Does complimentary information from multispectral imaging improve face presentation attack detection?

Presentation Attack Detection (PAD) has been extensively studied, particularly in the visible spectrum. With the advancement of sensing technology beyond the visible range, multispectral imaging has gained significant attention in this direction. We present PAD based on multispectral images constructed for eight different presentation artifacts resulted from three different artifact species. In this work, we introduce Face Presentation Attack Multispectral (FPAMS) database to demonstrate the significance of employing multispectral imaging. The goal of this work is to study complementary information that can be combined in two different ways (image fusion and score fusion) from multispectral imaging to improve the face PAD. The experimental evaluation results present an extensive qualitative analysis of 61650 sample multispectral images collected for bonafide and artifacts. The PAD based on the score fusion and image fusion method presents superior performance, demonstrating the significance of employing multispectral imaging to detect presentation artifacts.Comment: Accepted in International IEEE Applied Sensing Conference (IEEE APSCON) 202

CFT: Co-operative file transfer algorithm for multi network interface sessions

File transfer is one of the important operations on the Internet. Generally files are transferred from one machine to another machine through one interface. File transfer can occur through multiple interface connections also. Protocols such as SCTP, transfers data in multiple data stream within a single connection and LFTP transfers file sourced from multiple servers to a single host. Here, we present the concept of using multiple network interfaces for transferring files from a single server. This would ensure the utilization of combined bandwidth of all the interfaces used, so that the rate of file transfer would increase considerably compared to single bandwidth transfer. In this work, we use two interfaces i.e, IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) and IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) to accomplish the above task. We use a non pre-emptive context switching framework Twisted where threading is avoided for an effective resource utilization. The required file is downloaded utilizing two interfaces instead of one unlike normal file transfer. We analyze the improvement in performance by observing the time taken to download a file using two different interfaces (Ethernet and WiFi) and comparing that with a single interface download (using either Ethernet or WiFi) in real time scenario. We attempt to deal with the issue of when and how to connect through two interfaces which combines the bandwidths of both these interfaces, aiding in improving the performance of file transfer when compared to file transfer using single interface

Validation of a self-esteem inventory among bachelor-level students of a medical college in Kathmandu, Nepal

Background The necessity of self-esteem is often discussed and taught but measurements of self-esteem are lacking in Nepal and a locally validated tool is a needed to measure self-esteem among Nepalese people. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability, validity and factorial structure of the Self Esteem Inventory (SEI). Methods A total of 560 undergraduate students participated in the study. Explorative factor analysis was conducted to examine the underlying structure of the SEI. Concurrent validity evidence was gathered by correlating the Self Esteem Inventory with the established Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES). Results The factor analysis suggested a four-factor solution labelled as Childhood and Family Background, Likeability, Wealth and Financial Background, and Purpose Needs. The SEI showed an overall internal consistency (? = 0.75) with a coefficient alpha of range 0.52–0.71 for the subscales and found a low correlation of the SEI with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (r=0.368). Conclusion This study provides psychometric properties of 15 items retained from 56 on the original self-esteem scale, developed for the context of Nepal. The SEI is a valid and reliable measure that can be used to study self-esteem

Analysis of common and rare VPS13C variants in late-onset Parkinson disease

Objective We aimed to study the role of coding VPS13C variants in a large cohort of patients with lateonset Parkinson disease (PD) (LOPD). Methods VPS13C and its untranslated regions were sequenced using targeted next-generation sequencing in 1,567 patients with PD and 1,667 controls from 3 cohorts. Association tests of rare potential homozygous and compound heterozygous variants and burden tests for rare heterozygous variants were performed. Common variants were analyzed using logistic regression adjusted for age and sex in each of the cohorts, followed by a meta-analysis. Results No biallelic carriers of rare VPS13C variants were found among patients, and 2 carriers of compound heterozygous variants were found in 2 controls. There was no statistically significant burden of rare (minor allele frequency [MAF] <1%) or very rare (MAF <0.1%) coding VPS13C variants in PD. A VPS13C haplotype including the p.R153H-p.I398I-p.I1132V-p.Q2376Q variants was nominally associated with a reduced risk for PD (meta-analysis of the tagging SNP p.I1132V [odds ratio = 0.48, 95% confidence interval = 0.28–0.82, p = 0.0052]). This haplotype was not in linkage disequilibrium with the known genome-wide association study top hit. Conclusions Our results do not support a role for rare heterozygous or biallelic VPS13C variants in LOPD. Additional genetic replication and functional studies are needed to examine the role of the haplotype identified here associated with reduced risk for PD

Taking Action Together: A YMCA-based protocol to prevent Type-2 Diabetes in high-BMI inner-city African American children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Associated with a tripling in obesity since 1970, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children has risen 9-10 fold. There is a critical need of protocols for trials to prevent T2DM in children.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This protocol includes the theory, development, evaluation components and lessons learned from a novel YMCA-based T2DM prevention intervention designed specifically for high-BMI African American children from disadvantaged, inner-city neighborhoods of Oakland, California. The intervention was developed on the basis of: review of epidemiological and intervention studies of pediatric T2DM; a conceptual theory (social cognitive); a comprehensive examination of health promotion curricula designed for children; consultation with research, clinical experts and practitioners and; input from community partners. The intervention, <it>Taking Action Together</it>, included culturally sensitive and age-appropriate programming on: healthy eating; increasing physical activity and, improving self esteem.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Evaluations completed to date suggest that <it>Taking Action Together </it>may be an effective intervention, and results warrant an expanded evaluation effort. This protocol could be used in other community settings to reduce the risk of children developing T2DM and related health consequences.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01039116.</p

Artificial skin: current advanced methods of fabrication and development

The skin is the largest multifunctional organ, that is, protective, self-healing, and proficient of sensing. Being exposed, it is one of the undoubtly easily injured organs. To heal an injured skin, a variety of approaches are in existence by implementing various hydrogels, chemically modified polymers, and a number of cellular therapies. Researchers have already fabricated various artificial skins whose properties are alike to those of human skin that is accountable for various important physiological functions. The modern recent strategies embrace scaffolds to lead skin regeneration, 3D printing, bioreactors to assist mature skin tissue in vitro, and electronic skin to develop numerous sensory functions. This chapter abridge all the recent advances associated to skin tissue development. Additionally, some current fabrication technologies of artificial skin are discussed. In summary, the artificial skin with the current new approaches is an encouraging candidate to be first among other tissues to be appropriate for skin tissue engineering applications in severely injured patients. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

'Global warming' - the other side of the coin : the feebily trumpeted positive effects of climate change

115-124The issue of global warming and the consequential world-wide climate change has been the one which has attracted a great deal of media interest, and a scientific enigma for many years. Much has been made of the negative impacts of this phenomenon to our planet, but little has been said of the positive impacts. In the present article, after briefly mentioning the basic facts of global warming and its effects, the optimists’ view that “global warming may be coming, but if it does, it won’t necessarily be extreme, meriting panic. And, in fact, it might well be a boon for the environment” has been elaborated critically, in the backdrop of “Medieval Climate Optimum”. The positive effects and the ‘silver linings’ of global warming are compared with the negative impacts and predicted catastrophic consequences of the global warming and the resulting worldwide climate change. From the comparison, it manifests that, the negative impacts of global warming and consequential climate change, which are based on the accurate climatic and scientific data and reliable predictive computer models, cannot be simply ignored. In fact, the negative far outweigh the positives. Thus, the scale of the balance seems to be heavily tilted in favours of negative impacts, which will seemingly prevail. In the present scenario, it seems that the best thing would be to “Hope for the best, plan for the worst and prepare and take all effective measures to combat global warming”

Multispectral Imaging for Differential Face Morphing Attack Detection: A Preliminary Study

Face morphing attack detection is emerging as an increasingly challenging problem owing to advancements in high-quality and realistic morphing attack generation. Reliable detection of morphing attacks is essential because these attacks are targeted for border control applications. This paper presents a multispectral framework for differential morphing-attack detection (D-MAD). The D-MAD methods are based on using two facial images that are captured from the ePassport (also called the reference image) and the trusted device (for example, Automatic Border Control (ABC) gates) to detect whether the face image presented in ePassport is morphed. The proposed multispectral D-MAD framework introduce a multispectral image captured as a trusted capture to capture seven different spectral bands to detect morphing attacks. Extensive experiments were conducted on the newly created datasets with 143 unique data subjects that were captured using both visible and multispectral cameras in multiple sessions. The results indicate the superior performance of the proposed multispectral framework compared to visible images.Comment: Under Revie

Mandibular Third Molar Impaction among Patients Visiting Outpatient Dental Department of a Tertiary Care Centre

Introduction: Mandibular third molar impaction is the most common impaction as third molars are last to erupt at the age of 17-25 years. Despite its high prevalence and negative impacts, there is limited study about mandibular third molar impaction. The aim of this study is to find out the prevalence of mandibular third molar impaction among patients visiting the outpatient Dental Department of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients visiting the Outpatient Dental Department of a tertiary care centre from 1 January 2023 to 30 June 2023. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee of the same institute. A total of 414 orthopantomograms were prospectively reviewed for the angulation of impaction, depth and position. The indication for extraction was recorded from patients’ cards during the time of extraction. Convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate at a 95% confidence interval was calculated. Results: The prevalence of mandibular third molar impaction was 37.13% (34.29-39.97, 95% Confidence Interval). There was a high prevalence of mesioangular 344 (45.38%) pattern followed by vertical 249 (32.85%) for mandibular third molar impaction, the most commonly involved group was 20-30 years, with female 247 (59.70%) predominance. Bilateral impaction 344 (83.10%) was more prevalent than unilateral. Depth A, 639 (84.3%), ramus relation level I, 602 (79.42%) was the most common level of impaction. Recurrent pericoronitis 160 (38.6%) was the common indication for extraction followed by dental caries 145 (35%). Conclusions: The prevalence of mandibular third molar impaction was lower than other similar studies done in similar settings

Synthesis and evaluation of glycosidase inhibitory activity of N-butyl 1-deoxy-D-gluco-homonojirimycin and N-butyl 1-deoxy-L-ido-homonojirimycin

Conjugate addition of n-butyl amine to d-glucose derived &#945;,&#946;-unsaturated ester 4 afforded &#946;-amino esters 5a,b that on reduction of ester group, 1,2-acetonide deprotection, and reductive amination led to the formation of corresponding N-butyl 1-deoxy-d-gluco-homonojirimycin 2c and N-butyl 1-deoxy-l-ido-homonojirimycin 2d which were found to be selective &#946;-glucosidase inhibitors with an IC<SUB>50</SUB> value in millimolar range