Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of Knowledge Diffusion in the Informal Settings

The study explored the dynamics of knowledge flow in a typical knowledge cluster in Nigeria. The research was grounded on the collection of first-hand data from two hundred (200) randomly selected informal ICT microenterprises by developing and administering survey instruments in the Otigba computer hardware cluster in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. The result showed that the basic means of identifying knowledge gap was through feedbacks received from customers and suppliers and through record keeping of problems encountered with the solutions that were provided. The result further showed that knowledge acquisition was achieved either through formal (university education and trainings) and informal methods (apprenticeship system and indigenous knowledge systems) while knowledge development was implemented by mix methods of learning - a blend of university education with apprenticeship system. The result also revealed that knowledge diffusion was communal in the cluster; the enterprises within the cluster were relatively innovative with process innovation ranking strongest. In all, knowledge sharing was the chief source of scaling-up of enterprises in the cluster without limiting the growth of individual enterprises.
LLR Approximation for Fading Channels Using a Bayesian Approach

This letter investigates on the derivation of good log likelihood ratio (LLR) approximations under uncorrelated fading channels with partial statistical channel state information (CSI) at the receiver. While previous works focused mainly on solutions exploiting full statistical CSI over the normalized Rayleigh fading channel, in this letter, a Bayesian approach based on conjugate prior analysis is proposed to derive LLR values that only uses moments of order one and two associated with the random fading coefficients. The proposed approach is shown to be a more robust method compared to the best existing approximations, since it can be performed independently of the fading channel distribution and, in most cases, at a lower complexity. Results are validated for both binary and $M$ -ary modulations over different uncorrelated fading channels.
Multiple testing and post hoc bounds for heterogeneous data

This manuscript presents my contributions in three areas of multiple testing where data heterogeneity can be exploited to better detect false null hypotheses or improve signal detection while controlling false positives: p-value weighting, discrete tests, and post hoc inference. First, a new class of data-driven weighting procedures, incorporating group structure and true null proportion estimators, is defined, and its False Discovery Rate (FDR) control is proven asymptotically. This procedure also achieves power optimality under some conditions on the proportion estimators. Secondly, new step-up and step-down procedures, tailored for discrete tests under independence, are designed to control the FDR for arbitrary p-value null marginals. Finally, new confidence bounds for post hoc inference (called post hoc bounds), tailored for the case where the signal is localized, are studied, and the associated optimal post hoc bounds are derived with a simple algorithm.
MaskedFusion: Mask-based 6D Object Pose Estimation

MaskedFusion is a framework to estimate the 6D pose of objects using RGB-D data, with an architecture that leverages multiple sub-tasks in a pipeline to achieve accurate 6D poses. 6D pose estimation is an open challenge due to complex world objects and many possible problems when capturing data from the real world, e.g., occlusions, truncations, and noise in the data. Achieving accurate 6D poses will improve results in other open problems like robot grasping or positioning objects in augmented reality. MaskedFusion improves the state-of-the-art by using object masks to eliminate non-relevant data. With the inclusion of the masks on the neural network that estimates the 6D pose of an object we also have features that represent the object shape. MaskedFusion is a modular pipeline where each sub-task can have different methods that achieve the objective. MaskedFusion achieved 97.3% on average using the ADD metric on the LineMOD dataset and 93.3% using the ADD-S AUC metric on YCB-Video Dataset, which is an improvement, compared to the state-of-the-art methods.
Strong password? Not with your social network data!

Passwords are the standard means of registration and access to Websites, information systems, online services and various social networks. Databases are increasingly breached and social engineering is employed to obtain usernames and passwords for online fraud, therefore, there is a need to secure existing passwords, and to create ones that will be more crack-resistant. This study addresses the issue of personal data, which users enter on social networks, and incorporate in passwords, as well as how tracking and identifying this data assists hackers in cracking these passwords. The study focuses on Facebook, conducting an online anonymous questionnaire among 195 respondents, and an experiment among a voluntary response sample of 72 participants, in which passwords were tried to been deciphered by a custom dictionary attack. The findings confirm a link between the use of accessible online personal data and success rates of password deciphering. The findings underscore the grave threat to users’ information security not only as a result of their voluntary exposure of personal data on social networks, but also due to the integration of this data into their passwords. The study argues the need to emphasize users' awareness to their password strength, with this vulnerability in mind.
Multi-objective active network management scheme studied in Sundom smart grid with MV and LV network connected DER units

Use of controllable, flexible, distributed energy resources (DER) in MV and LV networks will be in key role in order to improve local and system-wide grid resiliency and maximize utilization of renewable energy sources (RES). These resources will provide different technical services as part of future active network management (ANM) schemes. Therefore, future ANM and protection methods and solutions have to be adapted and developed so that active control and utilization of DER during both gridconnected and islanded operation modes is enabled. In this paper, multi-objective ANM scheme is studied by PSCAD simulations during grid-connected operation of Sundom Smart Grid. Based on the simulation results conclusions are stated, for example, related to preventing unwanted MV and LV network reactive power / voltage control interactions and potential mutual effects between voltage (U) and frequency (f) control functions (QU-, PUand Pf -control) of DER units which are actively participating on studied multi-objective ANM scheme.
Support Vector Machine Multiclass using Polynomial Kernel for Osteoporosis Detection

: Support Vector Machine is a good performance machine learning algorithm applied as a classification method. In SVM, several problems are difficult to be separated linearly, for mapping data from the lower dimensional to the higher dimensional space, the kernel method is needed. The purpose of this research is to classify data into normal bone, osteopenia, and osteoporosis using SVM Multiclass with polynomial kernel parameters. The classification is based on the analysis of the mandibular ramus bone observed from changes in the trabecular pattern of the jaw bone and hip fracture using SVM Multiclass. Before using SVM multiclass, an image enhancement was performed with adaptive histogram equalization, and feature extraction with the gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). The variable input used in this research is dental panoramic radiograph data as much as 61 data divided into two parts that are 75:25 as training and as test data. Based on the implementation of SVM Multiclass with the polynomial kernel as the basis of computer-aided diagnosis system for osteoporosis detection, the best test data accuracy is 81.25%.
Hub dynamics in heterogeneous networks with noise

In this thesis we study the dynamics of expanding circle maps on networked systems. In particular, we focus our attention on those networks in which the underlying structure is given by a heterogeneous graph, that is, few nodes in the networks are massively connected, while the number of connections for the remaining nodes is significantly smaller. We show that for the massively connected nodes, the deviation between a mean field reduction and the true dynamics is a random fluctuation that converges to a normal distribution in the large system size limit.
BUILDING INFORMATICS NEURAL NETWORK AND REGRESSION HEURISTICS PROTOCOL FOR MAKING DECISIONS IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Building Informatics is a body of knowledge that uses the ICT computer system, digital systems, building information modeling, and state-of-the-art software in solving technical and management issues in building and construction fields. One of the modern methods used in data forecasting and modeling is Artificial Neural Networks, considering its advantage over traditional regression method. A data sample was taken of 1500 residential building projects' completion costs. Regression analysis was carried out and model validated with functionality and Jackknife re-sampling technique. 150 Questionnaires were used to capture data on factors influencing application of heuristics protocol for decisions in residential building construction projects and data samples were analyzed using severity index, ranking, and simple percentages. Analysis of data brought up some factors that influence effective application of heuristic protocol in solving decision problems in construction decision process. The linearity analysis was carried out on the model and results indicated high level of tolerance and-0.0876 lowest variation prediction quotients to 0.9878 highest variation quotients. Also, 0.069 regression model fitness coefficient (R-square) was generated with 0.9878 highest variation quotients with standard error of 0.045. The results data attests to the stability of the model generated and the model is flexible in accommodating new data and variables, thus, allows for continuous updating.
On Skin Cyanotic Appearances and Spectral Responses Elicited by Methemoglobinemia and Sulfhemoglobinemia

Methemoglobinemia and sulfhemoglobinemia are potentially life-threatening blood disorders characterized by similar symptoms and markedly distinct treatment procedures. In this thesis, we investigate the causal relationship between these disorders and the onset of cyanosis (purple or bluish skin coloration). More specifically, we perform controlled experiments to elicit cyanotic appearances resulting from different severity levels of these disorders and varying physiological conditions. We note that such experiments cannot be induced in living subjects without posing risks to their health. Accordingly, we have resorted to an in silico experimental approach supported by biophysical data reported in the biomedical literature. Besides bringing new insights about cyanotic chromatic variations elicited by methemoglobinemia and sulfhemoglobinemia, our investigation provides the basis for the proposition of a cost-effective protocol for the noninvasive detection and differentiation of these disorders. Our experimental results indicate that its sensitivity range exceeds the range of similar technologies, which are in general associated with high operational costs. We believe that these aspects make the proposed protocol particularly suitable for incorporation into noninvasive disease screening/diagnostic systems, particularly those deployed at the point of care of medical settings with limited access to laboratory resources.
The Association Between Medication Adherence in Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder Relapse in Patients with Dual Diagnosis

iv Dedication . ix Acknowledgement . x List of Tables . xv Chapter 1 – Introduction . 1 Mental Illness . 1 Definition, burden, and impact . 1 Diagnosis.3 Etiology and risk factors . 4 Treatment modalities . 6 Specific mental illness conditions . 8 Substance Use Disorder . 15 Definition, burden and impact . 15 Diagnosis.17 Etiology and risk factors . 17 Treatment modalities . 18 Specific substance use disorders . 20 Dual Diagnosis . 24 Definition, burden, and impact . 24 Diagnosis.24 Etiology and theories of development . 25 Treatment modalities . 27 Medication Adherence . 28 Definition, burden, and impact . 28 Risk factors and barriers . 30 Measurements . 31
Role of Laeverin in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia

10 ENGLISH VERSION . 10 NORWEGIAN VERSION . 11 LIST OF PAPERS . 12 INTRODUCTION . 13 GENES AND THE HUMAN GENOME . 13 FERTILIZATION AND EARLY EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT . 15 TROPHOBLAST CELL BIOLOGY . 16 BLASTOCYST IMPLANTATION . 16 TROPHOBLAST DIFFERENTIATION AND FUNCTION . 17 PLACENTAL MORPHOLOGY AND FUNCTION . 21 NORMAL PLACENTAL DEVELOPMENT . 21 PLACENTAL FUNCTION . 24 PLACENTA-RELATED DISEASES . 24 PREECLAMPSIA . 25 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES . 25 DEFINITIONS . 25 RISK FACTORS . 26 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS . 26 MOLECULAR BASIS . 27 GENETIC PREDISPOSITION . 29 Family studies and twin studies . 29 Paternal impact . 30 Genes involved in preeclampsia . 30 BIOMARKERS OF PREECLAMPSIA . 32 Pro-and anti-angiogenic factors . 33 LAEVERIN . 34 HISTORY OF LAEVERIN IDENTIFICATION . 34 LAEVERIN GENE . 34 LAEVERIN PROTEIN . 36 FUNCTION OF LAEVERIN . 39 Enzyme function . 39 Role of laeverin in trophoblast proliferation and invasion . 40 Expression of laeverin in trophoblast cells and tissues . 40 Role of laeverin in blood pressure regulation . 41 AIMS OF THE STUDY . 41 MATERIALS AND METHODS. 42 CLINICAL EVALUATION OF PREECLAMPSIA . 42 SAMPLE COLLECTION AND CONSERVATION . 42 Blood samples . 43 Placental samples . 44
Fatherhood Among Gang-Involved U.S. Latino Youth: Qualitative Inquiry Into Key Stakeholders’ Perspectives

Most crimes committed by adolescents in the United States are linked to gang activity, which is disproportionally present in Latina/o communities. Although most gang-involved teenage fathers wish that their children would not join gangs, their parenting tends to foster gang involvement in their children. An improved understanding of fatherhood among gang-involved U.S. Latino youth can inform the development of parenting- and fatherhood-focused interventions. To foster such understanding, we conducted interviews and focus groups with purposive samples of young gang-involved Latino fathers, parents of gang-involved Latino youth, and individuals who provide services or supports to gang-involved youth. Guided by Marshall and Rossman’s (1995) broad qualitative approach, we analyzed transcripts of these interviews and discussions, extracting 24 themes, which we organized into 7 categories and three higher order content groupings. We discuss the manner in which these findings describe the experience of fatherhood among gang-involved Latino youth, and point to influences on their parenting- and fatherhood-related attitudes and behavior. We discuss, also, the implications of our findings for the development of parenting- and fatherhood-focused interventions for gang-involved teenage Latino fathers. La mayoría de los crímenes cometidos por adolescentes en los EE. UU. están vinculados al pandillerismo, el cual desproporcionalmente aflige a las comunidades Latinas. Aun cuando la mayoría de los padres adolescentes involucrados en el pandillerismo desean que sus hijas/os no se afilien a las pandillas, su crianza de las/os hijas/os tiende a fomentar el involucramiento de estos en pandillas. Una mejor comprensión de la paternidad entre los jóvenes latinos estadounidenses involucrados en pandillas puede informar el desarrollo de intervenciones centradas en la crianza de los hijos y la paternidad. Nuestro análisis de datos cualitativos proporcionados por muestras intencionales de padres latinos jóvenes involucrados en pandillas, los padres y madres de estos, y de personas que brindan servicios y apoyo a jóvenes involucrados en pandillas resultó en tres agrupaciones de contenido que organizan siete categorías y los 24 temas que las conforman. Nuestra discusión se centra en las implicaciones de los resultados actuales para el desarrollo de intervenciones centradas en la crianza de los hijos y la paternidad para padres adolescentes latinos involucrados en pandillas.
Interleukin IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 Expression in Different Staging of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Summary Introduction. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer in women [19]. The precancerous stages are divided into three distinctive stages, labelled cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I, II and III. One of the aetiological factors is chronic inflammation in cervical tissue, most often induced by Human papilloma virus (HPV). 88,5% of the patients regress from low grade intraepithelial changes to unchanged epithelium [14]. It has been proposed that cytokine balance plays a key role in the development of high grade epithelial changes (CIN I – CIN III) in the remaining 11.5% of patients, however, the exact trigger of this event remains to be found. Aim of the Study. The aim of the study was to determine three pro-inflammatory (IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8) and one anti-inflammatory (IL-10) interleukin expression in different CIN cervix uteri biopsies. Material and methods. 16 biopsies were obtained with different CIN staging: one with CIN I stage, five with CIN II stage and 10 with CIN III stage. The samples were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry for IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10. Slides were evaluated semi-quantitatively grading the intensity of positively stained structures in the visual field. Results. Examination of the samples yielded the following: IL-1α expression increased from CIN II to CIN III in squamous epithelium, while IL-8 expression decreased. A few IL-1α containing inflammatory cells were found in all CIN stages. IL-8 expression in subepithelium and the number of inflammatory cells decreased from CIN II stage to CIN III, although, it increased in the blood vessel endothelium. Conclusions. There was constant moderate expression of both IL-6 and IL-10 during all CIN stages, except for inflammatory cells, where IL-6 expression was high during all stages, yet there were few IL-10 containing cells during CIN. The balanced expression of both cytokines suggests that pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine balance has an important role in CIN morfopathogenesis. The high expression of IL-6 in inflammatory cells and constant expression trough CIN staging indicates sustentation of chronic inflammation and production of other cytokines, such as IL-8, IL-1α. The variable IL-8 expression and its decrease in CIN III stage suggests the depletion of IL-8 production. The high expression of cytokines in blood vessel endothelium indicates their important role in CIN morfopathogenesis.
Clinical value of screening serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) for HCC

Background:Hepatocellularcarcinoma(HCC)isthefifthmostcommonmalignancyinthe world.InEgypt,HCCwasreportedtoaccountforabout4.7%ofchronicliverdisease(CLD) patients.Squamouscellcarcinomaantigen(SCCA)hasbeenreportedtobestronglyexpressed inHCCtissuehamperingitsextensiveuseinclinicalpractice. Aim:Studythevalueofserumsquamouscellcarcinomaantigen(SCCA)forscreeningof HCC. MaterialsM groupBsuclassifiedintothreecategoriesaccordingtoCHILD-PUGHscoreincluded30 patients,matchedforsexandage.Allgroupsweresubjectedtothoroughhistorytaking,full clinicalexamination,andlaboratoryinvestigationsincludingliverfunctions,viralmarkers,and AFPandSCCAestimationusingELISAtechnique. Results:ThisstudyrevealedahighlysignificantdifferencebetweenpatientswithHCCand CLDregardingserumSCCAlevelsbeinghigheringroupA(10.35±20.677)thangroup B(1.64±2.462)(p=0.02). SCCAlevelwaselevatedinpatientswithHCCwithnormalAFPlevels representingitsusefulroleinearlydetectionandfollow-upofpatientstreatedforHCC.The cut-offvaluewasestablishedat2ng/mlwithsensitivityof80%andspecificityof70%). Conclusion:SCCAcouldrepresentausefultoolasamarkerfordetectionofHCC.
Anxiety and depression in pregnancy: prevalence and associated risk factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano, Nigeria

Pregnancy is not considered as a pathological state, however pregnancy heightens the vulnerability to emotional and psychological condition such as anxiety and depression. Untreated depression and anxiety during pregnancy may have negative effects on both the mother and the fetus. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Cross sectional descriptive study using systematic sampling technique was used to collect data among 297 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI 6.0). About one-third of the respondents were in the age group 20- 25 years. The prevalence of anxiety and depression during pregnancy were found to be 23.2% and 26.6% respectively. Risk factors that were significantly associated with anxiety during pregnancy were co-morbid depression during pregnancy (P=0.01), and partner abuse (P=0.04), with 37.5% anxious among those abused compared to 21.5% among those not abused. Risk factors associated with depression during pregnancy were co-existing medical condition (P=0.04) with 45.7% of respondents with coexisting medical condition found to be depressed compared to 24.0% without co-existing medical condition. Anxiety and depression in pregnancy were found to be prevalent among the study subjects. Measures to detect anxiety and depression during pregnancy especially in those with risk factors should be introduced during routine antenatal care.
Appraising Treatment Outcomes of Cohort of Smear-positive Patients with Tuberculosis (TB) alone and TB-HIV Co-infected on Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) at a Teaching Hospital in Enugu State, Nigeria

Introduction: Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus are overlapping monsters presenting an enormous economic burden, suffering, pain and grief globally. They have high mortality rates and most international efforts to control infectious diseases focus on these diseases yet they still pose a great threat. Methods: This study was conducted at the Chest Clinic of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu. It involved a retrospective appraisal of treatment outcomes of cohort of smear-Original positive patients with Tuberculosis (TB) alone and TB-HIV co-infected on Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) who were initiated on TB treatment and completed treatment in the period 2008 to 2011. A proforma was used in collecting data. Chi-square test and Binary Logistic regression to establish associations and identify predictors of treatment outcomes Results: Most patients 322(73.7%) were declared cured at end of treatment [TB alone 281(75.7%) and TB/HIV coinfection 41(65.1%)]. Treatment outcome were associated with disease status (p =0.022) and distance to the clinic (p =0.017). Those that had TB alone were about 0.6 times (AOR 0.56; 95% CI 0.33-1.63) likely not to be cured than those with TB/HIV. Those that travel 0-20 km to the clinic were about 0.5 times (AOR 0.50; 95% CI 0.28-0.91) likely not to be cured than those that travel more than 80 km. Conclusion: Even with the moderately high cure rate among these patients, effort are needed by stakeholders and all populace in curbing this ravaging menace. Equally the identified predictors of treatment outcome were TB/HIV co-infection and distance from residence to the clinic which should be addressed.