Formal Probabilistic Analysis of a Wireless Sensor Network for Forest Fire Detection

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have been widely explored for forest fire detection, which is considered a fatal threat throughout the world. Energy conservation of sensor nodes is one of the biggest challenges in this context and random scheduling is frequently applied to overcome that. The performance analysis of these random scheduling approaches is traditionally done by paper-and-pencil proof methods or simulation. These traditional techniques cannot ascertain 100% accuracy, and thus are not suitable for analyzing a safety-critical application like forest fire detection using WSNs. In this paper, we propose to overcome this limitation by applying formal probabilistic analysis using theorem proving to verify scheduling performance of a real-world WSN for forest fire detection using a k-set randomized algorithm as an energy saving mechanism. In particular, we formally verify the expected values of coverage intensity, the upper bound on the total number of disjoint subsets, for a given coverage intensity, and the lower bound on the total number of nodes.Comment: In Proceedings SCSS 2012, arXiv:1307.802

Effect of adding pelvic floor muscle training to weight loss intervention on urinary incontinence in overweight women: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveOur objective was to study the effect of the association of weight loss intervention and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on unirary incontinence (UI) in obese women.MethodsThis prospective study included 107 obese women with urinary incontinence (UI) randomized into three groups: G1 including women who underwent a training program with a low calorie diet, G2 women who underwent the same training associated to a PFMT and G3 women without any therapeutic intervention. An evaluation was realised a week before the beginning and after 12 months.ResultsA reduction of the BMI (body mass index) was noted in G1 and G2 (P<0.001). Sixty-six percent of women in G1 and 85.3% of women in G2 reported that their condition improved. The score of PFM strength was significantly improved only in G2 (P<0.001). Only in the two first group, we noted a significant reduction in the number of voiding and of leakages per day (P<0.001), a significant amelioration in the 24-hour pad test (P<0.001) and a significant improvement of the Urinary Disability Measure (UHM) and the score of quality of life (P<0.001). The improvement of all these parameters was more important in G2 (P<0.001).DiscussionThere are studies that report the effect of either weight loss intervention or PFMT for treating female UI [1,2]. However, there is no study that reveals whether or not there were additional effects of adding weight loss intervention to PFMT for UI in obese women. This work shows that the best management for UI in obese women must include weight loss intervention and PFMT with making women aware of their floor pelvic muscles. However, the limited nature of follow-up beyond the end of treatment means that the long-term outcomes of use of PFMT or weight loss intervention remain uncertain

LE COMPORTEMENT DES INVESTISSEURS ET DES ANALYSTES FINANCIERS LORS DE L'ANNONCE DES INFORMATIONS COMPTABLES ETUDE DE QUATRE EVENEMENTS PUBLIES SUR LE MARCHE FINANCIER FRANÇAIS

Ce papier a pour objectif d'identifier les réactions des investisseurs et des analystes financiers lors de la publication d'information comptable des entreprises françaises. Les résultats mettent en évidence la présence d'un effet significatif des informations préliminaires et intérimaires sur le comportement des investisseurs et montrent que la réaction des analystes explique en partie celle des investisseurs.réactions ; investisseurs ; analystes ; publication d'information comptable

Are MENA and Pacific Basin Stock Equity Markets Predictable?

This research uses variance ratio analysis to test whether Middle Eastern, North African (MENA) and Pacific Basin emerging equity markets follow a martingale behavior during the period1980-2004. The conventional Lo and MacKinlay variance ratio test, the multiple variance ratio test of Chow and Denning, rank- and sign-based test of Wright, and wild bootstrap of Kim are used for the monthly return series. The problem of thin trading was addressed using Miller, Muthuswamy, and Whaley’s adjusting procedure. Results have shown traces of a martingale behavior at high holding horizons. However, overall conclusions indicate that the null martingale hypothesis is strongly rejected for the whole sample and considered sub-periods at a 5% significance level. The pattern of the variance ratio estimates signify that the selected stock markets exhibit persistent mean-reverting and predictable behavior in their monthly adjusted returns series. The results expose the ineffectiveness of economic liberalization and privatization measures implemented in the early 1990s to improve their market efficiency. The Asian crisis did not affect the outcomes of the variance ratio analysis. Moreover, it sounds as if the perceptible development in terms of size and liquidity was not sufficient to exhibit a martingale behavior in these markets

Réaction des analystes financiers à la publication des informations comptables manipulées : étude d'événement appliquée sur le cas français

International audienceCet article a pour objectif l'identification du comportement des analystes financiers à la publication des informations comptables manipulées. En appliquant la méthodologie des études d'événement sur des données françaises, les résultats montrent que les analystes financiers révisent sensiblement leurs prévisions et s'alignent à la valeur publiée lorsque la gestion des résultats est insignifiante car ils trouvent le résultat publié informatif. En présence de gestion importante des résultats, les révisions des analystes n'atteignent pas la valeur publiée car elle incorpore une partie gérée pour des raisons opportuniste

Experimental Investigation Into the Effect of Cold Rolling on Fracture Toughness and Mechanical Properties of AA5754 H111 Aluminium Alloy

The paper deals with the experimental examination in to fracture toughness and mechanical behaviour of an AA5754 H111 aluminium alloy sheet during cold rolling reduction. The fracture toughness parameter J0.2 of the AA5754 H111 aluminium alloy before and after cold rolling was estimated by conducting a ductile tearing test using centre-cracked panel (CCP) specimens along two directions, rolling direction (RD) and transversal direction (TD). The conventional tensile tests in two directions and microhardness tests were also used to investigate mechanical properties of unrolled and rolled AA5754 H111 aluminium alloy. The findings revealed a significant effect of cold rolling on the fracture toughness parameter and the mechanical properties of the AA5754 H111 aluminium alloy along the RD and TD. A fast increase in strength and hardness and a sharp drop in the fracture toughness parameter J0.2 and ductility were recorded with a rise in the amount of cold rolling reduction. The greatest strength was obtained along the RD and the highest ductility was found along the TD

Les spécificités de la gestion des résultats des entreprises tunisiennes à travers une analyse qualitative

L'objectif de cet article est de comprendre les raisons qui poussent les entreprises tunisiennes à gérer leurs résultats même en présence de réglementation de plus en plus stricte et d'examiner les différentes pratiques utilisées à cette fin. En suivant une démarche qualitative basée sur les entretiens et l'analyse des documents comptables, il s'est avéré que le souci le plus important pour les sociétés non cotées est la minimisation de l'impôt. Alors que les sociétés cotées gèrent leurs résultats pour éviter les pertes ou pour maintenir leurs résultats. Pour ce faire, les entreprises tunisiennes ne profitent pas uniquement de la flexibilité des règles et méthodes comptables mais recourent aussi à des transactions intragroupes et prennent des décisions opérationnelles.Gestion des résultats; Démarche qualitative; Transactions intragroupes

Réaction des analystes financiers à la publication des informations comptables manipulées : étude d'événement appliquée sur le cas français

Cet article a pour objectif l'identification du comportement des analystes financiers à la publication des informations comptables manipulées. En appliquant la méthodologie des études d'événement sur des données françaises, les résultats montrent que les analystes financiers révisent sensiblement leurs prévisions et s'alignent à la valeur publiée lorsque la gestion des résultats est insignifiante car ils trouvent le résultat publié informatif. En présence de gestion importante des résultats, les révisions des analystes n'atteignent pas la valeur publiée car elle incorpore une partie gérée pour des raisons opportunistesAnalystes financiers ; étude d'événement ; gestion des résultats comptables

Understanding face and eye visibility in front-facing cameras of smartphones used in the wild

Commodity mobile devices are now equipped with high-resolution front-facing cameras, allowing applications in biometrics (e.g., FaceID in the iPhone X), facial expression analysis, or gaze interaction. However, it is unknown how often users hold devices in a way that allows capturing their face or eyes, and how this impacts detection accuracy. We collected 25,726 in-the-wild photos, taken from the front-facing camera of smartphones as well as associated application usage logs. We found that the full face is visible about 29% of the time, and that in most cases the face is only partially visible. Furthermore, we identified an influence of users' current activity; for example, when watching videos, the eyes but not the entire face are visible 75% of the time in our dataset. We found that a state-of-the-art face detection algorithm performs poorly against photos taken from front-facing cameras. We discuss how these findings impact mobile applications that leverage face and eye detection, and derive practical implications to address state-of-the art's limitations