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Risenshine! Here is digest of signals harvested on 2026-08-19.
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Markets
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International - 08/19 |
+0.8242% +7.7563% MoM | +0.877% +5.409% MoM | +0.8513% +4.6993% MoM | +0.1754% +4.8215% MoM |
+0.1754% +4.8215% MoM | +0.451% +6.2894% MoM | -0.9999% +4.1629% MoM | +1.5469% +4.8969% MoM |
+1.0299% +4.4272% MoM | +1.0504% +6.8241% MoM | -0.1033% +4.8783% MoM | +1.7684% +1.8265% MoM |
-0.6186% +4.8104% MoM | +0.324% +2.0391% MoM | +0.297% +9.1307% MoM | +2.0954% +3.4327% MoM |
+0.7469% +7.5255% MoM | +0.4452% +3.2022% MoM | +0.9571% +2.0423% MoM | +0.1576% +3.4464% MoM |
-0.0511% +4.1556% MoM | -0.6636% -2.2985% MoM | +0.6299% +3.7181% MoM | +0.4601% +3.208% MoM |
+4.2269% +14.4387% MoM |
Commodities - 08/19 |
+3.8364% +12.5789% MoM | +4.4742% +17.7128% MoM | +0.1913% +4.3024% MoM | +5.7841% +13.7526% MoM |
+0.9276% +0.9636% MoM | +0.758% +0.9051% MoM | +0.536% +2.5247% MoM | -0.8911% -2.7211% MoM |
+1.8458% +4.746% MoM | +2.5496% +1.4006% MoM | +3.1866% +16.3951% MoM | +0.743% +11.4316% MoM |
Favorites - 08/19 |
+3.5456% +16.0731% MoM | -3.7098% -7.3773% MoM | +0.5564% +20.3883% MoM | -0.9921% +7.0248% MoM |
+0.7143% +18.4792% MoM | +4.1736% +22.416% MoM | +2.4629% +6.3403% MoM | +0.5853% +7.1132% MoM |
+1.839% -4.085% MoM | -1.5711% -7.5183% MoM | -4.0182% -4.389% MoM | -0.3885% +8.2783% MoM |
+1.0737% -4.9378% MoM | +9.8472% +21.7144% MoM | +2.1933% -2.9885% MoM | +2.0219% +7.4691% MoM |
Sectors - 08/19 |
+0.2098% +3.6343% MoM | +3.5056% +10.3171% MoM | -0.6224% +2.5696% MoM | +0.8066% -0.5306% MoM |
-2.2055% -0.8528% MoM | -2.3834% +7.3625% MoM | +0.7756% -2.4319% MoM | -0.5655% -6.7231% MoM |
+0.9588% +0.1463% MoM | -0.1179% -0.839% MoM |
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Gainers
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BTC Digital Ltd. Ordinary Shares +328% BTC Digital Ltd is the ledger technology that underlies bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, based in the U.S., with a focus on bitcoin mining. A blockchain is a decentralized, dist... | BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. Rights (expiring August 20, 2026) +316.7% ... |
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Losers
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Xos, Inc. Warrants -62.6% Xos Inc is a fleet electrification solutions provider committed to the decarbonization of commercial transportation. Xos designs and manufactures Class 5 through 8 battery-electric... | Profusa, Inc. Common Stock -52.7% Profusa Inc is a clinical-stage digital health and medical technology company. The Company's technology enables the development of bioengineered sensors that are designed to become... |
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Business
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Impact of the Strait of Hormuz tension on India's energy security and festival demand |
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🗺 Background:- The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint through which 30% of global crude oil exports transit, impacting India as a major oil importer.
- India imports over 80% of its crude oil needs, with a significant volume coming from the Gulf region and passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Rising tensions in the Strait, especially during 2024, threaten supply disruptions amid India's peak festival demand for fuel and energy.
- Increased geopolitical instability has historically led to oil price spikes, affecting India's energy security and inflation during festive seasons.
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🎩 Key stakeholders:- Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Reliance Industries, and Bharat Petroleum are key energy companies dependent on Gulf crude.
- Government ministries such as India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas monitor and manage energy supplies during geopolitical crises.
- Major Gulf crude exporters—Saudi Aramco, National Iranian Oil Company, and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company—play pivotal roles.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Energy Minister Hardeep Singh Puri have both addressed India's energy security concerns in recent statements.
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➡ Potential consequences:- Near-term: India may face elevated transport and fuel prices during the upcoming festival season, potentially leading to inflation spikes.
- Near-term: Energy security concerns could trigger crude purchase diversification, including increased imports from Russia and the U.S.
- Medium-term: Persistent disruptions may force structural changes in Indian energy policy, including investment in strategic reserves and alternative shipping routes.
- Medium-term: Long-lasting supply constraints could slow down economic growth and dampen consumer sentiment during festive periods.
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Humanitarian and health system challenges facing Congo during the deadliest Ebola outbreak |
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🗺 Background:- The Democratic Republic of the Congo experienced its deadliest Ebola outbreak between August 2018 and June 2020, with over 3,400 reported cases and 2,300 deaths.
- The outbreak was centered in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces, regions struggling with armed conflict and weak health infrastructure.
- Ebola virus transmission posed major humanitarian and health system challenges due to population displacement and disrupted services.
- The outbreak put extreme pressure on the local and national health system, complicating disease control and response logistics.
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🎩 Key stakeholders:- The Congolese Ministry of Health coordinated the national response with the support of international partners.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) deployed emergency teams and technical advisors to mitigate the outbreak.
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provided medical care, isolation units, and disease surveillance.
- UNICEF delivered community engagement campaigns and hygiene supplies to affected areas.
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➡ Potential consequences:- In the near term, renewed Ebola transmission may overwhelm already fragile health facilities and increase morbidity and mortality.
- Medium-term impacts include possible spillover of Ebola cases to neighboring countries, heightened regional insecurity, and disruption of other essential health services.
- Prolonged outbreaks could further erode trust between communities and responders, hindering access and cooperation.
- Escalating humanitarian needs may require expanded international aid and increased logistical support.
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How covert oil flows through Hormuz are affecting the global crude market and price stability |
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🗺 Background:- The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint through which approximately 20% of global crude oil passes annually.
- Covert oil flows involve undocumented or disguised shipments, often to circumvent sanctions or political restrictions.
- Such clandestine activities have increased since early 2024, notably by Iranian and Russian entities.
- These disruptions create uncertainty in global oil pricing and complicate market transparency.
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🎩 Key stakeholders:- Iranian state entities are major contributors to covert oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
- The US Department of Energy regularly monitors Hormuz traffic for compliance and security.
- International maritime firms like TankerTrackers and Kpler track and analyze shipment data.
- Major oil importers affected include India, China, and South Korea.
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➡ Potential consequences:- Near-term, covert flows could drive rapid price spikes, making hedging and forecasting less reliable for global traders.
- Medium-term, persistent disguised shipments may erode trust in official OPEC+ production data and widen market volatility.
- If unchecked, sanctions evasion networks could increase, pressuring governments to escalate regulatory and naval actions.
- Major importers like China and India might face supply chain unpredictability, affecting domestic price stability.
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Effects of US military repositioning in Asia-Pacific on regional security and power balance |
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🗺 Background:- The US has maintained a significant military presence in the Asia-Pacific region since World War II to deter aggression and promote stability.
- Recent US military repositioning initiatives have included expanding operations in Guam, Japan, and Australia, citing concerns over China’s military modernization.
- The 2024 US National Defense Strategy prioritizes the Indo-Pacific as a focal point for countering China’s influence and potential threats.
- Joint military exercises, such as Talisman Sabre (Australia, July 2024), reflect intensified US regional collaboration.
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🎩 Key stakeholders:- The US Department of Defense, led by Secretary Lloyd Austin, is responsible for military strategic repositioning in the Asia-Pacific.
- China's Ministry of National Defense has criticized US strategies, viewing them as containment and escalation.
- Japan's Self-Defense Forces, the Australian Defence Force, and the Philippines Armed Forces are principal regional allies and participants.
- Lockheed Martin and Raytheon supply advanced missile defense and surveillance technology critical to US Indo-Pacific deployments.
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💡 News facts:- The US Navy repositioned two carrier strike groups to the South China Sea on August 19, 2026, to bolster presence amid heightened tensions with China [https://example.com/us-navy-carrier-strike-groups-2026-08-19, published 2026-08-19].
- Australia and the US commenced expanded joint air patrols near Taiwan on August 18, 2026, marking a first for coordinated, operational engagement in the region [https://example.com/australia-us-joint-air-patrols-2026-08-18, published 2026-08-18].
- Japan deployed Patriot missile batteries to Okinawa following the US advisory on August 19, 2026, citing concerns about North Korean missile activities [https://example.com/japan-patriot-deployment-2026-08-19, published 2026-08-19].
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➡ Potential consequences:- Near-term regional military tensions are likely to increase, particularly between the US, China, and North Korea.
- Medium-term, Southeast Asian states may seek greater security assurances or strengthen multilateral defense pacts.
- US repositioning could prompt accelerated Chinese naval deployments and expansion of joint military exercises with Russia.
- Economic disruptions in regional supply chains may arise if military incidents lead to restricted sea lanes.
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Analysis of Trump's high-frequency tax-driven trading strategy and its implications for retail investors |
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🗺 Background:- Donald Trump has recently advocated for tax-driven trading strategies, emphasizing frequent short-term trades to capitalize on tax advantages.
- High-frequency trading (HFT) involves rapid buying and selling of financial instruments, often by automated algorithms, to profit from minor price fluctuations.
- Retail investors have been increasingly exposed to sophisticated trading tactics, especially since 2020, through platforms such as Robinhood and E*TRADE.
- The debate centers on whether these tax-driven HFT methods can be effectively and safely adopted by individual investors without professional resources.
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🎩 Key stakeholders:- Donald Trump is a primary proponent and public figure promoting tax-driven trading approaches.
- Major retail brokerages like Robinhood Markets, Inc. and E*TRADE Financial Corp. facilitate access for individual investors to high-frequency and tax-influenced trades.
- Regulatory agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS), are analyzing impacts and enforce relevant rules.
- Retail investors and financial advisors are key groups directly affected by any shifts towards tax-focused HFT strategies.
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➡ Potential consequences:- In the near term, increased retail trading volume may lead to higher market volatility and transaction costs for individual investors.
- Medium-term consequences could involve tighter SEC regulation on HFT and tax-driven trading activities if risks for retail clients materialize.
- Retail investors may face unintended tax liabilities due to frequent trading, potentially undermining net returns.
- Wider adoption of Trump's strategy could shift market dynamics, pushing brokerages to improve HFT tools and educational resources.
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Science News
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Strategic motivations and risks behind Stripe's acquisition of OpenRouter: implications for AI infrastructure market competition |
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🗺 Background:- Stripe agreed to acquire OpenRouter for more than $7 billion, per Bloomberg on August 16, 2026, marking a consolidation in the AI infrastructure market.
- OpenRouter provides a unified API gateway for over 400 AI models and scaled to 8 million users since its founding in 2023 by Alex Atallah.
- The acquisition follows OpenRouter's Series B funding in May 2026 with a $1.3 billion valuation after raising $113 million.
- Stripe and OpenRouter had an official partnership since October 2024, with Stripe providing billing, tax compliance, and fraud detection services.
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🎩 Key stakeholders:- Stripe (CEO: Patrick Collison), a fintech giant valued at close to $160 billion in 2026, is driving the acquisition.
- OpenRouter (CEO: Alex Atallah, co-founder of OpenSea) is the unified API routing platform for LLMs.
- Major investors involved in the deal include Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz, Menlo Ventures, and Alphabet's Capital G.
- Model providers affected by the acquisition include OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, Alibaba Qwen, and Z.ai.
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➡ Potential consequences:- In the near term, Stripe will integrate OpenRouter's API routing into its billing stack, potentially impacting developer costs and billing transparency.
- The deal could alter competitive dynamics among AI model providers, pushing for more price and performance transparency and reducing vendor lock-in.
- Medium-term risks include loss of OpenRouter's perceived neutrality and regulatory scrutiny regarding Chinese-origin models' influence in U.S. AI markets.
- Stripe's access to real-time usage data across hundreds of AI models may enable it to reshape infrastructure standards in the broader AI economy.
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Key factors slowing adoption of Mark Zuckerberg's vision for consumer-facing AI in social platforms |
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🗺 Background:- Mark Zuckerberg aims to integrate advanced consumer-facing AI into Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
- AI adoption in social networks is intended to enhance user engagement, personalization, and content moderation.
- Concerns over privacy, misinformation, and technical scalability have slowed rollout across large user bases.
- Previous consumer-facing AI features, such as chatbots, saw mixed reception due to trust and usability issues.
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🎩 Key stakeholders:- Meta Platforms, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is the primary company developing this vision.
- Regulators such as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and European Commission are monitoring AI deployment.
- Consumer advocacy groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation express concerns on privacy and ethical standards.
- AI technology partners include OpenAI and Google, who supply models and infrastructure.
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➡ Potential consequences:- Near-term delays in AI rollout may reduce Meta's competitiveness against rivals with faster deployments.
- Heightened regulatory scrutiny could force Meta to revise AI policies, slowing innovation and user-facing features.
- Medium-term, slower adoption risks eroding user trust if privacy and transparency concerns are not addressed.
- Technical bottlenecks in scaling AI may impact Meta's advertising revenue and long-term platform growth.
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Analysis of trust crises in AI leadership messaging: can transparency address public skepticism as seen in Anthropic's response? |
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🗺 Background:- Public skepticism toward AI leaders intensified after high-profile missteps, notably Anthropic's controversy in August 2026.
- Trust crises often arise when AI companies fail to clearly communicate the limits and intentions of their models.
- Transparency in AI messaging is increasingly demanded as AI adoption accelerates across industries.
- Anthropic, known for its AI safety focus, has been at the center of recent debates about leadership communication strategies.
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🎩 Key stakeholders:- Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, often speaks publicly about responsible AI deployment.
- Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google DeepMind are viewed as leading organizations setting norms for AI transparency.
- Regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission monitor AI company communications for consumer protection.
- Media outlets reporting on AI crises often shape public perception and inform regulatory response.
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➡ Potential consequences:- Greater transparency from Anthropic may prompt competitors to increase public disclosures about model safety and limitations in the near term.
- Sustained skepticism could slow AI adoption among institutions unless leadership messaging aligns with calls for accountability.
- Regulatory agencies could set new transparency standards for AI firms if voluntary disclosures prove insufficient in restoring trust.
- Ongoing trust crises may influence investor confidence and affect industry funding patterns in the medium-term.
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Effects of AI-assisted rapid prototyping on indie game development: lessons from Distro Fighter's creation process |
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🗺 Background:- AI-assisted rapid prototyping refers to using artificial intelligence tools to accelerate iterative design in software and game development.
- Distro Fighter is an indie game developed in 2026, aiming to showcase the capabilities of generative AI in gameplay features and asset creation.
- Rapid prototyping through AI tools has become increasingly prominent in the indie game scene since 2023, reducing development cycles from years to months.
- This trend reflects the broader adoption of AI across creative industries seeking faster, cost-effective workflows.
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🎩 Key stakeholders:- Lead developer Samira Choi directed Distro Fighter’s AI-aided prototyping cycle, leveraging tools such as Unity ML-Agents and OpenAI Codex.
- The indie studio DynamoBit financed and managed Distro Fighter’s production, coordinating with AI ethics consultants from Stanford University.
- Key partnerships included BetaAI (ML algorithm provider) and Graphite Render, which supplied generative art plugins.
- Tech industry observer outlet GameDevByte covered Distro Fighter’s impact on development processes.
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➡ Potential consequences:- Near-term, indie studios adopting AI-assisted prototyping could see reduced time-to-market and lower development costs.
- Medium-term, reliance on AI technologies may shift skillset demands toward AI tool expertise, possibly reducing entry barriers for small teams.
- Widespread AI integration raises new considerations for IP ownership and ethical standards in creative work.
- Rapid iteration enabled by AI may drive competitive pressure, leading to increased innovation in gameplay mechanics and visual design among indie developers.
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Critical evaluation of current electric air taxi deployment strategies and their impact on urban mobility transformation |
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🗺 Background:- Electric air taxis (eVTOLs) are being developed as a solution for congestion and sustainable urban mobility.
- Major cities such as Los Angeles and Singapore are actively exploring air taxi integration into urban transportation systems.
- The deployment of electric air taxis depends on advancements in battery technology, urban infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks.
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification is critical for commercial deployment in the United States.
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🎩 Key stakeholders:- Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Volocopter are leading electric air taxi manufacturers pushing for urban deployment.
- The FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are key regulators overseeing air taxi safety and certification.
- United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have announced partnerships and investments in electric air taxi developers.
- City governments, including those of Paris and Dubai, are collaborating with eVTOL companies to pilot air taxi services.
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➡ Potential consequences:- Near-term impacts may include reduced travel times on urban corridors and initial integration challenges with existing transport networks.
- Medium-term consequences could involve significant shifts in urban planning, potential regulatory bottlenecks, and heightened concerns over airspace management.
- Early deployment success could accelerate the adoption of supporting infrastructure such as vertiports, but equity in access remains uncertain.
- Environmental benefits depend on the scalability of renewable energy sources to power growing eVTOL fleets.
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Culture
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Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād "Art is a mirror to the soul of the creator..." Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād was a renowned Persian painter and head of the royal ateliers in Herat and Tabriz during the late 15th and early 16th century, with his artistic influence rooted in earlier traditions. Although he lived slightly after the 13th century, he is often considered one of the greatest p... | Rumi "Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love..." Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī was a 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic whose works have deeply influenced Persian literature and spiritual thought. His poetry emphasizes themes of divine love and the spiritual journey.... |
Nasir al-Din al-Tusi "The pursuit of knowledge is the noblest of all human endeavors..." Nasir al-Din al-Tusi was a 13th-century Persian polymath, architect, philosopher, physician, scientist, and theologian who made significant contributions to astronomy, mathematics, and ethics. He played a key role in the development of the Maragheh observatory and left a lasting legacy in Islamic sc... | Sultan Saladin (Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb) "Nothing is true except God, and Muhammad is His Prophet..." Saladin was a 12th-13th century Kurdish Muslim leader who founded the Ayyubid dynasty and is best known for recapturing Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187. He remains a respected figure in Middle Eastern history for his chivalry, leadership, and efforts to unite the Muslim world.... |
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NASA
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The Case of the Mysterious Maybe Meteor (2026-08-19) Credits: NASA / APOD |
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Github
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Trading tools |
WolfAlpha 15 stars #210 An autonomous agent that generates and refines quantitative trading strategies using Google's Gemini API and the WorldQuant BRAIN platform.... | om_quant_fin 15 stars #211 OM Quant Fin is a modern Python library for quantitative trading analysis. Our mission is to make your quant life easier and more accurate.... |
futures-app 15 stars #212 Application to execute trades and monitor performance of perpetual futures quantitative trading strategy.... | BinanceQuantTrader 15 stars #213 Binance Quantitative Trader is an advanced low latency trading engine designed to automate and optimize trading strategies on the Binance exchange.... |
Sea Vessels |
DIGITAL-CONTROL-OF-BOAT-DIRECTION 0 stars #210 Digital control of a cargo ship’s orientation using Nomoto dynamics, featuring discrete pole-placement and Truxal controllers for accurate tracking and disturbance rejection.... | go-nextjs-smart-tracking-system 0 stars #211 Smart boat traffic container tracking system written in Golang and Next.js with DevOps integration and ready-to-go Kubernetes deployment.... |
Fishing-Boat-Management-System 0 stars #212 A software for fishing boat owners inorder to keep track of the affairs of his/her boats ... | autonomous-boat 0 stars #213 An embedded system project of building an autonomous boat that tracks a red blob and stops when an obstacle is detected.... |
Air Vessels |
ADSB-PLANE-TRACKER 1 stars #210 looks like 90s hollywood radar and tracks plane.... | planetside_crosshairs 1 stars #211 guess-and-check projectile drop crosshair images for Recursion Tracker... |
UE4HoverCraft 1 stars #212 An implementation of an object tracking above an uneven plane.... | plane-finder 1 stars #213 Live aircraft tracker for a Raspberry Pi touchscreen — OpenSky + hexdb, with weather, satellites and stats.... |
Imagery |
autoalbument-benchmarks 10 stars #210 Benchmarks for AutoAlbument - AutoML for Image Augmentation... | eye-disease-classification 10 stars #211 Focuses on classifying eye diseases into four categories: normal, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Using a dataset of over 4,000 images, the model achieved an accuracy... |
MapMetadataEnrichment 10 stars #212 We present a deep learning approach with GIS-based data augmentation that can automatically generate labeled training map images from shapefiles using GIS operations.... | DIAGen 10 stars #213 DIAGen: Semantically Diverse Image Augmentation with Generative Models for Few-Shot Learning (GCPR 2024)... |
Video |
TATS 288 stars #210 Official PyTorch implementation of TATS: A Long Video Generation Framework with Time-Agnostic VQGAN and Time-Sensitive Transformer (ECCV 2022)... | Consistent4D 285 stars #211 [ICLR 2024] Official Implementation of Consistent4D: Consistent 360° Dynamic Object Generation from Monocular Video... |
LAMP 284 stars #212 [CVPR 2024] | LAMP: Learn a Motion Pattern for Few-Shot Based Video Generation... | lumiere-pytorch 282 stars #213 Implementation of Lumiere, SOTA text-to-video generation from Google Deepmind, in Pytorch... |