Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A BLIND WATERMARKING SCHEME FOR TAMPER DETECTION IN DIGITAL IMAGES

The paper proposes a method for tamper proofing digital images using the technique of digital watermarking. Many a times the published images are subject to tampering to an extent that the facts conveyed in the original image are distorted. The mechanism presented here describes a method for detecting the regions in image that were subject to illegal modifications. The method also can detect the portions in image that were exposed to vector quantization kind of attacks. Two essential requirements of watermarking process for tamper detection, blind and robust, stands fulfilled by the proposed algorithm. The watermarking technique presents an algorithm that employs a frequency domain embedding process using DWT.
Isobolographic interaction between AO-294, an enantiomer of losigamone, and phenobarbital in the mouse model of maximal electroshock

The objective of the present study was to determine the exact type of interaction between AO-294, the less active enantiomer of a novel antiepileptic drug losigamone and phenobarbital in the model of maximal electroshockinduced convulsions in mice. Isobolographic analysis of obtained data show that the 2 drugs interact additively when administered in proportions of 1:3 and 1:1. Antagonism was found at the dose ratio of 3:1. This may suggest that AO-294 is not a good candidate for 2-drug therapy with phenobarbital, especially when administered at relatively high doses.
De Novo Assembly and Analysis of Tartary Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Garetn.) Transcriptome Discloses Key Regulators Involved in Salt-Stress Response

Soil salinization has been a tremendous obstacle for agriculture production. The regulatory networks underlying salinity adaption in model plants have been extensively explored. However, limited understanding of the salt response mechanisms has hindered the planting and production in Fagopyrum tataricum, an economic and health-beneficial plant mainly distributing in southwest China. In this study, we performed physiological analysis and found that salt stress of 200 mM NaCl solution significantly affected the relative water content (RWC), electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in tartary buckwheat seedlings. Further, we conducted transcriptome comparison between control and salt treatment to identify potential regulatory components involved in F. tataricum salt responses. A total of 53.15 million clean reads from control and salt-treated libraries were produced via an Illumina sequencing approach. Then we de novo assembled these reads into a transcriptome dataset containing 57,921 unigenes with N50 length of 1400 bp and total length of 44.5 Mb. A total of 36,688 unigenes could find matches in public databases. GO, KEGG and KOG classification suggested the enrichment of these unigenes in 56 sub-categories, 25 KOG, and 273 pathways, respectively. Comparison of the transcriptome expression patterns between control and salt treatment unveiled 455 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Further, we found the genes encoding for protein kinases, phosphatases, heat shock proteins (HSPs), ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), abiotic-related transcription factors and circadian clock might be relevant to the salinity adaption of this species. Thus, this study offers an insight into salt tolerance mechanisms, and will serve as useful genetic information for tolerant elite breeding programs in future.
Vertical movements in and around the south‐east Carpathian foredeep: lithospheric memory and stress field control

A > 10‐km‐thick basin formed in Tertiary to Quaternary times in front and overlapping with the south‐east Carpathians. The Focşani Depression is part of this system and overlies the Vrancea seismogenetic volume, thought to correspond to the remnants of the continental slab subducted beneath the Carpathians. Slab detachment and its lateral migration are considered to control vertical movements in the area. We present the first complete analysis of subsidence patterns in the Depression and derive a substantially different picture. The strongest subsidence is Sarmatian in age, coeval with the main nappe emplacement events. Subsequently, subsidence did not stop and persisted until present times despite cessation of thrusting. The main depocentre remained the Focşani Depression and no significant lateral migration is detected. Post‐Sarmatian subsidence is contemporaneous with major exhumation/erosion in the Carpathians. The evolution of the basin is associated with a combination of vertical and far‐field horizontal stresses, and its position is controlled by pre‐existing lithospheric heterogeneities.
A relevance feedback-based learner for image retrieval using SIFT descriptors

This paper presents a relevance feedback (RF) algorithm for scale invariant features extracting form Caltech image database. The RF is a powerful technique to bridging the gap between high-level concepts and low-level features in image retrieval systems. This paper attempts to enhance the performance of RF by exploiting unlabelled images in the database. Each scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) keypoint is considered as the different feature (colour histogram, colour moments, wavelet transform, Gabor transform, etc.). The user labels several images accordingly to whether they are positive (relevant) or negative (irrelevant) examples to a query. Therefore, the relevance feedback process changes labelled and unlabelled images. The query feature and weights are updated as per the keypoint features of positively and negatively labelled images. Furthermore, a new similarity measurement for matching of database images with query is proposed in this paper. The SIFT feature is local feature of an image, which is invariant to image scaling, transformation, rotation and partially invariant to illumination changes, angle of view changes, and noise. The retrieval results show that proposed RF method using SIFT descriptors achieves good effectiveness in content-based image retrieval.
Imaging of pancreas divisum by linear-array endoscopic ultrasonography

Pancreas divisum (PD) is the most common developmental anatomic variant of pancreatic duct. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is often performed to evaluate idiopathic pancreatitis and has been shown to have high accuracy in diagnosis of PD. The different techniques to identify PD by linear EUS have been described differently by different authors. If EUS is done with a proper technique it can be a valuable tool in the diagnosis of PD. The anatomical and technical background of different signs has not been described so far. This article summarizes the different techniques of imaging of pancreatic duct in a suspected case of PD and gives a technical explanation of various signs. The common signs seen during evaluation of pancreatic duct in PD are stack sign of linear EUS, crossed duct sign on linear EUS, the dominant duct and ventral dorsal duct (VD) transition. Few other signs are described which include duct above duct, short ventral duct /absent ventral duct, separate opening of ducts with no communication, separate opening of ducts with filamentous communication, stacking of duct of Santorini and indirect signs like santorinecele. The principles of the sign have been explained on an anatomical basis and the techniques and the principles described in the review will be helpful in technical evaluation of PD during EUS.
Sexuality and quality of life.

The purpose of this research was to explore the relationships between sexual activity and intimacy and quality of life (QOL) of older adults. The authors' research question was "To what extent do age, gender, marital status, health status, education, satisfaction with personal relationships, sexual activity, and satisfaction with intimacy explain older adults' ratings of QOL? " A secondary analysis was conducted using results from a cross-sectional survey. Data were available from a convenience sample of 426 individuals living in British Columbia, Canada, who volunteered to complete the questionnaire. Instruments included the WHOQOL-100, WHOQOL-OLD, and a demographic data sheet. It was found that the strongest contributors to the variance of overall QOL were satisfaction with personal relationships, followed by health status andsexual activity. Age, gender, marital status, and education were not significant. The implications for gerontological nurses include the need to support personal relationships for older adults, to encourage health promotion, and to ensure sexuality is discussed with older adults.
Time to treat hypertension in patients with aortic stenosis.

Historically, patients with aortic stenosis (AS) rarely had concurrent systemic hypertension (HTN). Now, echocardiography allows early diagnosis, calcific remodeling has replaced rheumatic heart disease as the most prevalent cause of AS in the developed world, and the population of adults with AS is older, paralleling the demographic shift in the age of our population.1,2 In combination, these trends mean that HTN is a more common comorbidity in patients with AS and is coexistent for a longer period of time before aortic valve replacement. In studies involving younger patients with AS, the prevalence of HTN is 30% to 40%,3 whereas in recent series involving older patients at high risk for aortic valve replacement, the prevalence of HTN is 75% or higher.4,5 Article see p 1349 In patients with AS, increased systemic vascular load, resulting from increased vascular stiffness, resistance, pressure, or a combination of these factors, adds to the load on the left ventricle (LV) from the stenotic valve and is associated with increased hypertrophic remodeling, impaired LV function, and worse clinical outcomes.6–8 As Carabello2 pointed out, the resistance of the valve and the resistance of the systemic vasculature—in effect, 2 resistors in series—both contribute to pressure overload on the LV. In comparison with decades ago, patients managed with AS today tend to have lower valvular resistance and higher peripheral resistance. Whether aggressive treatment of increased systemic vascular load will improve outcomes and whether specific targeting of stiffness or resistance matters is an area of active investigation. Despite the recognition that HTN is an important …
An Improved Second-Order Generalized Integrator Based Quadrature Signal Generator

The second-order generalized integrator based quadrature signal generator (SOGI-QSG) is able to produce in-quadrature signals for many applications, such as frequency estimation, grid synchronization, and harmonic extraction. However, the SOGI-QSG is sensitive to input dc and harmonic components with unknown frequencies (e.g., interharmonics). To overcome the drawback, this letter begins by analyzing the dynamic response of SOGI-QSG from the first-order system (FOS) perspective. A second-order SOGI-QSG (SO-SOGI-QSG) with a fourth-order transfer function is then proposed, after referring to the relationship between standard FOS and second-order system. The proposed method is subsequently found to inherit the simplicity of the SOGI-QSG, while demonstrates better disturbance attenuation. Its parameter design procedure is also easy to understand, and can be followed step-by-step without difficulty. Performance of the proposed SO-SOGI-QSG is finally validated by experimental results presented in this letter.
Axotomy and nerve growth factor regulate levels of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α3 subunit protein in the rat superior cervical ganglion

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play a significant role in sympathetic transmission in the superior cervical ganglia (SCG), with most of the signal carried by a nAChR containing an α3 subunit. Work has shown that transection of the postganglionic nerves (axotomy) of the SCG results in a decrease in mRNA transcripts for α3, α5, α7 and β4 and in protein expression of α7 and β4. To evaluate effects of axotomy on α3 protein in the SCG, quantitative immunoblotting was used to demonstrate a dramatic decrease (> 80%) in the levels of this subunit 4 days after axotomy. Similarly, immunocytochemistry showed a marked decline in the number and the intensity of stained neurons for the α3 subunit as well as tyrosine hydroxylase. Ganglia explanted into culture for 4 days also showed a substantial decrease in α3 subunit protein. This decrease was partially prevented by the addition of nerve growth factor (NGF) to the culture medium at the time of explantation. Additionally, this decrease was reversed by the addition of NGF to the culture medium following 4 days in culture in the absence of NGF. These findings suggest that the loss of α3 subunit contributes to the reported decrease in ganglionic synaptic transmission that follows axotomy, and that NGF plays an important role in regulating the expression of α3‐containing nAChRs in the SCG.
Freezing of binary mixtures of colloidal hard spheres

The freezing phase transition in a binary suspension of colloidal hard spheres of diameter ratio α=0.61 was studied by light scattering and scanning electron microscopy. The suspensions consisted of sterically stabilized poly(methyl methacrylate) spheres of diameters about 670 and 407 nm suspended in a near refractive indexed matched suspension medium composed of carbon disulphide and cis‐decalin. With increasing volume fraction, binary suspensions of number fraction of larger component A xA>0.43 crystallized to give irregularly stacked close packed crystals containing almost entirely component A. As the number fraction xA decreased, the rate of crystallization decreased. Suspensions of xA≊0.28 remained amorphous and showed glassy behavior. Suspensions of xA≊0.057 showed a complex sequence of phase behavior with coexistence of crystals of component B, the ordered binary alloy phase AB13, and a binary fluid. In suspensions with xA<0.057, the only solid phase observed was irregularly stacked close packed cr.
Public Health Genomics : une forme de rhétorique ?

Cet article a pour objectif d’analyser dans quelle mesure le nouveau champ multidisciplinaire recemment cree, Public Health Genomics (PHG), fait preuve de rhetorique. La rhetorique sera examinee, au sens propre, comme art de bien parler, mais aussi, au sens actuel quelque peu pejoratif du terme, comme l’opposition entre paroles et actions, l’information et la desinformation et les propos tendancieux. Le but principal de la Public Health Genomics est la « traduction efficace et responsable des savoirs genomiques a des fins de sante publique ». La PHG ambitionne de relier deux champs qui semblent irreconciliables : la biomedecine d’une part et la sante publique de l’autre. Mais est-ce vraiment le cas ? Que se cache-t-il derriere ce discours ?
Shortcuts to Geographic Profiling Success: A Reply to Rossmo (2005).

SUMMARY In ‘Geographic profiling: The fast, frugal, and accurate way’ (Applied Cognitive Psychology, 2004, vol. 18, pp. 105–121), we demonstrated that most people are able to predict the home location of a serial offender by using a simple prediction strategy that exploits patterns found in the offender’s spatial behaviour. In this issue of Applied Cognitive Psychology, Rossmo challenges the validity of this research with respect to our data selection and methods of analysis. In response, we argue that: his proposed method for selecting data is unscientific; there is little evidence to support his claim that five crimes are required before profiles can be accurate; search area as a measure of profile accuracy has not yet been shown to be more useful than error distance; the heuristics we have examined are defined correctly and do lead to improvements in profile accuracy; and computerized geographic profiling is not a free service. Our comments aim to generate constraint in those intent on building confidence in computerized geographic profiling systems in the absence of strong empirical evidence to support their use. Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. In our article, ‘Geographic profiling: The fast, frugal, and accurate way’ (Snook, Taylor, & Bennell, 2004; hereafter STB), we examined human performance on a task that involves predicting where a serial offender lives based on the location of his or her crimes. Our results showed that most people were able to make accurate predictions in this task using cognitive strategies that match the structure of offenders’ spatial behaviour. Even in cases where participants’ initial performance was poor, we found that a short training session ensured they used appropriate strategies. In all cases, the use of these strategies by participants led to predictions that were as accurate as those made by the algorithms underlying computerized geographic profiling systems (Canter, Coffey, Huntley, & Missen, 2000; Rossmo, 2000).
Asthma treatment and outcomes for children in the emergency department and hospital

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe and compare the treatment of acute asthma exacerbations in children given in the emergency department (ED) and admitted to acute care floor in the hospital or intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: A retrospective chart review of visits for acute exacerbation of asthma treated at Phoenix Children's Hospital between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2016. Results: A total of 287 asthma exacerbation cases were identified including 106 (37%) ED visits, 134 (47%) hospital floor and 47 (16%) ICU admissions. A history of a previous ED visit (ED 88%, Floor 60% and ICU 68%; p < 0.0001) and prior pulmonology inpatient consultation (ED 30%, Floor 19% and ICU 15%; p = 0.05) varied significantly. Pulmonology inpatient consultations were performed more frequently in the ICU than on the hospital floor (54% versus 8%; p < 0.0001). Although overall 145 (51%) of the cases were already on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) at the time of visit with no differences across locations, ICS initiation/step-up was greater in the ICU (72%) than on the hospital floor (54%) and ED (2%) (p < 0.0001). A recommendation given to the family for follow-up with pulmonology was more frequent for patients who had been admitted to the ICU (68%) as compared to those only admitted to the floor (31%) or ED (4%) (p < 0.0001). Readmission rates were similar for patients previously admitted to the hospital (Floor 42%; ICU 40%), but significantly higher for previous ED visits (77%) (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Physicians in the ED have an opportunity to provide preventative care in the acute care setting and should be encouraged to initiate treatment with ICS. Consideration should be given to develop a program or clinical pathway focused on long-term asthma management and maintenance to reduce readmissions and long hospital stays.
Pelvic inflammatory disease: incidence and trends in private practice.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is the result of gonorrhea that causes the most suffering expense and death. The numbers trends and demographic traits of women that use private doctors are analyzed here. The data used in these studies was obtained from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Disease and Therapeutic Index. The Division of Venereal Disease Control surveys and gets data on gonorrhea reported by each state. This data was used in conjunction with the other data to relate trends in PID to those of gonorrhea. It was found that PID and gonorrhea have different trends that are related to age. The majority of doctor consultations for PID is in the 15-34 age group; for gonorrhea doctor and public clinic visits fall mostly in the 15-24 age area. While visits for PID dropped 59% for non-white women and 36% for white women the non-white have twice the PID rate. Of the 1 and 3/4 million doctor visits each year 8/10 are for 1st time occurrence and most are acute cases. This data does not include emergency room cases and most of those would probably be severe. The reason for the non-white females having the highest PID and gonorrhea rate is due to delayed care or the unavailability of treatment facilities. A national program to find and treat 8-9 million women was begun in 1972. This data shows a decrease in reported cases of gonorrhea and PID among women.
erotonin 5-HT 4 receptors modulate the development of lutamatergic input to the dorsal raphe nucleus

The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is a major serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)-producing region in the central nervous system. It receives glutamatergic inputs from several brain regions, which are reciprocally modulated by serotonergic signals. We investigated whether serotonin 5-HT4 receptors (5HT4Rs) play a role in the development of glutamatergic control of the DRN, with an emphasis on cortical inputs. Double-label immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy were used to quantify vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (vGluT1)-immunoreactive terminals in the DRN of mice with a null-mutation in
A Forensic Case Study of a Naturally Mummified Brain from the Bushveld of South Africa

ABSTRACT: The present study reports our observations of a naturally mummified human brain found in the bushveld of South Africa. This case extends the geographic and climatic ranges in which mummified brains have been found, and it represents an additional case where no human activity has led to the mummification. The mummified brain was c. one fifth the size of a normal human brain, while the gyral and sulcal patterns of a typical human brain were clear. CT scanning of the brain revealed that subcortical structures, normally evident in this type of imaging, were not discernable, indicating a slow mummification process. Histological examination of the tissue revealed near complete degradation of the microanatomical structure, with only putative Nissl bodies remaining as identifiable neural microstructures. The specimen appears to have survived several veld fires, as well as a high annual rainfall, and a high relative humidity. It is thought that specific conditions amenable to brain mummification, but not other soft tissues, occurred in the skull of this specimen in the weeks postmortem.
Reliability of Heart-Rate Reactivity to a Psychological Stressor

Reliability of heart-rate reactivity responses to a timed and competitive mental arithmetic stressor was investigated in a sample of 40 students. Analysis indicated that significant differences between groups of high and low heart-rate reactivity subjects were consistent over a period of 4 to 6 wk. , with no significant effects from mental arithmetic performances.
Pulmonary complications of interpandemic influenza A in hospitalized adults.

BACKGROUND To define the pulmonary complications of influenza during the current interpandemic period, we reviewed clinical, laboratory, and radiographic data from 193 adults (> or =18 years old) (1999-2003) who were hospitalized with influenza A during 4 winters. RESULTS The mean age was 75 years, 8% had documented bacterial infection, 15% required intensive care unit treatment, and 6% died. Chest radiograph (CXR) findings were classified as showing acute disease (AD; n=101) or no AD (NAD; n=92). Most CXR findings were subtle in nature. Subjects with AD were more likely to have > or =1 cardiac diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 2.2 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.2-4.1]), to have rales on examination (OR, 1.9 [95% CI, 1.0-3.7]), to be symptomatic for >3 days (OR, 2.2 [95% CI, 1.2-4.1]), and to be less likely to wheeze (OR, 0.37 [95% CI, 0.20-0.70]). Total and neutralizing anti-influenza antibody titers were lower in patients with influenza than in respiratory syncytial virus-infected control subjects (P<.05), which suggests a protective effect of antibody. Interestingly, antibody titers did not differ between subjects with AD and those with NAD. CONCLUSION In the absence of significant antigenic shifts, previous exposure to influenza, including vaccinations, may play a role in reducing the severity of influenza-associated lower respiratory tract disease.