Correlation Versus Interchangeability: The Limited Robustness of Empirical Findings on Democracy Using Highly Correlated Data Sets

This article shows that highly correlated measures can producedifferent results. We identify a democratization model fromthe literature and test it in more than 120 countries from 1951to 1992. Then, we check whether the results are robust regardingmeasures of democracy, time periods, and levels of development.The findings show that measures do matter: Whereas some of thefindings are robust, most of them are not. This explains, inpart, why the debates on democracy have continued rather thanbeen resolved. More important, it underscores the need for morecareful use of measures and further testing to increase confidencein the findings. Scholars in comparative politics are drawnincreasingly to large-N statistical analyses, often using datasets collected by others. As in any field, we show how theymust be careful in choosing the most appropriate measures fortheir studies, without assuming that any correlated measurewill do.     

Potential Use in Forensics of a Novel Hybrid Gelatin—Dynamic Impact Assessment

Ballistic gelatin as simulant of the human body and organs is a support in forensics. After having obtained very good results for a new gelatin‐based composite in terms of physicochemical and rheological properties, this study focused on this material's mechanical behavior during stabbing and shooting versus bovine and porcine organs and standard ballistic gelatin. The hybrid gelatin has a predominantly elastic behavior at 23°C, whereas the elastic modulus becomes practically constant in the 10–0.1 Hz frequency range. In terms of stabbing behavior, the small variations obtained between porcine organs and surrogate are below 5%, the perforation indicating a good similarity. From the ballistic test results using 10 × 28T rubber balls, it has been seen that the hybrid ballistic gelatin conducts to more reliable and reproducible values of perforation/penetration versus standard gelatin, making from it a real candidate for use in forensic tests.