Relating supply performance to aircraft availability

This paper describes how the effectiveness of the supply of vital repairable items for an aircraft or weapon system can be measured in terms of the expected number of aircraft grounded because of supply shortages. The properties of this measure are compared with the three alternative methods of assessing supply performance, none of which are directly aircraft or weapon system related. The present applicability of this measure to various situations at RAF Squadron and station level are discussed, together with possible future areas of application.     

盐酸多奈哌齐治疗血管性痴呆的临床疗效观察

目的观察盐酸多奈哌齐治疗血管性痴呆的疗效。方法102例血管性痴呆患者随机分为2组，治疗组51例，在常规治疗的基础上给予盐酸多奈哌齐5mg，每日1次；对照组54例，给予常规治疗，两组患者疗程均为12周，观察治疗前后认知功能（MMSE、HDS）及日常生活自理能力（ADL）的改善程度。结果治疗12周时，治疗组MMSE、HDS及ADL评分明显改善，较对照组有显著性差异（P〈0．05），自身对照结果显示，盐酸多奈哌齐治疗12周，治疗后MMSE、HDS及ADL评分较治疗前改善（P〈0．01），在治疗4周时，MMSE、HDS及ADL评分已有提高。结论盐酸多奈哌齐治疗血管性痴呆疗效确切，对患者认知功能及日常生活能力均为改善，无明显副作用，值得临床推广。     

CAMPAIGN SPENDING IN CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS

Past research of the effects of campaign spending in Congressional elections has found, contrary to expectations, that incumbent spending lowers votes he or she receives. Our model simultaneously determines votes and spending and eliminates this anomaly. A measure comparing the incumbent's voting record to constituent preferences aids model identification. Using two-stage least squares, we find that both incumbent and challenger spending are signficant determinants of the popular vote received. Tenure and spending appear to have diminishing returns, and voters appear to punish incumbents who vote against their wishes.     

Central bank independence, economic freedom, and inflation rates

Measures of central bank independence combine many attributes that may or may not affect inflation. Central bank attributes are chosen as a result of political calculations over the distribution of resources between competing interest groups. Simultaneity bias results from regressions of central bank independence or of economic and political freedom on inflation or growth. Our estimates demonstrate the connections between economic and political freedom and central bank attributes that lead to inflation. Countries showing high degrees of economic freedom adopt structures that lead to lower inflation; those that show high degrees of political freedom do not adopt inflation-reducing institutional structures.     

Crowding‐Out and Fundraising Efforts

The crowding‐out of private donations by government grants is an integral element in designing an efficient method of financing nonprofit activity. This article looks at elements of crowd‐out, both the direct impact on donors and the indirect impact caused by the response of nonprofits. We include both theoretical and empirical analyses of the reactions by donors and nonprofits to an increase in government funding based on data from the League of American Orchestras’ annual reports from 2004 to 2007. To combat indirect crowd‐out, renewed emphasis should be placed on grant design; for direct crowd‐out, theories of collective action are appropriate.     

The Relationship Among Funding Sources for Art and History Museums

The decline and possible elimination of federal support of the arts in the United States is likely to have a major impact on museum finances. Using data from the 1989 Survey of Museums, we analyze the interactions among major categories of museum funding. The results indicate a strong, positive stimulus of federal funding on private contributions, with some possible displacement of state and local government contributions. The opportunity to generate funds from private sources shows some promise to offset the loss of funds from government sources.     

Managers of nonprofit organizations are rewarded for performance

We consider the effect of performance on the compensation of nonprofit executives. Performance is measured as the ratio of revenue from a particular activity (such as fundraising or program services) to the expenditures associated with those services, exclusive of managerial compensation. This is consistent with previous works, which use measures of size, spending, or budget percentages as measures of performance. We also consider whether the compensation received by the executives enhances their performance. The empirical results support the hypothesis that compensation and performance are simultaneously determined.     

So you want to earn a Ph.D. in economics: how much do you think you'll make?

Using data from individuals who earned a Ph.D. in economics in 1996-97, this study identifies factors associated with securing full-time permanent positions and determinants of starting salaries for new Ph.D. economists. Where individuals attend graduate school and factors including the field of specialization and work as a teaching/research assistant impact whether graduates obtain full-time permanent jobs. Choice of graduate program and amount of time spent in the program influence starting salary, as does obtaining a position outside academia or in a research-oriented academic institution, both of which entail higher salaries relative to employment at a B.A.-level academic institution.     

Operational research techniques in Hong Kong

This paper presents the results of a survey of the use and organisational place of operational research techniques in different sectors of Hong Kong industry. The factors assisting the rapid growth of industry in the city-state are presented and the effect these have on the use of OR techniques is discussed. For a newly industralised country such as Hong Kong the conclusion of the authors is that OR techniques are best introduced and practised in a multi-discipline management services department rather than in a designated OR department.