Final Regression Results on the Cognitive Achievement of Children in the Christchurch Health and Development Study with Corrections for Attrition from this Longitudinal Study

Econometric analyses of the cognitive development of children have been hampered by data limitations and a variety of methodological and specification issues. Structural models allow for complex causal relationships between child achievement and inputs from parents, schools and communities, but these effects are difficult to isolate. Even reduced-form models suffer from both omitted-variable (e.g., unobserved family and community investments) and simultaneous-equation bias (e.g., endogenous private schooling and class size). The use of panel data offers the best non-experimental solution to these estimation issues. With multiple observations on test performance of children between the ages of 8 and 13 in the Christchurch Health and Development Study, we are able to hold constant individual- specific, time-invariant factors that influence cognitive achievement. These data permit several insights into the dynamic nature of this cognitive achievement process. We cannot reject the null hypothesis that the lagged dependent variable serves as a “sufficient statistic” for all past determinants of cognitive achievement. This provides the first statistical justification for the “value-added approach” recommended of Hanushek (1986), and actually diminishes the need for these longer longitudinal studies. Procedures are developed for testing for the presence of unobserved fixed-effects in this cognitive development process, and correcting for the effects of attrition from this panel. No evidence is found that the value-added to cognitive achievement is influenced by the number of parents in the family, the work status of the mother, the benefit status of the family, the income of the family and the type of school attended. Evidence is also found of a positive effect of class size on cognitive development. Our interpretation is that class size is endogenous, and the causality may be reversed (i.e., children with poor reading performances are intentionally placed in smaller classes). Yet, no evidence is found of the hypothesised negative effect of class size on cognitive achievement with an anti- instrumental-variable approach.

Empathy and Affect: what can empathied bodies do?

While there has been much interest in the apparent benefits of empathy in improving outcomes of medical care, there is continuing concern over the philosophical nature of empathy. We suggest that part of the difficulty in coming-to-terms with empathy is due to the modernist dichotomies that have structured Western medical discourse, such that doctor and patient, knower and known, cognitive and emotional, subject and object, are situated in oppositional terms, with the result that such accounts cannot coherently encompass an emotional doctor, or a patient as knower, or empathy as other than a possession or a trait. This paper explores what, by contrast, a radical critique of the Cartesian worldview, in the form of a Deleuzian theoretical framework, would open up in new perspectives on empathy. We extend the framework of emotional geography to ask what happens when people are affected by empathy. We suggest that doctors and patients might be more productively understood as embodied subjects that are configured in their capacities by how they are affected by singular ‘events’ of empathy. We sketch out how the Deleuzean framework would make sense of these contention and identify some possible implications for medical education and practice

Role of Satvavajaya Chikitsa in Grahani Roga with special reference to Irritable Bowel Syndrome

According to Charaka Samhita, the Chikitsa is divided into three. Daivavyapashraya, Yuktivyapashraya and Satvavajaya. Here Satvavajaya represents uplifting the Satva Guna of Manas, which helps to overcome the psychological illness a person is going through. Even though Grahani Roga is not a Manasika Vyadhi the results are proving that Satvavajaya Chikitsa is needed in Sharirika Vyadis too. Grahani Roga can be correlated to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) where the psychological state of an individual plays a major role in prognosis of treatment. By approaching pharmacological treatment alone the individual may not recover fully and chances of reoccurrence is very high. Since Ayurveda treats the Rogi as a whole entity the mental state of a person is taken into consider before treatment. Population based studies estimate the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome is 10-20% per year. Considering the increasing rate gastrointestinal disease across the world treatment approach through Ayurveda is need of the time

The Paradox of Leading from the Middle

LAI Annual Meeting presentation, Break Out Sessions 1 & 2, Dana Point, Californi

WA soil erosion under investigation

A survey of soil erosion at 70 sites throughout Western Australia, recently completed as a part of a National Reconnaissance Survey, has shown that erosion is occurring at an unsustainable rate. While still to be compiled into a national publication, Dr Richard George reports on the Western Australian results, and discusses options for management and further investigation

Strategy Alignment & Deployment through Enterprise Change Capabilities

DoD CPI Symposium presentatio

Management of Shakhasrita Kamala as Pre-Hepatic Jaundice

Kamala is a Pittajananatmaja and Raktapradoshaja Vyadhi, where the skin, eye and mucous membrane take yellowish discoloration. It can be correlated with jaundice according to its resemblance in signs and symptoms. Shakhasrita Kamala is considered as Rudhapada Kamala or Vatakapha Pradhana. The line of management adopted in this condition is Kaphahara Chikitsa and Shamanaushadi thus removing the Margavarana. This can be correlated to prehepatic jaundice, which arises from the blood before enters the liver. This can be understood by assessing the blood investigation and other imaging studies. The line of treatment can be decided by analyzing the investigation and clinical findings