iWarpGAN: Disentangling Identity and Style to Generate Synthetic Iris Images

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have shown success in approximating complex distributions for synthetic image generation. However, current GAN-based methods for generating biometric images, such as iris, have certain limitations: (a) the synthetic images often closely resemble images in the training dataset; (b) the generated images lack diversity in terms of the number of unique identities represented in them; and (c) it is difficult to generate multiple images pertaining to the same identity. To overcome these issues, we propose iWarpGAN that disentangles identity and style in the context of the iris modality by using two transformation pathways: Identity Transformation Pathway to generate unique identities from the training set, and Style Transformation Pathway to extract the style code from a reference image and output an iris image using this style. By concatenating the transformed identity code and reference style code, iWarpGAN generates iris images with both inter- and intra-class variations. The efficacy of the proposed method in generating such iris DeepFakes is evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively using ISO/IEC 29794-6 Standard Quality Metrics and the VeriEye iris matcher. Further, the utility of the synthetically generated images is demonstrated by improving the performance of deep learning based iris matchers that augment synthetic data with real data during the training process

Sign regularity: Refinement of Gantmacher-Krein-Motzkin results on variation diminution and the linear preserver problem

Variation diminution (VD) is a fundamental property in total positivity theory, first studied by Fekete-P\'olya (1912) for one sided P\'olya frequency sequences, followed by Schoenberg (1930), and by Motzkin (1936) who characterized sign regular (SR) matrices using VD and some rank hypotheses. A classical theorem in 1950 by Gantmacher-Krein characterized all $m \times n$ strictly sign regular (SSR) matrices for $m>n$ using this property. In this article we strengthen their result by characterizing all $m \times n$ SSR matrices using VD. We further characterize strict sign regularity of a given sign pattern in terms of VD together with a natural condition motivated by total positivity. We then refine Motzkin's characterization of SR matrices by omitting the rank condition and specifying the sign pattern. More strongly, these characterizations employ single test vectors with alternating sign coordinates - i.e., lying in an alternating bi-orthant. The second contribution of our work includes the study of linear preservers of SR and SSR matrices. The linear preserver problem is an important question in matrix theory and operator theory. We classify all linear mappings $\mathcal{L}:\mathbb{R}^{m\times n}\to\mathbb{R}^{m\times n}$ that preserve: (i) sign regularity and (ii) sign regularity with a given sign pattern, as well as strict versions of these.Comment: 31 page

IOT Based Detection of Microbial Activities in Raw Milk

Day-by-day purity of food decreases for earning more money, by blending or mixing low quality material in original material. That creates human health problem, That is become a rural as well as urban areas people food safety issue. Result of different studies shows that stored raw milk contains some amount of bacteria. Thus there is necessity to develop a real time milk monitoring and controlling system. In the proposed system we are dealing with set of sensor unit which is connected to the arduino board and all this data then transmitted to the app with the help of Bluetooth device. On the bases of FAT and Liters amount is calculated. According to that result quality, acceptance of milk and rate of milk decided. The designed GUI of Android Application gives real time updated milk result to the User. Users are milk collector or supplier, Dairy Manager and Farmer. User can check date vise previous records, analysis of data is also done by the manager

Classification of Clinical Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae Based on Their in vitro Biofilm Forming Capabilities and Elucidation of the Biofilm Matrix Chemistry With Special Reference to the Protein Content

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a human pathogen, capable of forming biofilms on abiotic and biotic surfaces. The limitations of the therapeutic options against Klebsiella pneumoniae is actually due to its innate capabilities to form biofilm and harboring determinants of multidrug resistance. We utilized a newer approach for classification of biofilm producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates and subsequently we evaluated the chemistry of its slime, more accurately its biofilm. We extracted and determined the amount of polysaccharides and proteins from representative bacterial biofilms. The spatial distribution of sugars and proteins were then investigated in the biofilm matrix using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Thereafter, the extracted matrix components were subjected to sophisticated analysis incorporating Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, one-dimensional gel-based electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and MALDI MS/MS analysis. Besides, the quantification of its total proteins, total sugars, uronates, total acetyl content was also done. Results suggest sugars are not the only/major constituent of its biofilms. The proteins were harvested and subjected to SDS-PAGE which revealed various common and unique protein bands. The common band was excised and analyzed by HPLC. MALDI MS/MS results of this common protein band indicated the presence of different proteins within the biofilm. The 55 different proteins were identified including both cytosolic and membrane proteins. About 22 proteins were related to protein synthesis and processing while 15 proteins were identified related to virulence. Similarly, proteins related to energy and metabolism were 8 and those related to capsule and cell wall synthesis were 4. These results will improve our understanding of Klebsiella biofilm composition and will further help us design better strategies for controlling its biofilm such as techniques focused on weakening/targeting certain portions of the slime which is the most common building block of the biofilm matrix

EEG Signal Enhancement Using OWA Filter

Biomedical signal monitoring and recording are an integral part of medical diagnosis and treatment control mechanisms. For this, enhanced signals with appropriate peak preservation are required. The OWA (OrderedWeighted Aggregation) Filter used in this paper helps in non-linear signal filtering and preservation of peaks for accurate medical diagnosis. Weights are an important aspect of the OWA filter, the Gaussian method and the KDE (Kernel Density Estimation) function are used to obtain a precise output which helps in filtering the signal. This filter is further compared with another non-linear filter that is the median filter to understand the compatibility and the preciseness of the filter in a much deeper sense. OWA | filter | peak | kernel density estimation | probability density | EPD (Estimated Probability Density

Hemisphere specific EEG related to alternate nostril yoga breathing

Abstract Background Previously, forced unilateral nostril breathing was associated with ipsilateral, or contralateral cerebral hemisphere changes, or no change. Hence it was inconclusive. The present study was conducted on 13 normal healthy participants to determine the effects of alternate nostril yoga breathing on (a) cerebral hemisphere asymmetry, and (b) changes in the standard EEG bands. Methods Participants were randomly allocated to three sessions (a) alternate nostril yoga breathing (ANYB), (b) breath awareness and (c) quiet sitting, on separate days. EEG was recorded from bilaterally symmetrical sites (FP1, FP2, C3, C4, O1 and O2). All sites were referenced to the ipsilateral ear lobe. Results There was no change in cerebral hemisphere symmetry. The relative power in the theta band was decreased during alternate nostril yoga breathing (ANYB) and the beta amplitude was lower after ANYB. During quiet sitting the relative power in the beta band increased, while the amplitude of the alpha band reduced. Conclusion The results suggest that ANYB was associated with greater calmness, whereas quiet sitting without specific directions was associated with arousal. The results imply a possible use of ANYB for stress and anxiety reduction

Impact of learning effect on reliability factors and global indices in visual field testing by standard automated perimetry in normal healthy subjects and primary open-angle glaucoma patients to obtain an accurate baseline perimetry chart

Purpose: To record and evaluate the reliability parameters (fixation loss (FL) %, false positive (FP) %) and global indices (mean sensitivity (MS), mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation in dB) in three visual field test sessions within two weeks to assess the learning effect in normal healthy subjects and POAG patients and comparison of learning effect gender wise and age wise in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. Methods: This study was a prospective observational study. An oculus visual field testing was done and analyzed in 30 eyes of POAG patients and 30 eyes of normal healthy subjects in three visits. Results: There were 16 (53.3%) males and 14 (46.6%) females in the POAG group and 16 (53.33%) males and 14 (46.66%) females in the normal healthy subject group. A significant difference in data change between each visit in FL, FP, MD, MS was found though the difference was more pronounced in the second visit than in the third visit. The pattern standard deviation does not change significantly in subsequent visits in both groups. Gender wise and age wise no significant difference was found in the POAG group. Conclusion: Significant improvement in reliability parameters and global indices with each subsequent visit in both the POAG group and normal patients signifies the importance of learning effect on these parameters and the need to perform at least three tests to get the baseline perimetry chart, especially in POAG patients, while in normal subjects, second perimetric result can be accepted. It was also concluded that the learning effect is not influenced by age and gender

EBV Early Lytic Protein BFRF1 Alters Emerin Distribution and Post-translational Modification

The nuclear envelope (NE), a structural element of fundamental importance for the cell, is the first barrier that meets a virus in the early stages of viral maturation. Therefore, in order to allow the passage of nucleocapsids, viruses are known to modulate the architecture of the nuclear membrane to permit a proficient viral infection. Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), a pathogen from Herpesvirus family, possesses two well conserved proteins, BFRF1 and BFLF2, which together form the heterodimeric nuclear egress complex (NEC) that is involved in the early steps of nuclear egress. Here we show that EBV replication causes the delocalization of emerin, a cellular LEM-domain protein normally distributed on the nuclear rim. We also demonstrate that the early lytic protein BFRF1 is responsible for emerin delocalization. Expression of BFRF1 alone or in combination with BFLF2 induces emerin hyperphosphorylation. Altogether, these results suggest a novel mechanism by which EBV exploits the cellular machinery for nucleocapsid egress

A Review on ARM based Milk Quality Checking System

Food safety is more important issue in rural as well as in urban area, for the development of metropolitanization. So, Smart city taken initiative for the economic growth and to improve the quality of life. Survey shows that, raw milk contains different pathogenic microbes if such milk get refrigerated or stored it will affect an illness and break quality of life. So, it is necessary to develop such tools which will a real time quality monitoring with smart sensing system to make on time decisions. In this project we are going to develop such a tool which allows recognizing concentration of different gases in raw milk. In previous system work has been done with ARM processors. We are proposing a system which contains Intel Galileo Gen 2 and other sensors which help to identify different microbial activities in raw milk. We are going to design an Android Application which will display the microbial activities present in raw milk. System can detect such activity easily by checking presence of ethanol, acetic acid etc