Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Exposure to Sexually Explicit Films on the Sexual Behavior of Secondary School Students in Ibadan, Nigeria

Young people in secondary schools who are prone to engage in risky sexual behaviors spend considerable time watching Television (TV) which often presents sex scenes. The influence of exposure to sex scenes on TV (SSTV) has been little researched in Nigeria. This study was therefore designed to determine the perceived influence of exposure to SSTV on the sexual behavior of secondary school students in Ibadan North Local Government Area. A total of 489 randomly selected students were surveyed. Mean age of respondents was 14.1 ± 1.9 years and 53.8% were females. About 91% had ever been exposed to sex scenes. The type of TV program from which most respondents reported exposure to sexual scenes was movies (86.9%). Majority reported exposure to all forms of SSTV from secondary storage devices. Students whose TV watching behavior was not monitored had heavier exposures to SSTV compared with those who were. About 56.3% of females and 26.5% of males affirmed that watching SSTV had affected their sexual behavior. Predictor of sex-related activities was exposure to heavy sex scenes. Peer education and school-based programs should include topics to teach young people on how to evaluate presentations of TV programs.
Effect of the Materials Properties of Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles on Fibronectin Deposition and Conformation

Hydroxyapatite (HAP, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) nanoparticles with controlled materials properties have been synthesized through a two-step hydrothermal aging method to investigate fibronectin (Fn) adsorption. Two distinct populations of HAP nanoparticles have been generated: HAP1 particles had smaller size, plate-like shape, lower crystallinity, and more negative ζ potential than HAP2 particles. We then developed two-dimensional platforms containing HAP and Fn and analyzed both the amount and the conformation of Fn via Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) at various HAP concentrations. Our FRET analysis reveals that larger amounts of more compact Fn molecules were adsorbed onto HAP1 than onto HAP2 particles. Additionally, our data show that the amount of compact Fn adsorbed increased with increasing HAP concentration due to the formation of nanoparticle agglomerates. We propose that both the surface chemistry of single nanoparticles and the size and morphology of HAP agglomerates play significant roles in the interaction of Fn with HAP. Collectively, our findings suggest that the HAP-induced conformational changes of Fn, a critical mechanotransducer protein involved in the communication of cells with their environment, will ultimately affect downstream cellular behaviors. These results have important implications for our understanding of organic–inorganic interactions in physiological and pathological biomineralization processes such as HAP-related inflammation.
Electrode design and coupling optimization of Aluminum Nitride DETF

In this work we report a model to design and optimize the actuation electrode of Aluminum Nitride (AlN) Double Ended Tuning Forks (DETF). Based on the results of the analytical model three different actuation layouts were designed. The first electrode layout is based on a single-port DETF, the second layout has a two-port asymmetric electrode pattern and the third layout is based on a two-port symmetric electrode pattern. In order to compare the three actuation methods, three AlN DETF were fabricated and characterized. In this work we show that the two-port symmetric electrode layout has several advantages over the other designs as it achieves higher Q-factors and can enable further miniaturization of the resonating DETF.
Imperfect Forward Secrecy: How Diffie-Hellman Fails in Practice

We investigate the security of Diffie-Hellman key exchange as used in popular Internet protocols and find it to be less secure than widely believed. First, we present Logjam, a novel flaw in TLS that lets a man-in-the-middle downgrade connections to "export-grade" Diffie-Hellman. To carry out this attack, we implement the number field sieve discrete log algorithm. After a week-long precomputation for a specified 512-bit group, we can compute arbitrary discrete logs in that group in about a minute. We find that 82% of vulnerable servers use a single 512-bit group, allowing us to compromise connections to 7% of Alexa Top Million HTTPS sites. In response, major browsers are being changed to reject short groups. We go on to consider Diffie-Hellman with 768- and 1024-bit groups. We estimate that even in the 1024-bit case, the computations are plausible given nation-state resources. A small number of fixed or standardized groups are used by millions of servers; performing precomputation for a single 1024-bit group would allow passive eavesdropping on 18% of popular HTTPS sites, and a second group would allow decryption of traffic to 66% of IPsec VPNs and 26% of SSH servers. A close reading of published NSA leaks shows that the agency's attacks on VPNs are consistent with having achieved such a break. We conclude that moving to stronger key exchange methods should be a priority for the Internet community.
Which measures of diaphyseal robusticity are robust? A comparison of external methods of quantifying the strength of long bone diaphyses to cross-sectional geometric properties.

Measures of diaphyseal robusticity have commonly been used to investigate differences in bone strength related to body size, behavior, climate, and other factors. The most common methods of quantifying robusticity involve external diameters, or cross-sectional geometry. The data derived from these different methods are often used to address similar research questions, yet the compatibility of the resulting data has not been thoroughly tested. This study provides the first systematic comparison of externally derived measures of postcranial robusticity, with those based upon cross-sectional geometry. It includes sections taken throughout the skeleton, comparisons of prediction errors associated with different measurements, and analysis of the implications of different methods of body size standardization on the prediction of relative bone strength. While the results show reasonable correlations between diaphyseal diameters and strengths derived from cross-sectional geometry, considerable prediction errors are found in many cases. A new approach to externally based quantification of diaphyseal robusticity based upon moulding of sub-periosteal contours is proposed. This method maximizes correlation with cross-sectional geometry (r(2) = . 998) and minimizes prediction errors in all cases. The results underscore the importance of accurate periosteal measurement in the quantification of bone strength, and suggest that, regardless of theoretical scaling predictions, external area based robusticity estimates involving the product of diaphyseal diameters are most directly comparable to cross-sectional geometric properties when they are standardized using the product of body mass and bone length.
Comparison of corneal endothelial cell loss during phacoemulsification using continuous anterior chamber infusion versus those using ophthalmic viscosurgical device: Randomized controlled trial

Aim We conducted this study to evaluate and compare corneal endothelial cell loss between phacoemulsification with continuous anterior chamber infusion using anterior chamber maintainer (ACM) and phacoemulsification using ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD). Materials and Methods This was a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Fifty eyes of 47 patients of senile cataract undergoing phacoemulsification were included. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups of 25 eyes each. Cataract surgery was performed by phacoemulsification with anterior chamber (AC) continuous infusion with balanced salt solution (BSS) plus and ACM without OVD in Group A, and in Group B, phacoemulsification was performed using OVD with BSS plus. Corneal endothelial cell count and pachymetry were performed preoperatively and postoperatively on day 1, day 7, and day 30. Results The mean increase in pachymetry was 4.86%, 2.94%, and 1.94%, (Group A) and 5.95%, 3.94%, and 0.51%, (Group B) on first, seventh, and 30th postoperative day respectively. The difference between the percentage increase in pachymetry between the two groups was not significant at day 1 (P = 0.441), day 7 (P = 0.298), and day 30 (P = 0.174) postoperatively. The density of endothelial cells decreased postoperatively (day 30) by 7.38% (Group A) and 7.47% (Group B) without any significant statistical difference (P = 0.983) between two groups. Conclusion Use of ACM for continuous AC infusion and omission of OVD during phacoemulsification did not cause significant difference in corneal swelling or endothelial cell loss in the immediate postoperative period up to one month.
Global Gronwall Estimates for Integral Curves on Riemannian Manifolds

We prove Gronwall-type estimates for the distance of integral curves of smooth vector fields on a Riemannian manifold. Such estimates are of central importance for all methods of solving ODEs in a verified way, i.e., with full control of roundoff errors. Our results may therefore be seen as a prerequisite for the generalization of such methods to the setting of Riemannian manifolds.
Translation-based co-verification

We propose a translation-based approach to hardware and software co-verification of embedded systems using model checking. Software and hardware designs of an embedded system are translated into the input formal language of a state-of-the-art model checker to enable co-verification. The formal model of the whole system is constructed through integrating the translations of hardware and software designs via a bridge module. The bridge module preserves the semantics of hardware and software. Co-verification complexity is reduced through (1) leveraging reduction algorithms of the target model checkers, (2) applying reduction algorithms in translation via model transformations, and (3) conducting compositional reasoning across the interfaces of the bridge module. Our approach has been implemented to support co-verification of software designs specified in executable UML and hardware designs specified in Verilog. We have successfully applied this approach to co-verification of networked sensors, an emerging type of embedded systems. The case study has shown that our approach is practical - applicable to embedded systems of real-world scale, and effective - leading to order-of-magnitude reduction on co-verification complexities.
Static Formation Temperature Prediction Based on Bottom Hole Temperature

Static formation temperature (SFT) is required to determine the thermophysical properties and production parameters in geothermal and oil reservoirs. However, it is not easy to determine SFT by both experimental and physical methods. In this paper, a mathematical approach to predicting SFT, based on a new model describing the relationship between bottom hole temperature (BHT) and shut-in time, has been proposed. The unknown coefficients of the model were derived from the least squares fit by the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Additionally, the ability to predict SFT using a few BHT data points (such as the first three, four, or five points of a data set) was evaluated. The accuracy of the proposed method to predict SFT was confirmed by a deviation percentage less than ±4% and a high regression coefficient R 2 (>0.98). The proposed method could be used as a practical tool to predict SFT in both geothermal and oil wells.
Clinicoeconomics and Outcomes Research Dovepress Adherence and Resource Use among Patients Treated with Biologic Drugs: Findings from Beetle Study

Objectives: Systemic administration of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF alpha) leads to an anti-inflammatory and joint protective effect in pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to therapy, persistence in treatment (no switches or interruptions), and consumption of care resources (drugs, outpatient services, hospitalizations). Methods: We conducted an observational retrospective cohort analysis using the administrative databases of five local health units. Patients filling at least one prescription for anti-TNF alpha between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011 were included and followed up for 1 year. Patients were defined as adherent if . 80% of the follow-up period was covered by drugs dispensation. Results: A total of 1,219 patients were analyzed (mean age 49.6±14.6, male 47%). Among enrolled patients, 36% were affected by rheumatoid arthritis, and 31% and 10% were affected by psoriasis and Crohn's disease, respectively; other indications remained below these percentages. Thirty-four percent of patients (420) were treated with adalimumab, 51% (615) with etanercept, and 15% (184) with infliximab. Among the 94% of patients who did not switch, those treated with infliximab had a higher rate of adherence across all indications (51% overall) when compared to that observed in patients treated with etanercept (27%) or adalimumab (23%). The mean annual nonpharmacological expenditure for each patient in analysis was €988 for adherent and €1,255 for nonadherent patients. Infliximab was associated with the lowest cost for all indications as determined by the multivariate generalized linear model. Conclusions: Patients treated with infliximab were associated with higher adherence and persistence in treatment and lower costs, as compared to those treated with adalimumab or etanercept.
Carrier sensing and receiver performance in indoor IEEE 802.11b mesh networks

In this paper, we address the following question: given a typical indoor IEEE 802.11 mesh network, how are carrier sensing, receiving and interference range related and how stable are they in time? To answer this question, we conducted broadcast measurements in the Berlin RoofNet testbed under saturated conditions using multiple simultaneous transmitters with either carrier sensing turned on and off, respectively. In contrast to several prior studies, our results indicate that wireless mesh networks are much more deterministic, and they show a high stability even under self-induced interference. Interestingly, for IEEE 802.11b at 1Mbps, the interference range of a transmitter is only slightly larger than its receiving range. On the other hand, the carrier sensing range is slightly smaller than the receiving range. In particular, a packet success rate around 10% is a reasonable good indicator for carrier sensing. In addition, we identified uncontrolled external interference and environmental mobility as the key disturbing factors causing variations in packet reception.
The Value of Using Multiple Hydrometeorological Variables to Predict Temporal Debris Flow Susceptibility in an Alpine Environment

Debris flows are typically triggered by rainfall‐related weather conditions—including short‐duration storms and long‐lasting rainfall, in cold climates sometimes in connection with intensive snowmelt. Given the considerable observational uncertainties of rainfall, we tested if other hydrometeorological variables carry enough information content to compensate for these uncertainties and if the combined information of hydrologic catchment state and rainfall can be used to predict the regional temporal susceptibility for debris flow initiation. For this we carried out a probabilistic analysis of variables derived from a conceptual hydrological model for the Montafon region, Austria, where debris flows were recorded on 41 days between 1953 and 2013. Exclusively from hydrological characteristics and, importantly, neglecting precipitation itself, we quantitatively determined different trigger types for historical debris flows. Subsequently, we used four Naive Bayes classifier models, ranging from a simple rainfall‐only model to a multiparameter hydrometeorological model differentiating between trigger types, to predict days susceptible for debris flow occurrence in the region. The results suggest that debris flows were triggered by convective rainstorm events on 23 days, on 12 days due to gradual soil moisture buildup in the course of long‐lasting rainfall events and on six further days snowmelt played an important role. We find that the differences between the trigger types are statistically significant and that a susceptibility prediction differentiating between trigger types and including hydrological information can outperform simple rainfall‐only models. This study thereby contributes to an improved understanding of the hydrometeorological impact on debris flow initiation in a mountain watershed.
Sarcoidosis in Taiwan: clinical characteristics and atypical mycobacteria.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Sarcoidosis is rare in Taiwan, although increasingly more cases are being diagnosed. The purpose of this study was to further characterize the clinical features of all biopsy-proven cases of sarcoidosis diagnosed between 1988 and 2002 in a national teaching hospital in southern Taiwan, and to detect mycobacterial DNA in sarcoid lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 28 biopsy-proven cases of sarcoidosis were reviewed. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues were used as template for nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of the mycobacterial hsp65 gene. This was followed by direct DNA sequencing to identify the species in positive cases. RESULTS Eleven males and 17 females, aged 19 to 79 years (mean, 50 yr) were enrolled. Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, pulmonary lesions or both, were detected in 14 patients (50%). Of the 22 patients (78%) with skin involvement, nine manifested angiolupoid lesions on the face, a rare form of cutaneous sarcoidosis. Eight patients had papular lesions and five had plaque lesions, usually widespread on the extremities and trunk. No patients presented with erythema nodosum. Fifteen of the 22 patients with skin involvement had had the disease for more than 2 years. The hsp65 gene was detected in seven cases, four of which showed greater than 90% homology to four different species of atypical mycobacteria. CONCLUSION Our study showed that sarcoidosis tended to affect women older than 40 years, often manifested angiolupoid lesions on the face, and ran a subacute to chronic course. Atypical mycobacteria might play a role in the etiology in a minority of our patients, but more cases and other potential etiologic agents need to be studied.
Blood ammonia levels in advanced cirrhosis during therapeutic elevation of the insulin: glucagon ratio.

Abstract Plasma insulin, glucagon and blood ammonia were measured at frequent intervals in four separate nine-hour studies in five patients with advanced cirrhosis who had consistent basal hyperammonemia while on a diet containing 40 to 60 g of protein. In two of the four studies the diet was supplemented hourly with 20 g of glucose orally. Without supplementation mean blood ammonia rose 20 μg per 100 ml, insulin averaged >50 μU per milliliter, and glucagon averaged >160 pg per milliliter. Mean molar insulin:glucagon ratio rose to a peak of 12.3 but was usually below 5. With glucose supplementation, mean insulin rose to 201 μU per milliliter, glucagon fell below basal values, and the insulin: glucagon ratio rose to a peak of 39.2, significantly above the control at all points. In this hormonal setting, blood ammonia did not rise, but declined slightly, a difference that was significant at all six points of comparison after the first hour of the experiment. The improved protein tolerance could reflect redu.
Comparative Mortality of Diapausing and Nondiapausing Larvae of Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Exposed to Monoterpenoids and Low Pressure

ABSTRACT Monoterpenoids and low pressure have each been demonstrated to cause mortality of stored-product insect pests. The current report investigated the prospects of integrating the two methods in the management of diapausing and nondiapausing larvae of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner). In a separate experiment, the larvae were exposed to 35.5 mmHg in Erlenmeyer flasks at 19 and 28°C for times ranging from 30 min to 96 h. Another set of experiments was conducted to investigate the toxicity of exposing P. interpunctella larvae to monoterpenoids including E-anethole, estragole, S-carvone, linalool, L-fenchone, geraniol, &ggr;-terpinene, and DL-camphor alone or in combination with low pressure (50 mmHg). Lethal times (LT) determined by subjecting time-mortality data to probit analyses were shortened to half when both diapausing and nondiapausing larvae were exposed to low pressure at 28°C compared with 19°C. Exposure of diapausing larvae to a monoterpenoid alone, with the exception of DL-camphor and estragole, at a concentration of 66.7 µl/1L of volume required >30 h to generate 99% mortality at 19.0 ± 0.8°C. However, the LT99 values for diapausing and nondiapausing larvae exposed to combinations of DL-camphor or estragole and low pressure were considerably shortened. Combinations involving the rest of the monoterpenoids investigated and low pressure did not generate LT99 that were shorter than those of the control, which was low pressure only. These results suggest that integrating low pressure with DL-camphor or estragole could be a new method for the control of diapausing larvae of P. interpunctella at cooler temperatures.
Novel HHT-Based Features for Biometric Identification Using EEG Signals

In this paper we present a novel approach for biometric identification using electroencephalogram (EEG) signals based on features extracted with the Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT). The instantaneous amplitude and the instantaneous frequency were computed after the HHT, and these were then used to generate the features for classification. The proposed system was evaluated using two publicly available databases in scenarios where only a single electrode is used to provide biometric information. One database (with 122 subjects) has the users viewing a series of pictures while the other one (with 109 subjects) has the users performing motor/imagery tasks. Average identification accuracies of 96% and 99% were reached for these two databases respectively using only a single electrode. These compare favourably with previously published results employing a variety of other features and classification approaches.