Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Image quality assessment of High Dynamic Range and Wide Color Gamut images

To improve their ability to display astonishing images, screen technologies have been greatly evolving. For example, the contrast of high dynamic range rendering systems far exceed the capacity of a conventional display. Moreover, a Wide Color gamut display can cover a bigger color space than ever. Assessing the quality of these new content has become an active field of research as classical SDR quality metrics are not adapted. However, state-of-the-art studies often neglect one important image characteristics: chrominances. Indeed, previous databases contain HDR images with a standard gamut thus neglecting the increase of color space due to WCG. Due to their gamut, these databases are less prone to contain chromatic artifacts than WCG content. Moreover, most existing HDR objective quality metrics only consider luminance and are not considering chromatic artifacts. To overcome this problematic, in this thesis, we have created two HDR / WCG databases with annotated subjective scores. We focus on the creation of a realistic chromatic artifacts that can arise during compression. In addition, using these databases, we explore three solutions to create HDR / WCG metrics. First, we propose a method to adapt SDR metrics to HDR / WCG content. Then, we proposed an extension of a well-known HDR metric called HDR-VDP-2. Finally, we create a new metric based on the merger of various quality metric and color features. This last metric presents very good performance to predict quality while being sensitive to chromatic distortion.
The Relationship between perceived social support from family and diabetes control among patients with diabetes type 1 and type 2

Background: perceived social support has a key role in diabetes control. It seems that diabetes control has been related to adoption of self-management behaviors which can be supported by family. The aim of this study was to assess relation between perceived social support from family and diabetes control among type 1 and 2 diabetic patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in teaching hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences during 6 months from May to October 2011. Study sample was 430 (113 type 1 and 317 type 2) diabetic patients who met the inclusion criteria through convenience sampling method. Patient's perceived social support from family was measured by Perceived Social Support from Family scale. Collected data was analyzed by using SPSS software version 11.5. Descriptive statistics were used for all variables. Non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis) was also used if variables had non-normal distributions. Results: The Mean ± SD score for perceived social support were 13.13± 1.8 and 12.89 ± 2.56 in both type 1 and 2 diabetic patient groups, respectively. Study findings revealed that perceived social support had not significant relation with HbA1C in type 1 diabetic patients (p>0.05), and had significant relation with HbA1C in type 2 diabetic patients (p<0.001). Gender, BMI and marital status variables had significant relation with perceived social support from family and HbA1C in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients (p<0.001). Also, variable age in type 2 diabetic patients had significant relation with perceived social support and HbA1C (p=0.05). However, variables of education had not significant relation with perceived social support and HbA1C among type 1 diabetic patients. Disease duration did not show any statistical relation with perceived social support and HbA1C among type1 and 2 diabetes patients. Conclusion: Perceived social support from family is an important psychosocial factor affecting glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes other than patients with type1 diabetes.
The development and progression of renal damage in Streptozotocin-Type1 Diabetes Mellitus under Goldblatt renovascular hypertension and high-salt condition

Supervisory Committee Dr. William A. Cupples, Supervisor (Department of Biology) Dr. Perry Howard, Departmental Member (Department of Biology) Dr. E. Paul Zehr, Outside Member (School of Exercise Science, Physical, and Health Education) Dr. Branko Braam, Additional Member (Department of Physiology, University of Alberta)
Comparison of efficacy between clonidine and Dexmedetomidine in attenuating the cardiovascular response to laryngoscopy & intubation in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation are nearly always associated with an increase in the blood pressure and an increase in heart rate due to reflex sympathetic discharge which is caused by epipharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal stimulation. In recent years the laparoscopic surgery which once upon a time were considered to cause least trauma are reported to have hemodynamic instability. Conclusively during general anesthesia, it is desirable to have a stable intraoperative hemodynamic status. Hence in this study, it has been attempted to compare the beneficial effect and also side effect of the two a2-agonist clonidine and De0zxmedetomidine in maintaining the perioperative parameters like MAP, heart rate.
New definition and classification of “Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP)”

1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ehime University School of Medicine, 4Department of Obstetrics, Osaka City General Hospital, 5Perinatal Center, Divisions of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, 6Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 7Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University School of Medicine, 8Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 9Department of Obstetrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, 10Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Barnabas’ Hospital, 11Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 12Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Medical University, 13Division of Public Health, Hygiene and Epidemiology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Faculty of Medicine, 14Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, 15Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Palmore Hospital, 16Department of Endocrinology and Hypertension, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, 17Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, 18Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saitama Medical University Hypertension Research In Pregnancy
Fingerprint liveness detection based on guided filtering and hybrid image analysis

Fingerprints are widely used for biometric recognition. However, many spoofing attacks based on an artificially made fingerprint occur. In this study, the authors propose an approach to detect fingerprint liveness which uses the guided filtering and hybrid image analysis. This study deals with the problem of ignoring the contribution that is brought by the sharp features when analysing the denoised image. The method described utilises both the enhanced sharp features and denoised features from the hybrid images to get better results. The input fingerprint is pre-processed by region of interest extraction and then is filtered by a guidance image for obtaining the denoised image. Then, histogram equalisation is introduced to eliminate the impact of illumination condition. The authors extract the co-occurrence of adjacent local binary pattern features from both the cropped images and the denoised images. Whilst concatenating both the features together to form a long feature, t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbour Embedding is applied to reduce the data dimension. The authors consider the fingerprint liveness detection as a two-class classification problem and use support vector machine with radial basis function kernel to solve this problem. The authors evaluate the experiments on three benchmark data sets. Experimental results demonstrate that the accuracy of the proposed method can outperform most of the state-of-art methods.
A comprehensive study to predict the short-term air quality with the help of multiple deep learning models in Guangzhou city: China

Air pollution is recognised as a worldwide risk to humans. Large cities in China particularly have experienced a marked degradation in air quality so residents are at particular risk. Prediction of the immediate future air quality is important as accurate warnings could assist residents and industries take measures to reduce exposure to and production of pollution when meteorological conditions are expected to increase the impact of pollutants. The research aims to establish whether patterns in the historic data can assist identify sets of occurrences that might combine to negatively impact air quality. The focus of this research is on levels of the principal pollutant, particulate matters 2.5 (pm2.5). These particles are particularly dangerous because of their tiny size, with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less these are the most significant cause of air quality related deaths. This research tested the following prediction methods; Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Gated Current Units (GRU), Multilayer perceptron (MLP) and Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM). A performance comparison completed with the historically executed Machine Learning (ML) models using the CRISP-DM methodology demonstrated that the methodologies can successfully predict the concentration level of pm2.5 and the correlation with meteorological factors that leads to air quality degradation.
Southern Border International Shopping and Employment: 1990-2016

Price differentials, among other factors, persuade many residents of northern Mexico to shop in the southwestern United States border region. Employment patterns in the latter region are studied using a set of control variables and two indicators that are likely to influence cross-border shopping patterns. The first is a real exchange rate index, which captures changes in relative prices in the United States and Mexico. The second is real per capita gross state product in Mexican states adjacent to the international boundary. Both of these variables are found to impact retail and restaurant employment in the United States border zone, confirming that cross-border shopping influences labor market conditions in that region. Furthermore, the estimated elasticities vary across retail subsectors in ways that are generally consistent with prior research. Overall, the results suggest that economic setbacks in northern Mexico and real peso depreciations are likely to have adverse consequences for important segments of border economies in the United States.
Bioavailability and Effects of Polystyrene Nanoparticles in Hydra circumcincta

The release of nanoplastics (NPs) from the weathering and degradation of plastics in the environment is an important concern to aquatic ecosystems. The pur pose of this study was to examine the bioavailability and toxicity of 50 and 100 nm fluorescently labeled polystyrene nanoplastics (NP) to the invertebrate Hydra attenuata . The hydrae were exposed to increasing concentrations of 50 and 100 nm NPs (1.25-80 mg/L) for 96 h at 20°C. A subgroup of hydra was depurated in media to determine the persistence of effects. The results revealed that the animals accumulated detectable amounts fluorescent NP and produced morphological changes at a threshold concentration between 5 and 10 mg/L. The hydrae were able to eliminate 76 and 78% of the 50 and 100 nm NPs, respectively. A characteristic tentacle detachment from the body was observed. Biochemical markers were also determined in exposed organisms and increased glu tathione S-transferase (GST) activity, oxidative damage and neutral lipids levels that persisted after the 24 h. In conclusion, NPs are bioavailable to Hydra , produce morphological changes and increase oxidative stress and neutral lipids. The formation of neutral lipids could be the result of reduced food assimilation or a means for the elimination of NPs.
The contrasting east–west pattern of vegetation restoration under the large‐scale ecological restoration programmes in southwest China

Ecological restoration programmes (ERPs) play an important role in reversing degraded ecosystems and realizing environmental sustainability. However, few studies have given attention to the spatial heterogeneity in the effectiveness of large‐scale ERPs for restoring vegetation on a broad regional scale. Based on the GIMMS NDVI3g time‐series of southwest China, we determined the spatiotemporal trends of the peak growing season NDVI (PGS‐NDVI) in the pre‐ERP stage (1982–1998) and in the post‐ERP stage (1999–2015). Using the NDVI‐climate regression model developed during the pre‐ERP stage and the residual trend analysis method, we derived the anthropogenic PGS‐NDVI trends of the post‐ERP stage on a per‐pixel and spatial average basis. We found that there existed an east (greening)–west (browning) contrasting pattern in the anthropogenic vegetation change during the post‐ERP stage. The proportions of anthropogenic greening pixels were heterogeneous among provinces, ranging from 66.1% (Guangxi) to 8.6% (Xizang). The ERP effectiveness index and the ERP efficiency index for Guangxi were the highest among the provinces, whereas they were both negative for Yunnan and Xizang. Such contrasting restoration pattern was probably caused by multiple factors, including but not limited to the imbalanced implementation of large‐scale ERPs and the inappropriate afforestation that inadequately takes into account local conditions. Our analysis highlights the great heterogeneity in the effectiveness of large‐scale ERPs for vegetation restoration across a broad regional scale. Large‐scale ERPs should be implemented in a coordinated manner and be tailored to local conditions.
Efficiency of volatile baited sticky traps for the Tarnished Plant Bug (Lygus lineolaris) in strawberry fields

Insecticides have adverse effects on human health and the environment. Thus, the development of non‐chemical replacement to manage insect pests is urgent. An alternative is to bait sticky traps with attractive insect sex pheromones or plant volatiles. In Quebec, the tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) is a major insect pest. We tested the efficiency of sex pheromones (mixture of hexyl butyrate (HB), (E)‐2‐hexenyl butyrate (E2HB) and (E)‐4‐oxo‐2‐hexenal (KA)) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) volatiles (pinene, sabinene and phenylacetaldehyde) as sticky trap baits for the tarnished plant bug in strawberry fields of the Laurentians in Southern Québec, Canada. The pheromones decreased the number of tarnished plant bug caught in the traps compared to a control. The sunflower volatile did not have any effect on the number of individuals caught in the traps. Different Lygus species use HB, E2HB and KA in different ratios for sexual signals and alarm signals and for species recognition. GC‐MS analysis of the sex pheromone bait revealed that the ratios between the three main compounds did not match the intended ratio for the L. lineolaris species. This mismatch probably explains our results. Individuals were not attracted to sunflower volatiles. Our results point to the difficulty of manufacturing and using sex pheromones as baits. Future work should assess the effect of several pheromone ratios.
Two New Species of Taygetina With a Possible Case of ‘Juxta Loss’ in Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

Abstract The male genitalic characters of Hexapoda are well known for their great taxonomic and systematic value. Despite insect male genitalia displaying large diversity, variation, and modification across orders, some structures are consistently present, and such characters can serve as the basis for discussion regarding homology. In the order Lepidoptera, a male genitalic structure widely known as the ‘juxta’ is present in many taxa and absence or modification of this character can be phylogenetically informative at the generic or higher level. We here focus on the systematics of the so-called ‘Taygetis clade’ within the nymphalid subtribe Euptychiina, and report an unusual case of ‘juxta loss’ in a single species, Taygetina accacioi Nakahara & Freitas, n. sp. , a new species from Brazil named and described herein. Additionally, we describe another west Amazonian Taygetina Forster, 1964 species, namely Taygetina brocki Lamas & Nakahara, n. sp. , in order to better document the species diversity of Taygetina. Our most up-to-date comprehensive molecular phylogeny regarding ‘Taygetis clade’ recovered these two species as members of a monophyletic Taygetina, reinforcing the absence of juxta being a character state change occurring in a single lineage, resulting in an apomorphic condition, which we report here as a rare case in butterflies (Papilionoidea).
Dependence of Probabilistic Quantitative Precipitation Forecast Performance on Typhoon Characteristics and Forecast Track Error in Taiwan

This study investigates the probabilistic quantitative precipitation forecast (PQPF) performance of typhoons that affected Taiwan during 2011–16. In this period, a total of 19 typhoons with a land warning issued by the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) are analyzed. The PQPF is calculated using the ensemble precipitation forecast data from the Taiwan Cooperative Precipitation Ensemble Forecast Experiment (TAPEX), and the verification data, verification thresholds, and typhoon characteristics are obtained from the CWB. The overall PQPF performance of TAPEX has an acceptable reliability and discrimination ability, and the higher probability error is distributed at the mountainous area of Taiwan. The PQPF performance is significantly influenced by typhoon characteristics (e.g., typhoon tracks, sizes, and forward speeds). The PQPFs for westward-moving, large, or slow typhoons have higher reliability and discrimination ability, and lower-probability error than those for northward-moving, small, or fast typhoons, except for similar reliability between fast and slow typhoons. Because northward-moving or small typhoons have larger forecast track error, and their PQPF performance is sensitive to the accuracy of the forecast track, a higher probability error occurs than that for westward-moving or large typhoons. Furthermore, because there is no difference in track error between fast and slow typhoons, the larger track spread for slow typhoons increases the rainfall forecast spread and reduces the probability error. The orientation of Taiwan’s topography and the topographic effect also influence and increase the distribution and value of probability error for northward-moving, small, or fast typhoons. In summary, forecast track characteristics are influenced by typhoon characteristics and further affect the PQPF performance.
Pharmacognostical study of Ochrosia elliptica Labill. (Apocynaceae)

Ochrosia elliptica Labill. is a small shrub belonging to family Apocynaceae and well-known as a promising anti-cancer agent. Botanical study of the plant was done for the young and old stems, stem bark, and leaves. Laticiferous tubes with yellowish brown content, isodiametric stone cells (sclereids), sclerenchyma (rod-like) and calcium oxalate clusters are the main diagnostic elements observed in this plant. Furthermore, DNA fingerprinting was done using rapid amplified (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) techniques with the identification of a total of 30 RAPD markers and 17 ISSR markers. Carbohydrates, sterols, catechol tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids were present in all organs under investigation. This study could be valuable for quality control of the plant.
Use of near-infrared spectroscopy to probe occlusion severity in patients diagnosed with carotid atherosclerotic disease

Atherosclerotic disease has been associated with increased risk of severe neurovascular consequences including transient ischemic attacks, ischemic strokes, and even mortality. Following the onset of carotid stenosis, the brain undergoes different compensatory mechanisms to provide adequate perfusion in order to maintain brain metabolism. In this study, we employed near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to better comprehend how carotid stenosis affects cerebral hemodynamics, both at rest and during activity. Eighteen patients diagnosed with atherosclerotic disease were recruited for a protocol consisting of resting state and vasoreactivity testing performed with breath holding. Although the breath holding challenge induced global vasodilation in all patients, the extent of dilation varied according to the level of stenosis. Patients diagnosed with carotid stenosis have impaired hemodynamic response, with a median 77% vasoreactivity in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the stenotic vessel when compared to the healthy hemisphere. Hemodynamics of these patients differed at rest, with 33% fewer network links in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the stenosis than the healthy hemisphere. On the other hand, hemodynamic patterns were more heterogeneous with patients diagnosed with a carotid occlusion, which correlates with the opening of collateral circulation. Overall, our results suggest that NIRS can open new directions to the investigation of the effects of cerebrovascular atherosclerotic disease.
Evaluation of the effect of coca leaf powder consumption on bone turnoverin postmenopausal women

Citar como: Trigo-Pérez K, Suárez-Cunza S. Evaluation of the effect of coca leaf powder consumption on bone turnover in postmenopausal women. Rev Peru Ginecol Obstet. 2017;63(4):519-527 ABSTRACT Introduction: Every year, about 25 million women all over the world experience menopause. Nearly 30% of them will suffer from osteoporosis. Conventional treatments tend to have side effects. In Peru, we have Erythroxylum coca, a vegetal alternative high in calcium, fiber and polyphenols. Objectives: To test the effects of the consumption of coca leaf powder in postmenopausal women and analyze the antioxidant capacity of coca leaf powder. Design: Quantitative, quasi-experimental, pre-test post-test study. Institution: Centro de Investigación de Bioquímica y Nutrición, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú. Participants: Volunteer postmenopausal women. Methodology: Unique and self-controlled treatment of 25 volunteers who met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Twenty one completed the treatment, which consisted of the daily ingestion of 4 g of coca leaf powder mixed with water for a period of 90 days. They kept their regular diet and lifestyle. Three blood samples per volunteer were taken before, after 45 and 90 days of treatment. Main outcomes: We measured procollagen 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), N-telopeptide of type 1 collagen (NTX1), beta-crosslaps (βCTX) and human bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) in the volunteers. TEAC-ABTS (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity), FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) and polyphenols were determined in coca leaf powder. Results: A significant decrease in the bone resorption indicator NTX1 (from 12.719 to 0.9945 ng/mL; p<0.05) was found. The bone formation indicator P1NP had a positive median difference. Coca leaf powder showed antioxidant capacity (TEAC-ABTS of 2.74 μmol/mL, FRAP of 73.60 mg AAE/g); the content of polyphenols was 3 089.34 mg AG/100 g. These results show coca leaf powder could potentially benefit bone metabolism. Conclusion: The incorporation of coca leaf powder into the regular diet for a period of 90 days generated a change in the indicators of bone density in women.