Learning democracy ; a case study of learning democracy in a peri- urban community development project.

Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2003.The 1996 constitution of South Africa was adopted as the supreme law of the Republic so as to establish a new society based on democratic values, to 'improve the lives of all citizens and to free the potential of all persons by every means possible' (1996:Section 27). Every person now has certain inherent rights which were denied to most prior to the 1994 elections. All persons have the right to dignity, and the right to have their dignity respected and protected. The State agrees, 'within its resources as outlined in its macro economic strategy GEAR' (Beck 2000: 195) to take reasonable legislative and other measures to achieve the progressive realization of people's rights and to have these rights respected. There is a major shift in the way society is governed. Government legislation reflects the move away from the harsh, discriminatory laws of the past, to a new social order based on democratic principles. Most welfare organizations are willing to embrace the new dispensation and some are well advanced in the transformation process which embraces the developmental approach to social welfare. This research looks at two such organizations within the context of a case study. Its purpose is not to detail the difficulties and tensions faced by the organizations in terms of the implementation of a developmental approach to social welfare, but rather to explore how two groups of people from very diverse backgrounds, politically, historically and economically, learn to work together on a developmental project during a time of monumental change. It details how the two organisations made progress together in spite of their many difficulties and differences, to bring each phase of the Project to fruition during the period October 1997 - October 2001. I use the actual geographical names of the Project during the research but the names of the organisations and the participants have been changed to protect identities

Mapping the time-course and content of visual predictions with a novel object-scene associative memory paradigm

In the current thesis, we present a series of three ERP experiments investigating the time-course and nature of contextual facilitation effects in visual object processing. In all three experiments, participants studied novel object-scene pairs in a paired associate memory paradigm. At test, we presented the scene first, followed after a delay by the test object, which either matched or mismatched the scene. We manipulated two key factors. 1) In all three experiments, we manipulated the severity of contextual mismatch between the presented object and the scene, including categorical violations as well as more subtle visual distortions. In this way, we probed the level of detail at which participants were reactivating the contextually-congruent target object in response to the scene. 2) We manipulated the scene preview timing parameters both between subjects (Experiments 2.1 and 3.1) and within subjects (Experiment 3.2). Our rationale for doing this was as follows. Rather than assuming that contextual facilitation effects reflect an entirely predictive or reactive/integrative process, we tested the hypothesis that contextual facilitation was predictive in nature. If the contextual facilitation was entirely integrative (i.e., people waited until the object was presented before relating it to the scene context), we might expect that the amount of scene preview time would not modulate contextual facilitation effects. What we found instead is that allowing for additional scene preview time leads to enhanced contextual facilitation effects, suggesting that participants are using the additional time that they are observing the scene alone (beyond 200 ms, which is sufficient to extract the gist of the scene) to prepare to process the upcoming object and determine whether it matches the scene. We strengthened our findings by testing this both between subjects using only two time points, and within subjects using a parametric gradation of preview times (which also allowed us to test if our findings generalized to cases of temporal uncertainty). We also took advantage of our use of ERPs to examine dependent measures tied to specific stages of cognition. We particularly focus our analysis and discussion on contextual priming of higher-level visual features, examining how contextual congruency modulates amplitude of the N300 component under various conditions and timing constraints. We also present a set of novel visual similarity analyses relying on V1-like features, which allow us to test for context effects on visual object understanding in a component-neutral fashion. Lastly, we present analyses of context effects on other components of the waveform: the N400, as an index of semantic priming, and the LPC, as an index of response-related processing. Overall, our findings are consistent with a predictive account, in which participants use scene information to preactivate features of the upcoming object (including higher-level visual form features, as well as semantic features) in order to facilitate visual object understanding. Future work will further disentangle predictive vs. integrative processing accounts of contextual facilitation effects on visual object processing

Summary Data Report of the 2009-2010 Annual Survey of Divisions of General Practice

The Primary Health Care Research and Information Service (PHCRIS) conducts the Annual Survey of Divisions (ASD) on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. As part of their contractual obligations, all Divisions of General Practice are required to complete the Survey which includes questions about their membership, activities (including population health) and infrastructure for the previous financial year. Consequently, the results provide a comprehensive overview of Divisions and summarise the broad range of activities that they are involved in

Improving Code Response Time through Strategic Positioning of Nursing House Supervisors: Results of a Nurse-Led Intervention

Background: In many settings, the nursing house supervisors (NHS) are a critical part of the entity’s code response team. To date, much of the research on code response has focused on improving response times through staff-focused interventions such as simulation training. However, use of data to determine where to physically place NHS in the building to optimize code response times has received little attention, especially in an outpatient oncology setting. Purpose: To test whether using data on code frequency/location to strategically position NHS could reduce mean code response times in large (450,000-ft2) outpatient cancer center. Methods: Data on code volume, type, distance and estimated response time before and after strategic repositioning was collected by staff over a 238-day period occurring between September, 2019 and April, 2020. Results: Over an eight-month period, NHS staff responded to 64 codes. Prior to repositioning, 77.3% of codes required NHS to travel to a different building and through at least one floor and/or departments to arrive at the code. After strategic repositioning, mean code response times at our center fell from 3.4±0.7 min, on average, to 1.5 ± 0.6 min (p \u3c .000). Improvements in code response times and distance travelled were observed regardless of code type, time of day, or individual NHS responding to the code. Conclusions: Results suggest that a data-driven strategy for determining where to place NHS in the building based on code frequency and location may be a useful way for oncology centers to improve code response times

Adolescent parenthood and HIV-infection in South Africa—Associations with child cognitive development

HIV, both directly and indirectly, impacts child development outcomes. The most severe impacts are for children infected with HIV, and those exposed but uninfected are also shown to have challenges-though less severe. However, little is known regarding the development of children born to adolescent mothers affected by HIV. This study aims to examine cognitive development for children born to adolescent mothers, comparing those children living with HIV, those HIV exposed and uninfected (HEU) and those HIV unexposed (HU). Analyses utilise cross-sectional data from 920 adolescent mother (10-19 years)-first born child dyads residing in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Participants completed detailed study questionnaires inclusive of validated and study specific measures relating to sociodemographic characteristics, HIV, and maternal and child health. Trained assessors administered standardised child development assessments (using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning) with all children. Chi-square tests and ANOVA tests were used to explore maternal and child characteristics according to child HIV status (HIV, HEU, HU) on cognitive development. Linear regression models were used to explore the cross-sectional associations between child HIV status and child cognitive development. 1.2% of children were living with HIV, 20.5% were classified as being HEU and, 78.3% were classified as HU. Overall, children living with HIV were found to perform lower across developmental domains compared to both HEU and HU groups (composite score of early learning: 73.0 vs 91.2 vs. 94.1, respectively: F = 6.45, p = 0.001). HEU children on average scored lower on all developmental domains compared to HU children, reaching significance on the gross motor domain (p<0.05). Exploratory analyses identified maternal education interruption as a potential risk factor for lower child cognitive development scores and, higher maternal age to be protective of child cognitive development scores. These exploratory findings address a critical evidence gap regarding the cognitive development of children born to adolescent mothers affected by HIV in South Africa. Analyses identify stepwise differences in the average scoring on child cognitive development domains according to child HIV status among children born to adolescent mothers affected by HIV; with children living with HIV performing worse overall. Young mothers and their children may benefit from adapted interventions aimed at bolstering child development outcomes. Targeted programming particularly among younger adolescent mothers and those experiencing education interruption may identify those families, particularly in need. Attention to maternal continuity of education and age of conception may be interventions to consider

An Educational Program for Blind Infants

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68635/2/10.1177_002246696900300201.pd

Luminosity Functions of XMM-LSS C1 Galaxy Clusters

CFHTLS optical photometry has been used to study the galaxy luminosity functions of 14 X-ray selected clusters from the XMM-LSS survey. These are mostly groups and poor clusters, with masses (M_{500}) in the range 0.6 to 19x10 ^{13} M_solar and redshifts 0.05-0.61. Hence these are some of the highest redshift X-ray selected groups to have been studied. Lower and upper colour cuts were used to determine cluster members. We derive individual luminosity functions (LFs) for all clusters as well as redshift-stacked and temperature-stacked LFs in three filters, g', r' and z', down to M=-14.5. All LFs were fitted by Schechter functions which constrained the faint-end slope, alpha, but did not always fit well to the bright end. Derived values of alpha ranged from -1.03 to as steep as -2.1. We find no evidence for upturns at faint magnitudes. Evolution in alpha was apparent in all bands: it becomes shallower with increasing redshift; for example, in the z' band it flattened from -1.75 at low redshift to -1.22 in the redshift range z=0.43-0.61. Eight of our systems lie at z~0.3, and we combine these to generate a galaxy LF in three colours for X-ray selected groups and poor clusters at redshift 0.3. We find that at z~0.3 alpha is steeper (-1.67) in the green (g') band than it is (-1.30) in the red (z') band. This colour trend disappears at low redshift, which we attribute to reddening of faint blue galaxies from z~0.3 to z~0. We also calculated the total optical luminosity and found it to correlate strongly with X-ray luminosity (L_X proportional to L_OPT^(2.1)), and also with ICM temperature (L_OPT proportional to T^(1.62)), consistent with expectations for self-similar clusters with constant mass-to-light ratio. We did not find any convincing correlation of Schechter parameters with mean cluster temperature.Comment: 23 pages, 17 figure

The Ursinus Weekly, April 18, 1955

MSGA election rescheduled for May 9 • Hoberman, Leger Lantern editors • Concert features Music for you • Changes in cast of Spring play • Plans for May Day now in full swing • Winchester announces new editorial and business staff • Spring coronation to be prom theme • Activities calendar to be set up • WSGA, WAA, Y elections Thursday • Editorials: Our paper is your paper • Fraternity row • If you can\u27t, don\u27t • Wherefore a head tax • Frosh dance on April 29 • Lecture notes • Frosh and sophs now on Dean\u27s list • Earth to a man from Mars • Sunisru sweepstakes (Better known as the termpaper derby) • Curtis sweeps annual sports intramurals • Net chances bright as 8 girls return • Lacrosse lessons at Ursinus begin • Schreiner girls capture intramural hoop crown • They wear varsity U\u27s • Jesperson leads tennis team in E-town opener • Ninth inning rally sparks Albright win • Big Schoes sets four year scoring mark • Single by Harris wins first for Bears, 3-2, behind Slotter • Fords trample Bear trackmen by 95-27 • Ursinus Belles begin softball • Dawkins, Fay to lead \u2756 teams • Student-faculty show success; Campus Chest raises $1175 • Summer School July 5, August 26 • Barbara Wagner FTA president • Alumnus wins fellowship • Dr. M. Oppenheimer highlights Temple Medical School • French Club views colored slides of Francehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1471/thumbnail.jp

Adolescent mothers and their children affected by HIV-An exploration of maternal mental health, and child cognitive development.

BACKGROUND: Some children born to adolescent mothers may have developmental challenges, while others do not. Research focusing on which children of adolescent mothers are at the highest risk for cognitive delay is still required. Both maternal HIV status and maternal mental health may affect child development. An examination of maternal mental health, especially in the presence of maternal HIV infection may be timely. This study explores the relationship between the mental health of adolescent mothers (comparing those living with and not living with HIV) and the cognitive development performance scores of their children. Additional possible risk and protective factors for poor child development are explored to identify those children born to adolescent mothers who may be at the greatest risk of poor cognitive development. METHODS: Cross-sectional data utilised within the analyses was drawn from a large cohort of adolescent mothers and their children residing in South Africa. Detailed study questionnaires were completed by adolescent mothers relating to their self and their child and, standardised cognitive assessments were completed by trained researchers for all children using in the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. Chi-square, t-tests (Kruskal Wallis tests, where appropriate), and ANOVA were used to explore sample characteristics and child cognitive development scores by maternal mental health status (operationalised as likely common mental disorder) and combined maternal mental health and HIV status. Multivariable linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between possible risk factors (including poor maternal mental health and HIV) and, child cognitive development scores. RESULTS: The study included 954 adolescent mothers; 24.1% (230/954) were living with HIV, 12.6% (120/954) were classified as experiencing likely common mental disorder. After adjusting for covariates, maternal HIV was found to be associated with reduced child gross motor scores (B = -2.90 [95%CI: -5.35, -0.44], p = 0.02), however, no other associations were identified between maternal likely common mental disorder, or maternal HIV status (including interaction terms), and child cognitive development scores. Sensitivity analyses exploring individual maternal mental health scales identified higher posttraumatic stress symptomology scores as being associated with lower child cognitive development scores. Sensitivity analyses exploring potential risk and protective factors for child cognitive development also identified increased maternal educational attainment as being protective of child development scores, and increased child age as a risk factor for lower development scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study addresses a critical evidence gap relating to the understanding of possible risk factors for the cognitive development of children born to adolescent mothers affected by HIV. This group of mothers experience a complex combination of risk factors, including HIV, likely common mental disorder, and structural challenges such as educational interruption. Targeting interventions to support the cognitive development of children of adolescent mothers most at risk may be of benefit. Clearly a basket of interventions needs to be considered, such as the integration of mental health provision within existing services, identifying multiple syndemics of risk, and addressing educational and structural challenges, all of which may boost positive outcomes for both the mother and the child