An Analytical Survey on Vein Pattern Recognition

Biometric is term of science to identify a person identity using their physiological features. Currently, vein pattern recognition has attracted the attention of the technology and industry all over the world. A vein is network of blood vessels under the skin of an individual. The vascular pattern is different for every person in the same part or region of the body. It is stable till very long age. As the veins are underneath the skin it is very difficult for intruder or forger to copy the feature. This uniqueness and strong immunity from intruders make it more potent biometric system which avails us secure features for individual identity verification. This paper involves the description of vein pattern recognition, its requirement and its importance in biometric system. Different feature extraction algorithms are reviewed as independent component analysis, principal component analysis method. For classification in vein pattern recognition we have reviewed support vector machine and neural network techniques. Parameters are described based on which results are computed like true positive, false positive, true negative, false negative, accuracy and precision

Finger Vein Recognition Using Principle Component Analysis and Adaptive k-Nearest Centroid Neighbor Classifier

The k-nearest centroid neighbor kNCN classifier is one of the non-parametric classifiers which provide a powerful decision based on the geometrical surrounding neighborhood. Essentially, the main challenge in the kNCN is due to slow classification time that utilizing all training samples to find each nearest centroid neighbor. In this work, an adaptive k-nearest centroid neighbor (akNCN) is proposed as an improvement to the kNCN classifier. Two new rules are introduced to adaptively select the neighborhood size of the test sample. The neighborhood size for the test sample is changed through the following ways: 1) The neighborhood size, k will be adapted to j if the centroid distance of j-th nearest centroid neighbor is greater than the predefined boundary. 2) There is no need to look for further nearest centroid neighbors if the maximum number of samples of the same class is found among jth nearest centroid neighbor. Thus, the size of neighborhood is adaptively changed to j. Experimental results on theFinger Vein USM (FV-USM) image database demonstrate the promising results in which the classification time of the akNCN classifier is significantly reduced to 51.56% in comparison to the closest competitors, kNCN and limited-kNCN. It also outperforms its competitors by achieving the best reduction ratio of 12.92% whilemaintaining the classification accuracy

Whole-transciptome analysis of [psi+] budding yeast via cDNA microarrays

Introduction: Prions of yeast present a novel analytical challenge in terms of both initial characterization and in vitro manipulation as models for human disease research. Presently, few robust analysis strategies have been successfully implemented which enable the efficient study of prion behavior in vivo. This study sought to evaluate the utilization of conventional dual-channel cDNA microarrays for the surveillance of transcriptomic regulation patterns by the [PSI+] yeast prion relative to an identical prion deficient yeast variant, [psi-]. Methods: A data analysis and normalization workflow strategy was developed and applied to cDNA array images, yielded quality-regulated expression ratios for a subset of genes exhibiting statistical congruence across multiple experimental repetitions and nested hybridization events. The significant gene list was analyzed using classical analytical approaches including several clustering-based methods and singular value decomposition. To add biological meaning to the differential expression data in hand, functional annotation using the Gene Ontology as well as several pathway-mapping approaches was conducted. Finally, the expression patterns observed were queried against all publicly curated microarray data performed using S. cerevisiae in order to discover similar expression behavior across a vast array of experimental conditions. Results: These data collectively implicate a low-level of overall genomic regulation as a result of the [PSI+] state, where the maximum statistically significant degree of differential expression was less than ±1 Log2(FC) in all cases. Notwithstanding, the [PSI+] differential expression was localized to several specific classes of structural elements and cellular functions, implying under homeostatic conditions significant up or down regulation is likely unnecessary but possible in those specific systems if environmental conditions warranted. As a result of these findings additional work pertaining to this system should include controlled insult to both yeast variants of differing environmental properties to promote a potential [PSI+] regulatory response coupled with co-surveillance of these conditions using transcriptomic and proteomic analysis methodologies

A Survey Study of the Current Challenges and Opportunities of Deploying the ECG Biometric Authentication Method in IoT and 5G Environments

The environment prototype of the Internet of Things (IoT) has opened the horizon for researchers to utilize such environments in deploying useful new techniques and methods in different fields and areas. The deployment process takes place when numerous IoT devices are utilized in the implementation phase for new techniques and methods. With the wide use of IoT devices in our daily lives in many fields, personal identification is becoming increasingly important for our society. This survey aims to demonstrate various aspects related to the implementation of biometric authentication in healthcare monitoring systems based on acquiring vital ECG signals via designated wearable devices that are compatible with 5G technology. The nature of ECG signals and current ongoing research related to ECG authentication are investigated in this survey along with the factors that may affect the signal acquisition process. In addition, the survey addresses the psycho-physiological factors that pose a challenge to the usage of ECG signals as a biometric trait in biometric authentication systems along with other challenges that must be addressed and resolved in any future related research.

Maintaining the Integrity Over Wear Time of a Hydrocolloid-based Ostomy Adhesive Whilst Maintaining Skin Barrier Function

In this extensive body of work, a thorough exploration delves into hydrocolloid based adhesives, with a focus on addressing challenges faced by stoma patients, particularly the susceptibility of ostomy adhesives to breakdown upon exposure to liquids. Stoma patients, compelled to wear pouching systems continuously, encounter issues like the compromise of skin barrier integrity, leading to medical adhesive-related skin injuries. The primary objective of this thesis is to reinforce the structural integrity of ostomy adhesives while preserving the skin barrier during pouching system use, an aspect often overlooked in current literature due to the hydrophilic nature of hydrocolloid based adhesives. The study introduces novel aims, examining the potential link between handedness and the preferred direction of adhesive removal, and its impact on peristomal skin complications as well as a novel skin capacitive imagery stitching technique. Another goal involves developing hierarchical structures on adhesive surfaces to enhance integrity, initial tack, and minimize skin contact for optimal skin health. The introduction provides a detailed breakdown of hydrocolloid-based ostomy adhesives, stoma anatomy, and the purpose of pouching systems. A comprehensive literature review, utilizing the PICO approach, encompasses stoma anatomy, physiology, indications for stoma surgery, and methods for assessing skin health. The review explores various methodologies to improve the durability of hydrocolloid-based adhesives, incorporating hydrodynamics, crosslinking, and layering systems. The potential influence of handedness on adhesive removal techniques is examined, considering its impact on peristomal skin complications. Results reveal the consistent performance of Welland Medical Ltd.'s hydrocolloid based adhesive but highlight the need for improved integrity over wear time. Strategies include modifying sodium-carboxymethylcellulose degree of substitution and increasing pectin degree of esterification, resulting in enhanced fluid handling capabilities and reduced susceptibility to degradation. Residual testing indicates that residual particles on the skin can impair the barrier function, remedied by a silicone-based adhesive remover. Surveys show that a patient's dominant hand and following the skin's natural langer lines during adhesive removal may minimize skin trauma. The results also show that structured surface profiles on hydrocolloid-based adhesive surfaces impact the skin's functional barrier recovery time. The research goal of this project and its objectives have been reached, the approaches have been explained clearly and implementations have been assessed using experimental findings. This project's findings contribute to advancements in ostomy care by enhancing adhesive performance, understanding patient behaviour, and improving the overall user experience. It also facilitates the efficient detachment of the adhesive from the skin surface

Benthic mapping of the Bluefields Bay fish sanctuary, Jamaica

Small island states, such as those in the Caribbean, are dependent on the nearshore marine ecosystem complex and its resources; the goods and services provided by seagrass and coral reef for example, are particularly indispensable to the tourism and fishing industries. In recognition of their valuable contributions and in an effort to promote sustainable use of marine resources, some nearshore areas have been designated as fish sanctuaries, as well as marine parks and protected areas. In order to effectively manage these coastal zones, a spatial basis is vital to understanding the ecological dynamics and ultimately inform management practices. However, the current extent of habitats within designated sanctuaries across Jamaica are currently unknown and owing to this, the Government of Jamaica is desirous of mapping the benthic features in these areas. Given the several habitat mapping methodologies that exist, it was deemed necessary to test the practicality of applying two remote sensing methods - optical and acoustic - at a pilot site in western Jamaica, the Bluefields Bay fish sanctuary. The optical remote sensing method involved a pixel-based supervised classification of two available multispectral images (WorldView-2 and GeoEye-1), whilst the acoustic method comprised a sonar survey using a BioSonics DT-X Portable Echosounder and subsequent indicator kriging interpolation in order to create continuous benthic surfaces. Image classification resulted in the mapping of three benthic classes, namely submerged vegetation, bare substrate and coral reef, with an overall map accuracy of 89.9% for WorldView-2 and 86.8% for GeoEye-1 imagery. These accuracies surpassed those of the acoustic classification method, which attained 76.6% accuracy for vegetation presence, and 53.5% for bottom substrate (silt, sand and coral reef/ hard bottom). Both approaches confirmed that the Bluefields Bay is dominated by submerged aquatic vegetation, with contrastingly smaller areas of bare sediment and coral reef patches. Additionally, the sonar revealed that silty substrate exists along the shoreline, whilst sand is found further offshore. Ultimately, the methods employed in this study were compared and although it was found that satellite image classification was perhaps the most cost-effective and well-suited for Jamaica given current available equipment and expertise, it is acknowledged that acoustic technology offers greater thematic detail required by a number of stakeholders and is capable of operating in turbid waters and cloud covered environments ill-suited for image classification. On the contrary, a major consideration for the acoustic classification process is the interpolation of processed data; this step gives rise to a number of potential limitations, such as those associated with the choice of interpolation algorithm, available software and expertise. The choice in mapping approach, as well as the survey design and processing steps is not an easy task; however the results of this study highlight the various benefits and shortcomings of implementing optical and acoustic classification approaches in Jamaica.Persons automatically associate tropical waters with spectacular views of coral reefs and colourful fish; however many are perhaps not aware that these coral reefs, as well as other living organisms inhabiting the seabed are in fact extremely valuable to our existence. Healthy coral reefs and seagrass assist in maintaining the sand on our beaches and fish populations and are thereby crucial to the tourism and fishing industries in the Caribbean. For this reason, a number of areas are protected by law and have been designated fish sanctuaries or marine protected areas. In order to understand the functioning of theses areas and effectively inform management strategy, the configuration of what exists on the seafloor is crucial. In the same vein that a motorist needs a road map to navigate unknown areas, coastal stakeholders require maps of the seafloor in order to understand what is happening beneath the water’s surface. The location of seafloor habitats within fish sanctuaries in Jamaica are currently unknown and the Government is interested in mapping them. However a myriad of methods exist that could be employed to achieve this goal. Remote sensing is a broad grouping of methods that involve collecting information about an object without being in direct physical contact with it. Many researchers have successfully mapped marine areas using these techniques and it was believed crucial to test the practicality of two such methods, specifically optical and acoustic remote sensing. The main question to be answered from this study was therefore: Which mapping approach is better for benthic habitat mapping in Jamaica and possibly the wider Caribbean? Optical remote sensing relates to the interaction of energy with the Earth’s surface. A digital photograph is taken from a satellite and subsequently interpreted. Acoustic/ sonar technology involves the recording of waveforms reflected from the seabed. Both methods were employed at a pilot site, the Bluefields Bay fish sanctuary, situated in western Jamaica. The optical remote sensing method involved the classification of two satellite images (named WorldView-2 and GeoEye-1) and this process was informed using known positions of seafloor features, this being known as supervised image classification. With regard to the acoustic method, a field survey utilising sonar equipment (BioSonics DT-X Portable Echosounder) was undertaken in order to collect the necessary sonar data. The processed field data was modelled in order to convert lines of field point data to one continuous map of the sanctuary, a process known as interpolation. The accuracy of each method was then tested using field knowledge of what exists in the sanctuary. The map resulting from the image classification revealed three seafloor types, namely submerged vegetation, coral reef and bare seafloor. The overall map accuracy was 89.9% for the WorldView-2 image and 86.8% for GeoEye-1 imagery. These accuracies surpassed those attained from the acoustic classification method (76.6% for vegetation presence and 53.5% for bottom type - silt, sand and coral reef/ hard bottom). Similar to previous studies undertaken, it was shown that the seabed of Bluefields Bay is primarily inhabited by submerged aquatic vegetation (including seagrass and algae), with contrastingly smaller areas of bare sediment and coral reef. Ultimately, the methods employed in this study were compared and the pros and cons of each were weighed in order to deem one method more suitable in Jamaica. Often, the presence of cloud and suspended matter in the water block the view of the seafloor making image classification difficult. On the contrary, acoustic surveys are capable of operating throughout cloudy conditions and attaining more detailed information of the ocean floor, otherwise not possible with optical remote sensing. A major step in the acoustic classification process however, was the interpolation of processed data, which may introduce additional limitations if careful consideration is not given to the intricacies of the process. Lastly, the acoustic survey certainly required greater financial resources than satellite image classification. In answer to the main question of this study, the most cost effective and feasible mapping method for Jamaica is satellite image classification (based on the results attained). It must be stressed however that the effective implementation of any method will depend on a number of factors, such as available software, equipment, expertise and user needs, that must be weighed in order to select the most feasible mapping method for a particular site

Farm business development: the motives and effects of diversification strategies

This thesis investigates the factors underlying farm business development in Sweden, and the economic and social implications related to different development strategies. The thesis consists of four papers. Paper I uncovers the values that underlie farmers’ strategic choices for business development. The results indicated that a mixed set of use- and non-use values guide choices for farm strategic orientation. Paper II examines the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and farmers’ satisfaction with business performance while considering the moderating effects of the farm diversification strategy and the environmental conditions in which a farm business operates. The findings suggested that the combination of farm diversification strategy with the environmental conditions has a significant relationship with farmers’ satisfaction with business performance. These two papers differ in their methodological approaches, however, they focus on the farmer as the unit of analysis, whereas Papers III and IV that follow, focus on the farm business as the unit of analysis. In particular, Paper III investigates the role of diversification strategies in enhancing farm financial performance. The results show a heterogeneous relationship between agricultural and farm diversification with farm financial performance across farm types. Finally, Paper IV examines the impact of diversification strategies on farm-level employment and farm income variability. It suggests that farm diversification is a labour-saving strategy and that it increases farm income variability. In contrast, agricultural diversification is positively related to farm-level employment but negatively related to farm income variability

Morphological, cellular and proteomic features of canine myxomatous mitral valve disease

Myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD) is the single most common cardiac disease of the dog, and is analogous to Mitral Valve Prolapse in humans. Very little is known about the aetiopathogenesis of this disease or the changes in valvular interstitial cell populations in diseased valves. The aim of this study was to identify morphological, cellular and molecular changes associated with MMVD. Mitral valve leaflets from both normal and varying grades (Whitney’s 1-4) of diseased dogs were subject to image analysis, immunophenotyping, proteomics and RT-PCR. Image analysis - leaflet thickening due to accumulation of glycosaminoglycan was significant in this disease. MMVD is associated with loss of connective tissue, reduction in cell numbers but no change in cell shape in the overtly myxomatous area. Near the surface, increase in valvular interstitial cells (VIC) towards the damaged endothelium in concert with destruction of collagen and building up of ground substance was manifested during the disease process. Immunophenotyping - activated myofibroblasts were increased and fibroblast-like VICs were reduced without any change in desmin and myosin expression in MMVD compared to clinical normal dogs. In addition, other cell types like macrophage, adipocyte, chondrocyte, mast cell, and stem cell were identified and their possible role in MMVD is discussed. Proteomics - a protein expression profile was established, with 64 proteins being positively identified from dog’s mitral valve using 1-D SDS PAGE LC/MS. Amongst them 44 proteins were differentially expressed comparing normal and severely diseased. Two actin binding proteins, tropomyosin alpha and myosin light chain-2 were found to be differentially expressed in the normal but down regulated in the diseased. RT-PCR was used to assess the expression of 8 genes of interest. Their expression was compared with 3 different housekeeping genes

How You Like Me Now? The Influence of Athlete Behavior on Fan Group Dynamics and Sports Consumption

Within sports, membership in a fan base often constitutes an attachment to a team and its various personnel. As part of a presumed ingroup, sports fans will go about evaluating their favorite teams and players based on several factors, such as team or athlete performance and off‑the‑field behaviors by such athletes. Although a vast set of literature within sport management has reported that fans exhibit partiality towards their favorite teams, research in social psychology and group dynamics has presented evidence to dispute this occurrence. This body of work has contended that people in a group will operate using subjective group dynamics (SGD), wherein norms and values are actively considered in group appraisal. Complementary research has offered the manifestation of a black sheep effect (BSE), or ingroup extremity, particularly when members deviate from norms or standards of the group. In a similar vein, this dissertation challenges the prevalent notion of fans’ enduring support for their favorite teams and examines numerous correlates of such behavior. Through five main studies, this dissertation investigates the impact of athlete behavior, group membership, player status, rivalry, and regret on evaluative judgments, identity threat, purchase decisions, product choices, and social media behaviors. Study 1 gauged the role of ingroup extremity when a team’s expectations, or norms of performance by an athlete, are violated, providing evidence to support ingroup derogation among fans. Expanding upon these results, Study 2 offered an assessment of the BSE in determining how fans go about supporting and derogating an ingroup or outgroup athlete based on performance, while furthering the application of these concepts to purchase decisions and social media intentions. Our second experiment offers partial support of the BSE, wherein fans exhibit a proclivity to derogate deviant ingroup and outgroup athletes to the same extent. Using a multi‑method approach integrating both quantitative and qualitative methods, our third experiment tested how rivalry and membership (i.e., player) saliency operate to amplify specific aspects of fan behavior, social media intentions, and product choices. Study 3 reveals ingroup and performance biases among fans as well as the function of team identification as a guide for team-licensed merchandise selections. Study 4 examined how evaluations of deviant performance- and moral‑related behavior by athletes can be affected by various moral reasoning strategies utilized by fans. Our fourth experiment demonstrates similar biases as established in Study 3 and also illustrates the amplified use of moral rationalization over other moral reasoning strategies. Using the findings from our first four studies as a foundation, we introduce a novel concept to the field (i.e., black sheep regret [BSR]) and complete this dissertation with a field study (Study 5A) and an experimental investigation (Study 5B). Although Study 5A did not support BSR in a naturalistic context (i.e., on social media), Study 5B provides data to verify its occurrence in fans. Ultimately, Study 5B produces rationale for the inconclusive results within social media settings, explained by a potential effect of black sheep perpetuance (BSP). Taken together, this dissertation discusses its theoretical contributions and offers pragmatic implications and future directions for sport managers and practitioners within the sport industry. Ultimately, the current composition highlights the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in exploring various components of specific group behavior in fans, as well as in the larger milieu of human behavior itself.PHDKinesiologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136938/1/seanprad_1.pd