Optimal Competition and Allocation of Space in Shopping Centers

This article explains why a profit-maximizing developer may include multiple, competing outlets in a shopping center. While competing outlets presumably dissipate potential profits, thereby lowering aggregate rents that the developer can extract, the presence of shopping externalities causes the developer to be interested not just in individual store profits, but also in the traffic they generate throughout the center. And since competition among identical stores increases traffic, it can create an offsetting advantage that favors multiple outlets. The article provides a theoretical analysis of this problem and illustrates its implications for tenant mix by applying the theory to the problem of filling a vacant store. The paper concludes by explicitly relating the analysis to Brueckner's (1993) model of the optimal allocation of space in shopping centers.

Una experiencia de investigación utilizando portafolios para evaluar la docencia universitaria

In this article, we use the findings of a study conducted in a university in the southeast of Mexico to examine strengths and limitations of portfolios to assess formatively the quality of teaching. The research is part of the study: Model for the Development and Evaluation of Academic Competencies, involving researchers from six Mexican universities. Findings of the study indicate that the use of portfolio allowed faculty members to collect evidence of the quality of their work, analyze their classroom instruction and began to involve in a dialogue for improving teaching.En este artículo, usamos los resultados de un estudio que se lleva a cabo en una Universidad del sureste de México para examinar las fortalezas y limitaciones de los portafolios para evaluar de manera formativa la calidad de la docencia. La investigación es parte del estudio: Modelo para el Desarrollo y Evaluación de Competencias Académicas e involucra a investigadores de seis universidades Mexicanas. Los resultados de la investigación indican que el uso del portafolio permitió a los docentes colectar evidencia sobre la calidad de su trabajo, analizar su práctica en el aula y comenzar a involucrarse en un diálogo para mejorar la docencia

Usando os resultados da avaliação para melhorar as práticas pedagógicas: um estudo de caso

A substantial body of research has been conducted on the use of student evaluations of college teaching. This research has mainly centered on the dimensionality, validity, reliability and generalizability of the ratings, and the study of possible biasing factors that could affect the validity of the ratings (Marsh, 1984; Braskamp & Ory, 1994; El -Hassan, 1995). Only a limited number of studies have been conducted on the longitudinal use of student ratings and their possible influence on instructional improvement. This research case study is committed to that purpose. This is a case study of a senior professor in a public research university in the Midwest. The study traces how the instructor uses the feedback from peers, his department head and students. The research is an attempt to better understand the evaluation results as feedback for instructional improvement.Un cuerpo sustancial de investigación se ha centrado en el uso de opiniones de los estudiantes para evaluar la docencia universitaria. Esta investigación se ha centrado principalmente en la dimensionalidad, validez, fiabilidad y generalización de los puntajes otorgados por los estudiantes, y el estudio de los posibles factores de polarización que podrían afectar su validez (Marsh, 1984; Braskamp y Ory, 1994; El-Hassan, 1995). Sólo un número limitado de estudios se han dirigido hacia el uso longitudinal de valoraciones de los estudiantes y su posible influencia en la mejora de la enseñanza. Esta investigación por estudio de casos se ha comprometido con dicho propósito. Se trata de un estudio de caso acerca de un catedrático en una universidad pública orientada a la investigación en el medio oeste de los Estados Unidos de América. El estudio examina cómo el instructor utiliza la retroalimentación de sus compañeros, de su jefe de departamento y de los resultados de la evaluación basados en opiniones de estudiantes. La investigación es un intento de comprender mejor los resultados de la evaluación como retroalimentación para la mejora de la enseñanza.Um corpo substancial de investigação se centrou no uso de opiniões dos estudantes para avaliar a docência universitária. Esta investigação se centrou principalmente na dimensionalidad, validez, fiabilidade e generalização dos puntajes outorgados pelos estudantes, e o estudo dos possíveis fatores de polarização que poderiam afetar sua validez (Marsh, 1984; Braskamp e Ory, 1994; O-Hassan, 1995). Só um número limitado de estudos se dirigiram para o uso longitudinal de valorações dos estudantes e sua possível influência na melhora do ensino. Esta investigação por estudo de casos se comprometeu com dito propósito. Trata-se de um estudo de caso a respeito de um catedrático numa universidade pública orientada à investigação no médio oeste dos Estados Unidos de América. O estudo examina como o instrutor utiliza a retroalimentação de seus colegas, de seu chefe de departamento e dos resultados da avaliação baseados em opiniões de estudantes. A investigação é uma tentativa de compreender melhor os resultados da avaliação como retroalimentação para a melhora do ensino

Young people and political action: who is taking responsibility for positive social change?

A human rights perspective suggests that we are all responsible for ensuring the human rights of others, which in turn ensures that our own human rights are respected and protected. A convenience sample of 108 young people (41 males and 67 females) aged between 16 and 25 completed a questionnaire which asked about (a) levels of involvement in political activity and (b) sense of personal responsibility for ensuring that the human rights of marginalised groups (e.g. ethnic minorities, immigrants, lesbians and gay men) are protected. Findings showed that most respondents supported (in principle) the notion of human rights for all, but tended to engage in low key political activity (e.g. signing petitions; donating money or goods to charity) rather than actively working towards positive social change. Qualitative data collected in the questionnaire suggested three main barriers to respondents viewing themselves as agents of positive social change: (1) "It’s not my problem", (2) "It’s not my responsibility", and (3) a sense of helplessness. Suggestions for how political action might best be mobilised among young people are also discussed.</p

Closing in on the picture : analyzing interactions in video recordings

This paper provides a detailed account of the processing and analysing of data, obtained through video recording during reflective practitioner research. It sets out five stages in the analysis of video recordings of classroom interactions during a series of educational drama lessons: from decisions relating to the selection of data for close analysis, to the seeking of themes, and finally to the presentation of conclusions. The researcher adapted and synthesised several processes derived from discourse analysis (Wells, 2001; Spiers, 2004; Gee, 2005) to produce a range of instruments for use in transcription and analysis of verbal and non-verbal discourse. These include: a simple transcription key; classifications for verbal and non-verbal discourse; and a template for a transcription and analysis matrix

Optical Designs for a Multi-Beam 340 and 625/640 GHz Spaceborne Climate Research Instrument

We report on an ongoing study where different optical configurations for a multi-beam limb-viewing (four to eight receiver channels at 340 and two channels at 625 GHz) spaceborne instrument for climate research are presented and compared. The optical configurations are analyzed in terms of optical performance (gain, side lobe levels, beam efficiency etc.), weight and size of the overall instrument envelope. Using ideal fundamental Gaussian beam modes and numerical tools relying on ray-tracing and physical optics methods, the different configurations are designed and evaluated. Preliminary results indicate that a 1.3 m x 0.65 m primary reflector can be used in a configuration that includes a relay optics system having two to four elements. In addition to the limb-viewing instrument, there will be an additional instrument operating at 640 GHz for observing clouds in nadir mode

Comparing teacher roles in Denmark and England

This article reports the findings of a comparative study of teaching in Denmark and England; its broader aim is to help develop an approach for comparing pedagogy. Lesson observations and interviews identified the range of goals towards which teachers in each country worked and the actions these prompted. These were clustered using the lens of Bernstein’s pedagogic discourse (1990; 1996) to construct teacher roles which provided a view of pedagogy. Through this approach we have begun to identify variations in pedagogy across two countries. All teachers in this study adopted a variety of roles; of significance was the ease with which competent English teachers moved between roles. The English teachers observed adopted roles consistent with a wider techno-rationalist discourse. There was a greater subject emphasis by Danish teachers whose work was set predominantly within a democratic humanist discourse, whilst the English teachers placed a greater emphasis on applied skills

Interplay between the alpharetroviral Gag protein and SR proteins SF2 and SC35 in the nucleus

Retroviruses are positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that reverse transcribe their RNA genomes into double-stranded DNA for integration into the host cell chromosome. The integrated provirus is used as a template for the transcription of viral RNA. The full-length viral RNA can be used for the translation of the Gag and Gag-Pol structural proteins or as the genomic RNA (gRNA) for encapsidation into new virions by the Gag protein. The mechanism by which Gag selectively incorporates unspliced gRNA into virus particles is poorly understood. Although Gag was previously thought to localize exclusively to the cytoplasm and plasma membrane where particles are released, we found that the Gag protein of Rous sarcoma virus, an alpharetrovirus, undergoes transient nuclear trafficking. When the nuclear export signal of RSV Gag is mutated (Gag.L219A), the protein accumulates in discrete subnuclear foci reminiscent of nuclear bodies such as splicing speckles, paraspeckles, and PML bodies. In this report, we observed that RSV Gag.L219A foci appeared to be tethered in the nucleus, partially co-localizing with the splicing speckle components SC35 and SF2. Overexpression of SC35 increased the number of Gag.L219A nucleoplasmic foci, suggesting that SC35 may facilitate the formation of Gag foci. We previously reported that RSV Gag nuclear trafficking is required for efficient gRNA packaging. Together with the data presented herein, our findings raise the intriguing hypothesis that RSV Gag may co-opt splicing factors to localize near transcription sites. Because splicing occurs co-transcriptionally, we speculate that this mechanism could allow Gag to associate with unspliced viral RNA shortly after its transcription initiation in the nucleus, before the viral RNA can be spliced or exported from the nucleus as an mRNA template

Can health trainers make a difference with difficult-to-engage clients? A multisite case study

A political attempt in the United Kingdom to address health inequalities in the past decade has been the government’s initiative to employ local health trainers (HTs) or health trainer champions (HTCs) to support disadvantaged individuals with aspects of their health-related behaviors. HT/HTCs provide health-related information and support to individuals with healthy eating, physical activity, and smoking cessation. They undertake community engagement and direct individuals to relevant health services. They differ in that HTs are trained to provide health interventions to individuals or groups and to make referrals to specialist health care services when necessary. This article provides an evaluation of HT/HTCs interventions across three sites, including one prison, one probation service (three teams), and one mental health center. An evaluation framework combining process and outcome measures was employed that used mixed methods to capture data relating to the implementation of the service, including the context of the HT/HTCs interventions, the reactions of their clients, and the outcomes reported. It was found that HT/HTCs interventions were more effective in the prison and mental health center compared with the probation site largely as a result of contextual factors