CRBA: A Competitive Rate-Based Algorithm Based on Competitive Spiking Neural Networks

In this paper we present a Competitive Rate-Based Algorithm (CRBA) that approximates operation of a Competitive Spiking Neural Network (CSNN). CRBA is based on modeling of the competition between neurons during a sample presentation, which can be reduced to ranking of the neurons based on a dot product operation and the use of a discrete Expectation Maximization algorithm; the latter is equivalent to the spike time-dependent plasticity rule. CRBA's performance is compared with that of CSNN on the MNIST and Fashion-MNIST datasets. The results show that CRBA performs on par with CSNN, while using three orders of magnitude less computational time. Importantly, we show that the weights and firing thresholds learned by CRBA can be used to initialize CSNN's parameters that results in its much more efficient operation.

Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella Isolates Recovered from Chickens Sold at Retail Outlets in Trinidad

ABSTRACT This study determined the frequency of resistance of 135 isolates of Salmonella, including 15 serotypes recovered from chickens purchased from retail outlets (cottage processors and supermarkets) across Trinidad. Resistance to 16 antimicrobial agents was determined by using the disk diffusion method. Resistance among the isolates was related to the type of retail outlet, location of outlets, type of sample, and isolate serotype. Overall, all isolates exhibited resistance to one or more of the 16 antimicrobial agents tested. All isolates were sensitive to cefoxitin and norfloxacin, with the overall frequency of resistance ranging from 1.1% (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim) to 100.0% (ceftiofur and doxycycline). The frequency of resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin, ceftriaxone, amoxycillin–clavulanic acid, and chloramphenicol was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in isolates recovered from cottage processor outlets compared with those from supermarkets. The frequency of resistance to antimicrobial agents was significantly different only to kanamycin (P = 0.046) and enrofloxacin (P = 0.000) across seven counties in Trinidad). Regarding sample presentation (whole versus parts), the frequency of resistance was only significantly higher to gentamicin (P = 0.039) for chicken part isolates from cottage processor and to only tetracycline (P = 0.034) for isolates from whole carcasses from supermarkets. All the 135 Salmonella isolates exhibited multidrug resistance patterns. The high frequency of resistance to seven antimicrobial agents (erythromycin, streptomycin, ceftiofur, doxycycline, kanamycin, tetracycline, and ampicillin), some used in the poultry industry, coupled with the occurrence of multidrug resistance, may have potential therapeutic implications for broiler farmers in Trinidad.

KECENDERUNGAN GAYA BELAJAR MAHASISWA PENDIDIKAN TEKNIK BANGUNAN

this research aims to know the various learning style that was adopted by student of Building techniques Education, and to know the tendency learning style student of Building techniques Education. The sample chose as random with using technical Election stratified with sample presentation which taken every strata is Sam. The research result about the tendency student learning style accodring to David kolb show the average scores High to lob is Diverger type (62,5%); accomodator type (25,96%); Converger type (6,73%); and Assimilator type (4,81%). On the other hand, student learning style according De Porter & Hernacki show average scores from High to lob is Kinestetic (45,19%); Visual (43,27%); and auditorial (11,54%) Abstrak: Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui berbagai gaya belajar yang dianut oleh maha-siswa Pendidikan Teknik Bangunan, serta mengetahui kecenderungan gaya belajar mahasiswa Pendidikan Teknik Bangunan. Sampel dipilih secara random dengan menggunakan teknik pemilihan berstrata dengan prosentase sampel yang diambil pada tiap strata adalah sama. Hasil penelitian tentang kecenderungan gaya belajar mahasiswa menurut David Kolb menunjukkan ha-sil rata-rata dari besar ke kecil adalah tipe Diverger (62,5%); tipe Accomodator (25,96%); tipe Con-verger (6,73%); dan tipe Assimilator (4,81%). Sementara gaya belajar mahasiswa menurut De Porter & Hernacki menunjukkan hasil rata-rata dari besar ke kecil adalah Kinestetik (45,19%); Visual (43,27%); dan Auditorial (11,54%).