Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
‘Halal’ logo detection and recognition system.

Illegal and unapproved ‘Halal’ logo has been widely used by many unscrupulous producers on their products. Consequently, Muslim consumers become confused in deciding whether a product is carrying a legal ‘Halal’ logo or otherwise. This paper reports the use of an image detection and recognition system in overcoming the problem. This system is an essential module for the user warning assistance and it contains two main modules; detection and recognition module. The images of ‘Halal’ logo were capture by using a digital camera. The images were taken from various product surfaces such as metal, plastic and glass. Then ‘Halal’ logo images were detected in order to load the images manually to the recognition system. After doing preprocessing process on the samples of ‘Halal’ logo images, it shows that Gaussian Blur effect give a good impression on the detection time. Therefore, it is the most suitable techniques for detection system to detect and crop ‘Halal’ image properly. From the observation based on the result, Gaussian blur technique state about 85.71% in successfully crop the image compared to normal image, 19.05% and brightness and contrast effect, 47.62%. In the recognition system, Neural Networks methods were used to recognize and classify the images. It is a suitable technique in solving such complex problems. Neural network were fed by 2500 bits of 1’s and 0’s. In order to increase the recognition system performance, it’s depends on how the Neural Network was trained and many sets of binary logo should be used in the system.
Spatial patterns of DNA replication, protein synthesis, and oxygen concentration within bacterial biofilms reveal active and inactive regions

Biofilms harbor both active and inactive cells and it is a challenge to characterize the spatial and population heterogeneity of specific activities within a biofilm. Spatial patterns of DNA replication and protein synthetic activity were imaged by techniques developed using staphylococcal systems. The first technique measures DNA synthetic activity by pulse-labeling with the thymidine analog 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) followed by immunofluorescent detection of brominated DNA. The second technique makes use of an inducible green fluorescent protein construct that can be used to detect the capacity for de novo protein synthesis. These techniques were applied to biofilms grown in three different reactor systems. In all cases, measurements revealed that even in simple single-species biofilms, complex spatial distributions of anabolic activity occur. In a colony biofilm system, two distinct regions of DNA synthetic activity were observed, one close to the nutrient interface and another adjacent to the air interface. A similar pattern was measured by GFP induction. The dimensions of DNA synthetic activity ranged from 25 to 31 μm and the average protein synthetic activity ranged from 36 to 38 μm at the air interface. When pure oxygen was introduced, a wider zone of active DNA replication (45 μm) and GFP synthesis (59 μm) was measured at the gas interface. Oxygen penetration calculated (26μm) corresponds with the zones of respiratory activity (19 to 38 μm), DNA synthetic activity and protein synthetic activity measured at the air interface. The dimensions of DNA synthetic activity and protein synthesis activity at the nutrient interface ranged from 13 μm to 19 μm. The addition of glucose to the media increased the zone of protein synthesis at the nutrient interface to 33 μm. Stratified patterns of activity were also observed in biofilms developed in two continuous flow reactors. While biofilms harbor regions of active anabolism, the techniques also demonstrate that these biofilms contain regions of complete inactivity. Such inactive zones may contribute to the special ecology of biofilms and tolerance to antimicrobial agents. The techniques, particularly BrdU labeling, are generic and may find application to many microbial biofilm systems.
Gasless laparoscopy as an alternative surgery procedure for postmenopausal women with comorbid diseases Bezgazowa laparoskopia jako alternatywna metoda operacyjna u kobiet w okresie pomenopauzalnym z wysokim ryzykiem oko³ooperacyjnym

Numerous postmenopausal women are in a group with pathologies of female reproductive organs demanding operative treatment. Postmenopausal women are also at an increased risk of a number of health conditions. A review of the literature demonstrated that the laparoscopic procedure using the gasless technique should be recommended to all women with cardiopulmonary risks or with contraindications for general anesthesia.
Anomaly Detection with Machine Learning and Graph Databases in Fraud Management

In this paper, the task of fraud detection using the methods of data analysis and machine learning based on social and transaction graphs is considered. The algorithms for feature calculation, outlier detection and identifying specific sub-graph patterns are proposed. Software realization of the proposed algorithms is described and the results of experimental study of the algorithms on the sets of real and synthetic data are presented.
Snowpack Variations in the Central Andes of Argentina and Chile, 1951–2005: Large-Scale Atmospheric Influences and Implications for Water Resources in the Region

Abstract The snowpack in the central Andes (30°–37°S) is the primary source for streamflow in central Chile and central-western Argentina, but few published studies are available on snowpack variability in the region. This paper develops the first regional snowpack series (1951–2005) from Chilean and Argentinean snow course records. This series shows a strong regional signal, marked interannual variability, and a positive, though nonsignificant, linear trend. Correlations with local precipitation and temperature records reveal a marked association with conditions in central Chile. High snow accumulation is generally concurrent with El Nino events in the tropical Pacific, but only 5 of the 10 driest years coincided with La Nina events. Evaluation of 500-hPa geopotential height anomaly maps during extreme snow years highlights the crucial significance of tropospheric conditions in the subtropical and southeast Pacific in modulating snowfall. Correlations with gridded SST and SLP data and multiple regression.
Facing unprecedented drying of the Central Andes? Precipitation variability over the period AD 1000–2100

Projected future trends in water availability are associated with large uncertainties in many regions of the globe. In mountain areas with complex topography, climate models have often limited capabilities to adequately simulate the precipitation variability on small spatial scales. Also, their validation is hampered by typically very low station density. In the Central Andes of South America, a semi-arid high-mountain region with strong seasonality, zonal wind in the upper troposphere is a good proxy for interannual precipitation variability. Here, we combine instrumental measurements, reanalysis and paleoclimate data, and a 57-member ensemble of CMIP5 model simulations to assess changes in Central Andes precipitation over the period AD 1000–2100. This new database allows us to put future projections of precipitation into a previously missing multi-centennial and pre-industrial context. Our results confirm the relationship between regional summer precipitation and 200 hPa zonal wind in the Central Andes, with stronger Westerly winds leading to decreased precipitation. The period of instrumental coverage (1965–2010) is slightly dryer compared to pre-industrial times as represented by control simulations, simulations from the past Millennium, ice core data from Quelccaya ice cap and a tree-ring based precipitation reconstruction. The model ensemble identifies a clear reduction in precipitation already in the early 21st century: the 10 year running mean model uncertainty range (ensemble 16–84% spread) is continuously above the pre-industrial mean after AD 2023 (AD 2028) until the end of the 21st century in the RCP2.6 (RCP8.5) emission scenario. Average precipitation over AD 2071–2100 is outside the range of natural pre-industrial variability in 47 of the 57 model simulations for both emission scenarios. The ensemble median fraction of dry years (defined by the 5th percentile in pre-industrial conditions) is projected to increase by a factor of 4 until 2071–2100 in the RCP8.5 scenario. Even under the strong reduction of greenhouse gas emissions projected by the RCP2.6 scenario, the Central Andes will experience a reduction in precipitation outside pre-industrial natural variability. This is of concern for the Central Andes, because society and economy are highly vulnerable to changes in the hydrological cycle and already have to face decreases in fresh water availability caused by glacier retreat.
Image Compression through Data Representation in Frequency Domain.

Data compression is a very important field these days. You can find it in any web page, network devices, application files etc. Its importance has grown during the years as a necessity of storage and time of transportation. Images are one of the most important data types to take in consideration. Because of the large diversity of images in terms of both size and content, none of the existing compression methods can be presented as appropriate for all of them. As such it is always an open field for discussions. In this paper we introduce a new way of compressing images. We propose a lossy technique based on the method of “Data Representation through combinations”, applied in the frequency domain. We use the DCT and the indexing properties as key points for our technique. According to this technique we enable not only compression but also other security measures like cryptography, steganography and watermarking.
Consumer Behavior in Online Games

The present paper focuses on the concepts of motivations and fun in online games. The ultimate goal of our research is to understand consumer behaviour toward an online games extending Yee’s model of motivations (Yee, 2006). We investigate relationships between fun, motivations, continued intention to play and such characteristics of players as age and rank. Moreover, we examine if the relationships are different depending on user characteristics (experience, donation). Our calculations are based on statistical procedures (structural equation modeling) for players of one particular game “Tanki Online”.
Modelling solar flux distributions for fresnel lens CPV systems

A computer model for the simulation of solar flux distribution in the direct and circumsolar regions of the beam irradiation has been created. The model incorporates previous research into circumsolar ratios (CSRs) [1,2]. It is used to demonstrate the importance of realistic solar flux distributions as source inputs in Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) simulations. It is shown that the distribution of flux for different circumsolar ratios varies significantly. Such variation will have a considerable effect on the optical image formed at the receiver of a solar concentration system and thus is a necessary consideration in CPV modelling. Flux distributions incident on lenses of various entry apertures are generated and used to investigate the losses in incident flux resulting from tracking errors and CSR variation. It is found that, for a concentrating system with an entry aperture of 0.25°, a 20% loss of net annual incident energy is found with a tracking error of ~0.1°. The same loss is found with tracking errors of ~0.3°, 0.6° and 0.85° with apertures of 0.5°, 0.75° and 1°, respectively.
Experience matters - trade duration and survival of coffee exports

This paper estimates trade duration of raw coffee exports into the European Union (EU) market comparing different discrete-time duration models using monthly trade panel data from 1988 to 2013. As coffee is an important export commodity and revenue generator for many developing and least developed economies, successful and long-term trade relationships are essential. Results reveal that major gravity model variables also explain duration of EU coffee imports. Moreover, we find that both, exporting countries and importing county characteristics, matter in explaining duration of trade. Keywords: Trade duration, Discrete-time Analysis
A Comparison of Nebulized Vitamin B12 Versus Oral Vitamin B12 Supplementation

Vitamin B12 is important for various processes in the human body including DNA synthesis, red blood cell production, energy production, fatty acid synthesis, and for the conversion of homocysteine into methionine. Vitamin B12 deficiency is becoming more prevalent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if a different route of administration, i.e. nebulization, was a viable option for increasing serum levels of vitamin B12 in both exercisers and non-exercisers. The increasing number of people that are vitamin B12 deficient is due to several factors including medication use, elective gastric bypass surgery, and an increasing elderly population. There are currently two common ways to treat an individual who is deficient in vitamin B12; daily oral supplementation or intramuscular injection of vitamin B12. For this study, participants were placed in one of four groups (non-exercise oral B12, non-exercise nebulized B12, exercise oral B12, and exercise nebulized B12) and received either 28 consecutive days of oral B12 supplementation or once-weekly nebulized B12 treatments for four consecutive weeks. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated there was no significant time by group interaction (F[1,33] = 2.352, p = .135) or time by exercise interaction (F[1,33] = 3.013, p = .087). Also, there were no significant differences for the time by group by exercise interaction (F[1,33] = 1.472, p = .234). Although statistical significance was not achieved, nebulizing vitamin B12 did increase serum B12 levels more than oral supplementation, and is a viable option for increasing serum B12 levels. Investigating other populations such as the elderly, vegetarians, or individuals taking medications that impair with the absorption of vitamin B12 may be beneficial to determine if similar increases in serum B12 levels is expected in such populations.
The seismic coupling of subduction zones revisited

[1] The nature of seismic coupling for many of the world's subduction zones has been reevaluated. Geodetic estimates of seismic coupling obtained from GPS measurements of upper plate deformation during the interseismic period are summarized. We compared those with new estimates of seismic coupling obtained from seismological data. The results show that with a few notable exceptions the two methods agree to within about 10%. The seismological estimates have been greatly improved over those made 20–30 years ago because of an abundance of paleoseismological data that greatly extend the temporal record of great subduction earthquakes and by the occurrence, in the intervening years, of an unusual number of great and giant earthquakes that have filled in some of the most critical holes in the seismic record. The data also, again with a few notable exceptions, support the frictional instability theory of seismic coupling, and in particular, the test of that theory made by Scholz and Campos (1995). Overall, the results support their prediction that high coupling occurs for subduction zones subjected to high normal forces with a switch to low coupling occurring fairly abruptly as the normal force decreases below a critical value. There is also considerable variation of coupling within individual subduction zones. Earthquake asperities correlate with areas of high coupling and hence have a semblance of permanence, but the rupture zones and asperity distributions of great earthquakes may differ greatly between seismic cycles because of differences in the phase of seismic flux accumulation.
Chronic non-communicable diseases in college students in the Brazilian Western Amazon region.

The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) and associated lifestyle factors in college students in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazilian Western Amazon region. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 874 undergraduate students from a public university. The general prevalence of CNCDs was 15.6%. After adjusting for sex and age, the CNCD-associated lifestyle factors included the following: sedentary during leisure time (prevalence ratio (PR): 1.67; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12 - 2.48), sedentary in locomotion by walking (PR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.00 - 1.79), current smoker (PR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.07 - 2.58), unsatisfactory self-rated health status (PR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.84 - 2.88), overweight (PR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.14 - 2.46) and obese (PR: 3.30; 95% CI: 2.18 - 5.01). The high prevalence of CNCDs identified in this group of college students highlights the need for swift action to promote healthy lifestyles among youth.
Fair Value Accounting for Liabilities and Own Credit Risk

Changes in credit risk may arise when either the value or the risk of corporate assets changes. Changes in the equity value associated with the changes in the asset value and changes in asset risk can be characterized into potentially countervailing direct and indirect effects. The indirect effect of risk on equity value is a function of factors that affect the debt value of including leverage, asset value, and asset risk. This study examines whether the equity value reflects the profits and losses associated with the changes in the debt value consistent with the predictions of Merton [21]. The insurance companies listed in the Stock Exchange during 2010-2015 were selected to test the desired hypotheses. It has been found that the stock returns are negatively related to the increase in credit risk as reflected in the changes of estimated bond ratings. More importantly for the research question, it has been realized that the relationship between risk changes and equity returns is negative when the leverage is higher.
Surface property effects of compounding a nanoclay masterbatch in PP injection moulding

The interest on the use of nanofillers in injection mouldings has been going on for more than a decade but a real breakthrough has not been achieved yet, especially in that mechanical properties are concerned. The nucleating effect of nanoclays in semicrystalline polymers suggests that surface effects may result interesting especially during processing. This paper includes some information on the surface properties of an injection moulding grade of polypropylene mixed with a commercial masterbatch of PP and 50% of organoclay. They were moulded as plates for testing in a prototype device for determining the coefficient of friction in as-moulding conditions. The surface was also characterised by depth sensing indentation tests. The through thickness microstructures of the mouldings were assessed by optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, while surface morphology was assessed by X-ray diffraction. It was observed that independently of MB content, its addition caused a slight increase in elastic modulus and hardness in the skin layer.The friction properties directly associable to the product performance showed a slight improvement in terms of the dynamic friction coefficient. Conversely the static friction coefficient that is relevant in processing was no affected by the presence of the nanoclay.
Temporal evolution of the structural properties of seasonal sea ice during the early melt season

Abstract During the early melt season, when sea-ice extent begins to retreat due to increasing heat absorption from the atmosphere and ocean, the sea ice becomes porous and weakens. This induces the break-up of ice floes and accelerates the melting process substantially. Determining how sea-ice structure evolves during this season is important for understanding the melting process on a global scale. We investigated this issue using field observations, laboratory experiments and numerical modeling, focusing on the effect of the C-shaped temperature profile on the internal structure of sea ice. Field observations were conducted to examine this effect on ~0.3 m thick ice on Lake Saroma, located at the coast of Hokkaido, Japan. To test the generalization from these observational case studies, laboratory experiments were conducted using a tank with 0.12 m thick ice. Additionally, evolution of ice structure from winter to early spring was numerically analyzed using meteorological data. From these studies, we find that the heat convergence, caused by the C-shape temperature profile, is essential to the internal melting particularly in the upper layer. This increases the porosity of the sea ice, leading to a rapid decrease in its flexural strength during the season.
Spectra of weighted compound graphs of generalized Bethe trees

A generalized Bethe tree is a rooted tree in which vertices at the same distance from the root have the same degree. Let Gm be a connected weighted graph on m vertices. Let {Bi :1≤ i ≤ m} be a set of trees such that, for i =1 ,2,. ,m , (i) Bi is a generalized Bethe tree of ki levels, (ii) the vertices ofBi at the level j have degree di,ki−j+1 for j =1 ,2,. ,ki, and (iii) the edges ofBi joining the vertices at the level j with the vertices at the level (j + 1) have weight wi,ki−j for j =1 ,2,. ,k i −1. LetGm{Bi :1≤ i ≤ m}be the graph obtained fromGm and the trees B1,B2,. ,Bm by identifying the root vertex of Bi with the ith vertex of Gm. A complete characterization is given of the eigenvalues of the Laplacian and adjacency matrices ofGm {Bi :1≤ i ≤ m} together with results about their multiplicities. Finally, these results are applied to the particular case B1 = B2 = ···= Bm.
261-384 Tourism 2017 03ENG.indd

Th e purpose of this paper is to expand an integrated model of the factors that help to predict employees' service innovative behavior in the hotel industry. Th e study also takes into account the mediating roles of creative improvisation, self-effi cacy (CISE) and employee engagement (EE). Data were obtained from front line hotel employees operating in Indonesia. Th e sample was based on non-probability convenience sampling technique with some inclusive criteria namely the hotels accessibility, location and their adequacy to the research's objectives. A total of 121 respondents returned valid questionnaires thereby giving an average response rate of 51 % for the research study. Structural equation models using SMART PLS 2.0 were employed to empiric test as the hypothetical research model. Th e study fi ndings supported the proposed hypotheses which are consistent with theoretical framework and suggest a signifi cant positive association between empowering leadership and employee service innovative behavior. Further, the results of structural equation modelling analysis revealed that creative improvisation self-effi cacy and employee engagement partially mediated the relationship between empowering leadership and employee service innovative behavior. Th is is one of the fi rst studies attempts to test a conceptual model that links the empowering leadership to the employee service innovative behavior through the mediating role sequence of creative improvisation self-effi cacy and employee engagement. Th is research contributes to the current body of literature by providing insight into the infl uence of empowering leadership, creative improvisation self-effi cacy and employee engagement on employee service innovative behavior.