Effective Practice with e-Portfolios

Effective Practice with e-Portfolios, one in a series of Effective Practice guides, uses the outcomes of recent significant projects and examples from current practice to explore how e-portfolios can add value to personalised and reflective models of learning. Drawing on the work of key national agencies and organisations and on excellent practice and recent initiatives by institutions and professional bodies, the guide illustrates a wide variety of e-portfolio use across further, higher and continuing education.

Consumption and portfolio rules whit stochastic hyperbolic discounting

We extend the classic Merton (1969, 1971) problem that investigates the joint consumption-savings and portfolio-selection problem under capital risk by assuming sophisticated but time-inconsistent agents. We introduce stochastic hyperbolic preferences as in Harris and Laibson (2013) and find closed-form solutions for Merton's optimal consumption and portfolio selection problem in continuous time. We find that the portfolio rule remains identical to the time-consistent solution with power utility and no borrowing constraints. However,the marginal propensity to consume out of wealth is unambiguously greater than the time-consistent, exponential case and,importantly, it is also more responsive to changes in risk. These results suggest that hyperbolic discounting with sophisticated agents offers promise for contributing to explaining important aspects of asset market data.

Gulf menhaden, Brevoortia patronus, Purse Seine Fishery, 1974-85, with a brief discussion of age and size composition of the landings

Routine biostatistical port sampling data and landings records collected from the gulf menhaden purse seine fishery between 1974 and 1985 are updated. During most of the period, a total of 11 menhaden reduction plants operated in Mississippi and Louisiana, and the number of vessels in the purse seine fleet varied from 71 to 82. Total annual landings ranged from 447,100 metric tons in 1977 to the record landings for the fishery of 982,800 metric tons in 1984. Age-I and -2 gulf menhaden annually comprised almost 96% of the landings. Estimated total numbers of menhaden landed varied from 4,510.5 million in 1975 to 11,154.9 million in 1985. Annual mean lengths and weights of sampled fish-at-age showed lillie variation. Nominal or observed fishing effort gradually increased through Ihe 1970s and 1980s, reaching 655,800 vessel-ton-weeks in 1983. (PDF file contains 14 pages.)

The effect of replacement of soyabean meal with blood meal on the growth of mudfish Clarias anguillaris (L) fingerlings

Blood meal and full fat soyabean meal were mixed in different proportions to give 0%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90% and 100% meal in the protein fraction of the diet and fed to Claria anguillaris fingerlings in floating hapas. The growth performance of the fingerlings were monitored for 84 days. At the end of the experiment the mean weight of the fingerlings increased in the level of blood meal up to 50% blood meal in the diet after which there was a decline in the mean weight of the fish. This same level of blood meal gave the best specific growth rate, feed conversion efficiency and protein efficiency ratio. Thus the nutritive value of blood meal was enhanced by the addition of an equal level of full fat soyabean meal in the diet

On the Mumford-Tate conjecture for Abelian varieties with reduction conditions

In this thesis we study Galois representations corresponding to abelian varieties with certain reduction conditions. We show that these conditions force the image of the representations to be "big," so that the Mumford-Tate conjecture (:= MT) holds. We also prove that the set of abelian varieties satisfying these conditions is dense in a corresponding moduli space.

The main results of the thesis are the following two theorems.

Theorem A: Let A be an absolutely simple abelian variety, End° (A) = k : imaginary quadratic field, g = dim(A). Assume either dim(A) ≤ 4, or A has bad reduction at some prime ϕ, with the dimension of the toric part of the reduction equal to 2r, and gcd(r,g) = 1, and (r,g) ≠ (15,56) or (m -1, m(m+1)/2). Then MT holds.

Theorem B: Let M be the moduli space of abelian varieties with fixed polarization, level structure and a k-action. It is defined over a number field F. The subset of M(Q) corresponding to absolutely simple abelian varieties with a prescribed stable reduction at a large enough prime ϕ of F is dense in M(C) in the complex topology. In particular, the set of simple abelian varieties having bad reductions with fixed dimension of the toric parts is dense.

Besides this we also established the following results:

(1) MT holds for some other classes of abelian varieties with similar reduction conditions. For example, if A is an abelian variety with End° (A) = Q and the dimension of the toric part of its reduction is prime to dim( A), then MT holds.

(2) MT holds for Ribet-type abelian varieties.

(3) The Hodge and the Tate conjectures are equivalent for abelian 4-folds.

(4) MT holds for abelian 4-folds of type II, III, IV (Theorem 5.0(2)) and some 4-folds of type I.

(5) For some abelian varieties either MT or the Hodge conjecture holds.

The politics of participation: Evaluating stakeholder equity in co-management regimes

Within natural resource management, there is increasing criticism of the traditional model of top-down management as a method of governance, as researchers and managers alike have recognized that resources can frequently be better managed when stakeholders are directly involved in management. As a result, in recent years the concept of co-management of natural resources, in which management responsibilities are shared between the government and stakeholders, has become increasingly popular, both in the academic literature and in practice. However, while co-management has significant potential as a successful management tool, the issue of equity in co-management has rarely been addressed. It is necessary to understand the differential impacts on stakeholders of co-management processes and the degree to which diverse stakeholders are represented within co-management. Understanding the interests of various stakeholders can be a way to more effectively address the distributional and social impacts of coastal policies, which can in turn increase compliance with management measures and lead to more sustainable resource management regimes. This research seeks to take a closer look at the concepts of co-management and participation through a number of case studies of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Caribbean. (PDF contains 4 pages)

Controllable group velocity of the probe light in a Lambda-type system with two fold levels

The group velocities of the probe laser field are studied in a A-type system where one lower state has two fold levels coupled by a control field. It is found that the interaction of double dark states leads to controllable group velocity of the probe field in this system. It can be easily realized, due to the interacting double dark resonances, that one of the group velocities at transparency positions is much slower than the other by tuning the control field to be off resonance. In particular, when the control field is on resonance. we can obtain two equal slow group velocities with a broader EIT width, which provides potential applications in quantum storage and retrieval of light. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Haematological response of Heterobranchus longifilis fed varying dietary protein levels

Hematological effects of feeding varying dietary crude proteins levels to one hundred and fifty (150) H.longifilis fingerlings was examined on biweekly basis. The fingerlings of mean weights 1.26g plus or minus 0.24g were stocked in eight hapa nets (1mx1m) at 15 fingerlings per hapa. Four experimental diets with crude protein; 35%, 40%, 45% and 50% coded diet 1-4 respectively were fed to the fish for 8 weeks. The blood sample was taken and examined for packed cell volume (PCV) total protein (TP) Hemoglobin (Hb), Serum album, Erythrocyte count (RBC), while blood cell (WBC) mean corpuscle volume (MCV) and mean corpuscle hemoglobin, concentration (MCHC). There was an increase in the values of the hematological indices studied with increase in protein inclusion levels. A higher positive correlation with no significant difference (P greater than or equal to 0.05) exists between the treatments RBC, WBC, Hb and TP. The best RBC (2.10x10 super(6) count/l). WBC (7.65x10 super(4) count/l), PCV (35.4%) and Hb (5.79mg/l) were presented in fingerlings fed 40% crude protein followed by 45% crude protein. The dietary crude protein of 40% is recommended for H. longifilis for sound and healthy condition

Cooperative and market-based solutions to pollution abatement problems

This work concerns itself with the possibility of solutions, both cooperative and market based, to pollution abatement problems. In particular, we are interested in pollutant emissions in Southern California and possible solutions to the abatement problems enumerated in the 1990 Clean Air Act. A tradable pollution permit program has been implemented to reduce emissions, creating property rights associated with various pollutants.

Before we discuss the performance of market-based solutions to LA's pollution woes, we consider the existence of cooperative solutions. In Chapter 2, we examine pollutant emissions as a trans boundary public bad. We show that for a class of environments in which pollution moves in a bi-directional, acyclic manner, there exists a sustainable coalition structure and associated levels of emissions. We do so via a new core concept, one more appropriate to modeling cooperative emissions agreements (and potential defection from them) than the standard definitions.

However, this leaves the question of implementing pollution abatement programs unanswered. While the existence of a cost-effective permit market equilibrium has long been understood, the implementation of such programs has been difficult. The design of Los Angeles' REgional CLean Air Incentives Market (RECLAIM) alleviated some of the implementation problems, and in part exacerbated them. For example, it created two overlapping cycles of permits and two zones of permits for different geographic regions. While these design features create a market that allows some measure of regulatory control, they establish a very difficult trading environment with the potential for inefficiency arising from the transactions costs enumerated above and the illiquidity induced by the myriad assets and relatively few participants in this market.

It was with these concerns in mind that the ACE market (Automated Credit Exchange) was designed. The ACE market utilizes an iterated combined-value call market (CV Market). Before discussing the performance of the RECLAIM program in general and the ACE mechanism in particular, we test experimentally whether a portfolio trading mechanism can overcome market illiquidity. Chapter 3 experimentally demonstrates the ability of a portfolio trading mechanism to overcome portfolio rebalancing problems, thereby inducing sufficient liquidity for markets to fully equilibrate.

With experimental evidence in hand, we consider the CV Market's performance in the real world. We find that as the allocation of permits reduces to the level of historical emissions, prices are increasing. As of April of this year, prices are roughly equal to the cost of the Best Available Control Technology (BACT). This took longer than expected, due both to tendencies to mis-report emissions under the old regime, and abatement technology advances encouraged by the program. Vve also find that the ACE market provides liquidity where needed to encourage long-term planning on behalf of polluting facilities.

Measuring the influence of customer-based store brand equity in the purchase intention

[EN] Store brands account for and important market share in the Spain and a further increase in expected in the next years due to the downturn. However, there is lack of research on store brand customer-based Brand Equity. This study attempts to propose an integrated model of Brand Equity in store or retailer brands, based on Aaker s well-known conceptual model. We propose a consumer-based model, including the main sources or dimensions of Brand Equity and considering the intention to purchase as a consequence. Based on a sample of 362 consumers and 5 store brands, structural equation modeling is used to test research hypotheses. The results obtained reveal that store brand awareness, loyalty along with store brand perceived quality have a significant influence on consumers intention to purchase store brands. Our study suggests that marketers and marketing managers from retailing companies should carefully consider the Brand Equity components when designing their brand strategies, and develop marketing activities in order to enhance their brands awareness.

Highly efficient Nd:YAG ceramic CW laser with 59.8% slope-efficiency

In this paper, a highly efficient Ti:sapphire end-pumped 1 at.-% Nd:YAG ceramic laser that is comparable in efficiency with Nd:YAG single crystal lasers has been developed. Optical absorption and emission spectra for Nd:YAG ceramics have been measured. With 673-mW pumping, 295-mW laser output at 1064 nm has been obtained. The laser threshold is only 13 mW. Deducted the transmitted light, the corresponding optical-to-optical conversion efficiency is 58.4%. The lasing characteristics of Nd:YAG ceramic are nearly equal to those of Nd:YAG single crystal.

Elements of Decision under Uncertainty with Applications

This work presents the basic elements for the analysis of decision under uncertainty: Expected Utility Theory and its citicisms and risk aversion and its measurement. The concepts of certainty equivalent, risk premium, absolute risk aversion and relative risk aversion, and the "more risk averse than" relation are discussed. The work is completed with several applications of decision making under uncertainty to different economic problems: investment in risky assets and portfolio selection, risk sharing, investment to reduce risk, insurance, taxes and income underreporting, deposit insurance and the value of information.

A efetividade do usucapião especial coletivo fundada da posse-trabalho sob a perspectiva filosófica da igualdade como reconhecimento

O presente trabalho versa sobre o usucapião especial coletivo, uma vez que o mesmo revela-se como um dos instrumentos jurídicos escolhidos pelo legislador para promover a efetivação de valores constitucionais, especialmente a função social da propriedade. O referido instituto encontra-se disciplinado nos arts. 10 a 14 do Estatuto da Cidade e tem por objeto áreas urbanas com mais de duzentos e cinqüenta m, desde que ocupadas por população de baixa renda para sua moradia, com posse qualificada com os requisitos do art. 183 da Constituição Federal de 1988, onde não seja possível identificar os terrenos ocupados por cada possuidor. Incumbe a ele, portanto, dupla tarefa, isto é, não apenas regularizar a situação fundiária, mas também permitir a urbanização de áreas ocupadas por população de baixa renda. Neste passo, encarecer-se-á a posse, como situação fática e existencial, de apossamento e ocupação da coisa, dotada de natureza autônoma, eis que por meio dela a pessoa tem possibilidade de atender às suas necessidades vitais, como a moradia e o cultivo, daí falar-se em uma posse qualificada, isto é, na posse-trabalho. Entretanto, é acurado salientar que, mesmo para que o Estado possa atuar no sentido de promover uma efetiva regularização fundiária via usucapião especial coletivo, verifica-se imperioso o reconhecimento daqueles que serão beneficiados pela sua atuação como titulares de direitos, isto é, como membros de igual valor da coletividade política. Desta maneira, aborda-se o tema do usucapião especial coletivo sob o prisma das teorias concernentes ao reconhecimento, mais especificamente, a partir do enfoque adotado por Axel Honneth e Nancy Fraser. Tais teorias consistem no fio condutor dos capítulos da tese e através delas busca-se superar a existência de diferentes classes e status sociais, bem como remodelar os paradigmas que culminaram nessa situação como forma de se efetivar e promover o direito à moradia.

Políticas da ação afirmativa e acesso ao ensino superior: os impactos institucionais da introdução das leis de reserva de vagas na UERJ

O objetivo desse trabalho de pesquisa foi realizar uma análise sobre o impacto institucional na política de acesso à UERJ, a partir da implementação da Lei n. 3542/2000, que destina 50% das vagas para alunos oriundos da rede pública de ensino e da Lei n. 3708/2001, que prevê 40% das vagas para pretos e pardos, com ênfase maior para afro-descendentes. Por meio dela, tive a intenção de contribuir com o debate sobre a agenda de ações afirmativas para a inclusão da população negra na universidade pública brasileira. De certa maneira, as políticas de ação afirmativa (AA) vieram problematizar o conceito de igualdade de direito, edificado a partir de experiências revolucionárias como nos EUA, França, Inglaterra, Índia, entre outros países. Essas políticas foram concebidas com a intenção de não privilegiar determinados grupos, mas assegurar para todos o mesmo tratamento perante a lei. O espaço da universidade escolhido para desenvolver a pesquisa foi o Conselho Superior de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão (Csepe) e o Conselho Universitário (Consun), duas instâncias fundamentais para a gestão da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, à medida que definem e deliberam sobre as políticas a serem implementadas pela Universidade. Nesses Conselhos, pude ler e analisar Atas das sessões do Csepe e do Consun realizadas no período de 2000 a 2003, assim como pautas das reuniões de ambos os Conselhos no período de 1990 a 2003. Por meio dessa leitura e análise, pude identificar singularidades do processo de gestão universitária, refletindo sobre o quanto os caminhos trilhados podem contribuir para a construção de alternativas de democratização do ensino superior público no país e como instrumento de combate ao racismo.

Discricionariedade e gestão de recursos públicos: a busca pelo valor justiça na definição de políticas públicas

O presente trabalho busca elidir o verdadeiro significa do ideal de justiça distributiva com vistas à criação de um paradigma ético apto a orientar a adoção de políticas públicas e, ao mesmo tempo, ser o vetor interpretativo da sua eficácia e resultados práticos. Com bases nas premissas teóricas assentadas na basilar obra Uma Teoria da Justiça de John Rawls, busca-se discutir qual é o verdadeiro significado da equidade onde os bens primários sociais são divididos de uma forma tão desigual e como a adoção de políticas públicas orientadas por uma vertente substantiva da justiça pode ser um novo paradigma apto a orientar esta dinâmica. Ultrapassada esta linha de argumentação inicial, o trabalho desdobra-se na busca pelo verdadeiro significado de meritocracia, assentada, ainda uma vez, na distribuição desigual de bens primários sociais ou, simplesmente, na divisão desigual de oportunidades. Nesta ordem de convicções, busca-se afirmar que para haver de fato- a meritocracia é necessário haver um ambiente que propicie igualdade de oportunidades para que cada indivíduo singular possa buscar desenvolver seus projetos de vida de acordo com seu esforço e talento individuais. Por fim, as políticas públicas distributivas podem ser o instrumento que materialize este ideal, desde que sejam orientadas por premissas que privilegiem a vertente substantiva da Justiça e que a partir de uma perspectiva crítica da desigualdade possam buscar a distribuição justa dos bens primários sociais.