Transformando a Medusa

The mythic figure of Medusa is inherently linked with the idea of transformation; both her transformation from beautiful woman to monster as well as her ability to transform all who meet her gaze into statues have become fundamental elements of her story. While both these aspects of her character appear to be late additions to her myth, the idea of Medusa as a figure who both transforms and is transformed nevertheless became canonical and indeed she continues to transform throughout her subsequent history of reception. This paper will seek to understand the early mythic life of Medusa as a transformation before examining the disparate transformations she then endures, from the ancient period to the present day.La figura mítica de Medusa está unida de modo inherente a la idea de transformación; tanto su transformación de mujer bella en monstruo como su capacidad de transformar a quienes captan su mirada en estatuas se han convertido en elementos fundamentales de su relato. Mientras que estos dos aspectos de su carácter resultan adiciones tardías al mito, la idea de Medusa como figura que transforma y es transformada es canónica y ha seguido en efecto transformándose a lo largo de la historia de su recepción posterior. Este artículo se propone comprender los inicios míticos de Medusa como transformación para examinar después las dispares transformaciones que padece desde entonces, desde la Antigüedad hasta hoy

Examining hybrid nurse managers as a case of identity transition in healthcare : developing a balanced research agenda

This research note synthesizes sociology of work and organization studies literatures, to outline a research agenda examining the identity transition of nurses. Academic studies suggest that nurses face a greater challenge to enact, and are more likely to be marginalized within, hybrid manager roles. Further research is encouraged that has a comparative professional dimension, focused upon social position and power and which takes account of the gendered nature of policy reform and professions

Moving from rational to normative ideologies of control over public involvement : a case of continued managerial dominance

Public Involvement (PI) is a strategic priority in global healthcare settings, yet can be seen as peripheral during decision making processes. Whilst extant research acknowledges variations in how policy is translated into practice, the majority attribute it to the limiting influence of professional hierarchies on the perceived ‘legitimacy’ of PI. Drawing on examples of three commissioning organisations within the English NHS, we outline how the variance in policy implementation for PI can be attributed to influence from the managers rather than professionals. In doing so we explore how rational ideologies of managerial control negatively impact PI. However, we also illustrate how PI alluded to in policy can be more successfully realised when organisational managers enact normative ideologies of control. Notwithstanding this assertion, we argue managerial domination exists even in the case of normative ideologies of control, to the detriment of more radical PI in service development

The impact of emotionally important social identities on the construction of a managerial leader identity : a challenge for nurses in the English National Health Service

The ability of individuals to accommodate the emotional transition into roles requiring the construction of a leader identity is an under-researched phenomenon. To address this research gap we consider the experience of 32 nurse managers undergoing a leadership development programme, exploring how an emotional attachment to their professional group identity may cause identity conflict during the construction of a managerial leader identity. We consider how competing desired identities can result in negative emotional experiences, calling into question existing work, which assumes that desired group identities are congruent with leader identities. Our work suggests that identity work can mitigate identity conflict at the individual level, enabling nurse managers to function in their role, but emotional distress will continue due to a perceived loss of professional identity and group influence. We contend it is only by eschewing an emotional attachment to a professional group identity that nurse managers will be able to overcome this negative emotional experience

Wind optimal flight trajectories to minimise fuel consumption within a 3 dimensional flight network

This paper assesses the potential fuel savings benefits that can be gained from wind optimal flight trajectories. This question is posed on a 3 dimensional fixed flight network consisting of discrete waypoints which is representative of the size of Europe. The optimisation implements Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm to compute the minimum fuel burn route through a network and compares this to the fuel burn for the shortest distance route. Particular effort is applied to testing the repeatability and robustness of the results. This is achieved through a sensitive analysis based on a number of identified model parameters relating to the setup of the flight network. The results of this study show fuel savings between 1.0%-10.3%, and suggest that the benefits of wind optimal flight trajectories are significant

Investigating Problem-Orientated Patient Pathways, Toothache to Treatment: ImPacT Study

Ph. D. ThesisAlmost one-third of adults will only seek professional dental care when suffering with acute dental pain rather than engaging in routine preventive dental care, so called problem-orientated dental attenders. These individuals can wait a long time before seeking care resulting in: greater impacts on everyday activities, and greater potential for serious adverse events. They can present to a range of services including emergency dental services, medical emergency departments, and general medical practitioners (GMPs). The reasons for this attendance pattern and care pathway are under-researched. To encourage these patients to engage in routine dental care it is important to build an understanding of: (1) why they only attend when symptomatic, (2) where they present and why. The aim of this thesis was to build an understanding of problem-orientated attendance to subsequently develop an intervention to encourage regular dental attendance. This thesis involved four studies. The first was a retrospective observational study examining dental attendances at Welsh GMPs. The second and third were qualitative studies exploring: (1) problem-orientated attenders’ perspectives and experiences of seeking repeated emergency dental care (2) adolescents’ experiences of dental care and their future plans for dental attendance. The final study co-designed an intervention to prevent problem-orientated dental attendance. Dental attendance rates at GMPs varied over the study period and appeared to relate to key policy change dates. Predictors of being a repeat dental attender included deprivation, residential area, and appointment outcome. Reasons for problemorientated attendance were complex and multifactorial, with overarching reasons related to knowledge and dentist characteristics. Adolescents faced multiple barriers to dental care-seeking as they transitioned to independence subsequently affecting decision-making to continue to seek regular care. Finally, an intervention was developed targeted at adolescents and young adults to encourage continued regular dental attendance as they transitioned to independence, hence preventing problemorientated attendance.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), European Society of Endodontolog

Transforming Medusa

The mythic figure of Medusa is inherently linked with the idea of transformation; both her transformation from beautiful woman to monster as well as her ability to transform all who meet her gaze into statues have become fundamental elements of her story. While both these aspects of her character appear to be late additions to her myth, the idea of Medusa as a figure who both transforms and is transformed nevertheless became canonical and indeed she continues to transform throughout her subsequent history of reception. This paper will seek to understand the early mythic life of Medusa as a transformation before examining the disparate transformations she then endures, from the ancient period to the present day

Investigation into background levels of small organic samples at the NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory

Recent progress in preparation/combustion of submilligram organic samples at our laboratories is presented. Routine methods had to be modified/refined to achieve acceptable and consistent procedural blanks for organic samples smaller than 1000 g C. A description of the process leading to a modified combustion method for smaller organic samples is given in detail. In addition to analyzing different background materials, the influence of different chemical reagents on the overall radiocarbon background level was investigated, such as carbon contamination arising from copper oxide of different purities and from different suppliers. Using the modified combustion method, small amounts of background materials and known-age standard IAEA-C5 were individually combusted to CO2. Below 1000 g C, organic background levels follow an inverse mass dependency when combusted with the modified method, increasing from 0.13 0.05 pMC up to 1.20 0.04 pMC for 80 g C. Results for a given carbon mass were lower for combustion of etched Iceland spar calcite mineral, indicating that part of the observed background of bituminous coal was probably introduced by handling the material in atmosphere prior to combustion. Using the modified combustion method, the background-corrected activity of IAEA-C5 agreed to within 2 s of the consensus value of 23.05 pMC down to a sample mass of 55 g C

Progress in AMS target production in sub-milligram samples at the NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory

. Recent progress in graphite target production for sub-milligram environmental samples in our facility is presented. We describe an optimized hydrolysis procedure now routinely used for the preparation of CO2 from inorganic samples, a new high-vacuum line dedicated to small sample processing (combining sample distillation and graphitization units), as well as a modified graphitization procedure. Although measurements of graphite targets as small as 35 µg C have been achieved, system background and measurement uncertainties increase significantly below 150 µg C. As target lifetime can become critically short for targets <150 µg C, the facility currently only processes inorganic samples down to 150 µg C. All radiocarbon measurements are made at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC) accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) facility. Sample processing and analysis are labor-intensive, taking approximately 3 times longer than samples ≥500 µg C. The technical details of the new system, graphitization yield, fractionation introduced during the process, and the system blank are discussed in detail

Realizing policy aspirations of voluntary sector involvement in integrated care provision : insights from the English National Health Service

Integrating voluntary sector organizations (VSOs) into complex health and social care provision is a priority in global healthcare policy. However, realization of these policy aspirations in practice is limited, as VSOs struggle to collaborate with health and social care professionals, or influence the wider healthcare system, undermining their potential involvement in care provision. This paper aims to increase understandings of how the policy implementation gap could be addressed, by asking: how do new workforce roles support VSO involvement in delivering integrated care? Drawing on 40 interviews with VSO workers, healthcare commissioners, and healthcare professionals, conducted over 18 months in the English NHS, we outline how workforce capacity development through the introduction of coordinating roles, coupled with increasing regulatory control of VSO involvement, resulted in enhanced VSO integration in service provision. However, we also warn against the potential for exploitation of VSOs whereby they become replacements for health and social care provision, rather than a complementary service within an integrated team, resulting in patient harm. Our findings have important implications for policy makers, practitioners, VSO leaders and healthcare commissioners. We conclude that policy realization is dependent on the development of coordinating roles, coupled with levels of regulation which protect against exploitation without becoming normatively restrictive, thereby losing the important flexibility of VSOs