Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Effect of Different Input Sample Size with Nested Conditional Mean and Variance Models over Market Returns Forecast in Volatile Market Conditions of 2008

In highly volatile market conditions it's always difficult to predict returns using heteroscedastic Garch models. This paper tries to investigate the impact of sample data inputs over forecast using nested conditional mean ARMAX(2,2,0) and conditional variance Garch(1,1), Gjr-garch(1,1) and Egarch(1,1) models. Research also tries to indentify relationship between outcome of formal hypothesis tests, the Ljung-Box-Pierce Q-test and Engle's ARCH test, sample input and forecast results. Study is conducted over two diversified stock markets index of America (NASDAQ Composite) and Asia (Nikkei 225). Returns are forecasted for the volatile month of aug-08 using sample inputs of last one month, two months up to seven months before aug-08 and a complete year before inputi.e from 1-aug-07 to 31-jul-08 of 246 trading days has also been taken. Graphical and correlative comparison of forecasted and observed returns is also done to identify any trend followed by Garch models in relation to size of sample inputs and forecast. Results show that forecast of mean of returns is far more accurate with Nikkei as compared to Nasdaq.
Representation of information using Kohonen's SOM (Self-Organizing Maps)

En este articulo se presenta una demostracion de los mapas auto organizados de Kohonen's tambien llamados SOM. Asi mismo es realizado un estudio del funcionamiento de los mapas de kohonen en una y dos dimensiones y las caracteristicas de este tipo de redes que trabajan de forma similar al cerebro humano. Finalmente, son detalladas las caracteristicas necesarias para realizar el entrenamiento de las redes y la forma como son utilizados sus resultados, con la finalidad de descubrir caracteristicas de la informacion de entrada, como por ejemplo, la distribucion, la densidad y la forma de la informacion.
Effects of PDE5 Inhibitors and sGC Stimulators in a Rat Model of Artificial Ureteral Calculosis

Urinary colics from calculosis are frequent and intense forms of pain whose current pharmacological treatment remains unsatisfactory. New and more effective drugs are needed to control symptoms and improve stone expulsion. Recent evidence suggested that the Nitric Oxide (NO) / cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) / phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) system may contribute to ureteral motility influencing stone expulsion. We investigated if PDE5 inhibitors and sGC stimulators influence ureteral contractility, pain behaviour and stone expulsion in a rat model of ureteral calculosis. We investigated: a)the sex-specific PDE5 distribution in the rat ureter; b)the functional in vitro effects of vardenafil and sildenafil (PDE5 inhibitors) and BAY41-2272 (sGC stimulator) on induced ureteral contractility in rats and c)the in vivo effectiveness of vardenafil and BAY41-2272, alone and combined with ketoprofen, vs hyoscine-N-butylbromide alone or combined with ketoprofen, on behavioural pain indicators and stone expulsion in rats with artificial calculosis in one ureter. PDE5 was abundantly expressed in male and female rats’ ureter. In vitro, both vardenafil and BAY41-2272 significantly relaxed pre-contracted ureteral strips. In vivo, all compounds significantly reduced number and global duration of “ureteral crises” and post-stone lumbar muscle hyperalgesia in calculosis rats. The highest level of reduction of the pain behaviour was observed with BAY41-2272 among all spasmolytics administered alone, and with the combination of ketoprofen with BAY41-2272. The percentage of stone expulsion was maximal in the ketoprofen+BAY41-2272 group. The NO/cGMP/PDE5 pathway is involved in the regulation of ureteral contractility and pain behaviour in urinary calculosis. PDE5 inhibitors and sGC stimulators could become a potent new option for treatment of urinary colic pain.
Sexually Objectifying Pop Music Videos, Young Women’s Self-Objectification, and Selective Exposure: A Moderated Mediation Model

There is intense discussion among experts about the potential negative impact of sexually objectifying media content on young women. This article presents an experimental study in which young women were either exposed to pop music videos high in sexual objectification or to pop music videos low in sexual objectification. Women’s self-objectification and their subsequent media selection behavior were measured. The results indicate that exposure to sexually objectifying media increased self-objectification, which in turn increased the preference for objectifying media content. Self-esteem, the internalization of appearance ideals, and body mass index (BMI) did not influence these relationships. Implications of these findings are discussed.
The origin of the Fe K features in Markarian 205 and Markarian 509

We examine the 3-10 keV EPIC spectra of Mrk 205 and 509 to investigate their Fe K features. The most significant feature in the spectra of both objects is an emission line at 6.4 keV. The spectra can be adequately modelled with a power law and a relatively narrow (sigma < 0.2 keV) Fe Kalpha emission line. Better fits are obtained when an additional Gaussian emission line, relativistic accretion-disc line, or Compton reflection from cold material, is added to the spectral model. We obtain similar goodness of fit for any of these three models, but the model including Compton reflection from cold material offers the simplest, physically self-consistent solution, because it only requires one reprocessing region. Thus the Fe K spectral features in Mrk 205 and 509 do not present strong evidence for reprocessing in the inner, relativistic parts of accretion discs.
Combining background subtraction and temporal persistency in pedestrian detection from static videos

This paper presents a method that incorporates background subtraction and temporal persistency with the HOG pedestrian detector to detect pedestrians from videos captured by a fixed camera. We use a codebook based method and interpolation to extract a series of foreground sub-images for the HOG detector. This allows the detector to focus on pedestrian detection on smaller image regions and thereby reduce its computational cost and lower its false positive error rate. We employ a temporal persistency constraint to overcome problems that may arise from background subtraction. Compared to other state-of-art techniques, the performance of our method is pleasantly promising.
Performance Analysis of Fixed-Gain Amplify-and-Forward Relaying With MRC

Relay transmission has recently attracted much attention since it can offer spatial diversity with single antenna terminals. This paper addresses the performance of a multiple-relay system with fixed-gain amplify-and-forward (AF) relaying in Nakagami-m fading. A tight upper bound on the average symbol error probability (SEP) is obtained for a system with K relays and when the maximal ratio combining (MRC) is used at the destination. Based on the obtained bound, a maximum diversity order of m(K + 1), where m is the fading parameter, is shown. Moreover, the problem of power allocation (PA) to minimize the SEP upper bound is investigated. Numerical results illustrate significant gains provided by the proposed PA over equal PA (EPA) under various channel conditions.
A quick guide to wedgelets

We give a short introduction to wedgelet approximations, and describe some of the features of the implementation available at the website www.wedgelets. de. Here we only give a short account aiming to provide a first understanding of the algorithm and its features, and refer to [1, 2] for details. Wedgelet approximations Wedgelet approximations were introduced by Donoho [1], as a means to efficiently approximate piecewise constant images. Generally speaking, these approximations are obtained by partitioning the image domain adaptively into disjoint sets, followed by computing an approximation of the image on each of these sets. Optimal approximations are defined by means of a certain functional weighing approximation error against complexity of the decomposition. The optimization can be imagined as a game of puzzle: The aim is to approximate the image by putting together a number of pieces from a fixed set, possibly using a minimal number of pieces. As can be imagined, the efficient computation of such an optimal approximation is a critical issue, depending on the particular class of partitions under considerations. Donoho proposed to use wedges, and to study the associated wedgelet approximations. For the sake of notational convenience, we fix that images are understood as elements of the function space R , where I = {0, . , 2 − 1} × {0, . , 2 − 1}. Other image sizes can be treated by suitable adaptation, at the cost of a more complicated notation. The wedgelet approach can be described by a two-step procedure: 1. Decompose the image domain I into a disjoint union of wedge-shaped sets, I = ⋃ w∈P w. 2. On each set w ∈ P, approximate the image by a constant.
Solving Parity Games on the Playstation 3

Parity games are a type of game in which two players ’play’ on a directed graph. Solving parity games is equivalent to model checking for -calculus. Thus, parity game solvers can be used for model checking. This requires a lot of computational power. Many-core CPUs generally have much more computational power than other CPUs. The Playstation 3 contains an advanced, modern manycore CPU, the IBM Cell Broadband Engine Architecture (CBEA). It is a low-cost option to investigate developing ecient algorithms for many-core CPUs. However, developing ecient algorithms for The Cell remains largely uncharted territory. The Small Progress Measures parity games algorithm, developed by Marcin Jurdzi nski, is poised for running on the IBM Cell Broadband Architecture, in particular for the Playstation 3. Here we show there are six important aspects regarding optimizing this algorithm for the Playstation 3: graph subdivision, lifting order, cluster issuing order, capturing cycles, the lifting heuristic and preprocessing the graph. Various optimizations are proposed, e.g.: cluster regeneration, altivec instruction set implementation, and the cluster dependency heuristic. Some of these were implemented and benchmarked. The benchmarks indicate the Playstation 3 seems a viable architecture for the Small Progress Measures algorithm.
A new ensemble clustering method for PolSAR image segmentation

In this paper, an effort is made to integrate spectral clustering and Gabor feature clustering, leading to improved segmentation results. The spectral clustering divides an image into nonoverlapped groups such that the intragroup similarity is high and the intergroup similarity is low as much as possible. This method includes solving the eigenvalue problem for the normalized similarity matrix, of size n × n, where n is the number of pixels. On the other hand, Gabor filter is used for texture feature extraction. A texture feature vector for each pixel of the image is formed corresponding to the texture edge energy at different directions with Gabor filter. The K-means clustering is applied on the texture feature vectors of all pixel of the input image. Finally, to integrate the results of spectral clustering and Gabor feature clustering, a cluster ensemble approach is applied and PolSAR image segmentation is performed. The experimental results indicate the effect of proposed method on PolSAR image segmentation.
Aliasing-free variable gain Delta Sigma Modulator for use in an analog frontend

We present an aliasing-free variable gain Delta Sigma Modulator (DSM). The variable gain of the 2-1-1 MASH architecture DSM is carried out by using additional sampling capacitors. This feedforward gain adjustment offers better SNR performance than feedback gain adjustments discussed in the literature, since the internal states of the modulator loop are driven at full signal swing. To eliminate the need for an analog anti-aliasing filter, a decimation filter with a sharp cutoff is employed in the reconstruction of the analog signal. The design is carried out in a 0. 6µm CMOS technology. Measurement & implementation results for the above concepts compare favorably with similar designs in recent literature.
Local Independence Transformation and Its Application to Removing Nonduplicate Statements in Code Clones

This paper proposes a new program transformation technique and describes its application to removing nonduplicate statements in code clones while preserving th e semantics of the program. Allowing nonduplicate statement s in code clones helps in finding larger code clones. However, the nonduplicate statements in code clones may induce unexpected difficulty and complexity when we analyze the software systems. In this paper, we propose a new technique of program transformation, called local independenc e transformation. The transformation analyzes the definitio s of variables, and replaces the uses of the variables with their definitions in terms of constants and nonlocal variabl es, when possible. With the proposed transformation, some of th e nonduplicate statements in code clones may be transformed into locally independent statements and hence may be moved out of the code clones while preserving the semantics of the program. Based on the new technique, we develop a threestep framework for moving the nonduplicate statements out of code clones. In the experiments on the wget source code, our approach successfully moves more than 77.9% of the nonduplicate statements out of the code clones.
Probe into Image Segmentation Based on Sobel Operator and Maximum Entropy Algorithm

This paper focuses on the research of image segmentation accuracy problem because traditional Sobel operator image segmentation is easy to cause the vagueness of image segmentation, contrast is not apparent, segmentation accuracy is low. Directed against these defects, this paper puts forward an improved Sobel operator 2-d maximum entropy digital image segmentation method. This algorithm firstly carries out image segmentation, according to digital image characteristics, then finds its real edge through the threshold of Sobel edge detection algorithm. Finally applies the threshold value obtained from Sobel edge detection algorithm to 2-d maximum entropy image segmentation. Furthermore, this paper uses different threshold segmentation for digital image goals and objective fringes to solve the problem of segmentation inaccuracy as the result of the local adhesion and stack. Simulation experiments show that the proposed algorithm boasts of its good robustness for image segmentation, high segmentation rate, which has been proven to be an effective and applicable algorithm.
Teacher Educators’ Perspectives on the Sociocultural Dimensions of Self-Directed Learning

The concept of self-directed learning (SDL) has been extensively studied; however, the majority of studies have explored learners’ perspectives on SDL, with less attention paid to investigating SDL from educators’ perspectives. Moreover, although there is a growing body of literature investigating the cultural dimension of SDL, most of these studies are limited to examining the formation of SDL among individuals influenced by Western or Confucian cultures, ignoring the existence of other cultural groups. This study, which investigates Malaysian teacher educators’ conceptualisations of SDL, begins to address these gaps. Twenty Malaysian teacher educators were interviewed to obtain their views on SDL. A constructivist grounded theory approach was used to inform the methodological framework of this study, whilst a hybrid inductive and deductive analysis approach was used to analyse the interview data. The findings of this study suggest that a more comprehensive conceptualisation of SDL is required that recognises the fundamental role of both the self and of educators in SDL, and acknowledges the impact of the sociocultural context on SDL. Informed by the existing SDL literature, and derived from fine-grained analysis of the interview data, the proposed definition of SDL foreground SDL as socially constructed learning where the learner takes control of his or her own learning processes within complex sociocultural contexts. This study concludes by recommending that future research investigates the impact of various cultures on learning, in order to develop a broader and more nuanced understanding of SDL.
Dual-Periodic Photonic Crystal Structures

In this chapter we discuss optical properties of dual-periodic photonic (super-)structures. Conventional photonic crystal structures exhibit a periodic modulation of the dielectric constant in one, two or three spatial dimensions (Joannopoulos, 2008). In a dual-periodic structure, the dielectric constant is varied on two distinct scales a1,2 along the same direction(s). An example of such a variation is given by the expression:
Interspecies Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Is Dependent on Compatible Mitochondrial DNA and Reprogramming Factors

Interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) involves the transfer of a nucleus or cell from one species into the cytoplasm of an enucleated oocyte from another. Once activated, reconstructed oocytes can be cultured in vitro to blastocyst, the final stage of preimplantation development. However, they often arrest during the early stages of preimplantation development; fail to reprogramme the somatic nucleus; and eliminate the accompanying donor cell's mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in favour of the recipient oocyte's genetically more divergent population. This last point has consequences for the production of ATP by the electron transfer chain, which is encoded by nuclear and mtDNA. Using a murine-porcine interspecies model, we investigated the importance of nuclear-cytoplasmic compatibility on successful development. Initially, we transferred murine fetal fibroblasts into enucleated porcine oocytes, which resulted in extremely low blastocyst rates (0.48%); and failure to replicate nuclear DNA and express Oct-4, the key marker of reprogramming. Using allele specific-PCR, we detected peak levels of murine mtDNA at 0.14±0.055% of total mtDNA at the 2-cell embryo stage and then at ever-decreasing levels to the blastocyst stage (<0.001%). Furthermore, these embryos had an overall mtDNA profile similar to porcine embryos. We then depleted porcine oocytes of their mtDNA using 10 µM 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine and transferred murine somatic cells along with murine embryonic stem cell extract, which expressed key pluripotent genes associated with reprogramming and contained mitochondria, into these oocytes. Blastocyst rates increased significantly (3.38%) compared to embryos generated from non-supplemented oocytes (P<0.01). They also had significantly more murine mtDNA at the 2-cell stage than the non-supplemented embryos, which was maintained throughout early preimplantation development. At later stages, these embryos possessed 49.99±2.97% murine mtDNA. They also exhibited an mtDNA profile similar to murine preimplantation embryos. Overall, these data demonstrate that the addition of species compatible mtDNA and reprogramming factors improves developmental outcomes for iSCNT embryos.
To Know Where We Are: Vision-Based Positioning in Outdoor Environments

Augmented reality (AR) displays become more and more popular recently, because of its high intuitiveness for humans and high-quality head-mounted display have rapidly developed. To achieve such displays with augmented information, highly accurate image registration or ego-positioning are required, but little attention have been paid for out-door environments. This paper presents a method for ego-positioning in outdoor environments with low cost monocular cameras. To reduce the computational and memory requirements as well as the communication overheads, we formulate the model compression algorithm as a weighted k-cover problem for better preserving model structures. Specifically for real-world vision-based positioning applications, we consider the issues with large scene change and propose a model update algorithm to tackle these problems. A long- term positioning dataset with more than one month, 106 sessions, and 14,275 images is constructed. Based on both local and up-to-date models constructed in our approach, extensive experimental results show that high positioning accuracy (mean ~ 30.9cm, stdev. ~ 15.4cm) can be achieved, which outperforms existing vision-based algorithms.
Stavskaya's Measure Is Weakly Gibbsian

Stavskaya's model is a one-dimensional Boolean probabilistic cellu- lar automaton very similar to the contact and directed percolation processes. There is always an absorbing measure but close to the deterministic limit the model also shows a non-trivial invariant measure. We show that the latter \Stavskaya's" measure is weakly Gibbsian with an exponentially decaying in- teraction potential.
An Impact of High and Low Oil Price Periods' Volatility for Two Stock Market Returns: Study of Singapore and Hong Kong's Stock Markets

This paper discusses the model construction and the association between the Singapore’s and the Hong Kong’s stock markets. Simultaneously, this paper uses the high and the low oil price periods’ volatility as a threshold for the Singapore’s and the Hong Kong’s stock market returns. The study data period is from January, 2000 to September, 2004 and June, 2005 to October, 2008. This paper also utilizes Student's t distribution to analyze the proposed model. The results of this empirical study revealed that the two stock markets mutually affected each other, and the dynamic conditional correlation (DCC) and the bivariate asymmetric-IGARCH (1, 1) model is appropriate in evaluating the relation between them. The empirical result also indicates that the Singapore’s and the Hong Kong’s stock market is a positive relation. The average of the correlation coefficient equals to 0.6511, which implies that the two stock markets return volatility has a synchronized influence on each other. In addition to the results implied that there is an asymmetrical effect between the Singapore’s and the Hong Kong’s stock markets under the low and high oil price periods. The empirical result also shows that the Singapore’s and the Hong Kong’s stock market returns will receive the influence of the low and high oil prices’ volatility.