Beyond super heroes and talking animals: social justice in graphic novels in education

The primary goal of this study was to investigate, document, and understand the reasons that educators who use graphic novels in their classrooms choose to use them, rather than traditional text. Secondary goals were to identify the classes they teach, and to identify commonalities and shared best practices. Interviews were scheduled, to provide the with data about learning objectives, students’ reactions, the books they use, types of assignments, the criteria that they use to define the critical elements for success in their classes, as well as the instructors’ own relationships with graphic novels. The phenomenological methodology was determined to be the most appropriate method to understand the teacher’s experiences, and allowed the interview subjects to share and expound on their experiences, thoughts, feelings, images, and memories that described a baseline for the practice of using graphic novels in formal learning environment. The findings of the study were interesting, but not completely conclusive. The primary reason for using comics and graphic novels is teach and promote visual literacy, an important, and a critical skill in contemporary society. Another commonality is high level of student engagement and in the material. Although there are similarities among the other findings, including the encouragement of a love of reading, they actually illustrate the lack of standards and best practices and are based upon the preferences and practices of each individual teacher. The lack of standards also is seen in the teachers approach to using the genre to teach social justice, which ranges from a direct approach to addressing the issue through appropriate titles and assignments, to a more subtle and nuanced one, where individual panels are used rather than a complete book

Empagran S.A. v. F. Hoffman-Laroche, Ltd.: DC Circuit Restricts Reach of US Antitrust Laws over Injuries Sustained in Foreign Commerce

On June 28, 2005, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued an important opinion on the extraterritorial reach of the US antitrust laws in Empagran S.A. v. F. Hoffman-Laroche, Ltd. The court held, on remand from the Supreme Court, that plaintiffs injured outside US commerce cannot bring antitrust suits in US courts unless the US effects of the anticompetitive conduct at issue are the proximate cause of their injuries. The decision construes narrowly the circumstances under which plaintiffs may be able to sue in US courts for injuries suffered in foreign commerce

Accreditation of health services: is it money and time well spent?

The research evidence shows that accreditation is a useful tool for stimulating improvements in the quality and safety of health services. Accreditation programs are deployed widely to monitor and promote safety and quality in healthcare. Governments, health service organisations and accreditation agencies have invested considerable resources into accreditation programs, but to date evidence of their effectiveness is limited and varied in some areas. Without more robust evidence – on what aspects of accreditation programs work, in what contexts and why – policymakers will have to continue drawing on expert opinion, small-scale program evaluations and cautious comparative assessments of the literature when reviewing, revising or implementing  accreditation programs

Improving survival rates of newborn infants in South Africa

BACKGROUND:The number, rates and causes of early neonatal deaths in South Africa were not known. Neither had modifiable factors associated with these deaths been previously documented. An audit of live born infants who died in the first week of life in the public service could help in planning strategies to reduce the early neonatal mortality rate. METHODS: The number of live born infants weighing 1000 g or more, the number of these infants who die in the first week of life, the primary and final causes of these deaths, and the modifiable factors associated with them were collected over four years from 102 sites in South Africa as part of the Perinatal Problem Identification Programme. RESULTS: The rate of death in the first week of life for infants weighing 1000 g or more was unacceptably high (8.7/1000), especially in rural areas (10.42/1000). Intrapartum hypoxia and preterm delivery are the main causes of death. Common modifiable factors included inadequate staffing and facilities, poor care in labour, poor neonatal resuscitation and basic care, and difficulties for patients in accessing health care. CONCLUSION: Practical, affordable and effective steps can be taken to reduce the number of infants who die in the first week of life in South Africa. These could also be implemented in other under resourced countries

Urban and Community Forests of the North Central West Region

This report details how land cover and urbanization vary within the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota by community (incorporated and census designated places), county subdivision, and county. Specifically this report provides critical urban and community forestry information for each state including human population characteristics and trends, changes in urban and community lands, tree canopy and impervious surface cover characteristics, distribution of land-cover classes, a relative comparison of urban and community forests among local government types, determination of priority areas for tree planting, and a summary of urban tree benefits. Report information can improve the understanding, management, and planning of urban and community forests

Clingfishes (Gobiesocidae) from Belize and Honduras, Central America, with a Redescription of Gobiesox barbatulus Starks

Six marine species and a single freshwater species of clingfish are reported from collections made by the authors in Belize and Honduras, Central America, during the period 1970 through 1980. Acyrtops amplicirrus Briggs, Acyrtus rubiginosus (Poey), and Gobiesox barbatulus Starks are reported for the first time from the western Caribbean and Gobiesox nudus (Linnaeus) is recorded for the first time from Honduras. Acyrtops amplicirrus is tentatively recognized as distinct from A. beryllina (Hildebrand and Ginsburg). Gobiesox barbatulus Starks is distinguished from G. strumosus on the basis of development of barbels on the pre- and suborbital areas, fringing of the dermal flaps on the anterior nostrils, and more numerous and narrow lines radiating from the eye in the case of G. barbatulus. Principal components analysis of 13 morphometric characters resulted in clear separation of the two forms along the first component axis. Both species are mainland forms occurring in turbid and often brackish water. Gobiesox barbatulus is a southern form occurring from Brazil to Belize, G. strumosus is a northern form occurring from Campeche, Mexico to Virginia. The apparent distributional boundary (centered on east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico) between the two agrees with the boundary between the northern and southern continental shorefish faunas recognized by Robins (1971) and Gilbert (1973)

Patient feedback: Listening and responding to patient voices

The study aim was to identify key strategies to improve organisational systems and care experiences, to confront the challenges of achieving effective patient feedback throughout a large healthcare organisation. A mixed methods exploratory approach was used. Purposive and snowball sampling, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, and document analysis of existing feedback processes was utilised. The setting was a large metropolitan Local Health District in Sydney, Australia. Data was examined using thematic and content analysis. Participants identified no single feedback process was able to adequately gather all feedback necessary to reflect the patient experience. Patient feedback processes that are most useful: are in alignment with patient centred care principles; and, promote the return of information in a timely manner. Two types of patient feedback and their value was identified: proposals for resources; and, suggestions for improvements in processes. The optimal approach to gathering patient feedback requires: a combination of approaches; questioning about patient centred domains; and structured/unstructured and open/closed formats. Guidance and coordination from a central unit is imperative if improvement is to be integrated and effective across a large organisation. The study reveals that the key to achieving an effective patient feedback system is to utilise a multifaceted approach. A combination of approaches provides a comprehensive, adaptive strategy to address patient experience, satisfaction and outcomes. This approach, implemented throughout the organisation, enables relevant and actionable patient feedback to be gathered and implemented in a timely manner. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Policy & Measurement lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework. (http://bit.ly/ExperienceFramework) Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this lens

Development of an integrated cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and opioid use disorder: Study protocol and methods

Opioid use disorder is a highly disabling psychiatric disorder, and is associated with both significant functional disruption and risk for negative health outcomes such as infectious disease and fatal overdose. Even among those who receive evidence-based pharmacotherapy for opioid use disorder, many drop out of treatment or relapse, highlighting the importance of novel treatment strategies for this population. Over 60% of those with opioid use disorder also meet diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder; however, efficacious treatments for this common co-occurrence have not be established. This manuscript describes the rationale and methods for a behavioral treatment development study designed to develop and test an integrated cognitive-behavioral therapy for those with co-occurring opioid use disorder and anxiety disorders. The aims of the study are (1) to develop and pilot test a new manualized cognitive behavioral therapy for co-occurring opioid use disorder and anxiety disorders, (2) to test the efficacy of this treatment relative to an active comparison treatment that targets opioid use disorder alone, and (3) to investigate the role of stress reactivity in both prognosis and recovery from opioid use disorder and anxiety disorders. Our overarching aim is to investigate whether this new treatment improves both anxiety and opioid use disorder outcomes relative to standard treatment. Identifying optimal treatment strategies for this population are needed to improve outcomes among those with this highly disabling and life-threatening disorder.This study was funded by NIDA grant DA035297. The funding source had no involvement in the study design, analysis and interpretation of data, writing of the report, or the decision to submit the article for publication. (DA035297 - NIDA)Accepted manuscrip

Eviota algida, a new dwarfgoby species from the upwelling waters off Nusa Penida, Indonesia (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

A new species of dwarfgoby, Eviota algida, with a complete cephalic sensory-canal pore pattern (pattern I), a dorsal/anal-fin formula usually 8/8, pectoral-fin rays branched, 5th pelvic-fin ray absent, anterior dorsal-fin spines filamentous in males, a subcutaneous dark spot at center of caudal peduncle over preural centrum, male urogenital papilla black, and a red eye with gold specks, is described from a deep, cold-water upwelling area off Nusa Penida Island, Bali, Indonesi