Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient Iris Pattern Recognition Method by using Adaptive Hamming Distance and 1D Log-Gabor Filter

Iris recognition is one of the highly reliable security methods as compared to the other bio-metric security techniques. The iris is an internal organ whose texture is randomly de-termined during embryonic gestation and is amenable with a computerized machine vision system for the remote examination. Previously, researchers utilized different approaches like Ham-ming Distance in their iris recognition algorithms. In this paper, we propose a new method to improve the performance of the iris recognition matching system. Firstly, 1D Log-Gabor Filter is used to encode the unique features of iris into the binary template. The efficiency of the algorithm can be increased by taking into account the coincidence fragile bit’s location with 1D Log-Gabor filter. Secondly, Adaptive Hamming Distance is used to examine the affinity of two templates. The main steps of proposed iris recognition algorithm are segmentation by using the Hough’s circular transformation method, normalization by Daugman’s rubber sheet model that provides a high percentage of accuracy, feature encoding and matching. Simulation studies are made to test the validity of the proposed algorithm. The results obtained ensure the superior performance of our algo-rithm against several state-of-the-art iris matching algorithms. Experiments are performed on the CASIA V1.0 iris database, the success of the proposed method with a genuine acceptance rate is 99.92%.
Interannual to decadal variability in the southern Okhotsk Sea based on a new gridded upper water temperature data set

[1] A new gridded water-temperature data set of upper 200 m depths (0, 50, 100, 200 m depths) for the Okhotsk Sea was produced using an optimal interpolation technique from 1950 to 1996 using oceanographic observations in the World Ocean Database 1998. Temperature variability at 50, 100 and 200 m depths in the southern Okhotsk Sea (south of 52°N) in the warm-season (May–October) was investigated by an Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis from 1958 to 1994, for which sufficient data exist for an EOF analysis. The first EOF mode has a monopole structure with the maximal amplitude in the Kuril Basin, and the corresponding Principal Component (PC) exhibits prominent quasi-decadal variability. The first EOF mode is closely related with the wintertime (December–February) sea surface temperature anomalies over the subarctic front or Oyashio front in the North Pacific, and with wintertime Sea level Pressure (SLP) differences between northern Eurasia and the northern North Pacific. This suggests that the temperature changes in the Okhotsk Sea are caused by changes in the strength of the Asian winter monsoon, which are associated with the SLP difference. A quasi-decadal oscillation, similar to that of the PC-1, is observed in the SLP difference since the 1960s, and shared by the Polar/Eurasian (POL) pattern, Arctic Oscillation (AO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Some hints of the relating variability are observed in coastal sea level difference between Wakkanai and Abashiri, which was used as a proxy for transport in the Soya Warm Current. Also, some features of sea ice extents co-vary with the PC-1.
Coronal loop oscillations and diagnostics with Hinode/EIS

Context.Standing slow (acoustic) waves commonly observed in hot coronal loops offer a unique opportunity to understand the properties of the coronal plasma. The lack of evidence for similar oscillations in cooler loops is still a puzzle. Aims.The high cadence EIS instrument on board recently launched Hinode has the capability to detect wave motion in EUV lines both in the imaging and spectroscopy modes. The paper aims to establish the distinct characteristics of standing and propagating acoustic waves and to predict their footprints in EIS data. Methods.A 1D hydrodynamic loop model is used and the consequences of various types of heating pulses are examined. In each case, the resulting hydrodynamic evolution of the loop is converted into observables using a selection of available EIS spectral lines and windows. Results.Propagating/standing acoustic waves are a natural response of the loop plasma to impulsive heating. Synthetic EIS observations of such waves are presented both in the imaging and spectroscopy modes. The waves are best seen and identified in spectroscopy mode observations. It is shown that the intensity oscillations, unlike the Doppler shift oscillations, continuously suffer phase shifts due to heating and cooling of the plasma. It is therefore important to beware of this effect when interpreting the nature of the observed waves.
Empirical Wavelet-based Estimation for Non-linear Additive Regression Models

Additive regression models are actively researched in the statistical field because of their usefulness in the analysis of responses determined by non-linear relationships with multivariate predictors. In this kind of statistical models, the response depends linearly on unknown functions of predictor variables and typically, the goal of the analysis is to make inference about these functions. In this paper, we consider the problem of Additive Regression with random designs from a novel viewpoint: we propose an estimator based on an orthogonal projection onto a multiresolution space using empirical wavelet coefficients that are fully data driven. In this setting, we derive a mean-square consistent estimator based on periodic wavelets on the interval $[0,1]$. For construction of the estimator, we assume that the joint distribution of predictors is non-zero and bounded on its support; We also assume that the functions belong to a Sobolev space and integrate to zero over the $[0,1]$ interval, which guarantees model identifiability and convergence of the proposed method. Moreover, we provide the $\mathbb{L}_{2}$ risk analysis of the estimator and derive its convergence rate. Theoretically, we show that this approach achieves good convergence rates when the dimensionality of the problem is relatively low and the set of unknown functions is sufficiently smooth. In this approach, the results are obtained without the assumption of an equispaced design, a condition that is typically assumed in most wavelet-based procedures. Finally, we show practical results obtained from simulated data, demonstrating the potential applicability of our method in the problem of additive regression models with random designs.
Establishing Evidence-Based Statistical Quality Control Practices

OBJECTIVES To establish an objective, scientific, evidence-based process for planning statistical quality control (SQC) procedures based on quality required for a test, precision and bias observed for a measurement procedure, probabilities of error detection and false rejection for different control rules and numbers of control measurements, and frequency of QC events (or run size) to minimize patient risk. METHODS A Sigma-Metric Run Size Nomogram and Power Function Graphs have been used to guide the selection of control rules, numbers of control measurements, and frequency of QC events (or patient run size). RESULTS A tabular summary is provided by a Sigma-Metric Run Size Matrix, with a graphical summary of Westgard Sigma Rules with Run Sizes. CONCLUSION Medical laboratories can plan evidence-based SQC practices using simple tools that relate the Sigma-Metric of a testing process to the control rules, number of control measurements, and run size (or frequency of QC events).
‘Nudging’ Sustainable Food Choices

vii Aim of Study . 1 The Environmental and Health Impacts of Meat.1 Pro-Environmental Behavior . 2 Psychological Barriers to Pro-Environmental Behavior . 3 Two Minds: System 1 and System 2 . 4 Habits: The Same Procedure as Last Year, Miss Sophie? 5 Cognitive Dissonance: Thoughts and Behavior in Harmony . 6 Denial: “Knowing and Not Knowing”. 7 Facilitating Pro-Environmental Behavior through Nudging . 8 Defaults: The Path of Least Resistance . 9 Naming as Framing: Half-full or Half-empty.10 Nature Connectedness.11 Design of the Study and Hypotheses.13 Method and Materials . 16 Design and Procedure . 16 Survey . 18 Analysis.21 Results.21 Hypothesis 1: Wrap Selection by Nudge . 22 Hypothesis 2: Nature Relatedness as Moderator . 23 Hypothesis 3: Meat Habits of the Customers.27 Discussion . 29 The Effect of the Nudges.30 Interaction between Nature Relatedness and the Nudges . 33 Breaking Meat Habits with a Nudge . 34
Force Field Based MM2 Molecule-Surface Binding Energies for Graphite and Graphene

The gas phase adsorption of 118 organic molecules on graphite and graphene was studied by calculating their molecule surface binding energies, Ecal*, using molecular mechanics MM2 parameters. Due to the general lack of reported experimental binding energy values for organic molecules with graphene, E*(graphene), it was considered desirable to have a simple but effective method to estimate these values. Calculated binding energy values using a three-layer model, Ecal*(3), were compared and correlated to published experimental values for graphitic surfaces, E*(graphite). Pub-lished values of experimental binding energies for graphite, E*(graphite), were available from gas-solid chromatogram-phy in the Henry’s Law region over a range of temperature. Calculated binding energy values using a one-layer model, Ecal*(1), were compared to the three-layer Ecal*(3) values and found to consistently be 93.5% as large. This relation along with an E*(graphite) and Ecal*(3) correlation was used to develop a means to estimate molecule-graphene bind-ing energies. Using this approach we report estimated values of 118 molecule-graphene binding energy values.
Allelopathic potential of Cinnamomum spp. leaves in soil

Study on allelopathic potential of Cinnamomum spp. leaves in soil was conducted in laboratory at Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwirot University. Dried ground leaves of 4 Cinnamomum spp. (Cinnamomum parthenoxylon Meissn., C. camphora Nees ex Eberm., C. loureirii Nees. and C. zeylanicum Nees) were mixed with soil at various leaf: soil ratios (w/w), and 20 seeds of each test plant were grown in separated pot. Seed germinations were checked daily and seedling growths were determined at 7 days after planting. Soil mixed with Cinnamomum spp. leaves affected seed germination and seedling growth of test plants at various levels. Seed germination was more sensitive to Cinnamomum spp. leaves than seedling growth and shoot growth was found to be more sensitive than root growth. Among test plants used in this study, Chloris was the most susceptible plant to all Cinnamomum spp. leaves. C. camphora leaf mixed with soil showed the highest inhibitory effects on seed germination and seedling growths. In the present study, it completely inhibited Chloris seed germination and reduced growth of the other test plant species for 50% to 100%, whereas C. loureirii leaf showed the lowest effects. The differences in allelopathic effects in soil of these 4 Cinnamomum leaves may be due to the differences in their own allelopathic activity or from the different ability in changing the allelochemicals from each species after released into soil. These results indicated the high potential of C. camphora to be applied in agricultural weed management.
Rohrer College of Business 6-8-2017 P / E Ratios and Value Investor Attention

Price-earnings (P/E) ratios, the most popular value proxy, are widely reported using the last four quarters of earnings. Corresponding earnings yields (4QEP) have significantly greater return predictability than lagged earnings yields or current book-to-market ratios. The weekly pattern in returns is consistent with individual investor trading activity. The return predictability is robust to fundamentals, price momentum, earnings momentum, volume, and liquidity. 4QEP relates positively to volume and liquidity and negatively to idiosyncratic volatility. Financial data providers only report P/E ratios for stocks with positive earnings; 4QEP only predicts returns, volume, and liquidity for these stocks. Simon Business School, University of Rochester. Email: jordan.moore@simon.rochester. edu. I am grateful to Ron Kaniel, Rob Ready, and Jerry Warner for their extensive guidance and encouragement. I would also like to thank Jozef Drienko, Jacquelyn Gillette, Einar Kjenstad, Robert Novy-Marx, Anisha Nyatee, Robert Parham, Aurelien Philippot, Bryce Schonberger, Bill Schwert, Maxim Sokolov, Michael Ungeheuer, Mihail Velikov, Hao Zou, and seminar participants at Ithaca College, Rowan University, 2015 Australasian Finance and Banking Conference, 2016 Midwest Finance Association Annual Meeting, 2016 Eastern Finance Association Annual Meeting, 2016 Whitebox Advisors Graduate Student Conference at Yale, 2016 Northern Finance Association Annual Meeting, and 2017 SGF Conference for helpful comments and suggestions.
Pathogenic and Therapeutic Role of Vitamin D in Antiphospholipid Syndrome Patients

In this chapter, the novel findings on interrelationship between vitamin D status and two well‐known prothrombotic states, antiphospholipid syndrome, particularly its thrombotic phenotype, and metabolic syndrome will be reviewed. We shall present the results obtained from patients included in Serbian National Antiphospholipid Syndrome Registry, 68 patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) and 69 patients with antiphospholipid syndrome associated with certain autoimmune rheumatic disease (sAPS), as well as 50 patients with pure metabolic syndrome (MetS). These results will be analysed and compared with the novel literature data. Prevalence of MetS in APS is high, with the atherogenic dyslipidaemia as its most prevalent characteristic. Prevalence of thrombotic events was significantly higher in APS patients with coexisting MetS, compared with those without MetS. Among APS patients, prevalence of VitD deficiency was significantly higher than in patients with pure MetS. VitD level was also significantly lower in APS patients with coexisting MetS or previous thrombotic events than in those without them. Elucidating interrelationships between VitD deficiency, MetS and thrombotic events in APS patients open up the possibility of distinguishing those subjects with the particularly high cardiovascular risk and ensuing need for the strict control of modifiable risk factors and VitD supplementation.
A comparison of cognitive load associated with discovery learning and worked examples

This article reports experimental work comparing exploration and worked-examples practice in learning to use a database program. Exploration practice is based on discovery learning principles, whereas worked-examples practice arose from the development of cognitive load theory. Exploration practice was expected to place a considerable load on working memory, whereas a heavy use of worked examples was hypothesized to lead to more effective processing by reducing extraneous mental load. Students with no previous domain familiarity with databases were found to substantially benefit from worked examples in comparison to exploration. However, if students had previous familiarity with the database domain, the type of practice made no significant difference to their learning because the exploration students were able to draw on existing, well-developed domain schemas to guide their exploration.
The importance of ecological factors in determining the pattern of interspecific hybridisation in fragmented landscapes of Eucalyptus aggregata

Increasing rates of interspecific hybridisation can be detrimental to the viability of small plant populations and increase the risk of local extinction. This may occur by means of demographic swamping if the production of unfit hybrids reduces seed set and recruitment of the pure-bred genotypes of the rare species. Alternatively, if hybrids are fertile, this may also occur by genetic swamping whereby introgression erodes the genetic integrity of the rare species resulting in its assimilation by more abundant congeners. The rates of hybrid production can vary widely between individuals and populations due to local differences in ecological and population parameters (e.g. phenology, isolation distances, plant-pollinator interactions, relative frequency of parentals). For small populations, alterations of these parameters may result in more frequent hybridisation with cross-compatible congeners, which may affect the conservation of rare species because the frequency of hybridisation is expected to directly influence time to local extinction. Habitat fragmentation can play a critical role in altering a number of ecological and population parameters by reducing population size and plant densities, altering the frequencies of parentals, and modification of soil characteristics which can shift the flowering times of co-occurring species. All of these factors can potentially increase rates of interspecific pollen flow thereby increasing the rate of hybrid production within remnant populations. However, few studies have empirically explored the extrinsic ecological and population conditions influencing hybrid production in fragmented landscapes. Examining the processes promoting hybridisation in fragmented systems is critical for understanding the relationship between ecological/population parameters and the scale and rapidity of interspecific hybridisation. Such knowledge on the conditions promoting hybridisation and the subsequent effects on population fitness may be useful for understanding how anthropogenic activities can affect important evolutionary and ecological interactions and important for managing the demographic and genetic viability of remnant populations. I examined the influence of habitat fragmentation and associated ecological and population parameters on interspecific pollen dispersal, hybrid production and
A longitudinal study about the predictors of positive emotions : resilience, acceptance, and psychological well-being

Introduction: In recent years the scientific interest in positive emotions grew and became more relevant in theory and practice. In order to contribute to the enhancement of experiencing positive emotions, this study aims to explore resilience, acceptance, and psychological well-being as the predictors of positive emotions in daily life. Theory of the upwards spiral of positive emotions supports the assumption that these three predict positive emotions. Methods: In this longitudinal study the predictors resilience, acceptance, and psychological well-being were assessed at baseline and the aggregated mean of the experience of positive emotions on seven days was measured in the following week. The participants in this study (n=50) were instructed to use an app for one week in order to report their emotions. Results: Outcomes of a regression analysis showed that resilience, acceptance, and psychological well-being are predictors of positive emotions, and that psychological well-being is the most significant predictor among the three. Conclusion: Explanations for these outcomes are found in literature indicating that these predictors are related, and that resilience and acceptance are relevant contributors of psychological well-being.
Agri-environmental policy in Germany: understanding the role of regional administration

With regard to agri-environmental schemes under Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999 in Europe a rather divers uptake as well as a lack of effectiveness and efficiency of these current schemes can be observed. In contrast to most of the related literature, we suggest that the ineffectiveness and inefficiency is inherent to the way those schemes are currently institutionalised in the framework of European agricultural policies. The paper draws on experiences made within the GRANO research project on Approaches for Sustainable Agricultural Production in Northeast Germany. Among other sub-projects, round tables, so-called Agri-Environmental Forums (AEF), were installed in two districts in Brandenburg to integrate local actors directly into the process of designing and implementing local agri-environmental schemes in order to improve their economic and ecological efficiency. While the participants were successful in designing such local scheme, it did not become part of the Rural Development Plan in Brandenburg. Based on this case study, we argue that the process of designing agri-environmental schemes in Germany can be conceptualised as a rather complex negotiation process at Laender level. The institutional settings in which this negotiation process takes place shape the possible outcomes and, thus, the design of the schemes. With only passive support for decentralised and participatory approaches, yet compulsory complex bureaucratic procedures on part of the EU, there are no incentives for the administration at Laender level to actively support those approaches. Further, it can not be expected that the lack of effectiveness and efficiency can be wiped out completely from the current European Agri-environmental Policy framework. Therefore, we have to drop the assumption that agri-environmental issues in general can be solved through agri-environmental schemes alone.
Parent-School Partnerships: Forked Roads to College Access.

This article utilizes a social capital perspective to explore the benefits and harmful effects of strong ties between parents and schools in enhancing college access for students. While focusing on social capital in the form of parental participation, the article goes beyond a functionalist approach of the social capital theory as adopted by Coleman, whereby the social networks within parent groups and between parents and teachers are viewed as providing common positive outcomes for everyone in the school. Instead, while acknowledging the inherent advantages of parent-school social networks, the article looks at social capital theory from a conflict framework wherein ends are not the same for ev eryone in the school body. This review thereby discusses how different groups of parents compete for power to define schools’ functions. In the process, some powerful groups of parents enjoying strong social capital can lead schools to take actions that neither benefit the school as a whole, nor are they in the in terest of children whose parents do not share the same social relationships. The review, therefore, argues for treating groups of parents differently instead of uniformly as one homogenous entity, based on their varying levels of social capital vis-a-vis schools.
Triviality properties of principal bundles on singular curves

For $G$ a split semi-simple group scheme and $P$ a principal $G$-bundle on a relative curve $X\to S$, we study a natural obstruction for the triviality of $P$ on the complement of a relatively ample Cartier divisor $D \subset X$. We show, by constructing explicit examples, that the obstruction is nontrivial if $G$ is not simply connected but it can be made to vanish, if $S$ is the spectrum of a dvr (and some other hypotheses), by a faithfully flat base change. The vanishing of this obstruction is shown to be a sufficient condition for etale local triviality if $S$ is a smooth curve, and the singular locus of $X-D$ is finite over $S$.