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Indexes

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	37%
Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting	16%
Life Sciences	10%
Earth and Environmental Science	6%
Chemistry	6%
Engineering	5%
Humanities and Social Sciences	5%
Psychology	4%
Polymers and Materials Science	2%
Information Science and Computing	2%
3 Other Domains	7%

Distribution within Medical Sciences

Cardiovascular Disease	10%
Diabetes	5%
47 Other Subdomains	80%

Kinds of Indexes

Selected Abstracts

Using Phylogenetic Diversity Measures to Set Priorities in Conservation: an Example from Southern South America

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2001
Paula Posadas
The goal of these ranks for conservation is to consider as many factors as possible that provide additional taxic information, such as taxa richness, taxa distributional patterns, area endemicity, and complementarity between areas. At present there are many measures that consider phylogenetic information, including node-based, genetic-distance, and feature-based measures. We devised a modified phylogenetic node-based index that we call "taxonomic endemicity standardized weight," which considers not only the taxonomic distinctness of the taxa that inhabit a given area but their endemicity as well. Once the standardized weight of the taxonomic endemicity identifies the area of highest priority, complementarity can be used to identify the second area and so on. We used this node-based index to rank priority areas for conservation in southern South America, and we compared the results of our rankings to results based on other node-based indexes. Our index identified Santiago district, in Central Chile province, as the highest priority area for conservation, followed by Maule, Malvinas, and districts of Subantarctic province. Malvinas exhibits greater complementarity relative to Santiago than Maule does, however, so Malvinas is ranked second in priority. Indexes based on phylogenetic information measure the evolutionary component of biodiversity and allow one to identify areas that will ensure the preservation of evolutionary potential and phylogenetically rare taxa. The modified index we propose is sensitive to taxic distinctness and endemicity as well and allows information from diverse taxa to be combined (i.e., different cladograms). The use of complementarity allows for preservation of the maximum quantity of taxa in a minimal number of protected areas. Resumen: Las medidas de diversidad filogenética jerarquiza a las áreas para prioridades de conservación de biodiversidad con base en información codificada en filogenias (cladogramas), La meta de estas categorías de conservación requiere tomar en consideración tantos factores que proporcionan información adicional (riqueza de taxones, patrones de distribución de los taxones, endemicidad del área y complementariedad entre áreas) como sea posible. Actualmente hay muchas medidas que consideran información filogenética (basadas en nodos, distancia genética y basadas en características). Diseñamos un índice filogenético modificado basado en nodos que denominamos "peso estandarizado de endemicidad taxonómica", el cual considera no solo la peculiaridad genética de los taxa que habitan una región determinada sino también su endemicidad. Una vez que el peso estandarizado de endemicidad identifica el área de mayor prioridad, la complementariedad se puede usar para identificar la segunda área y así sucesivamente. Utilizamos este índice basado en nodos para jerarquizar áreas prioritarias para conservación en el sur de América del Sur, y comparamos los resultados de nuestras jerarquizaciones con resultados obtenidos con otros índices basados en nodos. Nuestro índice identificó al distrito de Santiago, en la provincia de Chile Central, como el área de mayor prioridad para conservación, seguido por Maule, Malvinas y distritos de la provincia Subantártica. Sin embargo, Malvinas presenta mayor complementariedad en relación con Santiago que el Maule y, por tanto, Malvinas ocupa la segunda prioridad. Los índices basados en información filogenética miden el componente evolutivo de la biodiversidad y permiten la identificación de áreas que aseguran la preservación de taxones con potencial evolutivo y filogenéticamente peculiares. El índice modificado que proponemos es sensible tanto a la peculiaridad de los taxones como a la endemicidad y permite combinar información de diversos taxones (i.e. cladogramas diferentes). El uso de la complementariedad permite la preservación de la mayor cantidad de taxones en un número mínimo de áreas protegidas. [source]

Acknowledgements, Author & Subject Indexes

ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION, Issue 3 2002
Article first published online: 20 JAN 200
First page of article [source]

Selectivity and Market Timing Performance of Fidelity Sector Mutual Funds

FINANCIAL REVIEW, Issue 1 2001
Wilfred L. Dellva
G14 Abstract In this paper, we test the selectivity and timing performance of the Fidelity sector mutual funds during the 1989,1998 time period. We use the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industry Group Total Return Indexes, and the Dow Jones Subgroup Total Return Indexes as benchmarks. When we use the Dow Jones Industry benchmarks, our results indicate that many sector fund managers have positive selectivity but negative timing ability. We also find that the results are sensitive to our choice of benchmark and timing model. [source]

Cortical Indexes of Saccade Planning Following Covert Orienting in 20-Week-Old Infants

INFANCY, Issue 2 2001
John E. Richards
This study examined scalp-recorded, event-related potential (ERP) indexes of saccade planning in 20-week-old infants. A spatial cuing procedure was used in which the infants were presented with a central fixation stimulus and a peripheral cue. A peripheral target followed the cue on the ipsilateral or contralateral side of the cue. The procedure resulted in covert orienting of attention in these participants, reflected in behavioral (e.g., response facilitation or inhibition of return depending on cue-target stimulus-onset asynchrony) and ERP (P1 facilitation to ipsilateral target) indexes of covert orienting of attention. A presaccadic ERP that occurred over the frontal cortex about 50 msec before the saccade onset was largest when the saccade was to a target in a cued location. A presaccadic ERP potential that occurred about 300 msec before the saccade onset was largest for the saccades toward the cued location whether the target was present or not. These results suggest that saccade planning occurs in infants at this age and that infant saccade planning is controlled by cortical systems. [source]

Indexes to Volume 15 Tables of Contents

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WELFARE, Issue 4 2006
Article first published online: 18 SEP 200
First page of article [source]

Indexes to Volume 14 Tables of Contents

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WELFARE, Issue 4 2005
Article first published online: 20 SEP 200
First page of article [source]

Validation and Comparison of Two Frailty Indexes: The MOBILIZE Boston Study

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 9 2009
Dan K. Kiely MPH
OBJECTIVES: To validate two established frailty indexes and compare their ability to predict adverse outcomes in a diverse, elderly, community-dwelling sample of men and women. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: A diverse defined geographic area of Boston. PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred sixty-five community-dwelling participants in the Maintenance of Balance, Independent Living, Intellect, and Zest in the Elderly Boston Study. MEASUREMENTS: Two published frailty indexes, recurrent falls, disability, overnight hospitalization, emergency department (ED) visits, chronic medical conditions, self-reported health, physical function, cognitive ability (including executive function), and depression. One index was developed from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) and the other from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). RESULTS: The SOF frailty index classified 77.1% as robust, 18.7% as prefrail, and 4.2% as frail. The CHS frailty index classified 51.2% as robust, 38.8% as prefrail, and 10.0% as frail. Both frailty indexes (SOF; CHS) were similar in their ability to predict key geriatric outcomes such as recurrent falls (hazard ratio (HR)frail=2.2, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.2,4.0; HRfrail=1.9, 95% CI=1.2,3.1), overnight hospitalization (odds ratio (OR)frail=3.5, 95% CI=1.5,8.0; ORfrail=4.4, 95% CI=2.4,8.2), ED visits (ORfrail=3.5, 95% CI=1.4,8.8; ORfrail=3.1, 95% CI=1.6,5.9), and disability (ORfrail=5.4, 95% CI=2.3,12.3; ORfrail=7.7, 95% CI=4.0,14.7), as well as chronic medical conditions, physical function, cognitive ability, and depression. CONCLUSION: Two established frailty indexes were validated using an independent elderly sample of diverse men and women; both indexes were good at distinguishing geriatric conditions and predicting recurrent falls, overnight hospitalization, and ED visits according to level of frailty. Although both indexes are good measures of frailty, the simpler SOF index may be easier and more practical in a clinical setting. [source]

Relationship Between Interindividual Differences and Physiological Indexes of Acute Stress in Rats

JOURNAL OF APPLIED BIOBEHAVIORAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2005
Mitsuo Nagane
We used in vivo microdialysis to examine interindividual differences in the effects of acute immobilization stress and diazepam treatment on monoamine turnover in the hippocampus of male rats as an index of stress. Immobilization significantly increased the concentrations of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-aceticacid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). This effect was attenuated by injection of diazepam, Interindividual differences in reactivity to stressors caused differential changes in different metabolic products of monoamines. In our study, stress-induced changes in DOPAC levels were relatively great, and there was a similar change in the concentration of HVA. We conclude that at least 2 indexes of stress should be measured to take into account interindividual differences in the changes in stress indexes. [source]

Coercive and Face-Threatening Questions to Left-Wing and Right-Wing Politicians During Two Italian Broadcasts: Conversational Indexes of Par Conditio for Democracy Systems,

JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 5 2008
Augusto Gnisci
Indexes of political interviewers' neutrality, proposed in the face model, capture the treatment reserved in televised interviews for politicians or parties. This contribution proposes that they should be introduced in the official survey of political appearances on television and be prescribed by law. The research compares questions of 2 Italian interviewers to the same 13 politicians (7 left-wing, 6 right-wing). In over 11 hr of interviews (7 months' sampling), 804 questions were codified. Italian interviewers were less threatening than their Anglo Saxon colleagues, even if just as coercive. They treated the government less coercively than the opposition, even if they were just as threatening; and they seemed sensitive to the prestige of politicians. Implications of the proposal are discussed. [source]

MEASURING RISK IN ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE

JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC SURVEYS, Issue 5 2007
Suhejla Hoti
Abstract Environmental sustainability indices, such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes and the Ethibel Sustainability Index, quantify the development and promotion of sustainable social, ethical and environmental values in the community. Moreover, such indices provide a benchmark for managing sustainability portfolios, and developing financial products and services that are linked to sustainable economic, environmental, social and ethical criteria. This paper reviews the existing data and risk indices in environmental finance. The main purpose of the paper is to analyse existing sustainability and ethical indices in environmental finance, and evaluate empirical environmental risk by estimating conditional volatility clustering that is inherent in these indices. Financial volatility models are estimated to analyse the underlying conditional volatility or time-varying risk that is inherent in alternative environmental sustainability indices. Volatility clustering is observed for most series, but some extreme observations are also evident. The log- and second-moment conditions suggest that valid inferences can be drawn for purposes of sensible empirical analysis. [source]

Performance evaluation of the New Connecticut Leading Employment Index using lead profiles and BVAR models

JOURNAL OF FORECASTING, Issue 6 2006
Anirvan Banerji
Abstract The leading and coincident employment indexes for the state of Connecticut developed following the recession of the early 1990s fell short of expectations. This paper performs two tasks. First, it describes the process of revising the Connecticut Coincident and Leading Employment Indexes. Second, it analyzes the statistical properties and performance of the new indexes by comparing the lead profiles of the new and old indexes as well as their out-of-sample forecasting performance, using the Bayesian Vector Autoregressive (BVAR) method. The new coincident index shows improved performance in dating employment cycle chronologies. The lead profile test demonstrates that superiority in a rigorous, non-parametric statistic fashion. The mixed evidence on the BVAR forecasting experiments illustrates that leading indexes properly predict cycle turning points and do not necessarily provide accurate forecasts except at turning points, a view that our results support.,,Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Comprehensive health assessments during de-institutionalization: an observational study

JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 10 2006
N. Lennox
Abstract Background People with intellectual disability (ID) leaving institutions pass through a transition stage that makes them vulnerable to inadequate health care. They enter into community care under general practitioners (GPs) who are often untrained and inexperienced in their needs. Specifically designed health reviews may be of assistance to both them and their new GPs as they go through that phase. Methods This research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a specially designed health review, the comprehensive health assessment program (CHAP) health review, in a group of adults as they transitioned out of the care of the last institution for people with ID in Tasmania. There were 25 residents reviewed by their GPs. Results The CHAP reviews picked up a number of health conditions and stimulated health promotion activities. Some of the findings were: a high number of abnormal Body Mass Indexes (19/23), immunizations given (13/23), vision impairment reported (2/23), mental health issues recorded (4/23) and skin abnormalities described (17/23). There were 22 referrals made to other health professionals (Australian Hearing Service 4, dentists 3, optometrists 3, psychiatrists 2, neurologists 2, ophthalmologist 1, urologist 1, ultrasound 1, mammogram 1, family planning 1, physiotherapist 1, continence nurse 1 and respiratory physician 1). These were in addition to various requests for pathology. Conclusions The CHAP health review was effective in identifying a number of health issues in the population of people with ID as they transitioned out of institutional care into the general community. [source]

Masticatory problems after balloon compression for trigeminal neuralgia: a longitudinal study1

JOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 2 2007
S. R. D. T. DE SIQUEIRA
summary, Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (ITN) is a chronic neuropathic pain that affects the masticatory system. The objective of this study was to identify orofacial pain and temporomandibular characteristics, including temporomandibular disorder (TMD), in a sample of 105 ITN patients treated with compression of the trigeminal ganglion. The evaluations occurred before, 7, 30 (1 month), 120 (3 months) and 210 days (7 months) after surgery. The Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD), the Clinical Questionnaire (EDOF-HC) and Helkimo Indexes were used. Findings before neurosurgery were used as control for parameters. McNemar test and variance analysis for repetitive measurements were used for statistical analysis; 45·3% of the edentulous patients presented severe dental occlusion index; numbness was an important masticatory complaint in 42·6%; mastication became bilateral, but its discomfort continued during all period; headache and body pain reduced after surgery; TMD, present in 43·8% before surgery, increased but normalized after 7 months; jaw mobility compromise was still present, but daily activities improved after 7 months. We concluded that: (i) ITN relief reduced headache, body pain, depression and unspecific symptoms; and (ii) TMD before surgery and at 7 months suggests that this may be a contributory factor to patients' pain complaints. [source]

Detection of improvement in the masticatory function from old to new removable partial dentures using mixing ability test

JOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 9 2005
A. ASAKAWA
summary, The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity of the Mixing Ability Test to detect improvement of masticatory function in subjects on transition from old to new removable partial dentures. Thirty-two subjects (seven males, 25 females, mean age 65·0 years) with distal extension partially edentulous area in mandible and/or maxilla participated in the study. The following reasons were presented for replacing the old removable partial dentures with new ones: fracture and/or poor fitness of retainers, extraction of abutment teeth, poor fitness of denture base, severe wear of artificial teeth and request for metal base dentures. Masticatory function with old and new removable partial dentures after an adaptation period (mean 27·4 weeks) was evaluated by the Mixing Ability Test. Subjects were asked to masticate five two-coloured wax cubes with each removable partial denture. Mixing Ability Index was obtained from the colour mixture and shape of the masticated cubes. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to test the difference of Mixing Ability Indexes between old and new removable partial dentures. The mixing ability indexes with new removable partial dentures (mean ± s.d.: 0·70 ± 0·68) was significantly higher (P < 0·001) than those with old removable partial dentures (,0·11 ± 1·13). The results suggest that the Mixing Ability Test was capable of detecting improvement in masticatory function with new removable partial dentures. [source]

Acute Alcohol Intoxication During Hemorrhagic Shock: Impact on Host Defense From Infection

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 4 2004
K. L. Zambell
Abstract: Background: Acute alcohol intoxication is a frequent underlying condition associated with traumatic injury. Our studies have demonstrated that acute alcohol intoxication significantly impairs the immediate hemodynamic, metabolic, and inflammatory responses to hemorrhagic shock. This study investigated whether acute alcohol intoxication during hemorrhagic shock would alter the outcome from an infectious challenge during the initial 24 hr recovery period. Methods: Chronically catheterized male Sprague Dawley® rats were randomized to acute alcohol intoxication (EtOH; 1.75 g/kg bolus followed by a constant 15 hr infusion at 250,300 mg/kg/hr) or isocaloric isovolemic dextrose infusion (dex; 3 ml + 0.375 ml/hr). EtOH and dex were assigned to either fixed-volume (50%) hemorrhagic shock followed by fluid resuscitation with Ringer's lactate (EtOH/hem, dex/hem) or sham hemorrhagic shock (EtOH/sham, dex/sham). Indexes of circulating neutrophil function (apoptosis, phagocytosis, oxidative burst) were obtained at baseline, at completion of hemorrhagic shock, and at the end of fluid resuscitation. Bacterial clearance, lung cytokine expression, and myeloperoxidase activity were determined at 6 and 18 hr after an intratracheal challenge with Klebsiella pneumoniae (107 colony-forming units). Results: Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly lower in acute alcohol intoxication-hemorrhagic shock animals throughout the hemorrhagic shock. In sham animals, acute alcohol intoxication alone did not produce significant changes in neutrophil apoptosis or phagocytic activity but significantly suppressed phorbol myristic acid (PMA)-stimulated oxidative burst. Hemorrhagic shock produced a modest increase in neutrophil apoptosis and suppression of neutrophil phagocytic capacity but significantly suppressed PMA-stimulated oxidative burst. Acute alcohol intoxication exacerbated the hemorrhagic shock-induced neutrophil apoptosis and the hemorrhagic shock-induced suppression of phagocytosis without further affecting PMA-stimulated oxidative burst. Fluid resuscitation did not restore neutrophil phagocytosis or oxidative burst. Acute alcohol intoxication decreased (,40%) 3-day survival from K. pneumoniae in hemorrhagic shock animals, impaired bacterial clearance during the first 18 hr postinfection, and prolonged lung proinflammatory cytokine expression. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the early alterations in metabolic and inflammatory responses to hemorrhagic shock produced by acute alcohol intoxication are associated with neutrophil dysfunction and impaired host response to a secondary infectious challenge leading to increased morbidity and mortality. [source]

A Conceptual Framework for Computing U.S. Non-manufacturing PMI Indexes

JOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2007
Danny I. Cho
SUMMARY This research develops a conceptual framework for computing new weighted composite indexes for the U.S. non-manufacturing sector using a two-step sequential approach , a correlation analysis, followed by a principal components analysis. The results suggest that different weights (i.e., the highest weight to New orders and the lowest weight to Supply deliveries) be assigned if all diffusion indexes in the initial set of six are retained. It also turns out that a simpler index based on two (New orders and Supply deliveries) of the six diffusion indexes, with equal weights, can be computed with little information loss. The new indexes are shown to correlate highly with many key business/economic indicators. [source]

Immunohistochemical Characterization of Hepatic Malondialdehyde and 4-Hydroxynonenal Modified Proteins During Early Stages of Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 6 2003
Brante P. Sampey
Background: Chronic ethanol consumption is associated with hepatic lipid peroxidation and the deposition or retention of aldehyde-adducted proteins postulated to be involved in alcohol-induced liver injury. The purpose of this study was to characterize hepatocellular formation of aldehyde-protein adducts during early stages of alcohol-induced liver injury. Methods: Female Sprague Dawley® rats were subjected to the intragastric administration of a low-carbohydrate/high-fat total enteral nutrition diet or a total enteral nutrition diet containing ethanol for a period of 36 days. Indexes of hepatic responses to ethanol were evaluated in terms of changes in plasma alanine aminotransferase activity, hepatic histopathologic analysis, and induction of cytochrome P-4502E1 (CYP2E1). Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect hepatic proteins modified with malondialdehyde (MDA) or 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) for subsequent quantitative image analysis. Results: After 36 days of treatment, rats receiving the alcohol-containing diet displayed hepatic histopathologies characterized by marked micro- and macrosteatosis associated with only minor inflammation and necrosis. Alcohol administration resulted in a 3-fold elevation of plasma alanine aminotransferase activity and 3-fold increases (p < 0.01) in hepatic CYP2E1 apoprotein and activity. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis revealed significant (p < 0.01) 5-fold increases in MDA- and 4-HNE modified proteins in liver sections prepared from rats treated with alcohol. The MDA- or 4-HNE modified proteins were contained in hepatocytes displaying intact morphology and were colocalized primarily with microvesicular deposits of lipid. Aldehyde-modified proteins were not prevalent in parenchymal or nonparenchymal cells associated with foci of necrosis or inflammation. Conclusions: These results suggest that alcohol-induced lipid peroxidation is an early event during alcohol-mediated liver injury and may be a sensitizing event resulting in the production of bioactive aldehydes that have the potential to initiate or propagate ensuing proinflammatory or profibrogenic cellular events. [source]

An Evaluation of Qualitative Indexes of Physical Habitat Applied to Agricultural Streams in Ten U.S. States,

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 4 2010
Robert M. Hughes
Hughes, Robert M., Alan T. Herlihy, and Philip R. Kaufmann, 2010. An Evaluation of Qualitative Indexes of Physical Habitat Applied to Agricultural Streams in Ten U.S. States. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(4): 792-806. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2010.00455.x Abstract:, Assessment of stream physical habitat condition is important for evaluating stream quality globally. However, the diversity of metrics and methods for assessing physical habitat condition confounds comparisons among practitioners. We surveyed 51 previously sampled stream sites (0.0-6.3 m wide) located in regions of row-crop agriculture in Oregon, California, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia to evaluate the comparability of four indexes of physical habitat condition relative to each other. We also compared the indexes to previously calculated indexes of fish and macroinvertebrate condition. The physical habitat indexes included the Stream Visual Assessment Protocol Version 2 of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the qualitative habitat evaluation index of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the rapid bioassessment protocol of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and a qualitative physical habitat index based on USEPA quantitative physical habitat measurements. All four indexes were highly correlated with each other, but low-to-moderately correlated with biotic index scores for fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages. Moderately high correlations occurred between some macroinvertebrate biotic index scores and quantitative metrics. We conclude that additional research is needed to increase the predictive and diagnostic capabilities of qualitative physical habitat indexes. [source]

Black Residential Segregation in the City and Suburbs of Detroit: Does Socioeconomic Status Matter?

JOURNAL OF URBAN AFFAIRS, Issue 1 2000
Joe T. Darden
According to ecological theory, the socioeconomic status of a minority group is inversely related to the group's level of residential segregation from the majority group. This article determines whether the level of black socioeconomic status is related to the level of black residential segregation in the city of Detroit and Detroit's suburbs. Data were obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Census, 1990 Summary Tape Files 4-A. The methods employed to measure residential segregation were the indexes of dissimilarity D and isolation P*. Indexes were computed by census tract to measure segregation and isolation between blacks and whites at the same level of occupation, income, or education. The results revealed that residential segregation between blacks and whites remained high (i.e., above 50%) in both the city and the suburbs despite comparable socioeconomic status. Blacks in the suburbs were more segregated and isolated than blacks in the city at each socioeconomic level. [source]

Hard Bargains: The Impact of Multinational Corporations on Economic Reform in Latin America

LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS AND SOCIETY, Issue 1 2010
Patrick J. W. Egan
ABSTRACT This article promotes the idea that multinational corporations have independent agency in the process of economic reform in Latin American host countries. Through a number of pooled cross-sectional time series analyses, it shows that accumulated foreign direct investment can affect policy reform in ways unanticipated by earlier theories predicated on the obsolescence of firms' influence after initial investment. The influence of firms varies across different reform areas, and competitive pressures lead firms to press alternately for liberal and illiberal reform measures. The study also considers sectoral issues, and argues that a preponderance of natural resource,oriented FDI can alter the impact of multinational investment on policy reform. Indexes of economic reform are measured against stocks of FDI and a number of political and economic control variables. Evidence shows that the dramatic increase in FDI in the region in recent years has bolstered firms' bargaining power and concomitant policy leverage. [source]

Performance Measurement in State Budgeting: Advancement and Backsliding from 1990 to 1995

PUBLIC BUDGETING AND FINANCE, Issue 1 2000
Robert D. Lee
Performance measurement has been one of the dominant themes of budget reform in the 1990s and has been prevalent in the mainstream of budgeting since the 1950s. Given the attention that performance measurement has had nationally, states might be expected to have made major strides in this arena in recent years. The article considers the current status of performance measurement practices, and identifies both advancement and backsliding made by states between 1990 and 1995. The discussion is based on data obtained from surveys of state budget offices in those two years. Indexes of performance measurement were constructed, and these became the bases of regression analyses using independent variables pertaining to state characteristics. Generally, these analyses were unsuccessful in explaining the variations among the states. The findings underscore the diversity among the states in their budgetary practices and the fact that budget reform, in the sense of increased use of performance measurement, is not necessarily achieved in a straight line of progression. The article considers possible explanations for the changes. [source]

Errors in Variables, Links between Variables and Recovery of Volatility Information in Appraisal-Based Real Estate Return Indexes

REAL ESTATE ECONOMICS, Issue 4 2006
Peijie Wang
The present article proposes a multivariate approach to unsmoothing appraisal-based real estate return indexes to recover the true market volatility information in real estate returns. It scrutinizes the role played by errors in variables, in conjunction with an analysis of other economic activities relevant to real estate returns, to exploit the functional relationship and the mechanism of interactions between real estate returns and these economic activities. Appraisal smoothing can therefore be detected and corrected properly and efficiently, without presuming a weakly efficient real estate market. The approach is then applied to U.K. real estate indexes as empirical examples. The results suggest a reasonable volatility in U.K. real estate investment that is close to reality. It is found that the volatility of the true market return on real estate is 1.5404,1.9282 times that of the return on the appraisal-based indexes, in contrast to figures of 2.4862,5.8720 produced by the fully unsmoothing procedure. [source]

A Flexible Fourier Approach to Repeat Sales Price Indexes

REAL ESTATE ECONOMICS, Issue 2 2001
Daniel P. McMillen
Time periods are typically highly aggregated for repeat sales estimators because of the small number of observations available in some periods. We use a flexible Fourier expansion to account for time, which we treat as a continuous variable. Our estimator saves degrees of freedom and enables us to estimate the price index efficiently even for times with few sales. We present estimated price indexes for the City of Chicago, Cook County, and several suburbs. [source]

Neural control of shortening and lengthening contractions: influence of task constraints

THE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 24 2008
Jacques Duchateau
Although the performance capabilities of muscle differ during shortening and lengthening contractions, realization of these differences during functional tasks depends on the characteristics of the activation signal discharged from the spinal cord. Fundamentally, the control strategy must differ during the two anisometric contractions due to the lesser force that each motor unit exerts during a shortening contraction and the greater difficulty associated with decreasing force to match a prescribed trajectory during a lengthening contraction. The activation characteristics of motor units during submaximal contractions depend on the details of the task being performed. Indexes of the strategy encoded in the descending command, such as coactivation of antagonist muscles and motor unit synchronization, indicate differences in cortical output for the two types of anisometric contractions. Furthermore, the augmented feedback from peripheral sensory receptors during lengthening contractions appears to be suppressed by centrally and peripherally mediated presynaptic inhibition of Ia afferents, which may also explain the depression of voluntary activation that occurs during maximal lengthening contractions. Although modulation of the activation during shortening and lengthening contractions involves both supraspinal and spinal mechanisms, the association with differences in performance cannot be determined without more careful attention to the details of the task. [source]

Hedonic Price Indexes and the Matched Models Approach

THE MANCHESTER SCHOOL, Issue 1 2004
Mick Silver
We consider three approaches to estimating quality-adjusted price changes: (i) the dummy variable approach from a hedonic regression, (ii) a superlative or exact hedonic index and (iii) a matching technique,a technique akin to that used by statistical offices. The dummy variable approach is prevalent in the literature and has been used for independent estimates of quality changes when commenting on sources of error in consumer price indexes. However, the availability of scanner data provides an opportunity to utilize data on the prices (unit values), volumes and quality characteristics of a much wider range of transactions and to consider methods less restrictive than the dummy variable approach. The practical use of superlative or exact hedonic index and matching techniques using scanner data is explored, and the results from all three methods are compared. A feature of the paper is the breadth of the empirical work. It not only encompasses three different approaches, but extends across four different types of consumer durables. The manner in which the three approaches relate to each other is explored and the implications for quality-adjusted price changes is discussed. [source]

MEMORY ORGANIZATION AS THE MISSING LINK BETWEEN CASE-BASED REASONING AND INFORMATION RETRIEVAL IN BIOMEDICINE

COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, Issue 3-4 2006
Isabelle Bichindaritz
Mémoire proposes a general framework for reasoning from cases in biology and medicine. Part of this project is to propose a memory organization capable of handling large cases and case bases as occur in biomedical domains. This article presents the essential principles for an efficient memory organization based on pertinent work in information retrieval (IR). IR systems have been able to scale up to terabytes of data taking advantage of large databases research to build Internet search engines. They search for pertinent documents to answer a query using term-based ranking and/or global ranking schemes. Similarly, case-based reasoning (CBR) systems search for pertinent cases using a scoring function for ranking the cases. Mémoire proposes a memory organization based on inverted indexes which may be powered by databases to search and rank efficiently through large case bases. It can be seen as a first step toward large-scale CBR systems, and in addition provides a framework for tight cooperation between CBR and IR. [source]

Physical foundations, models, and methods of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging of the brain: A review

CONCEPTS IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE, Issue 5 2007
Ludovico Minati
Abstract The foundations and characteristics of models and methods used in diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, with particular reference to in vivo brain imaging, are reviewed. The first section introduces Fick's laws, propagators, and the relationship between tissue microstructure and the statistical properties of diffusion of water molecules. The second section introduces the diffusion-weighted signal in terms of diffusion of magnetization (Bloch,Torrey equation) and of spin-bearing particles (cumulant expansion). The third section is dedicated to the rank-2 tensor model, the bb -matrix, and the derivation of indexes of anisotropy and shape. The fourth section introduces diffusion in multiple compartments: Gaussian mixture models, relationship between fiber layout, displacement probability and diffusivity, and effect of the b -value. The fifth section is devoted to higher-order generalizations of the tensor model: singular value decompositions (SVD), representation of angular diffusivity patterns and derivation of generalized anisotropy (GA) and scaled entropy (SE), and modeling of non-Gaussian diffusion by means of series expansion of Fick's laws. The sixth section covers spherical harmonic decomposition (SHD) and determination of fiber orientation by means of spherical deconvolution. The seventh section presents the Fourier relationship between signal and displacement probability (Q -space imaging, QSI, or diffusion-spectrum imaging, DSI), and reconstruction of orientation-distribution functions (ODF) by means of the Funk,Radon transform (Q -ball imaging, QBI). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part A 30A: 278,307, 2007. [source]

Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Effective Dispersal of Florida Scrub-Jays

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
AURÉLIE COULON
Aphelocoma c,rulescens; dispersión; flujo génico; fragmentación Abstract:,Studies comparing dispersal in fragmented versus unfragmented landscapes show that habitat fragmentation alters the dispersal behavior of many species. We used two complementary approaches to explore Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma c,rulescens) dispersal in relation to landscape fragmentation. First, we compared dispersal distances of color-marked individuals in intensively monitored continuous and fragmented landscapes. Second, we estimated effective dispersal relative to the degree of fragmentation (as inferred from two landscape indexes: proportion of study site covered with Florida Scrub-Jay habitat and mean distance to nearest habitat patch within each study site) by comparing genetic isolation-by-distance regressions among 13 study sites having a range of landscape structures. Among color-banded individuals, dispersal distances were greater in fragmented versus continuous landscapes, a result consistent with other studies. Nevertheless, genetic analyses revealed that effective dispersal decreases as the proportion of habitat in the landscape decreases. These results suggest that although individual Florida Scrub-Jays may disperse farther as fragmentation increases, those that do so are less successful as breeders than those that disperse short distances. Our study highlights the importance of combining observational data with genetic inferences when evaluating the complex biological and life-history implications of dispersal. Resumen:,Estudios que comparan la dispersión en paisajes fragmentados versus no fragmentados muestran que la fragmentación del hábitat altera la conducta de dispersión de muchas especies. Utilizamos dos métodos complementarios para explorar la dispersión de Aphelocoma c,rulescens en relación con la fragmentación del paisaje. Primero, comparamos las distancias de dispersión de individuos marcados con color en paisajes continuos y fragmentados monitoreados intensivamente. Segundo, estimamos la dispersión efectiva en relación con el grado de fragmentación (inferida a partir de dos índices del paisaje: proporción del sitio de estudio cubierta con hábitat para A. c,rulescens y la distancia promedio al parche más cercano en cada sitio de estudio) mediante la comparación de regresiones de aislamiento genético por distancia entre 13 sitios de estudio con una gama de estructuras de paisaje. Entre los individuos marcados con color, las distancias de dispersión fueron mayores en los paisajes fragmentados versus los continuos, un resultado consistente con otros estudios. Sin embargo, los análisis genéticos revelaron que la dispersión efectiva decrece a medida que decrece la proporción de hábitat en el paisaje. Estos resultados sugieren que aunque individuos de A. c,rulescens pueden dispersarse más lejos a medida que incrementa la fragmentación, aquellos que lo hacen son reproductores menos exitosos que los que se dispersan a corta distancia. Nuestro estudio resalta la importancia de combinar datos observacionales con inferencias genéticas cuando se evalúan las complejas implicaciones de la dispersión sobre la biología y la historia natural. [source]

Assessing the Effectiveness of Reserve Acquisition Programs in Protecting Rare and Threatened Species

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
WILL R. TURNER
Lake Wales Ridge (Florida); especies en peligro; índice de protección; Lista Roja IUCN; matorral Abstract:,Measuring the effectiveness of reserve networks is essential to ensure that conservation objectives such as species persistence are being met. We devised a new approach for measuring the effectiveness of land conservation in protecting rare and threatened species and applied it to an ecosystem of global significance. We compiled detailed global distributional data for 36 rare and threatened plants and animals found in the Lake Wales Ridge ecosystem in central Florida (U.S.A.). For each species, we developed a set of protection indices based in part on criteria used to categorize species for the World Conservation Union's Red List. We calculated protection indexes under three different conservation scenarios: a past scenario, which assumed recent, major land-acquisition efforts never occurred; a current scenario, which assumed no additional areas are saved beyond what is currently protected; and a targeted scenario, which assumed all of the remaining areas targeted for protection are eventually acquired. This approach enabled us to quantify the progress, in terms of reduced risk of extinction, that conservationists have made in protecting target species. It also revealed the limited success these land-acquisition efforts have had in reducing those extinction risks associated with loss of habitat or small geographic ranges. Many species of the Lake Wales Ridge will remain at high risk of extinction even if planned land-acquisition efforts are completely successful. By calculating protection indexes with and without each site for all imperiled species, we also quantified the contribution of each protected area to the conservation of each species, enabling local conservation decisions to be made in the context of a larger (global) perspective. The protection index approach can be adapted readily to other ecosystems with multiple rare and threatened species. Resumen:,La cuantificación de la efectividad de las redes de reservas es esencial para asegurar que objetivos, como la persistencia de especies, se cumplan. Diseñamos un nuevo método para medir la efectividad de la conservación de tierras en la protección de especies raras y amenazadas y lo aplicamos a un ecosistema de importancia global. Compilamos datos detallados de la distribución global de 36 especies raras y amenazadas de plantas y animales que se encuentran en el ecosistema de la Lake Wales Ridge en el centro de Florida (E.U.A.). Para cada especie desarrollamos un conjunto de índices de protección basado parcialmente en criterios utilizados para clasificar especies para la Lista Roja de la Unión Mundial para la Naturaleza. Calculamos los índices de protección bajo tres escenarios de conservación distintos: un escenario pasado, que asumía que los esfuerzos recientes de adquisición de tierras nunca ocurrieron; un escenario actual, que asumía que no se protegen áreas adicionales a las ya conservadas; y un escenario deseado, que asumía que todas las áreas consideradas para ser protegidas son adquiridas eventualmente. Este método nos permitió cuantificar el progreso, en términos de la reducción del riesgo de extinción, en la protección de las especies obtenido por conservacionistas. También reveló el éxito limitado de los esfuerzos de adquisición de tierras en la disminución de los riesgos de extinción asociados con la pérdida de hábitat o con rangos geográficos pequeños. Se pronosticó que muchas especies de la Lake Wales Ridge permanecerán en alto riesgo aun si los esfuerzos de adquisición de tierra planificados son completamente exitosos. Al calcular los índices de protección con y sin cada sitio para todas las especies en peligro, también cuantificamos la contribución de cada área protegida a la conservación de cada especie, lo que permite que las decisiones de conservación se tomen en el contexto de una perspectiva mayor (global). El método del índice de protección se puede adaptar fácilmente a otros ecosistemas con múltiples especies raras y amenazadas. [source]