APTx: better activation function than MISH, SWISH, and ReLU's variants used in deep learning

Activation Functions introduce non-linearity in the deep neural networks. This nonlinearity helps the neural networks learn faster and efficiently from the dataset. In deep learning, many activation functions are developed and used based on the type of problem statement. ReLU's variants, SWISH, and MISH are goto activation functions. MISH function is considered having similar or even better performance than SWISH, and much better than ReLU. In this paper, we propose an activation function named APTx which behaves similar to MISH, but requires lesser mathematical operations to compute. The lesser computational requirements of APTx does speed up the model training, and thus also reduces the hardware requirement for the deep learning model.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Near - surface study of a hot spring site in Fiji

A geophysical investigation of a hot spring system located in Rabulu, Fiji, was carried out from October 2014 to March 2015. The investigation covered a survey area of 6075 m2. Self-potential (SP), ground temperature and soil carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations were measured and investigated for their distribution characteristics and inter-linkages. Results indicated obvious anomalous zone at the hot spring discharge site. The SP profile analysis highlighted thermal water upwelling zones and elevation-driven subsurface groundwater pathways. Measurement of subsurface temperatures up to 1 m depths revealed increasing temperatures, indicating potentially high thermal gradients in the area. Surface soil CO2 distributions also agreed with SP and ground temperature results. The overall result of the study demonstrated that synchronised measurements of SP, ground temperature and soil CO2 can be instrumental in identifying anomalous zones near the hot spring sites. Other parameters such as spring water temperature, discharge rate and energy flux estimates from the spring were calculated and analysed. The high-dense multi-parameter data coverage allowed interpretation of geothermal features at a scale never conducted in Fiji before. The near-surface investigations reported in this study corroborate previously suggested steady geothermal activity in the region, deserving further detailed investigation

Hinduism and abortion : a traditional view.

Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.This study entitled "Hinduism and Abortion: A Traditional View" outlines what the Hindu Smriti and Shruti texts have to contribute in the abortion debate. It is important to consider what an ancient tradition, Hinduism, has to contribute with regard to a modern controversy. The study undertakes a cursory look at bioethics and then proceeds to examine the Hindu world view and the Hindu view of the unborn. The important Hindu teachings with regard to dharma, kama, the ashrama dharma system, the samskaras and karma and reincarnation are considered in some detail. The unborn is considered not only in terms of its embryological development but also in terms of its social and spiritual significance. This study concludes that Hinduism is opposed to abortion except in certain very specific circumstances, for example, severe congenital abnormalities in the foetus, where the continued pregnancy is life-threatening for the mother, rape and incest. The traditional Hindu standpoint is pro-life and the Hindu scriptures provide a comprehensive and multi-faceted argument against abortion. The foetus is considered sacrosanct from the moment of conception. The view arrived at in this study is that the foetus is a person with rights, and abortion is a violation of those rights. Abortion is considered to be murder. An important and salient contribution from a Hindu perspective is the fact that the foetus is a bio-psycho-socio-cosmological and spiritual being and as such the abortion debate transcends individual ethics thus raising important social and cosmological concerns. Hinduism has much to contribute to the abortion debate and many of the Hindu teachings cited in the study are relevant for today. Celibacy, the Hindu view that the sexual act ought to be seen as a deeply spiritual act, the emphasis on the Ashrama Dharma system and ahimsa are important principles that need to be emphasized to face the challenges of the increasing demand for abortions

ArviZ a unified library for exploratory analysis of Bayesian models in Python

ArviZ is a Python package for exploratory analysis of Bayesian models. ArviZ aims to be a package that integrates seamlessly with established probabilistic programming languages like PyStan, PyMC, Edward, emcee, Pyro and easily integrated with novel or bespoke Bayesian analyses. Where the aim of the probabilistic programming languages is to make it easy to build and solve Bayesian models, the aim of the ArviZ library is to make it easy to process and analyze the results from the Bayesian models.Fil: Kumar, Ravin. No especifíca;Fil: Carroll, Colin. No especifíca;Fil: Hartikainen, Ari. Aalto University; FinlandiaFil: Martín, Osvaldo Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada de San Luis "Prof. Ezio Marchi". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico, Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada de San Luis "Prof. Ezio Marchi"; Argentin

Rebar corrosion due to chlorides in synergy with sodium, potassium, and magnesium

The ability of steel reinforced concrete to withstand long service life is ensured by the strong binding between the concrete and the rebar. Although rebar corrosion deterioration in the presence of chlorides is well known, it is important to note that these anions are never present in isolation, i.e., other cations are also present within the exposed environment. Consequently, a study was conducted to investigate the rebar deterioration due to chlorides in the presence of different cations. A well-controlled laboratory experiment for assessing the corrosivity of sodium chloride, potassium chloride and magnesium chloride was conducted. The galvanostatic pulse technique was used to investigate the concrete-steel interfacial structure, which was modelled after a modified Randles circuit. Analysis revealed influences of the associated cations during the rebar corrosion process. A normalisation approach was used to compare chloride attacks on the rebar due to different salt solutions. Results suggest that chloride attacks in the presence of sodium cations are relatively corrosive

The Role of Intercultural Communication Competence in Business Collaboration to Develop Start Ups in the Global Era

In this global era, more and more startups are developing their businesses with partners from other regions or countries. However, intercultural cooperation that is not accompanied by intercultural communication competence will often create unresolved conflicts. This research is a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. In this study, researchers wanted to dig up information about the experiences of informants in developing business partnerships and the difficulties encountered when communicating with business partners from different countries or regions. Data collection was carried out using unstructured interviews so that the informants could be more flexible in sharing their experiences when starting their business development. They can also tell freely about any cultural background conflicts that are often encountered when discussing or communicating with business partners from different cultures. In this study, researchers interviewed 10 informants consisting of start-up actors, who have been in business for more than 5 years and have collaborated with business partners from other regions or countries. This is to dig up information about their experiences when communicating with these business partners and to get data on what obstacles start-ups experience when collaborating with their business partners. The results of this study indicate that Intercultural Communication Competence (ICC), which consists of cognitive, affective and behavioral aspects, is needed by start-ups, especially if they want to develop their business by working with domestic and foreign partners. With the existence of ICC, start-up actors can avoid ethnocentrism, stereotypes and prejudice, as well as language barriers and differences in values

DBS-implanted Parkinson\u27s Disease Patients Show Better Olfaction Than Those Treated Medically

Dysosmia in PD (Parkinson’s Disease) may result from changes in the olfactory apparatus or in structures involved in olfactory perception. Previous work1,2 has suggested that deep brain stimulation (DBS) pa-tients have improved odor discrimination in stimulation-on/medication-off state in comparison to their own scores in a stimulation-off/medication-off state. What remains unclear is whether it is the ON state itself or an effect of stimulation that leads to improved olfaction. In this study we evaluate dysosmia in two PD cohorts in the ON state, those treated with medication alone and those treated with medication and DBS. A prospective study geared at improving predictive value of olfactory testing with a battery of psychological tests enrolled 45 PD patients and 44 controls. Of the PD patients, 9 had bilateral STN (subthalamic nucleus) DBS and 36 were medically treated. Subset analysis of PD patients with and without DBS placement revealed no difference in apathy or depression. DBS patients had better olfaction on UPSIT (Univ of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test) (p This study provides further data that DBS patients have improved ol-faction. It also provides preliminary evidence that DBS with medica-tion improves dysosmia to a greater extent than medication alone. This may result from indirect stimulation of olfactory processing cen-ters or changes in olfactory circuitry metabolism

STUDY OF IN VITRO ANTI-OXIDANT AND ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITY BY MUSSAENDA MACROPHYLLA ROOT EXTRACTS

Objective: The systematic study of effective alternative anti-diabetic drugs has great importance to manage diabetes as well as other oxidative stress-related diseases. According to previous research, root and bark of Mussaenda macrophylla plant has anti-microbial, anti-coagulant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective activity. Ethnomedicinal data shows that Mussaenda macrophylla is used to treat diabetes as well as oxidative stress. The objective of this research is to investigate in vitro anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant activity of root extract of Mussaenda macrophylla. Methods: DPPH free radical scavenging assay was used to detect anti-oxidant potency of ethanol and methanol root extract of the plant and expressed as % of radicle inhibition. Anti-diabetic activity was determined by the glucose diffusion method using a glucose oxidase kit and results were expressed as mean±SD. Results: The ethanol root extract at the concentration of 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml showed better glucose diffusion inhibition than that of methanol extract at the same concentration on increasing time interval. Ethanol extract at the concentration 100 µg/ml displayed better DPPH scavenging activity (89.83±0.19 %) than that of methanol extract (86.61±0.75%). Conclusion: This study concluded that ethanol and methanol root extract of Mussenda macrophylla have potent anti-diabetic as well as anti-oxidant activity but further advance research is necessary in the animal model