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The Localization of the Ancient City of Barzand Based on Archaeological Evidence and Written Historical Sources

Author(s): Saeid Sattarnejad,Samad Parvin,Ali Mehri Ruyandezgh / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: Localization; Barzand city; Ardabil province; Archaeological evidence; historical texts;

Archaeological studies of ancient cities play an important role in recognizing their formation, development, collapse and extinction in different historical periods. The historical city of Barzand was one of the cities of the Islamic period in northwestern Iran, which had an important place in the Islamic period. The name of this city and its location on the slopes of Mount Sabalan has been mentioned in the written texts of the 9th to 13th centuries AD. Therefore, it is necessary to study and do research on it. The present study was performed by descriptive-analytical method. An attempt was made to compare the results of field studies and written historical sources with a comparative analysis to answer the following question: Which Archaeological site contains the remainders of the city of Barzand? The results of Archaeological studies and analysis of historical texts match the geographical location of Barzand city in Germi city, in the slopes of Mount Sabalan.

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Issues of 3D virtual collection for smaller institutions

Author(s): Klára Rybenská,Barbora Borůvková,Ondřej Tomiška / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: Digital Humanities; Sketchfab; Virtual Collection; Digital Heritage; Museum;

One of the most significant global trends today is the use of three-dimensional technologies in various segments. 3D models can be created by using special software or by digitizing a real-world object using a 3D scanner. The technologies capable of converting analog objects into digital 3D are also a part of the sphere of memory institutions, where we increasingly come across 3D models of selected historical collections often created under the auspices of specialized workplaces or universities. The process of digitization itself, particularly 3D scanning, can harbour many pitfalls. Creating a virtual museum collection is not an easy task, as there are many ways to present 3D models since each of them can be used in different ways. The objective of the article is to describe the possibilities and the process of creating a 3D virtual collection of smaller historical objects, and its presentation by means of selected online tools or web services designed for the purpose. The article also focuses on the subsequent use of the models in the creation of a virtual web exhibition. Another objective of the article is to outline the basic issues of 3D scanning of selected smaller historical objects.

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How cultural factors influence sustainable development reporting in Poland

Wpływ czynników kulturowych na raportowanie zrównoważonego rozwoju w Polsce

Author(s): Małgorzata Czerny,Magdalena Kowalczyk / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2023

Keywords: sustainable development goals (SDGs); non-financial information; Hofstede model; Corporate Social Responsibility

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the connection between cultural factors and sustainable development reporting in Poland. Methodology/approach: We use a case study to explore in depth the object of our study – the reporting of non-financial information. The analysis was conducted from multiple perspectives based on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. Findings: The research suggests that the attitudes of stakeholders and companies towards the development of SDG reporting and the use of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) are neutral. Poland’s performance on Hofstede’s dimensions is consistent with the frequency and type of GRI indicators companies use in their reports. Research limitations: A limitation of our research is that we only examine one area of non-financial reporting, and we only refer to companies in the WIG20. Additionally, we only study one year. Practical implications: This paper will be useful to academics and practitioners to enable an understanding of cultural dimensions in the context of sustainable development reporting. Originality/value: Our research explains the reluctance to report social areas. Our research analyzes the sustainable development reports of companies from the Warsaw Stock Exchange WIG Index. We determine which social indicators are reported by companies and which are not, and using Hofstede’s theory, we explain the reasons for the lack of disclosures.

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E-governance and blockchain technology in local government

E-administracja i technologia blockchain w samorządzie terytorialnym

Author(s): Magdalena Kowalczyk,Remigiusz Napiecek / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2023

Keywords: local government units; new technologies; e-governance; blockchain; efficiency

Purpose: One of the doctrines of New Public Management is increased efficiency and consumer satisfaction in local government. Implementing new technologies like digital administration and blockchain could be very helpful in achieving this objective. The article focuses on the usability of e-government as a management tool and the possibility of implementing blockchain technology in local government accounting. This research attempts to answer the following research question: What are local government employees’ perceptions of e-governance and blockchain technology? Methodology/approach: A survey was used as a research tool to determine the role of digital administration and blockchain technology in local government units at the community level. A questionnaire was emailed to all municipalities in Poland: rural, urban and urban-rural. Findings: The results of the research show that, in the respondents’ opinion, the use of e-governance in local government is very helpful in management. However, the use of blockchain technology in local government accounting is debatable. Research limitation/implications: This paper will be useful to academics and practitioners to enable an understanding of the problems associated with introducing and using new technologies in local government. The limitation of the research is that blockchain technology is new and, unfortunately, there are very few examples of its implementation by local governments in Poland. Therefore, it is difficult to assess the positive and effective implementation of blockchain technology by local governments. The article shows the point of view of local government officials, which is also a limitation of our research. Originality/value: The article makes an important contribution to the research on the use of new technologies in local government units. The research has made it possible to assess e-government as a tool for managing local government units and to present officials’ attitudes to the possibility of using blockchain technology in local government accounting.

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To move or not to move? The housing preferences of a post-socialist city in the suburbanisation stage

Author(s): Wiktor Błoch,Michał Mackiewicz,Mariusz E. Sokołowicz / Language(s): English / Issue: 64/2023

Keywords: urban amenities; housing preferences; urban life cycle; life course; preference modelling;

Researchers of urban mobility patterns and residential preferences of urban dwellers in- creasingly inquire whether these processes are universal or place-specific. It is also interesting in the context of processes taking place in post-industrial and post-socialist cities, considering their rapid demographic and spatial transformations (e.g. the process of shrinkage, which is simultaneous with the process of suburbanization). In turn, in the context of housing mechanisms, it is interesting how much the urban life cycle coincides with the life cycle of its households. To address this question, we conducted a study based on an extensive stated preferences survey (N = 1113) from Poland’s third-largest city – Lodz. It allowed us to statistically elaborate on the determinants of the preference to move from an existing home to a new location and to what extent the physical and social envi- ronment of the properties, defined through the lenses of urban amenities, affects such decisions. We found that 56% of respondents declared that they would prefer to live in a different neighbourhood than the ones they currently live. In line with the household’s life cycle model, age was the main driving factor, while urban amenities played a minor role in determining location preferences. The youngest age group preferred to live in the city centre, while late-middle age groups preferred to move to the suburbs. Also, people living in single-family houses strongly preferred to stay in their current location, compared to those inhabiting all other types of buildings.

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Landscape forms through drone documentation: rediscovering continuity of Torto river in Braga District, Portugal

Author(s): Marta Orszt,Ivo Oliveira,Sandra Brito,Paulo Bernardes / Language(s): English / Issue: 64/2023

Keywords: UAV photogrammetry; videogrammetry; landscape; Braga; survey;

This article proposes a proof of concept related to a methodology that uses an unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV) as an investigation tool in landscape planning, which results can be used also in archaeology, cultural landscape, and heritage studies, to create a multidimensional approach for understanding relations between valuable assets and preserve fundamental qualities of the landscape. It is evaluated if UAV is appropriate as a research tool (through accessibility of equipment, software, and workflows of its application) capable of providing multidimensional views of the landscape that could be used to anticipate planning decisions. As an example, the Torto River, located in Braga, Por- tugal, starting from its intersection with Roman Via XIX, was studied.Research aims to show that the drone surveying can lead to raised awareness on disappearing con- tinuity of landscape elements, and the value of their spatial relationships, which are not taken into consideration in development of places like researched area neighbouring nuclei of S. Frutuoso and Dume, nearby popular pilgrimage trail Camino de Santiago.The possibility of identifying and reflecting on the elements that ensure continuity of landscape is noted through videography recorded based on the visual line of sight (VLOS) mode. The research explores a variety of conditions that should be considered when preparing for research and recording chosen information (as local regulations, weather conditions, expected outputs), proposing a meth- odology of flight planning and execution with the most optimal setups, including –15° angle for cap- turing landscape elements and their relationship, and – 90° for photogrammetry and videogrammetry (here captured in maximal altitudes allowed for the research area, not overstepping 75 and 120 m limit).

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The modified Bagdonavičius-Nikulin goodness-of-fit test statistic for the right censored distributional validation with applications in medicine and reliability

Author(s): Haitham M. Yousof,Masoom M. Ali,Khaoula Aidi,Mohamed Ibrahim / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: inverted Weibull distribution; censored validation; Bagdonavičius-Nikulin; goodness-of-fit testing;

A modified version of Bagdonavičius-Nikulin goodness-of-fit statistical test is presented for validation under the right censor case. Simulation via Barzilai-Borwein algorithm is performed for assessing the right-censorship estimation method. Four right censored data sets are analyzed under the new modified test statistic for checking the distributional validation.

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Investigation of half-normal model using informative priors under Bayesian structure

Author(s): Sania Khawar Kiani,Muhammad Aslam,Ishaq M. Bhatti / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: informative prior; squared root inverted gamma distribution (SRIG); Bayesian hypothesis testing; loss functions;

This paper considers properties of half-normal distribution using informative priors under the Bayesian criterion. It employs the squared root inverted gamma, Chi-square and Rayleigh distributions as the prior distribution to construct the Posterior distributions of the respective distributional parameters. Hyperparameters are elicited via prior predictive distribution. The properties of posterior distribution are studied, and their graphs are presented using a real data set. A comprehensive simulation scheme is conducted using informative priors. Bayes estimates are obtained using the loss functions (squared error loss function, modified loss function, quadratic loss function and Degroot loss function). Statistical inferences interval estimates and Bayesian hypothesis testing are presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the study.

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What explains the differences in material deprivation between rural and urban areas in Poland before and during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Author(s): Hanna Dudek,Joanna Landmesser-Rusek / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: rural-urban differences; COVID-19; logit model; Fairlie decomposition; EU-SILC;

We examined the relationships between the compositional changes in demographic and socioeconomic factors and the changes in the prevalence of material deprivation in rural and urban areas in Poland. Using the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) data for 2019–2020, we applied the Fairlie decomposition approach for a logit model. We found that the important characteristics affecting a gap in material deprivation between rural and urban areas are: equivalized income, the level of education, the type of household, and the presence of disabled or unemployed people in the household. A non-significant effect of the pandemic on the material deprivation gap between rural and urban areas was observed.

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Respondent-specific randomized response technique to estimate sensitive proportion

Author(s): Dipika Patra,Sanghamitra Pal,Arijit Chaudhuri / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: protection of privacy; randomized response; sensitive issues; varying probability sampling;

In estimating the proportion of people bearing a stigmatizing characteristic in a community of people, randomized response techniques are plentifully available in the literature. They are implemented essentially using boxes of similar cards of two distinguishable types. In this paper, we propose a more general procedure using five different types of cards. A respondent-specific randomized response technique is also proposed, in which respondents are allowed to build up the boxes according to their own choices. An immediate objective for this change is to enhance, sense of protection of privacy of the respondents. But as by-products, higher efficiency in terms of actual coverage percentages of confidence intervals and related features are demonstrated by a simulation study, and superior jeopardy levels against divulgence of personal secrecy are also reported to be achievable. AMS subject classification: 62D05

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Odd log-logistic generalised Lindley distribution with properties and applications

Author(s): Vahid Ranjbar,Abbas Eftekharian,Omid Kharazmi,Morad Alizadeh / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: Lindley distribution; odd log-logistic generalised family; moments; Bayesian analysis; simulation study;

In this paper, a new three-parameter lifetime model, called the odd log-logistic generalised Lindley distribution, is introduced. Some structural properties of the new distribution including ordinary and incomplete moments, quantile and generating functions and order statistics are obtained. The new density function can be expressed as a linear mixture of exponentiated Lindley densities. Different methods are discussed to estimate the model parameters and a simulation study is carried out to show the performance of the new distribution. The importance and flexibility of the new model are also illustrated empirically by means of two real data sets. Finally, Bayesian analysis and Gibbs sampling are performed based on the two real data sets.

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Hyper-parametric Generalized Autoregressive Scores (GASs): an application to the price of United States cooking gas

Author(s): Rasaki Olawale Olanrewaju,Adejare Sodiq Olanrewaju,Omodolapo Waliyat Isamot / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: Asymmetric Student–t; Generalized Autoregressive Score; hyper-parameters; score; information.

This paper presents the framework of the Generalized Autoregressive Score (GAS) model with a variety of symmetric conditional densities of different time-varying hyperparameters. The distinctive trait and goal of the observation-driven GAS model is to use its score and information functions as the compeller of time-variation via hyper-parameters of conditional densities. 10 robust hyper-parametric conditional densities were used as random error drivers for the GAS model with an application to the price of the United States cooking gas in the period between 2005 and 2020. Out of the 10 robust hyper-parametric conditional noises for the GAS model, the Asymmetric Student–t with one tail decay parameter (AST1) outperformed other categories of its variants and other conditional densities subjected to the GAS model, achieving a minimum reduced-error performance of AIC=11943.277 and BIC=12014.525. The hyper-parametric model obtained a location score and scale score of - 1.2634 and 0.6636, respectively, while its location information and scale information was 0.2691 and 0.0362, respectively. Furthermore, the GAS model via AST1 proved more efficient than the core volatile conditional heteroscedasticity model of the Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH) at GARCH (1,1) via a Gaussian distributed noise.

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Testing the annual rainfall dispersion in Chaiyaphum, Thailand, by using confidence intervals for the coefficient of variation of an inverse gamma distribution

Author(s): Wararit Panichkitkosolkul / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: statistical test; measure of dispersion; continuous distribution; simulation; meteorology;

In Thailand, droughts are regular natural disasters that happen nearly every year due to several factors such as precipitation deficiency, human activity, and the global warming. Since annual rainfall amount fits an inverse gamma (IG) distribution, we wanted to try testing annual rainfall dispersion via the coefficient of variation (CV). Herein, we propose two statistics for testing the CV of an IG distribution based on the Score and Wald methods. We evaluated their performances by means of the Monte Carlo simulations conducted under several shape parameter values for an IG distribution based on empirical type I error rates and powers of the tests. The simulation results reveal that the Wald-method test statistic performed better than the Score-method one in terms of the attained nominal significance level, and is thus recommended for analysis in similar scenarios. Furthermore, the efficacy of the proposed test statistics was illustrated by applying them to the annual rainfall amounts in Chaiyaphum, Thailand.

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Advances in estimation by the item sum technique in two move successive sampling

Author(s): Kumari Priyanka,Pidugu Trisandhya / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: Sensitive variable; Successive moves; Population mean; Variance; Mean squared error; Optimum matching fraction;

The present article proposes an estimator using the Item Sum Technique (IST) for the estimation of dynamic sensitive population mean using non-sensitive auxiliary information in the two-move successive sampling. Properties of the proposed IST estimator have been analysed. Possible allocation designs for allocating long-list and short-list samples pertaining to the IST have been elaborated. The comparison between various allocation designs has been carried out. Theoretical considerations have been integrated with numerical as well as simulation studies to show the working version of the proposed IST estimators in the two-move successive sampling.

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Analysis of social and economic conditions of microenterprises based on taxonomy methods

Author(s): Aneta Ptak-Chmielewska,Agnieszka Chłoń-Domińczak / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: microenterprises; taxonomy methods; COVID-19;

The situation of microenterprises on the market is difficult as they are faced with barriers and competitiveness imposed by larger units. We used data from the REGIOGMINA project to assess the situation of microenterprises. The REGIOGMINA project was implemented by a consortium of Kujawsko–Pomorskie Voivodship, the SGH Warsaw School of Economics and the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń in the scope of the GOSPOSTRATEG initiative. This data set was complemented by data provided by the Local Data Bank of Statistics Poland. The analysis describes the situation in Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodship. The information from both sources illustrates the situation of microenterprises at a local level (gmina) in the years 2019–2020. A cluster analysis based on taxonomy methods was performed. The aim of the research is to expand the knowledge and contribute to a better understanding of the social and economic problems that microenterprises are confronted with at a local level. The study covers the period before the COVID-19 pandemic and the first year following its outbreak, which makes it possible to assess the effects that the measures taken against the pandemic had on the situation of microenterprises at a local level.

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Elimination of characteristics concerning the performance of open-ended equity funds using PCA

Author(s): Dorota Żebrowska-Suchodolska / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: PCA; investment funds; decision-making; tau-Kendall correlation coefficient; investment efficiency;

From an investor's point of view, the appropriate selection of a fund is an important issue. When making such a choice, many elements should be considered. These include not only the fund's rate of return or its risk, but also the comparison of the fund's results with an appropriate benchmark. The aim of the research was to apply principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimension of the indicators that help the investor in selecting a fund. The subject of the study was 15 equity funds that had been on the Polish market for many years. The research showed that it is possible to reduce the primary variables to two dimensions.

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An empirical study of hierarchical Bayes small area estimators using different priors for model variances

Author(s): Yong You / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: CPO; flat prior; inverse gamma prior; relative error; variance component;

In this paper, we study hierarchical Bayes (HB) estimators based on different priors for small area estimation. In particular, we use inverse gamma and flat priors for variance components in the HB small area models of You and Chapman (2006) and You (2021). We evaluate the HB estimators through a simulation study and real data analysis. Our results indicate that using the inverse gamma prior for the variance components in the HB models can be very effective.

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Application of statistical methods in socio-economic geography and spatial management based on selected scientific journals listed in the Web of Sciences database

Author(s): Sławomir Dorocki,Mariusz Cembruch-Nowakowski / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: socio-economic geography; statistical methods; computer software; electronic academic information database;

The aim of the paper is to present an analysis of the use of statistical methods and tools in scientific articles related to socio-economic geography and spatial management published in the years 2012–2021. In order to evaluate the intensity and diversity of this phenomenon, a query was carried out using the Web of Sciences electronic academic information database. A preliminary literature search led to the decision to focus on papers published in three selected journals relating to social geography (Geoforum), economic geography (Applied Geography) and spatial management (Landscape and Urban Planning). The paper analyses the variety of the statistical tools used in the studies presented in the aforementioned journals. The frequency and type of the applied statistical methods, computer software and computing tools is correlated with the specificity of the research area.

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40th International Conference MSA'2022 joined with MASEP

Author(s): Marta Małecka,Artur Mikulec,Elżbieta Zalewska / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2023

Keywords: International Conference;

The jubilee 40th International Conference MSA'2022 joined with MASEP took place on November 7–9, 2022, at the Training and Conference Center of the University of Lodz, Kopcińskiego 16/18 St. The conference was organized by the Department of Statistical Methods of the University of Lodz. This edition of the conference was organized in cooperation with the MASEP (Measurement and Assessment of Social and Economic Phenomena) conference. The conference was co-organized by: the Institute of Statistics and Demography (University of Lodz), the Department of Economic and Social Statistics (University of Lodz), the Statistics and Econometrics Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Polish Statistical Association, branch in Lodz and the Statistical Office in Lodz. The honorary patronage over the conference was taken by: Rector of the University of Lodz – prof. Elżbieta Żądzińska and the President of Statistics Poland – Dominik Rozkrut. The substantive partner of the conference was also StatSoft Polska Sp. z o. o.

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One Route to Respectability: An Historical View of Socio-Cultural and Economic Reproduction Among the Gitanos of Lebrija

Author(s): Clara Chinoy,David Lagunas Arias / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2022

Keywords: Gitanos; History; Respectability; Integration; Andalusia; Lebrija;

Gitanos (Spanish Roma) have undergone major transformations in the last half-century. But in some areas, they were already successfully included in the majority society.Some have practiced “resistance to respectability” (Kaprow, 1982) but we examine a family history of Andalusian Gitanos, neither marginal nor exotic, who did not.Representing the importance of local context and choice in a determined socioeconomic conjuncture, their cultural creativity provides a positive perspective from which to look at Gitano history. Without denying negative and traumatic treatment “from above”, we attempt to move beyond exclusionary perspectives which objectify and essentialize Roma based on marginalization, discrimination and poverty. We celebrate the historical ability of Gitanos in Southern Spain to become a respected integral part of the local community, and thus seek a different perspective from which to look at the history of this community.

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