Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distributed Threshold Certificate based Encryption Scheme with No Trusted Dealer

Generating certified keys and managing certification information in a fully distributed manner can find a wide range of applications in the increasingly distributed IT environment. However, the prohibition of trusted entities within the distributed system and the high complexity certificate management and revocation mechanism, hinder the adoption of this approach in a large scale. Threshold cryptography offers an elegant solution to these issues through Shamir’s secret sharing scheme, where a secret (the Certificate Authority’s (CA) master key) is split and shared among all participants. Combining this approach with the reasonable certificate service requirements of Certificate based encryption (CBE) schemes could result in a functional and efficient distributed security scheme. However, centralized entities, denoted as trusted dealers, are needed in most threshold cryptography schemes even those few that support CBE, while the static way in which the system’s functionality is viewed, considerably limits possible applications (i.e. dynamic environments like p2p, AdHoc networks, MANETS). In this paper, we explore the potentials of combining the latest developments in distributed key generation threshold cryptography schemes with efficient yet highly secure certificate based encryption schemes in order to provide a solution that matches the above concerns. We draft a fully distributed Threshold Certificate Based Encryption Scheme that has no need for any centralized entity at any point during its operating cycle, has few requirements concerning certificate management due to CBE and does not need any trusted dealer to create, and split secrets or distribute certificates. The proposed scheme has an easy participant addition-removal procedure to support dynamic environments.
Effect of vermicomposting on calcium, sulphur and some heavy metal content of different biodegradable organic wastes under liming and microbial inoculation

A study was conducted to evaluate the changes in total calcium and sulphur and some heavy metal (Zn, Cu, and Pb) concentration of different organic wastes affected by liming and microorganism inoculation. Vermicomposting was an effective technology for disposal of organic substrates like municipal solid wastes (MSW), possessing comparatively higher concentration of heavy metals. The addition of lime in initial organic substrates significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased total calcium and total sulphur content of vermicomposts. Inoculation of microorganisms significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced the heavy metal content of final products as compared to control. Fungal strains were comparatively more effective in detoxification of heavy metals than B. polymyxa.
New suggestive genetic loci and biological pathways for attention function in adult attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Attention deficit is one of the core symptoms of the attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the specific genetic variants that may be associated with attention function in adult ADHD remain largely unknown. The present study aimed to identifying SNPs associated with attention function in adult ADHD and tested whether these associations were enriched for specific biological pathways. Commissions, hit‐reaction time (HRT), the standard error of HRT (HRTSE), and intraindividual coefficient variability (ICV) of the Conners Continuous Performance Test (CPT‐II) were assessed in 479 unmedicated adult ADHD individuals. A Genome‐Wide Association Study (GWAS) was conducted for each outcome and, subsequently, gene set enrichment analyses were performed. Although no SNPs reached genome‐wide significance (P < 5E−08), 27 loci showed suggestive evidence of association with the CPT outcomes (P < E−05). The most relevant associated SNP was located in the SORCS2 gene (P = 3.65E−07), previously associated with bipolar disorder (BP), Alzheimer disease (AD), and brain structure in elderly individuals. We detected other genes suggested to be involved in synaptic plasticity, cognitive function, neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, and smoking behavior such as NUAK1, FGF20, NETO1, BTBD9, DLG2, TOP3B, and CHRNB4. Also, several of the pathways nominally associated with the CPT outcomes are relevant for ADHD such as the ubiquitin proteasome, neurodegenerative disorders, axon guidance, and AD amyloid secretase pathways. To our knowledge, this is the first GWAS and pathway analysis of attention function in patients with persistent ADHD. Overall, our findings reinforce the conceptualization of attention function as a potential endophenotype for studying the molecular basis of adult ADHD. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Status of Fruit Bats on Guam

Two species of fruit bats are known from Guam in the southern Mariana Islands. Pteropus mariannus mariannus has declined greatly in abundance since the early 1900s. Its numbers decreased from an estimated 3,000 animals in 1958 to fewer than 50 individuals in 1978. However, by 1982, the population of this species increased to about 850 to 1,000 bats, probably through immigration of fruit bats to Guam from the island of Rota. Since then , P. m. mariannus appears to be declining once again with only 425 to 500 counted during a February-April 1984 census . A second smaller species, P. tokudae, has always been rare since it was first discovered in the early 1930s. It has not been recorded since 1968 and now is thought to be extinct. Overhunting of Pteropus for use as a delicacy is the main cause for their decline on Guam. Forest clearing and predation by brown tree snakes may be other contributing factors. Both species of Pteropus were listed as endangered on Guam by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in August 1984. O VERH UNTING AND HABITAT DESTRUCTION have reduced the populations of man y islanddwelling fruit bat species in the Pacific and Indian Ocean s (Wodzicki and Felton 1975, 1980, Racey 1979, Cheke and Dahl 1981, Cox 1983, Fal anruw in prep.). Similar declines have occurred in the southern, inhabited portion of the Mariana Islands where two species of Pt eropus occur, the Marianas fruit bat (P. m. mariannus) and the little Marianas fruit bat (P. tokudae) (Wheeler and Aguon 1978, Wheeler 1979, 1980, Wiles et al. in press). P. m. mariannus inhabits the island s from Guam northward to Saipan (perhaps even further north to Maug, depending on the validity of the subspecies description for P. m. paganensis) while P. tokudae is endemic to Guam. Fruit bats or " fanihi" (their Chamorro name) are highly sought after by Chamorro residents, who serve them as a delicacy on special occasions. Both species of bats were listed as endangered on Guam by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in August 1984. P. m. mariannus is protected throughout the remainder of its range but is rare on Saipan, 1 Manu script accepted March 1986. 2 Division of Aquat ic and Wildlife Resources, P.O. Box 2950, Agana, Guam, 96910, USA. Tinian , and Aguijan, and declining on Rota because of heavy illegal hunting (T. O. Lemke , pers . comm.). The purpose of this study was to document the abundance and distribution of fruit bats on Guam prior to their endangered listing and to complement other bat surveys recently completed in the remainder of the Marianas (Wiles et al. in press , T. O. Lemke, pers. comm .).
A case-control study of risk factors for death from 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1): is American Indian racial status an independent risk factor?

SUMMARY Historically, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations have suffered excess morbidity and mortality from influenza. We investigated the risk factors for death from 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) in persons residing in five states with substantial AI/AN populations. We conducted a case-control investigation using pandemic influenza fatalities from 2009 in Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Wyoming. Controls were outpatients with influenza. We reviewed medical records and interviewed case proxies and controls. We used multiple imputation to predict missing data and multivariable conditional logistic regression to determine risk factors. We included 145 fatal cases and 236 controls; 22% of cases were AI/AN. Risk factors (P < 0·05) included: older age [adjusted matched odds ratio (mOR) 3·2, for >45 years vs. <18 years], pre-existing medical conditions (mOR 7·1), smoking (mOR 3·0), delayed receipt of antivirals (mOR 6·5), and barriers to healthcare access (mOR 5·3). AI/AN race was not significantly associated with death. The increased influenza mortality in AI/AN individuals was due to factors other than racial status. Prevention of influenza deaths should focus on modifiable factors (smoking, early antiviral use, access to care) and identifying high-risk persons for immunization and prompt medical attention.
Predicting storm-time thermospheric mass density variations at CHAMP and GRACE altitudes

Orbit-averaged mass density measurements de- rived from the satellites CHAMP and GRACE are used to in- vestigate the storm-time prediction model developed by Liu et al. (2010) at different altitudes. This model uses as in- put only the solar wind merging electric field. From 2002 to 2005 in total 31 major geomagnetic storms with minimum Dst< 100 nT are selected for a statistical study. The results show that the model can successfully predict the storm-time mass density changes at both CHAMP and GRACE altitudes. The orbit-averaged density of CHAMP and GRACE show very similar distribution in shape, regardless of the orbital local time difference, but the amplitude of GRACE density is about 30% of that of CHAMP density. An optimal delay time of 4.5 h has been found for both CHAMP and GRACE densities. During the four years the scale factor a between merging electric field and mass density for CHAMP altitude remains basically at the same level, a = 0.5, while the a for GRACE density shows a declining trend, and its value is only 30% of that for CHAMP density. The storms driven by corotating interaction regions (CIR) have in general larger a values than the storms driven by coronal mass ejections (CMEs). mass density is essential for the control of spacecraft flying in low-Earth orbit. The thermospheric mass density is a rather variable quantity which reacts to changing solar and geomag- netic conditions. During geomagnetic storms a larger amount of energy is deposited in the upper atmosphere at high lati- tudes in the form of Joule heating and particle precipitation. The local heating of neutral particles leads to upwelling in the source region. Energy and momentum are redistributed in the form of global meridional circulations and large-scale travel- ing atmospheric disturbances (TAD) (Bruinsma and Forbes, 2007). A series of complex physical processes lead to strong disturbances of the thermospheric mass density during mag- netic storms (e.g. Liu and L¨
Lysosomal Hydrolase Staining of Conjunctival Impression Cytology Specimens in Keratoconus

Purpose. This study sought to assess the feasibility of impression cytology for the determination of conjunctival intracellular lysosomal hydrolase (acid esterase) levels in patients with keratoconus. Methods. Twenty-two patients with keratoconus currently enrolled in the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study and 22 age-and sex-similar controls underwent impression cytology. Samples were collected from each subject and control pair on the same day. The cells of the respective specimens were fixed immediately and were stained for acid esterase with use of identical batches of fixatives and stains. After staining, the specimens were cleared in xylene for mounting in synthetic resin on glass slides. The acid esterase staining intensity of each specimen was quantified as the percentage of light transmitted with use of an image analysis system (Zeiss). Multiple cells from each specimen were analyzed for each sample collected. Results. Mixed model analysis was used to account for the subject–control pairings and for the multiple cells from each sample. With this method, the mean light transmission for normal controls (mean = 63.0; standard error [SE] = 3.0) was highly statistically significantly different from that for the keratoconus subjects (mean = 52.4; SE = 3.0) (two-tailed p = 0.0032). Conclusions. This study establishes the feasibility of adapting an acid esterase staining technique to conjunctival cells collected via impression cytology. Higher levels of lysosomal enzyme staining in patients with keratoconus have been previously reported by other investigators using full-thickness conjunctival specimens. We also demonstrate the value of using objective microspectrophotometry in measuring lysosomal enzyme staining with impression cytology specimens.
K-Factor can be a Misleading Power Quality Indicator

This paper looks at the evolution and measure of success of different harmonic treatments applied in commercial buildings. Typical levels of voltage distortion are described in light of extensive harmonic data collection at North American sites over several years at hundreds of electrical panels and transformers. The field data shows that contrary to the popular belief, doubling the neutral and derating or k-rating the transformer does not properly address the harmonic issues facing today’s buildings. Voltage distortion often exceeded the 5% recommended limit set out in section 6.6 of IEEE Std 519-1992. A case study is presented that documents voltage distortion levels in a typical commercial high rise building, and the effectiveness of different transformer configurations in reducing these harmonic levels are evaluated.
The Effects of Tourism on Quality of Life: A Case Study of Shiraz, Iran

Does tourism contribute to quality of life in tourism destinations? This study investigates the effect of tourism upon quality of life in Shiraz, Iran. The results revealed that tourism has the positive effect on quality of life of residents. According to the survey, the strongest tourism impacts are found to be linked with emotional well- being, community well-being, and income and employment. While health and safety well-being are found to be the least favorable in terms of the effect of tourism on quality of life. The findings of this study will aid in the planning of strategic development programs for tourist destinations. (Fariborz Aref. The effects of tourism on quality of life. Life Science Journal. 2011;8(2):26-30) (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite. com .
The impact of manual processing on the expansion and directed differentiation of embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem cells (ESC) have the developmental potential to form every adult cell type, even after prolonged culture. Reproducibly culturing pluripotent populations and directing differentiation has proven technically challenging yet will underpin the provision of stem cells for both screening and therapeutic applications. This study investigated whether the variations inherent in manual handling procedures cause inconsistent proliferation and phenotypic variability. Two mouse ESC green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter cells lines, Oct4‐GiP and 46C, were used to assess Oct4 expression during expansion and Sox1 expression during directed neuroectoderm differentiation. High inoculation cell densities (ICD) had a negative impact on Oct4‐GFP expression. Similarly, increasing ICD caused a drop in Sox1‐GFP expression in differentiating cultures. The expansion process had an optimum ICD of 31,800 cells cm−2 whilst the highest yield of Sox1‐GFP positive cells were found at an ICD of 16,400 cells cm−2. These results implicate variable cell density as a major cause of interindividual variability. Passaging exposes cells to dynamic and repeated changes in their micro‐environment. This was associated with a rapid drop in temperature and rise in pH. Extended exposure of 1, 2 and 3 h to ambient conditions resulted in the inhibition of ESC proliferation and Oct4‐GFP expression. Dissociation subjects cells to fluid flow and centrifugal forces. Repeated exposure to fluid flow in capillaries prior to cultivation reduced the proliferative capacity of undifferentiated ESCs and caused a significant drop in differentiated neuroectoderm yield. Excessive centrifugal forces up to 1,000g caused shifts in phenotype and proliferation during expansion and differentiation. These studies highlight the need for automated cultivation systems which reproducibly control cell density, fluid flow, centrifugal forces, pH and temperature for the dissociation and inoculation of ESC processes. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;99: 1216–1229. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of Temperature and Humidity on Formaldehyde Emissions in Temporary Housing Units

ABSTRACT The effect of temperature and humidity on formaldehyde emissions from samples collected from temporary housing units (THUs) was studied. The THUs were supplied by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to families that lost their homes in Louisiana and Mississippi during the Hurricane Katrina and Rita disasters. On the basis of a previous study, four of the composite wood surface materials that dominated contributions to indoor formaldehyde were selected to analyze the effects of temperature and humidity on the emission factors. Humidity equilibration experiments were carried out on two of the samples to determine how long the samples take to equilibrate with the surrounding environmental conditions. Small chamber experiments were then conducted to measure emission factors for the four surface materials at various temperature and humidity conditions. The samples were analyzed for formaldehyde via high-performance liquid chromatography. The experiments showed that increases in temperature or humidity contributed to an increase in emission factors. A linear regression model was built using the natural log of the percent relative humidity (RH) and inverse of temperature (in K) as independent variables and the natural log of emission factors as the dependent variable. The coefficients for the inverse of temperature and log RH with log emission factor were found to be statistically significant for all of the samples at the 95% confidence level. This study should assist in retrospectively estimating indoor formaldehyde exposure of occupants of THUs. IMPLICATIONS Maddalena et al. reported differences between formalde-hyde concentrations in samples collected from the THUs during the morning and afternoon of the same day, highlighting the need to carry out further analysis on the effect of temperature and humidity on formaldehyde emissions. This study addresses the influence of temperature and humidity on formaldehyde emission factors from individual materials. The information provided can be incorporated into an exposure assessment study for the occupants of the FEMA trailers. However, because the experiments are carried out only on four samples from the THUs, they might not be representative of the entire fleet of THUs.
Bone mineral density is not reduced in HIV‐infected Caucasian men treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy

Objective Recent studies have reported low bone mineral density (BMD) in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Frequently these findings have been attributed to treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We sought to determine whether BMD in HIV‐infected men treated with HAART for at least 3 months is different from that in healthy controls, and, if so, what HIV‐related factors might explain this finding.
[Sleep quality in overweight pregnant women].

PURPOSE To compare sleep quality of overweight versus normal weight women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. METHODS A cross-sectional study involving 223 women with 14 or more weeks of pregnancy, 105 of them overweight (pre-pregnancy body mass index - BMI - ≥25.0 kg/m2) and 118 of normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), attending the prenatal care clinic. The Brazilian version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-BR) questionnaire was used to evaluate sleep quality. The Student t-test and the chi-square test were used to compare differences between groups and a p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Most of the participants (67.7%) were poor sleepers (total score >5); this proportion was significantly higher among overweight (80/105) versus normal weight (67/118) women (76.2 versus 56.8%, p=0,004). During the second trimester, this difference did not reach statistical significance (72.5 versus 53.7%, respectively, p=0.06) but mean total PSQI-BR scores were significantly higher among overweight participants (7.0±3.8 versus 5.5±3.2, p=0.02). In the 2nd trimester, overweight women also had higher scores for sleep latency (1.4±1.0 versus 1.0±0.9, p=0.02) and subjective sleep quality (1.3±0.8 versus 0.8±0.8, p=0.02). In the third trimester, the proportion of women with poor sleep quality was significantly higher in the overweight group, but did not reach statistical significance (79.6 versus 60.8%, p=0.06). During this period, total mean scores were similar for women with and without excess weight (9.4±4.2 versus 8.3±4.6, p=0.2). However, overweight women had higher mean scores for sleep disturbance (2.3±0.7 versus 2.0±0.8, p=0.04). CONCLUSION Overweight women had a poorer sleep quality than normal weight women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Weight loss intervention adherence and factors promoting adherence: a meta-analysis

Background Adhering to weight loss interventions is difficult for many people. The majority of those who are overweight or obese and attempt to lose weight are simply not successful. The objectives of this study were 1) to quantify overall adherence rates for various weight loss interventions and 2) to provide pooled estimates for factors associated with improved adherence to weight loss interventions. Methods We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of all studies published between January 2004 and August 2015 that reviewed weight loss intervention adherence. Results After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria and checking the methodological quality, 27 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The overall adherence rate was 60.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 53.6–67.2). The following three main variables were found to impact adherence: 1) supervised attendance programs had higher adherence rates than those with no supervision (rate ratio [RR] 1.65; 95% CI 1.54–1.77); 2) interventions that offered social support had higher adherence than those without social support (RR 1.29; 95% CI 1.24–1.34); and 3) dietary intervention alone had higher adherence than exercise programs alone (RR 1.27; 95% CI 1.19–1.35). Conclusion A substantial proportion of people do not adhere to weight loss interventions. Programs supervising attendance, offering social support, and focusing on dietary modification have better adherence than interventions not supervising attendance, not offering social support, and focusing exclusively on exercise.
Aftereffects of Virtual Environment Exposure: Psychometric Issues

Many researchers have spoken of the adverse effects associated with virtual environment (VE) systems known as cybersickness. In order to more fully, characterize the psychometrics of cybersickness, this study examines the spectral profile of symptoms, as well as the incidence and intensity levels. The present study revealed that the profile of symptoms is distinguishable between VE systems and flight simulators. Flight simulators generally have proportionately more Oculomotor disturbances, with lesser Nausea and Disorientation symptoms. Virtual environments show a reverse of this symptom profile, with proportionately more Nausea and Disorientation and less Oculomotor disturbances. In addition, incidence levels and total severity of symptoms is consistently greater in VE systems as compared to flight simulators and even space sickness.