Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A review on surgically altered face images recognition using multimodal bio-metric features

The increasing acceptability of the face as a biometric for recognition is due to the fact that it is non-intrusive. The task of successfully matching face images obtained before and after plastic surgery is a exigent problem. The extent to which a face is altered depends on the form and number of plastic surgeries performed, and it is complex to model these variations. Existing approaches use education based methods that are either computationally costly or rely on a set of training images. Altering facial appearance using surgical procedures has raised a challenge for face recognition algorithms. These procedures alter the facial features and skin texture thereby providing a makeover in the appearance of face. This paper focuses on analyzing the effect of plastic surgery in face recognition algorithms and a multimodal bio-metric feature extractor algorithm is proposed therefore to match face images before and after plastic surgery.
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN GOAL ADJUSTMENT ABILITY AND MAGNITUDE OF EMOTIONAL AND AUTONOMIC RESPONSES TO AN UNSOLVABLE ANAGRAM TASK

Individuals differ in their ability to disengage from unattainable goals (referred to as goal disengagement ability, GD ability) and reengage in other potentially more rewarding activities (referred to as goal reengagement ability, GR ability). In theory, these two distinct traits function to buffer individuals from prolonged emotional distress that can accompany persevering with hopeless goals and, thus, may have health benefits. However, to date, studies are limited by cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported assessment of GD and GR ability. Accordingly, a primary aim of the current study was to conduct an initial examination of whether responses on the widely used Goal Disengagement and Goal Reengagement Scale (Wrosch, Scheier, Miller, Schulz, & Carver, 2003) relate to disengagement behavior during a laboratory unsolvable anagram task. Secondary aims examined whether GD and GR ability relates to baseline and task-related changes in affect and cardiovascular measures. For these purposes, 90 undergraduate students completed the Goal Disengagement and Goal Reengagement Scale and an anagram solving task under time pressure. Affect and cardiovascular parameters (HR, BP, and HF-HRV) were assessed at baseline, prior to task performance, during the task, and following the task. Results did not show an association between trait GD ability and time spent working on anagrams. In regards to affect and cardiovascular response, some findings were consistent with our expectations while others were not. For instance, we found trait GR ability predicted higher pre-task positive mood. However, persisting longer during unsolvable sets, rather than early disengagement, was associated with smaller reduction in positive mood and feelings of in-control. Similarly, trait GD ability was associated with smaller increases in HR during unsolvable anagrams. However, trait GD was related to higher baseline HR and a significant interaction suggested that individuals who endorsed higher trait GD and GR ability showed an elevated baseline DBP, compared to individuals who were high in GD and low in GR ability. We also did not find any significant associations between self-reported GD and GR ability and baseline or task-related HF-HRV. A number of possible explanations are considered for the unexpected findings and potential future directions are proposed.
5′AMP activated protein kinase expression in human skeletal muscle: effects of strength training and type 2 diabetes

Strength training enhances insulin sensitivity and represents an alternative to endurance training for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The 5′AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) may mediate adaptations in skeletal muscle in response to exercise training; however, little is known about adaptations within the AMPK system itself. We investigated the effect of strength training and T2DM on the isoform expression and the heterotrimeric composition of the AMPK in human skeletal muscle. Ten patients with T2DM and seven healthy subjects strength trained (T) one leg for 6 weeks, while the other leg remained untrained (UT). Muscle biopsies were obtained before and after the training period. Basal AMPK activity and protein/mRNA expression of both catalytic (α1 and α2) and regulatory (β1, β2, γ1, γ2a, γ2b and γ3) AMPK isoforms were independent of T2DM, whereas the protein content of α1 (+16%), β2 (+14%) and γ1 (+29%) was higher and the γ3 content was lower (−48%) in trained compared with untrained muscle (all P < 0.01). The majority of α protein co‐immunoprecipitated with β2 and α2/β2 accounted for the majority of these complexes. γ3 was only associated with α2 and β2 subunits, and accounted for ∼20% of all α2/β2 complexes. The remaining α2/β2 and the α1/β2 complexes were associated with γ1. The trimer composition was unaffected by T2DM, whereas training induced a shift from γ3‐ to γ1‐containing trimers. The data question muscular AMPK as a primary cause of T2DM whereas the maintained function in patients with T2DM makes muscular AMPK an obvious therapeutic target. In human skeletal muscle only three of 12 possible AMPK trimer combinations exist, and the expression of the subunit isoforms is susceptible to moderate strength training, which may influence metabolism and improve energy homeostasis in trained muscle.
Effect of Climate Change on Reliability of Rainwater Harvesting Systems for Kabarole District, Uganda

This paper assesses the effect of climate change on reliability of rainwater harvesting systems for Kabarole district, Uganda, as predicted by 6 best performing global circulation models (GCMs). A daily water balance model was used to simulate the performance of a rainwater harvesting system using historical daily rainfall data for 20 years. The GCMs used to generate daily rainfall projections for 2025–2055 and 2060–2090 periods included; ACCESS1-0, BCC-CSM-1-M, CNRM-CM5, HADGEM2-CC, HADGEM2-ES and MIROC5. Analysis was based on the Ugandan weather seasons which included March, April, May (MAM) and September, October, November (SON) rain seasons in addition to December, January, February (DJF) and June, July, August (JJA) dry seasons. While an increase in reliability is predicted for the SON season, the worst-case scenario is projected during the MAM season with a reliability reduction of over 40% for the 2055–2090 period. This corresponds to a 27% reduction in water security for the same period. The DJF season is also expected to experience reduced water security by 1–8% for 2025–2055 and 2060–2090 with a 0.5 m3 tank size. Therefore, some form of extra harvesting surface and increased tank size will be required to maintain 80% systems reliability considering climate change.
Systèmes multisources de récupération d'énergie dans l'environnement humain : modélisation et optimisation du dimensionnement

Ces travaux s'inscrivent dans la problematique de l'alimentation autonome de systemes electroniques communicants fondee sur la recuperation de l'energie disponible dans l'environnement humain. Cette these traite du dimensionnement d'un generateur multisource (thermique, photovoltaique et cinetique) avec stockage d'energie. Afin d'optimiser le dimensionnement d'un tel systeme dans un contexte de ressources parametrables, des modeles generiques, adaptes a une large plage de dimensions, ont ete etablis, a partir de technologies deja existantes, et valides experimentalement. L'approche systeme a permis d'etudier les nombreux couplages multiphysiques existants et de mieux dimensionner le systeme. Ainsi, il a ete montre qu'optimiser le rendement global de toute la chaine de conversion d'energie conduit a des solutions differentes de celles resultant d'une optimisation du dimensionnement de chaque organe pris separement. Enfin, dans la derniere partie de cette these, une etude a ete menee sur l'impact du profil de consommation sur le dimensionnement du systeme. Cette etude a permis, sur le cas particulier d'une application reelle, de mettre en evidence le potentiel d'une gestion d'energie en cas de ressources faibles notamment par l'adaptation des profils de consommation.
Aberrant Toxocara canisin a Red Fox

During necropsy of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) heart an adult, male Toxocara caniswas found under the pericardium at the junction of the right ventricle and right atrium. The life cycle of T. canisis complex and includes tracheal and somatic migrations of larvae, and they can be found in many tissues throughout the host's body. However, it is rare for adult ascarids to be recovered outside of the small intestine. This is the first report of an adult T. canisinside the pericardial space.
Improved clinical outcome after intracoronary administration of bone-marrow-derived progenitor cells in acute myocardial infarction: final 1 year results of the REPAIR-AMI trial.

The final clinical analysis of the REPAIR-AMI trial is disappointing to me. The authors state that the bone-marrow-derived progenitor cells (BMC) lead to an improvement of function in the infarcted zone, especially in patients with depressed left ventricular function at baseline,1 increasing the ejection fraction by 5% compared with placebo. In the recent article, they …
Influence of hydration on physiological function and performance during trail running in the heat.

CONTEXT Authors of most field studies have not observed decrements in physiologic function and performance with increases in dehydration, although authors of well-controlled laboratory studies have consistently reported this relationship. Investigators in these field studies did not control exercise intensity, a known modulator of body core temperature. OBJECTIVE To directly examine the effect of moderate water deficit on the physiologic responses to various exercise intensities in a warm outdoor setting. DESIGN Semirandomized, crossover design. SETTING Field setting. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Seventeen distance runners (9 men, 8 women; age = 27 +/- 7 years, height = 171 +/- 9 cm, mass = 64.2 +/- 9.0 kg, body fat = 14.6% +/- 5.5%). INTERVENTION(S) Participants completed four 12-km runs (consisting of three 4-km loops) in the heat (average wet bulb globe temperature = 26.5 degrees C): (1) a hydrated, race trial (HYR), (2) a dehydrated, race trial (DYR), (3) a hydrated, submaximal trial (HYS), and (4) a dehydrated, submaximal trial (DYS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) For DYR and DYS trials, dehydration was measured by body mass loss. In the submaximal trials, participants ran at a moderate pace that was matched by having them speed up or slow down based on pace feedback provided by researchers. Intestinal temperature was recorded using ingestible thermistors, and participants wore heart rate monitors to measure heart rate. RESULTS Body mass loss in relation to a 3-day baseline was greater for the DYR (-4.30% +/- 1.25%) and DYS trials (-4.59% +/- 1.32%) than for the HYR (-2.05% +/- 1.09%) and HYS (-2.0% +/- 1.24%) trials postrun (P < .001). Participants ran faster for the HYR (53.15 +/- 6.05 minutes) than for the DYR (55.7 +/- 7.45 minutes; P < .01), but speed was similar for HYS (59.57 +/- 5.31 minutes) and DYS (59.44 +/- 5.44 minutes; P > .05). Intestinal temperature immediately postrun was greater for DYR than for HYR (P < .05), the only significant difference. Intestinal temperature was greater for DYS than for HYS postloop 2, postrun, and at 10 and 20 minutes postrun (all: P < .001). Intestinal temperature and heart rate were 0.22 degrees C and 6 beats/min higher, respectively, for every additional 1% body mass loss during the DYS trial compared with the HYS trial. CONCLUSIONS A small decrement in hydration status impaired physiologic function and performance while trail running in the heat.
Video Retargeting Based on Adaptive Spatiotemporal Saliency Mapping

This paper proposes a video retargeting method based on spatiotemporal saliency model for intelligent sensing of surveillance devices. Global histograms and regional histograms of the video are first calculated in both spatial domain and temporal domain, respectively, and then the spatiotemporal saliency model is built by evaluating the contrasts between the global histograms and each regional histogram. Experimental results on a variety of videos demonstrate that the proposed approach is simple and effective, and can preserve important objects well and achieve a better retargeting performance.
Role of Genetic Factors in Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart muscle disease characterized by cardiac chamber enlargement and impaired systolic (and almost always diastolic) function. It is usually associated with heart failure, arrhythmias and/or conduction system disease and thromboembolic disease but may also be asymptomatic. DCM is diagnosed in the presence of left ventricular enlargement and systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction less than 50% or fractional shortening of less than 25-30%). It is considered one of the most common causes of heart failure, resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality. Patients with DCM suffer from heart failure, arrhythmia and are at risk of premature death. The prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy is one case out of 2500 patients with an incidence of 7/100 000/year and it is 3 times more frequent in blacks and males than whites and females (Bender et al., 2011, Hershberger et al., 2007, Taylor et al., 2006). DCM may appear sporadic in a single member of family and is called then idiopathic DCM (IDC). Dilated cardiomyopathy may be also inherited and is termed familial DCM (FDC), contributing for 20-48 % of DCM. According to Mestroni et al. (1999), the diagnosis of FDC is made in the presence of two or more affected individuals in a single family or in the presence of a first-degree relative of a dilated cardiomyopathy patient with well documented unexplained sudden death at < 35 years of age. The principle causes of FDC are genetic mutations affecting cardiac myocytes (Taylor et al., 2006). Knowledge about genes involved in development of dilated cardiomyopathy can be used to create genetic tests for assessing the risk of DCM. As DCM is a multigenic disorder, there are many genes contributing to development of this disease. More than 30 genes, coding a variety of proteins such as nuclear envelope proteins, cardiac sarcomere units, ion channels, transcription factors, or dystrophin-associated cytoskeletal complex, were identified as causes of dilated cardiomyopathy (Hershberger et al., 2009a). Some of these genes (discussed in this chapter) are presented in Table 1. For additional information see Hershberger et al. (2010) and UpToDate® website.
Observation of a fast response in functional MR

A spectroscopic MR technique was used to investigate the time course of the MR signal following a single visual stimulus. Gated experiments demonstrate there is an early response (500 ms after stimulus) leading to a reduction of the MR signal by −0.25% (P = 0.02), whereas a slower response (>1500 ms after stimulus) results in a signal increase of +0.59% (P = 0.01). The fast negative response may be attributed to increased oxygen consumption, followed by a slower vascular response with overcompensation in blood oxygenatioln. This explanation would be in agreement with the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contrast mechanism considered the basis of functional MR. However, other physiological events might also be responsible for the signal drop observed.
Qué afecta a la participación electoral

Por que es mayor la participacion en algunos paises o elecciones que en otros? Por que se incrementao reduce con el paso del tiempo? Para dar respuesta a estas preguntas, empezare por los trabajospioneros de Powell y Jackman y mas tarde revisare otras investigaciones mas recientes. Estetrabajo trata de dilucidar que proposiciones sobre las causas de las variaciones en la participacionelectoral se ven solidamente respaldadas por los datos empiricos y cuales siguen siendo ambiguas.La mayor parte de la investigacion se refiere a democracias consolidadas, pero tambien se incluye elanalisis de democracias no consolidadas.
Synaptic Structure and Function in Transgenic APP Mice

Abstract: Efforts using transgenic mice are being made to understand the molecular and structural basis for dementia in Alzheimer's disease. Transgenic mice 12 to 18 months of age with amyloid plaques and impaired cognition show no neuronal or synaptic loss in the CA1 hippocampal subfield. Electrophysiological studies may yield new insights.
Volume-related sequence of tumor distribution pattern in prostate carcinoma: importance of posterior midline crossover in predicting tumor volume, extracapsular extension, and seminal vesicle invasion.

AIM To evaluate intraprostatic distribution of prostate carcinoma as a function of increasing tumor size and its potential clinical relevance. METHODS Forty-six prostates with different tumor extent were three dimensionally reconstructed and analyzed with emphasis on number of separate tumors (multifocality) and its distribution on both sides of the urethral midline (laterality). RESULTS Three tumor distribution patterns were identified: multiple bilateral without posterior midline crossover, multiple bilateral with crossover, and single bilateral (global) tumors. Unilateral tumors were rare (2%). The pattern of tumor distribution was associated with total tumor volume, presence and volume of high grade component, presence of extracapsular extension, and seminal vesicle involvement. Bilateral tumors with crossover were larger than bilateral tumors without crossover (Spearman's rho=0,728, P<0.001) and were associated with adverse pathological features including capsular penetration, seminal vesicle invasion, and surgical margin involvement. However, only high-grade volume was independently and highly associated with seminal vesicle involvement (OR=2.64, 95%, CI=1.181-5.340, P<0.001). Total (OR=2.53 [1.23-3.74], P<0.001) and index tumor (OR=2.54 [1.31-4.93], P<0.001) volumes were independently associated with capsular penetration. CONCLUSIONS The distribution of bilateral prostatic carcinomas with and without crossover may have clinical relevance because of their relation to total and high-grade volume.
Etude des mécanismes de maintenance et de spécification des cellules souches et progénitrices de la rétine du xénope

Au cours de ma these, mes projets de recherche ont vise a mieux comprendre les mecanismes moleculaires controlant la proliferation et la specification des cellules progenitrices dans la retine du xenope a travers trois projets principaux. Le reseau de regulation qui controle la specification des cellules progenitrices vers les sous-types neuronaux est a ce jour tres peu connu. C’est dans ce contexte que j’ai etudie le role du facteur de transcription a domaine bHLH, Ascl1, dans la determination des sous-types retiniens au cours du developpement. Par des approches in vivo de gain et perte de fonction d’Ascl1, des experiences d’epistasie et la recherche de ses cibles transcriptionnelles, j’ai pu mettre en evidence qu’Ascl1 (i) est implique dans la genese des neurones GABAergiques retiniens, (ii) qu’il est epistatique sur des facteurs glutamatergiques tels que Neurog2, NeuroD1 ou Atoh7, (iii) que son activite GABAergique est conferee par son domaine basique de liaison a l’ADN et (iv) que cette activite implique la regulation directe du facteur de transcription Ptf1a. Ces donnees ajoutent donc une nouvelle piece au reseau transcriptionnel gouvernant la specification des sous-types GABAergiques au cours du developpement de la retine. La mise en place correcte des types et sous-types cellulaires de la retine necessite une coordination avec le moment de sortie du cycle cellulaire des progeniteurs retiniens. Dans ce contexte, j’ai contribue a l’avancee d’un projet visant a etudier le reseau de signalisation controlant la proliferation des precurseurs de la retine. Par des approches in vivo, genetiques et pharmacologiques, cette etude a montre que les voies Wnt et Hedgehog s’antagonisent pour reguler l’activite proliferative des cellules souches et progenitrices retiniennes. Nos donnees preliminaires suggerent que ces voies agissent de facon opposee a la fois sur la sortie et sur la cinetique du cycle cellulaire. Ce travail nous a conduit a proposer un modele selon lequel ces voies Wnt et Hedgehog reguleraient la balance entre proliferation et differenciation dans la retine post-embryonnaire. Enfin, dans le but d’elargir nos connaissances sur les reseaux de signalisation et les reseaux transcriptionnels impliques dans le controle de la proliferation et de la determination cellulaire dans la retine, j’ai egalement contribue a la recherche de nouveaux marqueurs specifiques des differentes populations cellulaires retiniennes au travers d’un crible a grande echelle par hybridation in situ. De nombreux genes specifiquement exprimes dans les cellules souches ou les cellules progenitrices constituent des genes candidats pour de futures approches fonctionnelles.
Bilateral income elasticity R 2 from Multilateral Trade Regression Figure 2 : Attenuation Bias under Alternative Hypothesis

We examine why the gravity equation works and the implications for its use. There are three contributions. First, we demonstrate that the gravity equation as a statistical relationship (and not as a specific prediction about bilateral trade) can be generated from a model with incomplete specialization. Second, we analyze two facts or “puzzles” that are broadly inconsistent with the complete specialization models typically used to derive the gravity equation. In both cases, the data are consistent with the alternative hypothesis of incomplete specialization. “Home bias”, for example, is only puzzling when viewed through the lens of the complete specialization model. Third, we demonstrate that the explanation for why the gravity equation works has considerable relevance for how the gravity equation is interpreted and used, and how we view bilateral trade. Acknowledgements: The authors thank Jeff Bergstrand, Don Davis, Alan Deardorff, Simon Evenett, James Harrigan, Robert Heiny, and Wolfgang Keller for very helpful comments. Financial support from the CIBER center at Purdue University was also beneficial. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Federal Trade Commission or any individual Commissioner.
Technology Readiness Characteristics of 3G Subscribers in Indonesia: A Preliminary Study

The technology of 3G (Third Generation) mobile communication was launched in Indonesian market in September 2006. Studies have been conducted to discover contents frequently accessed by subscribers and their satisfaction level to operators' services. However, little is known about the subscribers' technology readiness characteristic. Knowing this characteristic is important since it will help 3G operators designing a proper marketing program in widening the customer base. A preliminary survey was conducted to obtain this information and it was discovered that a significant number of users possessed technology readiness characteristics different than those originally presented in literature.
Simplified Statement Extraction Using Machine Learning Techniques

The automatic generation of basic, factual questions from a single sentence of text is a problem in the field of natural language processing (NLP) that has received a considerable amount of attention in the past five years. Some studies have suggested splitting this problem into two parts: first, decomposing the source sentence into a set of smaller, simple sentences, and then transforming each of these sentences into a question. This paper outlines a novel method for the first part, combining two techniques recently developed for related NLP problems. Our method uses a trained classifier to determine which phrases of the source sentence are potential answers to questions, and then creates different compressions of the sentence for each one.