The Effect of Uncertainty in Regulatory Delay on the Rate of Innovation

When a regulated firm considers the undertaking of an effort to innovate, it often faces incentives quite different from those confronting an unregulated firm. At least three types of uncertainty arise. First, will an innovative effort result in an implementable technology, and if so, when? Second, will the implementation of the technology be delayed by a regulatory authority, and if so, for how long? And finally, when the regulator permits the use of an innovation, what level of benefits will the firm ultimately receive

Policy and Practice Brief: Funding of Assistive Technology to Make Work a Reality

This brief provides a definition of assistive technology and a discussion of funding sources for assistive technology including: public schools; state vocational rehabilitation agencies; Medicaid; Medicare; and, SSA’s Plan for Achieving Self Support. Eligibility is reviewed for each along with other protections and rights

Impact of trade openness, remittances, capital inflows & financial development on income in Vanuatu

In this study, using bounds approach and annual data for the period 1981-2008, the short and long-run effects of remittances and trade openness on income in Vanuatu are estimated. The results show trade openness and remittances having positive and significant effects, with no significant effects from financial development (FIN), foreign direct investment (FDI), and official development aid (ODA). FDI and ODA in this sense behave somewhat differently than remittances. Therefore a greater liberalization of goods and services market in general and short-term temporary movements of people in particular to boost remittances inflows and improving the overall institutional infrastructure is put forward as priority policy measures.Remittances; trade; economic growth; FDI; financial sector development; ODA; bounds test; Vanuatu

Remote from what? Perspectives of distance learning students in remote rural areas of Scotland

Distance learning is seen as the obvious answer for remote learners, and the use of online media is expected to overcome any access difficulties imposed by geographical distance. However, this belief may be obscuring our understanding of the role that location and individual circumstances have in shaping student experience. This paper explores the variation in experiences of remote rural students who study with the Open University (UK). The researchers found that perceptions of remoteness depended on geography, but were also relative to individual circumstances. With respect to students’ sense of connection with university staff and peers, most mentioned their contact with their personal tutor. Networks with peers were less common, a matter of concern if peer networks are integral to fostering improved retention and progression. In this particular context, distance education may be playing an important and distinctive role for remote students by providing opportunities for connections with like-minded people

Estimations of expectedness and potential surprise in possibility theory

This note investigates how various ideas of 'expectedness' can be captured in the framework of possibility theory. Particularly, we are interested in trying to introduce estimates of the kind of lack of surprise expressed by people when saying 'I would not be surprised that...' before an event takes place, or by saying 'I knew it' after its realization. In possibility theory, a possibility distribution is supposed to model the relative levels of mutually exclusive alternatives in a set, or equivalently, the alternatives are assumed to be rank-ordered according to their level of possibility to take place. Four basic set-functions associated with a possibility distribution, including standard possibility and necessity measures, are discussed from the point of view of what they estimate when applied to potential events. Extensions of these estimates based on the notions of Q-projection or OWA operators are proposed when only significant parts of the possibility distribution are retained in the evaluation. The case of partially-known possibility distributions is also considered. Some potential applications are outlined

Nitrogen cycling and bacterial production

I. Bacterial abundance and production in Nueces and Guadalupe Estuaries, Texas -- II. Ammonium regeneration and utilization in Nueces Estuary, Texas -- III. Comparison of benthic ammonium flux with ammonium regeneration in the water column of Nueces and Guadalupe Estuaries, Texas -- IV. Denitrification in Nueces and Guadalupe Estuaries, Texas -- V. Ammonium regeneration and utilization in Guadalupe Estuary, Texas.Marine Scienc