Transmission of Sex Preferences Across Generations: The Allocation of Educational Resources Among Siblings

The purpose of this paper is to test whether there is an intergenerational transmission of gender preferences in educational resource allocation among children. The unique data set of Taiwan’s Panel Study of Family Dynamics project provides us a rich 3-generation education information and allows us to probe into this question. We performed our analysis along two directions: the first is to see whether the society as a whole has any macro change in gender-specific education achievement, and the second is to see whether there is any within-lineage transmission of gender preferences across generations. After carefully reviewing the education system and societal characteristics in Taiwan, we set up an empirical model to estimate and test the hypotheses of intergenerational transmission of gender preferences. We also perform various statistical analyses to support our findings, e.g. contraposition of a proposition. As far as the macro pattern is concerned, we found that although there is a clear tendency of differential treatment against females in the old generation, this tendency is significantly weakened and nearly vanishes in the young generation. Furthermore, the supporting effect of senior siblings in the old generation becomes a crowding (resource-dilution) effect in the young generation. However, within each micro lineage, there is a mild “habitus” effect in gender-specific educational resource allocation in the sense that parents who had the experience of gender-specific differential treatment tend to treat their children in a similar fashion. Moreover, this mild habitus effect is stronger for female respondents (who were the deprived group) than for male respondents (who were the privileged group).

WAS FAIR FAIR TO U.S. CORN GROWERS? AN ANALYSIS OF THE PAYMENTS OFFERED TO CORN GROWERS UNDER THE 1996 FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT AND REFORM ACT

The 1996 Farm Bill (FAIR) dramatically changed agricultural policy for producers of many commodities. A series of 7 annual decoupled payments replaced the deficiency-payment program. Option-pricing techniques are used to determine whether program benefits to corn producers are smaller or larger under the new program than the old.Agricultural and Food Policy,

A New Model for Family Resource Allocation Among Siblings: Competition, Forbearance, and Support

Previous research analyzing within-family education resource allocation usually employs the sibship and birth order of a child as explanatory variables. We argue in this paper that to correctly characterize the resource competition and support scenario within a family, one should identify the Sex, Seniority, and most importantly Age Difference of a child’s sibling structure, and hence we call our analysis a SSAD model of family resource allocation. We show that siblings with different combinations of SSAD may play distinct roles in family resource allocation. Ignoring such facts may distort the significance and/or direction of the prediction. We support our analysis with empirical evidence using data from Taiwan.

Large Eddy Simulations (LES) and Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) for the computational analyses of high speed reacting flows

The principal objective is to extend the boundaries within which large eddy simulations (LES) and direct numerical simulations (DNS) can be applied in computational analyses of high speed reacting flows. A summary of work accomplished during the last six months is presented

Clinical and parasitological response to oral chloroquine and primaquine in uncomplicated human Plasmodium knowlesi infections

Background: Plasmodium knowlesi is a cause of symptomatic and potentially fatal infections in humans. There are no studies assessing the detailed parasitological response to treatment of knowlesi malaria infections in man and whether antimalarial resistance occurs. Methods: A prospective observational study of oral chloroquine and primaquine therapy was conducted in consecutive patients admitted to Kapit Hospital, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo with PCR-confirmed single P. knowlesi infections. These patients were given oral chloroquine for three days, and at 24 hours oral primaquine was administered for two consecutive days, primarily as a gametocidal agent. Clinical and parasitological responses were recorded at 6-hourly intervals during the first 24 hours, daily until discharge and then weekly to day 28. Vivax malaria patients were studied as a comparator group. Results: Of 96 knowlesi malaria patients who met the study criteria, 73 were recruited to an assessment of the acute response to treatment and 60 completed follow-up over 28 days. On admission, the mean parasite stage distributions were 49.5%, 41.5%, 4.0% and 5.6% for early trophozoites, late trophozoites, schizonts and gametocytes respectively. The median fever clearance time was 26.5 [inter-quartile range 16-34] hours. The mean times to 50% (PCT50) and 90% (PCT90) parasite clearance were 3.1 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 2.8-3.4) hours and 10.3 (9.4-11.4) hours. These were more rapid than in a group of 23 patients with vivax malaria 6.3 (5.3-7.8) hours and 20.9 (17.6-25.9) hours; P = 0.02). It was difficult to assess the effect of primaquine on P. knowlesi parasites, due to the rapid anti-malarial properties of chloroquine and since primaquine was administered 24 hours after chloroquine. No P. knowlesi recrudescences or re-infections were detected by PCR. Conclusions: Chloroquine plus primaqine is an inexpensive and highly effective treatment for uncomplicated knowlesi malaria infections in humans and there is no evidence of drug resistance. Further studies using alternative anti-malarial drugs, including artemisinin derivatives, would be desirable to define optimal management strategies for P. knowlesi.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

A New Technique for Finding Needles in Haystacks: A Geometric Approach to Distinguishing Between a New Source and Random Fluctuations

We propose a new test statistic based on a score process for determining the statistical significance of a putative signal that may be a small perturbation to a noisy experimental background. We derive the reference distribution for this score test statistic; it has an elegant geometrical interpretation as well as broad applicability. We illustrate the technique in the context of a model problem from high-energy particle physics. Monte Carlo experimental results confirm that the score test results in a significantly improved rate of signal detection.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

A Qualitative Analysis Of Middle School Principal Retention In An Urban School District

The issue of principal retention remains a challenge for many school districts across the United States. Several studies have revealed alarming statistics regarding principal turnover and attrition and the negative effects these issues have on schools (Browne-Ferrigno & Johnson-Fusarelli, 2005; Clark et al., 2009; Partlow & Ridenour, 2008; Stoelinga et al., 2008; Walker & Qian, 2006; Whittal, 2002). Data show that the annual financial burden principal replacement places on these school districts is enormous (School Leaders Network, 2014); not to mention the tremendous effect that principal turnover has on school operations. Consistent school leadership is essential to the successful operation of schools. Evidence indicates that principals are the most importance catalysts for change in the school building—they spark academic success among students, improve working conditions, and encourage teacher retention (Beteille et al., 2012; Burkhauser, 2015; Johnson, 2006; Leithwood et al., 2006; McIver et al., 2009). This qualitative study examined the unique sociocultural, pedagogical, and personal factors that influence middle school principals’ decision to remain within a given school. Data were gathered from interviews with ten middle school principals with an average of 7.1 years in their position at the time of the study and a range of 2-14 years of experience as school leaders. Their tenure in the principalship far exceeded that of many middle school principals today. The study revealed that the participants’ decision to remain in their positions at the same schools for a prolonged period was influenced by several factors, including the socio-economic, racial, and ethnic composition of the student bodies; positive relationships with students, parents, and direct supervisors. Contrary to findings in other studies, the principals who participated in this inquiry truly enjoyed working with traditionally underserved populations. Additionally, most respondents viewed their work through an altruistic lens; genuinely valued their relationships with students, parents, and teachers; and approached each day with the perspective that each of these groups deserved the very best that the principals had to offer. Moreover, the participants consciously viewed students and their parents as a unit, and saw the family unit as a valuable stakeholder in the school building

Board Activities and Performance of Firms Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange

This study sought to examine the relationships among board activities and performance of firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. This study used a census approach and a target population of the study comprised of all companies listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange between 2002 and 2016. A total of sixty five (65) companies were listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange as at 31st December 2016. The data on board activities and performance of firms were extracted from annual reports of the individuals firms. This study employed longitudinal descriptive research design to determine relationships amongst board activities and performance of firms. A panel data regression analysis was conducted using random effects model which allowed the companies to have a common mean value of the intercept to determine whether corporate governance influence firm performance. An increasing trend was observed in other board activities variables such board ownership, board meetings, board tools, board committees and number of committees meetings. The study findings on the other hand revealed reducing trend in board tenure and board remuneration of listed firms Kenya. This was inferred to indicate that listed firms in Kenya have been strengthening their corporate governance over the study period. Regression analysis indicated that board activities are insignificant predators of Return on Assets, However board tenure, committees meetings and board remuneration were found to have a positive but insignificant effect on Tobin’s Q among listed firms in Kenya. Board ownership board tools, board meetings and number board committees were found to have negatively affected the performance measured by Tobin’s Q in listed firms in Kenya. However, only board tools significantly affected the performance measured by Tobin’s Q. The study concluded that listed firms in Kenya adopted corporate governance practices as part of the requirements of the regulating authority which had not impact on the specific company’s performance. Based on the findings of this study, stakeholders of listed firms and regulating authority such as Capital Markets Authority may relook at the board activities policies of listed firms with the view revising the existing policies or formulating new and more progressive policies to ensure shareholder interests are protected. These policies may go a long way to ensure listed firms not only strengthened their board activities during poor performing seasons but rather clear systems and activities that provide a clear roadmap to guide board operations

The Relationship between Corporate Governance, Financial Characteristics, Macroeconomic Factors and Performance of Firms Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange

This study sought to examine the relationships among corporate governance, financial characteristics, macroeconomic factors and performance of firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. This study used wealth maximisation theory, agency theory, stewardship theory and stakeholders’ theory to explain the relationships among dependent, intervening, moderating and independent variables. This study employed a census approach and a target population of the study comprised of all companies listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange from 2002 to 2016. A total of sixty five were used. The data on corporate governance, financial characteristics and performance of firms were extracted from annual reports of the individuals firms and additional data on macroeconomic factors in relation to gross domestic product, interest rates and inflation rates were extracted from Central Bank of Kenya and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics economic reports. This study employed longitudinal descriptive research design to determine relationships amongst variables. A panel data regression analysis was conducted using random effects model which allowed the firms to have a common mean value of the intercept to determine whether corporate governance influence firm performance. The study established that most of the corporate governance practices adopted by listed firms in Kenya had significant effect of the performance of firms. The intervening effect of financial characteristics was determined, while macroeconomic factors were found to have moderating effect in the relationship between corporate governance and performance of listed firms. The study finally established that corporate governance, financial characteristics and macroeconomic factors had a significant joint effect on performance of firms listed on Nairobi Securities Exchange. Based on the findings the study made various conclusions. The study concluded that listed firms in Kenya adopted corporate governance practices as part of the requirements of the regulating authority which had impact on Returns of Assets and Tobin’s Q. The study further concluded that some listed firms in Kenya strengthened their corporate governance due to poor performance; some of the corporate governance practices used by listed firms had negative impact on performance of firms. This study contributed to the existing knowledge since it established that the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance heavily relied on the context under study and for this reason, studies conducted in different context have conflicting results