On a new class of tests for the Pareto distribution using Fourier methods

We propose new classes of tests for the Pareto type I distribution using the empirical characteristic function. These tests are $U$ and $V$ statistics based on a characterisation of the Pareto distribution involving the distribution of the sample minimum. In addition to deriving simple computational forms for the proposed test statistics, we prove consistency against a wide range of fixed alternatives. A Monte Carlo study is included in which the newly proposed tests are shown to produce high powers. These powers include results relating to fixed alternatives as well as local powers against mixture distributions. The use of the proposed tests is illustrated using an observed data set

An ‘apples to apples’ comparison of various tests for exponentiality

The exponential distribution is a popular model both in practice and in theoretical work. As a result, a multitude of tests based on varied characterisations have been developed for testing the hypothesis that observed data are realised from this distribution. Many of the recently developed tests contain a tuning parameter, usually appearing in a weight function. In this paper we compare the powers of 20 tests for exponentiality—some containing a tuning parameter and some that do not. To ensure a fair ‘apples to apples’ comparison between each of the tests, we employ a data-dependent choice of the tuning parameter for those tests that contain these parameters. The comparisons are conducted for various samples sizes and for a large number of alternative distributions. The results of the simulation study show that the test with the best overall power performance is the Baringhaus and Henze test, followed closely by the test by Henze and Meintanis; both tests contain a tuning parameter. The score test by Cox and Oakes performs the best among those tests that do not include a tuning parameter.The first author thanks the National Research Foundation of South Africa for financial support.https://link.springer.com/journal/1802018-05-20hj2017Statistic

Solving road (and pedestrian) safety problems through sustainable job creation in our communities

Paper presented at the 31st Annual Southern African Transport Conference 9-12 July 2012 "Getting Southern Africa to Work", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.Southern Africa faces many challenges, amongst others unemployment and road deaths, almost half of the road fatalities being pedestrians. Innovative solutions for solving road safety (and especially pedestrian safety) challenges in our rural communities can be achieved by involving the local community in the solution. This should be done in such a way that the local community members actively participate in road safety and particularly pedestrian safety education. Training is one way of achieving this goal. The experience in labour intensive construction infrastructure provision in rural and urban communities can be applied in community pedestrian safety projects. This paper will indicate how facilitating the forming of a steering committee (representing the local community, local school, SAPS, Traffic), implementing authorities (municipal, provincial, toll concessionaire), implementing agent (consultants, project managers) and training in this case a community safety/pedestrian officer, (instead of the usual community liaison officer) who can implement the community pedestrian project can be used to enhance existing road safety education in schools. The added advantages of such projects includes the creation of creating sustainable jobs, meaningful employment and sustained road safety awareness in communities, empowerment of local communities, involvement and buy-in of communities at large. Private enterprises involved in these road safety initiatives have the added advantage of funding such projects with Corporate Social Investment funding, with significant benefits for such companies. Other examples of innovative road safety projects that create employment will also be discussed. Specifically the for example the pointsmen that an insurance company has placed at intersections during peak traffic to assist with traffic flow and improved road safety.This paper was transferred from the original CD ROM created for this conference. The material was published using Adobe Acrobat 10.1.0 Technology. The original CD ROM was produced by Document Transformation Technologies Postal Address: PO Box 560 Irene 0062 South Africa. Tel.: +27 12 667 2074 Fax: +27 12 667 2766 E-mail: nigel@doctech URL: http://www.doctech.co.zadm201

Redefining species limits in the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex

The Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) includes more than 60 phylogenetic species (phylospecies) with both phytopathological and clinical importance. Because of their economical relevance, a stable taxonomy and nomenclature is crucial for species in the FFSC. To attain this goal, we examined type specimens and representative cultures of several species by employing morphology and phylogenetic analyses based on partial gene fragments of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), beta-tubulin (tub2), calmodulin (cmdA), RNA polymerase largest subunit (rpb1) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2). Based on these results three new species were delimited in the FFSC. Two of these phylospecies clustered within the African clade, and one in the American clade. Epitypes were also designated for six previously described FFSC species including F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides, and a neotype designated for F. subglutinans. Furthermore, both F. acutatum and F. ophioides, which were previously invalidly published, are validated.Department of Science and Technology (DST) and National Research Foundation (NRF).https://www.persoonia.orgpm2022BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant Patholog

Finding needles in haystacks: linking scientific names, reference specimens and molecular data for Fungi

DNA phylogenetic comparisons have shown that morphology-based species recognition often underestimates fungal diversity. Therefore, the need for accurate DNA sequence data, tied to both correct taxonomic names and clearly annotated specimen data, has never been greater. Furthermore, the growing number of molecular ecology and microbiome projects using high-throughput sequencing require fast and effective methods for en masse species assignments. In this article, we focus on selecting and re-annotating a set of marker reference sequences that represent each currently accepted order of Fungi. The particular focus is on sequences from the internal transcribed spacer region in the nuclear ribosomal cistron, derived from type specimens and/or ex-type cultures. Re-annotated and verified sequences were deposited in a curated public database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), namely the RefSeq Targeted Loci (RTL) database, and will be visible during routine sequence similarity searches with NR_prefixed accession numbers. A set of standards and protocols is proposed to improve the data quality of new sequences, and we suggest how type and other reference sequences can be used to improve identification of Fungi

Desafíos políticos de los países de inmigración

13 págs.-- Publicado en "Confluencia XXI. Revista de Pensamiento Político" (México), nº 3 (Oct-Dic 2008) bajo el título monográfico "Migrantes: ¿Por qué se van? ¿Por qué se quedan?".Las migraciones, una práctica tan antigua como la propia condición humana, se han convertido en un factor estructural de primer orden, en uno de los macrofenómenos más definitorios de nuestra época y en un complejo reto para las sociedades contemporáneas. En prácticamente todos los países del mundo, todo lo que concierne a este complejo fenómeno ocupa un lugar destacado en la agenda política. La gestión, el control y la integración de los movimientos internacionales de personas se presentan como un policy field de creciente y prioritaria relevancia. No se trata, sin embargo, de una cuestión de mera moda: el número de países implicados de manera significativa en las migraciones internacionales ha aumentado considerablemente, hasta el punto de que resulta realmente difícil encontrar algún Estado que no sea bien un país de inmigración, bien un país de emigración o bien ambas cosas a la vez, cuando no al menos un país de tránsito. No ha de extrañar entonces que la mayoría de los gobiernos haya tomado conciencia de la necesidad de ofrecer una respuesta en términos legales e institucionales a un fenómeno de carácter permanente que puede llegar a alterar la estructura demográfica, social, cultural, económica y laboral de un país. Dada la complejidad de la cuestión, y por cuestiones de economía argumentativa, aquí se abordará de manera fundamental desde la perspectiva de los países receptores, que, por lo demás, es también la adoptada en forma habitual por los países europeos que registran mayor inmigración. Sin embargo, el fenómeno migratorio es fundamentalmente transnacional y tiene fehacientes repercusiones en los países de emigración.Peer reviewe