Soft Biometrics and Deep Learning: Detecting Facial Soft Biometrics Features Using Ocular and Forehead Region for Masked Face Images

Soft Biometrics is a growing field that has been known to improve the recognition system as witnessed in the past decade. When combined with hard biometrics like iris, gait, fingerprint recognition etc. it has been seen that the efficiency of the system increases many folds. With the Pandemic came the need to recognise faces covered with mask in an efficient way- soft biometrics proved to be an aid in this. While recent advances in computer vision have helped in the estimation of age and gender - the system could be improved by extending the scope and detecting quite a few other soft biometric attributes that helps us in identifying a person, including but not limited to - eyeglasses, hair type and color, mustache, eyebrows etc. In this paper we propose a system of identification that uses the ocular and forehead part of the face as modalities to train our models that uses transfer learning techniques to help in the detection of 12 soft biometric attributes (FFHQ dataset) and 25 soft biometric attributes (CelebA dataset) for masked faces. We compare the results with the unmasked faces in order to see the variation of efficiency using these data-sets Throughout the paper we have implemented 4 enhanced models namely - enhanced Alexnet ,enhanced Resnet50, enhanced MobilenetV2 and enhanced SqueezeNet. The enhanced models apply transfer learning to the normal models and aids in improving accuracy. In the end we compare the results and see how the accuracy varies according to the model used and whether the images are masked or unmasked. We conclude that for images containing facial masks - using enhanced MobileNet would give a splendid accuracy of 92.5% (for FFHQ dataset) and 87% (for CelebA dataset).

The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Giardia duodenalis Infection in Cats in Mexico

Aims: Giardia duodenalis is a globally distributed zoonotic protozoan. It has a variable prevalence. This study determines the prevalence of Giardia spp. in cat faecal samples from states of the Mexican Republic. Place and Duration of Study: Was carried out in 23 of the 32 states of the Mexican Republic, from June to December 2019. Methodology: Stool samples from 1591 client-owned cats were analysed for the detection of G. duodenalis (cysts or trophozoites). Faecal samples were analysed by direct smear techniques with and without staining (Lugol) and centrifugal floatation (faust), and were examined under a light microscope. Results: Of the cats sampled, 56.94% were positive for G. duodenalis. Its prevalence was associated and is a risk factor in cats that live with other animals (Chi2= 21.84, p= 0.0001; OR= 1.61, p= 0.0001), with hunting habits (Chi2= 5.53 p= 0.01, OR= 1.27 p= 0.01), with access to the outside (Chi2= 53.06, p= 0.0001; OR= 2.13, p=0.0001) and with the aqueous faeces (Chi2= 12.30, p=0.03; Chi2= 1.71, p= 0.03). Factors for not presenting Giardia spp. in faeces were, not brushing the cat (OR=0.74, p= 0.006), provenance (OR= 0.42, p=0.02), and median height (OR= 0.78, p= 0.01). Age, gender, hair type, coexistence with other cats and other stool findings were not associated as risk factors for infection. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a high overall prevalence of G. duodenalis in cats in Mexico, in addition to an association of its prevalence with risk factors such as cats living with other animals, hunting habits and access to outdoors.

Systemic Racism in EEG Research: Considerations and Potential Solutions

The current theoretical paper discusses the unintended systemic racism and racial biases that impact neuroscience, specifically in research utilizing electroencephalography (EEG). As a popular technique in affective science research, EEG requires adherence between the electrode and scalp to measure brain activity. To obtain high-quality data, various factors such as hair length, hair type, body movement, and/or extraneous noise from the environment are taken into consideration. As EEG researchers attempt to gather good-quality data, the recruitment and retention of Black American participants is challenging due to hairstyles commonly worn by Black American participants (e.g., cornrows, braids) and hair type. Taken together, the systemic lack of data from Black American participants renders research findings less generalizable and causes disparities in theoretical knowledge applicable to this population. To address this disparity, innovative solutions invented by bioengineers are discussed.

Genome Reconstruction Attacks Against Genomic Data-Sharing Beacons

Sharing genome data in a privacy-preserving way stands as a major bottleneck in front of the scientific progress promised by the big data era in genomics. A community-driven protocol named genomic data-sharing beacon protocol has been widely adopted for sharing genomic data. The system aims to provide a secure, easy to implement, and standardized interface for data sharing by only allowing yes/no queries on the presence of specific alleles in the dataset. However, beacon protocol was recently shown to be vulnerable against membership inference attacks. In this paper, we show that privacy threats against genomic data sharing beacons are not limited to membership inference. We identify and analyze a novel vulnerability of genomic data-sharing beacons: genome reconstruction. We show that it is possible to successfully reconstruct a substantial part of the genome of a victim when the attacker knows the victim has been added to the beacon in a recent update. In particular, we show how an attacker can use the inherent correlations in the genome and clustering techniques to run such an attack in an efficient and accurate way. We also show that even if multiple individuals are added to the beacon during the same update, it is possible to identify the victim’s genome with high confidence using traits that are easily accessible by the attacker (e.g., eye color or hair type). Moreover, we show how a reconstructed genome using a beacon that is not associated with a sensitive phenotype can be used for membership inference attacks to beacons with sensitive phenotypes (e.g., HIV+). The outcome of this work will guide beacon operators on when and how to update the content of the beacon and help them (along with the beacon participants) make informed decisions.

FAKTOR HEREDITAS DAN LINGKUNGAN DALAM MEMBENTUK KARAKTER

Setiap manusia diciptakan dengan berbagai macam keunikannya dengan karakteristik masing-masing. Faktor hereditas dan lingkungan dipandang sebagai faktor yang mempengaruhi pro- ses pembentukan karakteristik setiap individu. Hereditas dipandang sebagai faktor bawaaan yang di turunkan dari orang tua pada anak baik fisik maupun psikis sejak masa konsepsi melalui gen-gen. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji lebih dalam faktor hereditas dan lingkungan dalam mem- bentuk karakter dengan titik fokus melihat pada faktor manakah yang lebih dominan dalam pemben- tukan karakter individu. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kepustakaan. Sumber data dalam peneli- tian ini berupa buku-buku, jurnal dan situs-situs dari internet yang memiliki kaitan dengan topik yang diteliti. Teknik pengumupan data dalam penelitian ini yaitu studi dokumen. Analisis data menggunakan analisis isi (content analysis). Berdasarkan hasil studi yang dilakukan, penulis menemu- kan bahwa faktor hereditas dalam diri individu dipandang mempengaruhi dalam perkembangan jas- mani seperti warna kulit, warna mata, jenis rambut, dan sebagainya. Beberapa bentuk kepribadian dan perilaku sosial dapat merujuk pada faktor lingkungan. HEREDITY AND ENVIRONMENT FACTORS IN BUILDING CHARACTERS Every human being is created with a variety of uniqueness with each characteristic. Here- dity and environmental factors are seen as factors that influence the process of forming the charac- teristics of each individual. Heredity is seen as a hereditary factor that is passed down from parents to children both physically and psychologically since the conception through genes. This study aims to examine more deeply the heredity and environmental factors in shaping character with a focus point to see which factors are more dominant in shaping individual characters. This research is a type of li- brary research. The data sources in this study are books, journals and websites from the internet that are related to the topic under the study. The data collection technique in this research is document stu- dy. The data analysis used content analysis. Based on the results of the study conducted, the authors found that heredity factors in individuals are seen as influencing physical development such as skin color, eye color, hair type, and so on. While some forms of personality and social behavior can refer to environmental factors.

Thermoregulatory response of Yankasa sheep with distinct thick-coarse and shortslick hair types during hot-dry season in tropical Savannah

The skin has the closest contact with the environment and, thus, the role of coat in the adaptation to the changing environmental conditions cannot be over emphasised. The study was aimed at comparing the thermoregulatory response of Yankasa rams with distinct thick coarse and short-slick hair types at the peak of the hot-dry season in tropical Guinea Savannah. A total of 10 Yankasa rams with thick-coarse (n=5) and short-slick (n=5) hair types, balanced for age and body condition score were used. The meteorological and thermoregulatory parameters were measured four times at 2 days interval at 9:00, 13:00 and 17:00 h. In the afternoon, the temperature humidity index and ambient temperature were higher than the thermoneutral zone for sheep. Yankasa sheep with thick-coarse hair had higher (P < 0.05) hair length than those with short-slick hair type. Respiratory rate at all hours, body surface temperature in the morning hours, eye and inter-digital surface temperature in the afternoon hours were lower in thick-coarse hair than short-slick hair sheep. Significant rise (P < 0.05) in respiratory rate, skin and rectal temperatures from morning to afternoon hours were observed in both hair types. Subsequently, in the evening hours, the rectal temperature in the thick-coarse hair sheep returned to values comparable to those of the morning hours; while the values in short-slick hair sheep remained higher (P <0.05) than that of the morning hours. It was concluded that Yankasa sheep with thick-coarse hair type had lower thermoregulatory demand to maintain homeostasis in the afternoon hours, and cooled faster in the evening hours relative to their short-slick hair type counterpart during the hot-dry season in the tropical Savannah. La peau a le contact le plus facile avec l'environnement et, par conséquent, le rôle du pelage dans l'adaptation aux conditions environnementales changeantes ne peut pas être trop souligné. L'étude visait à comparer la réponse thermorégulatrice des béliers yankasa avec des types distincts de cheveux épais-grossiers et courts au plus fort de la saison chaude et sèche dans la savane tropicale de Guinée. Un total de 10 béliers Yankasa avec des types de cheveux épais-grossiers (n=5) et short-slick (n=5), équilibrés pour l'âge et le score d'état corporel ont été utilisés. Les paramètres météorologiques et thermorégulateurs ont été mesurés quatre fois à intervalles de 2 jours à 9 h, 13 h et 17 h. Dans l'après-midi, l'indice d'humidité de la température et la température ambiante étaient plus élevés que la zone thermonéutrale pour les moutons. Les moutons Yankasa aux cheveux épais et grossiers avaient une longueur de cheveux plus élevée (P < 0.05) que ceux de type cheveux courts. La fréquence respiratoire à toute heure, la température de surface du corps le matin, la température des yeux et de la surface inter-numérique dans les heures de l'après-midi étaient plus faibles dans les cheveux épais-grossiers que les moutons cheveux courts lisses. Des hausses significatives (P < 0.05) des températures respiratoires, cutanées et rectales du matin à l'après-midi ont été observées dans les deux types de cheveux. Par la suite, le soir, la température rectale chez les moutons aux cheveux épais-grossiers est revenue à des valeurs comparables à celles des heures du matin; tandis que les valeurs chez les moutons à poils courts sont restées plus élevées (P < 0.05) que celles des heures du matin. Il a été conclu que les moutons Yankasa de type cheveux épais-grossiers avaient une demande thermorégulatrice plus faible pour maintenir l'homéostasie dans les heures de l'après-midi, et refroidi plus rapidement dans les heures du soir par rapport à leur homologue de type cheveux courts lisses pendant la saison chaude-sèche dans la savane tropicale

Occurrence of head lice in children and adolescents seen at a hospital in Uberlândia, central Brazil

The purpose of this study was to verify the occurrence of head lice in children at a public hospital in Uberlândia, MG and factors associated with pediculosis such as sex, age, hair characteristics and socioeconomic conditions, as well as obtaining information from their parents/guardians regarding the epidemiology, its transmission, prevention and control. To obtain the data, direct hair inspection and a characterization sheet and questionnaire were utilized. An occurrence rate of 6.1 % was found in 230 children examined in a public hospital, 111 females and 119 males with the highest rates observed in female children aged 4-8 with medium to long hair. Income, level of education, hair washing, hair type, color and thickness did not seem to influence the distribution of pediculosis in the children seen in the hospital in Uberlândia. The questionnaire answered by parents/guardians indicated that the children had had at least one infestation in their lifetime. The use of fine comb and pesticides were the most usual control methods adopted. The most frequent symptom was severe itching on the scalp. Although the occurrence of head pediculosis is declining, it is still a prevalent public health problem in the child population of Uberlândia, MG. Pediculosis may be associated with sex, age and hair characteristics. Variations in the degree of these influencing factors depend on the profile of the population studied. Additional studies are required in population groups over time, particularly in those that are inadequately assisted or lack state education and health assistance.KEY WORDS: Pediculosis; ocurrence; Minas Gerais; Brazil.

Pili Multigemini Is a Possible Risk Factor for Pilonidal Sinus Disease

The aim of this study is to analyze both previously proposed and new risk factors for the development of pilonidal sinus. This is a prospective case-control study consisting of 145 patients with pilonidal sinus disease (n = 45) and a control group (n = 100). All patients were admitted to the department of general surgery between January 2013 and May 2015. The patients' age, family history, medical history, sitting time in a day, sitting posture, body mass index (BMI), Garn hairiness score, and hair type were evaluated. There were significant differences between the groups in the following characteristics: age (P = 0.01); positive family history (P = 0.01); medical history (P = 0.01); sitting time in a day (P = 0.01); sitting posture (P = 0.01); BMI (P = 0.01); Garn score (P = 0.01); and hair type. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that positive family history (P = 0.03); Garn score (P = 0.05); medical history (P = 0.01); and sitting posture (P = 0.02) were independent risk factors for the development of pilonidal sinus disease.

Skin Deep: Perception of Scars After Cranial Vault Reconstruction

Purpose: Children with craniosynostosis are vulnerable to stigmatization and social withdrawal. Cranial vault reconstruction (CVR) results in large bicoronal scars, which may trigger further insult to self-esteem and social outcasting. This study aimed to delineate determinants of patient scar self-consciousness, parental scar satisfaction, and parent satisfaction with their child’s overall medical/surgical care. Methods: A 14-item questionnaire was distributed to parents of 95 patients who underwent open CVR at our institution. Age at first surgery, race, hair type, typical style, number of surgeries, complications, and use of distractors were surveyed. Patient scar self-consciousness, parental scar satisfaction, and parent satisfaction with their child’s overall medical/surgical care were also queried. T tests and linear regressions were performed for binary and continuous variables, respectively. Results: Of 45 respondents, significant associations were found between: (1) complications and decreased parent scar satisfaction; (2) complications and decreased overall satisfaction with medical/surgical care, and (3) older age at time of initial surgery and decreased overall medical/surgical satisfaction. A significant association was found between parental scar satisfaction and overall medical/surgical satisfaction (β = 0.65, P = .002). There was no significant association between parent scar satisfaction and parental-reported patient self-consciousness, or parental-reported patient self-consciousness and overall medical/surgical satisfaction. Conclusions: Our results underscore the value of scar aesthetics in reconstructive goals. Advanced age and complications are important determinants of satisfaction. However, the lack of association between parent-reported patient self-consciousness and parental scar satisfaction suggests differences in aesthetic priorities between parents and children. Further studies may elucidate additional aesthetic considerations of CVR in ethnic/racial minorities.

Tracing selection signatures in the pig genome gives evidence for selective pressures on a unique curly hair phenotype in Mangalitza

Selection for desirable traits and breed-specific phenotypes has left distinctive footprints in the genome of pigs. As representative of a breed with strong selective traces aiming for robustness, health and performance, the Mangalitza pig, a native curly-haired pig breed from Hungary, was investigated in this study. Whole genome sequencing and SNP chip genotyping was performed to detect runs of homozygosity (ROH) in Mangalitza and Mangalitza-crossbreeds. We identified breed specific ROH regions harboring genes associated with the development of the curly hair type and further characteristics of this breed. Further analysis of two matings of Mangalitza with straight-coated pig breeds confirmed an autosomal dominant inheritance of curly hair. Subsequent scanning of the genome for variant effects on this trait revealed two variants potentially affecting hair follicle development and differentiation. Validation in a large sample set as well as in imputed SNP data confirmed these variants to be Mangalitza-specific. Herein, we demonstrated how strong artificial selection has shaped the genome in Mangalitza pigs and left traces in the form of selection signatures. This knowledge on genomic variation promoting unique phenotypes like curly hair provides an important resource for futures studies unraveling genetic effects for special characteristics in livestock.