Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving Two-Factor Authentication Usability with Sensor-Assisted Facial Recognition

—Two-factor authentication is often considered by users as annoying, hard to use and time consuming due to their complexity and implementation - this often leads to users making usability-focused decisions at the expense of security. We believe the development of biometric recognition technology allows for an improvement in the way we implement two-factor authentication systems. In this paper we study the Sensor-Assisted Facial Recognition (SAFR) system and analyze its security and usability compared to current token-based two-factor authentication systems. We believe that the SAFR system can replace and improve the usability of two-factor authentication for use with low-security services while suggesting possible implementations for use in high-security applications. We also highlight key strengths and weaknesses of the SAFR system, and note the innovations SAFR brings to improving the usability of facial recognition while maintaining security. In this way we hope to break down what we believe is one of the key barriers that prevents users using two-factor authentication. We also suggest further avenues of research to improve the usability of facial recognition systems.
The hydrodynamic advantages of synchronized swimming in a rectangular pattern

Fish schooling is a remarkable biological behavior that is thought to provide hydrodynamic advantages. Theoretical models have predicted significant reduction in swimming cost due to two physical mechanisms: vortex hypothesis, which reduces the relative velocity between fish and the flow through the induced velocity of the organized vortex structure of the incoming wake; and the channeling effect, which reduces the relative velocity by enhancing the flow between the swimmers in the direction of swimming. Although experimental observations confirm hydrodynamic advantages, there is still debate regarding the two mechanisms. We provide, to our knowledge, the first three-dimensional simulations at realistic Reynolds numbers to investigate these physical mechanisms. Using large-eddy simulations of self-propelled synchronized swimmers in various rectangular patterns, we find evidence in support of the channeling effect, which enhances the flow velocity between swimmers in the direction of swimming as the lateral distance between swimmers decreases. Our simulations show that the coherent structures, in contrast to the wake of a single swimmer, break down into small, disorganized vortical structures, which have a low chance for constructive vortex interaction. Therefore, the vortex hypothesis, which is relevant for diamond patterns, was not found for rectangular patterns, but needs to be further studied for diamond patterns in the future. Exploiting the channeling mechanism, a fish in a rectangular school swims faster as the lateral distance decreases, while consuming similar amounts of energy. The fish in the rectangular school with the smallest lateral distance (0.3 fish lengths) swims 20% faster than a solitary swimmer while consuming similar amount of energy.
Body mass index, waist‐to‐hip ratio, waist circumference and waist‐to‐height ratio cannot predict male semen quality: a report of 1231 subfertile Chinese men

There were controversial results between obesity‐associated markers and semen quality. In this study, we investigated the correlations between age, obesity‐associated markers including body mass index (BMI), waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) and waist circumference (WC), the combination of age and obesity‐associated markers, semen parameters and serum reproductive hormone levels in 1231 subfertile men. The results showed that BMI, WC, WHR and WHtR were positively related to age, and there were also positive relations between BMI, WHR, WC and WHtR and between sperm concentration (SC), total sperm count (TSC), progressive motility (PR), sperm motility and per cent of normal sperm morphology (NSM). However, age, each of obesity‐associated markers and the combination of obesity‐associated markers and age were unrelated to any of semen parameters including total normal‐progressively motile sperm count (TNPMS). Age, BMI, WHR, WC and WHtR were negatively related to serum testosterone and SHBG levels. However, only serum LH and FSH levels were negatively related to sperm concentration, NSM and sperm motility. In a conclusion, although age and obesity have significant impacts on reproductive hormones such as testosterone, SHBG and oestradiol, semen parameters related to FSH and LH could not be influenced, indicating that obesity‐associated markers could not predict male semen quality.
Weight Perturbation: An Optimal Architecture and Learning Technique for Analog VLSI Feedforward and Recurrent Multilayer Networks

Previous work on analog VLSI implementation of multilayer perceptrons with on-chip learning has mainly targeted the implementation of algorithms like backpropagation. Although backpropagation is efficient, its implementation in analog VLSI requires excessive computational hardware. In this paper we show that, for analog parallel implementations, the use of gradient descent with direct approximation of the gradient using weight perturbation instead of backpropagation significantly reduces hardware complexity. Gradient descent by weight perturbation eliminates the need for derivative and bidirectional circuits for on-chip learning, and access to the output states of neurons in hidden layers for off-chip learning. We also show that weight perturbation can be used to implement recurrent networks. A discrete level analog implementation showing the training of an XOR network as an example is described.
Candida nonsorbophila sp. nov., a new ascomycetous yeast species isolated in Thailand.

Four yeast strains, RS42, SSK10, ST-520 and ST-521, isolated from water in a mangrove forest, bark of a tree and fruit of Ficus sp. , respectively, were found to represent a hitherto undescribed anamorphic species. The four strains are related to Candida sinolaborantium in the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit rRNA gene, but differed by eight nucleotide substitutions and two indels, and for this reason are regarded as members of a separate species. Because ascospore formation was not detected, it is described as a new species of Candida, Candida nonsorbophila sp. nov. The type strain is RS42(T) (BCC 25963(T)=NBRC 103860(T)=CBS 10862(T)). This species is distinguished from C. sinolaborantium by the inability to assimilate L-sorbose, L-rhamnose and galactitol, and a higher maximum growth temperature.
The effect of antihypertensive treatment on the incidence of stroke and cognitive decline in the elderly: a meta-analysis.

AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of antihypertensives in reducing neurocognitive outcomes in elderly patients. PATIENTS & METHODS We conducted a systematic literature search of randomized trials in which hypertensive patients with a mean age ≥65 years received antihypertensive or control treatment. Outcomes were stroke, transient ischemic attack, cognitive decline and dementia. We included 14 trials for meta-analysis. RESULTS Compared to placebo, antihypertensive treatment reduced the risk of stroke (RR: 0.67 [95% CI: 0.57-0.79]). Reduced risk was significant for transient ischemic attack, fatal stroke, nonfatal stroke and total stroke. There were insufficient data to compare individual agents. CONCLUSION Antihypertensive treatment is associated with a significant reduction in stroke in elderly individuals. Reductions in dementia and cognitive decline were not significant; however, there was short follow-up. Comparative effectiveness evidence is limited.
Semantic Priming without Awareness: Some Methodological Considerations and Replications

Previous studies of subliminal semantic priming effects are considered. The distinction between subjective and objective detection thresholds proposed by Cheesman and Merikle (1984) is accepted, and it is concluded that no convincing evidence has been adduced to support or deny the existence of semantic priming effects at or below objective threshold. New criteria for the assessment of objective thresholds are proposed, and four experiments are reported in each of which pattern-masked primes were presented 10% below objective threshold. The first three experiments presented primes, mask, and targets binocularly; the fourth used dichoptic presentation. Data were analysed using both conventional F ratios and the quasi F ratio advocated by Clark (1973). Results showed that significant subliminal semantic priming effects occurred in each experiment when conventional F ratios were used, and significant effects occurred in all but the first experiment when quasi F was used. Binocular and dichoptic presentation of stimuli gave semantic priming effects whose magnitudes did not differ significantly. It is concluded that semantic priming effects can be obtained below objective detection threshold. It is also concluded that replication with different participants and different stimuli is preferable to the use of quasi F ratios in investigations where verbal stimuli are used.
Organisation des développeurs open-source et fiabilité logicielle. (Open-source developers organization and software reliability)

La fiabilite du logiciel, c’est-a-dire sa capacite a produire les fonctionnalites attendues, est essentielle au succes des projets de developpement logiciel. Afin de garantir cette fiabilite, les developpeurs ont pour objectif de reduire le nombre de bogues presents dans le code source du logiciel.Une des techniques ayant pour but d’aider les developpeurs dans cette tâche est l’utilisation de metriques logicielles, et notamment de metriques liees au procede de developpement.L’objectif general de cette these est de contribuer a la validation de metriques de procede en etudiant leur relation avec la fiabilite. Ces metriques, une fois validees, pourront etre utilisees dans des modeles de prediction de bogues ayant pour but de mieux orienter les efforts de maintenance des developpeurs ou pourront permettre de mettre en place des lignes de conduite relatives au procede de developpement. Devant l’etendue de ce domaine, nous avons centre nos contributions sur un aspect du procede de developpement qui est l’organisation des developpeurs et avons observe cette organisation dans des projets open-source.En parallele de la validation de ces metriques, nous avons contribue a l’amelioration de la methodologie permettant l’extraction et l’analyse de metriques, grâce aux informations contenues dans les depots logiciels.
Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract on menopausal symptoms, body composition, and cardiovascular parameters in middle-aged women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study

ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the effects of proanthocyanidin—a class of polyphenol antioxidants extracted from grape seeds—on menopausal symptoms, body composition, and cardiovascular parameters in middle-aged women. MethodsWe conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 96 women aged 40 to 60 years who had at least one menopausal symptom. The study participants were randomized to receive grape seed extract tablets containing either low-dose (100 mg/d) or high-dose (200 mg/d) proanthocyanidin, or placebo, for 8 weeks. Their menopausal symptoms were evaluated using the Menopausal Health–Related Quality of Life Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Athens Insomnia Scale before and after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. Body composition and cardiovascular parameters were also measured. ResultsA total of 91 women (95%) completed the study. Background characteristics, including age, menopause status, subjective symptom scores, body composition, and cardiovascular parameters, were similar among the groups. The following significant changes were observed during the course of the study: (1) physical symptom score, hot flash score, and (2) Athens Insomnia Scale score decreased in the high-dose group after 8 weeks of treatment; (3) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Anxiety score and (4) systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased in the low-dose and high-dose groups after 4 weeks; and, (5) lastly, muscle mass increased in the low-dose and high-dose groups after 8 weeks of treatment. ConclusionsGrape seed proanthocyanidin extract is effective in improving the physical and psychological symptoms of menopause while increasing muscle mass and reducing blood pressure in middle-aged women.
Comment on 'stable isotopes challenge the perception of ocean sunfish Mola mola as obligate jellyfish predators'.

aranta et al. (2012) recently challenged the paradigm that ocean sunfish Mola mola L. 1758 (Molidae) are obligate gelatinovores, basing their conclusion on isotopic differences between M. mola and co-occurring jellyfish in the Mediterranean Sea. The sampled M. mola (eight individuals <1 m in total length, LT) had mean carbon and nitrogen isotope values that were 2·3 and 5·7‰ higher, respectively, than the sampled jellyfish species, Pelagia noctiluca. Assuming diet–tissue trophic discrimination factors for fish muscle of mean ± s.d. 1·3 ± 1·3‰ (δ 13 C) and 2·9 ± 1·2‰ (δ 15 N) based on a literature meta-analysis (McCutchan et al., 2003), the authors conclude ‘the trophic role of M. mola extends beyond obligate predation on jellyfish’. While this conclusion is consistent with the isotope patterns presented in their dataset, this dataset was not comprehensive. Additional higher trophic level jellyfish species should have been included to better characterize the diversity of potential diet items.
Realizability and Dynamic Reconfiguration of Chor Specifications

Choreography description languages aim at specifying from a global point of view interactions among a set of services involved in a new system. From this specification, local implementations or peers can be automatically generated. Generation of peers that precisely implement the choreography specification is not always possible: this problem is known as realizability. When peers corresponding to this specification are being executed we may want to modify the choreography specification and reconfigure dynamically the system. This is the case for instance if we add or remove interactions due to the addition of functionalities to the system at hand or the loss of a service. In this article, we present our solutions to check if a choreography is realizable and if a specific reconfiguration can be applied or not.
Arachidonic acid mediates non‐capacitative calcium entry evoked by CB1‐cannabinoid receptor activation in DDT1 MF‐2 smooth muscle cells

Cannabinoid CB1‐receptor stimulation in DDT1 MF‐2 smooth muscle cells induces a rise in [Ca2+]i, which is dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and modulated by thapsigargin‐sensitive stores, suggesting capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE), and by MAP kinase. Non‐capacitative Ca2+ entry (NCCE) stimulated by arachidonic acid (AA) partly mediates histamine H1‐receptor‐evoked increases in [Ca2+]i in DDT1 MF‐2 cells. In the current study, both Ca2+ entry mechanisms and a possible link between MAP kinase activation and increasing [Ca2+]i were investigated. In the whole‐cell patch clamp configuration, the CB‐receptor agonist CP 55, 940 evoked a transient, Ca2+‐dependent K+ current, which was not blocked by the inhibitors of CCE, 2‐APB, and SKF 96365. AA, but not its metabolites, evoked a transient outward current and inhibited the response to CP 55,940 in a concentration‐dependent manner. CP 55,940 induced a concentration‐dependent release of AA, which was inhibited by the CB1 antagonist SR 141716. The non‐selective Ca2+ channel blockers La3+ and Gd3+ inhibited the CP 55,940‐induced current at concentrations that had no effect on thapsigargin‐evoked CCE. La3+ also inhibited the AA‐induced current. CP 55,940‐induced AA release was abolished by Gd3+ and by phospholipase A2 inhibition using quinacrine; this compound also inhibited the outward current. The CP 55,940‐induced AA release was strongly reduced by the MAP kinase inhibitor PD 98059. The data suggest that in DDT1 MF‐2 cells, AA is an integral component of the CB1 receptor signaling pathway, upstream of NCCE and, via PLA2, downstream of MAP kinase. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vitamin D and systemic lupus erythematosus: continued evolution

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that has well‐established roles in calcium and bone metabolism. Vitamin D has more recently become recognized for its role in the immune response and its potential immunomodulatory effects in autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This review provides a summary of the recent literature regarding vitamin D and SLE, as well as current recommendations for vitamin D supplementation in patients with SLE.
Dynamic under frequency load shedding in power systems

This paper proposes a dynamic under-frequency load shedding scheme allowing faster frequency re-establishment and system restoration. The proposed scheme is based on a combination of two criteria: frequency pre-defined minimum thresholds and the rate of change of frequency (ROCOF). The scheme comprises a fault detection stage, an initial shedding stage, and an accelerated shedding stage. The amount of load to be shed and its critical acting time are anticipated from the first stage frequency gradient. The proposed load shedding method was tested on the IEEE 9 bus 3 generators power system for loss of generation contingency, under different loading conditions. The simulation results demonstrate the advantages of the proposed technique in terms of avoiding unnecessary load shedding, and faster re-establishment of stable operation.
Voice dosimetry and monitoring, with emphasis on professional voice diseases: Critical review and framework for future research

Professional voice has become an important issue in the field of occupational health. Similarly, voice diseases related to occupations gain interest in insurance medicine, particularly within the frame of specific insurance systems for occupational diseases. Technological developments have made possible dosimetry of voice loading in the work-place, as well as long-term monitoring of relevant voice parameters during professional activities. A critical review is given, with focus on the specificity of occupational voice use and on the point of view of insurance medicine. Remaining questions and suggestions for future research are proposed.
An application of locally linear model tree algorithm with combination of feature selection in credit scoring

Nowadays, credit scoring is one of the most important topics in the banking sector. Credit scoring models have been widely used to facilitate the process of credit assessing. In this paper, an application of the locally linear model tree algorithm (LOLIMOT) was experimented to evaluate the superiority of its performance to predict the customer's credit status. The algorithm is improved with an aim of adjustment by credit scoring domain by means of data fusion and feature selection techniques. Two real world credit data sets – Australian and German – from UCI machine learning database were selected to demonstrate the performance of our new classifier. The analytical results indicate that the improved LOLIMOT significantly increase the prediction accuracy.
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF SEQUENTIAL INTRAOPERATIVE USE OF WHOLE BLOOD FOLLOWED BY BRILLIANT BLUE VERSUS CONVENTIONAL BRILLIANT BLUE STAINING OF INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE IN MACULAR HOLE SURGERY

Purpose: To compare the structural and functional outcome of use of autologous heparinized whole blood before staining internal limiting membrane with brilliant blue (BB) versus conventional BB–assisted macular hole surgery. Methods: Sixty eyes of 60 patients were randomly divided equally in Group A (BB staining using whole blood) and Group B (conventional BB staining). Clinical assessment and spectral domain optical coherence tomography was done at baseline and 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 16 weeks, and 6 months postoperatively. Results: Group A eyes had a significantly higher best-corrected visual acuity as compared with Group B postoperatively (P < 0.001, <0.001, 0.004, 0.04 at 3, 6, 16 weeks, and 6 months). Inner segment/outer segment junction continuity was noted in greater number of eyes in Group A compared with Group B (P = 0.02, 0.002, 0.003, and 0.03 at 3, 6, 16 weeks, and 6 months). Eyes in Group A had significantly higher outer foveal thickness at 3 weeks (P = 0.001) and 6 weeks (P < 0.001) compared with Group B. Conclusion: Use of whole blood before staining internal limiting membrane with BB causes earlier and better visual rehabilitation postoperatively, which could be attributed to earlier photoreceptor regeneration as evidenced by inner segment/outer segment junction continuity and increase in outer foveal thickness.
Challenges to disaster risk reduction: A study of stakeholders’ perspectives in Imizamo Yethu, South Africa

South Africa is a complex and dynamic society, with overwhelming and increasing problems with disaster risk in the vulnerable urban communities in and around its rapidly growing metropolitan centres. The purpose of this study is to improve the understanding of the challenges for disaster risk reduction in such communities. It focuses on the case of Imizamo Yethu, in the Western Cape, in order to build theory that is grounded in the empirical realities of stakeholders involved in disaster risk reduction there. The result points towards five interrelated key challenges, which must be concurrently addressed through large-scale development efforts. Without such investments, it is unlikely that disaster risks can be reduced to tolerable levels.
Introducing elderly college students to multimedia: an intergenerational approach

This paper describes a multimedia workshop organized by younger computer science students for 35 of their older classmates, average age 70. Results of a follow-up survey indicate that elders' responses to multimedia are positive, although older students still feel unsure about their technical abilities and may need continuing help to take full advantage of the new technology.
Influence of Ambient Temperature on Transformer Overloading During Cold Load Pickup

This paper proposes a method to investigate the socioeconomical aspects of transformer overloading during a cold load pickup (CLPU) in residential areas. The method uses customer damage functions to estimate the cost for their power interruption and a deterioration model to estimate the cost for transformer wear due to the CLPU. A thermodynamic model is implemented to estimate the peak and the duration of cold residential load. A stochastic differential equation is used to capture the volatility of the load and to estimate the probability for transformer overloading. In a numerical example, an optimal cold load pickup for a two-area system is demonstrated where transformer overloading is allowed. In this example, an ambient temperature threshold is identified, where transformer overloading is socioeconomically beneficial.