Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Entropy-Based Face Recognition and Spoof Detection for Security Applications

Nowadays, cyber attacks are becoming an extremely serious issue, which is particularly important to prevent in a smart city context. Among cyber attacks, spoofing is an action that is increasingly common in many areas, such as emails, geolocation services or social networks. Identity spoofing is defined as the action by which a person impersonates a third party to carry out a series of illegal activities such as committing fraud, cyberbullying, sextorsion, etc. In this work, a face recognition system is proposed, with an application to the spoofing prevention. The method is based on the Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) descriptor. Since different face regions do not have the same information for the recognition process, introducing entropy would quantify the importance of each face region in the descriptor. Therefore, entropy is added to increase the robustness of the algorithm. Regarding face recognition, our approach has been tested on three well-known databases (ORL, FERET and LFW) and the experiments show that adding entropy information improves the recognition rate significantly, with an increase over 40% in some of the considered databases. Spoofing tests has been implemented on CASIA FASD and MIFS databases, having obtained again better results than similar texture descriptors approaches.
A Review on Embryonic Development of Inland Fishes of Bangladesh

The early developmental pattern of inland fishes of Bangladesh are not well studied though it has a great importance in fisheries and aquaculture sector. The embryonic study provides interesting information on further growth and health of the fish and considered as an essential component for optimization of fish seed production by natural and induced breeding. Therefore, the current review work has been undertaken to provide a detail information on embryonic development of important inland fishes of Bangladesh. Information was collected from published scientific papers, un-published Masters and PhD dissertations from universities, popular articles and other published and grey literature. Diameters of unfertilized egg of the reviewed fish species were found to be 0.5 to 1.3 mm and fertilized egg were 0.49 to 1.6 mm. Shapes of the egg were also variable from species to species. There is little information available on egg activation and egg micropyle of fish species of Bangladesh. The fertilization rate of different fishes ranged from 40.1% to 93.9%. There are different stages of early development in different species and time needs to complete the stages also vary. The timing of post hatching development by metamorphosis was found to vary based on the fish species from several days to weeks. Different factors like temperature, photoperiod, DO, seasonality and presence of chemicals in water were found to affect the early development of fish. The review included eighteen inland fishes and unearthed useful insights of their embryonic development and influence of different factors. As we expect, the outcome of the study would provide a baseline and would be very useful in conducting further research on the embryology of indigenous fishes of Bangladesh.
Violence Detection in Videos by Combining 3D Convolutional Neural Networks and Support Vector Machines

ABSTRACT Video-surveillance has always been a vital tool to enforce safety in both public and private environments. Even though (smart) cameras are nowadays relatively widespread and cheap, such monitoring systems lack effectiveness in most scenarios. In addition, there is no guarantee about a human operator who monitors rare events in live video footages, forcing the use of such systems after unwanted events already took their undisturbed course, as a mere tool for investigations. Having an intelligent software to perform the task would allow to unlock the full potential of video-surveillance systems. To this end, in this paper we propose a solution based on a 3D Convolutional Neural Network that can effectively detect fights, aggressive motions and violence scenes in live video streams. Compared to state-of-the-art techniques, our method showed very promising performance on three challenging benchmark datasets: Hockey Fight, Crowd Violence and Movie Violence.
Inferring phylogenetic trees from mutational distance of transposable elements

There are many methods for establishing a phylogeny available to researchers. Some of these are based on the mutational distance between ortholog sequences of DNA, and, from these, some are based on the analysis (presence/absence) of transposable elements in specific loci of ortholog sequences. We present a new approach: a method for inferring a phylogeny based on the mutational distance of transposable elements distributed along any segment of DNA. Our method doesn’t require previously having ortholog segments of DNA from every organism. The method can be fully automated, not requiring any previous or posterior data analysis nor data preparation.
The effect of adenosine A2A receptor antagonist istradefylline on multiple organ dysfunction in heatstroke rats

Background: Global warming increases the incidence of heatstroke, which is the most severe heat illness. The mortality in patients with heatstroke is due to neurological disability and multiple organ failure caused by systemic inflammatory response. Adenosine A2A receptor antagonist has both neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, we examined whether a new A2A receptor antagonist istradefylline has beneficial effects in heatstroke rats. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (1) control group, with vehicle only (intravenous [iv] for 10 min); (2) control + istradefylline group, with 0.3 mg/kg istradefylline (iv for 10 min); (3) heatstroke group, rectal temperature reached 44.1°C, and then returned to room temperature with vehicle (iv for 10 min); and (4) heatstroke + istradefylline group, rectal temperature reached 44.1°C, and then returned to room temperature with 0.3 mg/kg istradefylline (iv for 10 min). During the experimental period, rectal temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and pressor responses to norepinephrine (NE) were monitored. Before and after the rats were put into heating chamber, and after the rats returned to room temperature for 6 h, their blood was taken to analyze creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine transaminase, albumin, total protein, and platelet count. In addition, the blood flow of tongue, left limb, and right limb was also monitored. Finally, we examined their survival rate. Results: In the present study, heatstroke rats showed high core body temperature accompanied with cardiac abnormalities and multiple organ dysfunction, mimicking the clinical manifestations of heatstroke patients. Treatment of heatstroke rats with istradefylline only partially improved platelet loss and vascular hyporeactivity to NE. However, istradefylline had no significant effects on cardiac abnormalities and multiple organ dysfunction in rats with heatstroke. Conclusions: These results suggest that although istradefylline has a mild impact on abnormal platelet count and pressor response to NE in heatstroke, both effects are unlikely to counteract multiple organ dysfunction and the mortality.
To Whom Do Housing Policies Provide Stable Housing? Examining Housing Assistance Recipients and Leavers

By analyzing the Panel Study of Income Dynamics data combined with the Assisted Housing Database, this study explores the associations between the five statuses related to receiving or leaving from a certain type of housing assistance and the subsequent housing instability experience. These statuses include households that (1) reside in a public or project-based subsidized housing (PH) unit, (2) leave a PH unit, (3) receive a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), (4) withdraw from the HCV program, and (5) are unsubsidized but income-eligible to receive housing assistance. The results reveal that, although all subsidized households tend to experience less housing instability than do income-eligible, unsubsidized households, HCV recipients are relatively more likely to experience housing instability than are PH residents. In addition, the likelihood of experiencing housing instability among PH and HCV leavers does not differ significantly from the likelihood among the unsubsidized households, suggesting that they may leave their programs prematurely.
Comparative lipid profile study between ischemic and haemorrhagic stroke

Background: Stroke is one of the major global health problems. Stroke is the most common clinical manifestation of cerebrovascular disease of which more than 99% are due to arterial involvement and less than 1% due to venous involvement in the form of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis (CVT). Among arterial causes 85% are due to infarction and 15% due to haemorrhage. There is difference in serum lipid levels in subtypes of strokes to guide lipid-lowering therapy which can reduce incidence of stroke and stroke related mortality by adapting primary and secondary preventive measures. Authors have endeavoured to correlate severity of lipid derangement and stroke. Methods: In this study 64 consecutive eligible ischaemic stroke cases and 64 eligible hemorrhagic stroke cases would be included. Cases of strokes will be divided into ischaemic and hemorrhagic as per clinical features and with help of brain imaging by CT scan and MRI at the time of admission and 8 hour fasting lipid profile was collected from all cases. All this information will be filled in preformed format. Results: Serum lipid profile of two categories of stroke showed raised serum total cholesterol in 39.1% patients of ischaemic stroke in contrast to 18.8% patients with haemorrhagic stroke (p=0.019). Stroke patients showed raised in LDL cholesterol in 29.7% patients of ischaemic stroke in contrast to 9.4% patients with haemorrhagic stroke, (p=0.007). Conclusions: Based on the finding of our study we conclude that ischemic stroke patient had higher lipid derangement as compare to haemorrhagic stroke in terms of raise total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and decrease HDL cholesterol.
Percutaneous surgery using Admix NoKorTM Non-Coring 16 G needle in cases with trigger finger -

In this study mid- and long-term outcomes of the cases with trigger finger we treated using Admix NoKorTM have been presented. Percutaneous release procedures were applied for 24 fingers of 22 (19 female, 3 male patients; mean age, 57; range, 39-72) patients between May 2009 and May 2011. Preoperatively US was performed so as to confirm the presence of trigger finger. Diameters of the tendons of the affected and intact hands measured using US, were compared so as to be able to demonstrate thickening of the tendon of the trigger finger. The patients were monitored for an average period of 25.2 (range, 14-36) months. During surgery, clinically loss of the catching sensation was observed. In two patients percutaneous trigger finger release failed, so we have to proceed with open surgery. During open surgery, we observed longitudinal wounds on the tendon. One patient developed unilateral radial digital nerve damage. Percutaneous release of the trigger finger using Admix NoKorTM 16-G gauge needle can be preferred in the treatment of trigger finger. Trigger finger of the first digit requires more attentive approach and one should be aware of the complications. If required open surgery can be preferred.
Challenges and Issues of E-HRM Practices in India

The big trend that is driving the other trends is the disruption of business models. Most of the big business companies are going through reinventing their businesses revolving around digital challenges and change, driven either by competition or an opportunity to improve what they’re doing. HRM has got prime importance in today’s business organizations. There is an adequate supply of labor in the labor market, but question arises in terms of ‘skilled labor’. Hence, the importance is given to the selection of right employees for the right positions. Organizations are now realizing and focusing on the value of good employees because they make a difference through their job performance. Over the past three decades human resources process and procedure have been supported by everything from file folder of systems to automation, web based technology by using multiple systems and data base to single version.
Exploration of the consumption, awareness, understanding and motivating factors related to functional foods in older adults

EXPLORATION OF THE CONSUMPTION, AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING AND MOTIVATING FACTORS RELATED TO FUNCTIONAL FOODS IN OLDER ADULTS Meagan N. Vella Advisor: University of Guelph, 2012 Alison M. Duncan The functional food industry has expanded yet research into consumer perceptions of functional foods is limited. Among consumers, older adults could benefit from functional foods due to age-related health concerns. This thesis aimed to generate information about the consumption of functional foods among community-dwelling older adults (>60 years old, n=200) using a researcher-administered questionnaire. Prevalence of functional food consumption was 93.0% and yogurt with probiotics (56.0%) was the top product consumed. The primary functional food matrix consumed was yogurt (51.5%) and dietary fibre was the primary functional food bioactive consumed (79.5%). Most participants (86.2%) consume functional foods to improve health and osteoporosis/bone health (67.5%), heart disease (61.0%) and arthritis (55.0%) were the primary health areas identified. Participants wanted more information about functional foods (63.5%) with preferred sources being newspapers/magazines/books (68.5%) and food labels (66.1%). These results inform stakeholders regarding the potential of functional foods to promote improved health among older adults.
Modelling bioactivities of combinations of whole extracts of edibles with a simplified theoretical framework reveals the statistical role of molecular diversity and system complexity in their mode of action and their nearly certain safety

Network pharmacology and polypharmacology are emerging as novel drug discovery paradigms. The many discovery, safety and regulatory issues they raise may become tractable with polypharmacological combinations of natural compounds found in whole extracts of edible and mixes thereof. The primary goal of this work is to get general insights underlying the innocuity and the emergence of beneficial and toxic activities of combinations of many compounds in general and of edibles in particular. A simplified model of compounds’ interactions with an organism and of their desired and undesired effects is constructed by considering the departure from equilibrium of interconnected biological features. This model allows to compute the scaling of the probability of significant effects relative to nutritional diversity, organism complexity and synergy resulting from mixing compounds and edibles. It allows also to characterize massive indirect perturbation mode of action drugs as a potential novel multi-compound-multi-target pharmaceutical class, coined Ediceuticals when based on edibles. Their mode of action may readily target differentially organisms’ system robustness as such based on differential complexity for discovering nearly certainly safe novel antimicrobials and anti-cancer treatments. This very general model provides also a theoretical framework to several pharmaceutical and nutritional observations. In particular, it characterizes two classes of undesirable effects of drugs, and may question the interpretation of undesirable effects in healthy subjects. It also formalizes nutritional diversity as such as a novel statistical supra-chemical parameter that may contribute to guide nutritional health intervention. Finally, it is to be noted that a similar formalism may be further applicable to model whole ecosystems in general.
Alternate nostril breathing: a systematic review of clinical trials

The focus of this research paper is to evaluate independent effects of the yogic breathing exercise, alternate nostril breathing (ANB), on human physiological and cognitive functions. Currently, there is developing interest in using alternative and complementary therapies to manage chronic ailments and debilitating diseases. Among alternative and complementary therapies, yoga is widely used to improve quality of life. The Yoga Sutras compiled by Indian philosopher Maharshi Patanjali includes Ashtanga yoga which has eight limbs/components: Yama (form of moral imperatives), Niyama (virtuous habits and behavior), Asana (postures), Pranayama (control of breath), Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), Dharana (concentration and introspective focus), Dhyana (profound meditation), Samadhi (state of trance/meditative consciousness). Pranayama includes various techniques to regulate breathing by altering rhythm, rate, phase duration, depth; and by consciously ABSTRACT
What is the Return Rate of a Corporate Pension Scheme? Generalized Annuity Factors Simplify Calculation

Corporate pension schemes are widely spread especially in Northern Europe, North America, Japan. Often the major portion of defined contributions to the scheme is shouldered by the employer. A crucial question for an employee is, whether the return from his/her corporate pension plan - taking into account the corporate engagement and eventually governmental savings promotion - is favourable in comparison to other capital products for the time of retirement. This question is not answered by the absolute return in form of the future pension amount. Additionally, the employee must know the relative return, the Pension Rate of Return (PRR), in relation to what he/she has invested in form of employee contributions into the pension plan during his/her work life. Focussing on better pension information and also on counteraction to melting interest return, two current topics will be addressed. A very useful evaluation instrument for this task is the Generalized Annuity Factor (GAF). It is a generalization of the well-known Annuity Factor, which is restricted to constant payments only. With GAF any time dependent payments, e.g. linear or more complex nonlinear payments over time can be valued by a compressed closed-form formula in the same manner as constant payments by the classic Annuity Factor. Pension payments regarding mortality are such complex payments depending systematically on age. Because of its computational efficiency the new instrument simplifies calculations to be done also in smaller funds, firms or public services with common spreadsheet programs .
Stability of shared appraisal: The role of attachment and implications for relationships and health

In the context of coping with chronic illness, shared appraisal refers to one person’s perception that the illness is a shared issue. Despite increasing research linking shared appraisal to positive relationship and health outcomes, whether it is static or fluctuates across time has not yet been investigated. Fluctuations in shared appraisal may affect patient and spouse well-being and influence disease management. We investigated the association of daily shared appraisal fluctuations (operationalized as intraindividual standard deviations) to relationship satisfaction, psychological well-being, and diabetes-specific well-being over 2 weeks among 199 couples in which one person had type 1 diabetes. In addition, we examined attachment insecurity as a correlate of shared appraisal fluctuations. Individuals higher in anxiety or avoidance may more frequently reevaluate their relationship. Thus, their shared appraisal may be more reactive to daily events. Actor–partner interdependence models showed greater fluctuations in spouse appraisal were associated with lower patient relationship satisfaction (partner effect) but not with spouse relationship satisfaction and with greater spouse psychological distress (actor effect) but not patient psychological distress. There were no actor or partner effects of patient appraisal fluctuations on these outcomes. In terms of diabetes outcomes, regression analyses showed that greater fluctuations in patient and spouse appraisal were each associated with higher patient diabetes distress, and greater fluctuations in spouse appraisal were associated with lower patient self-care. Higher attachment anxiety was related to greater appraisal fluctuations in the spouse but not the patient. These findings highlight the importance of spouse appraisal stability for spouse relationships and well-being and for patient diabetes outcomes and suggest that attachment insecurity may be implicated in the instability of shared appraisal.
Sliding mode control of photovoltaic based power generation systems for microgrid applications

Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy sources are rapidly becoming more popular. The PV system output power relies on the applied current or voltage nonlinearity and there exist a unique point called the maximum power point (MPP). For effective energy extraction from the PV system, this paper presents a new controller design strategy to track the MPP of a PV system using a sliding mode control method of self-optimisation. The proposed controller design offers fast and accurate convergence to the MPP in steady state and during varying environmental conditions. A DC/DC boost converter is utilised as a control actuator for the MPP tracking using PWM control. Simulation and experimental results are provided to demonstrate the validity of the proposed controller design.
Total-ionizing-dose induced enhanced hot-carrier injection effect in the 130 nm partially depleted SOI I/O nMOSFETs

An enhanced threshold shift was observed in irradiated (total-ionizing-dose) 130 nm partially depleted silicon-on-insulator I/O nMOSFETs after 3000 s channel hot-carrier stress. This phenomenon was caused by the irradiation-induced additional channel lucky electrons which were injected in the silicon dioxide layers (STI/BOX/gate oxide). Mechanism of formation of greater substrate current in irradiated narrow devices was discussed. Accordingly, a model (enhanced lucky-electron model/Hot carrier injection effect) applied to devices in radiation space environment is established. In addition, the unusual phenomenon in irradiated devices with wide channel was also discussed.
Integration of Traveling Wave Optical Device Models Into an MNA-Based Circuit Simulator

This article presents a method for integrating traveling wave models (TWMs) into an optical circuit simulator based on modified nodal analysis (MNA) techniques previously developed for electrical circuit simulation. TWMs of optical propagation through waveguides provide flexible distributed descriptions of optical devices from simple waveguides to lasers. The model is, however, by definition an explicit time marching method and does not fit naturally into an MNA formulation. This article will show a method of integrating the TWM into a fully implicit multidomain (electrical/optical) circuit simulator based on MNA techniques. It will first describe the TWM for simple optical propagation and then its extension for optical gratings, amplifiers, and lasers. The integration of the TWM model into the MNA-based engine will then be specified, showing how the model is implemented using nonlinear optical sources. Finally, a set of examples, including waveguides, filters, and electro-optic devices will be used to show the effectiveness of the technique.