Research ethics review for the use of anonymized samples and data: A systematic review of normative documents

While the anonymization of biological samples and data may help protect participant privacy, there is still debate over whether this alone is a sufficient safeguard to ensure the ethical conduct of research. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine whether the review of an ethics committee is necessary in the context of anonymized research, and what the considerations in said ethics review would be. The review of normative documents issued by both national and international level organizations reveals a growing concern over the ability of anonymization procedures to prevent against reidentification. This is particularly true in the context of genomic research where genetic material’s uniquely identifying nature along with advances in technology have complicated previous standards of identifiability. Even where individual identities may not be identifiable, there is the risk of group harm that may not be protected by anonymization alone. We conclude that the majority of normative documents support that the review of an ethics committee is necessary to address the concerns associated with the use of anonymized samples and data for research.     

Socially and privately optimal shareholder activism

This paper aims to evaluate the private and social gains of shareholder activism in an optimal contracting framework involving dispersed shareholders who may become active. The social gains are based on the welfare to stake holders in the firm, whereas the private gains are based on shareholder wealth only. Active shareholders influence the contracting game with the CEO, and therefore also the size and the distribution of the surplus to be split between the shareholders and the CEO. Although the model is very simple and focussing on the creation and distribution of welfare between the shareholders and the CEO, we nonetheless identify surprising divergence between the private and social profitability of shareholder activism. Shareholder activism that is privately profitable is not necessarily socially profitable. The distributional effects of shareholder activism may dominate the efficiency effects to make shareholder activism a negative social NPV project.      

Testing Hypotheses in the Functional Linear Model

The functional linear model with scalar response is a regression model where the predictor is a random function defined on some compact set of R and the response is scalar. The response is modelled as Y =Ψ( X )+ ɛ , where Ψ is some linear continuous operator defined on the space of square integrable functions and valued in R . The random input X is independent from the noise ɛ . In this paper, we are interested in testing the null hypothesis of no effect, that is, the nullity of Ψ restricted to the Hilbert space generated by the random variable X . We introduce two test statistics based on the norm of the empirical cross-covariance operator of ( X , Y ). The first test statistic relies on a χ ² approximation and we show the asymptotic normality of the second one under appropriate conditions on the covariance operator of X . The test procedures can be applied to check a given relationship between X and Y . The method is illustrated through a simulation study.     

On the interaction between heterogeneity and decay in two-way flow models

In this article, we examine the role played by heterogeneity in the popular ??connections model?? of Jackson and Wolinsky (J Econ Theory 71(1):355?C365, 1996). We prove that when heterogeneity with respect to the values of resources, or the information decay parameter, depends on the identity of the player who forms the link, and the player who receives the link, all networks can be supported as Nash. Moreover, we show that Nash networks may not always exist. Interestingly, in the absence of decay, neither result occurs in a model with value heterogeneity. Finally, we show that when reducing heterogeneity, all networks cannot be supported as Nash, and the non-existence problem also disappears.     

There goes our family friendly neighborhood: Residents’ perceptions of institutionally driven inner-city revitalization in Buffalo,NY

This article examines residents’ perceptions of inner-city revitalization in legacy cities. The analysis focuses on neighborhoods undergoing revitalization in a legacy city, Buffalo, NY. The article draws from data for a larger research project called Turning the Corner which was sponsored by the Urban Institute. The focus of that project was to identify planning strategies to address negative externalities caused by neighborhood change and heightened risks of displacement due to revitalization. Data were collected through a series of focus groups with residents and stakeholders in working-class, minority neighborhoods which were identified as being in the early stages of revitalization. Two findings emerged from the analysis. First, residents perceived urban revitalization to have a destabilizing effect on traditional neighborhoods. Second, residents perceived revitalization as detrimental to the sustainability of family-friendly neighborhoods. Insights from the analysis are used to prompt planners’ advocacy for revitalization strategies aimed at protecting minority, working-class neighborhoods when institutionally driven revitalization occurs.