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Selected AbstractsAssessing the efficacy of user and developer activities in facilitating the development of OSS projectsJOURNAL OF SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND EVOLUTION: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, Issue 5 2009Hewijin Christine Jiau Abstract Although the development of open source software (OSS) projects is known to be critically dependent on many key factors, the precise contribution of the various user and developer activities toward the development of an OSS project is unknown. Therefore, an empirical study is performed to examine the correlation between the user/developer activities and the state of development of an OSS project. It is shown that certain user/developer activities have a particular efficacy in facilitating OSS project development. The results presented in this study provide an effective approach useful in observing and evaluating the development of OSS projects. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] EFFICIENT MARKOV NETWORK DISCOVERY USING PARTICLE FILTERSCOMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, Issue 4 2009Dimitris Margaritis In this paper, we introduce an efficient independence-based algorithm for the induction of the Markov network (MN) structure of a domain from the outcomes of independence test conducted on data. Our algorithm utilizes a particle filter (sequential Monte Carlo) method to maintain a population of MN structures that represent the posterior probability distribution over structures, given the outcomes of the tests performed. This enables us to select, at each step, the maximally informative test to conduct next from a pool of candidates according to information gain, which minimizes the cost of the statistical tests conducted on data. This makes our approach useful in domains where independence tests are expensive, such as cases of very large data sets and/or distributed data. In addition, our method maintains multiple candidate structures weighed by posterior probability, which allows flexibility in the presence of potential errors in the test outcomes. [source] Genealogical analyses in open populations: the case of three Arab-derived Spanish horse breedsJOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS, Issue 5 2009I. Cervantes Summary This research assesses the genetic composition of three Arab-derived Spanish horse breeds as an example to highlight the major shortcomings related to genealogical analyses in open populations and to propose approaches useful to deal with this task. The studbooks of three Spanish Arab (SA)-derived horse breeds, Spanish Anglo-Arab (dAA), Hispano-Arab (dHA) and Spanish Sport Horse (dSSH) and those of their parental breeds SA, Spanish Purebred (SPB) and Thoroughbred (TB), totalling 211 754 individuals, were available. The genealogies of the dAA, dHA and dSSH were analysed not only using the corresponding studbook (breed exclusive dataset) but also including the genealogies of the founders from parental breeds (completed dataset). Coancestry analyses revealed that the present SA-derived populations share more genes with the Arab than with the other parental breeds. Effective population size was computed by accounting for migration rates to obtain an equivalent closed-population effective size (eqNe) of 39.2 for the dAA, 56.3 for dHA and 114.1 for dSSH. The essayed methodologies were useful for characterising populations involving migration. The consequences of the management of the analysed breeds are discussed. The results emphasize the need to include the complete genealogies of the individuals to attain reliable genealogical parameters. [source] Researching the reintegration of formerly abducted children in northern Uganda through action research: Experiences and reflectionsJOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Margaret Angucia Abstract This paper presents experiences and reflections on the use of a participatory research methodology under the difficult conditions of a war situation in northern Uganda. We draw from two complimentary approaches in action research to explain our methodology while doing research on the reintegration of formerly abducted children. First, the experience oriented approach, which emphasizes the need to articulate experience as a basis for learning and knowledge. Second, the exemplary participatory approach which highlights the importance of enhancing empowerment and the need to find solutions for social problems. We find these two approaches useful for doing action research in a conflict area because of their emphasis on experience and empowerment respectively. In our research, experience is important because of the children's encounter with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels that both needs to be understood and justifies reintegration. On the otherhand, empowerment is important for our assumption that the children's experience and encounter with the LRA has disempowering effects on them. We demonstrate the use of the approaches in our research by enhancing participation, balancing power relations and being aware of ethical issues while at the same time attempting to make the research valid inspite of the challenges. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||