Development of a two-dimensional scale for evaluating technologies in high-tech companies: An empirical examination

Based on a sample of 463 technology evaluations, this paper demonstrates empirically the conceptual split between “technological attractiveness” – which is outside of the control of the company and “technological competitiveness” – which is within the company's control. The 16 “technological attractiveness” criteria produced by the literature review gave a set of six different factors (62.5% of variance) depicting potential value. The 16 “technological competitiveness” criteria derived of the literature review were summarized with only four questions (58% of variance) depicting accumulated value. As such, this research shows that managers assess technologies on the basis of a limited set of criteria. These results have practical implications as they enable us to target technology audits to a more workable set of questions at the operational level.     

Statistical analysis of the number of self-overlapping leftmost repeats in an homogeneous stationary Markov chain on finite states

ABSTRACT

This article addresses the problem of repeats detection used in the comparison of significant repeats in sequences. The case of self-overlapping leftmost repeats for large sequences generated by an homogeneous stationary Markov chain has not been treated in the literature. In this work, we are interested by the approximation of the number of self-overlapping leftmost long enough repeats distribution in an homogeneous stationary Markov chain. Using the Chen–Stein method, we show that the number of self-overlapping leftmost long enough repeats distribution is approximated by the Poisson distribution. Moreover, we show that this approximation can be extended to the case where the sequences are generated by a m-order Markov chain.     

Prevalence of pathological gambling and associated problems in individuals who visit non-gambling video arcades

The objective of the present study was to investigate the gambling behavior of individuals who frequent non-gambling video games arcades. One hundred and twenty two subjects (mean age of 19.2 years (SD=5.5); males constituted 82.8%) who spend time in arcades completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen and the Jacob's Health Survey. The results showed that 10.7% were identified as probable pathological gamblers and 14.8% were problem gamblers. The frequency of visits to arcades for non-gambling activities appeared to be correlated with the extent to which individuals gamble, and is furthermore associated with pathological gambling. The rate of pathological gamblers who frequent arcades is more than twice as high as the rates reported in other studies with adolescents and adults.This research was partially supported by grants from the Fonds Richelieu and Loto-Québec awarded to the first author.     

Numerical performance of block thresholded wavelet estimators

Usually, methods for thresholding wavelet estimators are implemented term by term, with empirical coefficients included or excluded depending on whether their absolute values exceed a level that reflects plausible moderate deviations of the noise. We argue that performance may be improved by pooling coefficients into groups and thresholding them together. This procedure exploits the information that coefficients convey about the sizes of their neighbours. In the present paper we show that in the context of moderate to low signal-to-noise ratios, this block thresholding approach does indeed improve performance, by allowing greater adaptivity and reducing mean squared error. Block thresholded estimators are less biased than term-by-term thresholded ones, and so react more rapidly to sudden changes in the frequency of the underlying signal. They also suffer less from spurious aberrations of Gibbs type, produced by excessive bias. On the other hand, they are more susceptible to spurious features produced by noise, and are more sensitive to selection of the truncation parameter.     

Connections of the Poisson weight function to overdispersion and underdispersion

In this paper, we establish several connections of the Poisson weight function to overdispersion and underdispersion. Specifically, we establish that the logconvexity (logconcavity) of the mean weight function is a necessary and sufficient condition for overdispersion (underdispersion) when the Poisson weight function does not depend on the original Poisson parameter. We also discuss some properties of the weighted Poisson distributions (WPD). We then introduce a notion of pointwise duality between two WPDs and discuss some associated properties. Next, we present some illustrative examples and provide a discussion on various Poisson weight functions used in practice. Finally, some concluding remarks are made.     

Value changes and the dimensions of familism in the European community

It is argued in this article that family formation is conditioned not only by economic factors (more particularly, opportunity structures), but also by ideational changes: the economic factors produce period fluctuations that are superimposed on long-term (and often cohort-driven) ideational effects. Value orientations are explored and compared across countries and across age groups using the internationally-comparable data sets provided by the European Values Studies. The analysis indicates the existence of two latent dimensions with respect to familism: tolerance of non-conformism in family formation, and the meaning attached to parenthood. These two dimensions are not completely distinct from each other though, and both are related to religious and political variables (religiosity, ‘post-materialism’, nationalism, leftism, etc.). Theoretical links are made both with Easterlin's hypothesis which implies fluctuating fertility levels and with Simon's thesis concerning the importance of ‘civil religion’ in supporting fertility. The results are, however, largely in line with Ariès' thesis of two successive and quite distinct fertility transitions in the West, and suggest that fertility is very likely to remain at below-replacement levels.     

Youth Experiences Survey (YES): Exploring the Scope and Complexity of Sex Trafficking in a Sample of Youth Experiencing Homelessness

ABSTRACT

In the United States, sex trafficking victims have been identified at ages across the lifespan but young persons (under age 25) have been found to have unique vulnerabilities. At-risk youth, such as those who run away from home or those experiencing homelessness, are also at an increased risk of sexual exploitation. To better understand the scope and complexity of sex trafficking among these at-risk youth, a convenience sample of 131 homeless youth aged 12 to 25 years old experiencing homelessness recruited from Kentuckiana youth service providers completed an enhanced version of the Youth Experiences Survey (YES). Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted. Results indicated that 41.2% of the homeless youth were victims of sex trafficking. The sex trafficked youth were more likely to report previous self-harm behaviors, suicide attempts, and substance use. This study not only provides support for improved service delivery, but also provides essential statistics that should inform internal policy and procedures for youth serving agencies in Kentucky and Indiana. Findings highlight a need for trauma-informed interventions designed to treat not only females but also males and LGBTQ youth. Additionally, service providers should consider partnering with victim providers and clinicians to offer therapeutic groups, individual therapy, and supportive services that increase prevention, education, and wraparound care for clients. In regards to future research, findings point towards a need to better understand the role that trauma and adverse childhood experiences may play in making young people vulnerable to sex trafficking, and encourage the need for testing prevention and early intervention practices among vulnerable youth.