Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Music Genre Classification Using GA-Induced Minimal Feature-Set

We propose a genetic algorithm-based feature-selection method for music genre classification that not only increases the efficiency of standard classifiers, but also reduces the feature space to a bare-minimum. While previous works have been more focused on finding near-optimal features devoid of noise, we go for a modified fitness function capable of finding both the near-optimal and the near-minimal feature subset for classification. In addition to an enhanced performance, our model can also reduce the computational load for ill-formed sets and has the flexibility to incorporate trade-offs between efficiency and computational load. We finally demonstrate that the modified GA is capable of bringing about an 80% reduction in the feature space dimension at similar classification rates.
Community Detection and Author Disambiguation in a High Energy Physics Citation Network CS 224 W Project Final Report

Research is never carried out in isolation. Scholars build on each other’s findings, work together on problems, work on problems in parallel, and often verify each other’s results. The success of the academic enterprise is dependent on all its participants communicating their ideas, techniques, and findings with each other and with the public. Given the public importance of scholarly research, we believe that more attention must be given to understanding the dynamics of scholarly communications and to address problems facing the scholarly community.
DEVELOPMENT OF A GENERAL RELATIVISTIC MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC CODE AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE CENTRAL ENGINE OF LONG GAMMA-RAY BURSTS

In order to investigate the formation of relativistic jets at the center of a progenitor of a gamma-ray burst (GRB), we develop a two-dimensional general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic code. We show that the code passes many well-known test calculations, and confirm the reliability of the code. Then we perform a numerical simulation of a collapsar using a realistic progenitor model. It is shown that a jet is launched from the center of the progenitor. The structure of the jet is similar to the previous study: a Poynting flux jet is surrounded by the funnel-wall jet. Even at the final stage of the simulation, the bulk Lorentz factor of the jet is still low, and the total energy of the jet is still as small as 1048 erg. However, we find that the energy flux per unit rest-mass flux is as high as 102 at the bottom of the jet. Thus, we conclude that the bulk Lorentz factor of the jet can be potentially high when it propagates outward. Also, as long as the duration of the activity of the central engine is long enough, the total energy of the jet can be large enough to explain the typical explosion energy of a GRB (∼1051 erg). It is shown that the outgoing Poynting flux exists at the horizon around the polar region, which proves that the Blandford–Znajek mechanism is really working. However, we conclude that the jet is mainly launched by the magnetic field amplified by the gravitational collapse and differential rotation around the black hole, rather than the Blandford–Znajek mechanism.
Towards Online Quasi-dynamic o-d Flow Estimation/Updating

The paper deals with the proposition of a Kalman filter specification for quasi-dynamic estimation/updating of o-d flows from traffic counts, i.e. under the assumption that o-d shares are constant across a reference period (i.e. a quasi-dynamic interval), whilst total flows leaving each origin vary for each sub-period within the reference period. Drawing upon the effectiveness and the reliability of the assumption of quasi-dynamic o-d flow pattern and of the performances of the quasi-dynamic estimator in offline contexts, the paper illustrates a first formulation of a non-linear quasi-dynamic Kalman filter, which can embed diverse specifications of the state variables and of the corresponding transition and measurement equations. Results of preliminary tests on a synthetic network are presented, and the overall research pattern is also outlined, together with concerned research and practical perspectives.
La determination des primes de risque et l'integration des marches boursiers canadien et american (The Determination of Risk Premiums and the Integration of the Canadian and American Stock Markets. With English Summary.)

In this paper, the authors consider the restrictions imposed on excess returns denominated in different currencies by a dynamic optimization model. The restrictions are tested on stock market data from the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange. In the first part of the paper, the authors establish the (partial) predictability of these excess returns. They then impose the constraint that they move proportionally to one another. The authors' results suggest that there is a single latent variable responsible for the measured fluctuations in both markets.
Linking Environmental and Innovation Policy

This paper addresses the timing and interdependence between innovation and environmental policy in a model of research and development (R&D). On a first-best path the environmental tax is set at the Pigouvian level, independent of innovation policy. With infinite patent lifetime, the R&D subsidy should be constant and independent of the state of the environment. However, with finite patent lifetime, optimal innovation policy depends on the stage of the environmental problem. In the early stages of an environmental problem, abatement research should be subsidized at a high level and this subsidy should fall monotonically over time to stimulate initial R&D investments. Alternatively, with a constant R&D subsidy, patents’ length should initially have a very long life-time but this should be gradually shortened. In a second-best situation with no deployment subsidy for abatement equipment, we find that the environmental tax should be high compared to the Pigouvian levels when an abatement industry is developing, but the relative difference falls over time. That is, environmental policies will be accelerated compared to first-best.
Monetary Policy with Incomplete Markets

We consider an extension of a general equilibrium model with incomplete markets that considers cash-in-advance constraints. The total amount of money is supplied by an authority, which produces at no cost and lends money to agents at short term nominal rates of interest, meeting the demand. Agents have initial nominal claims, which in the aggregate, are the counterpart of an initial public debt. The authority covers its expenditures, including initial debt, through public revenues which consists of taxes and seignorage, and distributes its eventual budget surpluses through transfers to individuals, while no further instruments are available to correct eventual budget deficits. We define a concept of equilibrium in this extended model, and prove that there exists a monetary equilibrium with no transfers. Moreover, we show that if the price level is high enough, a monetary equilibrium with positive transfers exists.
Selection criteria and training needs of teaching Staff in Management Sciences field (A case study of Public and Private Universities in D.I.Khan)

Various demographic factors have been discussed which are considered very significant during faculty selection criteria and this research study also provides the descriptive statistics of these factors which explore the status of training provided to the faculty members of Management Sciences in the public and private Universities in Dera Ismail Khan KPK(Pakistan). Primary Data was used during this research study. A structured Questionnaire was used as the data collection tool. In the current study the data was gathered only from the HODs of Management Sciences Department. Analysis of the responses indicates that differences stay alive between the levels of training in teaching currently provided and the training needs. Furthermore the results reveal that the more emphasis for selecting the faculty should be given to teaching effectiveness instead of higher qualification, higher experience or higher academic achievements etc. Moreover it revealed that it is the aptitude of the person(inner ability) responsible for effective teaching. Key words: Selection, Faculty, Academic Organization, Training, Quality enhancement and Management Sciences
Essays on the real and financial allocation of capital

This dissertation consists of three papers studying how firms allocate real and financial capital, and how taxes, the labor market and asymmetric information affect these allocation decisions. The first paper studies the response of business investment to taxes. I use the variation provided by recent reforms to the Mexican tax system, including the elimination of accelerated depreciation for investment outside the main metropolitan areas. I show that investment is very sensitive to tax changes (an elasticity of investment with respect to the user cost around -2.0), mainly due to the small open economy nature of Mexico: large responses of multinationals and large elasticity of imported assets. I also show that investment behavior is consistent with nonconvexities and irreversibilities. The results are robust to different specifications and instrumental variables approaches, and are not an artifact of tax evasion. The second paper studies the link between payout and unionization. Signaling models suggest that dividends are used to convey information about future earnings to investors. However, if unions also receive these signals, managers will be less inclined to send the signal, preventing unions from using this information when bargaining for higher salaries. Using data from IRS 5500 Forms to measure firm unionization, I find dividends to be better predictors of future earnings in non-unionized firms. Results are robust to different specifications and time periods, as well as to an instrumental variables approach that uses state level right-to-work laws to address unionization endogeneity. The third paper, joint with Antoinette Schoar, studies the presence and extent of Performance-Based Arbitrage (PBA) in the money manager industry. PBA (correlation between past performance and assets given by investors to arbitrageurs) prevents arbitrage from equalizing prices and fundamental values. We document the presence of PBA and show it might be profitable for investors. We show that PBA is stronger in periods of lower returns and higher volatility, and it is stronger in equity versus fixed income markets. However, we also show that PBA is weaker among managers that use arbitrage strategies, suggesting that although PBA exists, its effect on security prices might be small. Thesis Supervisor: James M. Poterba Title: Mitsui Professor of Economics
Testing the quantity–quality model of fertility: Estimation using unrestricted family size models

We examine the relationship between child quantity and quality. Motivated by the theoretical ambiguity regarding the sign of the marginal effects of additional siblings on children's outcomes, our empirical model allows for an unrestricted relationship between family size and child outcomes. We find that the conclusion in Black, Devereux, and Salvanes (2005) of no family size effect does not hold after relaxing their linear specification in family size. We find nonzero effects of family size in ordinary least squares estimation with controls for confounding characteristics like birth order and in instrumental variables estimation instrumenting family size with twin births. Estimation using a unrestricted specification for the quality–quantity relationship yields substantial family size effects. This finding suggests that social policies that provide incentives for fertility should account for spillover effects on existing children.
The intention to use the cloud sphygmomanometer - demonstrated by Taiwan medical center

The purpose of this study is to investigate the intention to use the cloud sphygmomanometer in Taiwan. This study also aims at providing suggestions on the popularization of cloud medical services. This study was established in a way that the model constructs in Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) were adapted to the context of cloud sphygmomanometer application in health management. Scale items on the survey include those measuring perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norm and the user's behavioral intention to use. Feedbacks from a total of 521 users of the Health+ cloud sphygmomanometer were got. Results of this study include: 1. In the social influence part, behavioral intention can be improved with more subjective norm, and perceived usefulness can be improved with more result demonstrability. Additionally, subjective norm can be improved with more image. 2. In the anchor part, perceived ease of use can be improved with more computer self-efficacy and perceptions of external control. 3. In the adjustment part, perceived ease of use can be improved with more perceived enjoyment. The result has stranded most of the hypothesized relationships and the results complement prior research on TAM.
The Impact of Tick Size on Market Quality: An Empirical Investigation of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong

Previous studies rely on the event-study technique to investigate the impact of tick size change on market quality. We take a more powerful approach by examining the market quality of a set of stocks which would experience the largest impact of tick size change -- stocks with prices falling around thresholds in the sliding tick size schedules. We choose the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong for our study because of its two desirable features: (1) it offers a wide range of tick sizes and threshold prices which allows us to gauge the differential impact of different degrees of trading cost savings due to the tick size reduction; (2) it displays limit orders beyond the best quote which is essential for drawing a correct inference regarding the impact of tick size on market depth. Like previous studies, we find that the bid-ask spread decreases and the depth measured at the best quotes decrease after the tick size is reduced. In contrast to previous studies, however, we conclude the market quality increase after a reduction in tick size. In addition to observing a smaller spread, we also observe an increase in the market depth, when it is adequately measured to take into account of the orders beyond the best quotes. Furthermore, the volume increases with the reduction of tick size as well. The biggest improvement in the market quality is found in smaller stocks, which see more economically significant changes in tick size than larger stocks.
Making Meaning of Adversity: Experiences of Women Leaders in Higher Education.

Despite the fact that women now earn more bachelor’s, master’s and doctorates than men, a gender gap for women leaders persists in the field of higher education. Women hold only 26 percent of all college and university presidencies with a large variance by type of institution. Women lead 33 percent of associate’s level institutions but only 22 percent of doctorate-granting institutions. Extensive research has demonstrated that women aspiring to and serving as leaders face many barriers. The objective of this study was to discover the meaning of adversity in the lives of women leaders in higher education by documenting accounts of women who have navigated through obstacles, barriers and adversities.
Collaborative business relationships: Helping firms to acquire skills and economies to prosper

Purpose – This paper aims to describe in depth case studies demonstrating that many small companies that participate in collaborative relationships are not realising the knowledge and skill acquisition benefits that policy makers envision when they formulate public policy that promotes creation of collaborative business relationships.Design/methodology/approach – Hamel's theory of inter‐partner learning is built upon to explain the possible reasons why firms fail to derive learning‐related benefits from participation in collaborative relationships, and the implications for public policy, for firms participating in collaborative relationships, and for future research are discussed.Findings – Key findings reveal that small companies are not realising the intended benefits of collaboration. Many New Zealand firms that participate in alliances are not using them to develop new skills and competencies.Research limitations/implications – Learning was neither an objective nor an outcome of most of the collaborat.
Characteristics of the Atlantic Storm-Track Eddy Activity and Its Relation with the North Atlantic Oscillation

Abstract This study focuses on feedbacks of the high-frequency eddy activity onto the quasi-stationary circulation, particularly with regard to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). The methodology consists of analyzing NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data and sensitivity runs from a high-resolution nonhydrostatic regional model. Consistent with recent studies, results show that the jet displacement characteristic of the NAO phenomenon depends strongly on the dynamics of the synoptic-scale waves and the way they break. Positive and negative phases of the NAO are closely related to anticyclonic and cyclonic wave breaking, respectively. Indeed, the high-frequency momentum flux whose sign is directly related to the type of wave breaking is correlated with the NAO index over the Atlantic. The peak of the momentum flux signal precedes that of the NAO by a few days suggesting that wave breaking is triggering NAO events. Two examples illustrate the significant impact of single storms, in particular those occurring in the e.
Teaching and learning in middle schooling : a review of the literature

This report provides information in response to a Request for Proposals (July 2007), and in fulfilment of a contract between the Australian Council for Educational Research, Limited, and the Ministry of Education, New Zealand. Note that the views expressed in the report are those of the authors and not necessarily those held officially by the New Zealand Ministry of Education, nor by the Australian Council for Educational Research.
Fault Detection and Isolation of Distributed Time-Delay Systems

This paper investigates the development of fault detection and isolation (FDI) filters for distributed time-delay systems. The notion of a finite unobservability subspace is introduced for distributed time-delay systems and an algorithm for its construction is presented. A bank of residual generators is designed based on our developed geometric framework so that each residual is affected by one fault and is decoupled from the others while the H infin norm of the transfer function between the disturbance and the residual signals are kept at less than a prespecified value. Simulation results for a combustion system in a rocket motor chamber demonstrate the effectiveness and capabilities of our proposed FDI algorithm.
Remote Diagnosis in Dynamic Task Environments

Increasingly telecommunication systems have become an integral part of many professions. However, little empirical data and guidelines exist for designing telecommunication systems to facilitate decision makers in cooperative efforts in dynamic task environments. A preliminary experiment was conducted in which the subjects (all experienced in the domain concerned) were presented with video-tapes of previously recorded real-life trauma patient resuscitation. The experiment examined the subjects' ability to understand the status of the patient and resuscitation efforts shown in the video. The experiment was to simulate remote diagnosis tasks in which experts provide consultation through video linkage. The subjects were found to have a number of difficulties in achieving a full understanding. Hypotheses about the reasons that could explain these difficulties are proposed and they include (1) background noise, viewing range restriction, and insecure viewing access to remote sites (2) visual information overload due to the multiple action threads at remote sites (3) lack of adequate dynamic mental models of remote events and activities (4) lack of context information.
Facial Descriptors for Identity-Preserving Multiple People Tracking

In this report, we show that facial descriptors can be used very effectively in conjunction with a tracklet-based multi-person tracker both to localize and to identify or re-identify people over long sequences. Thus, we can reliably deliver both trajectories and identities in crowded scenes. Furthermore, the whole approach is fast enough to be implemented in real-time. Our key insight is that this can be done even though the faces can only be recognized relatively infrequently.
Bank Bonds: Size, Systemic Relevance and the Sovereign

I analyze the risk premium on bank bonds at origination with special focus on the role of implicit and explicit public guarantees and the systemic relevance of issuing institutions. Looking at the asset swap spread on 5,500 bonds, I find that explicit guarantees and sovereign creditworthiness have a substantial effect on the risk premium. In addition, while large institutions still enjoy lower issuance costs linked to the TBTF framework, I find evidence of enhanced market discipline for systemically important banks which have faced an increased premium on bond placements since the onset of the financial crisis.
Design alter egos: constructing and employing fictional characters in collaborative design sessions

The paper presents a novel approach to collaborative design of educational software with students, one that asks the participants for the formation and use of fictional characters -- design alter egos -- as a means towards eliciting requirements and design ideas. In order to evaluate the suggested approach, we conducted 12 collaborative design sessions with the participation of 54 undergraduate university students (aged 19 to 24) for eliciting requirements for the design of an ideal course website. The analysis of the results showed that the design alter egos liberated the majority of the students from the fear of straightforwardly exposing themselves, supported and enhanced their introspection, stimulated their creativity and helped to establish an informal and constructive atmosphere throughout the design sessions. We suggest the use of design alter egos as an engaging and effective supportive technique for co-designing educational software with students.
Airway Hyperresponsiveness : From Molecules to Bedside Invited Review : Complexity of factors modulating airway narrowing in vivo : relevance to assessment of airway hyperresponsiveness

Brusasco, Vito, and Riccardo Pellegrino. Invited Review: Complexity of factors modulating airway narrowing in vivo: relevance to assessment of airway hyperresponsiveness. J Appl Physiol 95: 1305–1313, 2003;10.1152/japplphysiol.00001. 2003. —In vivo, the airway response to constrictor stimuli is the net result of a complex array of factors, some facilitating and some opposing airway narrowing, which makes the interpretation of bronchial challenges far from being straightforward. This review begins with a short description of the complex mechanisms of airway smooth muscle activation and force generation as the starting events for airway narrowing. It then focuses on gain factors modulating airway smooth muscle shortening and on the geometric factors determining the magnitude of reduction in airway caliber in vivo. Finally, in light of the evidence that mechanical modulation of airway smooth muscle tone and airway narrowing is at least as important as the inflammatory contractile mediators in the pathogenesis of airway hyperresponsiveness, the implications for the interpretation of bronchial challenges in clinical settings are discussed.