Consumer’s Surplus: An Equity Measure of High Speed Rail Investments

An economic analysis identifies, measures, and compares the costs and benefits of alternative interventions, with the objective of supporting decisions concerning the best use of limited resources. The cost benefit analysis (CBA) has played a significant role within the entire decision-making process, and is the principal assessment methodology. In recent years, equity issues in relation to transportation planning have become a hot topic at an international level. In this paper, the objective was to integrate equity within the evaluation of transport projects, specifically high speed rail projects. Here, consumer surplus is conceived as a monetized measure of both direct and indirect benefits for all zones, and for all socioeconomic categories served and not served by HSR, respectively. The added value of this paper is in rethinking these two shares in the computation of the total net present value as equity measures of the project itself. Specifically, the distribution of the HSR benefits among the different groups or zones in a given study area can be computed, and a comparison of the values for each zone of the study area and for each category makes it possible to assess the effects of equity between zones/categories.

An evaluation toward the post-certification teacher performance in the natural history learning process for the elementary school degree

The study aims at describing the teacher performance in the Natural History Learning Process for the Elementary School Degree throughout the Province of Yogyakarta Special Region from the four competencies namely personality competency, professionalism competency, pedagogy competence and social competency based on the self-assessment, the principal assessment, the peer assessment, the student assessment and the observation toward the learning process after the certification. The nature of the study is an evaluative study using the descriptive quantitative approach. The study itself was conducted in both the Public Elementary Schools and the Private Elementary Schools throughout the Province of Yogyakarta Special Regions. The subjects of the study were the teachers who had been teaching Natural History in both schools who had passed the certification test in 2007 and 2008 and who had also been receiving the certification allowance. During the conduct of the study, the data gathering instruments that had been implemented were questionnaire, observation sheet and documentation. On the other hand, the data analysis technique that had been adopted was descriptive statistical analysis with percentage. Then, the results of the study show that the post-certification performance of Natural History teachers have been “Very Good” based on the personality, professionalism, pedagogy and social competency and also based on the results of the self-assessment, the principal assessment and the peer assessment. The details on the results of the post-certification teacher performance in this regard might be elaborated as follows: (1) personality competence 96.70%; (2) professionalism competence 76.40%; (3) pedagogy competence 83.30%; and (4) social competence 88.90%. Furthermore, the results of the student assessment assert that the post-certification of Natural History teachers belongs to the “Very Good” category with the assessment rate of 96.70%. Last but not the least, the results of the observation toward the teacher learning process also belong to the “Very Good” category with the following details: (1) pre-learning activities 93.30%; (2) core activities 93.30%; and (3) closing activities 73.30%.

Managing Asymmetric Information Effects in Decision-Making Productivity-Based Model

Making the correct decision requires the possession of sufficient information regarding each alternative possible solution. Nevertheless, the investigation of all possible solutions to select the best alternative is complex and expensive. This article addresses the Principal-Agent problem, where the key feature is asymmetric information. Asymmetric information approaches the decision investigations in a business context, where one participant possesses more or better information than the second party. The authors consider the case where the principal is more knowledgeable than the agent. The article proposes a formal model for assessing agent competence based on his productivity and the principal assessment. The model output helps the agent to make the correct decision.

PENILAIAN KINERJA KEPALA SEKOLAH

This journal discusses about the performance of the principal. Assessment is a systematic effort of collecting, organizing, managing and interpreting data, facts and information (which can be accounted for) with the aim of concluding the value or rating of one's competence in one type or area of expertise of the educational personality such as the principal. The performance of the principal is the work done by the principal in carrying out the main tasks, functions and responsibilities in managing the school he or she is in. Procedures to be passed in the performance appraisal are working procedures and work steps since the process of understanding the performance starts from composing instruments and piloting, collecting data, analyzing data and preparing reports. The results of the principal's performance appraisal are used to improve the professionalism of the principal.

Pediatric OCD

This chapter outlines the clinical presentation and course of pediatric OCD, discusses its etiology and phenomenology, and describes principal assessment methods for evaluation of symptoms. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often manifests during childhood and adolescence. Symptom presentation in children is similar to that in adults and is typically characterized by the presence of both obsessions and compulsions. Pediatric OCD is highly comorbid with other psychiatric disorders, and evidence suggests abnormal brain functioning in youth with OCD. The onset and progression of OCD in childhood have developmental implications, given the associated distress and interference with academic, social, and home functioning. Multiinformant and multidiagnostic evaluation, including administration of evidence-based semistructured clinical interviews and rating scales, is optimal.

Is there a BP benefit of changing the time of aspirin administration in treated hypertensive patients?

Background and design: The effects of aspirin on blood pressure (BP) are controversial and a chronopharmacological effect of aspirin on 24-hour BP was reported recently in otherwise untreated hypertensive patients. The study was designed to test the timing effect of aspirin dosing on 24-hour BP in treated hypertensive patients routinely taking aspirin for cardiovascular prevention. Method and results: Seventy-five patients were randomized into two groups. One group was to receive aspirin in the evening then in the morning for 1 month and the other group in the morning then in the evening, following a cross-over design. The principal assessment criterion was 24-hour systolic BP (SBP) measured by 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Patients were aged 65 ± 9 years and had been hypertensive for 12 ± 10 years. They were all taking a mean of 2.8 antihypertensive drugs and did not modify their treatment throughout the study. Of the included subjects, 70% were men and 33% were diabetics. Mean 24-hour SBP values were clinically equivalent and were not statistically different, depending on whether the aspirin was taking in the morning or evening (128.3 ± 1.4 vs. 128.3 ± 1.4 mmHg, respectively). Neither was there any significant difference in diurnal and nocturnal SBP or in 24-hour, diurnal, and nocturnal diastolic BP (DBP). Conclusion: It does not appear useful to advise patients with long-standing hypertension to modify timing of aspirin intake in order to reduce BP values.