Online estimation of discrete densities using classifier chains

We propose an approach to estimate a discrete joint density online, that is, the algorithm is only provided the current example, its current estimate, and a limited amount of memory. To design an online estimator for discrete densities, we use classifier chains to model dependencies among features. Each classifier in the chain estimates the probability of one particular feature. Because a single chain may not provide a reliable estimate, we also consider ensembles of classifier chains. Our experiments on synthetic data show that the approach is feasible and the estimated densities approach the true, known distribution with increasing amounts of data

Empirical Study in Teaching First-Year Database Students

This paper describes the authors’ experience in team teaching two occurrences of a first-level undergraduate ‘Database Applications’ module. An analysis of the two occurrences revealed a difference in attendance, marks, seminar participation and attitude. This paper attempts to identify some reasons for this difference as well as reviewing some of the teaching activities that were used in this module. It analyzes the success of these activities and the perception and feedback from each group of students, and some possible recommended changes to the module

A smoothed least squares estimator for threshold regression models

We propose a smoothed least squares estimator of the parameters of a threshold regression model. Our model generalizes that considered in Hansen (2000) to allow the thresholding to depend on a linear index of observed regressors, thus allowing discrete variables to enter. We also do not assume that the threshold e¤ect is vanishingly small. Our estimator is shown to be consistent and asymptotically normal thus facilitating standard inference techniques based on estimated standard errors or standard bootstrap for the threshold parameters themselves. We compare our con dence intervals with those of Hansen (2000) in a simulation study and show that our methods outperform his for large values of the threshold. We also include an application to cross-country growth regressions

Grantee Workshops Evaluation Summary

The McCune Charitable Foundation hosted 5 workshops in June 2016 to understand better if and how grantee organizations see themselves as interconnected change agents within the system of nonprofits in New Mexico. The foundation also sought to:* Share with attendees what the foundation has learned since rolling out its 2014 strategic plan * Create opportunities for all participants (including foundation staff) to see themselves as part of an interconnected ecosystem * Create opportunities for participants to make the connections between their work more visible and to network across organizations and sectors * Learn from participants the challenges and opportunities that working together within an ecosystem-like frame presents.Two overarching questions guided the workshops:1. How do we make the ways in which we are connected visible? 2. Once visible, how do we make these connections actionable

Strategy Workshops and Strategic Change

Despite the attention that strategic change as a topic of research has received, there remain considerable difficulties in conceptualizing the actual sources of strategic change. Strategy workshops represent one obvious and explicit research site since organizations often use such events as a means of effecting or initiating strategic change. This paper examines empirical data from ninety-nine strategy workshops in ten separate organizations to address the research question: Do strategy workshops produce strategic change? The paper concludes that workshops can produce change but that one-off workshops are much less effective than a series of workshops. The data presented indicates that the elapsed duration of the entire series of workshops, the frequency of workshops, the scope and autonomy of the unit concerned, and the seniority of participants have an impact on the success or failure of the venture

Planning school lunch workshops

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Developing Mathematics Enrichment Workshops for Middle School Students: Philosophy and Sample Workshops

This paper describes our approach to organizing enrichment activities using advanced mathematics topics for diverse audiences of middle school students. We discuss our philosophy and approaches for the structure of these workshops, and then provide sample schedules and resource materials. The workshops cover activities on the following topics: Graphing Calculators; The Chaos Game; Statistical Sampling; CT Scans–the reconstruction problem; The Platonic and Archimedean solids; The Shape of Space; Symmetry; The Binary Number System and the game of NIM; Graph Theory: Proof by Counterexample

Sri Lanka Legislative Drafting Workshops

This archive contains supporting documentation for a Legislative Drafting Workshop in Sri Lanka which was carried out from July 15-31, 1998 and a course at Boston University in the Fall of 1998 for Sri Lankan representatives to attend the "1998 Boston University Program for Legislative Drafting for Democratic Social Change". The objective of the workshop was to train a number of government officials draft bills and research reports to implement Sri Lanka's 1987 Constitutional Amendment devolving greater powers to the provinces(Land Alienation, Securities Market, Private Hospitals Statute, Insurance Bill, Insurance Law, Child Abuse Statute, Intellectual Property Law)

Using Volunteers in Naturalization Workshops

Volunteers are a critical component of efficient naturalization service delivery, especially in group processing workshops, which the New Americans Campaign (NAC) promotes. This toolkit provides recommendations for organizations on how to recruit, train, retain, and effectively use volunteers at group processing workshops

Gauteng workshops on legislative drafting

Notes, correspondence, drafts and outlines for a series of workshops on legislative drafting in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Spanning from 1996-1998