Dynamical Mechanism of Sampling-Based Probabilistic Inference under Probabilistic Population Codes

Animals make efficient probabilistic inferences based on uncertain and noisy information from the outside environment. It is known that probabilistic population codes, which have been proposed as a neural basis for encoding probability distributions, allow general neural networks (NNs) to perform near-optimal point estimation. However, the mechanism of sampling-based probabilistic inference has not been clarified. In this study, we trained two types of artificial NNs, feedforward NN (FFNN) and recurrent NN (RNN), to perform sampling-based probabilistic inference. Then we analyzed and compared their mechanisms of sampling. We found that sampling in RNN was performed by a mechanism that efficiently uses the properties of dynamical systems, unlike FFNN. In addition, we found that sampling in RNNs acted as an inductive bias, enabling a more accurate estimation than in maximum a posteriori estimation. These results provide important arguments for discussing the relationship between dynamical systems and information processing in NNs.

Deterministic Decision Support System for the Assessment of Cities based on Air Quality Indicators

A deterministic decision support system is developed for the assessment of various Indian cities based on the air quality parameters in this research. The present study shapes the assessment of cities as a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem due to the involvement of many indicators. To solve the present assessment problem, an MCDM method, namely, Distance based approach (DBA) that mainly works on the Euclidean distance calculation for each city from the optimal point and ranks the cities on the basis of their calculated distances. The city scoring minimum distance value is ranked at top position and the city with the maximum distance value on the last position.

Reengineering Cracker-Dryer Machine Based on Fan speed and Temperature Considering Drying Time, Final Weight and Energy Consumption Factor

Redesign and building a cracker drying machine should give priority to several factors to find the optimal point, one of which is by conducting experimental experiments. This research was carried out to find out from the tool and also pay attention to several things, such as temperature and fan speed. If one of these factors is ignored, it will not produce dry crackers and the dried crackers are less than optimal. The Independent parameters used in this research are temperature and fan speed. Dependent parameters used in this research are concerning drying time, final weight, and energy consumption. Design experiment using Factorial 3x3. Fan speed has 3 levels, they are 1000rpm, 1500rpm and 2000rpm. The Temperature parameter has 3 levels, they are 16, 19, and 21oC. Based on the design of experiment results, it was found that the drying time response for the combination that has the highest ranking is at a temperature of 19oC with a 2000rpm fan speed resulting in a drying time of 182,677 minutes.

Exploring electrospun nanofibers for physically unclonable functions: a scalable and robust method toward unique identifiers

Optical physical unclonable functions (PUFs) have great potentials in the security identification of Internet of Things. In this work, electrospun nanofibers are proposed as a candidate for a nanoscale, robust, stable and scalable PUF. The dark-field reflectance images of the polymer fibers are quantitatively analyzed by Hough transform. We find that the fiber length and orientation distribution reach an optimal point as the fiber density grows up over 850 in 400 x 400 pixels for a polyvinylpyrrolidone nanofiber based PUF device. Subsequently, we test the robustness and randomness of the PUF pattern by using the fiber amount as an encoding feature, generating a reconstruction success rate over 80% and simultaneously an entropy of 260 bits within a mean size of 4 cm2. A scale-invariant algorithm is adopted to identify the uniqueness of each pattern on a 256-sensor device. Furthermore, thermo-, moisture as well as photostability of the authentication process are systematically investigated by comparing polyacrylonitrile to polyvinylpyrrolidone system.

GURU DAN MURID DALAM PERSEKTIF AL QUR’AN DAN HADITS

Teachers in the perspective of Islamic education are people who are responsible for the development of all potential students. If we look functionally the word teacher can be interpreted as a giver or distributor of knowledge, skills. A teacher has a sense of responsibility towards his duties as a teacher. As said by Imam Ghazali that "the task of educators is to perfect, clean, perfect and bring the human heart to Taqarrub to Allah SWT. While students are creatures who are in the process of development and growth according to their respective natures, where they really need consistent guidance and direction towards the optimal point of their natural abilities. Based on this understanding, students can be characterized as people who are in need of knowledge or knowledge, guidance and direction.

Sustainable Ecological Restoration of Sterile Dumps Using Robinia pseudoacacia

The feasibility of using Robinia pseudoacacia in phytoremediation of sterile dumps was determined. The potential of Robinia pseudoacacia seeds to grow in a medium contaminated with high concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Cu was firstly evaluated by applying germination tests on acacia seeds in the presence of various extractants prepared by mixtures of sterile material (SM) collected from the “Radeș” dump (Romania), calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and dehydrated sludge (DS) from Someș Water Treatment Plant (Cluj Napoca, Romania), fertilizer (N.P.K.), and potassium monobasic phosphate (KH2PO4-99.5%). The results indicated that Robinia pseudoacacia seeds grow much better in an acidic than in a neutral medium and in the absence of carbonates. The capacity of metal uptake from SM by Robinia pseudoacacia and the development of the plants were then investigated at the laboratory scale. During the phytoremediation process, 92.31% of Cu was removed from SM, and the development of the Robinia pseudoacacia plants was favorable. However, although the results of the present study indicated that Robinia pseudoacacia can be successfully used in the phytoremediation of sterile dumps, making a sustainable decision for the current situation of sterile dumps located in mining areas may be difficult because an optimal point between people, profit, planet, and diverse ethical views must be found.

Clinical Significance of the Prealbumin Level in Gastric Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment

Background We investigated the clinical influence of the prealbumin level on the gastric cancer survival and recurrence after curative treatment. Methods This study included 447 patients who underwent curative treatment for gastric cancer between 2013 and 2017. The risk factors for the overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were identified. Results A prealbumin level of 20 mg/dl was regarded as the optimal point of classification, considering the 3- and 5-year survival rates. The OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 80.7% and 65.0% in the low-prealbumin group, respectively, and 93.1% and 87.9% in the high-prealbumin group, respectively, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). The RFS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were 71.7% and 68.0% in the low-prealbumin group, respectively, and 90.1% and 84.7% in the high-prealbumin group, respectively, a statistically significant difference (p = 0.031). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the prealbumin level was a significant independent risk factor for the OS and RFS. In addition, the rate of introduction of adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly lower and the frequency of peritoneal recurrence and lymph node recurrence significantly higher in the low-prealbumin group than in the high-prealbumin group. Conclusion Prealbumin is a risk factor for the survival in patients who undergo curative treatment for gastric cancer. It is necessary to develop an effective plan of perioperative care and surgical strategy according to the prealbumin level.

Estimating the Risk of Satellite Collisions in Densely Populated Orbit Shells

Low Earth Orbit is becoming crowded with satellites. Updating estimates of collision probabilities is important as new deployments are authorised but is difficult because only limited information is given. This report investigates developing analytic estimates of collision probabilities. A survey of approaches reported in the literature is carried out. A collision involving a satellite from the Iridium cluster is reviewed. A simple analytic expression for the collision probability between two satellites is derived using the smallness of several dimensionless ratios appearing in the problem. Single collision probabilities are then extended to orbital planes populated by n satellites with the aim of finding the optimal point at which to traverse such an orbit. This report demonstrates that analytic estimates relevant to the problem can be made. Further work should focus on: making these estimates rigorous by using a formal asymptotic approach, considering multiple orbital planes and introducing time dependence