Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Classification non supervisée : de la multiplicité des données à la multiplicité des analyses. (Clustering : from multiple data to multiple analysis)

La classification automatique non supervisee est un probleme majeur, aux frontieres de multiples communautes issues de l’Intelligence Artificielle, de l’Analyse de Donnees et des Sciences de la Cognition. Elle vise a formaliser et mecaniser la tâche cognitive de classification, afin de l’automatiser pour la rendre applicable a un grand nombre d’objets (ou individus) a classer. Des visees plus applicatives s’interessent a l’organisation automatique de grands ensembles d’objets en differents groupes partageant des caracteristiques communes. La presente these propose des methodes de classification non supervisees applicables lorsque plusieurs sources d’informations sont disponibles pour completer et guider la recherche d’une ou plusieurs classifications des donnees. Pour la classification non supervisee multi-vues, la premiere contribution propose un mecanisme de recherche de classifications locales adaptees aux donnees dans chaque representation, ainsi qu’un consensus entre celles-ci. Pour la classification semi-supervisee, la seconde contribution propose d’utiliser des connaissances externes sur les donnees pour guider et ameliorer la recherche d’une classification d’objets par un algorithme quelconque de partitionnement de donnees. Enfin, la troisieme et derniere contribution propose un environnement collaboratif permettant d’atteindre au choix les objectifs de consensus et d’alternatives pour la classification d’objets mono-representes ou multi-representes. Cette derniere contribution re-pond ainsi aux differents problemes de multiplicite des donnees et des analyses dans le contexte de la classification non supervisee, et propose, au sein d’une meme plate-forme unificatrice, une proposition repondant a des problemes tres actifs et actuels en Fouille de Donnees et en Extraction et Gestion des Connaissances.
The Relationship between Credit Risk Management Practices and the Performance of Loan Portfolio of Commercial Banks in Kenya

Credit risk management is a structured approach to managing uncertainties through risk assessment, developing strategies to manage it, and mitigation of risk using managerial Credit risk management practices in banks influence the efficiency of bank’s risk management and are expected to significantly influence its loan portfolio. Commercial banks in Kenya adopt different credit risk management practices informed by ownership of the banks, credit policies of banks, credit scoring systems, banks regulatory environment and the caliber of management of the banks. This study therefore sought to fill the existing knowledge gap by answering the question what is the relationship between credit risk management practices and the performance of loan portfolio of commercial banks in Kenya. This research used descriptive survey research design. The study adopted a census study and collected data for five years from 2010 to 2014. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. The secondary data was collected from commercial banks financial reports and CBK supervisory reports. The study used qualitative and quantitative techniques in analyzing the data. The study established that commercial banks used credit risk control practices in credit risk management to a very great extent to minimize credit loss A linear regression model was applied to examine the relationship between the variable. From the findings, the study concluded that commercial banks uses credit risk identification to a very great extent which resulted in reduction in default rates among bank clients. The study concluded that there existed a significant negative relationship between use of credit risk control and level of non-performing loans . Hence use of credit risk control practices to a very great extent led to a decrease in level of non-performing loans in commercial banks in Kenya. The study recommends that commercial banks should use credit risk identification practices in risk management to a very great extent. This is due to its impact on reduction of the level of non-performing loans. The study also recommends that bank should use credit risk identification to a very great extent as this resulted into significant reduction in default rates among banks’ clients.
Conditional Conservatism and the Limits to Earnings Management

We examine the impact of conditional conservatism on earnings management. Our findings support the view that conservatism reduces accruals-based earnings management but also triggers a trade-off between accruals and real earnings management. We show that, overall, more conservative firms are less likely to either marginally or habitually beat earnings targets. Exogenous shocks (the passage of SFAS 131 and the SEC’s short-selling pilot program) provide additional support for our findings. These shocks increased reporting transparency, reducing earnings management. Conservative firms, however, were only marginally affected, consistent with conservatism already eliciting these transparency effects for them.
A 1 GHz CMOS analog front-end for a generalized PRML read channel

A 1 GHz CMOS analog front-end for general partial response maximum likelihood (GPRML) read channel in hard disk drive application has been implemented in 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS. A continuous time analog filter fulfills the relaxed equalization for GPRML detection and can save up to 35% power consumption for the whole read channel. An analog DFE-based timing recovery loop is implemented to avoid the extremely long latency in the digital signal processing path (Viterbi decoder). The measured performances is 1.1 dB off simulations at 800 MHz and 1.6 dB off at 1GHz. The chip draws 240 mW from a 3.3 V supply at 800MHz clock and 380 mW from a 3.6 V supply at 1 GHz clock.
Planning and Decision-Making Process of a Strategic IT Investment: A Case of a Web Content Management System in a Financial Organization

A modern business organization is increasingly dependent on smooth and reliable flows of data and information, both laterally and vertically, and both within and across its boundaries. Therefore, managing data should be viewed as an element of a fundamental corporate process. Information systems investments aim at enabling and supporting these processes. Investment decisions, again, originate from organizational strategies that need to be aligned with IT strategies, for systems to enable and support business processes. The topic of our enquiry is the planning and decision-making of those systems that qualify as strategic. We have created an extended framework to cover strategic, tactical and operational levels of planning and decision-making, also focusing on related control, communication, benefits management, and follow-up activities. Our research approach is a single case study method using a multinational financial services company. The investment is a Web Content Management (WCM) system that the company wishes to deploy in a unified, centralized manner throughout the business and geographical areas with the intention of reaping synergy effects. In the paper we enumerate our observations on the strategic planning process, decision-making, control and communication. This research has been supported by the Academy of Finland project no. 674917.
A Bistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery Simulation of Maritime Scene Using the Extended Nonlinear Chirp Scaling Algorithm

A bistatic synthetic aperture radar (Bis-SAR) imagery simulation of an extended maritime scene is presented. An efficient facet scattering model is developed to collect the raw coupling scattering data from a ship located on sea surface. Then, to avoid the inefficiency of time-domain algorithms and the azimuth-invariant limit of conventional frequency-domain (FD) methods in the bistatic case, an extended nonlinear chirp scaling (NLCS) algorithm is proposed to handle the bistatic data collected from this facet scattering model. The perfect Bis-SAR simulation results of the ship located on the sea surface could prove the validity of the proposed algorithms as well as the practicability of the model for the Bis-SAR imagery with large squint angle in the FD approach.
The C-terminal PDZ-Ligand of JAGGED1 Is Essential for Cellular Transformation* 210

JAGGED1 is a member of the Delta/Serrate/Lag-2 (DSL) family of proteins that are cell-bound ligands for Notch receptors. Initiation of Notch signaling occurs through a series of proteolytic events upon the binding of Notch to a DSL protein presented on neighboring cells. Whether DSL proteins themselves are capable of initiating an intrinsic signaling mechanism within the cell they are expressed is not known. Aberrant misexpression of JAGGED1 and DELTA1 has been documented in several human tumors; however, the mechanism by which misexpression of JAGGED1 contributes to oncogenesis has not been elucidated. We report that expression of human JAGGED1 transforms RKE cells in culture, therefore providing a model system to elucidate the function of DSL proteins. JAGGED1-mediated transformation occurs in a dose-dependent manner and requires a PDZ-ligand at the C terminus. Mutation of the PDZ-ligand did not affect the ability of JAGGED1 to initiate Notch signaling in neighboring cells. However, the PDZ-ligand is required for changes in the expression of JAGGED1 target genes and transcriptional activation of luciferase reporter constructs. Our data indicate the existence of a novel PDZ-dependent signaling pathway intrinsic to JAGGED1. We propose a bi-directional signaling model such that DSL proteins may have two distinct functions: to initiate Notch signaling in a neighboring cell and to initiate a PDZ-dependent signaling mechanism in the DSL-expressing cell. Moreover, we conclude that this intrinsic signaling mechanism of JAGGED1 may partly provide a link between aberrant misexpression of JAGGED1 and tumorigenesis.
The 2007 U.S. Farm Bill and the WTO Negotiations

From the mid-1980s through the1990s, the United States played a major leadership role in global agricultural trade liberalization and policy reform. The 1996 Farm Bill moved U.S. farm policy far in a market-oriented direction. During this period the United States was a strong advocate in the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) for introducing significant discipline on national agricultural policies which distort the locus of production and pattern of trade into the rules of international trade. However, the 2002 Farm Bill reversed this course, increasing authorized spending and intervention levels in U.S. farm subsidies. In the next two years a new farm bill will be written in the United States, and the Doha Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) trade negotiations should be brought to conclusion. These two activities, while proceeding on parallel tracks, will each have significant impact of the other. The objective of this paper is to review and clarify forces conditioning each of these activities and their interactions.
Intestinal transepithelial passage of bovine milk protein antigens in vitro

In bovine milk intolerance β-Lactoglobuline (β-Lg) is more allergenic than α-Lactalbumine (α-La) and β-casein (β-cas). We studied the two major limiting steps to the transfer of the milk protein antigens to blood, i.e. hydrolysis and epithelial permeability.Methods: In vitro pepsin-trypsin hydrolysis was measured by disappearance of protein antigens (ELISA) and appearance of α-NH2 residua. The transepithelial fluxes for antigenic determinants (ELISA) and degraded products (isotopic measurment) were performed in Isolated stripped rabbit ileum in Ussing chamber in vitro.Results: Pepsin-trypsin hydrolysis showed an increasing resistance In the order β-cas <α-La < β-Lg. The rate of intracellular hydrolysis was in the same order (β-Lg the most resistant to hydrolysis). The fluxes of antlgenic determinants across the epithelium was β-Lg > α-La > β-cas, i.e. 412, 135 and not detectable ng/h.cm2 respectively. These results indicate a selective intestinal mucoeal permeability for milk protein antigens. This selectivity may play a role in allergenicity.
Inspiring creativity for the Engineer of 2020

In 2004, The National Academy of Engineering released its seminal work, The Engineer of 2020 - Visions of Engineering in the New Century. The text attempts to prepare industrial, governmental, and academic institutions for the future of engineering. The report stated that an “Emphasis on the creative process will allow more effective leadership in the development and application of next-generation technologies to problems of the future. ” In October 2011, electrical and computer engineering undergraduates from the Valparaiso University College of Engineering participated in three days of creativity instruction. While the course was taught primarily by a member of the College of Engineering faculty; it also included one topic session and on-location tours (near Orlando, Florida) that were led by instructors from an external training organization. Pre- and post-class surveys revealed a marked improvement in the students' confidence and understanding of creativity and the creative process. Finally, the students were able to demonstrate their creativity lessons by their success in a post-class creativity problem-solving session.
Customer value in the high-tech and pharmaceutical transportation industry

In the transportation industry there has been a shift concerning the pharmaceuticals and high-tech products, the market share Dutch companies hold might have to be defended. Knowing what customers value and using this to create a competitive advantage can help defend market share. The research question this study wants to answer is: “what do shippers and forwarders value in the services provided by the transportation industry when shipping pharmaceuticals and high-tech products? ”. This knowledge can then be used to write good value propositions to attract market share. Woodruff’s value hierarchy model was used to operationalize customer value and eight semistructured interviews were conducted, four concerning the pharmaceutical sector and four concerning the high-tech sector, to collect data on what customers value in these industries. These results were then coded according to this operationalization and analyzed. It was found that services are only chosen because their aspects help a customer reach a particular goal, in this case either cutting cost or improving/maintaining quality. To attain these end-goals the different industries preferred different aspects to reach the same goal, so companies should write different value propositions when wanting to attract pharmaceutical and/or high-tech market share. It showed that for the pharmaceutical industry quality, in terms of good temperature management, was a very important aspect, since their product often needs specialized circumstances to safeguard product integrity. Recently companies have also started focusing more on price to keep costs down. In the high-tech industry quality was important in terms of speedy and reliable delivery. However, these aspects were often seen as prerequisites. Here a low price was mentioned as the main denominator for why services were chosen. The value hierarchy model used during this research was proven to be a useful tool to measure customer value in Business-to-Business markets.
REGRESSION ANALYSIS FOR CUMULATIVE INCIDENCE PROBABILITY UNDER COMPETING RISKS

The cumulative incidence function provides intuitive summary informa- tion about competing risks data. Via a mixture decomposition of this function, we study how covariates affect the cumulative incidence probability of a particular failure type at a chosen time point. Without specifying the corresponding failure time distribution, several inference methods are constructed based on imputation and weighting approaches. Large sample properties of the proposed estimators are derived, and their finite sample performances are examined via simulations. For illustrative purposes, the proposed methods are applied to well-known heart trans- plant data and compared with the analysis of Larson and Dinse (1985). In the on-line Supplement, we also apply our methods to analyze the Taiwan nationwide laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) database.
Which factors influence the activity levels of individuals with traumatic brain injury when they are first discharged home from hospital?

Abstract Primary objectives: To determine the predictors of physical activity levels (PALs) of people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) during the transition from hospital to home. Research design: A prospective cohort study. Participants: Twenty-three individuals with TBI, consecutively admitted to TBI inpatient rehabilitation, who had independent community mobility potential on inpatient discharge. Methods and procedures: PALs (steps per day) were monitored at three time points: (T1) final week of inpatient rehabilitation, (T2) first week at home and (T3) 6 weeks following discharge. Measures across the physical, emotional and cognitive domains were performed at T1 and compared with PALs at T3. Results: PALs decreased significantly on hospital discharge (T2), compared to T1, and remained below recommended guidelines for maintenance of health and wellbeing at 6 weeks post discharge (T3). Motivation to exercise was the primary predictor of PALs at T3 (p < 0.01), with fatigue (p < 0.05) and anxiety (p < 0.05) also being significantly associated. Measures of physical ability were not correlated with PALs at T3. Conclusions: PALs decreased significantly on discharge from hospital and remained below inpatient levels despite physical capacity for higher PALs. Motivation, fatigue and anxiety were important influencers of PALs during the transition home period.
Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin: only an intercellular glue?

Data collected during the past years indicate that AJ- and more specifically VE-cadherin play an important role in endothelial cell biology. VE-cadherin may transfer information intracellularly through interaction with a complex network of cytoskeletal and signaling molecules. Expression of VE-cadherin is required for the control of vascular permeability and vascular integrity. In addition, the molecule may exert a morphogenetic role modulating the capacity of endothelial cells to organize into tubular-like structures. VE-cadherin presents many structural and sequence homologies to the other members of the family and apparently binds to the same intracellular molecules. However, remarkably, VE-cadherin may transfer specific signals to endothelial cells to modulate their functional reactivity.
Effective Processing of Metadata Operations in Large-Scale Distributed File Systems

When metadata is distributed across many metadata servers in a distributed file system with a locality-preserving metadata distribution unit like a directory, simply increasing the number of metadata servers does not give high-aggregate performance for the metadata operation such as file creation. This paper proposes an effective and consistent method for processing metadata operations, at low cost, without depending on the traditional 2 phase commit protocol. Designing an alternate protocol, we showed that the performance limitations of metadata operations, caused by the distributed environment, can be overcome and the materialization of a large-scale distributed file system is actually possible.
Evaluation of Morning Blood Pressure Elevation and Autonomic Nervous Activity in Hypertensive Patients Using Wavelet Transform of Heart Rate Variability

To evaluate morning autonomic nervous activity and blood pressure profiles in hypertensive patients by analyzing heart rate variability and ambulatory blood pressure. Data from 82 patients with untreated essential hypertension were analyzed. We evaluated the 24-h profile of blood pressure and that of indices of autonomic nervous activity, i.e., the high frequency component (HF) and low frequency component/HF (LF/HF), which were obtained by wavelet transform of heart rate variability. Patients were classified by dipping status (nondippers, n=28; dippers, n=32; extreme-dippers, n=8; and risers, n=14) and morning blood pressure profile (large, n=9; small, n=60; and inverted, n=13). Nocturnal systolic blood pressure in extreme-dippers was significantly lower than that in the other groups; that in the risers was significantly higher (p<0.05). There were no significant group differences in daytime systolic blood pressure. Daytime and 24-h HF levels were significantly higher in the dipper vs. the riser group (p<0.05). Morning blood pressure elevation negatively correlated to preawake (p<0.01) and nocturnal blood pressure (p<0.05), but not to daytime and postawake blood pressure. The preawake/postawake ratio of systolic blood pressure positively correlated to that of LF/HF (p<0.01) and negatively correlated to preawake HF levels (p<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that preawake HF levels (p=0.037) and preawake/postawake ratio of LF/HF (p=0.033) were independently correlated with morning blood pressure elevation ratio. Our results suggest that activation of HF before waking and LF/HF during waking might play an important role in the development of morning blood pressure elevation.
A priori wire length distribution models with multiterminal nets

Interconnections are quickly becoming a dominant factor in the design of computer chips. Techniques to estimate interconnection lengths a priori (very early in the design flow) therefore gain attention and will become important for making the right design decisions when one still has the freedom to do so. However, at that time, one also knows least about the possible results of subsequent design steps. Conventional models for a priori estimation of wire lengths in computer chips use Rent's rule to estimate the number of terminals needed for communication between sets of gates. The number of interconnections then follows by taking into account that most nets are point-to-point connections. In this paper, we apply our previously introduced model for multiterminal nets to show that such nets have a fundamentally different influence on the wire length estimations than point-to-point nets. We then estimate the wire length distribution of Steiner tree lengths for applications related to routing resource estimation. Experiments show that the new estimated Steiner-length distributions capture the multiterminal effects much better than the previous point-to-point length distributions. The accuracy of the estimated values is still too low, as for the conventional point-to-point models, because we are still lacking a good model for placement optimization. However, the new results are a step closer to the application of wire length estimation techniques in real-world situations.