Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Multi-Stage Fingerprint Recognition Method for Payment Verification System

This thesis is on fingerprint recognition method and system, more in detail, the layered fingerprint recognition method and system to compare not only the minutiae or singular point, but also compare the images of detailed area for making prompt and accurate comparison of fingerprint. Through the experiment that applies this theory, we have confirmed that there is a great improvement of verification rate and erroneous recognition rate of other person’s fingerprint. In the world security market, the size of the biometric industry is gradually increasing, of which the fingerprint verification is recognized of its superiority and marketability in terms of relatively low cost, light weight and uneasiness to input bio-information, compared to other biometric methods. This paper proposes a method to utilize the strengths of the Multi-Stage Fingerprint Recognition Method for Fingerprint Payment Verification System. The example of the utilization of the credit card payment is the model business of fingerprint verification credit card payment applied for three months in large domestic marts, to discuss the possibility to settle the non-medium credit trading by the biometric technology and the applicability to the financial services.
Z-score differences based on cross-sectional growth charts do not reflect the growth rate of very low birth weight infants

Objective To test whether the assessment of growth in very low birth weight infants during the hospital stay using z-score differences (Zdiff) is confounded by gestational age (GA), birth weight percentiles (BW%ile), and length of the observation period (LOP). We hypothesize that Zdiff calculated from growth charts based on birth weight data introduces a systematic statistical error leading to falsely classified growth as restricted in infants growing similarly to the 50th percentile. Methods This observational study included 6,926 VLBW infants from the German Neonatal Network (2009 to 2015). Inclusion criterion was discharge between 37 and 41 weeks postmenstrual age. For each infant, Zdiff, weight gain velocity, and reference growth rate (50th percentile Fenton) from birth to discharge were calculated. To account for gestational age dependent growth rates, assessment of growth was standardized calculating the weight gain ratio (WGR) = weight gain velocity/reference growth rate. The primary outcome is the variation of the Zdiff-to-WGR relationship. Results Zdiff and WGR showed a weak agreement with a Zdiff of -0.74 (-1.03, -0.37) at the reference growth rate of the 50th percentile (WGR = 1). A significant proportion (n = 1,585; 23%) of infants with negative Zdiff had weight gain velocity above the 50th percentile’s growth rate. Zdiff to WGR relation was significantly affected by the interaction of GA x BW%ile x LOP. Conclusion This study supports the hypothesis that Zdiff, which are calculated using birth weights, are confounded by skewed reference data and can lead to misinterpretation of growth rates. New concepts like individualized growth trajectories may have the potential to overcome this limitation.
Yersinia hibernica sp. nov., isolated from pig-production environments.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped strain isolated from pig-production environments was identified as a new species within the genus Yersinia using multifaceted genomic and biochemical approaches. The genome of this strain was closed using a hybrid assembly approach combining both high accuracy short read sequencing data with long read sequencing technology. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed ~98 % similarity to Yersinia kristensenii and ~98 % similarity to Yersinia enterocolitica. Average nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) values were calculated as 85.79 % to Y. kristensenii ATCC 33638T and 85.73 % to Y. enterocolitica ATCC 9610T thereby providing evidence that this isolate should be considered as a novel species. The type strain is CFS1934T (=NCTC 14222T=LMG 31076T).
Association Between Use of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol and Postoperative Complications in Colorectal Surgery: The Postoperative Outcomes Within Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol (POWER) Study.

Importance Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) care has been reported to be associated with improvements in outcomes after colorectal surgery compared with traditional care. Objective To determine the association between ERAS protocols and outcomes in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants The Postoperative Outcomes Within Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol (POWER) Study is a multicenter, prospective cohort study of 2084 consecutive adults scheduled for elective colorectal surgery who received or did not receive care in a self-declared ERAS center. Patients were recruited from 80 Spanish centers between September 15 and December 15, 2017. All patients included in this analysis had 1 month of follow-up. Exposures Colorectal surgery and perioperative management were the exposures. Twenty-two individual ERAS items were assessed in all patients, regardless of whether they were included in an established ERAS protocol. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary study outcome was moderate to severe postoperative complications within 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes included ERAS adherence, mortality, readmissions, reoperation rates, and hospital length of stay. Results Between September 15 and December 15, 2017, 2084 patients were included in the study. Of these, 1286 individuals (61.7%) were men; mean age was 68 years (interquartile range [IQR], 59-77). A total of 879 patients (42.2%) presented with postoperative complications and 566 patients (27.2%) developed moderate to severe complications. The number of patients with moderate or severe complications was lower in the ERAS group (25.2% vs 30.3%; odds ratio [OR], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.63-0.94; P = .01). The overall rate of adherence to the ERAS protocol was 63.6% (IQR, 54.5%-77.3%), and the rate for patients from hospitals self-declared as ERAS was 72.7% (IQR, 59.1%-81.8%) vs non-ERAS institutions, which was 59.1% (IQR, 50.0%-63.6%; P < .001). Adherence quartiles among patients receiving the highest and lowest ERAS components showed that the patients with the highest adherence rates had fewer moderate to severe complications (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.25-0.46; P < .001), overall complications (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.26-0.43; P < .001), and mortality (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.07-0.97; P = .06) compared with those who had the lowest adherence rates. Conclusions and Relevance An increase in ERAS adherence appears to be associated with a decrease in postoperative complications.
Adolescent Peer and Parent Relationships Into Emerging Adulthood

Threats to adolescent and young adult health and well-being come primarily from behavior and life choices. The purpose of this study was to understand the role that peer and parent relationships have on reckless and deviant behaviors during the transition from adolescence to emerging adulthood. Select Wave I and Wave III variables from the Add Health database were studied. Adolescent reckless behavior was significantly associated with emerging adult deviant behavior, Wald χ2(1, N = 4,615) = 105, p < . 001, β = 0.152, SE(β) = 0.015 Adolescent reckless behavior increases the probability of emerging adult deviant behavior among adolescents having lower scores on the quality of peer relationships, Wald χ2(1, N = 4,615) = 56, p < . 001, β = 0.062, SE(β) = 0.008, and the quality of parent relationships, Wald χ2(1, N = 4,545) = 36, p < . 001 β = 0.052, SE(β) = 0.009.
Estrogen receptor‐α mediates an intraovarian negative feedback loop on thecal cell steroidogenesis via modulation of Cyp17a1 (cytochrome P450, steroid 17α‐hydroxylase/17,20 μlyase) expression

Excess androgen synthesis by thecal cells is invariably detrimental to preovulatory follicles in the ovary and is considered a fundamental characteristic of polycystic ovary syndrome in women. Investigators have long postulated that granulosa cell‐derived estrogens modulate thecal cell steroidogenesis via a short negative‐feedback loop within the follicle. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the steroidogenic capacity of individual wild‐type (WT) and estrogen receptor‐ (ERα)‐null follicles when cultured in vitro under comparable conditions. Late‐stage ERα‐null follicles exhibited markedly increased expression of the thecal cell enzyme CYP17A1 and secreted much greater amounts of its end product, androstenedione. This phenotype was reproduced in WT follicles when exposed to an aromatase inhibitor or ER‐antagonist, and prevented when the former treatment was supplemented with an ERα‐specific agonist. ERα‐null follicles also exhibited increased testosterone synthesis due to ectopic expression of hydroxysteroid (17ß) dehydrogenase type 3 (HSD17B3), a testis‐specific androgenic enzyme. These data indicate that ER17α functions within thecal cells to negatively modulate the capacity for androgen synthesis by repressing Cyp17a1 expression, and the biological activity of androgens produced by inhibiting Hsd17b3 expression. Hence, these findings provide novel evidence of an intraovarian ERα function that may be critical to the latter stages of folliculogenesis and overall ovarian function. —Taniguchi, F. , Couse, J. F. , Rodriguez, K. F. , Emmen, J. M. A. , Poirier. D. , Korach, K. S. Estrogen receptor‐17α mediates an intraovarian negative feedback loop on thecal cell steroidogenesis via modulation of CYP17A1 (cytochrome P450, steroid 17α‐hydroxylase/17,20 μlyase) expression FASEB J. 21, 586 −595 (2007)
Diacetylcurcumin: a new photosensitizer for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in Streptococcus mutans biofilms

Abstract This study evaluated the effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) on S. mutans using diacetylcurcumin (DAC) and verified DAC toxicity. In vitro, S. mutans biofilms were exposed to curcumin (CUR) and DAC and were light-irradiated. Biofilms were collected, plated and incubated for colony counts. DAC and CUR toxicity assays were conducted with Human Gingival Fibroblast cells (HGF). In vivo, G. mellonella larvae were injected with S. mutans and treated with DAC, CUR and aPDT. The hemolymph was plated and incubated for colony counts. Significant reductions were observed when DAC and CUR alone were used and when aPDT was applied. HGF assays demonstrated no differences in cell viability for most groups. DAC and CUR reduced the S. mutans load in G. mellonella larvae both alone and with aPDT. Systematic toxicity assays on G. mellonella demonstrated no effect of DAC and CUR or aPDT on the survival curve.
Age‐related changes in inguinal region anatomy from 0 to 19 years of age

Knowledge of the age‐related changes in inguinal region anatomy is essential in pediatric urological and abdominal surgery, yet little is published. This study aimed to determine the position of inguinal region structures and growth of the surrounding pelvis and inguinal ligament in subjects from 0 to 19 years of age. Anonymized contrast‐enhanced CT DICOM datasets of 103 patients (63 male: 40 female) aged from 0 to 19 years had left and right sides analyzed by three independent observers. Exclusion criteria were applied. Growth of the pelvis and inguinal ligament were determined using fixed bony reference points. The position of the deep inguinal ring and femoral vasculature were determined as ratio of inguinal ligament length, measured from the anterior superior iliac spine. Growth of the pelvis in vertical and horizontal dimensions and of the inguinal ligament followed a positive polynomial relationship with increasing age, with no observed increase in growth rate during puberty. From 0 to 19 years, the deep inguinal ring moved superolaterally with respect to the inguinal ligament (from 0.74 to 0.60 of the distance along the inguinal ligament) and the femoral artery and vein moved medially (from 0.50 to 0.58, and 0.61 to 0.65 of the distance along the inguinal ligament, respectively). The position of the femoral artery, vein, and deep inguinal ring followed a logarithmic relationship with age. No significant left:right side or male:female differences were observed. From 0 to 19 years of age the femoral vasculature and deep inguinal ring change position as the pelvis grows around them. Clin. Anat. 32:794–802, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Coenzyme Q10 and retinaldehyde co-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for efficacy evaluation in wrinkles

Abstract This study depicts coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and retinaldehyde (RAL) co-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs); having activity on different targets of photoageing, which can overcome deficits of conventional topical dosage forms. The developed NLCs were characterised for particle size, polydispersity index and percent entrapment efficiency (%EE), followed by their incorporation into Carbopol® 934 P-NF gel. In vitro cellular uptake and cytotoxicity assay was performed to evaluate NLCs and in vivo study on ultraviolet- (UV) induced wrinkle model to determine efficacy of NLCs. The developed stable, homogenous and spherical NLCs with size range of 200–230 nm and more than 80 %EE, showed prolonged, biphasic in vitro release pattern for CoQ10 and RAL. Ex vivo study portrayed negligible permeation through skin but appreciable penetration and distribution in skin layers. This has shown good uptake of both drugs with least cytotoxicity in cell culture studies. In vivo irritation study on Sprague Dawley (SD) rats and pharmacodynamic study on female Swiss albino mice proved it less irritant and efficacious. The developed NLCs thus hold promise in the efficient management of wrinkle and their reduction as indicated by the data obtained.
Quantum criticality beyond the Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson paradigm

We present the critical theory of a number of zero-temperature phase transitions of quantum antiferromagnets and interacting boson systems in two dimensions. The most important example is the transition of the $S=1∕2$ square lattice antiferromagnet between the N\'eel state (which breaks spin rotation invariance) and the paramagnetic valence bond solid (which preserves spin rotation invariance but breaks lattice symmetries). We show that these two states are separated by a second-order quantum phase transition. This conflicts with Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson theory, which predicts that such states with distinct broken symmetries are generically separated either by a first-order transition, or by a phase with co-existing orders. The critical theory of the second-order transition is not expressed in terms of the order parameters characterizing either state, but involves fractionalized degrees of freedom and an emergent, topological, global conservation law. A closely related theory describes the superfluid-insulator transition of bosons at half filling on a square lattice, in which the insulator has a bond density wave order. Similar considerations are shown to apply to transitions of antiferromagnets between the valence bond solid and the ${Z}_{2}$ spin liquid: the critical theory has deconfined excitations interacting with an emergent $\mathrm{U}(1)$ gauge force. We comment on the broader implications of our results for the study of quantum criticality in correlated electron systems.
Effects of temperature and salinity on body fluid dynamics and metabolism in the estuarine diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin)

ABSTRACT The diamondback terrapin is the only temperate turtle species that exclusively inhabits estuarine environments. Morphological, behavioral and physiological features contribute to the terrapin's ability to regulate body fluid osmotic pressure in a euryhaline environment. Low integument permeability combined with aquatic–terrestrial shuttling behavior limits passive exchange of water and salts with the environment, and terrapins regulate active uptake of salts via alterations in drinking and feeding behavior. The lachrymal salt gland facilitates excretion of excess sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl−) ions through active transport mechanisms. We investigated body fluid dynamics, oxygen consumption (V̇O2) and osmotic status of terrapins exposed to an acute increase in salinity (12 to 35 psu) at 10 and 25°C to gain insight into the relative importance of behavioral versus physiological osmoregulatory adjustments over a range of seasonally relevant temperatures. Linear mixed models were used to evaluate the effects of experimental temperature, salinity and mass. Overall, temperature effects were stronger than salinity effects. Terrapins acclimated to 25°C had significantly lower blood osmolality and Na+, and higher water turnover rates, daily water flux (DWF) and V̇O2 compared with terrapins acclimated to 10°C. Salinity effects were restricted to DWF, which significantly decreased in response to acute exposure to 35 psu. Our results support the notion that behavioral adjustments predominate in the osmoregulatory strategy of terrapins. Summary: Estuarine diamondback terrapins maintain osmotic balance under variable salinity conditions by using energetically efficient behavioral adjustments and water conservation strategies.
Gamma correction acceleration for real-time text extraction from complex colored images

Text extraction from complex colored images involves the suppression of unwanted background while keeping text features. Imaging devices are almost omnipresent and the unrestricted conditions of the images present new challenges for real-time OCR systems. The recently proposed Gamma Correction Method [1] is a robust and good quality method for text extraction in complex colored images. However it requires a large amount of computing resources and is not well suited for real-time applications. In this paper we propose an efficient acceleration of the GCM to drastically reduce its execution-time, while preserving the text extraction quality. Experimental results on ICDAR dataset show that our approach is effective and can reach a speedup of up to 11.430.
Space and Time-Efficient Data Structures for Massive Datasets

This thesis concerns the design of compressed data structures for the e cient storage of massive datasets of integer sequences and short strings. The studied problems arise in several real-world scenarios, such as inverted index engineering, thus a consistent part of the thesis focuses on the experimental analysis of the proposed, practical, solutions. All the code used in the experimentation is publicly available in the hope of being useful for further research. For the problem of representing in compressed space the sorted integer sequences of inverted indexes, we propose three di erent solutions showing new interesting space/time trade-o s. The rst proposal shows that clustering the inverted lists yields more compact indexes at the expense of a moderate slowdown in query processing speed. The core idea is that clusters of similar inverted lists, i.e., the ones sharing many integers, are compressed together, thus permitting to reduce their redundancy. The second proposal describes an optimal, linear-time, algorithm that splits an inverted list in variable-size partitions in order to minimize its space when the Variable-Byte encoding is used to compress its partitions. The proposed algorithm is fast and yields indexes that are more than twice smaller than regular VariableByte, without compromising their speed e ciency. The third proposal exploits the repetitiveness of the d-gapped inverted lists to achieve compact storage and very fast decoding speed. Speci cally, we show that a dictionary of repeated integer patterns can be built to compress the inverted lists. This permits to represent the inverted lists as references to the dictionary’s patterns, thus allowing the two-fold advantage of: encoding many integers with a single reference identi er; decoding many integers with a single dictionary access. We then take into account strings of at most n words, i.e., n-grams and address the two fundamental problems of: indexing large and sparse n-gram datasets; estimating language models from a large textual collection. For the problem of indexing, we introduce a compressed trie data structure where the identi er of a word appearing after a context of k preceding words is represented as an integer whose value is proportional to the number of words that can follow only such context. Since the number of words following a given
Types for M obile Ambients Luca Cardelli

Java has demonstrated the utility of type systems for mobile code, and in particular their use and implications for security. Security properties rest on the fact that a well-typed Java program (or the corresponding verified bytecode) cannot cause certain kinds of damage. In this paper we provide a type system for mobile computation, that is, for computation that is continuously active before and after movement. We show that a well-typed mobile computation cannot cause certain kinds of run-time fault: it cannot cause the exchange of values of the wrong kind, anywhere in a mobile system.
Perceptual Similarity Can Drive Age-Related Elevation of False Recognition

Older adults consistently show elevated rates of false recognition of new items that are related to studied items. This finding has been largely attributed to a greater tendency for older adults to rely on conceptual gist during memory recognition tasks. However, perceptual factors may also be implicated considering that related items are not only conceptually but also perceptually similar. While some findings do suggest that age-related increases in false recognitions can be driven by perceptual factors, little is known about the nature and circumstances under which these factors operate. To address this gap, we measured basic visual ability as well as false recognition for four different image categories (upright faces, inverted faces, chairs, houses) in younger (n = 34) and older (n = 34) adults. Each image category represented different levels of variability in perceptual similarity and pre-experimental exposure. Perceptual similarity was objectively defined on the basis of the low-level properties of the images. We found evidence that perceptual similarity can contribute to elevated rates of false recognition in older adults. Our results also suggest that declines in basic visual abilities influence elevated false recognition in older adults for perceptually similar but not perceptually dissimilar items. We conclude that both perceptual and conceptual similarity can drive age-related differences in false recognition.