A simple derivation of the distribution of the multiple correlation coefficient

It is shown that the non-null distribution of the multiple correlation coefficient may be derived rather easily if the correlated normal variables are defined in a convenient vay. The invariance of the correlation distribution to linear transformations of the variables makes the results generally applicable. The distribution is derived as the well-known mixture of null distributions, and some generalizations when the variables are not normally distributed are indicated.     

A Comparison of Spatial Designs for Field Variety Trials

Experimental designs can be constructed to be efficient in the presence of spatial correlation. Available construction methods include those based on autoregressive and linear variance models. This paper investigates spatial designs across a range of assumed autoregressive structures. Results show that when the spatial component is low relative to the independent error term, efficient spatial designs can be constructed without having to specify parameters for the spatial structure.     

Human Security Perspectives on Refugee Children in Germany

This research identifies challenges and solutions for the situation of accompanied children in German refugee accommodations along the seven human security dimensions (economy, environment, food, health, personal, community and political rights). It analyses existing binding and non‐binding standards for the protection of refugee children at federal, state and municipal level, and their development since 2014. In particular, the United Nations Children's Fund's role for the development of voluntary protection standards is discussed as a role model to enhance the awareness for the protection of refugee children in Germany.     

Substance misuse stories among Pacific peoples in New Zealand

This paper examines the oral stories of Pacific people attending addiction treatment services in Auckland, New Zealand who were participating in a larger study exploring the validity of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. (ASSIST). A Talanoa approach was used by interviewers to help gain an understanding of the factors associated with participants’ substance misuse. Interviewers made notes of the stories they heard. Fifty participants were interviewed and expressed concerns related to how their substance use was influenced by their peers (66%, n?=?33), the environment they were living in (60%, n?=?30), and their family (50%, n?=?25). Sixteen participants provided detailed narratives of their lived experiences that permitted further in-depth analysis. Thematic analysis of these narratives revealed five interrelated themes; introduction to drugs and alcohol, family dynamics access to drugs, attempts at giving up, and motivation to stop. The use of a Talanoa approach, whilst administering a screening tool, such as the ASSIST, allows for a more in-depth exploration of an individual’s substance use. The information gathered would allow those working with Pacific people who misuse alcohol and/or drugs to develop culturally appropriate interventions.     

Evaluating the effectiveness of urban trees to mitigate storm water runoff via transpiration and stemflow

Urban Ecosystems - Many cities in the Eastern United States are working to increase urban tree cover due to the hydrological services that trees provide, including the interception, storage and...     

Non-parametric estimation of an acceleration parameter

Let X₁,… X_m be a random sample of m failure times under normal conditions with the underlying distribution F(x) and Y₁,…,Y_n a random sample of n failure times under accelerated condititons with underlying distribution G(x);G(x)=1?[1?F(x)]^θ with θ being the unknown parameter under study.Define:U_ij=1 otherwise.The joint distribution of _ijdoes not involve the distribution F and thus can be used to estimate the acceleration parameter θ.The second approach for estimating θ is to use the ranks of the Y-observations in the combined X- and Y-samples.In this paper we establish that the rank of the Y-observations in the pooled sample form a sufficient statistic for the information contained in the U_ii 's about the parameter θ and that there does not exist an unbiassed estimator for the parameter θ.We also construct several estimators and confidence interavals for the parameter θ.     

Punitive welfare reform and claimant mental health: The impact of benefit sanctions on anxiety and depression

Internationally, policymakers assume that sanctioning claimants of unemployment benefits will engender both improved employment outcomes and wider positive effects. A growing evidence‐base challenges these expectations, though additional insight is needed from large‐scale longitudinal research. This article contributes by conducting a quantitative investigation into the mental health impacts of benefit sanctions. To do so, it focuses on a recent period in UK sanctions policy in which rates of sanctions varied markedly and their length was substantially increased. Using quarterly panel data for local authorities in England (Q3 2010–Q4 2014) and fixed effects models that control for important confounders, the analysis provides robust evidence that Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) sanctions lead to increases in self‐reported anxiety and depression. Evidence of this adverse impact is particularly clear following the increase in the length of sanctions in October 2012. The results have important implications for contemporary social security policy, which is underpinned by a similarly punitive sanctions regime. Whilst additional individual‐level research is needed to fully consider the causal relationships in operation, the findings support a precautionary approach that should seek to minimise the harm associated with sanctions. This implies taking steps to reduce both the severity and frequency of applied sanctions.     

Methodology for Determining the Appropriateness of a Linear Dose‐Response Function

Microbial food safety risk assessment models can often at times be simplified by eliminating the need to integrate a complex dose‐response relationship across a distribution of exposure doses. This is possible if exposure pathways lead to pathogens at exposure that consistently have a small probability of causing illness. In this situation, the probability of illness will follow an approximately linear function of dose. Consequently, the predicted probability of illness per serving across all exposures is linear with respect to the expected value of dose. The majority of dose‐response functions are approximately linear when the dose is low. Nevertheless, what constitutes “low” is dependent on the parameters of the dose‐response function for a particular pathogen. In this study, a method is proposed to determine an upper bound of the exposure distribution for which the use of a linear dose‐response function is acceptable. If this upper bound is substantially larger than the expected value of exposure doses, then a linear approximation for probability of illness is reasonable. If conditions are appropriate for using the linear dose‐response approximation, for example, the expected value for exposure doses is two to three logs₁₀ smaller than the upper bound of the linear portion of the dose‐response function, then predicting the risk‐reducing effectiveness of a proposed policy is trivial. Simple examples illustrate how this approximation can be used to inform policy decisions and improve an analyst's understanding of risk.