A Survey on Uncertainty Estimation in Deep Learning Classification Systems from a Bayesian Perspective

Decision-making based on machine learning systems, especially when this decision-making can affect human lives, is a subject of maximum interest in the Machine Learning community. It is, therefore, necessary to equip these systems with a means of estimating uncertainty in the predictions they emit in order to help practitioners make more informed decisions. In the present work, we introduce the topic of uncertainty estimation, and we analyze the peculiarities of such estimation when applied to classification systems. We analyze different methods that have been designed to provide classification systems based on deep learning with mechanisms for measuring the uncertainty of their predictions. We will take a look at how this uncertainty can be modeled and measured using different approaches, as well as practical considerations of different applications of uncertainty. Moreover, we review some of the properties that should be borne in mind when developing such metrics. All in all, the present survey aims at providing a pragmatic overview of the estimation of uncertainty in classification systems that can be very useful for both academic research and deep learning practitioners.

Why is Friday better than Sunday? The joy of anticipation hypothesis beats the fundamental law of psychophysics

We present survey evidence that most people prefer Friday to Sunday. Moreover, we pit against one another two explanations for this fact, the joy of anticipation hypothesis and the Weber law. According to the joy of anticipation hypothesis, Friday promises a weekend ahead, and Sunday does not. The Weber law predicts a relative decrease in the perception of interesting new events as the weekend passes, contributing to the impression that time wanes as Sunday comes. Our findings favor the joy of anticipation hypothesis.

DISTRIBUTION OF DINOCYSTS IN THE SURFACE SEDIMENTS OF SIDI MOUSSA LAGOON : (ATLANTIC COAST-MOROCCO)

The Sidi Moussa lagoon, (32°52′0″ N / 8° 51′05″ W) is located on the Moroccan Atlantic coast between the cities of El Jadida and Safi about 15 km South of the Jorf Lasfar industrial complex, The climate of the lagoon is classified as hot temperate. It is characterised by an oceanic influence. This study of dinoflagellate cyst mapping is the first of its kind from the Sidi Moussa lagoon. the objectives of the present survey were (i) to evaluate to the spatial variation of dinoflagellate cyst assemblages in the sediment along the Sidi Moussa lagoon (ii) to assess the densities of its cysts (iii) to compare the cyst assemblages in this study with that of other sites. The data were collected in a scientific campaign by zodiac carried out from in April 2018 by core following a sampling network of 21 stations distributed randomly in the study area. The surface layer of the sediment cores (3 cm) was sliced and kept at 4° C until analysis. The highest total cyst abundance was 194 cysts. g−1 dry sediment. The Pearson statistical test revealed a positive and significant correlation between cyst abundance and water content, organic matter and of fine sediment. Our study showed the presence of morphotypes of potentially toxic species. The cysts of these species present in the sediment of the Sidi Moussa lagoon could germinate, when environmental conditions become favorable, and in turn could inoculate the water column with the subsequent bloom formation. This study confirms the usefulness of cyst analysis in the assessment of harmful bloom risk in this area important for oyster’s culture.

Documentation of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) on Commonly Available Plants in Koira Range, Bonai Forest Division, Sundargarh, Odisha, India

Mining activities are an important source of revenue for the development of the nation. However, it creates lots of social and ecological imbalance. The major remarked problem is that the local communities of mining areas losses their Indigenous Traditional Practices. Keeping this in view, an attempt has been made to document the indigenous traditional knowledge on commonly available plants in Koira Range, a mining impacted areas of the Bonai Forest Division, Odisha, India. Twenty nine villages of 4 sections are selected for present survey works. The results revealed that about 63 plants are commonly used by the local communities for different purposes. The practices are documented through present study. The present work will provide a baseline data for conservation strategy and biological activities including value addition of available plant wealth.

Clinical Practice in Spine Surgery: An International Survey

Background The availability of diverse and sophisticated surgical options to treat spine conditions is compounded by the scarcity of high-level evidence to guide decision-making. Although studies on discrete treatments are frequently published, little information is available regarding real-world surgical practice. We intended to survey spine surgeons to assess clinical management of common spine diagnosis in day-to-day settings. Methods An online survey was distributed among neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons worldwide. The obtained assessment of common surgical practice is contextualized in a review of the best available evidence. Results The survey was answered by more than 310 members of several European, Australasian, and South African professional societies. The submitted responses translate a surgical practice generally grounded on evidence, favoring well-tried techniques, providing comprehensive treatment for the most severe diagnoses. Such practice comes mostly from neurosurgeons focused on spine surgery, practicing in teaching hospitals. Conclusion We believe that the pragmatic, day-to-day approach to spine conditions captured in the present survey offers an informative insight to involved surgeons.

Perspectives and Attitudes towards the Functional and Safety Aspects of Seaweeds for Edible Applications in India

Seaweeds are inevitable resources of nutrition bearing favorable rheological characteristics, which has resulted in their inclusion in a variety of daily consumer products. India, with its vast coastline and over 1000 species of seaweeds, presents tremendous potential to bring this resource into nutraceuticals and the food sector. The present survey was designed for the Indian population, which was further classified according to diet preferences, age groups, gender and various occupations. Their perceptions regarding nutritional aspects, sensory views, safety hazards and resource reliability were recorded. Among all groups studied, gender represented significant differences upon the various safety opinions recorded (p < 0.001) compared to the occupations, age groups and diet preferences studied. In addition, the dataset revealed the pro-phycological behavior of consumers subjected to vital concerns about bioresource reliability and pre-processing to avoid health hazards related to wild harvest or on-shore cultivated samples. In addition, consumer responses also revealed potential inhibitory factors in edible applications such as taste and smell. This study suggests that collaborative efforts among media, culinary experts and phycologists could play a pivotal role in promoting seaweeds in the rapidly expanding food sector industry of India.

Water chemistry and not urbanization influences community structure of non-marine Ostracoda (Crustacea) in northern Belgium

Urbanization is one of the major causes of the destruction of natural habitats in the world. Cities are urban heat islands and can thus significantly influence populations of plants and animals. The research project SPEEDY investigated the effects of urbanization in northern Belgium with a nested sampling design at local and landscape scales for a variety of organisms. Here, we tested the effects of urbanization on non-marine ostracod communities, sampling 81 small pools in three urbanization categories, as defined by percentage built up cover (low, intermediate, high). We identified 17 ostracod species, together occurring in 60 of the 81 sampled pools. We found that urbanization per se had no significant effect on ostracod communities. Of all the measured local factors, ammonium and total phosphorus concentrations had a significant effect on the community structure. In contrast, water temperature had no significant effect, most likely because the ostracod species found in northern Belgium in the present survey mostly have wide temperature tolerances.

An Affair to Remember: A Mixed-Methods Survey Examining Therapists’ Experiences Treating Infidelity

In this mixed-methods study, we analyzed data from 351 couple therapists who completed our Therapists' Experiences Treating Infidelity (TETI) survey. The present survey is a follow-up of previous iterations that examined therapists' attitudes toward infidelity and affair recovery treatment. Our TETI survey provided additional questions pertaining to therapists' personal history with affairs and perceptions on current research and training standards. Results showed that various therapist and couple factors serve to impede affair recovery treatment. Additionally, this survey revealed several similarities in therapists' attitudes from prior surveys, despite decades having passed between when the present survey and previous versions. In this article, we (a) outline findings from this mixed-methods survey, (b) discuss implications for the field, and (c) offer directions for future research.

Statistics Education in the Era of COVID-19

The present survey explores the changes in the teaching of statistics modules during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the impact of these changes on the students of the Department of Statistics and Insurance Science of the University of Piraeus. A questionnaire was prepared and administered online. The survey involved a total of 88 participants aged between 18 and 23. The main questions that were asked addressed: (i) the online structure of the statistics courses compared with the structure of the lifelong courses; (ii) the psychological adjustment of the participants to the contents and obligations of the regular courses; (iii) internet-based communication within the scope of the statistics modules and its role in developing skills relating to the use of statistical software and programming languages (i.e., SPSS, RATS, and R); and (iv) the degree of active participation in the online courses. Based on the outcomes of the survey, we concluded that the students did not notice any significant difference regarding their interest in the course or the transfer of knowledge between the online modules and the lifelong courses. Moreover, we found that courses using games and computers were more effective in terms of learning objectives, though they were more costly than conventional courses. Finally, we discovered that the students preferred the online courses over the regular ones, probably because they were richer and more versatile in structure.

Russian Experience in Transforming Teaching Methods in Legal Disciplines in Course of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of the present research is to analyze specific features of educational process in legal sphere in course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research objectives comprise the following issues: firstly, depiction of the initial state of teaching in legal sphere at the beginning of the pandemic; secondly, transformation process of teaching methods taking into account distinguishing features of the Russian legislation in the field of education; thirdly, correlation of administrative restriction practices with academic freedoms on the example of the Russian Federation. One of the results of this study is the conclusion that it is necessary to prioritize the study of the fundamental theory of law in comparison with commenting on the current legislation in order to be able to substantiate the regulation of non-standard situations in the life of society. The principal outcome of the present survey is a consideration that the Russian legislation in the sphere of education that requires implementation of such educational procedures components as training, education, scientific activity and upbringing cannot be completely implemented under conditions of the imposed administrative restrictions in course of the pandemic.