Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extraction of Finger-Vein Patterns Using Maximum Curvature Points in Image Profiles

A biometrics system for identifying individuals using the pattern of veins in a finger was previously proposed. The system has the advantage of being resistant to forgery because the pattern is inside a finger. Infrared light is used to capture an image of a finger that shows the vein patterns, which have various widths and brightnesses that change temporally as a result of fluctuations in the amount of blood in the vein, depending on temperature, physical conditions, etc. To robustly extract the precise details of the depicted veins, we developed a method of calculating local maximum curvatures in cross-sectional profiles of a vein image. This method can extract the centerlines of the veins consistently without being affected by the fluctuations in vein width and brightness, so its pattern matching is highly accurate. Experimental results show that our method extracted patterns robustly when vein width and brightness fluctuated, and that the equal error rate for personal identification was 0.0009%, which is much better than that of conventional methods.
Lithium ameliorates autistic-like behaviors induced by neonatal isolation in rats

Neonatal isolation is a widely accepted model to study the long-term behavioral changes produced by the early life events. However, it remains unknown whether neonatal isolation can induce autistic-like behaviors, and if so, whether pharmacological treatment can overcome it. Here, we reported that newborn rats subjected to individual isolations from their mother and nest for 1 h per day from postnatal days 1–9 displayed apparent autistic-like symptoms including social deficits, excessive repetitive self-grooming behavior, and increased anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors tested in young adult (postnatal days 42–56) compared to normal reared controls. Furthermore, these behavioral changes were accompanied by impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis and reduced the ratio of excitatory/inhibitory synaptic transmissions, as reflected by an increase in spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current (sIPSC) and normal spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current (sEPSC) in the hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neuron. More importantly, chronic administration of lithium, a clinically used mood stabilizer, completely overcame neonatal isolation-induced autistic-like behaviors, and restored adult hippocampal neurogenesis as well as the balance between excitatory and inhibitory activities to physiological levels. These findings indicate that neonatal isolation may produce autistic-like behaviors, and lithium may be a potential therapeutic agent against autism spectrum disorders (ASD) during development.
Intuitionistic fuzzy XML query matching and rewriting

With the emergence of XML as a standard for data representation, particularly on the web, the need for intelligent query languages that can operate on XML documents with structural heterogeneity has recently gained a lot of popularity. Traditional Information Retrieval and Database approaches have limitations when dealing with such scenarios. Therefore, fuzzy (flexible) approaches have become the predominant. In this thesis, we propose a new approach for approximate XML query matching and rewriting which aims at achieving soft matching of XML queries with XML data sources following different schemas. Unlike traditional querying approaches, which require exact matching, the proposed approach makes use of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Trees to achieve approximate (soft) query matching. Through this new approach, not only the exact answer of a query, but also approximate answers are retrieved. Furthermore, partial results can be obtained from multiple data sources and merged together to produce a single answer to a query. The proposed approach introduced a new tree similarity measure that considers the minimum and maximum degrees of similarity/inclusion of trees that are based on arc matching. New techniques for soft node and arc matching were presented for matching queries against data sources with highly varied structures. A prototype was developed to test the proposed ideas and it proved the ability to achieve approximate matching for pattern queries with a number of XML schemas and rewrite the original query so that it obtain results from the underlying data sources. This has been achieved through several novel algorithms which were tested and proved efficiency and low CPU/Memory cost even for big number of data sources.
RDP2: recombination detection and analysis from sequence alignments

UNLABELLED RDP2 is a Windows 95/XP program that examines nucleotide sequence alignments and attempts to identify recombinant sequences and recombination breakpoints using 10 published recombination detection methods, including GENECONV, BOOTSCAN, MAXIMUM chi(2), CHIMAERA and SISTER SCANNING. The program enables fast automated analysis of large alignments (up to 300 sequences containing 13 000 sites), and interactive exploration, management and verification of results with different recombination detection and tree drawing methods. AVAILABILITY RDP2 is available free from the RDP2 website (http://darwin.uvigo.es/rdp/rdp.html) CONTACT darren@science.uct. ac.za SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Detailed descriptions of RDP2 and the methods it implements are included in the program manual, which can be downloaded from the RDP2 website.
Hubble Space Telescope Fine Guidance Sensor Parallaxes of Galactic Cepheid Variable Stars: Period-Luminosity Relations

We present new absolute trigonometric parallaxes and relative proper motions for nine Galactic Cepheid variable stars: ℓ Car, ζ Gem, β Dor, W Sgr, X Sgr, Y Sgr, FF Aql, T Vul, and RT Aur. We obtain these results with astrometric data from Fine Guidance Sensor 1r, a white-light interferometer on the Hubble Space Telescope. We find absolute parallaxes in milliarcseconds: ℓ Car, 2.01 ± 0.20 mas; ζ Gem, 2.78 ± 0.18 mas; β Dor, 3.14 ± 0.16 mas; W Sgr, 2.28 ± 0.20 mas; X Sgr, 3.00 ± 0.18 mas; Y Sgr, 2.13 ± 0.29 mas; FF Aql, 2.81 ± 0.18 mas; T Vul, 1.90 ± 0.23 mas; and RT Aur, 2.40 ± 0.19 mas; average σπ/π = 8%. Two stars (FF Aql and W Sgr) required the inclusion of binary astrometric perturbations, providing Cepheid mass estimates. With these parallaxes we compute absolute magnitudes in V, I, K, and Wesenheit WVI bandpasses, corrected for interstellar extinction and Lutz-Kelker-Hanson bias. Adding our previous absolute magnitude determination for δ Cep, we construct period-luminosity relations (PLRs) for 10 Galactic Cepheids. We compare our new PLRs with those adopted by several recent investigations, including the Freedman and Sandage H0 projects. Adopting our PLR would tend to increase the Sandage H0 value, but leave the Freedman H0 unchanged. Comparing our Galactic Cepheid PLR with those derived from LMC Cepheids, we find the slopes for K and WVI to be identical in the two galaxies within their respective errors. Our data lead to a WVI distance modulus for the LMC m - M = 18.50 ± 0.03, uncorrected for any metallicity effects. Applying recently derived metallicity corrections yields a corrected LMC distance modulus of (m - M)0 = 18.40 ± 0.05. Comparing our PLR to solar-metallicity Cepheids in NGC 4258 results in a distance modulus 29.28 ± 0.08 that agrees with one derived from maser studies.
Project and Organizational Antecedents of Effort Withholding in IT Project Teams

When individuals assigned to Information Technology (IT) projects do not work as hard as they could, effort withholding occurs. Effort withholding is defined as the likelihood that an individual will give less than full effort on a job-related task. While an extensive body of work demonstrates that effort withholding is prevalent in all types of teamwork, little attention has been paid to an IT project context. In this study, we surveyed 473 IT project managers to address two questions: 1) what are key IT project and organizational factors that influence effort withholding, and 2) which project management approaches can suppress it? Our results indicate that the size of the team, the perceived importance of the project, the degree of uncertainty in the project requirements, and the degree of self-interest (organizational ethical climate) all contribute to effort withholding, while internal integration (project coordination) techniques suppress it.
Recent Development of Biodiesel Feedstocks and the Applications of Glycerol: A Review

Biodiesel, as renewable and biological origin alternative diesel fuel, has been receiving a lot of concern throughout the world due to the energy needs and environmental awareness. However, at present, it is not economically feasible to use food-grade vegetable oils to produce biodiesel because of the surge in feedstocks price. Much attention has been devoted to the application of lower-cost feedstocks to produce biodiesel. This paper provided a comprehensive review of biodiesel production from lower-cost non-edible oil sources, such as waste cooking oil (WCO), grease, soapstock, Jatropha oil, and algae. The engine performances of biodiesel produced from these feedstocks were further evaluated. This review also investigated the various applications for the value-added products from glycerol, the by- product of biodiesel. Moreover, the challenges in terms of different feedstocks and by-product applications were further pointed out.
mPlane: an intelligent measurement plane for the internet

The Internet's universality is based on its decentralization and diversity. However, its distributed nature leads to operational brittleness and difficulty in identifying the root causes of performance and availability issues, especially when the involved systems span multiple administrative domains. The first step to address this fragmentation is coordinated measurement: we propose to complement the current Internet's data and control planes with a measurement plane, or mPlane for short. mPlane's distributed measurement infrastructure collects and analyzes traffic measurements at a wide variety of scales to monitor the network status. Its architecture is centered on a flexible control interface, allowing the incorporation of existing measurement tools through lightweight mPlane proxy components, and offering dynamic support for new capabilities. A focus on automated, iterative measurement makes the platform well-suited to troubleshooting support. This is supported by a reasoning system, which applies machine learning algorithms to learn from success and failure in drilling down to the root cause of a problem. This article describes the mPlane architecture and shows its applicability to several distributed measurement problems involving content delivery networks and Internet service roviders. A first case study presents the tracking and iterative analysis of cache selection policies in Akamai, while a second example focuses on the cooperation between Internet service providers and content delivery networks to better orchestrate their traffic engineering decisions and jointly improve their performance.
Psychological Factors And The Relation Between Neighborhood Conditions And Latino Health: A Mixed Methods Study

Latinos, the largest racial/ethnic minority group in the US, face multiple health inequities including higher rates morbidity and mortality. Despite the importance of context and the wide range of stressors faced by this population, the majority of the literature on Latino and immigrant health concentrates on issues related to cultural adaptation processes. Using a social determinants of health framework, the present convergent mixed methods study investigated the relation between neighborhood conditions and Latino health with a psychological lens. A total of 361 Latino residents of Bernalillo County, the largest county in Albuquerque, New Mexico, were recruited to complete a series of questionnaires. From this sample, participants were also invited to six focus groups stratified by language and neighborhood income level. A myriad of health-related impacts associated with neighborhood conditions were supported by both methods. Several key neighborhood factors emerged as predictors of health including neighborhood walkability and social cohesion. Stark differences were observed by social class and nativity status with immigrants and low-income neighborhood residents reporting the worse outcomes. Moreover, perceived stress emerged as an instrumental mediator, even when accounting for the effect of other factors. Findings are
Japanese Encephalitis in Assam, India: Need to Increase Healthcare Workers’ Understanding to Improve Health Care

Introduction Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a major cause of high morbidity and mortality in several states across India. However, in 2014, a sharp rise was observed in the number of cases of JE in north-eastern Assam state, and 51% of the total cases of JE in India were reported from the Assam in the same year. In this regard, a study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers in Darrang, a district of Assam highly affected by JE. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted for 2 months among HCWs in the major district hospital of Darrang, Assam. A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. Convenience sampling approach was used to collect data from different departments of the hospitals. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were used to express the results. Results The knowledge of HCWs regarding JE was poor with a mean knowledge score of 11.02±2.39 (out of 17), while their attitudes were positive with a mean attitudes score of 43.16± 2.47 (ranging from 13 to 52). Overall, 40.4% and 74.3% of participants demonstrated good knowledge and positive attitudes respectively. Cut-off score for good knowledge and positive attitudes toward JE was set as ≥12 and >40 respectively. Older participants (40–49 years) and experienced workers (>10 years) were significantly associated with good knowledge as compared to their referent group (p<0.05), while knowledge of nurses and other orderlies were significantly lower than physicians (p<0.01). Similar factors were associated with the positive attitudes of the participants with the exception of experience. Television was the major source of information regarding JE reported by HCWs (79%). Conclusion Although the knowledge was not optimized, HCWs exhibited positive attitudes towards JE. Future research is required to design, implement and evaluate interventions to improve the knowledge of JE among HCWs.
Author ' s personal copy Short communication A tool for estimating impacts of woody encroachment in arid grasslands : Allometric equations for biomass , carbon and nitrogen content in Prosopis velutina

Regression equations were developed to estimate above ground biomass and carbon and nitrogen mass of foliage and stem size fractions from plant size dimensions (basal diameter, canopy area, height, canopy volume) for a tall shrub species (Prosopis velutina) that has increased in abundance in arid and semi-arid grasslands in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Regression equations were also developed to describe relationships among the dimensions of plant size. All equations were significant (p < 0.001); and all but two had r2 values >0.72. In addition to species-specific information, we found support for the global patterns of foliar biomass increasing to the /4 power of stem biomass and height increasing to the 1⁄2 power of stem diameter. We provide a comprehensive report of all equations, which can support a variety of in situ (ground-based), modeling, and remote-sensing objectives related to quantifying changes in ecosystem function and carbon sequestration accompanying changes in woody plant abundance. We advocate that comprehensive reporting should become more common for arid and semi-arid woody species in order to support a broad spectrum of users while laying the foundation for the development of global generalizations similar to those available for forest trees. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The Use of Partial Least Squares Path Modeling in International Marketing

Purpose: This paper discusses partial least squares path modeling (PLS), a powerful structural equation modeling technique for research on international marketing. While a significant body of research provides guidance for the use of covariance-based structural equation modeling (CBSEM) in international marketing, there are no subject-specific guidelines for the use of PLS so far. Methodology/approach: A literature review of the use of PLS in international marketing reveals the increasing application of this methodology. Findings: This paper reveals the strengths and weaknesses of PLS in the context of research on international marketing, and provides guidance for multi-group analysis. Originality/value of paper: The paper assists researchers in making well-grounded decisions regarding the application of PLS in certain research situations and provides specific implications for an appropriate application of the methodology.
Novel 3‐Dimensional Placental Measurements in Early Pregnancy as Predictors of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Objective. We sought to determine whether novel approaches to volumetric assessment of the early placenta can yield significant predictors of adverse outcome. Methods. We measured placental volume (PV) at 11 to 14 weeks using virtual organ computer‐aided analysis and normalized the PV to the crown‐rump length (CRL) to yield the placental quotient (PQ = PV/CRL). We also calculated the mean placental diameter (MPD) from 4 measurements taken at 45° intervals to serve as a surrogate for the fetal‐maternal surface area. On the fetal side, the distance from the cord insertion (CI) to the placental margin was measured every 45°. Mean cord distance (MCD) is proposed as a novel descriptor of the chorionic plate and CI. Sonographic variables were analyzed as predictors of a composite adverse pregnancy outcome (COMP = small for gestational age [SGA], preeclampsia, spontaneous preterm birth, or neonatal intensive care unit admission). Results. A total of 135 patients were included, and 40 (29.6%) had an adverse outcome. The mean PQ (P = .02) and MCD (P = .02) were significantly lower in patients with COMP, although MPD was not significantly different (P = .26). A PQ of less than 1.00 (relative risk [RR], 2.3 [95% confidence interval, 1.4–2.7]) and an MCD of less than 4.00 cm (RR, 1.8 [1.1–2.9]) conferred an increased risk for COMP. Prediction models adjusting for parity and race yielded favorable characteristics [PV: area under the curve [AUC], 0.796; P = . 04; PQ: AUC, 0.802; P = . 03; MCD: AUC, 0.800; P = . 04; and MPD: AUC, 0.782; P = . 07). Secondary models targeting SGA as the sole outcome also showed excellent prediction (PV: AUC, 0.820; PQ: AUC, 0.810; MCD: AUC, 0.827; and MPD: AUC, 0.795). Conclusions. In addition to volume, 3‐dimensional sonography allows for novel techniques to measure other aspects of gross placental morphologic characteristics and CI, which can yield promising biologically plausible early predictors of fetal growth and adverse perinatal outcome.
Small root exclusion collars provide reasonable estimates of root respiration when measured during the growing season of installation

A common method to determine in situ root respiration is to insert root exclusions to sever roots and then to measure soil carbon dioxide (CO2) efflux in and outside the exclusion. We report the use of relatively small root exclu- sions (15.2 cm diameter plastic pipe) (SREs), installed and measured within a growing season. We switched from long- used, large root exclusions (2. 5m×3m )(LREs) for three reasons. First, temperature artifacts were apparent in LREs, likely because increased soil moisture altered soil thermal balance. Second, LREs in dense stands required a relatively low tree density, which then impacted snowpack depth and insolation. Third, the LREs were much more time-consuming to install than SREs. Using a powered mechanical trencher (ditch witch ® ) decreased LRE installation time, but intro- duced a large edge-effect apparent in soil profile pCO2 that would obviate trenched plots smaller than 1600 cm 2 . H ow- ever, when trenches were dug by hand, the distance from the LRE wall had no effect on soil pCO2. In a subsequent experiment, SREs were installed by cleanly cutting the forest floor, and then immediately measured. Within 1-3 weeks the SREs provided similar root respiration estimates to those made with LREs that had been in place for nearly 10 months. SREs placed in and outside LREs provided indistinguishable microbial respiration values from one another and to the LREs. We conclude SREs provide root respiration estimates indistinguishable from other methods, even when installed and measured within the same growing season.
Inhibition of elongin C promotes longevity and protein homeostasis via HIF‐1 in C. elegans

The transcription factor hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 (HIF‐1) is crucial for responses to low oxygen and promotes longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. We previously performed a genomewide RNA interference screen and identified many genes that act as potential negative regulators of HIF‐1. Here, we functionally characterized these genes and found several novel genes that affected lifespan. The worm ortholog of elongin C, elc‐1, encodes a subunit of E3 ligase and transcription elongation factor. We found that knockdown of elc‐1 prolonged lifespan and delayed paralysis caused by impaired protein homeostasis. We further showed that elc‐1 RNA interference increased lifespan and protein homeostasis by upregulating HIF‐1. The roles of elongin C and HIF‐1 are well conserved in eukaryotes. Thus, our study may provide insights into the aging regulatory pathway consisting of elongin C and HIF‐1 in complex metazoans.
The Poverty of Nations: A Quantitative Investigation

A program control system is disclosed wherein the coordinates of a plurality of specified points of a prescribed path in the space to be traced by a manipulator assembly which are spaced apart from each other by a line segment of the same unit length are stored in a storage device in a teaching mode, and one set of coordinates of the adjacent specified points are simultaneously and sequentially read out from the storage device in a repeat mode so that the position command signals or coordinates of a plurality of interpolation points between the adjacent specified points are obtained by linear interpolation and are sequentially compared, at a predetermined time interval, with the actual or present positions of the manipulator assembly. The manipulator assembly is displaced at a velocity corresponding to the difference between the position command signal and the actual or present position signal so that the difference may become zero.
Foreign Aid : Where Your Money Could Be ? An Optimal Two-Sector Growth Model Out Lining a Simple Answer

In this paper, we present an optimal two-sector growth model involving foreign aid as an input into the production function. We characterize the optimal resources allocation across sectors. Once calibrated, mainly, on Latin American countries, the model exhibits weak substitutability between aid and capital stock. Nonetheless, using numerical simulations, the model reproduces the main stylized facts outlined in the literature.