Negotiating professional and social voices in research principles and practice

This paper draws on work conducted for a qualitative interview based study which explores the gendered racialised and professional identifications of health and social care professionals. Participants for the project were drawn from the professional executive committees of recently formed Primary Care Trusts. The paper discusses how the feminist psychosocial methodological approach developed for the project is theoretically, practically and ethically useful in exploring the voices of those in positions of relative power in relation to both health and social care services and the social relations of gender and ethnicity. The approach draws on psychodynamic accounts of (defended) subjectivity and the feminist work of Carol Gilligan on a voice-centred relational methodology. Coupling the feminist with the psychosocial facilitates an emphasis on voice and dialogic communication between participant and researcher not always captured in psychosocial approaches which tend towards favouring the interviewer as ‘good listener’. This emphasis on dialogue is important in research contexts where prior and ongoing relationships with professional participants make it difficult and indeed undesirable for researchers to maintain silence

Listening and learning : the reciprocal relationship between worker and client

The relationship between worker and client has for the best part of 100 years been the mainstay of probation, and yet has recently been eroded by an increased emphasis on punishment, blame and managerialism. The views of offenders are in direct contradiction to these developments within the criminal justice system and this article argues that only by taking account of the views of those at the 'coal face' will criminologists, policy makers and practitioners be able to effect real change in crime rates. The article thus focuses on the views of a sample of previously persistent offenders in Scotland about offending, desistance and how the system can help them. It explores not only their need for friendship and support in youth but also the close association between relationships and the likelihood of offending. It also demonstrates the views of offenders themselves about the importance of the working relationship with supervising officers in helping them desist from crime. The article concludes that the most effective way of reducing offending is to re-engage with the message of the Probation Act of 100 years ago, namely, to 'advise, assist and befriend' offenders rather than to 'confront, challenge and change' offending behaviour

A Cellular Automata Model for Citrus Variagated Chlorosis

A cellular automata model is proposed to analyze the progress of Citrus Variegated Chlorosis epidemics in S\~ao Paulo oranges plantation. In this model epidemiological and environmental features, such as motility of sharpshooter vectors which perform L\'evy flights, hydric and nutritional level of plant stress and seasonal climatic effects, are included. The observed epidemics data were quantitatively reproduced by the proposed model varying the parameters controlling vectors motility, plant stress and initial population of diseased plants.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, Scheduled tentatively for the issue of: 01Nov0

Sharing a different voice: Attending to stories in collaborative writing

Through three stories, we hope to reveal how sometimes contradictory or unrecognizable aspects of our lives, selves, and stories can create tensions in the collaborative writing endeavor. We begin with a story that illuminates some of the narrative tensions that surface during a decade of writing collaboratively. In an effort to navigate these tensions, we explore two further stories in dialogue as a way to reveal how dominant narratives shape our lives and the stories we might tell. One aim of sharing these stories is to reveal how problematic ways of being are often inseparable from one’s cultural legacy. Making previously obscured narratives visible paves the way for imaginary leaps that are necessary for change. We hope these insights are useful for other writers and collaborators and those who seek caring, responsive, and nurturing writing relationships yet realize this journey can be problematic

Voting in the bicameral Congress: large majorities as a signal of quality

publication-status: Acceptedtypes: ArticleWe estimate a model of voting in Congress that allows for dispersed information about the quality of proposals in an equilibrium context. In equilibrium, the Senate only approves House bills that receive the support of a supermajority of members of the lower chamber. We estimate this endogenous supermajority rule to be about four-fifths on average across policy areas. Our results indicate that the value of information dispersed among legislators is significant, and that in equilibrium a large fraction of House members' (40–50%) votes following their private information. Finally, we show that the probability of a type I error in Congress (not passing a good bill) is on average about twice as high as the probability of a type II error (passing a low-quality bill)

Checklist and new records of Christmas Island fishes: the influence of isolation, biogeography and habitat availability on species abundance and community composition

Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) is an oceanic high island that is situated 300 km southwest of Java, Indonesia. From 2010 to 2014, the fish community of Christmas Island was surveyed using underwater visual surveys for shallow water (0–60 m) fishes, and line fishing (bottom fishing and trolling) for deepwater (60–300 m) and pelagic fishes. Forty-seven new records (from 22 families) were identified, thereby increasing the total number of fishes described from Christmas Island to 681 (from 91 families). Notable new records include the first records for the families Alopiidae, Anomalopidae, Muraenesocidae, Tetrarogidae and Trichonotidae, and the first reports of Pacific Ocean species Plectranthias yamakawai, and Polylepion russelli in the Indian Ocean. The ten most species-rich families accounted for 58% of the community and included: Labridae (13%), Pomacentridae (8%), Epinephelidae (6%), Acanthuridae (5%), Chaetodontidae (5%), Muraenidae (5%), Gobiidae (5%), Blenniidae (4%), Apogonidae (4%) and Scorpaenidae (3%). The majority (89%) of species inhabit shallow coral reefs, with deep reefs (60–300 m) and pelagic waters only accounting for 7% and 2% of fish community. Approximately 76% of thefishes are widespread Indo-Pacific species, 12% are Pacific Ocean species, 5% are circumtropical, 4% are Indian Ocean species and approximately 1% are endemic. Abundance surveys revealed that endemic species, and species at the edge of their geographic range, do not conform to terrestrial-based predictions of low abundance. The structure and composition of the Christmas Island fish community is influenced by three main factors. Firstly, the isolation of the island means that fishes with poor dispersal abilities (e.g., syngnathids) are underrepresented. Secondly, thebiogeographic position of the island results in a unique mixing of Indian and Pacific Ocean species. Thirdly, the lack of lagoonal habitats means that fishes that use these habitats (e.g., ophichthids, lethrinids, epinephelids) are underrepresented or have low abundance

Fishes of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands: new records, community composition and biogeographic significance

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands comprise the most isolated oceanic atoll in the tropical Indian Ocean and are situated 1000 km south-west of Indonesia. The remoteness of the islands has shaped the composition of marine communities but also limited scientific research. This study summarises field research on the marine fishes of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands over the last 14 years (2001–2014). Sixty-seven new records (from 28 families) are described and raise the total number of known fishes to 602 species from 84 families. New records span a variety of body sizes (3 cm TL Gobiodon unicolor to 500 cm TL Rhincodon typus), were observed in all major habitats,and found at both the Southern Atoll and at North Keeling Island. Notable new records include first records for the families Alopiidae, Coryphaenidae, Eleotridae, Gempylidae, Istiophoridae, Molidae, Polymixiidae, Rhincodontidae, Sillaginidae and Xiphiidae. Sampling from pelagic and deepwater (60–300 m) reef environments significantly increased the number of species described from these habitats. New records include species that have dispersed more than 2500 km (Centropyge acanthops) and dispersal ability appears to explain the lack of syngnathids and the high representation of acanthurids and holocentrids in the community. Some of the Indian Ocean species that have colonised the Cocos (Keeling) Islands now co-occur with their Pacific Ocean sister species, increasing the potential for hybridisation. Although the fish community of the Cocos (Keeling) Island resembles that of the Indo-West Pacific, the isolation and co-occurrence of Indian and Pacific Ocean species distinguishes it from all other locations

Effect of l-Arginine on Human Coronary Endothelium-Dependent and Physiologic Vasodilation

AbstractObjectives. We hypothesized that l-arginine would improve abnormal coronary vasodilation in response to physiologic stress in patients with atherosclerosis and its risk factors by reversing coronary endothelial dysfunction.Background. Studies have demonstrated that physiologic coronary vasodilation correlates with endothelial function and that l-arginine, the substrate for nitric oxide synthesis, improves the response to acetylcholine (Ach).Methods. Changes in coronary blood flow and epicardial diameter response to Ach, adenosine and cardiac pacing were measured in 32 patients with coronary atherosclerosis or its risk factors and in 7 patients without risk factors and normal coronary angiograms.Results. Intracoronary l-arginine did not alter baseline coronary vascular tone, but the epicardial and microvascular responses to Ach were enhanced (both p < 0.001). The improvement after l-arginine was greater in epicardial segments that initially constricted with Ach; similarly, l-arginine abolished microvascular constriction produced by higher doses of Ach. Thus, there was a negative correlation between the initial epicardial and vascular resistance responses to Ach and the magnitude of improvement with l-arginine (r = −0.55 and r = −0.50, respectively, p < 0.001). d-Arginine did not affect the responses to Ach, and adenosine responses were unchanged with l-arginine. Cardiac pacing-induced epicardial constriction was abolished by l-arginine, but microvascular dilation remained unaffected.Conclusions. Thus, l-arginine improved endothelium-dependent coronary epicardial and microvascular function in patients with endothelial dysfunction. Prevention of epicardial constriction during physiologic stress by l-arginine in patients with endothelial dysfunction may be of therapeutic value in the treatment of myocardial ischemia

External evaluation of mobile phone technology-based nutrition and agriculture advisory services in Africa and South Asia

The GSM Association (GSMA), working with a wide range of mobile network operators and civil society organisations, is launching a series of nutrition-focused m-health and m-agriculture initiatives in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. GSMA refers to nutrition-enhanced initiatives collectively as ‘m-nutrition’. This report summarises the plans for an impact evaluation of two of these nutrition-enhanced initiatives: mHealth in Tanzania and mAgri in Ghana. The evaluation consists of three integrated components: a quantitative impact evaluation, a qualitative evaluation focusing on implementation fidelity, pathways of impact and external validity, and an evaluation of the sustainability of the business model behind the mNutrition initiative. The business model evaluation compares the two initiatives described above with a third, mHealth in Ghana, which is closer to the GSMA core commercial model, and additionally, possibly to retain a view on Bangladesh, mAgri to generate more heterogeneity in conclusions.Department for International Development (DFID

Making a home, finding a job: investigating early housing and employment outcomes for young people leaving care

This paper presents findings from a new study of outcomes for young people leaving care funded by the Department for Education and Skills. It reports findings for a sample of 106 young people in relation to progress made in housing and employment some 12-15 months after leaving care. The generally poor employment outcomes of care leavers are acknowledged, but ingredients that make for success are also highlighted, including the value of settled care and post-care careers, sound career planning and, significantly, the value of delaying young people's transitions from care. Early career paths also interconnect with how young people fare in housing, in developing life skills and with other problems in their lives after leaving care. Housing outcomes were more encouraging and predominantly shaped by events after leaving care, and faring well in housing was the factor most closely associated with positive mental well-being in young people. Some groups that are at risk of faring badly are identified, including young people with mental-health problems, young people with persistent offending or substance misuse problems and, in some respects, young disabled people. The implications of these findings for leaving care services are considered