Applying the structural equation model rule-based fuzzy system with genetic algorithm for trading in currency market

The present study uses the structural equation model (SEM) to analyze the correlations between various economic indices pertaining to latent variables, such as the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) value, the United States Dollar (USD) value, and USD index. In addition, a risk factor of volatility of currency returns is considered to develop a risk-controllable fuzzy inference system. The rational and linguistic knowledge-based fuzzy rules are established based on the SEM model and then optimized using the genetic algorithm. The empirical results reveal that the fuzzy logic trading system using the SEM indeed outperforms the buy-and-hold strategy. Moreover, when considering the risk factor of currency volatility, the performance appears significantly better. Remarkably, the trading strategy is apparently affected when the USD value or the volatility of currency returns shifts into either a higher or lower state.Knowledge-based Systems, Fuzzy Sets, Structural Equation Model (SEM), Genetic Algorithm (GA), Currency Volatility

Identifying effective and ineffective schools for accountability purposes: a comparison of four generic types of accountability models

The stakes associated with student performance have been raised to new highs under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB, 2001). Many people are concerned with the adequacy and appropriateness of the statistical models used in identifying low-performing schools for educational accountability. The purpose of this study was to compare four generic types of accountability models (i.e., status models, improvement models, growth models, and value-added models) and see if they reach consistent/inconsistent conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the same set of schools. Further, the four models were also compared in terms of “fairness”. A fair model is defined as one that produces school effectiveness indices that have low correlations with various student background variables (Webster, Mendro, Orsak, & Weerasinghe, 1998). The sample included this study consisted of all 297 K-5 schools in Louisiana. The results indicate that (1) the school effectiveness indices produced by the status model, the improvement model, and the growth model diverged significantly from those produced by the value-added model but converged highly among themselves; and (2) the school effectiveness indices produced by the value-added model had the lowest correlation with various student background variables. The methodological and policy implications of these findings were discussed

Más allá de la traducción : literatura nacional y literatura comparada

La traducción está estrechamente ligada a la literatura nacional y la literatura comparada y guarda con ellas una relación de mutua influencia. Recientes teorías surgidas en el seno de la literatura comparada o incluso en el de la traductología apuntan en este sentido al afirmar que la traducción enriquece la literatura nacional, ayuda al estudio de la literatura comparada y estimula el desarrollo de la literatura universal. La traducción goza, sin duda, de una creciente consideración en los estudios de literatura.Translation is closely linked to national literature and comparative literature establishing with them a relationship of mutual influence. Recent theories in the fields of comparative literature and translation studies point into this direction by arguing that translation enriches national literature, contributes to the study of comparative literature, and encourages the development of world literature. Translation undoubtedly is becoming an object of growing consideration in literary studies

A Cup is a corpse: A Thesis project implementing an experimental approach to visual communication and advocating the concept of slow design

Based on the dissection of the phenomenon of coffee culture and the introspection of the negative environmental impact from the overwhelming usage of paper coffee cups, this thesis explores a design approach to advocate the paper coffee cup issue in an educational and experimental way. A Cup Is A Corpse is a thesis that defines the possibilities between environmental topic and design resolution. It is an advertising campaign targeted on local coffee shops, providing fundamental knowledge of the paper coffee cup matter to regular consumers. A slow design approach is applied to the final design application for the reason of seeking a relationship between time, environment, design, and people. Overall this thesis involves a certain process, to be experienced by viewers. For graphic design, it adds a new point of view to the design outcome, using an interactive print method to inspire the audience in thought towards the foremost concept. In addition, the extensive analysis of coffee consumption and all the data of the negative environmental impact enhance awareness from the audience

Lu Xun’s (1881-1936) conception of Literal Translation as impulse of vernacular Language (baihua) and new literature in China

a partir de la mitad del siglo XIX, China empezó a enfrentarse a la hegemonía y la invasión de las potencias occidentales. algunos intelectuales utilizaron la traducción como herramienta para introducir los estudios occidentales en China, sobre todo los de tecnología y filosofía, con el fin de favorecer la modernización de la sociedad. Otros intelectuales aprovecharon la traducción para estimular la evolución literaria y el paso hacia la lengua vernácula, el baihua. Entre ellos se encuentra el escritor Lu Xun (1881-1936), que defendia la traducción literal como motor para hacer evolucionar la lengua clásica hacia el baihua. Consideraba que mediante el baihua se podía lograr una literatura más cercana al pueblo y así educarlo. al mismo tiempo, la traducción de Lu Xun conllevaba cierta manipulación ideológica del traductor. Las obras traducidas por él, en general, presentaban personajes sufridos y revelaban la injusticia social. Lu Xun quería que los chinos aprendieran de estas obras literarias. Por otro lado, desde una óptica contemporánea, la opinión de Lu Xun y su insistencia en adoptar una traducción literal encuentra un paralelismo en la extranjerización que defiende Lawrence Venuti a la hora de oponerse a una lectura “fluida”. Salvando las distancias, tanto Lu Xun como Venuti señalan que el exotismo puede acercar la cultura extranjera a la literatura meta y, en cierto sentido, evitar la hegemonía de cada época.From the mid-nineteenth century, China began to confront the hegemony and the invasion of Western powers. Some intellectuals in China used translation as a tool to introduce Western knowledge, especially studies of technology and philosophy, promoting the modernization of Chinese society. Other intellectuals took translation of foreign literatures as a literary evolution and attempted to enhance the importance of vernacular language, Baihua, in Chinese literature. among the intellectuals, Lu Xun (1881-1936) believed that “literal translation” text was a method to promote the usage of vernacular language. By doing so, literature written in vernacular language instead of classical language could be more appreciated by the readership, and people could be further educated through reading these texts. at the same time, Lu Xun as a translator shows a certain degree of ideological manipulation. The selected works translated by Lu Xun generally focused on main characters who suffered social injustice. Through reading, Lu Xun wanted the Chinese readership to learn social issues from these literary works. In contemporary translation theory, the concept of “foreignization” raised by Lawrence Venuti also echoes “literal translation”. Both Venuti and Lu Xun opposed the translation which follows the readership’s reading habit in order to be more fluid and readable for them. The reason is that the translations with exotic flavor or unfamiliar words can create an impact and help the integration of foreign into local culture. Moreover, the “manipulation” of literal translation by Lu Xun is to promote the development of Chinese language and literature and to save the country as a mission. For Venuti, “foreignization” is a way to criticize the hegemony derived from English speaking culture and to be against the hegemonic domination