Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel Approach of Edges Detection for Digital Images Based On Hybrid Types of Entropy

Edges detection of digital images is used in a various fields of applications ra nging from real-time video surveillance and traffic management to medical imaging applications. Most of the class ical methods for edge detection are based on the first and second order derivatives of gray levels of the pixels of the original ima ge. These processes give rise to the exponential increment of computational time. This paper shows the new algorithm based on both the Tsallis entropy and the Shannon entropy together for edge detection using split and merge technique. The objective is to find the b est edge representation and minimize the computation time. A set of experiments in the domain of edge detection are presented. An edge detection performance compared to the previous classic methods, such as Canny, LOG, and Sobel. Analysis show that the effect of the proposed method is better than those methods in execution time and also is considered as easy implementation
Effect of dietary natural betaine on broiler breeder hen performance and egg quality characteristics

The effect of dietary natural betaine supplementation on broiler breeder hen performance was evaluated. In total, 630 Cobb 500 broiler breeder hens were allocated to one of three dietary treatment groups. The control diet was a standard basal broiler breeder diet and the two treatment diets were supplemented with natural betaine at either 1000pppm or 2000ppm. Hens were fed the diets for six weeks. Hens receiving betaine-supplemented diets gained more weight (p=0.006). The average weekly egg production of the hens receiving the 1000ppm and 2000ppm betaine-supplemented diets increased by 2.4 and 5.5% respectively (p<0.0001). The eggs from hens fed 2,000pppm betaine also had greater fertility (p<0.0001). Egg characteristic differences included a decrease in albumen weight (p=0.034) and eggshell thickness (p=0.001) and an increase in yolk:albumen ratio (p=0.009) of eggs from betaine-supplemented hens. Overall, breeder hens supplemented with 2000ppm betaine performed better than control or hens supplemented with 1000ppm betaine.
The Effects of Dividend Taxes on Equity Prices: A Re-Examination of the 1997 U.K. Tax Reform

We re-examine the extent to which personal taxes on dividends are capitalized into the equity prices of domestic firms, using data from around the time of the 1997 U.K. dividend tax reform, which removed a significant tax credit for an important group of investors: U.K. pension funds. The tax-adjusted CAPM suggests that the impact should depend on an average of dividend tax rates across all investors, and that U.K. pension funds should reduce their holdings of the previously tax-favored asset: U.K. equities. Given that U.K. pension funds are small relative to the total size of the world capital market, a small open economy-type argument implies that the main effect of the reform would be to reduce U.K. pension funds' ownership of U.K. equities, with little impact on their price. We present evidence which is consistent with these hypotheses. We discuss why previous research (Bell and Jenkinson, 2002) reached a different conclusion.
Physiological integration for carbon in mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), a clonal perennial herb

The degree of physiological integration among compartments within modular plants and animals, as measured by the sharing of resources, can determine the response of such organisms to environmental variability. We used 14 C tracer methods to determine distribution patterns for photoassimilate in mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum L. , a rhizomatous perennial herb with a simplified clonal architecture. Over half of the carbohydrate fixed during mind May, 1988, ended up in older segments of the rhizome system by early autumn, 1988. Roots, rhizomes and nodes along the entire length of the rhizome system all contained labelled material. By the following spring, 1989, there was a proportionate increase in label in the newly developing segment (.)
Human Emotion Recognition using Smart Environment

In today's growing world human emotion recognition is of utmost importance because many emotion- based devices are developing in order for customer satisfaction. In order to implement the emotion technology, it is necessary that analyzing the change in physiological variables due to a variety of change in circumstances and reprocessing services by recognizing the user's emotion state. This paper is hardwired logic architecture for human emotion recognition as well as all the functions supported by software-based platform are designed and implemented in an FPGA.
SBAM: An algorithm for pair matching

This paper introduces a new algorithm for pair matching. The method is called SBAM (Sparse Biproportionate Adjustment Matching) and can be characterized as either cross-entropy minimizing or matrix balancing. This implies that we use information efficiently according to the historic observations on pair matching. The advantage of the method is its efficient use of information and its reduced computational requirements. We compare the resulting matching pattern with the harmonic and ChooSiow matching functions and find that in important cases the SBAM and ChooSiow method change the couples pattern n in the same way. We also compare the computational requirements of the SBAM with alternative methods used in microsimulation models. The method is demonstrated in the context of a new Danish microsimulation model that has been used for forecasting the housing demand.
Draft – August 29 , 2018 Justifying Optimal Play via Consistency

Epistemic assumptions that lead to optimal play in two-player zero-sum games are surprisingly demanding and typically require strong rationality assumptions as well as common priors. We characterize maximin strategies in an alternative model which is based on coherent behavior in varying games. Notably absent are any assumptions on Bayesian belief hierarchies including common priors. The first axiom, called consequentialism, states that how probability is distributed among completely identical actions is irrelevant. The second axiom, consistency, demands that strategies that are optimal in two different games should still be optimal when there is uncertainty which of the two games will actually be played. Finally, we impose a very mild rationality assumption, which merely requires that strictly dominated actions will not be played. Our characterization shows that a rational and consistent consequentialist who ascribes the same properties to his opponent has to play maximin strategies.
Impact of Global Warmingon Sundarbans Mangrove Ecosystem , India : Role of Different Assessment Tools from Ecosystem Monitoring to Molecular Markers

Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem, India, being a ‘World’s Heritage Site’ and largest tidal wetland of the world (jointly with Bangladesh), represents a highly valued ecosystem in terms of economy, ecology and environment. This ecosystem supports the lives of galaxy of flora and fauna in the form of woody halophytic mangrove plants and their associates, benthic algae, phytoplankton, zooplankton, varied forms of benthos ,fishes and hundreds of reptiles, birds and mammals including Royal Bengal Tiger, Pantheratigristigris in diversified habitats like estuaries, creeks, intertidal belts, dunes and mangrove forest. The sea level rise coupled with other global warming mediated changes like salinity invasion, massive shoreline erosion, shifting of mud flats and sand dunes, increased turbidity, temperature, tidal amplitude, and decreased transparency, nutrients and pH are supposed to exert considerable bio-ecological stresses on mangrove biotic community. This has resulted in changes of species composition of biotic communities leading to decline and loss of mangrove dependent detritivores, herbivores and other consumers. The present paper has attempted to record different global warming mediated environmental consequences on a very sensitive, vulnerable and productive mangrove ecosystem of the world using satellite imageries (Multi-Temporal Digital Satellite Data), analyzing of prevailing ecological parameters (biotic and abiotic), recording of geomorphological changes and standardizing of molecular markers.
A Survey Paper on Botnet Attacks and Defenses in Software Defined Networking

This paper present review of Software Defined Networking (SDN) security and potential threat, especially against botnet Attack. A botnet is a collection of computer controlled by hackers to run various network threats. In other hand SDN system work in a centralized configuration, control, and operation with separated control and data plane. With this system, botmaster can insert and deploy their infection through SDN control plane as an unauthorized computer. This problem considered as Integrity on CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability) that is used for SDN security performance evaluation. Integrity in CIA triad means a condition where information is kept accurate and consistent unless authorized changes are made. At the end of this paper, we explain a future research to handle botnet attack.
Prognostic Implications of Claudin 4 and Rock 1 in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with characteristically poor prognosis. Tumor invasion and metastasis lead to high mortality of patients with breast cancer. The identification of biomarkers that allow early detection of metastasis is essential for therapeutic success in the treatment of breast cancer. This study aimed to asses the immune-histochemical expression of Rock-1 and claudin-4 in triple negative breast cancer and comparing them with classic prognostic parameters as age, grade, lymph node state, distant metastasis and stage to evaluate their prognostic significance in triple negative breast cancer. Material and methods: Forty cases of triple negative breast cancer were examined immunohistochemically using antibodies against claudin 4 and ROCK 1. Results: There was a difference in the expression of claudin 4 and Rock 1 among different clinicopathological parameters. A statistically significant relationship was found between high claudin 4 expression and higher age at time of diagnosis, advanced tumor stage, presence of distant metastasis and increased number of nodal involvement (p=0.041, 0.006, 0.001 and < 0.001 respectively). A highly statistically significant relationship was detected between high Rock 1 expression and increased number of nodal involvement (p <0.001). Also the expression of Rock 1 was different according to different age groups, tumor grades, tumor stages and presence or absence of distant metastasis but this difference was statistically insignificant (p=0.388, 0.602, 0.699 and 0. 944 respectively). Conclusion: our data suggest that claudin 4 and ROCK 1 are biomarkers of poor prognosis of patients with triple negative breast cancer.
Obstructive Jaundice- Aetiological Spectrum, Clinical, Biochemical And Radiological Evaluation At A Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital.

Objective–This study was done to assess the aetiological spectrum of obstructive jaundice as well as common clinical findings and relevance of laboratory and radiological imaging investigations.Methods: A prospective study of 110 patients with obstructive jaundice confirmed by thorough history and physical examination, biochemical tests and radiological investigations was done with final confirmation of diagnosis on histopathology. The data was analyzed using SOFA analytical software ver 0.9. 24.Results: Out of 110 patients 62 (56%) were male and 48 (44%) were female. The mean age of the study population was 50.4 years (range 3–85 years). Malignant obstructive was more common than benign (62.73% Vs 47.27%). Abdominal pain and clay coloured stools were more frequent in patients with malignant disease. Carcinoma (Ca) of the head of pancreas was commonest aetiology 37/110 (33.63%) followed by Choledocholithiasis 32/110 (29%), Ca gall bladder 20/110 (18.18%), periampullary carcinoma 6/110 (5.45%), cholangiocarcinoma 4/110 (3.64%), CBD stricture 3/110 (2.73%), acute pancreatitis 3/110 (2.73%) and choledochal cyst 3/110(2.73%). and HCC(1.8%). Regarding etiology of the obstruction, the accuracy of ultrasound, CT scan, MRCP and ERCP was 87.3%, 92.7%, 90% and 100%, respectively. The sensitivities of USG, CT, MRCP and ERCP in the diagnosis of benign disease were 85.3%, 84.6%, 92.3% and 100%, respectively, whereas specificities were 88.4%, 94.2%, 86% and 100%, respectively. Sensitivities for diagnosis of malignant disease were 88.4 %, 94.2 %, 86 % and 100% for USG, CT, MRCP and ERCP respectively whereas specificities were 85.3%, 85%, 92% and 100% respectively.Conclusion: Malignant obstructive jaundice is predominant in males compared to females. Benign obstruction is seen at a comparatively younger age group compared to malignant (Mean age 38.6yrsVs 58.7yrs). Carcinoma of head of pancreas and choledocholithiais were the commonest malignant and benign etiology respectively. Ultrasound and CT have high diagnostic accuracy, sensitivities and specificities and along with MRCP have largely confined the role of invasive cholangiography (ERCP/PTC) to therapeutic/palliative procedures in biliary obstruction.
The Evolution of Galaxies in Compact Groups

We present an analysis of the spectra of 62 galaxies in 15 compact groups. The galaxies are classified into four activity classes: galaxies without emission, starburst galaxies, luminous AGNs (Seyfert and LINERs), and low-luminosity AGNs (LLAGNs). The star formation in the Hickson compact group (HCG) starbursts is more intense than in normal spirals, but comparable to that observed in starburst-nucleus galaxies (SBNGs) in the field. In general, the HCG starbursts have mean solar gas metallicity and do not follow the metallicity-luminosity relation traced by the early-type SBNGs in the field, suggesting that most of them are late-type SBNGs. This morphology preference, coupled with the observation that the HCG starbursts are predominantly located in the halos of the groups, is consistent with the idea that compact groups are embedded in sparser structures. The stellar metallicities of the nonstarburst galaxies are comparable to those observed in normal galaxies with similar morphologies, but are relatively high for their luminosities. In these galaxies, the metal absorption line equivalent widths are slightly narrower than normal, while the Balmer absorption lines are relatively strong. All these observations suggest the presence of a population of intermediate-age stars. These galaxies could be poststarburst, but at a very advanced stage of evolution, the last bursts having happened more than 2 Gyr in the past. Our observations support a scenario in which the cores of the groups are slowly collapsing evolved systems embedded in more extended structures. In the cores of the groups, the interactions were more frequent and the galaxies evolved at a more rapid rate than in their halos.
A Capacitor-Less CMOS Adaptively Biased Low-Dropout Regulator with Buffer for Portable On-Chip Application

This paper presents a capacitor-less low-dropout regulator (LDR), with adaptive bias (AB) and buffer structure for power management. Adaptive bias structure consists of current mirrors, which increase sensitivity for change of load current with low dissipation of small quiescent current, and make LDR more accurate. Buffer structure also consists of current mirrors and triode. By using the buffer, the stability of the LDR has been increased and the phase margin is over 54° with full range of load current from 100uA to 100mA. At maximum load current, the LDR’s current efficiency is 99.50% with 1.8V power supply and 1.5V output. The power-supply rejection ration at 1 kHz is 77.64dB with 1mA and 48.52dB with 100mA load current. The LDR Performance of the proposed LDR is verified with 0.11-um COMS process.
Viscoelastometry guided fresh frozen plasma infusion for postpartum haemorrhage: an observational study: OBS2 Concise title: Rotem guided FFP infusion for PPH

Collins, Peter, Cannings-John, Rebecca, Bruynseels, Daniel, Mallaiah, S, Dick, J, Elton, C, Weeks, A. D. , Sanders, Julia, Aawar, N, Townson, Julia, Hood, Kerenza, Hall, Judith, Harding, K, Gauntlett, R and Collis, R.E. 2017. Viscoelastometry guided fresh frozen plasma infusion for postpartum haemorrhage: an observational study. British Journal of Anaesthesia 119 (3) , pp. 422434. 10.1093/bja/aex245 file
The burden of family care giving in dementia

Objectives: This paper reports the results of a descriptive field study in community dwelling elderly and their family caregivers. Methods: As part of a larger field study research was done on the impact on the family caregiver of caring for a community dwelling demented elderly. A sample of caregivers was selected based upon the features of their care needing relative. The information was gathered using validated psychometric instruments. The results were analysed using bivariate models. Results: Taking care of a community dwelling demented elderly reveals higher depression rates and feelings of burden in the family caregiver when compared with colleagues taking care of non demented relatives. An inadequate coping system in the caregiver and behavioral disturbances in the demented are strongly predictive for the negative impact of the homecare. Conclusion: Caregivers of a community dwelling elderly are to be supported in their task in order to lower the psychosocial impact of the homecare situation.
Programação linear aplicada a estatística

Determine probabilities for events where we have few information or intervals for probabilities is not so simple. For this we will develop concepts of linear programming, which allows us to solve, in a certain way, the problem of determine a probability for an event of interest, but not always in a unique way. We will present some classic examples of statistics, such as: The Monty Hall Problem and De La Probabilité Des Témoignages. In addition, we will discuss the problem of pricing a call option, where we will use linear programming to solve them.
Does a Cluster Based Factor Model Perform Better Than an Industry Based Factor Model ?

Past research that analyse the influence of country and industry factors in determining international stock returns fail to reach a consensus on the relative importance of country and industry effects. This leaves an international equity portfolio manager in dilemma whether to allocate money based on country considerations or industry considerations. Towards this end, I try to analyze an alternative that has the potential to extract maximum benefit from the structure of international stock returns. I cluster stocks which behave similarly, and then use them as inputs to a factor model for international stock returns. I compare a factor model based on clusters with a factor model based on industry classifications. I conclude that cluster based factor model perform better than an industry based factor model. I express my sincere gratitude to Professor Abraham Lioui for providing valuable guidance to complete this research paper. I am particularly grateful to Professor Sergio Focardi who helped me with his inputs at various stages of this research paper. I sincerely thank EDHEC Business School for providing excellent learning environment. Obviously, any errors and unjustified conjectures in this research paper are my own. 2
The Critical Role of the Boundary Layer Thickness for the Initiation of Aeolian Sediment Transport

Here, we propose a conceptual framework of Aeolian sediment transport initiation that includes the role of turbulence. Upon increasing the wind shear stress τ above a threshold value τ t ′ , particles resting at the bed surface begin to rock in their pockets because the largest turbulent fluctuations of the instantaneous wind velocity above its mean value u ¯ induce fluid torques that exceed resisting torques. Upon a slight further increase of τ , rocking turns into a rolling regime (i.e., rolling threshold τ t ≃ τ t ′ ) provided that the ratio between the integral time scale T i ∝ δ / u ¯ (where δ is the boundary layer thickness) and the time T e ∝ d / [ ( 1 − 1 / s ) g ] required for entrainment (where d is the particle diameter and s the particle–air–density ratio) is sufficiently large. Rolling then evolves into mean-wind-sustained saltation transport provided that the mean wind is able to compensate energy losses from particle-bed rebounds. However, when T i / T e is too small, the threshold ratio scales as τ t / τ t ′ ∝ T e / T i ∝ s d 2 / δ 2 , consistent with experiments. Because δ / d controls T i / T e and the relative amplitude of turbulent wind velocity fluctuations, we qualitatively predict that Aeolian sediment transport in natural atmospheres can be initiated under weaker (potentially much weaker) winds than in wind tunnels, consistent with indirect observational evidence on Earth and Mars.
PREVALENCE OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY AND INFLUENCE FACTORS AMONG NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF PAKISTAN: Data analysis from the Pakistan National Blindness & Visual Impairment Survey 2003

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among newly diagnosed adult diabetics from the data set of Pakistan National Blindness survey 2003. Methodology: We analyzed the data collected from the Pakistan National Blindness Survey, a population based survey with regards to diabetic retinopathy and its risk factors. Descriptive information for each of the variable was derived and distribution was assessed by simple tabulation and cross tabulation. We used Odds Ratio (using Mantel-Haenszel technique) and 95% confidence interval to assess association between the variables. Results: Among the 16507 subjects (95.3% response rate) 660 (4%) were found to be diabetic. Out of these, one hundred one (15.3%) had diabetic retinopathy. We found a low prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (0.6%) among the subjects aged 30 and above. The risk of diabetic retinopathy was higher in urban diabetic subjects (OR 2.7, with 95% CI 1.08-4.1) as compared to rural areas of Sindh. In addition it was higher in hypertensive (OR 2.77 with 95% CI 1.0-4.1) and in obese (OR 2.2 with 95% CI 1.7-4.2) as compared to subjects with normal body mass index (BMI). The prevalence of blindness in diabetic subjects was 5.9%. There were three hundred forty four (52%) subjects with diabetes with normal vision, 149(22%) subjects were with moderate visual impairment, thirty six (5.9%) subjects were blind and twenty two (3.3%) subjects were with severe visual impairment. About 214 diabetics have hypertension (32.4%), one hundred forty one (21.3%) diabetics are obese. Conclusion: Our study data suggests lower prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy as compared to other part of the region. There is great need to collect and monitor epidemiological data at district hospital level in order to develop a national annual retinal screening program for diabetic
A Successive-Elimination Approach to Adaptive Robotic Sensing

We study an adaptive source seeking problem, in which a mobile robot must identify the strongest emitter(s) of a signal in an environment with background emissions. Background signals may be highly heterogeneous and can mislead algorithms that are based on receding horizon control. We propose AdaSearch, a general algorithm for adaptive source seeking in the face of heterogeneous background noise. AdaSearch combines global trajectory planning with principled confidence intervals in order to concentrate measurements in promising regions while guaranteeing sufficient coverage of the entire area. Theoretical analysis shows that AdaSearch confers gains over a uniform sampling strategy when the distribution of background signals is highly variable. Simulation experiments demonstrate that when applied to the problem of radioactive source seeking, AdaSearch outperforms both uniform sampling and a receding time horizon information-maximization approach based on the current literature. We also demonstrate AdaSearch in hardware, providing further evidence of its potential for real-time implementation.