Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Feature-Based Forensic Procedure for Splicing Forgeries Detection

Nowadays, determining if an image appeared somewhere on the web or in a magazine or is authentic or not has become crucial. Image forensics methods based on features have demonstrated so far to be very effective in detecting forgeries in which a portion of an image is cloned somewhere else onto the same image. Anyway such techniques cannot be adopted to deal with splicing attack, that is, when the image portion comes from another picture that then, usually, is not available anymore for an operation of feature match. In this paper, a procedure in which these techniques could also be employed will be shown to get rid of splicing attack by resorting to the use of some repositories of images available on the Internet like Google Images or TinEye Reverse Image Search. Experimental results are presented on some real case images retrieved on the Internet to demonstrate the capacity of the proposed procedure.
A semantic framework for data retrieval in large remote sensing databases

Remote sensing platforms acquire huge amounts of data every day. As a result, large archives of data have been created. In order to provide access to this data efficient search and retrieval methods have to be developed, such as image information mining systems. In this paper we present a framework for an image information mining system using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation text-mining algorithm to provide a high-level semantic model of data, the search being performed in the LDA model space.
Use of a continuous-flow device in patients awaiting heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND The use of left ventricular assist devices is an accepted therapy for patients with refractory heart failure, but current pulsatile volume-displacement devices have limitations (including large pump size and limited long-term mechanical durability) that have reduced widespread adoption of this technology. Continuous-flow pumps are newer types of left ventricular assist devices developed to overcome some of these limitations. METHODS In a prospective, multicenter study without a concurrent control group, 133 patients with end-stage heart failure who were on a waiting list for heart transplantation underwent implantation of a continuous-flow pump. The principal outcomes were the proportions of patients who, at 180 days, had undergone transplantation, had cardiac recovery, or had ongoing mechanical support while remaining eligible for transplantation. We also assessed functional status and quality of life. RESULTS The principal outcomes occurred in 100 patients (75%). The median duration of support was 126 days (range, 1 to 600). The survival rate during support was 75% at 6 months and 68% at 12 months. At 3 months, therapy was associated with significant improvement in functional status (according to the New York Heart Association class and results of a 6-minute walk test) and in quality of life (according to the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy questionnaires). Major adverse events included postoperative bleeding, stroke, right heart failure, and percutaneous lead infection. Pump thrombosis occurred in two patients. CONCLUSIONS A continuous-flow left ventricular assist device can provide effective hemodynamic support for a period of at least 6 months in patients awaiting heart transplantation, with improved functional status and quality of life. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00121472 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).
Amplitude-only beam scanning in linear antenna arrays

In phased arrays the mainbeam is scanned by either varying the phase excitations of the elements or varying the frequency of operation. In spite of their extensive use, these methods need either variable phase shifters or frequency sweeping. It is shown here that beam scanning is also feasible by varying magnitudes of the array element excitations thus alleviating the need for phase shifters or frequency variation. In this technique, the amplitude excitations of some side elements are reduced while those of the others are increased by proper power division or weighting in the feed network of the array. Theoretical analysis and computer simulations are presented to verify the proposed idea. A 3-element array is studied first, then the idea is extended to a 7-element array. Simulation results show appreciable scan angles with minor variation in the mainbeam level. Some degradation in the array pattern is noticed at large scan angles.
Indole acetic acid and phytase activity produced by rhizosphere bacilli as affected by pH and metals

The abilities to produce indole acetic acid (IAA) and mineralize organic phospho- rus by phytase are desirable traits in plant−growth promotion rhizobacteria (PGPR) particularly in Chilean Andisols which are characterized by low pH and high total P. However, little is known about the influence of soil properties that are specific to An- disol (low pH and metal toxicity) on the effectiveness of PGPR. Here, we assessed the effect of pH and metal cations on IAA and phytase activity of cell-associated proteins produced by two bacilli strains isolated from the rhizosphere of pasture plants. The production in vivo of IAA by Paenibacillus sp. SPT−03 was significantly increased (7−fold) when incubated in tenfold diluted culture medium, compared to the full-strength medium. At low pH (pH<5), phytase activity of cell−associated proteins and IAA production of Bacillus sp. MQH−19 was decreased, whereas they were increased in Paenibacillus sp. SPT−03. Moreover, phytase activity in vitro of cell−associated proteins and IAA production in both bacilli strains were signifi- cantly inhibited by 30−100% and 44−70% by concentrations of 10 mM and 350 µM Fe 3+ and Al 3+ , respectively. At 350 µM Mn 2+ IAA production was inhibited by 30−100% in both strains but there was no effect on phytase activity. This study shows that certain properties of Andisol may differentially affect some mechanisms related with PGPR efficiency.
A Probabilistic Method for Mining Sequential Rules from Sequences of LBS Cloaking Regions

Analyzing large-scale spatial-temporal anonymity sets can benefit many LBS applications. However, traditional spatial-temporal data mining algorithms cannot be used for anonymity datasets because the uncertainty of anonymity datasets renders those algorithms ineffective. In this paper, the authors adopt the uncertainty of anonymity datasets and propose a probabilistic method for mining sequence rules PMSR from sequences of LBS cloaking regions generated from a series of LBS continuous queries. The main concept of the method is that it designs a probabilistic measurement of a support value of a sequence rule, and the implementation principle of the method is to iteratively achieve sequence rules. Finally, the authors conduct extensive experiments, and the results show that, compared to the non-probabilistic method, their proposed method has a significant matching ratio when the mined sequence rules are used as predictors, while the average accuracy of the sequence rules is comparable and computing performance is only slightly decreased.
Thurstonian Scaling of Compositional Questionnaire Data

ABSTRACT To prevent response bias, personality questionnaires may use comparative response formats. These include forced choice, where respondents choose among a number of items, and quantitative comparisons, where respondents indicate the extent to which items are preferred to each other. The present article extends Thurstonian modeling of binary choice data to “proportion-of-total” (compositional) formats. Following the seminal work of Aitchison, compositional item data are transformed into log ratios, conceptualized as differences of latent item utilities. The mean and covariance structure of the log ratios is modeled using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), where the item utilities are first-order factors, and personal attributes measured by a questionnaire are second-order factors. A simulation study with two sample sizes, N = 300 and N = 1,000, shows that the method provides very good recovery of true parameters and near-nominal rejection rates. The approach is illustrated with empirical data from N = 317 students, comparing model parameters obtained with compositional and Likert-scale versions of a Big Five measure. The results show that the proposed model successfully captures the latent structures and person scores on the measured traits.
Quais as principais características das fêmeas que manifestam a síndrome do segundo parto

O objetivo de uma exploracao de reprodutoras suinas e produzir o maior numero de leitoes por femea durante toda vida produtiva do animal ao menor custo possivel. A reducao na producao de leitoes no segundo parto em relacao ao primeiro tem sido observada com frequencia em granjas, representando perdas no potencial de produtividade de um plantel de matrizes suinas. As causas que levam a reducao do tamanho da leitegada no segundo parto sao discutidas. De acordo com Kemp (1998) a queda no desempenho reprodutivo de primiparas esta predominantemente relacionada com o periodo de lactacao previo. Possivelmente, as falhas no manejo reprodutivo e nutricional sejam as mais importantes. A busca por animais com menor teor de gordura na carcaca, atraves da selecao para menor espessura de toucinho (ET), mudou o perfil das femeas em pelo menos dois aspectos. Primeiro, elas apresentam maior tamanho quando adultas, consequentemente precisam de mais tempo para atingir a maturidade. Segundo, e talvez o mais importante, e que o consumo voluntario de racao (CVR) destes animais tornou-se menor ao longo do tempo de selecao. Como consequencia, as geneticas atuais apresentam maior tendencia as perdas de reservas corporais durante a lactacao. Ao primeiro parto as femeas possuem menos reservas corporais, apresentam maiores exigencias para a mantenca, produzem mais leite e ingerem menos racao. Quando a alimentacao das femeas durante a lactacao nao e suficiente para suprir as exigencias de mantenca e producao de leite, inevitavelmente havera mobilizacao das reservas corporais para suprir estas necessidades, podendo levar a ocorrencia de falhas reprodutivas (VAN DER PEET-SCHWERING et al., 1998). Parece que a condicao corporal ao parto serve, em parte, como um fator determinante para explicar a ocorrencia de problemas reprodutivos em primiparas (KEMP et al., 1996). Os efeitos da nutricao sobre as perdas corporais sao mais obvios em femeas no seu primeiro ciclo reprodutivo (primiparas), embora ainda sejam evidentes, mas reduzidos, em femeas no segundo ciclo reprodutivo (VESSEUR et al., 1996). O catabolismo dos tecidos corporeos durante a lactacao resultara em uma diminuicao no tamanho da leitegada subsequente, principalmente devido aos efeitos sobre a sobrevivencia embrionaria (FOXCROFT et al., 1997). Compreender os fatores relacionados com o problema e conhecer o perfil das femeas que sofrem com esta reducao pode contribuir para minimizar as perdas de produtividade por parte desta categoria.
Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding a new DNA methyltransferase from Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

A HindIII fragment of N. gonorrhoeae MS11 DNA coding for DNA methyltransferase (MTase) activity was cloned and expressed in E. coli AP1-200-9 cells. The sequence of 4681 bp was determined, and its analysis revealed two open reading frames (ORFs) sharing some similarity with known DNA MTases. ORF1 encodes an active N4mC MTase (M.NgoMV). The enzyme modifies only one strand of double stranded DNA and preferentially recognises the sequence GCCHR although it is able to methylate other sites. The exact recognition sequence cannot be precisely defined due to a relaxed specificity. The second ORF shows high homology to 5mC Mtases, but we were unable to demonstrate DNA methylating activity of its product either in vivo or in vitro.
Comparison of paroxetine and nortriptyline in depressed patients with ischemic heart disease.

CONTEXT Depression and ischemic heart disease often are comorbid conditions and, in patients who have had a myocardial infarction, the presence of depression is associated with increased mortality. Patients with heart disease need a safe and effective treatment for depression. OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy, cardiovascular effects, and safety of a specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor, paroxetine, with a tricyclic antidepressant, nortriptyline hydrochloride, in depressed patients with ischemic heart disease. DESIGN Two-week placebo lead-in followed by a double-blind randomized 6-week medication trial. SETTING Research clinics in 4 university centers. PATIENTS Eighty-one outpatients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria for major depressive disorder and with documented ischemic heart disease. INTERVENTIONS Treatment with either paroxetine, 20 to 30 mg/d, or nortriptyline targeted to a therapeutic plasma level, 190 to 570 nmol/L (50-150 ng/mL), for 6 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES For effectiveness of treatment, a decline in the score of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression by 50% and final score of 8 or less; for cardiovascular safety, heart rate and rhythm, supine and standing systolic and diastolic blood pressures, electrocardiogram conduction intervals, indexes of heart rate variability, and rate of adverse events. RESULTS By intent-to-treat analysis, 25 (61%) of 41 patients improved during treatment with paroxetine and 22 (55%) of 40 improved with nortriptyline. Neither drug significantly affected blood pressure or conduction intervals. Paroxetine had no sustained effects on heart rate or rhythm or indexes of heart rate variability, whereas patients treated with nortriptyline had a sustained 11% increase in heart rate from a mean of 75 to 83 beats per minute (P<.001) and a reduction in heart rate variability, as measured by the SD of all normal R-R intervals over a 24-hour period, from 112 to 96 (P<.01). Adverse cardiac events occurred in 1 (2%) of 41 patients treated with paroxetine and 7 (18%) of 40 patients treated with nortriptyline (P<.03). CONCLUSIONS Paroxetine and nortriptyline are effective treatments for depressed patients with ischemic heart disease. Nortriptyline treatment was associated with a significantly higher rate of serious adverse cardiac events compared with paroxetine.
A possible mechanism for endogenous activation of the type I interferon system in myositis patients with anti-Jo-1 or anti-Ro 52/anti-Ro 60 autoantibodies.

OBJECTIVE To investigate type I interferon (IFN) system activation and its correlation with autoantibodies and organ manifestations in polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), and inclusion body myositis. METHODS Sera from 30 patients and 16 healthy controls, or purified IgG, were combined with material released from necrotized cells to stimulate IFNalpha production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy blood donors. Muscle biopsy specimens from 25 patients and 7 healthy controls were investigated for blood dendritic cell antigen 2 (BDCA-2)-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) and IFNalpha/beta-inducible myxovirus resistance 1 (MX-1) protein. RESULTS Sera from 13 patients who were positive for anti-Jo-1 or anti-Ro 52/anti-Ro 60 autoantibodies induced IFNalpha production in PBMCs when combined with necrotic cell material. In addition, IgG prepared from anti-Jo-1-positive PM sera induced IFNalpha with necrotic material, but not when the latter was treated with RNase. BDCA-2 expression in PDCs in muscle tissue was increased in PM patients with anti-Jo-1 autoantibodies, while MX-1 staining in capillaries was increased in DM patients, compared with healthy individuals. IFNalpha-inducing capacity correlated with interstitial lung disease, while MX-1 expression in the capillaries correlated with DM. CONCLUSION Immune complexes containing anti-Jo-1 or anti-Ro 52/anti-Ro 60 autoantibodies and RNA may act as endogenous IFNalpha inducers that activate IFNalpha production in PDCs. These PDCs could be of importance for inducing myositis, whereas in DM patients without autoantibodies the presence of MX-1 protein in capillaries suggests another cellular IFNalpha source and induction mechanism. Consequently, the type I IFN system may be of importance in both PM and DM, but via different pathways.
Microscopic distribution of californium-249 and berkelium-249 in the soft tissues of beagles.

The microscopic distribution pattern of z4sCf and *49Bk in the soft tissues of beagles, one to three weeks following a single intravenous injection of a citrate solution, was found to be very similar to that of a41Am. Relatively high concentrations occurred in the hepatic cells of the liver, the glomeruli of the kidney, the interfollicular region of the thyroid, the cartilaginous tissues of the lung, and the media of the smaller arterioles of most organs. Very intense, but sparsely scattered “hot spots” were also present in the renal papillae and in the submucosa of the bronchioles. Lesser sites of localization were the endocardium of the AV heart valves, the glassy membranes of the larger hairs of the coat, the zona pellucida of the Graafian follicles and the zona arcuata of the adrenal cortex. With the exception of the liver, where the radionuclide was principally within the hepatic cells, most of the deposition sites were extracellular, within or associated with connective tissue which gave a positive periodic acid-Schiff reaction. Utah, 84112
Evaluating Student Models

We use the Additive Factors Model to drive the evaluation of the student model of an Intelligent Tutoring System. Using data from the Andes Physics Tutor, applying the simple location heuristic and implementing the Additive Factors Model tool in the Pittsburgh’s Science of Learning Center’s DataShop, we discover possible ways to improve the student model of the Andes Intelligent Tutor.
Understanding of tuning techniques of converter controllers for VSC-HVDC

A mathematical model of a voltage source converter is presented in the synchronous reference frame for investigating VSC-HVDC for transferring wind power through a long distance. This model is used to analyze voltage and current control loops for the VSC and study their dynamics. Vector control is used for decoupled control of active and reactive power and the transfer functions are derived for the control loops. In investigating the operating conditions for HVDC systems, the tuning of controllers is one of the critical stages of the design of control loops. Three tuning techniques are discussed in the paper and analytical expressions are derived for calculating the parameters of the current and voltage controllers. The tuning criteria are discussed and simulations are used to test the performance of such tuning techniques.
Phone Use While Driving: Results From an Observational Survey

Objectives: The aim of this study was to quantify the level of handheld phone use when driving in South Australia. The study also sought to investigate any driver, site, and vehicle characteristics associated with handheld phone use to inform countermeasure development and publicity campaigns. Method: An on-road observational survey of handheld phone use was undertaken as part of a larger restraint use survey. The survey was conducted at 61 sites in metropolitan Adelaide and rural regions within South Australia on weekdays and a weekend in 2009. Results: A total of 64 (0.6%) of the 11,524 drivers observed during the survey were using handheld phones. Handheld phone usage rates ranged from 0.8 percent in metropolitan Adelaide to 0.3 percent in the rural region of The Riverland. Of all driver, site, and vehicle characteristics examined, the only statistically significant difference in handheld phone usage was for the number of vehicle occupants. The odds of a driver using a handheld phone while traveling alone was over 4 times higher than for a driver traveling with passengers. Conclusions: The level of handheld phone use among drivers in South Australia appears to be low relative to other jurisdictions. The level of enforcement activity and severity of penalties do not offer a clear explanation for the higher levels of compliance with phone laws. Given the rate of increase in phone technology, it is important to conduct regular roadside surveys of phone use among drivers to monitor trends in usage over time.
Associations of childhood and adulthood height and the components of height with insulin-like growth factor levels in adulthood: a 65-year follow-up of the Boyd Orr cohort.

CONTEXT Taller individuals with longer legs have a higher risk of cancer but a lower risk of coronary heart disease. OBJECTIVE We investigated whether childhood height and its components are associated with the IGF system in adulthood. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS We analyzed data from 429 participants of the Boyd Orr cohort, for whom height measured in childhood (mean age, 7.4 yr) in 1937-1939 could be related to levels of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-2, and IGFBP-3 in adulthood (mean age, 71.1 yr). In 385 participants, measured height in adulthood could be related to IGF levels. RESULTS In fully adjusted models (controlling for age, sex, socioeconomic factors, lifestyle, and body mass index), childhood height and its components were not associated with adult circulating IGF-I, IGF-II, or IGFBP-2 levels. IGFBP-3 was 85.5 ng/ml higher (95% confidence interval, -11.6 to 182.5; P = 0.08) per sd increase in childhood trunk length and 83.6 ng/ml lower (95% confidence interval, -10.3 to 177.5; P = 0.08) per sd increase in childhood leg/trunk ratio. Height in adulthood was not associated with IGF-I, IGF-II, or IGFBP-3 and was inversely associated with IGFBP-2 (P = 0.05) after additionally controlling for childhood height. CONCLUSION There was no evidence that associations of childhood height with cancer and coronary heart disease risk are mediated by IGF-I in adulthood. The anthropometric associations with IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 could be chance findings but warrant additional investigation. IGF levels in childhood may be more important determinants of long-term disease risk than adult levels.
Temporal changes in allele frequency, genetic variation and inbreeding depression in small populations of the guppy, Poecilia reticulata

We established three closed lines of N=10 for the guppy Poecilia reticulata, to evaluate the relationships among temporal changes in allele frequency, genetic variation and inbreeding depression for a fitness-related trait in small populations. Genetic variation at the allozyme loci, expressed by the proportion of polymorphic loci, number of alleles per locus and heterozygosity, decreased somewhat in two closed lines but it increased in one closed line over six generations. Effective population size (Ne) at each generation was estimated from the standardized variance in the allele frequencies. The average Ne was 24.4, 10.3 and 10.0 in the three closed lines. The inbreeding coefficient calculated from the Ne increased to 0.186, 0.321 and 0.414, respectively. As an index of the amount of inbreeding depression, changes in salinity tolerance were examined, because this trait is strongly sensitive to inbreeding depression and decreases linearly with an increase in inbreeding coefficient. The mean value of the salinity tolerance significantly decreased to 82.5%, 71.7% and 67.6% in the three closed lines during the six generations, suggesting inbreeding depression for salinity tolerance. Although a significant correlation was not observed between the amount of inbreeding depression and the genetic variation, the amount of inbreeding depression correlated with the inbreeding coefficient calculated from Ne. The regression line indicated an 8.4% decrease in the mean per 10% increase in the inbreeding coefficient and was similar to that obtained directly from full-sib matings. These results indicate that the temporal changes in the allele frequencies can provide an estimation of the amount of inbreeding depression during successive generations in small populations.