Further Evidence of an Engagement–Achievement Paradox Among U.S. High School Students

Achievement, engagement, and students’ quality of experience were compared by racial and ethnic group in a sample of students (N = 586) drawn from 13 high schools with diverse ethnic and socioeconomic student populations. Using the Experience Sampling Method (ESM), 3,529 samples of classroom experiences were analyzed along with self-reported grades. Similarities and differences in achievement, engagement, and quality of experience among white, black, Latino, and Asian students were examined. The most marked differences found were between black and white students. Consistent with several previous studies, an engagement–achievement paradox was found in which black students reported higher engagement, intrinsic motivation, and affect in classrooms, but lower GPA relative to white students. A similar engagement–achievement paradox was found for students from low SES communities compared to those from high SES communities. Analyses also revealed racial and ethnic differences in the relationship of engagement with on-task behavior and contextual factors. Being on-task when in classrooms had a more positive effect on the engagement of black students relative to white students. The contextual effect of being in school versus home or in public on engagement was also more positive for black students than white students. Contextual factors and measurement issues are emphasized in the interpretation of findings and suggestions for future research.

Trajectories of Anxiety During Elementary-school Years and the Prediction of High School Noncompletion

Previous research has provided mixed results regarding the effect of anxiety on academic achievement. Building on this body of research, the present longitudinal study pursued two goals. The first goal was to describe trajectories of anxiety during elementary-school years. The second goal was to determine the predictive value of these trajectories on high school noncompletion after controlling for personal (i.e., gender, classroom behaviors, and academic achievement) and familial (i.e., sociofamilial adversity) characteristics. A community sample of 1,817 children (887 boys, 930 girls) participated in this study. Results showed that anxiety tended to fluctuate from kindergarten to Grade 6 for different groups of children. Furthermore, the result of a logistic regression analysis indicated that group membership for anxiety predicted high school noncompletion by age 20. As a whole, these findings suggest that considering heterogeneous developmental patterns of anxiety during elementary-school years appears quite useful for predicting an important outcome such as high school noncompletion.

From “partnership” to “principled pragmatism”: tracing the discursive practices of the High Representatives in the EU’s relations with the Southern Mediterranean

ABSTRACT

The EU’s relations with countries in the Southern Mediterranean have a long history as the region is of great strategic importance for the Union and its member states. The High Representatives of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy have been highly involved in shaping these relations, and this role has been officially strengthened with institutional changes brought about with the Lisbon Treaty. This article analyses the role of the HR/VPs in shaping the EU's foreign and security policy towards the region with an analytical focus on discursive practice. Drawing on insights from practice theory in IR and EU studies, the analysis traces continuity and change in how the Southern Mediterranean is described in the drafting of key strategic documents. The main finding is that EU foreign and security policy towards the Southern Mediterranean shows a high degree of continuity despite several crises and institutional changes, although the discursive practices have evolved. The article ends by highlighting a conundrum that the EU can be said to implicitly acknowledge: if authoritarian states in the Southern Mediterranean are inherently unstable, yet stable enough to quench the democratic aspirations of their people, then what should be the basis for EU actions?     

Psychedelic fungus (Psilocybe sp.) authentication in a case of illegal drug traffic: sporological,molecular analysis and identification of the psychoactive substance

In nature, there are >200 species of fungi with hallucinogenic properties. These fungi are classified as Psilocybe, Gymnopilus, and Panaeolus which contain active principles with hallucinogenic properties such as ibotenic acid, psilocybin, psilocin, or baeocystin. In Chile, fungi seizures are mainly of mature specimens or spores. However, clandestine laboratories have been found that process fungus samples at the mycelium stage. In this transient stage of growth (mycelium), traditional taxonomic identification is not feasible, making it necessary to develop a new method of study.Currently, DNA analysis is the only reliable method that can be used as an identification tool for the purposes of supporting evidence, due to the high variability of DNA between species. One way to identify the species of a distinctive DNA fragment is to study PCR products analyzed by real time PCR and sequencing. One of the most popular sequencing methods of forensic interest at the generic and intra-generic levels in plants is internal transcribed spacer (ITS). With real time PCR it is possible to distinguish PCR products by differential analysis of their melting temperature (Tm) curves.This paper describes morphological, chemical, and genetic analysis of mycelia of psychedelic fungi collected from a clandestine laboratory. The fungus species were identified using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mass spectrometry, HRM analysis, and ITS sequencing. The sporological studies showed a generally smooth surface and oval shape, with maximum length 10.1?μm and width 6.4?μm. The alkaloid Psilocyn was identified by mass spectrometry, while HRM analysis and ITS sequencing identified the species as Psilocybe cubensis. A genetic match was confirmed between the HRM curves obtained from the mycelia (evidence) and biological tissue extracted from the fruiting bodies. Mycelia recovered from the evidence and fruiting bodies (control) were genetically indistinguishable.     

The hybrid role of the High Representative in the security and defence field: more in 10 months than in the 10 years?

ABSTRACT

Despite a growing “momentum” on European Union (EU) security and defence, there are no academic analyses that aim to systematically assess the role of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission (HR/VP) in these strategic domains. This is surprising given that the HR/VP is one of the central actors in the complex institutional architecture of EU security and defence. To fill this gap in the scholarly literature and to contribute to a more fine-grained analysis of the two post-Lisbon Treaty HR/VPs, the article assesses Ashton and Mogherini’s mandates in these fields. This study is particularly relevant because the HR/VP’s hybrid institutional role may represent a unique analytical angle to investigate a formally intergovernmental sector, strongly shaped also by EU institutions’ authority over defence-industrial policy. Following these considerations, the article looks at how the two HR/VPs managed to navigate both the military and the defence-industrial dimensions of EU security and defence.     

日本知识产权高等法院

从20世纪90年代开始，日本经济就一直处于停滞不前的状态，日本总结其原因后提出了“信息创新时代，知识产权立国”的建设方针。知识产权施法改革也是日本知识产权立国的重要内容。2005年4月1日日本成立知识产权高等法院，统一审理知识产权民事和行政上诉案件，优化司法复审资源配置，有效保护知识产权。日本知识产权高等法院其实并不是一个独立的高等法院，它属于东京高等法院；但是它又是一个相对独立的机构，有自己的法院院长，有独立的法官和独立的专门委员。日本知识产权高等法院设置有其自己特色，如专门委员制度、大合议制度，管辖分为技术型案件和非技术型案件。结合日本知识产权高等法院的特点和我国知识产权法院发展的情况来看，日本知识产权高等法院模式对我国知识产权法院的设立及发展有一定的借鉴意义。     

通便灵胶囊质量标准的研究

目的:建立通便灵胶囊的质量标准。方法:以番泻叶、当归为对照药材进行薄层鉴别,采用高效液相色谱法进行含量测定。结果:大黄酸的平均加样回收率为97.16%,RSD=2.23%(n=6)。薄层色谱斑点清晰,阴性对照无干扰,专属性强。结论:该方法结果准确,重复性好,可作为该制剂的质量控制指标。     

建立廉价而高效的政府

“个人瘦则天下肥”,只限于官员的廉洁 ,是不够的 ;必须同时建立廉价而高效的政府。为此 ,要使权力与机构同时减肥 ,人员与职能精干 ,政府“瘦”而“精”,由全能政府转变为有限政府 ,由官僚政府转变为效率政府 ,为全民提供价廉物美的优质服务。     

“迎法入乡”与“接近正义”——对中国乡村“赤脚律师”的个案研究

在职业法律服务队伍加剧了法律系统与社会生活之间距离的时候,目前在中国一些乡村存在的“赤脚律师”铺设了一条“接近正义”的桥梁。赤脚律师主动的“迎法入乡”,并不仅仅是简单地在农村法律服务体制中发挥拾遗补缺的功能,而且是在乡村社会重建了“法律服务”的概念,即以长远的人情交换而非现时的金钱交易为基础的法律服务。因此,赤脚律师与单求经济利益的黑律师有着本质的差别,他们对中国的法治化进程以及公民社会的塑造具有重要的意义。但由于国家对乡村社会的治理方式与乡村社会自生自发的利益表达方式之间面临着冲突,所以,赤脚律师还面临着一些深层次的困惑,也即所谓“周广立式的困惑”。     

高技术立法规制问题的哲学探讨

近代以来 ,科学技术得到了迅猛的发展 ,而技术无疑是我们这个时代最引人注目的社会现象之一。由此导致体外受精 (试管婴儿 )技术、克隆人技术、人体基因重组技术等一系列高技术的出现。其中 ,任何一项高技术一旦运用于社会 ,就不单纯是一个技术问题 ,必定转化为社会、环境、法律、伦理、生态等问题。这不仅对社会、人们的观念造成极大冲击 ,也对人类生存提出了严峻挑战。如何利用法律 ,有效规范高技术就提到了议事日程。我国现有的科技法由于对科学、技术的本质没有深入的认识及立法的粗糙性 ,很难完成高技术时代的历史使命。因此 ,有必要从科技所涉及的最基本问题入手 ,经过哲学分析 ,对我国如何有效规制高技术提出立法建议