‘Our brothers who went to the bush’ : Post-identity conflict and the experience of reconciliation in Sierra Leone

Peer reviewedPostprin

Anaemia and cognitive function among Chinese elderly in Old Folks Homes

The relationship between anaemia and cognitive function was evaluated among 35 Chinese elderly (24 men and 11 women) aged 60 to 85 years (mean age 70.1 ± 6.7 years) from five old folks homes in Klang Valley. They were interviewed to obtain information on social and health status, habitual dietary intake and cognitive function. Hodkinson’s Abbreviated Mental Test was used to measure the cognitive function. Haematological indices which included Full Blood Count (FBC), serum iron, serum ferritin, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), serum folate and serum cobalamine (vitamin B12) weremeasured using an automated analyzer. Anthropometric measurements and clinical signs of anaemia were also examined. The findings indicated that the prevalence of anaemia as assessed using haemoglobin alone was 22.9%, while iron deficiency anaemia based on low serum iron, microcytic and hypochromic criterion was detected among 5.7% of the sample. Subclinical folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies were diagnosed among 34.3% and 8.6% of the subjects. However, there was no occurrence of megaloblastic anaemia. There was a positive correlation between cognitive score with mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) (r=0.547, p<0.01) and body mass index (BMI) (r=0.501, p < 0.01). All subjects with low haemoglobin and serum iron and approximately three quarter of subjects with folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies were classified as having cognitive impairment. In conclusion, subclinical malnutrition and anaemia may play a role in the deterioration of cognitive function in the elderl

Boston University Music Organizations, December 9, 2011

This is the concert program of the Boston University Music Organizations performance on Friday, December 9, 2011 at 8:00 p.m., at the Boston University Concert Hall, 855 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts. Works performed were Toccata Marziale by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Hammersmith by Gustav Holst, Festivo by Edward Gregson, Flag of Stars by Gordon Jacob, Adagio K. 488 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Hebrides Overture, Op. 26 by Felix Mendelssohn, Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Egmont Overture by Ludwig van Beethoven. Digitization for Boston University Concert Programs was supported by the Boston University Humanities Library Endowed Fund

Negotiations amidst Violence. Explaining Violence-Induced Crisis in Peace Negotiation Processes

Why do some incidents of violence change the course of peace negotiations? How can peace negotiations be put back on track after a violence-induced crisis? In this report, I argue that dramatic high-profile violence can have a powerful impact on the dynamics of a negotiation process , since it affects two important aspects that decision makers take into consideration when making crucial choices whether and how the negotiations should proceed: the consequences of peace as well as the consequences of continued conflict. On the one hand, violence may increase the fears of settlement, by adding to the mistrust between the parties or by inducing internal political divisions within a party. On the other hand, violence may serve as a reminder of the consequences of continued conflict, thus making the belligerents more determined in their attempts to pursue peace. In addition, the fears of continued conflict can compel the parties to take measures, which will alleviate the fears of peace, by building trust in the wake of violence. The fears of peace can also be reduced if there is certainty of where the process is heading and by the presence of third parties. The argument concerning fears of peace as an explanation to a violence-induced crisis is substantiated in an analysis of six high-profile acts of violence, in three negotiation processes aimed at solving an armed conflict: Guatemala (1991-96), South Africa (1990-94), and Sri Lanka (1994-95). I find that the decision makers' considerations about the consequences of peace, provide part of an explanation to why a negotiation process experience a crisis following a high-profile incidence of violence. In addition, the research indicates that a crisis can be prevented or managed if these fears can be reduced, through confidence-building strategies taken by the parties themselves and third party intervention

Exploring experts' views and perspectives on the enhancement of strategic environmental assessment in European small islands

Small islands have the attention of the international community because they are territories with unique features, and a pressing need for the enhancement of sustainability. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has characteristics that may promote the development and improvement of sustainability in these territories: (i) changing the mind-set, and the decision-making and institutional paradigm, (ii) facilitating cooperation and coordination between different stakeholders, and (iii) providing a framework for good governance and community empowerment. The scientific literature suggests that there may be a need for context-specific SEA in these territories. However, SEA studies often do not incorporate local contextual information, including intuitive knowledge and sense of place. Therefore, there is a possible gap between what is found in the literature and what local communities think, including different stakeholders and experts. Hence, the main goal of this research was to gain an insight into the views and perspectives of small islands SEA experts about issues related to SEA in European small islands, including context-specific approaches, as well as the contribution of SEA for sustainability in these territories. To achieve the research aim, exploratory research using a questionnaire-based survey was designed, aimed at experts on SEA in European small islands. Findings showed regional cooperation networks may have a fundamental role when developing SEA-specific approaches in these territories. This is because SEA-specific approaches encourage a joint effort among islands within one region to improve SEA capacity-building, develop and share a baseline information system, and to share and exchange resources, overall. Also, guidelines are preferred among experts over more legal frameworks and regulations. Finally, the research showed that experts view SEA as a way to enhance sustainability in small islands. This study highlights the importance of integrating stakeholders, such as territorial experts, to learn and promote the use and improvement of environmental and sustainability tools such as SEA

Images of Europeans: In-Group Trust and Support for European Integration. Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series Vol. 14 No. 3, March 2014

Prior research on citizen support for European integration does not consider how individuals’ evaluations of European nationalities are associated with support. This paper fills this gap by developing a political cohesion model based on social identity theory. I claim that the probability of supporting integration increases with greater levels of trust in fellow Europeans, which assumes to reflect their positive images. Also, trust in eastern European Union nationalities has the highest impact on the probability for support, followed by trust in the southern nationalities, and then northern nationalities due to the eastern and southern nationalities relatively lower economic development. Controlling for various factors, the ordered logistic regression analysis of the European Election Study (2004) data support these claims

Clinical Sociology and Preventing Nuclear War

This paper outlines major kinds of social science research, especially sociological, that have relevance for nuclear war prevention and that would be relevant to a variety of clients. Research that has been done as well as work that could be done to help prevent nuclear war are noted. The research topics are related to policy suggestions about lessening the risks of nuclear war. The emphasis is on research relevant to a wide range of US clients and who are not operating in a very short time frame