Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Personal authentication using hand vein triangulation

This paper presents a new approach to authenticate individuals using triangulation of hand vein images. The proposed method is fully automated and employs palm dorsal hand vein images acquired from the low-cost, near infrared, contactless imaging. The knuckle tips are used as key points for image normalization and the extraction of region of interest. The matching scores are generated in two parallel stages; (i) hierarchical matching score from the four topologies of triangulation in binarized vein structures and (ii) from the geometrical features consisting of knuckle point perimeter distances in the acquired images. The weighted score level combination from these two matching scores are used to authenticate the individuals. The achieved experimental results from the proposed system using contactless, palm dorsal hand vein images are promising and suggest more user friendly alternative for user identification.
The Costs of Indeterminacy: How to Determine Them?

Indeterminate classifiers are cautious models able to predict more than one class in case of high uncertainty. A problem that arises when using such classifiers is how to evaluate their performances. This problem has already been considered in the case where all prediction errors have equivalent costs (that we will refer as the ''0/1 costs'' or accuracy setting). The purpose of this paper is to study the case of generic cost functions. We provide some properties that the costs of indeterminate predictions could or should follow, and review existing proposals in the light of those properties. This allows us to propose a general formula fitting our properties that can be used to produce and evaluate indeterminate predictions. Some experiments on the cost-sensitive problem of ordinal regression illustrate the behavior of the proposed evaluation criterion.
Comparison of submarine relief features on a radar satellite image and on a Skylab satellite photograph

Abstract We compare satellite imagery obtained by an optical sensor and by synthetic aperture radar for a shallow ocean area showing submarine relief features. A Skylab photograph and a Seasat radar image of the North American cast coast (Nantucket Shoals) taken at different dates, but at the same tidal phase and under comparable weather conditions, are analysed. It is shown that the radar imaging as well as the optical imaging is caused by roughness variations of the water surface due to tidal flow over submarine relief. It is investigated whether optical imaging is affected by backscattering by suspended sediment in the water column, by reflection from the sea floor or by variations of the surface roughness associated with wind and tidal flow over underwater bottom topography. We conclude from the analysis of the densities in the blue, green and red layers of the Skylab colour film that specularly reflected sunlight at the rough ocean surface is the dominant imaging mechanism. In cases where the underwa.
Optimisation of the grade control procedures at the Yandi iron-ore mine, Western Australia: Geostatistical approach

Effectiveness of ore grade control at operating mines depends on both the quality and quantity of the samples used. Therefore, optimisation of grade control procedures requires analysis of sample quality and their spatial distribution. This approach, implying quantitative estimation of both these factors and quantification of their contribution to the grade control errors, was used for comparing two different grade control procedures at the Yandicoogina (Yandi) iron-ore open pit mine, located in the eastern part of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. At Yandi, pisolitic iron oxide mineralisation is distributed within a meandering palaeoriver channel, characterised by abundant clay pods that contain the deleterious components; in particular Al2O3 and SiO2. The irregular shapes and highly erratic distribution of the clay pods are a serious challenge for grade control at this mine. Current grade control procedures at the Yandi open pit are based on sampling 10 m deep blast holes on a 6 × 6 m grid. An alternative approach was considered of using reverse circulation (RC) holes. However, study of the sample duplicates and direct comparison of the blast holes and RC holes drilled at distances approximately 1 m apart (i.e. twin holes) have revealed that use of RC drilling does not guarantee an improvement in the quality of the samples. Reverse circulation samples exhibit precision errors similar to that of the blast holes and both sets of data are characterised by large nugget effects on the variograms of Al2O3 values. It was also noted that RC samples were biased, underestimating Al2O3 and SiO2 grades, and overestimating Fe grades. The Sequential Gaussian conditional simulation model was used for estimation of grade control errors associated with both grade control techniques. This model has shown that using a grid of 25 × 25 m for grade control leads to 12·3% of the selective mining unit sized blocks being misclassified, which is more than a two-fold increase in comparison with current procedures based on sampling blast holes, when approximately 5·8% of SMU blocks are misclassified. In general, comparative analysis of the two grade control approaches at the Yandi mine shows that using the RC holes drilled as the 25 × 25 m grid will not reduce the grade control errors. In fact, it can produce the opposite effect, significantly increasing the number of misclassified ore and waste blocks.
Structure of Two Adjacent Shear Lines Accompanied by Wind Gusts in the Japan Sea Coastal Region during a Cold-Air Outbreak on 12 December 2010

Two adjacent shear lines accompanied by wind gusts exceed- ing 20 m s −1 passed over the Shonai region on the Japan Sea coast during a moderate cold-air outbreak on 12 December 2010. The structure of the shear lines were examined using simulation results and observational data including high-frequency upper-air sound- ings. Simulation results revealed that cold-airmass outflow from the Eurasian Continent had a split-flow pattern due to the blocking effect of the Changbai Mountains. One is from the south side of the mountains (SCF), and the other is from the north side (NCF). NCF also has two streams: a shallow southward-meandering flow on the south and a slightly deeper straight flow on the north. A shallow shear line was formed between SCF and the shallow southward-meandering flow of NCF. The deeper straight flow of NCF sharply formed another shear line on the north at around 1-km height with SCF. This result implies that the shear lines accompanied by wind gusts on the Japan Sea coast during a cold-air outbreak have various structures and that the horizontal wind shear a little above the surface could cause surface wind gusts.
Analysis of the Effects of the Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk) Inhibitor Ibrutinib on Monocyte Fc (cid:2) Receptor (Fc (cid:2) R) Function

, The irreversible Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk) inhibitor ibrutinib has shown efficacy against B-cell tumors such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Fc (cid:2) receptors (Fc (cid:2) R) on immune cells such as macrophages play an important role in tumor-specific antibody-mediated immune responses, but many such responses involve Btk. Here we tested the effects of ibrutinib on Fc (cid:2) R-mediated activities in monocytes. We found that ibrutinib did not affect monocyte Fc (cid:2) R-mediated phagocytosis, even at concentrations higher than those achieved physiologically, but suppressed Fc (cid:2) R-mediated cytokine production. We confirmed these findings in macrophages from Xid mice in which Btk signaling is defective. Because calcium flux is a major event downstream of Btk, we tested whether it was involved in phagocytosis. The results showed that blocking intracellular calcium flux decreased Fc (cid:2) R-mediated
Beach erosion at Waihi Beach Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Abstract Since the 1940s, severe dune erosion has threatened property at Waihi Beach. This paper investigates beach erosion and dune recession in relation to wave climate, sedimentoldgy and mineralogy of the beach sediments, cyclical beach changes and sediment budget, and the littoral drift. Average dune recession along the entire beach between 1948 and 1977 was 27 m, although maximum recession recorded to 1977 was 83 m. Sand loss rates 1948–1977 average 3.4 m3 per metre of beach per year. The sediment budget of the entire beach is about 850 × 103 m3 and up to 74% of this was recorded as being ‘cut’ from the beach in one erosive episode. The cut and fill cycles are dominantly controlled by wave steepness, which has a critical value of 2.1 × 10−3 for breaking waves on Waihi Beach. Net littoral drift is towards the south‐east, and the basic reason for beach erosion at Waihi Beach is the lack of sediment to supply the littoral drift.
A benchmarking approach for comparing data splitting methods for modeling water resources parameters using artificial neural networks

Data splitting is an important step in the artificial neural network (ANN) development process, whereby the available data are divided into training, testing, and validation subsets to ensure good generalization ability of the model. Considering that only one split of the data is typically used when developing ANN models, data splitting has a significant impact on model performance, depending on which data are allocated to the three subsets. Therefore, it is important to find a data splitting method that consistently results in predictive validation errors that are representative of the predictive errors obtained over the full range of the available data. This paper addresses this issue by introducing a benchmarking approach for comparing different data splitting methods in terms of (1) bias, which is the difference between the expected validation performance over the entire data set and that obtained using a particular data splitting method and (2) variability, which is the spread of the validation errors obtained by repeated implementation of that method. The utility of the proposed approach is assessed on a number of well‐known data splitting methods in the context of four water resources ANN modelling problems. The results obtained indicate that the proposed approach for comparing data splitting methods is more representative than the previous approach where a value of zero is used as the predictive performance benchmark, as it can avoid the selection of an over‐optimistic data splitting method that under‐represents extreme data in the validation set.
adipose tissue and the metabolic syndrome is increased in patients with chronic major depressive disorder compared to acute depression and

Objective : Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with an estimated fourfold risk for premature death, largely attributed to cardiovascular disorders. Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT), a fat compartment surrounding the heart, has been implicated in the development of coronary artery disease. An unanswered question is whether people with chronic MDD are more likely to have elevated PAT volumes versus acute MDD and controls (CTRL). Methods : The study group consists of sixteen patients with chronic MDD, thirty-four patients with acute MDD, and twenty-five CTRL. PAT and adrenal gland volume were measured by magnetic resonance tomography. Additional measures comprised factors of the metabolic syndrome, cortisol, relative insulin resistance, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6; IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α). Results : PAT volumes were significantly increased in patients with chronic MDD > patients with acute MDD > CTRL. Adrenal gland volume was slightly enlarged in patients with chronic MDD > acute MDD > CTRL, although this difference failed to reach significance. The PAT volume was correlated with adrenal gland volume, and cortisol concentrations were correlated with depression severity, measured by BDI-2 and MADRS. Group differences were found concerning the rate of the metabolic syndrome, being most frequent in chronic MDD > acute MDD > CTRL. Further findings comprised increased fasting cortisol, increased TNF-α concentration, and decreased physical activity level in MDD compared to CTRL. Conclusion : Our results extend the existing literature in demonstrating that patients with chronic MDD have the highest risk for developing cardiovascular disorders, indicated by the highest PAT volume prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The correlation of PAT with adrenal gland volume underscores the role of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system as mediator for body-composition changes. Metabolic monitoring, health advices and motivation for the improvement of physical fitness may be recommended in depressed patients, in particular in chronic depression. results point to a higher risk for the development of disorders a key role for the hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal axis in the development of heightened PAT volume also in severely depressed patients with a chronic disease course.
Multicultural Coping: Chinese Canadian Adolescents, Male Gender Role Conflict, and Psychological Distress

One hundred seventy-nine Chinese Canadian adolescents completed measures of male gender role conflict, culturally specific coping strategies, and psychological distress. Structural equation results demonstrate that Avoidance Coping and Engagement Coping mediated the relationship between all aspects of male gender role conflict, with the exception of Restricted Affectionate Behavior Between Men and psychological distress. Implications for counseling practice, further research, and the psychology of men are discussed. Despite a growing level of awareness about the importance of studying masculinity from a cross-cultural context (e.g., Brooks & Good, 2001a, 2001b), the extant literature on how men of color actually navigate their socialized gender role remains limited. In the case of men of Asian descent, for example, much of the early empirical work described their experiences with masculinity merely in direct comparison to those of Western men. From this difference perspective, men of Asian backgrounds were seen as more willing to engage in domestic tasks; their interpersonal style was more polite and obedient, and they were less prone to confrontation (Chua & Fujino, 1999). Using a more culturally responsive framework, however, Liu (2002) eloquently described how Asian men must strive to occupy a " middle ground. [in that] they may need to simultaneously accept and repudiate the White masculine norm in search of alternative definitions of masculinity " (p. 108; see also Chin, 1998). For example, many Asian men perceive themselves as trapped between multiple gender role-related demands, one defined by the dominant (i.e., Western) culture and the other by their cultures of origin, leading them to live in two different gender worlds (e.g., Sue, 2001). How do males of Asian descent living in a Western culture cope with the conflicting gender role messages proscribed on one hand by the Western culture and on the other hand by their Asian cultures? This question has not been adequately addressed in the published literature, either in terms of gender role issues or in terms of coping. Historically, coping has been construed from a person– environment fit paradigm, a model that defines coping as primarily self-determined cognitive or behavioral responses to stressors that arise from one's surroundings. Lazarus and Folkman (1984) described how coping refers to an individual's cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage the demands of an event they have appraised as stressful. Unfortunately , the extant literature emerging from the general coping research has given rise to an intrapersonal, agentic, and action-oriented view …
International historical statistics : the Americas 1750-1993

Provides statistical data in easy to use tables, for the last 250 years (where available) of every country in the American continent, covering: - Population & Vital Statistics - Labour Force - Agriculture - Industry - External Trade - Transport & Communication - Prices - Education - National Accounts - These are provided in a detailed series of subsets: eg unemployment figures, coal production figures etc. In addition, Mitchell provides a useful guide to primary statistical sources worldwide.
Financial Literacy and High-Cost Borrowing in the United States

In this paper, we examine high-cost methods of borrowing in the United States, such as payday loans, pawn shops, auto title loans, refund anticipation loans, and rent-to-own shops, and offer a portrait of borrowers who use these methods. Considering a representative sample of more than 26,000 respondents, we find that about one in four Americans has used one of these methods in the past five years. Moreover, many young adults engage in high-cost borrowing: 34 percent of young respondents (aged 18-34) and 43 percent of young respondents with a high school degree have used one of these methods. Using well-tested questions to measure financial literacy, we document that most high-cost borrowers display very low levels of financial literacy, i.e., they lack numeracy and do not possess knowledge of basic financial concepts. Most importantly, we find that those who are more financially literate are much less likely to have engaged in high-cost borrowing. Our empirical work shows that it is not only the shocks inflicted by the financial crisis or the structure of the financial system but that the level of financial literacy also plays a role in explaining why so many individuals have made use of high-cost borrowing methods.
Palynomorph biozones for the fort Union and Wasatch formations (upper Paleocene‐lower Eocene), powder river basin, Wyoming and Montana, U.S.A.

Abstract Three biozones are proposed for the Tongue River Member of the Fort Union Formation and the overlying Wasatch Formation in the northern Powder River Basin, Wyoming and Montana. The biozones are, in ascending order, the Aquilapollenites spinulosus Zone, Caryapollenites Assemblage Zone (incorporating the Pistillipollenites mcgregorii Subzone and Insulapollenites rugulatus Subzone), and Platycarya platycaryoides Zone. The zones are based on the stratigraphic ranges of several palynomorphs and changes in abundance of certain plant groups. The apparent evolution within the Momipites‐Caryapollenites lineage, previously defined and employed stratigraphically in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming, can also be applied in the Powder River Basin. The change in dominance upsection from Momipites to Caryapollenites essentially coincides with a major sedimentological change from a fluvial channel‐dominated environment to a fluvial‐lacustrine environment. The Paleocene‐Eocene boundary in the Powder River Basin lies .
Expression of Microcystis biosynthetic gene clusters in natural populations suggests temporally dynamic synthesis of novel and known secondary metabolites in western Lake Erie

Summary Microcystis spp. produces diverse secondary metabolites within freshwater cyanoHABs around the world. In addition to the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) encoding known compounds, Microcystis genomes harbor numerous BGCs of unknown function, indicating its poorly understood chemical repertoire. While recent studies show that Microcystis produces several metabolites in the lab and field, little work has focused on analyzing the abundance and expression of its broader suite of BGCs during cyanoHAB events. Here, we use metagenomic and metatranscriptomic approaches to track the relative abundance of Microcystis BGCs and their transcripts throughout the 2014 western Lake Erie cyanoHAB. Results indicate the presence of several transcriptionally active BGCs that are predicted to synthesize both known and novel secondary metabolites. The abundance and expression of these BGCs shifted throughout the bloom, with transcript abundance levels correlating with temperature, nitrate and phosphorus concentrations, and the abundance of co-occurring predatory and competitive eukaryotic microorganisms, suggesting the importance of both abiotic and biotic controls in regulating expression. This work highlights the need for understanding the chemical ecology and potential risks to human and environmental health posed by secondary metabolites that are produced but unmonitored, as well as the potential discovery of pharmaceutical compounds from cyanoHAB-derived BGCs. Originality-Statement of Significance Microcystis spp. dominate cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) worldwide and pose significant threats to water quality through the production of numerous secondary metabolites, many of which are toxic. While the toxicity and biochemistry of microcystins and several other compounds have been well studied, the broader suite of secondary metabolites produced by Microcystis remains poorly understood, leaving gaps in our understanding of their impacts on ecology, human and ecosystem health, or potential pharmaceutical application. In this study, we use metagenomic and transcriptomic datasets to examine the diversity of genes encoding synthesis of secondary metabolites in natural Microcystis populations and assess their patterns of transcription in the context of biotic and abiotic conditions in western Lake Erie cyanoHABs. Our results reveal the presence of a large diversity of both known gene clusters that encode toxic secondary metabolites as well as novel ones that encode cryptic compounds. This research highlights the need for targeted studies of the secondary metabolite diversity in western Lake Erie, a vital freshwater source to the United States and Canada.
Confronting the Carbon-footprint Challenge of Blockchain

The distributed consensus mechanism is the backbone of the rapidly developing blockchain network. Blockchain platforms consume vast amounts of electricity based on the current consensus mechanism of Proof-of-Work (PoW). Here, we point out a different consensus mechanism named Proof-of-Stake (PoS) that can eliminate the extensive energy consumption of the current PoW-based blockchain. We comprehensively elucidate the current and projected energy consumption and carbon footprint of the PoW- and PoS-based Bitcoin and Ethereum blockchain platforms. The model of energy consumption of PoS-based Ethereum blockchain can lead the way toward the prediction of other PoS-based blockchain technologies in the future. With the widespread adoption of blockchain technology, if the current PoW mechanism continues to be employed, the carbon footprint of Bitcoin and Ethereum will push the global temperature above 1.5 °C in this century. However, a PoS-based blockchain can reduce the carbon footprint by 99% compared to the PoW mechanism. The small amount of carbon footprint from PoS-based blockchain could make blockchain an attractive technology in a carbon-constrained future. The study sheds light on the urgency of developing the PoS mechanism to solve the current sustainability problem of blockchain.
Child Labour and Access to Basic Services: Evidence from Five Countries

Analyses of the determinants of child labor have largely neglected the role of access to basic services. The availability of these services can affect the value of children's time and, concomitantly, household decisions concerning how this time is allocated between school and work. This paper investigates the link between child labor and water and electricity access in five countries - El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Morocco, and Yemen. Employing an econometric methodology based on propensity scores for dealing with the potential endogenously of access to water and electricity, average treatment effects for water and electricity access on children's activities are presented. The marginal effects of water and electricity access on children's activities obtained by estimating a bivariate probit model are also examined. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is presented designed to check the robustness of the conclusions concerning the causal relationship between water and electricity access and children's activities.