scholarly journals Do Fairer Elections Increase the Responsiveness of Politicians?

2019 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 963-979 ◽  
Author(s):  
GEORGE KWAKU OFOSU
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Experimental Designs ◽  
Democratic Accountability ◽  
Development Fund ◽  
Democratic Responsiveness ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Suggestive Evidence ◽  
The Impact ◽  
2012 Election ◽  
Selection Of

Leveraging novel experimental designs and 2,160 months of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) spending by legislators in Ghana, I examine whether and how fairer elections promote democratic responsiveness. The results show that incumbents elected from constituencies that were randomly assigned to intensive election-day monitoring during Ghana’s 2012 election spent 19 percentage points more of their CDFs during their terms in office compared with those elected from constituencies with fewer monitors. Legislators from all types of constituencies are equally present in parliament, suggesting that high levels of monitoring do not cause politicians to substitute constituency service for parliamentary work. Tests of causal mechanisms provide suggestive evidence that fairer elections motivate high performance through incumbents’ expectations of electoral sanction and not the selection of better candidates. The article provides causal evidence of the impact of election integrity on democratic accountability.

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ALGORITHMS FOR COUNTING OBJECTS IN IMAGES

2018 ◽  
pp. 310-314
Author(s):  
Tatyana Dineva ◽  
Nely Ruseva ◽  
Mariya Georgieva-Nikolova
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Analysis Of Algorithms ◽  
Small Error ◽  
Color Model ◽  
Image Capturing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Selection Of

The report presents a comparative analysis of algorithms for counting objects in images. They are used in counting eggs. From the three algorithms compared Threshold, Circular Hough and Wateshed, with high performance and small error values ​​is the algorithm Circular Hough. When recognizing the eggs, it is necessary to make a selection of the color model, by which to separate the eggs from the background according to their color and the breed of birds. More research is needed on the impact of the image capturing conditions on the accuracy of algorithms.

scholarly journals Low-Cost Eye Tracking Calibration: A Knowledge-Based Study

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5109
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Garde ◽  
Andoni Larumbe-Bergera ◽  
Benoît Bossavit ◽  
Sonia Porta ◽  
Rafael Cabeza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Image Features ◽  
Gaze Estimation ◽  
Low Resolution ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Fully Connected ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Selection Of

Subject calibration has been demonstrated to improve the accuracy in high-performance eye trackers. However, the true weight of calibration in off-the-shelf eye tracking solutions is still not addressed. In this work, a theoretical framework to measure the effects of calibration in deep learning-based gaze estimation is proposed for low-resolution systems. To this end, features extracted from the synthetic U2Eyes dataset are used in a fully connected network in order to isolate the effect of specific user’s features, such as kappa angles. Then, the impact of system calibration in a real setup employing I2Head dataset images is studied. The obtained results show accuracy improvements over 50%, probing that calibration is a key process also in low-resolution gaze estimation scenarios. Furthermore, we show that after calibration accuracy values close to those obtained by high-resolution systems, in the range of 0.7∘, could be theoretically obtained if a careful selection of image features was performed, demonstrating significant room for improvement for off-the-shelf eye tracking systems.

scholarly journals The Impact of Covid-19 on Trump’s Electoral Demise

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergi Pardos-Prado ◽  
Anja Neundorf
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Economic Voting ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Democratic Accountability ◽  
Present Survey ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Trump Administration

Did the Covid-19 crisis have a significant effect on Trump's electoral demise? We present survey experimental evidence on two substantial effects of the pandemic. First, the unprecedented economic downturn significantly depressed Trump's popular support across all partisan groups, and especially among middle-low and low-income respondents. Second, the poor public health record of the Trump administration reduced its electoral prospects in 25 percentage points among citizens aged between 55 and 70 years old. By contrast, populist attitudes proved to have a negligible effect on the outcome. We conclude that the 2020 election was a normal contest compatible with theories of economic voting and political competence. Our results cast doubts on the role of populism as a major and permanent electoral driver of Trump’s base, and suggest that democratic accountability is a powerful determinant of the fate of political outsiders once in power.

Methods for Restricting Maximum Exposure Rate in Computerized Adaptative Testing

Methodology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Ramon Barrada ◽  
Julio Olea ◽  
Vicente Ponsoda
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Accuracy ◽  
Computerized Adaptive Testing ◽  
Computation Time ◽  
Adaptive Testing ◽  
Exposure Rate ◽  
Control Parameters ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Two Alternatives ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Maximum Exposure

Abstract. The Sympson-Hetter (1985) method provides a means of controlling maximum exposure rate of items in Computerized Adaptive Testing. Through a series of simulations, control parameters are set that mark the probability of administration of an item on being selected. This method presents two main problems: it requires a long computation time for calculating the parameters and the maximum exposure rate is slightly above the fixed limit. Van der Linden (2003) presented two alternatives which appear to solve both of the problems. The impact of these methods in the measurement accuracy has not been tested yet. We show how these methods over-restrict the exposure of some highly discriminating items and, thus, the accuracy is decreased. It also shown that, when the desired maximum exposure rate is near the minimum possible value, these methods offer an empirical maximum exposure rate clearly above the goal. A new method, based on the initial estimation of the probability of administration and the probability of selection of the items with the restricted method ( Revuelta & Ponsoda, 1998 ), is presented in this paper. It can be used with the Sympson-Hetter method and with the two van der Linden's methods. This option, when used with Sympson-Hetter, speeds the convergence of the control parameters without decreasing the accuracy.

Dietary Vitamin and Stability of Oral Anticoagulation: Proposal of a Diet with Constant Vitamin K1 Content

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (03) ◽  
pp. 504-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L Booth ◽  
Jacqueline M Charnley ◽  
James A Sadowski ◽  
Edward Saltzman ◽  
Edwin G Bovill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Food Composition ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Dietary Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin K1 ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The Impact

SummaryCase reports cited in Medline or Biological Abstracts (1966-1996) were reviewed to evaluate the impact of vitamin K1 dietary intake on the stability of anticoagulant control in patients using coumarin derivatives. Reported nutrient-drug interactions cannot always be explained by the vitamin K1 content of the food items. However, metabolic data indicate that a consistent dietary intake of vitamin K is important to attain a daily equilibrium in vitamin K status. We report a diet that provides a stable intake of vitamin K1, equivalent to the current U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance, using food composition data derived from high-performance liquid chromatography. Inconsistencies in the published literature indicate that prospective clinical studies should be undertaken to clarify the putative dietary vitamin K1-coumarin interaction. The dietary guidelines reported here may be used in such studies.

The Effect of Taxation and Corruption on Firm Growth: An Empirical Investigation for Vietnam

2016 ◽  
pp. 5-29
Author(s):  
Bich Le Thi Ngoc
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Firm Growth ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Economic Management ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Percentage Point Increase ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Point Increase ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this study is to analyze empirically the impact of taxation and corruption on the growth of manufacturing firms in Vietnam. The study employed pooled OLS estimation and then instrument variables with fixed effect for the panel data of 1377 firms in Vietnam from 2005 to 2011. These data were obtained from the survey of the Central Institute for Economic Management and the Danish International Development Agency. The results show that both taxation and corruption are negatively associated with firm growth measured by firm sales adjusted according to the GDP deflator. A one-percentage point increase in the bribery rate is linked with a reduction of 16,883 percentage points in firm revenue, over four and a half times bigger than the effect of a one-percentage point increase in the tax rate. From the findings of this research, the author recommends the Vietnam government to lessen taxation on firms and that there should be an urgent revolution in anti-corruption policies as well as bureaucratic improvement in Vietnam.

Alpha Tocopherol Loaded in Liposome: Preparation, Optimization, Characterization and Sperm Motility Protection

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lamia Taouzinet ◽  
Sofiane Fatmi ◽  
Allaeddine Khellouf ◽  
Mohamed Skiba ◽  
Mokrane Iguer-ouada
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin E ◽  
Sperm Motility ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Alpha Tocopherol ◽  
Ethanol Injection ◽  
Liposome Preparation ◽  
Liposome Size ◽  
Optimum Solution ◽  
The Impact

Background: Alpha-tocopherol is a potent antioxidant involved in sperm protection particularly during cryopreservation. However, its poor solubility limits the optimal protection in aqueous solutions. Objective: The aim of this study was to enhance the solubility of α-tocopherol by the use of liposomes. Methods: The experimental approach consisted to load vitamin E in liposomes prepared by ethanol injection method and the optimization carried out by an experimental design. The optimum solution was characterized by high performance liquid chromatography and scanning electron microscope. Finely, the impact on sperm motility protection was studied by the freezing technic of bovine sperm. Results: The optimum solution was obtained when using 10.9 mg/ml of phospholipids, 1.7 mg/ml of cholesterol and 2 mg/ml of vitamin E. The liposome size was 99.86 nm, providing 78.47% of loaded efficiency. The results showed also a significant positive impact on sperm motility after hours of preservation. Conclusion: In conclusion, the current results showed the interest of liposome preparation as an alternative to enhance vitamin E solubility and to protect spermatozoa during cryopreservation.

Impact of removing ESBL designation from culture reports on the selection of antibiotics for the treatment of infections associated with ESBL-producing organisms

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 604-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D. Lesher ◽  
Cory M. Hale ◽  
Dona S. S. Wijetunge ◽  
Matt R. England ◽  
Debra S. Myers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Inhibitor Combination ◽  
Lactamase Inhibitor ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractWe characterized the impact of removal of the ESBL designation from microbiology reports on inpatient antibiotic prescribing. Definitive prescribing of carbapenems decreased from 48.4% to 16.1% (P = .01) and β-lactam–β-lactamase inhibitor combination increased from 19.4% to 61.3% (P = .002). Our findings confirm the importance of collaboration between microbiology and antimicrobial stewardship programs.

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