Ability, parental background and educationpolicy: empirical evidence from a socialexperiment

Following the great expansion of secondary education in the UnitedStates between 1910 and 1940, Sweden was one of the first Western Europeancountries to attempt such an expansion by increasing the years ofcompulsory schooling and and improving access to academic type educationby abolishing early selection. The reform was preceded by a large scale areabased social experiment where 25% of the contry?s municipalities were assignedto the reform. We use this assignment, together with rich individualdata to evaluate this major educational interventions. Our key findings arethat this reform increased the educational attainment of individuals withunskilled fathers. In addition it caused significant and large increases in theearnings of those with unskilled fathers and above median ability. Following the great expansion of secondary education in the UnitedStates between 1910 and 1940, Sweden was one of the first Western Europeancountries to attempt such an expansion by increasing the years ofcompulsory schooling and and improving access to academic type educationby abolishing early selection. The reform was preceded by a large scale areabased social experiment where 25% of the contry?s municipalities were assignedto the reform. We use this assignment, together with rich individualdata to evaluate this major educational interventions. Our key findings arethat this reform increased the educational attainment of individuals withunskilled fathers. In addition it caused significant and large increases in theearnings of those with unskilled fathers and above median ability

Educational reform, ability and family background

In this paper we evaluate the impact of a major school reform, that took place in the 1950s in Sweden, on educational attainment and earnings. The reform, which has many common elements with reforms in other European countries including the UK, consisted of increasing compulsor schooling, imposing a national curriculum and abolishing selection by ability into Academic and non-academic streams at the age of 12 (comprehensive school reform). Our data combines survey data with administrative sources. We find that the reform increased both the educational attainment and the earnings of children whose fathers had just compulsory education. However the earnings of those with educated parents declined - possibly because of a dilution of quality at the top end of the education levels. The overall effect of the reform was however positive

Education and Mortality: Evidence from a Social Experiment

ducational reform that increased the years of compulsory schooling. Using the gradual phase-in of the reform between 1949 and 1962 across municipalities, we estimate insignificant effects of the reform on mortality in the affected cohort. From the confidence intervals, we can rule out effects larger than 1–1.4 months of increased life expectancy. We find no significant impacts on mortality for individuals of low socioeconomic status backgrounds, on deaths that are more likely to be affected by behavior, on hospitalizations, and consumption of prescribed drugs

Magnetic Resonance in the Spin-Peierls compound α′−NaV2O5\alpha'-NaV_2O_5

We present results from magnetic resonance measurements for 75-350 GHz in $\alpha$'-NaV$_{2}$O$_{5}$. The temperature dependence of the integrated intensity indicates that we observe transitions in the excited state. A quantitative description gives resonances in the triplet state at high symmetry points of the excitation spectrum of this Spin-Peierls compound. This energy has the same temperature dependence as the Spin-Peierls gap. Similarities and differences with the other inorganic compound CuGeO$_{3}$ are discussed.Comment: 2 pages, REVTEX, 3 figures. to be published in Phys.Rev.

Managed parks as a refuge for the threatened red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in light of human disturbance

As the invasive grey squirrel continues to spread, red squirrels are dying out. The result may be isolated populations in managed parks, where access can be controlled. However, recreation can often have a negative effect on wildlife, reducing the conservation potential of parks. Fota Wildlife Park receives over 300,000 visitors each year and is located on an island that is currently free of grey squirrels. We examined the effect of visitors on the existing red squirrel population. Sampling was conducted in the presence and absence of the public. Ten trapping sessions took place from March 2013 to 2014 and faeces were collected to examine stress levels. Squirrels were observed to concentrate their activity in non-public areas and move into public areas when the park was closed. Radio tracked squirrels, from the adjacent gardens (intermediate disturbance), also used habitats in the wildlife park (high disturbance) when it was closed but returned when the park had opened. When squirrels were observed in public areas, visitors were only visible on 15% of occasions. Levels of faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) were highest in areas where human disturbance was greatest. However, there was no correlation between visitor numbers and the stress levels of squirrels. FCM levels were however, positively correlated with density of squirrels. The fact that high numbers of squirrels continued to utilise the wildlife park demonstrates that managed parks could provide an important reserve for the maintenance of the species, as long as non-public areas are accessible

Field-induced structural evolution in the spin-Peierls compound CuGeO3_3: high-field ESR study

The dimerized-incommensurate phase transition in the spin-Peierls compound CuGeO$_3$ is probed using multifrequency high-resolution electron spin resonance (ESR) technique, in magnetic fields up to 17 T. A field-induced development of the soliton-like incommensurate superstructure is clearly indicated as a pronounced increase of the ESR linewidth $\Delta B$ (magnon excitations), with a $\Delta B_{max}$ at $B_{c}\sim$ 13.8 T. The anomaly is explained in terms of the magnon-soliton scattering, and suggests that the soliton-like phase exists close to the boundary of the dimerized-incommensurate phase transition. In addition, magnetic excitation spectra in 0.8% Si-doped CuGeO$_3$ are studied. Suppression of the $\Delta B$ anomaly observed in the doped samples suggests a collapse of the long-range-ordered soliton states upon doping, that is consistent with high-field neutron scattering experiments.Comment: Accepted to Phys. Rev.

UWG -TRNSYS simulation coupling for Urban Building Energy modeling

This paper presents a new methodology to carry out building performance simulation at the district scale integrating the building thermal model TRNSYS with the climate model ‘Urban Weather Generator’ (UWG). The integrated methodology is designed to include the microclimatic modifications induced by urban environments on buildings’ cooling load calculation. The impact of shadows, air temperature increase and urban radiant environment on building cooling performance has been highlighted for hot arid climates (Antofagasta, Chile). Results indicate that the impact of urban context on energy performance of buildings at the neighbourhood scale varies significantly with building typology and urban tissue density

Assessing climate change and urban heat island vulnerabilities in a built environment - Valutare la vulnerabilità urbana ai cambiamenti climatici e alle isole di calore urbano

A methodology is presented to assess local criticalities and resilience to climate changes (CC) and UHI (Urban Heat Island). This analysis will consider the expected impacts on the local energy demand of the built environment due to climate-related variations. Climate-related indicators are proposed to assess a vulnerability index to CC and UHI in specific building-design contexts. Furthermore, these indicators will be applied to a set of locations in the Mediterranean climate while taking into consideration different local contexts to evaluate the resilience of a sample residential building by using, among other strategies, dynamic energy simulations

Methodological considerations in the analysis of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in tufted capuchins (Cebus apella)

Analysis of fecal glucocorticoid (GC) metabolites has recently become the standard method to monitor adrenocortical activity in primates noninvasively. However, given variation in the production, metabolism, and excretion of GCs across species and even between sexes, there are no standard methods that are universally applicable. In particular, it is important to validate assays intended to measure GC production, test extraction and storage procedures, and consider the time course of GC metabolite excretion relative to the production and circulation of the native hormones. This study examines these four methodological aspects of fecal GC metabolite analysis in tufted capuchins (Cebus apella). Specifically, we conducted an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) challenge on one male and one female capuchin to test the validity of four GC enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) and document the time course characterizing GC me- tabolite excretion in this species. In addition, we compare a common field-friendly technique for extracting fecal GC metabolites to an established laboratory extraction methodology and test for effects of storing “field extracts” for up to 1 yr. Results suggest that a corticosterone EIA is most sensitive to changes in GC production, provides reliable measures when extracted according to the field method, and measures GC metabolites which remain highly stable after even 12 mo of storage. Further, the time course of GC metabolite excretion is shorter than that described yet for any primate taxa. These results provide guidelines for studies of GCs in tufted capuchins, and underscore the importance of validating methods for fecal hormone analysis for each species of interest