Electoral Rules and Corruption

2021 ◽  
pp. 308-334
Author(s):  
Georgios Xezonakis ◽  
Stephen Dawson
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Electoral System ◽  
The State ◽  
Electoral Rules ◽  
District Magnitude ◽  
Literature Reviews ◽  
Accountability Mechanism ◽  
Individual Accountability ◽  
The Relationship

A large literature reviews the effects of constitutional arrangements and electoral rules on various aspects of QoG. The state of the debate, so far, is not one that provides straightforward answers regarding the important institutions, the magnitude of the effects, or even their direction. Through a meta-analysis of the relevant literature, we seek in this chapter to evaluate the relationship between electoral rules and corruption. The results of the meta-analysis suggest support for an individual accountability mechanism that transcends the crude majoritarian–proportional distinction. We show that absence of corruption can be positively correlated with systems in which district magnitude is at its lowest (plurality systems) and its highest (proportional systems). The important electoral system features appear to be those that cultivate a “personal vote,” strengthening accountability between voters and individual legislators.

Correlation of paretic knee extension strength with gait speed after stroke: A meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Richard W. Bohannon
Keyword(s):  
Gait Speed ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Knee Extension Strength ◽  
Extension Force ◽  
Correlational Data ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Relationship

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Numerous studies have addressed the relationship between paretic knee extension strength and comfortable walking speed after stroke. However, the correlations reported are highly variable. This review sought to summarize the correlational data using meta-analysis. METHODS: Relevant literature was identified via a search of 3 bibliographic databases. Articles were screened and perused for inclusion. Included articles were examined for information on the sample studied, procedures for measuring strength and gait speed, and correlations reported between the 2 variables. Meta-analysis was used to calculate a summary correlation. RESULTS: Of 299 unique articles, 18 met inclusion criteria. Articles were diverse in regard to samples studied, procedures described, and correlations reported. Meta-analysis using data from all included studies revealed a summary correlation of 0.51. For studies using hand-held or isokinetic dynamometry, the summary correlation was 0.46 and 0.59 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a better indication of the correlation between paretic knee extension strength and comfortable gait speed than individual studies. The correlation is high enough to provide support for the routine measurement of paretic knee extension force for individuals who have experienced a stroke.

scholarly journals The association between systemic lupus erythematosus and dementia A meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhuoxian Zhao ◽  
Natalia P. Rocha ◽  
Haitham Salem ◽  
Breno S. Diniz ◽  
Antonio L. Teixeira
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Dysfunction ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Systemic Lupus ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract A growing body of evidence indicates that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. However, to date, no studies have been conducted to quantitatively summarize and evaluate the consistency of data. Objective: To quantitatively evaluate the relationship of SLE and antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) with cognitive dysfunction and dementia. Methods: All relevant literature was retrieved from Pubmed, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases. The meta-analysis was performed using effect estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to calculate pooled risk estimates. The heterogeneity among studies was also examined. Results: The meta-analysis included 11 original studies involving a total of 81,668 patients with dementia and 407 patients with cognitive dysfunction. There were significant associations on fixed-effect models between SLE and dementia (3 studies; RR=1.50; 95% CI=1.37-1.64), SLE and cognitive dysfunction (4 studies; OR=2.97; 95% CI=1.72-5.15), and aPL and cognitive dysfunction (5 studies, OR=1.97; 95% CI=1.55-2.52). We also combined cognitive dysfunction and dementia outcomes as they both represented cognitive impairment. There were significant associations between aPL and cognitive impairment (6 studies; OR=2.03; 95% CI=1.62-2.55), and SLE and cognitive impairment (7 studies; OR=1.83; 95% CI=1.42-2.35). Moderate heterogeneity (I2=45.7%) was found in the association between SLE and cognitive impairment, low heterogeneity (I2=21.8%) in the association between SLE and dementia, and near zero heterogeneity for the other three main analyses. Conclusion: Both SLE and aPL are associated with cognitive impairment.

scholarly journals Positive Psychology’s Character Strengths in Addiction-Spirituality Research: A Qualitative Systematic Literature Review

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahaya Selvam
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Numerical Data ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Relationship

There is an increasing interest in the scientific study of the association between spirituality and recovery from addiction. While most of these studies have provided evidence for a possible relationship, others have explored the underlying mechanisms and meditators in the relationship. However, generally, many studies and reviews have not approached the issue within a specific theoretical framework of mainstream psychology. In an attempt to fill this gap, the review being reported here undertook a Qualitative Systematic Literature Review (QSLR) of addiction-spirituality literature. QSLR is an orderly manner of searching for academic literature, selecting relevant literature following a set of inclusion/exclusion criteria, qualitatively analysing the selected literature, and reporting the findings in such a way as to generate a set of hypotheses. QSLR focusses on literary data, rather than on numerical data as the tradition Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis do. Working within the framework of positive psychology, the present review attempted to identify the character strengths relevant to addiction and recovery by carrying out a QSLR on 53 selected peer-reviewed articles. Among the 24 character strengths, the following emerged as salient: wisdom, integrity, vitality, humility, forgiveness, kindness, love, hope and spirituality. On this basis, a hypothetical conclusion is suggested.

Electoral Systems in Context

2017 ◽  
pp. 870-900
Author(s):  
Steven L. Taylor ◽  
Matthew S. Shugart
Keyword(s):  
Rare Case ◽  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Electoral System ◽  
Party Systems ◽  
Electoral Rules ◽  
District Magnitude ◽  
Major Shift ◽  
Open Versus ◽  
Democratic Elections

Colombia represents a rare case of a political context with a number of electoral system changes over a period of years. It serves as a natural experiment that demonstrates that party systems do react to changes in institutional parameters. There have been uninterrupted democratic elections that allow for long-term comparative study of the effects of electoral reform. From 1974 to 2014, several different basic electoral rules can be observed including single nontransferable vote (SNTV), and the D’Hondt form of party-list proportional representation. Additionally, other factors have changed including a major shift in district magnitude for the election of the Senate, a move from plurality to a two-round system for electing the president, and other areas of change including ballot format and open versus closed lists. Few cases demonstrate as many different areas of electoral study as does Colombia.

scholarly journals Association between the MMP-1-1607 1G/2G Polymorphism and Osteoarthritis Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Jiankun Liu ◽  
Guangye Wang ◽  
Zhan Peng
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Cartilage Degeneration ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Bonferroni Correction ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Articular Cartilage Degeneration ◽  
Control Study

Background. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disease characterized by articular cartilage degeneration and secondary hyperosteogenesis. Genetic factors are associated with the occurrence of OA. While several studies have shown that the matrix metalloproteinase-1- (MMP-1-) 1607 1G/2G (rs1799750) polymorphism may be related to the occurrence and development of OA, there is inconsistency in the literature. To better estimate the relationship between the MMP-1 gene polymorphism and OA, a comprehensive meta-analysis of relevant literature was carried out. Results. In total, seven studies comprising 1245 OA patients and 1230 controls were included in this meta-analysis. The combined results revealed no significant association between the MMP-1-1607 1G/2G polymorphism and risk of OA in the five genetic models. However, after Bonferroni correction, the results of subgroup analysis revealed a significant correlation between the MMP-1-1607 1G/2G polymorphism and OA susceptibility in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) OA subgroup (allelic: 2G vs. 1G: OR=1.575, 95%CI=1.259–1.972, P<0.01; recessive: 2G2G vs. 1G1G+1G2G: OR=2.411, 95%CI=1.658–3.504, P<0.01; and homozygote: 2G2G vs. 1G1G: OR=2.313, 95%CI=1.341, 3.991, P=0.003), the younger subgroup (aged less than 60 years; allelic: 2G vs. 1G: OR=1.635, 95%CI=1.354, 1.974, P<0.01; dominant: 2G1G+2G2G vs. 1G1G: OR=1.622, 95%CI=1.158, 2.271, P=0.005; recessive: 2G2G vs. 1G1G+1G2G: OR=2.209, 95%CI=1.718, 2.840, P<0.01; and homozygote: 2G2G vs. 1G1G: OR=2.578, 95%CI=1.798, 3.696, P<0.01), the larger subgroup (N>300), and the hospital-based case-control study (HCC) subgroup. The sensitivity analysis suggested that the results of the meta-analysis were stable and reliable. Begg’s funnel plot and Egger’s test indicated that there was no publication bias in this study. Conclusion. Our meta-analysis indicated that although the MMP-1-1607 1G/2G polymorphism was not significantly associated with OA susceptibility among the whole sample, it played a key role in the etiology and development of TMJ OA and OA in people aged less than 60 years.

Occupation and Health: A Review of Selected Literature

2008 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 456-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Creek ◽  
Andrew Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
The State ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Limited Knowledge ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Occupational therapy is based on the belief that people can influence the state of their health through what they do. However, there appears to be a shortage of evidence to support this belief. This paper describes a review of selected literature on the effects of occupation on health. The aims were to review how occupation and health are defined in the occupational therapy literature; to find synonyms for these two terms to enable a search for relevant literature; to review evidence for a relationship between what people do and their health; and to identify factors that mediate the relationship between occupation and health. The review had five main findings: occupation and health are defined in a variety of ways by occupational therapists; there is a wealth of literature, representing a number of disciplines and a wide range of research, that explores the relationship between occupation and health; engaging in occupation carries both potential health benefits and risks to health; there is limited knowledge of the ways in which occupation influences health; and the impact of occupation on health is mediated by a complex range of factors. These findings have implications for occupational therapy research, practice and education.

scholarly journals Odnos države i budističke zajednice u savremenoj Kini: kritički pregled odabrane literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 905
Author(s):  
Marta Nešković
Keyword(s):  
Present State ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
The State ◽  
People’S Republic Of China ◽  
Religious Institutions ◽  
People's Republic Of China ◽  
Republic Of China ◽  
Party Organizations ◽  
The Relationship

The paper treats the challenges and transformations of the Buddhist community in China on its way to the present state, both in national and international terms. The research focuses upon the dynamics of the relationship between the state and religion in China – from the demise of the empire to the present, with special emphasis upon the period of the People’s Republic of China. This review of the relevant literature concentrates upon the anthropological paradigms treating the relationship between state and religion, as well as upon state, political and religious institutions – national, provincial, municipal. Two concrete examples are presented of the renowned Buddhist monasteries – Nanputuo and Shaolin. Special attention is paid to the Buddhist Association of China and its role in the negotiation between the state and party organizations and Buddhist monasteries.

scholarly journals LEGISLATIVE ACCOUNTABILITY: SHOULD BRAZIL BREAK UP ITS BIG ELECTORAL DISTRICTS?

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (19) ◽  
pp. 72-86
Author(s):  
John M. Carey
Keyword(s):  
The Political ◽  
Political Accountability ◽  
Electoral Rules ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Representation Systems ◽  
District Magnitude ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Central Argument ◽  
Individual Accountability

This paper proposes that Brazil could improve the political accountability by breaking up many of the statewide districts it uses to elect its deputies into smaller districts, each electing fewer deputies.  The central argument is that districts that elect low-to-moderate numbers of legislators make it possible to optimize the well-known trade-off between inclusive representation and accountable government. I suggest there are three broad goals that we should seek in legislative representation; representativeness, collective accountability, and Individual accountability.  I acknowledge that there are inevitable trade-offs among these goals, but I suggest that the trade-offs are not linear, and that electoral rules can be designed to maximize the quality of representation.  I suggest that the most straightforward way to achieve such gains is by maintaining proportional representation systems of elections, but by limiting district magnitude (the number of representatives elected per district) to moderate levels, in the range from 4 to 8. Elections; Election Rules; Electoral Systems; Electoral Reform; Accountability; Representation.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Circulating ANGPTL8/Betatrophin Concentrations and Adult Obesity: A Meta-Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjing Ye ◽  
Yu Qin ◽  
Dong Wang ◽  
Ling Yang ◽  
Guoyue Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Adult Obesity ◽  
Study Heterogeneity ◽  
Obese Subjects ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Synthesis And Degradation

In this study, we evaluated the relationship between circulating betatrophin levels and obesity. Obesity is a common public health problem that is increasing globally. Betatrophin, a newly identified protein, is predominantly expressed in white and brown fat tissues and in the liver. Growing evidence suggests that betatrophin plays a pivotal role in metabolism, including the synthesis and degradation of lipids in cells, and adipocyte differentiation. Previous studies have assessed the association between circulating betatrophin levels and obesity; however, this relationship remains unclear. Therefore, our study is aimed at examining the impact of betatrophin on obesity using a meta-analysis of the current evidence. We performed a meta-analysis to quantify the relationship between betatrophin levels and obesity. A literature search was conducted through the EMBASE, Web of Science, and MEDLINE databases. Retrieved studies were screened, without any language restrictions to identify relevant literature published up to December 2018. Observational studies, in which the association between circulating concentrations of betatrophin and obesity was evaluated, were considered suitable for the systematic review. Of the 65 manuscripts retrieved, 9 datasets from 6 studies, involving 681 participants, detected an association between circulating betatrophin and obesity. Circulating betatrophin levels of obese subjects were higher than those of nonobese subjects (random−effects weighted mean difference WMD=0.250 μg/mL, 95% CI: 0.048–0.451, I2=94.8%, p=0.015), yet with significant between-study heterogeneity. This heterogeneity appeared to be modified by glycemic status but not by age, the ELISA kits used, sample source, or body mass index. The high circulating betatrophin concentration may directly increase the risk of obesity in adults. Betatrophin may serve as a therapeutic target for obesity in adults.

Speed and Road Safety

2005 ◽  
Vol 1908 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rune Elvik
Keyword(s):  
Power Function ◽  
Road Safety ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Power Model ◽  
Extensive Review ◽  
Change In The Mean ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Relative Change ◽  
The Relationship

This paper presents a study evaluating the power model of the relationship between speed and road safety. The power model states that a given relative change in the mean speed of traffic is associated with a relative change in the number of accidents or accident victims by means of a power function. An extensive review of relevant literature has been made, and evidence from 98 studies containing 460 estimates of the relationship between changes in speed and changes in the number of accidents or accident victims has been synthesized by means of meta-analysis. The results are broadly supportive of the power model. It is concluded that speed has a major impact on the number of accidents and the severity of injuries and that the relationship between speed and road safety is causal, not just statistical.

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