Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Time Warping Based Static Hand Printed Signature Verification

Static signature verication has a signicant use in establishing the authenticity of bank checks, insurance and legal documents based on the signatures they carry. As an individual signs only a few times on the forms for opening an account with any bank or for insurance related purposes, the number of genuine signature templates available in banking and insurance applications is limited, a new approach of static handwritten signature verication based on Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) by using only ve genuine signatures for training is proposed in this paper. Initially the genuine and test signatures belonging to an individual are normalized after calculating the aspect ratios of the genuine signatures. The horizontal and vertical projection features of a signature are extracted using discrete Radon transform and the two vectors are combined to form a combined projection feature vector. The feature vectors of two signatures are matched using DTW algorithm. The closed area formed by the matching path around the diagonal of the DTW-grid is computed and is multiplied with the dierence cost between the feature vectors. A threshold is calculated for each genuine sample during the training. The test signature is compared with each genuine sample and a matching score is calculated. A decision to accept or reject is made on the average of such scores. The entire experimentations were performed on a global signature database (GPDS-Signature Database) of 2106 signatures with 936 genuine signatures and 1170 skilled forgeries. To evaluate the performance, experiments were carried out with 4 to 5 genuine samples for training and with dierent ‘scores’. The proposed as well as the existing DTW-method were implemented and compared. It is observed that the proposed method is superior in terms of Equal Error Rate (EER) and Total Error Rate (TER) when 4 or 5 genuine signatures were used for training. Also it is observed that the False Acceptance Rate (FAR) of the proposed system decreases as the number of genuine training samples increases.
Genomic Analysis of the Nitrate Response Using a Nitrate Reductase-Null Mutant of Arabidopsis1[w]

A nitrate reductase (NR)-null mutant of Arabidopsis was constructed that had a deletion of the major NR gene NIA2 and an insertion in the NIA1 NR gene. This mutant had no detectable NR activity and could not use nitrate as the sole nitrogen source. Starch mobilization was not induced by nitrate in this mutant but was induced by ammonium, indicating that nitrate was not the signal for this process. Microarray analysis of gene expression revealed that 595 genes responded to nitrate (5 mm nitrate for 2 h) in both wild-type and mutant plants. This group of genes was overrepresented most significantly in the functional categories of energy, metabolism, and glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Because the nitrate response of these genes was NR independent, nitrate and not a downstream metabolite served as the signal. The microarray analysis also revealed that shoots can be as responsive to nitrate as roots, yet there was substantial organ specificity to the nitrate response.
Molecular basis for the speci fi cation of fl oral organs by APETALA 3 and PISTILLATA

How different organs are formed from small sets of undifferentiated precursor cells is a key question in developmental biology. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying organ specification in plants, we studied the function of the homeotic selector genes APETALA3 (AP3) and PISTILLATA (PI), which control the formation of petals and stamens during Arabidopsis flower development. To this end, we characterized the activities of the transcription factors that AP3 and PI encode throughout flower development by using perturbation assays aswell as transcript profiling and genomewide localization studies, in combination with a floral induction system that allows a stage-specific analysis of flower development by genomic technologies. We discovered considerable spatial and temporal differences in the requirement for AP3/PI activity during flower formation and show that they control different sets of genes at distinct phases of flower development. The genomewide identification of target genes revealed that AP3/PI act as bifunctional transcription factors: they activate genes involved in the control of numerous developmental processes required for organogenesis and repress key regulators of carpel formation. Our results imply considerable changes in the composition and topology of the gene network controlled by AP3/PI during the course of flower development. We discuss our results in light of a model for the mechanism underlying sex-determination in seed plants, in which AP3/PI orthologues might act as a switch between the activation of male and the repression of female development.
Pharmacological Characterization of Sch527123, a Potent Allosteric CXCR1/CXCR2 Antagonist

In neutrophils, growth-related protein-α (CXCL1) and interleukin-8 (CXCL8), are potent chemoattractants (Cytokine 14:27–36, 2001; Biochemistry 42:2874–2886, 2003) and can stimulate myeloperoxidase release via activation of the G protein-coupled receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2. The role of CXCR1 and CXCR2 in the pathogenesis of inflammatory responses has encouraged the development of small molecule antagonists for these receptors. The data presented herein describe the pharmacology of 2-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-{2-[[(R)-1-(5-methyl-furan-2-yl)-propyl]amino]-3,4-dioxo-cyclobut-1-enylamino}-benzamide (Sch527123), a novel antagonist of both CXCR1 and CXCR2. Sch527123 inhibited chemokine binding to (and activation of) these receptors in an insurmountable manner and, as such, is categorized as an allosteric antagonist. Sch527123 inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis and myeloperoxidase release in response to CXCL1 and CXCL8 but had no effect on the response of these cells to C5a or formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. The pharmacological specificity of Sch527123 was confirmed by testing in a diversity profile against a panel of enzymes, channels, and receptors. To measure compound affinity, we characterized [3H]Sch527123 in both equilibrium and nonequilibrium binding analyses. Sch527123 binding to CXCR1 and CXCR2 was both saturable and reversible. Although Sch527123 bound to CXCR1 with good affinity (Kd = 3.9 ± 0.3 nM), the compound is CXCR2-selective (Kd = 0.049 ± 0.004 nM). Taken together, our data show that Sch527123 represents a novel, potent, and specific CXCR2 antagonist with potential therapeutic utility in a variety of inflammatory conditions.
Aesthetic preference: Anomalous findings for Berlyne's psychobiological theory.

Seven experiments were conducted to test predictions derived from Berlyne's theory of aesthetic preference. According to this theory, preference is an inverted-U function of arousal potential; the determinants of arousal potential are summed, with the consequence that an increase in the amount of one determinant leads to a decrease in the maximally preferred level of other determinants; and collative properties, such as complexity, are the most important predictors of preference
Curriculum Hierarchy, Private Schooling, and the Segmentation of Australian Secondary Education, 1947—1985

Abstract Private schools in Australia are a large, influential and heavily subsidized sector of secondary education, offering academic and social advantages to their mainly professional and managerial clients. Their influence on patterns of inequality in higher education and career recruitment is usually seen as a function of their homogeneity of intakes and higher resource levels. This paper argues that these factors become important, not through the operation of networks and family allegiances, but because of the way in which private schools exploit the curriculum. Private schools enable families to exercise scholastic power, not only social and political power. But this depends on maintaining an academic curriculum and on the ability of private schools to exploit the cultural values embedded in this curriculum. Success reinforces the authority of the curriculum over all schools, not just private non‐Catholic establishments, and through this a wider influence is exerted over social structure. This argum.
Extracellular Signal Molecule(s) Involved in the Carbon Starvation Response of Marine Vibrio sp. Strain S14

ABSTRACT The role of exogenous metabolites as putative signal molecules mediating and/or regulating the carbon starvation adaptation program inVibrio sp. strain S14 was investigated. Addition of the stationary-phase supernatant extract (SSE) of Vibrio sp. strain S14 to logarithmic-phase cells resulted in a significant number of carbon starvation-induced proteins being up-regulated. Halogenated furanones, putative antagonists of acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs), inhibited the synthesis of proteins specifically induced upon carbon starvation. The effect of the furanone was the opposite of that caused by SSE with respect to the up- and down-regulation of protein expression, indicating that both the furanone and the putative signalling molecules were acting on the same regulatory pathway. Culturability was rapidly lost when Vibrio sp. strain S14 was starved in the presence of the furanone at a low concentration. The furanone also had a negative effect on the ability of carbon-starved cells to mount resistance against UV irradiation and hydrogen peroxide exposure. The SSE of Vibrio sp. strain S14 had the ability to provide cross-protection against the loss in viability caused by the furanone. We have further demonstrated that the SSE taken from low- as well as high-cell-density cultures of Vibrio sp. strain S14 induced luminescence in Vibrio harveyi. Taken together, the results in this report provide evidence that Vibrio sp. strain S14 produces extracellular signalling metabolites during carbon and energy starvation and that these molecules play an important role in the expression of proteins crucial to the development of starvation- and stress-resistant phenotypes.
Hybrid 3-D Localization for Visible Light Communication Systems

In this study, we investigate the hybrid utilization of angle-of-arrival (AOA) and received signal strength (RSS) information in visible light communication (VLC) systems for 3-D localization. We show that AOA-based localization method allows the receiver to locate itself via a least squares estimator by exploiting the directionality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). We then prove that when the RSS information is taken into account, the positioning accuracy of AOA-based localization can be improved further using a weighted least squares solution. On the other hand, when the radiation patterns of LEDs are explicitly considered in the estimation, RSS-based localization yields highly accurate results. In order to deal with the system of non-linear equations for RSS-based localization, we develop an analytical learning rule based on the Newton-Raphson method. The non-convex structure is addressed by initializing the learning rule based on 1) location estimates, and 2) a newly developed method, which we refer as a random report and cluster algorithm. As a benchmark, we also derive the analytical expression of the Cramér-Rao lower bound for RSS-based localization, which captures any deployment scenario positioning in 3-D geometry. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed solutions for a wide range of LED characteristics and orientations through extensive computer simulations.
How Efficient is a Simple Copying Task to Diagnose Spatial Neglect in its Chronic Phase?

Twenty-five patients with spatial neglect were tested in the acute phase and about 1.3 years after a right-hemisphere stroke. Ten patients had developed chronic spatial neglect. We investigated how sensitive a simple copying task is in detecting spatial neglect in the chronic phase. When the stroke was acute, all 10 patients omitted a considerable number of contralesionally located items in the copying task. In the chronic phase, 60% of the chronic neglect patients still demonstrated noticeable neglect in the copying task. The data indicate that a simple task such as the copying of a multi-object scene is a helpful tool to detect residual symptoms of spatial neglect even more than 1 year after the stroke.
Supporting the creation of mood boards: industrial design in mixed reality

Advancements in mixed-reality (MR) systems have concentrated on the technology required for implementation, providing proof of concepts by means of technology tailored usage scenarios. These systems have been tested mainly on well contained tasks and applications specifically developed for these platforms. The potential impact of such techniques on actual work practices hence remains largely unexplored. We plan to investigate this practical relevance in more detail for industrial designers. Specific activities have been identified during a full ethnographic study conducted by means of cultural probes and workshops with representative participants. For one such activity, creating mood boards, a new MR interaction concept is to be designed and evaluated. We continue to use participatory design techniques to involve industrial designers at different stages of the design cycle.
Knowledge Management and the Leading Information Systems Journals: An Analysis of Trends and Gaps in Published Research

Knowledge management (KM) is maturing as a research topic, although there is still debate among researchers over what constructs form its basis. Because the topic has received increasing attention in academic journals, it is important for researchers to be aware of the research streams associated with KM. Accordingly, this paper reviews KM literature published in top-tier journals from 2000 to 2004. These articles are then classified into five constructs from two knowledge management frameworks. The results indicate that the majority of KM research has examined the construct of knowledge transfer. This conclusion holds whether examining academic or practitioner journals. Trends of published KM research, gaps, and imbalances in the examined literature and areas of potential research are presented.
Fat(al) attraction: Oxidized lipids act as “eat‐me” signals

Phagocytosis of apoptotic cell corpses is a conserved and well‐regulated process and is required to maintain tissue homeostasis within an organism. Evidence suggests that apoptotic cell engulfment by macrophages is dependent upon the externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS) on the plasma membrane of the dying cell. Furthermore, oxidation of PS and other phospholipids may serve to facilitate cell corpse removal. However, our understanding of how these various lipid “eat‐me” signals are recognized by macrophages has been limited. Using a combination of cellular and animal models, along with an array of biophysical methods, Hazen and his associates (Greenberg et al., J. Exp. Med., 2006, 203, 2613–2625; Li et al., Biochemistry, 2007, 46, 5009–5017) have now identified the scavenger receptor CD36 as a putative receptor for oxidized PS on apoptotic cells; moreover, they have deduced the conformation of the oxidized lipid ligand that is recognized by this receptor, thus providing structural insight into how phagocytes recognize senescent or apoptotic cells.
Potency of bupivacaine stereoisomers tested in vitro and in vivo: biochemical, electrophysiological, and neurobehavioral studies.

BACKGROUND Chiral local anesthetics, such as ropivacaine and levobupivacaine, have the potential advantage over racemic mixtures in showing reduced toxic side effects. However, these S-(levo, or "-")isomers also have reportedly lower potency than their optical antipode, possibly resulting in no advantage in therapeutic index. Potency for local anesthetics inhibiting Na+ channels or action potentials depends on the pattern of membrane potential and so also does the stereopotency ratio. Here the authors have quantitated the stereopotencies of R-, S-, and racemic bupivacaine, comparing several in vitro assays of neuronal Na+ channels with those from in vivo functional nerve block, to establish relative potencies and to understand better the role of different modes of channel inhibition in overall functional anesthesia. METHODS The binding of bupivacaine to Na+ channels was assessed indirectly by its antagonism of [3H]-batrachotoxin binding to rat brain synaptosomes. Inhibition of Na+ currents by bupivacaine was directly assayed in voltage-clamped GH-3 neuroendocrine cells. Neurobehavioral functions were disrupted by bupivacaine percutaneously injected (0.1 ml; 0.0625-1.0%) at the rat sciatic nerve and semiquantitatively assayed. Concentration-dependent actions of R-, S-, and racemic bupivacaine were compared for their magnitude and duration of action. RESULTS Competitive batrachotoxin displacement has a stereopotency ratio of R:S = 3:1. Inhibition of Na+ currents with different prepulse potentials shows that S > R potency when the membrane is hyperpolarized, and R > S potency when it is depolarized from normal resting values. Functional deficits assayed in vivo usually demonstrate no consistent enantioselectivity and only a modest stereopotency (R:S = 1.2-1.3) for peak analgesia achieved at the lowest doses. Other functions display no significant stereopotency in either the degree, the duration, or their product (area under the curve) at any dose. CONCLUSION Although the in vitro actions of bupivacaine showed stereoselectivity ratios of 1.3-3:1 (R:S), in vivo nerve block at clinically used concentrations showed much smaller ratios for peak effect and no significant enantioselectivity for duration. A primary role for the blockade of resting rather than open or inactivated Na+ channels may explain the modest stereoselectivity in vivo, although stereoselective factors controlling local disposition cannot be ruled out. Levo-(S-)bupivacaine is effectively equipotent to R- or racemic bupivacaine in vivo for rat sciatic nerve block.
Validity of the Internet Addiction Test for Adolescents and Older Children (IAT-A)

Following the call to ensure the validity of instruments used to assess users’ level of Internet usage, this study examined the factor structure of the Internet Addiction Test–Adolescence version (IAT-A) when applied to a sample of young children in a multicultural society and assessed whether the items in the IAT-A were invariant by gender and, if the factor mean scores were significantly different by gender. IAT-A is a revised version from the original IAT, with very minor changes in item wordings for the use of adolescence and older children population. A total of 325 primary and secondary students (140 males and 185 females) participated in this study. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses generated three factors (Loss of Control, Dereliction of Duty, and Excessive Use), all of which were subsumed under a second-order factor of overall Internet addiction. The results also revealed that the factor loadings of IAT-A were invariant by gender and although males had higher factor mean scores than females, these were very small. Future studies to enhance the usability of the IAT and IAT-A are discussed.
Deoxyribonucleic acid sequence common to staphylococcal and streptococcal plasmids which specify erythromycin resistance

Plasmids from erythromycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sanguis, and Streptococcus faecalis show deoxyribonucleic acid sequence homology. The homologous sequences can be localized to specific restriction endonuclease fragments, which in the case of S. aureus plasmid pI258 involves a single fragment from either EcoRI or HindIII digest known to contain the erythromycin resistance determinant. Complementary ribonucleic acid probes prepared from S. aureus plasmid pI258 and S. sanguis plasmid pAM77 also hybridize to specific fragments in restriction endonuclease digests of deoxyribonucleic acid from erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus progenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae. These studies suggest a common origin for a class of erythromycin resistance determinants in unrelated strains of pathogenic bacteria for which exchange of genetic material has not been demonstrated.
SIRS Is Valid in Discriminating Between Severe and Moderate Diabetic Foot Infections

OBJECTIVE This retrospective, single-center study was designed to distinguish severe diabetic foot infection (DFI) from moderate DFI based on the presence or absence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The database of a single academic foot and ankle program was reviewed and 119 patients were identified. Severe DFI was defined as local infection associated with manifestation of two or more objective findings of systemic toxicity using SIRS criteria. RESULTS Patients with severe DFI experienced a 2.55-fold higher risk of any amputation (95% CI 1.21–5.36) and a 7.12-fold higher risk of major amputation (1.83–41.05) than patients with moderate DFI. The risk of minor amputations was not significantly different between the two groups (odds ratio 1.02 [95% CI 0.51–2.28]). The odds of having a severe DFI was 7.82 times higher in patients who presented with gangrene (2.03–44.81) and five times higher in patients who reported symptoms of anorexia, chills, nausea, or vomiting (2.22–11.25). The mean hospital length of stay for patients with severe DFI was ∼4 days longer than for patients with moderate DFI, and this difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS SIRS is valid in distinguishing severe from moderate DFI in hospitalized patients. Patients with severe DFI, as by manifesting two or more signs of systemic inflammation or toxicity, had higher rates of major amputation and longer hospital stays and required more surgery and more subsequent admissions than patients who did not manifest SIRS.
Four-Way Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) Power Divider/Combiner for High Power Applications

A four-way power divider/power combiner using substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) and microstrip lines is proposed and investigated. The proposed power divider consists of a double-layer substrate with a bottom layer including an SIW T-junction and a top layer including a microstrip network. This microstrip network consists of a modified Gysel power divider which provides a high isolation between output ports by using two grounded resistors. Meanwhile, this modified Gysel power divider maintains high power-handling advantage over Wilkinson power divider. A transition between the SIW T-junction and microstrip network is realized by etching two rectangular slots on the middle metal layer. The even-odd mode method is used to analyze the presented structure. A prototype of the proposed power divider is designed, simulated, and fabricated. The results show that the return loss of the input port is better than 12 dB over 8.43 to 10.57GHz. Also, the output return losses and isolation are better than 10.5 dB over the whole bandwidth.
The Activist Professional and the Reinstatement of Trust

Public sector reform in the field of education has been ongoing and relentless. Whether in the UK, Europe, the USA or Australasia, there has been an expectation that the education 'industry' can be managed in the same way as any other commercial enterprise with an emphasis upon forms of accountability which require less and less professional judgment on the part of practitioners. In this article we examine the growth of the 'audit society' and its consequences for professional practice in education. We indicate that there are two responses to bureaucratic surveillance: to act as an entrepreneurial professional or as an activist professional. We argue that the latter is achievable when trust is reinstated through the community of professional practice itself. We illustrate our case using issues surrounding the establishment of professional standards for teachers and we develop strategies for activist professionalism in education.