This Month in US Defamation Law: What’s Courtney Love Got To Do With It?

Our own Jessica Mason looks at recent developments in online defamation and argues that strong protections are still necessary for third parties sites in order to promote free expression on the Web, but the law must implement higher standards for defamation cases to meet before moving forward

Making fiction out of fact: attention and belief in the discourse of conspiracy

This article explores fictionality within the context of the discourse of conspiracy. In particular it examines the phenomenon of ‘false flag’ narratives: alternative versions of an event constructed by individuals who have become convinced that a news story has in fact been staged for malfeasant purposes. The chapter uses figure-ground analysis, which facilitates examination of how attention is distributed within a text. Specifically, it enables an examination of the prominence and salience that is afforded to particular elements within a text, and how this can be used to construct a fiction out of facts. The article problematises the notion of using a pragmatic assessment of authorial intention to establish the fictive or nonfictive status of a text. Finally, it proposes that more work needs to be undertaken in considering instances where authors either do not know or are conflicted about what they believe

Chlorhexidine Vs. Povidone-Iodine in Reducing Surgical Site Infection Rates

Surgical site infections are an ongoing problem that are prevalent in hospitals around the globe. The problem is relevant because it causes the patient unnecessary suffering, prolongs hospital stays, and increases hospitalization costs. Surgical site infections are also associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The current practice in preventing surgical site infections is to use preoperative antibiotics and preoperative skin antiseptics. Research shows that the two most common preoperative antiseptic agents are chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine. Research regarding which antiseptic is best is limited and contradictory. Some studies have shown that povidone-iodine is more than acceptable to use as a pre-operative antiseptic and is well known, inexpensive, and has been used for skin preparation before surgery for decades. Other studies found that chlorohexidine was more effective in reducing contamination of surgical wounds and led to lower rates of surgical site infection when compared to povidone-iodine. Research also shows that the use of povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine together has not been studied extensively. Objective: Since sources reveal that each antiseptic has different mechanisms of action, it may be that a combination of the two antiseptics is more effective than using just one or the other. Methods: This study will look at the 120 patients at Northside hospital who have hernia surgery and are older than 18 years of age. The study will investigate the use of povidone-iodine on 40 patients, chlorohexidine on 40 patients, and a combination of povidone-iodine and chlorohexidine antiseptic on 40 patients. In order to evaluate post op infection, a culture of the incision site will be taken on day 3, 7, and 30, as well as clinical observation for any signs on infection including fever, redness, and purulent drainage. Results: This study will determine which preoperative antiseptic or combination works better to reduce surgical site infections

Posttraumatic Growth in Female Sexual Assault Survivors

This study examined factors associated with the development of posttraumatic growth following sexual assault in 11 female survivors, six months to five years after the assault. To broaden our understanding of how survivors cope with the effects and impacts of their assault and how this ultimately leads to the development of posttraumatic growth, this study used grounded theory methodology to develop a causal model of how growth can occur following sexual assault. A mixed-methods qualitative study (utilizing some quantitative features) was used. The data analysis team concluded that participants described a process consisting of four super-clusters that subsumes nine major domains. The four super-clusters were: Preexisting Traits, Responses or Impact from Assault, Coping Strategies, and Growth and Outcomes. Within those super-clusters the nine major domains were: (a) Traits Prior to Sexual Assault, (b) Negative Affective Responses, (c) Symptom Reactions, (d) Negative Relationship Impact, (e) Negative Coping Strategies, (f) Adaptive Coping Strategies, (g) Seeking Support, (h) Positive Personal Growth, and (i) Increasing Knowledge and Speaking Out. Based on our model of posttraumatic growth development and quantitative analyses, sexual assault survivors appear to rely more on avoidance coping or maladaptive coping strategies immediately following their assault and then tend to turn to more approach coping or adaptive coping strategies. Most participants also described seeking social support as an important domain for making positive changes or developing growth in their lives, except those who described preexisting traits that tended to prevent them from opening up to others (i.e., introversion) or those who were treated negatively by others after their assault (e.g., others responded with disbelief or judgment). All participants reported some growth and/or positive changes as a result of coping with their assault. Implications for research on posttraumatic growth and sexual assault and treatment considerations based on these findings are discussed

Exploring Clinical Fieldwork Educators’ Perceptions and Expectations of Occupational Therapy Student Professional and Technical Skills At the Beginning of Level II Fieldwork

Educational programs must ensure students are prepared for clinical practice prior to initiating the mandated fieldwork experiences defined by ACOTE. This is done through a multitude of educational learning strategies including lectures, service learning opportunities, and skill competence. Occupational therapy professionals serving as fieldwork educators can offer unique insight to occupational therapy educators in how to best prepare students for clinical practice

Analysis of major hydrologic events in Ascension Parish, LA

Ascension Parish is located in Southern Louisiana and is characterized by low slope and low elevation. This combination allows for much hydrologic storage during a flood event. Because Ascension Parish is one of the most rapidly growing areas in the United States, it is necessary to accurately predict the hydrologic and hydraulic properties of flow and accurately model them. Several processes within a hydrologic model greatly influence the output flow hydrographs so selecting correct methods and parameters is important. Transform methods describe how excess precipitation is transformed into runoff. There are several methods that can be used as a transform method, including the SCS method, Snyder method and Clark Unit Hydrograph method. Each method uses a separate set of equations and processes to determine runoff. By estimating method parameters and using these in a hydrologic model, the effects of varying transform method can be quantified. Results showed significant differences amongst the three methods. The Clark Unit Hydrograph method, which accounts for storage within the watershed, resulted in the most accurate peak flows. Accuracy of these outflow hydrographs was tested through an unsteady hydraulic model for Grand Goudine Bayou. Parameters within the hydraulic model were also tested for accuracy by varying factors, channel Manning’s n value and baseflow, until the simulated stage resembled the actual observed stage. A Manning’s n value of 0.090 and a baseflow of 20 cfs resulted in the most accurate model. Another important hydrologic design parameter is the rainfall depth determined for the area given a particular return period. There are several different methods and distributions which predict rainfall depths, including the TP-40 method, which utilizes the Gumbel distribution, and the SRCC method. For most areas, the SRCC method offers greater rainfall depth estimates of the higher return periods, (i.e. the 50- and 100- year storms); however, for Ascension Parish, the SRCC method yielded lower rainfall depth estimates for these return periods. When compared after hydraulic modeling, the differences between the SRCC method and TP-40 method were relatively insignificant

Exploring Fieldwork Educators\u27 Expectations of Occupational Therapy Students\u27 Professional and Technical Skills

Background: This capstone project focused on professional and technical skills of occupational therapy students beginning Level II Fieldwork. Fieldwork educators are essential personnel to the development of successful occupational therapy students. The education provided by the fieldwork educators is vital to the growth of each occupational therapy student in the profession. Purpose: The purpose of this capstone project was to explore perceptions held by Level II Fieldwork educators of occupational therapy students’ professional and technical skills at the beginning of Level II Fieldwork. By identifying these perceptions, academic occupational therapy educators can assist students to develop these skills while they are still in the classroom setting. Theoretical Framework. This capstone project utilized the theoretical framework of pragmatism. Using pragmatism, the researcher directs the research process by understanding the desired research outcome to be achieved. Methods. For this capstone project a survey approach was used as the data collection method. The overall aim of the survey was to uncover clinical fieldwork educators’ specific perceptions and expectations associated with student technical and professional skills. The same survey was available as both an online survey and a mailed survey. The survey included 12 closed and three open-ended questions. Results. When focusing on professional skills, communication was identified as the top professional skill essential for Level II Fieldwork and also the skill most lacking in students. Planning, implementing, and grading intervention were identified as both the top essential and lacking technical skill of students. The qualitative research within the capstone reinforced the application process is a weakness of students compared to possession of knowledge. Conclusions: Survey participants expect students to possess a variety of professional and technical skills in a multitude of areas. Students must be able to translate and apply their knowledge from the educational classroom to the clinical setting

‘Well I don’t feel that’: schemas, worlds and authentic reading in the classroom

This article explores reading in the English classroom through a cognitive linguistic lens. In particular, we consider how students’ ability to engage with a text, which we term authentic reading, can be facilitated or restricted. We draw on two case studies featuring Year 7 students working with the novel Holes (Sachar 2000), and the short story ‘The man who shouted Teresa’ (Calvino 1996) respectively, and argue for the benefits of using cognitive linguistics as a tool for teachers and researchers to ‘think with’ when considering reading in the classroom

‘Well I don’t feel that’:schemas, worlds and authentic reading in the classroom

This article explores reading in the English classroom through a cognitive linguistic lens. In particular, we consider how students' ability to engage with a text, which we term authentic reading, can be facilitated or restricted. We draw on two case studies featuring Year 7 students working with the novel Holes (Sachar 2000), and the short story ‘The man who shouted Teresa' (Calvino 1996) respectively, and argue for the benefits of using cognitive linguistics as a tool for teachers and researchers to ‘think with’ when considering reading in the classroom