Full vs. Light-Handed Regulation of a Network Industry

The access pricing problem emerges when a vertically integrated firm (the incumbent) provides an essential service in the upstream market, to an entrant. Both firms produce a final service and compete in the downstream market. The standard treatment of this problem has been to add the access price to the list of instruments available to a regulator who maximizes a social welfare function. Motivated by the international trend to reduce the number of prices set by regulation, we use a light handed regulation approach in which the only tool available to the regulator is the access price, and where retail prices are set by quantity competition in the downstream market. In this setup, we find that a regulator seeking to maximize total market surplus will set an access price that subsidizes the entrant, so that entrants that are less efficient than the incumbent firm can survive in the market. We then compare the outcomes of the full regulation model with those of the light-handed regulation model, in terms of final prices, firm profits, and consumer surplus. When the regulator faces incomplete information about entrant firms' costs and cannot offer a menu of contracts to potential entrants, we find examples in which light handed regulation can dominate full regulation.

Full vs. Light-Handed Regulation of a Network Industry

The access pricing problem emerges when a vertically integrated firm (the incumbent) provides an essential service in the upstream market, to an entrant. Both firms produce a final service and compete in the downstream market. The standard treatment of this problem has been to add the access price to the list of instruments available to a regulator who maximizes a social welfare function. Motivated by the international trend to reduce the number of prices set by regulation, we use a light handed regulation approach in which the only tool available to the regulator is the access price, and where retail prices are set by quantity competition in the downstream market. In this setup, we find that a regulator seeking to maximize total market surplus will set an access price that subsidizes the entrant, so that entrants that are less efficient than the incumbent firm can survive in the market. We then compare the outcomes of the full regulation model with those of the light-handed regulation model, in terms of final prices, firm profits, and consumer surplus. When the regulator faces incomplete information about entrant firms' costs and cannot offer a menu of contracts to potential entrants, we find examples in which light handed regulation can dominate full regulationRegulation, essential input, access pricing, vertical integration, regulatory discretion

A Survey on Privacy Preserving Data Aggregation Protocols forWireless Sensor Networks

The data aggregation is a widely used mechanism in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) to increase lifetime of a sensor node, send robust information by avoiding redundant data transmission to the base station. The privacy preserving data aggregation is a challenge in wireless communication medium as it could be eavesdropped; however it enhances the security without compromising energy efficiency. Thus the privacy protecting data aggregation protocols aims to prevent the disclosure of individual data though an adversary intercept a link or compromise a node’s data. We present a study of different privacy preserving data aggregation techniques used in WSNs to enhance energy and security based on the types of nodes in the network, topology and encryptions used for data aggregation.</p

Bhendi Yellow Vein Mosaic Disease in India Is Caused by Association of a DNA β Satellite with a Begomovirus

AbstractYellow vein mosaic disease is the major limitation in the production of bhendi or okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), an important vegetable crop of India. This disease is caused by a complex consisting of the monopartite begomovirus Bhendi yellow vein mosaic virus (BYVMV, family: Geminiviridae) and a small satellite DNA β component. BYVMV can systemically infect bhendi upon agroinoculation but produces only mild leaf curling in this host. DNA β induces typical symptoms of bhendi yellow vein mosaic disease (BYVMD) when co-agroinoculated with the begomovirus to bhendi. The DNA β component associated with BYVMD has a number of features in common with those reported for ageratum yellow vein disease and cotton leaf curl disease. BYVMV represents a new member of the emerging group of monopartite begomoviruses requiring a satellite component for symptom induction

Communication apprehension and communication self-efficacy in accounting students

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish a link between communication apprehension and communication self-efficacy in accounting students. Design/methodology/approach – This is achieved by the use of two questionnaires jointly distributed to the students involved. The Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA-24)developed by McCroskey to measure oral communication apprehension[1] (OCA) and the instrument for written communication apprehension (WCA) developed by Daly and Miller and a questionnaire to measure communication self-efficacy. This had been developed using the guidelines set out by Bandura and was designed to measure two constructs: oral communication self-efficacy, and written communication self-efficacy. Findings – The two separate statistical tests to identify the connection between the two concepts both indicated the existence of a strong relationship between the two. This was shown not only in the overall relationship between communication apprehension and self-efficacy but also equally strongly in their constituent components. Practical implications – The existence of this relationship is important because it provides a possible development in terms of understanding the barrier to the development of communication skills and also indicates a possible redirection to alleviate and remove the barrier. In order for accountants to meet future challenges, there is substantial evidence that the development of communication skills will be vital. Originality/value – This paper draws the conclusion that in the future consideration needs to be given to incorporating into the pedagogy of accounting education, especially in those areas involving the development of communication skills, approaches that increase self-efficacy. Keywords Communication skills, Communication apprehension, Communication self-efficacy, Accounting, Communication Paper type Research pape

Communication apprehension and maths anxiety as barriers to communication and numeracy skills development in accounting and business education

Purpose – To establish the existence of barriers to communication and numeracy skills development and to establish the levels of these exhibited by accounting and business students at the commencement of their courses in higher education. Design/methodology/approach – Uses questionnaires to establish the levels of communication apprehension (CA) and maths anxiety (MA) in students at the commencement of their accounting and business courses in higher education. Establishes the underlying factors that are influential in determining the levels of apprehension and anxiety in individual students. An analysis of the underlying demographic variables such as age, previous educational background, etc. is also undertaken. Findings – Identifies the existence of high levels of CA in accounting students and MA in business studies students at the beginning of their courses. Practical implications – Where high levels of CA in accounting students and MA in business studies students are shown to exist consideration must be given to relevant curriculum design and delivery, and the use of techniques designed to reduce apprehension/anxiety in the students concerned. Because the apprehension/anxiety is present on entry to higher education it may be that specific courses appear to be recruiting students whose perception of their longer term vocational skills requirements may be inappropriate to their chosen career area. Originality/value – Identifies specific differences in the areas of CA and MA between differently focused vocational courses, which have syllabus overlap, within a business school. Keywords Communication, Accounting education, Higher education, Students Paper type Research pape

The use and measurement of communication self-efficacy techniques in a UK undergraduate accounting course

This research contributes to helping educational establishments across the world develop self-efficacy techniques to improve communication skills within an accounting course design and other disciplines. This paper asks the research question: Does self-efficacy enhances accounting students’ communication ability? Previous research has identified the business community requiring accountants to display high levels of communication ability. However, despite many deliberate pedagogical interventions over the years, communication skills are lacking in graduating accounting students. This paper describes a new approach of deliberate self-efficacy interventions in one UK university’s undergraduate accounting curriculum to improve accounting students’ communication ability. In addition, a self-efficacy framework of Stone and Bailey [(2007). Team conflict self-efficacy and outcome expectancy of business students. Journal of Education for Business, 82(5), 258–266. https://doi.org/10.3200/JOEB.82.5.258-266.] is developed to model communication self-efficacy, outcome expectancy and behavioral intentions of the students. The data consists of the results of 131 first-year accounting students, and this paper contributes by helping to pinpoint two self-efficacy techniques to improving students’ communication skills: ‘personal mastery’ and ‘mentor support’

Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable Disaster Resiliency Model for Flood-Vulnerable Communities in Davao City, Southern Philippines

Development and disasters are closely linked, but the cause-andeffect relationship between the two has been ignored in the past. Thus, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) observed that disasters were seen in the context of emergency response and not as part of long-term development programming. Over time, effects of disasters can seriously degrade a country’s long-term potential for sustained development. Vulnerable communities of Davao City in the Southern Philippines has experienced flooding that led to catastrophic results such as damage to property and loss of lives. Communities need to build its resiliency to respond to flooding and mitigate its negative impacts, while policy makers and leaders need to consciously and regularly review and update its existing policies to address gaps and promote effective community engagement. This paper highlights the results from the quantitative phase of the study to examine and analyze the respondents’ vulnerability, awareness, and perception of flood risks. A survey using multistage cluster sampling was conducted among 353 respondents from the top 5 flood-vulnerable barangays. Data from the key informant interviews and focus group discussions were also integrated to provide an in-depth explanation of the patterns emerging from the survey. Results of the study revealed that the vulnerability is associated with sociodemographic characteristics, experience in flooding, and responses to flooding. Moreover, risk reduction strategies can be further enhanced through risk communication management using a localized and participatory approach in the proper knowledge transfer of flood risk communication among the stakeholders involved. Community-based policies and well-defined communication processes must be strengthened to promote inclusive approach towards effective community-based disaster preparedness and management

The divergent nature of language performance and social use of language: An online scale for the Assessment of Language in Adults using Self-reported Skills (ALASS)

The Assessment of Language in Adults using Self-reported Skills (ALASS) is an online tool aimed at providing a rapid indication of skills at two levels: performance and social use of language. In Study 1, we have developed and validated a new tool with two objective measures: a lexical decision test and a grammaticality judgement test, completed online by 280 participants. Results show that ALASS is a good predictor of the outcomes for reaction times in the objective measures. In study 2, we have collected additional data to validate the social implications of ALASS, also showing a considerable explanatory power in this case, and strengthening the divergent nature of language when it is used with a social purpose against a more cognitive function (i.e. literacy and language production and comprehension). Considering its explanatory power for lexical performance, we believe that the scale has a potential applicability in the assessment of adults that could have missed a diagnosis of Developmental Language Disorder during childhood