Reflecting on reflection: scale extension and a comparison of undergraduate business students in the United States and the United Kingdom

In the Peltier, Hay, and Drago (2005) article entitled “The Reflective Learning Continuum: Reflecting on Reflection,” a reflective learning continuum was conceptualized and tested. This is a follow-up article based on three extensions: (1) determine whether the continuum could be expanded, (2) further validating the continuum using additional schools, and (3) determining whether the continuum could also be applied to undergraduate business education. The findings from a study of U.S. and UK students show that the revised scale is valid and reliable and that U.S. students in the sample universities rated their educational experience higher and were more likely to use reflective thinking practices

The Drosophila DIAP1 protein is required to prevent accumulation of a continuously generated, processed form of the apical caspase DRONC

Although loss of the inhibitor of apoptosis (LAP) protein DIAP1 has been shown to result in caspase activation and spontaneous cell death in Drosophila cells and embryos, the point at which DIAP1 normally functions to inhibit caspase activation is unknown. Depletion of the DIAP1 protein in Drosophila S2 cells or the Sf-IAP protein in Spodoptera frugiperda Sf21 cells by RNA interference (RNAi) or cycloheximide treatment resulted in rapid and widespread caspase-dependent apoptosis. Co-silencing of dronc or dark largely suppressed this apoptosis, indicating that DIAP1 is normally required to inhibit an activity dependent on these proteins. Silencing of dronc also inhibited DRICE processing following stimulation of apoptosis, demonstrating that DRONC functions as an apical caspase in S2 cells. Silencing of diap1 or treatment with UV light induced DRONC processing, which occurred in two steps. The first step appeared to occur continuously even in the absence of an apoptotic signal and to be dependent on DARK because full-length DRONC accumulated when dark was silenced in non-apoptotic cells. In addition, treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 resulted in accumulation of this initially processed form of DRONC, but not full-length DRONC, in non-apoptotic cells. The second step in DRONC processing was observed only in apoptotic cells. These results indicate that the initial step in DRONC processing occurs continuously via a DARK-dependent mechanism in Drosophila cells and that DIAP1 is required to prevent excess accumulation of this first form of processed DRONC, presumably through its ability to act as a ubiquitin-protein ligase

Long-term health outcomes after exposure to repeated concussion in elite level: rugby union players

Background: There is continuing concern about effects of concussion in athletes, including risk of the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. However, information on long-term health and wellbeing in former athletes is limited. Method: Outcome after exposure to repeated brain injury was investigated in 52 retired male Scottish international rugby players (RIRP) and 29 male controls who were similar in age and social deprivation. Assessment included history of playing rugby and traumatic brain injury, general and mental health, life stress, concussion symptoms, cognitive function, disability and markers of chronic stress (allostatic load). Results: The estimated number of concussions in RIRP averaged 14 (median=7; IQR 5-40). Performance was poorer in RIRP than controls on a test of verbal learning (p=0.022) and of fine co-ordination of the dominant hand (p=0.038) and not significantly different on other cognitive tests (p>0.05). There were no significant associations between number of concussions and performance on cognitive tests. Other than a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease in controls, no group differences were detected in general or mental health or estimates of allostatic load. In RIRP, persisting symptoms attributed to concussion were more common if reporting more than nine concussions (p=0.028), although these symptoms were not perceived to affect social or work functioning. Conclusions: Despite a high number of concussions in RIRP, differences in mental health, social or work functioning were not found late after injury. Subtle group differences were detected on two cognitive tests, the cause of which is uncertain. Prospective group comparison studies on representative cohorts are required

A reporter for amyloid precursor protein γ-secretase activity in Drosophila

A key event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the deposition of senile plaques consisting largely of a peptide known as β-amyloid (Aβ) that is derived from the amyloid precursor protein (APP). A proteolytic activity called γ-secretase cleaves APP in the transmembrane domain and is required for Aβ generation. Aberrant γ-secretase cleavage of APP underlies the majority of early onset, familial AD. γ-Secretase resides in a large multi-protein complex, of which Presenilin, Nicastrin, APH-1 and PEN-2 are four essential components. Thus, identifying components and pathways by which the γ-secretase activity is regulated is crucial to understanding the mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis, and may provide new diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets. Here we describe the generation of Drosophila that act as living reporters of γ-secretase activity in the fly eye. In these reporter flies the size of the eye correlates with the level of endogenous γ-secretase activity, and is very sensitive to the levels of three genes required for APP γ-secretase activity, presenilin, nicastrin and aph-1. Thus, these flies provide a sensitized system with which to identify other components of the γ-secretase complex and regulators of its activity. We have used these flies to carry out a screen for mutations that suppress γ-secretase activity and have identified a small chromosomal region that contains a gene or genes whose products may promote γ-secretase activity

External Diseconomies in Competitive Supply: Comment

In a recent article in this Review, Charles Goetz and James Buchanan (G-B) assert that . . . the standard description of misallocation in the presence of external production diseconomies is misleading . . . because these externalities produce a . . . combination of exchange-inefficiency with production-inefficiency [which ] renders the construction of correction devices much more difficult (p. 889). Stated otherwise their contention is that with external diseconomies that are internal to an industry, i.e., those that each firm in an industry inflicts on other firms in the same industry, a competitive regime in the presence of a per unit tax on output designed to eliminate the difference between private and social marginal cost will not achieve a Pareto optimum. The competitive equilibrium even after the imposition of the corrective tax lies inside the production possibilities frontier. The purpose of this note is to suggest that the G-B analysis while technically correct is based on a set of assumptions that differs in a particular aspect from what we believe to be the assumptions of the neoclassical paradigm. Moreover within the framework of the neoclassical model we show the standard prescription regarding a corrective tax to be correct. As it turns out, the difference between the G-B model and the neoclassical model is likely to be negligible in any meaningful application but in any case we show that in the G-B model, a lump sum tax imposed on top of the standard Pigovian per-unit tax will restore full Pareto optimality

External Economies and Competitive Equilibrium

In an article published in 1955, Murray Kemp analyzed the case for interference with the competitive allocation of resources when external economies of production are present. In the specific model we are interested in—where the costs of any one producer\u27s operations are affected by the total output of all producers of the same product—Kemp attempted to show that where entry into the industry is closed (although the industry is otherwise perfectly competitive), there can always be found a subsidy, either on the product or on a particular factor, which will be a sufficient incentive to firms to produce an optimal output or to use an optimal quantity of each factor. However Kemp argues that where there is open entry, subsidies are rarely a sufficient remedy for the misallocation of resources resulting from external economies; in many cases found in reality, fiscal controls are impotent to restore an optimal allocation of resources. In the absence of far-reaching changes in the laws safeguarding property rights, the only possible solution [emphasis added] in those cases involves recourse to direct controls. We disagree with this conclusion and intend to show that for the kind of external economy discussed by Kemp, even in the case of open entry a simple Pigovian subsidy is sufficient to restore the economy to a Pareto-optimal position. (A similar conclusion applies to external diseconomies where a tax is the policy variable.

External Diseconomies in Competitive Supply: Comment

In a recent article in this Review, Charles Goetz and James Buchanan (G-B) assert that . . . the standard description of misallocation in the presence of external production diseconomies is misleading . . . because these externalities produce a . . . combination of exchange-inefficiency with production-inefficiency [which ] renders the construction of correction devices much more difficult (p. 889). Stated otherwise their contention is that with external diseconomies that are internal to an industry, i.e., those that each firm in an industry inflicts on other firms in the same industry, a competitive regime in the presence of a per unit tax on output designed to eliminate the difference between private and social marginal cost will not achieve a Pareto optimum. The competitive equilibrium even after the imposition of the corrective tax lies inside the production possibilities frontier. The purpose of this note is to suggest that the G-B analysis while technically correct is based on a set of assumptions that differs in a particular aspect from what we believe to be the assumptions of the neoclassical paradigm. Moreover within the framework of the neoclassical model we show the standard prescription regarding a corrective tax to be correct. As it turns out, the difference between the G-B model and the neoclassical model is likely to be negligible in any meaningful application but in any case we show that in the G-B model, a lump sum tax imposed on top of the standard Pigovian per-unit tax will restore full Pareto optimality

Horizontal Mergers: Law, Policy, and Economics

The legality of a horizontal merger under section 7 of the Clayton Act turns on a reckoning of its social costs and benefits. This paper reviews what economics has to say about that reckoning and explores the relationship between economic learning and merger law and policy

Horizontal Mergers: Law, Policy, and Economics

The legality of a horizontal merger under section 7 of the Clayton Act turns on a reckoning of its social costs and benefits. This paper reviews what economics has to say about that reckoning and explores the relationship between economic learning and merger law and policy