Teaching Econometrics Using Formative Assessment

This article studies the effectiveness of formative assessment techniques for an econometrics course. A large scale project with extensive formative assessment was included in the course, incorporating both summative and formative assessment. The specific assignment is for students to learn all steps to turn raw data obtained from the Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) using the statistical software SPSS into a viable thesis that is worthy of undergraduate conference presentations and publications. Learning gains from implementation of this project using extensive formative assessment are measured by changes in student course grades.undergraduate economics education, teaching of economics

Teaching Econometrics Using Formative Assessment

This article studies the effectiveness of formative assessment techniques for an econometrics course. A large scale project with extensive formative assessment was included in the course, incorporating both summative and formative assessment.  The specific assignment is for students to learn all steps to turn raw data obtained from the Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) using the statistical software SPSS into a viable thesis that is worthy of undergraduate conference presentations and publications. Learning gains from implementation of this project using extensive formative assessment are measured by changes in student course grades

Synthesis, spectral, electrochemical and magnetic properties of new asymmetric dicopper(II) complexes bearing chemically distinct coordination sites

Two new unsymmetrical binucleating ligands, 2-[bis(3- N, N -dimethylaminopropyl)-aminomethyl]-6-[prolin-1-yl)methyl]-4-bromophenol [H 2 L 1 ] and 2-[bis(3- N, N -dimethylaminopropyl)aminomethyl]-6-[prolin-1-yl)methyl]-4-methylphenol [H 2 L 2 ], and their dicopper(II) complexes with different exogenous bridging motifs (OAc, Br and Cl) have been prepared and characterized by spectral, electrochemical, magnetic and e.p.r. studies. Electrochemical studies indicate the presence of two irreversible reduction peaks in the cathodic region. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility studies of the complexes show that the extent of antiferromagnetic coupling increases in the order: OAc − < Cl − < Br − . Broad isotropic or axial symmetric spectral features are observed in powder e.p.r. spectra of the complexes at 77 K. A comparison of the electrochemical and magnetic behaviour of the complexes derived from the ligands is discussed on the basis of an exogenous bridge as well as the substituent at the para position of the phenolic ring.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43855/1/11243_2004_Article_5272793.pd

Smes (Something More for Every One)

"Good things in Life begin small.................... SMEs (Something More for Everyone)" The small businesses in India are big nowadays. The small and medium enterprises (SME) sector in India is undergoing a 'Big Transformation' riding on the government's recognition of its significance, in terms of its contribution to the GDP and its huge potential for employment generation. A significant observation indicates that during the last 14 years of a liberalized regime, the country has seen phenomenal growth in the SME sector. Developing and venturing into the new products, diversifying their businesses and services by adopting new technical skills and thereby improving productivity has been the overall action plan for this ever multiplying closet. Over the years, the SSI sector in India has continued to remain an important sector of the economy with its noteworthy contribution to the gross domestic product, industrial production, employment generation and exports. As per the Third All India Census of SSIs (2001-02), there were 10.52 million SSI units in the country, of which 1.37 were registered and 9.15 unregistered units. For the year March 2004, the said number increased to 11.52 million, providing employment to 27.40 million persons and contributing an output of over Rs.3, 480 billion in FY2004. As a result of globalization coupled with the WTO regime, Indian SMEs are beginning to show a sign of steady transformation with the industry undergoing a sweeping change in its entirety.The SME sector in India is highly hetero geneous comprising of tiny unorganized enterprises to modern and more organized factories at the higher end of the spectrum. The rapidly increasing globalization of the Indian economy has been providing enormous opportunities for the small and medium enterprises in India to enhance their business. This paper attempts to find how SMEs could capitalize on such opportunities and the need to grapple with fierce competitionino verseas markets increasingly, which is becoming more challenging with realignment and coming together of global markets after liberalization

Platelet Rich Fibrin in double lateral sliding bridge flap procedure for gingival recession coverage: An original study

Background: Gingival recession is a common occurrence in periodontal disease leading to an unaesthetic appearance of the gingiva. The effect of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), when used along with double lateral sliding bridge flap (DLSBF), remains unknown. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of PRF in conjunction with DLSBF for multiple gingival recessions. Materials and Methods: Twenty systemically healthy individuals exhibiting Grade II gingival recession on their mandibular central incisors were recruited in this study. These patients were randomly assigned into two groups: DLSBF and PRF + DLSBF. The clinical parameters that were evaluated in this study were gingiva recession height, gingiva recession width, width of keratinized gingiva, clinical attachment level, and probing depth. PRF was procured from the patient's blood at the time of the surgery and used for the procedure. The follow-up was performed at 12 and 24 weeks postsurgery. Results: Statistically significant difference was observed between the clinical parameters at baseline and 12 and 24 weeks within the groups. There was no statistically significant difference, between the groups. Mean root coverage (RC) was 80% ±29.1% in the DLSBF group and 78.8% ±37.6% in the DLSBF + PRF group with no statistically significant difference. Conclusion: From the results obtained in this study, the addition of PRF to DLSBF gives no additional benefits to the clinical parameters measured in RC

Protective effect of proanthocyanidins on endotoxin induced experimental periodontitis in rats

133-142The pathogenesis of periodontitis involves anaerobic oral bacteria as well as the host response to infection and several drugs have been developed which can curtail these deleterious effects. Proanthocyanidin, a novel flavanoid extracted from grape seeds, has been shown to provide a significant therapeutic effect on endotoxin (Escherichia coli) induced experimental periodontitis in rats. In this study, protective action of different doses of proanthocyanidins was investigated in blood by assaying the reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, myeloperoxidase and lipid peroxides, lysosomal enzyme activities such as cathepsin B, cathepsin D, β-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase, nonenzymatic antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, -tocopherol, ceruloplasmin, reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-s-transferase. Experimental periodontitis rats showed a reduction in body weight and body weight gain could be noticed when they were administered proanthocyanidins. The levels of reactive oxygen species and lysosomal enzymes were found to increase whereas antioxidant levels were decreased significantly in experimental periodontitis. Proanthocyanidins at an effective dose of 30mg / kg body weight, sc, for 30 days effected a decrease in serum reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxides, lysosomal enzymes, acute phase proteins and an increase in antioxidant levels. Histopathological evidence of experimental periodontitis showed cellular infiltration of inflammatory cells while proanthocyanidin treated groups demonstrated only scattered inflammatory cells and blood vessels. Thus, the results showed that dietary supplementation of proanthocyanidin enhanced the host resistance as well as the inhibition of the biological and mechanical irritants involved in the onset of gingivitis and the progression of periodontal disease

Treatment of gingival recession by coronally advanced flap in conjunction with platelet-rich fibrin or resin-modified glass-ionomer restoration: A clinical study

Aims: The aim of this study is to compare the outcome of coronally advanced flap (CAF) along with the use of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) versus CAF in conjunction with a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (RmGIC) for the management of Millers Class I and Class II gingival recession coupled with noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs). Materials and Methods: Single and multiple Miller's Class I and Class II gingival recessions were chosen for the study. Twenty participants with total of 78 sites associated with NCCL bilaterally in the anterior and premolar region of maxilla were selected. Thirty-nine sites were treated with CAF and PRF and the remaining 39 sites were treated with CAF and RmGIC. Clinical parameters such as probing pocket depth, relative gingival recession, relative clinical attachment level, NCCL height, NCCL width, width of keratinized tissue, and keratinized tissue thickness were measured at baseline, 90th, and 180th day in both the groups. The presence or absence of dentin sensitivity (DS) was determined at baseline and 180th day. Results: Both the groups showed optimal root coverage, with statistical significant difference in thickness of keratinized gingiva in Group I when compared to Group II from baseline to 90th day and from baseline to 180th day and also from 90th to 180th day. On comparing the DS between Group I and Group II from baseline to 180th day, Group II showed greater reduction in dentinal hypersensitivity as compared to Group I. Conclusion: The use of PRF along with CAF showed increased thickness of the keratinized tissue and the utilization of RmGIC resulted in decreased DS. Hence, the combination of CAF and PRF or CAF and RmGIC could provide a better treatment option in the management of gingival recession that is of esthetic concern

Trends in antibiotic resistance in bacterial keratitis isolates from South India

AimsTo report trends in antibiotic resistance in cases of bacterial keratitis from a large eye hospital in South India.MethodsIn this retrospective cross-sectional study, the microbiology laboratory records of patients with infectious keratitis diagnosed at an eye hospital in South India from 2002 to 2013 were reviewed to determine the proportion with antibiotic non-susceptibility.Results3685 bacterial isolates had susceptibility testing performed over the 12-year period. The two most common organisms with resistance were Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=1204) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=894). Antibiotic non-susceptibility was generally uncommon for these two organisms and no significant trends were detected over the course of the study. In contrast, Staphylococcus aureus (N=211) isolates demonstrated a significant increase in fluoroquinolone non-susceptibility over the 12-year study period. This coincided with a significant increase in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) during the study period, though the increase in fluoroquinolone resistance was likewise seen in methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA). For example, ofloxacin resistance in MSSA increased from 11.1% in 2002 to 66.7% in 2013 (p=0.002). No trends were apparent for the aminoglycosides, cefazolin or vancomycin, for which in vitro non-susceptibility generally appeared to be low.ConclusionResistance to antibiotics was generally stable for infectious keratitis isolates from a large eye hospital in South India, except for S. aureus, which experienced a significant increase in fluoroquinolone resistance from 2002 to 2013. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics currently have poor in vitro activity against both MRSA and MSSA in South India and are therefore not the ideal therapy for Staphylococcal corneal ulcers