Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Markdown Budgets for Retail Buyers: Help or Hindrance?

For many retailers, markdown decisions are taken by retail buyers whose compensation is based on sales revenue so their objective is to maximize it through the season. This implies that the buyers' objectives are not perfectly aligned with the overall profitability the firm. Many retailers set markdown budgets prior to the season to control margin erosion and increase profitability. Markdown budget constrains the buyers on the amount of discounts that they can apply on a given inventory of merchandise and sets a limit on the dollar value of markdowns for the season. While markdown budgets may be useful in preventing excessive discounts, they can have a detrimental effect on the buyers' ability to respond to poor market and remove distressed inventory. We investigate the effectiveness of this practice in aligning the incentives of buyers with that of the firm, and provide guidance on how these budgets should be established ahead of time. We consider a firm with a fixed inventory of a seasonable item, and a single chance to mark the price down. The retailer knows only the demand distribution at the beginning of the season, but the market information is revealed during the season to the buyer. We first characterize the buyer's markdown policy and understand the circumstances under which this can be different from the retailer's markdown policy. We use our model to determine the optimal markdown budget and quantify its effectiveness considering different factors such as the level of demand uncertainty, initial markup, and market's responsiveness to markdowns.
Detection and characterization of transport barriers in complex flows via ridge extraction of the finite time Lyapunov exponent field

This paper proposes an algorithm to detect and characterize ridges in the finite time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE) field obtained from a continuous dynamical system or flow. These ridges represent time‐dependent separatrices of the flow and are also called Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS). LCS have been demonstrated to be an effective way to analyze realistic time‐chaotic flows, although they can be quite complex. Therefore, in order to exploit the information that LCS can provide it is important to locate and characterize these structures in a systematic way. This can be accomplished by interpreting the FTLE as a height field and detecting the LCS as ridges of this graph. Methodologies developed in the image processing framework are integrated with dynamical system inspired approaches in order to characterize ridge strength and location. The main novel contribution of the proposed algorithm is a scheme to connect sets of points into curves or surfaces (rather than distributions of points around a ridge axis) and classify these curves or surfaces using a dynamical systems measure of strength. This approach provides the capability to track ranked LCS in space and time. The results are presented for a simple analytical model and noisy LCS from realistic three‐dimensional geophysical fluid data. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
COLOR IMAGE DEMOSAICKING VIA DEEP RESIDUAL LEARNING

Color demosaicking plays a key role in digital imaging with a color filter array. Most existing demosaicking methods are based on hand-crafted priors, which may exhibit unpleasant visual artifacts in hard cases (e.g., regions with high color saturation and sharp color transition). This paper presents a customized convolutional neural network (CNN), which is trained in an end-to-end manner from natural color images to address the color demosaicking problem. Specifically, by utilizing the residual learning strategy, our network learns the demosaicking prior with a two-stage architecture: the first stage aims to recover an intermediate result of the G channel as guidance prior, while the second stage uses the intermediate G channel information to guide the reconstruction of final color demosaicking result. Our experimental results on the widely-used Kodak and McMaster datasets and a new dataset demonstrate that the proposed CNN model not only yields superior results to state-of-the-art demosaicking algorithms both quantitatively and qualitatively, but also enjoys a fast demosaicking speed by GPU computation.
Sector-Specific Externalities and Endogenous Growth under Social Constant Returns

By examining two-sector models of endogenous growth with physical and human capital, this paper demonstrates that indeterminacy of equilibrium may emerge even in the absence of social increasing returns. The first model we examine assumes that both final good and new human capital production sectors employ physical as well as human capital under social constant returns but private decreasing returns due to the presence of sector-specific externalities. It is shown that a small divergence between private and social factor intensity conditions generates indeterminacy of equilibrium rather easily even under constant returns. I addition, we show that introducing endogenous labor supply may enhance the possibility of indeterminacy. Some extensions and intuitive interpretation of the indeterminacy conditions are also presented.
A MODIFIED FRACTAL RECTANGULAR CURVE DIELECTRIC RESONATOR ANTENNA FOR WIMAX APPLICATION

This paper presents the simulation study of a wideband modified fractal rectangular curve iteration-1 (FRC-1) dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) along with conventional FRC DRAs of different iteration levels for WiMAX application. The simulation study has been carried out using CST Microwave Studio software. The design procedure and radiation performance characteristics of modified and conventional FRC DRAs are described and the simulation results for modified FRC-1 DRA are compared with those of a conventional FRC-1 DRA of identical outer dimensions. The simulation results for the material dielectric constant dependent radiation characteristics of both the FRC-1 DRAs are also presented. The results presented here may be useful in designing portable personnel communication device antennas and in analyzing the performance of these antennas for wireless communication.
Direct femtosecond laser ablation of copper with an optical vortex beam

Laser surface structuring of copper is induced by laser ablation with a femtosecond optical vortex beam generated via spin-to-orbital conversion of the angular momentum of light by using a q-plate. The variation of the produced surface structures is studied as a function of the number of pulses, N, and laser fluence, F. After the first laser pulse (N = 1), the irradiated surface presents an annular region characterized by a corrugated morphology made by a rather complex network of nanometer-scale ridges, wrinkles, pores, and cavities. Increasing the number of pulses (2 1000) and a deep crater is formed. The nanostructure variat.
Budget Balancing Incentive Mechanisms

Xepapadeas [10] develops a pollution abatement incentive mechanism that both reduces the information requirements of regulator and is "budget balancing" drawing only on the social gains from pollution abatement to encourage firm compliance. This paper demonstrates that, contrary to Xepapadeas [10], the budget balancing system of random penalties cannot be used induce compliance with the regulator's objectives if firms are risk neutral. However, the mechanism can be successfully applied if firms are sufficiently risk averse (Rasmusen [9]). Second, the paper explores the optimal design of the random fine system, including the choice of fines, penalty probabilities, and team size.
Gestalt Theory in Image Processing : A discussion paper

The apparent phenomenon of Gestalt laws in visual perception has stimulated a steady flow of research contributions in the image processing and pattern recognition research community. In this paper, we want to provide a critical review of a representative number of such contributions and point out some issues that have not been reflected well in all these past works. A rough estimate gives a few hundert research contributions on the topic of Gestalt (theory, psychology, laws) in computer science. The recent number of publications is about twice as large as 20-30 years ago, which is conform with the general increase of the number of research publications. Thus, there seems to be a small, but rather constant share of papers devoted to the general theme Gestalt. It is also notable that mostly these contributions are isolated ones, with few amount of referencing between them. So far, we could not witness any generally accepted means of introducing Gestalt in image processing. The comparable low amount of research devoted to the direct linking between Gestalt theory and image processing does not entail a low practical impact. There are many potential industrial applications waiting for any more thorough approach to the Gestalt theme. The most obvious one is gaining a deeper insight into the functionality of human (or higher animal) vision, which has been the pre-cursor of any image processing related development so far. But also, it has a strong relation to any design study.
Individual personality traits influence group exploration in a feral guppy population

We examined whether variation in group exploratory behavior was linked with variation in personality traits (boldness, activity, and sociability) in a population of feral guppies (Poecilia reticulata). A huge amount of variation was observed in dispersal tendency between shoals. Surprisingly, no significant correlations were found between group exploratory behavior and average group personality scores, which suggests that the movement of the shoal was not generated by group conformity. However, our analysis revealed correlations between group exploration and the activity score of the least active member of a group and the sociality index of the most social member of a group. These results indicate that a minority of key individuals with certain personality types can have substantial effects on group behavior. These results are discussed in the broader context of group decision making in social animals.
Evaluation of Nevirapine Release Kinetics from Polycaprolactone Hybrids

The Nevirapine (NVP)/Polycaprolactone (PCL)/Nanoparticles hybrids systems have been developed as a potential platform for drug delivery, by solvent cast, as thin films. NVP, an antiretroviral drug, was included within PCL matrix containing three types of nanoparticles: an organoclay layered silicate Viscogel S7®(3% w/w), hydrophilic silica oxide particles Aerosil® A20 (0.25% w/w) and titanium dioxide particles (0.25% w/w). These systems were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), in-vitro dissolution testing and drug release mechanism kinetics. The PCL crystallization was affected by NVP incorporation, modifying its semi-crystalline structure to a less ordered structure. When nanoparticles and NVP were added, the T1H values increased, for PCL, PCL/S7, PCL/ SiO2 and PCL/TiO2 hybrids, suggesting that its addition produced a new material, with less molecular mobility, due to the new intermolecular interactions formation. It can consider a structure formation among the PCL chains, nanoparticles and NVP, with strong forces in the PCL/SiO2/NVP system. The amount of NVP included was around 1.5 ± 0.03 mg/cm2. In the in-vitro dissolution test, the PCL/SiO2/NVP system released the smallest amount of drug and this result could be attributed to the strong intermolecular interaction between the drug and the PCL/SiO2 system. Higuchi’s model was the mathematical model chosen to treat the release data, since this model presented the highest coefficient correlation (r) value. The drug release probably occur by diffusion through the matrix pores, thus, these materials are suitable for sustained release of NVP.
Rayleigh Brillouin optical time-domain analysis system using heterodyne detection and wavelength scanning

Abstract. This study proposes the use of heterodyne detection and wavelength scanning techniques to solve the problems of small signal and large noise in a Rayleigh Brillouin optical time-domain analysis (BOTDA) system and thereby improve the system performance. Based on an analysis of the Rayleigh BOTDA system, heterodyne detection is used to enhance the signal intensity and wavelength scanning is used to reduce the fading noise. Experimental results obtained using the proposed techniques show that the amplitude fluctuation and signal-to-noise ratio in a 50-m-long fiber near the fiber end with 17 wavelength scans-based averaging are, respectively, reduced by 0.91 dB and increased by 4.19 dB compared to those with a single wavelength. Furthermore, the Brillouin frequency shift in a 70-m-long fiber heated to 50°C and inserted at the center of the sensing fiber can be measured accurately with a maximum fluctuation of 0.19 MHz; this is equivalent to a temperature measurement accuracy of 0.19°C. These results indicate that the proposed techniques can realize high-accuracy measurement, and therefore, they show great potential in the field of long-distance and high-accuracy sensing.
Caracterización de bacterias degradadoras de Carbofuran obtenidas de suelos bajo cultivo de papa y con diferente historia de aplicación de plaguicidas

Ochenta y dos aislamientos bacterianos con actividad potencial de degradacion de Carbofuran (Furadan®3SC), fueron obtenidos de suelos, cultivados con papa (Solanum tuberosum) variedad Unica, del municipio de Silos, Norte de Santander (Colombia) con diferente historia de aplicacion del plaguicida. Las bacterias fueron seleccionadas por su capacidad para crecer a 25 °C durante 72 h, en medios de cultivo conteniendo 200 mg L-1 de Carbofuran analitico como unica fuente de carbono y/o nitrogeno. Los resultados mostraron que diez aislamientos correspondientes al 12 % de los obtenidos, crecieron en el medio de cultivo. Ocho de los aislamientos fueron obtenidos del suelo con mayor historia de exposicion al plaguicida (ocho anos de aplicacion), e identificados por caracteristicas macroscopicas, microscopicas y bioquimicas como Sphingomonas paucimobilis. Los otros dos fueron obtenidos de suelos con tres y un ano de aplicacion y caracterizados como Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, respectivamente. Posteriormente, estas bacterias fueron evaluadas por su capacidad para degradar Carbofuran por via hidrolitica, demostrando que el plaguicida fue degradado unicamente por los aislamientos de Sphingomonas paucimobilis durante un tiempo de 72 h. Los resultados obtenidos en los ensayos in vitro denotan la capacidad metabolica que tienen estas bacterias para la biodegradacion de Carbofuran, destacando su potencial utilizacion para futuros ensayos de evaluacion en campo, en lugares en donde pueda existir residualidad del plaguicida, como alternativa para controlar el posible impacto que tienen los plaguicidas N-metilcarbamatos en el medio ambiente y en la salud humana.
Flexible Packet Generation Control for Multi-Application V2V Communication

Decentralized Congestion Control (DCC) for 802.11p based V2X communication has been widely investigated for a single Cooperative Awareness service. As future connected intelligent vehicles will be based on multiple V2X services with a variety of application traffic pattern, DCC mechanisms should be capable of limiting channel congestion while satisfying the channel resource requirement of a range of heterogeneous applications in each node. In this paper, we analyze the application layer rate control approach of Facilities DCC, currently being standardized in Europe, and propose a flexible packet generation control, which gives each node more flexibility and agility for resource management among its applications. Our simulation based results show that a flexible allocation can more rapidly serve application packet generation requests while keeping the channel load within the desired level even with high node density. More importantly, it solves the starvation issue, commonly associated with the strict priority based traffic shaping approach of DCC.
IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ADVANCED CONTROLLER ON A TORSIONAL MECHANISM

The hardware implementation of an active disturbance rejection controller (ADRC) is presented in the thesis for a mechanical torsional plant. ADRC is a novel disturbance rejection control technique that is not completely dependent on mathematical models of physical systems. In ADRC framework external disturbances, system uncertainties, and internal dynamics of the system are estimated as a generalized disturbance by an extended state observer and the generalized disturbance is effectively canceled by a PD controller. A torsional plant represents a class of rotational systems. Its control challenges are the vibrations caused by mass imbalance, centrifugal imbalance, and the imbalance caused by the non-coincidence between the principal and geometric axes of rotating disc. In the thesis, the ADRC is applied to the torsional mechanism to control the angular speed and displacement of the rotating disc in the presences of the vibrations. Both simulation and hardware implementation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the ADRC. In addition, the hardware implementation results of the ADRC are compared with that of PD controller in terms of performance, control voltage requirement and tuning effort involved in the design process. The comparison study shows the superiority of the ADRC to PD controller. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT v LIST OF TABLES ix LIST OF FIGURES x ACRONYMS xiii CHAPTER
How Do You Measure a Constitutional Moment? Using Algorithmic Topic Modeling To Evaluate Bruce Ackerman's Theory of Constitutional Change

AB S TRACT. Bruce Ackerman argues that major shifts in constitutional law can occur outside the Article V amendment process when there are unusually high levels of sustained popular attention to questions of constitutional significance. This Note develops a new empirical strategy to evaluate this claim using the debate over ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment as its test case. The Note applies a statistical process known as unsupervised topic modeling to a dataset containing over 19,000 pages of text from U.S. newspapers published between 1866 and 1884. This innovative methodological technique illuminates the structure of constitutional discourse during this period. The Note finds empirical support for the notion that the salience of constitutional issues was high throughout the ratification debate and then gradually declined as the country returned to a period of normal politics. These findings buttress Ackerman's cyclic theory of constitutional change at one of its more vulnerable points.
Pure Money for a Sound Economy

At present, the world-economy is exceedingly fragile. Debt levels of nations peak. Monetary assets increase, too, and concentrate in the hands of few. In this paper, I show that a mechanism at the root of today’s monetary system entails an inherently fragile economy. I simulate the consequences of this mechanism within a macroeconomic model. I motivate a new monetary system that gives money the role it should have: to facilitate complex interactions in a stable environment.
Identifying and Estimating Brand Satiation Using Purchase Data: A Structural Hidden Markov Modeling Approach

In product categories such as yogurt, cereal and candy, consumers are likely to be satiated after frequent consumption of the same brand, leading to variety-seeking and switching to other brands. Prior research has modeled satiation mostly using consumption and preference data, but most firms have access to only purchase data. Identifying satiation and estimating satiation effect using purchase data remain a significant challenge. We develop a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) based structural approach and identify and estimate satiation using scanner purchase data of yogurt brands. In this model, consumers temporarily stay in an unobserved satiation state. The results show that consumers may be occasionally satiated for a certain brand, and that the satiation probabilities differ significantly across brands. Our model explains and predicts consumer satiation and its effects better than benchmark models.
Study on pore distribution and formation rule of sepiolite mineral nanomaterials

Theoretical research and specific surface area analysis of nitrogen adsorption indicated that a lot of structural micropores exist in sepiolite minerals fibers. However, the microporous size, existing form, and the distribution relationship between microporous structures were not proved yet. In this paper, the section TEM samples of nanofibers were prepared on the basis of the metal embedding and cutting technique, and the inner structure of sepiolite nanofibers was observed by TEM. The results showed that sepiolite fibers have multiplayer structure similar to concentric circles, and many micropores with the size of about 2-5nm are normal and parallel to the c-axis. The reason for the previously mentioned phenomenon was explained by using BET analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis results.
PENGARUH KUALITAS PRODUK DAN PERSEPSI HARGA TERHADAP KEPUASAN NASABAH MELALUI KEPERCAYAAN NASABAH ASURANSI JIWASRAYA CABANG KUDUS

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menguji dan menganalisis pengaruh Kualitas Produk dan Persepsi Harga terhadap PT. Asuransi Jiwasraya di Kudus. Metode pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner dan teknik analisis menggunakan Structural Equation Modeling kepada 203 responden. Analisis data dalam penelitian ini menggunakan AMOS versi 22. Teknik pengambilan sampel yang digunakan adalah purposive sampling dan teknik pengujian data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini meliputi validitas dan uji reliabilitas. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa variabel kualitas produk dan persepsi harga adalah positif dan signifikan terhadap kepercayaan dan kepuasan pelanggan. Kata Kunci: Produk Berkualitas; Persepsi Harga; Kepercayaan; Kepuasan Pelanggan
Cahier 11-2018 Organizing Time Banks : Lessons from Matching Market s

A time bank is a group of people that set up a common platform to trade services among themselves. There are several well-known problems associated with this type of time banking, e.g., high overhead costs and difficulties to identify feasible trades. This paper constructs a nonmanipulable mechanism that selects an individually rational and time-balanced allocation which maximizes exchanges among the members of the time bank (and those allocations are efficient). The mechanism works on a domain of preferences where agents classify services as unacceptable and acceptable (and for those services agents have specific upper quotas representing their maximum needs).
Assessing Time-Varying Stock Market Integration in EMU for Normal and Crisis Periods

In this paper, we examine the financial integration process amongst 17 EMU countries from January 2002 to June 2013 over a normal period as well as for the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and Eurozone Debt Crisis (EDC) periods. We classify the economies in three groups (A, B and C) based on their GDP to examine whether the economic size influences financial integration. Seven indicators are used for the purpose, namely, Beta Convergence, Sigma Convergence, Variance Ratio, Asymmetric DCC, Dynamic Cointegration, Market Synchronisation Measure and Common Components Approach. The results suggest that large sized EMU economies (termed as Group A) exhibit strong financial integration. Moderate financial integration is observed for middle-sized EMU economies with old membership (termed as Group B). Small sized economies (termed as Group C) economies seemed to be least integrated within the EMU stock market system. The findings further suggest presence of contagion effects as one moves from normal to crisis periods, which are specifically stronger for more integrated economies of Group A. We recommend institutional, regulatory and other policy reforms for Group B and especially Group C to achieve higher level of integration.