Assessing the Number of Components in Mixture Models: a Review.

Despite the widespread application of finite mixture models, the decision of how many classes are required to adequately represent the data is, according to many authors, an important, but unsolved issue. This work aims to review, describe and organize the available approaches designed to help the selection of the adequate number of mixture components (including Monte Carlo test procedures, information criteria and classification-based criteria); we also provide some published simulation results about their relative performance, with the purpose of identifying the scenarios where each criterion is more effective (adequate).Finite mixture; number of mixture components; information criteria; simulation studies.

Examining the segment retention problem for the “Group Satellite” case

The purpose of this work is to determine how well, criteria designed to help the selection of the adequate number of market segments, perform in recovering small niche segments, in mixture regressions of normal data, with experimental data. The simulation experiment compares several segment retention criteria, including information criteria and classification-based criteria. We also address the impact of distributional misspecification on segment retention criteria success rates. This study shows that Akaike’s Information criterion with penalty factors of 3 and 4, rather than the traditional value of 2, are the best segment retention criteria to use in recovering small niche segments. Although these criteria were designed for the specific context of mixture models, they are rarely applied in the marketing literature.Information criteria; Latent Class Segmentation.

Comparing alternative instruments to measure service quality in higher education

The purpose of this work is to examine the performance of five alternative measures of service quality in the high education sector – SERVQUAL (Service Quality), Importance-weighted SERVQUAL, SERVPERF (Service Performance), Importance-weighted SERVPERF and HedPERF (Higher Education Performance). We aim at determining which instrument has the superior measurement capability. Data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire containing perception items enhanced from the SERVPERF and HEdPERF scales and expectation items from the SERVQUAL scale, both modified to fit into the higher education sector. The first draft of the questionnaire was subject to a pilot testing through a focus group and an expert evaluation. Data were gathered from a 360 students’ sample of a Portuguese university in Lisbon. Scales were compared in terms of unidimensionality, reliability, validity and explained variance. Managerial conclusions were also drawn.service quality scales; higher education; reliability

DIFFERENCES AT THE IMPULSE PHASE FOR THE FRONT SOMERSAULT ON FLOOR EXERCISE AND ON DIFFERENT TRAMPOLINES

The front somersault (FS) on the floor and on the trampoline has been described by several authors, but there are no studies that compare their execution on different apparatuses. Considering that, once airborne, the actions on the trampoline are identical to those for a FS on the floor except that the gymnast has more time at his disposal to perform these actions (Hay, 1978). The present study was designed to analyse only the impulse phase of the FS executed on the floor, trampoline, mini-trampoline and double minitrampoline. On the floor, the double mini-trampoline and mini-trampoline, the somersault is preceded by a small run and a jump to prepare the impulse on both feet. On the trampoline there is no run and the gymnast needs to take off and land on the same spot. The purpose of this study was to verify possible differences in body positioning during the impulse phase of the front somersault on different apparatuses

Comparing Airport regulation in Europe: Is there need for a European Regulator?

This paper provides an overview of how the major airports are regulated in Europe. In order to eliminate the potential of airports to exercise market power and protect the public interest, it has become increasingly necessary to set a common regulatory framework. We intend to discuss the need of a single regulator in Europe to monitor or establish the quality of service and the charges practiced by the airports, to ensure cost-relatedness, transparency and non-discrimination. The existing regulatory approaches regarding aeronautical charges and their economic implications are also analyzed. We propose the creation of a European Observatory for this sector.airports, economic regulation, European Observatory

Democracy and Economic Development: a Fuzzy Classification Approach

The aim of this work is to (1) analyse whether countries differ on political indicators (democracy, rule of law, government effectiveness and corruption) and (2) study whether countries with different political profiles are associated with different levels of economic, human development and gender-related development indicators. Using a fuzzy classification approach (fuzzy k-means algorithm), we propose a typology of 124 countries based on 10 political variables. Six segments are identified; these political groups implicate the access to different levels of economic and human development. In this study evidence of a positive but not perfect relationship between democracy and economic and human development is observed, thus presenting new insights for the understanding of the heterogeneity of behaviors relatively to political indicators.Democracy, Economic Development, Fuzzy k-means

Effects of personal, social and environmental factors on physical activity behavior among adults

Despite the guidelines and the well-recognized benefits of regular physical activity, there is evidence that a large number of people is still reported to be inactive. Therefore, the need for interventions that can promote a healthier behavior has increased. As an understanding of the determinants of physical activity behavior by health professionals is an important prerequisite to designing effective interventions, studies on the identification of the determinants of physical activity are warranted. The purpose of this work is to review and update the research on determinants underlying physical activity behaviour in adults and to provide an overview of physical activity patterns among adult populations. The findings highlight the need for an evaluation of the interactive effects of psychosocial, cultural, environmental and public policy influences on physical activity forging a trans-disciplinary paradigm

Processes of transmission of traditions: fields of tension between rigors and ruptures

This text was presented at the round table: "Dialogues between tradition and innovation in current pedagogy", which composed the program of the 2nd International meeting on training in the arts of puppetry, which took place in Romania on June 2017. In it, more than answers are raised inquiries from a central question: to what extent and how has the artistic heritage transmission forms been operated today with a central focus on puppet theater? Taking as a guide the discussions held at the Seminar "Arts of Transmission and Artistic Heritage", a joint initiative of University of Évora and the Marionette Museum of Lisbon (Museu da Marioneta de Lisboa), and focusing on two forms of puppetry traditions - Bonecos de Santo Aleixo - BSA, from Alentejo, Portugal, and the Mamulengo, from Pernambuco, Brazil, this article seeks to discuss some tensions operated in transmissions processes