An open source framework based on Kafka-ML for Distributed DNN inference over the Cloud-to-Things continuum

The current dependency of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems on Cloud computing implies higher transmission latency and bandwidth consumption. Moreover, it challenges the real-time monitoring of physical objects, e.g., the Internet of Things (IoT). Edge systems bring computing closer to end devices and support time-sensitive applications. However, Edge systems struggle with state-of-the-art Deep Neural Networks (DNN) due to computational resource limitations. This paper proposes a technology framework that combines the Edge-Cloud architecture concept with BranchyNet advantages to support fault-tolerant and low-latency AI predictions. The implementation and evaluation of this framework allow assessing the benefits of running Distributed DNN (DDNN) in the Cloud-to-Things continuum. Compared to a Cloud-only deployment, the results obtained show an improvement of 45.34% in the response time. Furthermore, this proposal presents an extension for Kafka-ML that reduces rigidness over the Cloud-to-Things continuum managing and deploying DDNN

Land Use and Land Cover Changes in the Diversity and Life Zone for Uncontacted Indigenous People: Deforestation Hotspots in the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve, Ecuadorian Amazon

Land use and land cover change (LULC) is an essential component for the monitoring environmental change and managing natural resources in areas of high natural and cultural biodiversity, such as the Amazon biome. This study was conducted in in the northern Amazon of Ecuador, specifically in the Diversity and Life Zone (DLZ) of the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve (YBR). The general aim was to investigate the territorial dynamics of land use/land cover changes to support policies for environmental and sociocultural protection in the DLZ. Specific objectives included (i) mapping LULC spatial and temporal dynamics in the DLZ in the period from 1999 to 2018, (ii) identifying sensitive LULC hotspots within the DLZ, and (iii) defining the possible policy implications for sustainable land use in the DLZ. Multitemporal satellite imagery from the Landsat series was used to map changes in LULC, which were divided into three-time stages (1999–2009, 2009–2018, 1999–2018). We adopted open-access Landsat images downloaded from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The processes for assessing LULC in the DLZ included (1) data collection and analysis, (2) data processing for remote sensing, (3) thematic land cover, and (4) homogenization and vectorization of images. The results showed that in the period 1999–2018, most of the uses and land cover were transformed into pastures in the DLZ. Therefore, it is important to improve territorial planning, to avoid conflicts between indigenous populations, migrant settlers, and uncontacted indigenous populations that live in the DLZ, within the YBR

Analysis of electronic structure and X-ray absorption and emission spectra in MgO within the FP-LAPW method

In this work we calculated MgO ab initio X-ray Absorption and Emission spectra using the Full Potential Linearized Augmented Plane Wave method within the Density Functional Theory formalism. The X-ray Absorption and Emission spectra for the K and L2;3 edges of Mg and O atoms were calculated including a core hole in order to study the electronic structure of valence and conduction bands of the system. Both kinds of spectra were compared with experimental data obtaining a very good agreement and the improvement in the spectra due to the use of Tran Blaha modified Becke-Johnson (TB-mBJ)potential is manifested. This potential describes better the insulator properties, produces a band gap that is in good agreement with the experimental value and improves the intensities and the structure of the spectra. Was interesting to find the presenceof Mg d states below the Fermi energy in the equilibrium volume of MgO. The XANES experiments were better reproduced by introducing the full core hole in the calculationsusing TB-mBJ potential while for XES the best agreement was obtained without core hole. The Bader?s topological method was employed to analyse the ionic behaviour. Using the electronic charges obtained with the Bader?s Method and the equilibrium lattice parameter, we obtained the value of the Lattice Energy and we compared it with the value obtained by the Born-Haber cycle showing a good agreement. The charge density for MgO was plotted, and a maximally localized Wannier function for O is shown.Fil: Grad, Gabriela Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomia y Física. Grupo de Espectroscopia Atomica y Nuclear; ArgentinaFil: González, Enrique. R.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomia y Física. Grupo de Espectroscopia Atomica y Nuclear; ArgentinaFil: Torres Díaz, Jorge. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomia y Física. Grupo de Espectroscopia Atomica y Nuclear; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Bonzi, Edgardo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomia y Física. Grupo de Espectroscopia Atomica y Nuclear; Argentin

Deep fisher discriminant analysis

Fisher Discriminant Analysis’ linear nature and the usual eigen-analysis approach to its solution have limited the application of its underlying elegant idea. In this work we will take advantage of some recent partially equivalent formulations based on standard least squares regression to develop a simple Deep Neural Network (DNN) extension of Fisher’s analysis that greatly improves on its ability to cluster sample projections around their class means while keeping these apart. This is shown by the much better accuracies and g scores of class mean classifiers when applied to the features provided by simple DNN architectures than what can be achieved using Fisher’s linear onesWith partial support from Spain's grants TIN2013-42351- P, TIN2016-76406-P, TIN2015-70308-REDT and S2013/ICE-2845 CASI-CAMCM. Work supported also by project FACIL{Ayudas Fundaci on BBVA a Equipos de Investigación Científica 2016, the UAM{ADIC Chair for Data Science and Machine Learning and Instituto de Ingeniería del Conocimiento. The third author is also supported by the FPU{MEC grant AP-2012-5163. We gratefully acknowledge the use of the facilities of Centro de Computacón Científi ca (CCC) at UA

Pinning of domain walls in thin ferromagnetic films

We present a quantitative investigation of magnetic domain-wall pinning in thin magnets with perpendicular anisotropy. A self-consistent description exploiting the universal features of the depinning and thermally activated subthreshold creep regimes observed in the field-driven domain-wall velocity is used to determine the effective pinning parameters controlling the domain-wall dynamics: The effective height of pinning barriers, the depinning threshold, and the velocity at depinning. Within this framework, the analysis of results published in the literature allows for a quantitative comparison of pinning properties for a set of magnetic materials in a wide temperature range. On the basis of scaling arguments, the microscopic parameters controlling the pinning: The correlation length of pinning, the collectively pinned domain-wall length (Larkin length), and the strength of pinning disorder are estimated from the effective pinning and the micromagnetic parameters. The analysis of thermal effects reveals a crossover between different pinning length scales and strengths at low reduced temperatures.Fil: Jeudy, V.. Université Paris Sud; Francia. Centre D'etudes de Saclay; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Díaz Pardo, R.. Université Paris Sud; Francia. Centre D'etudes de Saclay; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Savero Torres, W.. Université Paris Sud; Francia. Centre D'etudes de Saclay; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Bustingorry, Sebastián. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Kolton, Alejandro Benedykt. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentin

Editorial: Human rights and inequity in health access of Central American Migrants

Frontiers in Public Health is very pleased to publish this journal issue focusing on the health access of immigrants. Contributions to this journal issue include five articles that rely on different methodologies while focusing on diverse geographic world regions and target populations. This editorial summarizes these features while also highlighting the unique contributions of each article

Efectos de un programa de actividad física con el método pilates sobre la funcionalidad de mujeres embarazadas. Estudio piloto

This study aims to determine the effect of a Pilates programme on functionality in pregnant women; and to analyse its impact on childbirth. A group of 10 pregnant women developed a Pilates program for 8 weeks (2 sessions/week), overall functionality was assessed through functional tests Overhead Squat (OHS), Hurdle Step (HS), Forward Step Down (FSD), Shoulder Mobility (SM) and Active Straight Leg Raise (ASLR), as well as the type of subsequent delivery. The results show an improvement in the functionality of the Hurdle test; Forward step down and Shoulder mobility test (p<0.01), as well as a significant decrease in compensation and overall risk of injury after the physical activity programme (p<0.01). In turn, the delivery was healthier. The effects of Pilates on pregnant women offer improvements in overall functionality and a positive effect on childbirth.El presente estudio pretende determinar el efecto de un programa de Pilates sobre la funcionalidad en mujeres gestantes y analizar su repercusión en el parto. Un grupo de 10 mujeres embarazadas desarrollaron un programa de Pilates durante 8 semanas (2 sesiones/semana), se valoró la funcionalidad global a través de los test funcionales Overhead Squat (OHS), Hurdle Step (HS), Forward Step Down (FSD); Shoulder Mobility (SM) y Active Straight Leg Raise (ASLR), así como el tipo de parto posterior. Los resultados muestran una mejora de la funcionalidad del Hurdle test, Forward step down  y Shoulder mobility test (p<0,01), así como un descenso significativo de las compensaciones y riesgo de lesión global después del programa de actividad física (p<0,01). A su vez, se tuvo un parto más saludable. Los efectos del Pilates en mujeres embarazadas, ofrecen mejoras en la funcionalidad global y un efecto positivo en el parto

Antarctic network of lamp-calibrated multichannel radiometers for continuous ozone and uv radiation data

International audienceThree NILU-UV multichannel radiometers have been installed in 1999 at the Argentinian sites of Ushuaia (54S), Marambio (64S) and Belgrano-II (77S) in order to continuously monitor UV radiation, photosynthetically active radiation and total ozone. The measurements were established by INM, Spain in collaboration with FMI, Finland, DNA-IAA, Argentina and CADIC, Argentina to observe and characterize the spatial and temporal evolution of ozone and ultraviolet radiation in the Antarctic region. Special attention has been given to the quality control and quality assurance of the measurements under harsh climatological conditions. The ozone and UV time series of 2000?2006 were calibrated using a polynomial fit for lamp measurements performed every second week all year round. The gaps in these data are minimal, with almost no data missing, and the data products are available from http://www.polarvortex.org in near real time. The data products include the erythemally-weighted UV, UVB and UVA radiation, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), total ozone (O3) and a cloud parameter (CLT). For UV data, dose rates as well as daily doses are available; from these the maximum measured UV indices (UVI), during 2000?2006, were 12.0, 9.7 and 8.1 at Ushuaia, Marambio and Belgrano-II, respectively