'Family, Feud and Fertility at Manorbier Castle Pembs. 1200-1400'

This article explores the links between a significantly understudied early fourteenth-century manuscript miscellany housed in Trinity College Library in Cambridge (Cambridge, Trinity College MS O.2.5 [1109]), the family of Gerald of Wales (d. 1223) and the medieval castle of Manorbier in Pembrokeshire. It argues both that this manuscript was produced by and for members of the de Barri family, and that the compilation, described as a 'mathematical miscellany' in James' catalogue, in fact contains a rich selection of medical and other texts that provides new insights into the troubled history of the castle and its owners during this period

Use Of Multi Patient Simulations To Facilitate Transition Of New Graduate Nurses

Description of research project investigating the use of multi patient simulations to identify competencies, evaluate performance, and determine effect on self-confidence and preparedness for practice. Research Questions: What are the critical student behaviors identified by the Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument (C CEI © ) that are needed to achieve competency in a senior level transition to practice nursing course? Does the use of a detailed evaluation tool in simulation experiences increase interrater objectivity and reliability in assessment of behaviors required of nursing students? In senior nursing student nurses preparing to graduate, what is the effect of the simulation lab on students’ perception of preparedness, and self confidence level about entering the practice setting in comparison to their feelings of preparedness and self confidence level at the start of the semester

Strange Fruits: Grafting, Foreigners, and the Garden Imaginary in Northern France and Germany, 1250–1350

This article explores the medieval uses of the horticultural practice of grafting, inserting a shoot of one plant into the rootstock of another in order to benefit from the latter's established strength and growth. It provided a rich metaphor for use in religious sermons and didactic literature from antiquity to the medieval period. Yet grafting was acknowledged to be 'contrary to nature', and a tension was thus set up between metaphor and practice that remained present and unresolved in medieval texts. This article explores one moment of that tension, reading the mystical works of Mechtild of Hackeborn (d.1298) and Gertrude of Helfta (d. 1302) in a northern European context where grafting was undergoing a transformation from a practice simply used for beneficial purposes - production of better fruit – to one that created pleasure and amusement for a growing aristocratic elite for whom controlling nature on their landed estates was simply another manifestation of their power, as exemplified by the pleasure park at Hesdin in Picardy

Faculty Recital: James Thornton, Bassoon; Patricia Whikehart, Piano; Herbert Sanders, Technical Assistance; November 18, 1970

Lecture (CE) 121November 18, 19708:15 p.m

The Impact of the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) on City-Level Youth Crime Victimization Rates

Background: The physical, emotional, and financial costs resulting from youth violence are well documented. Purpose: This article summarizes the results of a quasi-experimental evaluation study to test a youth violence intervention program in eleven cities in Massachusetts. Setting: In 2011, Massachusetts initiated the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI), which provides a comprehensive public health approach for young men believed to be at “proven risk” for being involved with firearms. Intervention: The SSYI program components include: (1) Specific identification of young men, ages 14-24, at highest risk for being involved in firearms violence; (2) Use of street outreach workers to find these young men, assess their needs, and act as brokers for services; (3) The provision of a continuum of comprehensive services including education, employment, and intensive supervision. Eleven cities with the highest count of violent offenses reported to the police in 2010 were selected for SSYI funding in 2011 and began implementing the program. Research Design:  Short-interrupted time series design with a comparison group. The observed and predicted trends in monthly violent victimization rates for the 11 SSYI cities were compared to the next 23 cities (as they ranked in reported violent crime in 2010). Data Collection and Analysis: Using police incident data, researchers examined SSYI's impact on monthly city level violent crime, aggravated assault and homicide rates for persons ages 14-24. Findings: Results indicated that SSYI had a statistically significant and positive impact on reducing the number of victims of violent crimes, aggravated assaults, and homicides per month that were reported to the police.  A city with SSYI has approximately 60 fewer victims of violence each year, ages 14-24, per 100,000 citizens over the post-intervention period. Keywords: quasi-experiment; interrupted time series; crime prevention; violence; Massachusett

STEPS: a knowledge management maturity roadmap for corporate sustainability

Purpose The paper focuses on the role of knowledge management in promoting corporate in the construction industry context. It proposes a maturity roadmap – STEPS to facilitate the implementation of a knowledge management strategy. Design/methodology/approach Two research methods were used. The first consisted of a postal questionnaire sent to the top 170 UK construction firms consisting of engineering design and construction contractor firms. The organisations were selected because they were considered the most influential organisations in the UK construction sector. The second research method involved 28 case study interviews with eight construction firms to investigate their approach to knowledge management and performance improvement. The results of the questionnaire survey and the case studies were used to develop the STEPS Maturity Roadmap. Findings The paper found that knowledge management is inextricably linked to corporate sustainability, but a methodical approach is required for successful knowledge management implementation. With this is mind, the STEPS Maturity Roadmap was developed to provide a structured approach to implementing and benchmarking knowledge management efforts. Practical implications This will allow companies to understand were they fall within the STEPS Maturity Roadmap and to devise a strategy to be developed to attain higher levels of knowledge management maturity. Originality/value This paper provides a mechanism for organisations to benchmark their knowledge management activities and to develo

Review and implementation of performance management models in construction engineering organizations

Performance management is a key issue in the construction industry as a result of complex internal and external factors. Large construction organisations are implementing performance management models to improve business processes, products and management of people to facilitate continuous improvement. This study investigates the implementation of performance management models in large construction engineering organisations. Firstly, a brief review of the drive for performance improvement and the strategic considerations for the adoption of performance management models is carried out with specific reference to the Balanced Scorecard and the EFQM Excellence Model. Secondly, using case studies of large construction engineering organisations, the findings from the implementation of performance management models are analysed and discussed. It is shown that whilst progress has been made in the implementation of performance management models in large construction organisations, significant challenges remained at the planning, deployment and assessment and review stages. This includes the motivation for performance management, leadership and resources, communication mechanisms, measurement and data collection techniques, and the role of knowledge management. Performance management models provide a basis to develop strategy for sustaining long-term business objectives, and more construction organisations will adopt such innovative tools to facilitate continuous improvement, as the business benefits become clear

Business performance measurement practices in construction engineering organisations

Performance improvement has been the subject of recent initiatives in the UK construction industry as a result of complex internal and external factors. These include demands from clients, investors and stakeholders for improvement and changes in market conditions. The need for performance improvement has led to the implementation of industry-specific key performance indicators (KPIs) and greater awareness of the benefits of measurement in construction engineering organisations. This paper presents and discusses findings based on the practical experiences of leading construction engineering organisations in the UK. A significant proportion of organisations are now using a range of financial and non-financial measures to assess business performance, and a growing number are adopting the Excellence Model and the Balanced Scorecard to facilitate a structured approach to implementing continuous improvement strategies. The paper concludes with some practical considerations for implementing performance measurement models