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Background: The COVID-19 outbreak, and related public health initiatives have disrupted the lives of many people worldwide. Evidently, the COVID-19 pandemic has produced detrimental social and psychological impact on the mental health of the vast populations especially the elderly. . This study sought to assess the knowledge resources and mental health needs of the elderly emerging from COVID-19 Pandemic of the elderly population at Babcock University in Southwest Nigeria. Methods: A total of 196 consenting elders resident at Babcock University were enrolled in an online survey at Babcock University to assess the mental health needs of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hypotheses were tested using bivariate analysis at 0.05 level of significance. Results: Majority [104 (58.4%)] of the elderly respondents are between the age bracket 60-64 and [51 (28.7%)] for the age bracket 65-74 years old. The respondents' top four needs during the pandemic are financial aid [108 (60.7%)], social support [41 (23.0%)], the presence of a caregiver [24 (13.5%)], and housing [5 (2.8%)]. The respondents' social condition might be summarized as follows: minimal social interaction with others, leaving them socially isolated [61 (34.3%)] and insufficient social contact with others [53 (29.8%)]. There was a significant relationship between knowledge and emotional state during the pandemic (p

Kampung chicken or Buras chicken is a type of local chicken that is widely known and kept by people in all corners of Indonesia. With the development of science and technology, the livestock sector has made a major contribution through genetic improvement to produce a new generation which later emerged as kampung chicken livestock. This study specifically analyzed the production performance of kampung chickens using different protein and energy feeds with a research duration of three months from October to December 2022. The study used a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 5 treatments and 4 replications. The treatments included: P0 = Feed + 21% protein and EM 3300 kcal, P1 = Feed + 20% protein and EM 3100 kcal, P2 = Feed + 19% protein and EM 2900 kcal, P3 = Feed + 18% protein and EM 2700 kcal , P4 = Feed + 17% protein and EM 2500 kcal. Data analysis using ANOVA and Duncan test. Findings The use of different levels of protein and energy metabolism of feed in kampung chickens has a significant effect on feed consumption, body weight, and feed conversion given

The article sought to document concerns of fashion learners regarding interpersonal relationship experiences of Technical University fashion learners during the Semester-Out Industrial Attachment (S-O IA) programme. It therefore adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey design and used a semi-structured questionnaire to collect data from 199 third year HND Fashion learners from five (5) public Technical Universities. The study established that the interpersonal relationship experiences the respondents acquired during the S-O IA programme were significantly favourable albeit with some challenges. It was thus recommended that the Technical University Industrial Liaison Offices (TUILOs) establish a yearly pre and post S-O IA stakeholders’ seminar to discuss students’ concerns before and after the S-O I A programme.

Most microsurgical procedures require the surgeon to use tools to grasp and hold fragile objects in the surgical site. Prior research on grasping in surgery has mostly either been in other surgical techniques or used grasping as an auxiliary metric. We focus on microsurgery and investigate what grasping can tell about microsurgical skill and suturing performance. This study lays groundwork for using automatic detection of grasps to evaluate surgical skill.Five expert surgeons and six novices completed sutures on a microsurgical training board. Video recordings of the performance were annotated for the number of grasps, while an eye tracker recorded the participants' pupil dilations for cognitive workload assessment. Performance was measured with suturing duration and the University of Western Ontario Microsurgical Skills Assessment instrument (UWOMSA). Differences in skill, suturing performance and cognitive workload were compared with grasping behavior.Novices needed significantly more grasps to complete sutures and failed to grasp more often than the experts. The number of grasps affected the suturing duration more in novices. Decreasing suturing efficiency as measured by UWOMSA instrument was associated with increase in grasps, even when we controlled for overall skill differences. Novices displayed larger pupil dilations when averaged over a sufficiently large sample, and the difference increased after the grasp.Grasping action during microsurgical procedures can be used as a conceptually simple yet objective proxy in microsurgical performance assessment. If the grasps could be detected automatically, they could be used to aid in computational evaluation of surgical trainees' performance.

An experiment was conducted with 2 temperate (Trifolium pratense and T. repens) and 2 tropical (Stylosanthes guianensis and Centrosema molle syn. C. pubescens) forage legumes in an elevated tropical environment of Jos, Nigeria to determine the influence of age of growth on forage yield and nutrient concentrations in the establishment year. The experiment was a 4 harvest times (9, 13, 17 and 21 weeks after sowing; WAS) × 4 legume species (2 temperate and 2 tropical) factorial treatment arrangement in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications, conducted in the growing seasons of 2015 and again 2016. In 2015, S. guianensis produced highest (PT. repens>C. molle>S. guianensis (P

The first and fore most aim of Ayurveda is to maintain the health of an individuals as well as cure of diseases. Healthy status can be maintained with proper diet and treatment if any disease occurs. The pitta dosha, a fiery mind-body aspect linked to metabolism, is known to reside in the liver, which is known as its "seat" or "home”. Liver aids in the digestion, metabolization, absorption and production of vital substances in body every day. jatharagni which stimulated by samanaVata digests food which is taken in proper quantity and in proper time. The "Agni" relates to the mechanics of digestion and metabolism; normal agni function maintains normal physiology and hence good health; agni vitiation results in dieses. Jatharagni and Paachak Pitta's efficiency are essential for Pachan. Aam is the Apakva Ahara Rasa created by the effects of Mandagni on food consumed. Many diseases have it as their underlying cause. Every material on earth has medicinal properties, according to Ayurveda, if used correctly. Our food has the potential to act as medicine for an effective treatment. Many food ingredients, such as saindhavlavan (table salt). Aardrak (ginger), Rason (garlic) Haridra(turmeric) etc. are used on a daily basis to improve the taste and flavour of meals and enhance the proper metabolism, and inc. the absorption of nutrients of food.

This paper sought feedback from Technical University Higher National Diploma (HND) Fashion Students on the adequacy of their preparations for their Semester-Out Industrial Attachment (S-OIA) programme. The paper adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey design and used a semi-structured questionnaire to collect data from 199 third year HND Fashion Students from five public Technical Universities in Ghana. The feedback from the students showed varied levels of dissatisfaction about the school-based preparations they went through prior to the S-O IA programme. Even though majority of the students affirmed that the school-based preparations made were necessary, it was obviously not helpful to many in view of the percentage of respondents who were informed on the benefits of the programme during the school-based orientation. It was therefore suggested that Technical Universities Industrial Liaison offices adopt and strictly adhere to the school-based preparation protocols and processes.

Here we demonstrate, using pulsed femtosecond laser-induced two-photon oxidation (2PO), a novel method of locally tuning the sensitivity of solution gated graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) without sacrificing the integrity of the carbon network of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown graphene. The achieved sensitivity with 2PO was (25 ± 2) mV pH−1 in BIS-TRIS propane HCl (BTPH) buffer solution, when the oxidation level corresponded to the Raman peak intensity ratio I(D)/I(G) of 3.58. Sensitivity of non-oxidized, residual PMMA contaminated GFETs was 20–22 mV pH−1. The sensitivity decreased initially by 2PO to (19 ± 2) mV pH−1 (I(D)/I(G) = 0.64), presumably due to PMMA residue removal by laser irradiation. 2PO results in local control of functionalization of the CVD-grown graphene with oxygen-containing chemical groups enhancing the performance of the GFET devices. The GFET devices were made HDMI compatible to enable easy coupling with external devices for enhancing their applicability. peerReviewed

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels have proved their efficiency as vertical and horizontal load-carrying structures, and their design methods for serviceability and ultimate limit states are well defined. However, there is a lack of more general and versatile analytical methods for the ultimate load carrying capacity determination of CLT structures. In this paper, the classical layered beam theory is adopted for the ultimate failure load estimation of axially compressed CLT panels. The proposed method retains its accuracy both with an asymmetric layer setup and when the number of CLT layers exceeds five. The presented method is validated by adopting experimental test data from two test series produced by other researchers. publishedVersion

Smartphones have become an integral part of people’s everyday lives. Smartphones are used across all household locations, including in the bed at night. Smartphone screens and other displays emit blue light, and exposure to blue light can affect one’s sleep quality. Thus, smartphone use prior to bedtime could disrupt the quality of one’s sleep, but research lacks quantitative studies on how smartphone use can influence sleep. This study combines smartphone application use data from 75 participants with sleep data collected by a wearable ring. On average, the participants used their smartphones in bed for 322.8 s (5 min and 22.8 s), with an IQR of 43.7–456. Participants spent an average of 42% of their time in bed using their smartphones (IQR of 5.87–55.5%). Our findings indicate that smartphone use in bed has significant adverse effects on sleep latency, awake time, average heart rate, and HR variability. We also find that smartphone use does not decrease sleep quality when used outside of bed. Our results indicate that intense smartphone use alone does not negatively affect well-being. Since all smartphone users do not use their phones in the same way, extending the investigation to different smartphone use types might yield more information than general smartphone use. In conclusion, this paper presents the first investigation of the association between smartphone application use logs and detailed sleep metrics. Our work also validates previous research results and highlights emerging future work.

Insights on the indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are critical for designing and implementing policies to alleviate the food security burden it may have caused, and for bolstering rural communities against similar macroeconomic shocks in the future. Yet estimating the causal effects of the pandemic is difficult due to its ubiquitous nature and entanglement with other shocks. In this descriptive study, we combine high-resolution satellite imagery to control for plot-level rainfall with household socio-economic panel data from 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2020, to differentiate the effect of the pandemic from climatic shocks on food security in Morogoro, Tanzania. We find evidence of decreased incomes, increased prices of staple foods, and increased food insecurity in 2020 relative to previous years, and link these changes to the pandemic by asking households about their perceptions of COVID-19. Respondents overwhelmingly attribute economic hardships to the pandemic, with perceived impacts differing by asset level.

Tujuan dari Penelitian Ini adalah untuk menganalisis dampak pelatihan dan Pendidikan baik langsung maupun tidak langsung (melalui variabel mediasi kemampuan Teknologi Informasi dan Komunikasi (TIK)) terhadap Kinerja Guru di SDN Telaga Baru Kabupaten Sumbawa Barat. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kuantitatif, dengan analisis data menggunakan pendekatan asosiatif atau relasional. Total 21 guru yang bekerja di Sekolah Dasar Negeri (SDN) Telaga Baru Kecamatan Taliwang Kabupaten Sumbawa Barat merupakan populasi sekaligus sampel dalam penelitian ini karena teknik pengambilan sampel yan gdigunakan adalah sampling jenuh. Uji Validitas dan Uji Reliabilitas yang dilakukan dalam penelitian ini menggunakan metode analisis data yang dikenal dengan Partial Least Square (PLS), PLS merupakan persamaan yang termasuk ke dalam bidang Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) dengan jumlah sampel 21 orang. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa konstruk Pelatihan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap Kinerja Guru melalui variabel Kemampuan TIK dengan nilai T-Statistik yaitu sebesar 1,738 lebih besar dari T-Tabel yaitu 1,65 dengan nilai original sample estimate adalah positif yaitu 0,203, kemudian konstruk Pendidikan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap Kinerja Guru melalui variabel Kemampuan TIK dengan nilai T-Statistik yaitu sebesar 3,239 lebih besar dari T-Tabel yaitu 1,65 dengan nilai original sample estimate adalah positif yaitu 0,372 .

The advancement of industrialization and communications has made man more sensitive and critical, resulting in a variety of health issues. Sedentary lifestyles are becoming more common as a result of the progress of industrialization and communication, resulting in chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, ischemic heart disease, cerebro-vascular accidents, atherosclerosis, varicose veins, and so on. Obesity is a risk factor for several diseases, thus preventing it will reduce the likelihood of developing them. Obesity, like other disorders, is a complex disorder caused by a combination of factors such as food, physical activity, mental health, and overall lifestyle. In Ayurveda, Sthaulya is the closest clinical entity for obesity. Sthoulya's causality is described in the Asta-Nindita-Purusha chapter. The etiopathogenesis of obesity is caused by an excessive intake of calories combined with a decrease in expenditure. A key weight-loss approach that can be used anywhere to reduce energy density. In Ayurveda, Pathya and Apathya are given specific attention in terms of Ahara, Vihara, and Manasika Entities, so that the ailment can be treated holistically. When these guidelines are followed, the treatment yields a better result in the treatment of the condition. This article attempts to review the pathya and apathy of obesity, as well as discuss the possible causes.

Unusual microhabitats in different locations present opportunities for the bio-prospecting of actinomycetes with high antimicrobial producing potentials. A total of 113 actinomycetes from specific indigenous microhabitats were isolated and screened for their antimicrobial activity against selected test organisms. The earthworm castings, forest litter, and domestic dumpsite sites, respectively, accounted for approximately 24.78%, 19.47%, and 18.5% of the total number of isolates recovered. The preliminary antagonism assay using the perpendicular streak method yielded four isolates that showed high antimicrobial activity and broad spectrum activity against test bacteria or fungi. These isolates showed excellent growth and sporulation on milk agar and starch casein agar, and the micro-morphological characterization of the isolates revealed the presence of spore-bearing aerial hyphae. Bioactive extracts from DS15 and EC5, at 125 mg/mL, had respective zones of inhibition measuring 20.7 ± 0.6 and 33.0 ± 1.0 against multidrug resistant Escherichia coli (clinical isolate) and Salmonella typhi (ATCC 2923) respectively. Bioactive extracts from EC1 and EC9, at 125 mg/mL, show respective zones of inhibition measuring 18.7 ± 1.2 and 16.7 ± 1.2 against Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) and C. glabrata (ATCC 22018) respectively. This study reinforces the evidence that unique and unusual microhabitats, in different geographical locations, present an excellent opportunity for the bio prospecting of actinomycetes with high antimicrobial producing potentials. Furthermore, it shows that the indigenous antagonistic actinomycete isolates exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against test bacteria and fungi employed in the in-vitro antimicrobial assays.

Horvitz–Thompson-like stand density estimation is a method for estimating the stand density from tree crown objects extracted from airborne laser scanning data through individual tree detection. The estimator is based on stochastic geometry and mathematical morphology of the (planar) set formed by the detected tree crowns. This set is used to approximate the detection probabilities of trees. These probabilities are then used to calculate the estimate. The method includes a tuning parameter, which needs to be known to apply the method. We present a refinement of the method to allow more general detection conditions than those of previous papers. We also present and discuss the methods for estimating the tuning parameter of the estimator using a functional k-nearest neighbors method. We test the model fitting and prediction in two spatially separate data sets and examine the plot-level accuracy of estimation. The estimator produced a 13% lower RMSE (root-mean-square error) than the benchmark method in an external validation data set. We also analyze the effects of similarity and dissimilarity of training and validation data on the results.

Urban air fine particles are a major health-relating problem. However, it is not well understood how the health-relevant features of fine particles should be monitored. Limitations of PM2.5 (mass concentration of sub 2.5 μm particles), which is commonly used in the health effect estimations, have been recognized and, e.g., World Health Organization (WHO) has released good practice statements for particle number (PN) and black carbon (BC) concentrations (2021). In this study, a characterization of urban wintertime aerosol was done in three environments: a detached housing area with residential wood combustion, traffic-influenced streets in a city centre and near an airport. The particle characteristics varied significantly between the locations, resulting different average particle sizes causing lung deposited surface area (LDSA). Near the airport, departing planes had a major contribution on PN, and most particles were smaller than 10 nm, similarly as in the city centre. The high hourly mean PN (>20 000 1/cm3) stated in the WHO's good practices was clearly exceeded near the airport and in the city centre, even though traffic rates were reduced due to a SARS-CoV-2-related partial lockdown. In the residential area, wood combustion increased both BC and PM2.5, but also PN of sub 10 and 23 nm particles. The high concentrations of sub 10 nm particles in all the locations show the importance of the chosen lower size limit of PN measurement, e.g., WHO states that the lower limit should be 10 nm or smaller. Furthermore, due to ultrafine particle emissions, LDSA per unit PM2.5 was 1.4 and 2.4 times higher near the airport than in the city centre and the residential area, respectively, indicating that health effects of PM2.5 depend on urban environment as well as conditions, and emphasizing the importance of PN monitoring in terms of health effects related to local pollution sources. publishedVersion

Indonesia has tropical rainforests that are so vast and have a diversity of plants. The study aimed to identify the diversity of undergrowth in the teak forest area as a source of fodder for Bali cattle in Watopute District, Muna Regency, to be carried out in August–December 2022 with purpose location determination and village surveys using stratified random sampling based on area criteria low, medium, and high. Data collection used the field observation method by exploring and taking samples using a 10x30 m2 transect. The research variables included observations of plant species in the teak forest area and forage plant species in the teak forest area, which were then analyzed using the summed dominance ratio formula. The results of research on plant species in the teak forest area show that there are 17 families with 43 species, and for plant species that can be used as a source of feed for breeders, there are as many as 16 species. From the research, it can be concluded that livestock looking for food in the teak forest area in Watopute District consists of 16 plant species.Keywords: plants, teak forest, bali cattle, watopute

Bacterial contamination in chicken meat is an indicator in determining the quality of food ingredients. Contaminant bacteria cause damage to meat and cause foodborne disease due to their metabolite products. Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that causes food poisoning due to its toxin products. Meat contamination by Staphylococcus aureus occurs through the food itself or through the environment where it is processed. This study aims to isolate and identify the presence of Staphylococcus aureus in chicken meat and the production environment. The results of this study indicate that Staphylococcus aureus can be isolated from chicken meat (40%), the floor of the holding cage (26.67%), the place for bleeding (62.22%), the hair removal machine (64.44%) and the table. processing (80%) as a representation of environmental quality assessment indicators. These results illustrate that it is necessary to improve chicken slaughterhouses in traditional markets to increase and guarantee the quality of chicken meat.

This paper presents the third edition of the CM SAF cLoud, Albedo and surface RAdiation dataset from AVHRR data, CLARA-A3. The content of earlier CLARA editions, namely cloud, surface albedo, and surface radiation products, has been extended with two additional surface albedo products (blue and white sky albedo), three additional surface radiation products (net shortwave and longwave radiation, surface radiation budget) and two top of atmosphere radiation budget products (reflected solar flux and outgoing longwave radiation). The record length is extended to 42 years (1979–2020) by also incorporating results from the first version of the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) imager (AVHRR/1). A continuous extension of the climate data record (CDR) has also been implemented by processing an interim climate data record (ICDR) based on the same set of algorithms but with slightly changed ancillary input data. All products are briefly described together with validation results and inter-comparisons with currently existing similar CDRs. The extension of the product portfolio and the temporal coverage of the data record, together with product improvements, is expected to enlarge the potential of using CLARA-A3 for climate change studies and, in particular, studies of potential feedback effects between clouds, surface albedo and radiation. The CLARA-A3 data record is hosted by the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM SAF) and is freely available at https://doi.org/10.5676/EUM_SAF_CM/CLARA_AVHRR/V003.

Seasonal snow in the northern regions plays an important role providing water resources for both consumption and hydropower generation. Moreover, the snow depth in the northern Finland during winter exceeds 1 m, impacting local agriculture, vegetation, tourism and recreational activities. The objective of this study is to estimate snow depth using an empirical methodology applied to synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images and compare with in situ measurements collected by automatic weather stations (AWS) and snow courses in northern Finland. Snow depth estimates with high spatiotemporal resolution can improve our understand of seasonal snow mass in complex access areas. Here, we use an adapted version of the empirical methodology developed by Lievens et al. (2019) to estimate snow depth using Sentinel-1 constellation (C-band). The algorithm utilizes changes in the cross-polarized backscatter measurements of SAR images repeatedly acquired on the same orbit to avoid geometry distortions. We use SNAP toolbox, combined with the Copernicus digital elevation model (DEM), posted at 30 meters, in the pre-processing stage. The snow retrievals between 2019 and 2022 are compared to three automatic weather stations and four snow courses measurements collected over the same period. The ongoing Sentinel-1 snow depth retrievals during the winter 2021/2022 demonstrate a correlation of 0.76, when compared to in situ measurements, supporting the potential ability to derive snow changes in regions where in situ measurements of snow are currently lacking. Despite the good agreement between the empirical algorithm and the collected datasets on land, further investigation is still necessary to better understand the backscatter response over frozen lake areas. Thanks to the effort of international space agencies, we have available currently, and in a near future, global coverage at high resolution SAR imagery and, combined with installed automatic weather stations, opens the possibility of a wide spatial monitoring of snow variations.

Accurate measurement of two-phase flow quantities is essential for managing production in many industries. However, the inherent complexity of two-phase flow often makes estimating these quantities difficult, necessitating the development of reliable techniques for quantifying two-phase flow. In this paper, we investigated the feasibility of using state estimation for dynamic image reconstruction in dual-modal tomography of two-phase oil–water flow. We utilized electromagnetic flow tomography (EMFT) to estimate velocity fields and electrical tomography (ET) to determine phase fraction distributions. In state estimation, the contribution of the velocity field to the temporal evolution of the phase fraction distribution was accounted for by approximating the process with a convection–diffusion model. The extended Kalman filter (EKF) and fixed-interval Kalman smoother (FIKS) were used to reconstruct the temporally evolving velocity and phase fraction distributions, which were further used to estimate the volumetric flow rates of the phases. Experimental results on a laboratory setup showed that the FIKS approach outperformed the conventional stationary reconstructions, with the average relative errors of the volumetric flow rates of oil and water being less than 4%. The FIKS approach also provided feasible uncertainty estimates for the velocity, phase fraction, and volumetric flow rate of the phases, enhancing the reliability of the state estimation approach.

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji performans ayam broiler yang diberi pakan mengandung tepung daun mengkudu fermentasi. Penelitian ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan 4 perlakuan dan 5 ulangan sehingga terdapat 20 unit percobaan. Perlakuan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah P0 = pakan mengandung 0% TDMF, P1 = pakan mengandung 5% TDMF, P2 = pakan mengandung 10% TDMF, P3 = pakan mengandung 15% TDMF. Parameter yang diamati adalah konsumsi pakan, pertambahan bobot badan dan konversi pakan. Data yang diperleh dianalisis menggunakan analisis ragam dan dilanjutkan dengan uji wilayah berganda Duncan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemberian pakan yang mengandung tepung daun mengkudu fermentasi berpengaruh terhadap pertambahan bobot badan dan konversi pakan, tetapi tidak mempengaruhi konsumsi pakan. Konsumsi pakan berkisar antara 91,50-112,82 gram/ekor/hari, pertambahan bobot badan berkisar antara 65,32-73,98 gram/ekor/hari dan konversi pakan berkisar antara 1,48-1,69. Kesimpulan pada penelitian ini adalah tepung daun mengkudu fermentasi dapat digunakan dalam pakan sampai level 5% tanpa mengganggu performans ayam broiler.

Seasonal snow cover of the Northern Hemisphere (NH) greatly influences surface energy balance, hydrological cycle, and many human activities, such as tourism and agriculture. Monitoring snow cover at continental scale is only possible from satellites or using reanalysis data. The aim of this study is to analyze timeseries of surface albedo, snow water equivalent (SWE), and snow cover extent (SCE) in spring in ERA5 and ERA5-Land reanalysis data and to compare the timeseries with several satellite-based datasets. As satellite data for the SWE intercomparison, we use bias-corrected SnowCCI v1 data for non-mountainous regions and the mean of Brown, MERRA-2 and Crocus v7 datasets for the mountainous regions. For surface albedo, we use the black-sky albedo datasets CLARA-A2 SAL, based on AVHRR data, and MCD43D51 based on MODIS data. Additionally, we use Rutgers and JAXA JASMES SCE products. Our study covers land areas north of 40° N and the period between 1982 and 2018 (spring season from March to May). The analysis shows that both ERA5 and ERA5-Land overestimate SWE. ERA5-Land shows larger overestimation, which is mostly due to very high SWE values over mountainous regions. The analysis revealed a discontinuity in ERA5 around year 2004, since adding IMS (Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System) from year 2004 onwards considerably improves SWE estimates but makes the trends less reliable. The negative NH SWE trends in ERA5 range from −249 Gt decade−1 to −236 Gt decade−1 in spring, which is two to three times larger than the trends detected by the other datasets (ranging from −124 Gt decade−1 to −77 Gt decade−1). Albedo estimates are more consistent between the datasets with a slight overestimation in ERA5 and ERA5-Land. SCE is accurately described in ERA5-Land, whereas ERA5 shows notably larger SCE than the satellite-based datasets. The negative trends in albedo and SCE are strongest in May, when albedo trend varies from −0.011 decade−1 to −0.006 decade−1 depending on the dataset. The negative SCE trend detected by ERA5 in May (−1.22 million km2 decade−1) is about twice as large as the trends detected by other datasets (ranging from 0.66 million km2 decade−1 to −0.50 million km2 decade−1). The analysis also shows that there is a large spatial variability in the trends, which is consistent with other studies.

The recent progress of text-to-image generation has been recognized in architectural design. Our study is the first to investigate the potential of text-to-image generators in supporting creativity during the early stages of the architectural design process. We conducted a laboratory study with 17 architecture students, who developed a concept for a culture center using three popular text-to-image generators: Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and DALL-E. Through standardized questionnaires and group interviews, we found that image generation could be a meaningful part of the design process when design constraints are carefully considered. Generative tools support serendipitous discovery of ideas and an imaginative mindset, enriching the design process. We identified several challenges of image generators and provided considerations for software development and educators to support creativity and emphasize designers' imaginative mindset. By understanding the limitations and potential of text-to-image generators, architects and designers can leverage this technology in their design process and education, facilitating innovation and effective communication of concepts.

Background Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCDs) has become a major cause of mortality and disability globally. We explored the coping strategies adopted by CNCD patients and the roles of caregivers in the management of CNCDs in Ghana. Methods This was a qualitative study that adopted an exploratory design. The study was carried out at the Volta Regional Hospital. Purposive convenience sampling procedures were used to sample patients and caregivers. Data for the study were collected using in-depth interview guides. Data were collected among 25 CNCDs patients and 8 caregivers and analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti. Results Patients adopted a variety of strategies to cope with their condition. These strategies were emotion-oriented coping, task-oriented coping, and avoidance-oriented coping. Family members were the main caregivers, who provided social and financial support for patients. Financial challenges, inadequate family support, poor attitudes of health workers, delays at the health facility, unavailability of drugs at the facility, and patients’ non-adherence to the medical advice were major challenges that militated against caregivers’ efforts in supporting patients in the management of their CNCDs. Conclusion We found that patients adopted various strategies to cope with their conditions. The roles of the caregivers in supporting patients in the management practices were identified as very important as they contribute immensely to the financial and social support for the patients in their management of CNCDs. It is crucial that health professionals actively involve caregivers in every aspect of the day-to-day management of CNCDs as these caregivers spend more time with these patients and understand them better.

Multi-component heterogeneous catalysts are among the top candidates for converting greenhouse gases into valuable compounds. Combinations of Cu, Zn, and ZrO2 (CZZ) have emerged as promisingly efficient catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. To explore the catalytic mechanism, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and the energetic span model (ESM) were used to study CO2 conversion routes to methanol on CuZn-ZrO2 interfaces with a varying Zn content. Our results demonstrate that the presence of Zn sites at the interface improves CO2 binding. However, the adsorption and activation energies are insensitive to Zn concentration. The calculations also show that the hydrogenation of adsorbate oxygen atoms at the interface is kinetically more favourable and requires hydrogen spillover from the metal to the zirconia. This leads to barriers that are lower than those reported on interface or metal-only sites in previous literature. While DFT calculations alone are unable to identify which one of the competing pathways is more favourable, the ESM model predicts that the carboxyl pathway has a higher turnover frequency than the formate route. Our findings also show the importance of considering effects such as hydrogen spillover which take place at a metal-oxide interface when modelling complex catalytic environments.

BackgroundSustainable animal feeding is essential for reducing poverty among Ghanaian smallholder livestock farmers. However, seasonality has a severe impact on the availability and quality of conventional animal feedstuffs, necessitating alternate feed sources.ObjectiveThis study evaluated and compared the nutritional characteristics of the leaves of three bamboo species namely; Bambusa balcooa (Beema), Oxytenanthera abyssinica (A. Rich.) Munro and Bambusa vulgaris; and three conventional types of grass, namely; Cenchrus purpureus, Megathyrsus maximus, and Brachiaria decumbens.Materials and methodsThe plant biomasses were subjected to the standard analytical procedures of proximate and detergent fiber systems to highlight their dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), ash, nitrogen-free extract (NFE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Other nutritional characteristics were estimated using the chemical compositions.Statistical analysisData was analyzed using Generalized Linear Model procedures in Minitab Statistical Software at a 5% significant level.ResultsResults showed a significantly (P < 0.05) higher DM (~918 g/kgDM), CP (~153 g/kgDM), and EE (~153 g/kgDM) in B. vulgaris leaves. O. abyssinica leaves had the maximum ash (~139 g/kgDM) while those of M. maximus had the highest carbohydrate (~709 g/kgDM) and CF (~492 g/kgDM). Compared to the grasses, the bamboo had a higher pool of DM (~910 vs. 836 g/kgDM), CP (~133 vs. 75 g/kgDM), EE (~137 vs. 82 g/kgDM), ash (~134 vs. 89 g/kgDM), hemicellulose (~79 vs. 28 g/kgDM), dry matter intake (~25 vs. 24%), digestible dry matter (~58 vs. 53%), and relative feed value (~111 vs. 105). In contrast, the grasses had higher mean ADF (~461 vs. 402 g/kgDM), cellulose (~417 vs. 397 g/kgDM), and ADL (~5 vs. 0.4 g/kgDM).ConclusionThe study suggests that bamboo leaves could have high nutritional characteristics to supplement or even replace conventional grasses and other crop residues in the diets of ruminants, especially during the dry season.

Background: The neonatal period is the transitional time from intrauterine to independent existence. Deaths within this period can be further categorized as early neonatal deaths between 0 and 7 completed days of birth. Moreover, late neonatal deaths; are deaths after seven days to 28 completed days of delivery. The Bono Region of Ghana was selected as one of the only eight Regions to benefit from the MEBCI program (Making Every Child Count Initiative). Under the program, all regional districts received staff training, and various stakeholders were contacted for support. This was to reverse the trend of neonatal mortality, which is increasing annually. Identifying the factors that drive this unusual shift will help in targeted intervention. This study, therefore, seeks to establish health service delivery factors influencing neonatal mortality in the region as a lesson learned for the country. Method:The study used a mixed-method approach involving quantitative and qualitative studies. The quantitative study administered structured questionnaires to 187 health workers. The data were analyzed using STATA 14.0. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to establish human Resource information factors influencing neonatal mortality. Also, Chi-square analyses were performed to establish an association between referral protocols, partograph protocols and neonatal mortality. The qualitative data were obtained using a semi-structured interview guide from 16 in-charges and unit heads of newborn intensive care units in the various hospitals. The data were analyzed thematically, facilitated by manual analysis. Results:The human resource factors such as participants' district were more likely to influence neonatal mortalities in the Sunyani Municipal (AOR= 2.719, 95% CI = 0.373 – 19.845) and Berekum Municipal (AOR= 0.132, 95% CI = 0.022 – 0.782). Majority of the respondents adhered to the GHS referral guidelines, such as the availability of copies of the referral guidelines (84.0%), familiarity with referral policy (71.7%), documentation and keeping of duplicates (85.0%), booking (83.4%), a feedback mechanism (69.5%) and emergency transport system (83.4%). Also, the majority of the respondents adhered to the WHO partograph protocols such as placing guidelines on the desk (86.1%), assessing and recording moulding caput formation (88.8%), recording contraction per 10min and30mins (84.4%), recording the administration of oxytocin (84.0%), recording of drugs given (85.0%), recording of IV fluids given (85.0%), recording the temperature of mothers (87.7%) and recording the pulse of the mother (85.6%). Finally, participants mentioned leadership challenges, inadequate supervision and monitoring activities, challenges with essential resources, and non-involvement of in-charges during management meetings as institutional challenges for neonatal care. Conclusions:Adherence to referral and partograph protocols using MOH/GHS and WHO/GHS guidelines was high, respectively. However, institutional challenges such as leadership style were identified as the primary factor contributing to Neonatal Mortality. Therefore, the Ghana Health Service and its partners should change the current Leadership practices through capacity building with a focus on rural districts.

Public sources like parliament meeting recordings and transcripts provide ever-growing material for the training and evaluation of automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems. In this paper, we publish and analyse the Finnish parliament ASR corpus, the largest publicly available collection of manually transcribed speech data for Finnish with over 3000 hours of speech and 449 speakers for which it provides rich demographic metadata. This corpus builds on earlier initial work, and as a result the corpus has a natural split into two training subsets from two periods of time. Similarly, there are two official, corrected test sets covering different times, setting an ASR task with longitudinal distribution-shift characteristics. An official development set is also provided. We develop a complete Kaldi-based data preparation pipeline, and hidden Markov model (HMM), hybrid deep neural network (HMM-DNN) and attention-based encoder-decoder (AED) ASR recipes. We set benchmarks on the official test sets, as well as multiple other recently used test sets. Both temporal corpus subsets are already large, and we observe that beyond their scale, ASR performance on the official test sets plateaus, whereas other domains benefit from added data. The HMM-DNN and AED approaches are compared in a carefully matched equal data setting, with the HMM-DNN system consistently performing better. Finally, the variation of the ASR accuracy is compared between the speaker categories available in the parliament metadata to detect potential biases based on factors such as gender, age, and education., Comment: Submitted to Language Resources and Evaluation

Funding Information: This work has been supported by the MeMAD project of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 780069) and the Academy of Finland project funding grants numbers 329267, 337073, and 345790. We also thank Aalto ScienceIT for providing us with computational resources. Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s). | openaire: EC/H2020/780069/EU//MeMAD Public sources like parliament meeting recordings and transcripts provide ever-growing material for the training and evaluation of automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems. In this paper, we publish and analyse the Finnish Parliament ASR Corpus, the most extensive publicly available collection of manually transcribed speech data for Finnish with over 3000 h of speech and 449 speakers for which it provides rich demographic metadata. This corpus builds on earlier initial work, and as a result the corpus has a natural split into two training subsets from two periods of time. Similarly, there are two official, corrected test sets covering different times, setting an ASR task with longitudinal distribution-shift characteristics. An official development set is also provided. We developed a complete Kaldi-based data preparation pipeline and ASR recipes for hidden Markov models (HMM), hybrid deep neural networks (HMM-DNN), and attention-based encoder-decoders (AED). For HMM-DNN systems, we provide results with time-delay neural networks (TDNN) as well as state-of-the-art wav2vec 2.0 pretrained acoustic models. We set benchmarks on the official test sets and multiple other recently used test sets. Both temporal corpus subsets are already large, and we observe that beyond their scale, HMM-TDNN ASR performance on the official test sets has reached a plateau. In contrast, other domains and larger wav2vec 2.0 models benefit from added data. The HMM-DNN and AED approaches are compared in a carefully matched equal data setting, with the HMM-DNN system consistently performing better. Finally, the variation of the ASR accuracy is compared between the speaker categories available in the parliament metadata to detect potential biases based on factors such as gender, age, and education.

Generative AI is an emerging technology that will have a profound impact on society and individuals. Only a decade ago, it was thought that creative work would be among the last to be automated - yet today, we see AI encroaching on creative domains. In this paper, we present the key findings of a survey study on people's perceptions of text-to-image generation. We touch on participants' technical understanding of the emerging technology, their ideas for potential application areas, as well as concerns, risks, and dangers of text-to-image generation to society and the individual. The study found that participants were aware of the risks and dangers associated with the technology, but only few participants considered the technology to be a risk to themselves. Additionally, those who had tried the technology rated its future importance lower than those who had not., Accepted at Generative AI in HCI workshop, CHI '23

Vapaana taiteilija-tutkijana aloittamani tutkimus käsittelee taiteellisten prosessien keinoin vammattoman, heteroseksuaalisen ja cissukupuolisen ruumiin taipumusta näyttäytyä normina uusien teknologisten innovaatioiden kontekstissa. Tutkimukseni kysyy, miten vammaisuuteen liitettäviä negatiivisia kulttuurisia merkityksiä voidaan torjua ja purkaa sosiaalisessa mediassa tehtävässä online-seksityössä? Millaista ymmärrystä taiteellisten prosessien ja uusien teknologioiden yhdistäminen tuottaa vallitsevan vammattomuuden ja heteronormatiivisuuden logiikan haastamiseksi ja vastustamiseksi? Millaisia rajoitteita tai myötävaikutuksia uudet teknologiset alustat tuottavat seksityön ja vammaisuuden stigmoja purkavalle taiteelliselle prosessille? Tässä tutkimusprojektiesittelyssä tarkastelen Nakurampa-projektini (eng. Crip Sex Worker) yhteyttä esitykseen, katsojaan sekä läsnäoloon representaation politiikan ja yhteiskunnallisen esiin asettumisen näkökulmasta digitalisoituvassa maailmassa. Nakurammassa teen online-seksityötä pornografisista sisällöistään tunnetuilla sosiaalisen median alustoilla avoimesti MS-taudin kanssa elävänä, muunsukupuolisena ja panseksuaalina ihmisenä. Käsitän sosiaalisen median tilana esitykselle, jossa katsojia ovat Nakuramman tilien seuraajat ja läsnäolo perustuu pitkällä aikavälillä tapahtuvaan Nakuramman julkaisujen kohtaamiseen sosiaalisessa mediassa. Projektin viimeisessä vaiheessa vuonna 2024 toteutan Kotiteatteri-työryhmän kanssa esityksen, joka pohjautuu omakohtaisiin kokemuksiini seksityön tekemisestä. Tätä tutkimusprojektiesittelyä kirjoittaessani olen tehnyt online-seksityötä kolmen kuukauden ajan. Tutkimukseni edustaa taiteellista tutkimusta, joka keskustelee crip-teorian, mediataiteen ja esitystaiteen kanssa. Crip-teoria analysoi kulttuurisia ilmiöitä spesifeissä konteksteissaan queer- ja vammaistutkimuksen näkökulmasta tarjoten useita hyviä rajapintoja taiteellisen prosessin ja uusien teknologioiden muutospotentiaalin tutkimiseen esittävien taiteiden yhteydessä. Nakurampa- projekti ottaa osaa taiteen representaatiokeskusteluun crip-teorian viitekehyksessä: projekti pyrkii tunnistamaan, vastustamaan ja muuttamaan sosiaalisen median avulla seksityöhön liitettäviä negatiivisia merkityksiä vähemmän konventionaalisten ruumiiden ja mielien kysymysten lähtökohdista.

Background Antimicrobial resistance threatens adequate healthcare provision against infectious diseases. Antibiograms, combined with patient clinical history, enable clinicians and pharmacists to select the best empirical treatments prior to culture results. Objectives To develop a local antibiogram for the Ho Teaching Hospital. Methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional study, using data collected on bacterial isolates from January–December 2021. Samples from urine, stool, sputum, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were considered as well as, aspirates and swabs from wound, ears and vagina of patients. Bacteria were cultured on both enrichment and selective media including blood agar supplemented with 5% sheep blood and MacConkey agar, and identified by both the VITEK 2 system and routine biochemical tests. Data on routine culture and sensitivity tests performed on bacterial isolates from patient samples were retrieved from the hospital’s health information system. Data were then entered into and analysed using WHONET. Results In all, 891 pathogenic microorganisms were isolated from 835 patients who had positive culture tests. Gram-negative isolates accounted for about 77% of the total bacterial species. Escherichia coli (246), Pseudomonas spp. (180), Klebsiella spp. (168), Citrobacter spp. (101) and Staphylococcus spp. (78) were the five most isolated pathogens. Most of the bacterial isolates showed high resistance (>70%) to ampicillin, piperacillin, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, penicillin G, amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Conclusions The isolates from the various samples were not susceptible to most of the antibiotics used in the study. The study reveals the resistance patterns of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. to some antibiotics on the WHO ‘Watch’ and ‘Reserve’ lists. Using antibiograms as part of antimicrobial stewardship programmes would optimize antibiotic use and preserve their efficacy.

The potential for the development of beef cattle farming in South Konawe Regency is a potential area for the development of Bali cattle with a beef cattle population of 367,665 heads and one of them is Ranomeeto Barat District with a cattle population of 3608 heads or 5.01% of the total population in the Regency. South Konawe. The purpose of this service is to provide technical assistance and guidance, as well as training in increasing knowledge and skills regarding potential, preparing livestock business plans, and overcoming problems faced by farmers with the methods used including the preparation stage, socialization stage, and activity implementation stage. The results of community service in technical assistance and training in making colony cages, making compost, preparing livestock business plans provide an alternative for the community in maximizing the productivity of beef cattle business.

Urban green areas are becoming increasingly recognized for their biodiversity potential. However, little is known about how urbanization shapes cryptic species communities, such as those residing in deadwood. In this study, we investigated downed Norway spruce trunks at intermediate stages of decay, in urban and semi-natural forests in southern Finland. To understand the interconnections between landscape context, deadwood characteristics and wood-inhabiting fungal communities, we studied structural characteristics, surface epiphyte cover and internal moisture and temperature conditions of the tree trunks, and fungal communities residing in the wood. Our findings showed that urban tree trunks had less epiphyte cover and lower moisture than trunks in semi-natural forests. Overall, urban forests provide less favourable habitats for a majority of the dominant wood-inhabiting fungal species and for red-listed species as a group. Yet, 33% of urban trunks hosted at least one red-listed species. While these landscape-scale effects may be driven by local climatic conditions as well as contingencies related to available species pools, our results also highlight the significance of substrate-scale variability of deadwood in shaping wood-inhabiting fungal communities. We show that epiphyte cover is a significant driver or indicator of these small-scale dynamic processes in deadwood.

The present study evaluates the market structure of Ghana’s banking industry and estimates the nature and degree of competition. This study uses non-structural methodology proposed by Panzar-Rosse Model known as “H-statistic” to empirically assess competitiveness in the Ghanaian banking market. The study uses 23 banks in Ghana from 2000 to 2019, compiled and reported by Ghana Association of Bankers (GAB). The study results show that banks in Ghana derive their revenue in conditions of monopolistic competition. Thus, Contestable markets theory and Chamberlainian competition theory are validated by the study results. Furthermore, the study results revealed that from 2000 to 2019, after various structural reforms including the implementation of the FINSAP, competition in the Ghanaian banking sector increased. Finally, when the dataset was decomposed into local and foreign banks, the results indicate that monopolistic competition market conditions are found for both local and foreign banks. Managerially, the presence of a monopolistic market condition adds to the call for managers of the banks to consider factor input prices in an attempt to generate more revenues. Second, to avoid negative consequences of competition, managers of these banks should not rely on a single income source but also indulge in non-intermediation activities. In terms of policy, pro-structural shift policies that have helped with the transition from a monopoly structure to a monopolistic competition free entry or contestable market structure should be rigorously pursued by the policymakers. Besides, policy directives that enhance greater consolidation in the banking sector shouldbe pursued rigorously. Finally, the results from this study could help policy-makers to fashion an appropriate optimal intervention and stability policies geared towards enhancing banking stability at different levels of bank competition.

Open data are often contributed by various governments and public sector actors. An increasingly popular way to collect large bespoke data sets is crowdsourcing. In this article, we explore crowdsourced open data as enablers of future software solutions. We recruited participants from an online paid crowdsourcing platform to provide open mental health related data that was used to create an interactive data-driven decision support system for self-care. We then invited a sub-sample of 80 participants back to explore the tool that was created using their own data and to provide a rich account of perceptions on issues around such health data reuse in software. Our results unfold a range of different perceived threats and opportunities in using crowdsourced data to enable software solutions, and our work contributes a topical case study and discussion toward the use of crowdsourced data in an open fashion.

Women experience and celebrate special events in their lifetimes such as pregnancy and childbirth. Pregnancy brings joy for most women in Africa because it is seen to be a fulfillment of womanhood. While pregnancy is usually associated with joy, the moment is equally associated with anxiety and fear especially if it is unplanned. There is evidence that pregnant students experience stress in the traditional Universities in Ghana. The purpose of the study was to examine the level of stress and the coping strategies used by pregnant students in Akatsi College of Education, specifically in terms of campus duties, academic workload, accommodation restrictions, and ways of coping with academic activities pregnancy. The study was a case study qualitative research using a semi-structured interview. Respondents encompassed six pregnant students who are still students of Akatsi College of Education. The majority of pregnant students in Akatsi College of Education experienced stress from the school environment in relation to their comfortability in terms of food, clothing, and accommodation. Pregnant students faced stigma from colleagues. Even though the pregnant students were not suggesting to the College to be given preferential treatment, a large number of respondents wished the college allows them to either rent accommodation outside campus or be given a room meant for only pregnant students. It was realised that the majority of respondents adopted coping strategies to deal with stress on campus. There is a need for a policy direction for Akatsi Colleges of Education for pregnant students to be allowed to rent outside campus or be given separate rooms. Also, there is a need for flexibility in the style of uniform and options for pregnant students on campus to cook their own food. Counselling/GESI units in Akatsi College of Education to institute measures to identify pregnant students and prepare them psychologically.

Outdoor degradation analysis was carried out on a monocrystalline PV module rated 10 W using the CR1000 software-based Data Acquisition System (DAS). The PV module under test and meteorological Sensors were installed on a metal support structure on the same test plane. The data obtained was monitored from 09:00 to 18:00 hours each day continuously for a period of four years, from December 2014 to November 2018.The experiment was carried out near the Physics Department, Federal University of Technology, Minna (latitude 09o37'N, longitude 06o32'E, and 249 meters above sea level). The sensors were connected directly to the CR1000 Campbell Scientific data logger, while the module is connected to the logger via electronic loads. The logger was programmed to scan the load current from 0 to 1 A at intervals of 50mA every 5 minutes, and average values of short-circuit current, (Isc,) open-circuit voltage, (Voc), current at maximum power, (Imax), the voltage at maximum power,(Vmax), power and maximum power obtained from the modules together with the ambient parameters are recorded and logged. Data download at the data acquisition site was performed every 7 days to ensure effective and close monitoring of the data acquisition system (DAS). At the end of each month and where necessary, hourly, daily and monthly averages of each of the parameters-solar irradiance, solar insolation, wind speed, ambient and module temperatures, and the output response variables (open-circuit voltage, Voc, short-circuit current, Isc, the voltage at maximum power, Vmax, current at maximum power, Imax, efficiency, Eff, and fill factor, FF) of the photovoltaic modules were obtained.Yearly averages of the performance variables were obtained to ascertain the performance, degradation rate, and lifespan of the module. The module performance for the four years of study was compared with Standard Test Condition (STC) specifications. The maximum power achieved at 1000W/m2 for the four years of study are 0.711W, 1.82W, 0.50W, and 0.22W representing 7.11%, 18.39%, 5.0% and 2.25% of the manufacturer’s 10W specification. Module efficiency at 1000W/m2 for the four years of study is 3.30%, 10.12%, 3.98%, and 2.82% respectively as against the manufacturer's STC specification of 46%. Accordingly, Module Performance Ratios for the PV module investigated were 0.072, 0.22, 0.087, and 0.061respectively. For the Rate of Degradation (RoD), it was observed that Open-Circuit voltage (Voc), Short-Circuit Current (Isc), Power-Output (P), and Maximum Power (Pmax), has an average yearly degradation rate of 1.06V, 0.002A, 0.082W and 0.142W representing 4.9%,0.30%,0.56%, and 1.4%respectively for the four years of study.

Social media tools have emerged as an imperative source of information for customers. However, the relationship between information volume on social media and consumer choice quality remains blurred in literature. The study sought to examine the relationship between choice overload on social media and product choice quality, and how choice quality influences post-purchase dissonance. The study employed a positivist research paradigm and an explanatory design to examine the relationship between the various constructs. Using a purposive sampling method, Responses from 249 respondents were quantitatively analyzed. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized. The outcome revealed a direct significant effect of choice overload on poor choice quality and a strong positive association between choice quality and post-purchase dissonance using social media tools. The distinctiveness of the study adds to the existing literature by extending the current understanding of post-purchase dissonance and consumer behavior in general.

Digital reading has established its position, and thus research on how reading mode affects reading experience and enjoyment is needed. This study is based on a reading experiment with 89 14–15-year-olds who read or listened to an entire book in four different reading modes: paperbook, ebook, audiobook, and via a commercial subscription service. Using quantitative methods, we examine whether reading mode affects story world absorption as well as seek connections between gender, motivation, absorption and reading mode preferences. Based on the study, reading mode has no statistical impact on narrative absorption experience, measured by the Story World Absorption Scale. Instead, the experience correlates with reading motivation; an adolescent with higher motivation is more likely to feel absorbed while reading, regardless of reading mode. On average, girls experience higher reading motivation and absorption than boys. Less motivated seem to prefer audiobook whereas more motivated choose reading over listening.