[Review of] Susan Guyette. Community-Based Research: A Handbook for Native Americans

Community-Based Research has a clear sense of purpose: This handbook is intended as a practical research guide for an era of self-determination in community development (xvii). The author seeks to provide the means for research to be planned, designed, and implemented by community members with the research priorities set by the community that lives the socio-economic conditions, rather than by an outsider who studies the community for informational purposes (2)

Book review: Philosophy for life and other dangeroussituations by Jules Evans

In Philosophy for Life And Other Dangerous Situations, Jules Evans explains how ancient philosophy saved his life, and how we might all use it to become happier, wiser, and more resilient. Jules explores how ancient philosophy can inspire modern communities – Socratic cafes, Stoic armies, Platonic sects, Sceptic summer camps – and even whole nations in their quest for the good life. Jonathan Simmons finds that Evans successfully delivers in his attempt to bring a therapeutic model of philosophy to general readers, but has reservations about the author’s approach

Oakum picking in the twenty-first century

This paper deals with employability courses for young people who are not in education, employment or training. It critiques the nature of such training and draws comparisons between provision for NEET young people and that to which the poor were subjected to in the nineteenth century

The competency framework for surveyors compared to other professions in Queensland

This paper will look at whether competency framework as an instrument for registation and endorsement applies to other professions regulated by government legislation

An overview of adverse possession in Australia within the framework of the Torrens system of land registration and comment on a related court case

In October 2008, a decision was made in the Land Court of Queensland regarding an appeal against an annual valuation of land pursuant to the Valuation of Land Act 1944 (Qld). Aside from the fundamental issue regarding valuation of the subject land, the case, Tardent v Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water [2008] QLC also raised issues regarding adverse possession and access by encroachment on land gazetted as a nature conservation reserve. Given that each state and territory adopted the Torrens system of land registration and within the framework of legislation for each state and territory a degree of uniformity of solution could be expected? Surprisingly if the scenario was applied to the other states and territories a wide variety of solutions is possible depending upon individual state legislation. The solutions range from easement creation to adverse possession to revocation of nature conservation reserve which emphasises the need for property law reform within the states and territories. The aim of this paper is to examine state legislation to determine the likely most probable solution for the states and territories given the elements of the case and the conclusion will highlight the desire for standardised state legislation and operation of the Torrens system of land registration

Characterization of the microstructural properties that are predictive of regain in strength in phosphate-deficient mice

Fracture healing occurs in a discrete set of steps, which recapitulates embryonic endochondral bone formation. Pathophysiologies of the fracture healing that prolong the fracture repair or result in non-union may be associated with either environmental or congenital deficiencies. Phosphate deficiency resulting from either dietary or genetic perturbations can impede proper fracture healing and if prolonged can result in delayed union. The clinical assessment of regain of mechanical function is determined by measuring weight-bearing ability, palpation and various radiological approaches. These methods in general only provide qualitative evidence but are lacking in quantitative evidence of the regain in mechanical strength. The aim of this study was to characterize the microstructural properties obtained by micro-computed tomography of fracture calluses at various stages of healing and develop correlations between these structural parameters and mechanical properties that define regain of function. Transverse, mid-diaphyseal fractures were produced on the right leg in three different murine genetic strains—A/J (AJ), C57BL/6J (B6), and C3H/HeJ (C3). Each mouse was either fed a control or phosphate deficient diet that produces a hypophosphatemic state and generates an environmental state that impairs fracture healing. Those on a phosphate deficient diet were kept on this diet for 14 days post-fracture. Fractured limbs were studied at four different post-operative time points—14, 21, 35, and 42. These four time points were based on callus stability and various phases in callus development. Contralateral limbs served as a control, representing full regain of strength. Day 0 contralateral limbs were used for the control group. Contralateral limbs were imaged and torsion tested for each strain on both control and phosphate-deficient diets. The data reveals that in regards to bone volume fraction, bone mineral density, and tissue mineral density all three strains show a progressive return to non-fractured, control values but even by post-operative day 42 do not show a 100% regain in microstructural properties. While there are interactions between specific post-operative time points and the dietary restriction, by post-operative day 42 microstructural properties showed no significant differences between the two groups, suggesting that the effects of phosphate deficiency are reversible upon a return to normal dietary conditions. The AJ and B6 strains show significant interaction between post-operative time point and dietary restrictions earlier in the fracture repair process (post-operative days 14 and 21), whereas the C3 mice show these interactions at later time points, at post-operative 35 and 42 days. Phosphate deficiency induces an overshoot in mechanical properties at post-operative day 21 for AJ and B6 strains and at post-operative day 35 for the C3 strain that appears to be part of a process in which maximum torque and work to failure undergo a compensatory phase in which these two mechanical properties are significantly higher than in non-fractured, control limbs. The overshoot in maximum torque and work to failure is part of an adaptive process in which the callus first overshoots and subsequently returns to non-fractured control values. These results suggest that while microstructural properties and mechanical properties are often affected by diet, this is a reversible phenomenon, which holds implications for those with phosphate deficiency due to either a metabolic or dietary disorder. If normal phosphate intake and absorption are achieved by the period at which couple remodeling in initiated (14 post-fracture) the effects on microstructural and weight bearing levels are reversible. The slower healing seen in C3 mice evidenced by the later regain in microstructural and mechanical integrity may provide a model for patients whose fractures show delayed healing in the clinic. The microstructural properties discussed have the potential to play a role in the clinic to assess fracture healing. With the advent of greater resolution CT imaging assessing these microstructural properties can be useful in determining the progression of healing

Critique [of Depictions of Elderly Blacks in American Literature by Alice A. Deck]

Deck\u27s critical essay is a thoughtful and welcome commentary on the interrelationship between age, generational conflict and changing social standards as portrayed in literature about or by American blacks. The author discusses several important ways in which elderly are represented as mythic figures who embody personal experiential wisdom and a community\u27s cultural and historical heritage; as advisors, story tellers or sages who have acquired an air of reverence, the ability to endure and the means to impart the wisdom of the ages, and as the sometimes difficult, infirm or hostile representatives of another generation who would impose different, if not conflicting, social or moral standards upon the young. While these characteristics are attributed commonly, if not universially [universally], to the elderly in North American society, Deck\u27s analysis of elderly blacks in literature seems to be equally concerned with the status of the total black community, both within itself, and as it interacts with or is perceived by whites

Trusting an Abusive System: Systemic Racism and Black Political Engagement

Africana people in America have relied upon the utilization of political participation in order to address the economic and societal ills that plague its community. Africana people have made strides at all levels of the American government. Africana people were a vital voting block that helped to elect the first American President of African descent. However, studies have shown that the conditions of Africana people in America have not substantially changed since the Voting Rights Act of 1 965 was enacted. Africana political participation has not equated to socioeconomic equality on a large scale for the Africana community. Utilizing Feagin\u27s Systemic Racism Theory, this project looks to examine why solely relying upon the American political system is symptomatic of disagency for Africana people and argues that this dis-agency does not empower our people to seek solutions. It places the power to liberate in the oppressor\u27 s hands, thus maintaining the inequality that continues to exist in America. This article also argues for Africana people to look to themselves as the avenue for addressing the societal ills that it faces. It also argues that Africana people must be their own mechanism for liberation. In addition, the terms Africana and Black will be used interchangeably in the project because those terms are most readily identifiable to people of African descent living in America

Critique [of Economic and Psychic Exploitation of American Indians]

James Joyce once said that history is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake. This article by Gretchen Bataille and Charles Silet is part of our collective process of awakening. The first portion of this article recounts the psychological and economic consequences to the conquest and domination of American Indians by more recent immigrants from Europe, Africa, and Asia. However, one need not dwell upon the history or the tragic unpleasantness of these post-Columbian events. Instead, the focus here is on present blurry eyed attempts to live in and cope with a multicultural, twentieth century North American society