Introduction : contemporary orientations in African cultural studies

Abstract: This paper offers a glimpse of work generated by the 2014 John Douglas Taylor conference on ‘Contemporary Orientations in African Cultural Studies’. The conference generated a number of inquiries into the time and place of contemporary African cultural work, many of which theorized beyond the frameworks that postcolonial and globalization studies frequently offer. Under the shifting paradigms of cultural studies, the work of this conference, as well as the current project, moves away from reading the African everyday as exclusively a construction out of a series of colonial histories and relationalities, or global cultural flows. In line with Jean and John Comaroffs’ Theory From the South, this issue is instead dedicated to relocating the global centres from which cultural studies emanates and positing African work’s challenge to normative zones of cultural critique. ‘Contemporary orientations’ attempts to relocate the time and space of critique in African studies, but it resists the gesture to posit a stable trajectory through which time moves. Rather, the terms of the contemporary and the orientation depend on how they are read in relation to a multitude of other temporalities, orientations, and objects

Rapid spread of complex change: a case study in inpatient palliative care

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Based on positive findings from a randomized controlled trial, Kaiser Permanente's national executive leadership group set an expectation that all Kaiser Permanente and partner hospitals would implement a consultative model of interdisciplinary, inpatient-based palliative care (IPC). Within one year, the number of IPC consultations program-wide increased almost tenfold from baseline, and the number of teams nearly doubled. We report here results from a qualitative evaluation of the IPC initiative after a year of implementation; our purpose was to understand factors supporting or impeding the rapid and consistent spread of a complex program.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Quality improvement study using a case study design and qualitative analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 36 national, regional, and local leaders.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compelling evidence of impacts on patient satisfaction and quality of care generated 'pull' among adopters, expressed as a remarkably high degree of conviction about the value of the model. Broad leadership agreement gave rise to sponsorship and support that permeated the organization. A robust social network promoted knowledge exchange and built on an existing network with a strong interest in palliative care. Resource constraints, pre-existing programs of a different model, and ambiguous accountability for implementation impeded spread.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A complex, hospital-based, interdisciplinary intervention in a large health care organization spread rapidly due to a synergy between organizational 'push' strategies and grassroots-level pull. The combination of push and pull may be especially important when the organizational context or the practice to be spread is complex.</p

The impact of language barriers on trust formation in multinational teams

This study systematically investigates how language barriers influence trust formation in multinational teams (MNTs). Based on 90 interviews with team members, team leaders, and senior managers in 15 MNTs in three German automotive corporations, we show how MNT members’ cognitive and emotional reactions to language barriers influence their perceived trustworthiness and intention to trust, which in turn affect trust formation. We contribute to diversity research by distinguishing the exclusively negative language effects from the more ambivalent effects of other diversity dimensions. Our findings also illustrate how surface-level language diversity may create perceptions of deep-level diversity. Furthermore, our study advances MNT research by revealing the specific influences of language barriers on team trust, an important mediator between team inputs and performance outcomes. It thereby encourages the examination of other team processes through a language lens. Finally, our study suggests that multilingual settings necessitate a reexamination and modification of the seminal trust theories by Mayer, Davis and Schoorman (1995) and McAllister (1995). In terms of practical implications, we outline how MNT leaders can manage their subordinates’ problematic reactions to language barriers and how MNT members can enhance their perceived trustworthiness in multilingual settings

The enzymatic release of glycosidically-bound terpenes in must

Bibliography: pages 79-86.Flavour in wines is perhaps the most important factor affecting wine quality, with monoterpenoids being among the compounds contributing to flavour. In grapes there exists glycosidically-bound forms of these monoterpenes, representing a latent source of aroma. This project is a study on the ability of different enzymes to release these monoterpenes in Muscat d'Alexandrie and Weisser Riesling grapes. Different commercial enzyme preparations were characterised with respect to their catalytic properties and fractionated by ion exchange chromatography in the most active fractions. Amongst those commercial preparations tested, Rohapect C was found to be the most effective at conditions prevalent during wine making. These purified fractions were added to the above mentioned grapes to determine their effect on the release of different monoterpenes. Even though the enzymes were active on synthetic substrates, limited release of terpenes from must could be detected. Possible causes for this apparent inability to release monoterpenes were investigated. Product inhibition due to the presence of high concentrations of glucose in the must appeared to be the main cause of limited enzyme activity. In an attempt to overcome this problem, glucose in the above mentioned cultivars was oxidised to gluconic acid by glucose oxidase, prior to attempting monoterpene release by Rohapect C. Although no marked increase in the release of total terpenes occured, a significant increase in the concentrations of some individual terpenes could be observed. The effect of this on wine quality remains to be ascertained

Riglyne vir kritiesetaalbewustheidsprogramme in skole

M.A. (Applied Linguistics)Please refer to full text to view abstrac

Breakpoint conversation for older people : a registry study in palliative care

Bakgrund: Behovet av palliativ vård kommer att öka i takt med att befolkning blir äldre och lever allt längre. Det kommer bli fler äldre personer med kroniska sjukdomar som har andra sjukdomsförlopp jämfört med cancer. Det är viktigt för kvaliteten av den palliativa vården att brytpunktssamtal erbjuds. Med kvalitet menas bland annat delaktighet, symtomlindring och stöd för närstående. Detta innebär en utmaning för hälso- och sjukvården som måste uppmärksamma när vården ändrar riktning mot vård i livets slutskede. Äldre personer erbjuds i mindre utsträckning brytpunktssamtal än yngre personer. Distriktssköterskan har en betydelsefull roll i den palliativa vården inom den kommunala hemsjukvården och ska främja äldre personers möjlighet att få information samt delta i beslut som rör den egna vården, vilket ett brytpunktssamtal innebär. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka samband mellan brytpunktssamtal och andra faktorer, för äldre personer i palliativ vård, vid tillfällen då dödsfallet varit förväntat. Metod: Detta är en kvantitativ retrospektiv registerstudie med data hämtad från svenska palliativregistret. Resultat: Det fanns stora skillnader inom gruppen äldre huruvida brytpunktssamtal erbjöds eller inte. Ju äldre personen var desto mindre odds för att brytpunktssamtal erbjöds. Kön eller diagnos påverkade inte. När brytpunktssamtal erbjudits var närstående i högre utsträckning på plats när den äldre personen dog och när brytpunktssamtal inte erbjudits var personal i högre utsträckning de enda närvarande än då brytpunkssamtal erbjudits. Slutsats: Den palliativa vården är ojämlik och äldre personer riskerar att utsättas för onödigt lidande. Distriktssköterskan i kommunal hemsjukvård bör sätta extra fokus på denna grupp för att uppmärksamma övergång till vård i livets slutskede.Background: The need of palliative care will increase as the population ages and lives longer. There will be more old people with chronic diseases that will have other disease progression than those with cancer. To achieve a high quality in the palliative care it´s important that the physician gives the dying person information about the imminent death a so-called breakpoint conversation. A high-quality means among other things patient participation, symptom relief and support to relatives. This means a challenge for the healthcare workers who must pay attention to when care changes direction towards care in the end of life. Older people are to a lesser extent offered breakpoint conversation than younger people. The district nurse has an important role in the palliative care for older people in municipal health and medical care and are supposed to promote elderly people's opportunity to have information about their disease course that gives them ability to be involved with decisions about their own care planning, which means paying attention to when it´s time to offer a breakpoint conversation. Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine relations and other factors associated with breakpoint conversation in palliative care for elderly people when death were imminent. Method: The study is a quantitative retrospective registry study based on data from the Swedish register of palliative care. Results: There are a significant difference within the group of old people when it comes to being offered a breakpoint conversation, with a negative trend where older people are less likely to get a breakpoint conversation. Gender and diagnosis had no impact. When a breakpoint conversation was offered, relatives were to a greater extent present when death occurred, and staff were more often the only ones present when a breakpoint conversation weren't offered. Conclusion: The palliative care is unequal and older people risk being exposed to unnecessary suffering. The district nurse in municipal home care should put an extra focus on this group of elderly people were death is imminent

LOW FREQUENCY MOTIONS IN LIQUID CARBON TETRACHLORIDE USING FAR-INFRARED AND RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY.

$^{1}$ R. G. Gordon, J. Chem. Phys. 43, 1307 (1965), and previous papers. $^{2}$ H. S. Gabelnick and H. L. Strauss, J. Chem. Phys. 46, 397 (1967).Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, University of CaliforniaThe far-infrared ($33-200 cm^{-1}$) and Raman ($0-150 cm^{-1}$ shifts) spectra of liquid carbon tetrachloride have been studied. Calculations based on the methods of $R. G. Gordon^{1}$ have $shown^{2}$ that in the liquid the $CCl^{4}$ molecule has an effective root-mean-square dipole moment of about 0.2 D and an effective root-mean-square polarizability anisotropy of about $1 A^{3}$. Detailed comparisons of the infrared and Raman correlation functions will be discussed. An effort will be made to quantitatively compare the motion with different models

Brachial plexopathy/nerve root avulsion in a football player: the role of electrodiagnostics.

Electromyography (EMG) studies are a useful tool in anatomical localization of peripheral nerve and brachial plexus injuries. They are especially helpful in distinguishing between brachial plexopathy and nerve root injuries where surgical intervention may be indicated. EMG can also assist in providing prognostic information after nerve injury as well as after nerve repair. In this case report, a football player presented with weakness in his right upper limb after a traction/traumatic injury to the right brachial plexus. EMG studies revealed evidence of both pre- and postganglionic injury to multiple cervical roots. The injury was substantial enough to cause nerve root avulsions involving the C6 and C7 levels. Surgical referral led to nerve grafts targeted at regaining function in shoulder abduction and elbow flexion. After surgery, the patient\u27s progress was monitored utilizing EMG to assist in identifying true axonal regeneration