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Composite Index (composite + index)
Selected AbstractsSampling Practices of Internal Auditors at Corporations on the Standard & Poor's Toronto Stock Exchange Composite Index,ACCOUNTING PERSPECTIVES, Issue 3 2009Michael Maingot ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to find out how often statistical and nonstatistical audit sampling practices are used by internal auditors in companies listed on the Standard and Poor's (S&P) Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) Composite Index and how such practices are related to the training and background of the respondents. We adapted the questionnaire used by Hall, Hunton, and Pierce (2002) in their survey of U.S. auditors in public accounting, industry, and government. Although 20 percent of companies responding do not have an internal audit department, the other 80 percent use statistical methods to plan sample sizes 15 percent (+5 percent) of the time, random sample selection methods 23 percent (+5 percent) of the time, but statistical evaluation methods only 10% (+4%) of the time. Despite the low percentage use, almost half of the respondents reported substantial training in statistical sampling and evaluation methods. Moreover, we found statistically significantly higher proportions of respondents with substantial training in audit sampling methods among companies cross-listed on U.S. exchanges compared with companies listed only on the TSX. Finally, respondents with a chartered accountant designation tend to have a negative impact on the use of statistical methods in audit sampling, and companies cross-listed on U.S. exchanges tend to have larger internal audit departments than companies listed only on the TSX. [source] Simple Trading Rules and the Market for Internet StocksINTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF FINANCE, Issue 4 2001Wai Mun Fong We investigate the profitability of moving average trading rules for Internet stocks based on the Dow Jones Internet Composite Index. Consistent with previous studies e.g. Brock et al. (1992), returns after buy signals exceed returns after sell signals. The average buy,sell spread is large and significant even after accounting for transaction costs. Bootstrap simulations based on a version of the dynamic CAPM show that the model is able to replicate the pattern of buy and sell returns. Simulated buy,sell spreads amount on average to more than 39% of the actual spread. However, actual profits are still too large to be explained in terms of risk compensation. [source] Transcatheter versus Surgical Closure of Secundum Atrial Septal Defect in Adults: Impact of Age at Intervention.CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE, Issue 3 2007A Concurrent Matched Comparative Study Abstract Objectives., To compare the short- and mid-term outcomes of surgical (SUR) vs. transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) using Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) in adults with a very similar spectrum of the disease; and to identify predictors for the primary end point. Design., Single-center, concurrent comparative study. Surgically treated patients were randomly matched (2:1) by age, sex, date of procedure, ASD size, and hemodynamic profile. Setting., Tertiary referral center. Patients., One hundred sixty-two concurrent patients with ASD submitted to ASO (n = 54) or SUR closure (n = 108) according with their preferences. Main Outcome Measures., Primary end point was a composite index of major events including failure of the procedure, important bleeding, critical arrhythmias, serious infections, embolism, or any major cardiovascular intervention-related complication. Predictors of these major events were investigated. Results., Atrial septal defects were successfully closed in all patients, and there was no mortality. The primary event rate was 13.2% in ASO vs. 25.0% in SUR (P = .001). Multivariate analysis showed that higher rate of events was significantly associated with age >40 years; systemic/pulmonary output ratio <2.1; and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure >50 mm Hg; while in the ASO group the event rate was only associated with the ASD size (>15 cm2/m2; relative risk = 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.01,8.8). There were no differences in the event-free survival curves in adults with ages <40 years. Conclusions., The efficacy for closure ASD was similar in both groups. The higher morbidity observed in SUR group was observed only in the patients submitted to the procedure with age >40 years. The length of hospital stay was shorter in the ASO group. Surgical closure is a safe and effective treatment, especially in young adults. There is certainly nothing wrong with continuing to do surgery in countries where the resources are limited. [source] Gauging the societal impacts of natural disasters using a capability approachDISASTERS, Issue 3 2010Paolo Gardoni There is a widely acknowledged need for a single composite index that provides a comprehensive picture of the societal impact of disasters. A composite index combines and logically organizes important information policy-makers need to allocate resources for the recovery from natural disasters; it can also inform hazard mitigation strategies. This paper develops a Disaster Impact Index (DII) to gauge the societal impact of disasters on the basis of the changes in individuals' capabilities. The DII can be interpreted as the disaster impact per capita. Capabilities are dimensions of individual well-being and refer to the genuine opportunities individuals have to achieve valuable states and activities (such as being adequately nourished or being mobile). After discussing the steps required to construct the DII, this article computes and compares the DIIs for two earthquakes of similar magnitude in two societies at different levels of development and of two disasters (earthquake and wind storm) in the same society. [source] The effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1242) on thyroxine, estradiol, molt, and plumage characteristics in the American kestrel (Falco sparverius)ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 7 2002Michael J. Quinn Jr. Abstract The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of Aroclor 1242, a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), on plumage characteristics and molt in the American kestrel, Falco sparverius. Several characteristics of plumage, including color and molt schedule, are modulated by hormonal signals and hence may be modified by endocrine-active contaminants. If so, the functions of plumage (e.g., communication for mating or territorial defense) may be compromised by exposure to such compounds. Captive American kestrels were fed Aroclor 1242 at 0, 6.0, and 60.0 ppm (n = 6 males and 6 females per treatment) mixed in their normal diet. Concentrations of plasma estradiol and thyroxine were measured weekly from the beginning of treatment. Measured plumage characteristics included width of the black subterminal band on the tail, color (a composite index of hue and saturation), reflectance from 230 to 800 nm, pattern of feather loss and regrowth on the tail and wing, and timing of onset and duration of molt. Aroclor 1242 depressed plasma thyroxine. Plasma estradiol levels remained low due to the phase of the breeding cycle. Treatments did not disrupt the measured plumage characteristics. This may be due to timing or dose of exposure or to genetic factors. [source] Theoretical studies of some sulphonamides as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in acidic mediumINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 14 2010Eno E. Ebenso Abstract Density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G (d,p) and BP86/CEP-31G* basis set levels and ab initio calculations using the RHF/6-31G (d,p) methods were performed on four sulfonamides (namely sulfaacetamide (SAM), sulfapyridine (SPY), sulfamerazine (SMR), and sulfathiazole (STI)) used as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in acidic medium to determine the relationship between molecular structure and their inhibition efficiencies (%IE). The order of inhibition efficiency obtained was SMR > SPY > STI > SAM which corresponded with the order of most of the calculated quantum chemical parameters namely EHOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital energy), ELUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy), the energy gap (,E), the Mulliken charges on the C, O, N, S atoms, hardness (,), softness (S), polarizability (,), dipole moment (,), total energy change (,ET), electrophilicity (,), electron affinity (A), ionization potential (I), the absolute electronegativity (,), and the fraction of electrons transferred (,N). Quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) approach has been used and a correlation of the composite index of some of the quantum chemical parameters was performed to characterize the inhibition performance of the sulfonamides studied. The results showed that the %IE of the sulfonamides was closely related to some of the quantum chemical parameters but with varying degrees/order. The calculated %IE of the sulfonamides studied was found to be close to their experimental corrosion inhibition efficiencies. The experimental data obtained fits the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The negative sign of the EHOMO values and other thermodynamic parameters obtained indicates that the data obtained supports physical adsorption mechanism. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010 [source] Feeding habits of the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) from the Ria Formosa (southern Portugal) as compared to the black seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus) and the annular seabream (Diplodus annularis)JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 2 2002C. Pita The feeding habits of Sparus aurata L., Diplodus annularis L. and Spondyliosoma cantharus L. in the Ria Formosa (southern Portugal) lagoon system were studied using three simple methods (frequency of occurrence, numeric percentage and percentage weight) and a composite index [index of relative importance (IRI)]. The Ivlev index was used to evaluate diet selectivity, while the Schoener overlap index was used to compare diets, and diet diversity was characterized by the Simpson index. The diets of the three species consist of a wide variety of food organisms, nevertheless S. aurata seems to be the most specialized. No significant dietary overlap was found, with S. aurata preferentially selecting gastropods and bivalves, while S. cantharus preferentially selected a wide variety of crustaceans and D. sargus a wider array, including crustaceans, gastropods and bivalves. [source] Fluctuating asymmetry of sexual and nonsexual traits in stalk-eyed flies: a poor indicator of developmental stress and genetic qualityJOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2000Bjorksten It has been proposed that females use fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in sexual ornaments to assess male quality. FA of sexual traits is predicted to show greater sensitivity to stress than FA of nonsexual traits, and to be heritable. We used a half-sib mating design and manipulation of larval food environment to test these predictions on stalk-eyed flies, Cyrtodiopsis dalmanni, in which females prefer males with larger eyespans. We measured size and FA of eyestalks and of two nonsexually selected characters, wing length and width. We found no evidence of an increase in FA under larval food stress in any of the individual traits, although trait size decreased under stress. We combined FA across traits into a single composite index, and found that males reared in the most benign larval environment had significantly higher composite FA than males reared on other media. There was no such effect in females. Heritability of FA was not significantly different from zero in any of the traits, in any of the environments, although trait sizes showed high heritability. We conclude that FA in sexual and nonsexual traits is a poor indicator of developmental stress and genetic quality. [source] Forecasting volatility with support vector machine-based GARCH modelJOURNAL OF FORECASTING, Issue 4 2010Shiyi Chen Abstract Recently, support vector machine (SVM), a novel artificial neural network (ANN), has been successfully used for financial forecasting. This paper deals with the application of SVM in volatility forecasting under the GARCH framework, the performance of which is compared with simple moving average, standard GARCH, nonlinear EGARCH and traditional ANN-GARCH models by using two evaluation measures and robust Diebold,Mariano tests. The real data used in this study are daily GBP exchange rates and NYSE composite index. Empirical results from both simulation and real data reveal that, under a recursive forecasting scheme, SVM-GARCH models significantly outperform the competing models in most situations of one-period-ahead volatility forecasting, which confirms the theoretical advantage of SVM. The standard GARCH model also performs well in the case of normality and large sample size, while EGARCH model is good at forecasting volatility under the high skewed distribution. The sensitivity analysis to choose SVM parameters and cross-validation to determine the stopping point of the recurrent SVM procedure are also examined in this study. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Direction-of-change forecasting using a volatility-based recurrent neural networkJOURNAL OF FORECASTING, Issue 5 2008S. D. Bekiros Abstract This paper investigates the profitability of a trading strategy, based on recurrent neural networks, that attempts to predict the direction-of-change of the market in the case of the NASDAQ composite index. The sample extends over the period 8 February 1971 to 7 April 1998, while the sub-period 8 April 1998 to 5 February 2002 has been reserved for out-of-sample testing purposes. We demonstrate that the incorporation in the trading rule of estimates of the conditional volatility changes strongly enhances its profitability, after the inclusion of transaction costs, during bear market periods. This improvement is being measured with respect to a nested model that does not include the volatility variable as well as to a buy-and-hold strategy. We suggest that our findings can be justified by invoking either the ,volatility feedback' theory or the existence of portfolio insurance schemes in the equity markets. Our results are also consistent with the view that volatility dependence produces sign dependence. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Nowcasting quarterly GDP growth in a monthly coincident indicator modelJOURNAL OF FORECASTING, Issue 8 2005Luis C. NunesArticle first published online: 20 DEC 200 Abstract This paper presents an extension of the Stock and Watson coincident indicator model that allows one to include variables available at different frequencies while taking care of missing observations at any time period. The proposed procedure provides estimates of the unobserved common coincident component, of the unobserved monthly series underlying any included quarterly indicator, and of any missing values in the series. An application to a coincident indicator model for the Portuguese economy is presented. We use monthly indicators from business surveys whose results are published with a very short delay. By using the available data for the monthly indicators and for quarterly real GDP, it becomes possible to produce simultaneously a monthly composite index of coincident indicators and an estimate of the latest quarter real GDP growth well ahead of the release of the first official figures. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Son, Ltd. [source] Vector smooth transition regression models for US GDP and the composite index of leading indicatorsJOURNAL OF FORECASTING, Issue 3 2004Maximo Camacho Abstract In this paper, I extend to a multiple-equation context the linearity, model selection and model adequacy tests recently proposed for univariate smooth transition regression models. Using this result, I examine the nonlinear forecasting power of the Conference Board composite index of leading indicators to predict both output growth and the business-cycle phases of the US economy in real time. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Physicochemical characterization of papain entrapped in ionotropically cross-linked kappa-carrageenan gel beads for stability improvement using Doehlert shell designJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 9 2006Mayur G. Sankalia Abstract This work examines the influence of various process parameters on papain entrapped in cross-linked ,-carrageenan beads for improvement of its stability. A Doehlert shell design (DSD) was employed to investigate the effect of three process variables, namely ,-carrageenan concentration, KCl concentration, and hardening time, on the entrapment, time required for 50% enzyme release (T50), time required for 90% enzyme release (T90), and particle size. The beads were prepared by dropping the ,-carrageenan containing papain into a magnetically stirred KCl solution. Topographical characterization was carried out by scanning electron microscopy and entrapment was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Stability testing was carried out according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines for zone III and IV. A polymeric matrix was prepared with ,-carrageenan (3.5% w/v) and potassium chloride (0.5 M) using the ionotropic gelation method, with a hardening time of 20 min. Beads characterized by a spherical disc shape with a collapsed center, an absence of aggregates, an entrapment of 82.75%, a T90 value of 55.36 min, and a composite index of 88.55 were produced. The shelf-life of the enzyme-loaded beads was found to increase to 3.63 years compared with 1.01 years for the conventional formulation. It can be inferred that the proposed methodology can be used to prepare papain-loaded ,-carrageenan beads for stability improvement. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 95: 1994,2013, 2006 [source] Comparison of critical limits for crop plant growth based on different indicators for the state of soil compactionJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2010Manfred Kaufmann Abstract Soil compaction affects physical soil condition, in particular aeration, soil strength, and water availability and has adverse effects on plant growth. Bulk density is the most frequently used indicator to describe the state of compaction of a soil. However, this parameter lacks a direct functional relationship with plant growth. Various indicators have been proposed to simultaneously characterize the state of compaction of agricultural soil and its suitability for plant growth. This paper examines and compares the critical limits for crop plant growth based on three of these indicators: packing density, least limiting water range, and S parameter (the latter is the slope of the soil water-retention curve in the inflexion point). In a first step, we reviewed the literature for published optimum and limiting values of bulk density and found that these values were highly dependent on clay and silt content. Converting them into corresponding values of packing density (composite index of bulk density and clay content), a value of 1.70 was found to effectively distinguish between optimum and limiting soil conditions for plant growth. In a second step, the packing density of 59 soil horizons sampled in N Switzerland was compared with the least limiting water range and the S parameter of these soil horizons (both determined by means of pedotransfer functions taken from the literature). A linear relationship between the three parameters was found, which allowed for a comparison of the published critical limits for plant growth based on these parameters. The critical limits of the three indicators, which had been postulated independently of each other in the literature, were found to agree well with each other. This means that all of them could equally be used to describe the compaction state of a soil and its physical suitability for plant growth. However, the proposed critical limits of packing density, least limiting water range, and S parameter still need further validation by field studies relating plant growth to soil compaction. [source] Naming speed and word familiarity as confounding factors in decodingJOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN READING, Issue 2 2002R. Malatesha Joshi The present investigation has three aims: (1) to establish a suitable composite index which combines speed and accuracy in the measurement of decoding skill; (2) to examine whether speed acts as a confounding factor in the measurement of decoding ability; and (3) to see whether familiarity with the word, as indicated by the ability to pronounce it, or lack of it acts as a confounding factor in the assessment of spelling skills. Three studies were conducted to fulfill these aims. In the first study, 33 children from Grade 2 were asked to name a list of 40 letters of the alphabet as quickly and as accurately as possible. A combined index of speed and accuracy was computed from these two sets of data using two formulas, which were based on the ,z' score and the mean variance score. A Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient of 0.94 was obtained between the results of the two formulas indicating that the two formulas yield almost identical results. In the second study, 37 fifth-graders were administered the word-attack sub-test of Woodcock Language Proficiency Battery. When the speed and accuracy composite index, based on the ,z formula' was applied to the word-attack scores, it was found that three children were slow decoders even though their scores were within the normal range. In the third study, 39 children from Grade 3 and 40 children from Grade 5 were asked to read aloud a list of words and then these words were administered as a spelling test. Subsequently, their spelling ability was assessed by computing the number of words they could both read and spell correctly. When familiarity of words was included as a factor in assessing spelling ability, five children in Grade 3 and three children in Grade 5 were found to be misclassified as poor spellers. This indicates that including word-naming speed and word familiarity (i.e. ability to pronounce) produce different metrics than when they are not. Inclusion of speed and familiarity factors in assessment can be helpful in avoiding false negatives and false positives. [source] Forecasting composite indicators with anticipated information: an application to the industrial production indexJOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY: SERIES C (APPLIED STATISTICS), Issue 3 2003Francesco Battaglia Summary. Many economic and social phenomena are measured by composite indicators computed as weighted averages of a set of elementary time series. Often data are collected by means of large sample surveys, and processing takes a long time, whereas the values of some elementary component series may be available a considerable time before the others and may be used for forecasting the composite index. This problem is addressed within the framework of prediction theory for stochastic processes. A method is proposed for exploiting anticipated information to minimize the mean-square forecast error, and for selecting the most useful elementary series. An application to the Italian general industrial production index is illustrated, which demonstrates that knowledge of anticipated values of some, or even just one, component series may reduce the forecast error considerably. [source] Clinical model for distinguishing nonalcoholic steatohepatitis from simple steatosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseLIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2006Nicole A. Palekar Abstract: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses both simple steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Differentiation of these two entities requires histopathologic evaluation. The aim of this study was to establish a reliable diagnostic model for differentiating steatosis from steatohepatitis utilizing both clinical characteristics and a panel of biochemical markers of lipid peroxidation and fibrosis. Eighty subjects with biopsy proven NAFLD were enrolled, 39 with simple steatosis and 41 with histopathologic evidence of NASH. Demographic and laboratory data to include serologic testing for 8-epi-PGF2,, transforming growth factor-, (TGF-,), adiponectin, and hyaluronic acid (HA) were obtained and compared between the two groups. There were significant differences between the two groups with respect to age (P=0.004), female gender (P=0.024), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P=0.028), body mass index (BMI) (P=0.003), fasting insulin (0.018), AST/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AAR) (P=0.017), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) (P=0.002), and HA (P=0.029). A composite index for distinguishing steatosis from NASH was calculated by summing the risk factors of age ,50 years, female gender, AST,45 IU/l, BMI ,30 mg/kg2, AAR,0.80, and HA,55 mcg/l, and its accuracy was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to be 0.763 (95% CI: 0.650,0.876). The presence of three or more risk factors had a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 73.7%, 65.7%, 68.2%, and 71.4%, respectively. In addition, HA at a cutoff of 45.3 mcg/l was a good predictor of advanced fibrosis. In conclusion, we propose a noninvasive screening model for distinguishing simple steatosis from NASH. Identifying patients at risk for NASH will allow clinicians to more accurately determine who may benefit from liver biopsy. [source] Sample sizes estimated in clinical trials using either a composite index (ASAS response criteria) or single outcome variables in ankylosing spondylitisARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 6 2002Guy-Robert Auleley MD No abstract is available for this article. [source] The Effect of Underwriters' Reputationson Post-Deregulation IPO Pricing: Price Discovery Ability Versus Bargaining Power,ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF FINANCIAL STUDIES, Issue 4 2009Kang Heum Yon Abstract This study empirically examines the role of underwriters' reputations on the IPO pricing process and its effect on subsequent initial returns. We analyzed 275 IPOs between July, 2002 and December, 2006. The reputation of each underwriters was analyzed based on the data reflecting their performances over the preceding three years. The analysis considered the following: number of offerings, the natural logarithm of average offering size, the relative offering size, the inverse of average underpricing ratio, and the ratio of refraining from undertaking a market stabilization activity or exercising a putback option. The logarithm of the underwriter's asset size and the composite index of the above six reputation variables are included in the variable we call "reputation." We find that underwriters with higher reputation exercise more bargaining power than either issuing firms or institutional investors in the offer price decision process. On the other hand, the underwriters' certification role is not sufficiently carried out to build a reputation on price discovery. We propose an incentive system that would encourage voluntary assessment of underwriters' competency, which can ultimately bolster their reputations in terms of their price discovery ability. [source] Combining a symptoms index with CA 125 to improve detection of ovarian cancerCANCER, Issue 3 2008M. Robyn Andersen PhD Abstract BACKGROUND. The current study sought to examine whether an index based on the specific pattern of symptoms commonly reported by women with ovarian cancer could be used in combination with CA 125 to improve the sensitivity or specificity of experimental methods of screening for ovarian cancer. METHODS. A prospective case-control study design was used. Participants included 254 healthy women at high risk for disease because of family history, and 75 women with ovarian cancer. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether the symptom index predicted cancer. RESULTS. Symptom index information was found to make a significant independent contribution to the prediction of ovarian cancer after controlling for CA 125 levels (P<.05). The combination of CA 125 and the symptom index identified 89.3% of the women with cancer, 80.6% of the early,stage cancers, and 95.1% of the late-stage cancers. The symptom index identified cancer in 50% of the affected women who did not have elevated CA 125 levels. Unfortunately, 11.8% of the high-risk women without cancer also received a positive symptom index score. CONCLUSIONS. The addition of a symptom index to CA 125 created a composite index with a greater sensitivity for the detection of ovarian cancer than CA 125 alone and identified >80% of women with early-stage disease. A composite marker such as this could serve as a first screen in a multistep screening program in which false-positive findings are identified via transvaginal sonography before referral for surgery, leading to an adequate positive predictive value for the multistep program. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society. [source] The Principal Components of Growth in the Less Developed CountriesKYKLOS INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, Issue 4 2008Derek Headey SUMMMARY This paper re-examines the international evidence on the sources of growth in less developed countries (LDCs) using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Although EFA was first used in the development context by Adelman and Morris (1967) it has rarely been used since, despite being ideally suited to a context in which a large number of latent factors have been hypothesized to determine growth, and in which an even greater number of imperfectly measured and multicollinear proxies have been used to measure these latent factors. This paper uses EFA to minimize these problems of omitted variables biases, multicollinearity and measurement error, by reducing a large array of hypothesized growth determinants into a parsimonious and non-collinear set of composite indices. The paper then provides theoretical interpretations of the derived indices, tests their statistical significance and quantitative importance in otherwise conventional growth regressions, and uses these results to reappraise the usefulness of cross-country empirics in deriving robust, policy-relevant knowledge of the principal components of growth in LDCs, including the so called ,economic miracles'. [source] Compound Democracy and the Control of Corruption: A Cross-Country InvestigationPOLICY STUDIES JOURNAL, Issue 4 2004Alok K. Bohara In this article we evaluate the influence of democracy on perceived levels of corruption. We argue that the control of corruption depends on the compensation and accountability of public officials, and on an open and competitive economy. We analyze the influence of democracy, controlling for the influence of other political and economic factors including federalism, economic development, and economic competition. The findings for the importance of economic factors are consistent. The finding in earlier research that federalism increases corruption is not robust. The findings for democracy are influenced importantly by the way that democracy is measured, but we do find that citizens' repetitive participation in competitive elections increases the control of corruption. In doing so, we move beyond the composite indices of democracy in constructing an alternative compound measure of democracy, which we argue is likely to be useful in other research contexts [source] Atlantic Forest Butterflies: Indicators for Landscape Conservation,BIOTROPICA, Issue 4b 2000Keith S. Brown Jr. ABSTRACT The Atlantic Forest region (wide sense) includes very complex tropical environments, increasingly threatened by extensive anthropogenic conversion (>90%). Ecologically specialized, short-generation insects (butterflies) are evaluated here as indicators for monitoring community richness, landscape integrity, and sustainable resource use in the region. The > 2100 butterfly species in the Atlantic Forest tegion have been censused in many sites over 35 years, giving comparable daily, weekly, monthly, and long-tetm site lists. The 21 most thoroughly studied sites include 218,914 species, of which half can be censused in a week or less. The butterfly communities are divided into six relatively distinct faunal regions, centered in the northeast, the central coastal tablelands, the southeast coastal plain, the mountains plus interior of the southeastern states, the central plateau, and the southern states. Species richness shows the highest values in coastal mountains from 15 to 23°S. Local butterfly communities show a high turnover, with 20 to 40 percent of the species, especially small Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae, recorded only as unstable populations or "tourists." Easily sampled species in the family Nymphalidae, and especially its bait-attracted subfamilies, are best correlated with the entire butterfly fauna and can be used as surrogates for species diversity. In most butterfly groups, species richness is well predicted by landscape connectivity alone, or by composite indices of environmental heterogeneity, natural disturbance, and (negatively) anthropogenic disturbance. Principal components and redundancy analyses showed that the richness and proportions of different butterfly groups in the local fauna are variably explained by disturbance, seasonality, temperature, vegetation, soils, and landscape connectivity. Various groups thus can be used as rapid indicators of different types of change in the community, its environment, and the landscape. Threatened and rare species also can be used as indicators of the most unique Atlantic Forest communities (paleoenvironments), which need special attention. RESUMO A região da Mata Atlantica latu senstt inclui ambientes tropicals muito complexes, cada vez mais amea¸ados por extensa conversão antrópica (>90%). Insetos pequenos, especializados, e de ciclo rápido (borboletas) são avaliados neste trabalho como indicadores para o monitoramento da tiqueza de comunidades, integridade de paisagens, e uso susten-tável de recursos na região. As >2100 espécies de borboletas na região da Mata Atlantica têrn sido recenseadas em muitos sítios durante os últimos 35 anos, dando listas comparáveis diárias, semanais, mensais e totais para cada sítio. Os 21 sítios mais intensivamente estudados incluem 218,914 espécies, das quais metade pode ser amostrada em uma semana ou menos. As comunidades de borboletas são divididas em seis subregiões faunísticas relativamente distintas, centradas no nordeste, nos tabuleiros baianos, no literal do sudeste, nas regiões montanhosas no interior dos estados do sudeste, no Planalto Central, e no estados do sul. A riqueza de espécies é maior nas serras costeiras entre 15 c 23°S. As comunidades locals de borboletas possuem alta reposi¸ão, com 20 a 40 por cento das espécies, especialmente os pequenos Lycaenidae e Hesperiidae, registradas em popula¸ões instáveis ou sendo apenas "turistas." As espécies facilmente amostradas na família Nymphalidae, especialmente as atraídas a iscas fermentadas, são mais correlacionadas com a riqueza total e podem ser usadas como estimadores da riqueza total no ambiente. Na maior parte dos grupos de borboletas, a riqueza de espécies é altamente correlacionada com conectividade simples da paisagem, e com índices compostos de heterogeneidade, perturba¸ão natural, e (negativamente) perturba¸ão total no ambiente. As análises de Componentes Principals e de Redundãncia mostram que as riquezas e proor¸ões de diferentes grupos de borboletas são variavelmente explicadas por pertba¸ão, sazonalidade, temperatura, vegeta¸ão, solos, e conectividade. Váries grupos podem assim ser úteis como indicadores rápidos de diferentes tipos de mudan¸as na comunidade, no seu ambiente, e na paisagem. Espécies raras e amea¸adas podem também ser usadas para indicar os sistemas mais únicos na região (paleoarnbientes), que necessitam de aten¸ão especial. [source] Sibling Differentiation in Adolescence: Implications for Behavioral Genetic TheoryCHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2000Mark E. Feinberg The presence of sibling "differentiating rocesses", defined as processes in which increased sibling similarity in environmental or genetic factors leads to differences in sibling outcomes , poses a challenge for standard behavioral genetic theory and research. The presence of differentiation processes may affect estimates of genetic and environmental parameters in ways that have not been fully recognized. Utilizing data from the Nonshared Environment and Adolescent Development project, this study examined whether differentiating processes existed for seven composite indices of positive and negative adolescent adjustment. The 720 sibling pairs in the study were broken down into groups by age difference (0 , 4 years) between siblings. The hypothesis that siblings close in age would demonstrate lower correlations on adjustment measures was generally supported at two time points, three years apart. However, siblings one year apart at Time 1 were more similar to each other than were siblings two years apart, suggesting that shared environmental influences counteract sibling differentiation processes for these siblings. The overall trend supporting sibling differentiation was found to be unrelated to measures of sibling positivity and negativity. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||