Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected children attending a donor-funded clinic at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

The success of antiretroviral therapy (ART) depends on a high level of adherence to a life-long regimen of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). Since the scale-up of access to ARVs in Nigeria, few studies have determined the level of adherence of ART among children. This study was undertaken to determine the level of ART adherence among paediatric patients at an outpatient clinic, the reasons for non-adherence, and the factors associated with adherence, according to caregivers’ reports. Out of a total of 212 children, 183 (86%) were adherent in the three days preceding the interview, while 29 (14%) were not adherent. Drug exhaustion at home (16 children), followed by ‘child slept through’ (7 children) and ‘caregiver away’ were the most common reasons for a child having missed one or more ARV doses. Independent factors for adherence were male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 2.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17–6.92) and attendance at last scheduled clinic appointment (OR = 4.76; 95% CI: 1.73–13.04). The caregiver's highest educational attainment, distance travelled to the clinic, use of medication reminders, formulation of ARVs, duration of HAART usage, age of the child and orphan status were not significantly associated with adherence to drug treatment. The overall level of adherence was high and similar to the rate reported prior to free access to ART services in Nigeria. Among child patients on HAART, there is a need to identify factors affecting clinic attendance and drug exhaustion at home.
A Method for Automatic Coin Classification

This paper describes a method for fast and reliable coin classification using multiple coin images, taken in various conditions by different people. It also presents a possible solution to the misclassifications when dealing with illumination inconsistencies. It relies on automatically extracted edge and texture/color features. For edge detection, the Canny’s edge detector algorithm is used, in a variant with dynamic threshold values, obtained using Otsu’s threshold algorithm. In the end some experimental results are presented indicating that the proposed approach fulfills the given task effectively. Key-Words: coin classification, edge detection, Canny edge detector, Otsu thresholding, DCT transform, rotation invariant, lighting invariant
Ocean ecogeochemistry: a review

animal movements and the acquisition and allocation of resources provide mechanisms for individual behavioural traits to propagate through population, community and ecosystem levels of biological organization. Recent developments in analytical geochemistry have provided ecologists with new opportunities to examine movements and trophic dynamics and their subsequent influence on the structure and functioning of animal communities. we refer to this approach as ecogeochemistry—the application of geochemical techniques to fundamental questions in population and community ecology. we used metaanalyses of published data to construct δ2H, δ13c, δ15N, δ18O and Δ14c isoscapes throughout the world’s oceans. These maps reveal substantial spatial variability in stable isotope values on regional and oceanbasin scales. we summarize distributions of dissolved metals commonly assayed in the calcified tissues of marine animals. Finally, we review stable isotope analysis (SIa) of amino acids and fatty acids. These analyses overcome many of the problems that prevent bulk SIa from providing sufficient geographic or trophic resolution in marine applications. we expect that ecologists will increasingly use ecogeochemistry approaches to estimate animal movements and trace nutrient pathways in ocean food webs. These studies will, in turn, help provide the scientific underpinning for ecosystembased management strategies in marine environments.
Clinical Evaluation of PMX‐DHP for Hypercytokinemia Caused by Septic Multiple Organ Failure

Abstract: Endotoxin‐adsorbing fibers have been applied to treat septic shock patients. The limitations of endotoxin hemoadsorption therapy (PMX‐DHP) and the optimal time to start PMX‐DHP were examined in patients with septic multiple organ failure with hypercytokinemia (interleukin‐6 = 1000 pg/mL). Subjects were separated into those who survived more than 28 days after the start of PMX‐DHP therapy (S group) and those who did not (N‐S group). Severity of symptoms and background factors, blood biochemical parameters, hemodynamic parameters, PaO2/FiO2, pathogens, endotoxin, cytokines, and vascular endothelial cell function‐related markers were examined before and after PMX‐DHP. Number of days from onset of shock (or symptom development) to PMX‐DHP initiation was longer in the N‐S group than in the S group. These results suggest that PMX‐DHP could save more lives in patients with septic multiple organ failure with IL‐6 = 1000 pg/mL when applied early after the onset of shock.
Question One : Why Was There A Need To Introduce Process Innovation ?

The impact of innovation on a firm’s performance has attracted significant research interest among scholars and managers. While empirical researches have shown that innovation is a means of improving the competitiveness of firms and their performance, most of these studies rely on the quantitative research design whereby data are obtained from selected samples of a given population. Using the case study approach to obtain qualitative data, this paper explores the effects of process innovation on the financial performance of a food processing company operating in a northern state of Malaysia. The result reveals that the introduction of new production process has significantly improved the sales of the company.
Comparison of Ratio of The Neck Circumference To Thyromental Distance , Mallampati Score , wilson Score As Predictor of Difficult Intubation in Obese Patients

Context: Unanticipated difficult airway is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Aims: To compare ratio of neck circumference/thyromental distance (NC/TM), Mallampatti grade and Wilson score, using intubation difficulty scale (IDS), in predicting difficult intubation and to estimate the prevalence of difficult intubation in obese population. Methods And Material: 197 ASA grade I,II obese patients(BMI≥25kg/m 2 ) were assessed for NC/TM, mallampatti grade and Wilson score. Difficult intubation was determined using IDS≥5. These parameters were compared to determine the diagnostic accuracy of individual tests and the combination of three. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS (version 18.0) software was used for the analysis . Diagnostic significance of predictors was assessed by ROC curve analysis. A two-sided (α=2) p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: NC/TM have the highest diagnostic accuracy and largest area under curve (AUC=0.860, Z=7.74, p<0.001) with largest sensitivity (74.07% CI=53.7-88.8) and specificity (92.94% CI=88.0-96.3). The diagnostic accuracy of Combination (NC/TM + Mallampati grading + Wilson score) was found to be significant (AUC=0.867, Z=8.08, p<0.001) with highest sensitivity 85.19% (95% CI=66.3-95.7) but low specificity 76.47% (95% CI=69.4-82.6) than the NC/TM. The obese patients showed 13.7% prevalence of difficult intubation. Conclusions: NC/TM>4.9 fairly predicted difficult intubation in obese Asian patients. Combination of tests increases the diagnostic value.
Gray-scale and Doppler ultrasound: significance in predicting malignancy of thyroid nodules

Introduction: There have been various systems for identifying risk of thyroid nodule malignancy using ultrasound (US), with the most recent being 2017 American College of Radiology proposed TI-RADS. However, this system does not take vascular patterns into account. The aim of this study is to determine the role of gray scale and color Doppler ultrasound in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules Methods: A total of 180 ultrasound images of patients with thyroid nodules were analyzed. Nodule composition, shape, margin, echogenicity, echogenic foci and vascular patterns were evaluated. The results were compared with histology findings Results: 98 (54.4%) thyroid nodules were benign and 82 (45.5%) – malignant. Compared to malignant, more benign thyroid nodules (80.6%) were bigger than 1 cm, p < 0.001). Benign and malignant thyroid nodules did not significantly differ in frequency of composition or echogenicity (p > 0.05). Round and taller-than-wide shape, lobulated or irregular margin, microcalcifications were more common among malignant nodules (p < 0.05). Mean total TI-RADS score was significantly higher among malignant thyroid nodules compared to benign, p < 0.001. TI-RADS sensitivity in predicting the risk of malignancy was 82.9%, specificity – 69.4%, area under curve – 0.822, while vascularity had sensitivity of 40% and specificity of 36.7%. Mixed vascularity was more common among benign (p = 0.003) and weak perinodular vascularity was more common among malignant nodules (p = 0.048). Weak negative correlation was found between total amount of TI-RADS points and vascular patterns (rs = 0.238, p = 0.001) Conclusions: In our study irregular or lobulated margin, taller-than-wide shape and microcalcifications were more common among malignant thyroid nodules. While thyroid US using TI-RADS had good diagnostic value in predicting malignancy, vascular patterns had low sensitivity (40.2%) and specificity (36.7%). Thyroid nodules with intranodular vascularity had a lower TI-RADS score.
Revising Commitments: Time Preference and Time-Inconsistency in the Field

A new interest in intertemporal choice is fueled by evidence of non-constant time discounting and a much better understanding of its theoretical consequences. This paper reports the results of a eld experiment in rural Malawi designed to evaluate, directly, the relationship between intertemporal choice under commitment and time-inconsistency. The experiment used real choices over money to elicit time preferences from approximately 2,200 subjects. The stakes of the intertemporal choices were high, representing a total of about one months wages, on average. A randomly selected subset of respondents was later approached in the two weeks prior to their rst disbursement of money. These subjects were reminded of their initial choices and asked if they would like to revise them and thus exhibit time-inconsistency. Choices under commitment reveal important heterogeneity in basic consistency of choice, time preference, and dynamic consistency. When the commitment is broken, revisions are common, and they are only somewhat more likely to reallocate income backward in time. Following the theory, revisions are strongly associated with preferences under commitment. Niall Keleher, of Innovations for Poverty Action, was instrumental to the design and implementation of this study. We thank him for his important contributions to this project. We also thank James Andreoni, Stefano DellaVigna, Yoram Halevy, Glenn Harrison, Pam Jakiela, Damon Jones, David I. Levine, Stephan Meier, Ted Miguel, Matthew Rabin, and participants in several seminars for their many helpful comments. yGiné: Development Economics Research Group, World Bank (xgine@worldbank.org); Goldberg: Ford School and Department of Economics, University of Michigan (jegoldbe@umich.edu); Silverman: Department of Economics, University of Michigan and NBER (dansilv@umich.edu); Yang: Ford School and Department of Economics, University of Michigan and NBER (deanyang@umich.edu).
Psychometric Properties of the Principals ’ Sense of Efficacy Scale ( PSES ) With Turkish Sample

The aim of the research was to test the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Principal Sense of Efficacy (PSES-T). Two independent samples of school administrators from Turkey were used for this study. Sample 1 was used for exploratory factor analysis (N=150, 11% women, and 89% male), and the second was used for confirmatory factor analysis (N=150, 10% women, and 90% male). The original 18-item, three factor model of PSES-T did not fit the data obtained from Turkish sample. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to further explore the factor structure of the 18-item PSES-T that better represented the sample data. EFA results show 18-item PSES-T has one factor structure. A confirmatory factor analysis on the PSES-T provided strong support for the one factor structure. Results indicated that the reliability for the PSES-T was high. In addition, construct validity showed consistent associations between social support and PSES-T. The overall findings of the present study provide evidence for the validity and reliability of the PSES with Turkish sample.
Plasmodium Parasitaemia Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Sokoto , North Western Nigeria

Background: Malaria infection during pregnancy is a significant public health problem and a major contributor to adverse maternal and perinatal outcome. In hyper endemic area like Nigeria, it is a common cause of anaemia in pregnancy and is aggravated by poor socioeconomic circumstances. The aim of this study is to investigate plasmodium infection rate and parasite density among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto. Method: Two hundred and ten (210) consecutively recruited pregnant women, aged between 18-45 years constituted the subjects for this descriptive study. The study was conducted in the month of June, when malaria infection is usually high. Blood samples were collected and examined for malaria parasite. Both thick and thin films were made and stained using parasitological standard procedures. Malaria density was computed using the WHO formulae. Results: The result indicated a malaria prevalence of 52.2%. Malaria infection was significantly higher among pregnant women in the second trimester (50.9%), followed by third trimester (42.9%) and then first trimester (6.2%) (p=0.01). Level of parasitaemia among the subjects indicated that 25(21.6%) had severe malaria infection while 55(47.4%) had moderate case of malaria parasitaemia and 36(31.0%) had mild malaria density. The prevalence of malaria infection was significantly higher among pregnant women in the 18 – 25 years age group (54.3%) followed by those by the 26 – 35 with (43.1%) and 36 – 45 age range (2.6%) (p=0.01). Severe parasitaemia was more prevalent among primigravids women, followed by secundigravids women and the least severity was recorded among multigravids women (12(10.3%), 8(6.9%) and 5(4.3%) respectively). Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for all the cases of malaria. Conclusion: This present study indicates a high prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria among pregnant women in Sokoto, Nigeria. There is need for the implementation of preventive measures including the provision of regular malaria prophylaxis and provision of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to reduce the substantial risks to the pregnant woman and her foetus. 10 Udomah F. P. et al.: Plasmodium Parasitaemia Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria
Effects of 2 , 4-D on Callus Induction from Leaf Explants of Cornukaempferia larsenii P .

Callus was induced from young leaves of Cornukaempferia larsenii P. Saensouk on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 3% sucrose and various concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d) in light and dark conditions. The highest number of callus formation, percentage of callus formation and average weight of callus were obtained from young leaves cultured on the medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l 2,4-d in the light condition. The callus could not be regenerated to plantlets in media added with various concentrations of naa and Ba.
SEISMIC HAZARD IN BANGKOK DUE TO LONG-DISTANCE EARTHQUAKES

A seismic hazard assessment of Bangkok is conducted. The results are presented in the form of predicted peak ground accelerations for various levels of probability of exceedance in a 50-year period and the corresponding elastic response spectra. The results indicate that Bangkok, though located at a remote distance from seismic sources, is still at risk of damaging earthquake ground motions similar to those found in Mexico City during the 1985 Michoacan earthquake. The risk is essentially caused by three factors. First, several regional seismic sources that may contribute significantly to the seismic hazard of Bangkok are capable of generating large earthquakes. Second, the attenuation rate of ground motions in this region appears to be rather low and well represented by attenuation models of Central and Eastern North America. Third, the surficial deposits in Bangkok have the ability to amplify earthquake ground motions about 3 to 4 times.
Performance Modelling of Flexible Pavements Tested in a Heavy Vehicle Simulator

Due to the complex behaviour of pavements most traditional pavement design is done with empirical methods that are based on long-term experience. Due to their simplicity, one of their limitations is that they cannot be extrapolated with confidence beyond the conditions on which they are based. New mechanistic designing methods are being developed to predict the behaviour of road structures. The behaviour depends on many factors such as the applied loads, the materials used, the thickness of the layers and the environmental conditions. One of the main limitations today is the influence environmental conditions (such as temperature, frost/thaw variations and moisture) have on the materials and deterioration of road structures, but these factors are very important for thin flexible pavements common in the Northern Periphery. To model the behaviour adequately it is important to compare the results of mechanistic (numerical) analyses with actual measurements in a full scale structures. Here accelerated pavement tests (APT), where instrumented pavement structures were tested using a heavy vehicle simulator (HVS), were used to examine the influence increased moisture content has on road structures and the accuracy of repeated tests was estimated.
A Study of the Anatomical Variation and Clinical Considerations of Greater Palatine Foramen in Adult Human Skulls of North Indian Population

The greater palatine foramen conducts the greater palatine nerve, which is responsible for the innervation of the posterior hard palate. The morphometric knowledge of the greater palatine foramen is essential for anaesthetic procedures required in maxillofacial surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to assess Morphometry and morphology of the greater palatine foramen in dry skulls of adults from north India. The study was conducted in 78 adult, dried, unsexed skulls of the north Indian population. All the skulls studied were normal with fully erupted third molars and free from any pathological changes. The dimension between greater palatine foramen to mid sagittal plane, incisive fossa and posterior border of hard palate were analyzed using a vernier caliper and a divider. The position, shape and direction of greater palatine foramen with its variations were also noted on both sides. In the present study the mean distance of the greater palatine foramen from mid sagittal plane of the palate was 14.45±1.25 mm and 14.66±1.13 mm on the right and left sides respectively, and from the incisive fossa was 36.91±2.39 mm on the right side and 36.97±2.66 mm on the left side. The mean distance of the greater palatine foramen to posterior border of hard palate was 4.75±0.95 mm and 4.43±1.07 mm on the right and left sides respectively. In 80.77% skulls the shape of the foramen was found to be oval whereas in 19.23% skulls it was round. In 76.92% skulls greater palatine foramen was located opposite to the 3 rd maxillary molar, in 19.87% skulls between 2 nd and 3 rd molar, in 3.21% skulls distal to the 3 rd molar. None of greater palatine foramen was located opposite to 2 nd molar. In 66.03% skulls the foramen was directed anteromedial, in 25.64% skulls anterolateral and in 8.33% skulls it was directed anteriorly. The average number of lesser palatine foramen observed was 1.56±0.67 on right and 1.29 ±0.48 on left side of skull. These observations about the relative anatomical position of greater palatine foramen can be utilized for anthropological studies, ethnic & racial classification of crania, greater palatine nerve block & surgical procedures in hard palate.
Knowledge and Self-Efficacy on Hiv / Aids among Undergraduate Students of Maddawalabu University , Southeast Ethiopia

Human Immunodeficiency Virus /Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has become increasingly public health problem worldwide. Particularly in developing countries’ higher institutions like Ethiopia. The victims are youngsters; productive age of the population. The primary prevention and control of the spread of HIV/AIDS infection is through awareness and changing behavior remains at the highest priority. However few studies have been conducted among university students of Ethiopia on their self-efficacy of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome prevention and control. Hence, this research is intended to investigate the Knowledge and self-efficacy of MaddaWalabu University undergraduate Students on HIV/AIDS. An institutional-based cross-sectional the study design was conducted among 605 under graduate students of MaddaWalabu University students were selected using random sampling and data were collected using by structured self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive independent sample t-test and ANOVA were computed to analyze the data
The role of alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonists in the treatment of prostate and other cancers

This review evaluates the role of α-adrenoceptor antagonists as a potential treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). Cochrane, Google Scholar and Pubmed were accessed to retrieve sixty-two articles for analysis. In vitro studies demonstrate that doxazosin, prazosin and terazosin (quinazoline α-antagonists) induce apoptosis, decrease cell growth, and proliferation in PC-3, LNCaP and DU-145 cell lines. Similarly, the piperazine based naftopidil induced cell cycle arrest and death in LNCaP-E9 cell lines. In contrast, sulphonamide based tamsulosin did not exhibit these effects. In vivo data was consistent with in vitro findings as the quinazoline based α-antagonists prevented angiogenesis and decreased tumour mass in mice models of PCa. Mechanistically the cytotoxic and antitumor effects of the α-antagonists appear largely independent of α 1-blockade. The proposed targets include: VEGF, EGFR, HER2/Neu, caspase 8/3, topoisomerase 1 and other mitochondrial apoptotic inducing factors. These cytotoxic effects could not be evaluated in human studies as prospective trial data is lacking. However, retrospective studies show a decreased incidence of PCa in males exposed to α-antagonists. As human data evaluating the use of α-antagonists as treatments are lacking; well designed, prospective clinical trials are needed to conclusively demonstrate the anticancer properties of quinazoline based α-antagonists in PCa and other cancers.
Large-Scale Data Visualization Using Parallel Data Streaming

We present an architectural approach based on parallel data streaming to enable visualizations on a parallel cluster. Our approach requires less memory than other visualizations while achieving high code reuse. We implemented our architecture within the Visualization Toolkit (VTK). It includes specific additions to support message passing interfaces (MPIs); memory limit-based streaming of both implicit and explicit topologies; translation of streaming requests between topologies; and passing data and pipeline control between shared, distributed, and mixed memory configurations. The architecture directly supports both sort-first and sort-last parallel rendering.