Dynamics of biosciences regulation and opportunities for biosciences innovation in Africa: Exploring regulatory policy brokering

Knowledge brokering has been explored in the innovation literature to understand how different innovation tasks are organised toward technological development. This paper reflects upon the role of different organisations as knowledge brokers in regulatory policy processes towards putting biosciences research into use. It identifies a practical function-based typology that describes four categories of policy brokers who perform different tasks, with the potential to impact biosciences regulatory policy change. The paper concludes with a brief exploration of how policy can support the different functions of regulatory policy brokerage to enhance the translation of biosciences research into use for the benefit of the poor. Using regulatory policy-making in Kenya as an example, it contributes to growing scholarship that seeks to link knowledge emanating from research with policy-making and economic development, particularly in an African context.Biosciences, Biotechnology Regulation, Knowledge Brokers, Policy Brokering, Africa, Kenya

Gestió de la diversitat a les organitzacions esportives. Un acostament crític

Mentre que les organitzacions públiques i comercials dels Estats Units, el Canadà, Austràlia, Gran Bretanya i, de forma creixent, les de la Unió Europea, han incorporat el concepte de “gestió de la diversitat”, les organitzacions esportives, ben al contrari, han prestat poca atenció a aquest tema. De fet, s’han resistit a intentar de millorar la representació de la dona i de les minories racials i ètniques. Aquest article examina la idea de “gestió de la diversitat” a la llum de la creixent crítica als seus objectius, que es fa evident tant a la literatura acadèmica com a la del sector de la gestió. La bibliografia relacionada amb l’esport, encara que escassa, és exageradament positiva pel que fa al concepte de gestió de la diversitat, i anima les organitzacions esportives a plantejar-se els beneficis de la gestió de la diversitat, però fent cas omís de la important crítica de què aquesta està sent objecte en l’actualitat. La gestió de la diversitat, tal com s’entén avui dia, contribuirà poc a la millora de la representació de la dona en els llocs de presa de decisions i de lideratge dintre de les organitzacions esportives (el mateix es podria dir sobre la raça/ètnia i d’altres grups socials)

Gestión de la diversidad en las organizaciones deportivas. Un acercamiento crítico

Mientras que las organizaciones públicas y comerciales de Estados Unidos, Canadá, Australia, Reino Unido y, de modo creciente, las de la Unión Europea, han incorporado el concepto de “gestión de la diversidad”, las organizaciones deportivas por el contrario han prestado poca atención a este tema. De hecho, se han resistido a intentar mejorar la representación de la mujer y de las minorías raciales y étnicas. Este artículo examina la idea de “gestión de la diversidad” a la luz de la creciente crítica a sus objetivos, que se pone de manifiesto tanto en la literatura académica como en la del sector de la gestión. La bibliografía relacionada con el deporte, aunque escasa, es exageradamente positiva en lo que se refiere al concepto de gestión de la diversidad, animando a las organizaciones deportivas a plantearse los beneficios de la gestión de la diversidad pero haciendo caso omiso de la importante crítica de la que ésta esta siendo objeto en la actualidad. La gestión de la diversidad, tal y como se entiende hoy en día, va a contribuir poco a la mejora de la representación de la mujer en los puestos de toma de decisiones y de liderazgo dentro de las organizaciones deportivas (lo mismo se podría decir sobre la raza / etnia y otros grupos sociales)

The Transition to Neotraditionalism: The Case of Huntersville, North Carolina

Troubled by the impacts associated with conventional development, the suburban community of Huntersville, North Carolina responded to metropolitan sprawl by adopting strict neotraditional development codes. Although a growing number of municipalities have begun to allow traditional neighborhood developments, few have completely reformed their zoning laws the way Huntersville did in the early 1990s. This thesis asked why Huntersville made the transition to neotraditionalism and what were the consequences of such a drastic step? A number of factors converged, including a rapid build-up of growth pressures and the timely arrival of new urbanist planning philosophies to spur Huntersville’s decision. Crucially, however, widespread support from the citizenry allowed the town government to ignore developer opposition and complete the transition. The town’s decision had a number of unforeseen consequences, including increased approval time for developments, increased economic segregation, and the appearance of “neotraditional hybrids,” that is, developments that only partly followed neotraditional principles. The town’s open space goals also came into conflict with is affordable housing and diversity goals. The town modified its codes once it realized that not every neotraditional planning principle had its intended effect or was conducive to the town’s development goals. Nonetheless, its tier-based zoning system, emphasis on pedestrian-oriented development, open space preservation, and encouragement of good architecture have identified Huntersville as a progressive community. The town offers a number of important lessons to other communities trying to manage growth

Factors that influence an individual\u27s decision to teach agricultural education

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence an individual\u27s decision to teach agricultural education. A descriptive research design, in the form of a census survey, was used to collect data for this study. The population included individuals who completed their student teaching from 2002-2005 while attending one of five universities in the eastern United States. The five most influential factors identified by the respondents included (in order of influence): their agriculture teacher, agricultural background, FFA involvement, high school agricultural program involvement, and family. Individuals who did not teach agriculture made their decision based on the following reasons: student teaching experience, demands of the job, low salary, no teaching jobs in the area, and time requirements. Respondents who had left teaching cited a lack of administrative support, low salary, time requirements, no other available jobs in area, unsuccessful as a teacher, and too many demands other than teaching

Self-Selection vs. Writing Prompts: A Study to Examine the Effects Topics Have on Elementary Students\u27 Writing

The purposes of this study were: 1) to evaluate the quality of writing in first, second, and third graders who were given a writing prompt, 2) to evaluate the quality of writing in first, second, and third graders who self-selected their own writing topic, and 3) to determine if there were any differences in the quality of writing between the two groups. The researcher was the instructor for all the students who participated in the study. Included in the study were first, second, and third grade students who were present on the day the researcher visited. Approximately half of the students wrote on a given prompt, while the remaining students wrote on a self-selected topic. Prior to writing, students and teachers were asked to complete a brief survey about writing. The writing samples were rated on four different criteria: paper\u27s focus, grammar, sentence structure, and capitalization and punctuation. Three raters individually rated each piece of writing and the results were compiled. Raters received instruction from the researcher prior to reading the samples. The following conclusions were based on the findings of the study: 1. There is a difference in the quality of writing samples, in the area of the paper\u27s focus, between giving a student a writing prompt and allowing a student to self-select a topic. 2. There is no significant difference in the quality of writing samples, in the area of grammar, between giving a student a writing prompt and allowing a student to self-select a topic. 3. There is no significant difference in the quality of writing samples, in the area of sentence structure, between giving a student a writing prompt and allowing a student to self-select a topic. 4. There is a difference in the quality of writing samples, in the area of capitalization and punctuation, between giving a student a writing prompt and allowing a student to self-select a topic

Media Relations in a Changing Media Landscape: A Study of Interviews with Public Relations Practitioners

This thesis aims to discover the current state of dialogue between public relations practitioners and members of the media. At its core, media relations deals with the relationships between public relations practitioners and the journalists they frequently interact and hope to build relationships with. Technology changes rapidly, and so does the communication field, so an ongoing assessment of these dovetailing industries is necessary for the productivity of professionals in a digital and multimedia society. This research captures perspectives and experiences from public relations practitioners in agency and corporate environments alongside external, peer-reviewed research. It examines the contributing factors in how technology enhances, neutralizes or diminishes complex practitioner-journalist relationships

Relationships of Self-Direction and Attitude toward Continuing Education in Community College Allied Health Programs

Continuing education is a vital component in health care because professionals operate in a complex discipline that is continuously evolving. Ongoing social, technological, and medical changes present many trials and challenges to professionals in health care (Cadorin, Suter, Dante, Williamson, Devetti, & Palese, 2012). Additionally, health care professionals who acknowledge continuing education as a lifelong exercise are well suited to remain well-informed of innovative developments (Cadorin et al., 2012; Evans, Gallatin, Taylor, & Brodnik, 2008; El-Gilany & Abusaad, 2013; Levett-Jones, 2005). In health care, self-directed learning can contribute to increased confidence, independence, inspiration, and growth of skills (O’Shea, 2003; Yuan et al., 2012). Individuals with the capability to be highly self-directed can utilize this to discern any level of personal weakness then work to rectify the deficiency (Avdal, 2013; Yuan et al., 2012).The study’s purpose was to explore relationships among self-directed learning and attitude toward continuing education among students participating in community college Allied Health programs. For this study, 113 students in Allied Health degree programs at a southeastern community college participated. Respondents completed Stockdale’s (2003) Personal Responsibility Orientation-Self Directed Learning Scale (PRO-SDLS), Blunt and Yang’s (2002) Revised Attitude toward Continuing Education Scale (RAACES), as well as answered two demographic questions (age and class rank).The results revealed that level of self-direction has a significant relationship between several factors and items related to attitude toward continuing education. One of the strongest findings was that participants with high levels of self-direction viewed adult education as a way to make better use of their lives. The information resulting from this study will enhance the current literature and allow for better understanding of self-directed learning principles and their relationship with attitude toward continuing education. Applying this information in Allied Health programs may have a substantial effect on how faculty facilitates self-directed learning principles in their area of study (El-Gilnay & Abusaad, 2013). Future recommendations for research comprise of a duplication of the study using a more diverse and increased sample size across multiple community colleges and conducting other studies that would examine introducing self-directed learning principles into Allied Health programs

Volume change behavior of clay soils and the effect on discrete fractures

This study examines the behavior of subsurface fractures in fine-grained soil such as clays in response to changing environmental conditions. Fractures serve as conduits for moisture transfer, which can lead to substantial shrinking and swelling of the surrounding fracture boundary soils. These volume changes, in turn, affect fracture geometry and moisture transmission rates. A new predictive model, termed the \u27Fracture Volume Change Model\u27 (FVC Model), has been developed to relate moisture transfer, soil volume change and associated changes in fracture aperture. The model assumes a discrete horizontal fracture in a laterally-infinite, saturated, expansive clay with rigid, outer no-flow boundaries and an inner flexible yielding boundary along the fracture. The FVC Model is based on the one-dimensional diffusion equation, which is solved analytically for both constant moisture and constant flux fracture boundary conditions. Changes in fracture aperture are predicted assuming normal shrinkage and either isotropic or anisotropic volume change. The model is expandable to bulk scale analysis of geologic formations with multiple stacked fractures. The model was validated and calibrated in the laboratory using a custom fabricated horizontal infiltrometer device. Tests were conducted on a problematic clay soil from Fairfax County, Virginia, belonging to the southern montmorillonite facies of the Potomac Formation. Moisture content was varied from 17% to 33% by forcing air through an artificially created discrete fracture. Moisture changes in the fracture boundary soils caused the effective fracture aperture to fluctuate from near closure to 0.031 in. (0.79 mm). Upon application of excess moisture, it was riot possible to effect full closure of the fracture. Moisture values predicted with the FVC Model demonstrated good agreement with the laboratory data, deviating 6% on average. Predictions of fracture aperture were generally overestimated. The model confirmed the dominance of internal hydraulic properties of the soil matrix over evaporation or infiltration mechanisms. The model was also used to predict soil desiccation rates for an environmental remediation project in expansive clay in Santa Clara, California. Model application to agriculture, geotechnical engineering, and resource geology is also described