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Formal Analysis (formal + analysis)
Selected AbstractsPrecovering the Daughter's Nakedness: A Formal Analysis of Israelte Kinship Terminology and the Internal Logic of Leviticus 18 , By Madeline Gay McClenney-SadlerRELIGIOUS STUDIES REVIEW, Issue 2 2008Won W. Lee No abstract is available for this article. [source] Population trends of widespread woodland birds in EuropeIBIS, Issue 2007RICHARD D. GREGORY We explore population trends of widespread and common woodland birds using data from an extensive European network of ornithologists for the period 1980,2003. We show considerable differences exist in the European trends of species according to the broad habitat they occupy and the degree to which they specialize in habitat use. On average, common forest birds are in shallow decline at a European scale; common forest birds declined by 13%, and common forest specialists by 18%, from 1980 to 2003. In comparison, populations of common specialists of farmland have declined moderately, falling on average by 28% from 1980 to 2003. These patterns contrast with that shown by generalist species whose populations have been roughly stable over the same period, their overall index increasing by 3%. There was some evidence of regional variation in the population trends of these common forest species. The most obvious pattern was the greater stability of population trends in Eastern Europe compared with other regions considered. Among common forest birds, long-distance migrants and residents have on average declined most strongly, whereas short-distance migrants have been largely stable, or have increased. There was some evidence to suggest that ground- or low-nesting species have declined more strongly on average, as have forest birds with invertebrate diets. Formal analysis of the species trends confirmed the influence of habitat use, habitat specialization and nest-site; the effects of region and migration strategy were less clear-cut. There was also evidence to show that year-to-year variation in individual species trends at a European scale was influenced by cold winter weather in a small number of species. We recommend that the species trend information provided by the new pan-European scheme should be used alongside existing mechanisms to review the conservation status of European birds. The analysis also allows us to reappraise the role of common forest bird populations as a potential barometer of wider forest health. The new indicator appears to be a useful indicator of the state of widespread European forest birds and might prove to be a useful surrogate for trends in forest biodiversity and forest health, but more work is likely to be needed to understand the interaction between bird populations and their drivers in forest. [source] The Game Academics Play: CommentBULLETIN OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH, Issue 1 2006Rajeev K. Goel A19; C79; L19 Abstract A recent paper by Faria (Bulletin of Economic Research, 57 (2005), pp. 1,12) deals with the interplay between editors and authors. This research is a welcome addition to the literature on formal analyses of academic markets. This note points out a potential discrepancy in Faria's derivation of the equilibrium journal quality and clarifies the conditions under which journal quality responds to changes in editor's impatience and in author's impatience. Specifically, the effect of a change in author's impatience on journal quality is shown to be not unambiguous. Some implications of these findings are discussed. [source] PROBLEM-ORIENTED POLICING IN PRACTICE,CRIMINOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY, Issue 2 2005GARY CORDNER Research Summary: Interviews and surveys were used to measure the extent of problem-oriented policing (POP) by individual police officers in the San Diego Police Department. Officers tended to engage in small-scale problem solving with little formal analysis or assessment. Responses generally included enforcement plus one or two more collaborative or nontraditional initiatives. Policy Implications: Despite 15 years of national promotion and a concerted effort at implementation within the San Diego Police Department, POP as practiced by ordinary police officers fell far short of the ideal model. It may be unreasonable to expect every police officer to continuously engage in full-fledged POP. [source] Application of fuzzy logic to forecast seasonal runoffHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 18 2003C. Mahabir Abstract Each spring in Alberta, Canada, the potential snowmelt runoff is forecast for several basins to assess the water supply situation. Water managers need this forecast to plan water allocations for the following summer season. The Lodge Creek and Middle Creek basins, located in southeastern Alberta, are two basins that require this type of late winter forecast of potential spring runoff. Historically, the forecast has been based upon a combination of regression equations. These results are then interpreted by a forecaster and are modified based on the forecaster's heuristic knowledge of the basin. Unfortunately, this approach has had limited success in the past, in terms of the accuracy of these forecasts, and consequently an alternative methodology is needed. In this study, the applicability of fuzzy logic modelling techniques for forecasting water supply was investigated. Fuzzy logic has been applied successfully in several fields where the relationship between cause and effect (variable and results) are vague. Fuzzy variables were used to organize knowledge that is expressed ,linguistically' into a formal analysis. For example, ,high snowpack', ,average snowpack' and ,low snowpack' became variables. By applying fuzzy logic, a water supply forecast was created that classified potential runoff into three forecast zones: ,low', ,average' and ,high'. Spring runoff forecasts from the fuzzy expert systems were found to be considerably more reliable than the regression models in forecasting the appropriate runoff zone, especially in terms of identifying low or average runoff years. Based on the modelling results in these two basins, it is concluded that fuzzy logic has a promising potential for providing reliable water supply forecasts. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Spin densities in two-component relativistic density functional calculations: Noncollinear versus collinear approachJOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2002Christoph Van WüllenArticle first published online: 3 APR 200 Abstract With present day exchange-correlation functionals, accurate results in nonrelativistic open shell density functional calculations can only be obtained if one uses functionals that do not only depend on the electron density but also on the spin density. We consider the common case where such functionals are applied in relativistic density functional calculations. In scalar-relativistic calculations, the spin density can be defined conventionally, but if spin-orbit coupling is taken into account, spin is no longer a good quantum number and it is not clear what the "spin density" is. In many applications, a fixed quantization axis is used to define the spin density ("collinear approach"), but one can also use the length of the local spin magnetization vector without any reference to an external axis ("noncollinear approach"). These two possibilities are compared in this work both by formal analysis and numerical experiments. It is shown that the (nonrelativistic) exchange-correlation functional should be invariant with respect to rotations in spin space, and this only holds for the noncollinear approach. Total energies of open shell species are higher in the collinear approach because less exchange energy is assigned to a given Kohn-Sham reference function. More importantly, the collinear approach breaks rotational symmetry, that is, in molecular calculations one may find different energies for different orientations of the molecule. Data for the first ionization potentials of Tl, Pb, element 113, and element 114, and for the orientation dependence of the total energy of I and PbF indicate that the error introduced by the collinear approximation is ,0.1 eV for valence ionization potentials, but can be much larger if highly ionized open shell states are considered. Rotational invariance is broken by the same amount. This clearly indicates that the collinear approach should not be used, as the full treatment is easily implemented and does not introduce much more computational effort. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 23: 779,785, 2002 [source] Pricing training and development programs using stochastic CVP analysisMANAGERIAL AND DECISION ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2005James A. Yunker This paper sets forth, analyzes and applies a stochastic cost-volume-profit (CVP) model specifically geared toward the determination of enrollment fees for training and development (T+D) programs. It is a simpler model than many of those developed in the research literature, but it does incorporate one advanced component: an ,economic' demand function relating the expected sales level to price. Price is neither a constant nor a random variable in this model but rather the decision-maker's basic control variable. The simplicity of the model permits analytical solutions for five ,special prices': (1) the highest price which sets breakeven probability equal to a minimum acceptable level; (2) the price which maximizes expected profits; (3) the price which maximizes a Cobb,Douglas utility function based on expected profits and breakeven probability; (4) the price which maximizes breakeven probability; and (5) the lowest price which sets breakeven probability equal to a minimum acceptable level. The model is applied to data provided by the Center for Management and Professional Development at the authors' university. The results suggest that there could be a significant payoff to fine-tuning a T+D provider's pricing strategy using formal analysis. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Symmetry rules and strain/order-parameter relationships for coupling between octahedral tilting and cooperative Jahn,Teller transitions in ABX3 perovskites.ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION B, Issue 2 2009The structural evolution of selected perovskites containing Jahn,Teller cations has been investigated in the light of a formal analysis of symmetry hierarchies for phase transitions driven by octahedral tilting and Jahn,Teller cooperative distortions. General expressions derived from the strain/order-parameter coupling relationships allowed by symmetry are combined with observed changes in lattice parameters to reveal details of order-parameter evolution and coupling. LuVO3, YbVO3, YVO3 and CeVO3 are representative of systems which develop Jahn,Teller ordering schemes associated with irreducible representations and of the space group . Tilting of their octahedra is associated with and . The Pnma ( tilting) ,P21/a ( tilting, Jahn,Teller order) transition below room temperature is close to second order in character. Shear strains which depend primarily on tilt angles show little variation, implying that there is only weak coupling between the tilting and Jahn,Teller order parameters. The subsequent P21/a,Pnma ( tilting, Jahn,Teller order) is first order in character, and involves either a reduction in the tilt angle or a change in the strength of tilt/Jahn,Teller order-parameter coupling. In LaMnO3, the isosymmetric Pnma ( tilting) ,Pnma ( tilting, Jahn,Teller order) transition can be described in terms of a classical first-order transition conforming to a 246 Landau expansion with negative fourth-order coefficients. Strain evolution in Ba-doped samples suggests that the transition becomes second order in character and reveals a new strain relaxation mechanism in LaMnO3 which might be understood in terms of local strain heterogeneities due to the disordering of distorted MnO6 octahedra. Transitions in PrAlO3 and La0.5Ba0.5CoO3 illustrate the transformation behaviour of systems in which the Jahn,Teller ordering scheme is associated with the irreducible representation . Overall, coupled tilting + Jahn,Teller phase transitions in perovskites conform to mean-field behaviour, consistent with the underlying role of strain in promoting long interaction lengths. [source] Modelling the origins of managerial ability in agricultural production,AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL & RESOURCE ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2009Peter Nuthall The efficiency of production from a farm's land, labour and capital is critically dependent on the ability of the farm manager. Yet, while there are studies correlating a wide range of manager-related variables with returns, and, therefore, probably ability, little understanding of the basic determinants of managerial ability exists. Questions such as ,what is the importance of a farmer's family experiences and training in determining the farmer's managerial ability?' need answering. The solution to this, and other, questions will enable determining ways of improving farmers' inherent ability developed both in early, and later, life. In that most decisions on a farm are made intuitively, in contrast to the use of a formal analysis, improving farmers' inherent ability will have a significant payoff. The research reported here uses data from a large stratified random survey of 740 developed farmers (29 per cent had tertiary education, 30 per cent had 4 or more years secondary education) to create a structural equation model of the determinants of managerial ability. The results suggest that a farmer's exposure to experiences is a significant factor in ability, as is the farmer's management style and the family influence on early life experience. [source] THE NATURE OF FIRE AND ITS COMPLICATIONS: THEOPHRASTUS' DE IGNE 1,10BULLETIN OF THE INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL STUDIES, Issue 1 2010MARLEIN VAN RAALTE This article offers a running commentary on De igne 1,10 (with text and translation). The way in which Theophrastus sets out to ascribe to the simple body of fire characteristics of terrestrial, burning fire, and only gradually dismisses his focus on fire (and its alter ego of heat) as a principle seems to indicate an early stage of his thought. On the other hand, a formal analysis of the text shows that the argument bears an unmistakably Theophrastean stamp. Finally it is argued that it cannot be inferred from De igne that Theophrastus adhered to the Aristotelian concept of aithêr, and that it is also very unlikely that he did so. The relevant passages from Theophrastus' botanical treatises and Metaphysics confirm this picture. Even the quite explicit testimonies from Philoponus and Julian seem to allow of an interpretation that does not involve Theophrastus having adopted this Aristotelian concept. [source] A molecular phylogeny of fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera): origins and host associationsCLADISTICS, Issue 5 2008Michael F. Whiting Siphonaptera (fleas) is a highly specialized order of holometabolous insects comprising ,2500 species placed in 16 families. Despite a long history of extensive work on flea classification and biology, phylogenetic relationships among fleas are virtually unknown. We present the first formal analysis of flea relationships based on a molecular matrix of four loci (18S ribosomal DNA, 28S ribosomal DNA, Cytochrome Oxidase II, and Elongation Factor 1-alpha) for 128 flea taxa from around the world representing 16 families, 25 subfamilies, 26 tribes, and 83 flea genera with eight outgroups. Trees were reconstructed using direct optimization and maximum likelihood techniques. Our analysis supports Tungidae as the most basal flea lineage, sister group to the remainder of the extant fleas. Pygiopsyllomorpha is monophyletic, as are the constituent families Lycopsyllidae, Pygiopsyllidae, and Stivaliidae, with a sister group relationship between the latter two families. Macropsyllidae is resolved as sister group to Coptopsyllidae with moderate nodal support. Stephanociricidae is monophyletic, as are the two constituent subfamilies Stephanocircinae and Craneopsyllinae. Vermipsyllidae is placed as sister group to Jordanopsylla. Rhopalopsyllidae is monophyletic as are the two constituent subfamilies Rhopalopsyllinae and Parapsyllinae. Hystrichopsyllidae is paraphyletic with Hystrichopsyllini placed as sister to some species of Anomiopsyllini and Ctenopariini placed as sister to Carterettini. Ctenophthalmidae is grossly paraphyletic with the family broken into seven lineages dispersed on the tree. Most notably, Anomiopsyllini is paraphyletic. Pulicidae and Chimaeropsyllidae are both monophyletic and these families are sister groups. Ceratophyllomorpha is monophyletic and includes Ischnopsyllidae, Ceratophyllidae, and Leptopsyllidae. Leptopsyllidae is paraphyletic as are its constituent subfamilies Amphipsyllinae and Leptopsyllinae and the tribes Amphipsyllini and Leptopsyllini. Ischnopsyllidae is monophyletic. Ceratophyllidae is monophyletic, with a monophyletic Dactypsyllinae nested within Ceratophyllinae, rendering the latter group paraphyletic. Mapping of general host associations on our topology reveals an early association with mammals with four independent shifts to birds. © The Willi Hennig Society 2008. [source] The Effects of Feature-Label-Order and Their Implications for Symbolic LearningCOGNITIVE SCIENCE - A MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2010Michael Ramscar Abstract Symbols enable people to organize and communicate about the world. However, the ways in which symbolic knowledge is learned and then represented in the mind are poorly understood. We present a formal analysis of symbolic learning,in particular, word learning,in terms of prediction and cue competition, and we consider two possible ways in which symbols might be learned: by learning to predict a label from the features of objects and events in the world, and by learning to predict features from a label. This analysis predicts significant differences in symbolic learning depending on the sequencing of objects and labels. We report a computational simulation and two human experiments that confirm these differences, revealing the existence of Feature-Label-Ordering effects in learning. Discrimination learning is facilitated when objects predict labels, but not when labels predict objects. Our results and analysis suggest that the semantic categories people use to understand and communicate about the world can only be learned if labels are predicted from objects. We discuss the implications of this for our understanding of the nature of language and symbolic thought, and in particular, for theories of reference. [source] Early Child Grammars: Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Morphosyntactic ProductionCOGNITIVE SCIENCE - A MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, Issue 5 2006Géraldine Legendre Abstract This article reports on a series of 5 analyses of spontaneous production of verbal inflection (tense and person,number agreement) by 2-year-olds acquiring French as a native language. A formal analysis of the qualitative and quantitative results is developed using the unique resources of Optimality Theory (OT; Prince & Smolensky, 2004). It is argued that acquisition of morphosyntax proceeds via overlapping grammars (rather than through abrupt changes), which OT formalizes in terms of partial rather than total constraint rankings. Initially, economy of structure constraints take priority over faithfulness constraints that demand faithful expression of a speaker's intent, resulting in child production of tense that is comparable in level to that of child-directed speech. Using the independent Predominant Length of Utterance measure of syntactic development proposed in Vainikka, Legendre, and Todorova (1999), production of agreement is shown first to lag behind tense then to compete with tense at an intermediate stage of development. As the child's development progresses, faithfulness constraints become more dominant, and the overall production of tense and agreement becomes adult-like. [source] Starting with complex primitives pays off: complicate locally, simplify globallyCOGNITIVE SCIENCE - A MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, Issue 5 2004Aravind K. Joshi Abstract In setting up a formal system to specify a grammar formalism, the conventional (mathematical) wisdom is to start with primitives (basic primitive structures) as simple as possible, and then introduce various operations for constructing more complex structures. An alternate approach is to start with complex (more complicated) primitives, which directly capture some crucial linguistic properties and then introduce some general operations for composing these complex structures. These two approaches provide different domains of locality, i.e., domains over which various types of linguistic dependencies can be specified. The latter approach, characterized as complicate locally, simplify globally (CLSG), pushes non-local dependencies to become local, i.e., they arise in the basic primitive structures to start with. The CLSG approach has led to some new insights into syntactic description, semantic composition, language generation, statistical processing, and psycholinguistic phenomena, all these with possible relevance to the cognitive architecture of language. In this paper, we will describe these results in an introductory manner making use of the framework of lexicalized tree-adjoining grammar (LTAG), a key example of the CLSG approach, thereby describing the interplay between formal analysis on the one hand and linguistic and processing issues on the other hand. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||