Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aggression Predictors in Video Games: Is Catharsis to Blame?

OF THESIS AGGRESSION PREDICTORS IN VIDEO GAMES: IS CATHARSIS TO BLAME? The majority of research tends to focus on the effects of violent video games, and as a result the motivations to play games are understudied. This study used the uses and gratifications theory as a framework for investigating game player’s motivation to play video games for the purpose of catharsis. This study also proposed that in-game variables, such as level of difficulty and content of the video game, all be investigated to see the effects they have on the achievement of catharsis or the development of aggression through other mediating variables such as enjoyment, control, and frustration with the game. It was found that difficulty of the game predicted frustration with the game and that those with more game playing experience reported greater feelings of catharsis, enjoyment, and feelings of control. None of the independent variables were found to attribute to feelings of aggression, including game content. Feelings of control within the game were found to be predicted by game type. Although there were relatively few main effects with the independent variables, correlations show trends in the data between variables that would support the achievement of catharsis through greater feelings of control, enjoyment, and decreased frustration.
Noise Filtering Cancer Mortality Data for a Better Assessment of Health-Environment Relationships: Application to the Picardy Region

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality. However, it is necessary to analyze this disease from different perspectives. Cancer mortality maps are used by public health officials to identify areas of excess and to guide surveillance and control activities. However, the interpretation of these maps is difficult due to the presence of extremely unreliable rates, which typically occur for sparsely populated areas and/or less frequent cancers. The analysis of the relationships between health data and risk factors is often hindered by the fact that these variables are frequently assessed at different geographical scales. Geostatistical techniques that have enabled the process of filtering noise from the maps of cancer mortality and estimating the risk at different scales were recently developed. This paper presents the application of Poisson kriging for the examination of the spatial distribution of cancer mortality in the "Picardy region, France". The aim of this study is to incorporate the size and shape of administrative units as well as the population density into the filtering of noisy mortality rates and to estimate the corresponding risk at a fine resolution.
REAL TIME PC IMPLEMENTATION OF POWER QUALITY MONITORING SYSTEM BASED ON MULTIHARMONIC LEAST-SQUARES FITTING

In this paper, an algorithm that monitors the power system to detect and classify power quality events in real time is presented. The algorithm is able to detect events caused by waveform distortions and variations of the RMS va lues of the voltage. Detection of the RMS events is done by comparing the RMS values with certain thresholds, while detection of waveform distortions is made using an algorithm based on multiharmonic leasts-squares fitting.
Spermatogenesis and spermatology of some teleost fish species

In teleost fish, the whole of the processes involved in the formation of spermatozoa and their release and in fecundation are extremely diverse. Two main types of testicular structure are distinguished : a tubular and a lobular. Theorganization of the lobules and genital duct structure is very diverse in the latter type. Spermatogenesis can be continuous, as in guppy, discontinuous with overlapping cycles, as in carp, or show well separated cycles as in trout. Spermiogenesis shows increasing degrees of complexity, leading to the formation of extremely simple spermatozoa as in carp (spherical head, very little nuclear histone transformation, very simple mid-piece with untransformed cytoplasmic and mitochondrialremains) or much more complex spermatozoa as those of guppy (elongated head, histoneprotamine transformation, transformation of the centriolar complex in the deep nuclear notch, very developed mid-piece with glycogen stores). Spermatogenetic production is extremely variable (GSI : 0.1-10 % ; annual production : 1 $ .10 to 7 9.10 spermatozoa/g body weight). Spermiation yield varies according to species but also within the same species (20-90 % in trout). The endocrine model of spermatogenesis and spermiation is very different in carp and trout. The main environmental factor influencing spermatogenesis is photoperiod in trout and temperature in carp ; spermiation depends on temperature in trout and on social environment as well as temperature in carp. Sperm physiology (survival time in vivo and in vitro, motility time, metabolism) is very different in the several species studied. Two groups with a fundamentally different physiology (internal or external fecundation), sperm biology and morphology (structure of testis and spermatozoon) can be grossly distinguished. These groups are fish with lobular testes (guppy) and those with tubular testes (teleosts).
A Resource-Based Perspective to Assess Firms’ Profitability in the Food Industry: Evidence from the Italian Cheese Industry

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of firms’ competitive advantage and performance in the Italian food industry, with specific reference to the cheese sector. This aim is consistent with the 3-year research program outlined by the agreement between the Pegaso Telematic University and the Gerardi & Fortura Limited Liability Company, subscribed in November 2015 (02/24/2015) and assigned to the author. The paper investigates the source of superior performance in the Italian cheese industry using the well-known Resource Based Theory. The empirical analysis is conducted on a sample of 110 firms and over a 10-year period of observation. An OLS regression is used to evaluate the impact of a bundle of resources on firms’ performance. Findings show that physical and financial resources have the major effect on firms’ return on assets, whereas intangible assets, capabilities and human resources have a lower and ambiguous effect.
Synoptic weather types and morning rush hour nitrogen oxides concentrations during Auckland winters

A companion paper of 1) Jiang, N. , Hay, J.E. , Fisher, G.W. , 2005. Effects of meteorological conditions on concentrations of nitrogen oxides in Auckland. Weather and Climate, 24, 15-34. 2) Jiang, N. , Hay, J.E. , Fisher, G.W. , 2004. Classification of New Zealand synoptic weather types and relation to the Southern Oscillation Index. Weather and Climate, 23, 3-23.
An Inexact Update Method with Double Parameters for Nonnegative Matrix Factorization

Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) has been used as a powerful date representation tool in real world, because the nonnegativity of matrices is usually required. In recent years, many new methods are available to solve NMF in addition to multiplicative update algorithm, such as gradient descent algorithms, the active set method, and alternating nonnegative least squares (ANLS). In this paper, we propose an inexact update method, with two parameters, which can ensure that the objective function is always descent before the optimal solution is found. Experiment results show that the proposed method is effective.
The Study of Correlation between Diurnal Blood Pressure with Nocturnal Oxygen Desaturation and Nitrite Production in Subjects with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is often present in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on walking up. Although the intermittent hypoxia has been suggested as a main cause of endothelial dysfunction in these subjects, the precise mechanism of this event is still unclear. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the correlation between the level of hypoxia during sleep with arterial blood pressure and plasma concentration of nitrite. Methods: Non-smoker subjects were included in a cross-sectional study. They underwent systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) measured at bed before sleep and on walking up, overnight polysomnography (PSG), and measurement of nitrite in plasma from peripheral blood at walking up. Results: Sixty-five subjects with mean age of 58 ± 12 years were included in this study. The male-female ratio was 0.9 and BMI was 23.3 ± 3.4 kg/m2. The mean of systolic BP and diastolic BP post-PSG of subjects with SpO2<93% was significantly higher than subjects with SpO2 ≥ 93% (P<0.05 and P<0.01; respectively). The mean SpO2 and nadir SpO2 of subjects with SpO2<93% were significantly lower than subjects with SpO2 ≥ 93% (90 ± 4% vs. 94 ± 2% and 73 ± 9% vs. 88 ± 8%; P<0.05 and P<0.01; respectively). The level of apnea-hypopnea index in subjects with SpO2<93% was significantly higher than that in subjects with SpO2 ≥ 93% (P<0.01). The concentration of NO2- in peripheral blood of subjects with SpO2<93% was significantly lower than that in subjects with SpO2 ≥ 93% (P<0.01). There were the significant correlations between nadir SpO2 and NO2- with SBP and DBP on walking up. Conclusion: Endothelial dysfunction is a crucial event in subjects with OSA, especially for whom with obstructive sleep apnea. This event might be linked to the diurnal increase of peripheral blood pressure. The concentration of NO2- in plasma measuring on walking up might be a relevant marker of endothelial dysfunction during sleep.
Interventions for portal hypertension in patients with portal vein occlusion and possible effects of a stent-graft on hepatic circulation

Symptomatic portal hypertension (PH), is often treated by transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). Patients with PH, caused by prehepatic portal vein occlusion, require recanalization with stent or stent-graft often followed by additional TIPS. Stent-grafts used for TIPS, may occlude the outflow from the adjacent hepatic vein, potentially disturbing the circulation through the adjoining part of the liver. In paper I, results of interventional treatment in children with PH, secondary to occlusion of the portal vein were reported. Interventional treatment was feasible, but re-intervention and follow up were important for improvement of results. In paper IV, interventional radiological treatment in 24 patients with PH and occlusion of the splancnic veins was evaluated retrospectively. In the majority of cases treatment was technically successful, with subsequent improvement of symptoms. Paper II and III report results of experimental studies. Possible negative effects of hepatic vein occlusion by the stent-graft were evaluated with interventional, scintigraphic, radionuclide and histopathological methods. In the first experiment we found that arterial supply to the liver was diminished directly after hepatic vein occlusion. In the second experimental study, the outflow from the hepatic vein was evaluated directly after TIPS and re-evaluated after two weeks. Stent-grafts used for TIPS occlude the hepatic vein, but do not have prolonged circulatory effect and do not affect the liver parenchyma. In conclusion, interventional treatment of patients with PH and occlusion of splanchnic veins is feasible and use of stent-grafts for TIPS has no long-lasting negative effect on the liver circulation. (Less)
Bioavailability of Mineral Nutrients in Plantain Based Product Enriched With Bambara Groundnut Protein Concentrate

Plantain based products (amala, cookies, bread and cakes) enriched with bambara groundnut protein concentrate were produced. Total minerals content of the products were investigated using the atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A total of six essential minerals: iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and sodium were determined. The bioavailability of these minerals was studied using pepsin and pancreatin enzymes in-vitro digestion method. The products developed were high in potassium, iron and phosphorous and low in sodium. However not all the minerals detected were bioavailable. Only 59.7% and 68.1% of potassium were available in soluble forms in bread and ‘amala’, respectively while 60.0% and 64.8% of iron were released in soluble forms in ‘amala’ and cookies and these values are significantly higher, compared to 53.0% Fe and 50.2% Fe released as soluble fractions in bread and cakes, respectively. The Ca/P ratio for cakes and bread are 1.1 and 0.8, respectively which is significantly higher (P > 0.05) compared to Ca/P ratio for ‘amala’ (0.4) and cookies (0.5). Therefore, the developed cakes and bread can serve as good sources of calcium and phosphorous which are considered essential for bone formation and teeth development in children.
MOLECULAR DYNAMIC SIMULATION OF XENON BUBBLE RE-SOLUTION IN URANIUM DIOXIDE BY MENGQI HUANG THESIS

This is a comprehensive study of two mechanisms of fission gas bubble re-solution in UO2 by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations: homogeneous re-solution and heterogeneous resolution. For the homogeneous mechanism, a hybrid approach is employed whereby Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are used to obtain the full recoil energy spectrum of fission gas atoms, and MD simulations are used to build an extensive library of fission gas atom re-solution events. This library is used for calculating a recoil spectrum averaged displacement distribution of fission gas atoms around bubbles. The results show that past estimates of the homogeneous resolution parameter are very inaccurate. For a better understanding of heterogeneous re-solution, sputtering and the re-solution of Xenon fission gas bubbles due to electronic energy deposition of fission fragments is investigated using MD simulations. First, a two-temperature model (TTM) coupling the electronic (e-) and phonon (p-) system is employed to determine the temperature profile along the tracks of fission fragments. The e-p coupling constant within the model is determined by comparing the sputtering yields deduced from the MD simulations with those obtained experimentally. Next, fission fragments tracks are simulated in a UO2 sample containing one Xenon bubble. At high (dE/dx)e bubbles are partially re-dissolved, however, for ions with electronic stopping power lower than 34 keV/nm, bubble re-solution is not observed.
Real function reconstruction from sparse Fourier samples

In this paper we use the Prony method to reconstruct structured, real‐valued functions from the smallest possible number of equidistantly distributed Fourier samples. In particular, we consider characteristic functions in ${\rm I\! R}^2$ whose supports are unit‐height polygons in the plane with N vertices. We show that these functions can be recovered by 3N Fourier samples. (© 2013 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Polyacrylamide application to control furrow irrigation-induced erosion

Furrow-irrigation induced soil erosion threatens sustainable irrigated agriculture worldwide. Small concentrations of a moderate-charge-density anionic polyacrylamide (PAM), dissolved in irrigation water has been used to nearly eliminate soil loss from irrigated furrows and has increased net infiltration (total inflow minus total outflow). This paper summarizes polymer-related field studies conducted on highly erodible Idaho silt loam soils. A range of furrow lengths (163-264 m), slopes (0.5-7%), and inflows (15-38 L min-1) were used in the studies. Field trials compared various PAM application strategies. PAM was applied to irrigation water in gated irrigation pipe as dry granules, or to furrow heads as a stock solution. Treatment efficacy varied primarily with irrigation inflow-rate, PAM concentration in irrigation water, duration of furrow exposure, and total PAM applied. The most effective treatments either applied PAM at 10 g m-3 in irrigation inflows during the entire furrow advance period (initial-load, I10,100%), or applied 5 g m-3 during the entire furrow advance, then reapplied PAM for 5-15 min episodically at similar concentrations (initial plus episodic, IE5,100%). Over a range of application rates of at least 0.7 kg ha-1 PAM and mean of 1.3 kg ha-1 , treatments reduced furrow sediment loss by 94% and increased net infiltration by 15%. The full-advance I10,100% and IE5,100% treatments were nearly twice as effective as the continuous 0.25 g m-3 PAM application on these soils when slopes were 1-2%. The I10,100% strategy protected furrows on slopes ranging up to 3.5%. Dry and solution applications controlled erosion about equally. The PAM applications were economical and effective methods for controlling furrow-irrigation induced erosion, under a broad range of field conditions.
Interstellar dust within the life cycle of the interstellar medium

Cosmic dust is omnipresent in the Universe. Its presence influences the evolution of the astronomical objects which in turn modify its physical and chemical properties. The nature of cosmic dust, its intimate coupling with its environment, constitute a rich field of research based on observations, modelling and experimental work. This review presents the observations of the different components of interstellar dust and discusses their evolution during the life cycle of the interstellar medium. Interstellar dust grains are found everywhere in the Universe: in the Solar System, around stars at all evolutionary stages, in interstellar clouds of all kind, in galaxies and in the intergalactic medium. Cosmic dust is intimately mixed with the gas-phase and represents about 1% of the gas (in mass) in our Galaxy. The interstellar extinction and the emission of diffuse interstellar clouds is reproduced by three dust components: a population of large grains, the BGs (Big Grains, ∼10-500nm) made of silicate and a refractory mantle, a population of carbonaceous nanograins, the VSGs (Very Small Grains, 1-10nm) and a population of macro-molecules the PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) (1). These three components are more or less abundant in the diverse astrophysical environments reflecting the coupling of dust with the environment and its evolution according to the physical and dynamical conditions. The life cycle of cosmic matter is closely related to the cycle of the interstellar medium (ISM) and of our Galaxy. Dust is mainly form within the atmosphere and circumstellar shells surrounding dying stars. It is expelled in the ISM by stellar outflows and transit in the different phases of the ISM where it is submitted to various physical and chemical processes that either destroy it or change its nature (size, structure, composition, porosity.). When a molecular cloud collapse to form new stars, the interstellar dust grains are incorporated into the protostellar object in which the survival grains pursue their evolution, into proto-planetary disks and stellar systems. At their turn, these stars, at the end of their life will produce new dust grains. Interstellar dust was extensively studied via the observations from the instruments on-board the space-missions IRAS (InfraRed Astronomical Satellite, 1983), ISO (Infrared Space Observatory, 1995-1998) and Spitzer (2003-2005), free from the atmosphere opacity in the infrared, which gave tremendous amount of data. While these missions were observing in the mid- and far-infrared spectral range (3-200 m), the satellite Herschel, launched in May 2009, opens the still unexplored spectral range between infrared and ground-based radio observations (60-672 m, 5THz-480GHz). The spectrophotometers on-board these satellites allow to map with an increasing angular resolution the spatial distribution of the different dust components, at the Galaxy scale, but also in specific objects.
Is West, Brown and Enquist's model of allometric scaling mathematically correct and biologically relevant?

exponent for metabolic rate) orone of the basic model assumptions, that is, the size-invariance of terminal supplying vessels, must be vio-lated. Then we show that animals built according toWBE’s model cannot represent a broad range of sizes,because for large animals the volume of blood vesselswould exceed body volume. Later we demonstrate thatmany features of the plant vascular system, insecttracheal system, vertebrate lung or vertebrate cardiovascu-lar system do not conform to WBE’s model assumptions.Finally, we argue that
The CHAINS corpus: CHAracterizing INdividual Speakers

We present a novel speech corpus collected with the primary aim of facilitating research in speaker identification. The corpus features approximately 36 speakers recorded under a variety of speaking conditions, allowing comparison of the same speaker across different well-defined speech styles. Speakers read a variety of texts alone, in synchrony with a dialect-matched cospeaker, in imitation of a dialect-matched co-speaker, in a whisper, and at a fast rate. There is also an unscripted spontaneous retelling of a read fable. The bulk of the speakers were speakers of Eastern Hiberno-English. The corpus will be made freely available for research purposes.
Phytase with Synergistic Herbs: An Option to Reduce Environmental Pollution by Partial Replacement of Inorganic Phosphorus in Broiler Ration

Supplementation of phytase alongwith certain synergistic herbs (Ayufytase) was assessed on growth performance, phosphorus excretion and bone mineralization in 6 weeks trial using 90 day old Vencob broiler chicks fed corn-soyabean based diet. Chicks were randomly divided into three equal groups (n = 30), each having three replicates. Composition of experimental diets for all three groups were designed in a way that group T0 was offered standard basal diet formulated as per NRC (1994) requirements containing Dicalcium Phosphate (DCP) as the source of inorganic phosphorus and without any phytase supplementation, T1 was offered basal diet with supplemental Ayufytase@100gm/tonne of feed replacing 50% of DCP, T2 was offered basal diet with Ayufytase@100gm/tonne of feed replacing 65% of DCP. Feed intake and body weight gain was recorded on weekly basis. A metabolic trial of three days was conducted at the end of the trial to estimate percent (%) Phosphorus (P) excreted in faeces. Among bone mineralization parameters; tibia ash, toe ash, phosphorus %, tibiotarsal and robusticity index were determined at 6 week. th The results of treatment group (T1 and T2) reveals significant (p<0.05) improvement in feed intake, mean weekly body weight gain, phosphorus retention and bone mineralization parameters than control group. It can be concluded that Ayufytase is helpful to reduce environmental pollution caused by excretory Phosphorus by birds most efficiently if replaced with inorganic sources of phosphorus in basal ration at 50% level.
Driver Preference for Automatic or Manual Transmission Systems for Vehicles: A Case Study in Ghana

Systems in vehicles are being modified due to current technological trends. One of the commonest modified systems in vehicles was the transmission system. This study presented views of drivers on preference for automatic or manual transmission vehicles in Ghana. In all, data was collected from 1260 drivers selected randomly through survey, in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions. The study indicated that manual transmission vehicles were more in Ghana with the automatic now gaining relative patronage. However, automatic transmission vehicles were preferred by females than males. The first three factors that determined preference for automatic transmission were shifting quality, easy to use and power (engine) performance. However, for manual transmission vehicles repairability (easily reparable), reliability and better fuel economy were the first three factors that determined driver’s choice for such vehicles. The results further showed that most respondents believed that manual transmission vehicles had strong advantages over the automatic ones. The study concludes that more people prefer manual transmission vehicles than the automatic ones although the automatic ones are now gaining popularity. Key words: Automatic transmission, Manual Transmission, Vehicles, Preference, Ghana