Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Benchmark for Iris Location and a Deep Learning Detector Evaluation

The iris is considered as the biometric trait with the highest unique probability. The iris location is an important task for biometrics systems, affecting directly the results obtained in specific applications such as iris recognition, spoofing and contact lenses detection, among others. This work defines the iris location problem as the delimitation of the smallest squared window that encompasses the iris region. In order to build a benchmark for iris location we annotate (iris squared bounding boxes) four databases from different biometric applications and make them publicly available to the community. Besides these 4 annotated databases, we include 2 others from the literature. We perform experiments on these six databases, five obtained with near infra-red sensors and one with visible light sensor. We compare the classical and outstanding Daugman iris location approach with two window based detectors: 1) a sliding window detector based on features from Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) and a linear Support Vector Machines (SVM) classifier; 2) a deep learning based detector fine-tuned from YOLO object detector. Experimental results showed that the deep learning based detector outperforms the other ones in terms of accuracy and runtime (GPUs version) and should be chosen whenever possible.
A device to measure secretion of individual sweat glands for diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy

There is a need for quantitative, precise assessment of small fiber peripheral nerve function. We tested a customized camera device and protocol designed to quantify secretions of individual sweat glands (SGs). Testing was performed on 178 healthy controls and 20 neuropathy subjects. Sweating was stimulated on a 2.25 cm2 skin area by iontophoresis of pilocarpine. The camera imaged sweat from 50 to 400 sweat ducts. We calculated secretion rate of individual SGs, total sweat volume, and number of secreting SGs at four body sites. Neuropathy subjects were tested at the two distal sites to demonstrate the device's capability to detect abnormal sudomotor function. Normal ranges were calculated for each body site. Neuropathy subjects had lower sweat rates per SG, lower total sweat, and lower SG density. The normal values decreased with advancing age, were lower in females, and differed between body sites. There was good agreement with repeat testing. The device provides reliable, precise quantitative measures of sweat secretion from single SGs for characterization of sudomotor nerve function in healthy control subjects and in subjects with known peripheral neuropathy. The test combines the capabilities of existing tests of sudomotor function while providing additional capabilities.
Detection Thresholds for Rotation and Translation Gains in 360° Video-Based Telepresence Systems

Telepresence systems have the potential to overcome limits and distance constraints of the real-world by enabling people to remotely visit and interact with each other. However, current telepresence systems usually lack natural ways of supporting interaction and exploration of remote environments (REs). In particular, single webcams for capturing the RE provide only a limited illusion of spatial presence, and movement control of mobile platforms in today's telepresence systems are often restricted to simple interaction devices. One of the main challenges of telepresence systems is to allow users to explore a RE in an immersive, intuitive and natural way, e.g., by real walking in the user's local environment (LE), and thus controlling motions of the robot platform in the RE. However, the LE in which the user's motions are tracked usually provides a much smaller interaction space than the RE. In this context, redirected walking (RDW) is a very suitable approach to solve this problem. However, so far there is no previous work, which explored if and how RDW can be used in video-based 360° telepresence systems. In this article, we conducted two psychophysical experiments in which we have quantified how much humans can be unknowingly redirected on virtual paths in the RE, which are different from the physical paths that they actually walk in the LE. Experiment 1 introduces a discrimination task between local and remote translations, and in Experiment 2 we analyzed the discrimination between local and remote rotations. In Experiment 1 participants performed straightforward translations in the LE that were mapped to straightforward translations in the RE shown as 360° videos, which were manipulated by different gains. Then, participants had to estimate if the remotely perceived translation was faster or slower than the actual physically performed translation. Similarly, in Experiment 2 participants performed rotations in the LE that were mapped to the virtual rotations in a 360° video-based RE to which we applied different gains. Again, participants had to estimate whether the remotely perceived rotation was smaller or larger than the actual physically performed rotation. Our results show that participants are not able to reliably discriminate the difference between physical motion in the LE and the virtual motion from the 360° video RE when virtual translations are down-scaled by 5.8% and up-scaled by 9.7%, and virtual rotations are about 12.3% less or 9.2% more than the corresponding physical rotations in the LE.
Biochemical and Physical Characterisation of Urinary Nanovesicles following CHAPS Treatment

Urinary exosomes represent a precious source of potential biomarkers for disease biology. Currently, the methods for vesicle isolation are severely restricted by the tendency of vesicle entrapment, e.g. by the abundant Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) polymers. Treatment by reducing agents such as dithiothreitol (DTT) releases entrapped vesicles, thus increasing the final yield. However, this harsh treatment can cause remodelling of all those proteins which feature extra-vesicular domains stabilized by internal disulfide bridges and have detrimental effects on their biological activity. In order to optimize exosomal yield, we explore two vesicle treatment protocols - dithiothreitol (DTT) and 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonic (CHAPS) - applied to the differential centrifugation protocol for exosomal vesicle isolation. The results show that CHAPS treatment does not affect vesicle morphology or exosomal marker distribution, thus eliminating most of THP interference. Moreover, the recovery and preservation of catalytic activity of two trans-membrane proteases, dipeptidyl peptidase IV and nephrilysin, was examined and found to be clearly superior after CHAPS treatment compared to DTT. Finally, proteomic profiling by mass spectrometry (MS) revealed that 76.2% of proteins recovered by CHAPS are common to those seen for DTT treatment, which illustrates underlining similarities between the two approaches. In conclusion, we provide a major improvement to currently-utilized urinary vesicle isolation strategies to allow recovery of urinary vesicles without the deleterious interference of abundant urinary proteins, while preserving typical protein folding and, consequently, the precious biological activity of urinary proteins which serve as valuable biomarkers.
Genetic Variants in HSD17B3, SMAD3, and IPO11 Impact Circulating Lipids in Response to Fenofibrate in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes

Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and dyslipidemia are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Fibrates are a class of drugs prescribed to treat dyslipidemia, but variation in response has been observed. To evaluate common and rare genetic variants that impact lipid responses to fenofibrate in statin‐treated patients with T2D, we examined lipid changes in response to fenofibrate therapy using a genomewide association study (GWAS). Associations were followed‐up using gene expression studies in mice. Common variants in SMAD3 and IPO11 were marginally associated with lipid changes in black subjects (P < 5 × 10‐6). Rare variant and gene expression changes were assessed using a false discovery rate approach. AKR7A3 and HSD17B13 were associated with lipid changes in white subjects (q < 0.2). Mice fed fenofibrate displayed reductions in Hsd17b13 gene expression (q < 0.1). Associations of variants in SMAD3, IPO11, and HSD17B13, with gene expression changes in mice indicate that transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β) and NRF2 signaling pathways may influence fenofibrate effects on dyslipidemia in patients with T2D.
Androgen Control in Prostate Cancer

Research on prostate cancer has extensively advanced in the past decade, through an improved understanding for its genetic basis and risk‐stratification. Molecular classification of prostate cancer into distinct subtypes and the recognition of new histologic entities promise the development of tailored‐made management strategies of patients. Nowadays, various alternatives are available for clinical management of localized disease ranging from observation alone through radical prostatectomy. In patients with castration‐resistant prostate cancer, the approval of new drugs for the management of metastatic disease has offered promising results improving the survival of these patients. In this context, androgen receptors (AR) remain at the epicenter of prostate cancer research holding a prominent role in the biology and therapeutic regimens of prostate cancer. As many of castration‐resistant tumors retain hormone‐responsiveness, AR is a clinical relevant, druggable target. However, AR paradoxically remains neglected as a prostate cancer biomarker. The great advancements in prostate cancer preclinical and clinical research, imply further improvement in clinical and translational data, for patient selection and treatment optimization. For a precision medicine‐guided clinical management of prostate cancer, AR evaluation has to be implemented in companion and complementary diagnostics, as discussed here. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2224–2234, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Can Diversifying Selection Be Distinguished from History in Geographic Clines? A Population Genomic Study of Killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus)

A common geographical pattern of genetic variation is the one-dimensional cline. Clines may be maintained by diversifying selection across a geographical gradient but can also reflect historical processes such as allopatry followed by secondary contact. To identify loci that may be undergoing diversifying selection, we examined the distribution of geographical variation patterns across the range of the killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) in 310 loci, including microsatellites, allozymes, and single nucleotide polymorphisms. We employed two approaches to detect loci under strong diversifying selection. First, we developed an automated method to identify clinal variation on a per-locus basis and examined the distribution of clines to detect those that exhibited signifcantly steeper slopes. Second, we employed a classic -outlier method as a complementary approach. We also assessed performance of these techniques using simulations. Overall, latitudinal clines were detected in nearly half of all loci genotyped (i.e., all eight microsatellite loci, 12 of 16 allozyme loci and 44% of the 285 SNPs). With the exception of few outlier loci (notably mtDNA and malate dehydrogenase), the positions and slopes of Fundulus clines were statistically indistinguishable. The high frequency of latitudinal clines across the genome indicates that secondary contact plays a central role in the historical demography of this species. Our simulation results indicate that accurately detecting diversifying selection using genome scans is extremely difficult in species with a strong signal of secondary contact; neutral evolution under this history produces clines as steep as those expected under selection. Based on these results, we propose that demographic history can explain all clinal patterns observed in F. heteroclitus without invoking natural selection to either establish or maintain the pattern we observe today.
Effect of particle size on band gap and DC electrical conductivity of TiO2 nanomaterial

Materials reduced to the Nano scale can exhibit different properties compared to what they exhibit on a micro scale, enabling unique applications. When TiO2 is reduced to Nano scale it shows unique properties, of which the electrical aspect is highly important. This paper presents increase in the energy gap and decrease in conductivity with decrease in particle size of pure Nano TiO2 synthesized by hydrolysis and peptization of titanium isopropoxide. Aqueous solution with various pH and peptizing the resultant suspension will form Nano TiO2 at different particle sizes. As the pH of the solution is made acidic reduction in the particle size is observed. And it is confirmed from XRD using Scherer formula and SEM, as prepared samples are studied for UV absorbance, and DC conductivity from room temperature to 400°C. From the tauc plot it was observed, and calculated the energy band gap increases as the particle size decreases and shown TiO2 is direct band gap. From Arrhenius plot clearly we encountered, decre.
You Spin my Head Right Round: Threshold of Limited Immersion for Rotation Gains in Redirected Walking

In virtual environments, the space that can be explored by real walking is limited by the size of the tracked area. To enable unimpeded walking through large virtual spaces in small real-world surroundings, redirection techniques are used. These unnoticeably manipulate the user's virtual walking trajectory. It is important to know how strongly such techniques can be applied without the user noticing the manipulation—or getting cybersick. Previously, this was estimated by measuring a detection threshold (DT) in highly-controlled psychophysical studies, which experimentally isolate the effect but do not aim for perceived immersion in the context of VR applications. While these studies suggest that only relatively low degrees of manipulation are tolerable, we claim that, besides establishing detection thresholds, it is important to know when the user's immersion breaks. We hypothesize that the degree of unnoticed manipulation is significantly different from the detection threshold when the user is immersed in a task. We conducted three studies: a) to devise an experimental paradigm to measure the threshold of limited immersion (TLI), b) to measure the TLI for slowly decreasing and increasing rotation gains, and c) to establish a baseline of cybersickness for our experimental setup. For rotation gains greater than 1.0, we found that immersion breaks quite late after the gain is detectable. However, for gains lesser than 1.0, some users reported a break of immersion even before established detection thresholds were reached. Apparently, the developed metric measures an additional quality of user experience. This article contributes to the development of effective spatial compression methods by utilizing the break of immersion as a benchmark for redirection techniques.
Constructions of Battered Asian Indian Marriage Migrants: The Narratives of Domestic Violence Advocates

How are the images of abused South Asian marriage migrants shaped by domestic violence advocates? We explore the social constructions of battered Asian Indian marriage migrants in the victim advocates’ narratives. First, we find the narratives both reproduce and challenge the dominant stereotypes, utilizing some individualistic typifications while constructing these images with an understanding of the broader context of battered South Asian women’s experiences. Second, depending on the issue (e.g., economic dependence or religion), the advocates paint either a multidimensional or a one-dimensional picture of their clients. We emphasize the need for further intersectional studies of the images of abused immigrants constructed by victim advocates.
Prostaglandin versus mechanical dilation and the effect of maternal obesity on failure to achieve active labor: a cohort study

Abstract Purpose: Assess the impact of obesity on successful cervical ripening with mechanical versus prostaglandin ripening. Materials and methods: We compared obese to non-obese women in an analysis stratified by induction method, prostaglandin versus mechanical. Misoprostol dosing was the same for obese and non-obese women. Pitocin was titrated to effect. Our primary outcome was failure to achieve active labor. Secondary outcomes included overall cesarean delivery rate, doses of misoprostol used and need for protocol deviation. Results: Obese women had a higher cesarean delivery rate with misoprostol (35% versus 26%, p = 0.03) but not with mechanical ripening (31% versus 29%, p = 0.69). Obesity was associated with a higher rate of failure to achieve active labor in women undergoing prostaglandin ripening with misoprostol (24 versus 15%, p = 0.01) but not in women undergoing mechanical ripening (19 versus 15%, p = 0.55). After controlling for confounding variables, obese women who underwent cervical ripening with misoprostol had a higher rate of failure to achieve active labor, aOR 1.29 (95%CI: 1.00–1.67), which was not seen with mechanical ripening, aOR 1.09 (95%CI: 0.69–1.73). Conclusion: Obese women receiving the same dose of misoprostol as non-obese women have higher rates of failure to achieve active labor, an effect not seen with mechanical ripening.
Misclassification bias: diversity in conceptualisations about having 'had sex'.

BACKGROUND Understanding the signification of the word 'sex' has implications for both medical research and clinical practice. Little is known about how people of varying ages define sex and how situational qualifiers influence definitions across age groups. To our knowledge, this is the first study of a representative sample to assess attitudes about which sexual behaviours constitute having 'had sex' and to examine possible mediating factors (gender, age, giving/receiving stimulation, male ejaculation, female orgasm, condom use or brevity). METHODS A telephone survey of English-speaking residents of Indiana (USA) using random-digit-dialling produced a final sample of 204 men and 282 women (n = 486) ranging in age from 18 to 96 years. Questions assessed the respondents' attitudes on manual-genital (MG), oral-genital (OG), penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI) and penile-anal intercourse (PAI) behaviours. RESULTS There was no universal consensus on which behaviours constituted having 'had sex'. More than 90% responded 'yes' to PVI but one in five responded 'no' to PAI, three in 10 responded 'no' to OG and about half endorsed MG. Fewer endorsed PVI with no male ejaculation (89.1%) compared with PVI without a qualifier (94.8%, P < 0.001). MG was endorsed more often when received (48.1%) than given (44.9%, P < 0.001). Among men, the oldest and youngest age groups were significantly less likely to believe certain behaviours constituted having 'had sex'. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the need to use behaviour-specific terminology in sexual history taking, sex research, sexual health promotion and sex education. Researchers, educators and medical practitioners should exercise caution and not assume that their own definitions of having 'had sex' are shared by their research participants or patients.
Glutamate Receptor Homolog3.4 is Involved in Regulation of Seed Germination Under Salt Stress in Arabidopsis

Seed germination is sensitive to salt stress. ABA and Ca2+ are involved in the regulation of seed germination under salt stress. Ca2+ influx mediated by glutamate receptors (GLRs) plays important roles in many physiological processes in plants. Here, we investigated the correlation of GLRs, Ca2+ and ABA during seed germination in response to salt stress by using Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type and T-DNA insertion knockout mutants of glutamate receptor homolog3.4. We demonstrated that atglr3.4-1 and atglr3.4-2 mutants were more sensitive to NaCl during seed germination and post-germination growth than wild-type plants. Treatments of wild-type seedlings with NaCl evoked a marked elevation in cytosolic Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]cyt), and the elevation was inhibited by antagonists of GLRs, while the NaCl-induced elevation in [Ca2+]cyt was impaired in atglr3.4-1 and atglr3.4-2 mutants. Moreover, the mutants exhibited a lower expression of SOS3, SOS2 and SOS1, and greater accumulation of Na+ than wild-type seeds in the presence of NaCl. Mutation of AtGLR3.4 rendered the mutants more sensitive to ABA, while overexpression of AtGLR3.4 made the transgenic lines more tolerant to ABA in terms of seed germination. However, there was no difference in ABA content between atglr3.4 mutants and wild-type seeds, accompanied by lower expression of ABI3 and ABI4 in atglr3.4 mutants when challenged with NaCl. These results demonstrate that AtGLR3.4-mediated Ca2+ influx may be involved in the regulation of seed germination under salt stress by modulating Na+ accumulation through the SOS pathway.
Unexpected High Genetic Diversity at the Extreme Northern Geographic Limit of Taurulus bubalis (Euphrasen, 1786)

The longspined bullhead (Taurulus bubalis, Euphrasen 1786) belongs to the family Cottidae and is a rocky shore species that inhabits the intertidal zones of the Eastern Atlantic since Iceland, southward to Portugal and also the North Sea and Baltic, northward to the Gulf of Finland, with some occurrences in the northern Mediterranean coasts eastward to the Gulf of Genoa. We analysed the phylogeographic patterns of this species using mitochondrial and nuclear markers in populations throughout most of its distributional range in west Europe. We found that T. bubalis has a relatively shallow genealogy with some differentiation between Atlantic and North Sea. Genetic diversity was homogeneous across all populations studied. The possibility of a glacial refugium near the North Sea is discussed. In many, but not all, marine temperate organisms, patterns of diversity are similar across the species range. If this phenomenon proves to be most common in cold adapted species, it may reflect the availability of glacial refugia not far from their present-day northern limits.
Effect of Friction Welding Conditions on the Fatigue Strength of Steel Welded Joints with Flash.

The effect of flash on fatigue strength of friction welded joints are examined by means of rotating bending fatigue test, using as-welded joint specimens of hot and cold drawn mild steel round bar.The following experimental results were obtained ;(1) Fatigue strength of hot and cold drawn steel decreased with the increase of upset pressure. (2) In welded joints with flash, fatigue cracks were initiated at toe of flash. (3) Effect of upset pressure on fatigue strength was remarkable, but effect of friction pressure and total loss were slightly. (4) Toe radius of flash decreased with the increase of upset pressure and toe angle increased with the increase of this pressure. Therefore, it was considered that the main cause of the decrease of fatigue strength was stress concentration of toe of flash. (5) In the case of hot drawn steel, fatigue strength of the joint under any welding condition was recovered up to that of base metal, when flash was removed. In the case of cold drawn steel, however, that was not recovered, even when flash was removed. (6) Fatigue strength of cold drawn steel joints was remarkably decreased, when fatigue failure occurred in duplicate zone of stress concentration and softening. Therefore, this material required sufficient care, when friction welding condition was selected.