Computer‐based teaching and evaluation of introductory statistics for health science students: Some lessons learned

In recent years, it has become possible to introduce health science students to statistical packages at an increasingly early stage in their undergraduate studies. This has enabled teaching to take place in a computer laboratory, using real data, and encouraging an exploratory and research‐oriented approach. This paper briefly describes a hypertext Computer Based Tutorial (CBT) concerned with descriptive statistics and introductory data analysis. The CBT has three primary objectives: the introduction of concepts, the facilitation of revision, and the acquisition of skills for project work. Objective testing is incorporated and used for both self‐assessment and formal examination. Evaluation was carried out with a large group of Health Science students, heterogeneous with regard to their IT skills and basic numeracy. The results of the evaluation contain valuable lessons

Russian gas games or well-oiled conflict? Energy security and the 2014 Ukraine crisis

This essay explores the link between energy security and the 2014 Ukraine crisis. Whenever there is an international conflict involving a major oil or gas producer, commentators are often quick to assume a direct link, and the Ukraine crisis was no exception. Yet, the various avenues through which energy politics have affected the Ukraine crisis, and vice versa, are not well understood. This paper seeks to shed light on the issue by addressing two specific questions. First, how exactly did energy contribute to the crisis in the region? Second, can energy be wielded as a ‘weapon’ by Russia, the EU, or the US? We find that Russian gas pricing played a crucial role as a context factor in igniting the Ukrainian crisis, yet at the same time we guard against ‘energy reductionism’, that is, the fallacy of attributing all events to energy-related issues. We also note that there are strict limits to the so-called energy weapon, whoever employs it. In the conclusion we provide a discussion of the policy implications of these findings

Vibrational relaxation of diatomic molecules at high temperatures

Imperial Users onl

What drives norm success? Evidence from anti–fossil fuel campaigns

Why do some international norms succeed, whereas others fail? We argue that norm campaigns are more likely to succeed when the actions they prescribe are framed as a solution to salient problems that potential adopters face, even if different from the problem that originally motivated norm entrepreneurs. For instance, the campaign to reduce environmentally harmful fossil fuel subsidies has been more effective when linked to fiscal stability, a common problem that policy makers face. Problem linkages can thus bolster the attractiveness of a proposed new norm and broaden the coalition of actors that support the norm. We probe the plausibility of this argument by studying two campaigns that aim to shift patterns of finance for fossil fuel production and consumption: subsidy reform and divestment. Subsidy reform encourages governments to reduce subsidies for products like gasoline; divestment encourages investors to sell or avoid equity stocks from fossil fuel industries. We look at the variation in the impact of these two campaigns over time and argue that they have achieved institutional acceptance and implementation chiefly when their advocates have been able to link environmental goals with other goals, usually economic ones

Mathematics Memory Verses: Weekly Devotionals for Math Class

Each Monday during the semester I start class with a short devotional on a verse that relates in some way to mathematics. After three weeks I choose one of the three at random for students to write out on their quiz for a possible bonus point. This encourages students to practice memorizing Scripture and it gives us the opportunity to discuss biblical principles that relate to some of the topics we are studying in the course. I would like to share some of the Bible verses and weekly devotionals I have used in my mathematics classes. These can be organized into four main categories: verses about our infinite god, verses about finances, verses about dimensions, and verses about the mind. Hopefully these verses will stimulate your thinking about how you might incorporate Scripture into your mathematics courses as well

A Changing Casco Bay-Onshore, Offshore, New Shores (2015 State of the Bay Presentation)

https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/cbep-presentations/1010/thumbnail.jp

Community Health Benefits and For-Profit Hospitals: The Need for New Legislation

For-profit hospitals and non-profit hospitals fundamentally have two separate goals they wish to achieve. For-profits seek profit maximization, while non-profits, as a result of their federal tax-exempt status, are required to maintain missions dedicated to serving the public and subsequently, the indigent and uninsured. With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the goals of the Nation’s health care system began to shift towards more cost effective and high-quality treatment that focuses on providing preventative health care access to all Americans to reach a more health equitable society. This Note offers a dual approach that will help to ensure that the central themes of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are met by both for-profit and non-profit hospitals. Namely, this Note proposes incentivizing for-profits to participate in the health equity goals of the healthcare system by conditioning two important sources of state funding and regulation, Medicaid and a Certificate of Need, respectively, on the completion of a Community Health Needs Assessment

The Impacts of Wind Power Development in Maine 2003-2010

The development of wind power in Maine has emerged as a significant economic opportunity in the past several years, providing one of the few growing sectors in the latter half of the last decade. The impact of this development has been estimated in regulatory filings before, but has not been examined in detail using data on actual expenditures for wind power development. This report examines the economic impacts of three major wind power projects: Mars Hill in Aroostook County, Stetson Mountain in Washington County, and Kibby Mountain in Franklin County. (Stetson and Kibby were undertaken in two phases) These projects together provide 257 megawatts of installed generating capacity