Struggling and juggling: a comparison of assessment loads in research and teaching-intensive universities

In spite of the rising tide of metrics in UK higher education, there has been scant attention paid to assessment loads, when evidence demonstrates that heavy demands lead to surface learning. Our study seeks to redress the situation by defining assessment loads and comparing them across research-and teaching intensive universities. We clarify the concept of ‘assessment load’ in response to findings about high volumes of summative assessment on modular degrees. We define assessment load across whole undergraduate degrees, according to four measures: the volume of summative assessment; volume of formative assessment; proportion of examinations to coursework; number of different varieties of assessment. All four factors contribute to the weight of an assessment load, and influence students’ approaches to learning. Our research compares programme assessment data from 73 programmes in 14 UK universities, across two institutional categories. Research-intensives have higher summative assessment loads and a greater proportion of examinations; teaching-intensives have higher varieties of assessment. Formative assessment does not differ significantly across both university groups. These findings pose particular challenges for students in different parts of the sector. Our study questions the wisdom that ‘more’ is always better, proposing that lighter assessment loads may make room for ‘slow’ and deep learning

Examining the interaction between vertical and horizontal dimensions of state transformation

Two dimensions of state transformation often analysed separately can be identified as vertical authority shifts between different levels of government and horizontal authority transfers between state and non-state domains. This article firstly reviews three existing approaches that highlight links between vertical and horizontal state transformation: multi-level governance, policy networks and sections of the rescaling literature. However, these approaches do not yet provide a framework sufficient to enable a more thorough and detailed examination of the relationship between these two dimensions. The article thus proceeds to develop a multifaceted framework in order to facilitate further research into this relationship, a necessity if we are to understand more fully whether vertical and horizontal authority shifts complement or contradict one another within the transformation of the state's role in governing society and economy

From governance to meta-governance in tourism?: Re-incorporating politics,interests and values in the analysis of tourism governance

Despite its theorization in the political and policy sciences in the early 1990s, the concept of metagovernance has gained relatively little recognition in tourism studies. Nevertheless, its significance in the political sciences and policy literature, especially as a result of the perceived failure of governance systems following the recent global financial crisis, has only served to reinforce its relevance. Metagovernance addresses some of the perceived failures of traditional governance approaches and associated interventions, and has enabled the understanding of central-state led regimes of shadowed hierarchical authorities and local-level micro-practices of social innovation and self-government. In contrast, tourism studies have tended to restrict study of the political dimension of tourism governance and the role of the state under the traditional parallelism between government and governance. Examination of how governance is itself governed enables a better understanding of the practices of planning and policy making affecting tourism and destinations. In particular, the applications of concepts of governance are inextricably linked to a given set of value assumptions which predetermine the range of its application. A short example of the application of the metagovernance paradigm is provided from the New Zealand context. It is concluded that governance mechanisms are not value-neutral and instead serve to highlight the allocation of power in a destination and the dominance of particular values and interests

On explanation of housing policy

This paper is concerned with making sense of current ways of explaining housing policy. Four different types of explanation are identified and analysed in detail: explanations in terms of systems of actors, hypothetico‐deductive explanations, realist explanations, and culturalist explanations. The characteristic ontology and epistemology of each type of explanation is made explicit. The four types of explanation are then evaluated, partly in their own terms, and partly in relation to each other. It is argued that explanations in terms of systems of actors are inherently superficial, so it is essential to go beyond and below them in order to achieve an acceptable level of explanatory adequacy. Hypothetico‐deductive explanations are rescued from realist and culturalist criticisms which tend to dismiss them altogether, but they are recognised as having serious limitations in terms of conceptual vagueness/ambiguity and contextual fragmentation. Realist explanations are considered in greater depth through an examination of regulation theory. This examination amounts to a critique of the theory as regards its application to housing policy. Finally, culturalist explanations are assessed by using Kemeny's theory as an illustration, with both ontological and epistemological problems being identified. The paper concludes with an evaluation of the logical relations and differences between explanations of the four different types

Utah Science Vol. 32 No. 2, June 1971

Our Jekyl and Hyde Chemical World-some considerations, editorial 35 Pesticides and ecology, John M. Neuhold 39 The university\u27s role in pollution control, David M. Berry 41 A brief history of pesticide use, Reed S. Roberts 42 Pesticides in public health, Lyman J. Olsen, M.D . 45 Chlorinated hydrocarbons cause thin egg shells but so may other pollutants, R. K. Tucker 47 Some benefits of pesticides to public health, Jay E. Graham 50 The Utah community pesticide study, Stephen L. Warnick 53 What can USU do about pesticides?, Louis A. Jensen 56 Mechanisms of pesticide toxicity, R. P. Sharma 57 Pesticides as chemicals-some considerations, William A. Brindley 59 Wildlife notes 61, 74 Regulation of pesticides, Joseph C. Street 62 Alternatives to chemical control of pests, Donald W. Davis and Ting H. Hsiao 65 Economics as a basis for policy decisions-pesticide use or non-use, Allen Le Baron 69 Pesticides and non-target insects, G. E. Bohart 73 Pesticides and populations, Ivan Palmblad 74 A device for opening deer jaws, Gary L. Hickman and Jessop B. Low 75 Deer trap modified, Gary L. Hickman and Jessop B. Low 7

Devolution as process: institutional structures, state personnel and transport policy in the United Kingdom

Devolution has been described as a key ‘global trend’ over recent decades as governments have decentralised power and responsibilities to subordinate regional institutions (Rodriguez-Pose and Gill, 2003). UK devolution is characterised by its asymmetrical nature with different territories granted different institutional arrangements and powers. In this paper, we seek examine the role of state personnel in mobilising the new institutional machinery and managing the process of devolution, focusing on transport policy. Our research shows a clear contrast between London and Northern Ireland, on the one hand, and Scotland and Wales, on the other, in terms of the effectiveness of political leaders in creating clear policy priorities and momentum in transport

Utah Science Vol. 35 No. 2, June 1974

The Blue Grouse in Northern Utah David Weber, Barry Barnes, and Jessop B. low 43 An International Approach for Improving Utah\u27s Sheep D. W. Thorne, W. C. Foote, and J. J. Spillett 47 Cardon and Hansel - new smut resistant winter wheat varieties Wade G. Dewey 53 Unsprayed Fruit Trees - how much of a problem to commercial orchards? Donald W. Davis 56 Assessing Feed Quality R. Gaurth Hansen and Lorin E. Harris 58 Veterinary Medicine Helps Humans N. C. Leone 62 Agriculture Wastes and Energy - some problems and potentials J. Clair Batty 66 Science Shorts 52, 71 New Sweet Cherry Variety Released for Propogation 7

ERdj5 is the ER reductase that catalyzes the removal of non-native disulfides and correct folding of the LDL receptor

ERdj5 is a member of the protein disulfide isomerase family of proteins localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of mammalian cells. To date, only a limited number of substrates for ERdj5 are known. Here we identify a number of endogenous substrates that form mixed disulfides with ERdj5, greatly expanding its client repertoire. ERdj5 previously had been thought to exclusively reduce disulfides in proteins destined for dislocation to the cytosol for degradation. However, we demonstrate here that for one of the identified substrates, the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), ERdj5 is required not for degradation, but rather for efficient folding. Our results demonstrate that the crucial role of ERdj5 is to reduce non-native disulfides formed during productive folding and that this requirement is dependent on its interaction with BiP. Hence, ERdj5 acts as the ER reductase, both preparing misfolded proteins for degradation and catalyzing the folding of proteins that form obligatory non-native disulfides

The welfare state and privatization

The “Great Capitalist Restoration” (Stanfield and Stanfield, 1996) from the 1970s/80s onward is predicated upon powerful convictions centring on economic efficiency and development, and the freedom and dignity of the individual. Indeed, so powerful are these convictions that they exude the aura of conventional wisdom. The welfare state has been, and continues to be, a prominent locus for these arguments. Yet there is some ambiguity concerning the nature of the ‘welfare state’ and what is meant by ‘privatization’. It is beyond the parameters of this chapter to furnish a comprehensive account of the complexities of this contested terrain, but nonetheless, some attempt will be made in furnishing definitions that act as entry points to the principal focus of the discussion. This relates to an aspect of the second claim noted above: dignity. Neo-liberalism embeds dignity in a particular conceptualisation of individual freedom. In this literature, as Sen (1993) observed, freedom- achievements are associated with welfare-achievements. For example, Wiseman (1991) contests that if “welfare” is identified with the “existence of caring feelings” then the market is revealed as not only the conduit to greater welfare and individual freedom, but also care and dignity. Of necessity the paper is general in nature as it endeavours to address important conceptual issues. The following section considers the analytical terrain by briefly reviewing some definitional issues. Thereafter the rationale for ‘privatization’ and recent trends in associated approaches are noted, with a contrasting social economics perspective advanced. Social economists also stress the importance of human dignity within the social provisioning process that is the economy. This has led Wisman (2003: 442) to observe that the scope of social economics encapsulates as its primary task the analysis of the requisites of “the good and just society”. Hence, in contrast to much of the underlying economic rationale for the “Great Capitalist Restoration”, or neo-liberalism, there is an explicit recognition that the Humean fault line between the positive and normative is more illusory than real. In setting out to investigate parameters of Wisman’s “good and just society” explicit recognition of human needs (O’Boyle, 2005) and the contours of “living standards” (Figart, 2007) are both necessary if not sufficient. Drawing from this literature this chapter argues that the patterns of welfare state reform, primarily through some form of privatization, are not as persuasively related to the enhancement of human dignity as its advocates suggest