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Factor Loadings (factor + loading)
Selected AbstractsSpatial and temporal variabilities of rainfall in tropical South America as derived from Climate Prediction Center merged analysis of precipitationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2002H. Matsuyama Abstract We investigated the spatial and temporal variabilities of Climate Prediction Center merged analysis of precipitation (CMAP) in tropical South America from 1979 to 1998. First, we validated CMAP using other hydrometeorological data. In comparison with the high-density precipitation data of the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) Ver. 2, CMAP reproduces the spatial pattern well, although it underestimates (overestimates) heavy (light) precipitation. CMAP also reproduces the interannual variability well, compared with the discharge data of the River Amazon. Next, we applied the rotated empirical orthogonal function (REOF) to CMAP after subtracting the annual cycle. Simultaneous and lag correlations were calculated among the scores of REOFs 1 to 4, the southern oscillation index, and the dipole index of the Atlantic. REOF 1 (15%) represents the north,south pattern that exhibits the maximum precipitation in the summer hemisphere. REOF 2 (12%) indicates the gradual decrease of precipitation in the northern part of tropical South America, reflecting the effect of the Atlantic. REOF 3 (11%) exhibits an east,west pattern related to El Niño. In REOF 4 (7%), the centre of the factor loading is located in Colombia, and the score jumps abruptly around 1985,86. The Lepage test detected the abrupt increase of CMAP in 1985,86 around Colombia. Since such a jump is not found in GHCN Ver. 2, the discontinuous changes of CMAP and REOF 4 around 1985,86 are artificial and peculiar to CMAP. In this region, CMAP should be applied with caution when evaluating recent trends and the interannual variability. The importance of the abrupt increase of precipitation around Colombia is also addressed. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society. [source] Changing concepts of bladder regenerationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 8 2007Akihiro Kanematsu Abstract: During the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in studies aimed at regeneration of the urinary bladder. Many studies employed animal-derived or synthetic materials as grafts for experimental bladder augmentation models, with or without additional measures to promote regeneration, such as autologous cell transplantation or growth factor loading. However, in spite of encouraging results in several reports, few methodologies have shown proven definitive clinical utility. One major problem in these studies is the lack of a clear distinction between native and regenerated bladder in total bladder function after augmentation. Another crucial problem is the absorption and shrinkage of larger grafts, which may result from insufficient vascular supply and smooth muscle regeneration. In contrast, researchers have recently attempted to establish alternative regenerative strategies for treating bladder diseases, and have employed far more diverse approaches according to the various pathological conditions to be treated. For total replacement of the bladder after cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer, urothelium-covered neobladder with non-urinary tract backbone remains a viable choice. In addition, functional bladder diseases such as urinary incontinence, weak detrusor, or non-compliant fibrotic bladder have also been major targets for many leading research groups in this field. These conditions are studied much more from different therapeutic standpoints, aiming at the prevention or reversal of pathological conditions in muscle remodeling or neural control. Such altered research direction would inevitably lead to less surgically based basic biological research, and also would include a far wider spectrum of adult and pediatric bladder diseases, from overactive bladder to dysfunctional voiding. [source] Validation of the Professional Practice Environment Scale in Australian General PracticeJOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, Issue 2 2010BN(Hons), Elizabeth J. Halcomb RN, FRCNA Abstract Purpose: To validate the Professional Practice Environment Scale (PPE) in Australian general practice. Methods: The PPE was modified slightly for appropriateness for the practice setting and administered to a sample of 342 Australian general practice nurses via an online survey tool. The factor structure of the 38-item PPE was examined using principal components analysis with Varimax rotation. Findings: An eight-factor solution accounted for 71.6% of the variance. Low factor loading (<0.3) or cross-component loadings were detected in eight items. A comparison of Cronbach's alpha values demonstrated little change in the deletion of eight items from four of the eight related components. Conclusions: Findings demonstrated that a 30-item version of the PPE was reliable and valid for use to assess the professional practice environment of nurses working in Australian general practice. Clinical Relevance: A tool to measure the professional practice environment in general practice is important as it will assist in monitoring the impact of the work environment on the recruitment, retention, and satisfaction of nurses in this setting. [source] Development of a psychosomatic complaints scale for adolescentsPSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 1 2004YURIKO TAKATA phd Abstract, There have been only a few questionnaires that can be used to comprehend the psychosomatic complaints of adolescents. Therefore, the objective of the present investigation was to develop a scale for high school students in order to comprehend psychosomatic complaints deriving from psychologic problems. The collection of scale items was performed referring to the health actual situation survey carried out on Japanese school children in the past, and 30 items with a high incidence of psychosomatic complaints were selected out of them and were set as scale items. A survey to assess reliability and validity of the 30 items of the psychosomatic complaint scale was then conducted on the subjects of 759 high school students in total over 3 years. At assessment of validity of the scale, one-factor structure was confirmed by factor analysis and both the eigenvalue and factor loading were found to be at acceptable levels. Further, at assessment of the reliability of the scale, both Cronbach's , coefficient indicating internal consistency and the correlation coefficient indicating reproducibility were found to be high. It was concluded that the psychosomatic complaint scale developed in the present investigation was excellent in validity and reliability and was highly practical, having a reduced number of items. [source] The Stability of the Relation Between the Stock Market and Macroeconomic ForcesECONOMIC NOTES, Issue 3 2002Fabio Panetta This paper identifies the macroeconomic factors that influence Italian equity returns and tests the stability of their relation with securities returns. The relation between stock returns and the macroeconomic factors is found to be unstable: not only are the factor loadings of individual securities virtually uncorrelated over time, but a high percentage of the shares experience a reversal of the sign of the estimated loadings. This result is not confined to single periods or to a small group of shares, but holds in different sub,periods and for securities in all risk classes. These findings suggest that research should carefully investigate the specification of the return generating process and the stability of the risk measures. (J.E.L.: G12, E44). [source] Morningness in German and Spanish students: a comparative studyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 4 2007Christoph Randler Abstract Humans show pronounced individual differences in circadian orientation. Transcultural comparisons are interesting since biological (or environmental) factors together with cultural ones may contribute to differences in morningness,eveningness. We compared Spanish and German undergraduates using the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM) to assess circadian preferences. Confirmatory and multiple groups confirmatory factor analysis were used to assess factor structure and structural invariance across countries. The results showed that a three-factor model of morningness best characterises the CSM structure of both samples. Partial factorial invariance (factor loadings) across countries was demonstrated for the factors ,morningness' and ,morning alertness'. Scores of both factors were higher in German students. Potential cultural and biological explanations for the differences are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Development and Construct Validation of the Pharmacists' Care of Migraineurs ScaleHEADACHE, Issue 1 2009Monica L. Skomo PharmD Objectives., To develop the pharmacists' care of migraineurs scale (PCMS) and to evaluate its psychometric properties. Background., Migraine is often managed suboptimally in primary care. Migraineurs frequently come into contact with community pharmacists, who have the opportunity to make a positive impact on migraineur treatment outcomes. A valid and reliable tool that measures and documents the care provided by pharmacists to migraineurs is critical to the development and evaluation of educational programs and interventions. Methods., Relevant domains of pharmacist care and their respective composite items (behaviors) were identified through an extensive literature search and the use of 2 pharmacist and 2 migraineur focus groups sessions. The resultant 45 PCMS items composed a survey questionnaire mailed to a nationwide random sample of 6000 pharmacists. Data were subjected to an exploratory principal axis factoring procedure to discern the factor structure, and as such describe the latent domains composing the pharmacist caring behaviors constructs. Results., A total of 580 usable responses were returned, with an additional 60 returned as undeliverable, thus yielding a response rate of 9.7%. Exploratory factor analysis using principal axis factoring yielded 9 factors. However, upon examining the scree plot, communalities, and factor loadings, a reanalysis forcing a 7-factor solution yielded a more interpretable and plausible factor structure. The 7-factor solution included the following domains: (1) empathy; (2) prospective drug utilization review for newly diagnosed migraineurs; (3) medication counseling; (4) nonpharmacologic treatment plan; (5) headache sufferer triage; (6) dissemination of public health information; (7) maintenance of knowledge on migraine. Following the application of scale purification procedures, the final instrument is composed of 41 items and demonstrated a Cronbach's alpha reliability of 0.947. Cronbach's alpha reliabilities for the 7 domains ranged from 0.67 to 0.91, indicative of good to excellent internal consistency reliabilities for all the domains. Conclusions., The PCMS demonstrated very good construct validity and reliability. While additional validity testing is warranted, the PCMS should allow for benchmarking in the evaluation of interventions designed to improve pharmacists' care to migraineurs and for identifying correlates to effective community pharmacist migraineur care. [source] The generalizability of the Buss,Perry Aggression QuestionnaireINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 3 2007József Gerevich Abstract Aggressive and hostile behaviours and anger constitute an important problem across cultures. The Buss,Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), a self-rating scale was published in 1992, and has quickly become the gold-standard for the measurement of aggression. The AQ scale has been validated extensively, but the validation focused on various narrowly selected populations, typically, on samples of college students. Individuals, however, who are at risk of displaying aggressive and hostile behaviours may come from a more general population. Therefore, it is important to investigate the scale's properties in such a population. The objective of this study was to examine the factorial structure and the psychometric properties of the AQ scale in a nationally representative sample of the Hungarian adult population. A representative sample of 1200 subjects was selected by a two-step procedure. The dimensionality and factorial composition of the AQ scale was investigated by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Since spurious associations and increased factorial complexity can occur when the analysis fails to consider the inherently categorical nature of the item level data, this study, in contrast to most previous studies, estimated the correlation matrices subjected to factor analysis using the polychoric correlations. The resulting factors were validated via sociodemographic characteristics and psychopathological scales obtained from the respondents. The results showed that based on the distribution of factor loadings and factor correlations, in the entire nationally representative sample of 1200 adult subjects, from the original factor structure three of the four factors (Physical and Verbal Aggression and Hostility) showed a good replication whereas the fourth factor (Anger) replicated moderately well. Replication further improved when the sample was restricted in age, i.e. the analysis focused on a sample representing the younger age group, comparable to that used in the original Buss,Perry study. Similar to the Buss,Perry study, and other investigations of the AQ scale, younger age and male gender were robustly related to physical aggression. In addition, level of verbal aggression was different between the two genders (with higher severity in males) whereas hostility and anger were essentially the same in both genders. In conclusion, the current study based on a representantive sample of adult population lends support to the use of the AQ scale in the general population. The authors suggest to exclude from the AQ the two inverse items because of the low reliability of these items with regard to their hypothesized constructs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Exploratory second-order analyses for components and factorsJAPANESE PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2002Haruhiko Ogasawara Abstract: Exploratory methods using second-order components and second-order common factors were proposed. The second-order components were obtained from the resolution of the correlation matrix of obliquely rotated first-order principal components. The standard errors of the estimates of the second-order component loadings were derived from an augmented information matrix with restrictions for the loadings and associated parameters. The second-order factor analysis proposed was similar to the classical method in that the factor correlations among the first-order factors were further resolved by the exploratory method of factor analysis. However, in this paper the second-order factor loadings were estimated by the generalized least squares using the asymptotic variance-covariance matrix for the first-order factor correlations. The asymptotic standard errors for the estimates of the second-order factor loadings were also derived. A numerical example was presented with simulated results. [source] The De-Escalating Aggressive Behaviour Scale: development and psychometric testingJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 9 2009Johannes Nau Abstract Title.,The De-Escalating Aggressive Behaviour Scale: development and psychometric testing. Aim., This paper is a report of a study to develop and test the psychometric properties of a scale measuring nursing students' performance in de-escalation of aggressive behaviour. Background., Successful training should lead not merely to more knowledge and amended attitudes but also to improved performance. However, the quality of de-escalation performance is difficult to assess. Method., Based on a qualitative investigation, seven topics pertaining to de-escalating behaviour were identified and the wording of items tested. The properties of the items and the scale were investigated quantitatively. A total of 1748 performance evaluations by students (rater group 1) from a skills laboratory were used to check distribution and conduct a factor analysis. Likewise, 456 completed evaluations by de-escalation experts (rater group 2) of videotaped performances at pre- and posttest were used to investigate internal consistency, interrater reliability, test,retest reliability, effect size and factor structure. Data were collected in 2007,2008 in German. Findings., Factor analysis showed a unidimensional 7-item scale with factor loadings ranging from 0·55 to 0·81 (rater group 1) and 0·48 to 0·88 (rater group 2). Cronbach's alphas of 0·87 and 0·88 indicated good internal consistency irrespective of rater group. A Pearson's r of 0·80 confirmed acceptable test,retest reliability, and interrater reliability Intraclass Correlation 3 ranging from 0·77 to 0·93 also showed acceptable results. The effect size r of 0·53 plus Cohen's d of 1·25 indicates the capacity of the scale to detect changes in performance. Conclusion., Further research is needed to test the English version of the scale and its validity. [source] Network influences on scholarly communication in developmental dyslexia: A longitudinal follow-upJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 14 2003Claudia A. Perry Author cocitation analysis was used to explore ongoing changes in the intellectual structure of the hybrid problem area of developmental dyslexia for the period 1994,1998, and to address ambiguities in results raised by an earlier study of these researchers for the years 1976,1993. Results suggest that: (1) discrepancies between the structure of the sociometric (personal) and author cocitation networks reflect real differences, not temporal factors; (2) differences between cocitation patterns and reports in the literature, and corresponding delays in the visibility of emerging perspectives, are likely due to the "inertia" of aggregate cocitation data and/or by shifts by neuroscience-vision researchers to publication in more prominent journals; (3) a sharp rise in link density for the neuroscience-vision subgroup indicates increased cohesiveness and growing maturation for this emerging perspective; (4) shifts in subgroup membership, link density, patterns of coauthorship, and multiple factor loadings suggest possible convergence between other subgroups in the network and identify individuals who may play boundary-spanning roles within the network; and (5) changing patterns of cocitation throughout the network suggest the increasing influence of studies relating to neurobiological mechanisms underlying dyslexia. The possible contributions of such boundary spanners in addressing the substantial information and communication challenges posed by the increased interdisciplinary character of scholarship in general, also are discussed. [source] WINDOW DRESSING IN BOND MUTUAL FUNDSTHE JOURNAL OF FINANCIAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2006Matthew R. Morey Abstract We examine portfolio credit quality holding and daily return patterns in a large sample of bond mutual funds and document evidence of window dressing. Using portfolio credit quality holdings data, we find that bond funds on average hold significantly more government bonds during disclosure than nondisclosure, presumably to present a safer portfolio to shareholders. Multiple-index market models estimated with daily returns data corroborate these findings. We detect differences in factor loadings on days surrounding disclosure dates that indicate systematic tilting of the portfolio toward higher quality instruments. [source] Integrating multidimensional geophysical dataARCHAEOLOGICAL PROSPECTION, Issue 1 2006Kenneth L. Kvamme Abstract Surveys that utilize multiple geophysical methods offer greater insights about the subsurface because each one generally yields different information. Common approaches to integrating or ,fusing' multidimensional geophysical data are investigated utilizing computer graphics, geographical information system (GIS), mathematical and statistical solutions. These approaches are synthesized into graphical, discrete and continuous domains. It is shown that graphical approaches allow complex visualizations of the subsurface, but only images are generated and their dimensionality tends to be low. Discrete methods incorporate any number of geophysical dimensions, allow application of powerful Boolean operations, and produce unambiguous maps of anomaly presence or absence, but many of these methods rely on arbitrary thresholds that define only robust anomalies. Continuous data integrations offer capabilities beyond other methods because robust and subtle anomalies are simultaneously expressed, new quantitative information is generated, and interpretive data are derived in the form of regression weights, factor loadings, and the like, that reveal interrelationships and underlying dimensionality. All approaches are applied to a common data set obtained at Army City, Kansas, a World War I era commercial complex that serviced troops in nearby Camp Funston (now Fort Riley). Utilizing data from six geophysical surveys (magnetic gradiometry, electrical resistivity, ground-penetrating radar, magnetic susceptibility, soil conductivity, aerial thermography), various data integrations reveal the structure of this nearly forgotten town. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Cross-Sectional Tests of Multifactor CCAPMs using Conditional Moments and Time-Series Restrictions,ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF FINANCIAL STUDIES, Issue 5 2009Jinyong Kim Abstract Two different methods are used to evaluate the performance of the consumption-based asset pricing models to explain the cross-section of expected stock returns in conditional moments: one is to scale the returns, and the other is to model time-varying factor loadings, using instrument variables. Maximum correlation portfolios are constructed to directly impose restrictions on the time-series intercepts, especially in a model whose factors are not returns. The empirical results are as follow: the consumption-based models perform no better than the standard CAPM; adding the return on human capital as an additional risk factor does not help explain the cross-section; and the Fama-French three-factor model shows the best ability to lower the pricing error. [source] Multivariate analysis of leaf shape patterns in Asian species of the Uvaria group (Annonaceae)BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 3 2003CONOR MEADE Multivariate analysis of leaf radian measurements was used to investigate variation in leaf shape among 34 Asian species of the Uvaria group, a large palaeotropical group of climbing Annonaceae characterized by imbricate petals and stellate hairs. Raw data were normalized by conversion into 15 ratio characters and using the log10 transformation. All species surveyed showed a unique leaf-shape ,bauplan'. The ratio character with the greatest discriminating power in both the Principal Components Analysis and Discriminant Analysis (DA) results was a measure of the shape of the leaf base. Ratio characters with the highest factor loadings for principal components 1 and 2 clearly separated the sampled taxa when plotted against one another and provided support for the retention of several taxa as distinct species or varieties. Classification of cases into taxa using DA yielded a correct classification rate of only 52% for the ratio-transformed data; however, division of taxa in the dataset into smaller subgroups defined by discrete morphological characters significantly increased the accuracy of case identification to between 67 and 100% of cases correctly classified, depending on the group. Case identification using DA on log10 -transformed data was higher than for the ratio values in the entire dataset (61.7%) and the larger subgroups. However, the rate of correct case assignment was lower in the smaller groups than for the ratio data. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 143, 231,242. [source] Factor structure of a conceptual model of oral health tested among 65-year olds in Norway and SwedenCOMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Anne Nordrehaug Åstrøm Åstrøm AN, Ekbäck G, Ordell S. Factor structure of a conceptual model of oral health tested among 65-year olds in Norway and Sweden. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2010. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract,,, Background:, No studies have tested oral health-related quality of life models in dentate older adults across different populations. Objectives:, To test the factor structure of oral health outcomes within Gilbert's conceptual model among 65-year olds in Sweden and Norway. It was hypothesized that responses to 14 observed indicators could be explained by three correlated factors, symptom status, functional limitations and oral disadvantages, that each observed oral health indicator would associate more strongly with the factor it is supposed to measure than with competing factors and that the proposed 3-factor structure would possess satisfactory cross-national stability with 65-year olds in Norway and Sweden. Methods:, In 2007, 6078 Swedish- and 4062 Norwegian adults borne in 1942 completed mailed questionnaires including oral symptoms, functional limitations and the eight item Oral Impacts on Daily Performances inventory. Results:, Model generation analysis was restricted to the Norwegian study group and the model achieved was tested without modifications in Swedish 65-year olds. A modified 3-factor solution with cross-loadings, improved the fit to the data compared with a 2-factor- and the initially proposed 3-factor model among the Norwegian [comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.97] and Swedish (CFI = 0.98) participants. All factor loadings for the modified 3-factor model were in the expected direction and were statistically significant at CR > 1. Multiple group confirmatory factor analyses, with Norwegian and Swedish data simultaneously revealed acceptable fit for the unconstrained model (CFI = 0.97), whereas unconstrained and constrained models were statistically significant different in nested model comparison. Conclusions:, Within construct validity of Gilbert's model was supported with Norwegian and Swedish 65-year olds, indicating that the 14-item questionnaire reflected three constructs; symptom status, functional limitation and oral disadvantage. Measurement invariance was confirmed at the level of factor structure, suggesting that the 3-factor model is comparable to some extent across 65-year olds in Norway and Sweden. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||