Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The metallicity-luminosity relationship of dwarf irregular galaxies - II. A new approach

The nature of a possible correlation between metallicity and luminosity for dwarf irregular galaxies, including those with the highest luminosities, has been explored using simple chemical evolutionary models. Our models depend on a set of free parameters in order to include infall and outflows of gas and covering a broad variety of physical situations. Given a fixed set of parameters, a non-linear correlation between the oxygen abundance and the luminosity may be established. This would be the case if an effective self-regulating mechanism between the accretion of mass and the wind energized by the star formation could lead to the same parameters for all the dwarf irregular galaxies. In the case that these parameters were distributed in a random manner from galaxy to galaxy, a significant scatter in the metallicity-luminosity diagram is expected. Comparing with observations, we show that only variations of the stellar mass-to-light ratio are sufficient to explain the observed scattering and, therefore, the action of a mechanism of self-regulation cannot be ruled out. The possible origin of discrepancies in the metallicity-luminosity correlation found by different authors is discussed.
Assessing the Strength and Effectiveness of Renewable Electricity Feed-In Tariffs in European Union Countries

In the last two decades, feed-in tariffs (FIT) have emerged as one of the most popular policies for supporting renewable electricity (RES-E) generation. A few studies have assessed the effectiveness of RES-E policies, but most ignore policy design features and market characteristics (e.g. electricity price and production cost) that influence policy strength. We employ 1992–2008 panel data to conduct the first econometric analysis of the effectiveness of FIT policies in promoting solar photovoltaic (PV) and onshore wind power development in 26 European Union countries. We develop a new indicator for FIT strength that captures variability in tariff size, contract duration, digression rate, and electricity price and production cost to estimate the resulting return on investment. We regress this indicator on added RES-E capacity using a fixed effects specification and find that FIT policies have driven solar PV development in the EU. However, this effect is overstated without controlling for country characteristics and is concealed without accounting for policy design. We do not find robust evidence that FIT policies have driven wind power development. Overall, we show that the interaction of policy design, electricity price, and electricity production cost is a more important determinant of RES-E development than policy enactment alone.
Public-Union Sector Politics and the Crisis of Education in South Africa

This paper reflects on public-sector unions in South Africa with a view to highlighting teacher unionization’s contribution to South Africa’s education crisis. South Africa’s teaching profession is highly unionized. The largest teacher union, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) is affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). The latter is a partner in the ruling tripartite alliance that includes the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). Worldwide most public-sector unions are known to prop up left-wing political organizations. SADTU is no exception. But this paper shows that SADTU organizes teachers at the expense of teaching and learning in a country whose education system has been described as “a crisis” and “a national disaster” whose schools are “dysfunctional”. The paper contemplates on the possibility of borrowing from business models to “redesign” or “reengineer” the country’s ailing education system into an efficient system.
A Finite State Constraint Grammar Parser

Proceedings of the NODALIDA 2011 Workshop Constraint Grammar Applications. Editors: Eckhard Bick, Kristin Hagen, Kaili Muurisep, Trond Trosterud. NEALT Proceedings Series, Vol. 14 (2011), 35–40. © 2011 The editors and contributors. Published by Northern European Association for Language Technology (NEALT) http://omilia.uio. no/nealt . Electronically published at Tartu University Library (Estonia) http://hdl.handle. net/10062/19231 .
A Geometrical Explanation to the Optimality Concept of Minimum Cost Flows

Shigeno et al.'s algorithm(2000) is a scaling method to solve the minimum cost flow problem. In each phase, they applied the most positive cut canceling idea. In this paper, we present a new approach to solve the problem, which uses the scaling method of Shigeno et al.(2000), but, in each phase, we apply the out-of-kilter idea instead of the most positive cut canceling idea. Our algorithm is inspired by Ghiyasvand(2012). The algorithm gives a geometrical explanation to the optimality concept. For a network with $n$ nodes and $m$ arcs, the algorithm performs $O(log (nU))$ phases and runs in $O(m(m+nlog n)log (nU))$ time (where $U$ is the largest absolute arc bound ), which is $O(m(m+nlog n)log n)$ under the similarity assumption. This time is the running time of the algorithms by Orlincite{O} and Vygencite{V} which are the best strongly polynomial-time algorithms to solve this problem.
Professional Music-making in London: Ethnography and Experience

Preface Points of departure: Ethnomusicology and western art music A community of professional musicians The native ethnomusicologist The ethnographic text Musicality and individuality: Musicality and individuality Conceptualising sound Self conception and individual identity: The Deputy system: Variety as the spice of life Deputising Economic capital, musical capital, and self conception Individual identity and reciprocal obligation Musical capital and musical coin Musicianship, small ensembles, and the social self: Musicianship Ensembles and individuals Recordings Orchestras, the self, and creativity in musical performance: Orchestras and the self Creativity Myth and humour: Myth Stereotypes Humour Viola jokes The performance event: ritual, theatre, play: Ritual and ritualising The theatre of musical performance Play . da capo al fine. : Twists in the tale Limitations of the ethnography Musicians lives and social rank: the urban musician-type Appendix Bibliography Index.
A modelling approach to assessing the timescale uncertainties in proxy series with chronological errors.

Abstract. The paper proposes an approach to assessment of timescale errors in proxy-based series with chronological uncertainties. The method relies on approximation of the physical process(es) forming a proxy archive by a random Gamma process. Parameters of the process are partly data-driven and partly determined from prior assumptions. For a particular case of a linear accumulation model and absolutely dated tie points an analytical solution is found suggesting the Beta-distributed probability density on age estimates along the length of a proxy archive. In a general situation of uncertainties in the ages of the tie points the proposed method employs MCMC simulations of age-depth profiles yielding empirical confidence intervals on the constructed piecewise linear best guess timescale. It is suggested that the approach can be further extended to a more general case of a time-varying expected accumulation between the tie points. The approach is illustrated by using two ice and two lake/marine sediment cores representing the typical examples of paleoproxy archives with age models based on tie points of mixed origin.
The political economics of the Malaysian subnational governments’ fiscal behavior

This paper attempts to shed light on the political economy of the Malaysian state governments’ budgetary behavior by tailoring hypotheses drawn from recent theoritical literature to the Malaysian institutional context and testing them empirically. Our main objective here is to examine whether state governments’ fiscal behavior can partly be explained by the political attributes and the institutional characteristics of the government and of the legislature. In particular, we will try to analyze whether the incentives for the state governments to observe a prudent spending behavior have not been undermined by the fact that they have been able to influence relevant central government decisions regarding their finance. Our estimations results show that states that are overrepresented at the executive level tend to have higher spending and deficits. However, we don’t find any correlation between overrepresentation at the Parliament and states governments’ fiscal outcomes. This can be explained by the fact that in Malaysia as is frequently the case in developing nations, the legislature is peripheral to the executive in terms of decision making power.
UV fs-Laser System Pre-Evaluation for Passivation Layer Ablation

In this work the laser ablation process on silicon nitride (SiNX) and silicon oxide (SiO2 / SiNX) layers using ultra-short pulses from 250 femtoseconds (fs) up to 4 picoseconds (ps) for infrared (IR), visible (VIS) and ultraviolet (UV) wavelength was investigated. Studies on re-passivation behavior of ablated areas with SiN X and screen printed aluminum (Al), lifetime reduction due to laser damage and laser spot size have been carried out. An unexpected non linear trend for spot sizes in the D2 versus ln (EP) plot for fs-pulses in the VIS and UV wavelength was observed just like a trend reversal in the statistical models comparing laser damage for fs-pulses between VIS and UV wavelength. A residual was observed in the ablation spot center which occurs only for UV wavelength in combination with very short pulses where the formation can be observed only on single SiN X but not on SiO2 / SiNX layers. Furthermore a difference in the re-passivation behavior with Al and SiNX is demonstrated and laser opened PERC solar cells without any damage etch have been processed showing results comparable to an etching paste opened reference group.
LINK OF MOMENTS BEFORE AND AFTER TRANSFORMATIONS, WITH AN APPLICATION TO RESAMPLING FROM FAT-TAILED DISTRIBUTIONS

Let x be a transformation of y, whose distribution is unknown. We derive an expansion formulating the expectations of x in terms of the expectations of y. Apart from the intrinsic interest in such a fundamental relation, our results can be applied to calculating E(x) by the low-order moments of a transformation which can be chosen to give a good approximation for E(x). To do so, we generalize the approach of bounding the terms in expansions of characteristic functions, and use our result to derive an explicit and accurate bound for the remainder when a finite number of terms is taken. We illustrate one of the implications of our method by providing accurate naive bootstrap confidence intervals for the mean of any fat-tailed distribution with an infinite variance, in which case currently available bootstrap methods are asymptotically invalid or unreliable in finite samples.
Capítulo 5 Resource Allocation in Clouds : Concepts , Tools and Research Challenges

Cloud computing is an attractive computing model since it allows for the provision of resources on-demand. Such a process of allocation and reallocation of resources is the key to accommodating unpredictable demands and improving the return on investment from the infrastructure supporting the Cloud. However, despite the recent growth of the Cloud Computing market, several problems with the process of resource allocation remain unaddressed. This short course introduces essential concepts and technologies regarding Cloud Computing and presents some research questions on the topic, focusing on the challenges and the state-of-the-art solutions in resource allocation.
A Simple Model Of Currency Crises And Budget Deficits: The Case Of Turkey

The aim of this paper is to explore the determinants of currency crises and to illustrate the dynamic behaviour of the fundamental macroeconomic variables in a small open economy under a peg regime. The mainstream models in currency crises literature are not sufficiently available to explain the recent Turkish currency crisis observed in 2000. Turkey was successful to fix domestic credit at the same time with a crawling peg regime in order to achieve price stability. Furthermore, the political preferences were also in favour of continuing the program. Though these facts, the peg collapsed by a speculative attack. Depending on these issues, in our model, which uses a Keynesian framework augmented with a speculative foreign exchange market, it has been focused on the fundamental macroeconomic relationship between budget and trade deficits. Our theoretical model and the simulation results indicate that whether the deficit is financed by monetisation or domestic borrowing, persisting budget deficits cause the peg system to collapse. Overborrowing problems and deterioating balance sheets also play an important role on the unsustainability of the peg regime.
The Influences of Compiler Optimization on Binary Files Similarity Detection

Binary files are generated after compilation. To analyze the similarity detection of binary files, the influences of compiler optimization should be considered. We tested generated binary files with similarity detection tools through the reclassification of clone types and the utility of different compiler optimization. The results show that the similarity detection is less influenced when benchmark files and object files adopting the same compiler optimization; and declined when adopting the different compiler optimization; in addition, the influence of compiler optimization is slightly different according to various clone types.
Cryptanalysis and Enhancement of a Remote User Authentication Scheme Using Smart Cards

A remote user authentication scheme is a two-party protocol whereby an authentication server in a distributed system confirms the identity of a remote individual logging on to the server over an untrusted, open network. In 2005, Liao et al. proposed a remote user authentication scheme using a smart card, in which users can be authenticated anonymously. Recently, Yoon et al. have discovered some security flaws in Liao et al.`s authentication scheme and proposed an improved version of this scheme to fix the security flaws. In this article, we review the improved authentication scheme by Yoon et al. and provide a security analysis on the scheme. Our analysis shows that Yoon et al.`s scheme does not guarantee not only any kind of authentication, either server-to-user authentication or user-to-server authentication but also password security. The contribution of the current work is to demonstrate these by mounting two attacks, a server impersonation attack and a user impersonation attack, and an off-line dictionary attack on Yoon et al.`s scheme. In addition, we propose the enhanced authentication scheme that eliminates the security vulnerabilities of Yoon et al.`s scheme.
N ◦ 2010-06 Spurious Long-Horizon Regression in Econometrics

This paper extends recent research on the behaviour of the t-statistic in a long-horizon regression (LHR). We assume that the explanatory and dependent variables are generated according to the following models: a linear trend stationary process, a broken trend stationary process, a unit root process, and a process with a double unit root. We show that, both asymptotically and in finite samples, the presence of spurious LHR depends on the assumed model for the variables. We propose an asymptotically correct inferential procedure for testing the null hypothesis of no relationship in a LHR, which works whether the variables have a long-run relationship or not. Our theoretical results are applied to an international data set on money and output in order to test for long-run monetary neutrality. Under our new approach and using bootstrap methods, we find that neutrality holds for all countries.
Investigation on Transient Response of Linear Dipole Antennas in the Presence of HEMP Based on Equivalent Circuit

Interfering electromagnetic energy could be a very powerful pulse which is generated and incident onto communication system such as linear wire antenna through direct radiation. In this paper, the transient responses of the linear wire antenna such as dipole antenna under the impact of the earlytime (E1) high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) are investigated using the equivalent circuit due to a primary element used in the modeling of systems for HEMP vulnerability is the linear wire antenna such as dipole antenna. Based on the equivalence concept of HEMP radiation source and linear wire antennas, the response at receiving antenna port is calculated efficiently with an uncomplicated circuit composed of pulse voltage source and lumped elements. Numerical results are presented to confirm the accuracy of the proposed method.
GENOTYPIC VARIATION IN NUTRITIONAL AND ANTIOXIDANT PROFILE AMONG ICEBERG LETTUCE CULTIVARS

Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables is ass ociated with reduced risk of chronic diseases and im provement of cognitive health. Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) is a major salad food, which is widely grown and consumed worldwide. Cultivars-specific informatio n n bioactive composition of crisphead subtype iceberg remains scarce. The present study aimed to profile the nutrition and antioxidant composition o f seven new cultivars of iceberg (‘Equinos’, ‘Ice Cast le’, ‘Metalia’, ‘Num 189’, ‘Silvinas’, ‘Ombrinas’ an d ‘Vanguardia’). The head fresh mass of the iceberg cu ltivars ranged from 485 to 801 g per plant, with the highest values recorded in ‘Num 189’ and ‘Vanguardia’ . Across cultivars, K was the predominant macronutrient and was followed by Ca. The highest nitrate content was recorded in ‘Equinos’ and ‘Umbrinas’, whereas the lowest value was observed in ‘Metalia’. Th e hydrophilic (HAA) and lipophylic antioxidant activities (LAA) of the selected iceberg cultivars ran ged from 4.9 to 13.0 mmol ascorbic acid 100 g -1 dw, and from 6.8 to 12.5 mmol Trolox 100 g -1 dw, respectively. Chicoric acid was the main phenoli c acid present in all cultivars, followed by chlorogenic acid and caff eoyl tartaric acid. The highest HAA, LAA, caffeoyl tartaric acid, chicoric acid and total phenolic conten t were observed in ‘Num 189’, whereas an opposite tren d was recorded for chlorogenic acid. The current findi ngs will improve knowledge of the compositional variation among iceberg cultivars and assist growers in selecting cultivars combining optimal yield with hig nutritional value.
A Virtual Information-Action Workspace for Command and Control

Abstract : Information overload has become a critical challenge withiin military Command and Control. However, the problem is not so much one of too much information but of abundant information that is poorly organised and poorly represented. In addition, the capabilities to test the effects of decisions before they are implemented and to monitor the progress of events after a decision is implemented are primitive. A virtual information-action workspace could be designed to resolve these issues. The design of such a space would require a detailed understanding of the specific information needed to Support decision-making in Command and Control. That information can be obtained with the use of knowledge acquisition and knowledge representation tools from the field of applied cognitive psychology. In addition, it will be necessary to integrate forms for perception and action into a virtual space that will support access to the information and that will provide means for testing and implementing decisions. This paper presents a rationale for a virtual information-action workspace and outlines an approach to its design.
The Difficulties of Teaching English Language: The Relationship between Research and Teaching

Researchers have conducted a large number of studies to solve problems and help teachers to overcome their difficulties. They have also tried to find the relationship between the result of research and their teaching. Learning English as a second or foreign language has received a lot of attention, so teachers have to find some well-planned and organized ways to facilitate the process of learning and teaching. This paper is a brief review on teaching English as a foreign language and why learners are interested in learning English. It also discusses why teachers have difficulties with teaching English language, and what they should do to facilitate the teaching process. It shows the relationship between language pedagogy and research as well as research and teaching. It also deals with a set of strategies and methods that teachers can apply as instruments to improve their students’ learning English.
Induction of classifiers from multi-labeled examples: an information-retrieval point of view

An important task of information retrieval is to induce classifiers capable of categorizing text documents. The fact that the same document can simultaneously belong to two or more categories is referred by the term multi-label classification (or categorization). Domains of this kind have been encountered in diverse fields even outside information retrieval. This dissertation discusses one challenging aspect of text categorization: the documents (i.e., training examples) are characterized by an extremely large number of features. As a result, many existing machine learning techniques are in such domains prohibitively expensive. This dissertation seeks to reduce these costs significantly. The proposed scheme consists of two steps. The first runs a so-called baseline induction algorithm (BIA) separately on different versions of the data, each time inducing a different subclassifier—more specifically, BIA is run always on the same training documents that are each time described by a different subset of the features. The second step then combines the subclassificrs by a fusion algorithm: when a document is to be classified, each subclassifier outputs a set of class labels accompanied by its confidence in these labels; these outputs are then combined into a single multi-label recommendation. The dissertation investigates a few alternative fusion techniques, including an original one, inspired by the Dempster-Shafer Theory. The main contribution is a mechanism for assigning the mass function to individual labels from subclassifiers. The system's behavior is illustrated on two real-world data sets. As indicated, in each of them the examples are described by thousands of features, and each example is labeled with a subset of classes. Experimental evidence indicates that the method can scale up well and achieves impressive computational savings in exchange for only a modest loss in the classification performance. The fusion method proposed is also shown to be more accurate than other more traditional fusion mechanisms. For a very large multi-label data set, the proposed mechanism not only speeds up the total induction time, but also facilitates the execution of the task on a small computer. The fact that subclassifiers can be constructed independently and more conveniently from small subsets of features provides an avenue for parallel processing that might offer further increase in computational efficiency.