Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparing ensembles of decision trees and neural networks for one-day-ahead streamflow prediction

Ensemble learning methods have received remarkable attention in the recent years and led to considerable advancement in the performance of the regression and classification problems. Bagging and boosting are among the most popular ensemble learning techniques proposed to reduce the prediction error of learning machines. In this study, bagging and gradient boosting algorithms are incorporated into the model creation process for daily streamflow prediction. This paper compares two tree-based ensembles (bagged regression trees BRT & gradient boosted regression trees GBRT) and two artificial neural networks ensembles (bagged artificial neural networks BANN & gradient boosted artificial neural networks GBANN). Proposed ensembles are benchmarked to a conventional ANN (multilayer perceptron MLP). Coefficient of determination, mean absolute error and the root mean squared error measures are used for prediction performance evaluation. The results obtained in this study indicate that ensemble learning models yield better prediction accuracy than a conventional ANN model. Moreover, ANN ensembles are superior to tree-based ensembles.
Conceptual forum: the “post-socialist” city

Abstract This conceptual forum consists of three contributions that critically assess the relevance of the theme issue’s central concept – the post-socialist city. By doing so, we elaborate on a long-standing discussion that has been taking place among urban scholars interested in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), which is whether and to what extent “post-socialist” still makes sense to describe and understand what has been happening in this region’s cities over the past 30 years. In addition, this forum maps potential pitfalls urban scholars encounter when they use this term and searches for ways to overcome these. The first two contributions (Hirt, Ferenčuhová) deal with the role of the socialist city as a theoretical concept to which the post-socialist city is inherently connected. The third text (Tuvikene) proposes a new conceptualization of post-socialism in urban studies that would extend the relevance of the term beyond the imaginary world of post-socialist cities. Together, the three contributions attempt to add to the debate about research on post-socialist cities and its relation to, and position in, international urban theory.
A New Method for Automated Finite Model Building Exploiting Failures and Symmetries

A method for building nite models is proposed. It combines enumeration of the set of interpretations on a nite domain with strategies in order to prune signiicantly the search space. The main new ideas underlying our method are to beneet from symmetries and from the information extracted from the structure of the problem and from failures of model veriication tests. The algorithms formalizing the approach are given and the standard properties (termination, completeness, and soundness) are proven. The method can deal with rst-order logic with equality. In contrast to existing ones, it does not require to transform the initial problem into a normal form and can be easily extended to other logics. Experimental results and comparisons with related works are reported.
Measuring central bank independence: a tale of subjectivity and of its consequences

This paper first scrutinizes the two indices of central bank independence (CBI) most commonly used in the empirical literature. It defines and discovers an impressive interpretation spread, a major criteria spread but a negligible weighting spread in those indices. Second, it examines the robustness of the empirical 'common knowledge' on the benefits of CBI. It finds that, when rankings produced by various CBI indices are regressed with, among others, average inflation, 87.5 percent of the regression coefficients are not statistically significant. Third, following recent theoretical developments, it suggests an alternative approach to the measurement of a central bank's operational status. Copyright 1998 by Royal Economic Society.
Property Rights and the E¢ ciency of Bargaining

Property rights specify an initial default position from which agents may subsequently bargain to determine their ultimate allocation. Following the seminal article of Grossman and Hart (1986), the economics literature discussing the optimal allocation of property rights has largely focused on how they a¤ect ex ante investments, under the assumption that bargaining always results in ex post e¢ cient outcomes. In this paper, we instead examine how property rights a¤ect the e¢ ciency of bargaining and the nal allocations that result.1 According to the Coase Theorem(Coase 1960), in the absence of transaction costs,parties will reach Pareto e¢ cient agreements regardless of initial property rights. We instead examine settings in which this may not happen due to transaction costs associated with asymmetric information. That property rights may matter for the e¢ ciency of bargaining can be seen by comparing Myerson and Satterthwaites (1983) conclusion that private
Revenue Sharing, Demand Uncertainty, and Vertical Control of Competing Firms

This paper argues that revenue sharing is a valuable instrument in vertically separated industries when there is intrabrand competition among the downstream firms, demand is stochastic or variable, and downstream inventory is chosen before demand is realized. In these environments, the upstream firm would like to simultaneously soften downstream competition and encourage efficient inventory holding. Traditional two-part tariffs cannot achieve both objectives in the presence of downstream competition. Raising the price of the inputs softens price competition but distorts the downstream firms' inventory decisions. We argue that revenue sharing, combined with a low input price, aligns the incentives in the vertical chain. The use of revenue sharing in video rental retailing is discussed. Blockbuster in particular has used revenue sharing in conjunction with heavy marketing of availability to grow significantly in the video rental retail industry. Many other outlets use revenue sharing as well. Some antitrust concerns have been raised by smaller firms suggesting that revenue sharing might be an anticompetitive vertical restraint. Although our model does not address retailer market power, we show that revenue sharing contracts can be used by upstream firms increase inventory holding and consumer welfare.
Religious Ritual Is Good Medicine for Indigenous Indian Conservation Refugees: Implications for Global Mental Health

We tested whether religious ritual lessens or increases stress and anxiety among indigenous Sahariya conservation refugees recently displaced from a wildlife sanctuary in central India. Combining ethnography with structured survey and salivary analyte data (the stress hormone cortisol), we tracked di/stress over two 9-day periods before, during, and after Sahariya celebrations of the Hindu holidays of Holi and Navratri. Results show postritual improvement on all psychiatric and analyte data. The effects were larger for individuals who were wealthier and reported higher insecurity, suggesting that ritual healing might be impacted by infusions of cash and resources and also by the relative precariousness of the performance context. Likewise, health improvements were lower for individuals reporting higher anxiety and depression, implying that rites such as these are more likely to instill psychosomatic resilience in healthy individuals than to serve as a psychotherapeutic intervention for persons suffering more severely. Our results suggest that the local work of culture can serve as a potentially important source of health resilience in situations of high uncertainty, potentially preventing stress- and trauma-induced suffering, which should be taken into account by state and NGO organizations extending aid to the world’s poor in similar disaster and refugee contexts.
Multilevel analysis of bacterial counts from chronic periodontitis after root planing/scaling, surgery, and systemic and local antibiotics: 2-year results

Aim To follow changes (over 2 years) in subgingival bacterial counts of five microbial complexes including health-related Actinomyces spp. in deeper pockets (≥5 mm) after periodontal treatments. Methods Eight different treatments were studied: (1) scaling+root planing (SRP); (2) periodontal surgery (SURG)+systemic amoxicillin (AMOX)+systemic metronidazole (MET); (3) SURG+locally delivered tetracycline (TET); (4) SURG; (5) AMOX+MET+TET; (6) AMOX+MET; (7) TET; and (8) SURG+AMOX+MET+TET. Antibiotics were given immediately following SRP. Subgingival plaque was collected mesiobuccally from each tooth, except third molars, from 176 subjects, completing the study, at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post-treatment and analysed for 40 different bacteria using checkerboard hybridization. A negative binomial (NB) generalized estimating equation (NB GEE) model was used to analyze count data and a logistic GEE was used for proportions. Results We observed short-term beneficial changes in the composition of the red complex of up to 3 months by treating subjects with AMOX+MET+TET. Similar short-term improvements with the same treatment were observed for Tannerella forsythia and Treponema denticola of the red complex. SURG had also short-term beneficial effect on Porphyromonas gingivalis. No periodontal treatments applied to severely affected sites promoted the growth of Actinomyces. Smoking elevated counts of both the red and orange complex while bleeding on probing (BOP) and gingival redness were also predictors of more red complex counts. Comparatively similar findings were obtained by analyzing counts and by analyzing proportions. Conclusions Although short-term reductions in the counts of the red complex were observed in sites that were treated with AMOX+MET+TET, long-term significant effects were not observed with any of the eight treatments. Poor oral hygiene in patients with severe chronic periodontitis diminished the beneficial effects of treatment.
Saudi women’s work challenges and barriers to career advancement

Purpose Few studies have explored the work challenges and career barriers faced by women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Drawing on Institutional Theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences of employed Saudi women through in-depth interviews. Design/methodology/approach The paper employs a phenomenological qualitative approach drawing on 12 in-depth semi-structured interviews with Saudi women. Findings The findings reveal a significant number of prominent societal and organizational structural and attitudinal barriers to the advancement of Saudi women in paid employment. Among others, these barriers include a lack of mobility; the salience of gender stereotypes; gender discrimination in the workplace; limited opportunities for growth, development, and career advancement; excessive workload caused by a lack of family-work balance; and gender-based challenges related to dealing with pregnancy. Research limitations/implications Despite the contributions of this study, it also has limitations, particularly the convenience sampling approach and the focus on the KSA. The small sample size means that the findings cannot be generalized to all women employed in Saudi Arabia and should be generalized within Saudi Arabia and other Arab societies only with caution. Originality/value The paper contributes to the understanding of work challenges and barriers of Saudi women in the workforce. It provides fresh insights to the issues surrounding women in Saudi Arabia and the need to address them in order to provide support for their career advancement.
What Do Student Teachers Want in Mentor Teachers?: Desired, Expected, Possible, and Emerging Roles

Research has shown that mentor teachers play varied roles. Using a conceptual framework grounded in these roles, the researchers explored what seven student teachers said during multiple interviews about the roles they wanted for their mentor teachers. Findings showed that while some participants preferred emotional support and others wanted instructional support, none wanted socialization. The researchers identified a new category–mentor as gatekeeper–to capture the preferences of one participant and concerns of others. This category reflected a focus on the credentialing aspect of student teaching as something that students must complete before licensure. Implications for teacher education included additional support for mentor teacher–preservice teacher pairs such as conversations about desired, expected, possible, and emerging roles during the mentoring process.
Interacting networks of resistance , virulence and core machinery genes identified by genome-wide 1 epistasis analysis 2 Short title : Genome-wide epistasis analysis in bacteria 3

27 not peer-reviewed) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was . http://dx.doi. org/10.1101/071696 doi: bioRxiv preprint first posted online Aug. 25, 2016;
Foreign Direct Investment: Catalyst of Economic Growth? by Statement of Dissertation Approval

has been approved by the following supervisory committee members: ABSTRACT This dissertation is an inquiry focused on the causal relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic growth in both developed and developing countries. Chapter 1 surveys the theoretical foundations and seminal empirical works, and motivates the remainder of the dissertation. This chapter shows that theory mainly points towards a positive FDI to economic growth link, but the empirical findings are highly heterogeneous. Chapter 1 also highlights recent trends in FDI in order for the reader to see FDI's increasing role in the global economy. Chapter 2 considers how the FDI and economic growth connection varies by income levels, using panel cointegration and Granger causality techniques. The two main findings are that in the long run the causal relationship is primarily running from GDP to FDI and short run FDI to GDP causality is restricted to high income countries. Chapter 3 tests for the direction of causation between FDI and GDP in a group of Latin American and East Asian countries attempting to identify differences between the regions. Innovation accounting, in combination with standard Granger causality tests are used to test for the causal relationship between FDI and GDP. FDI to GDP causality is found to be more apparent in East Asia. Chapter 4 considers the case of Mexico. This chapter attempts to indentify how the FDI‐growth connection varies by sector in the Mexican economy. In Mexico, FDI to economic growth causality is restricted to the industrial and agriculture sectors. Much more evidence was found in favor of the GDP to FDI link. The final chapter gives concluding remarks, general policy recommendations, and suggestions for future research. The three general findings of the dissertation are that: (a) FDI to GDP causality is more common in higher income countries where a threshold level of development has been reached; (2) causation is primarily running from economic growth to FDI. It is higher levels of economic growth that are attracting FDI, not FDI spurring economic growth; (3) FDI causes economic growth primarily in the manufacturing sector. This has profound policy implications for developing countries. iv To my parents Dale and Patty Lund for their support and encouragement. To my wife Brooke for her extreme patience with me, and to my daughter Reagan, who unknowingly has provided me much motivation to finish this project.
Genetic Algorithm for VRP with Constraints Based on Feasible Insertion

In the paper we propose a genetic algorithm based on insertion heuristics for the vehicle routing problem with constraints. A random insertion heuristic is used to construct initial solutions and to reconstruct the existing ones. The location where a randomly chosen node will be inserted is selected by calculating an objective function. The process of random insertion preserves stochas- tic characteristics of the genetic algorithm and preserves feasibility of generated individuals. The defined crossover and mutation operators incorporate random insertion heuristics, analyse individ- uals and select which parts should be reinserted. Additionally, the second population is used in the mutation process. The second population increases the probability that the solution, obtained in the mutation process, will survive in the first population and increase the probability to find the global optimum. The result comparison shows that the solutions, found by the proposed algorithm, are similar to the optimal solutions obtained by other genetic algorithms. However, in most cases the proposed algorithm finds the solution in a shorter time and it makes this algorithm competitive with others.
Adaptive constructive processes: evidence from priming verbal reasoning with false memories

ABSTRACT Previous research has demonstrated that false memories produced by the Deese–Roediger–McDermott paradigm serve adaptive functions both in related memory tasks and in various cognitive processes. The present study investigated whether memory errors induced by associated words could influence performance on verbal reasoning tasks. Participants were asked to solve sentence-based verbal reasoning problems, half of which had been primed by the presentation of word lists where the critical lures were also the solutions to the problems. The results showed that when false memories were generated, problems were solved more often and significantly faster than those that were primed without false memories or those that were unprimed, and that there was no evidence that the effect of priming with false memories observed in experiments was due to testing effects. The findings extend false memory priming effects to verbal reasoning processes, providing evidence with adaptive constructive processes.
FLOW DYNAMICS AND MARKET EFFICIENCY WHEN LOCAL STOCKS ARE EXPOSED TO GLOBAL MARKET : A CASE OF NYSE-LISTED INDIAN FIRMS 1

In this paper we examine the effect of global competition for order flows, which arise due to the listing of American Depository Receipts (ADRs) by Indian firms on NYSE, on the local market, especially when there are competing local markets. We find that: (1) Order imbalance can predict stock returns in both order driven (BSE and NSE) and quote driven (NYSE) trading mechanisms. There is no noticeable difference in the magnitude of the order imbalance influence in different trading mechanisms. (2) There has been over all market efficiency for the Indian stocks post-ADRs listing. This confirms that order flow competition and corresponding market fragmentation leads to market efficiency. The results are stronger in the case of BSE market. BSE listed stocks had a dramatic improvement in their market efficiency post-ADRs listing. (3) The global effect in the form of NYSE listing is felt in the local market (NSE), however, vice verse does not hold. (4) We also find evidence of improvement in the local market quality through reduction of spreads. Thus we conclude that competition among markets lead to fragmentized and specialized markets with no single dominant player and competition improves overall efficiency. JEL Classification: G14
Identifying Political Sentiment between Nation States with Social Media

This paper describes an approach to largescale modeling of sentiment analysis for the social sciences. The goal is to model relations between nation states through social media. Many cross-disciplinary applications of NLP involve making predictions (such as predicting political elections), but this paper instead focuses on a model that is applicable to broader analysis. Do citizens express opinions in line with their home country’s formal relations? When opinions diverge over time, what is the cause and can social media serve to detect these changes? We describe several learning algorithms to study how the populace of a country discusses foreign nations on Twitter, ranging from state-of-theart contextual sentiment analysis to some required practical learners that filter irrelevant tweets. We evaluate on standard sentiment evaluations, but we also show strong correlations with two public opinion polls and current international alliance relationships. We conclude with some political science use cases.
Sympathetic Hyperactivity in Hypertensive Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Is Reduced During Standard Treatment

Standard treatment in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients includes an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker. CKD is often characterized by sympathetic hyperactivity. This study investigates the prevalence of sympathetic hyperactivity (quantified by assessment of muscle sympathetic nerve activity [MSNA]) in a sizable group of patients with CKD and assessed whether chronic angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker normalizes increased MSNA. In 74 CKD patients (creatinine clearance 54±31 mL/min), MSNA, blood pressure, and plasma renin activity were measured in the absence of antihypertensive drugs except for diuretics. In a subgroup of 31 patients, another set of measurements was obtained after ≥6 weeks of enalapril (10 mg PO), losartan (100 mg PO), or eprosartan (600 mg PO). Patients as compared with control subjects (n=82) had higher mean arterial pressure (113±13 versus 89±7 mm Hg), MSNA (31±13 versus 19±7 bursts per minute), and log plasma renin activity (2.67±036 versus 2.40±0.32 fmol/L per second; all P<0.001). During angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker therapy (n=31), mean arterial pressure (115±11 to 100±9 mm Hg) and MSNA (33±11 to 25±9 bursts per minute) decreased (both P<0.01) but were still higher than in control subjects (both P<0.01). Multiple regression analysis identified age and plasma renin activity as predictive for MSNA. In conclusion, sympathetic hyperactivity occurs in a substantial proportion of hypertensive CKD patients. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker treatment reduces but does not normalize MSNA.
Spiritual orientation in relation to spiritual intelligence a consideration of traditional Christianity and New Ageindividualistic spirituality

This thesis focuses on the conceptualisation and expression of spiritual intelligence among ? traditional? Christians, and pursuers of New Age and popular individualistic spirituality. A secondary focus is the association between these and subjective well-being. A series of four studies - three quantitative and one qualitative -were conducted, and three new instruments were developed: the Spiritual and Religious Dimensions Scale (a measure of spiritual orientation), the Spiritual Intelligence Scale, and the Personal Well-being Index. Using these instruments and semi-structured interview questions, the identification of unique patterns in the conceptualisation and expression of religion/spirituality and spiritual intelligence by traditional Christians and followers of New Age/individualistic spirituality was made possible. Different patterns of association with various aspects of well-being among the two forms of spiritual intelligence were also identified. %%%%thesis (PhD) – University of South Australia, 2004.