Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heavy Metals In Edible Vegetables At Abandoned Solid Waste Dump Sites In Port Harcourt , Nigeria . *

The concentrations of eight selected heavy metals, Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr, As, Hg, and Zn in seven consumable vegetables harvested at some dump sites and farm lands ( as control) in Port Harcourt and its environs in Rivers State Nigeria were investigated. The soils in which they are grown were also analysed using Solaar Thermo Elemental Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) model SE 71906. The vegetables plants investigated were Bitter leaf (Vernonia Amgdylina, Pumpkin (Telfairia Occidentalis), Green Vegetable (Amaranthus hybridus), Okro plant (Abelmoschus esculentus L), Green Amaranths (Amaranthus viridis). The results obtained show that the concentration of heavy metals in the dumpsites were significantly higher (P<0.05) and varies from the results for the farmlands (control). Similarly there were more heavy metals in vegetables harvested at dumpsites than the control sites. Zn concentration in vegetables at both sites Zn (31.6 ± 0.23 68.04 ± 0.1 mg/kg) and Zn (10.36 ± 0.18 26.62 ± 0.26 mg/kg) respectively. Concentration of other metals followed the order, Ni> Cu>Cr>Pb>Cd >As. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr in all the vegetables from the dumpsites were extremely higher than the WHO permissible standard limit. While the Ni, Cu were below permissible limit only in some vegetables. Hg concentration was minimal in dumpsite vegetables and was not detected in samples from the control sites. The significantly high level of heavy metal concentrations, above the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits, indicates bioaccumulation in the vegetables and subsequent bioavailability when consumed. This can pose great health risk to humans and animals through the food chain.
MicroRNAs in the pathogenesis of RV remodelling

Right ventricular (RV) remodelling is a lesser understood process of the chronic, progressive transformation of the RV structure leading to reduced functional capacity and subsequent failure. Besides conditions concerning whole hearts, some pathology selectively affects the RV, leading to a distinct RV-specific clinical phenotype. MicroRNAs have been identified as key regulators of biological processes that drive the progression of chronic diseases. The role of microRNAs in diseases affecting the left ventricle has been studied for many years, however there is still limited information on microRNAs specific to diseases in the right ventricle. Here, we review recently described details on the expression, regulation, and function of microRNAs in the pathological remodelling of the right heart. Recently identified strategies using microRNAs as pharmacological targets or biomarkers will be highlighted. Increasing knowledge of pathogenic microRNAs will finally help improve our understanding of underlying distinct mechanisms and help utilize novel targets or biomarkers to develop treatments for patients suffering from right heart diseases.
Comparison of different evolutionary methodologies applied to electronic filter design

We present in this work the application of a set of different evolutionary methodologies in the problem of electronic filter design. The main objectives are to find out which constraints in the filter topologies, if any, must be observed along the evolutionary process and to study the problem of convergence to parsimonious circuits. The new area of evolutionary electronics is introduced, an evolutionary methodology based on variable length representation is presented and the results on the evolution of low-pass and band-pass filters are described.
Spatial characterization of process variations via MOS transistor time constants in VLSI and WSI

This paper is the first large-scale experimental characterization of spatial process variations for a parameter that is directly involved in timing issues: the MOS transistor time constant. This is achieved by measuring the oscillation period of highspeed (500 MHz) CMOS ring oscillators that are implemented at different locations on individual dies and over wafers. Novel phenomena are observed, improving our understanding of how process variations affect the performance of synchronous systems, particularly in clock distribution networks. We observed four components contributing to period variations: an environment-dependent component, a process-dependent component of lower spatial frequency, a random component analogous to white noise, and a component depending on the geometry of the power-supply distribution network.
Microwave cylindrical cavity applicator modeling using hybrid empirical neural model

In this paper, the loaded cylindrical metallic cavity with circular cross-section is modeled using a new hybrid empirical neural (HEN) model. The load in the form of a homogeneous dielectric slab with losses located on the bottom of the cavity is considered. The appropriate HEN model is investigated in which knowledge about resonant frequency behavior defined in the approximate approach (B. Milovanovic et al., J. Microwave Power and EM Energy, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 49-55, 1999) is integrated. For comparison, the considered cavity is also modeled using a classical multilayer perceptron (MLP) network. For the same training set, the appropriate MLP model giving the best results is investigated. The accuracy of both models as well as the advantage of using the HEN model is illustrated through the example of the TM/sub 112/ mode.
Texture measures in SIR-C images

The ability of texture measures to separate broad land-cover classes in 25 meter resolution, multi-polarisation synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images from the SIR-C Shuttle mission is investigated. A large number of first and second order texture measures and different methods of discretising the images are examined. The results indicate that texture measures, particularly in the CHH polarisation, improve the separation between land cover classes and can assist in classification.
Towards Efficient Comparison of Change-Based Models

Comparison of large models can be time-consuming since every element has to be visited, matched, and compared with its respective element in other models. This can result in bottlenecks in collaborative modelling environments, where identifying diﬀerences between two versions of a model is desirable. Reducing the comparison process to only the elements that have been modiﬁed since a previous known state (e.g., previous version) could signiﬁcantly reduce the time required for large model comparison. This paper presents how change-based persistence can be used to localise the comparison of models so that only elements aﬀected by recent changes are compared and to substantially reduce comparison and diﬀerencing time (up to 90% in some experiments) compared to state-based model comparison.
Automatic classification of e-mail messages by messages type

This article describes a system that automatically classifies E-mail messages in the HUMANIST electronic discussion group into one of four classes, Question, Response, Announcement, or Administrative. A total of 1,372 messages were analyzed. The automatic classification of a message was based on string matching between a message text and predefined string sets for each of the message types. The system's automated ability to accurately classify a message was compared against manually assigned codes. The Cohen's Kappa of . 55 suggested that there was a statistical agreement between the automatic and manually assigned codes.
Medical Student Training on Code Status Discussions: How Far Have We Come?

OBJECTIVES It is unclear to what extent the recently increased focus on patient-provider education and patient-centered care has affected education on communication at the undergraduate medical education (UME) level. This study aimed to investigate graduating students' exposure to and comfort with techniques surrounding the code status discussion, an important and ubiquitous component of patient-provider communication. METHODS We surveyed fourth-year medical students who had recently matched to our internal medicine residency program on their medical school experiences with code status discussions, self-confidence with these conversations, and desire for further education. RESULTS We obtained surveys from 56 students from 32 medical schools (89% response rate). Students had varying experience observing and conducting code status discussions, infrequently received guidance or feedback on these discussions, and did not know guidelines for best practices surrounding the conversations. Despite reporting moderate self-confidence with these conversations, most felt they required at least partial supervision conducting these discussions; all requested further formal instruction. CONCLUSIONS Despite increased attention on the importance of physicians' communication with patients, including surrounding end-of-life care, students at many top medical schools continue to feel underprepared and underconfident to engage in code status discussions with their patients upon the start of residency.
Physical and Numerical Modelling of Post-Pumping Seawater Intrusion

This paper explores post-pumping seawater intrusion (PP-SWI), which is the phenomenon of seawater intruding further inland than the location of a well, after pumping has ceased. Despite numerous papers on the topic of seawater intrusion and pumping, this is the first time that PP-SWI has been described in the literature, to our knowledge. This paper describes a laboratory-scale investigation of the phenomenon and we demonstrate that PP-SWI can be reproduced within physical experiments. We also show, using numerical modelling, that PP-SWI is caused by disequilibrium in the flow field following the cessation of pumping. Specifically, in our simulations, the cone of depression persisted after the cessation of pumping (first moving inland and then retreating toward the coastal boundary) which caused a lag in the reestablishment of fresh water flow toward the coast, after pumping had stopped. It was during this period of flow-field disequilibrium that PP-SWI occurred. We expect systems with larger postextraction disequilibrium to be most susceptible to PP-SWI and recommend future research to improve understanding of the relationship between hydrogeological parameters, extraction rates, well location, and incidence of PP-SWI. In those systems where PP-SWI is most likely, quantitative analysis of groundwater extraction and SWI will need to employ transient approaches to ensure that SWI is not underestimated.
Expert Knowledge-Based Automatic Sleep Stage Determination by Multi-Valued Decision Making Method

In this study, an expert knowledge-based automatic sleep stage determination system working on a multi-valued decision making method is developed. Visual inspection by a qualified clinician is adopted to obtain the expert knowledge database. The expert knowledge database consists of probability density functions of parameters for various sleep stages. Sleep stages are determined automatically according to the conditional probability. Totally, four subjects were participated. The automatic sleep stage determination results showed close agreements with the visual inspection on sleep stages of awake, REM (rapid eye movement), light sleep and deep sleep. The constructed expert knowledge database reflects the distributions of characteristic parameters which can be adaptive to variable sleep data in hospitals. The developed automatic determination technique based on expert knowledge of visual inspection can be an assistant tool enabling further inspection of sleep disorder cases for clinical practice.
The Prevalence and Patterns of Endocrinopathies Amongs Azoospermic Male Partners at a Fertility Clinic in Benin City

Aim and Objective: We undertook this study to evaluate the prevalence, trend and patterns of endocrine abnormalities among azoospermic male partners of infertile couples investigated for male infertility in our fertility centre. Setting: A private IVF hospital treating infertility with assisted reproduction technology in Benin City, Nigeria. Methodology: A prospective, observational and a descriptive study of the analysis of the hormonal profile of azoospermic male partners of the infertile couples, who presented at St Augustine Medical center, Benin City, Nigeria over a five-year period from May 2007 through December 2012 was undertaken. Results: A total of 686 men were investigated for infertility within this period, fifty-eight (8.45%) of them with a mean age of 43.72±1.5years were found to be azoospermic. Of the 58 azoospermic men, fourty-eight (82.76%) had one or more abnormal hormonal profile parameter, while ten (17.24%) had a normal hormone profile pattern. Of the forty-eight Azoospermic men with abnormal hormone profile pattern, twenty-two (37.93%) had increased serum FSH and LH, mildly increased prolactin and low testosterone, 15 (25.86%) had increased serum FSH, normal LH and prolactin with reduced testosterone, 4 (6.9%) had increased serum LH, normal FSH and prolactin with reduced testosterone, 2 (3.45%) had low LH, FSH and testosterone with high prolactin while 5 (10.42%) had elevated prolactin levels, normal gonadotrophins (LH & FSH) and low testosterone. Ejaculate volume was normal in 48(82.76%) of the azoospermic men when the mean semen volume was 3.30±0.19mls; and mean serum hormone levels were LH; 9.54 ± 0.89, FSH; 22.77± 2.70, Prolactin; 18.54± 2.50, Testosterone; 3.01 ± 0.22. The ejaculate volume was low in 10 (17.24%) men with a mean semen volume of 0.89±0.07 and mean serum hormone levels; LH; 13.75±3.12, FSH; 23.48±4.45, Prolactin; 15.87±2.46, Testosterone; 3.08±0.46. Conclusion: Endocrinopathies are common among azoospermic male partners of infertile couples in Benin City. The most prevalent pattern of endocrinopathy suggests testicular failure. Majority of men don't show-up early enough for infertility screening. Azoospermia was most prevalent among business men followed by civil servants. The main reason for the endocrinopathies is not clear, but exposures to certain environmental/occupational factors which can disrupt endocrine function are likely to be contributory.
Improving English as a foreign language writing in elementary schools using mobile devices in familiar situational contexts

This research proposed a situational learning system to help elementary school students practice and improve their English as a foreign language (EFL) writing skills. Students carried out assigned writing tasks using the support of mobile devices in situations deemed to be familiar to the students, such as on the school playground, within classroom facilities, and at lunch. The study recruited 59 sixth-grade students from two separate EFL classes. A class of 28 students was identified as the experimental group, and another class of 31 students was assigned as the control group. The students of the experimental group carried mobile devices to carry out EFL writing assignments within specific and familiar subject environments, stimulating real-life situations or contexts. The results of the experiment indicated a significant difference in learning achievement between the two groups. Students in the experimental group perceived the designed activities to be fun; thus, they were more inclined to maintain interest in situated learning scenarios. Furthermore, based on interviews with participating students from both groups, we found that the activities presented within familiar contexts, and supported by our proposed EFL writing system, inspired students to not only write more sentences, but to describe the target objects clearly and thoroughly.
Real-time grasping of unknown objects based on computer vision

We present an integrated system for vision-guided grasping in the real world. By using very limited resources-a standard personal computer and a robot-mounted camera-an inexpensive robot arm stably grasps unknown planar objects in real time by using visual perception and a standard parallel-jaw gripper. In a simple, yet powerful fashion our system integrates computer vision, grasping and vision-guided control. Novel techniques are presented to solve the involved problems under the imposed resource constraints: namely, for information reduction in image processing, strategies for grasp determination and vision-guided control for grasp execution. Particularly, a novel technique called curvature-symmetry fusion is used to help in efficient grasp determination. The system provides the user with a quantitative measure of the degree of stability of the planned grasp. Experimental results are provided. The imposed resource constraints makes it suitable for short-term applications in the real world, such as service or medical.
ROLE OF MENTAL HEALTH FACILITATORS ON THE PROMOTION OF MOTHERS ’ SKILLS TO PREVENT THEIR CHILDREN FROM ADDICTION : APPLYING BLOOM

Effectiveness of a program can be improved by cooperation in preventive interventions while identifying local factors and also by the application of best perspectives having in mind the experts’ ideas and administrating them through local people’s participations. Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate community-based training package to promote knowledge and skills of mental health facilitators (MHFs) and mothers. The study was designed in the form of interventional methodology with case and control groups/pre-test and post-test. Regarding Better Life Options and Opportunities Model (BLOOM), seven mental health facilitators were chosen. In order to instruct the facilitators, various communicative orientations were used. Then, based on inclusion criteria and randomised sampling, 150 qualified women were recruited. Mothers’ knowledge and skills about addiction prevention was scrutinized by researcher’s designed questionnaire. Six instructive and communicative oral sessions were held by facilitators for the case group which lasted for two hours. After two months, the knowledge and skills of both groups was evaluated by the same questionnaire. The obtained data were analysed by the Independent Samples ttests, and Paired t-test. It was confirmed that there was a meaningful difference regarding the average of mothers’ knowledge about drug abuse, addiction prevention approaches, supportive and controlling skills among both the control and intervention groups before and after the intervention.
The Integrated Relations of Fruits and Vegetables with Cancer

Stated purpose: Fruit, vegetables, and certain components of plant foods have long been thought to protect against cancer. Diets that include fruits, vegetables may provide substantial health benefits in terms of cancer prevention and treatment by suppressing the inflammatory processes that lead to transformation, hyper proliferation and the initiation of carcinogenesis. Material & Methods: The evidence for a protective effect of vegetable and fruit consumption is consistent for cancers of the stomach, esophagus, lung, oropharynx, prostate, pancreas and colon. This study aims at exploring the relation of intake of fruits and vegetables with different types of cancer. Results: It has been estimated that 35% of cancer deaths may be related to dietary factors. Various lifestyle factors, such as diet, tobacco and alcohol use, environmental pollutants, radiation and infections, can cause chronic inflammation and lead to tumourigenesis. Diets that include fruits, vegetables and spices may provide substantial health benefits in terms of cancer prevention and treatment by suppressing the inflammatory processes that lead to transformation, hyper proliferation and the initiation of carcinogenesis. We have tried to find the association between different types of vegetables or fruits that most often appear to be protective against cancer and an evidence for the effect of vegetable and fruit consumption with different types of cancers. Conclusion: We summarized the results from the available data to the published findings which have recently reported for the association of fruit and vegetables with the risk of different types of cancer.
[Insufficient intake of vitamin D in spanish schoolchildren: determinants of the problem and basis for its improvement].

INTRODUCTION Different studies have observed deficiencies in vitamin D in a high percentage of schoolchildren, highlighting the importance of this problem in sunny populations, such as Spain, where this situation is frequently underestimated. AIM To assess the adequacy of vitamin D intake and to find out the food sources of the vitamin in a representative sample of Spanish schoolchildren. METHODS A sample of 903 children (7 to 11 years) was studied. Ten Spanish cities were selected to be a representative sample of the Spanish schoolchildren population. Dietetic study was carried out using a three-day food record, including a Sunday. Vitamin D was compared to that recommended (RI) and energy intake was compared with energy expenditure estimated by measuring physical activity level. Weight and height were recorded and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Vitamin D intake (2.49 ± 0.64 [iμ/day) allowed cover only 49.7% of the RI of the children. It was below of 100% of RI in 99.9% of the children, and in 78.7% it was below of 67% of RI. The vitamin intake was lower in girls, those younger than 7 years and in children with obesity than in boys, those older than 7 years and in children with normal weight. The main sources of the vitamin were eggs (28.12%), cereals (24.23%), fish (20.06%) and milk (14.42%). CONCLUSION Vitamin D intake is inadequate in Spanish schoolchildren between 7 and 11 years. Taking into account that the consumption of foods which are the main source of vitamin D (fish, eggs, cereals, dairy products) is often lower than the recommended, approximating the diet to the theoretical ideal could help to improve the contribution of the vitamin.
A novel key management scheme for dynamic multicast communications

Secure multicasting allows the sender to deliver an identical secret to an arbitrary set of recipients through an insecure broadcasting channel, whereas the unintended recipients cannot obtain the secret. A practical approach for securing multicast communications is to apply a session key to encrypt the transmitted data. However, the challenges of secure multicast are to manage the session keys possessed by a dynamic group of recipients and to reduce the overhead of computation and transmission when the membership is changed. In this paper, we propose a new key management scheme for dynamic multicast communication, which is based on privacy homomorphism and Chinese remainder theorem. Our scheme can efficiently and securely deliver an identical message to multiple recipients. In particular, the complexity of the key update process in our scheme is O(1). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.