Exploring geographic disparities in broadband access and use in rural southern Illinois: Who's being left behind?

Recent literature about broadband telecommunications reveals two major areas that are not only globally gaining prominence, but are also demanding urgent attention from a research perspective. One of the key areas is related to the need to spatially evaluate the availability and deployment of broadband services, especially among urban versus rural communities. Another area of interest falls under the need for enabling broadband policies and strategies that address existing geographic disparities. These motivating factors shaped this research and provided a basis for defining three specific objectives, namely: (1) to identify locations with or without broadband access, (2) to identify underserved rural and inner-city markets, and (3) to determine whether university and community college towns can be used in the adoption and dispersion of broadband technologies in southern Illinois. Supply-side and demand-side data were collected and inputted into a Geographic Information System (GIS). Supply-side data included cable modem, digital subscriber lines (DSL), wireless, and fiber optic lines, while demand data included reported broadband requests from individuals without access (n = 439), students (n = 45,866), and higher education workforce (n = 5419). Using the GIS and statistical techniques, insightful maps of broadband infrastructure were created to illustrate areas of supply and demand so that governments and businesses can address existing gaps in consumer needs. Specifically, different levels of broadband access and use were mapped; different under-served rural and inner-city markets were identified so as to emphasize the dramatic economic impact on the business opportunities available to small business entrepreneurs. Also, different geographies of use and accessibility of broadband connectivity in the study region were synthesized to support decision-making. The resulting maps provided supply and demand marketing intelligence based on the geographic analyses of residential and enterprise sectors. These data can be used as a model to develop specific policy recommendations for a knowledge-based economy, specifically for the southern Illinois region or other rural communities in the United States.     

Pitfalls in an International Development (ID) Project Implementation: A Case Study in a Developing Country

Literature review noted that donor funded projects and programs are sometimes referred to as International Development: ID projects. ID projects and programs are often being provided for the developing countries like an emerging, developing or least developed country. Such projects and programs are under public sector development specifically designed for economic and social needs of developing countries. These projects or programs are either implemented by recipient governments under a bilateral (or multilateral) agreement with the donor country or through an ’implementing partner’ of the donor, frequently a non-governmental organization or professional contractor. The operating environment and culture of the host country also make ID projects different from traditional business projects and make traditional project management tools in the developed world less appropriate (Blunt and Jones, 1992). This sometimes provides big challenges to various project teams. The paper through a Case study approach evaluates an ID Chinese Government funding construction project and its pitfalls through qualitative research approach. Qualitative data was presented and discussed to provide an insight into major challenges in the implementation of ID project of such scale.     

从小盆栽到阳台花园

小时候,我特喜欢在长满野花的荒地上奔跑,那些酢浆草、野菊花漫山遍野,到处都是,蓬勃的生命力令人着迷。离开乡村,走进城市,看到了整齐的绿化树、花色一致的盆栽,规规矩矩,觉得毫无吸引力。但转念一想,     

独立漫画

什么叫独立漫画？在回答这个概念时,先说说我们平时接触的网络。在一些论坛,我们常常会发现有人将自己创作的漫画贴到网上跟大家分享;也有人建立了博客,定期更新,而内容就是自己画的漫画;甚至有人建立了网站,专门用来呈现自己的作品。这些有趣的的个体漫画成了互联网上的一道亮丽的风景线。     

The predictive validity of using admissions testing and multiple mini-interviews in undergraduate university admissions

The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive validity of a two-step admissions procedure that included a cognitive ability test followed by multiple mini-interviews (MMIs) used to assess non-cognitive skills, compared to grade-based admissions relative to subsequent drop-out rates and academic achievement after one and two years of study. The participants consisted of the entire population of 422 psychology students who were admitted to the University of Southern Denmark between 2010 and 2013. The results showed significantly lower drop-out rates after the first year of study, and non-significant lower drop-out rates after the second year of study for the admission procedure that included the assessment of non-cognitive skills though the MMI and the admissions test. Furthermore, this admission procedure resulted in a significant lower risk of failing the final exam after the first and second year of study, compared to the grade-based admissions procedure. Finally, students admitted through the MMI and the admissions test scored significantly higher on academic learning self-efficacy and critical thinking compared to students selected by grades. The implications for higher education admissions are discussed.