<p>This paper is aimed at studying a MS-GARCH model applied to Bitcoin. The Bayesian estimation of the model shows that Bitcoin’s volatility can be modelled using two states of volatility, high and low. The modelled volatility is not stable over time. Twenty eight periods of high volatility were found, the largest period of volatility occurred during 2013. The findings help explain what happened during these high volatility periods.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p>

This paper examines the ability of ChatGPT to generate synthetic comment datasets that mimic those produced by humans. To this end, a collection of datasets containing human comments, freely available in the Kaggle repository, was compared to comments generated via ChatGPT. The latter were based on prompts designed to provide the necessary context for approximating human results. It was hypothesized that the responses obtained from ChatGPT would demonstrate a high degree of similarity with the human-generated datasets with regard to vocabulary usage. Two categories of prompts were analyzed, depending on whether they specified the desired length of the generated comments. The evaluation of the results primarily focused on the vocabulary used in each comment dataset, employing several analytical measures. This analysis yielded noteworthy observations, which reflect the current capabilities of ChatGPT in this particular task domain. It was observed that ChatGPT typically employs a reduced number of words compared to human respondents and tends to provide repetitive answers. Furthermore, the responses of ChatGPT have been observed to vary considerably when the length is specified. It is noteworthy that ChatGPT employs a smaller vocabulary, which does not always align with human language. Furthermore, the proportion of non-stop words in ChatGPT’s output is higher than that found in human communication. Finally, the vocabulary of ChatGPT is more closely aligned with human language than the similarity between the two configurations of ChatGPT. This alignment is particularly evident in the use of stop words. While it does not fully achieve the intended purpose, the generated vocabulary serves as a reasonable approximation, enabling specific applications such as the creation of word clouds.

The aim of this study is to introduce a new clustering method for ipsatives variables. This  method can be used for nominals or ordinals variables for which responses must be mutually exclusive, and it is independent of data distribution. The proposed method is applied to outline motivational profiles for individuals based on a declared preferences set.  A case study is used to analyze the performance of the proposed algorithm by comparing proposed method results versus the PAM method. Results show that proposed method generate a better segmentation and differentiated groups. An extensive study was conducted to validate the performance clustering method against a set of random groups by clustering measures.

AbstractAs people age, they tend to spend more time indoors, and the colours in their surroundings may significantly impact their mood and overall well‐being. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence to provide informed guidance on colour choices, irrespective of age group. To work towards informed choices, we investigated whether the associations between colours and emotions observed in younger individuals also apply to older adults. We recruited 7393 participants, aged between 16 and 88 years and coming from 31 countries. Each participant associated 12 colour terms with 20 emotion concepts and rated the intensity of each associated emotion. Different age groups exhibited highly similar patterns of colour–emotion associations (average similarity coefficient of .97), with subtle yet meaningful age‐related differences. Adolescents associated the greatest number but the least positively biased emotions with colours. Older participants associated a smaller number but more intense and more positive emotions with all colour terms, displaying a positivity effect. Age also predicted arousal and power biases, varying by colour. Findings suggest parallels in colour–emotion associations between younger and older adults, with subtle but significant age‐related variations. Future studies should next assess whether colour–emotion associations reflect what people actually feel when exposed to colour.

Abstract Global blueberry production more than doubled during the last decade. In Mexico, the production of this fruit has grown faster than globally, positioning this country among the top five international blueberry-producing regions. This case study focuses on a prospective investor planning to grow blueberries in Mexico and export most production to the U.S., the largest producer and consumer of fresh blueberries. A high-technology producer growing blueberries under high tunnels in western Mexico is featured in this article. The case study was researched using a combination of field visits to blueberry producers, collaborative work with an industry consultant, and academic research. The article provides industry statistics on blueberries in Mexico and globally over the last decade. In addition, it describes how the authors conceptualized and developed discounted cash flow models to evaluate this potential investment. Despite the importance of blueberries from Mexico, there is a need for financial models to assess the profitability and risk of growing blueberries in that country. Students solving this case are expected to identify risks and opportunities in the industry and conduct Porter’s five forces competitive analysis. In addition, students will mainly evaluate the results of a stochastic capital budgeting model.

In 2005, Philippe Guillot presented a new construction of Boolean functions using linear codes as an extension of the Maiorana–McFarland’s (MM) construction of bent functions. In this paper, we study a new family of Boolean functions with cryptographically strong properties, such as non-linearity, propagation criterion, resiliency, and balance. The construction of cryptographically strong Boolean functions is a daunting task, and there is currently a wide range of algebraic techniques and heuristics for constructing such functions; however, these methods can be complex, computationally difficult to implement, and not always produce a sufficient variety of functions. We present in this paper a construction of Boolean functions using algebraic codes following Guillot’s work.

This short paper argues that institutional trust should be considered as an additional factor influencing poverty at the macroeconomic level. By examining a sample of Latin American countries and analyzing annual data from 1995 to 2019 using panel data techniques such as cointegration analysis and panel fully modified least squares, this study estimates the long-term relationships between poverty, economic growth, inequality, and institutional trust. As hypothesized, the empirical evidence suggests that institutional trust also reduces poverty. These findings hold particular significance for Latin America, where inequality levels are relatively high, institutional trust is low, and poverty rates have only recently begun to decline. Therefore, to alleviate poverty, it is crucial to implement public policies that restore and enhance institutional trust.

<p>This work applies a test that detects dependence between pairs of variables. The kind of dependence is a non-linear one, and the test is known as cross-bicorrelation, which is associated with Brooks and Hinich [1]. We study dependence periods between U.S. Standard and Poor's 500 (SP500), used as a benchmark, and six Latin American stock market indexes: Mexico (BMV), Brazil (BOVESPA), Chile (IPSA), Colombia (COLCAP), Peru (IGBVL) and Argentina (MERVAL). We have found windows of nonlinear dependence and comovement between the SP500 and the Latin American stock markets, some of which coincide with periods of crisis, leading to an interpretation of a possible contagion or interdependence.</p>

This study developed a model oriented to organizational integrity in services small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A systemic approach was adopted to articulate methodologies as follows: A) We used the soft systems methodology to frame the problem and formulate a conceptual model. B) Partial least squares path modeling was applied to validate the construct statistically. C) The viable system model was used to realign interactions within SMEs to foster organizational integrity. The results suggest that the relationships proposed in the construct may promote organizational integrity. The ideas developed are constrained to the organizational domain, and although the results apply to the Mexican context, this study provides an opportunity to discuss methods for improving the analysis of and viewpoints for rethinking viability in these organizations; while suggesting an analytic protocol to support academics and managers for addressing the study of integrity.

Alumnos de primer ingreso a la universidad cometen errores algebraicos cuya fuente, probablemente, es un uso incorrecto o inadecuado de las variables. Es de interés para la Educación Matemática contar con un instrumento que permita identificar cuáles son los usos y caracterizaciones de la variable que presentan mayor dificultad. El objetivo de este trabajo es la adaptación y validación de un instrumento que cumpla con estas características. Las preguntas del instrumento son un conjunto representativo de la complejidad del objeto matemático variable con los tres significados parciales: variable como incógnita, variable como número general y variable en relación funcional. Las caracterizaciones abordan niveles de abstracción que van desde la interpretación a la manipulación y simbolización. Para la validación del cuestionario, éste se aplica a 251 alumnos de las carreras administrativas de una universidad privada en Guadalajara, México. Aquellos ítems con bajas comunalidades y que en un análisis factorial muestran, ya sea factores inestables o una distribución en factores múltiples se descartan, generando un cuestionario reducido que se aplica a 129 alumnos. La confiabilidad del nuevo cuestionario es buena con un alfa de Cronbach de 0.808. Se comprueba su validez con once factores relativos a las distintas caracterizaciones de los tres usos de la variable, que explican el 75.68% de la varianza total.