Gothic: A Field Journal

An undergraduate’s memoir about his experience as a summer researcher at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Colorado. The student explains his research in his own words and gives his thoughts on how he, the research center, and the other scientists there fit into the local and national society

An improved technique for the use of zinc-rich coatings

Blistering and peeling of topcoats used over ethyl silicate, inorganic, zinc-rich protective coatings are virtually eliminated when primer is allowed to cure outdoors for extended period of time and is moistened during process

Undertaking clinical audit, with reference to a Prescribing Observatory for Mental Health audit of lithium monitoring

Audit is an important tool for quality improvement. The collection of data on clinical performance against evidence-based and clinically relevant standards, which are considered by clinicians to be realistic in routine practice, can usefully prompt reflective practice and the implementation of change. Evidence of participation in clinical audit is required to achieve intended learning outcomes for trainees in psychiatry and revalidation for those who are members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. This article addresses some of the practical steps involved in conducting an audit project, and, to illustrate key points, draws on lessons learnt from a national, audit-based, quality improvement programme of lithium prescribing and monitoring conducted through the Prescribing Observatory for Mental Health

Civil society and the 'commanding heights' the civil economy: past, present, future

Civil society associations can run businesses and they can run organisations that aim to influence businesses. Together, these two sorts of association help to grow a civil economy. This paper, written for the Commission of Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society in the UK and Ireland, reviews the history of the civil economy and looks ahead to how it may come to have a greater influence in the future

Emerging resource flows for social entrepreneurship; theorizing social investment

In the UK and elsewhere, a ‘market’ in social investment has been developing rapidly over the last 10-15 years, yet there has not been an academic study of the phenomenon to date. This paper aims to address this important gap in social entrepreneurship research. Empirically, the aim of this paper is to outline the nature, scale, and forms of these financial flows. Theoretically, the aim is to conceptualize social investment and build an analytic model of its different orientations. The paper suggests three future scenarios for social investment that blend, in different combinations, instrumental and substantive rationalities and logics

Making deeper sense in the midst of great busyness: a study of and with third sector CEOs

This paper provides the background to a study from which sample findings will be presented and discussed at the ARVOVA 2008 conference in Philadelphia. It explains the origins and aims of a continuing collaborative inquiry with third sector Chief Executives, gives a summary history of the project, and describes the methodological issues involved in doing 'twin-track' research – that is, research aimed at producing both practice knowledge and formal theory

Do fat tails matter in GARCH estimation? Testing market efficiency in two transition economies

The use of the GARCH-class of models is commonplace when examining stockmarket returns. In this paper we use data on stock markets in two transitioneconomies, the Czech Republic and Romania, to demonstrate the importance ofusing the correct GARCH specification. When residuals are characterised by ‘fattails’ or kurtosis, the use of a GARCH-t specification is appropriate. Diagnostictests suggest that the GARCH-t specification is appropriate for modelling stockmarket returns in Romania, whilst the standard GARCH specification is adequatefor the Czech Republic. Using a standard GARCH specification leads torejection of the null hypothesis of market efficiency in Romania, whereas thisnull hypothesis cannot be rejected using the GARCH-t specification. The nullhypothesis of efficiency cannot be rejected in the Czech Republic using eitherspecification. Thus, we find that the presence of ‘fat tails’ can have importantimplications for inference in the analysis of stock market returns