416 research outputs found
Property and financial matters upon the breakdown of de facto relationships
Summary: Reforms introduced in 2009 to the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) have meant that most samesex and opposite-sex de facto couples (in all states and territories except Western Australia) who end their relationships can now have their property and financial matters dealt with in substantially the same way as married people. This paper aims to provide non-legal professionals in the family law sector with a general outline of the relevant reforms, their genesis, and the arguments in favour of and against their introduction.
Key messages
The 2009 reforms to the Family Law Act (Cth) brought most Australian same-sex and opposite-sex de facto couples within the federal family law system for the resolution of their property and financial matters upon separation.
The reforms introduced a definition of de facto relationship and provided guidance to assist in determining whether a de facto relationship may be said to exist.
The reforms enable access to property settlement and maintenance for most separated de facto couples in terms substantially the same as those available for married couples.
The reforms enable most de facto couples to enter into Binding Financial Agreements, prior to commencing their relationship, during their relationship and upon separation.
The reforms were aimed at extending the federal family law property and financial settlements regime to opposite-sex and same-sex de facto couples. They received strong support but have also been subject to criticism, including on the basis of their imposition of the consequences of marriage upon people who have made a conscious decision not to marry
Identifying a B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki receptor binding protein for bacteriophage riley
With the rapid emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria affecting people around the world, research into new therapies using bacteriophages (phages) is increasing in the United States. Phages are viruses that can only infect bacteria and are able to co-evolve alongside the bacteria they infect. A researchersâ ability to pinpoint which phage to use in the therapy is important to combat an infection effectively. To do so, the genes that control the interaction between phages and the bacteria they infect, such as receptor binding proteins on the surface of a bacterial cell, need to be identified. Transposon mutagenesis was used in our study to find the receptor binding protein of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk). Btk was chosen as the bacterial host because it is a naturally occurring soil bacteria that is commonly used as an insecticide in agriculture, but is nonpathogenic to humans. The bacterium is also a close relative to Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, and may share some phages. Using the EZ-Tn5TM Tnp transposon kit, 134 individual mutant colonies were isolated on kanamycin plates. Virulent bacteriophage Riley, a well-characterized phage infecting BtK, was used to find phage-resistant bacteria in the mutant population. Three mutants, 1041, 1043, and 1221, were found to be resistant to bacteriophage Riley and will be further studied to determine the interrupted gene
Remarkable Lives: Rachel Taylor in conversation with Jerome Carson
Purpose â The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Rachel Taylor.
Design/methodology/approach â Rachel provides a short biographical account
and is then interviewed by Jerome. In her biography she discusses her search for
happiness and belonging.
Findings â Rachel talks about focussing on what we are good at, what we love and
how discovery can ignite that spark of hope that there can be better than what has
gone before.
Research limitations/implications â Rachelâs story shows the potential that lies not
just within some of us, but all of us. It is but one story, but its message is sure to
touch many.
Practical implications â How do services promote hope and build resilience and
wellbeing? While another service user said recovery was about âcoping with your
illness and having a meaningful life,â (McManus et al, 2009), services have perhaps
focussed too much on symptom reduction and not enough on helping people find
meaning and purpose.
Social implications â Rachel asks the question is Positive Psychology a movement
for all or is it just for the elite?
Originality/value â Rachel is someone who has discovered for herself the benefits
of Positive Psychology. Hopefully her own discovery will lead to her bringing this
promising approach to people with mental health problem
Exploring Strategies to Address Obesity with Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina
Abstract More than two-thirds of adults and almost one-third of children in North Carolina are overweight or obese. These high rates are of great concern, because overweight and obesity are related to increased risk of chronic disease and decreases in life expectancy, productivity, and quality of life. To address these issues, a state organization called Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina (ESMMNC) is working to make the healthy choice the easy choice through the promotion of policy change as well as change in physical and social environments. ESMMNC recently published North Carolina's Plan to Address Obesity: Healthy Weight and Healthy Communities 2013-2020 as a physical activity and healthy eating strategy guide for organizations in particular settings. The purpose of this public service project was to assist the ESMMNC Executive Committee in tracking the progress of the 2013-2020 Plan so they could consider how to better support the work of ESMMNC Leadership Team member organizations. For this public service project, I worked with the ESMMNC Executive Committee to create and distribute an online survey, and in the coming month, I will analyze and report on the results. Survey results will show which strategies from the 2013-2020 Plan have been adopted most, have not been adopted at all, are most difficult to implement, and which provide the greatest impact or benefit to organizations in certain settings. Through this project, I have learned about the importance of and barriers to communication and collaboration in a state-level organization while improving my own skills in communication and research. I have also gained a greater understanding of obesity as a multifaceted issue, influenced by numerous factors and therefore demanding comprehensive approaches in order to affect positive change
Naturopathic Physician Attitudes and Practices for Vaccination and Primary Care in the State of Vermont
Introduction:
Recent increase in measles cases has sparked vaccination controversy.
Naturopathic physicians (NDs) have been recognized as primary care providers by VT since 2012.
It is not well understood how NDs address vaccination with patients.
Our goal was to determine how Vermont NDs address vaccines and preventative care with their patients.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1234/thumbnail.jp
Combining classifiers to predict gene function in Arabidopsis thaliana using large-scale gene expression measurements
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Arabidopsis thaliana </it>is the model species of current plant genomic research with a genome size of 125 Mb and approximately 28,000 genes. The function of half of these genes is currently unknown. The purpose of this study is to infer gene function in Arabidopsis using machine-learning algorithms applied to large-scale gene expression data sets, with the goal of identifying genes that are potentially involved in plant response to abiotic stress.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using in house and publicly available data, we assembled a large set of gene expression measurements for <it>A. thaliana</it>. Using those genes of known function, we first evaluated and compared the ability of basic machine-learning algorithms to predict which genes respond to stress. Predictive accuracy was measured using ROC<sub>50 </sub>and precision curves derived through cross validation. To improve accuracy, we developed a method for combining these classifiers using a weighted-voting scheme. The combined classifier was then trained on genes of known function and applied to genes of unknown function, identifying genes that potentially respond to stress. Visual evidence corroborating the predictions was obtained using electronic Northern analysis. Three of the predicted genes were chosen for biological validation. Gene knockout experiments confirmed that all three are involved in a variety of stress responses. The biological analysis of one of these genes (At1g16850) is presented here, where it is shown to be necessary for the normal response to temperature and NaCl.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Supervised learning methods applied to large-scale gene expression measurements can be used to predict gene function. However, the ability of basic learning methods to predict stress response varies widely and depends heavily on how much dimensionality reduction is used. Our method of combining classifiers can improve the accuracy of such predictions â in this case, predictions of genes involved in stress response in plants â and it effectively chooses the appropriate amount of dimensionality reduction automatically. The method provides a useful means of identifying genes in <it>A. thaliana </it>that potentially respond to stress, and we expect it would be useful in other organisms and for other gene functions.</p
Internet of Things Device with Controllable Lighting Elements
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a device with controllable lighting elements or other output elements such as audio, vibratory, gaseous/liquid, and/or olfactory output elements. In particular, the interactive device of the present disclosure can include a structure fashioned in the shape of some fauna or flora (e.g., a tree) that can selectively operate the output elements (e.g., illuminate the lighting elements) based on collected sensor data regarding the surrounding environment. The structure can also respond to specific user interactions and/or receive predetermined control signals that control the output elements
Evaluation of the 2012 family violence amendments: synthesis report
This report sets out the overall findings of the evaluation of the 2012 family violence amendments. The evaluation examined the effects of amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) that were intended to improve the family law systemâs responses to matters involving family violence and safety concerns.
Key messages
Most separated parents donât use family dispute resolution, lawyers or courts to resolve parenting matters after they separate
Those parents who do use family law systems tend to be those affected by complex issues including family violence, mental ill-health, substance abuse and safety concerns for themselves and/or their children
There has been an increased emphasis on identifying families with concerns about family violence and child abuse, however 29% of parents using family law system services reported never being asked about family violence or safety concerns
Family law professionals indicated that better screening tools and approaches are required
The reforms have supported sorting out parenting arrangements by agreement. This is likely to be due to a change in 2012 that means advisors tell parents that parenting arrangements should be in a childâs best interests
Subtle changes in parenting arrangements are evident such as more parents with safety concerns reporting a shift away from overnight stays with fathers
The proportion of children with court orders for shared care, where allegations of both family violence or child safety had been raised, fell after the reforms (from 19% to 11%)
The proportion of court orders for shared care where neither family violence nor child safety was raised remained stable (22%): no significant change showed where only one issue was raised (17% pre-reform, 15% post-reform).
Overall the main findings of the evaluation indicate that the 2012 family violence amendments are a step in the right direction in a reform agenda intended to improve the systemâs response to family violence and child abuse concerns in post-separation parenting arrangements.
See related content for seperate reports.
 
Implementing administrative evidence based practices: Lessons from the field in six local health departments across the United States
BACKGROUND: Administrative evidence based practices (A-EBPs) are agency level structures and activities positively associated with performance measures (e.g., achieving core public health functions, carrying out evidence-based interventions). The objectives of this study were to examine the contextual conditions and explore differences in local health department (LHD) characteristics that influence the implementation of A-EBPs. METHODS: Qualitative case studies were conducted based on data from 35 practitioners in six LHDs across the United States. The sample was chosen using an A-EBP score from our 2012 national survey and was linked to secondary data from the National Public Health Performance Standards Program. Three LHDs that scored high and three LHDs that scored low on both measures were selected as case study sites. The 37-question interview guide explored LHD use of an evidence based decision making process, including A-EBPs and evidence-based programs and policies. Each interview took 30â60 min. Standard qualitative methodology was used for data coding and analysis using NVivo software. RESULTS: As might be expected, high-capacity LHDs were more likely to have strong leadership, partnerships, financial flexibility, workforce development activities, and an organizational culture supportive of evidence based decision making and implementation of A-EBPs. They were also more likely to describe having strong or important relationships with universities and other educational resources, increasing their access to resources and allowing them to more easily share knowledge and expertise. CONCLUSIONS: Differences between high- and low-capacity LHDs in A-EBP domains highlight the importance of investments in these areas and the potential those investments have to contribute to overall efficiency and performance. Further research may identify avenues to enhance resources in these domains to create an organizational culture supportive of A-EBPs. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12913-015-0891-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users
Prospective observational cohort study of factors influencing trial participation in people with motor neuron disease (FIT-participation-MND): a protocol
Introduction Motor neuron disease (MND) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder with limited treatment options. The Motor Neuron Disease Systematic Multi-Arm Randomised Adaptive Trial (MND-SMART) is a multisite UK trial seeking to address the paucity in effective disease-modifying drugs for people with MND (pwMND). Historically, neurological trials have been plagued by suboptimal recruitment and high rates of attrition. Failure to recruit and/or retain participants can cause insufficiently representative samples, terminated trials or invalid conclusions. This study investigates patient-specific factors affecting recruitment and retention of pwMND to MND-SMART. Improved understanding of these factors may improve trial protocol design, optimise recruitment and retention.Methods and analysis PwMND on the Scottish MND Register, Clinical Audit Research and Evaluation of MND (CARE-MND), will be invited to participate in a prospective observational cohort study that investigates factors affecting trial participation and attrition. We hypothesise that patient-specific factors will significantly affect trial recruitment and retention. Participants will complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form Y to evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms, the ALS-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brief Form and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention-Health-Related Quality of Life for quality of life and a novel study-specific questionnaire on Attitudes towards Clinical Trial Participation (ACT-Q). Clinical data on phenotype, cognition (Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen) and physical functioning (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised) will also be collated. Caregivers will complete the Brief Dimensional Apathy Scale. After 12 months, a data request to MND-SMART will evaluate recruitment and retention. Descriptive statistics will summarise and compare assessments and participants reaching impairment thresholds. Variable groupings: attitudes, quality of life, cognition, behaviour, physical functioning, neuropsychiatric and phenotype. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression will explore association with participation/withdrawal in MND-SMART; presented as ORs and 95% CIs.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was provided by the West of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 3 (20/WS/0067) on 12 May 2020. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at academic conferences and disseminated to participants and the public
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