Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Liveness detection based on 3D face shape analysis

In recent years face recognition systems have been applied in various useful applications, such as surveillance, access control, criminal investigations, law enforcement, and others. However face biometric systems can be highly vulnerable to spoofing attacks where an impostor tries to bypass the face recognition system using a photo or video sequence. In this paper a novel liveness detection method, based on the 3D structure of the face, is proposed. Processing the 3D curvature of the acquired data, the proposed approach allows a biometric system to distinguish a real face from a photo, increasing the overall performance of the system and reducing its vulnerability. In order to test the real capability of the methodology a 3D face database has been collected simulating spoofing attacks, therefore using photographs instead of real faces. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
A Reinforcement Learning-Based Lightpath Establishment for Service Differentiation in All-Optical WDM Networks

In this paper, we propose a lightpath establishment method based on reinforcement learning for providing the service differentiation in all-optical WDM networks. In our proposed method, the optimal policy for the lightpath establishment is derived with Q-learning. With the derived policy, each node decides whether a lightpath establishment request of each class should be accepted or not. This method can be available even if the number of wavelengths is large and there is no assumption about the lightpath establishment. We also discuss how the proposed method is utilized with Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS). In numerical examples, we investigate the impacts of learning parameters on the performance of the proposed method. Then, we show that our proposed method can provide the service differentiation for the lightpath blocking probability, while utilizing wavelengths effectively.
New Compact Metamaterial Unit-Cell Using SIR Technique

In this letter, a new compact metamaterial unit-cell called SIR-DSR is presented. This unit-cell is designed by applying the stepped-impedance resonator (SIR) technique to a conventional double split-ring resonator (DSR) structure. The S parameters and the extracted effective relative permittivity and permeability for the presented unit-cell show a miniaturization factor of 0.75 compared to a conventional DSR. The results are validated through the fabrication and measurement of the unit-cell.
Response of human thymus‐derived (T) and non‐thymus‐derived (B) lymphocytes to mitogenic stimulation in vitro

Highly pure populations of human T and B lymphocytes were prepared from tonsils using a two‐step fractionation procedure. Cells were first fractionated on discontinuous gradients of bovine serum albumin, then separated on the basis of their reactivity with the sheep red cell intermediates, E and EACl423. More than 95 % of the cells in the final suspensions were either T or B lymphocytes. Phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A were mitogenic exclusively for T cells. Pokeweed was mitogenic for both T and B cells. T cell proliferation occurred in response to two antigens to which the cell donors were immune: tetanus toxoid (TT) and polyribosephosphate (PRP) capsular antigen of Hemophilus influenzae, type b. B lymphocytes did not transform in response to either PRP, soluble TT, or insoluble TT, but transformed vigorously in the presence of supernatants obtained from TT‐activated T cells.
Fabrication of cantilevers with high yield for magnetic resonance force microscopy

A fabrication method of ultra-sensitive cantilevers with high yield of almost 100% is presented. The oxide layer of an SOI wafer is patterned before the bulk silicon etching. It would break at the patterned place, while the bulk etching was to the end, which could avoid the cantilevers breaking. The SOI wafer is putted in a PTFE container during etching and cleaning. We moved the container from liquid to liquid instead of moving the wafer. These two steps ensured the high yield of almost 100% of the cantilevers. The cantilevers could detect forces as small as 10−17 N/Hz1/2 with dimensions of 465×10×0. 47μm3 in a vacuum chamber at room temperature. The force sensitivity is believed to be much better at low temperature. The field gradient of three types of magnets is researched based on simulation. A conical magnet with small dimensions would be a good choice for spin moment detection in MRFM applications.
A Closer Look at State of Charge ( SOC ) and State of Health ( SOH ) Estimation Techniques for Batteries

Introduction Battery stacks based on lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells are used in many applications such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), electric vehicles (EV), storage of renewable energy for use at a later time, and energy storage on the grid for various purposes such as grid stability, peak shaving, and renewable energy time shifting. In these applications, it is important to measure the state of charge (SOC) of the cells, which is defined as the available capacity (in Ah) and expressed as a percentage of its rated capacity. The SOC parameter can be viewed as a thermodynamic quantity enabling one to assess the potential energy of a battery. It is also important to estimate the state of health (SOH) of a battery, which represents a measure of the battery’s ability to store and deliver electrical energy, compared with a new battery. Analog Devices power control processor, the ADSP-CM419, is a perfect example of a processor that has the capability to deal with battery charging techniques discussed throughout this article.
High Carrier Mobility in Single-Crystal Plasma-Deposited Diamond

Room-temperature drift mobilities of 4500 square centimeters per volt second for electrons and 3800 square centimeters per volt second for holes have been measured in high-purity single-crystal diamond grown using a chemical vapor deposition process. The low-field drift mobility values were determined by using the time-of-flight technique on thick, intrinsic, freestanding diamond plates and were verified by current-voltage measurements onp-i junction diodes. The improvement of the electronic properties of single-crystal diamond and the reproducibility of those properties are encouraging for research on, and development of, high-performance diamond electronics.
Shared Control Design of a Walking-Assistant Robot

This brief presents a control design for a walking-assistant robot in a complex indoor environment, such that it can assist a walking-impaired person to walk and avoid unexpected obstacles. In this design, the robot motion is a resultant of autonomous navigation and compliant motion control. The compliance motion controller allows the robot to possess passive behavior following the motion intent of the user, while the autonomous guidance gives safe navigation of the robot without colliding with any obstacles. A shared-control approach is suggested to combine the passive compliant behavior and safe guidance of the robot. When a user exerts force to the robot, the mobile platform responds to adjust the speed in compliance with the user movement. On the other hand, the autonomous navigation controller is designed to provide collision-free guidance. Using the developed shared controller, outputs of the compliance motion controller and autonomous navigation controller are fused to generate appropriate motion for the robot. In this manner, passive behavior allows the walking-assistant robot to adapt to a user’s motion intent and move in compliance with user. Meanwhile, the active guidance adjusts the linear velocity and the direction of the robot in real time in response to the environmental data received from the on-board laser scanner. The developed algorithms have been implemented on a self-constructed walking-assistant robot. Experimental results validate the proposed design and demonstrate that the robot can actively avoid unexpected obstacles while move passively following the user to the destination.
Effects of homeobox genes on the differentiation of photoreceptor and nonphotoreceptor neurons.

PURPOSE The homeobox genes Pax6 and Chx10 are diffusely expressed in proliferating, undifferentiated retina neuroepithelial cells. Distinct, topographically specific expression patterns emerge, however, as postmitotic cells become organized into layers. The hypothesis that the product of each gene may be necessary for the differentiation of particular nonphotoreceptor neuron subsets and that their absence may be required for progenitor cells to differentiate as photoreceptors was tested in this study. METHODS Neural retinas from 5-day-old chick embryos were dissociated, cultured at low density, and cotransfected with a plasmid expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene, and a plasmid expressing Pax6, Chx10, Optx2, or the control gene lacZ. After further culture, the cells were fixed and processed for the detection of cell-specific markers. RESULTS Nonphotoreceptor neurons increased threefold with Chx10 and almost sixfold with Pax6, compared with cells transfected with lacZ. The frequency of GFP(+) cells immunoreactive with the ganglion cell-specific antibody RA4 was unchanged by Chx10, but was increased twofold by Pax6. Conversely, Chx10 and Pax6 expression diminished the photoreceptor population to approximately 35% and 15% of control values, as determined by morphologic analysis, visinin immunocytochemistry, and peanut lectin binding. Optx2 had some inhibitory effects on photoreceptor differentiation, which were accompanied by marked increases in the frequency of morphologically undifferentiated cells. CONCLUSIONS These results are consistent with the hypothesis that Chx10 and Pax6 promote the differentiation of nonphotoreceptor neurons while inhibiting the differentiation of photoreceptor cells.
Genetic Diversity of Arabian Horse from Stud " Borike " ( Bosnia and Herzegovina ) Using Microsatellite Markers

21 RRJVS| Volume 2 | Issue 1 | March, 2016 Genetic Diversity of Arabian Horse from Stud "Borike" (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Using Microsatellite Markers Dunja Rukavina1*, Danica Hasanbašić1, Adaleta Durmić-Pašić2, Belma Kalamujić2, Amir Zahirović3, Jasmin Ramić2, Naris Pojskić2 1Department for Biology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90. Bosnia and Herzegovia. 2Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8. Bosnia and Herzegovia. 3Department for Internal Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, Bosnia and Herzegovia.
Organic Compounds in Meteorites

Organic compounds in meteorites seem to have formed by catalytic reactions of CO, H2, and NH3 in the solar nebula, at 360� to 400�K and (4 to 10) x 10-6 atm. The onset of these reactions was triggered by the formation of suitable catalysts (magnetite, hydrated silicates) at these temperatures. These reactions may be a source of prebiotic carbon compounds on the inner planets, and interstellar molecules.
fastDNAmL: a tool for construction of phylogenetic trees of DNA sequences using maximum likelihood

We have developed a new tool, called fastDNAml, for constructing phylogenetic trees from DNA sequences. The program can be run on a wide variety of computers ranging from Unix workstations to massively parallel systems, and is available from the Ribosomal Database Project (RDP) by anonymous FTP. Our program uses a maximum likelihood approach and is based on version 3.3 of Felsenstein's dnaml program. Several enhancements, including algorithmic changes, significantly improve performance and reduce memory usage, making it feasible to construct even very large trees. Trees containing 40-100 taxa have been easily generated, and phylogenetic estimates are possible even when hundreds of sequences exist. We are currently using the tool to construct a phylogenetic tree based on 473 small subunit rRNA sequences from prokaryotes.
Bone morphogenetic protein signaling regulates gastric epithelial cell development and proliferation in mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS We investigated the role of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in the regulation of gastric epithelial cell growth and differentiation by generating transgenic mice that express the BMP inhibitor noggin in the stomach. METHODS The promoter of the mouse H+/K+-ATPase β-subunit gene, which is specifically expressed in parietal cells, was used to regulate expression of noggin in the gastric epithelium of mice. The transgenic mice were analyzed for noggin expression, tissue morphology, cellular composition of the gastric mucosa, gastric acid content, and plasma levels of gastrin. Tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemical, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunoblot, microtitration, and radioimmunoassay analyses. RESULTS In the stomachs of the transgenic mice, phosphorylation of Smad 1, 5, and 8 decreased, indicating inhibition of BMP signaling. Mucosa were of increased height, with dilated glands, cystic structures, reduced numbers of parietal cells, and increased numbers of cells that coexpressed intrinsic factor, trefoil factor 2, and Griffonia (Bandeiraea) simplicifolia lectin II, compared with wild-type mice. In the transgenic mice, levels of the H+/K+-ATPase α-subunit protein and messenger RNA were reduced, whereas those of intrinsic factor increased. The transgenic mice were hypochloridric and had an increased number of Ki67- and proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells; increased levels of plasma gastrin; increased expression of transforming growth factor-α, amphiregulin, and gastrin; and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2. CONCLUSIONS Inhibiting BMP signaling in the stomachs of mice by expression of noggin causes loss of parietal cells, development of transitional cells that express markers of mucus neck and zymogenic lineages, and activation of proliferation. BMPs are therefore important regulators of gastric epithelial cell homeostasis.
An automatic method to track red blood cells in microchannels

The study of the red blood cells (RBCs) flowing in microvessels and microchannels is very important to provide a better understanding on the blood rheological properties and disorders in microvessels [1-5]. In this kind of study, the image analysis is an essential part to obtain crucial information about the blood rheology. However, most of the data analysis procedures have been executed manually [1-3] which is an extremely time consuming task especially with a large amount of data. Additionally, manual tracking methods can also introduce user errors into the data. Hence, it is important to develop image analysis methods able to get the data automatically. The main purpose of this work is to develop an approach able to track the RBCs with x and y coordinates automatically. To accomplish it we tested filtering, segmentation and feature extraction functions available in MatLab.
Monocyte Cells and Cancer Cells Express Novel Paxillin Isoforms with Different Binding Properties to Focal Adhesion Proteins*

The versatility of integrin functions is mediated by engagement of a number of proteins that assemble with integrins. Among them, paxillin is one of the important molecules interacting with a variety of signaling molecules and cytoskeletal building blocks. We report here that paxillin is not a single molecule with a unique physiological property. We identified two human paxillin isoforms, β and γ. These isoforms have distinct amino acid insertions; each consists of a distinct exon, at the same site of previously reported paxillin (paxillin α). Several proteins were co-precipitated with paxillin, and we found that β bound to focal adhesion kinase but weakly to vinculin, and γ bound to vinculin but only weakly to focal adhesion kinase, although both bound equally to talin. No additional proteins were found to bind to β and γ over those binding to α. Unlike the α isoform, β and γ mRNAs were not detected in normal tissues, but several cancer cells expressed both α and β proteins simultaneously. All three isoform proteins were expressed in promonocytic cells with ratios comparable with each other, and the expression patterns were altered during differentiation of floating promonocytic cells into adherent macrophage-like cells. Therefore, each isoform of paxillin exhibits distinct expression and different biochemical as well as physiological properties and thereby appears to act as a distinct module involved in different functions of integrins.
An Integrated Assessment Model for Exploring Potential Impacts of Global Change Scenarios on the Canadian Agricultural System

An integrated assessment model is being developed and tested to explore possible future trends of Canadian agriculture in response to projected global scenarios in the ecological, economic, and social dimensions. Although many studies suggest more favorable growing conditions for Canada due to rising temperature and CO2 concentration, the agricultural sector will likely face challenges of water scarcity and water and land quality degradation, compounded by uncertainty concerning technological and socio-economic evolution at various temporal and spatial scales. To help inform agricultural policy development and investment decisions, integrated assessments from a broad set of scenarios are needed. Our methodology is able to integrate stakeholder/expert knowledge, empirical and process-based model algorithms using remote-sensing and national agri-environmental datasets. We showcase this tool by assessing potential risks and impacts in relation to land suitability and nitrogen loading of water for two primary agricultural regions of Canadian (Western Prairies and Southern Ontario).
Leveraging Clustering Techniques to Facilitate Metagenomic Analysis

AbstractMachine learning clustering algorithms provide excellent methods for conducting metagenomic analysis with efficiency. This study uses two machine learning algorithms, the self-organizing map and the K-means algorithms, to cluster data from an environmental sample collected from a hot springs habitat and to provide a visual analysis of that data. A data processing pipeline is described that uses the clustering algorithms to identify which reference genomes should be included for further analysis in determining possible organisms that are present in a metagenomic sample. The clustering revealed probable candidates for additional analysis, including a thermophilic, anaerobic bacterium, which is likely to be found in a hot springs environment and serves to validate the functionality of these tools. The machine learning techniques discussed here can serve as a launching point for elucidating protein sequences that could serve as possible reference comparisons to a specific metagenomic sample and lead t.
Searching for radical new product ideas: exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis for construct validation

This paper focuses on the practices and techniques that can be used at the front end of innovation to search for radical or discontinuous new product ideas. It addresses a gap in the literature by using empirical data to identify the dimensions of a firm's capability to search for new ideas for potential radical innovation. A review of the literature on the front end of innovation was conducted and used to develop an understanding of the practices applied by firms to search for radical new product ideas. From this a questionnaire was developed to collect data for an exploratory factor analysis of a sample of firms and subsequently a confirmatory factor analysis of a separate sample firms. The results from both samples are consistent and identify five dimensions of the search capability that can be used to search for radical new product ideas.
Partial Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and t(X;5): Are There Upstream Regulatory Elements of the Androgen Receptor Gene?

Background/Aims: Two half-brothers with similar malformed genitals, who both inherited a maternally derived t(X;5)(q13;p15) translocation, have a phenotype consistent with partial androgen sensitivity syndrome. The aim was to identify the gene disrupted by the X chromosome breakpoint. Methods: The breakpoint was localized using fluorescence in situ hybridization to metaphase spreads of the translocation. Results: The breakpoint on the X chromosome of the X;5 translocation was localized to a 30-kb region. This region does not contain any identified genes or transcripts. However, the breakpoint is approximately 134 kb from the 5′ end of the androgen receptor (AR) gene. Conclusions: Genetic defects of the AR gene are collectively called androgen insensitivity syndrome and include a range of phenotypes from normal males, often with associated sterility, to XY females. The phenotype seen in the males with the t(X;5) is consistent with this syndrome. The analysis of the chromosomal abnormality suggests that this translocation may remove one or more upstream regulatory elements of the AR gene that are essential for its normal expression and its role in typical external masculinization.
Structural Stability of Lexical Semantic Spaces: Nouns in Chinese and French

Many studies in the neurosciences have dealt with the semantic processing of words or categories, but few have looked into the semantic organization of the lexicon thought as a system. The present study was designed to try to move towards this goal, using both electrophysiological and corpus-based data, and to compare two languages from different families: French and Mandarin Chinese. We conducted an EEG-based semantic-decision experiment using 240 words from eight categories (clothing, parts of a house, tools, vehicles, fruits/vegetables, animals, body parts, and people) as the material. A data-analysis method (correspondence analysis) commonly used in computational linguistics was applied to the electrophysiological signals. The present cross-language comparison indicated stability for the following aspects of the languages' lexical semantic organizations: (1) the living/nonliving distinction, which showed up as a main factor for both languages; (2) greater dispersion of the living categories as compared to the nonliving ones; (3) prototypicality of the \emph{animals} category within the living categories, and with respect to the living/nonliving distinction; and (4) the existence of a person-centered reference gradient. Our electrophysiological analysis indicated stability of the networks at play in each of these processes. Stability was also observed in the data taken from word usage in the languages (synonyms and associated words obtained from textual corpora).