Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Face presentation attack detection. A comprehensive evaluation of the generalisation problem

Face recognition technology is now mature enough to reach commercial products, such as smart phones or tablets. However, it still needs to increase robustness against imposter attacks. In this regard, face Presentation Attack Detection (face ‐ PAD) is a key component in providing trustable facial access to digital devices. Despite the success of several face ‐ PAD works in publicly available datasets, most of them fail to reach the market, revealing the lack of evaluation frameworks that represent realistic settings. Here, an extensive analysis of the generalisation problem in face ‐ PAD is provided, jointly with an evaluation strategy based on the aggregation of most publicly available datasets and a set of novel protocols to cover the most realistic settings, including a novel demographic bias analysis. Besides, a new fine ‐ grained categorisation of presentation attacks and instruments is provided, enabling higher flexibility in assessing the generalisation of different algorithms under a common framework. As a result, GRAD ‐ GPAD v2, a comprehensive and modular framework is presented to evaluate the performance of face ‐ PAD approaches in realistic settings, enabling accountability and fair comparison of most face ‐ PAD approaches in the literature.
Air pollution and outpatient visits for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: A time‐series analysis in Luoyang, China

Previous studies have shown that air pollutants have a significant impact on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CCD), but these studies have focused more on provincial capitals or large cities. This study was the first time to explore the effects of air pollutants on CCD in Luoyang. In this study, the generalized additive model (GAM) was used to establish a single‐pollutant model, a multi‐pollutant model and stratified modes of age, sex and season to evaluate the effects of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO and O3 on outpatient visits for CCD within a week. The results of the single‐pollutant model showed that PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO and O3 all had significant effects on the outpatient visits for CCD with a lag effect. The multi‐pollutant model showed that there might be complex interactions among pollutants. The results of the stratified model showed that there was no significant difference in the effects of different pollutants on different genders and ages, and the results of seasonal stratification showed that PM2.5, PM10, SO2 and CO had a greater influence on the outpatient visits for CCD in spring and summer, while NO2 and O3 had a greater influence on the outpatient visits for CCD in winter and summer, respectively. The results showed that air pollutants significantly affected outpatient visits for CCD, among which NO2 had the greatest influence, and seasonal effects and the combined effects of various pollutants should be considered in strategies for the prevention of CCD.
Nonlinear robust control of large-scale system with input saturation

The article studies control algorithms of multiply connected system for dynamic plants with control saturation and nonlinear cross-connections. The authors of the article offer a decentralized control law based on the hyperstability criterion. They also use this law to constuct the MIMO servo system with input saturation. To illustrate the capability of the proposed decentralized robust control system the authors use an inverted pendulums connected by a spring.
Effects of salinity stress on growth indices, physiological parameters and element concentration in Banebaghi (Pistacia sp.) as rootstock for pistachio

ABSTRACT Banebaghi is considered a natural hybrid in Pistacia genus that can be used as rootstock for pistachio. In order to study the effects of salinity stress on growth indices, physiological parameters and element concentration in Banebaghi, an experiment was arranged as a factorial in completely randomized design (CRD). Factors were salinity of irrigation water (0, 60 and 120 mM of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, respectively), growth type (mutica growth type and pistachio growth type) and stem height (stem height lower half of the plant and stem height upper half of the plant) with four replications. Our results showed that salinity reduced vegetative parameters, SPAD index, leaf relative water content (RWC) and water use efficiency (WUE). Shoot dry weight of seedlings in both heights, decreased at the salinity level of 120 mM, at about 60% compared with control. At the highest level of salinity (120 mM), seedlings with a height lower half of the plant had lower reduction in the fresh and dry weight of the root and showed more resistance to the salinity stress because of maintaining RWC of leaves and high levels of potassium and calcium in the shoot. Salinity increased sodium (Na) concentration of shoot and root in both growth types: mutica and pistachio. Seedlings with pistachio growth type and a height upper half of the plant and seedlings with mutica growth type and a height lower half of the plant had more resistance to salinity stress.
Empirical Validation of Personal and Situational Traits in Usage of Transactional e-Government Services

With technology advanced and the flourishing of wired or wireless networks in our daily life, privacy and trustability of transaction media have become highly cherished value. Individuals often make choices in which they surrender a certain degree of privacy in exchange for outcomes or convenience that are perceived to be worthy of the risk of information disclosure. This research attempts to facilitate understandings of the utility of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) which is a strongly supported and well-established vehicle in information research and incorporates privacy, risk, and trust factor that are previously regarded as separate research areas from TAM. In addition, it also suggests individual dispositions as precursory factors and examines how they affect users’ risk and trust perception in using transactional e-government services. The proposed model was tested using data gathered from 309 respondents from an internet survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using Mplus was employed to validate measurement and structural model. Based on this outcome, the measurements were redefined as composite scores, and subsequent path analysis was conducted to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings provide the structural or causal model of the proposed model attainable, but it requires the development of reliable and valid measurement scales.
Empirical Study on Recycling Used Paper Boxes from Online Shopping in China

Online shopping is the most popular transaction, where the estimated transaction online is approximately USD 1.9 Trillion with an average growth from 8 -12% every year. Online shopping leads to huge consumption of paper boxes. Since, when the buyers receive the goods, they normally destroyed the paper boxes, throwing them away into a dust bin, and some were kept for nothing. Those papers wasted cause environmental impacts, huge organizational costs, and unnecessary spaces are wasted. The study investigates on activities of returning the used paper boxes through online shopping among university students in China by underpinning the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). The survey was conducted among 24 public universities in Guangxi, China, with 401 questionnaires accepted for analysis. The study employed regression analysis to test the hypotheses. Both independent variables have a significant relationship to return the paper wasted boxes from online shopping. This paper has its methodology contribution since a rare study focuses on all the bachelor degree students in public universities in Guangxi, China.
The Challenges of Online English Language Teaching From EFL Instructors’ Point of View in KKU, Tehama Campus During COVID 19 Period

Spreading of COVID 19 in the whole world affected all fields of life in general and education in specific; this study aims at finding out the challenges of online teaching from EFL instructors' point of view at KKU/ Tehama campus during the COVID 19 period in the field of 1- Quality of teaching.2 Students' interaction. 3- Results of Authentic learning outcome. 4- Instructors’ planning and correction load 5- Macro and Micro skills. A questionnaire is used to collect the data from instructors who work in Tehama. The researchers used the descriptive-analytical approach. Data were analyzed using SPSS. The finding of this study reflected many challenges of online teaching from Instructors perspectives, such as the difficulty of reflecting desired learning outcomes due to multiple attempts and students cheating, which results in high marks in grading, interaction problems between instructors and students, multi-tasks that are added to instructors burden beside many other challenges that affect EFL teaching.
Hydrodynamic Entrance Length for Laminar Flow in Microchannels with Rectangular Cross Section

This work presents a detailed numerical investigation on the required development length (L=L/B) in laminar Newtonian fluid flow in microchannels with rectangular cross section and different aspect ratios (AR). The advent of new microfluidic technologies shifted the practical Reynolds numbers (Re) to the range of unitary (and even lower) orders of magnitude, i.e., creeping flow conditions. Therefore, accurate estimations of L at Re≤O(1) are important for microsystem design. At such low Reynolds numbers, in which inertial forces are less dominant than viscous forces, flow characteristics become necessarily different from those at the macroscale where Re is typically much larger. A judicious choice of mesh refinement and adequate numerical methods allowed obtaining accurate results and a general correlation for estimating L, valid in the ranges 0≤Re≤2000 and 0.1≤AR≤1, thus covering applications in both macro and microfluidics.
A Study on Disposal of Unidentified Dead Bodies in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Sri Lanka Along with Legal Provisions and Procedural Circumstances

Introduction: It is mandatory for Forensic Pathologists (FPs)/Judicial Medical Officers (JMOs) in Sri Lanka to handle the disposal procedure of unidentified dead bodies, and it is not unusual for these doctors to face many hardships during this process. It requires the help of many stakeholders to fulfil all legal requirements before the proper disposal process. This retrospective data analysis was performed to study the demography of such decedents and also to address evidentially the prevailing issues surrounding the disposal of unidentified decedents. Based on the study the deficiencies and strengths of the present procedure of disposal of decedents were studied. The existing legal procedure of inquest in relation to the unidentified decedents was also studied. Methodology: The details of the unidentified decedents available in the registers of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital were perused and analysed from August 2016 to August 2020. The communication file with police and the records pertaining to the mortuary coolers were also perused. The present law of the country related to the disposal of unidentified decedents and prevailing procedural circumstances are also scrutinized. Results: One-hundred and forty-one (141) unidentified dead bodies were autopsied (03% of all dead bodies) during the four years. The male to female ratio was 13:1, and the majority of victims (n= 81 and 57%) were of 61-80 years age range. The cause of death was natural in 81%. After receiving the dead body, the meantime to perform the autopsy was 90 days and 5 days to dispose of the dead body. The Police had handed over 50% (n=71) of decedents to the hospital. Conclusion: The duration to perform the post-mortem examination from the date of handover was lengthy, and it revealed that this delay was due to the slow progression of essential initial steps that to be followed by the police. One recommendation to rectify this delay is utilizing the hospital web page to display details of the unidentified decedents. There is no “specified” procedure for the disposal of unidentified decedents in Sri Lanka. But it is covered under the inquest procedure and with the Departmental Orders of the Department of Police for a certain extent.
Application of molybdenum fertilizer enhanced quality and production of alfalfa in northern China under non-irrigated conditions

ABSTRACT Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential micro-mineral nutrient for plant growth and development. As an important legume forage, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is frequently planted in marginal lands of northern China where water scarcity and infertile soil are limiting factors for alfalfa production. Mo plays an important role in nitrogen (N) metabolism in general and N fixation in legume species in particular. To evaluate the role of Mo fertilizer in alfalfa quality and production in semi-arid areas of northern China, we conducted a three-year field experiment in Inner Mongolia from 2012 to 2014. Mo fertilizer at the doses of 0, 150 g hm−2, 300 g hm−2yr−1 was applied consecutively across the three years. Application of Mo at 300 g hm−2yr−1 significantly increased dry yield of alfalfa in 2014. Crude protein (CP) content of alfalfa without application of Mo exhibited a decline trend from 2012 to 2014. Application of Mo significantly enhanced total CP in 2012 and 2014, and delayed the reduction in total CP across the three years. In contrast to CP, Mo fertilizer had no significant effects on neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber content. In addition, we found that nitrate reductase activity of alfalfa was increased by Mo fertilizer, which may account for the enhanced CP content in alfalfa. These findings highlight that application of Mo fertilizer can be an effective way to improve alfalfa production and quality in semi-arid areas in northern China.
A study of metabolic syndrome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients attending out-patient department of a medical college

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) occurs as co-morbidity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and requires evaluation. Methods: MetS was studied in 336 patients of COPD (NCP-ATP III guidelines). TNF-α, IL-6 and C reactive protein were analysed. Patients were divided into metabolic (n=89) and non-MetS (n=247) groups and further divided into mild to very severe COPD category as per Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. Results: The 89 patients (26.49%) had MetS. Waist hip ratio (WHR) was more in 80.89% (72/89). Triglycerides and HDL derangements were found in 63 and 75 patients. Fasting blood glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressure criterion were met by 58 (65.17 %), 20 (22.47%) and 32 (35.95%) patients respectively. In non-MetS group, the derangement in above parameters were found in 41, 53, 109, 47, 43 and 46 patients respectively. Compared to MetS group, significant difference was found in WHR, lipid profile and blood pressure. Significant difference was found in waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL, fasting blood glucose and diastolic blood pressure between COPD groups with and without MetS. Moderate COPD patients had highest MetS. Difference in results as per severity of disease was found to be non-significant. Inflammatory markers between COPD groups with and without MetS were non-significant with levels more in latter group. Within COPD group (as per severity of disease) with MetS their levels were significantly raised. Conclusion: MetS occurs as co-morbidity in COPD and requires evaluation which will help in better management and prevent cardio metabolic complications.
Systemic Illiquidity Noise-Based Measure—A Solution for Systemic Liquidity Monitoring in Frontier and Emerging Markets

The paper presents an alternative approach to measuring systemic illiquidity applicable to countries with frontier and emerging financial markets, where other existing methods are not applicable. We develop a novel Systemic Illiquidity Noise (SIN)-based measure, using the Nelson–Siegel–Svensson methodology in which we utilize the curve-fitting error as an indicator of financial system illiquidity. We empirically apply our method to a set of 10 divergent Central and Eastern Europe countries—Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia—in the period of 2006–2020. The results show three periods of increased risk in the sample period: the global financial crisis, the European public debt crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. They also allow us to identify three divergent sets of countries with different systemic liquidity risk characteristics. The analysis also illustrates the impact of the introduction of the euro on systemic illiquidity risk. The proposed methodology may be of consequence for financial system regulators and macroprudential bodies: it allows for contemporaneous monitoring of discussed risk at a minimal cost using well-known models and easily accessible data.
Insights on the Formation and Fate of Organic Nitrates in the Atmosphere from Field and Laboratory Observations

Alkenes are oxidized rapidly in the atmosphere by addition of OH and subsequently O2, leading to the formation of peroxy radicals. These peroxy radicals react with NO to form organic nitrates through a minor radical-terminating branching pathway. Over large regions of the continental boundary layer, the formation of organic nitrates control tropospheric ozone and the lifetime of NOx. Laboratory investigations described herein show that the yield of nitrates through this pathway is larger than previously described for alkenes, and the yield increases with the number of heavy atoms. This result is used to interpret field observations taken over Houston in the summer of 2013. These measurements show that small alkenes still play a large role in ozone production more than a decade after they had been identified as a causal factor. In further studies, measurements of isoprene hydroxy nitrates (ISOPN) and hydroperoxides, formed from the OH oxidation of isoprene, are used to diagnose the complexities of reversible O2 addition for allylic hydroxy isoprene radicals. It is shown that over most of the atmosphere, isoprene's peroxy radical isomers are in their equilibrium distribution. In this regime, hydroxy peroxy radical isomers comprise approximately 95% of the radical pool, a much higher fraction than in the nascent (kinetic) distribution. Intramolecular H-shift isomerization from the Z hydroxy peroxy radical isomers produced from OH addition to C4 is estimated to be 4s-1 at 297K. While the Z isomer is initially produced in low yield, it is continually reformed via decomposition of the hydroxy peroxy radicals. As a result, unimolecular chemistry from this isomer contributes as much as half of the atmospheric fate of the entire pool of peroxy radicals formed via addition of OH at C4. In contrast, unimolecular chemistry following OH addition at C1 is slower and less important. Field observations of alkyl nitrates over the Southeastern United States during the summer over forested environments show that there are still gaps in our understanding of the organic nitrate budget. The formation of isoprene hydroxy nitrates (ISOPN) is shown to be a dominant NOx loss pathway during the day.
Influence of different universal adhesives on fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth

Objective: To examine the influence of different universal adhesives on fracture resistance of endodontically restored teeth. Materials and Methods: Fifty sound maxillary premolars were collected. MOD cavity and root canal treatment were performed in 40 teeth only. The width of the cavity was one-third of the inter-cuspal distance at the occlusal portion and one-third of the bucco-lingual width of proximal boxes. The floor of the cavity was coronally prepared by 1 mm to the CEJ. The cavo-surface margins were prepared at a butt joint. All samples were assorted into five equal groups (N=10): group I: intact teeth (+ve control), group II: prepared unrestored (-ve control), groups III, IV, and V: these groups had root canal treatment and standardized MOD cavities then restored with final resin composite restorations (Filtek Z350 XT) by using three types of adhesive systems; Single Bond Universal, All-Bond Universal and Tetric N-Bond Universal, respectively. The teeth were mounted to universal testing machine and subjected to compressive load at crosshead speed 0.5 mm/min. Fracture modes were evaluated under a stereomicroscope at magnification of 12X. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, version 20.0. Results: There was significant improvement in fracture resistance in restored teeth (group III, IV and V) than unrestored teeth (group II), but didn't reach the fracture resistance of sound teeth (group I). There was no significant difference between restored groups. Conclusions: According to the limitations of this study, resin composite restoration of endodontically treated teeth using different universal adhesives improve fracture resistance of these teeth.
Effect of quasi-static and intermediate strain rates on the tensile properties of hybrid polymer composites

This study presents the results of an investigation on the tensile behaviour of hybrid polymer composites under different strain rates. Glass/carbon, aramid/carbon, glass/aramid, and glass/aramid/carbon hybrid laminates were produced using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding method with epoxy resin system. Uniaxial tensile testing was performed to determine the tensile strength, modulus and failure strain of the hybrid laminates under quasi static (0.001 s‒1) and intermediate (5 and 10 s‒1) strain rates. Tensile strength and elastic modulus of hybrid composites increased with increasing the strain rate. Hybrid laminates with glass fibre were more sensitive to the strain rate. Carbon layers located at the centre of the hybrid laminates resulted in increased tensile strength, indicating the major role of stacking sequence on the behaviour of hybrid composites. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to examine the fracture surfaces of the laminates. The extent of damage propagation was significantly broader at intermediate strain rates.
Development of UAV-Based PM2.5 Monitoring System

This paper proposes a UAV-based PM2.5 air quality and temperature-humidity monitoring system. The system includes an air quality detector comprising four Arduino sensor modules. Specifically, it includes a dust (DSM501A) sensor and a temperature and humidity (DHT11) sensor. The NEO-6M GPS module and DS3231 real-time module are also included for input visualization. A DIY SD card logging shield and memory module is also available for data recording purposes. The Arduino-based board houses multiple sensors and all are programmable using the Arduino integrated development environment (IDE) coding tool. Measurements conducted in a vertical flight path show promise where comparisons with ground truth references data showed good similarity. Overall, the results point to the idea that a light-weight and portable system can be used for accurate and reliable remote sensing data collection (in this case, PM2.5 concentration data and environmental data).