Reply to M. Horiguchi et al

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An Exploration of the Perspectives of Young Males with Regard to their Experience of non-Heterosexual Sexuality Transitions and the Potential Influences on this Transition within an Irish Context

This research aimed to explore the perspectives of young males with regard to their experience of non-heterosexual sexuality transitions and the potential influences on this transition within an Irish context. A qualitative research approach was adopted, using semi-structured interviews with young males between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-two. This method allowed for the details of participants‟ lived experience and their individual perceptions to be captured. Key findings suggest that experiences of non-heterosexual sexuality transitions in both family and friendship contexts shaped how the transition was negotiated. Disclosure of sexual minority status to family members is still a significant issue for many individuals and can be met with a wide variety of responses. Despite negative initial responses the transition generally strengthened and positively impacted on family and friendship relationships over time. The overwhelming majority of sexuality related support was found to come from friends, with non-heterosexual friends in particular offing support in terms of understand and reassurance. A significant finding of this research was the monumental influence social and historical context had on non-heterosexual sexuality transitions. The fact that heterosexist beliefs and values were reaffirmed constantly through cultural institutions meant that sexual minority issues were invisible within cultural discourse. This lead to isolation and stigmatisation. Individuals had very different approaches to coming to terms with their sexuality. These varying approaches stemmed from differences in personality, cognitive processes and coping mechanisms. The individual nature and multiple influences on how non-heterosexual sexuality transitions are negotiated highlight the need to develop and explore inclusive theoretical frameworks that allow for variation in historical, cultural and psychological contexts. Interventions and practitioners working with sexual minorities should also consider the importance of recognising the unique challenges each individual faces and the specific supports that might work for them. This should limit the potential for making assumptions and generalizations about sexual minorities and help identify positive influencing factors which could be built upon

Slaying the Dragon: An Analysis on How to Dismantle Terrorist Organizations

Terrorism has become a rising threat to international peace and security all over the world. It is not a new problem to the world scene, but increasingly crucial to the United States. While al-Qaeda is the most current threat to many countries in the world and may seem impossible to put down, terrorist organizations have been defeated throughout history. Understanding the major causes of other group\u27s demise may teach us useful skills in how to defeat the current problems. The most useful policies that have been effective in defeating terrorism have been policing, politicization, and military actions in corporation with sub-policies to reinforce them (Jones, Libicki, 2008). In combination with these three major categories, economic sanctions on states that harbor terrorists, intelligence gathering, engaging in diplomacy, and target killings are necessary. An example of each of these policies will display how these work. Case studies of Aum Shinrikyo, the Irish Republican Army, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman will illustrate each policy. Furthermore, details of how each of these policies work will be demonstrated. Furthermore, for a state to decide on which policy may be most beneficial, the organization itself must be thoroughly analyzed. Details such as ideological motivations, economic conditions, regime type, size, and legitimacy within the community surrounding a terrorist organization help craft a policy fitted to it directly and uniquely

Childhood sexual abuse and adulthood mortality in veterans treated for combat-related PTSD

Adverse childhood experiences, such as sexual abuse, have consistently been found to be associated with negative health-related outcomes in adulthood. Combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be at particular risk for such outcomes, as this population has been shown to report elevated rates of childhood sexual abuse. Research also suggests that combat veterans with PTSD are at increased risk for early mortality and behavioral causes of death, such as suicide, accidents, and homicide. However, despite the high rates of early mortality and childhood abuse among veterans with combat-related PTSD, to date, the relationship between these phenomena within this population has yet to be assessed. The current study examined the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and mortality in a sample of 1,866 male Vietnam-era U.S. combat veterans who sought residential treatment for PTSD. It was hypothesized that a history of childhood sexual abuse would be associated with elevated rates of both early mortality and behavioral causes of death. However, one-way ANOVAs did not reveal any significant differences in vital status or cause of death. Analyses did, however, yield descriptive data on the nature of the abuse experienced by the sample and the characteristics of the abuse perpetrators. These findings and their implications for treatment are discussed

Implementing business continuity management – sharing good practice from an Irish context

ABSTRACT Never has the need for robust, resilient organizations been so evident as in recent times with more and more well-established, respected organizations becoming unstable or even perishing as a result of the global recession. Added to these challenging economic times we have the demands of managing increasingly complex organizations, which are often highly dependent on sophisticated Information Systems and technology. Perrow’s Normal Accident Theory (1994) points to the fact that “no matter how hard we try there will be serious accidents because of the interactive complexity”[1] of the organizations in which we work. The introduction of BS25999, the British Standard for business continuity management, draws on international good practice in this field and brings together a clear view of what should constitute effective business continuity management for organizations across all sectors. This has provided Business Continuity Managers with a benchmark against which this aspect of their organization can be measured. This paper provides an overview of the Business Continuity Management Lifecycle. It discusses the key steps which must be taken in order to establish a Business Continuity Management Programme. It then explores the various approaches and methods which may be employed to gain a greater understanding of the organization. The paper highlights how organizations need to determine the BCM strategy which should be implemented and how to plan for delivery of an effective response in the event of a disruption to normal business. This will involve giving appropriate consideration to key resources such as: People; Premises; Technology; Information; and Supplies. The paper includes a discussion on ensuring all arrangements are fit for purpose, and outlines the importance of high quality exercising and training initiatives. Finally the paper determines how Business Continuity Management can be embedded into the culture of organizations so that they continue to grow in terms of resilience and maintain key functions and outputs in times of crisis. The research for this paper involved the completion of a number of case studies which investigated how BCM is implemented in a range of organizations. As each phase of the BCM Lifecycle is discussed an example of good practice, drawn from these cases, will be outlined in order to illustrate how the various elements of the BCM lifecycle may be implemented within organizations across the public, private and voluntary sectors

Circuits without Wires?: Helping Students Understand the Power of Ions

The activity described here provides an inquiry experience using familiar materials to promote student exploration and understanding of ions and ionic compounds. Familiar materials throughout the laboratory help students relate science to the real world and students are able to use their understanding of those materials. This activity uses an inquiry approach that requires students to make more decisions about their experiment, but does not expect students to discover scientific ideas. This article identifies many ways that the nature of science should be incorporated into the learning experience so that students improve their understanding of what science is and how it is done. This article promotes National Science Education Content Standards A, B, and G, and Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 2, 3, and 4

The diagnostic performance of routinely acquired and reported computed tomography imaging in patients presenting with suspected pleural malignancy

Objectives: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) provides essential cross-sectional imaging data in patients with suspected pleural malignancy (PM). The performance of CT in routine practice may be lower than in previously reported research. We assessed this relative to ‘real-life’ factors including use of early arterial-phase contrast enhancement (by CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA)) and non-specialist radiology reporting. Materials and methods: Routinely acquired and reported CT scans in patients recruited to the DIAPHRAGM study (a prospective, multi-centre observational study of mesothelioma biomarkers) between January 2014 and April 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. CT reports were classified as malignant if they included specific terms e.g. “suspicious of malignancy”, “stage M1a” and benign if others were used e.g. “indeterminate”, “no cause identified”. All patients followed a standard diagnostic algorithm. The diagnostic performance of CT (overall and based on the above factors) was assessed using 2 × 2 Contingency Tables. Results: 30/345 (9%) eligible patients were excluded (non-contrast (n = 13) or non-contiguous CT (n = 4), incomplete follow-up (n = 13)). 195/315 (62%) patients studied had PM; 90% were cyto-histologically confirmed. 172/315 (55%) presented as an acute admission, of whom 31/172 (18%) had CTPA. Overall, CT sensitivity was 58% (95% CI 51–65%); specificity was 80% (95% CI 72–87%). Sensitivity of CTPA (performed in 31/315 (10%)) was lower (27% (95% CI 9–53%)) than venous-phase CT (61% (95% CI 53–68%) p = 0.0056). Sensitivity of specialist thoracic radiologist reporting was higher (68% (95% CI 55–79%)) than non-specialist reporting (53% (95% CI 44–62%) p = 0.0488). Specificity was not significantly different. Conclusion: The diagnostic performance of CT in routine clinical practice is insufficient to exclude or confirm PM. A benign CT report should not dissuade pleural sampling where the presence of primary or secondary pleural malignancy would alter management. Sensitivity is lower with non-thoracic radiology reporting and particularly low using CTPA