A Calculus of Efficiency for Public Goods: The Case of Public Outdoor Recreation

The characteristics of public outdoor recreation as a public good are ascertained. A cost-benefit analysis is applied which ensures efficiency, while allowing for the pecuniary and technological externalities that exist in the development of outdoor recreation resorts. A total willingness to pay technique is utilized to approximate the consumer's valuation of benefits from recreation. Essential to the technique is the derivation of total willingness to pay curve which parallels the demand curve for private goods. Total willingness to pay is used instead of consumer's surplus, because the latter is associated with a market price which is not determined for public outdoor recreation. Since the total willingness to pay curve is a function of income distribution, once derived, the curve can be adjusted to rid the analysis of income distribution bias. The adjustment helps achieve equity in the allocation of recreational resorts. Fort Frederick State Park provided a case of application for the technique. A sample survey conducted in the Fort was the basis for the derivation of a total willingness to pay curve. The curve shows the relation between expenditures incurred, in time and money, to visits at Fort Frederick. The rates of growth for expenditures, income and population were the basis for the simulation of the total willingness to pay up to the year 2000. Integration of the areas under the simulated demand curves was an approximation of the future willingness to pay or benefits derived from recreational experience at the Fort. After dividing the discounted value of benefits by the estimated costs of developing the Fort, a benefit-cost ratio was obtained, which was a quantitative endorsement in favor of the development of Fort Frederick

Mn induced modifications of Ga 3d photoemission from (Ga, Mn)As: evidence for long range effects

Using synchrotron based photoemission, we have investigated the Mn-induced changes in Ga 3d core level spectra from as-grown ${\rm Ga}_{1-x}{\rm Mn}_{x}{\rm As}$. Although Mn is located in Ga substitutional sites, and does therefore not have any Ga nearest neighbours, the impact of Mn on the Ga core level spectra is pronounced even at Mn concentrations in the range of 0.5%. The analysis shows that each Mn atom affects a volume corresponding to a sphere with around 1.4 nm diameter.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review B, Brief Repor

ARE DIETARY FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH LUNG FUNCTION IN CANADIAN ADULTS?

Background: Assessment of lung function by spirometry is helpful for evaluating lung health. It provides precise measurements of air volumes and flows useful for diagnosis and monitoring of respiratory diseases. Respiratory diseases (including asthma and COPD) are some of the major causes of school and work absenteeism, hospital admission, disability, and death. Diet is a modifiable risk factor that has been associated with various respiratory outcomes but has been studied minimally in relation to lung function. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of dietary factors and nutrient biomarkers on lung function among Canadian adults (18 years and older). Methods: The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) is a national and ongoing health survey of Canadians led by Statistics Canada. CHMS uses a repeated cross-sectional multi-stage survey design. Data collection included a combination of a computer-assisted personal interview and physical assessment. The first Cycle (2007-2009) included N=3726, the second Cycle (2009-2011) included N= 3873, and the third Cycle (2012-2013) included N= 3397 adult Canadians. The physical measures were conducted at Mobile Examination Centers (MEC) specifically designed for the study. Spirometry measurement was completed by the eligible participants following spirometric guidelines of the American Thoracic Society (ATS). The household and clinic questionnaires were used to assess individual dietary factors, Canada Food Guide, and Modified Mediterranean Diet Score separately for each of the Cycles. Biomarker assessment was done by using blood samples. Association analyses were completed using multiple linear regression adjusting for age, sex, and height as well as other confounders using sampling weights. Bootstrapping variables supplied by Statistics Canada were used to calculate variances. Results: The overall mean percent predicted values for FVC and FEV1 were 98% and 95%, respectively. The associations between dietary consumption and lung function were relatively inconsistent. However, in both Cycles 1 and 2, consumption of dietary fat was associated with higher FVC (p<0.05). In all Cycles, most of the participants did not meet the daily requirement of Canada Food Guide and the “not meeting” the requirements were inconsistently associated with the lower lung function. The modified Mediterranean Diet Score was significantly associated with lower lung function in Cycle 3. Among the biomarkers, chloride was associated with higher FVC and FEV1 for all three Cycles (p<0.05). C-reactive protein was associated with lower FVC, FEV1, and FEF25-75% (Cycle 1, 3. p<0.05). Vitamin D was associated with higher FEV1 (Cycle 1, 3. p<0.05). Finally, Vitamin B12 was associated with lower FEV1 (Cycle 1, 3. p<0.05). Conclusion: Lung function characteristics shows good lung health of the general adult population based on the mean percent predicted values. Our study provides evidence that there is an association between dietary factors and lung function though there were some inconsistencies with different Cycles (Cycles 1, 2, 3) mostly within the report of dietary intake

Viability assessment of supplementary vocational education institutions based on staff satisfaction analysis

The tasks associated with the viability assessment of an organization are relevant for most companies in the current market environment. This can be explained by the fact that the solution of these problems makes it possible to see the state of the enterprise, its possible potential prospects at this juncture, to determine the further strategy, areas of work for successful long-term functioning in the future. The article is concerned with the study of the relevant measurable criteria required for the viability assessment of supplementary vocational education institutions. The methodological basis of the study includes the management concept based on a balanced scorecard, as well as a problem-oriented approach, taking into account the specifics of the activities of institutions providing supplementary vocational education services. Eight groups of criteria for viability assessment of supplementary vocational education institutions with specific indicators have been identified and a scale for their measurement has been proposed. The correspondence of these groups of criteria within the components of the integrated management system has been shown. The satisfaction with the work of staff in the institution is analyzed herein based on the results of a survey of employees for two years

Preparing future teachers for educational work

This&nbsp; article&nbsp;&nbsp; is&nbsp; scientifically&nbsp; and&nbsp; pedagogically based on&nbsp; the&nbsp; essence, system, skills, professional activites of&nbsp; preparing&nbsp; future&nbsp; teachers&nbsp; for&nbsp; educational work.The article is based on historical, spiritual, pedagogical and recommendations to increase the relevance of such issues as teachers' pedagogical skills, their role in the implementation of educational processes, their importance in shaping the student's personality

Seeking Justice at the Court of the Khans of Khiva

In Seeking Justice at the Court of the Khans of Khiva, Sartori and Abdurasulov show that in Khorezm prior to Sovietization the dispensation of justice according to Islamic law depended mostly on a group of officials representing the dynasty in power, and lacking specialised legal training.; Readership: All interested in the history of Islamic Central Asia and Islamic la