Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Iris recognition using collarette boundary localization

There has been a rapid increase in the need of accurate and reliable personal identification infrastructure in recent years, and biometrics has become an important technology for security. The iris recognition system consists of four-process: image acquisition, preprocessing, feature extraction and identification or verification. In this paper, we propose the methods for localizing the iris area between the inner boundary and the collarette boundary, to remove unnecessary areas and to increase the recognition rate. For finding the collarette boundary, histogram equalization and a high pass filter, after using an one-dimensional DFT, are applied to the image. The collarette boundary is found using statistical information from the image, which removes low-frequencies, and, finally, the iris is localized between the inner boundary and the collarette boundary. The iris is localized by two kinds of methods, and the recognition rates were compared. The recognition rate was evaluated by using DWT and SVM. These show that the iris localization by the proposed methods contains more information than the previous methods and improves the recognition rate.
Spinal Manipulation for Low Back Pain

TO THE EDITOR: Assendelft and colleagues (1) concluded that spinal manipulation is not more effective than other active interventions for low back pain. Of interest, this conclusion contrasts with the authors' previous findings suggesting a benefit (2-4). Conclusions may vary across trials of spinal manipulation because researchers often fail to adequately consider the importance of classification. Using broad inclusion criteria results in a heterogeneous sample that may include many patients for whom no benefit is expected, thus masking the intervention's true value. In their meta-analysis, Assendelft and colleagues questioned the need for future clinical trials, an action that could perpetuate their negative findings. However, they paid little attention to identifying relevant subgroups despite their previous recommendations to do so (3, 4). The results of Assendelft and colleagues' study reinforce the importance of matching individual patients to interventions with a high probability of success. Clinicians can accurately identify patients who are likely to benefit from spinal manipulation, as a recently developed clinical prediction rule proves (5). The probability of a successful outcome among patients who met at least 4 of 5 criteria in the rule increased from 45% to 95% (positive likelihood ratio, 24.4) (5). Thirty-five percent of patients with low back pain satisfied the rule, suggesting that this subgroup may not be small at all (5). It is quite possible that if the studies included in the review by Assendelft and colleagues had considered the predictors of success in their inclusion criteria, a positive effect would have been detected. Without regard for the classification process, Assendelft and colleagues' article may mislead health care practitioners, policymakers, and patients to believe that spinal manipulation is not effective for any patient with low back pain.
Is buoyancy a relative quantity

Basic concepts of buoyancy are reviewed and considered first in light of simple parcel theory and then in a more complete form. It is shown that parcel theory is generally developed in terms of the density (temperature) difference between an ascending parcel and an ‘‘environment’’ surrounding that parcel. That is, buoyancy is often understood as a relative quantity that apparently depends on the choice of a base-state environmental profile. However, parcel theory is most appropriately understood as a probe of the static stability of a sounding to finite vertical displacements of hypothetical parcels within the sounding rather than as a useful model of deep convection. The thermal buoyancy force, as measured by the temperature difference between a parcel and the base state, and vertical perturbation pressure gradient force together must remain independent of the base state. The vertical perturbation pressure gradient force can be decomposed to include a term due to thermal buoyancy and another due to the properties of motion in the flow. Some thought experiments are presented to illustrate the ambiguous relevance of the base state. It is concluded that buoyancy is not a relative quantity in that it cannot be dependent on the choice of an essentially arbitrary reference state. Buoyancy is the static part of an unbalanced vertical pressure gradient force and, as such, is determined locally, not relative to some arbitrary base state outside of a parcel. This has direct application to the diagnosis of buoyancy from numerical simulations—done properly, such a diagnosis must include not only the thermal buoyancy term but also the perturbation pressure gradient force due to buoyancy.
Positive Criminology in Practice

The discourse regarding offender rehabilitation has been criticized by various scholars who have claimed that reducing negative causes and managing risk will not automatically prompt positive human development and elements that are associated with desistance. Positive criminology is an innovative concept that challenges the common preoccupation with negative elements, by placing emphasis on human encounters and forces of inclusion that are experienced positively by target individuals and that can promote crime desistance. However, as the concept is relatively new, there are still no guiding principles for the practice of positive criminology that could direct research and the criminal justice system. This article attempts to fill that gap by providing principles that could be practiced by criminal justice personnel and examples of different interventions that reflect positive criminology. The article also provides ideological explanations for adopting the concept of positive criminology in practice.
The amygdala and autism: implications from non‐human primate studies

Brothers (1990) has proposed that the amygdala is an important component of the neural network that underlies social behavior. Kemper and Bauman (1993) identified neuropathology in the amygdala of the postmortem autistic brain. These findings, along with recent functional neuroimaging data, have led Baron‐Cohen et al. (2000) to propose that dysfunction of the amygdala may be responsible, in part, for the impairment of social behavior that is a hallmark feature of autism. Recent data from studies in our laboratory on the effects of amygdala lesions in the adult and infant macaque monkey do not support a fundamental role for the amygdala in social behavior. If the amygdala is not essential for the component processes of social behavior, as seems to be case in both non‐human primates and selected patients with bilateral amygdala damage, then it is unlikely to be the primary substrate for the impaired social behavior of autism. However, damage to the amygdala does have an effect on a monkey's response to normally fear‐inducing stimuli, such as snakes, and removes a natural reluctance to engage novel conspecifics in social interactions. These findings lead to the conclusion that an important role for the amygdala is in the detection of threats and mobilizing an appropriate behavioral response, part of which is fear. Interestingly, an important comorbid feature of autism is anxiety ( Muris et al. 1998). If the amygdala is pathological in subjects with autism, it may contribute to their abnormal fears and increased anxiety rather than their abnormal social behavior.
A Multi-Agent Framework for Resilient Enhancement in Networked Control Systems

Recent advances on the integration of control systems with state of the art information technologies have brought into play new uncertainties, not only associated with the physical world, but also from a cyber-space's perspective. In cyber-physical environments, awareness and resilience are invaluable properties. The paper focuses on the development of an architecture relying on a hierarchical multi-agent framework for resilience enhancement. This framework was evaluated on a test-bed comprising several distributed computational devices and heterogeneous communications. Results from tests prove the relevance of the proposed approach.
An Implementation of Leaf Recognition System using Leaf Vein and Shape

In this paper, we propose and implement a leaf recognition system using the leaf vein and shape that can be used for plant classification. The proposed approach uses major main vein and frequency domain data by using Fast Fourier Transform (hereinafter, FFT) methods with distance between contour and centroid on the detected leaf image. Total 21 leaf features were extracted for the leaf recognition, which they include ① the distance feature between centroid and all points on the leaf contour, ② frequency domain data by FFT that was performed using the distances. In summary, 10 features of all the 21 leaf features were extracted using distance, FFT magnitude, and phase, the other 10 features were extracted using t the digital morphological features using four basic geometric features and five vein features, and the last 1 feature was extracted using the convex hull. To verify the validity of the approach, images of 1907 leaves apply to classify 32 kinds of plants. In the experimental results, the proposed leaf recognition system showed an average recognition rate of 97.19%, and we can confirm that the recognition rate of the proposed leaf recognition system was better than that of the existed leaf recognition method.
Are Entrepreneurs a Breed Apart? A Look at the Evidence

It has been said that at bottom, 'entrepreneurship is a matter of individuals' [1]. Thus, not surprisingly much of the scholarship that has evolved on the subject of entrepreneurship has focused on the personality characteristics that define the entrepreneur. Although studies seeking to identify the nature of entrepreneurial talent have yielded some important insights, the empirical literature has not yet clcarly established the extent to which entrepreneurs are different from other types of business persons or managers [21. Tn rccognizing the limitations of the empirical studies that have been conducted, reviewers appear to be either too optimistic by glossing over the fundamental difficulty of generalizing from these studies [31 or they appear to be too pessimistic by dismissing the usefulness of examining characteristics of entrepreneurs in isolation from their environments [4]. Although the latter perspective may eventually prove to be right, we can. 1ot allow 01lrselves to prejudge on the basis of reviews that fail to systematically consider methodological characteristics that may explain inconsistent results. The leadership trait literature offers an example of the danger in doing so. Leadership researchers spent many years pursuing trait theories until Stogdill [5] and Mann [6] conducted reviews which found th\lt
Position paper of the ADA Ad Hoc Committee on trace anesthetics as a potential health hazard in dentistry.

Important points made in the deliberations of the ADA ad hoc committee are reviewed, and a series of recommendations is presented to the profession. The historical aspects of general surgical anesthesia and the important part that dentists and dentistry played in its early development are cited. Nitrous oxide is used almost universally in operating rooms of the country as a vehicle or adjuvant for the more potent inhalation agents. In spite of the problems associated with its earlier use in dentistry, nitrous oxide more recently has become a very important inhalation sedative agent for the control of dental fear and anxiety. The general issues in the alleged anesthetic-health problem are discussed. The many essential differences between the medical and dental components of the overall problem are outlined, and some of the unique difficulties concerned with the control of inhalation anesthetic/sedative contamination of dental operatories are stated. Fundamental deficiencies in both animal and epidemiologic research in scientific support of the contamination-disease theory are given. An early resolution of this reseach need is critical, since a criteria document (presenting minimal standards) has been developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and is being reviewed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, making compliance with its restrictive provisions a mandatory rather than an elective issue. Finally, all the complex issues are weighed in a risk to benefit ratio, and recommendations are made by the ad hoc committee that are viewed as reasonable and in the best interests of the profession and all others concerned.
Evaluation of the Staph-Ident and STAPHase systems for identification of staphylococci from bovine intramammary infections

The Staph-Ident and STAPHase systems (Analytab Products, Plainview, N.Y.) were compared with conventional methods for identification of staphylococci isolated from bovine intramammary infections. Adjunct testing by colony morphology, pigmentation, and biochemical tests was conducted to resolve discrepant identifications. The initial accuracies of the conventional scheme and Staph-Ident were 92.1 and 89.2%, respectively. Staphylococcus hyicus subsp. chromogenes could not be identified by means of the Staph-Ident test, but the addition of pigment production as a key character permitted identification of most strains. The final accuracy of the Staph-Ident was 94.3%. The STAPHase system was as accurate as the conventional tube coagulase method. The Staph-Ident and STAPHase systems are acceptable alternatives to conventional methods for identification of staphylococcal species isolated from bovine intramammary infections.
Multigenic drug resistance among inbred malaria parasites

Recent population genetic studies on the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum have confirmed that selfing is more frequent where the transmission rate is lower, with inbreeding coefficients estimated to be 0.33 and 0.92 for sites in Tanzania and Papua New Guinea (PNG), respectively. These geographical differences in Plasmodium mating patterns have been linked to the rate of spread of chloroquine resistance (CQR) which, according to some measures, has been slower in Tanzania than in PNG. It has been proposed that the former observation explains the latter, although the theoretical argument linking the two is based on limited simulation studies. Taking a more analytical approach here, we first establish the relevant relationship between the coefficient of inbreeding (F, within loci) and the recombination rate (r, between loci), defining an 'effective recombination rate', r(tilde) = r(1-F). We then show that the emergence of multigenic drug resistance can indeed be slowed (or even quickened) by more outcrossing, but only when resistance is determined by two or more genes, none of which independently confers significant protection. The resistance genes should both be initially rare, and subject to low selection pressure. The analysis does not completely discount the hypothesis that inbreeding significantly influences the spread of CQR, but we show that it can only do so under a restrictive set of conditions, and that these conditions are not satisfied by some laboratory and field data. We discuss some of the wider implications of these results for the evolution of multigenic resistance.
A charge-oriented model for MOS transistor capacitances

A new model for computer simulation of capacitance effects in MOS transistors is presented. Transient currents are found directly from the charge distribution in the device rather than from capacitances. The effective capacitances which result are nonreciprocal. The model guarantees conservation of charge and includes bulk capacitances. Several circuit examples are considered.
The Approaches of Developing Advanced Third Party Logistics Service for the Medium-Sized Third Party Logistics Service Providers

With the fast development of national economy in recent years, requirements for the third party logistics is largely increased. However, it is not only just the increase of quantity but also the improvement of quality. The medium-sized third party logistics service providers are enduring unprecedented pressure in the face of customers’ strict demands and the fierce competition of state-owned logistics enterprises also with the entrance to Chinese logistics market of foreign third party logistics providers, such as MASKER logistics, CEVA Logistics, Schenker logistics, etc. It’s inevitable for the medium-sized third party logistics service providers to develop advanced third party logistics service on the base of comprehension upon the demands and structure of logistics market under the above mentioned circumstance and it’s also necessary to establish development strategies which is suitable for their interest to answer such competition according to the core competence of developing advanced logistics service.
Shopping Market Assistant Robot

The implementation of a service robot for shopping-market assistant is presented. The scaled prototype robot is a four-wheeled differential vehicle based on microcontrollers and ultrasonic sensors for following a person to a certain distance while groceries are selected. Each grocery is identified by a unique number through radio frequency tags. The grocery is placed in the basket of the robot by the user, this identifier is read and transmitted to a remote computer by means of ZigBee wireless communication protocol, querying to a database for information about the grocery, which is presented to the user on a color display with the bill. The results in convenience stores have been shown that the autonomous robot is a reliable tool for shopping assistant.
Penicillin‐binding protein PBP2 of Escherichia coli localizes preferentially in the lateral wall and at mid‐cell in comparison with the old cell pole

The localization of penicillin‐binding protein 2 (PBP2) in Escherichia coli has been studied using a functional green fluorescent protein (GFP)–PBP2 fusion protein. PBP2 localized in the bacterial envelope in a spot‐like pattern and also at mid‐cell during cell division. PBP2 disappeared from mid‐cell just before separation of the two daughter cells. It localized with a preference for the cylindrical part of the bacterium in comparison with the old cell poles, which are known to be inert with respect to peptidoglycan synthesis. In contrast to subunits of the divisome, PBP2 failed to localize at mid‐cell when PBP3 was inhibited by the specific antibiotic aztreonam. Therefore, despite its dependency on active PBP3 for localization at mid‐cell, it seems not to be an integral part of the divisome. Cells grown for approximately half a mass doubling time in the presence of the PBP2 inhibitor mecillinam synthesized nascent cell poles with an increased diameter, indicating that PBP2 is required for the maintenance of the correct diameter of the new cell pole.
Physical and genetic map of the genome of Vibrio parahaemolyticus: presence of two chromosomes in Vibrio species

We constructed a physical map of the genomic DNA (5.1 Mb) for Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain AQ4673 by combining 17 adjacent NotI fragments. This map shows two circular replicons of 3.2 and 1.9 Mb. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of undigested genomic DNA revealed two bands of corresponding sizes. Analysis both by NotI digestion and by Southern blot of the two isolated bands confirmed the existence of two replicons. The presence of genes for 16S rRNA on both the replicons indicates that the replicons are chromosomes rather than megaplasmids. The two bands were also seen after PFGE of undigested genomic DNA of V. parahaemolyticus strains other than AQ4673, and of strains belonging to other Vibrio species, such as V. vulnificus, V. fluvialis and various serovars and biovars of V. cholerae. It is noteworthy that V. cholerae O1 strain 569B, a classical biovar, was also shown to have two replicons of 2.9 and 1.2 Mb, which does not agree with a physical map proposed in a previous study. Our results suggest that a two‐replicon structure is common throughout Vibrio species.
An alpha to beta conformational switch in EF-Tu.

BACKGROUND The bacterial elongation factor EF-Tu recognizes and transports aminoacyl-tRNAs to mRNA-programmed ribosomes. EF-Tu shares many structural and functional properties with other GTPases whose conformations are regulated by guanine nucleotides. RESULTS An intact form of Escherichia coli EF-Tu complexed with GDP has been crystallized in the presence of the EF-Tu-specific antibiotic GE2270 A. The three-dimensional structure has been solved by X-ray diffraction analysis and refined to a final crystallographic R factor of 17.2% at a resolution of 2.5 A. The location of the GE2270 A antibiotic-binding site could not be identified. CONCLUSIONS The structure of EF-Tu-GDP is nearly identical to that of a trypsin-modified form of EF-Tu-GDP, demonstrating conclusively that the protease treatment had not altered any essential structural features. The present structure represents the first view of an ordered Switch I region in EF-Tu-GDP and reveals similarities with two other GTPases complexed with GDP: Ran and ADP-ribosylation factor-1. A comparison of the Switch I regions of the GTP and GDP forms of EF-Tu also reveals that a segment, six amino acids in length, completely converts from an alpha helix in the GTP complex to beta secondary structure in the GDP form. The alpha to beta switch in EF-Tu may represent a prototypical activation mechanism for other protein families.
Layout and fabrication of long legs microbolometer

Microbolometers are uncooled infrared detectors that enable the perception of electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength interval from 8 μm to 12 μm. They have a broad range of applications in medicine, industry, public safety, and especially in the military and aerospace fields. The microbolometer consists of an IR-sensitive element deposited on top of a microbridge and suspended above the substrate by support legs. The design and dimensions of microbridge and its support legs affect the performance of the detector. The greater the length of support legs the larger the thermal insulation and the higher the radiation sensitivity of microbolometers. In this work, five different microbolometer pixel layouts were designed, simulated and fabricated. The results demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing longer support legs for uncooled infrared detectors.
Pymes como modelo económico en la creación de estrategias de comunicación

At present where the market is saturated by different companies in the world, the corporate image is vital and essential for the proper positioning of a brand or service in the world of business SMEs (small and medium enterprises) element. The corporate image is how customers perceive as a business, which is what defines the success or failure of it. The creation of the corporate image must be one of the first steps for an employer to organize or start a business, not only in small and medium enterprises business but in all types of marketing products or services, the picture is absolutely everything what the customer perceives in the first instance. The corporate image of a company is nothing more than a way to firmly express the brand, is the opportunity for any company to differentiate itself from the competition. This image conveys the fundamental values such as consumer confidence in the client can forge business relationship. Consumers relate very large chains and positioned with professionalism, seriousness and tranquility, therefore for SMEs is challenging companies to achieve position in this competitive market. Gradually these companies build their solid and consistent corporate identity, which does get a bit position themselves in the minds of consumers. Corporate image depends on the type of clients that captures and of course the first impression you give the company, which is essential if you want to be different and stand out from the competition.