Advances and applications of automata on words and trees : abstracts collection

From 12.12.2010 to 17.12.2010, the Dagstuhl Seminar 10501 "Advances and Applications of Automata on Words and Trees" was held in Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz Center for Informatics. During the seminar, several participants presented their current research, and ongoing work and open problems were discussed. Abstracts of the presentations given during the seminar as well as abstracts of seminar results and ideas are put together in this paper. The first section describes the seminar topics and goals in general. Links to extended abstracts or full papers are provided, if available

Advances and applications of automata on words and trees : executive summary

Seminar: 10501 - Advances and Applications of Automata on Words and Trees. The aim of the seminar was to discuss and systematize the recent fast progress in automata theory and to identify important directions for future research. For this, the seminar brought together more than 40 researchers from automata theory and related fields of applications. We had 19 talks of 30 minutes and 5 one-hour lectures leaving ample room for discussions. In the following we describe the topics in more detail

Universal Screening of Students' Classroom Behaviors: An Investigation of the Validity and Classification Accuracy of the Behavior Screening Checklist III with Kindergarten Students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Behavior Screening Checklist III (BSC) as a universal behavior screening measure with a sample of kindergarten students. A total of six research questions were examined using bivariate correlation analyses, multiple regression analyses, and receiving operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. This was the first study conducted using a ROC curve analyses to investigate classification accuracy indicators of the BSC. Preliminary evidence of the BSC indicates it is a reliable and valid screening measure to use in the schools for identification of students at-risk for later behavior problems. However, the current literature is limited to correlation coefficients and multiple regression coefficients. Results from the present study concluded the BSC yields consistent teacher ratings over time. Convergent and predictive validity were also supported, using the SDQ as a criterion measure. Multiple regression analyses revealed BSC scores accounted for a statistically significant amount of variance in end of year SDQ scores over and above student ODRs and number of absences. This finding occurred across all three multiple regression models. Winter ORDs were also found to be a statistically significant predictor variable of Spring ODRs. As for classification accuracy, the BSC was able to differentiate between those at-risk from those not at-risk based on AUC. The BSC exhibits good to excellent sensitivity but poor specificity. Of the predictor variables that were statistically significant, Spring BSC scores resulted in the strongest classification accuracy based on the AUC statistics. As this was the first study to explore classification accuracy of the BSC, it provides emerging support for utilizing the BSC as a universal behavior screening measure

Unraveling the worldwide pollution haven effect

This paper contributes to the debate on the existence of pollution haven effects by systematically measuring the pollution content of trade (measured by the pollution content of imports, PCI) and decomposing it into three components-a"deep"component (unrelated to the environmental debate but including variables traditionally present in the gravity model) and two components (factor endowments and environmental policies) that occupy center stage in the debate on trade and the environment. The decomposition is carried out for 1986-88 for an extensive data set covering 10 pollutants, 48 countries, and 79 ISIC 4-digit sectors. Illustrative decompositions presented for three of the 10 pollutants in the data set indicate a significant pollution haven effect which increases the PCI of the North because of stricter environmental regulations in the North. At the same time, the factor endowment effect decreases the PCI of the North as the North is relatively well-endowed in capital and pollution-intensive activities are also capital-intensive. On a global scale, because the bulk of trade is intraregional with a high North-North share, these effects are small relative to the"deep"determinants of the worldwide pollution content of trade. In sum, although the impact has been stronger on vertical (North-South) trade flows, differences in factor endowments and environmental policies have only marginally affected the pollution content of world trade during the 1986-88 period.Environmental Economics&Policies,Water and Industry,Brown Issues and Health,Transport Economics Policy&Planning,Water Resources Assessment

Unraveling the World-Wide Pollution Haven Effect

This paper contributes to the debate on the existence of pollution haven effects by systematically measuring the pollution content of trade (measured by the polluction content of imports (PCI)) and decomposing it into three components: a 'deep' (i.e. unrelated to the environmental debate) component and two components (factor endowments and environmental policies) that occupy centerstage in the debate on trade and the environment. The decomposition is carried out for 1986-88 for an extensive data set covering 10 pollutants, 48 countries and 79 ISIC 4-digit sectors. Illustrative decompositions presented for 3 of the 10 pollutants in the data set indicate a significant pollution haven effect and highlight the role of factor endowments in each region's PCI. However, because the bulk of trade is intra-regional with a high North-North share, these effects are small relative to the 'deep' determinants of the worldwide pollution content of trade.trade and the environment; pollution haven

WORK SHIFT FOOD DELIVERY STRATEGIES DURING ARDUOUS WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION

Plante, Nicole J., M.S., May 2007 Health and Human Performance Work shift food delivery strategies during arduous wildfire suppression Chairperson: Dr. Blakely Brown Co-Chairperson: Dr. Steve Gaskill PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare two isocaloric feeding strategies for wildland firefighters (WLFF) on total kcal and macronutrient (e.g. carbohydrates, total fat and protein) intake, ratings of satisfaction, and food delivery system feasibility. METHODS: Fifty-two Type I and Type II wildland firefighters (WLFF) from five different Fire Crews participated in the study. Subjects consumed either the traditional sack lunch (SL) or shift-food (SF) ad lib during their work shift in a randomized cross-over design. Subjects reported ratings of satisfaction with each feeding strategy. The SL and SF nutrients were analyzed with Dietary Analysis 6.1 (Salem, OR, USA) and the USDA nutrition facts food label and both were entered into a food-item nutrient database in Microsoft Excel. Delivery method feasibility was examined through reported perception from on-site research director and research assistant. RESULTS: Subjects consumed significantly more kcals from the SF feeding strategy compared to SL feeding strategy [SF, 1701.7± 281.4 kcals and SL, 1333.7±356.4 kcals, p\u3c0.05). There was a higher amount of fat and CHO kcals consumed in the SF group compared to the SL group [SF, 569.4±167.6 fat kcals and SL, 367.6±176.7 fat kcals; SF, 1010.8±247.3 CHO kcals and SL 725.2±238.4 CHO kcals, p\u3c0.05]. There were no differences in protein consumed between groups. Survey data show that subjects prefer the SF over the SL for convenience, variety, satisfaction, appearance, and overall preference (p\u3c0.05). Qualitative data indicated it is feasible to deliver adequate variety, choice, and decrease waste with the shift meal system. In addition, the SF delivery method is cost effective. CONCLUSION: The shift meal system provided greater nutrient variety and was more convenient to use than the current sack lunch meal system. WLFF’s expressed higher satisfaction, consumed more energy (e.g. kcals) and carbohydrates, with the SF vs. SL system. The SF system is a feasible way to deliver adequate energy and nutrients to WLFFs while increasing nutrient variety and decreasing food waste. Finally, the SF system is more cost effective than the SL meal