Decoherence and definite outcomes

This thesis has three aims: (1) to clarify in detail the relation between the decoherence mechanism and the problem of definite outcomes, (2) to dispel common misconceptions about the measurement problem in quantum mechanics, and (3) to present some recent alternative approaches in the quest for a satisfactory solution of the definite outcomes problem.Comment: 102 pages, in English. Thesis work for the "Laura Magistrale Interfacolt\`a in Logica, Filosofia e Storia della Scienza" at Universit\`a degli studi di Firenze. Supervisors: Prof. Roberto Casalbuoni and Prof. Elena Castellan

Fair Inference On Outcomes

In this paper, we consider the problem of fair statistical inference involving outcome variables. Examples include classification and regression problems, and estimating treatment effects in randomized trials or observational data. The issue of fairness arises in such problems where some covariates or treatments are "sensitive," in the sense of having potential of creating discrimination. In this paper, we argue that the presence of discrimination can be formalized in a sensible way as the presence of an effect of a sensitive covariate on the outcome along certain causal pathways, a view which generalizes (Pearl, 2009). A fair outcome model can then be learned by solving a constrained optimization problem. We discuss a number of complications that arise in classical statistical inference due to this view and provide workarounds based on recent work in causal and semi-parametric inference

Effective Student Outcomes Assessment Plan Reform Strong Undergraduate Curriculum Plan

The undergraduate curriculum committee from the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering at Texas Tech University has made significant modifications that were determined by a systematic student outcomes assessment plan. This paper shows how the department assessment plan facilitated continuous actions of improvement and ultimately provides an example of how a strong undergraduate curriculum plan was constructed. The paper highlights the details of the department assessment plan, such as how ABET student outcomes are mapped to department undergraduate courses, what assessment tools were used, when data were gathered and evaluated, and how the analysis of data was utilized to implement actions of improvement. Finally, the paper provides two examples of significant actions of improvement, made based on the department assessment and evaluation plan.Cockrell School of Engineerin

Pathways of the determinants of unfavourable birth outcomes in Kenya

This paper explores the pathways of the determinants of unfavourable birth outcomes, such as premature birth, the size of the baby at birth, and Caesarean section deliveries in Kenya, using graphical loglinear chain models. The results show that a number of factors which do not have direct associations with unfavourable birth outcomes contribute to these outcomes indirectly through intermediate factors. Marital status, the desirability of a pregnancy, the use of family planning, and access to health facilities have no direct associations with poor birth outcomes, such as premature births and the small size of the baby at birth, but are linked to these outcomes through antenatal care. Antenatal care is identified as a central link between various socio- demographic or reproductive factors and birth outcomes

Costs, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of ovc interventions

This item is archived in the repository for materials published for the USAID supported Orphans and Vulnerable Children Comprehensive Action Research Project (OVC-CARE) at the Boston University Center for Global Health and Development.More than 1 out of every 10 children in sub-Saharan Africa and 1 out of 15 in Asia are orphans. A significant proportion of these children in sub-Saharan Africa were orphaned because one or both parents died from AIDS. Large numbers of other children are vulnerable to becoming orphans because one or both parents are HIV-infected. In response to the needs to children who are orphaned or made more vulnerable because of HIV/AIDS, the U.S. government through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) spent about $1 billion during 2006-2008 on activities to improve the wellbeing of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). Through the Reauthorization Act of 2008 [1], significant sums will continue to be allocated to OVC programs between 2009 and 2013. Given the past and continuing magnitude of the U.S. public’s investment in PEPFAR-funded OVC programs, combined with several years of implementation experience, this report reviews existing literature addressing the costs, the impacts/outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of OVC programs/interventions.The USAID | Project SEARCH, Orphans and Vulnerable Children Comprehensive Action Research (OVC-CARE) Task Order, is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development under Contract No. GHH-I-00-07-00023-00, beginning August 1, 2008. OVC-CARE Task Order is implemented by Boston University. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding agency