Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Hybrid Algorithm for Forecasting Financial Time Series Data Based on DBSCAN and SVR

Financial prediction is an important research field in financial data time series mining. There has always been a problem of clustering massive financial time series data. Conventional clustering algorithms are not practical for time series data because they are essentially designed for static data. This impracticality results in poor clustering accuracy in several financial forecasting models. In this paper, a new hybrid algorithm is proposed based on Optimization of Initial Points and Variable-Parameter Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (OVDBCSAN) and support vector regression (SVR). At the initial point of optimization, ε and MinPts, which are global parameters in DBSCAN, mainly deal with datasets of different densities. According to different densities, appropriate parameters are selected for clustering through optimization. This algorithm can find a large number of similar classes and then establish regression prediction models. It was tested extensively using real-world time series datasets from Ping An Bank, the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange to evaluate accuracy. The evaluation showed that our approach has major potential in clustering massive financial time series data, therefore improving the accuracy of the prediction of stock prices and financial indexes.
Field efficiency and bias of snag inventory methods

Snags and cavity trees are important components of forests, but can be difficult to inventory precisely and are not always included in inventories because of limited resources. We tested the application of N-tree distance sampling as a time-saving snag sampling method and compared N-tree distance sampling to fixed-area sampling and modified horizontal line sampling in mixed pine-hardwood forests of southern Maine and New Hampshire. We also present a novel modification of N-tree distance sampling that limits the distance from plot center that an observer must search to find tally trees. A field test shows N-tree to be quick, but generally biased and characterized by high variability. Distance-limited N-tree sampling mitigates these problems, but not completely. We give recommendations for operational snag inventory in similar forest types.
Do Features From Short Durational Segments Classify Epileptic EEG Signals Effectively

Automated analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) signal is the current trend in epilepsy diagnosis. Machine learning based automated analysis enables the fast and accurate detection of epileptic diseases. Recent studies have concentrated on developing efficient algorithms for the EEG analysis and diagnosis of epilepsy. A major bottleneck during the algorithm development is that, whether to consider a lengthy signal to analyze or a part of the signal for producing an adequate classification result. In this work, we analyzed the epileptic classification performance of the features from short durational segment of the signal. Two well-known entropy features are extracted from the random segments. The results of a benchmarking epilepsy EEG data set shows that features from short durational segments promisingly classify the epilepsy signals.
The genus Glyptholaspis Filipponi & Pegazzano (Acari: Macrochelidae) of Kelkit Valley (Turkey), with first description of male of the species G. saprophila Mašán

This study was carried out on the genus Glyptholaspis in Kelkit Valley, Turkey, during 2007-2012. Three species, G. americana (Berlese, 1888), G. confusa (Foa, 1900), and G. saprophila Masan, 2003, were recorded from Kelkit Valley. G. americana has been previously recorded from Turkey; G. confusa and G. saprophila are first records for the Turkish fauna. The male of G. saprophila is described for the first time in this study. Original drawings for all known species of the genus from Kelkit Valley are included. Additionally, an identification key to the Turkish species of Glyptholaspis is given here.
Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) in pituitary stalk blood of rhesus monkeys: relationship to level of LH release.

The quantitative relationship between LHRH and LH secretion was investigated in the rhesus monkey. Pituitary stalk blood was collected using a trans-sphenoidal surgical approach and analyzed for LHRH by radioimmunoassay. Stalk blood was collected from 3 groups of monkeys: a) 5 animals in the mid-follicular phase of the menstrual cycle exhibiting low peripheral plasma LH levels, b) 7 animals undergoing preovulatory-like LH surges one of which occurred spontaneously and 6 of which were induced by estradiol benzoate treatment, and c) 4 ovariectomized animals exhibiting tonically elevated LH levels. LHRH was detected in the stalk plasma of all animals (> 10 pg/ml) but none was found in peripheral plasma. The correlation coefficient for peripheral plasma LH levels and stalk plasma LHRH levels was 0.66 (P < 0.01) when all animals were considered and 0.79 (P < 0.01) when only the follicular phase and preovulatory animals were considered. Moreover, LHRH levels in stalk plasma were significantly elevated (P <0.05).
Frequency, Diversity and Ecological Strategies of Epiphytic Lichens in the Swiss Central Plateau and the Pre-Alps

Abstract To identify representative quantitative criteria for the creation of a future Red List of epiphytic lichens, 849 trees in 132 long-term ecological observation plots in the Swiss Central Plateau and the Pre-Alps were surveyed by standard sampling. Based on the trees, frequency data of the lichen taxa observed are described by the log series model, indicating the controlling effect of few ecological factors. Based on the plots, four classes of scarcity, each comprising 25% of the species, were established. As a contribution to the development of a national, representative survey of lichens, α-diversity (species richness, species density) and β-diversity (dissimilarity) were calculated in terms of region, vegetation formation, vegetation belt and for their combinations. Differences in lichen diversity between the Central Plateau and the Pre-Alps were caused by the bigger elevational range in the Pre-Alps, which resulted in a higher species richness. α-Diversity of forest and non-forest were similar, whereas each vegetation formation showed one third of its species restricted to it. The contributions to the total lichen diversity of crustose, foliose and fruticose as well as of generative and vegetative species was calculated. Specific features along the altitudinal gradient of vegetation belts emerged: the percentage of crustose and generative lichens declined with every altitudinal step, increased in fruticose and vegetative lichens, and was the same in foliose species.
Dynamic and Reactive Multi-Objective Routing Decision in Position-based Routing Protocols

Current greedy routing protocol (GFS) designed to find shortest path as a single routing objective. Considering only one routing objective is insufficient for the computation of a reliable rout, and can severely compromise network performance on the remaining overlooked objectives. This paper introduces the Dynamic and Reactive Reliability Estimation with Selective Metrics Mechanism (DRESM). The intended DRESM is constructed of two coherent techniques; the Fuzzy Logic Dynamic Nodes’ Reliability Estimation (FLDRE) and the Status Information Distribution and Outgoing Traffic Control Management (IDOTM). FLDRE introduce the notion of multi-criteria next relay node selection using fuzzy weighted logic multi-objectives. IDOTM provides the sender node with fresh information about its neighbour and control the outgoing traffic. The simulation results show that DRESM outperforms GFS in terms of packet delivery ratio, average end-to-end delay. Moreover, DRESM can find routs whose cost is close to the optimum.
Salinity-alkalinity tolerance in wheat: Seed germination, early seedling growth, ion relations and solute accumulation

Germination and early seedling growth are the most critical stages for plant establishment in saline-alkaline soil. To gain a better understanding of relations between germination and seedling establishment, and the physiological adaptive mechanisms of the two stages under salt and alkali environments, wheat was tested by mixing two neutral salts (NaCl:Na2SO4) and two alkaline salts (NaHCO3:Na2CO3). Results showed that reductions of germination percentage and seedling growth were greater under alkali stress. Nongerminated seeds germinated well after being transferred from higher salinity and lower alkalinity to distilled water. The Na+ concentration and Na+/K+ ratio increased much greater under alkali stress, especially in root. The K+ concentrations in both shoot and root were not affected under salt stress, but decreased under alkali stress. Proline and soluble sugars were the primary organic osmolytes under the two stresses. Our results suggest that the deleterious effects of alkali stress are more severe than salt stress. Higher Na+ concentration in root is an important feature of wheat tolerance of salinity-alkalinity at early seedling stage. The different saline-alkaline tolerant abilities between germination and early seedling stage indicate that for wheat, successful germination does not ensure seedlings can survive in saline-alkaline soil of Northeast China. Key words: Alkali stress, germination recovery, osmotic adjustment, physiological change, salt stress.
Automated lung cancer detection based on multimodal features extracting strategy using machine learning techniques

Lung Cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide with minimal survival rate due to poor diagnostic system at the advanced cancer stage. In the past, researchers developed various tools in image processing to detect the Lung cancer of types as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) which are based on few features extracting methods. In this research, we extracted multimodal features such as texture, morphological, entropy based, scale invariant Fourier transform (SIFT), Ellipse Fourier Descriptors (EFDs) by considering multiple aspects and shapes morphologies. We then applied robust machine learning classification methods such as Naïve Bayes, Decision Tree and Support Vector Machine (SVM) with its kernels such as Gaussian, Radial Base Function (RBF) and Polynomial. Jack-knife 10-fold cross validation was applied for training/ validation of data. The performance was evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), total accuracy (TA), false positive rate (FPR) and area under the receiving curve (AUC). The highest detection accuracy was obtained with (TA=100%) with entropy, SIFT and texture features using Naïve Bayes, texture features using SVM Polynomial. Moreover, the highest separation was obtained using entropy, morphological, SIFT and texture features with (AUC=1.00) using Naïve Bayes classifier and texture features using Decision tree and SVM polynomial kernel.
RESISTENCIA DE AISLAMIENTOS DE Phytophthora infestans AL METALAXYL EN EL CULTIVO DE LA PAPA EN COSTA RICA 1

Un total de 118 aislamientos de PhytophResistance of isolates of Phytophthora inthora infestans se recolectaron entre julio de festans to metalaxyl in potato crops of Costa Ri1999 y enero de 2000 en las 2 principales zonas ca. A total of 118 isolates of Phytophthora infesproductoras de papa en Costa Rica, Norte de Car- tans was collected between July 1999 and January tago y Zarcero. La resistencia de los aislamientos 2000 in the 2 main potato production zones ofCosse evaluo in vitro midiendo el crecimiento radial ta Rica, Northern Cartago and Zarcero. Resistance del micelio en un medio suplementado con meta- to metalaxyl was determined in vitro by measuring laxyl. Los aislamientos se clasificaron como re- micelium radial growth on agar medium supplesistentes, intermedios 0 sensibles; 75 aislamien- mented with fungicide. Isolates were classified as tos (64%) fueron resistentes al metalaxyl y 43 resistant, intermediate, or sensitive. Seventy-five (36%) fueron sensibles a este fungicida. No se isolates (64%) were resistant to metalaxyl and 43 encontraron aislamientos intermedios. La fre- isolates (36%) were sensitive to this fungicide, No cuencia de aislamientos resistentes varia marca- intermediate isolates were found. Resistance fredamente entre zonas. En Cartago, la relacion de quency varied markedly between production zoaislamientos resistentes:sensibles fue aproxima- nes. The ratio of resistant:sensitive isolates was damente de 1:1, mientras que en Zarcero fue de near 1:1 for Cartago whereas it was 7:1 for Zar7:1. No se observo ningun cambio en la frecuen- cero. There. was no apparent change in frequency cia de los aislamientos resistentes durante los 3 of metalaxyl resistance among the sampling peperiodos de muestreo. Los aislamientos resisten- riods. Resistant isolates had a similar ECso in both tes de ambas zonas mostraron una CEso similar, zones whereas sensitive isolates from fields in mientras que los aislamientos sensibles de Zarce- Zarcero had a greater ECso value than isolates ro mostraron una CEso mayor que los aislamien- from Cartago. Other 29 isolates, collected from tos sensibles de Cartago. Con el fin de evaluar el naturally-infected leaves of potato plants during fungicida metalaxyl-M, enantiomero activo del July 2000, were evaluated for sensitivity to metametalaxyl, en julio del 2000 se recolectaron 29 laxyl an~ metalaxyl-M. Isolates resistant to
Growth of Roots Emerged from Excised Phytomers of Three Gramineous Species under a Low Osmotic Potential

Abstract The growth of crown and lateral roots emerged from the excised phytomers of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoideum Rich.), barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea Link.) and maize (Zea mays L.) was studied under normal and low osmotic potential conditions. The plants were grown in two solutions with osmotic potentials of –0.02 and –0.54 MPa for 6 days. The relative growth rate of the roots in total length (RGRL) , was not affected by osmotic stress in pearl and barnyard millets, but that in stressed maize was reduced to 64% of the control. Similarly, the relative growth rate of the roots in dry weight (RGRW), was not affected by osmotic stress in pearl and barnyard millets, but significantly reduced in maize. Osmotic stress increased the specific root length of the lateral roots in pearl and barnyard millets, but did not affect that of maize. The photosynthetic rate (Pr) in the two millets was decreased to ca. 60% of the control by the stress, and that in maize was reduced to 21%. Under the stress, Pr in the three species was limited mainly by low stomatal conductance, but no clear relationship was found between Pr and osmotic adjustment of the leaf. The relative water content of the leaf was lower in maize than in the two millets. The resistance to water flow through the phytomer (R) was significantly increased by osmotic stress in maize, but not significantly in the two millets. The mean root length (RL) was decreased by the stress in maize, but not in the two millets. The maintenance of RGRL in the two millets was associated with sustained R, RL and also with the maintenance of Pr and allocation of assimilates to roots.
Lattice Gaussian Sampling by Markov Chain Monte Carlo: Bounded Distance Decoding and Trapdoor Sampling

Sampling from the lattice Gaussian distribution plays an important role in various research fields. In this paper, the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC)-based sampling technique is advanced in several fronts. First, the spectral gap for the independent Metropolis-Hastings-Klein (MHK) algorithm is derived, which is then extended to Peikert’s algorithm and rejection sampling; we show that independent MHK exhibits faster convergence. Then, the performance of bounded distance decoding (BDD) using MCMC is analyzed, revealing a flexible trade-off between the decoding radius and complexity. MCMC is further applied to trapdoor sampling, again offering a trade-off between security and complexity. Finally, the independent multiple-try Metropolis-Klein (MTMK) algorithm is proposed to enhance the convergence rate. The proposed algorithms allow parallel implementation, which is beneficial for practical applications.
Sampling Strategy for Ultrasonic Mid-Air Haptics

Mid-air tactile stimulation using ultrasonics has been used in a variety of human computer interfaces in the form of prototypes as well as products. When generating these tactile patterns with mid-air tactile ultrasonic displays, the common approach has been to sample the patterns using the hardware update rate capabilities to their full extent. In the current study we show that the hardware update rate can impact perception, but unexpectedly we find that higher update rates do not improve pattern perception. In a first user study, we highlight the effect of update rate on the perceived strength of a pattern, especially for patterns rendered at slow rate of less than 10 Hz. In a second user study, we identify the evolution of the optimal update rate according to variations in pattern size. Our main results show that update rate should be designated as additional parameter for tactile patterns. We also discuss how the relationships we defined in the current study can be implemented into designer tools so that designers remain oblivious to this additional complexity.
Genetic engineering of rice for improved agronomic characteristics

This thesis describes the production of three populations of transgenic rice plants using particle bombardment method altered in two main traits: (1) polyamine content and (2) insect pest resistance. The expression of antisense heterologous oat arginine decarboxylase (ADC) cDNA in transgenic rice plants suppressed endogenous ADC enzyme activity, and decreased putrescine and spermidine levels in a tissue/organ dependent manner, with no concomitant changes in the expression of other polyamine biosynthetic genes. The second population of transgenic rice plants engineered with a homologous spermidine synthase (SpdSyn) transgene, and observed through two generations, showed increased expression of both endogenous and transgene mRNAs. However, no significant accumulation of spermidine level in transgenic rice plants when compared to wild type control plants was observed. Putrescine levels were significantly increased in these transgenic plants. The study suggested the possible presence of an inter-conversion process from spermidine to putrescine in transgenic plants, triggered by over-expression of SpdSyn mRNAs. Novel insect resistance gene constructs encoding fusion proteins, including (1) rice thioredoxin h fused with snowdrop lectin-GNA (TRX-GNA), (2) the first domain of Bt toxin gene-Cry 1 Ac fused with GNA (Ac-GNA) and (3) Cry 1 Ac fused with ricin B chain-RTB (Ac-RTB) were assembled. When expressed in transgenic plant, these fusion proteins displayed an additive effect as insect toxins by maintaining the functional properties of the individual proteins. Artificial diet bioassays against insect pests showed that using these fusion proteins could enhance toxicity, insecticidal spectrum and possibly durability of resistance to insect pests. Our results clearly showed that transgenic rice plants expressing these fusion protein genes are resistant to brown planthopper, an important insect pest in tropical rice growing areas. These rice plants behave as horizontally resistant cultivars that are suitable for integrated pest management (IPM) networks.
Infecção experimental de bezerros com recombinantes do herpesvírus bovino tipo 5 defectivos na glicoproteína E (gE), timidina quinase (TK) e ambos, gE/TK

This article describes an investigation on the virulence/attenuation of bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5) recombinants deleted in the genes encoding glycoprotein E (BoHV-5gEΔ), thymidine kinase (BoHV-5TKΔ), and both gE and TK (BoHV-5gEΔTKΔ). Seronegative calves (80 to 90 days-old) inoculated with the parental strain (SV-507/99, n=5) shed virus in nasal secretions for up to 15 days (average 10.8 days). Duration of virus shedding was 11 days for BoHV-5gΔ, 9.6 days for BoHV-5TKΔ and 6.2 days for BoHV-5gEΔTKΔ groups. The highest titers were observed between days 1 and 6 post-infection (pi) for SV-507/99 (106.8TCID50/mL), 105.1TCID50/mL (BoHV-5gEΔ), 105.9TCID50/mL (BoHV-5TKΔ) and 104.7TCID50/mL (BoHV-5gEΔTKΔ). Calves inoculated with the parental virus presented anorexia, profound apathy and loss of body condition. Two calves were euthanized in extremis on days 10 and 11 pi; infectious virus was recovered from several areas of the brain. In contrast, calves inoculated with the recombinants remained healthy and a few presented a mild and transient nasal secretion. Dexamethasone (Dx) administration at day 42 pi resulted in virus shedding by all controls calves (mean duration 3.7 days), by 2/5 of BoHV-5TKΔ calves (two days) and 2/5 of BoHV-5gEΔ (one day). No virus shedding was detected in BoHV-5gEΔTKΔ calves upon Dx treatment. PCR examination of brain sections of calves euthanized at day 30 post Dx treatment revealed the presence of latent viral DNA widely distributed in the brain of SV-507/99 calves. Latent viral DNA was detected in a few sections (3/30) of the brains of BoHV-5gEΔ calves and was not detected in the brains of calves inoculated with BoHV-5TKΔ and BoHV-5gEΔTKΔ. These results show that the single BoHV-5 mutants (gE and tk-deleted) are attenuated for calves and establish and/or reactivate latent infection inefficiently. The double mutant BoHV-5gEΔTKΔ is fully attenuated and appears not to establish or not reactivate efficiently from latent infection. Thus, these recombinants, especially the double mutant BoHV-5gEΔTKΔ, display an adequate phenotype for use in modified-live vaccine formulations.
Test of a Body Condition Index with Amphibians

Abstract We conducted experimental feeding trials with larval and juvenile Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) and Rough-skinned Newts (Taricha granulosa) to assess the accuracy of the scaled mass index (SMI). A control group was fed and a treatment group was starved within a randomized block design. After each of three trials, amphibian tissues were analyzed for lipid, protein, and water content. Mean pretreatment wet weight and SMI of individuals of each species and body form, representing two populations of equal body condition, were similar between control and treatment groups. Starved animals, representing a population in poor condition, had a 17–32% lower SMI than fed animals. Scaled fat and protein or lean mass were strongly correlated (r = 0.85–0.99) with SMI compared with percentages of fat, protein, or lean mass (r = 0.08–0.60). The SMI accurately reflected amphibian energy stores, but the depletion of energy stores differed by species and body form, with tadpoles retaining fat and the other species and body forms depleting fat stores. In addition, factors that we controlled in the laboratory (e.g., hydration, gut fill, reproductive state) may alter mass-length relationships in the field, so we advise collecting some specimens for body composition analyses to ensure the accuracy of the SMI when used in other applications.