Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hybrid convolutional transformer-based network model for finger vein identification

Abstract. In recent years, finger vein (FV) recognition has garnered significant attention due to its inherent advantages, such as enhanced security, convenience, and the ability to discern living organisms. Notably, use of vision transformers in FV recognition has yielded promising results, primarily owing to their adeptness in capturing extensive spatial relationships within images. Nevertheless, transformers necessitate augmented computational resources and presently fall short compared to established convolutional neural networks (CNNs) concerning performance metrics. We address this predicament and propose the development of an advanced network that surpasses conventional transformers and convolutional networks. By leveraging transformers to capture long-range dependencies and CNNs to extract localized information, we introduce a hybrid architecture named the FV convolutional transformer for FV identification. We validate the efficacy of our approach by conducting extensive experiments on three publicly available FV databases. The experimental results demonstrate that our network achieves state-of-the-art performance, as evidenced by the attainment of the lowest equal error rate across all three datasets
Influence of voluntary action and outcome valence on the sense of agency

Recent studies have revealed that people might experience a lessened sense of agency for negative consequences by claiming that they were obeying orders. However, little is known about the cognitive neural mechanism behind the reduced sense of agency when individuals are forced to inflict physical harm on others. This study adopted temporal estimation tasks to investigate the internal mechanism of voluntary action on the sense of agency and the moderating effect of outcome valence as measured by event-related potentials (ERPs). In the temporal estimation task, participants were asked to make trade-offs of monetary gains for themselves against painful electric stimuli experienced by strangers, subjectively estimated the perceptual temporal interval between keypress actions (i.e., free or coercive actions) and consequent outcomes (i.e., positive or negative tones) and rated the feeling of control. The results showed that perceived temporal interval was shorter for positive tones compared with negative tones in the coercive condition, and induced more negative N1 and N300 amplitudes, which indicated that the implicit sense of agency was higher. However, the explicit sense of agency was stronger in the free condition than in the coercive condition, which was not influenced by outcome valence. We discuss the implications of utilizing positive feedback and free choice as significant strategies for those experiencing the abnormal sense of agency.
New Minimum Chi-Square Methods in Empirical Finance

This paper reviews recently developed simulation-based minimum chi-square estimators for structural models. Particular attention is paid to selection of the auxiliary model that defines the GMM-type criterion used in the minimum chi-square estimation. Considerations of statistical efficiency and behavior under misspecification make a strong case for using a very flexible, nonparametric approach to select the auxiliary model. To avoid a numerically ill-behaved GMM criterion function, the dynamic stability of the auxiliary model must also be verified, though, interestly, the dynamic stability of the structural model itself is automatically enforced and need not be imposed in estimation. The empirical application involves estimation of a single-fator diffusion model for the 30-day Eurodollar interest rate.
Self-Ligating Bracket Systems: A Comprehensive Review

Currently, ligature-free bracket technologies, including self-ligating brackets (SLBs), are all the rage in orthodontics. Self-ligating mechanisms have been shown to be more effective and less time-consuming in orthodontic treatment than traditional appliances due to their enhanced frictional properties. Crucial to the success of the multi-band/bracket method is the transmission of forces and moments from the bracket to the archwire. Advances in bracket design and ligation techniques are constantly being made to better distribute loads and increase the efficiency of leveling.
Investigating links between Internet literacy, Internet use, and Internet addiction among Chinese youth and adolescents in the digital age

Introduction In current digital era, adolescents’ Internet use has increased exponentially, with the Internet playing a more and more important role in their education and entertainment. However, due to the ongoing cognitive, emotion, and social development processes, youth and adolescents are more vulnerable to Internet addiction. Attention has been paid to the increased use of Internet during the COVID-19 pandemic and the influence of Internet literacy in prevention and intervention of Internet addiction. Methods The present study proposes a conceptual model to investigate the links between Internet literacy, Internet use of different purpose and duration, and Internet addiction among Chinese youth and adolescents. In this study, N = 2,276 adolescents studying in primary and secondary schools in East China were recruited, and they completed self-reports on sociodemographic characteristics, Internet literacy scale, Internet use, and Internet addiction scale. Results The results showed a significant relationship between Internet use and Internet addiction. To be specific, the duration of Internet use significantly and positively affected Internet addiction. With different dimensions of Internet literacy required, entertainment-oriented Internet use had positive impact on Internet addiction, while education-oriented Internet use exerted negative effects on Internet addiction. As for Internet literacy, knowledge and skills for Internet (positively) and Internet self-management (negatively) significantly influenced the likelihood of Internet addiction. Discussion The findings suggest that Internet overuse increases the risk of Internet addiction in youth and adolescents, while entertainment-oriented rather than education-oriented Internet use is addictive. The role of Internet literacy is complicated, with critical Internet literacy preventing the development of Internet addiction among youth and adolescents, while functional Internet literacy increasing the risk.
Change in Splenic Volume as a Surrogate Marker for Immunotherapy Response in Patients with Advanced Urothelial and Renal Cell Carcinoma—Evaluation of a Novel Approach of Fully Automated Artificial Intelligence Based Splenic Segmentation

Background: In the treatment of advanced urothelial (aUC) and renal cell carcinoma (aRCC), biomarkers such as PD-1 and PD-L1 are not robust prognostic markers for immunotherapy (IO) response. Previously, a significant association between IO and a change in splenic volume (SV) was described for several tumour entities. To the best of our knowledge, this study presents the first correlation of SV to IO in aUC and aRCC. Methods: All patients with aUC (05/2017–10/2021) and aRCC (01/2012–05/2022) treated with IO at our academic centre were included. SV was measured at baseline, 3 and 9 months after initiation of IO using an in-house developed convolutional neural network-based spleen segmentation method. Uni- and multivariate Cox regression models for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were used. Results: In total, 35 patients with aUC and 30 patients with aRCC were included in the analysis. Lower SV at the three-month follow-up was significantly associated with improved OS in the aRCC group. Conclusions: We describe a new, innovative artificial intelligence-based approach of a radiological surrogate marker for IO response in aUC and aRCC which presents a promising new predictive imaging marker. The data presented implicate improved OS with lower follow-up SV in patients with aRCC.
INTRINSIC, EXTRINSIC AND MNEMONIC FACTORS OF METACOGNITIVE MONITORING ACCURACY

The paper reports upon an investigation of metacognitive monitoring accuracy factors in learning tasks of university students. The experiment explores the contribution of some intrinsic, extrinsic and mnemonic factors such as type of learning material, task type, task complexity, and ease / difficulty of performing to metacognitive monitoring accuracy. The study was conducted among 233 university students. The empirical results show the predominance of metacognitive monitoring accuracy, while underconfidence is a downward trend. MMA (+ +) rates of metacognitive monitoring accuracy can be found in the easiest tasks on recollecting pairs of words and MMA (– –) rates – in general knowledge questions of medium difficulty. Overconfidence appears in the most difficult tasks on the deduction inferences and on the logical analogies. The results confirm the dependence of metacognitive monitoring accuracy on the level of ease / complexity of tasks and ease / difficulty of performing; the level of task complexity affects higher rates of metacognitive judgments’ inaccuracies, in particular, in the form of overconfidence. In open-answer questions there is a predominance of MMA (+ +) and MMA (– –) rates of metacognitive monitoring accuracy; underconfidence and overconfidence rates are also higher in openanswer questions. The more complex the task is, the greater is the confidence in the difficulty of performing. The results can be significant in the process of understanding the relationship between metacognitive monitoring accuracy and learning performance of university students.
Patch-wise 3D segmentation quality assessment combining reconstruction and regression networks

Abstract. Purpose General deep-learning (DL)-based semantic segmentation methods with expert level accuracy may fail in 3D medical image segmentation due to complex tissue structures, lack of large datasets with ground truth, etc. For expeditious diagnosis, there is a compelling need to predict segmentation quality without ground truth. In some medical imaging applications, maintaining the quality of segmentation is crucial to the localized regions where disease is prevalent rather than just globally maintaining high-average segmentation quality. We propose a DL framework to identify regions of segmentation inaccuracies by combining a 3D generative adversarial network (GAN) and a convolutional regression network. Approach Our approach is methodologically based on the learned ability to reconstruct the original images identifying the regions of location-specific segmentation failures, in which the reconstruction does not match the underlying original image. We use conditional GAN to reconstruct input images masked by the segmentation results. The regression network is trained to predict the patch-wise Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), conditioned on the segmentation results. The method relies directly on the extracted segmentation related features and does not need to use ground truth during the inference phase to identify erroneous regions in the computed segmentation. Results We evaluated the proposed method on two public datasets: osteoarthritis initiative 4D (3D + time) knee MRI (knee-MR) and 3D non-small cell lung cancer CT (lung-CT). For the patch-wise DSC prediction, we observed the mean absolute errors of 0.01 and 0.04 with the independent standard for the knee-MR and lung-CT data, respectively. Conclusions This method shows promising results in localizing the erroneous segmentation regions that may aid the downstream analysis of disease diagnosis and prognosis prediction.
Invasive Pneumococcal Disease and COVID-19 With Acute Otitis Media and a Tegmen Tympani Defect

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of otitis media, pneumonia, sinusitis, and meningitis. This encapsulated, gram-positive bacterium colonizes the nasopharynx. Major risk factors, including age, hyposplenism, and immunosuppression, predispose to serious infections. Viral infections are known to increase the risk of secondary bacterial infections as the initial immune response can compromise defenses against bacteria. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) similarly poses a risk for secondary bacterial infections and coinfections, such as invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Still, temporal relationships between IPD and COVID-19 are not fully understood. IPD may also be a complication of untreated acute otitis media. COVID-19 and pneumococcal bacteremia, a form of IPD, have both been shown to damage the blood-brain barrier and gain access to the central nervous system, resulting in deep infections, namely, meningitis and encephalitis. Presented here is the case of a 70-year-old female partially vaccinated against pneumococcal disease, who was initially evaluated for an elevated temperature, acute encephalopathy, and COVID-19. Further investigation confirmed IPD in the form of bacteremia and meningitis. The patient had a protracted disease course complicated by sick sinus syndrome and altered mental status, which led to the identification of otitis media and a right tegmen tympani defect. Emergent implantation of a single-chamber temporary pacemaker and myringotomy with tube placement was performed. Lumbar puncture showed evidence of meningitis. Antibiotic therapy eventually narrowed to ceftriaxone and continued for a total of six weeks. The presence of comorbidities, history of incomplete pneumococcal vaccination series, and concomitant infection with COVID-19 may explain the development of IPD and other complications seen in this case. Furthermore, tegmen tympani defects and damage to the blood-brain barrier can serve as a route for otogenic intracranial sepsis and meningitis. This case serves to reinforce the importance of pneumococcal vaccination and the high clinical suspicion necessary for the prompt diagnosis and treatment of IPD. However, despite vaccination, IPD remains a life-threatening disease due to poor antibiotic penetration in the central nervous system and overlapping presentations with coinfections, such as COVID-19.
City brand love: destination attractiveness and memorable tourism city experiences

Purpose Drawing on the literature on brand–consumer relations in an attempt to apply the concept of brand love to a city tourism destination, this paper aims to explore the antecedents and consequences of city brand love. Design/methodology/approach Based on quantitative research and cluster sampling, study data was collected from 330 international tourists who visited six Iran cities. The research model is tested using partial least square structural equation modeling. Findings According to the results, city brand attractiveness, city brand identification and memorable city brand experience are the antecedents of city brand love. Moreover, the city brand attractiveness, both directly and indirectly through memorable experiences and identification with the city brand, is one of the antecedents of city brand love. Finally, the results suggest that word of mouth and revisit intention are major behavioral outcomes of city brand love. Originality/value By providing a validated conceptual model that traces the antecedents and consequences of city brand love, this study attempts to answer prior calls for examination from the viewpoint of city tourism scholars.
Cytomorphological findings in drug defaulters of tuberculous lymphadenitis

Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) is an important health problem specially in the developing countries. Although effective chemotherapy is available, compliance of patient is a major challenge. The aim of this study was to describe cytomorphological features of drug defaulters on lymph node on fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and compare it with newly diagnosed cases. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done for a period of 18 months, in which all patients having tuberculous lymphadenitis were included after taking detailed history regarding previous anti-TB drug intake. Cytomorphological findings in drug defaulters were evaluated and compared with newly diagnosed cases. Results: There were a total of 150 cases with 120 newly diagnosed and 30 drug defaulters. Splintered epithelioid cell granuloma was seen in 40% of drug defaulters, while it was absent in case of newly diagnosed cases (P < 0.0001). Well-formed epithelioid cell granuloma was most commonly seen in newly diagnosed cases (65.83%) followed by poorly formed granuloma (26.67%). Another significant finding was distribution of eosinophils which were significantly high in case of drug defaulters (56.67%) (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Cytomorphological findings can help in identification of the drug defaulters on FNAC and thus plan further line of treatment.
Hepatico-Duodenal Fistula Following Iatrogenic Strasberg Type E4 Bile Duct Injury: A Case Report

Introduction: Gallstone disease (GSD) is among the most common disorders worldwide. Gallstones are established in up to 15% of the general population. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the “gold standard” for treatment of GSD but is associated with a higher rate of certain complications, namely, bile duct injury (BDI). Biliary fistulas (BF) are a common presentation of BDI (44.1% of all patients); however, they are mainly external. Post-cholecystectomy internal BF are exceedingly rare. Case report: a 33-year Caucasian female was admitted with suspected BDI after LC. Strasberg type E4 BDI was established on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Urgent laparotomy established biliary peritonitis. Delayed surgical reconstruction was planned and temporary external biliary drains were positioned in the right and left hepatic ducts. During follow-up, displacement of the drains occurred with subsequent evacuation of bile through the external fistula, which resolved spontaneously, without clinical and biochemical evidence of biliary obstruction or cholangitis. ERCP established bilio-duodenal fistula between the left hepatic duct (LHD) and duodenum, with a stricture at the level of the LHD. Endoscopic management was chosen with staged dilation and stenting of the fistulous tract over 18 months until fistula maturation and stricture resolution. One year after stent extraction, the patient remains symptom free. Discussion: Management of post-cholecystectomy BDI is challenging. The optimal approach is determined by the level and extent of ductal lesion defined according to different classifications (Strasberg, Bismuth, Hannover). Type E BDI are managed mainly surgically with a delayed surgical approach generally deemed preferable. Only three cases of choledocho-duodenal fistulas following LC BDI currently exist in the literature. Management is controversial, with expectant approach, surgical treatment (biliary reconstruction), or liver transplantation being described. Endoscopic treatment has not been described; however, in the current paper, it proved to be successful. More reports or larger case series are needed to confirm its applicability and effectiveness, especially in the long term.
The Dual Role of Autophagy in Postischemic Brain Neurodegeneration of Alzheimer’s Disease Proteinopathy

Autophagy is a self-defense and self-degrading intracellular system involved in the recycling and elimination of the payload of cytoplasmic redundant components, aggregated or misfolded proteins and intracellular pathogens to maintain cell homeostasis and physiological function. Autophagy is activated in response to metabolic stress or starvation to maintain homeostasis in cells by updating organelles and dysfunctional proteins. In neurodegenerative diseases, such as cerebral ischemia, autophagy is disturbed, e.g., as a result of the pathological accumulation of proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease and their structural changes. Postischemic brain neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer’s disease, is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid and tau protein. After cerebral ischemia, autophagy was found to be activated in neuronal, glial and vascular cells. Some studies have shown the protective properties of autophagy in postischemic brain, while other studies have shown completely opposite properties. Thus, autophagy is now presented as a double-edged sword with possible therapeutic potential in brain ischemia. The exact role and regulatory pathways of autophagy that are involved in cerebral ischemia have not been conclusively elucidated. This review aims to provide a comprehensive look at the advances in the study of autophagy behavior in neuronal, glial and vascular cells for ischemic brain injury. In addition, the importance of autophagy in neurodegeneration after cerebral ischemia has been highlighted. The review also presents the possibility of modulating the autophagy machinery through various compounds on the development of neurodegeneration after cerebral ischemia.
Credit Channel of Monetary Transmission Mechanism: New Insight from SVAR-DAG Approach

The credit channel of monetary transmission mechanism gains significant importance after global financial crises. The present study has investigated the credit channel for an emerging economy of Pakistan, which has an underdeveloped financial sector. The study has collected monthly data from June 2006 to June 2018 on credit to the private sector (CPRVS), interest rate, money supply, price level, and industrial production index. The study has contributed to the empirical literature by investigating the contemporaneous causal relationships among the variables. Further, the study has investigated the effectiveness of the credit channel of the monetary transmission mechanism. The study has employed the SVAR model along with direct acyclic graphs (DAG) to identify the covariance matrix.The study notes that the credit channel is ineffective in Pakistan, and it does not contemporaneously cause economic growth (EG). Further, EG causes credit supply to the private sector. Hence, when the economy grows, the financial sector develops, and commercial banks extend more credit to the private sector. The study also notes that the interest rate has no contemporaneous impact on the CPRVS. Moreover, for robustness check, we have estimated two SVAR models, one with a real discount rate as a measure of interest rate and the other is with the real lending rate, as it is more related to the credit supply. However, both proxies give the same results, which implies that our findings are robust. Hence, we can conclude that the credit channel is ineffective in Pakistan.
Preclinical Study of DCD and Normothermic Perfusion for Visceral Transplantation

Considering recent clinical and experimental evidence, expectations for using DCD-derived intestines have increased considerably. However, more knowledge about DCD procedure and long-term results after intestinal transplantation (ITx) is needed. We aimed to describe in detail a DCD procedure for ITx using normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) in a preclinical model. Small bowel was obtained from pigs donors after 1 h of NRP and transplanted to the recipients. Graft Intestinal samples were obtained during the procedure and after transplantation. Ischemia-reperfusion injury (Park-Chiu score), graft rejection and transplanted intestines absorptive function were evaluated. Seven of 8 DCD procedures with NRP and ITx were successful (87.5%), with a good graft reperfusion and an excellent recovery of the recipient. The architecture of grafts was well conserved during NRP. After an initial damage of Park-chiu score of 4, all grafts recovered from ischemia-reperfusion, with no or very subtle alterations 2 days after ITx. Most recipients (71.5%) did not show signs of rejection. Only two cases demonstrated histologic signs of mild rejection 7 days after ITx. Interestingly intestinal grafts showed good absorptive capacity. The study’s results support the viability of intestinal grafts from DCD using NRP, contributing more evidence for the use of DCD for ITx.