top of each slice, an on-demand VIM is instantiated to control the allocated resources. As a realization of this architecture, we introduce the DC Slice Controller, a system able to deploy and delivery full operational VIMs based on generic templates. We evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed system deploying three VIMs (VLSP, Kubernetes, and OpenStack) over commodity hardware. Experimental results show that the DC Slice Controller can timely provide a slice even when dealing with sophisticated VIMs such as OpenStack. As an example, we were able to delivery a fully functional OpenStack in four nodes in less than 10 minutes.
The Correlation Between Ultrasonographic and Laboratory Findings of Mastitis in Buffaloes (Bubalus Bubalis)

3 Abstract: The aims of this study are to through light on the importance of ultrasonography as a useful, accurate and relatively quick tool for diagnosis of mastitis in buffaloes and to correlate the laboratory results with ultrasonographic findings. In the present study, mastitis was diagnosed in 55 lactating buffaloes by clinical findings, California Mastitis Test (CMT), Somatic Cell Count (SCC), microbiological tests and ultrasonography. Out of 55 examined buffaloes, 25 and 30 animals had clinical and subclinical mastitis. Udder and teats ultrasonography of buffaloes with subclinical mastitis showed irregular contour of teat canal and sinus, loss of the three layered appearance of the affected teat wall, overlapped papillary duct and rosette of Furstenberg and clarity image of udder parenchyma and gland sinus. In clinical mastitis, ultrasonographic examination revealed thickened teat wall, loss of the three layered appearance of the teat wall, complete obstruction of teat canal and disappearance of rosette of Furstenberg. The teat cistern had irregular lining and filled with homogenous hypoechoic milk. Milk alveoli appeared as anechoic cavities filled with hypoechoic fluid. Buffaloes with parenchymatous abscesses showed complete obstruction of the teat canal and cistern with hyperechoic materials and multiple abscesses filled with hyperechoic caseated pus and surrounded by hyperechoic thick capsules. Udder fibrosis revealed disappearance of teat canal and cistern, diffuse hyperechoic small cordial echoes and complete replacement of milk alveoli with hyperechoic fibrous tissues. Somatic cell count ranged between 320 000 and 476000 cell/ ml of milk in subclinical mastitis. Both mixed and single infections were recorded in in 90.9% and 9.1% of the collected milk samples. The most common isolated pathogens were S. aureus, environmental bacteria and Candida spp. Marbocil and Norfloxacin were the most sensitive antibiotics. In conclusion, ultrasonography and laboratory diagnosis are complementary to each other in correct diagnosis of mastitis in buffaloes.
The Tale of Seeking Treatment: A Qualitative Study of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

Aim: The aims of the study were unravelling patients’ health-seeking behaviour pathways to seek medication in healthcare facilities and key factors that determined patients’ immediacy in seeking medical treatment. Method: By involving 5 pulmonary TB patients who were undertaking treatment at Pegirian Primary Health Centre, Surabaya, Indonesia, the research was carried out using an explorative qualitative research design, and the chosen data collection technique was semi-structured interview. Results: The research findings demonstrated that all participants showed five rather similar health-seeking behaviour sequences, such as: (a) defining symptoms; (b) asking laypeople opinions on symptoms; (c) undertaking non-medical treatment to reduce the symptoms; (d) taking laypeople’s suggestions to visit healthcare facilities into consideration; (e) deciding to undergo treatment process. Several barriers that caused treatment delay were inaccurate symptom definition and poor health-related risk perception. Meanwhile, reinforcing factors were relatives’ appeal to seek treatment, the existence of comorbid/previous diseases, access to healthcare facilities, and increasing perceived severity of the symptoms. Conclusion: Research findings showed that participants performed similar health-seeking pathways. Hindering factors that caused treatment delay were mostly related to cultural-based illness definition and knowledge. Research findings would be potentially beneficial to local primary healthcare for designing interventions that encourage patients to seek professional help and reduce treatment delay.
Assessment of Heavy Metals Distribution and Contamination in Atmospheric Dust from Major Roads in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State using Pollution Indices

Atmospheric dust samples from major roads in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria were analyzed for heavy metals. The heavy metals were determined using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) Buck Scientific model 210VGP. The overall mean of the concentrations of heavy metals assessed in the samples were in the order Zn gt Mn gt Pb gt Ni gt Cu gt Cr. Pollution indices such as contamination factor, enrichment factor, ecological risk factor and geo-accumulation index were used to evaluate the heavy metals concentrations in the dust. Result of contamination factor indicated that the degrees of contamination are moderate to considerate except Ni with very high value of contamination factor while enrichment factors are deficiency to moderate. All heavy metals assessed showed low ecological risk and the index of geo-accumulation of the metals in the dust samples were found within uncontaminated to moderately contaminated level except Mn which was extremelynbspcontaminated base on value computed. This confirmed that the dust from the urban area is facing probable environment pollution with dangerous heavy metal.
Investigation on the level of ICT Awareness among Secondary School Teachers in Sokoto State – Nigeria

This research investigates the level of awareness on ICT among secondary school teachers. It focuses on the secondary school teachers in Nigerian context specifically Sokoto metropolis. In undertaking this research, a sample of four hundred (400) questionnaires was distributed to selected secondary school teachers of which 365 copies of the questionnaires were duly answered and returned by the respondents. Hence, these data were analyzed using simple frequencies, percentages and chi-square methods. Conclusively, this research has shown that level ICT penetrating Sokoto state secondary school teachers is growing rapidly. Also majority of secondary schools have ICT facilities. But the level of ICT training to teachers is fair because the difference between trained teachers and untrained teachers is negligible. In addition, very few numbers of teachers are not using ICT facilities in teaching and learning. This is identified to be attributed to lack of proper training on how to use the available ICT facilities and constant power supply. It is recommended that proper training should be continuously given to all staff in all levels on how to use the available ICT facilities. Furthermore, constant power supply should be provided to enable
IX. Dynamo - electric machinery

Omitting the inductive effects of the current in the armature itself, all the properties of a dynamo machine are most conveniently deduced from a statement of the relation between the magnetic field and the magnetising force required to produce that field, or, which comes to the same thing but more frequently used in practice, the relation between the electromotive force of the machine at a stated speed and the current around the magnets. This relation given, it is easy to deduce what the result will be in all employments of the machine whether as a motor or to produce a current through resistance, through an electric arc, or in charging accumulators; also the result of varying the winding of the machine whether in the armature or magnets.
A compactness measure of sustainable building forms

Global population growth and urbanization necessitate countless more buildings in this century, causing an unprecedented increase in energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation and resource use. It is imperative to achieve maximal efficiency in buildings quickly. The building envelope is a key element to address environmental concerns, as it is responsible for thermal transfers to the outdoors, causing energy demand and carbon emissions. It also requires cladding, thus consuming a significant amount of finite resources. This paper investigates the relationship between surface area and indoor space to unravel the sustainability of building forms. Firstly, we demonstrate what the optimal form is. Secondly, as a single definite form is of little use in practice, we develop a scale-independent metric to measure the degree of optimality of building forms and show its practical use. This newly developed metric can significantly help in early design stages, by quantifying how much a building form deviates from optimality and identifying the domain of alternative geometries to bring us closer to it. This compactness measure also represents a theoretical basis for further research, to explore how optimality changes when additional parameters are factored in. It therefore contributes to both theory and practice to support global efforts towards sustainable built environments.
Transplantation of Embryonic Ventral Mesencephalic Tissue in 6-OHDA Induced Parkinsonism Rat Brain for Cell Based Therapy: A Perspective of Methods

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized as a disease of the basal ganglia, with a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons located in the substantia nigra (SN) and projecting to the striatum with subsequently loss of the nigrostriatal circuit. The potential for therapeutic use of cell transplantation for cell replacement has received a great deal of interest. Transplantation with embryonic ventral mesencephalon (VM) is a therapeutic approach for sporadic form of PD. We established unilaterally 6-OHDA lesioned rat model of Parkinson’s disease. Motor behavioral impairment was found compared with normal rat. Embryonic VM tissue was isolated from E 14 (embryonic 14 days) rat brain. We characterized the VM tissue and dissociated cultured dopaminergic cells with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immune staining before transplantation in lesioned brain. We observed that the axons of dopaminergic neurons from transplanted VM graft circles round at the site of transplantation in normal adult rat brain. In this paper, we discuss the detailed methodologies which are very useful in preclinical research of cell based therapies for Parkinson’s disease.
Points, Paths, and Playscapes: Large-scale Spatial Language Understanding Tasks Set in the Real World

Spatial language understanding is important for practical applications and as a building block for better abstract language understanding. Much progress has been made through work on understanding spatial relations and values in images and texts as well as on giving and following navigation instructions in restricted domains. We argue that the next big advances in spatial language understanding can be best supported by creating large-scale datasets that focus on points and paths based in the real world, and then extending these to create online, persistent playscapes that mix human and bot players, where the bot players must learn, evolve, and survive according to their depth of understanding of scenes, navigation, and interactions.
Understanding the Behavior of Nonprofit Boards of Directors: A Theory-Based Approach

The literature on nonprofit boards of directors is rich with prescriptive advice about the kinds of activities that should occupy the board’s time and attention. Using organizational theory that has dominated the empirical investigation of private sector board behavior (agency,r esource dependence, and institutional),this article contributes to the literature on nonprofit board governance in three important ways. First,it provides a link between theory and practice by identifying the theoretical assumptions that have served as the foundation for the “best practice” literature. Second,the article presents a theory-based framework of board behavior that identifies the environmental conditions and board/organizational considerations that are likely to affect board behavior. And finally,it offers a set of hypotheses that can be used in future empirical investigations that seeks to understand the conditions under which a nonprofit board might assume certain roles and responsibilities over others.