Peer Effects in Higher Education

In this chapter, we describe the potential significance of student peer effects for the economic structure of and behavior in higher education. Their existence would motivate much of the restricted supply, student queuing, and selectivity and institutional competition via merit aid and honors colleges that we see in American higher education; their (appropriate) non-linearity could justify the resulting stratification of higher education as an efficient way to produce human capital. In addition, we use data from the College and Beyond entering class of 1989, combined with phonebook data identifying roommates, to implement a quasi-experimental empirical strategy aimed at measuring peer effects in academic outcomes. In particular, we use data on individual students' grades, SAT scores, and the SAT scores of their roommates at three schools to estimate the effect of roommates' academic characteristics on an individual's grades. The results suggest that, for two of the three schools used, students in the middle of the SAT distribution do somewhat worse in terms of grades if they share a room with a student who is in the bottom 15 percent of the SAT distribution. Students in the top of the SAT distribution appear often not to be affected by the SAT scores of their roommates. These results are similar to those reported in earlier research using data from Williams (Zimmerman) and Dartmouth (Sacerdote).

Guardian Knight or Hands Off: The European Response to Network Neutrality. Legal considerations on the electronic communications reform

Network neutrality refers to a policy principle regarding access for online content and service providers to broadband infrastructures. It implies a general and ex ante obligation of non-discrimination for network operators when granting access to providers of online services, with the aim of excluding practices such as blocking access to non-affiliated content, degrading the quality of transmission, imposing unreasonable restrictions or prioritising affiliated content. Whether such obligation should be "cast in the Stone Tables" of the law was first fiercely debated in the United States, and the issue is now gaining increased attention in other parts of the world, including the European Union, where the regulatory framework for electronic communications is currently under review. This article examines whether existing rules already provide the relevant authorities with the necessary tools to take action against broadband providers illegitimately discriminating or blocking content of those who are not prepared to pay a "toll" for the use of higher speed networks or better quality services. It focuses in particular on the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services, including the reform proposals published by the European Commission on November 13th (type should be like 24th below) 2007 and the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 24th September 2008.network neutrality, regulation, electronic communications, reform proposals.

The FCC's Network Neutrality Ruling in the Comcast Case: Towards a Consensus with Europe?

In August 2008, the FCC found that Comcast's restrictions on peer-to-peer upload transmissions were unreasonably discriminatory, arbitrarily targeted a particular application, and deprived consumers of their rights to run Internet applications and use services of their choice. The Comcast ruling represents a significant change in the FCC's direction: given the FCC's past decisions that broadband Internet access services do not fall within the "common carrier" category, it is notable that the agency has now imposed nondiscrimination requirements on these services. This Article shows that the rationales articulated in the FCC's Comcast order, stressing both (i) concerns about protecting competition and (ii) concerns about protecting consumers from disruption of their ability to communicate freely and privately, are rooted in centuries of Anglo-American law defining he obligations of "common carriers." The FCC appears to be moving away from its traditional emphasis on the competition policy concerns, which justify asymmetrical regulation of dominant providers for the sake of enabling competition, and toward an emphasis on the consumer protection issues, which justify symmetrical regulation of all service providers regardless whether they have market power. These developments in the U.S. echo the discussion now going on in Europe in the context of the package of proposals on a new common regulatory framework for telecommunications, released by the European Commission on Nov. 13, 2007, and which is now being debated by the European Parliament and Council. On both sides of the Atlantic, a trend is emerging to permit network discrimination only if the discrimination is narrowly tailored to achieve legitimate objectives.network neutrality, discrimination, common carrier, network management, Comcast, European Directives.

Participation Standards in Mandatory Mediation Statutes: "You Can Lead A Horse to Water...."

Published in cooperation with the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolutio

Teaching the content and context of science: the effect of using historical narratives to teach the nature of science and science content in an undergraduate introductory geology course

This study reports the use of historically accurate narratives (short stories) to simultaneously teach geology content and the nature of science in an introductory, undergraduate geology course. The stories describe key events involved in the development of geologists\u27 ideas about continental drift/plate tectonics and deep time/the age of the Earth. The design of the stories provides a highly contextualized setting which is designed to promote NOS and geology understanding by explicitly attending students to fundamental concepts and requiring students to reflect on the short story content. Evidence is reported to support the conclusion that students using these short stories constructed a better understanding of (1) the variety of processes involved in the construction of scientific knowledge, (2) the subjective nature of data that allows it to be interpreted differently by different scientists, and (3) the roles that culture and society play in determining the way in which scientific work is conducted and scientific ideas are constructed, while maintaining equal levels of understanding of geology content when compared to students who did not use the short stories. In some cases, students\u27 preconceptions about objectivity in science, the degree to which scientific ideas can be considered as proven or true, and the role of discovery in science appear to have adversely affected their ability to interpret the short story content in the ways intended. In addition, students\u27 misconceptions about differences in how oceanic and continental plates were formed and geologists\u27 use of relative and absolute dating techniques, especially the appropriate uses of radio-isotopic dating, are described.;This study has implications for science instructors as they make efforts to efficiently use class time and curriculum resources to teach about the both the content and context of science and for geology instructors as they consider students\u27 misconceptions about plate tectonics and deep time. In addition, this study presents a method for addressing concerns about many students\u27 disinterest in science and the need to prepare a scientifically literate population

MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX (MHC) VS NON-MHC INFLUENCES ON RESPONSE TO RSV-INDUCED TUMORS IN CHICKENS

The MHC of the chicken (B complex) has been shown to exert a decisive influence on the fate of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-induced tumors. However, noninbred chickens with identical B genotypes and inbred lines indistinguishable at the MHC have demonstrated considerable variation in response to RSV challenge. The major objective of this research was to determine the cause of variation in anti-Rous sarcoma response observed among chickens with identical B genotypes. Chickens were evaluated for anti-tumor response following wingweb inoculation with RSV at six weeks of age. A comparison of anti-sarcoma responses of (15I-5 x 6-1)F1 versus (15I-5 x 7-2)F1 chickens revealed rapid regression among the (15I-5 x 6-1)F1\u27s and tumor progression among the (15I-5 x 7-2)F1\u27s. A three way cross between (15I-5 x 6-3)F1\u27s and line 7-2 produced B2/B2 and B2/B15 progeny. B2/B15 chickens from this cross, identical at the B complex to the (15I-5 x 7-2)F1 progressors, were characterized by tumor regression. Therefore a non-MHC influence associated with the line 7-2 background appeared to suppress anti-sarcoma response. Similar findings were obtained using F2 and backcross progeny of lines 100 and UNH 105, low response being associated with the line 100 background. Both lines 7-2 and 100 are susceptible to Marek\u27s disease (MD). Histological evidence for MD involvement was obtained from bursal sections of chickens that had died of progressive sarcoma growth. It is postulated that low anti-sarcoma response associated with MD susceptible lines may result from environmental exposure to MD and subsequent immunosuppression in spite of vaccination for MD at hatching. If low anti-sarcoma response associated with lines 100 and 7-2 is a result of immunosuppression by MD virus, then non-MHC genetic background would appear to be a strong factor influencing relative susceptibility to MD

What would increase the accessibility and desirability of college counseling services for music majors presenting with various mental health issues?

Based on the perceptions of 11 college counselors interviewed at 5 private universities and music conservatories throughout New England, this qualitative research study examined the accessibility and desirability of college counseling services for music majors presenting with mental health issues. Findings suggested that the desirability of college counseling services would increase if there were more outreach and advertisements toward music majors from counseling centers. Participants reported that more flexible hours and increase in staff to accommodate the unique needs of music majors would be the solution to improving accessibility. An unexpected finding in this study was reported instructor abuse of music majors. Further findings suggest the need to examine the culture of music programs and the relationships between music majors and their instructors. This study’s findings also provided implications for clinical practice and policy in college counseling centers

The USAR Company Command Handbook: A Study of Potential Benefit and Impact on Effective Performance by Army Reserve Leadership

This thesis will focus on a newly-created leadership manual and the likelihood of increased effectiveness in job performance and perceived benefit among company-level leaders in the United States Army Reserve who use it. In this thesis, this handbook or leaders\u27 manual - which summarizes and highlights applicable military regulations, policies, guidances and code as well as provides helpful hints for the company commander - was reviewed by subject matter experts who rated the manual on the basis of accuracy, utility and potential for use among Army Reserve leadership. Specifically, it was hypothesized that these experts would view the handbook as well-written, useful, and likely to be used. The history of military leadership has shown that it is difficult to clearly define specific physical or psychological leadership traits. The supporting evidence, both in specific cases of individuals in particular situations, as well as in research by social scientists, shows that effective leadership at its roots is, most simply, individuals acting logically, boldly and effectively under situational specific circumstances. To transfer this background knowledge of military leadership to a more defined environment - company-level leadership in a U. S. Army Reserve unit -- requires looking past the current leader development paradigm of institutional learning, increasingly challenging operational assignments, and a system of self-development. This current model bas been shown to have been inadequate to the challenges of leadership in the Army Reserve as shown in the alarmingly high annual personnel attrition rates, particularly among the junior enlisted soldier, and in the lack of readiness to go to war among units who are, in theory, supposed to be among the first to mobilize. In this study, five subject matter experts - current USAR officers who have served or currently serve in a company-level leadership position - were given this newly-created USAR Company Commander\u27s Handbook. They were requested to critically review this handbook and then complete a survey which solicited their views on the handbook, both objectively and subjectively. The survey used a classic five-point Likert scale, as well as a comments\u27\u27 section after each question and each major portion of the survey. Results of the surveys completed by the subject matter ex pens showed that the USAR Company Commander\u27s Handbook was well received. These raters\u27 evaluations showed that they viewed the handbook as being effective, and therefore likely to be used by both new and experienced company-level commanders

Long read. A complex tapestry of collusion and cooperation: Afghanistan and Pakistan’s terrorism networks

On 12 May 2020 three gunmen stormed the Dasht-e-Barchi hospital in Kabul killing many inside. Here Sajjan M. Gohel (Asia-Pacific Foundation, London and Visiting Teacher, LSE) and David Winston (Asia-Pacific Foundation, London) analyse the terrorist hydra network that plotted the attack and how the complex web of terrorist groups form part of a wider grouping within Pakistan and across South Asia, a grouping that could derail peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban

EVALUATING OPTIMAL PRODUCT MIX USING DYNAMIC SIMULATION: A TOMATO PROCESSING CASE

Technology-driven change is everywhere and value-capture from new technology is challenging for business managers. Also rival firms may use technology as part of major success strategies. This situation leads managers to be keenly interested in evaluation of alternative technologies prior to making a sunk investment in physical facilities. In contemplating new or added-capacity processing facilities, managers and investors must evaluate return on investment (ROI). Evaluation of ROI is complex because it varies by alternative technology and the resultant potential product mix alternatives associated with that technology at the time the investment capital is committed to build the processing plant. This research examines optimal alternative product mix from a processing plant technology that is fixed at the time of commitment to building or adding capacity. Evaluating the optimal product mix is of vital concern in any start-up processing environment. In this research the optimal product mix is evaluated by using a sophisticated evaluative tool known as PowerSim. This economic simulation software is used to model a start-up tomato processing plant in Ohio. The model evaluates the effects of various output, or tomato product mix, on plant profitability measured by ROI. Results indicate that an increase in plant profitability is expected when the tomato product mix consists of products that have a lower soluble solids concentration. The lower the soluble solids concentration of a tomato product, the less the processor will benefit from tomato varieties with high soluble solids. The processing operation achieves a RIO of 26.5 percent when the plant'Â’s product mix is 50 percent tomato paste (31 degrees brix) and 50 percent diced tomatoes. This product mix optimizes processor net income and realizes a plant return on equity of 50.6 percent.Agribusiness,