Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bayesian Inference for the Segmented Weibull Distribution Inferencia bayesiana para distribuciones Weibull segmentadas

In this paper, we introduce a Bayesian approach for segmented Weibull distributions which could be a good alternative to analyze medical survival data in the presence of censored observations and covariates. With the obtained Bayesian estimated change-points we could get an excellent fit of the proposed model to any data sets. With the proposed methodology, it is also possible to identify survival times intervals where a covariate could have significantly different effects when compared to other lifetime intervals, an important point under a clinical view. The obtained Bayesian estimates are obtained using standard Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods. Some examples with real data sets illustrate the proposed methodology and its potential clinical value.
Analysis of Gamification Elements to Explore Misinformation Sharing Based on U&G Theory: A Software Engineering Perspective

Gamification elements provide apersonal drive to urge user experience, emotion, fun, and engagement,positively or negatively. These gamification elements mayhave beenunintentionallyemployedthroughthe designand implementation processof social media platforms toencourage users’ behaviour towards misinformationsharing. This study intends to answer the subsequent question” What are the mostly used gamification elements that couldpossibly encourage usersto share misinformation on social media platforms? ”. The study empirically investigatesthe usage of gamification elements and their relation to U&G theorywith 286 participants. The results indicated that gamification elements usage scored highwith regard tothe self-expression perspective (frequency=216), as well as theinteraction& collaborations perspective (frequency=198). whereas, the information seeking perspective scored low (frequency=59) and leaderboard were the least usage(frequency=43). The results may be useful to guide software engineering, developers, GUI specialists to cater for design elements settings and their possible negative effects in social media contexts.
USING SHORT-PERIOD SURFACE WAVES TO MODEL SOURCE PHENOMENA

Nearfield and local seismograms of chemical explosions from 1) the Balapan depth of burial (DOB) experiment and 2) the Arizona source phenomenology experiment (SPE) provide an excellent opportunity to study the excitation of Rg waves for source effects. For the DOB experiment, Rg waves were identified using particle motion analysis and isolated from other arrivals using group velocity filtering. Fourier spectra were estimated, amplitude and phase information were processed, and path effects were removed. An Rg Q model and path-specific velocity models for phase corrections were developed for removal of path effects. Using a grid-search method, network-averaged source spectra were inverted to obtain source parameters for an axisymmetric source consisting of a monopole plus a compensated linear vector dipole (CLVD) or a horizontal tensile crack. The suite of observations, including groundzero accelerograms and borehole logs, are best satisfied by models involving a CLVD with non-zero static moment. The CLVD source is related to tensile failure occurring at depths above the shot point, but a non-zero moment distinguishes this source from classical spallation source models. It appears to be more closely related to a conical source of block motions like the faulting source envisaged by Masse (1981). Rg source amplitudes are consistent with mb(Lg) measurements at MAK, as would be expected if nearfield Rg-to-S scattering plays a role in generating S-waves seen at regional distances. A new dataset recorded in September 2003 at a coal mine near Black Mesa, Arizona has allowed us to further examine the excitation of Rg from explosions in and below a topographic bench at the mine. A frequencydependent attenuation model was developed and used to isolate source spectra and to generate radiation patterns. The source spectra for a set of nine explosions show that the one fully confined explosion scaled similarly to a Mueller-Murphy explosion with equivalent yield and depth of burial at most Rg frequencies. However, shots detonated at shallow depths that were not confined have frequency-dependent decoupling factors that vary from 2 to 10 at frequencies between 0.5 and 4 Hz when compared to theoretical scaling from a Mueller-Murphy source. Radiation patterns and spectral ratios from the explosions show increased energies and spectral ratios (factor of 1.5 increase) at azimuths behind the bench. Finally, spectral ratio plots show that detonating explosions with equivalent radiation patterns is a difficult task in the highly-fractured Black Mesa source medium. 26th Seismic Research Review Trends in Nuclear Explosion Monitoring
Traceability Establishment and Visualization of Software Artefacts in DevOps Practice: A Survey

DevOps based software process has become popular with the vision of an effective collaboration between the development and operations teams that continuously integrates the frequent changes. Traceability manages the artefact consistency during a software process. This paper explores the trace-link creation and visualization between software artefacts, existing tool support, quality aspects and the applicability in a DevOps environment. As the novelty of this study, we identify the challenges that limit the traceability considerations in DevOps and suggest research directions. Our methodology consists of concept identification, state-of-practice exploration and analytical review. Despite the existing related work, there is a lack of tool support for the traceability management between heterogeneous artefacts in software development with DevOps practices. Although many existing studies have low industrial relevance, a few proprietary traceability tools have shown a high relevance. The lack of evidence of the related applications indicates the need for a generalized traceability approach. Accordingly, we conclude that the software artefact traceability is maturing and applying collaboratively in the software process. This can be extended to explore features such as artefact change impact analysis, change propagation, continuous integration to improve software development in DevOps environments.
Dynamic Binary Location based Multi-watermark Embedding Algorithm in DWT

In order to achieve a good imperceptibility and robustness, using 4-level DWT algorithm based on dynamic binary host image location and embedding two watermark logos in different DWT levels are proposed for copyright protection and authenticity. In the propounded watermarking algorithm, 5level DWT is applied to host image to obtain the fifth low frequency sub band (LL5), and examination the dynamic binary location value of selected location for embedding purpose in five different locations in host image using the same algorithm process. Our experimental results demonstrate that our algorithm scheme is imperceptible and robust against several image processing attacks, and watermarked image quality evaluating by calculation of SNR, PSNR, RMSE, and MAE.
Adsorption of neutral and protonated Lewis bases on -nanocluster: basicity enhancement of the Lewis bases

Structural and energetic properties of Nan (n = 1–8) nanoclusters were studied employing the B3LYP method and using 6-31+(d,p) basis set. Comparison of the calculated binding energies per atom (Eb) of the cluster shows that the Na8 cluster with D2d symmetry group is the most stable structure among the Nan clusters. Adsorption of neutral and protonated forms of ammonia, methylamine, ethylamine, hydrazine, guanidine, pyridine, methanolamine, and methanimine on Na8 cluster was studied. Interaction of the neutral Lewis bases with Na8 was very weak such that the interaction energies were smaller than − 50 kJ mol−1. However, the protonated bases interact with Na8 more strongly with interaction energies generally in the range of − 90 to − 350 kJ mol−1. The protonated forms of methanolamine undergo dissociative adsorption on Na8 with adsorption energies of about − 800 kJ mol−1. Since the protonated bases are stabilized more than the corresponding neutral ones upon adsorption on Na8 cluster, the basicity of the Lewis bases enhances in the presence of Na8. The calculated proton affinities of the isolated Lewis bases were smaller than 990 kJ mol−1 while in the presence of the Na8 cluster, the basicity increases so that the calculated proton affinities were higher than 1000 kJ mol−1.
Random Forest Classifier Create Images Evaluate Preprocessing Feature Calculation Classification Postprocessing Evaluation

We present a processing pipeline for semantic scene labelling that was developed in view of autonomous driving applications. Our study focuses on two different methods for feature selection Texture-layout-filter (TLF) and Single Histogram Class Models (SHCM) whose influence on the performance of a random forest classifier is investigated. In tests on the Cityscapes dataset, we assess the effects of parameter variation and observe an improvement of the Intersection over Union score by 44 percent when substituting the TLF by the computationally more demanding SHCM feature.
Sustainable development and regional economic strategies or The future for regional policy in Europe

Research on territorial cohesion indicators detects and describes a set of territorial cohesion indicators to be applied in the new programming period 2007-2013. The main aim of the research is to enhance territorial cohesion through the improvement of indicators fit to evaluate and measure the different levels of cohesion at local, national and European level. Thus, the methodological approach has to describe, analyse and detect a set of territorial cohesion indicators and to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the indicators’ systems currently used to measure territorial cohesion. This kind of approach is relevant both to current and new Structural Funds programming period. Moreover, the study proposes a methodological approach to implement an effective management system for the 2007-13 Programmes (STeMA). Sound and efficient indicators’ systems are crucial for monitoring and evaluating Structural Funds Programmes and projects. The 2000-2006 programming period produced a good progress in the quality of such systems which contribute to a more effective Programme management. The current monitoring systems contain inadequacies and the indicator sets can be further developed. In line with the strategic character of the 2007-2013 programming period, more attention must be paid to strengthening the link between Structural Funds Programmes and the Lisbon and Gothenburg Strategy. This paper provides an overview of the indicators’ systems currently used, while featuring also a practical guide to implement an indicators’ system suitable to evaluating territorial cohesion in the new programming period. After a description of the territorial cohesion concept and an indepth overview of the new programming period objectives, the study analyses the main cohesion indicators used at European level and their effectiveness in monitoring activities. Some indicator systems analysed are: the 27 indicators concerning employment, innovation and research, economical reforms and social cohesion the 42 indicators, that are considered more flexible than the previous ones
What are the expected effects of trade policies on Poverty in Senegal ? a CGE Micro-Macro Analysis ∗

There is an ongoing debate on the role of trade policies in alleviating poverty. Indeed trade liberalization is supposed to improve economic growth (Dollar and Kraay, 2002; Irwin and Tervio, 2002; Frankel and Romer, 1999). Focusing on poverty alleviation and income inequities, the positive impact of trade is less consensual. Some works have defended the idea that trade integration implies poverty reduction (Bhagwati and Srinivasan, 2002; Dollar and Kraay, 2004; Anderson and Martin, 2005), but most recent surveys have not reached this general conclusion, pointing that the link between trade and poverty can be puzzling (Winters, McCulloh and McKay, 2004; Goldberg and Pavcnik, 2007; Harrison, 2007). According to these surveys, trade policies bring contrasted effects on poverty but region or sector-specific conclusions can be done. In that sense, Goldberg and Pavcnik (2004) have wrote: ”While establishing a clear link between trade liberalization and absolute poverty poses a tremendous challenge, especially in rural areas, documenting the correlation between trade liberalization and certain indicators of urban poverty in the shortor medium-run seems more promising. ” This paper aims at assessing the expected effects of trade policies on poverty reduction in Senegal. Especially, the main issue is to point out the distributional effects of trade policies among households, following regional, sectoral, occupational and skills features. Then, our article consists in building a single-CGE model, adapted to poor countries and doing counter-factual micro-simulation analysis to underline the income and distributional effects of tariff-reducing under different scenarios. Thus, in order to match with the Senegalese economy, our CGE-model framework arises from two main issues: treating households heterogeneity and modeling the labor market in order to reflect at the closest a dual-dual economy,, that means to distinguish urban from rural sectors and formal from informal activities. ∗Very preliminary draft Do not quote †LAREFI, University of Montesquieu Bordeaux IV and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ‡Centre d’Analyse Théorique et de Traitement des données economiques (CATT), University of Pau §Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA) 1This expression borrowed from Stifel and Thorbecke (2003) refers to the double dichotomy between urban and rural areas and formal and informal sectors
A FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF TRADE LIBERALIZATION ON POVERTY

This paper combines results from a newly available international, cross-section consumption analysis, with earnings data from household surveys from Brazil and Chile, to analyze the implications of multilateral trade liberalization for impoverished households in these two countries. Emphasis throughout this paper is on the short run, during which capital and self-employed labor are sector-specific, with wage labor being the only mobile factor of production. We find aggregate poverty is reduced in both Brazil and Chile. However, while the agriculture-specialized populations in both countries experience a large reduction in poverty, the non-agriculture profits-specialized and wage-labor households experience increases in poverty. JEL Classification: F02; F11; F13.
Exploring the Potential of GPU Computing in Train Rescheduling

One of the crucial factors in achieving a high punctuality in railway traffic systems, is the ability to effectively reschedule the trains when disturbances occur. The railway traffic rescheduling problem is a complex task to solve both from a practical and a computational perspective. Problems of practically relevant sizes have typically a very large search space, making it a challenge to arrive at the best possible solution within the available computational time limit. Though competitive algorithmic approaches are a widespread topic of research, limited research has been conducted in exploring the opportunities and challenges in parallelizing them on graphics processing units (GPUs). This paper presents a conflict detection module for railway rescheduling, which performs its computations on a GPU. The aim of the module is to improve the speed of solution space navigation and thus the solution quality within the computational time limit. The implemented GPU-parallel algorithm proved to be more than twice as fast as the sequential algorithm. We conclude that for the problem under consideration, using a GPU for conflict detection likely gives rise to better solutions at the end of the computational time limit.
Impact of assimilating rainfall derived from radar and satellites on rainstorm forecasts over the Southwestern United States

Author(s): Xu, J; Gao, X; Sorooshian, S; Xiao, Q | Abstract: The impact of assimilating rainfall derived from radar and satellites on rainstorm forecasts over the Southwestern United States is discussed. The major advantage of 4DVAR is the use of full model dynamics and physics to assimilate multiple-time-level observation data. Rainfall assimilation via 4DVAR is used to improve the moisture distributions in model IC. It is found that by using 4DVAR to generate model IC, the precipitation intensity and patterns can be improved substantially over the mid-latitude plain regions.
Women in Small Scale Enterprises and Poverty Reduction in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State: A Logistic Regression Approach

This study investigated Women in Small Scale Enterprises (SSEs) and poverty reduction in Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State. The study used interviews and questionnaires to elicit information from the respondents. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed to women in the local government area. Four wards namely:Egume, Dekina, Ayangba, and Iyale were selected and questionnaires were distributed to women in the area of soap making, Palm oil production and fashion and designing. The study used simple percentages, interviews, and logit regression model. The result of the study shows that women are involved in SSEs to earn income that will enable them to take care of their families. The logistic regression shows that SSEs have impacted significantly on women in the local government area. The study therefore recommends that women in SSEs should form co-operative societies so that they can pool resources together to finance their businesses and also that the local government council and the state government should create an enabling environment through the provision of facilities such as farming equipment, land to construct shops and funds to carry out their businesses so that women can venture into SSEs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date of Submission: 20-10-2018 Date of acceptance: 05-11-2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEVELOPMENT OF A TIME-DOMAIN , VARIABLE-PERIOD SURFACE WAVE MAGNITUDE MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION AT REGIONAL DISTANCES

We continue to examine the feasibility of using short-period surface waves for estimating magnitude at regional distances. In previous research studies, we demonstrated that calibrated surface wave magnitudes (e.g., Marshall and Basham, 1972; Rezapour and Pearce, 1998) based on 7-second surface waves provided adequate Ms-mb discriminant performance at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). However, at the Lop Nor test site we determined that the method worked best by forming magnitudes at the period of maximum amplitude. We have recently shifted our focus to a new surface wave magnitude scale developed by Russell (2004) that uses Butterworth-filtered seismic signals. Russell (2004) developed a zero-phase 3rd order Butterworth magnitude equation (with amplitude, ab, measured zero-to-peak in nanometers) of: € Ms = log(ab )+ 1 2 log sin Δ ( ) ( )+ . 0031 T0 T 
Dividend Initiations , Increases and Idiosyncratic Volatility

We examine three aspects of the relation between dividend initiation and increase announcements and idiosyncratic volatility. First, consistent with dividend signaling, we find that firms with higher levels of idiosyncratic volatility are associated with higher announcement abnormal returns when initiating or increasing dividends. Second, high idiosyncratic volatility firms are associated with stronger positive post event return drift. Finally, firms on average experience an ex post reduction in idiosyncratic volatility following dividend initiations that is associated with announcement and long-term abnormal returns. JEL classification: G30, G32, G35
USP SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC WORKING PAPER IS MONEY ENDOGENOUS IN THE PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES ?

For successful monetary policy formulation and implementation, monetary authorities need to establish the existence of a stable relationship between reserve money and money supply so that changes in reserve money manipulated by policy changes can have desirable, intended effects on money stock. Thus, the basic requirement is that reserve money, also known as monetary base, is exogenous. In open economies under fixed exchange rate regimes, it is generally held that domestic monetary authorities cannot control money supply, since money has a causal predominance over reserve money. The objective of this paper is to examine whether any such generalization could be made in the case of Pacific island countries (PICs), which have independent currencies of their own. Among the six PICs, five of them, namely Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu have fixed exchange rate regimes, while Papua New Guinea has a flexible exchange regime. Our results show that there is bidirectional causality between monetary aggregates and reserve money for both Fiji and Vanuatu. On the other hand, there is unidirectional causality running from reserve money to monetary aggregates for Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. The findings have significant policy implications from the point of view of conducting monetary policy.
A Comparative Analysis of Time Coherent 3 D Animation Reconstruction Methods from RGB-D Video Data

We present a comparative analysis of Time Coherent 3D Animation Reconstruction methods from the RGBD video data. We analyze the existing methods that can reconstruct a time coherent 3D animation, and also present two modified algorithms that extend the earlier work. We show that using all the methods it is possible to reconstruct a timecoherent 3D animation using either only the color data, color and depth data, or only the depth data. We compare all the methods using a number of error measures and analyze the strength and weaknesses of each method in terms of their accuracy and runtime performance. Our analysis demonstrates that given RGB-D video data, it is possible to select the best algorithm for time coherent 3D animation reconstruction under a number of constraints in terms of the required accuracy and runtime performance.