Optimal solutions to matrix-valued Nehari problems and related limit theorems

In a 1990 paper Helton and Young showed that under certain conditions the optimal solution of the Nehari problem corresponding to a finite rank Hankel operator with scalar entries can be efficiently approximated by certain functions defined in terms of finite dimensional restrictions of the Hankel operator. In this paper it is shown that these approximants appear as optimal solutions to restricted Nehari problems. The latter problems can be solved using relaxed commutant lifting theory. This observation is used to extent the Helton and Young approximation result to a matrix-valued setting. As in the Helton and Young paper the rate of convergence depends on the choice of the initial space in the approximation scheme.Comment: 22 page

Creating new consultation programs in community mental health centers: Analysis of a case study

A primary prevention program, initiated in a community mental health center, never became fully operational. Analysis suggests that failure to include recipients in initial planning, an unrealistic time table, insufficient institutional support for innovation, the project leader's organizational marginality, and the institutional constraints created by commitment to direct treatment of troubled individuals were factors that contributed to the project's failure. Several recommendations are presented. The most novel and important one is that systems-oriented, preventive mental health work should be based in a separate, distinct institution .Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44297/1/10597_2005_Article_BF01410882.pd

The relationships between internal and external threat and right-wing attitudes: A three-wave longitudinal study

The interplay between threat and right-wing attitudes has received much research attention, but its longitudinal relationship has hardly been investigated. In this study, we investigated the longitudinal relationships between internal and external threat and right-wing attitudes using a cross-lagged design at three different time points in a large nationally representative sample (N = 800). We found evidence for bidirectional relationships. Higher levels of external threat were related to higher levels of Right-Wing Authoritarianism and to both the egalitarianism and dominance dimensions of Social Dominance Orientation at a later point in time. Conversely, higher levels of RWA were also related to increased perception of external threat later in time. Internal threat did not yield significant direct or indirect longitudinal relationships with right-wing attitudes. Theoretical and practical implications of these longitudinal effects are discussed

Representing Kernels of Perturbations of Toeplitz Operators by Backward Shift-Invariant Subspaces

It is well known the kernel of a Toeplitz operator is nearly invariant under the backward shift S∗. This paper shows that kernels of finite rank perturbations of Toeplitz operators are nearly S∗-invariant with finite defect. This enables us to apply a recent theorem by Chalendar–Gallardo–Partington to represent the kernel in terms of backward shift-invariant subspaces, which we identify in several important cases

When Collectivity Makes a Difference: Theoretical and Empirical Insights from Urban and Rural Communities in Colombia

[EN] In this paper, we analyse two Colombian communities using elements of the capability approach. The first, Comuna 8, is an urban community in Medellín, Colombia¿s second largest city. The second community is a Zona de Reserva Campesina (Peasant Farmer Reserve Zone) in the Cabrera municipality, in the Department of Cundinamarca. We explore the reasons why people value being part of a community, along with the collective capabilities that are expanded through community participation. As a product of these capabilities communities plan their own territories, which are examples of collective functionings. Social and environmental conversion factors, as well the historical background of the two communities, are key elements in the analysis. Finally, this research sheds light on individual and collective agency. This agency not only occurs in spaces recognised by Colombian law, but also in areas claimed by the communities themselves.This work was supported by Programa Adsideo 2015, Centro de Cooperacion al Desarrollo, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia. Ayudas Salvador de Madariaga, Subprograma de Movilidad, Plan Estatal de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnica y de Innovacion 2013-2016.Boni Aristizábal, A.; Millan Franco, GF.; Millan Franco, MA. (2018). When Collectivity Makes a Difference: Theoretical and Empirical Insights from Urban and Rural Communities in Colombia. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. 19(2):216-231. https://doi.org/10.1080/19452829.2017.1412408S216231192Alkire, S. (2002). Valuing Freedoms. doi:10.1093/0199245797.001.0001Biggeri, M., & Ferrannini, A. (2014). Opportunity Gap Analysis: Procedures and Methods for Applying the Capability Approach in Development Initiatives. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 15(1), 60-78. doi:10.1080/19452829.2013.837036Boni, A., & Walker, M. (2016). Universities and Global Human Development. doi:10.4324/9781315742793Crocker, D. A., & Robeyns, I. (s. f.). Capability and Agency. Amartya Sen, 60-90. doi:10.1017/cbo9780511800511.005Deneulin, S. (2014). Wellbeing, Justice and Development Ethics. doi:10.4324/9781315867090Deneulin, S., and S. Alkire. 2009. “A Normative Framework for Development?” InAn Introduction to the Human Development and Capability Approach: Freedom and Agency, edited by S. Deneulin and L. Shahani, 19–31. London: Earthscan.Drydyk, J. (2013). Empowerment, agency, and power. Journal of Global Ethics, 9(3), 249-262. doi:10.1080/17449626.2013.818374Apsan Frediani, A., Boni, A., & Gasper, D. (2014). Approaching Development Projects from a Human Development and Capability Perspective. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 15(1), 1-12. doi:10.1080/19452829.2013.879014Gaventa, J. (2006). Finding the Spaces for Change: A Power Analysis. IDS Bulletin, 37(6), 23-33. doi:10.1111/j.1759-5436.2006.tb00320.xHill, J. L. (1996). Psychological sense of community: Suggestions for future research. Journal of Community Psychology, 24(4), 431-438. doi:10.1002/(sici)1520-6629(199610)24:43.0.co;2-tIbrahim, S. S. (2006). From Individual to Collective Capabilities: The Capability Approach as a Conceptual Framework for Self‐help. Journal of Human Development, 7(3), 397-416. doi:10.1080/14649880600815982McMillan, D. W., & Chavis, D. M. (1986). Sense of community: A definition and theory. Journal of Community Psychology, 14(1), 6-23. doi:10.1002/1520-6629(198601)14:13.0.co;2-iRamos-Vidal, I., & Maya-Jariego, I. (2014). Sentido de comunidad, empoderamiento psicológico y participación ciudadana en trabajadores de organizaciones culturales. Psychosocial Intervention, 23(3), 169-176. doi:10.1016/j.psi.2014.04.00

Teacher agency in curriculum making: agents of change and spaces for manoeuvre

In the wake of new forms of curricular policy in many parts of the world, teachers are increasingly required to act as agents of change. And yet, teacher agency is under-theorised and often misconstrued in the educational change literature, wherein agency and change are seen as synonymous and positive. This paper addresses the issue of teacher agency in the context of an empirical study of curriculum making in schooling. Drawing upon the existing literature, we outline an ecological view of agency as an effect. These insights frame the analysis of a set of empirical data, derived from a research project about curriculum-making in a school and further education college in Scotland. Based upon the evidence, we argue that the extent to which teachers are able to achieve agency varies from context to context based upon certain environmental conditions of possibility and constraint, and that an important factor in this lies in the beliefs, values and attributes that teachers mobilise in relation to particular situations

Female gamers’ experience of online harassment and social support in online gaming: a qualitative study

Female gaming is a relatively under-researched area, and female gamers often report experiencing harassment whilst playing online. The present study explored female experiences of social support while playing online video games, because of the previous research suggesting that females often experience harassment and negative interactions during game play. Data were collected from an online discussion forum, and comprised posts drawn from 271 female gamers. Thematic analysis of the discussions suggested that a lack of social support and harassment frequently led to female gamers playing alone, playing anonymously, and moving groups regularly. The female gamers reported experiencing anxiety and loneliness due to this lack of social support, and for many, this was mirrored in their experiences of social support outside of gaming. The female gamers frequently accepted the incorporation into their gaming of specific coping strategies to mitigate online harassment, including actively hiding their identity and avoiding all forms of verbal communication with other players. These themes are discussed in relation to relevant research in the area, along with recommendations for future research and consideration of possible explanations for the themes observed

Mothers' AdvocateS In the Community (MOSAIC)- non-professional mentor support to reduce intimate partner violence and depression in mothers: a cluster randomised trial in primary care

Background : Effective interventions to increase safety and wellbeing of mothers experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) are scarce. As much attention is focussed on professional intervention, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of non-professional mentor support in reducing IPV and depression among pregnant and recent mothers experiencing, or at risk of IPV.Methods : MOSAIC was a cluster randomised trial in 106 primary care (maternal and child health nurse and general practitioner) clinics in Melbourne, Australia. 63/106 clinics referred 215 eligible culturally and linguistically diverse women between January 2006 and December 2007. 167 in the intervention (I) arm, and 91 in the comparison (C) arm. 174 (80.9%) were recruited. 133 (76.4%) women (90 I and 43 C) completed follow-up at 12 months.Intervention: 12 months of weekly home visiting from trained and supervised local mothers, (English &amp; Vietnamese speaking) offering non-professional befriending, advocacy, parenting support and referrals.Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes; IPV (Composite Abuse Scale CAS) and depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale EPDS); secondary measures included wellbeing (SF-36), parenting stress (PSI-SF) and social support (MOS-SF) at baseline and follow-up.Analysis: Intention-to-treat using multivariable logistic regression and propensity scoring.Results : There was evidence of a true difference in mean abuse scores at follow-up in the intervention compared with the comparison arm (15.9 vs 21.8, AdjDiff -8.67, CI -16.2 to -1.15). There was weak evidence for other outcomes, but a trend was evident favouring the intervention: proportions of women with CAS scores &ge;7, 51/88 (58.4%) vs 27/42 (64.3%) AdjOR 0.47, CI 0.21 to 1.05); depression (EPDS score &ge;13) (19/85, 22% (I) vs 14/43, 33% (C); AdjOR 0.42, CI 0.17 to 1.06); physical wellbeing mean scores (PCS-SF36: AdjDiff 2.79; CI -0.40 to 5.99); mental wellbeing mean scores (MCS-SF36: AdjDiff 2.26; CI -1.48 to 6.00). There was no observed effect on parenting stress. 82% of women mentored would recommend mentors to friends in similar situations.Conclusion : Non-professional mentor mother support appears promising for improving safety and enhancing physical and mental wellbeing among mothers experiencing intimate partner violence referred from primary care.<br /

KIMA: Noise: A visual sound installation on urban noise

KIMA: Noise is a participatory art piece inviting audiences to explore impact of urban noises interactively. Using specific urban sound sources, the audience experiences noise as spatial soundscapes, responding to it, physically engaging and interacting with it. KIMA: Noise creates awareness for the phenomenon of noise pollution. The paper looks at preeminent research in the field, and draws conclusions of how sound affects us as individuals. The art project KIMA: Noise is introduced technically and conceptually