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Consistency
Kinds of Consistency Terms modified by Consistency Selected AbstractsCHANGES IN TOMATO PASTE DURING STORAGE AND THE EFFECTS OF HEATING ON CONSISTENCY OF RECONSTITUTED TOMATO PASTEJOURNAL OF TEXTURE STUDIES, Issue 3 2010GORDON E. ANTHON ABSTRACT Bostwick consistencies of reconstituted tomato pastes were measured both immediately after paste production and after storage times of up to 9 months. Bostwick values measured after storage were more than twice those measured on the day of paste production. This increase in Bostwick developed over the first month of paste storage at room temperature and could be slowed down but not prevented if the paste was stored at 4C. Heating the reconstituted paste for 30 min at 90C or 15 min at 100C restored the original consistency. Serum viscosities also decreased during paste storage, but the change in serum viscosity was smaller than the changes in Bostwick. As with the Bostwick, heating the reconstituted juice restored the serum viscosity. For a reproducible evaluation of the consistency of stored tomato paste, it is essential that the reconstituted paste be heated to 90C or above. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Consistency is an important quality consideration in products prepared from reconstituted tomato paste. During storage, changes occur in tomato paste, which affect the consistency after reconstitution. The results presented here show that for stored tomato paste, heating after reconstitution restores consistency to the same level as measured before storage. This knowledge will help in the formulation of products made from stored tomato paste. [source] Reporting practices of dropouts in psychological research using a wait-list control: current state and suggestions for improvementINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 1 2007Josh M. Cisler M.A. Abstract Reporting practices regarding dropouts in wait-list control studies hold great importance for the ability to replicate, generalize, and draw conclusions from research. This concern is applicable to all psychological research utilizing wait-list controls, regardless of purpose of research (e.g., treatment outcome). The current study assessed the present state of reporting practices in this type of experimental design and discussed the limitations and implications of the insufficient reporting found. 171 articles from psychology journals utilizing wait-list control design were surveyed regarding the reporting of the number of dropouts from the wait-list control and experimental conditions, characteristics and assessment scores of the dropouts, and total dropouts. Variables that are crucial to interpreting research findings are not consistently reported. Additionally, journal impact factor and year of publication were positively correlated with the adequacy of reporting. Consistencies with previous findings were noted, and suggestions for remedying the reporting inadequacies were discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Consistency of a Shared Versioned Model for Distributed CooperationCOMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 6 2005B. Firmenich As a rule the ultimate solution needs many iteration steps. Available CAD-systems support synchronous and distributed work on a document base. Therefore, cooperation between the engineers can be obtained only by the exchange of documents. It is generally known that an overall consistency of the planning material is not adequately addressed by this approach. In this article a solution approach focused upon consistency of the shared planning material in a distributed CAD environment is presented. Because of the nature of the planning process, version management is applied on an object basis. Project data are stored as object versions and relationships. The operations for the distributed cooperation are identified and their impact on the project data is described formally, using logical expressions and set theory. A formulation based upon an algebra of sets is presented. [source] The achievability of sustainable reporting practices in agricultureCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2009Belinda R. Williams Abstract This research investigates the process of change in moving from a domestic accounting standard, AASB 1037, relating to self-generating and regenerating assets (SGARAs) to an international standard, AASB 141. It focuses on the achievement (or nonachievement as it may be) of sustainable reporting practices for these agricultural assets. This paper finds that the transition to AASB 141 has allowed firms the discretion to change how they value their agricultural assets in comparison to the domestic standard. Consistency may have been achieved to a limited extent with the introduction of this financial accounting standard but comparability appears not to have been. Further, there is very limited understanding of the reporting of these assets from a user's perspective. It is concluded that this lack of consistency, comparability and understandability will not help achieve sustainability in the reporting practices of agricultural assets. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Student Hits in an Internet-Supported Course: How Can Instructors Use Them and What Do They Mean?DECISION SCIENCES JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE EDUCATION, Issue 2 2003Andrew, Ellen Baugher Varanelli Weisbord ABSTRACT The world of education is changing as Web-based technology and courseware are increasingly used for delivery of course material. In this environment, instructors may need new measures for determining student involvement, and ultimately student performance. This study examines whether hits to a Web site have any value for predicting student performance in a traditional course supported by Web activities. Total Hits at the end of the semester was used as one measure. Hit Consistency, determined by assigning a 0 when no hits occurred between class meetings and by assigning a 1 when one or more hits occurred between class meetings, was another. Hit Consistency was significantly correlated with course average (r= .37, p < .001) for 108 students in two course sections. Hit Consistency started to show a significant relationship with course average by the third week (or class). Total Hits was not found to significantly correlate with course average (r= .08, p > .05) at the end of the semester or during any week. These results suggest that students who consistently access a Web site will perform better than those who do not. When Hit Consistency and Total Hits were entered as independent variables into a stepwise regression with course average as the dependent variable, the model was enhanced by the addition of Total Hits after Hit Consistency was entered (R= .43, p < .001). Hierarchical regression analysis in which cumulative grade point average was entered as the first controlling variable suggested that online access may go beyond the predictive value of achievement alone for predicting course performance with Hit Consistency appearing to be the dominant causal variable. [source] Consistency of immigrant and country-of-birth suicide rates: a meta-analysisACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 4 2008M. Voracek Objective:, Multifaceted evidence (family, twin, adoption, molecular genetic, geographic and surname studies of suicide) suggests genetic risk factors for suicide. Migrant studies are also informative in this context, but underused. In particular, a meta-analysis of the associations of immigrant (IMM) and country-of-birth (COB) suicide rates is unavailable. Method:, Thirty-three studies, reporting IMM suicide rates for nearly 50 nationalities in seven host countries (Australia, Austria, Canada, England, the Netherlands, Sweden and the USA), were retrieved. Results:, Total-population IMM and COB suicide rates were strongly positively associated (combined rank-order correlation across 20 eligible studies: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.56,0.73, P < 10,9). The effect generalized across both sexes, host countries and study periods. Conclusion:, Following the logic of the migrant study design of genetic epidemiology, the correspondence of IMM and COB suicide rates is consistent with the assumption of population differences in the prevalence of genetic risk factors for suicide. [source] Smooth Transition Models and Arbitrage ConsistencyECONOMICA, Issue 287 2005David A. Peel Slow adjustment of real exchange rate towards equilibrium in linear models has long puzzled researchers, stimulating the adoption of nonlinear models. The exponential smooth transition model has been particularly successful, providing faster adjustment speeds. This paper discusses some of its theoretical limitations, for example that expectations are adaptive. We propose a new nonlinear model conceptually superior to the ESTAR model since it is consistent with rational expectations. One of its advantages is that it can be solved and estimated by nonlinear least squares. Using monthly post-1973 real exchange rate data, we show that the model implies even faster speeds of adjustment. [source] Development and validation of a 2,000-gene microarray for the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 7 2007Patrick Larkin Abstract Gene microarrays provide the field of ecotoxicology new tools to identify mechanisms of action of chemicals and chemical mixtures. Herein we describe the development and application of a 2,000-gene oligonucleotide microarray for the fathead minnow Pimephales promelas, a species commonly used in ecological risk assessments in North America. The microarrays were developed from various cDNA and subtraction libraries that we constructed. Consistency and reproducibility of the microarrays were documented by examining multiple technical replicates. To test application of the fathead minnow microarrays, gene expression profiles of fish exposed to 17,-estradiol, a well-characterized estrogen receptor (ER) agonist, were examined. For these experiments, adult male fathead minnows were exposed for 24 h to waterborne 17,-estradiol (40 or 100 ng/L) in a flow-through system, and gene expression in liver samples was characterized. Seventy-one genes were identified as differentially regulated by estradiol exposure. Examination of the gene ontology designations of these genes revealed patterns consistent with estradiol's expected mechanisms of action and also provided novel insights as to molecular effects of the estrogen. Our studies indicate the feasibility and utility of microarrays as a basis for understanding biological responses to chemical exposure in a model ecotoxicology test species. [source] The Myth of Practical ConsistencyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY, Issue 3 2008Niko Kolodny First page of article [source] On accuracy of the finite-difference and finite-element schemes with respect to P -wave to S -wave speed ratioGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2010Peter Moczo SUMMARY Numerical modelling of seismic motion in sedimentary basins often has to account for P -wave to S -wave speed ratios as large as five and even larger, mainly in sediments below groundwater level. Therefore, we analyse seven schemes for their behaviour with a varying P -wave to S -wave speed ratio. Four finite-difference (FD) schemes include (1) displacement conventional-grid, (2) displacement-stress partly-staggered-grid, (3) displacement-stress staggered-grid and (4) velocity,stress staggered-grid schemes. Three displacement finite-element schemes differ in integration: (1) Lobatto four-point, (2) Gauss four-point and (3) Gauss one-point. To compare schemes at the most fundamental level, and identify basic aspects responsible for their behaviours with the varying speed ratio, we analyse 2-D second-order schemes assuming an elastic homogeneous isotropic medium and a uniform grid. We compare structures of the schemes and applied FD approximations. We define (full) local errors in amplitude and polarization in one time step, and normalize them for a unit time. We present results of extensive numerical calculations for wide ranges of values of the speed ratio and a spatial sampling ratio, and the entire range of directions of propagation with respect to the spatial grid. The application of some schemes to real sedimentary basins in general requires considerably finer spatial sampling than usually applied. Consistency in approximating first spatial derivatives appears to be the key factor for the behaviour of a scheme with respect to the P -wave to S -wave speed ratio. [source] Consistency of the spatial autocorrelation method with seismic interferometry and its consequenceGEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING, Issue 3 2008Toshiaki Yokoi ABSTRACT We have cross-checked the conventional theory of the spatial autocorrelation method and the consequence of seismic interferometry: the retrieval of the elastodynamic Green's function. Their mutual consistency is almost complete. The basic formulas of the conventional spatial autocorrelation theory can be derived by an alternative approach based on the retrieval of the elastodynamic Green's function. The only discrepancy is found with the average of the complex coherence function over azimuth in a wavefield dependent on azimuth. It is hypothesized, in discussion, that this discrepancy is due to the way of representing the wavefield in the background theory of seismic interferometry that can produce only wavefields moderately dependent on azimuth and that the mentioned consequence of seismic interferometry can also only make sense in a wavefield moderately dependent on azimuth. Our field experiment with a wavefield dependent on azimuth showed that the consequence of seismic interferometry in the logical framework of the conventional spatial autocorrelation theory is appropriate under such degrees of approximation as the measure proposed in this study, i.e., the deviation of the total dispersion curves is between about 10 and 16 per cent at the maximum from those averaged over azimuth. The acceptance of the retrieval of Green's function gives a proper physical meaning to the complex coherence function: the real part of the elastodynamic Green's function normalized by its zero-offset version. This makes it possible to take a deterministic approach rather than the statistical one on which the conventional spatial autocorrelation method is based and gives fruitful new aspects and perspectives. For example, the formula for the multi-mode case is given and the possibility of exploration of two or three dimensional velocity structures is suggested. [source] Do social inequalities exist in terms of the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, control and monitoring of diabetes?HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 6 2010A systematic review Abstract The major increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has led to the study of social inequalities in health-care. The aim of this study is to establish the possible existence of social inequalities in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, control and monitoring of diabetes in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries which have universal healthcare systems. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for all relevant articles published up to 15 December 2007. We included observational studies carried out in OECD countries with universal healthcare systems in place that investigate social inequalities in the provision of health-care to diabetes patients. Two independent reviewers carried out the critical assessment using the STROBE tool items considered most adequate for the evaluation of the methodological quality. We selected 41 articles from which we critically assessed 25 (18 cross-sectional, 6 cohorts, 1 case-control). Consistency among the article results was found regarding the existence of ethnic inequalities in treatment, metabolic control and use of healthcare services. Socioeconomic inequalities were also found in the diagnosis and control of the disease, but no evidence of any gender inequalities was found. In general, the methodological quality of the articles was moderate with insufficient information in the majority of cases to rule out bias. This review shows that even in countries with a significant level of economic development and which have universal healthcare systems in place which endeavour to provide medical care to the entire population, socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities can be identified in the provision of health-care to DM sufferers. However, higher quality and follow-up articles are needed to confirm these results. [source] The geography of hospital admission in a national health service with patient choiceHEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 9 2010Daniele Fabbri Abstract Each year about 20% of the 10 million hospital inpatients in Italy get admitted to hospitals outside the Local Health Authority of residence. In this paper we carefully explore this phenomenon and estimate gravity equations for ,trade' in hospital care using a Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood method. Consistency of the PPML estimator is guaranteed under the null of independence provided that the conditional mean is correctly specified. In our case we find that patients' flows are affected by network autocorrelation. We correct for it by relying upon spatial filtering. Our results suggest that the gravity model is a good framework for explaining patient mobility in most of the examined diagnostic groups. We find that the ability to restrain patients' outflows increases with the size of the pool of enrollees. Moreover, the ability to attract patients' inflows is reduced by the size of pool of enroless for all LHAs except for the very big LHAs. For LHAs in the top quintile of size of enrollees, the ability to attract inflows increases with the size of the pool. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Children's Responses to Computer-Synthesized Speech in Educational Media: Gender Consistency and Gender Similarity EffectsHUMAN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH, Issue 3 2007Kwan Min Lee This study examines children's social responses to gender cues in synthesized speech in a computer-based instruction setting. Eighty 5th-grade elementary school children were randomly assigned to one of the conditions in a full-factorial 2 (participant gender) × 2 (voice gender) × 2 (content gender) experiment. Results show that children apply gender-based social rules to synthesized speech. More specifically, children evaluate synthesized speech more positively, trust the speech more, and learn more effectively when voice gender matches either content gender (consistency attraction) and/or their own gender (similarity attraction). Children's computer self-efficacy was a significant covariate for their social responses to synthesized speech. Theoretical and practical implications of the current study for the design of educational media are discussed. [source] Consistency with continuity in conservative advection schemes for free-surface modelsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 4 2002Edward S. Gross Abstract The consistency of the discretization of the scalar advection equation with the discretization of the continuity equation is studied for conservative advection schemes coupled to three-dimensional flows with a free-surface. Consistency between the discretized free-surface equation and the discretized scalar transport equation is shown to be necessary for preservation of constants. In addition, this property is shown to hold for a general formulation of conservative schemes. A discrete maximum principle is proven for consistent upwind schemes. Various numerical examples in idealized and realistic test cases demonstrate the practical importance of the consistency with the discretization of the continuity equation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Consistency of modelled and observed temperature trends in the tropical troposphereINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 13 2008B. D. Santer Abstract A recent report of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) identified a ,potentially serious inconsistency' between modelled and observed trends in tropical lapse rates (Karl et al., 2006). Early versions of satellite and radiosonde datasets suggested that the tropical surface had warmed more than the troposphere, while climate models consistently showed tropospheric amplification of surface warming in response to human-caused increases in well-mixed greenhouse gases (GHGs). We revisit such comparisons here using new observational estimates of surface and tropospheric temperature changes. We find that there is no longer a serious discrepancy between modelled and observed trends in tropical lapse rates. This emerging reconciliation of models and observations has two primary explanations. First, because of changes in the treatment of buoy and satellite information, new surface temperature datasets yield slightly reduced tropical warming relative to earlier versions. Second, recently developed satellite and radiosonde datasets show larger warming of the tropical lower troposphere. In the case of a new satellite dataset from Remote Sensing Systems (RSS), enhanced warming is due to an improved procedure of adjusting for inter-satellite biases. When the RSS-derived tropospheric temperature trend is compared with four different observed estimates of surface temperature change, the surface warming is invariably amplified in the tropical troposphere, consistent with model results. Even if we use data from a second satellite dataset with smaller tropospheric warming than in RSS, observed tropical lapse rate trends are not significantly different from those in all other model simulations. Our results contradict a recent claim that all simulated temperature trends in the tropical troposphere and in tropical lapse rates are inconsistent with observations. This claim was based on use of older radiosonde and satellite datasets, and on two methodological errors: the neglect of observational trend uncertainties introduced by interannual climate variability, and application of an inappropriate statistical ,consistency test'. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Implementation solutions for the interworking between MMS and streamingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, Issue 10 2003Miraj-E-Mostafa Abstract Multimedia messaging service (MMS) and streaming are forerunner multimedia applications in mobile communication. Use of streaming in the retrieval of continuous multimedia content of MMS is the identified optimum scope (extent) of interworking between MMS and streaming. The optimum interworking can remove a limitation visible in MMS,retrieving content requiring more storage space than available in a mobile terminal. This paper presents two different solutions for implementing the interworking. The implementation solutions are consistent with the existing mobile frameworks and the working principles and procedures of both MMS and streaming. Consistency is very important here not only to avoid creating isolated solution, but also to preserve user experience. This paper describes in detail how each of the solutions operates, including the process of using streaming in the MMS retrieval. Pros and cons of both the solutions are also analysed to compare those. Other important factors tackled in the analysis are implementation flexibility, complexity, terminal capability indication, and content adaptation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Consistency of quasi-static boundary value problems in electromagnetic modellingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NUMERICAL MODELLING: ELECTRONIC NETWORKS, DEVICES AND FIELDS, Issue 6 2006S. Suuriniemi Abstract This paper analyses the possibility to computationally settle consistency of field problems, especially those arising from electromagnetic modelling: the electromagnetic theory is expressed in field-oriented concepts, which allow for formulation of boundary value problems with no solution at all or infinitely many solutions. This possibility of such inconsistent problems decreases the productivity of electromagnetic design software. This paper relates the consistency question to topological aspects of the model domain, and proposes a scheme for routine computation of the relevant topological aspects of electromagnetic models. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Determinants of the Willingness of Belgian Farmers to Participate in Agri-environmental MeasuresJOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2002Isabel Vanslembrouck This paper explores the willingness of Belgian farmers to participate in two voluntary agri-environmental policies. Farmers' contingent behaviour is analysed on the basis of survey data. Derivations based on a conceptual micro-economic model indicate that decision subject and decision maker characteristics are important for farmers' participation. The model is empirically tested through the specification and estimation of a probit model. Consistency is found between the theoretical framework and the empirical results indicating that both the expected effect on farm production and the farmers' environmental attitude, which is more positive among younger and better educated farmers, are significant determinants of the acceptance rate of agri-environmental policies. Other variables which influence participation decisions are farm size and previous experience of farmers themselves or of neighbouring farmers with agri-environmental measures. [source] Evaluation of the Mini-Mental State Examination's Internal Consistency in a Community-Based Sample of Mexican-American and European-American Elders: Results from the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of AgingJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 5 2004David V. Espino MD This study examined the effect of scoring method, education, and language usage on internal consistency of the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Trained bilingual staff administered the MMSE in participants' homes as part of the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging home-based assessment battery. Subjects included 833 community-dwelling Mexican-American (MA) and European-American (EA) elders, aged 65 and older, residing in three socioculturally distinct neighborhoods in San Antonio, Texas. Three methods of scoring the MMSE were examined: serial sevens only, spelling only, and serial sevens or spelling, whichever was higher. Mean MMSE scores±standard deviation ranged from 27.7±2.4 to 28.5±1.9 for EAs, from 25.6±3.2 to 27.2±2.9 for MAs interviewed in English, and from 22.5±4.5 to 25.5±3.5 for MAs interviewed in Spanish, depending on scoring method. Across the three ethnic-language subgroups, the lowest mean scores, largest coefficients of variation, and highest alpha coefficients were observed using serial sevens only. Stratification by educational level showed that alpha coefficients for all three scoring methods were consistently lower in high school graduates than in less-educated groups. Serial sevens only was the only scoring method that yielded acceptably high alpha coefficients across all ethnic, language, and education subgroups. Thus, clinicians should use the serial sevens,only method when administering the MMSE and be alert to the increased potential for false-negatives in more highly educated EA and MA elders, particularly in EAs and MAs proficient in English. [source] Consistency of Breakfast Consumption in Institutionalized Seniors with Cognitive Impairment: Its Value and Use in Feeding ProgramsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 4 2001Sarah Dyer MSc No abstract is available for this article. [source] Analysis of scattering from polydisperse structure using Mellin convolutionJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2006Norbert Stribeck This study extends a mathematical concept for the description of heterogeneity and polydispersity in the structure of materials to multiple dimensions. In one dimension, the description of heterogeneity by means of Mellin convolution is well known. In several papers by the author, the method has been applied to the analysis of data from materials with one-dimensional structure (layer stacks or fibrils along their principal axis). According to this concept, heterogeneous structures built from polydisperse ensembles of structural units are advantageously described by the Mellin convolution of a representative template structure with the size distribution of the templates. Hence, the polydisperse ensemble of similar structural units is generated by superposition of dilated templates. This approach is particularly attractive considering the advantageous mathematical properties enjoyed by the Mellin convolution. Thus, average particle size, and width and skewness of the particle size distribution can be determined from scattering data without the need to model the size distributions themselves. The present theoretical treatment demonstrates that the concept is generally extensible to dilation in multiple dimensions. Moreover, in an analogous manner, a representative cluster of correlated particles (e.g. layer stacks or microfibrils) can be considered as a template on a higher level. Polydispersity of such clusters is, again, described by subjecting the template structure to the generalized Mellin convolution. The proposed theory leads to a simple pathway for the quantitative determination of polydispersity and heterogeneity parameters. Consistency with the established theoretical approach of polydispersity in scattering theory is demonstrated. The method is applied to the best advantage in the field of soft condensed matter when anisotropic nanostructured materials are to be characterized by means of small-angle scattering (SAXS, USAXS, SANS). [source] Breeding success in Blue Tits: good territories or good parents?JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Robert Przybylo Territorial quality and parental quality are usually assumed to be the main sources of variation in the reproductive success of passerine birds. To evaluate their relative importance for variation in breeding time (itself an important factor for breeding success), clutch size and offspring condition at fledging, we analysed six years of data from a Blue Tit Parus caeruleus population breeding on the island of Gotland, Sweden. Hatching dates and the condition of offspring were consistent for territories between years and accounted for 30% and 33% of the variation in these variables, respectively. After removing the effect of territory quality, none of the breeding parameters were significantly repeatable for individual females, but offspring condition was repeatable for males, accounting for 28% of variation. For females breeding on the same territory in subsequent seasons (combined effect of individual and territory quality) only hatching date was repeatable (45% of variation accounted for). In males, the combined effect of individual and territory quality was repeatable for offspring condition and accounted for 33% of variation, but this result was only marginally significant. Consistency of the peak frass-fall date for individual frass collectors over the study period suggests that repeatable hatching dates on territories may be related to the relationship between timing of breeding and timing of peak food availability on territories. Our results suggest that territory quality is more important than parental quality for breeding success in the Blue Tit, and that male (but not female) quality makes a considerable contribution to reproductive success. [source] Social influence on predictions of simulated stock pricesJOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL DECISION MAKING, Issue 3 2009Maria Andersson Abstract Herding in financial markets refers to that investors are influenced by others. This study addresses the importance of consistency for herding. It is suggested that, in financial markets perceptions of consistency are based on repeated observations over time. Consistency may then be perceived as the agreement across time between investors' predictions. In addition, consistency may be related to variance over time in each investor's predictions. In an experiment using a Multiple Cue Probability Learning paradigm, 96 undergraduates made multi-trial predictions of future stock prices given information about the current price and the predictions made by five fictitious others. Consistency was varied between the others' predictions (correlation) and within the others' predictions (variance). The results showed that the predictions were significantly influenced by the others' predictions when these were correlated. No effect of variance was observed. Hence, participants were influenced by the others when they were in agreement, regardless of whether they varied their predictions over trials or not. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Usefulness of Measures of Consistency of Discretionary Components of Accruals in the Detection of Earnings ManagementJOURNAL OF BUSINESS FINANCE & ACCOUNTING, Issue 9-10 2009Salma S. IbrahimArticle first published online: 26 OCT 200 Abstract:, Prior research has shown the prevalence of measurement error in models used to estimate aggregate discretionary accruals. In these models, the incremental information content of the various components of accruals is ignored. Limited prior research and data gathered from firms under Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) litigation indicate that managers use either one or more than one component of accruals simultaneously, in a consistent way to manipulate bottom-line earnings in a given direction. I propose two measures that capture the consistency between the discretionary components of accruals and test their significance in earnings management (EM) detection in firms that have artificially added accrual manipulation and firms that were targeted by the SEC for accrual manipulation. There is evidence that this information is incrementally useful in detecting EM. This finding paves the way for improvements in the discretionary accruals measure by including consistency information from the components of aggregate accruals. [source] Statistical Process Control Charts for Measuring and Monitoring Temporal Consistency of RatingsJOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT, Issue 1 2010M. Hafidz Omar Methods of statistical process control were briefly investigated in the field of educational measurement as early as 1999. However, only the use of a cumulative sum chart was explored. In this article other methods of statistical quality control are introduced and explored. In particular, methods in the form of Shewhart mean and standard deviation charts are introduced as techniques for ensuring quality in a measurement process for rating performance items in operational assessments. Several strengths and weaknesses of the procedures are explored with illustrative real and simulated rating data. Further research directions are also suggested. [source] Consistency of Angoff-Based Predictions of Item Performance: Evidence of Technical Quality of Results From the Angoff Standard Setting MethodJOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT, Issue 4 2000Barbara S. Plake Judgmental standard-setting methods, such as the Angoff(1971) method, use item performance estimates as the basis for determining the minimum passing score (MPS). Therefore, the accuracy, of these item peformance estimates is crucial to the validity of the resulting MPS. Recent researchers (Shepard, 1995; Impara & Plake, 1998; National Research Council. 1999) have called into question the ability of judges to make accurate item performance estimates for target subgroups of candidates, such as minimally competent candidates. The propose of this study was to examine the intra- and inter-rater consistency of item performance estimates from an Angoff standard setting. Results provide evidence that item pelformance estimates were consistent within and across panels within and across years. Factors that might have influenced this high degree of reliability, in the item performance estimates in a standard setting study are discussed. [source] Developing interdisciplinary maternity services policy in Canada.JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2010Evaluation of a consensus workshop Abstract Context, Four maternity/obstetrical care organizations, representing women, midwives, obstetricians and family doctors conducted interdisciplinary policy research under auspices of four key stakeholder groups. These projects teams and key stakeholders subsequently collaborated to develop consensus on strategies for improved maternity services in Ontario. Objectives, The objective of this study is to evaluate a 2-day research synthesis and consensus building conference to answer policy questions in relation to new models of interdisciplinary maternity care organizations in different settings in Ontario. Methods, The evaluation consisted of a scan of individual project activities and findings as were presented to an invited audience of key stakeholders at the consensus conference. This involved: participant observation with key informant consultation; a survey of attendees; pattern processing and sense making of project materials, consensus statements derived at the conference in the light of participant observation and survey material as pertaining to a complex system. The development of a systems framework for maternity care policy in Ontario was based on secondary analysis of the material. Findings, Conference participants were united on the importance of investment in maternity care for Ontario and the impending workforce crisis if adaptation of the workforce did not take place. The conference participants proposed reforming the current system that was seen as too rigid and inflexible in relation to the constraints of legislation, provider scope of practice and remuneration issues. However, not one model of interdisciplinary maternity/obstetrical care was endorsed. Consistency and coherence of models (rather than central standardization) through self-organization based on local needs was strongly endorsed. An understanding of primary maternity care models as subsystems of networked providers in complex health organizations and a wider social system emerged. The patterns identified were incorporated into a complexity framework to assist sense making to inform policy. Discussion, Coherence around core values, holism and synthesis with responsiveness to local needs and key stakeholders were themes that emerged consistent with complex adaptive systems principles. Respecting historical provider relationships and local history provided a background for change recognizing that systems evolve in part from where they have been. The building of functioning relationships was central through education and improved communication with ongoing feedback loops (positive and negative). Information systems and a flexible improved central and local organization of maternity services was endorsed. Education and improved communication through ongoing feedback loops (positive and negative) were central to building functioning relationships. Also, coordinated central organization with a flexible and adaptive local organization of maternity services was endorsed by participants. Conclusions, This evaluation used an approach comprising scoping, pattern processing and sense making. While the projects produced considerable typical research evidence, the key policy questions could not be addressed by this alone, and a process of synthesis and consensus building with stakeholder engagement was applied. An adaptive system with local needs driving a relationship based network of interdisciplinary groupings or teams with both bottom up and central leadership. A complexity framework enhanced sense making for the system approaches and understandings that emerged. [source] Automated Alignment and Nomenclature for Consistent Treatment of Polymorphisms in the Human Mitochondrial DNA Control RegionJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 5 2010Bruce Budowle Ph.D. Abstract:, Naming mtDNA sequences by listing only those sites that differ from a reference sequence is the standard practice for describing the observed variations. Consistency in nomenclature is desirable so that all sequences in a database that are concordant with an evidentiary sequence will be found for estimating the rarity of that profile. The operational alignment and nomenclature rules, i.e., "Wilson Rules," suggested for this purpose do not always guarantee a single consistent sequence description for all observed polymorphisms. In this work, the operational alignment/nomenclature rules were reconfigured to better reflect traditional user preferences. The rules for selecting alignments are described. In addition, to avoid human error and to more efficiently name mtDNA sequence variants, a computer-facilitated method of aligning mtDNA sample sequences with a reference sequence was developed. There were 33 differences between these hierarchical rules and the data in SWGDAM, which translates into a 99.92% consistency between the new rules and the manual historical nomenclature approach. The data support the reliability of the current SWGDAM database. As the few discrepancies were changed in favor of the new hierarchical rules, the quality of the SWGDAM database is further improved. [source] Consistency of resistance to attack by the green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum Walker) in different ontogenetic stages of Sitka spruceAGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2003S. Harding Abstract 1,The susceptibility of different genotypes of 29-year-old Sitka spruce to damage by the green spruce aphid, Elatobium abietinum, was investigated in a progeny trial where aphid damage on individual trees had previously been assessed twice in an earlier stage of ontogenetic development. The progeny trial comprised 14 open-pollinated families originating from a clonal seed orchard that had been established using mature spruce trees selected for aphid resistance. 2,Previous investigations had demonstrated that resistance was inherited by the offspring, and that differences in resistance between progenies of the individual orchard clones were highly significant. 3,Susceptibility to aphid attack was recorded as the percentage loss of previous year's needles. Differences in susceptibility recorded between the juvenile trees were found to persist after the trees had developed into the closed-canopy, sexually reproducing stage. Needle loss of the families was significantly less than that of the reference population of Sitka spruce. 4,Hybrids between Sitka spruce and white spruce were defoliated more heavily than pure Sitka spruce, and the difference increased with age. 5,Family heritability of resistance was estimated as 0.60 compared to 0.73 when the trees were assessed in the juvenile stage. The genetic correlation based on family means between damage in the juvenile and sexually reproducing stand was high (0.83), indicating a high consistency of resistance to the aphid over years and ontogenetic stages. 6,A skewed distribution of defoliation indicated that major genes are involved in the expression of resistance, and that the genetics behind resistance has a nonadditive component. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||