Integrating Big Data Analytics with U.S. SEC Financial Statement Datasets and the Critical Examination of the Altman Z’-Score Model

The main aim of this thesis is to document the process of developing Big Data analytical applications and their integration with financial statement datasets. These datasets are publicly available on the U.S. SEC (Security and Exchange Commission) website which contains the annual and quarterly reports of approximately 8000 companies. Through its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) system, the SEC receives several terabytes of data in the mandatory filings from its registrants. This vast amount of data can potentially provide a valuable resource for those parties (such as investors, analysts, regulators and researchers) who are interested in assessing the financial performance and position of companies. Traditionally, the quarterly and annual reports were submitted in standard PDF, HTML and Text files. The data from these files could be manually extracted and analysed, but this process (still used by some analysts and researchers) is costly and time-consuming. In 2009, the SEC mandated all listed companies to use a digital reporting format known as XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language). The intention of this was to improve financial reporting in terms of transparency and efficiency. In order to take advantage of structured data contained in the XBRL format, a variety of methods such as novel extraction algorithms and data mining techniques have been developed. However, several limitations and issues have emerged. These include a lack of automated connectivity between the EDGAR web interface and the terms used in structured taxonomies, and the inability to provide access to multiple files in a single query. Given the challenging and complex nature of these issues, this research project used the financial statement datasets available on the SEC website to extract relevant financial information from the company’s annual reports. The novel aspect of this research is providing big data analytical applications using cloud technologies that can efficiently perform datasets integration and transformation into a format suitable for further analysis. The result of this is that the extracted financial data can be analysed to assess the performance of companies, and this facilitates the critical examination of widely used credit assessment models such as the Altman Z’-Score

Modeling and Structural Analysis of Morphing Wing in UAVs

Morphing structure enables an aircraft to alter its configuration in maneuver to operate effectively in a given flight reign. A continuous wing is utilized to reduce drag as the wing deformation is approximated more closely. With such wing morphing of skin supported with underlying truss structure, they are able to control the unsteady aerodynamic forces. This project seeks to expand and unravel the capability of an aircraft through the application of a reconfigurable “morphing” wing. In this project, the structural model of the morphing wing consists of primarily wing components designed in solid works. Structural analysis of wing components has been written to minimize wing deformation under aerodynamic load using ANSYS. With fixed geometry, the wing is allowed to analyze Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) in Fluent. Smart materials which carry aerodynamic loads such as shape memory alloys, piezoelectric actuators, and shape memory polymers have been discussed briefly. Along these lines, this paper fills in as an abstract for scientists and designers endeavoring to get to know the current progressions and advancements in morphing wing technolog

A computational framework for the morpho-elastic development of molluskan shells by surface and volume growth

Mollusk shells are an ideal model system for understanding the morpho-elastic basis of morphological evolution of invertebrates' exoskeletons. During the formation of the shell, the mantle tissue secretes proteins and minerals that calcify to form a new incremental layer of the exoskeleton. Most of the existing literature on the morphology of mollusks is descriptive. The mathematical understanding of the underlying coupling between pre-existing shell morphology, de novo surface deposition and morpho-elastic volume growth is at a nascent stage, primarily limited to reduced geometric representations. Here, we propose a general, three-dimensional computational framework coupling pre-existing morphology, incremental surface growth by accretion, and morpho-elastic volume growth. We exercise this framework by applying it to explain the stepwise morphogenesis of seashells during growth: new material surfaces are laid down by accretive growth on the mantle whose form is determined by its morpho-elastic growth. Calcification of the newest surfaces extends the shell as well as creates a new scaffold that constrains the next growth step. We study the effects of surface and volumetric growth rates, and of previously deposited shell geometries on the resulting modes of mantle deformation, and therefore of the developing shell's morphology. Connections are made to a range of complex shells ornamentations.Comment: Main article is 20 pages long with 15 figures. Supplementary material is 4 pages long with 6 figures and 6 attached movies. To be published in PLOS Computational Biolog

A Generative Model For Zero Shot Learning Using Conditional Variational Autoencoders

Zero shot learning in Image Classification refers to the setting where images from some novel classes are absent in the training data but other information such as natural language descriptions or attribute vectors of the classes are available. This setting is important in the real world since one may not be able to obtain images of all the possible classes at training. While previous approaches have tried to model the relationship between the class attribute space and the image space via some kind of a transfer function in order to model the image space correspondingly to an unseen class, we take a different approach and try to generate the samples from the given attributes, using a conditional variational autoencoder, and use the generated samples for classification of the unseen classes. By extensive testing on four benchmark datasets, we show that our model outperforms the state of the art, particularly in the more realistic generalized setting, where the training classes can also appear at the test time along with the novel classes

FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF CHRONOMODULATED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM BY ZAFIRLUKAST

Objective: The main objective of the present study was to formulate and evaluate a time-controlled single-unit oral pulsatile drug delivery system containing Zafirlukast for the prevention of nocturnal asthma attacks. To provide time-scheduled drug release for Asthma disease. It is used for preventing asthmatic attacks at early morning. Pulsatile release dosage form is increasing patient compliance by reducing the dosing frequency, especially in the early morning. Methods: Core tablets were prepared by incorporating different concentrations of natural and synthetic super disintegrants. Drug-containing core tablets (ZC1-ZC15) with different compositions of natural super disintegrants (Plantago ovata seed powder, Locust bean gum) synthetic super disintegrants (Sodium starch glycolate (SSG), Cross carmellose sodium (CCS), Crospovidone (CP)) were prepared by direct compression technique. The core tablets were subjected to pre-formulation, physicochemical and In vitro drug release studies. The fast disintegrating core tablet formulation was selected and press-coated tablets (P1-P11) were prepared with different compositions of hydrophobic polymers Eudragit RS100, Eudragit RL 100, Ethylcellulose and hydrophilic polymers Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose K4M, K100M. The optimized formulation was selected and quantified based on in vitro drug release profile in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. Results: The pre and post-compression parameters of tablets were also found to be within limits. Formulation ZC5 with 16 mg of Locust bean gum showed the least disintegrating time, i.e., 22.13 sec, and was selected as the best immediate release core tablet. The press-coated tablet formulation P8 having 62.5 mg Eudragit RS100 and 62.5 mg of HPMC K4M in ratio 1:1 over the core tablet ZC5 showed rapid and drug release nearly after 4 h lag time and 98.86 % up to 12 h. Accelerated stability studies of the optimized formulation P8 indicated no significant difference in release profile after 3 mo. Conclusion: The in vitro dissolution study showed that lag time before drug release was highly affected by the coating amount level and nature of coating polymer used. Time-controlled pulsatile release tablets can be prepared using press-coating techniques

SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF FRACTURE BOTH BONES FOREARM WITH LOCKING COMPRESSION PLATE IN ADULT PATIENTS

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the time taken for surgery, tourniquet time, and clinical outcome in diaphyseal fractures of both forearms managed with locking compression plate (LCP). Methods: Patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation with 3.5-mm LCP. Proximal radius was approached by dorsal Thompson incision and middle and distal radius by volar henry approach. A minimum of 6 cortices were engaged with screw fixation in each fragment. Ulna was approached directly over the subcutaneous border. Results: Of 20 patients, 70% were men; fracture was the most common in second and third decades of life. Road traffic accident (50%) and fall (40%) were the main causes. Fractures at mid-diaphysis (70%) and transverse/short oblique (72.5%) were the most common. Closed head injury, unilateral pubic bone fracture, olecranon fracture, fracture of both bones of leg, and ipsilateral fracture shaft humerus were the associated injuries. There was no intraoperative complication. Superficial infection (n=01) and transient posterior interosseous nerve injury, in the immediate postoperative period (n=01), were the reported complications. Average time for surgery was 77 min (60–90 min) and that for tourniquet was 54 min (40–60 min). All had complete union in <6 months; 80% had healing in <4 months. 20% healed in 4–6 months. Excellent and satisfactory results were seen in 85% and 15% patients, respectively. Conclusion: The 3.5-mm LCP, when applied properly, yields excellent outcome in fractures of forearm bones. The use of tourniquet, separate incisions for radius and ulna, and preservation of the natural curves of radius will reduce complications. Clinical outcome in terms of healing and union is excellent