ASYMPTOTIC MINIMAX PROPERTIES OF L-ESTIMATORS OF SCALE

This paper asks whether or not the efficient L-estimator of scale corresponding to the least informative distribution in ε-contamination and Kol-mogorov neighbourhoods of certain distributions possesses the saddlepoint property. This is of interest since the saddlepoint property implies the mini-max property, namely, that the supremum of the relative asymptotic variance of an L-estimator is minimized by the efficient estimator corresponding to that member of the distributional class with minimum Fisher information for scale. Our findings are negative in all cases investigated.     

Managing ambiguity: between markets and managerialism - a case study of 'middle' managers in further education

Advocates of devolved and market oriented Education reform, point to the benefits from self determination which enhance both teacher and managerial autonomy. Critics refer, on the other hand, to the ways in which running education institutions on business and accounting principles have introduced a new managerialism (Clarke et al, 1994; Pollitt, 1990; Clarke and Newman, 1997), which has driven a wedge between lecturers and senior manager interests. In Further Education, according to Elliott (1996a), this finds expression in conflict between lecturers in defence of professional and pedagogic values, and senior managers promoting the managerial bottom line (Randle and Brady, 1994). The danger in polarising such interests in this way is that it presents a plausible, if not oversimplified, analysis of organisational behaviour as market forces permeate FE. If this paper concurs with many critics on the effects of the new managerialism, it departs company from a prevailing determinism which assumes an over controlled view of the FE workplace (Seddon and Brown, 1997). Despite evidence of widespread casualisation and deprofessionalisation in FE, this paper examines changing managerial cultures in the FE workplace, in this case among academic 'middle' managers, which suggests that managerialism is not as complete or uncontested as is often portrayed. The paper draws on an ESRC research project conducted by the authors (ESRC no. R000236713), looking at Changing Teaching and Managerial Cultures in FE, at a time when the sector is emerging from a series of funding crises associated with redundancies, industrial action, mismanagement and low morale at college level.     

Dickey-fuller tests with trend

The Dickey-Fuller [rcirc]_τ and [pcirc]_τ tests are based on a regression of a variable on its lagged value, an intercept, and a trend term. The distributions of both statistics depend on the coefficient of the trend, and the usual Dickey-Fuller tabulations assume that this coefficient equals zero. This paper provides tabulations for the case that the coefficient of the trend is non-zero.     

Attention to Multiple Cues During Spontaneous Object Labeling

It is well established that 2‐year‐olds attribute a novel label to an object’s global shape rather than local features (i.e., parts). Although recent studies have found that younger infants also attend to global rather than local features when given a label, the test stimuli in these experiments confounded parts and shape by varying both or neither. With infants (16‐ and 24‐month‐olds) and adults, this experiment disentangled shape and parts with appropriate test objects. Results showed a clear development of a strategy incorporating multiple cues. Across three age groups, there was an increase in generalizing labels to objects matching the exemplar’s local and global features (parts, base, and shape), and a decrease to objects matching in only one local feature. We discuss these results in terms of a learned flexibility in using multiple cues to predict lexical categories.     

Assessment of a computerized medical record system: disclosing scripts of use

In the last two decades, empirical studies adopting a critical sociological approach to technology have shown how innovations are socially shaped, and how their introduction into human practices is often problematic. This paper describes how the Actor–Network Theory (ANT) can contribute to the evaluation of information technology. Results of the evaluation of a computerized medical record system implemented in four Quebec (Canada) hospitals are presented. The distribution of skills and tasks among nurses, physicians and managers (as implied by the design), and the use of the computerized medical record system proved highly problematic since they radically modified clinical practices. Theoretical and practical implications of using ANT as an evaluation framework are discussed.     

Mobile Air Monitoring: Measuring Change in Air Quality in the City of Hamilton, 2005–2010

This paper examines the change in air pollutant concentrations between 2005 and 2010 occurring in the City of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. After analysis of stationary air pollutant concentration data, we analyze mobile air pollutant concentration data. Air pollutants included in the analysis are CO, PM_2.5, SO₂, NO, NO₂, and NO_X. Stationary monitoring indicates a continuous reduction in air pollutant concentrations. Stationary monitors only cover a small spatial extent of Hamilton. Mobile monitoring of air pollutant concentrations, averaged over census tract boundaries, indicates both improvement and decline in air quality. These improvements and declines in air quality are spatially clustered throughout Hamilton. Mobile data indicated significant decline in median pollutant concentration for CO, SO₂, PM_2.5, and NO₂; but significant increase for NO and NO_X. Air quality change in Hamilton is spatially heterogeneous, and is not captured based on the current stationary monitoring network. Coupling of mobile and stationary air pollutant concentration monitoring provides a more accurate spatial assessment of local air quality.