Courting Revitalization: Companionate Marriage and the Problem of the Landed Gentry\u27s Reform in Jane Austen

This paper investigates the flaws which Jane Austen sees within the landed gentry and examines how she uses the form of the courtship novel, with its emphasis on the heroine\u27s viewpoint, to both point out the gentry\u27s problems and pose a solution. Looking at Mansfield Park, Emma, and Persuasion together shows how Austen becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the landed gentry and changes her opinion of the necessary solution from endogamous marriage to exogamous marriage. Courtship and marriage provide the means for revitalization of the landed gentry, and through the implications of the heroines\u27 marriages Austen assesses the feasibility of her proposals for reform

The gerrymandering of educational boundaries and the segregation of American schools : a geospatial analysis

Despite steady and substantial decreases in residential racial/ethnic segregation since the 1960s, public school segregation is increasing steadily. As a result of these trends, schools, which have historically been less segregated than their surrounding neighborhoods, are now becoming more segregated than neighborhoods, underscoring the need for research on the ways in which educational institutions are facilitating segregation. Adopting a “student exchange” framework from the literature on electoral gerrymandering, this study provides initial empirical evidence examining how gerrymandered educational boundaries exacerbate or ameliorate patterns of residential segregation by “zoning in” certain students and “zoning out” others. Using a large, nationally-representative sample of 9,717 school attendance zones and 9,796 school districts, this study employs geospatial analytic techniques to investigate the effects of school attendance zone and school district gerrymandering on the racial/ethnic diversity of schools and districts. The effect of gerrymandering on diversity is assessed by comparing the characteristics of students residing in current boundaries to those residing in the “natural”, compact zone or district that would be expected in the absence of gerrymandering, operationalized as the equal land area circle of Angel and Parent (2011) and convex Voronoi polygons. Analyses reveal that, on average, both school attendance zones and school districts are gerrymandered to “zone out” more racially/ethnically dissimilar students in favor of more racially/ethnically similar students. As a result, schools and districts are significantly more racially and ethnically homogeneous than they would be in the absence of gerrymandering. While gerrymandering serves to segregate students of all races and ethnicities, it particularly serves to exclude blacks and Hispanics from predominantly white schools and districts, reinforcing the historical divisions between these groups. Indeed, estimates suggest that, on average, school attendance zones and school districts are 15% and 14% less black-white diverse, respectively, than would be expected if their boundaries were not gerrymandered. Findings suggest that the gerrymandering of boundaries adds another pernicious layer of segregation to public education institutions, which are already highly segregated by residency. The finding that the gerrymandering of school attendance zones and school districts serves to segregate underscores the importance of educational boundaries as a contemporary mechanism of segregation. However, findings also warrant some optimism. Because attendance zone and district boundaries are modifiable and subject to policy intervention, state standards for boundary compactness and rezoning efforts designed to create more equitable boundaries present cost-effective opportunities to achieve meaningful gains in integration. While changing school district boundaries is less politically feasible than changing school attendance zones, when such windows of opportunity arise, they have the potential to reduce school finance inequities and equalize educational opportunity while also increasing racial/ethnic equity.Educational Administratio

Recommended Training Practices to Prepare Pilots to Cope With Information Conflicts

As the next generation of flight deck information systems are being utilized on the flight deck, pilots now have greater amounts of information at their fingertips. Although redundant sources of information allow pilots to crosscheck, they also introduce the potential for information conflicts. There is a need to ensure pilots are trained to effectively evaluate, integrate and make decisions based on information from redundant, and potentially conflicting information. Based on findings from a literature, we present several best practice guidelines for preparing pilots to effectively respond to conflicting information. Based on data collected during a questionnaire study administered to a large sample of pilots, and a simulation-based study with B737 pilots, we transformed these guidelines into training recommendations for the pilot training community and provide use case examples of how these recommendations could be implemented

Recommended Training Practices to Prepare Pilots to Cope with Information Conflicts

As the next generation of flight deck information systems are being utilized on the flight deck, pilots now have greater amounts of information at their fingertips. Information that was typically available only from certified information sources in aircraft panels, is now being provided by a range of sources, both within the panel and on Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs). Although redundant sources of information provide pilots a means by which to crosscheck and hone in on ground truth, they also introduce the potential for pilots encountering conflicting information. As conflicting information can have negative effects on decision making, there is a need to ensure pilots are trained to effectively evaluate, integrate and make decisions based on information from redundant, and potentially conflicting information. Based on findings from the literature, we present several best practice guidelines for preparing pilots to effectively respond to situations in which they will be faced with redundant and potentially conflicting information. Based on data collected during a questionnaire study administered to a large sample of airline, corporate and general aviation pilots, and a simulation-based study with B737 airline pilots, we operationalize these guidelines into specific training recommendations for the pilot training community and provide use case examples of how these recommendations would be implemented in both commercial and general aviation contexts

Examining Pilot Response to Cybersecurity Events on the Flight Deck

Cybersecurity is a growing concern in the aviation industry. In general, cybersecurity research has typically focused on providing technical solutions such as hardening networks and improving computer systems, with little focus on the human operator. Human operators, such as pilots, are often the last line of defense; however, it is currently unclear whether pilots can recognize cybersecurity vulnerabilities, detect when a system is being compromised, and respond appropriately to a cybersecurity event. A review of literature revealed three key stages in cybersecurity response decision process (susceptibility, detection, and response) that are influenced by eight separate factors (perceived susceptibility, perceived safeguard cost/ effectiveness, system trust, system reliability, system knowledge, cybersecurity knowledge/ experience, saliency of cybersecurity event, and system transparency). This framework was examined within the aviation domain by administering a questionnaire to a large sample of airline, corporate and general aviation pilots and conducting a simulator study with a medium size sample of B737 airline pilots. This presentation will describe the methods and findings associated with these two efforts, along with implications and guidance for the aviation industry

Effect of Postural Position and Utensil Use on Stimulated Pill Swallows

The study set out to determine if different postural positions influence the perceived effort of swallowing and sip size taken during simulated pill swallows. The questions driving this analysis were based on the clinical observations and standard nursing practices for medication administration to patients in reclining hospital beds. Nurses state there is no standard oral medication protocol for safe swallowing practices in patients with dysphagia. 22 participants were recruited and instructed to swallow one or two gel capsules at 6 conditions with cup and straw use. Water in grams was measured before and after swallows

An applied framework for Positive Education

The increasing momentum of the Positive Psychology movement has seen burgeoning research in positive mental health and adaptive functioning; a critical question is how this knowledge can now be applied in real-world settings. Positive Education seeks to combine principles of Positive Psychology with best-practice teaching and with educational paradigms to promote optimal development and flourishing in the school setting. Interest in Positive Education continues to grow in line with increasing recognition of the important role played by schools in fostering wellbeing, and the link between wellbeing and academic success. To date, however, a framework to guide the implementation of Positive Education in schools has been lacking. This paper provides an overview of the Geelong Grammar School (GGS) Model for Positive Education, an applied framework developed over five years of implementing Positive Education as a whole-school approach in one Australian school. Explicit and implicit teaching in combination with school-wide practices target six wellbeing domains, including positive emotions, positive engagement, positive accomplishment, positive purpose, positive relationships, and positive health, underpinned by a focus on character strengths. The Model provides a structured pathway for implementing Positive Education in schools, a framework to guide evaluation and research, and a foundation for further theoretical discussion and development

Examining Pilot Decision Making in Information-Rich Cockpits

Pilots are faced with making decisions based on a range of different information sources. One challenge pilots often face is the presentation of conflicting information between sources. This effort examined pilot decision making with conflicting information by conducting structured interviews with 13 pilots, including seven airline, three corporate, and three GA pilots. Pilots were asked questions regarding their experience with conflicting sources of weather, traffic, and navigation information on the flight deck or cockpit. Further, they were asked to describe how they responded to the information conflict, including which source they trusted, which source they ultimately acted on, and why they acted on that source. This paper describes the methods, results and implications for commercial and military aviation

A Man with an Umbilicated Papule of the Hand: What Is Your Diagnosis?

Introduction. Ecthyma contagiosum is a zoonotic disease caused by the parapoxvirus that causes “sore mouth” in sheep and goats and orf in human. Case Presentation. A 61-year-old sheep farmer presented with a painful non-pruritic lesion on the left hand that had been present for approximately 5 weeks. Physical examination demonstrated a 1 cm pearly, umbilicated papule with raised borders. A biopsy showed an asymmetrical nodule with parakeratotic crust and acanthosis with thin epidermal strands extending deeply in the underlying dermis. Marked edema, capillary proliferation and extensive lymphocytic infiltration was also present. One red intranuclear inclusion was identified in an epidermal keratinocyte. A diagnosis of human orf (ecthyma contagiosum) was made. Conclusion. Infected sheep and freshly vaccinated sheep or goats are the reservoir for human infection. After an incubation period of 3–7 days, parapoxvirus infections produce 1–3 painful lesions measuring 1-2 cm in diameter. The natural history of the disease is complete resolution and no treatment is indicated. Prevention of echthyma contagiosum in ruminants through vaccination is thought to be the best way to control infection