Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SonicPrint: a generally adoptable and secure fingerprint biometrics in smart devices

The advent of smart devices has caused unprecedented security and privacy concerns to its users. Although the fingerprint technology is a go-to biometric solution in high-impact applications (e.g., smart-phone security, monetary transactions and international-border verification), the existing fingerprint scanners are vulnerable to spoofing attacks via fake-finger and cannot be employed across smart devices (e.g., wearables) due to hardware constraints. We propose SonicPrint that extends fingerprint identification beyond smartphones to any smart device without the need for traditional fingerprint scanners. SonicPrint builds on the fingerprint-induced sonic effect (FiSe) caused by a user swiping his fingertip on smart devices and the resulting property, i.e., different users' fingerprint would result in distinct FiSe. As the first exploratory study, extensive experiments verify the above property with 31 participants over four different swipe actions on five different types of smart devices with even partial fingerprints. SonicPrint achieves up to a 98% identification accuracy on smartphone and an equal-error-rate (EER) less than 3% for smartwatch and headphones. We also examine and demonstrate the resilience of SonicPrint against fingerprint phantoms and replay attacks. A key advantage of SonicPrint is that it leverages the already existing microphones in smart devices, requiring no hardware modifications. Compared with other biometrics including physiological patterns and passive sensing, SonicPrint is a low-cost, privacy-oriented and secure approach to identify users across smart devices of unique form-factors.
Inheritance and genetic mapping of fruit sucrose accumulation in Lycopersicon chmielewskii

Fruit of the domestic tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) accumulate soluble sugars primarily in the form of the hexoses, glucose and fructose. In contrast, the predominant sugar in fruit of the wild tomato relative, L. chmielewskii, is sucrose. In the present study, the inheritance and linkage relations of sucrose accumulation were examined in interspecific L. esculentum x L. chmielewskii populations. In backcrosses to either the wild or domestic tomato, segregation for sucrose accumulation permitted qualitative analysis of the trait and indicated monogenic recessive control, although deviations from Mendelian inheritance were observed in some populations. This major gene, designated sucr, was mapped in F2, F3, and BC1F2 populations using a set of 95 informative RFLP and isozyme markers covering the tomato genome. A map location near the centromere of chromosome 3 was established, with tight linkage to the genomic clone TG102. Association of sucrose accumulation with yellow fruit, encoded by an allele of the r gene, permitted alignment with the classical map, thereby confirming the map location of sucr. A linkage map of the region surrounding sucr was obtained by monitoring recombination between flanking markers in the back-crosses to tomato. A cDNA clone of tomato fruit acid invertase, TIV1, was mapped to TG102 and sucr, with no recombination between the two RFLP markers observed in over 1700 meiotic products. Despite the tight linkage, TG102 and TIV1 hybridize to distinct restriction fragments, hence do not represent the same gene. The genetic data strongly suggest that sucr is an allele of the invertase gene and thus support previous biochemical studies that demonstrated low invertase activity in sucrose-accumulating fruit. L. hisutum, another low-invertase, sucrose-accumulating species, was hybridized with L. chmielewskii and the resulting F1 plants accumulated sucrose, indicating that genetic control of soluble sugar composition is conserved in these two species.
Comparison of three methods to enumerate gut microbiota of weanling piglets fed insoluble dietary fibre differing in lignin content

SUMMARY The aim of the current study was to compare three methods for determining the influence of different feeding strategies on the gut microbiota of piglets. Forty-eight weanling piglets were fed four different diets enriched with insoluble dietary fibre (wheat bran and pollen from Pinus massoniana). Starting from ileal and colonic samples, the total microbial DNA was isolated and bacterial parameters (lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, Bacteroides vulgatus and total bacterial counts) were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results for lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and total bacterial counts were compared with those obtained by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and cultivation method. No significant differences could be observed between dietary treatments with real-time PCR and FISH for all investigated parameters. Comparing the applied three methods no consistent results were achieved, whereas FISH usually showed lower values. It was shown that real-time PCR can be regarded as an alternative to conventional techniques and also as a complement to results obtained from conventional culture method.
Effects of resistant maize silks on corn earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) biology: a laboratory study.

Results of a laboratory study show that even low levels of resistant maize, Zea mays L. , silks reduced corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), growth and extended the life cycle by about 3 d. An intermediate level of resistance in maize silks reduced corn earworm growth, extended developmental time by about 8 d per generation, and subsequently reduced egg production by approximately 30%. A high level of resistance in maize silks reduced corn earworm growth, extended the life cycle by about 20 d, and reduced egg production by about 65% per generation. In addition to these parameters, if corn earworm attacked maize each generation, the intermediate level of this type of resistance would eliminate about two generations per year and the high level of resistance 40-50% of the generations per year. Thus, if hybrid maize can be developed with intermediate to high levels of resistance to corn earworm, then populations that usually devastate alternate crops can be dramatically reduced while reducing pesticide use by growers.
Comparative Survival and Growth of Atlantic Salmon from Egg Stocking and Fry Releases

Abstract First summer survival and subsequent growth of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar planted as eggs and fry in a tributary of Cayuga Lake, New York, were examined for 3 years. Atlantic salmon were planted in December 1999–2001 in 20 Whitlock–Vibert (W–V) egg incubators, each containing 300 eyed eggs. The following May, 500 fin-clipped Atlantic salmon fry were released in the same stream section. In autumn, a backpack electroshocker was used to capture fry to assess survival and growth. Mean survival was significantly greater for fry (27.9%) than eggs (0.8%). In autumn, mean length was significantly greater for Atlantic salmon released as fry (90.1 mm) than those planted as eggs (76.2 mm), probably owing to accelerated growth in the hatchery caused by warmer water temperatures (i.e., hatchery, 9.4°C; stream, 5.1°C). Releasing Atlantic salmon fry in May was nearly 11 times more costly in terms of hatchery effort than was releasing eggs in December. Although the survival of Atlantic salmon eggs in W–V incuba.
Synthesis of oligosaccharides corresponding to biological repeating units of Shigella flexneri variant Y polysaccharide. Part 1. Overall strategy, synthesis of a key trisaccharide intermediate, and synthesis of a pentasaccharide

The overall strategy for the synthesis of penta-up to octa-saccharides, representing the biological repeating unit of the Shigella flexneri serogroup Y lipopolysaccharide, is described. The key intermediate, the common terminal trisaccharide, α-L-Rhap-(1 → 2)-α-L-Rhap(1 → 3)-α-L-Rhap, has been synthesised by a series of Konigs–Knorr reactions. A selectively protected rhamnose intermediate has been developed for the synthesis of this trisaccharide as its allyl glycoside. Allyl α-L-rhamnopyranoside was converted into the corresponding 2-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl derivative via a 2,3-orthobenzoate. Konigs–Knorr reaction between this partially blocked rhamnoside and 2-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-benzyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl chloride afforded the blocked disaccharide. Selective transesterification of the 2′-Oacetyl group in the presence of the 2-O-benzoate yielded the disaccharide, selectively deblocked at the C-2′ position. Reaction with the same rhamnopyranosyl chloride gave the fully blocked trisaccharide. Deallylation, followed by treatment with NN-dimethyl(chloromethylene)ammonium chloride, then gave the corresponding trisaccharide chloride. In conjunction with the disaccharide methyl 2-O-(2′acetamido-4′,6′-O-benzylidene-2′-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-3,4-di-O-benzyl-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, the synthesis of the blocked pentasaccharide was accomplished. Transesterification, followed by hydrogenolysis in aqueous acetic acid, afforded the pure pentasaccharide hapten, α-L-Rhap-(1 → 2)α-L-Rhap-(1 → 3)-α-L-Rhap-(1 → 3)-β-D-GlcpNAc-(1 → 2)-α-L-Rhap, as its methyl glycoside, for use in binding studies and n.m. r. studies.
Comparison of Spectrophotometric, Fluorometric and High Performance Liquid Chromatography Methods for Determination of Chlorophyll a in Aquatic Samples: Effects of Solvent and Extraction Procedures

Chlorophyll a determinations were made on lakewater and algal samples by spectrophotometric, fluorometric and high performance liquid chromatographic methods. Acetone, methanol and ethanol solvents were evaluated for their ability to extract photosynthetic pigments from Scenedesmus sp. cultures. Routinely used methods overestimated the chlorophyll a concentrations present in the samples. Significant differences resulted when various standard equations were used to calculate chlorophyll a concentrations. Acetone did not quantitatively extract chlorophyll pigments, even after 24 h. Mechanical disruption was found to be important in assuring complete extraction of the chlorophyll pigments.
The A‐mode sutural ontogeny in prolecanitid ammonoids

The generally accepted theory of a U‐mode sutural ontogeny of prolecanitid ammonoids and their descendants is refuted. The basic suture formula of the order Prolecanitida is E A L U I (not E L U2 U1 I), resembling that of derived members of the suborder Tornoceratina (their phylogenetic ancestors), and of the suborder Goniatitina. During phylogeny of the prolecanitids, secondary umbilical lobes are introduced and lead to multilobate forms. In early ceratites, the original L lobe disappeared, and an increase in sutural elements took place by the introduction of supplementary U lobes. Consequently, sutural nomenclature of Permian ceratites and Mesozoic ammonoids has to be modified.
Specific cutting energy consumption in a circular saw for Eucalyptus stands VM01 and MN463

Modern technologies for continuous carbonization of Eucalyptus sp. require special care in wood cutting procedures. Choosing the right tool, cutting speeds and feed rates is important to manage time and energy consumption, both of which being critical factors in optimizing production. The objective of this work is to examine the influence of machining parameters on the specific cutting energy consumption of Eucalyptus sp. stands MN 463 and VM 01, owned by V&M Florestal. Tests were performed at the Wood Machining Laboratory of the Federal University of Lavras (DCF/UFLA). Moist logs 1.70m in length were used. The experiment was set up using a 3 x 3 x 4 x 2 factorial design (cutting speed x feed rate x number of teeth x tree stand). Results were subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared by the Tukey test at the 5% significance level. Greater cutting speeds, lower feed rates and the 40 teeth circular saw consumed more specific energy. Stand MN 463 consumed more specific energy. The combination of cutting speed 46 m.s-1, feed rate 17 m.min-1 and 24 teeth circular saw produced better specific energy consumption results for stand MN 463. As for stand VM 01, the combination of cutting speed 46 m.s-1, feed rate 17 m.min-1 and 20 teeth circular saw resulted in lower specific energy consumption.
A game-theoretic model of timber prices with capital stock: an empirical application to the Finnish pulp and paper industry

L'article fournit un cadre pour aborder la determination du prix et de la quantite sur le marche du bois rond a partir d'une nouvelle perspective. Selon l'esprit de la litterature syndicale, un modele de determination du prix du bois est formule dans lequel l'association des proprietaires forestiers determine le prix du bois et ensuite les entreprises forestieres decident unilateralement de la quantite qui sera utilisee. La nouveaute consiste a incorporer, a l'interieur du modele, les decisions d'investissement des entreprises comme un facteur strategique. La structure du modele est la suivante. La simulation se deroule en deux etapes. Premierement, l'association des proprietaires forestiers et les entreprises de l'industrie forestiere decident respectivement du prix du bois et du capital-action. Dans la seconde etape, les entreprises determinent la demande de bois conditionnellement aux jeux du prix et du capital-action, de sorte que le concept d'equilibre est une subdivision du veritable equilibre de Nash. Ce modele theorique de simulation est applique aux donnees annuelles provenant de l'industrie finlandaise des pâtes et papiers pour la periode 1960-1992. Les resultats de l'estimation et des tests concernant la determination du prix et de la quantite de bois, ainsi que l'evolution du capital-action, sont generalement favorables en regard des hypotheses presentees. En particulier, des diagnostics et differentes procedures de verification indiquent que ces equations depassent les specifications conventionnelles obtenues de la theorie de la demande des facteurs de production.
Intratumoral γδ T‐Cell Infiltrates, Chemokine (C‐C Motif) Ligand 4/Chemokine (C‐C Motif) Ligand 5 Protein Expression and Survival in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive malignancy which is often associated with a complex tumor microenvironment attributable to etiology‐induced cellular inflammation. γδ T cells are known to detect and react to chronic inflammation, which is linked to cancer development, progression, and metastasis. Our recent genomic study revealed an increased infiltration of several immune cell types, including γδ T cells, in tumor microenvironments of a Thai HCC subtype associated with a good prognosis.
Could the Heat Shock Proteins 70 Family Members Exacerbate the Immune Response in Multiple Sclerosis? An in Silico Study

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It represents one of the main causes of neurological disability in young people. In MS, the autoimmune response is directed against myelin antigens but other possible bio-molecular markers are investigated. The aim of this work was, through an in silico study, the evaluation of the transcriptional modifications between healthy subjects and MS patients in six brain areas (corpus callosum, hippocampus, internal capsule, optic chiasm, frontal and parietal cortex) in order to identify genes representative of the disease. Our results show the upregulation of the Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) HSPA1A, HSPA1B, HSPA7, HSPA6, HSPH1 and HSPA4L of the HSP70 family, among which HSPA1A and HSPA1B are upregulated in all the brain areas. HSP70s are molecular chaperones indispensable for protein folding, recently associated with immune system maintenance. The little overexpression of the HSPs protects the cells from stress but extreme upregulation can contribute to the MS pathogenesis. We also investigated the genes involved in the immune system that result in overall upregulation in the corpus callosum, hippocampus, internal capsule, optic chiasm and are absent in the cortex. Interestingly, the genes of the immune system and the HSP70s have comparable levels of expression.
Nectin4 is a novel TIGIT ligand which combines checkpoint inhibition and tumor specificity

Background The use of checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized cancer therapy. Unfortunately, these therapies often cause immune-related adverse effects, largely due to a lack of tumor specificity. Methods We stained human natural killer cells using fusion proteins composed of the extracellular portion of various tumor markers fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1, and identified Nectin4 as a novel TIGIT ligand. Next, we generated a novel Nectin4 blocking antibody and demonstrated its efficacy as a checkpoint inhibitor in killing assays and in vivo. Results We identify Nectin4 to be a novel ligand of TIGIT. We showed that, as opposed to all other known TIGIT ligands, which bind also additional receptors, Nectin4 interacts only with TIGIT. We show that the TIGIT-Nectin4 interaction inhibits natural killer cell activity, a critical part of the innate immune response. Finally, we developed blocking Nectin4 antibodies and demonstrated that they enhance tumor killing in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion We discovered that Nectin4 is a novel ligand for TIGIT and demonstrated that specific antibodies against it enhance tumor cell killing in vitro and in vivo. Since Nectin4 is expressed almost exclusively on tumor cells, our Nectin4-blocking antibodies represent a combination of cancer specificity and immune checkpoint activity, which may prove more effective and safe for cancer immunotherapy.
Relationship between Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), Trabecular Bone Score (TBS), and Three-Dimensional Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (3D-DXA) in Non-Diabetic Postmenopausal Women

Background: Insulin may play a key role in bone metabolism, where the anabolic effect predominates. This study aims to analyze the relationship between insulin resistance and bone quality using the trabecular bone score (TBS) and three-dimensional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (3D-DXA) in non-diabetic postmenopausal women by determining cortical and trabecular compartments. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in non-diabetic postmenopausal women with suspected or diagnosed osteoporosis. The inclusion criteria were no menstruation for more than 12 months and low bone mass or osteoporosis as defined by DXA. Glucose was calculated using a Hitachi 917 auto-analyzer. Insulin was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA). Insulin resistance was estimated using a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). DXA, 3D-DXA, and TBS were thus collected. Moreover, we examined bone parameters according to quartile of insulin, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), and HOMA-IR. Results: In this study, we included 381 postmenopausal women. Women located in quartile 4 (Q4) of HOMA-IR had higher values of volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) but not TBS. The increase was higher in the trabecular compartment (16.4%) than in the cortical compartment (6.4%). Similar results were obtained for insulin. Analysis of the quartiles by HbA1c showed no differences in densitometry values, however women in Q4 had lower levels of TBS. After adjusting for BMI, statistical significance was maintained for TBS, insulin, HOMA-IR, and HbA1c. Conclusions: In non-diabetic postmenopausal women there was a direct relationship between insulin resistance and vBMD, whose effect is directly related to greater weight. TBS had an inverse relationship with HbA1c, insulin, and insulin resistance unrelated to weight. This might be explained by the formation of advanced glycosylation products (AGEs) in the bone matrix, which reduces bone deformation capacity and resistance, as well as increases fragility.
Changes of the tocopherol and fatty acid contents in rapeseed oil during refining

Among the most important metabolic compounds there are some which are not synthesized by human and animal organisms and have to be supplied in appropriate quantities in due time. Vitamin E and the essential unsaturated fatty acids have crucial physiological significance, and their greatest quantities occur in plant oils. During refining, apart from unnecessary substances, nutritionally advantageous compounds are also being eliminated. In the present paper changes of tocochromanols taking place during refining of rapeseed oil obtained from seeds of two subsequent crops were investigated. It was observed that losses of tocopherols exceeded 30%, two thirds of which resulted from distilling off during deodorization. The ratio of vitamin E to essential unsaturated fatty acids expressed as the Harris coefficient decreased in the refined oil obtained from seeds of two subsequent crops by about 28%.
Early plant growth: identifying the end point of the seedling phase.

• Despite the importance of seedling establishment in plant biology, there is no consensus on what constitutes a 'seedling'. Here we examined aspects of early plant development that could be used to mark the transition from the seedling to the postseedling phase. • Using a hypogeal species (pea, Pisum sativum) and an epigeal species (sunflower, Helianthus annuus), we investigated whether the utilization of cotyledon-stored mineral nutrients coincides with any changes in relative growth rate (RGR). We also examined how the timing of cotyledon removal at different points during early development affected subsequent growth. • For both species, the timing of RGRmax , the exhaustion of cotyledon reserves, and the attainment of independence from cotyledons all roughly coincided (though exhaustion of seed reserves was not observed in the epigeal species because the cotyledons absorbed external nutrients). • We conclude that because the point of attainment of RGRmax is a distinctly identifiable event, it is a more reliable marker for defining the end of the seedling stage than either the exhaustion of mineral reserves, or the cessation of dependence on cotyledon reserves.
The composition and community structure of the ichthyofauna of the upper Scheldt estuary: synthesis of a 10-year data collection (1991-2001)

Summary Fish collections on the cooling water filter screens of the Doel power plant were used to analyse temporal trends in estuarine fish populations of the upper Scheldt estuary, Belgium. Between 1991 and 2001, 62 species shared the estuary, with 15 species present at any one time. Identified were 23 marine stragglers, 16 freshwater species and four diadromous species, but their contribution to the total catch was insignificant. In terms of numbers, marine estuarine opportunists (17 species) mainly occurring as juveniles and estuarine residents (two species) were the dominant life cycle categories. Six fish species contributed to >97% of the total catch: three Pomatoschistus species [P. minutus (32%), P. microps (30%) and P. lozanoi (6%)], two Clupeidae [Clupea harengus (16%) and Sprattus sprattus (8%)] and Syngnathus rostellatus (5%). Abundance of almost all species in the estuary was highly seasonal and characterized by pronounced abundance peaks. Ordination of the data showed that variability in the temporal structure of estuarine fish community was first determined by differences in annual recruitment and then by predictable, cyclical patterns of species abundance.