Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving readability in automatic unit test generation

In object-oriented programming, quality assurance is commonly provided through writing unit tests, to exercise the operations of each class. If unit tests are created and maintained manually, this can be a time-consuming and laborious task. For this reason, automatic methods are often used to generate tests that seek to cover all paths of the tested code. Search may be guided by criteria that are opaque to the programmer, resulting in test sequences that are long and confusing. This has a negative impact on test maintenance. Once tests have been created, the job is not done: programmers need to reason about the tests throughout the lifecycle, as the tested software units evolve. Maintenance includes diagnosing failing tests (whether due to a software fault or an invalid test) and preserving test oracles (ensuring that checked assertions are still relevant). Programmers also need to understand the tests created for code that they did not write themselves, in order to understand the intent of that code. If generated tests cannot be easily understood, then they will be extremely difficult to maintain. The overall objective of this thesis is to reaffirm the importance of unit test maintenance; and to offer novel techniques to improve the readability of automatically generated tests. The first contribution is an empirical survey of 225 developers from different parts of the world, who were asked to give their opinions about unit testing practices and problems. The survey responses confirm that unit testing is considered important; and that there is an appetite for higher-quality automated test generation, with a view to test maintenance. The second contribution is a domain-specific model of unit test readability, based on human judgements. The model is used to augment automated unit test generation to produce test suites with both high coverage and improved readability. In evaluations, 30 programmers preferred our improved tests and were able to answer maintenance questions 14level of accuracy. The third contribution is a novel algorithm for generating descriptive test names that summarise API- level coverage goals. Test optimisation ensures that each test is short, bears a clear relation to the covered code, and can be readily identified by programmers. In evaluations, 47 programmers agreed with the choice of synthesised names and that these were as descriptive as manually chosen names. Participants were also more accurate and faster at matching generated tests against the tested code, compared to matching with manually-chosen test names.
Alleviating Hot Data Write Back Effect for Shingled Magnetic Recording Storage Systems

Shingled magnetic recording (SMR) is a novel technology that can significantly increase the disk capacity and reduce the cost. However, this new technology leads to write constraint that prohibits random writes to SMR disks. In order to solve this, current solutions utilize a persistent cache (PC) to change random writes to sequential ones. By doing this, nevertheless, the hot-data write-back effect will be triggered which inevitably incurs extra read-modify-write (RMW) operations. This paper presents a cache management scheme called dual-buffer to manage the overall SMR space, by which the PC is partitioned into the persistent buffer and the filter buffer. It leaves hot data in the filter buffer and moves cold data back to the SMR disk so that the hot data write-back effect can be alleviated. Since the PC may contain a large amount of valid data, dual-buffer also presents a prediction-based dynamic configuration strategy so hot data can be cached as much as possible. We conducted a series of experiments with synthetic traces. Experimental results show that our dual-buffer scheme can shorten the average response time by 51.66% on average and reduce the total number of RMW operations by 98.76% on average compared to the previous work.
The effect of real exchange rate volatility on income distribution in South Africa

This study investigates the effect of real exchange rate volatility on the distribution of income between labour and capital in South Africa. Both symmetric and asymmetric effects are considered. Using quarterly data for 1985:1â€“2018:3 and local linear projection, we find that the immediate response of labourâ€™s income share to a one standard deviation shock in exchange rate volatility is negative.Moreover, high exchange rate volatility impacts negatively on labourâ€™s income share, while low exchange rate volatility impacts positively on labour income. As the magnitude of the effect of high exchange rate volatility is greater than that of low exchange rate volatility, the study documents evidence of an asymmetric effect.A shock increase in some control variables (real gross domestic product, investment, and openness) is followed immediately by a decline in labour income, while an increase follows a positive shock in the relative price of investment. The policy implications of these findings are discussed.
Progress in x-ray critical-angle transmission grating technology development

High resolution absorption and emission line spectroscopy in the soft x-ray band are promising techniques to measure hot baryon distributions in extended galaxy halos, galaxy clusters, and the connecting filaments of the cosmic web. It can characterize outflows from supermassive black holes and help understand their impact on the structure and evolution of the interstellar medium and beyond. Stellar magnetic activity, accretion, coronal emission and flares are additional targets for soft x-ray spectroscopy. Higher resolving power and larger effective area than those provided by current missions are required in order to make progress. Recent breakthroughs in x-ray diffraction grating and mirror technologies promise order-of-magnitude improved performance if new missions were built today, and even greater improvements beyond the next decade. Here we describe recent progress in critical-angle transmission (CAT) grating technology. CAT gratings combine the advantages of traditional transmission gratings (relaxed alignment tolerances, low mass, transparency at higher energies) and blazed reflection gratings (high diffraction efficiency, high resolving power R due to blazing into high orders). CAT gratings have demonstrated resolving power greater than 10,000 and absolute diffraction efficiency above 30% in the soft x-ray band. They are an enabling technology for the Arcus grating spectrometer Explorer (R < 2500, effective area < 250 cm2) and a candidate for the Lynx x-ray grating spectrometer (R < 5000, effective area < 4,000 cm2).
Short-Term Investments and Indices of Risk

We study various decision problems regarding short‐term investments in risky assets whose returns evolve continuously in time. We show that in each problem, all risk‐averse decision makers have the same (problem‐dependent) ranking over short‐term risky assets. Moreover, in each problem, the ranking is represented by the same risk index as in the case of constant absolute risk aversion utility agents and normally distributed risky assets.
Geopolitical Risk, Financial Slack and Capital Investments

Shocks to geopolitical risk are known to adversely affect real activity, as well as a flight to safety by invested capital. In this study we explore the channels via which this occurs. We find that firms respond to geopolitical risk by cutting back on capital investments. This effect is stronger for firms with more irreversible investments and foreign operations. Geopolitical threats appear to influence investments more than geopolitical acts do, perhaps because acts are perceived as resolving uncertainty. Dividends, another use of cash by firms, are not adversely affected by changes in geopolitical risk, indicating finite half-lives for geopolitical shocks.
Lubrication of Intermetallic Nickel Titanium Bearing Materials

Author(s): Walters, Nicholas Alexander | Advisor(s): Martini, Ashlie | Abstract: 60NiTi (60wt.\% Ni, 40 wt.\% Ti) is a highly resilient and corrosion resistant intermetallic alloy with hardness and elasticity properties suitable for bearing applications. However, lubrication of this material is still being explored since many commercial lubricants are designed to function through chemical and physical interactions with steel surfaces. Titanium rich alloys are known to have poor tribological performance and to be chemically aggressive toward lubricants. Since 60NiTi is a titanium rich alloy, and components made from 60NiTi will likely operate with a lubricant, it is vital to study how to properly lubricate 60NiTi contacts. The goal of this research is to characterize the performance of 60NiTi sliding contacts with different lubricants at a range of operating conditions. First, previous studies suggested castor oil as a natural lubricant for 60NiTi, and reported friction coefficients less than 0.01, i.e. superlubricity, when sliding against steel. Here, the robustness of those findings was explored by characterizing the friction coefficient as a function of contact pressure and surface roughness. It was found that friction under castor oil lubrication is highly sensitive to surface roughness, and that friction coefficients approaching the superlubricity regime are only achievable with very smooth surfaces, which may not be realistic in practical engineering applications. Second, a series of tests were performed to characterize the wear and friction of self-mated 60NiTi contacts lubricated by different greases in low sliding speed contacts. It was found that polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thickened perfluoropolyether (PFPE) greases significantly reduced wear compared to the other greases tested by mitigating adhesive wear modes. These results provide valuable information to guide the selection of grease for 60NiTi contacts. Overall, this work lays the groundwork for future development of new greases and lubricants specifically designed for 60NiTi contacts.
Genres in the mathematical writing of Maori-immersion students

This paper describes part of an ongoing project with teachers from Year 0-13 in a Mäoriimmersion school in New Zealand. It discusses the process of identification of genres from samples of students’ writing. Halliday’s ideas about the relationship of the context of situation to the texts was the underlying theory for identifying the genres. Three genres were identified from over 2000 samples: description; explanation and justification. As well a number of different mathematical writing modes were also identified. There appears to be a relationship between the purpose of the writing, the audience and the mathematical writing modes employed. Authors Address: tmeaney@csu.edu.au uen.fai@koutu.school. nz t.trinick@auckland.ac. nz URL: http://tsg.icme11. org/tsg/show/32 http://www.icme11. org/node/1619 http://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/R/-? func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=9158&local_base=GEN01CSU01
Collective diffusivity in a sheared viscous emulsion: Effects of viscosity ratio

The shear-induced collective or gradient diffusivity in an emulsion of viscous drops, specifically as a function of viscosity ratio, was computed using a fully resolved numerical method. An initially randomly packed layer of viscous drops spreading due to drop-drop interactions in an imposed shear has been simulated. The collective diffusivity coefficient was computed using a self-similar solution of the drop concentration profile. We also obtained the collective diffusivity (the collective diffusivity coefficient multiplied by the average drop volume fraction), computing the dynamic structure factor from the simulated drop positions—an analysis typically applied only to homogeneous systems. The two quantities computed using entirely different methods are in broad agreement, including their predictions of nonmonotonic variations with increasing capillary number and viscosity ratio. The computed values were also found to match with past experimental measurements. The collective diffusivity coefficient computed here, as expected, is 1 order of magnitude larger than the self-diffusivity coefficient for a dilute emulsion previously computed using pairwise simulation of viscous drops in shear. The collective diffusivity coefficient computed here shows a nonmonotonic variation with viscosity ratio, in contrast to self-diffusivity computed using pairwise computation. The difference might point to an intrinsic difference in physics underlying the two diffusivities. Alternatively, it also might arise from drops not reaching equilibrium deformation in the period after one interaction and before the next—an effect absent in the pairwise simulation used for the computation of self-diffusivity. We offer a qualitative explanation of the nonmonotonic variation by relating it to average nonmonotonic drop deformation with increasing viscosity ratio. We also provide empirical correlations of the collective diffusivity as a function of viscosity ratio and capillary number.
Predicting Entrepreneurial Intentions and Pre-Start-Up Behaviour among Asnaf Millennials

The study referred to the theory of planned behaviour in determining how the selected factors (innovativeness, proactive personality, need of achievement, internal locus of control, risk-taking propensity, lifestyle integration, social networking, resource and opportunity recognition, attitude towards entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control) influenced the entrepreneurial intentions and pre-start-up behaviour among the Asnaf millennials in Malaysia. This study collected cross-sectional survey data, which are quantitative data from 310 randomly selected Asnaf millennials from Kelantan, Malaysia using structured interviews. This study used Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling PLS-SEM to analyse the data. The result confirmed the indirect influence (entrepreneurial intention) of attitude towards entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control on the pre-start-up behaviour. Findings revealed that all antecedents have a positive and statistically significant effect on attitude towards entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control, with an exception to risk-taking propensity. Hence, it is suggested that development programs and policies should enhance the innovativeness and opportunity recognition competency, provide access to working capital, and build a platform to promote entrepreneurial networking in increasing entrepreneurial intention among the low-income Asnaf millennials in Malaysia.
Political connections and corporate performance: Evidence from Pakistan

This study seeks to understand how political connections affect firm performance. Using a hand‐collected dataset of Pakistani firms from 2008–2014, our firm fixed effects and Heckman two‐stage regression results show that connected firms outperform those without political ties. Moreover, we show channels through which political benefits are realized in terms of greater access to debt, lower financing costs and lower tax rates. These benefits are found to be particularly large when firms are connected to politicians who held political positions most recently and firms connected through their owners. Finally, we do not find evidence for differences in political favours across regulated and unregulated industries.
Exploring Virtual Reality Flight Training as a Viable Alternative to Traditional Simulator Flight Training

Participants flew three predefined circuits in a traditional flight simulator graphics condition (Broad Angle Display System, (BADS)), and conducted the same flight path and tasks using a VR graphics environment. The exploratory hypotheses in this research are that there would be no differences in the user experience, cognitive workload, and performance, between the two graphics conditions. User experience was gathered by a questionnaire probing motion sickness and other VR usability metrics. Cognitive load was gathered from a subjective rating in a questionnaire, derived from peripheral detection task, and by continuously measuring participant's physiological indices, including heart rate and galvanic skin response. Performance was obtained from flight path and airspeed deviations, and from flying precision.
Social Class, Ingroup–Outgroup Comparison, and Citizen Evaluations: Is User Satisfaction Linked to Outcome Disparities?

Research on citizen satisfaction has emphasized the role of service quality (including expectations for quality) in shaping citizens’ evaluations of public services. This article considers an understudied but important aspect of public service delivery—equity—and investigates how disparities in service outcomes between disadvantaged and advantaged groups affect citizens’ evaluations of service providers. This study also examines whether citizens with different socioeconomic status (SES) have different perceptions toward the outcome disparities. Using individual-level data from secondary schools, we find that service users appear to recognize and care about a performance gap among social strata. Even when a student’s individual outcome is held constant, satisfaction varies with the school-level performance gap between high-SES and low-SES students. This finding suggests that service users are concerned about not just their outcomes but also the relative positioning of outcomes for those of their own social group compared with other groups.
A Supply and Demand Approach to Equity Pricing

This paper presents a frictionless neoclassical model of financial markets in which firm sizes, stock returns, and the pricing kernel are all endogenously determined. The model parsimoniously specifies the supply and demand of financial capital allocated to each firm and provides general equilibrium sizes and returns in closed form. We show that the interaction of supply and demand can coherently explain a large number of asset pricing facts. The equilibrium security market line is flatter than the CAPM predicts and can be nonlinear or downward-sloping. The model also generates the size, profitability, investment growth, value, asymmetric volatility, betting-against-beta, and betting-against-correlation anomalies, while also fitting the cross-section of firm characteristics.
Islamic Charitable Giving in the UK: A ‘Radical’ Economic Alternative?

ABSTRACT Muslim financial actions have faced increased scrutiny as financial links to ‘terrorism’ have risen in political rhetoric with anything labelled as ‘Islamic’ being perceived to be in requirement of study in terms of its relation to ‘fundamental British values’ (Kundnani, A., 2014. The Muslims Are Coming! Islamaphobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror. London: Verso.). Exploring Muslim charitable giving in the UK, it will be posited that much of Islamic charitable practices sustains a relationship with neoliberalism without being entirely reduced to it. The post-9/11 environment ‘has led to renewed scholarly interest in the relationship between the economy and Islam and more specifically the incorporation of Islamic value in daily economic life’ (Rethel, L., 2019. Corporate Islam, Global Capitalism and the Performance of Economic Moralities. New Political Economy, 24 (3), 350–364, 2). Islamic charitable practices potentially offer a resistance to the inegalitarian effects of neoliberalism whilst simultaneously being both a part, and a consequence of, neoliberal dominance. Moreover, Islamic charity in the UK acts as an expression of the Muslim community against a backdrop of security and surveillance. Thus, while potentially offering a ‘radical’ alternative to neoliberalism it is a non-violent and non-conflictual alternative.
Japanese EFL learners' perceptions of different accents in spoken English

Due to the worldwide spread and diversification of English, there is far more variety in English accents than ever before. Nonetheless, most Japanese English language learners have continuously been only exposed to â€œnativeâ€ English accents, particularly Received Pronunciation (RP) and General American (GA), in their English language classrooms. As the number of â€œnon-nativeâ€ English speakers exceeds the number of â€œnativeâ€ English speakers in the world, it has been recently questioned whether exposing English language learners to only â€œnativeâ€ English accents in English language classrooms is appropriate in this globalised world. The present study attempts to investigate 78 Japanese EFL learnersâ€™ perceptions of different accents in spoken English. More specifically, the study examines the influence of â€œnativeâ€ and â€œnon-nativeâ€ English accents on Japanese EFL learnersâ€™ perceptions of grammaticality. Four â€œnativeâ€ English speakers (i.e., the UK, the US, and Australia) and four â€œnon-nativeâ€ English speakers (i.e., Vietnam, Japan, Zimbabwe, and Russia) provided the speech samples used in the study. To measure the Japanese EFL learnersâ€™ perceptions of grammaticality, they were asked to listen to thirty-two grammatical and ungrammatical sentences read out by the eight speakers and judge each sentence using binary categories (i.e., grammatical/ungrammatical). Moreover, they were asked to identify the place of origins of each speaker and label them as either â€œnativeâ€ speaker or â€œnon-nativeâ€ speaker. The potential underlying factors influencing their judgements and evaluations are discussed, and the implications for research and teaching are also suggested.
Knowledge and Practice for Bio-Medical Waste Management among Healthcare Personnel at Kabgayi District Hospital, Rwanda

Background Globally, about 10 to 25% of the volume of bio-medical waste from hospitals and healthcare institutions presents a serious health risks to patients, healthcare personnel, and anybody who comes in contact with it. The waste management practices in Rwanda healthcare facilities are poor and need improvement. Objectives To assess the knowledge and practices regarding bio-medical waste management among healthcare personnel at Kabgayi district hospital in Southern Province of Rwanda. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study design was conducted. A total of 200 healthcare personnel were selected randomly out of 400 target population including doctors, nurses, social workers, and cleaners. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive analysis using frequency and proportions were used. Chi-Square test was used to determine the association between the variables and level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results The study found that about half (49.0%) of healthcare personnel had good knowledge about waste management. We found that the majority of healthcare personel 133(66.5%) had poor practices towards bio-medical waste management. The factors associated with good practice were better knowledge on bio-medical waste management (p=0.013) and older age group (p=0.001). Conclusion/Recommendations The level of in both knowledge and practice towards bio-medical waste management among healthcare personnel was low. Continuing education and training programmes and short courses on bio-medical waste management should be carried out to improve the knowledge and practices towards bio-medical waste management among healthcare personnel.