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Comments Re: Draft NIH Intramural Research Program Policy: Promoting Equity Through Access Planning
Full text linkWe commend the NIH initiative to require that licensees of technologies that enable discovery or development of FDA-approved products arising from the NIH intramural program to include an Access Plan to promote “product affordability, availability, acceptability, and sustainability” and recognition that such protections are essential to ensuring a “return on taxpayers\u27 investment in biomedical research.” Recognizing the complexity of anticipating appropriate terms for products that are in pre-clinical or early clinical development at the time of licensing, we also support the proposal that the Access Plan be submitted in late-stage clinical development, though we argue that the start of pivotal clinical trials is too early and that the Access Plan should be submitted together with the NDA, ANDA, or BLA application for the first, as well as any subsequent, FDA approvals. We further argue that Access Plan should meet a reasonableness standard involving negotiation guided by symmetrical information in which both parties represent their broad interests based on the scope of their investment and their expectations for return on this investment. Finally, we provide preliminary estimates of the taxpayer’ investment in products that have been subject to NIH licenses, the NIH investment cost, and cost savings this spending provides to the licensees
Usage and Knowledge of Online Tools and Generative AI: A Survey of Students
Full text linkArtificial Intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT are poised to transform student and educator workflows in higher education. However, there is less documentation on the range of tools students in higher education use, how they use them and in coordination with other online tools for learning, and their expertise using AI tools. We present a mixed-method analysis of a survey conducted at a doctoral-granting university in the United States investigating the adoption of AI tools in the context of other technologies. The findings include how the students used GenAI tools in light of other on-line technologies, their perception of expertise on the topic, and how they gain expertise in using AI for educational work
Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program Draft Guidance
Full text linkThis comment focuses on Section 50.1, provisions 1 & 3 of the draft guidance regarding the negotiation of a “maximum fair price” under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), research and development (R&D) costs of the primary manufacturer, and prior federal financial support for novel therapeutic discovery and development. Specifically, we argue that a negotiated, “maximum fair price” must consider both public sector (federal) and private sector (manufacturer) investments and provide returns to both commensurate with the scale and risk of their investments. This comment addresses three issues and makes specific recommendations regarding each: In negotiating a “maximum fair price,” both parties may be expected to consider their investment and returns. Prior federal financial support for R&D may be estimated from the NIH investment in basic and applied research related to each product. The return on federal investment in discovery and development should be estimated as a social return on investment (SROI) based on elements of social value created by new drugs
OER Textbook Review for Economics - Principles of Economics, Openstax
Full text linkChiara Yates, an Adjunct Lecturer of Economics at Bentley University, reviews the OpenStax textbook Principles of Economics, 3rd edition in this comprehensive evaluation. The review assesses the textbook\u27s comprehensiveness, accuracy, relevance, clarity, structure, and digital interface. The reviewer finds the textbook to be a valuable resource for introductory economics courses, praising its comprehensive coverage, clear explanations, and engaging features. The textbook is praised for having regular updates, user-friendly digital platform, and additional resources for educators. While highlighting its strengths, Yates also suggests areas for improvement, such as including more content on emerging economic issues like digital currencies
Professional Identity Development in Large Public Accounting Firms During COVID-19 and Beyond
Full text linkProfessional identity is formed by understanding the set of traits and behaviors that help define the social expectations of individuals within a profession. Acquiring these traits and acting in accordance with professional norms allows an individual to feel connected to their profession and other individuals within their field. In public accounting, professional identity is formed through the socialization process. This process teaches new hires the necessary technical knowledge to complete job tasks and behaviors that denote overall professionalism such as proper work attire or polite interactions with clients. The COVID-19 Pandemic radically changed social norms in the accounting profession by necessitating remote work and by increasing focus on equitable treatment of employees. These shifts have the potential to change the traditional definition of professionalism with accounting. This dissertation seeks to understand how these changes to the work environment in the wake of COVID-19 are impacting the formation of professional identity for employees within public accounting.
This three-paper dissertation contributes to the literature by leveraging three unique data sets to explore the changing work environment within public accounting firms. First, I use data collected during the height of the Pandemic to examine the experience of new auditors in the remote environment and how this environment impacted their learning and development. I then use interviews with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual professionals to examine how the formation of professional identity can vary for different groups of individuals within public accounting. Finally, I collect data from multiple levels of auditing professionals to understand their perceptions of remote work as firms return to the office post COVID-19. By gathering data at various points during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic, this dissertation can highlight not only the immediate but also potential longterm impacts of COVID-19 on the profession.
The first paper (sole-authored) is a qualitative study that utilizes grounded theory methodology to examine junior auditors’ experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Through analyzing 25 semi-structured interviews, I find that the audit room is a key factor in the development of technical knowledge and professional identity for junior auditors. The audit room is defined as any shared space in which an audit team can physically be together and collaborate on their auditing tasks. For junior auditors, the audit room functions as a classroom, social hub, and physical barrier between personal and professional life. By fulfilling these roles, the audit room provides junior auditors with a space to develop the necessary technical and social skills to flourish within the profession. During the COVID-19 Pandemic the inability to access the audit room challenged junior auditors to learn, properly socialize within the firm, and separate work from professional life. Without the audit room, junior auditors were unable to follow the normal developmental path within the profession and thus faced increased difficulties in developing their professional identity.
The second paper (co-authored) examines the formation of professional identity across lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB), and heterosexual staff accountants. We collect qualitative data through 35 semi-structured interviews with staff accountants to examine how they form their professional identity across various periods within their careers. We find that professional identity formation begins during the recruitment process and continues during full-time employment. During these times staff accountants forge relationships with other professionals that help establish connections to the profession and their firm. For LGB staff, building relationships with their coworkers is more challenging due to their sexual orientation. Our data reveals that LGB staff perceive public accounting as a heteronormative environment, especially within leadership. Our interviewees believed that disclosing their sexual orientation could negatively impact their career opportunities within the accounting profession. These perceptions created challenges for LGB staff to bring their authentic selves to work creating additional barriers to the formation of a professional identity.
The third paper (co-authored) investigates how the COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted the perceptions of remote work within the auditing profession. Traditionally, remote work was a form of alternative work arrangement that was perceived to have negative impacts on one’s career within the auditing profession. However, remote work became necessary for all auditing professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic and firms are still in the process of their return to the office. Through 26 semi-structured interviews, we examine the perceptions of the current hybrid work environment. We find that three pillars of trust influence our participants’ perceptions and behaviors as it pertains to remote work. We find that auditors’ trust in the firm (firm level trust), in their coworkers (interpersonal trust), and themselves (intrapersonal trust) all impact how they view remote work within the profession. As trust diminishes within each of these pillars, auditors are more likely to be driven back to the office. Our findings expand the literature on remote work and professional development within the auditing profession
Columnas: The Honors Program Newsletter at Bentley University
Full text linkPage 1: WHY ARE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS SO HARD TO KEEP? By Sahil Raut ’27
Page 2: THE CAPITALIST INFLUENCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION By Kevin Heintz ’26
Page 3: THE IMPORTANCE OF MENSTRUAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT By Sid Goel ’24
Page 4: CAN TECHNOLOGY SOLVE EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITY? By Ariana Ramirez ’27
Page 5: DATA PORTABILITY CAN CHANGE THE DIGITAL WORLD By Kassidi Thompson ’27
Page 6: THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY By Peter Epp ’24
Page 7: THREADS OF BELIEF By Yudao Song ’2
OER Textbook Review for Calculus - Openstax Calculus
Full text linkThis OER textbook review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the Calculus textbook series published by OpenStax. The reviewer, Jing Hu, an adjunct lecturer at Bentley University, highlights the textbook\u27s strengths, including its thorough coverage of essential calculus topics, accurate and well-established mathematical principles, practical relevance, and user-friendly design. The open-access nature of the resource is seen as a significant advantage, contributing to its long-term utility and accessibility for both students and educators. Overall, the review concludes that the OpenStax Calculus textbook is a high-quality, comprehensive, and freely available resource that effectively supports the learning and teaching of calculus
Ongoing Efforts to Develop Open Climate Change Resources: An Interview with Dr. Tamara Shapiro Ledley
Full text linkThis article explores the significant contributions of Dr. Tamara Shapiro Ledley in developing open educational resources (OER) for climate change education. Through an interview with Dr. Ledley, the article highlights her journey from a climate science researcher to a passionate advocate for open access to scientific information. Dr. Ledley\u27s work, funded by prominent organizations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, and NOAA, has focused on creating and disseminating freely accessible resources to enhance public understanding of climate science. Key initiatives discussed include the Earth Exploration Toolbook (EET), EarthLabs, and the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN). These projects have provided valuable tools for educators and students, promoting climate literacy and combating disinformation. The article underscores the challenges of maintaining and funding open resources, emphasizing the importance of accessible education in addressing climate change and fostering informed decision-making
CLIC Newsletter - Spring 2024
Full text linkPage 1: Newest Language Partners: Martina Lucianetti
Page 3: Newest Language Partners: Luca Favaron
Page 5: Newest Language Partners: Isabelle Han
Page 7: Newest Language Partners: Cedric Ngando
Page 9: Recipes from Chile: Pebre and Sopaipillas
Page 11: Benefits of Multilingualism
Page 14: Event Recap: Francophonie Day
Page 15: Things to do around Boston
Page 17: An Overview of Chinese and Greek Architecture
Page 19: Interview with Tuyen Bui-Lally
Page 21: Hollywood Movies Stereotype
Page 22: Music and Culture
Page 23: Common Translator Errors
Page 25: Study Abroad: Interview with Jared Podrazik
Page 27: Resources for International Students at Bentley
Page 29: Day in the life of an Honors Student: Zoe Grondin
Page 32: Day in the life of an International Student: David Menache
Page 34: Day in the life of an Athlete: Juliette Rafuse and Matteo Bonati
Page 37: Restaurant Reviews by Sofia Flores
Page 39: Study Abroad: Interview with Catherine Velasquez
Page 41: Cultural Movie Reviews: Life is Beautiful
Page 42: Cultural Movie Reviews: The Last Emperor
Page 43: A Conversation with Dr. Rahul R. Divekar
Page 46: Cultural Movie Reviews: The Intouchables
Page 47: Cultural Movie Reviews: Under the Same Moon
Page 48: Study Abroad: Interview with Jaden Hecht
Pager 50: Event Recap: Spring Festival Gala
Page 51: Cultural Festivals: Diwali
Page 52: Cultural Festivals: Rio Carnival
Page 53: Cultural Festivals: St. Patrick’s Day
Page 54: Cultural Festivals: Medellin Flower Festival
Page 55: Multilingual Education: Intergenerational Learning
Page 58: Meet Nana Adu: Leading Inclusivity at Bentley University
Page 59: Chinese Student Work: 散⽂: 中⽂之美
Page 60: Our Staff
Page 62: Fall Course
The Ownership of Potato Boy: A Discussion on AI and Copyright
Full text linkSurprisingly, the copyright status of generative AI works is pretty straight forward in the US: no one owns the copyright. According to the United States Copyright Office (2023), “copyright can protect only material that is the product of human creativity. Most fundamentally, the term ‘author,’ which is used in both the Constitution and the Copyright Act, excludes non-humans.” This concept is not new as previous court cases had already established this ruling. In the 1884 court case Burrow-Giles Lithographic Company v. Sarony, the defendant made copies of a photograph and claimed the author held no copyright since a machine, a camera, had created the works. However, the court disagreed, believing that the author who photographed the image factored in framing, positioning, lighting, and design of the subject; thus, it was deemed an “original work of art” (Burrow-Giles Lithographic Company v. Sarony, 1884)