Testing the 'Learning for Sustainabiliy' Approach in a Training for Trainers: Contribution to new learning theory and approaches

Mainstreaming the LforS approach is a challenge due to dive rging institutional priorities, customs, and expectations of classically traine d staff. A workshop to test LforS theory and practice, and explore how to mainstream it, took place in a concrete context in a rural district of Mozambique, focusing on agricultural, forest and water resources. The evaluation showed that the principles of interaction applied pe rmitted to link rational know ledge with practical experience through mutual learning and iterative self-reflection. The combination of learning techniques was considered usef ul; participants called for further opportunities to apply the LforS methodology, proposing next steps.

On the theory of high and low pressure areas: The significance of divergence in pressure areas

This is the edited and translated version of the article by Richard Scherhag “Zur Theorie der Hoch- und Tiefdruckgebiete. Die Bedeutung der Divergenz in Druckfeldern” (On the theory of high and low pressure areas: The significance of divergence in pressure areas), which was published in Meteorologische Zeitschrift 51, 129–138.

Are Shirking and Leisure Substitutable? An Empirical Test of Efficiency Wages Based on Urban Economic Theory

Recent theoretical work has examined the spatial distribution of unemployment using the efficiency wage model as the mechanism by which unemployment arises in the urban economy. This paper extends the standard efficiency wage model in order to allow for behavioral substitution between leisure time at home and effort at work. In equilibrium, residing at a location with a long commute affects the time available for leisure at home and therefore affects the trade-off between effort at work and risk of unemployment. This model implies an empirical relationship between expected commutes and labor market outcomes, which is tested using the Public Use Microdata sample of the 2000 U.S. Decennial Census. The empirical results suggest that efficiency wages operate primarily for blue collar workers, i.e. workers who tend to be in occupations that face higher levels of supervision. For this subset of workers, longer commutes imply higher levels of unemployment and higher wages, which are both consistent with shirking and leisure being substitutable.

Impact of fee schedules and approved doctor's list on physician availability in the Texas Workers' Compensation Program

The purpose of this study was to examine and describe the changes in physician provider workforce, before and after two regulatory changes were implemented by the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission (TWCC) in August and September of 2003: Fee schedules and the Approved Doctor's List (ADL). The number and type of physicians who participated in the program after the changes went into effect were measured and compared to projections based on natural attrition. In addition, interviews with key stakeholders were conducted regarding the program changes. ^ Collectively, this evidence suggests that physician response followed the same patterns as shown in previous research. The number of physicians who continued to participate and bill the Texas workers' compensation program decreased significantly as a result of the regulatory changes. The consequences of these changes on access and quality of care need to be documented with empirical research. The availability of physicians in the workforce is linked to access to care. The type and location of physicians who remained in the system also have impact on quality and access to care. ^

Trade Credits under Imperfect Enforcement: A Theory with a Test on Chinese Experience

It is widely recognized that trade credit is an important financial mechanism, particularly in developing economies and transition economies where institutions are weak. This paper documents theoretical analysis and empirical accounts on what facilitates an effective supply of trade credit based on original surveys conducted in P.R. of China. Our theory predicts that trade volume and trade credit are increasing function of cash held by the buyer and enforcement technology of the seller. Furthermore, if the state sector’s enforcement technology is high, it has positive external effect to expand the volumes of trade credit and trades in the whole economy. From the data, we found that government made active commitment in enforcement of trade credit contract and the government owned firms are main supplier and receivers of trade credit, which suggest that enforcement by government and state sector were effective against presumptions in the previous literatures.

Formless as Water, Flaming as a Fire-Some observations on the Theory and Practice of Self-Determination

The concept of national self-determination is a highly contested concept from very outset. It is partly due to its dual parentage, namely nationalism and liberalism. Prior to 1945 it was only a political concept without legal binding. With the incorporation of the principle in the UN Charter it was universalized and legalized. However, there were two competing interpretations at the UN based on de-colonization and representative government. How to define self and what really determined remain highly controversial. How to reconcile the international norm of sovereignty of state and self determination of people became more complex problem with the tide of secessionist movements based on ethno-nationalism. The concept of internal self-determination came as a compromise; but it is also very vague and harbors a wide range of interpretations.

Skilled emigration and exchange rate : theory and empirics

In this paper we build a theoretical model on the wage effect of skilled emigration to the fluctuations in real exchange rate through the relative prices of nontradables. Our theoretical model predicts that skilled emigration is associated with an increase in the prices of nontradable, which in turn appreciates the exchange rate. We provide robust empirical support to a higher skilled emigration associated with higher prices in nontradables and appreciation of the real effective exchange rate. Based on two samples of countries with 51 and 67 observations, in 1990 and 2000 respectively, we find robust empirical support to a higher skilled emigration associated with higher prices in nontradables and appreciation of the REER. In addition, the support for the remittance-channel of the Dutch disease is also significant; overall, our findings corroborate the remittance-based Dutch disease phenomenon by providing an additional channel through which the labor mobility across borders affects the real exchange rate volatility.

On the allowance for support costs in Prager-Rozvany’ optimal layout theory

A recent study by Rozvany and Sokól discussed an important topic in structural design: the allowance for support costs in the optimization process. This paper examines a frequently used kind of support —that of simple foundation with horizontal reaction by friction— that appears no covered for the Authors’ approach. A simple example is examined to illustrate the case and to apply the Authors’ method and the standard design method.

An approach to automatic learning assessment based on the computational theory of perceptions

E-learning systems output a huge quantity of data on a learning process. However, it takes a lot of specialist human resources to manually process these data and generate an assessment report. Additionally, for formative assessment, the report should state the attainment level of the learning goals defined by the instructor. This paper describes the use of the granular linguistic model of a phenomenon (GLMP) to model the assessment of the learning process and implement the automated generation of an assessment report. GLMP is based on fuzzy logic and the computational theory of perceptions. This technique is useful for implementing complex assessment criteria using inference systems based on linguistic rules. Apart from the grade, the model also generates a detailed natural language progress report on the achieved proficiency level, based exclusively on the objective data gathered from correct and incorrect responses. This is illustrated by applying the model to the assessment of Dijkstra’s algorithm learning using a visual simulation-based graph algorithm learning environment, called GRAPHs

Reply to Comment on ``Towards a large deviation theory for strongly correlated systems''

The computational study commented by Touchette opens the door to a desirable generalization of standard large deviation theory for special, though ubiquitous, correlations. We focus on three interrelated aspects: (i) numerical results strongly suggest that the standard exponential probability law is asymptotically replaced by a power-law dominant term; (ii) a subdominant term appears to reinforce the thermodynamically extensive entropic nature of q-generalized rate function; (iii) the correlations we discussed, correspond to Q -Gaussian distributions, differing from Lévy?s, except in the case of Cauchy?Lorentz distributions. Touchette has agreeably discussed point (i), but, unfortunately, points (ii) and (iii) escaped to his analysis. Claiming the absence of connection with q-exponentials is unjustified.

Adaptive control system based on lineal control theory for the path-following problem of a car-like mobile robot

The objective of this paper is to design a path following control system for a car-like mobile robot using classical linear control techniques, so that it adapts on-line to varying conditions during the trajectory following task. The main advantages of the proposed control structure is that well known linear control theory can be applied in calculating the PID controllers to full control requirements, while at the same time it is exible to be applied in non-linear changing conditions of the path following task. For this purpose the Frenet frame kinematic model of the robot is linearised at a varying working point that is calculated as a function of the actual velocity, the path curvature and kinematic parameters of the robot, yielding a transfer function that varies during the trajectory. The proposed controller is formed by a combination of an adaptive PID and a feed-forward controller, which varies accordingly with the working conditions and compensates the non-linearity of the system. The good features and exibility of the proposed control structure have been demonstrated through realistic simulations that include both kinematics and dynamics of the car-like robot.

Data Fusion based on Game Theory for Speaker Diarization

A novel algorithm based on bimatrix game theory has been developed to improve the accuracy and reliability of a speaker diarization system. This algorithm fuses the output data of two open-source speaker diarization programs, LIUM and SHoUT, taking advantage of the best properties of each one. The performance of this new system has been tested by means of audio streams from several movies. From preliminary results on fragments of five movies, improvements of 63% in false alarms and missed speech mistakes have been achieved with respect to LIUM and SHoUT systems working alone. Moreover, we also improve in a 20% the number of recognized speakers, getting close to the real number of speakers in the audio stream

Influence of Atmospheric Conditions on mmWave CATR Facilities: Formulation and Compensation Scheme

The performance of a CATR relies on the planarity of the synthesized test wave, which is generated within a bounded volume for which specifications are drawn. Millimetre-wave facilities deal with the classical limitations of this frequency band, among which two become critical in our analysis: time-extensive acquisition campaigns and impact of environmental variables. Both features become more evident when increasing the frequency of operation. The variation in atmospheric variables, such as humidity, temperature and pressure has an influence over the performance of all the elements of the facility. The instrumentation behavior is influenced both by the warming up process, and the ambience conditions that surround the equipment. On the changes of the atmosphere itself, they affect the electromagnetic wave propagation, given the physical link between the conditions of the atmosphere and its electric properties as an electromagnetic waves propagation medium