Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Overall accuracy Feature evolution for classification of remotely sensed data

— In a number of remote sensing applications it is critical to decrease the dimensionality of the input in order to reduce the complexity and hence the processing time and possibly improve classification accuracy. In this paper the application of genetic algorithms as a means of feature selection is explored. A genetic algorithm is used to select a near-optimal subset of input dimensions using a feed forward multilayer perceptron trained by backpropagation as the classifier. Feature and topology evolution are performed simultaneously based on actual classification results (wrapper approach).
Making the road by searching - A search engine based on Swarm Information Foraging

Search engines are nowadays one of the most important entry points for Internet users and a central tool to solve most of their information needs. Still, there exist a substantial amount of users' searches which obtain unsatisfactory results. Needless to say, several lines of research aim to increase the relevancy of the results users retrieve. In this paper the authors frame this problem within the much broader (and older) one of information overload. They argue that users' dissatisfaction with search engines is a currently common manifestation of such a problem, and propose a different angle from which to tackle with it. As it will be discussed, their approach shares goals with a current hot research topic (namely, learning to rank for information retrieval) but, unlike the techniques commonly applied in that field, their technique cannot be exactly considered machine learning and, additionally, it can be used to change the search engine's response in real-time, driven by the users behavior. Their proposal adapts concepts from Swarm Intelligence (in particular, Ant Algorithms) from an Information Foraging point of view. It will be shown that the technique is not only feasible, but also an elegant solution to the stated problem; what's more, it achieves promising results, both increasing the performance of a major search engine for informational queries, and substantially reducing the time users require to answer complex information needs.
Motivaciones De La Gerencia Para Manipular La Cifra De Beneficio Contable (Motivations for Manipulating Management Net Profit Accounting)

Spanish Abstract: Las practicas de earnings management son usadas para alterar la cifra de beneficios reportada en los estados financieros, ya sea para inducir a error a las partes interesadas en el desempeno de la firma, o para influir en los resultados contractuales que dependen de las cifras contables. Este articulo analiza las principales motivaciones de la gerencia de una empresa para efectuar practicas de earnings management. Para ello, se realiza una revision de los principales articulos de la literatura contable. Se identifican cuatro grupos de motivaciones: (1) contractuales; (2) politicas y regulatorias; (3) de valoracion; y (4) fiscales o tributarias. Tambien se analizan las razones para cometer una forma extrema de earnings management: el fraude contable. Reconocer a tiempo la existencia de alguna de estas motivaciones al interior de una organizacion, podria ser util para entender y anticipar las decisiones de la gerencia y el comportamiento de una firma, frente a determinados escenarios politicos, economicos y financieros. English Abstract: Earnings management techniques are used to alter financial statements, either to mislead stakeholders on the performance of a firm or to influence contractual outcomes that depend on the accounting figures. This article analyzes the main motivations that lead company executives to apply earnings management practices. A review of accounting literature was performed and 4 groups of motivations were found: (1) contract; (2) policies and regulations; (3) valuation; and (4) taxes. The reasons for committing an extreme form of earnings management, accounting fraud, are also discussed. Identifying of some of these motivations within an organization may be useful to understand and anticipate management decisions and firm behavior in the face of certain political, economic and financial scenarios.
Anonymous Remote Computing: A Paradigm for Parallel Programming on Interconnected Workstations

Parallel computing on interconnected workstations is becoming a viable and attractive proposition due to the rapid growth in speeds of interconnection networks and processors. In the case of workstation clusters, there is always a considerable amount of unused computing capacity available in the network. However, heterogeneity in architectures and operating systems, load variations on machines, variations in machine availability, and failure susceptibility of networks and workstations complicate the situation for the programmer. In this context, new programming paradigms that reduce the burden involved in programming for distribution, load adaptability, heterogeneity and fault tolerance gain importance. This paper identifies the issues involved in parallel computing on a network of workstations. The anonymous remote computing (ARC) paradigm is proposed to address the issues specific to parallel programming on workstation systems. ARC differs from the conventional communicating process model by treating a program as one single entity consisting of several loosely coupled remote instruction blocks instead of treating it as a collection of processes. The ARC approach results in distribution transparency and heterogeneity transparency. At the same time, it provides fault tolerance and load adaptability to parallel programs on workstations. ARC is developed in a two-tiered architecture consisting of high level language constructs and low level ARC primitives. The paper describes an implementation of the ARC kernel supporting ARC primitives.
Role of the Superior Colliculus in Choosing Mixed-Strategy Saccades

Game theory outlines optimal response strategies during mixed-strategy competitions. The neural processes involved in choosing individual strategic actions, however, remain poorly understood. Here, we tested whether the superior colliculus (SC), a brain region critical for generating sensory-guided saccades, is also involved in choosing saccades under strategic conditions. Monkeys were free to choose either of two saccade targets as they competed against a computer opponent during the mixed-strategy game “matching pennies. ” The accuracy with which presaccadic SC activity predicted upcoming choice gradually increased in the time leading up to the saccade. Probing the SC with suprathreshold stimulation demonstrated that these evolving signals were functionally involved in preparing strategic saccades. Finally, subthreshold stimulation of the SC increased the likelihood that contralateral saccades were selected. Together, our results suggest that motor regions of the brain play an active role in choosing strategic actions rather than passively executing those prespecified by upstream executive regions.
Rentabilidade em Bancos Múltiplos e Cooperativas de Crédito Brasileiros

The financial system plays a crucial role in any economy. Factors such as strong regulation of the banking sector, measurement and evaluation in terms of performance and efficiency has been important for financial institutions. The long-term sustainability of cooperatives and banks demand the identification and comparison of variables that influence their profitability. The present study carried out an analysis of a panel of institutions between 2009 and 2013 with similar characteristics. The results indicate that the return on assets of these institutions was affected by loans, efficiency (measured using data envelopment analysis), total expenses, total deposits, other income and the Selic rate. However, return on equity was influenced by total deposits, loans, Selic rate, GDP, inflation, other income and total expenses. In the sample studied, the results indicated that there is no statistical difference if the financial institution is classified as a multiple bank or credit union, when considering ROE as a performance measure.
Is the Feeling Mutual? Examining Parent-Teacher Relationships in Low-Income, Predominantly Latino Schools

Strong parent-teacher relationships are critical to students’ academic success. Mismatches in parents’ and teachers’ perceptions of each other may negatively affect children’s outcomes. Using survey data collected from parents and teachers in 52 low-income, predominantly Latino schools, we explore subgroup variation in parents’ and teachers’ perceptions of their relationship, and we examine the potential of a school-based family engagement program to shift these perceptions. We find notable misalignment in parents’ and teachers’ perceptions when parents are Spanish-dominant Latinos. We also find that a family engagement program improves parents’ and teachers’ perceptions of their relationship but does not eliminate the gap between teachers’ and Spanish-dominant Latino parents’ perceptions of one another.
Recognition of Phonemes In a Continuous Speech Stream By Means of PARCOR Parameter In LPC Vocoder

Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) has been used to compress and encode speech signals for digital transmission at a low bit rate. LPC determines a FIR system that predicts a speech sample from the past samples by minimizing the squared error between the actual occurrence and the estimated. The coefficients of the FIR system are encoded and sent. At the receiving end, the inverse system called AR model is excited by a random signal to reproduce the encoded speech. The use of LPC can be extended to speech recognition since the FIR coefficients are the condensed information of a speech signal of typically 10ms -30ms. PARCOR parameter associated with LPC that represents a vocal tract model based on a lattice filter structure is considered for speech recognition. The use of FIR coefficients and the frequency response of AR model were previously investigated. [1] This paper reports the method to detect a limited number of phonemes from a continuous stream of speech. A system being developed slides a time window of 16 ms and calculates the PARCOR parameters continuously, feeding them to a classifier. A classifier is a supervised classifier that requires training. The classifier uses the Maximum Likelihood Decision Rule. The training uses TIMIT speech database, which contains the recordings of 630 speakers of 8 major dialects of American English. The classification results of some typical vowel and consonant phonemes segmented from the continuous speech are listed. The vowel and consonant correct classification rate are 65.22% and 93.51%. Overall, They indicate that the PARCOR parameters have the potential capability to characterize the phonemes.
Multiple Image Information Hiding Technique Based on Chaotic Sequences

A new information hiding technique in a still image is discussed in this paper. This technique is based on chaotic sequence in the transform domain of covert image. Multiple sensitive images are added to the same covert image as a form of minor noise. The results of theoretical analysis and computer simulation show the new hiding technique has better properties with high security, imperceptibility and capacity for hidden information in comparison with LSB. The image steganography can meet an increasing demand for effective and cheap digital security scheme for the Internet.
Phosphate Homeostasis in Conditions of Phosphate Proficiency and Limitation in the Wild Type and the phoP Mutant of Streptomyces lividans

Phosphate, as a constituent of the high energy molecules, ATP/GTP and polyphosphate, plays a crucial role in most of the metabolic processes of living organisms. Therefore, the adaptation to low Pi availability is a major challenge for bacteria. In Streptomyces, this adaptation is tightly controlled by the two component PhoR/PhoP system. In this study, the free intracellular Pi, ATP, ADP and polyP content of the wild type and the phoP mutant strain of S. lividans TK24 were analyzed at discrete time points throughout growth in Pi replete and limited media. PolyP length and content was shown to be directly related to the Pi content of the growth medium. In Pi repletion, ATP and high molecular weight (HMW) polyP contents were higher in the phoP mutant than in the WT strain. This supports the recently proposed repressive effect of PhoP on oxidative phosphorylation. High oxidative phosphorylation activity might also have a direct or indirect positive impact on HMW polyP synthesis. In Pi sufficiency as in Pi limitation, the degradation of these polymers was shown to be clearly delayed in the phoP mutant, indicating PhoP dependent expression of the enzymes involved in this degradation. The efficient storage of Pi as polyphosphate and/or its inefficient degradation in Pi in the phoP mutant resulted in low levels of free Pi and ATP that are likely to be, at least in part, responsible for the very poor growth of this mutant in Pi limitation. Furthermore, short polyP was shown to be present outside the cell, tightly bound to the mycelium via electrostatic interactions involving divalent cations. Less short polyP was found to be associated with the mycelium of the phoP mutant than with that of the WT strain, indicating that generation and externalization of these short polyP molecules was directly or indirectly dependent on PhoP.
An overview of the roots of civil wars: natural factors and economic conditions

We provide an overview of the roots of civil conflict. We distinguish between economic conditions and natural factors as two broad categories of roots identified in the empirical literature. As a preamble, we present an overview of the theoretical literature on the roots of civil war and distinguish between “capacity-related” and “opportunity-related” causes of conflict. We also provide policy implications regarding the prevention of civil conflicts.
Potential antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of Morus indica and Asystasia gangetica in alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus

Herbal drugs are frequently considered to be less toxic and also free from side effects, than synthetic ones. Hence, the present study was designed to investigate one such combination of herbal drugs, Asystasia gangetica and Morus indica for their antidiabetic and antioxidant potential against alloxan-induced diabetes in albino rats. The effect of both individual and a combination of Asystasia gangetica and Morus indica on blood glucose and liver glycogen were studied in the diabetic rats. The study also assessed for the effect of selected plant extracts for their effect on Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) and Lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the homogenates of the pancreas. The results of the present study attests significant antidiabetic and antioxidant potential for the selected plants individually and also in combination as a prominent decrease in blood glucose and liver glycogen was observed in the rats treated with the extracts of the selected plants. Similarly, the levels of the protective antioxidant enzymes like SOD, CAT and GSH were increased along with decrease in the LPO levels. The present study provides a scientific evidence for antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Asystasia gangetica and Morus indica. Further studies to isolate bioactive compounds will pave the way to identify potential lead compounds for developing safe and efficacious antidiabetic agents.
HUMAN DETECTION BY USING CENTRIST FEATURES FOR THERMAL IMAGES

In this paper, we present a new human detection scheme for thermal images by using CENsus TRansform hISTogram (CENTRIST) features and Support Vector Machines (SVMs). Human detection in a thermal image is a difficult task due to low image resolution, thermal noising, lack of color, and poor texture information. For thermal images, contour is one of the most useful and discriminative information, so capturing it efficiently is important. Histogram of Oriented Gradient (HOG) is still the most proven way to capture the human contour. CENTRIST is a computationally efficient technique to capture contour cues as compared to HOG, but so far no one has implemented and tested the accuracy of CENTRIST descriptor for infrared thermal images. We developed CENTRIST based human detection system for thermal images and tested its variants. We also made a new dataset of thermal images, since there was no realistic dataset. Experimental results show that CENTRIST exhibits better detection accuracy than HOG, while reducing the training and the testing time significantly.
Adipose tissue macrophages impair preadipocyte differentiation in humans

Aim The physiologic mechanisms underlying the relationship between obesity and insulin resistance are not fully understood. Impaired adipocyte differentiation and localized inflammation characterize adipose tissue from obese, insulin-resistant humans. The directionality of this relationship is not known, however. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether adipose tissue inflammation is causally-related to impaired adipocyte differentiation. Methods Abdominal subcutaneous(SAT) and visceral(VAT) adipose tissue was obtained from 20 human participants undergoing bariatric surgery. Preadipocytes were isolated, and cultured in the presence or absence of CD14+ macrophages obtained from the same adipose tissue sample. Adipocyte differentiation was quantified after 14 days via immunofluorescence, Oil-Red O, and adipogenic gene expression. Cytokine secretion by mature adipocytes cultured with or without CD14+macrophages was quantified. Results Adipocyte differentiation was significantly lower in VAT than SAT by all measures (p<0.001). With macrophage removal, SAT preadipocyte differentiation increased significantly as measured by immunofluorescence and gene expression, whereas VAT preadipocyte differentiation was unchanged. Adipocyte-secreted proinflammatory cytokines were higher and adiponectin lower in media from VAT vs SAT: macrophage removal reduced inflammatory cytokine and increased adiponectin secretion from both SAT and VAT adipocytes. Differentiation of preadipocytes from SAT but not VAT correlated inversely with systemic insulin resistance. Conclusions The current results reveal that proinflammatory immune cells in human SAT are causally-related to impaired preadipocyte differentiation, which in turn is associated with systemic insulin resistance. In VAT, preadipocyte differentiation is poor even in the absence of tissue macrophages, pointing to inherent differences in fat storage potential between the two depots.
Implementation of advanced radar processes on TMS320C5x processors

With respect to the advent of radar systems technology, necessity of using advanced and complex processing in the receivers, transfer of high volume of data and need of real time processing in relation to radar signals, appropriate processor must provide the required processing speed. This performance usually is provided with programmable digital signal processors. In this paper, first, processes such as pulse compression with phase coding method, clutter canceling with delay line canceller and Doppler filter bank methods are introduced, then several procedures of parametric and clutter map constant false alarm ratio along with combination of these two methods are described and finally possibility of implementation of these processes on a Texas Instrument DSP are investigated.
Effects of magnesium sulphate and clonidine on propofol consumption, haemodynamics and postoperative recovery.

BACKGROUND This placebo-controlled, double-blind study was designed to assess the effects of magnesium sulphate and clonidine on peroperative haemodynamics, propofol consumption and postoperative recovery. METHODS Sixty ASA I-II patients undergoing spinal surgery were randomized into three groups. Group M received magnesium sulphate 30 mg kg(-1) as a bolus before induction and 10 mg kg(-1) h(-1) by infusion. Group CL received clonidine 3 microg kg(-1) as a bolus before induction and 2 microg kg(-1) h(-1) by infusion during the operation period. The same volume of isotonic solution was administered to the control group (group CT). Anaesthesia was induced with propofol and was maintained with propofol infusion [dose according to the bispectral index (BIS)], fentanyl and cisatracurium. Analysis of variance and the Bonferroni test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Induction of anaesthesia with propofol was rapid in the presence of magnesium sulphate and clonidine. The time for BIS to reach 60 was significantly shorter in group M and group CL (P<0.0001) but postoperative recovery was slower with magnesium sulphate compared with the clonidine and control groups (P<0.0001). There was no statistical difference in heart rate and arterial blood pressure between the groups. Propofol requirements for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia were significantly lower with magnesium and clonidine (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION Clonidine caused bradycardia and hypotension and magnesium sulphate caused delayed recovery, but can be used as adjuvant agents with careful management.
Noise Modelling in Linear and Nonlinear Devices

This paper presents a review of the techniques and models that can be used for the noise performance calculation of active devices under linear and nonlinear operations. In a first part, the modeling techniques and the noise models of FETs, HEMTs, BJTs and HBTs are described. In the second part, a generalization of the impedance field method for the noise modeling in devices under nonlinear periodic operation is proposed. This method can be used for the modeling of microwave and millimeter wave mixers and oscillators. key words: noise, HEMT, HBT, ampli er, mixer
Cell-substratum interaction of cultured avian osteoclasts is mediated by specific adhesion structures

The cell-substratum interaction was studied in cultures of osteoclasts isolated from the medullary bone of laying hens kept on low calcium diet. In fully spread osteoclasts, cell-substratum adhesion mostly occurred within a continuous paramarginal area that corresponded also to the location of a thick network of intermediate filaments of the vimentin type. In this area, regular rows of short protrusions contacting the substratum and often forming a cup-shaped adhesion area were observed in the electron microscope. These short protrusions showed a core of F-actin-containing material presumably organized as a network of microfilaments and surrounded by a rosette-like structure in which vinculin and alpha-actinin were found by immunofluorescence microscopy. Rosettes were superposable to dark circles in interference- reflection microscopy and thus represented circular forms of close cell- substratum contact. The core of ventral protrusions also contained, beside F-actin, fimbrin and alpha-actinin. Villin was absent. This form of cell-substratum contact occurring at the tip of a short ventral protrusion differed from other forms of cell-substratum contact and represented an osteoclast-specific adhesion device that might also be present in in vivo osteoclasts as well as in other normal and transformed cell types.