Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clustering of chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular risk factors in South-West Nigeria

Background: There exists a synergy between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) with increased morbidity and poor outcomes. Objectives: Data relating to this clustering in black homogenous populations is scanty. We aim to investigate this relationship in Nigerian communities. Patients and Methods: It was a cross-sectional observation study from semi-urban communities in South-West Nigeria. We used modified World Health Organization (WHO) questionnaire on chronic diseases (WHO STEPS) to gather information on socio-demographic data, biophysical and clinical characteristics. Biochemical analysis of plasma samples was done. Results: We analyzed data of 1084 with mean age of 56.3 ± 19.9 years (33.4% female). Prevalence of stage 3 CKD was 14.2% (3a and 3b were 10.3% and 3% respectively). Prevalence of hypertension (systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased as clustering of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (CVFRs) increased both in CKD and proteinuria (P < 0.05). CKD prevalence increases with number of risk factors. There was an inverse relationship between increasing risk factors and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (P < 0.05). Clustering at least 2 CVRFs in the population with CKD compared to those without CKD was significantly higher (76.6% vs. 65.1%, OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2-2.6, P = 0.005). Similarly, in a univariate analysis, albuminuria had an increased odds of clustering (69.7% vs. 59.6%, OR: 1.9, 95% CI 0.6-6.2, P = 0.409). Using multivariate logistic analysis, there is significantly increased odds of clustering when eGFR is <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.12-6.32) and microalbuminuria 1.74 (95% CI: 1.10-2.75). Conclusions: Reduced kidney function and proteinuria significantly clustered with CVRFs. This data suggests that individuals with CV clusters should be screened for CKD or vice versa and they should be considered for prompt management of their CVRFs.
Clockwise Collision Analysis - Overlooked Side-Channel Leakage Inside Your Measurements

This paper presents a new side-channel attack technique called clockwise collision analysis. For the cryptographic implementations using synchronous digital circuit with a loop architecture, signal transitions as well as the side-channel leakage relates to not only the input data in the current cycle, but also the status in one-cycle before. The clockwise collision utilizes the fact that little computation is required in the second clock cycle when the inputs for two consecutive clock cycles are the same. In contrast, the previously known computational collision utilizes the fact that the computation of the same input value leads to similar side-channel leakage. By experimentation, we demonstrate the feasibility and vulnerability for this novel clockwise collision analysis both by injecting faults and by analyzing the power consumption.
Fps1, a yeast member of the MIP family of channel proteins, is a facilitator for glycerol uptake and efflux and is inactive under osmotic stress.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae FPS1 gene, which encodes a channel protein belonging to the MIP family, has been isolated previously as a multicopy suppressor of the growth defect of the fdp1 mutant (allelic to GGS1/TPS1) on fermentable sugars. Here we show that overexpression of FPS1 enhances glycerol production. Enhanced glycerol production caused by overexpression of GPD1 encoding glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase also suppressed the growth defect of ggs1/tps1 delta mutants, suggesting a novel role for glycerol production in the control of glycolysis. The suppression of ggs1/tps1 delta mutants by GPD1 depends on the presence of Fps1. Mutants lacking Fps1 accumulate a greater part of the glycerol intracellularly, indicating that Fps1 is involved in glycerol efflux. Glycerol‐uptake experiments showed that the permeability of the yeast plasma membrane for glycerol consists of an Fps1‐independent component probably due to simple diffusion and of an Fps1‐dependent component representing facilitated diffusion. The Escherichia coli glycerol facilitator expressed in a yeast fps1 delta mutant can restore the characteristics of glycerol uptake, production and distribution fully, but restores only partially growth of a ggs1/tps1 delta fps1 delta double mutant on glucose. Fps1 appears to be closed under hyperosmotic stress when survival depends on intracellular accumulation of glycerol and apparently opens rapidly when osmostress is lifted. The osmostress‐induced High Osmolarity Glycerol (HOG) response pathway is not required for inactivation of Fps1. We conclude that Fps1 is a regulated yeast glycerol facilitator controlling glycerol production and cytosolic concentration, and might have additional functions.
An automated student attendance tracking system based on voiceprint and location

Taking attendance has been widely used as a method to track students' academic behaviours. But conventional approaches are usually time consuming and inaccurate. In this paper, we have proposed an automated attendance tracking system, where students can use smartphones to submit attendance in parallel. Identity of a student is collaboratively verified by voiceprint and realtime location. Service isolation and token-based mechanism is applied specifically in the system as well, for the purpose of protecting users' privacy and the system's security. Tests in real world environment has demonstrated that our system is characterised as high efficiency and accuracy in tracking attendance.
Visual Simulation of Hydraulic Erosion

A new algorithm for hydraulic terrain erosion is introduced. The main goal of the paper is to provide a technique which is inspired by physics and which allows for high level of control. We divided the erosion process into four independent steps that can be applied independently to achieve high level of realism. The erosion algorithm is based on the ability of water to dissolve material that is then transported to another locations. Because of the evaporation the sediment capacity of water volume is exceeded and the material is deposited. This kind of material transport significantly influences the terrain morphology. The algorithm has wide area of applications; we describe here water sources, drying up the plashes, as well as fictive rain on the surface of Mars.
Cisplatin or LA-12 enhance killing effects of TRAIL in prostate cancer cells through Bid-dependent stimulation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway but not caspase-10

Searching for new strategies for effective elimination of human prostate cancer cells, we investigated the cooperative cytotoxic action of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and two platinum-based complexes, cisplatin or LA-12, and related molecular mechanisms. We demonstrated a notable ability of cisplatin or LA-12 to enhance the sensitivity of several human prostate cancer cell lines to TRAIL-induced cell death via an engagement of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. This was accompanied by augmented Bid cleavage, Bak activation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase-8, -10, -9, and -3, and XIAP cleavage. RNAi-mediated silencing of Bid or Bak in Bax-deficient DU 145 cells suppressed the drug combination-induced cytotoxicity, further underscoring the involvement of mitochondrial signaling. The caspase-10 was dispensable for enhancement of cisplatin/LA-12 and TRAIL combination-induced cell death and stimulation of Bid cleavage. Importantly, we newly demonstrated LA-12-mediated enhancement of TRAIL-induced cell death in cancer cells derived from human patient prostate tumor specimens. Our results provide convincing evidence that employing TRAIL combined with cisplatin/LA-12 could contribute to more effective killing of prostate cancer cells compared to the individual action of the drugs, and offer new mechanistic insights into their cooperative anticancer action.
We are human, they are not: Driving forces behind outgroup dehumanisation and the humanisation of the ingroup

Mostly invigorated by infrahumanisation theory, our knowledge on processes of dehumanisation in intergroup relations has grown considerably in the last decade. Building on these earlier endeavours, the present chapter reviews some recent empirical extensions that highlight the importance of differentiating between ingroup humanisation and outgroup dehumanisation because they are often moderated by specific variables. The role of these separate processes is discussed as a function of the main structural elements that define intergroup behaviour; that is, the defining boundaries of the groups, the relation between the groups at hand, and the ideologies of its members. Finally, the role of the different senses of humanness is discussed, suggesting that the folk conception of humanness differs between cultures.
Ameliorative effects of Bacillus subtilis ANSB01G on zearalenone toxicosis in pre-pubertal female gilts

The purpose of this research was to investigate the toxicity of zearalenone (ZEA) on the growing performance, genital organs, serum hormones and histopathological changes of pre-pubertal female gilts, and to evaluate the efficacy of Bacillus subtilis ANSB01G in alleviating ZEA toxicosis in gilts. Eighteen pre-pubertal female gilts were randomly allocated to three treatments with one replicate per treatment. The gilts were fed following three diets for 24 days: the Control group was given a basic diet with normal corn; Treatment 1 (T1) was prepared by substituting corn naturally contaminated with ZEA for all normal corn in the basic diet (with a final concentrations of 238.57 μg kg−1 of ZEA); and Treatment 2 (T2) was prepared by mixing the T1 diet with 2 kg T−1 of fermented–dried culture of ANSB01G. The results showed that the presence of ZEA in diets significantly increased the vulva size and reproductive organ weight of the T1 gilts as compared with the Control group, and the addition of ANSB01G to diet naturally contaminated with ZEA obviously ameliorated these symptoms, as was observed in the T2 group. The presence of low doses of ZEA in the T1 diet had no significant effect on the level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteotrophic hormone (LH) or serum oestradiol (E2) in the serum of gilts, but the prolactin (PRL) level in group T1 increased significantly. The gilts of the T1 group exhibited conspicuous cell enlargement and fatty degeneration of the corpus uteri, swelling, inflammation and lymphocyte infiltration of liver cells as compared with the Control group. The presence of ANSB01G can alleviate these hyperoestrogenic effects caused by ZEA, maintaining the body of gilt in a normal and healthy status. It is suggested that reproductive organs of gilts are seriously affected even if they are fed a low dose of ZEA in less time, and the addition of B. subtilis ANSB01G can effectively alleviate ZEA toxicosis in gilts.
The acquisition of the syntax of negation in French and German: contrasting first and second language development

The acquisition of negation is perhaps the best-studied syntactic phenomenon in early interlanguage research,and many of these publications concluded that first (L1) and second language (L2) development had much more in common than had previously been assumed. In the present paper, the problem of whether the same underlying principles and mechanisms guide L1 and L2 acquisition will be re-examined from the perspective of more recent grammatical theory. The empirical basis consists of longitudinal case-studies of the acquisition of French and German as first and second languages. The L2 learners' first language is Spanish. In L1 data one finds a rapid, uniform and almost error-free course of development across languages exhibiting quite different morphosyntactic means of expressing negation. This is explained in terms of Parameter Theory, primarily referring to functional categories determining the placement of finite verbal elements. L2 acquisition, on the other hand, is characterized by considerable variability, not only crosslinguistically, but also across learners and even within individuals. This can be accounted for by assuming different strategies of language use. More importantly, different kinds of linguistic knowledge are drawn upon in L1 as opposed to L2. It is claimed that adult L2 learners, rather than using structure-dependent operations constrained by Universal Grammar (UG), rely primarily on linear sequencing strategies which apply to surface strings.
Macrophage involvement in the protective effect of pyran copolymer against the Madison lung carcinoma (M109).

Pyran copolymer (NSC 46015) therapy markedly enhanced host resistance to a murine lung carcinoma (M109) implanted s.c. Multiple dose schedules were not significantly better than single doses at increasing lifespan. Although tumor necrosis was much more extensive in the lesions of pyran-treated mice, pyran copolymer was not directly toxic to M109 cells in vitro. A comparative histopathological study revealed an intense histiocytic reaction in the connective tissue surrounding the primary tumor in mice receiving pyran as compared to 0.9% NaCl solution-treated controls. Macrophages were often associated with necrobiotic tumor cells. Morphologically activated macrophages were recovered from pyran-treated animals which potently inhibited DNA synthesis of M109 tumor cells in vitro. This response peaked 6 days after drug treatment and was to a large extent specific for neoplastic cells. Our results from both in vivo and in vitro studies support the concept that pyran enhances host resistance to neoplasia by mobilization and activation of the reticuloendothelial elements of the host's defense.
Where Does the South Begin? Social Variability at the Southern Top of the World

For thousands of years, hunter-gatherer societies from southern and central Patagonia inhabited a Subantarctic landscape. In this paper, we argue against the traditional assumption that these were simple societies. We examine population diversity from ecological, archaeological, and ethno-historical data sources, emphasizing the economic and social variability while considering social change through time. We end by analyzing processes of the development of social complexity and hierarchy in recent times, when the industrial world violently disarticulated those societies. All this evidence suggests levels of social variability and complexity archaeologists have not expected. The paper critically reviews traditional archaeological approaches and suggests new research lines that allow for a better understanding of social dynamics.
Multicast Secrecy Rate Maximization for MISO Channels with Multiple Multi-Antenna Eavesdroppers

Recently, there has been growing interest in secure communication via multi-antenna physical-layer designs. In this paper, we consider a transmit covariance design for a secrecy rate maximization problem under a multicast scenario, where a multi-antenna transmitter delivers a common confidential message to multiple single-antenna receivers in the presence of multiple multi-antenna eavesdroppers. This multicast secrecy rate maximization (SRM) problem is nonconvex by nature. By resorting to a convex approximation, we provide an upper bound and lower bounds of the multicast secrecy rate by solving a semidefinite program. In particular, for the case of either i) no more than three legitimate receivers and one eavesdropper, or ii) one legitimate receiver and arbitrary number of eavesdroppers, these bounds are shown to be tight and transmit beamforming is an optimal transmit strategy. We also demonstrate by simulations that the multicast SRM problem can be accurately approximated by the proposed method.
Sliding-window self-healing key distribution

We propose a new method for distributing a common key to a dynamic group over an unreliable channel. In [15], an unconditionally secure "self-healing" protocol that solves this problem and has significant advantages over previous work in this area is presented. However, the protocol suffers from inconsistent robustness, high overhead and expensive maintenance costs. We propose a more practical self-healing protocol that attempts to address these three problems. First, we use a <i>sliding window</i> to make error recovery consistently robust. Second, we significantly reduce overhead. Finally, we give the group manager the ability to spread the cost of personal key distribution over multiple sessions, rather than having to distribute new personal keys to all users at the same time.
Preoperative Image Fusion of Fluoro-2-Deoxy-d-Glucose–Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography Data Sets in Oral Maxillofacial Carcinoma: Potential Clinical Value

ObjectiveThe aim was to evaluate the clinical and therapeutic value of digital image fusion of 2-[18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (F18-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) in patients suffering from an oral maxillofacial carcinoma. MethodsSeventeen patients (11 male, 6 female; age range: 45–89 years) suffering from an oral maxillofacial carcinoma underwent CT and F18-FDG–PET (333–370 MBq). The data of the 2 imaging modalities were fused on an image workstation. This image fusion was then visualized in the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes. ResultsPET showed a high pathologic FDG uptake in the tumor in 17 of 17 patients. CT detected the tumor in 12 of 17 patients. The image fusion of FDG-PET and CT showed the tumor in 17 of 17 patients. The final diagnosis was carcinoma of the mandible in 9 of 17 patients, carcinoma of the mouth floor in 3 of 17 patients, carcinoma of the tongue in 3 of 17 patients, carcinoma of the roof of the mouth in 1 of 17 patients, and carcinoma of the parotis gland in 1 of 17 patients. ConclusionsPreoperative image fusion of FDG-PET and CT data sets in oral maxillofacial carcinoma is possible in the clinical routine. Combined morphologic (CT) and functional (PET) imaging improves tumor localization even if the tumor is hardly visible on CT because of the artefacts of dental metallic implants (3/17 patients) or because of the small size of the tumor (2/17 patients). Image fusion is helpful for planning possible surgery (visual models) or radiotherapy (exact region of interest).
Probiotic Interference of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 with the Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans

Candida albicans is the most important Candida species causing vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). VVC has significant medical and economical impact on women's health and wellbeing. While current antifungal treatment is reasonably effective, supportive and preventive measures such as application of probiotics are required to reduce the incidence of VVC. We investigated the potential of the probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 towards control of C. albicans. In vitro experiments demonstrated that lactic acid at low pH plays a major role in suppressing fungal growth. Viability staining following cocultures with lactobacilli revealed that C. albicans cells lost metabolic activity and eventually were killed. Transcriptome analyses showed increased expression of stress-related genes and lower expression of genes involved in fluconazole resistance, which might explain the increased eradication of Candida in a previous clinical study on conjoint probiotic therapy. Our results provide insights on the impact of probiotics on C. albicans survival.
International Tourists' Concerns About Traditional Foods in Ghana

A thorough understanding of tourists' concerns about traditional foods and the factors that influence this understanding are necessary for the promotion and development of successful food tourism in Ghana. The data about tourists' concerns on traditional foods in Ghana were obtained from a random sample of 675 outbound international tourists at the departure lounge of the Kotoka International Airport between February and March, 2010. Sanitation emerged as the major gray area of attitudes to Ghana's traditional foods with the concerns being more expressed among elderly, women, and Muslim tourists. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the Food and Drugs Board and the Ghana Tourist Board, the two agencies charged with the responsibility of regulating and controlling standards in the food industry, be well resourced to perform their expected roles effectively.
Estimating the Intrinsic Dimension of Data with a Fractal-Based Method

In this paper, the problem of estimating the intrinsic dimension of a data set is investigated. A fractal-based approach using the Grassberger-Procaccia algorithm is proposed. Since the Grassberger-Procaccia algorithm (1983) performs badly on sets of high dimensionality, an empirical procedure that improves the original algorithm has been developed. The procedure has been tested on data sets of known dimensionality and on time series of Santa Fe competition.
Data integrity attacks against the distributed real-time pricing in the smart grid

In this paper, we address the issue of designing an effective distributed real-time pricing scheme in the smart grid and investigating its security resilience when the data integrity attack is in place. Different from existing research efforts, in this paper we develop a distributed real-time pricing scheme, which can maximize the welfare of all participants and improve the resilience to system failures, as well as consider both renewable and traditional power resources. By leveraging the distributed approach, we leverage the gradient projection mechanism to solve the distributed real-time pricing problem in participants' smart meters to improve the resilience to system failures. We also investigate the vulnerabilities of the distributed real-time pricing scheme by considering one typical data integrity attack, which can inject false data into communication interfaces. Via a combination of both theoretical analysis and performance evaluation, we demonstrate that the proposed distributed scheme can effectively guide the participants to achieve individual welfare maximization. Our findings also show that data integrity attacks can disrupt the distributed real-time pricing, posing a damage to the welfare of participants.
Assimilation or coarticulation? Evidence from the coordination of tongue gestures for the palatalization of Bulgarian alveolar stops.

Three issues are considered in this report —are assimilation and coarticulation the same process or different, are they achieved by feature spreading or by coproduction, and what level or levels of neuromotor planning or production do they represent? Tongue gestures analysed from an X-ray motion film of Bulgarian speech are presented as examples of what the tongue is made to do in speech and of how those gestures are co-ordinated with other articulator gestures, in particular for the palatalization of apico-alveolar stops. The gestures involved in this assimilation are initiated earlier, or are held longer, than in nonassimilated situations. The revision of gesture timing in relation to adjacent activity indicates that assimilation is preplanned and does not reflect coarticulation or the effect of vocal tract biodynamics. Secondly, the gestural programming for this case of palatalization is better described as coproduction than feature spreading. Finally the temporal organization of coarticulation reported here also agrees with that reported previously. In particular, potentially conflicting gestures are not blended but are produced sequentially, which favors the gesture queuing paradigm rather than the tug-of-war paradigm and indicates that coarticulation is also preplanned.