School Vouchers and Student Outcomes: Experimental Evidence from Washington,DC

School vouchers are the most contentious form of parental school choice. Vouchers provide government funds that parents can use to send their children to private schools of their choice. Here we examine the empirical question of whether or not a school voucher program in Washington, DC, affected achievement or the rate of high school graduation for participating students. The District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) has operated in the nation's capital since 2004, funded by a federal government appropriation. Because the program was oversubscribed in its early years of operation, and vouchers were awarded by lottery, we were able to use the “gold standard” evaluation method of a randomized experiment to determine what impacts the OSP had on student outcomes. Our analysis revealed compelling evidence that the DC voucher program had a positive impact on high school graduation rates, suggestive evidence that the program increased reading achievement, and no evidence that it affected math achievement. We discuss the implications of these findings in light of recent policy developments including the reauthorization of the OSP and the enactment or expansion of more than a dozen school voucher or voucher‐type programs throughout the United States in 2011 and 2012.     

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Forensic Applications and Considerations

This paper reviews the empirical literature on the use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (RF; Ben-Porath and Tellegen 2008; Tellegen and Ben-Porath, 2008) scales for the assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and PTSD comorbidity and discusses the use of the instrument in forensic contexts. We focus on prior work that has examined the association between the RF scales and PTSD, PTSD comorbidity, and the utility of the RF validity scales for detecting feigned symptoms of PTSD. We conclude that though the MMPI-2 RF scales show expected patterns of association with PTSD, their most useful application in the forensic arena may be in the identification of comorbid personality-based psychopathology, and in detecting symptom overreporting. We recommend that the MMPI-2 RF be used in the context of a comprehensive assessment that includes an exhaustive record review, detailed history with an emphasis on past trauma, and structured diagnostic interviews.     

Fault lines in China's economic terrain

When the research on which this paper is based began in late 2001, the working title was "Major Adversities Confronting China's Continued Rapid Economic Growth." Recognizing the frequently neglected but nonetheless important function of book titles, and after consultation with publicists both within and outside RAND including colleagues in China, the author and collaborators changed the book's title to the perhaps more appealing one affi xed to this paper, as well.1 The term "fault lines" refers to adversities, vulnerabilities, and obstacles to sustained economic growth, and these words are used synonymously in this paper.     

Sudden death associated with food and exercise

Exercised-induced anaphylaxis occurs in conjunction with significant physical exertion. Anaphylaxis occurring when an individual exercise within a few hours of ingesting a particular food is an unusual variant. Cardiovascular symptoms can be the sole manifestation of exercise-induced food allergies, in which case death may mimic sudden cardiac death during physical exertion due to other pathologic causes. We report the sudden and unexpected death of an individual following the ingestion of hazelnuts and almonds, to which the individual was not previously known to be allergic. The decedent collapsed during vigorous dancing. The death was not associated with cutaneous or laryngeal manifestations of anaphylaxis. Awareness of the variable manifestations of food-precipitated anaphylaxis is necessary to correctly establish the diagnosis. An elevated serum tryptase level may be indicative of an allergic reaction, and allergen-specific IgE levels may be used to confirm the particular antigen.     

Alligator attacks in southwest Florida

The American alligator inhabits bodies of fresh water in Florida and other southeastern states. Although attacks on pets are frequent, alligator attacks on humans are relatively rare because of the animal's natural fear of man. Because of the rarity of attacks on humans, the pathologic findings and pathophysiology of death in such cases have not been well characterized in the literature. We report three cases of fatal alligator attacks that occurred in southwest Florida, each with different pathologic findings and mechanisms of death. Although the cause of death in each case was attributed to the alligator attack, the mechanisms of death differed and included exsanguination because of amputation of an extremity, overwhelming sepsis, and drowning. These cases illustrate the varied pathophysiologies associated with deaths due to alligator attacks on humans and the features that distinguish alligator bites from those of other aquatic predators.     

Charred body: virtual autopsy with multi-slice computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

The correct examination of a charred body is a forensic challenge. Examination, interpretation, and conclusion in respect to identification, vital reactions, toxicological analysis, and determining cause and manner of death are all more difficult than without burns. To evaluate what can be seen in the case of a charred body, we made an examination with the new radiological modalities of cross-section techniques, via multi-slice Computed Tomography (MSCT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), prior to performing the classical forensic autopsy. In a charred body case of a single motor vehicle/fixed object collision with a post crash fire, the radiological methods of MSCT and MRI made it possible to document the injuries caused by burn as well as the forensic relevant vital reactions (air embolism and blood aspiration). In conclusion, we think postmortem imaging is a good forensic visualization tool with a great potential for the forensic documentation and examination of charred bodies.