Finite Products are Biproducts in a Compact Closed Category

If a compact closed category has finite products or finite coproducts then it in fact has finite biproducts, and so is semi-additive.Comment: 9 pages. Introduction further expanded, minor errors correcte

Jumped or pushed: what motivates NHS staff to set up a social enterprise?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the motivations behind public sector spin outs, focusing on the Right to Request policy, which enabled NHS staff to set up their own social enterprises to deliver healthcare services.\ud \ud Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on empirical data gathered from 16 in-depth interviews with individuals who had led a Right to Request proposal.\ud \ud Findings – Motivations to spin out of the NHS into a social enterprise were often “empathetic” in nature, built around the good of the service for staff and users. Alongside this, some felt “pushed” out of the NHS as a result of government restructuring policy, with social enterprise offering the only hope to survive as an organisation.\ud \ud Research limitations/implications – The study captures a particular point in time and there may be other perspectives that have not been included.\ud \ud Social implications – The paper is of use to academics, policy makers and practitioners. It provides an important contribution in thinking about how to motivate public sector staff, especially those from a health profession, to consider spinning out into social enterprises.\ud \ud Originality/value – The paper is the first to look at the motivations of healthcare spin outs through the Right to Request programme. The findings are related to previous literature on social entrepreneurship within public sector settings.\u

A Brillouin spectroscopic study of the I-II phase transition in CH₄

The effects of rotation-translation (RT) coupling in solid methane (CH₄), especially near the 1-11 phase transition, have been investigated using die technique in high resolution Brillouin spectroscopy. Large single crystals of methane were grown in a liquid helium cryostat and were successfully cooled down to 15.5 K using a novel cooling technique. Lane X-ray diffraction photographs were taken to determine crystal quality and the orientation of the crystal axes. Radiation from an argon laser was incident along the axis of the cell, while the scattered radiation was analyzed at 90° by a Brillouin spectrometer. -- The temperature dependence of the adiabatic elastic constants, the elasto optic coefficients, the bulk moduli and shear moduli have been determined in the temperature range i5.5 K < T < 90.4 K. The elastic constants all show acoustic anomalies at the transition temperature of 20.4 K. A theoretical analysis has shown that these anomalies are consistent with a decrease in RT coupling from the high temperature phase I to the low temperature phase II. Through an analysis of acoustic velocities in high symmetry directions, CH₄ -II has shown a strong similarity to the rare gas solids, especially argon at low temperatures

Stable Isotope and Geochemical Characterization of Nutrient Sources in the Big Creek Watershed of Northwest Arkansas

The establishment of a concentrated animal-feeding operation (CAFO) in Newton County, Arkansas near Big Creek, a tributary of the Buffalo National River, has raised concern over potential degradation of water-quality in the watershed. In this study, isotopic tools were combined with standard geochemical approaches to characterize nutrient sources and dynamics in Big Creek. An isotopic and geochemical reference library of potential nutrient sources in the Big Creek watershed was established by direct sampling of representative potential sources, including septic-system effluent, poultry litter, swine and cattle manure, and CAFO waste lagoons. Representative nutrient sources and Big Creek stream samples were analyzed for δ15N-NO3, δ18O-NO3, δ18O-PO4, and a cation and anion suite. Big Creek stream samples were also analyzed for δ18O-H2O and δ2H-H2O. Nutrient concentrations and isotopic data provide evidence of modification of potential nutrient source signatures by nitrification, atmospheric deposition, evaporation, and denitrification. Chloride-to-bromide ratios of stream samples indicated an anthropogenic influence in Big Creek that could have resulted from any combination of the analyzed sources. Samples taken from the CAFO waste lagoon, a septic system, field and parking-lot runoff, fertilizer, and hog manure exhibited different δ15N-NO3 and δ18O-NO3 as compared to stream samples. Stream δ15N-NO3 and δ18O-NO3 cannot be explained by direct input of any one of these potential sources without modification of isotopic composition by mixing or fractionation. Big Creek NO3 isotope values (-7.59‰ to 9.10‰ δ15N-NO3 and -3.41‰ to 6.71‰ δ18O-NO3) were similar to NO3 values expected from nitrification of nitrogen stored in soils sampled in the watershed (3.8‰ to 6.6‰ δ15N-NO3 and 3.4‰ to 4.8‰ δ18O-NO3). The NO3 isotope data indicate stream NO3 is derived in part from NO3 stored in soils. Discrimination of nutrient source input to Big Creek using δ18O-PO4 was complicated by overlap between potential source δ18O-PO4 and stream δ18O-PO4. Stream equilibrium δ18O-PO4 values indicated the influence of both isotopically light and heavy phosphate sources in Big Creek, and the in-stream biological processing of PO4. The results of this study highlight the importance of effective agricultural, residential, and urban best-management practices in protecting the quality of our waterways

Changing hearts and minds: examining student nurses' experiences and perceptions of a general practice placement through a 'community of practice' lens

The recent UK Government paper 'Five year forward view' describes the need to move much patient management from secondary to primary care, and this will require a significant increase in the numbers of General Practice Nurses (GPNs). Until recently, there has been no clear recruitment strategy to address this. There have however been a number of proposed solutions to address the impending GPN recruitment crisis and to increase the numbers of new GPNs in post. General Practitioners (GPs) working in the Advanced Training Practice Scheme (ATPS) have been commissioned by Health Education England to provide placements for student nurses. This paper reports upon the findings of a study evaluating the South Yorkshire ATPS network in relation to nursing students' perceptions of general practice as a placement and a potential career option post-graduation. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 18 nursing students. Qualitative data analysis used a framework approach and themes were cross-checked within the team. The research had ethical approval and anonymity and confidentiality were maintained throughout. Using the Communities of Practice (CoP) framework as a theoretical lens, two main themes emerged from the data: 'Myths and misunderstandings' outlined some of the misconceptions that abounded in the absence of an established CoP in general practice. These included perceptions of what constitutes a 'good' placement, an apparent lack of relevant content in the curriculum, and the widespread use of social media by students as a means of information gathering. 'Changing hearts and minds' referred to the need to positively influence the culture within general practice by addressing some of the longstanding myths. Through the fledgling CoP, the students' perceptions of the GPN role in particular were positively revised, as was the prospect of a career in general practice upon graduation. The CoP that is emerging through the ATPS placements appear to be gradually changing the socio-cultural landscape within general practice by enabling student nurses to experience the reality of life in general practice nursing, and to view the GPN role as a viable career option upon graduation

Reducing Disproportional Discipline Referrals for African American Male Students at The Elementary Level

The National Center for Educational Statistics documents that most teachers in urban/city schools are White, female teachers. Differences in communication styles, culture and involvement can have a negative impact on the educational experiences of minority and male students. However, there are White, female teachers who can demonstrate the ability to engage their students that have helped to the reduce the disciplinary disparity in their schools. This study focuses on answering the overarching question, what dispositional characteristics/qualities, instructional methods, environmental parameters and classroom management techniques do White, female teachers perceive contribute to lower classroom disciplinary referrals for African American males in the elementary classroom? to answer this question, three separate interviews were conducted with each participant utilizing an established protocol, two classroom observations were conducted of each participant utilizing an observation protocol and reviewing three years of discipline data for each participant. Findings revealed students need to be actively involved in the educational process. Settings need to be structured and procedures established that allow students to demonstrate independence. Teachers need to engage parents by providing opportunities for communication through various means. There needs to be a common vocabulary that transcends cultural differences and personal bias and experiences. Lastly, teacher preparation programs need to provide students with courses that speak to the cultural and socioeconomic differences within society that are reflected in the urban/city school environment and opportunities to engage in hands-on learning opportunities within urban/city school settings with cooperative teachers

Student nurses' career intentions following placements in general practice through the advanced training practices scheme (ATPS): findings from an online survey.

BACKGROUND: The demand for General Practice services in the UK, and elsewhere, is rising quickly. In part, the increasing demand is from an aging population that requires management of multiple long-term conditions. The General Practice Nurse is increasingly taking on the role. It is acknowledged that if general practice is to be able to recruit sufficient General Practice Nurses (GPNs) to meet this increasing demand in the future, new graduate nurses must be encouraged to consider general practice as a viable career option. This research is part of a review of the Advanced Training Practice Scheme (ATPS) which supported clinical placements in participating general practices. METHODS: The aim of the study was to examine nursing students' perceptions of GP placements, and their effect upon career intentions following graduation from Sheffield Hallam University (SHU), in the UK. Interviews and an online survey were used collect data. Only the survey is reported here. The bespoke survey examined students' views of: opportunities for learning new clinical skills and consolidating existing clinical skills; the learning environment in general practice and their views on a career in general practice. RESULTS: One thousand one hundred twenty undergraduate adult-field nursing students were contacted, with a response rate of 41% (N = 462). Ninety respondents had a placement and, 92% (N = 84) viewed practice nursing positively, and 77% (N = 70) felt that the placement had transformed their views on general practice. The opportunity to participate in the management of the various aspects of chronic disease was identified by 84% (N = 76) of the students as a key new skill they had acquired. They also reported that they valued a team ethos, control over aspects of work, and the variety of health problems they encountered. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study demonstrate a positive experience arising from the provision of General Practice placements for nursing students. The use of 'targeted' placement schemes with appropriate support such as this may be seen as a viable way of exposing nursing students to General Practice nursing, and of encouraging new graduate nurses to consider General Practice nursing as a viable career option

Case Report: Thyrotoxic Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis

Thyrotoxic crisis, or thyroid storm, is an acute, life threatening event caused by hyperthyroidism with mortality up to 8-25% that can present with multi-system organ involvement. It is a rare, but well studied complication in the emergency department but can lead to further, less common complications. In this study we will discuss a case of thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis (TPP) most commonly affects Asian men. The key features of the syndrome include acute onset of hypokalemia and paralysis. The hypokalemic aspect of the disorder is secondary to the shift intracellularly by thyroid hormones’ sensitization of Na+/K+-ATPase as opposed to body\u27s depletion of potassium. TPP has an incidence of 2% in patients with thyrotoxicosis of any cause. The paralysis occurs because a large majority of the body’s potassium is located in skeletal muscle. When the potassium moves intracellularly the muscles are unable to contract in their normal fashion