SEARCHING FOR RATCHET EFFECTS IN AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTS

In a dynamic contracting environment, increasing standards over time in light of past performance is known as the ratchet effect. Despite the recent theoretical attention given to the ratchet effect, models that include these effects have not been empirically tested against contract data. In this study, we use farm-level data on modern Great Plains agricultural cash rent and cropshare contracts to test for the presence of ratchet effects in the context of a principal-agent model with moral hazard. We find limited evidence for the ratchet effect within share contracts, and no evidence that it is important for the choice of contract between cash rent and cropshare.Agribusiness,

The Flavor-locked Flavorful Two Higgs Doublet Model

We propose a new framework to generate the Standard Model (SM) quark flavor hierarchies in the context of two Higgs doublet models (2HDM). The `flavorful' 2HDM couples the SM-like Higgs doublet exclusively to the third quark generation, while the first two generations couple exclusively to an additional source of electroweak symmetry breaking, potentially generating striking collider signatures. We synthesize the flavorful 2HDM with the `flavor-locking' mechanism, that dynamically generates large quark mass hierarchies through a flavor-blind portal to distinct flavon and hierarchon sectors: Dynamical alignment of the flavons allows a unique hierarchon to control the respective quark masses. We further develop the theoretical construction of this mechanism, and show that in the context of a flavorful 2HDM-type setup, it can automatically achieve realistic flavor structures: The CKM matrix is automatically hierarchical with $|V_{cb}|$ and $|V_{ub}|$ generically of the observed size. Exotic contributions to meson oscillation observables may also be generated, that may accommodate current data mildly better than the SM itself.Comment: 34 pages, 2 tables, 2 figure

Superintendents\u27 perceptions of their instructional leadership in the Iowa Teacher Leadership and Compensation System (TLCS)

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine superintendent instructional leadership in the context of the Iowa Teacher Leadership and Compensation System (TLCS). The study included interviews of 15 Iowa superintendents who were involved in the application and initial implementation of the Iowa TLCS in their districts. Interviews were designed to collect superintendents’ perceptions related to three areas of their instructional leadership practice: (1) perceived opportunities of TLCS; (2) perceived challenges of TLCS; and (3) perceived influence of TLCS implementation on superintendents’ role as instructional leaders. The study utilized sensemaking as an analytical framework to examine how superintendents responded to events related to the TLCS implementation process. The research findings identified superintendents’ perceived opportunities to build cohesive district systems, develop individual and collective capacity of staff, and enhance district climate and culture. Superintendents identified challenges to meet the teacher leader participation requirements, define teacher leaders’ roles, and concerns for program sustainability. In the context of TLCS implementation, superintendents expressed a desire to engage in instructional leadership, but noted other job demands that prohibited them from doing so. They attempted to prioritize communication, empowering others, and personal engagement, and facilitating a vision for teaching and learning as part of TLCS implementation. This study found that perceptions resulting from personal engagement in the TLCS application and implementation process influenced how participants thought about and conceptualized instructional leadership in the superintendency

Economic Sources of Transcultural Conflict In Kansas City, Kansas

The article analyzes cultural clashes between the dominant WASP majority and a black minority culture in Kansas City, Kansas. A socio-anthropological methodology constructs the type of economic determinism developed by Marvin Harris and Henry G. Burger. Major conclusions drawn are: (1) that a large "cargo cult" exists within the minority black culture; (2) that conflicts between the cultures can be reduced if the minority culture can obtain a greater voice in decisions affecting its enculturative system and its peoples' economic future; (3) that federal works projects utilizing low-income labor can provide a major outlet for "cargo cult" tension, thereby reducing impingement with negative results; and (4) that the next stage in the dialectical process might well be a "constipated" stage exhibiting degrees of violence if the above two conditions are not acted upon.http://web.ku.edu/~starjrn

New precious metal compounds in cancer therapy

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-160).Cisplatin is one of the most effective cancer medications currently available. However, it is seriously limited by patient toxicity and drug resistance. As such, there is a real need for altemative treatments. Some compounds of gold(l) have been found to be biologically active in various contexts, including in killing cancer cells. The metal centres gold(lIl) and rhodium(lI) are isoelectronic to the platinum(ll) centre in cisplatin, and some of their compounds have been shown to have biological activity. The aims of this work were to prepare pyridinecontaining complexes of the three metal centres gold(I), gold(llI) and rhodium(I), and assess these complexes for in vitro anti-cancer activity. Phenyl pyridine and ferrocenylpyridine complexation was achieved with all three metal centres described above. With gold(I), either a chloride or pentafluorophenyl counter-anion was used. The rhodium(l) complexes contained 1,5-cyclooctadiene moieties linked to the metal centre via diene complexation, and a chloride counter-anion. Phenylpyridine complexes of gold(lIl) were achieved via standard reaction with tetrachloroaurate anion. However, the analogous ferrocenylpyridine complexes display unusually low stability and other unexpected physical properties, and are believed to be highly novel chlorobridged gold dimers. The 4-phenylpyridine complex of rhodium(l) was initially found to be active against cancer cells in vitro. It was, however, demonstrated that this activity was actually due to the breakdown product of this compound in DMSO. It was found that this breakdown product interacts with DNA, implying a similar mechanism of action to cisplatin. This is supported by the fact that a cisplatin-resistant cell line displays hjgh cross-resistance against this product. (4-Phenylpyridine)gold(l) (pentafluorophenyl) was also found to be extremely active against cell lines in vitr

Prototyping for Requirements Elicitation and Validation: A Participative Prototype Evaluation Methodology

Prototyping is widely recommended as an excellent mechanism for requirements elicitation and validation. However, few details are available on how prototypes should be used for this purpose, especially in a group environment. The goal of this research is to develop and evaluate a methodology for using prototyping to elicit and validate requirements from large user groups. An initial prototype evaluation methodology was developed, assessed during a pilot case study, and revised to support different evaluation phases and types. The revised participative prototype evaluation methodology provides a specific structure for each prototype evaluation phase with detailed methods and GroupSystems tools defined for each evaluation type. An overview of the face-to-face procedures by evaluation type is included in this paper

AMCIS 2002 Panels and Workshops IV: Principles of Effective E-Commerce Curriculum Development

The need to teach e-commerce (EC) is a significant issue for academia. Regardless of the downturn in dot.com startups, many organizations are still very much aware of the need for effective EC strategies and applications. In response to industry demand, some universities across the globe have launched EC programs. Others implemented EC electives at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. This paper presents suggestions for teaching EC. Findings from a study of EC offerings by the top fifty UK business schools are presented. A wide disparity exists across schools in terms of EC offerings, including a significant number of schools that do not offer EC modules or degrees. This paper offers and discusses the following recommendations on how to implement an EC curriculum effectively and economically in a business school: 1. EC should be taught throughout the business school curriculum as part of traditional classes followed by EC specialty classes and practicum courses. It is essential that multiple departments invest in offering EC curriculum. 2. Foundation classes should be taught before EC specialty classes. 3. EC survey courses should not be taught early in the curriculum because they are difficulty to staff and maintain. 4. EC classes should be a balance of each discipline\u27s fundamental principles, along with some newer EC theories and applications. 5. Principles taught in Information Systems classes can have broader application when patterns are taught that span many technologies instead of teaching only specific applications. 6. It is important to leverage alumni and industry volunteers to help provide EC lecture series and for input on EC curriculum and teaching