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Strong Bias (strong + bias)
Selected AbstractsThe effect of respondents' nationality and familiarity with a product category on the importance of product attributes in consumer choice: Globalization and the evaluation of domestic and foreign productsJAPANESE PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2001Emmanuel Chéron This study compared the perceptions of 376 Japanese and 191 Canadian consumers concerning the importance of different product attributes for categories of products at various stages of globalization. There was less multivariate statistical difference between the two countries for those products at a more advanced stage of globalization (consumer electronics and clothing vs. food). The joint effects of the degree of familiarity with the category of product and the country of the respondent on the importance of the product attributes were tested. The effect of familiarity was found to result in a significant statistical multivariate difference for the clothing category only. The observed statistical power of the effect of country of respondent confirmed that more statistical difference was apparent for the least globalized product. No multivariate significant statistical interaction was found between familiarity and country of respondent. Using a multi-attribute model, the evaluation of the three categories of product was computed for seven different countries of manufacture. Comparison of the total scores of each country for each product category for the Japanese and the Canadian samples confirmed that the most globalized product showed least difference in its evaluation between countries of manufacture. A well-known strong bias toward domestic products was, however, observed in both samples. [source] GAAP versus The Street: An Empirical Assessment of Two Alternative Definitions of EarningsJOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING RESEARCH, Issue 1 2002Mark T. Bradshaw Managers, security analysts, investors, and the press rely increasingly on modified definitions of GAAP net income, known by such names as "operating" and "pro forma" earnings. We document this phenomenon and discuss competing explanations for the recent rise in the use of such modified earnings numbers and implications for the interpretation of related accounting research. Our results show that over the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in the frequency and magnitude of cases where "GAAP" and "Street" earnings differ. Further, there is a very strong bias toward the reporting of a Street earnings number that exceeds the GAAP earnings number. We also show that the market response to the Street earnings number has displaced GAAP earnings as a primary determinant of stock prices. Finally, through an analysis of earnings releases, we show that management has taken a proactive role in defining and emphasizing the Street number when communicating to analysts and investors. [source] Experimental studies of sequential selection and assignment with relative ranksJOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL DECISION MAKING, Issue 3 2006J. Neil Bearden Abstract We study a class of sequential selection and assignment problems in which a decision maker (DM) must sequentially assign applicants to positions with the objective of minimizing expected cost. In modeling this class of problems, we assume that on each period the DM is only informed of the rank of the present applicant relative to the applicants that she previously observed and assigned. We first present the optimal decision policy that we subsequently use as a normative benchmark, and then report results from three experiments designed to study sequential assignment behavior. In comparing the aggregate results from all three experiments to the optimal decision policy, we identify a systematic bias, called the middleness bias, to over-assign applicants to intermediate positions. The results also reveal a strong bias for early applicants to be over-assigned to important positions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF NUCLEAR GENES IN THE CENTRIC DIATOM THALASSIOSIRA WEISSFLOGII (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 5 2000E. Virginia Armbrust Thalassiosira weissflogii (Grun.) Fryxell et Hasle is one of the more commonly studied centric diatoms, and yet molecular studies of this organism are still in their infancy. The ability to identify open reading frames and thus distinguish between introns and exons, coding and noncoding sequence is essential to move from nuclear DNA sequences to predicted amino acid sequences. To facilitate the identification of open reading frames in T. weissflogii, two newly identified nuclear genes encoding ,-tubulin and t -complex polypeptide (TCP)-,, along with six previously published nuclear DNA sequences, were examined for general structural features. The coding region of the nuclear open reading frames had a G + C content of about 49% and could readily be distinguished from noncoding sequence due to a significant difference in G + C content. The introns were uniformly small, about 100 base pairs in size. Furthermore, the 5, and 3, splice sites of introns displayed the canonical GT/AG sequence, further facilitating recognition of noncoding regions. Six of the nuclear open reading frames displayed relatively little bias in the use of synonymous codons, as exemplified by the cDNAs encoding ,-tubulin and TCP-,. Two open reading frames displayed strong bias in the use of particular codons (although the codons used were different), as exemplified by the cDNA encoding fucoxanthin chlorophyll a/c binding protein. Knowledge of codon bias should facilitate, for example, design of degenerate PCR primers and potential heterologous reporter gene constructs. [source] How Much Ecology Do We Need to Know to Restore Mediterranean Ecosystems?RESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2007Fernando Valladares Abstract Despite important advances in ecological knowledge of Mediterranean-type ecosystems, advances in restoration ecology have not seen a parallel increase in these systems. Although some concepts such as positive plant,plant interaction (facilitation) have received attention in the restoration ecology community, others such as phenotypic plasticity have not. Some concepts (e.g., environmental heterogeneity) are mature enough for a wide use in restoration, whereas available knowledge on others (e.g., facilitation, plasticity) is less conclusive. However, the scientific knowledge is in general enough to significantly improve the guidelines for restoration of Mediterranean ecosystems. Our review suggests that (1) the extent of facilitation in dry ecosystems is partially understood, with supporting, but somewhat contradictory empirical evidence for its potential use in restoration; (2) the influence of habitat heterogeneity on plant performance and plasticity is only beginning to be understood, with a strong bias toward patterns of structural heterogeneity and negligible information on functional heterogeneity; and (3) sound evaluations of phenotypic plasticity might be useful to increase the success of restoration practices in patchy Mediterranean environments. Future global change scenarios involving temperature rise, reduced precipitation, increased frequency of extreme climatic events, and important land use changes and fragmentation must be particularly considered when restoring Mediterranean ecosystems. Further research on how to incorporate results on facilitation, environmental heterogeneity, and plasticity within a global change framework is clearly needed. [source] Laterality in semi-free-ranging black and white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata): head-tilt correlates with hand use during feedingAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 12 2009Eliza L. Nelson Abstract Previous studies in human and chimpanzee infants have identified a predictive relationship between early rightward head orientation and later right hand use. Data from lemurs suggest a leftward bias in hand preference, but there are no data on head positioning. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between head and hand preferences in the black and white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata variegata). Ruffed lemurs rotate the head vertically during chewing in a behavior called head-tilting. Frequency of head-tilting and bouts of unimanual hand use were measured during normal feeding in a semi-free-ranging population of lemurs. Subjects were provisioned at feeding platforms twice daily with fresh fruits, vegetables, and other food items. Sampling was spontaneous and all observations were videotaped. No group-level bias was found for head-tilting, but a left hand bias emerged for hand use. A positive relationship was found between direction of head-tilting preference and direction of hand use preference such that left head-tilts increased as left hand use increased. Furthermore, left head-tilts increased as the degree of hand preference lateralization increased. When the hand used to bring food to the mouth just before head-tilting was examined, there was a strong bias for the left hand to precede left head-tilts. For right head-tilts, however, lemurs were equally likely to use either hand before head-tilting. Overall a strong relationship was found between the left hand and left head-tilting in black and white ruffed lemurs, suggesting a common link between these behaviors. However, the direction of bias was different from that seen in human and chimpanzee studies. Additional studies on patterns of laterality would be informative for understanding how laterality has changed across the primate order and the adaptive significance of laterality in primates. Am. J. Primatol. 71:1032,1040, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Local Exchange Trading Systems: A Solution to the Employment Dilemma?ANNALS OF PUBLIC AND COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS, Issue 1 2000M.S. Peacock Local exchange trading systems (LETS) are fast becoming a significant socio-economic phenomenon. It is held that they represent new forms of work which reduce unemployment. The author discusses LETS in the context of three contributions to the future of work to show that LETS are a neglected phenomenon. He then considers whether these proposals on the future of work offer an alternative to the unemployed. The empirical evidence shows a strong bias towards those people in gainful employment and those who are well-educated and well-off. In conclusion the author suggests ways in which this bias may be remedied and measures through which LETS may make a practical contribution to the future of work. [source] MAD phasing using the (Ta6Br12)2+ cluster: a retrospective studyACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 5 2008Oliwia Pasternak The crystal structure of cytokinin-specific binding protein (CSBP) containing four independent molecules with 4 × 155 = 620 residues in the asymmetric unit of the P64 unit cell has been solved by three-wavelength MAD using 1.8,Å resolution data recorded from a crystal derivatized with the dodecabromohexatantalum cation (Ta6Br12)2+. The diffraction data contained a very strong anomalous signal (allowing successful phasing even using peak SAD data alone) despite the fact that the five (Ta6Br12)2+ clusters found in the asymmetric unit have low occupancy (about 0.3). The derivative structure has been successfully refined to R = 0.158, providing interesting details on the geometry of the (Ta6Br12)2+ cluster, its interactions with the protein and on the backsoaking of a cytokinin ligand that was originally part of a CSBP,cytokinin complex in the native crystals used for (Ta6Br12)2+ derivatization. A simulation analysis of the phasing power of the (Ta6Br12)2+ ions at artificially imposed resolution limits shows that it is not possible to resolve the individual Ta atoms if the dmin limit of the data is higher than 2.9,Å. Additionally, for successful Ta identification the (Ta6Br12)2+ complex should be specifically bound and ordered. Good binding at the protein surface is facilitated by the presence of acidic groups, indicating higher pH buffer conditions to be preferable. In addition, the water channels in the crystal should be sufficiently wide (at least 11,Å) to allow free diffusion of the (Ta6Br12)2+ ions on soaking. A retrospective look at the initial molecular-replacement calculations provides interesting insights into how the peculiar packing mode and strong bias of the molecular-replacement-phased electron-density maps had hindered successful solution of the structure by this method. [source] Receiving: The Use of Web 2.0 to Create a Dynamic Learning Forum to Enrich Resident EducationACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 2009Adam Rosh Receiving (http://www.drhem.com) is a powerful web-based tool that encompasses web 2.0 technologies. "Web 2.0" is a term used to describe a group of loosely related network technologies that share a user-focused approach to design and functionality. It has a strong bias towards user content creation, syndication, and collaboration (McGee 2008). The use of Web 2.0 technology is rapidly being integrated into undergraduate and graduate education, which dramatically influences the ways learners approach and use information (Sandars 2007). Knowledge transfer has become a two-way process. Users no longer simply consume and download information from the web; they create and interact with it. We created this blog to facilitate resident education, communication, and productivity. Using simple, freely available blog software (Wordpress.com), this inter-disciplinary web-based forum integrates faculty-created, case-based learning modules with critical essays and articles related to the practice of emergency medicine (EM). Didactic topics are based on the EM model and include multi-media case presentations. The educational modules include a visual diagnosis section (VizD), United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) board-style cases (quizzER), radiographic interpretation (radER), electrocardiogram interpretation (Tracings), and ultrasound image and video clip interpretation (Morrison's Pouch). After viewing each case, residents can submit their answers to the questions asked in each scenario. At the end of each week, a faculty member posts the answer and facilitates an online discussion of the case. A "Top 10 Leader Board" is updated weekly to reflect resident participation and display a running tally of correct answers submitted by the residents. Feedback by the residents has been very positive. In addition to the weekly interactive cases, Receiving also includes critical essays and articles on an array of topics related to EM. For example, "Law and Medicine" is a monthly essay written by an emergency physician who is also a lawyer. This module explores legal issues related to EM. "The Meeting Room" presents interviews with leading scholars in the field. "Got Public Health?", written by a resident, addresses relevant social, cultural, and political issues commonly encountered in the emergency department. "Mini Me" is dedicated to pediatric pearls and is overseen by a pediatric emergency physician. "Sherwin's Critical Care" focuses on critical care principles relevant to EM and is overseen by a faculty member. As in the didactic portion of the website, residents and faculty members are encouraged to comment on these essays and articles, offering their own expertise and interpretation on the various topics. Receiving is updated weekly. Every post has its own URL and tags allowing for quick and easy searchability and archiving. Users can search for various topics by using a built-in search feature. Receiving is linked to an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, allowing users to get the latest information without having to continually check the website for updates. Residents have access to the website anytime and anywhere that the internet is available (e.g., home computer, hospital computer, IphoneÔ, BlackBerryÔ), bringing the classroom to them. This unique blend of topics and the ability to create a virtual interactive community creates a dynamic learning environment and directly enhances resident education. Receiving serves as a core educational tool for our residency, presenting interesting and relevant EM information in a collaborative and instructional environment. [source] Performance of localized regression tree splitting criteria on data with discontinuitiesAUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF STATISTICS, Issue 3 2004Alexandra P. Bremner Summary Properties of the localized regression tree splitting criterion, described in Bremner & Taplin (2002) and referred to as the BT method, are explored in this paper and compared to those of Clark & Pregibon's (1992) criterion (the CP method). These properties indicate why the BT method can result in superior trees. This paper shows that the BT method exhibits a weak bias towards edge splits, and the CP method exhibits a strong bias towards central splits in the presence of main effects. A third criterion, called the SM method, that exhibits no bias towards a particular split position is introduced. The SM method is a modification of the BT method that uses more symmetric local means. The BT and SM methods are more likely to split at a discontinuity than the CP method because of their relatively low bias towards particular split positions. The paper shows that the BT and SM methods can be used to discover discontinuities in the data, and that they offer a way of producing a variety of different trees for examination or for tree averaging methods. [source] | |||||||||||||