Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Backpropagation neural network based face detection in frontal faces images

Computer vision is a computer science field belonging to artificial intelligence. The purpose of this branch is allowing computers to understand the physical world by visual media means. This document proposes an artificial neural network based face detection system. It detects frontal faces in RGB images and is relatively light invariant. Problem description and definition are enounced in the first sections; then the neural network training process is discussed and the whole process is proposed; finally, practical results and conclusions are discussed. Process has three stages: 1) Image preprocessing, 2) Neural network classifying, 3) Face number reduction. Skin color detection and Principal Component Analysis are used in preprocessing stage; back propagation neural network is used for classifying and a simple clustering algorithm is used on the reduction stage.
Fermented Dairy Products Modulate Citrobacter rodentium–Induced Colonic Hyperplasia

We evaluated the protective effects of fermented dairy products (FDPs) in an infection model, using the mouse pathogen Citrobacter rodentium (CR). Treatment of mice with FDP formulas A, B, and C or a control product did not affect CR colonization, organ specificity, or attaching and effacing lesion formation. Fermented dairy product A (FDP-A), but neither the supernatant from FDP-A nor β-irradiated (IR) FDP-A, caused a significant reduction in colonic crypt hyperplasia and CR-associated pathology. Profiling the gut microbiota revealed that IR-FDP-A promoted higher levels of phylotypes belonging to Alcaligenaceae and a decrease in Lachnospiraceae (Ruminococcus) during CR infection. Conversely, FDP-A prevented a decrease in Ruminococcus and increased Turicibacteraceae (Turicibacter). Importantly, loss of Ruminococcus and Turicibacter has been associated with susceptibility to dextran sodium sulfate–induced colitis. Our results demonstrate that viable bacteria in FDP-A reduced CR-induced colonic crypt hyperplasia and prevented the loss of key bacterial genera that may contribute to disease pathology.
Macroeconomic and Bank-Specific Determinants of Non-Performing Loans in Greece: A Comparative Study of Mortgage, Business and Consumer Loan Portfolios

This paper uses dynamic panel data methods to examine the determinants of non-performing loans (NPLs) in the Greek banking sector, separately for each loan category (consumer loans, business loans and mortgages). The study is motivated by the hypothesis that both macroeconomic and bank-specific variables have an effect on loan quality and that these effects vary between different loan categories. The results show that, for all loan categories, NPLs in the Greek banking system can be explained mainly by macroeconomic variables (GDP, unemployment, interest rates, public debt) and management quality. Differences in the quantitative impact of macroeconomic factors among loan categories are evident, with non-performing mortgages being the least responsive to changes in the macroeconomic conditions.
GAIT PARAMETERS OF HEALTHY, ELDERLY PEOPLE UDC 796.012.412 : 613.98

Walking is one of the most common human movements. It means to transport the body safely and efficiently across ground level, uphill or downhill. Walking is learned during the first year of life and reaches maturity around the age of seven,remaining at the same level until 60. In old age one's walking performance starts to decline and it gradually slows down. With the increased life expectancy of the elderly and their more active lifestyle, there is now an emphasis on determining any changes that occur in their gait patterns, in order to indentify diagnostic measures that are usable for monitoring the rehabilitation process after endoprothesis implantation. The aim of this study is to determine how selected kinematical, kinetic and electromyographical parameters may change as a result of aging. A total of 31 healthy elderly subjects without any history of lower extremity joint pathology were investigated at constant gait speed (three km/h). The gait analysis equipment used consisted of an infinitely adjustable treadmill with force-plates and an ultrasound- based motion analyser with a surface electromyograph. Spatial-temporal, angular, kinetic and electromyographical parameters were recorded for the lower extremities. The results obtained from the lower limb were compared on both sides as well as with those of 50 healthy young individuals collected from our database. The elderly had a significantly shorter step length and wider step width compared to the results of a young control group. Our results showed that the aged individuals demostrated a statistically lesser range of motion in different joints during walking. We suggested that neurophysiological changes associated with aging might result in the less certainty of the neuromuscular system in selecting a stable gait.
Order-sorted polymorphism in Isabelle

ML-style polymorphism can be generalized from a single-sorted algebra of types to an order-sorted one by adding a partially ordered layer of \sorts" on top of the types. Type inference proceeds as in the Hindley/Milner system, except that order-sorted uni(cid:12)cation of types is used. The resulting system has been implemented in Isabelle to permit type variables to range over user-de(cid:12)nable subsets of all types. Order-sorted polymorphism allows a simple speci(cid:12)cation of type restrictions in many logical systems. It accommodates user-de(cid:12)ned parametric overloading and allows for a limited form of abstract axiomatic reasoning. It can also explain type inference with Standard ML’s equality types and Haskell’s type classes.
Reading Strategy Use and Its Relation to EFL Teachers’ Reading Self-Efficacy

The present study sought to investigate reading strategies used and reading self-efficacy perceived by EFL teachers. It was intended 1) to explore the reading strategies EFL teachers employed in reading English academic texts and 2) to study the relationship between their use of reading strategies and their self-reported reading self-efficacy. Fifty EFL teachers responded to a questionnaire consisting of three parts - demographic data, English reading strategy use, and English reading self-efficacy , and participated in think-aloud protocol sessions . Statistical analyses revealed the following results: 1) all the subjects reported having used overall reading strategies at a moderate-frequency level; 2) the subjects’ reading self-efficacy was significantly, strongly, and positively correlated with the overall reading strategy use; and 3) statistically significant differences were found between the subjects with high and low reading self-efficacy in using reading strategies and assessing their reading self-efficacy. งานวจยชนนมงศกษาการใชกลยทธในการอานและความเชอในความความสามารถในการอานภาษาองกฤษของตนเองของครผสอนภาษาองกฤษในฐานะภาษาตางประเทศ จดมงหมายคอ 1) ศกษาการใชกลยทธในการอานเนอหาภาษาองกฤษเชงวชาการของครผสอนภาษาองกฤษในฐานะภาษาตางประเทศ 2) ศกษาความสมพนธระหวางกลยทธในการอานและความเชอในความความสามารถในการอานภาษาองกฤษของตนเองของครผสอนภาษาองกฤษในฐานะภาษาตางประเทศ ครผเขารบการวจยจำนวน 50 คน ตอบแบบสอบถามอนประกอบไปดวย 3 สวน คอ ขอมลพนฐานของคร การใชกลยทธในการอาน และความเชอในความความสามารถในการอานภาษาองกฤษ และเขารบการสมภาษณผานเทคนคการคดออกเสยง ผลการศกษาพบวา 1) ครทกคนใชกลยทธในการอานในระดบปานกลาง 2) ความสมพนธระหวางการใชกลยทธในการอานโดยรวมและความเชอในความความสามารถในการอานภาษาองกฤษของตนเองของครมความสมพนธกนในเชงบวกอยางมนยสำคญทางสถต และ 3) พบความแตกตางในการใชกลยทธในการอานและการประเมนความสามารถในการอานของตนเองของครทจดวาตนเองเปนผมระดบความสามารถในการอานภาษาองกฤษสงและตำอยางมนยสำคญทางสถต
Social Class and Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction During Leisure and Paid Work

Abstract This study examined how basic psychological need satisfaction varies within and between leisure and paid work, taking social class into account. Data were collected from 340 super-creative, creative professional, working, and service class employees who worked at least 20 hours per week. Results included (a) autonomy was highly satisfied during leisure for all four classes, but so too was competence for working and service class members; (b) the degree to which autonomy was satisfied during leisure compared to work differed greatly; (c) competence was satisfied much more during work than leisure only for super-creative and creative professional class members; and (d) relatedness was satisfied more during leisure than work only for service class employees. These findings suggest that programs should be developed to improve super-creative and creative professional class members' leisure-based competence.
Essential histidine pairs indicate conserved haem binding in epsilonproteobacterial cytochrome c haem lyases

Bacterial cytochrome c maturation occurs at the outside of the cytoplasmic membrane, requires transport of haem b across the membrane, and depends on membrane-bound cytochrome c haem lyase (CCHL), an enzyme that catalyses covalent attachment of haem b to apocytochrome c. Epsilonproteobacteria such as Wolinella succinogenes use the cytochrome c biogenesis system II and contain unusually large CCHL proteins of about 900 amino acid residues that appear to be fusions of the CcsB and CcsA proteins found in other bacteria. CcsBA-type CCHLs have been proposed to act as haem transporters that contain two haem b coordination sites located at different sides of the membrane and formed by histidine pairs. W. succinogenes cells contain three CcsBA-type CCHL isoenzymes (NrfI, CcsA1 and CcsA2) that are known to differ in their specificity for apocytochromes and apparently recognize different haem c binding motifs such as CX2CH (by CcsA2), CX2CK (by NrfI) and CX15CH (by CcsA1). In this study, conserved histidine residues were individually replaced by alanine in each of the W. succinogenes CCHLs. Characterization of NrfI and CcsA1 variants in W. succinogenes demonstrated that a set of four histidines is essential for maturing the dedicated multihaem cytochromes c NrfA and MccA, respectively. The function of W. succinogenes CcsA2 variants produced in Escherichia coli was also found to depend on each of these four conserved histidine residues. The presence of imidazole in the growth medium of both W. succinogenes and E. coli rescued the cytochrome c biogenesis activity of most histidine variants, albeit to different extents, thereby implying the presence of two functionally distinct histidine pairs in each CCHL. The data support a model in which two conserved haem b binding sites are involved in haem transport catalysed by CcsBA-type CCHLs.
Effect of a program of sport-recreational activities on aggression and prosocial values among youth living in social risk

Purpose: This research is intended to analyze the effect of a sports and recreational activities program on aggression and prosocial values among youth living under conditions of social risk. Methods: The study included 28 young males (12.75 ± 1.40 years), from the Guarari community in Heredia, Costa Rica. An intervention consisting of 25 sessions of sports and recreational activities was carried out, and aggressive behaviors and prosocial values were recorded. Results: The results showed a decreasing tendency in verbal, physical, reactive and proactive aggression, and a linearly increasing tendency in prosocial values: respect, cooperation, and self-control. Conclusion: The data reported are in line with those found in the scientific literature. Sports and recreational activities have a positive impact through reducing aggressive behaviors and fostering prosocial values. Supporting training programs in which human movement contributes to the development of favorable behavioral changes can improve the life quality of adolescents and their insertion in society, leading to reduction in social risk indices.
An Experimental Evaluation of the Effects of a School-Based, Universal Prevention Program on Parent and Teacher Ratings of Student Behavior

Title of Document: AN EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF A SCHOOL-BASED, UNIVERSAL PREVENTION PROGRAM ON PARENT AND TEACHER RATINGS OF STUDENT BEHAVIOR Allison Joan Nebbergall, Doctor of Philosophy, 2009 Directed By: Professor Gary D. Gottfredson, Counseling and Personnel Services Meta-analyses of skills-based prevention interventions show moderate effect sizes for increasing social competencies and decreasing behavior problems. While the literature suggests that prevention programs can be effective, rigorous independent research is lacking regarding the efficacy of many specific programs. The present study is based on a randomized-control experiment evaluating Second Step in 12 Maryland public elementary schools to assess the effects of the program on parent and teacher ratings of student behavior. Ratings using the Social Competency Rating Form had previously been considered as a single global measure of student behavior, and had not been found to be affected by the intervention. Nonetheless, a re-consideration of the psychometric properties of the scale and its sensitivity to skills taught by the Second Step curriculum led to the speculation that separation of the global measure to reflect distinct ratings of social competency and problem behavior might reveal effects on the social competency component. Analyses show no effects on parent or teacher ratings of social competency or on teacher ratings of problem behavior. In some analyses, students in treatment schools had nearly twice the odds of being classified in a “problem” group according to ratings made by their parents than did students in control schools. Results were supported by sensitivity analyses using weights and imputation.
Radiation effects in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS): RF relays

GaAs micro-electromechanical RF relays fabricated by surface micromachining techniques were characterized for their response to total ionizing dose. Microrelays with two different geometries were studied. For one geometry, changes in switch actuation voltage at moderate dose levels were observed. For an alternative geometry, no change in actuation voltage was observed. A mechanism for dielectric charge trapping and its effect on the electrostatic force is proposed.
Examining Reading Processes and Engagement of Struggling and Proficient Readers when Using iPads

This study investigated the influence of tablet technology on student motivation and engagement for online reading. An ethnographic approach was utilized to examine the case studies of six grade 8 students including three proficient and three struggling readers. In addition to motivation and engagement, their thought processes while conducting online research using an iPad was explored. Several research techniques were employed including, participant observation, standardized reading comprehension tests, questionnaires, and participant interviews. The results revealed a significant increase in motivation for reading by the three proficient readers. Results also revealed an increase of two grade levels in reading comprehension for two of the struggling readers. Several findings about students’ metacognitive strategies while reading and researching online along with factors affecting motivation and engagement were also explored. These results have the potential to inform classroom literacy instruction and teacher education programs in this rapidly evolving digital age.
Rational Overoptimism (and Other Biases)

Rational agents with differing priors tend to be overoptimistic about their chances of success. In particular, an agent who tries to choose the action that is most likely to succeed, is more likely to choose an action of which he overestimated, rather than underestimated, the likelihood of success. After studying the comparative statics of this mechanism, I show that it also causes agents to attribute failure to exogenous factors but success to their own choice of action, to disproportionately believe that they will outperform others, to overestimate the precision of their estimates, and to overestimate their control over the outcome.
Temporal variations of the outer atmosphere and the dust shell of the carbon-rich Mira variable V Ophiuchi probed with VLTI/MIDI

Aims. We present the first multi-epoch N -band spectro-interferometric observations of the carbon-rich Mira variable V Oph using MIDI at the ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer. Our aim is to study temporal variations of physical properties of the outer atmosphere and the circumstellar dust shell based on spectrally-dispersed N -band visibilities over the C 2 H 2 (+HCN) features and the dust emission. Methods. Our MIDI observations were carried out at three different phases 0.18, 0.49, and 0.65, with three different baselines (projected baseline lengths of 42–124 m) using four 8.2 m Unit Telescopes (UT2-UT4, UT1-UT4, and UT2-UT3 baseline configurations). Results. The wavelength dependence of the uniform-disk diameters obtained at all epochs is characterized by a roughly constant region between 8 and 10 μ m with a slight dip centered at ~9.5 μ m and a gradual increase longward of 10 μ m. These N -band angular sizes are significantly larger than the estimated photospheric size of V Oph. The angular sizes observed at different epochs reveal that the object appears smaller at phase 0.49 (minimum light) with uniform-disk diameters of ~5–12 mas than at phases 0.18 (~12–20 mas) and 0.65 (~9–15 mas). We interpret these results with a model consisting of optically thick C 2 H 2 layers and an optically thin dust shell. Our modeling suggests that the C 2 H 2 layers around V Oph are more extended (~1.7–1.8 $R_{\star}$) at phases 0.18 and 0.65 than at phase 0.49 (~1.4 $R_{\star}$) and that the C 2 H 2 column densities appear to be the smallest at phase 0.49. We also find that the dust shell consists of amorphous carbon and SiC with an inner radius of ~2.5 $R_{\star}$, and the total optical depths of $\mbox{$\tau_{V}$} \! \approx \! 0.6$–0.9 ($\tau_{11.3~\mu{\rm m}} \! \approx \! 0.003$ and 0.004 for amorphous carbon and SiC, respectively) found at phases 0.18 and 0.65 are higher than the value obtained at phase 0.49, $\mbox{$\tau_{V}$} \! \approx \! 0.3$ ($\tau_{11.3~\mu{\rm m}} \! \approx \! 0.001$ and 0.002 for amorphous carbon and SiC, respectively). Conclusions. Our MIDI observations and modeling indicate that carbon-rich Miras also have extended layers of polyatomic molecules as previously confirmed in oxygen-rich Miras. The temporal variation of the N -band angular size is largely governed by the variations of the opacity and the geometrical extension of the C 2 H 2 layers and the dust shell, and consequently, this masks the size variation of the photosphere. Also, the observed weakness of the mid-infrared C 2 H 2 absorption in carbon-rich Miras can be explained by the emission from the extended C 2 H 2 layers and the dust shell.
Volumetric PET/CT parameters predict local response of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to chemoradiotherapy

It is not well established whether pretreatment 18F‐FDG PET/CT can predict local response of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to chemoradiotherapy (CRT). We examined 118 patients: 11 with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), 30 with oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), and 77 with laryngohypopharyngeal cancer (LHC) who had completed CRT. PET/CT parameters of primary tumor, including metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and maximum and mean standardized uptake value (SUVmax and SUVmean), were correlated with local response, according to primary site and human papillomavirus (HPV) status. Receiver‐operating characteristic analyses were made to access predictive values of the PET/CT parameters, while logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors. Area under the curve (AUC) of the PET/CT parameters ranged from 0.53 to 0.63 in NPC and from 0.50 to 0.54 in OPC. HPV‐negative OPC showed AUC ranging from 0.51 to 0.58, while all of HPV‐positive OPCs showed complete response. In contrast, AUC ranged from 0.71 to 0.90 in LHC. Moreover, AUCs of MTV and TLG were significantly higher than those of SUVmax and SUVmean (P < 0.01). After multivariate analysis, high MTV >25.0 mL and high TLG >144.8 g remained as independent, significant predictors of incomplete response compared with low MTV (odds ratio [OR], 13.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5–72.9; P = 0.003) and low TLG (OR, 12.8; 95% CI, 2.4–67.9; P = 0.003), respectively. In conclusion, predictive efficacy of pretreatment 18F‐FDG PET/CT varies with different primary sites and chosen parameters. Local response of LHC is highly predictable by volume‐based PET/CT parameters.
Chemical genomics of cancer chemopreventive dithiolethiones

3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (D3T) and its analogues 4-methyl-5-pyrazinyl-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (OLT) and 5-tert-butyl-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (TBD) are chemopreventive agents that block or diminish early stages of carcinogenesis by inducing activities of detoxication enzymes. While OLT has been used in clinical trials, TBD has been shown to be more efficacious and possibly less toxic than OLT in animals. Here, we utilize a robust and high-resolution chemical genomics procedure to examine the pharmacological structure–activity relationships of these compounds in livers of male rats by microarray analyses. We identified 226 differentially expressed genes that were common to all treatments. Functional analysis identified the relation of these genes to glutathione metabolism and the nuclear factor, erythroid derived 2-related factor 2 pathway (Nrf2) that is known to regulate many of the protective actions of dithiolethiones. OLT and TBD were shown to have similar efficacies and both were weaker than D3T. In addition, we identified 40 genes whose responses were common to OLT and TBD, yet distinct from D3T. As inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP) has been associated with the effects of OLT on CYP expression, we determined the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for inhibition of CYP1A2. The rank order of inhibitor potency was OLT ≫ TBD ≫ D3T, with IC50 values estimated as 0.2, 12.8 and >100 μM, respectively. Functional analysis revealed that OLT and TBD, in addition to their effects on CYP, modulate liver lipid metabolism, especially fatty acids. Together, these findings provide new insight into the actions of clinically relevant and lead dithiolethione analogues.
Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men

Summary. This study was a 12‐week double blind placebo‐controlled, randomized, parallel trial in which active treatment with different doses of Maca Gelatinizada was compared with placebo. The study aimed to demonstrate if effect of Maca on subjective report of sexual desire was because of effect on mood or serum testosterone levels. Men aged 21–56 years received Maca in one of two doses: 1500 mg or 3000 mg or placebo.