Potential for significant reductions in dropout rates: Analysis of an entire 3rd grade state cohort

Nineteen percent of 1997–98 North Carolina 3rd graders were observed to drop out of high school. A series of logits predict probabilities of dropping out on determinants such as math and reading test scores, absenteeism, suspension, and retention, at the following grade levels: 3rd, 5th, 8th, and 9th. The same cohort and variables are used to estimate benefits to the 15,737 students admitted to a special program ostensibly for academically and intellectually gifted children. I estimate the probability of admission for schoolmates with similar ability in math and reading to be substantially higher for those from upper income households. Finally, I conclude that extending similar resources to an equal number of high-risk students, as determined by their 3rd grade predicted probabilities, would lead to a 25% reduction in the total cohort dropout rate, and that even dividing existing resources between the two groups could cut dropout rates by half that.     

心灵之旅——探索《纳尼亚传奇》的“第二世界”

近些年来,很多奇幻电影引进中国,例如:《哈利波特》《指环王》《纳尼亚传奇》等等。这些作品都受到中国观众的欢迎,而且越来越多的读者开始关注这些作品的原著。《纳尼亚传奇》是C.S.路易斯创作的有名的系列作品。本文将在"第二世界"理论下探索这部作品,这部系列作品也回答了人类心灵的三大疑问。     

新建高校教学档案管理的问题分析与系统设计研究

针对新建高校教学档案的收集、整理、使用等环节中存在的不足,本文设计重在改进教学档案管理信息系统。本系统实现了通用接口对其它业务系统数据的抽取,实现档案数据的自动形成与整理,和多种方式的共享查询利用;重点阐述了该系统的设计方案和模块结构。该系统实际运行数据表明,达到了提高高校教学档案管理工作水平的预期目标。     

《夏日》里的多重声音

库切的小说《夏日》创造性地运用了多角度叙述的方法,形成了多重声音的交响。在多重声音中,女性由沉默的他者变为话语的主体,男性话语沦为陪衬,真相趋向多元化。更重要的是,故事的主角已故作家“库切”以及南非社会,在多重声音的辉映下得以立体呈现,并无绝对的价值判断,体现出库切一贯的关于自传写作的观点：自传也是一种故事叙述。     

Jboss4事务分析及基于DTP原型系统的设计与实现

本文主要分辛斤Jboss4分布式事务机制，并利用这一机制实现了路JVM的DTP原型系统的设计与应用。     

公平正义与社会和谐

公平正义在社会主义和谐社会的构建中起着基础性的重要作用,表现在二者的多重关系之中。由此而生的又一规定性是,公平正义是和谐状态的深刻本质,和谐状态是公平正义的外在表现。罗尔斯的“正义论”具有启发性意义。公平正义应植于人的心灵与良知深处,这方面,中国优秀传统文化为我们提供了宝贵而丰厚的资源。     

三元智能理论和学生的个体发展

斯腾伯格在著名的三元智力理论中，把人的思维模式分成批判——分析性思维、创造——综合性思维和使用——情境性思维。事实上,这三种模式同样重要，没有哪一种能够替代其他两种。在我们的教育中,传统的教育检测手段和课堂教学形式往往只重视发展了学生的分析性思维，对于创造性思维的检测是很难达到的，而对于实用性思维的培养和检测则甚至是忽视的，这些造成了教育的片面化，阻碍了学生的正常全面的发展。     

基于J2EE的Web服务体系结构的研究

Web服务(Web Services)是目前程序设计领域中的一项新技术，是一个崭新的分布式计算模式。它在不同系统平台之间具有互操作性，同时可通过因特网实现不同应用程序之间的远程过程调用。在Web服务体系中，使用WSDL来描述服务，UDDI来发布查找服务，而SOAP用来执行服务调用，WSFL则将分散的、功能单一的Web服务组织成一个复杂的应用。     

Embryonic stem cells and their genetic modification Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine 2007

The derivation of embryonic stem cells from mice and the development of techniques that allow for targeted manipulation of its genome have allowed for the generation of mice with desired mutations. This is what led to the announcement in Stockholm in 2007 — “The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute today decided to award the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2007 jointly to Mario R Capecchi, Martin J Evans and Oliver Smithies for their discoveries of Principles for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by the use of embryonic stem cells”. Martin J Evans was recognised for his derivation and establishment of mouse embryonic stem cells while Mario Capecchi and Oliver Smithies were honoured for techniques that allowed site-specific modification of sequences within the genome of these cells. Such cells were then used to generate animals that had their genome altered specifically and at desired locations. For this valuable body of work, all three shared the prize equally. To date, almost half of the genes in the mouse genome have been modified using their techniques. This has led to a better understanding of mammalian physiology, development and diseases. Mitradas M. Panicker is on the faculty of the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India. His research interests include stem cells, serotonin and its receptors and neurobiology.     

Management by results: Student evaluation of faculty teaching and the mis-measurement of performance

Using data on 4 years of courses at American University, regression results show that actual grades have a significant, positive effect on student evaluations of teaching (SETs), controlling for expected grade and fixed effects for both faculty and courses, and for possible endogeneity. Implications are that the SET is a faulty measure of teaching quality and grades a faulty signal of future job performance. Students, faculty, and provost appear to be engaged in an individually rational but socially destructive game of grade inflation centered on the link between SETs and grades. When performance is hard to measure, pay-for-performance, embodied by the link between SETs and faculty pay, may have unintended adverse consequences.