Insights Into The Importance Of Economic Concepts To Other Introductory Business Courses

The current study uses results of a survey of non-economics business faculty to determine the importance of economic concepts in non-economics introductory business courses. The results give economists data to make the principles of economics course more relevant to the business student and bolster efforts by accrediting bodies to achieve greater business curricular integration

Isn’t It Ironic? Research Rewards And Teaching Taxes

The use of person-specific data for economists across all types of public academic institutions provides several insights into the academic wage equation for economists.   First, this study confirms the alignment of the academic incentive structure with the underlying value of scholarship in an academic institution, i.e. scholarship pays off.  Interestingly, though, the richness of this data set allows for a better understanding of that payoff.  For while economists at doctoral granting institutions earn more on average than their counterparts at non-doctoral granting institutions, the marginal benefit for additional publications is higher for those economists at non-doctoral granting institutions.Most importantly, the study validates the recent findings of Binder et al. (2012) that the incentive structure at academic institutions imposes a teaching tax.  Whether at doctoral or non-doctoral granting institutions, the marginal cost of teaching undergraduates is significant although there is a positive return to award-winning teaching.  Thus, despite the inherent educational mission of the Academy, this study supports the ironic conclusion teaching imposes a tax on the academic economist.

Resuscitating The Dormant Accounting Scholar

Despite the fundamental importance of publication to the academic institution, there are a significant number of dormant accounting scholars who simply do not publish.  Building upon an existing literature on the determinants of academic productivity, this paper identifies factors which have the potential to revive scholarly productivity.  Specifically, the current research reinforces the positive impact of scholarly presentations, sabbatical leave, and teaching assistants on reviving the dormant scholar.  Similarly, reducing activities which compete for the academic’s time (teaching undergraduate courses, consulting, and service to the institution) will increase the odds of publication.&nbsp

Explaining Gender Differentials In Scholarly Productivity: The Case Of Academic Economists

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of personal characteristics, institutional factors, and time-competing workplace requirements on scholarly productivity in peer-reviewed economics journals.  The study utilizes a unique data set of individual-specific information for 714 academic economists.  The multivariate regression analysis shows that both teaching and service commitments reduce scholarly work in peer reviewed journals.  The paper also presents an analysis of the data disaggregated by gender.  While the impact of teaching and service on productivity appears roughly similar, the results indicate that collaborative efforts, whether formal or informal, benefit women’s publication efforts more than their male counterpart

Presentation and Outcomes After Medical and Surgical Treatment Versus Medical Treatment Alone of Spontaneous Infectious Spondylodiscitis: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Study Design: Systematic literature review. Objectives: The aims of this study were to (1) describe the clinical features, disabilities, and incidence of neurologic deficits of pyogenic spondylodiscitis prior to treatment and (2) compare the functional outcomes between patients who underwent medical treatment alone or in combination with surgery for pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed according to PRISMA guidelines. No year restriction was put in place. Statistical analysis of pooled data, when documented in the original report (ie, number of patients with desired variable and number of patients evaluated), was conducted to determine the most common presenting symptoms, incidence of pre- and postoperative neurologic deficits, associated comorbidities, infectious pathogens, approach for surgery when performed, and duration of hospitalization. Outcomes data, including return to work status, resolution of back pain, and functional recovery were also pooled among all studies and surgery-specific studies alone. Meta-analysis of studies with subgroup analysis of pain-free outcome in surgical and medical patients was performed. Results: Fifty of 1286 studies were included, comprising 4173 patients undergoing either medical treatment alone or in combination with surgery. Back pain was the most common presenting symptom, reported in 91% of patients. Neurologic deficit was noted in 31% of patients. Conclusion: Medical management remains first-line treatment of infectious pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Surgery may be indicated for progressive pain, persistent infection on imaging, deformity or neurologic deficits. If surgery is required, reported literature shows potential for significant pain reduction, improved neurologic function and a high number of patients returning to a normal functional/work status

Thermally actuated untethered impact-driven locomotive microdevices

The authors have developed steerable locomotive devices as small as 30 μm using the inertial impact drive as the thrust method. The devices consist of three-legged, thin-metal-film bimorphs designed to rest on three sharp tips with the device body curved up off the surface. Rapid, thermally induced curvature of one leg leads to stepwise translation on a low friction surface. A focused laser was used to supply energy and its parameters controlled the velocity and direction of motion of the device

In Situ Resistance Measurements of Strained Carbon Nanotubes

We investigate the response of multi-walled carbon nanotubes to mechanical strain applied with an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) probe. We find that in some samples, changes in the contact resistance dominate the measured resistance change. In others, strain large enough to fracture the tube can be applied without a significant change in the contact resistance. In this case we observe that enough force is applied to break the tube without any change in resistance until the tube fails. We have also manipulated the ends of the broken tube back in contact with each other, re-establishing a finite resistance. We observe that in this broken configuration the resistance of the sample is tunable to values 15-350 kW greater than prior to breaking.Comment: Submitted to Applied Physics Letter

Is a gene-centric human proteome project the best way for proteomics to serve biology?

With the recent developments in proteomic technologies, a complete human proteome project (HPP) appears feasible for the first time. However, there is still debate as to how it should be designed and what it should encompass. In "proteomics speak", the debate revolves around the central question as to whether a gene-centric or a protein-centric proteomics approach is the most appropriate way forward. In this paper, we try to shed light on what these definitions mean, how large-scale proteomics such as a HPP can insert into the larger omics chorus, and what we can reasonably expect from a HPP in the way it has been proposed so far

Hands-on tools for nanotechnology

A review of several experiments and techniques in the nanometer domain is given. The covered experiments and techniques are a sampling of the results obtained to date in the nanometer domain through an interdisciplinary collaboration that include computer scientists, materials scientists, social scientists and educators. The nano Manipulator provides a hands-on paradigm for materials science, biological science, educational methods and distance collaborations are being explored as well as providing a varied set of hard driving problems for computer science