Early Reading Interventions: What Works?

The purpose of this study was to: 1) examine differences in the programs and practices employed in area schools to teach successful and unsuccessful at-risk students, 2) determine relationships among identified problems, reading interventions, and outcomes, and 3) present implications of the study for schools

Monitoring the evolution of income poverty and real incomes over time

This paper brings together two approaches to the monitoring of household living standards: the macro-economic (national accounts) analysis of aggregates and the social indicators based on household microdata (European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions [EU-SILC]). Both are essential. The national accounts are necessary to provide an overall perspective; the distributional data in EU-SILC are necessary to measure income poverty. The progress, or lack of progress, in reducing income poverty has to be seen in relation to what is happening to the level of real incomes. We begin with the EU-SILC-based headline at-risk-of-poverty indicator, and then consider its relation to the level of household real income as presented in the national accounts. Moving step by step, we seek to identify the reasons for differences between EU-SILC and national accounts measures of real incomes. From this, we make a number of recommendations about possible improvements in the underlying data and in the construction of the social indicators. The substantive results help illuminate the differing experience of the pre-crisis period 2005 to 2008 and the subsequent three year period 2008 to 2011 (income reference years)

Assessing the relationship between corporate environmental reporting and the embedding of corporate social responsibility in organisations

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Business.The present thesis aims to examine how Corporate Environmental Reporting (CER) could facilitate the embedding of change for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within organisations. The research is based on case studies of two for-profit Multi-National Enterprises (MNEs) in Information Communication Telecommunications (ICT), an industry sector with limited previous research into CSR and virtually none on CER. The empirical research involved interviews with employees and reviews of company CSR information. Underlying the research is a literature review of the key concepts used to study CSR and on how CER has been shown in previous studies to be effective in embedding change for CSR. Based on constructs utilised in previous studies, a multi-level framework across the organisational field, organisation, and internal company levels was used to structure the analysis of the data. The analysis of the results shows how CER can be effective in creating change for CSR. A two-way relationship is suggested, which varies from the relationships proposed in the literature to date. The need to develop a CSR approach, and to publish this in the CER, was seen to be based on the organisations’ perception of external pressures for CSR, despite the unexpected absence of stakeholder feedback. Once developed, this CSR approach then influenced organisational change for CSR and how CER could facilitate that change. The use of the multi-level framework assisted in the elucidation of the role of CER in embedding change at each level studied. At the organisational level, CER can create pressure on leaders by creating transparency of company CSR and associated performance targets, which leads to increased commitment to CSR objectives. CER was observed to support the companies’ specific approach to CSR, as well as supporting the performance monitoring and governance processes. Internally to the organisations, the implementation of the CER required processes that synergistically assisted change for CSR. Also at this level, key contributions to research were made by applying two concepts utilised for CSR although not widely used for CER. Firstly, as a discourse on CSR, CER acted as an input to the sensemaking process in favour of CSR. Secondly, the concept of agency was an emerging theme in the research. Here, CER was shown to be a tool agents can use to assist in change for CSR. The key element of the CER discourse that facilitated both these effects was the inclusion of endorsed management policy, targets and rhetoric on CSR, which was seen to counterbalance company messages based on the conventional financial paradigm of profit

A commentary on St. Augustine's De Doctrina Christiana book 2, chapters 1-40

The aim of the introduction and commentary is to explore the nature of the work, its sources and originality and the relationship of its pagan and Christian background, in addition to elucidating the text on certain points of content and language. The thesis is not, therefore, primarily a philological commentary. The introduction (including the supplement) consists of seven sections: A. The Date of the De Doctrina Christiana B. The Place of the De Doctrina Christiana in Augustine's Thought C. Augustine, Patristic Exegesis and the De Doctrina Christiana 1. The Aim of the De Doctrina Christiana 2. Augustine's Theory of Signs 3. Language 4. The Manuscripts The conclusions are: A. Books 1.3-3.35 were written in 396/7 and books 3.35 - end of 4 in 426/7. The prologue was probably written in 396/7. B. It was quite natural for Augustine to begin writing on biblical interpretation and its presentation in 396/7 with his renewed interest in Scripture and to complete the work in his old age on discovering it unfinished. C. Augustine follows the general patristic approach to exegesis whereby Scripture is interpreted literally and figuratively. The D.C. does not provide a formal source for the mediaeval concept of the 'Four Senses' of Scripture. 1. The work is aimed at anyone involved in the serious study of Scripture and the proclamation of the Gospel. 2. The theory of signs indicates that in terms of structure the work is typical of technical treatises in antiquity. As regards content of the theory, there are various similarities with classical authors: but, although none of these provide a basis for the whole theory, the relationship to the works of Varro is such that it seems a more adequate solution to posit the final part of his De Lingua Latina as a major source, rather than follow the line of other scholars who credit Augustine with more originality. 3. The language and style are 'literary' rather than 'popular'. The Christian idiom is most evident in vocabulary, as one would expect, when Augustine is writing about specifically Christian topics. The commentary bears out these findings, showing Augustine making an eclectic choice between pagan and Christian elements to suit his own needs. Section 4 of the introduction warns against paying too close attention to the stemmata of the CC and CSEL editions: contamination is such that any attempt to organise the relationships of the manuscripts must be treated with caution

Report of the user requirements and web based access for eResearch workshops

The User Requirements and Web Based Access for eResearch Workshop, organized jointly by NeSC and NCeSS, was held on 19 May 2006. The aim was to identify lessons learned from e-Science projects that would contribute to our capacity to make Grid infrastructures and tools usable and accessible for diverse user communities. Its focus was on providing an opportunity for a pragmatic discussion between e-Science end users and tool builders in order to understand usability challenges, technological options, community-specific content and needs, and methodologies for design and development. We invited members of six UK e-Science projects and one US project, trying as far as possible to pair a user and developer from each project in order to discuss their contrasting perspectives and experiences. Three breakout group sessions covered the topics of user-developer relations, commodification, and functionality. There was also extensive post-meeting discussion, summarized here. Additional information on the workshop, including the agenda, participant list, and talk slides, can be found online at http://www.nesc.ac.uk/esi/events/685/ Reference: NeSC report UKeS-2006-07 available from http://www.nesc.ac.uk/technical_papers/UKeS-2006-07.pd

An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the National Diabetes Education Program from the Perspective of Registered Dietitians

Background: Diabetes is currently the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. While knowledge and awareness of T2DM remains high, the perception of risk is still quite low despite education programs such as the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP). Diabetes treatment centers incorporate this education program into their patient care to address exercise, diabetes management, emotional issues, and healthy eating and cooking. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the National Diabetes Education Program for T2DM populations from the perspective of registered dietitians in the United States. Design: An anonymous online survey of 24 questions was designed to collect respondents\u27 experiences using the NDEP and their clients’ or patients’ opinions of the program. The survey was a mix of multiple choice, Likert scale, and open-ended type questions. Participants: The survey was sent via the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) email list to a random sample of approximately 5,000 registered dietitians (RDs) in the United States. To participate in the survey, participants must be credentialed as a RD in the United States of America and an instructor for any part of the NDEP at least once. There were 10 survey respondents. Data Analysis: Data was extracted and downloaded from Qualtrics. Frequency and percentages of the quantitative data were calculated to produce pie charts of survey results and a demographics table. Qualitative data was analyzed and coded for themes, then translated into a descriptive figure of the results. Results: After receiving education from the NDEP, 80% of the RDs responded that on average their patients/clients experienced a decrease in fasting blood glucose levels and 70% of RDs responded that on average their patients/clients experienced a decrease in HbA1c levels. 78% of RDs responded they were satisfied with the NDEP materials and resources and 60% reported their patients/clients were satisfied. Challenges reported in the instruction of the NDEP were the cost of program supplies, lack of culture or ethnicity options, patient literacy concerns, lack of patient disease knowledge, and limited access to glucose meters. An establishment of community support and quality materials provided by the NDEP were reported as benefits to patient care. Improvements in mental health, diet, and understanding of diabetes management were reported by patients/clients who participated in the NDEP. Conclusion: The NDEP improved diabetes management and quality of life as reported by RDs and patients themselves. However, the low response rate suggests that the NDEP is not used widely enough to have a significant impact on the diabetes population overall

A case report of a septic hip secondary to a psoas abscess

Psoas abscess was first described by Mynter in 1881. Though rare, its prevalence is increasing with advances in radiology and an increasing ability to accurately diagnose the condition. The symptoms of a psoas abscess can be insidious and nonspecific, and patients often present with a limp, fever, weight loss, and flank or abdominal pain

Pseudogout Associated Hip Pain in a Patient with HIV Infection

HIV infection is a global pandemic, currently affecting approximately 77,000 people in the UK and 33 million people around the world. The infection has widespread effects on the body and can involve the musculoskeletal system. It is therefore important that orthopaedic surgeons are aware of the condition and its sequelae. We present the case of a 46-year-old man with a 10-year history of HIV who presented with acute hip pain, difficulty weight-bearing, and constitutional symptoms. Following radiological, microbiological, and serological tests a diagnosis of pseudogout was established following microscopic analysis of the hip joint aspirate. The patient's symptoms resolved completely following the joint aspiration and NSAID therapy. Studies have shown a relationship between HIV infection and gout. The virus has also been linked to osteonecrosis, osteopenia, bone and joint tuberculosis, and septic arthritis from rare pathogens. However, it is difficult to fully ascertain whether these conditions are related to the HIV infection itself or the HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy). There are no previously reported cases of HIV-infected patients with pseudogout. The case is discussed with reference to the literature