Fuzzy sets in nonparametric Bayes regression

A simple Bayesian approach to nonparametric regression is described using fuzzy sets and membership functions. Membership functions are interpreted as likelihood functions for the unknown regression function, so that with the help of a reference prior they can be transformed to prior density functions. The unknown regression function is decomposed into wavelets and a hierarchical Bayesian approach is employed for making inferences on the resulting wavelet coefficients.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/074921708000000084 the IMS Collections (http://www.imstat.org/publications/imscollections.htm) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

À la recherche d'une protection efficace contre les inspections abusives de l'État : la Charte québécoise, la Charte canadienne et le Bill of Rights américain

Many laws in Canada and Québec grant rights of entry to inspectors responsible for looking after the proper operation of structures implemented by the State. From heavily regulated industrials to permit holders and simple citizens, everyone can expect someday to be paid a visit by an inspector. The question arises, however, as to whether the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms may be resorted to so as to exercise control over possible abuses resulting from such inspections. These Charters provide security for the person against the State in these areas whether through the right to be protected from unreasonable search and seizure, the right to a private life or to the inviolability of the home. However, the means by which such rights shall be adequately protected are somewhat uncertain. Should this be done by the granting of an administrative warrant issued ex parte as in the United States ? Or by granting the same kind of warrant in the presence of both parties ? The granting of administrative subpoenas also may be a solution to be considered. But for both legal and administrative reasons, it seems that the best control to exercise over these entries would come from drafting well-defined powers of inspection into the law granting them, which would provide an adequate protection of human rights and freedoms

Career Officers and Political Appointees in American Diplomacy: Contending for Diplomatic Positions through Boundary Work

American Political and Economic SeriesAmerican diplomacy has long included a larger contingent of non-career appointees than is found in many other countries' diplomatic corps. Since the 1950s, successive White Houses have allocated about 30% of ambassadorships to individuals outside the diplomatic profession (so-called "political appointees"). These political appointments are a source of controversy within the career Foreign Service and in the national media. While news reports and academic studies remain focused on the formal boundary between career and non-career diplomats, this paper calls attention to the symbolic boundary determining the legitimacy of participants in American diplomacy. I argue that, in their attempt to secure their access to diplomatic positions, career members of the Foreign Service and political appointees compete for the social recognition of their respective "boundary work", that is to say, the symbolic boundaries that they respectively produce through their discourse and practices and that differentiate between legitimate and illegitimate diplomats. On the one hand, career diplomats try to protect their dominant position through turf claims establishing restrictive distinctions, based on quantitative and qualitative criteria, between legitimate and illegitimate political appointees. On the other hand, political appointees try to carve out a place for themselves by promoting less restrictive selection criteria for diplomatic appointments while at the same time downplaying the formal distinction between career and non-career practitioners. Methodologically, the paper builds on interviews with members of the Foreign Service and political appointees as well as on written primary sources.Alors que la plupart des pays industrialisés s'appuient essentiellement sur les services de diplomates de carrière pour leur représentation à l'étranger, les États-Unis ont pour tradition d'allouer environ 30% de leurs postes d'ambassadeur à des individus n'ayant pas fait carrière au sein du service diplomatique national. Ces nominations politiques sont une source de controverse dans les médias et parmi les diplomates faisant carrière au sein du Service extérieur américain. Tandis que le traitement médiatique et les quelques études universitaires sur la question demeurent concentrés sur la frontière formelle entre diplomates de carrière et diplomates non permanents, ce texte attire l'attention sur la frontière symbolique déterminant la légitimité des acteurs diplomatiques américains. Je soutiens que cette frontière symbolique est l'enjeu de luttes entre les membres de carrière du Service extérieur et les praticiens non issus de la profession; les deux groupes font compétition pour la reconnaissance sociale de différentes frontières symboliques entre diplomates légitimes et illégitimes. D'une part, les diplomates de carrière tentent de protéger leur position dominante en faisant la promotion de frontières restrictives sur la base de critères qualitatifs et quantitatifs. D'autre part, les diplomates non permanents tentent de légitimer leur rôle en promouvant des critères moins restrictifs et en minimisant la distinction formelle entre eux et les membres du Service extérieur. Sur le plan méthodologique, ce texte s'appuie sur des entretiens avec les deux groupes de diplomates à l'étude et sur diverses sources primaires écrites.CÉPÉA, Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie du Québe

An Ethnographic-Case Study of Beliefs, Context Factors, and Practices of Teachers Integrating Technology

This ethnographic-case study explored the beliefs, context factors, and practices of three middle school exemplary teachers that led to a technology-enriched curriculum. Findings suggest that these middle school teachers believe technology is a tool that adds value to lessons and to students learning and motivation. Due to a personal interest in technology, these teachers are self-taught and apply for grants to acquire new hardware and software. They receive support for release time to continue with ongoing professional development, which has helped to change their teaching strategies from teacher-centered to student-centered. They are not afraid to take risk using trial and error, flexible planning, project-based lessons, varying roles, varying grouping, and providing multiple activities in their classroom practices

Prospectives

Tiré de: Prospectives, vol. 4, no 1 (février 1968)Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 24 janv. 2013)Bibliogr