The Large Scale Structure in the Universe: From Power-Laws to Acoustic Peaks

The most popular tools for analysing the large scale distribution of galaxies are second-order spatial statistics such as the two-point correlation function or its Fourier transform, the power spectrum. In this review, we explain how our knowledge of cosmic structures, encapsulated by these statistical descriptors, has evolved since their first use when applied on the early galaxy catalogues to the present generation of wide and deep redshift surveys, incorporating the most challenging discovery in the study of the galaxy distribution: the detection of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures, to appear in "Data Analysis in Cosmology", Lecture Notes in Physics, 2008, eds. V. J. Martinez, E. Saar, E. Martinez-Gonzalez, and M.J. Pons-Borderia, Springer-Verla

Computerized Adaptive Rating Scales for Measuring Managerial Performance

Computerized adaptive rating scales (CARS) had been developed to measure contextual or citizenship performance. This rating format used a paired‐comparison protocol, presenting pairs of behavioral statements scaled according to effectiveness levels, and an iterative item response theory algorithm to obtain estimates of ratees\u27 citizenship performance (Borman, Buck, Hanson, Motowidlo, Stark, and Drasgow, 2001). In the present research, we developed CARS to measure the entire managerial performance domain, including task and citizenship performance, thus addressing a major limitation of the earlier CARS. The paper describes this development effort, including an adjustment to the algorithm that reduces substantially the number of item pairs required to obtain almost as much precision in the performance estimates

A framework for financial market development

A framework for examining the process of financial market development is proposed. The framework is anchored in studying the incentives facing the key players in financial markets - borrowers, lenders, liquidity providers, and regulators - whose actions determine whether and how markets develop. While different financial instruments embody different concessions by borrowers and lenders, the framework emphasizes two main compromises: the tradeoffs between maturity and collateral, and between seniority and control in the sequencing of market development.financial market development, financial instruments and contracts, maturity and collateral, seniority and control,