Measures of Multigroup Segregation

In this paper we derive and evaluate measures of multigroup segregation. After describing four ways to conceptualize the measurement of multigroup segregation—as the disproportionality in group (e.g., race) proportions across organizational units (e.g., schools or census tracts), as the strength of association between nominal variables indexing group and organizational unit membership, as the ratio of between–unit diversity to total diversity, and as the weighted average of two–group segregation indices—we derive six multigroup segregation indices: a dissimilarity index (D), a Gini index (G), an information theory index (H), a squared coefficient of variation index (C), a relative diversity index (R), and a normalized exposure index (P). We evaluate these six indices against a set of seven desirable properties of segregation indices. We conclude that the information theory index H is the most conceptually and mathematically satisfactory index, since it alone obeys the principle of transfers in the multigroup case. Moreover, H is the only multigroup index that can be decomposed into a sum of between– and within–group components.     

Fire and restoration of the largest urban forest of the world in Rio de Janeiro City,Brazil

National Park of Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) is about 3,300 ha and considered the largest urban forest in the world. Its floristic composition is typical of Atlantic Rain Forest. The reserve is being altered because of fire occurrences and urban expansion. This study identified locations and causes of forest fires, and makes management recommendations to restore damaged areas. From 1991 to 2000, forest firefighters recorded an average of 75-fire occurrences/year. Identified causes included hot air balloons (24%), intentional (24%), rubbish burning (21%) and religious practices (17%). Primary fuels included invasive grasses and ferns. Although hot air balloons destroyed larger areas of forest in each occurrence, a greater number of fires started in the invasive vegetation along roads that bisect the forest. In response to recurrent forests, invasive vegetation has spread gradually into the forest increasing forest degradation. To decrease fire damage, sites with high fire frequencies and density of invasive vegetation were planted with less flammable species. Results indicate that fire frequency decreased and density of invasive vegetation declined. This approach appears to prevent fire incidence, reduce the need for fire fighting, and preserve existing biodiversity.     

侦办盗窃案若干法律疑难问题解析

盗窃未加盖公章和印鉴的无效空白支票,通过伪造公章和印鉴获取财产的,应定诈骗罪而不宜定盗窃罪。盗窃印鉴齐全的空白支票,自填数额、用途等,取款、转款或购买物资,其自填数额达到较大标准的,亦应按盗窃罪处理。流窜盗窃分子供述的盗窃或扒窃事实、情节与缴获的赃款赃物,与同案人的供述相一致,也应予以认定。行为人以非法占有有价凭证、有价证券、有价票证的财产为目的而取得了上述票证,但在持有过程中,行为人放弃了非法占有的故意或目的,未有领取款物而将票证归还原主或毁弃的,可按犯罪中止处理。盗窃他人合法占有、控制的自有物,应视为“他人”物,可以构成盗窃罪。普通物品在认定盗窃数额时,应根据其价格和价值特点,分别确定计算标准和办法。特殊商品中,假冒伪劣残次品的价值计算,应按其实际价值计算。在处理赃物时,对一些特殊性质的赃物,应采取特殊方法处理,不能按照处理一般赃物的办法处理。     

Gender,lineage, and fertility‐related outcomes in Ghana

A growing literature examines the empirical relationship between the joint reproductive preferences of marital partners and reproductive outcomes in Africa. Less explored is how spousal power in decision making may be influenced by lineage type. Using pooled data from Ghana, we investigate how lineage affects gendered reproductive decision outcomes and find some evidence that matrilineal women are more able than nonmatrilineal women to translate their reproductive preferences into action consistent with their goals.     

A note on interval‐censored lifetime data and the constant‐sum condition of oiler,gómez & calle (2004)

Oiler, Gomez & Calle (2004) give a constant sum condition for processes that generate interval‐censored lifetime data. They show that in models satisfying this condition, it is possible to estimate non‐parametrically the lifetime distribution based on a well‐known simplified likelihood. The author shows that this constant‐sum condition is equivalent to the existence of an observation process that is independent of lifetimes and which gives the same probability distribution for the observed data as the underlying true process.