Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CSMAS: Improving Multi-Agent Credit Scoring System by Integrating Big Data and the new generation of Gradient Boosting Algorithms

Credit risk is one of the main risks facing banks and credit institutions, with the current progress in machine learning, artificial intelligence and big data. Recent research has proposed several systems for improving credit rating. In this paper, a new scalable credit scoring multi-agent system called "CSMAS" is introduced for the prediction of problems in data mining of credit scoring domain. This engine is built using a seven-layer multi-agent system architecture to generate a data mining process based on the coordination of intelligent agents. CSMAS performance is based on preprocessing and data forecasting. The first layer is designed to retrieve any data from various core banking systems, payment systems, credit Bureaus and external databases and data sources and to store it in big data platform. The second layer is devoted to three different subtasks; feature engineering, pre-processing data and integrating diverse datasets. While the third layer is dedicated to dealing with missing Values and treating outliers. In the fourth layer, the techniques of dimensionality reduction are used to reduce the number of features in the original set of features. The fifth layer is dedicated to build a model using the new generation of Gradient Boosting Algorithms (XGBoost, LightGBM and CatBoost) and make predictions. The sixth layer is designed for the model's evaluation. The seventh layer is made to perform the rating of new credit applicants. The performance of CSMAS is assessed using a large dataset of Home Credit Default Risk from Kaggle Challenge (307511 records) to evaluate the risk of a loan applicant as a major problem for banks. The results show that the CSMAS give relevant results. Therefore, the results indicated that the CSMAS can be further employed as a reliable tool to predict more complicated case in credit scoring.
Design space exploration for layer-parallel execution of convolutional neural networks on CGRAs

In this work, we systematically explore the design space of throughput, energy, and hardware costs for layer-parallel mappings of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) onto coarse-grained reconfigurable arrays (CGRAs). We derive an analytical model that computes the required resources (processing elements) and buffer memory and thus hardware cost C to sustain a given throughput T as well as the resulting overall energy consumption E for inference. Further, we propose an efficient design space exploration (DSE) to determine the fronts of Pareto-optimal (T,E,C) solutions. This exploration helps to determine the limits of scalability of the presented tiled CGRA accelerator architectures in terms of throughput, the number of parallel layers that can be simultaneously processed, and memory requirements. Finally, we provide an evaluation of energy savings achievable on our architecture in comparison to implementations that execute sequentially a CNN layer-by-layer. In experiments, it is shown that layer-parallel processing is able to reduce energy consumption E by 3.6X, hardware cost C by 1.2X, and increase the achievable throughput T by 6.2X for MobileNet.
Collaborative Task Assignment Algorithm to Reduce Total Response Time in MEC Platform

In this paper, we propose a collaborative task assignment algorithm to reduce a total response time in Multi-access Edge Cloud (MEC) platform. In the proposed algorithm, we derive a response time for each task processing place and formulate an optimization problem that minimizes the total response time of all tasks. Moreover, the optimal task assignment is determined by solving the optimization problem. In numerical examples, we evaluate the performance of the proposed method by simulation and we show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Informing, Coordinating, and Performing: A Perspective on Functions of Sensorimotor Communication

Sensorimotor communication is a form of communication instantiated through body movements that are guided by both instrumental, goal-directed intentions and communicative, social intentions. Depending on the social interaction context, sensorimotor communication can serve different functions. This article aims to disentangle three of these functions: (a) an informing function of body movements, to highlight action intentions for an observer; (b) a coordinating function of body movements, to facilitate real-time action prediction in joint action; and (c) a performing function of body movements, to elicit emotional or aesthetic experiences in an audience. We provide examples of research addressing these different functions as well as some influencing factors, relating to individual differences, task characteristics, and situational demands. The article concludes by discussing the benefits of a closer dialog between separate lines of research on sensorimotor communication across different social contexts.
Notes on the classification and evolution of some North American fossil Microtus (Mammalia; Rodentia)

ABSTRACT Students of fossil arvicoline rodents are challenged to conform to a higher level of modern statistical and phylogenetic analysis. The terminology of the occlusal surface of arvicoline teeth of van der Meulen (1973, 1978) is proposed as the standard for future research. The current taxonomy of North American fossil voles referred to Allophaiomys, Pedomys, and Pitymys is reviewed and critiqued. These taxa are combined in the genus Microtus. Phaiomys (= Allophaiomys; = Orthriomys) and Pitymys (= Pedomys; = Herpetomys) are recognized as subgenera. A Pleistocene replacement chronology for Microtus dental morphotypes is presented, and a cladogram based on dental character states is constructed for North American Microtus. Microtus meadensis is considered to be an Old World immigrant and not closely related to M. quasiater. The Late Pleistocene Microtus reported by Repenning (1983) from El Tajo de Texquixquiac, Mexico as M. meadensis is tentatively referred to M. quasiater. Microtus quasiater is furthe.
Response of Pinus sibirica and Larix sibirica to climate change in southern Siberian alpine forest–tundra ecotone

Abstract A warming climate provides competitive advantages to Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) in areas with sufficient precipitation. The warmer temperatures observed in central Siberia over the past three decades appear to have had a noticeable effect on growth of Siberian pine and larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) in the south Siberian Mountain forest–tundra ecotone. Larch is more tolerant of harsh climates and exhibits an arboreal growth form, whereas Siberian pine is in krummholz form. Larch also has an advantage at the upper tree limit and in areas with low precipitation. Since the mid-1980s there have been measurable increases in growth increments, stand densification, regeneration propagation into the alpine tundra and transformation of krummholz into arboreal forms. Warming winter temperatures have been sufficient for increased survival of regeneration. Regeneration responded to temperature increase of 1°C by migration to areas 10–40 m higher in elevation. Regeneration has propagated into the alpine tundra at the rate of ~1.0–2.0 m year−1. Siberian pine and larch regeneration surpassed their upper historical limit by 10–80 m in elevation. While increased tree growth and migration into alpine tundra areas affect the regional carbon balance, it will also decrease albedo, which may increase warming at the regional level.
Adaptive E-learning: Adaptation of Content According to the Continuous Evolution of the Learner During his Training

Higher education has always been based on a traditional education system. All learners have to attend all training courses without taking into consideration human and logistical constraints. This situation leads to major problems of massification, which unfortunately subsequently lead to problems of demotivation or even abandonment of a large number of students. A solution to these problems resides in introduction of distance learning. The implementation of online courses, such as MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses), and the emergence of educational platforms such as LMS (Learning Management System) or LCMS (Learning Content Management System), have made it possible to introduce the notion of e-learning into Higher education. Nevertheless, if e-learning has left the Stone Age elsewhere, it is still an emerging field in some countries as Morocco where it is far from having reached maturity. Like any new system or proposal, e-learning has its own detractors who need to be more reassured on certain aspects. In this article, we deal with some major issues related to e-learning platforms, which offer pre-established pedagogical content without really taking into account the particularity or evolution of each learner during the training path. We will therefore talk about a customised or adaptive e-learning. By combining UBA (User Behavior Analytics) and AI (Artificial Intelligence), we will propose during this article an LBA (Learner Behavior Analytics) model based on an a system called SBAN (Score and Behavior ANalytics).
The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among a sample of first-year medical students

Background Stress in medical education has become a global phenomenon. The excessive working hours, competitive academic environment, lack of recreational activities, lack of peer support, staying away from home, and financial problems are common reasons of depression, anxiety, and stress in medical schools. The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among a group of Egyptian medical school students from the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry (100 students from each). Patients and methods A structured self-generated questionnaire was used for identifying demographic and social characteristics and risk factors of psychological illness among those students, and also the Arabic short version of the standardized Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 42 was applied. Results The students of Faculty of Medicine showed the highest percent of depression (96%), anxiety (98%), and stress (76%), whereas the students of faculty of pharmacy showed lower percent of depression (70%), anxiety (81%), and stress (59%). Most medical students (medicine 42%, pharmacy 33%, and dentistry 41%) had moderate depressive symptoms, whereas 34% of students of Faculty of Medicine had severe depressive symptoms and 45% of them had extreme anxiety. Most of the students came from rural areas and lived outside home away from their families. Conclusions The high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among medical students is alarming. This shows the need for primary and secondary prevention measures, with the development of adequate and appropriate support services for this group.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE ENZYMATIC ACTION OF MAPLE AND BIRCH SAPS

In I938 the Canadian authors Bois & Nadeau (I938a, b) published the results of their researches on the enzymes present in the sap of the sugar maple, Acer saccharum Marsh. The conclusion to which they came may be summarized as follows: The sap contains two amylolytic enzymes with different pH and temperature optima. The first, which they call sucrogene-amylase, is said to form cane sugar from starch. According to them it has an optimum pH of about 6-6 and an optimum temperature of about +8? C. The second enzyme, the cellobiogene-amylase, is said to form cellobiose from starch and to be characterized by a much higher optimum temperature (40-500 C.) and by an optimum pH of 4-8-5-3. In more recent publications Bois and collaborators (I942; I945) have considered the enzymes of the potato and those present in birch sap. In the former the presence of sucrogene-amylase is again claimed; in the latter the presence of cellobiogene-amylase and of a glucose-forming enzyme. Reading these publications one is led to believe that the formation of cane sugar from starch is a direct one. Should this point of view prove to be correct, a complete reversal of theories of the structure of starch would result; for the usual conception is that starch is built of chains of linked maltose molecules. These maltose molecules, in their turn, consist of two gluco-pyranose units. Should sucrose as such be present in starch, then fructo-furanose rings should be found as well as gluco-pyranose rings. The attractiveness of the reported findings is that they might lead to a better understanding of the very easy conversion, in the living plant, of starch into sucrose and vice versa. The alleged production of cellobiose would provide us with the 'missing link' between cellulose and starch chemistry and would be intelligible from a teleological standpoint; for the cellobiogeneamylase is said to be prominent in the tree saps in late spring when the buds are about to open and need cellobiose as a building material for their growing cell walls. The tacit assumption here is that free cellobiose can indeed be used by plant cells for this purpose. Hestrin, Aschner & Mager (I947), working on cellulose synthesis by Acetobacter xylinum preparations, found no evidence for this. On the other hand, Haller (I945), comparing the results of treating starch granules with iodine-water and with potassium iodate solutions, concluded that there was at least a framework of a cellobiose polymer in the outer layer of the granules. In view of this conflicting evidence, and of the fact that Hassid, Doudoroff & Barker (I944) have meanwhile effected a synthesis of sucrose, it seemed worth while to reconsider the whole problem critically, and this is the aim of the present paper. The experiments described were begun as-early as I939 and were continued for four years. In order to confirm them and to check the results reported by Bois and collaborators, new experiments were carried out, and many of the old ones repeated,-in I947.
Trends of Colorectal Cancer Prevalence in Kazakhstan Related to Screening

We carried out an analysis of the total incidence of colon cancer throughout Kazakhstan. Retrospectively, according to the regional reports on endoscopic screening, the study showed an increase in the age-related incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases from 2004–2008 to 2009–2014. The peak of morbidity in both periods was noted in the age category of >70 years. The indicators of the territorial distribution of CRC incidence make it possible to divide the regions into areas with low or high rates of CRC. Specific indicators showed newly diagnosed cases of CRC stages I, II, III, and IV in 2004–2018. The incidence rates of stages I and II showed a two-fold increase (35%–67.4%) and the incidence of stage IV showed a decline from 19.3% to 13.1% and of stage III from 45.7% to 19.5% from 2004 to 2018, respectively. An analysis of CRC incidence throughout Kazakhstan showed an increase in the overall incidence. Since population-based CRC screening was introduced in 2011, the morbidity was found to increase for stages I and II.
Expectancies about the Effects of Cannabis Use on Eating Disorder Symptoms

Abstract Background: Substance use, specifically cannabis use, is common among individuals with eating disorder (ED) symptoms; however, few studies have specifically explored the relation between EDs and cannabis use. Purpose: The present study examined expectancies about the impact of cannabis on cognitive, affective and behavioral ED symptoms. Additionally, this study explored associations between cannabis-related expectancies, cannabis use and cannabis-related problems. Methods: Cannabis users with ED symptoms (N = 137) reported on frequency of cannabis use, cannabis-related problems and expectancies about the impact of cannabis on ED symptoms, Results: Participants expected cannabis to decrease restrictive eating, compensatory behaviors, and preoccupation with body shape and weight and fear of eating and weight gain. In contrast, cannabis was expected to increase binge-eating behaviors. Expectancies about the impact of cannabis use on ED symptoms were not associated with more frequent cannabis use nor were they associated with cannabis-related problems. Conclusions: These findings suggest that individuals believe cannabis will improve some ED symptoms; however, these expected improvements are not associated with increased cannabis use and problems. Future research should examine cannabis expectancies in clinical populations and should further explore the association between cannabis expectancies, use, and ED symptoms longitudinally.
Comparative nest habitat characteristics of sympatric White‐tailed Haliaeetus albicilla and Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos in western Scotland

Capsule Golden and White‐tailed Eagles selected different habitats for nesting. Aim To investigate differences in nesting habitat used by sympatrically breeding eagles in western Scotland, following reintroduction of White‐tailed Eagles from 1975 onwards. Methods Nest‐site locations from national surveys in 2003–05 were entered into a geographical information system (GIS) in order to measure a set of geographic parameters for each nest site. Binary logistic regression with backwards deletion of non‐significant terms was used to derive minimum adequate models at two spatial scales of the likelihood of an eagle nest belonging to one species or the other. We compared changes in occupancy between 1992 and 2003 of Golden Eagle territories inside and outside a GIS model of potential White‐tailed Eagle habitat and according to proximity to White‐tailed Eagle nests. Results White‐tailed Eagles nested at lower altitudes than Golden Eagles, in more wooded habitats with more open water close by, tending to nest in trees where these were present. There were 3359 km2 of potential White‐tailed Eagle nesting habitat within 25 km of existing White‐tailed Eagle nests, containing 54 Golden Eagle territory centres, but we found no difference in change of occupancy for Golden Eagle territories close to White‐tailed Eagles compared with those further away. Conclusion White‐tailed and Golden Eagles appear to partition nesting habitat in the west of Scotland by altitude. This corresponds with behaviour in western Norway and with the situation described in historical accounts of nest‐sites in western Scotland prior to extinction of White‐tailed Eagles. It is also consistent with recent studies showing little overlap in breeding season diet of Golden and White‐tailed Eagles in western Scotland, and likely partitioning of foraging habitat by altitude. We conclude that the likelihood of competitive exclusion is less than previously suggested.
Population Genetic Structure in Temperate and Tropical Species of Viola (Violaceae) with a Mixed Breeding System

Inter–simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers were used to characterize inter‐ and intrapopulation genetic diversity in populations of two contrasting species of Viola, Viola striata of the eastern United States and Canada and Viola grahamii of central Mexico. Both species show a mixed breeding system with the production of both chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers, although the temporal pattern of flowering varies between the two species. In both species the majority of the seeds produced in a given season are the result of cleistogamous flowers; additionally, V. grahamii reproduces asexually by means of runners. Our results indicate similar high levels of genetic diversity, low levels of population subdivision, and weak interpopulation differentiation in both species. In particular V. grahamii showed a slightly higher level of genetic diversity than V. striata, which does not reproduce vegetatively. Modest chasmogamous reproduction is proposed to maintain levels of outcrossing sufficient to ameliorate population subdivision and retard interpopulational divergence that would otherwise result from cleistogamy. These findings reiterate a recurring pattern in Viola in which high population genetic diversity is maintained even with the presence of high levels of cleistogamy and vegetative reproduction.
Emotional response to testing positive for human papillomavirus at cervical cancer screening: a mixed method systematic review with meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Tens-of-millions of women every year test positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) at routine cervical screening. We performed a mixed-methods systematic review using a results-based convergent design to provide the first comprehensive overview of emotional response to testing positive for HPV (HPV+). We mapped our findings using the cognitive behavioural framework. Six electronic databases were searched from inception to 09-Nov-2019 and 33 papers were included. Random-effects meta-analyses revealed that HPV+ women with abnormal or normal cytology displayed higher short-term anxiety than those with normal results (MD on State-Trait Anxiety Inventory = 7.6, 95% CI: 4.59–10.60 and MD = 6.33, CI: 1.31–11.35, respectively); there were no long-term differences. Psychological distress (general/sexual/test-specific) was higher in HPV+ women with abnormal cytology in the short-term and long-term (SMD = 0.68, CI: 0.32–1.03 and SMD = 0.42, CI: 0.05–0.80, respectively). Testing HPV+ was also related to disgust/shame, surprise and fear about cancer. Broadly, adverse response related to eight cognitive constructs (low control, confusion, cancer-related concerns, relationship concerns, sexual concerns, uncertainty, stigma, low trust) and six behavioural constructs (relationship problems, social impact, non-disclosure of results, idiosyncratic prevention, indirect clinical interaction, changes to sexual practice). Almost exclusive use of observational and qualitative designs limited inferences of causality and conclusions regarding clinical significance.
[The effectiveness of omalizumab in the control of severe uncontrolled asthma in Latin America. An exploratory systematic review and meta-analysis].

BACKGROUND Omalizumab is effective in the treatment of severe persistent allergic asthma that is not controlled with long-acting beta-agonists/ high-dose inhaled corticosteroids. OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic exploratory review and meta-analysis of studies with omalizumab in Latin America. METHODS A search of real-life studies on the effectiveness of omalizumab in asthma control conducted in Latin America was carried out. The average of the aggregate effectiveness of omalizumab in asthma control (Pooled Analysis) was estimated by using a random effects model. RESULTS Nine open uncontrolled observational studies were identified; these studies included a total of 1 118 patients with severe uncontrolled asthma. The average of the estimated aggregate effectiveness of omalizumab in the good control of severe asthma was of 80.6 % in children and 78.9 % in adults. CONCLUSIONS The average of the estimated aggregate effectiveness of omalizumab in the control of severe asthma in both children and adults in Latin America was over 78 %. Randomized controlled studies are required in order to establish the efficacy and effectiveness of omalizumab in the control of severe asthma and in the different subgroups by level of eosinophils.