Optimal Pricing and Quality of Academic Journals and the Ambiguous Welfare Effects of Forced Open Access: A Two-sided Model

We analyse optimal pricing and quality of a monopolistic journal and the optimality of open access in a two-sided model. The predominant aspect of the model that determines the quality levels at which open access is optimal is the nature of the (non-linear) externalities between readers and authors in a journal. We show that there exist scenarios in which open access is a feature of high-quality journals. Besides, we find that the removal of copyright (and thus forced open access) will likely increase both readership and authorship, will decrease journal profits, and may increase social welfare

Copyright and Open Access for Academic Works

In a recent paper, Prof. Steven Shavell (see Shavell, 2009) has argued strongly in favor of eliminating copyright from academic works. Based upon solid economic arguments, Shavell analyses the pros and cons of removal of copyright and in its place to have a pure open access system, in which authors (or more likely their employers) would provide the funds that keep journals in business. In this paper we explore some of the arguments in Shavell’s paper, above all the way in which the distribution of the sources of journal revenue would be altered, and the feasible effects upon the quality of journal content. We propose a slight modification to a pure open access system which may provide for the best of both the copyright and open access worlds.Open Access, Academic Works, Effects of Removal of Copyrights

The utility of perceived community efficacy in emergency preparedness

The present study adopts a mixed methods approach, integrating data from qualitative and quantitative studies, to examine the utility of perceived community efficacy in measuring a community’s collective beliefs towards undertaking preparedness measures. Previous research indicated that social cognitive theory and the construct of collective efficacy were important in understanding behaviours that contributed to the achievement of goals. Although research studies had employed the construct of perceived community efficacy to investigate problems, none had focused on community beliefs and actions regarding emergency preparedness. The qualitative study used 20 semi-structured interviews to elicit detailed information on beliefs about collective community activities. Both inductive and deductive approaches were used to develop an a priori model. Three individual constructs taken from community based research domains; community network structure, social capital and community capacity were integrated to form a composite model that was used to investigate how social and community aspects influence beliefs and behaviours of residents. The model was used as a guide for the thematic analysis of the transcripts and the construction of an item pool consisting of 40 items to be used in a quantitative study. The quantitative study involved over 500 respondents who resided within flood risk zones. The data from this study were used in the instrumentation of the model. Exploratory factor analysis was used to explore factorability and hierarchical regression would be used to explore relationships between variables. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine goodness of fit. The major finding of the qualitative study was the participants’ collective belief that their respective communities would engage in preparedness activities. The quantitative study supported the main findings of the qualitative study. The contribution of this model to community based theory has been to generate new knowledge on how the constructs of community network structure, social capital and community capacity act collectively to influence a residents’ beliefs and actions. A measurement scale was developed to elicit new knowledge regarding perceived community efficacy as a predictor of the likelihood of a community in undertaking preparedness measures in an emergency. Being able to predict likely future performance or behaviours is key to understanding whether or not a community might protect themselves in the future against an imminent natural hazard or disaster. The research has established the application of social cognitive theory in disaster and emergency research and extends the current body of knowledge on community preparedness research. The results, implications for the profession and future research are discussed

The utility of perceived community efficacy in emergency preparedness

The present study adopts a mixed methods approach, integrating data from qualitative and quantitative studies, to examine the utility of perceived community efficacy in measuring a community’s collective beliefs towards undertaking preparedness measures. Previous research indicated that social cognitive theory and the construct of collective efficacy were important in understanding behaviours that contributed to the achievement of goals. Although research studies had employed the construct of perceived community efficacy to investigate problems, none had focused on community beliefs and actions regarding emergency preparedness. The qualitative study used 20 semi-structured interviews to elicit detailed information on beliefs about collective community activities. Both inductive and deductive approaches were used to develop an a priori model. Three individual constructs taken from community based research domains; community network structure, social capital and community capacity were integrated to form a composite model that was used to investigate how social and community aspects influence beliefs and behaviours of residents. The model was used as a guide for the thematic analysis of the transcripts and the construction of an item pool consisting of 40 items to be used in a quantitative study. The quantitative study involved over 500 respondents who resided within flood risk zones. The data from this study were used in the instrumentation of the model. Exploratory factor analysis was used to explore factorability and hierarchical regression would be used to explore relationships between variables. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine goodness of fit. The major finding of the qualitative study was the participants’ collective belief that their respective communities would engage in preparedness activities. The quantitative study supported the main findings of the qualitative study. The contribution of this model to community based theory has been to generate new knowledge on how the constructs of community network structure, social capital and community capacity act collectively to influence a residents’ beliefs and actions. A measurement scale was developed to elicit new knowledge regarding perceived community efficacy as a predictor of the likelihood of a community in undertaking preparedness measures in an emergency. Being able to predict likely future performance or behaviours is key to understanding whether or not a community might protect themselves in the future against an imminent natural hazard or disaster. The research has established the application of social cognitive theory in disaster and emergency research and extends the current body of knowledge on community preparedness research. The results, implications for the profession and future research are discussed

Analysis of outer membrane vesicle associated proteins isolated from the plant pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris

Sidhu VK, Vorhölter F-J, Niehaus K, Watt SA. Analysis of outer membrane vesicle associated proteins isolated from the plant pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. BMC Microbiology. 2008;8(1):87.Background: Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are released from the outer membrane of many Gram-negative bacteria. These extracellular compartments are known to transport compounds involved in cell-cell signalling as well as virulence associated proteins, e. g. the cytolysine from enterotoxic E. coli. Results: We have demonstrated that Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) releases OMVs into the culture supernatant during growth. A proteome study identified 31 different proteins that associate with the OMV fraction of which half are virulence-associated. A comparison with the most abundant outer membrane ( OM) proteins revealed that some proteins are enriched in the OMV fraction. This may be connected to differences in the LPS composition between the OMVs and the OM. Furthermore, a comparison of the OMV proteomes from two different culture media indicated that the culture conditions have an impact on the protein composition. Interestingly, the proteins that are common to both culture conditions are mainly involved in virulence. Conclusion: Outer membrane vesicles released from the OM of Xcc contain membrane- and virulence-associated proteins. Future experiments will prove whether these structures can serve as "vehicles" for the transport of virulence factors into the host membrane

The Hybrid Open Access Citation Advantage: How Many More Cites is a $3,000 Fee Buying You?

We study the hybrid open access (HOA) citation effect. Under HOA Pilot agreements, HOA is assigned for all articles of eligible authors. We use unique data on 208 (1,121) HOA (closed access) economics articles. We control for the quality of journals, articles and institutions and citations to RePec pre-prints. Performing Poisson quasi-maximum likelihood regressions, HOA turns out to be a significant predictor of citations with marginal effects ranging between 22% and 26%. However, once we additionally control for institution quality and citations to RePEc pre-prints, the marginal HOA citation advantage turns out to insignificant and drops to 0.4%

Use of Microzonation to Site Facility on Low Angle Thrust and Associated Fault Bend Folding

The campus of the College of the Redwoods is located completely within the Little Salmon Fault Zone, designated by the State of California as an active fault. The College has been extensively investigated for fault rupture and other seismic hazards in 1989, 1993, 1997, 1998, and 1999. The Little Salmon Fault Zone bounds the College and consists of two main northwest-striking, northeastdipping, low-angle thrusts. The west splay daylights along the southwest edge of the campus and projects beneath it. A recurrence interval of 268 years and slip rate of 5+/-3 mm/yr is estimated by CDMG. Individual dip-slip displacements along the west trace are reported to be 12 to 15 feet (3.6 to 4.5 m). Movement on the Little Salmon fault (LSF) is accompanied by growth of broad asymmetric folds in the upper thrust sheet resulting in surface rupture, localized uplift and discreet fault-bend fold axial surfaces. College of the Redwoods is located approximately 8 miles (13 km) south of Eureka and 25 miles (40 km) north-northeast of Cape Mendocino and the Mendocino Triple Junction (MTJ) in northern California. The \u27MTJ is the point of transition fi-om strike-slip faulting of the San Andreas transform system to low-angle thrust faulting and folding associated with the convergent margin of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Campus infrastructure is located along the base of the Humboldt Hill Anticline (HHA), a major faultbend fold of the Cascadia fold and thrust belt. A new learning resource center (LRC) is proposed for a location 400 feet (120 m) northeast of where the west trace of the LSF daylights and 200 feet (60 m) above the low-angle fault plane. Building setback and design recommendations to mitigate for both fault rupture hazards and fault-generated folding hazards are presented

International approaches to protecting and retaining trees on private urban land

Most studies of urban forest management look at vegetation on public land. Yet, to meet ambitious urban forest targets, cities must attempt to maintain or increase trees and canopy cover on private urban land too. In this study, we review and evaluate international approaches to protecting and retaining trees on private urban land. Our study combines a systematic academic literature review, two empirical social science studies on the views of urban forest professionals, and a global case study review of innovative regulations and incentives aimed at protecting and retaining trees on private urban land. Case studies were evaluated for the extent they exceeded minimum standards or went beyond ?business-as-usual?. We found that the most innovative mechanisms combine many regulations, instead of relying on a single regulation, and use financial incentives to retain or plant trees in newly developed or re-developed sites, as well as private residences. We did not find any cases where appropriate monitoring was in place to determine the efficacy and efficiency of these mechanisms. We also found no single simple solution that could effectively and efficiently protect and retain trees on private land. Only by combining policies, planning schemes, local laws, and financial incentives with community engagement and stewardship will cities protect and retain trees on private land. Useful and innovative ways to protecting and retaining trees on private land involves providing solutions at multiple governments levels, embedding trees in existing strategic policy and management solutions, incentivising positive behavior, creating regulations that require payment up front, and engaging the broader community in private tree stewardship.Peer reviewe