A critical evaluation of the standardisation potential of business plan evaluation aids (BPEA) used in venture capital investment decision-making

The research objective was to perform a critical evaluation and comparison of four, representative Business Plan Evaluation Aids (BPEA) to facilitate constructive discussion of the proposition that greater standardisation of venture capital decision-making might be both desirable and possible.The four BPEA were systematically compared using a structured, taxonomic process employing seven key criteria. The evidence of this investigation suggests a clear superiority for BPEAs, which are based on the known attributes of successful ventures and use actuarial modelling. Discussion centred on the importance of using BPEAs in a quest for greater consistency of venture capital investment decision-making.<br /

Toward the standardization of venture capital investment evaluation : decision criteria for rating investee business plans

This study examined the criteria used by venture capitalists to evaluate business plans in order to make investment decisions. A literature survey revealed two competing theories: &ldquo;espoused criteria&rdquo; where evaluation decisions are based on what venture capitalists say are the decisive factors; versus the use of &ldquo;known attributes&rdquo; that successful ventures actually possess. Brunswik&rsquo;s Lens Model from Social Judgment Theory guided an empirical investigation of several different evaluation methods based on information contained in 129 business plans submitted for venture capital over a 3 year period. Data evaluation culminated in the comparison of the percentage of correct decisions (&ldquo;hit-rate&rdquo;) for each method. We found that decisions based on the known attributes of successful ventures have significantly better hit-rates than decisions made using espoused criteria. Discussion centred on the goal of achieving consistency in the conduct of venture analysis. Process standardization can aid in the achievement of consistency. Future research will both deepen and broaden insights.<br /

The World is Sinking: PossibleStrategies for United States International Accountability to Pacific Island Nations for Global Warming Contributions

Article published in the Michigan State University School of Law Student Scholarship Collection

A seat at the president’s table? Lyndon Johnson, the CIA, and the Six Day War

The scholarly consensus regarding the CIA and the Six Day War holds that the Agency’s intelligence enjoyed a clear impact on President Johnson’s policy and thereafter markedly improved the White House-Langley relationship. Yet this narrative places excessive emphasis on the role of the Agency, while additionally overlooking several other international and domestic contextual factors that would have informed Johnson’s policy decision-making. Subsequently, evidence also suggests that Johnson’s relationship with the CIA and its intelligence did not improve after June 1967, and that DCI Helms did not become a close confidant of the President

An examination of cue utilization in a probabilistic concept attainment task as a function of absolute cue validity and differences between absolute validities of cues.

Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1974 .M22. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 40-07, page: . Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1974

Projeto work happy : fatores preditores das emoções positivas e significado em contexto laboral

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica.Introdução: Ao longo dos anos tem sido possível assistir a uma mudança de paradigma relativo ao bem-estar e ao trabalho, tendo estas duas dimensões vindo a ganhar maior destaque no dia-a-dia de cada um de nós. O presente estudo tem como objetivo explorar se a idade, o sexo, a relação amorosa, a ansiedade, o stress e o humor deprimido/ depressão, o sono e o equilíbrio vida-trabalho predizem emoções positivas e significado em adultos profissionalmente ativos. Método: Um total de 1000 trabalhadores (mulheres=68,4%), com idades compreendidas entre os 19 e 75 anos (M=40,76; DP=10,58) procederam ao preenchimento de um questionário sociodemográfico, profissional e de saúde, da escala PERMA-Profiler, de 3 itens exemplificativos das dimensões de ansiedade, humor deprimido/ depressão e stress e, por fim, a escala WorkLife Balance (WLB). Resultados: O modelo refinado demonstrou um ajustamento sofrível (2/df=6,752; SRMR=0,153; CFI=0,948; TLI=0,934; NFI=0,939; RMSEA=0,076). As emoções positivas são experimentadas mais frequentemente por mulheres (β=-0,095; p=0,001), por participantes com níveis menores de humor deprimido/depressão (β=-0,316; p<0,001), pelos que revelam uma melhor qualidade de sono (β=0,040; p=0,018) e um maior equilíbrio vida trabalho (β=0,426; p<0,001). Quanto ao significado no trabalho, o mesmo é menos percebido por mulheres (β=-0,102; p=0,001) e por participantes com maiores níveis de humor deprimido/ depressão (β=- 0,288; p<0,001). No entanto, a sua perceção é maior em participantes com níveis mais elevados de stress (β=0,098; p<0,001) e quanto maior for o equilíbrio vida-trabalho (β=0,370; p<0,001). Conclusão: Sabendo que algumas variáveis (como o stress, sono e equilíbrio vida-trabalho) podem estar associadas a um maior bem-estar e produtividade, seria importante desenvolver estudos no contexto organizacional que informassem sobre a cultura empresarial com vista a melhorar e aumentar o bem-estar dos seus trabalhadores.Background: Over the years, we have been witnessing a shift in the paradigm related to well-being and work, with these two dimensions capturing greater emphasis in the daily lives of each one of us. The present study aims to explore if age, sex, a romantic relationship, anxiety, stress and depressed mood/ depression, sleep and work-life balance predicts positive emotions and meaning in working adults. Method: Overall, 1000 workers (women=68,4%), aged 19-75 years old (M=40,76; SD=10,58), filled in a sociodemographic, professional and health questionnaire, the PERMA-Profiler scale, 3 representative items of the anxiety, stress, and depression dimensions and, at last, the Work-Life Balance scale (WLB). Findings: The refined model supported tolerable model fit (2/df=6,752; SRMR=0,153; CFI=0,948; TLI=0,934; NFI=0,939; RMSEA=0,076). Positive emtions are experienced with a higher frequency by women (β=-0,095; p=0,001), by participants showing lower levels of depressed mood/ depression (β=-0,316; p<0,001), participants with a better sleep quality (β=0,040; p=0,018) and a higher worklife balance (β=0,426; p<0,001). When it comes to meaning at work, it is less perceived by women (β=-0,102; p=0,001) and by participants with higher levels of depressed mood/ depression (β=-0,288; p<0,001). However, its perception is greater in participants showing higher levels of stress (β=0,098; p<0,001) and a higher work-life balance (β=0,370; p<0,001). Conclusion: Knowing that some variables (such as stress, sleep and work-life balance) may be related with a greater well-being and productivity, it would be important to develop studies within the organizational field that would inform about the corporate culture to promoter a greater and a higher well-being of its workers

FTIR analysis of silane grafted high density polyethylene

Vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMOS) monomer was grafted onto high density polyethylene by reactive processing in a twin screw extruder in the temperature range of 180-240°C. The effect of VTMOS and 1,3-bis (tert-butylperoxyisopropyl) benzene peroxide (BTBB) on the extent of grafting was studied using qualitative and quantitative Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The grafting reactions were confirmed via infrared absorption bands present in the 800 cm-1 region which are characteristic wavenumbers for the vibration modes of the Si-CH group from VTMOS (CH2=CH-Si-(OCH3)3). The percentage of reacted and unreacted VTMOS was calculated by a novel Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy quantitative method developed through measurements of infrared absorbance bands at peaks 795 and 814 cm-1 that are influenced by both reacted and unreacted silane. The effect of silane and peroxide concentrations on the concentration of reacted and unreacted silane present in the material was determined. The change in unsaturation content measured at absorbance 1009 cm-1 supported these findings

External validation of a mammographic texture marker for breast cancer risk in a case–control study

Purpose: The pattern of dense tissue on a mammogram appears to provide additional information than overall density for risk assessment, but there has been little consistency in measures of texture identified. The purpose of this study is thus to validate a mammographic texture feature developed from a previous study in a new setting. Approach: A case–control study (316 invasive cases and 1339 controls) of women in Virginia, USA was used to validate a mammographic texture feature (MMTEXT) derived in a independent previous study. Analysis of predictive ability was adjusted for age, demographic factors, questionnaire risk factors (combined through the Tyrer-Cuzick model), and optionally BI-RADS breast density. Odds ratios per interquartile range (IQ-OR) in controls were estimated. Subgroup analysis assessed heterogeneity by mode of cancer detection (94 not detected by mammography). Results: MMTEXT was not a significant risk factor at 0.05 level after adjusting for classical risk factors (IQ-OR  =  1.16, 95%CI 0.92 to 1.46), nor after further adjustment for BI-RADS density (IQ-OR  =  0.92, 95%CI 0.76 to 1.10). There was weak evidence that MMTEXT was more predictive for cancers that were not detected by mammography (unadjusted for density: IQ-OR  =  1.46, 95%CI 0.99 to 2.15 versus 1.03, 95%CI 0.79 to 1.35, Phet 0.10; adjusted for density: IQ-OR  =  1.11, 95%CI 0.70 to 1.77 versus 0.76, 95%CI 0.55 to 1.05, Phet 0.21). Conclusions: MMTEXT is unlikely to be a useful imaging marker for invasive breast cancer risk assessment in women attending mammography screening. Future studies may benefit from a larger sample size to confirm this as well as developing and validating other measures of risk. This negative finding demonstrates the importance of external validation