Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simple Threshold Rules Solve Explore/Exploit Trade-offs in a Resource Accumulation Search Task

How, and how well, do people switch between exploration and exploitation to search for and accumulate resources? We study the decision processes underlying such exploration/exploitation trade-offs using a novel card selection task that captures the common situation of searching among multiple resources (e.g., jobs) that can be exploited without depleting. With experience, participants learn to switch appropriately between exploration and exploitation and approach optimal performance. We model participants' behavior on this task with random, threshold, and sampling strategies, and find that a linear decreasing threshold rule best fits participants' results. Further evidence that participants use decreasing threshold-based strategies comes from reaction time differences between exploration and exploitation; however, participants themselves report non-decreasing thresholds. Decreasing threshold strategies that "front-load" exploration and switch quickly to exploitation are particularly effective in resource accumulation tasks, in contrast to optimal stopping problems like the Secretary Problem requiring longer exploration.
Intergenerational Impact of Population Shocks on Children's Health: Evidence from the 1993-2001 Refugee Crisis in Tanzania

This paper examines how parents' early childhood exposure to a refugee crisis impacts their children's health status. Based on Demographic and Health Survey data from Tanzania with the migration history of mothers and fathers, the analysis exploits geographical, time, and cohort variations using shock intensity and distance from refugee camps to instrument treatment. The findings show that children who were born to parents who were living closer to refugee camps during their early childhood have lower height for their age and are more likely to be stunted. The results are robust to alternative functional forms of the distance from camps, alternative specifications of the treatment and control groups, alternative cohorts of mothers, and several placebo tests.
Evaluating the effectiveness of ‘learning by doing’ teaching strategy in a research methodology course, Hargeisa, Somaliland

Learning by doing means learning from experiences resulting directly from one's actions. In other words, it is a method by which students make the most of their education through active participation. In the process, the learner took ownership of own learning. Whereas, the teachers' role is to guide the students to facilitate by providing them with multiple activities and teaching materials. The present study involved 52 students who registered for the research methodology course between June-September, 2018, at Edna Adan University, one of the privately owned teaching hospital. Among whom, 54% were male and the rest 46% female. The mean age of the study subjects was 21.5 ± 2.6 SD. Participants were selected conveniently. Hence, those that happened to be available on the day of the collection were included in the self-administered interview. Then, the finding showed that over half of the participants agreed about the usefulness of learning by doing. Hence, the responses emphasized that the method enhanced their active participation in the learning process, and helped to understand the course readily. Moreover, 56% of the students expressed their eagerness to apply the knowledge and skill for their final thesis in the upcoming semester.
TASS 2013 - Workshop on Sentiment Analysis at SEPLN 2013: An overview

espanolEste articulo describe el desarrollo de TASS 2013, la segunda edicion del taller de evaluacion experimental en el contexto de la SEPLN para fomentar la investigacion en el campo del analisis de sentimiento en los medios sociales, especificamente centrado en el idioma espanol. El principal objetivo es promover el diseno de nuevas tecnicas y algoritmos y la aplicacion de los ya existentes para la implementacion de complejos sistemas capaces de realizar un analisis de sentimientos basados en opiniones de textos cortos extraidos de medios sociales (concretamente Twitter). Este articulo describe las tareas propuestas en la edicion de 2013, el contenido, formato y las estadisticas mas importantes de los corpus generados, la lista de participantes y los diferentes enfoques planteados, asi como los resultados generales obtenidos. EnglishThis paper describes TASS 2013, the second edition of an experimental evaluation workshop within SEPLN to foster the research in the field of sentiment analysis in social media, specifically focused on Spanish language. The main objective is to promote the application of existing state-of-the-art algorithms and techniques and the design of new ones for the implementation of complex systems able to perform a sentiment analysis based on short text opinions extracted from social media messages (specifically Twitter) published by representative personalities. The paper presents the proposed tasks in the 2013 edition, the contents, format and main statistics of the generated corpus, the participant groups and their different approaches, and, finally, the overall results achieved.
'Old Wine in New Bottles': A study of under-18s presenting with drug and alcohol problems to Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Services

This paper is based on the process of conducting a mixed method study of adolescent substance users in the Cork and Kerry region. It involved gathering and analysing quantitative data on under-18 problematic substance users attending Arbour House Youth Drug and Alcohol treatment services in 2009. This data was synthesized with qualitative data gathered on the lived experiences of five service users and their parents. Ultimately this information produced a set of theoretical explanations grounded in the data gathered and analysed. This can be of use to researchers and drug and alcohol treatment stakeholders.
The role of the National Innovation System in the growth of Latin American countries

In this paper we explore the role played by the National Innovation Systems of Latin American (LA) countries in their growth processes. This is done on comparative perspective to some East Asian Countries, which experienced a virtuous recent development process. We Explore the role of two main development strategies/trajectories, one based on the exploitation and export of natural resources and one based on the diversification of productive structures and exports. Though these constitute extreme stylized cases that are not necessarily mutually exclusive they show be be instructive for understanding the different patterns that can be observed in Latin American countries along the last decades. The results suggest that the relatively less positive economic performance of LA countries was partly due to the limited development of their NIS. While some countries of the region seem to fit into the picture of a “curse of natural resources”, most present a growing relevance of these types of products, together with a relatively diversified productive structure, important efforts to strengthen the NSI and social improvements. But they seem not to be able to completely escape a weaker version of the natural resources curse, which could easily become a middle income trap.
A COMPARISON OF PRINCIPAL COMPONENT METHODS BETWEEN MULTIPLE PHENOTYPE REGRESSION AND MULTIPLE SNP REGRESSION IN GENETIC ASSOCIATION STUDIES.

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a popular method for dimension reduction in unsupervised multivariate analysis. However, existing ad hoc uses of PCA in both multivariate regression (multiple outcomes) and multiple regression (multiple predictors) lack theoretical justification. The differences in the statistical properties of PCAs in these two regression settings are not well understood. In this paper we provide theoretical results on the power of PCA in genetic association testings in both multiple phenotype and SNP-set settings. The multiple phenotype setting refers to the case when one is interested in studying the association between a single SNP and multiple phenotypes as outcomes. The SNP-set setting refers to the case when one is interested in studying the association between multiple SNPs in a SNP set and a single phenotype as the outcome. We demonstrate analytically that the properties of the PC-based analysis in these two regression settings are substantially different. We show that the lower order PCs, that is, PCs with large eigenvalues, are generally preferred and lead to a higher power in the SNP-set setting, while the higher-order PCs, that is, PCs with small eigenvalues, are generally preferred in the multiple phenotype setting. We also investigate the power of three other popular statistical methods, the Wald test, the variance component test and the minimum p-value test, in both multiple phenotype and SNP-set settings. We use theoretical power, simulation studies, and two real data analyses to validate our findings.
The Relationship Between Strategic Competence And Business Performance Of Graduates With Physical Challenges In Kenya

I. ABSTRACT The purpose of this research was to analyze the relationship between Strategic Competence and Business Performance of graduates with physical challenges in Kiambu County in Kenya. The research objective was to establish whether Strategic Competence had any significance in Business Performance. The hypothesized relationship was being moderated by Business External Environment with its constructs being Access to Finance and Location of Business. Participants of the study were graduates of higher education and training with physical challenges owning and managing businesses in Kiambu County in Kenya. These participants have had training at higher education and training institutions such as universities and tertiary level colleges. The institutions being Public and Private Universities, Technical Training Institutes, Institutes of Technologies and other private and commercial colleges. The physical challenges in focus included mobility impairments categorized as acquired or congenital that may or may not require the use of assistive devices. The study was longitudinal and utilized a descriptive-survey method. It was largely quantitative in nature and triangulated by some qualitative aspects. It addressed a population of 480 businesses owned and run by graduates with physical challenges of higher education and training in various constituencies within Kiambu County in Kenya. Businesses included in the study were selected through simple random sampling method. A sample of 172 respondents was picked. To collect primary data structured questionnaires were used which contained closed and open-ended questions. Secondary data was collected using relevant literature, records from the Ministry of Labour Kiambu County, NCPWD office and records from selected higher institutions of learning. Pilot test was carried out on a sample of 17 persons with similar characteristics as those in the final study. To access discriminant validity, correlations among indicators and constructs was deployed. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha. Data was statistically analyzed (descriptive analysis F-tests and ttests) through applying the SPSS Statistics 17.0 software.
A Comparison of Parallelization Methods for Data Flow Networks

This paper compares two parallelization methods for data flow networks. A strict decoupling between the networks’ structural components and their evaluation is achieved using a pattern oriented architecture with generalized traverser objects. This architecture provides a clean basis for the implementation of parallel execution code using a) an explicit parallelization based on pthreads and b) an implicit parallelization using OpenMP. Both methods are then evaluated and compared to each other for different traversal heuristics.
Geometric Progression in Population and Arithmetic Increase in Food Production: Evaluating Malthusian Population View in Context of Pakistan

The objective of the study is to evaluate Malthusian theory of population in an actually sense where the population growth is increasing geometrically while food production increases arithmetically, by considering a case study of Pakistan economy due to its high annual population percentage growth rate, which could be cumbersome for the economy in terms of food security issues. As per our knowledge, this is the first study that evaluated Malthusian view of population in its actually sense and included geometric series of population growth as explanatory factors, by taking a time series data set from 1975-2016. The results show that geometric series of population growth at 2, 4, 16, 256 and 65526 confirmed the positive relationship with the food production with the coefficient elasticities of 1.054%, 0.527%, 0.263%, 0.131%, and 0.065% respectively. On the basis of decreasing percentage elasticity at different geometric series of population growth, it is quite evident that the elasticities goes down from 1 to 1 corresponding relationship to 0.065%, which validate the Malthusian theory of population, as earth’s resources are limited and each and every additional increment in the population growth exhausts food production, which ultimately leads to starvation and hunger. The study conclude that Pakistan’s economy should have to increase agricultural production to meet the growing needs of the country’s population, as Malthusian does not advocate against the family planning, therefore, we left the unfilled space for the policy makers to filled the space by strong policies for healthy population growth and high food production in a country.
The Relationship Between Internet Addiction and Problem Behaviors Amongst Hong Kong Adolescents: A Three-Year Longitudinal Study

Both Internet addiction and adolescent risk behaviors are worldwide public health concerns. Unfortunately, their relationship is grossly under-researched. Adopting a longitudinal research design, this study examined the longitudinal association between Internet addiction and problem behaviors among adolescents in Hong Kong and tested whether early Internet addiction predicted later adolescent problem behaviors. A total of 2,669 junior secondary school students completed three waves of questionnaires testing their Internet addiction behavior and other problem behaviors including drug use, self-harm, suicidal behaviors, delinquency behaviors, and compensated dating. Chi-square analysis showed that Internet addicted students had a high probability to display these problem behaviors at each wave. Logistic regression analyses suggest that early Internet addiction was a precursor of later problem behaviors among adolescents. The results shed light on the relationship between Internet addiction and adolescent problem behaviors, and provide reference for prevention and intervention of these problem behaviors.
Pricing the term structure with linear regressions: three different looks at the term premium

This paper reviews the Adrian, Crump, and Moench (2013) 3-step term structure estimation approach. We use a more up-to-date data set and extend the methodology by tackling the high persistence of yields using bootstrap bias correction and a coefficient restriction, in the first step of the Adrian et al. (2013) procedure. We find the two considered extensions _t the yield data to a similar degree as the authors' original model. In addition, a comparison of the forecasting performance of the two additional models reveals the original, non-altered model produces the most accurate 12-step ahead forecasts. Finally, we find that the term premium produced by the coefficient restricted model is the most economically justified term premium, as compared to the original and bias-corrected premia. The coefficient restricted model is therefore deemed more desirable to decompose the term premium. The unaltered model is preferred for forecasting purposes.
Review of Culturally-Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Interventions for North American Indigenous Children and Youth.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely used and established evidence-based intervention; however the extension of CBT to specific cultural groups may require adaptations to align content and treatment process to cultural beliefs and values. The highly structured and often written nature of CBT might make it less acceptable to Indigenous people. A scoping review of culturally adapted CBT interventions for Indigenous people in North America was conducted. In total, 10 studies were identified that assessed or discussed interventions for trauma, substance use, and internalizing disorders. Studies included diverse Indigenous groups, tended toward small sample sizes, and varied in the level of cultural adaptation. Most included surface level changes, yet comparably fewer studies incorporated deeper structural changes. Overall, reductions in symptoms were demonstrated across interventions targeting various mental health concerns. Methodological limitations within studies inhibit the ability to determine if cultural adaptations led to improved outcomes in comparison to non-adapted interventions
Highly efficient protein-free fusion: a giant vesicle study

Membrane fusion is a ubiquitous process in biology and is a prerequisite for many intracellular delivery protocols relying on the use of liposomes as drug carriers. Here, we investigate in detail the process of membrane fusion and the role of opposite charges in a protein-free lipid system based on cationic liposomes (LUVs) and anionic giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) composed of different palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine:palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylglycerol (POPC:POPG) molar ratios. By using a set of optical microscopyand microfluidics-based methods, we show that liposomes strongly dock to GUVs of pure POPC or low POPG fraction (up to 10 mol%), in a process mainly associated with hemifusion and membrane tension increase, commonly leading to GUV rupture. On the other hand, docked LUVs quickly and very efficiently fuse with negative GUVs of POPG fractions at or above 20 mol%, resulting in dramatic GUV area increase in a charged-dependent manner. Importantly, both hemifusion and full fusion are leakage-free. Fusion efficiency is quantified by the lipid transfer from liposomes to GUVs upon fusion using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), which leads to consistent results when compared to fluorescence lifetime-based FRET. We develop an approach to deduce the final composition of single GUVs after fusion based on the FRET efficiency. We can conclude that fusion is driven by membrane charge and appears to proceed up to charge-neutralization of the acceptor GUV.
Developments in the Data Evaluation of the EDPS Technique to Determine Thermal Properties of Solids

Developments to the data evaluation procedures of the Extended Dynamic Plane Source (EDPS) Technique have been introduced. This technique has been used for simultaneous measurements of the thermal conductivity, diffusivity and the specific heat. The theoretical principle and the experimental arrangement of the technique are highlighted. The technique has the potential to determine these three parameters from a single transient recording of the temperature increase. Within the total time of this transient recording, and by using the difference analysis model, it is possible to select a correct “optimal” time sub-interval for the evaluation procedures. The difference analysis model is based on a mathematical procedures that provides the selection of the optimal time interval within the total measuring time and thus to obtain more accurate and reliable results. The selected time interval is defined as ( tB , tB + tS ). The beginning and the size of the interval are represented by tB and tS , respectively. The procedures consider tB as the varying variable within the selected tS values. The results are plotted versus tB and the optimal time interval is the interval within which the fitting is not sensitive to the interval size that cause a plateau in the plot. Measurements on (Polymethlmethacrylate) PMMA has been performed and analysed based on the difference analysis model. The estimated uncertainties in measurement were 3.6% for thermal conductivity and 2.7% for thermal diffusivity. The results were compared with those obtained from the sensitivity coefficients (parameter estimation) model. Key-Words: Difference Analysis; Dynamic Plane Source Technique; Thermal Conductivity; Thermal Diffusivity; (Polymethlmethacrylate) PMMA. * To whom correspondence should be addressed
Survey and selection of potential pathogens for biological control of waterhyacinth

Almost all living organisms including weeds have atleast one enemy. There are several microorganisms including fungi, bacteria, viruses, etc that incite disease in plants. Amongst these fungi rank first in pathogenicity with immense mycoherbicidal potential. Plant pathogens are potentially valuable additions to the arsenal of weapons for use against weeds (Babu et al. 2003). Selection of a potential and effective agent is one of the most essential steps in any biocontrol programmes.
Scaling Out Multi-Way Stream Joins using Optimized, Iterative Probing

We propose MultiStream, a novel multi-way join operator that optimizes tuple-routing schemes across materialized relations and intermediate results to compute the join results. It allows trading off materialization effort vs. network utilization, which is essential to tailoring the query evaluation to the quantity and power of available compute resources. This goes far beyond the capabilities of more rigid schemes like the HyperCube technique or the BiStream approach that is limited to simple binary plans only. Around MultiStream, we have implemented CLASH, a high-level abstraction on top of Apache Storm, allowing users to phrase declarative queries, which are then optimized and translated into executable Storm topologies. Experiments on Amazon’s EC2, using TPC-H and an additional synthetic benchmark, underpin the versatility of the operator model and CLASH’S ability to outperform state-of-the-art competitors.
Bank Failures and Wage Inequality *

Whether financial distress has an effect on inequality is an important question for which there is relatively scarce evidence. In this study, we use individual-level data to examine the local effects of bank failures on wage inequality. Exploiting geographical variation in bank failures across communities, we show that recent bank failures lead to widening wage gap between skilled and unskilled (skill premium) by around $ 1,000 annually. Additionally, we find that the type of capital employed in a sector determines the extent to which the effects of bank failures are transmitted to local labor markets. Especially for sectors that use knowledge-dependent capital, which cannot be pledged as collateral and therefore has to be financed internally, skill premium induced by bank failures is differentially exacerbated. These results can unlikely be explained by other confounding factors and are consistent with knowledge-dependent capital being financed through forgone earnings of unskilled workers when total financing capacity shrinks.