Montesquieu's idea of justice

Part One of Montesquieu's Idea of Justice comprises a survey of the currency in philosophical, ethical and aesthetic debate during the second half of the 17th. century of the terms rapport and convenance, which are central to the enigmatic definition given to justice by Montesquieu in Lettres Persanes LXXXIII. In this survey, attention is concentrated on the way in which the connotations of these terms fluctuate with the divergent development of the methodological and speculative outgrowths of Cartesianism into two schools of thought, materialist and idealist, often widely at variance in their views of the nature and organization of the universe. In Part Two, Montesquieu's definition of justice is set against this background whose doctrinal conflicts because of the characteristic associations of its key terms it may be taken to reflect, just as it may be held to epitomize, by virtue of its elaboration in the opening chapter of De 1'Esprit des Lois and its close terminological affinities with the definition of law there given, an undoubtedly related conflict between the implications of causal determinism and the aspirations of idealist metaphysics surviving at the heart of Montesquieu's outlook, and, remaining unresolved, often said to impair the coherence if not the validity of his theory of society. The reconstitution of the philosophical matrix of the definition which is now undertaken, drawing largely on the fragmentary evidence of Montesquieu's notebooks and his minor works, demonstrates however by clarifying his intellectual allegiances and his methodological procedures that, far from internal inconsistency, his idea of justice represents a fruitful interpenetration of the philosophical currents of his time. The union within it of the epistemological assumptions of contemporary empiricism contained in the notion of relationship with the transcendent if elusive ideal of fitness, summarizes in a single formula his double achievement of dignifying his scientific thesis with serious moral aspirations, while at the same time founding this idealism on a solid empirical groundwork, Montesquieu's idea of justice holds the key to establishing the unity of his thought and also offers his posterity an escape from the blind alley of determinism.<p

Prevalence of vertebral fractures in children with suspected osteoporosis

Objectives: To explore the prevalence and anatomic distribution of vertebral fractures in disease groups investigated for primary and secondary osteoporosis, using vertebral fracture assessment (VFA). Study design: VFA was performed independently by 2 nonradiologists, in 165 children (77 males, 88 females) as part of their investigation for osteoporosis. Vertebral bodies from T6 to L4 were assessed for vertebral fractures using the Genant scoring system. The common readings for the presence of vertebral fractures were used for evaluating the prevalence and anatomic distribution of vertebral fractures. Results: The median age of the subjects was 13.4 years (range, 3.6, 18). Of the 165 children, 24 (15%) were being investigated for primary bone disease, and the remainder had a range of chronic diseases known to affect bone health. Vertebral fractures were identified in 38 (23%) children. The distribution of the vertebral fractures was bimodal, with vertebral fractures peaks centered at T9 and L4. Conditions associated with increased odds for vertebral fractures were inflammatory bowel disease (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.4, 8.0; P = .018) and osteogenesis imperfecta (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.04, 5.8; P = .022). Among children with vertebral fractures, those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (P = .015) and osteogenesis imperfecta (P = .023) demonstrated higher number of vertebral fractures than the other disease groups. Conclusions: VFA identified the presence of vertebral fractures, in a bimodal distribution, in both primary bone disease and chronic disease groups. VFA is a practical screening tool for identification of vertebral fractures in children and adolescents at risk of fragility fractures

Polk County Juvenile Drug Court: Recommendations for the Future

Capstone paper from 2015 spring MPA program. Instructed by Allen Zagoren.Polk County Juvenile Drug Court (“PCJDC”) has been operating since 2001, and has built a solid reputation within the state by addressing juvenile offenders with accompanying substance abuse problems. This paper examines the PCJDC with the hopes of identifying both what has made it successful and where improvements can be made to the program. Through interviews and surveys with current and former PCJDC staff and a review of current academic research, we offer some insight to best practices of similar programs and how they could be applied within the PCJDC program

Seasonal marking on an otter population

Observations were made on the marking activity of a population of otters Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) in Wales, United Kingdom, over the period 1981-1984, with monthly counts of signs at nine 1 km stretches of river. Marking was found to be distinctly seasonal, with peaks in winter and early spring in all three years of study. During the peak period there were more spraints (faeces), more &quot;jellies&quot; (jelly-like secretions of various colours) and more scratching and rolling. During summer more &quot;smears&quot; (tar-like secretions lacking solid food remains) were found. It is suggested that this seasonal marking pattern may be related to the development or re-inforcement of dominance relationships between otters at a time when young animals become independent of their mothers. Judging by the increasing trend in signs over the study period, this otter population may be increasing

Community Memories: A Glimpse of African American Life in Frankfort, Kentucky

Community Memories is a fascinating look into life recalled by African Americans who consider Frankfort their home. Featuring unique oral history recollections and over two hundred candid personal photographs collected from community residents, the book provides an enlightening expression of the black experience in Kentucky’s capital. The memories focus on the elusive concept of community—that which binds together individuals in the living of everyday life. A satisfying blend of public history and local accounts, Community Memories explores the neighborhood, familial, religious, occupational, social, and educational components of the daily community experience of twentieth-century African Americans in Frankfort. Published by the Kentucky Historical Society and distributed by the University Press of Kentucky Senior Editor Winona L. Fletcher is professor emerita of theater and drama at Indiana University. Associate Editor Sheila Mason Burton is assistant director for research coordination at the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Associate Editor James E. Wallace is assistant director of the Kentucky Historical Society. Photographs Editor Mary E. Winter is special collections branch manager and photographs archivist at the Kentucky Historical Society. Oral History Editor Douglas A. Boyd is oral history and folklife archivist at the Kentucky Historical Society.https://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_african_american_studies/1024/thumbnail.jp

Developing mathematical thinking in the primary classroom: liberating students and teachers as learners of mathematics

This paper reports on a research study conducted with a group of practising primary school teachers (n = 24) in North East Scotland during 2011–2012. The teachers were all participants in a newly developed Masters course that had been designed with the aim of promoting the development of mathematical thinking in the primary classroom as part of project supported by the Scottish Government. The paper presents the background for this initiative within the context of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence reform. Particular attention is given to the epistemological positioning of the researchers as this influenced both the curriculum design process and also the theoretical framing of the research study which are both described. The project was set up within a design research framework, which aimed to promote classroom-based action research on the part of participants through the course and also research by the university researchers into the process of curriculum development. The research questions focused on the teachers’ confidence, competence, attitudes and beliefs in relation to mathematics and their expectations and experiences of the impact on pupil learning arising from this course. Empirical data were drawn from pre- and post-course surveys, interviews and observations of the discussion forums in the online environment. Findings from this study highlight the way the course had a transformational and emancipatory impact on these teachers. They also highlight ways in which the ‘framing’ of particular aspects of the curriculum had an oppressive impact on learners in the ways that suppressed creativity and limited the exercise of learner autonomy. Furthermore, they highlight the ways in which a number of these teachers had experienced mathematics as a school subject in very negative ways, involving high levels of ‘symbolic violence’ and of being ‘labelled’

Longitudinal changes in bone parameters in young girls with anorexia nervosa

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) during childhood and adolescence has been reported to adversely affect bone health, but few studies have investigated longitudinal changes. Method: DXA-derived bone parameters and body composition were retrospectively assessed in 111 young girls with AN with a median age of 15.4 years (10.9, 19.8). In 68 (61%) vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) was performed and in 31 (28%), a follow-up DXA was performed. Correlations with growth, changes in body composition and effects of illness duration and menstruation were examined. Size adjusted DXA standard deviation scores were calculated for total body (TB) less head bone mineral content (TBLH-BMC) and lumbar spine bone mineral apparent density (LS-BMAD). Results: Mean (range) bone area (BA) for height centile was 27.1 (0–97), and mean lean mass for height centile was 28.8 (0–95) at baseline. Mean (range) LS BMAD was −1.0 (−2.6, 0.8) SDS at first and − 1.2 (−3.0, −0.2) at second DXA (p = 0.023). On follow up, lean mass for height increased from 27th centile (0, 75) to 40th centile (0, 70) (p = 0.006), and fat mass for height increased from 55 g/cm to 67 g/cm (11.3, 124.2) (p &lt; 0.001). Duration of illness was the only negative predictor of LS BMAD (p &lt; 0.0001). Change in height SDS was the only positive predictor of change in TBLH-BMC (r = 0.384, p = 0.037), and change in LS BMAD (r-0.934, p &lt; 0.0001). Of 68 patients who had VFA, 4 (5.9%) had a mild vertebral fracture. Conclusion: Bones are smaller and less dense in childhood/adolescent AN compared to healthy adolescents. Although there are significant gains in lean mass and fat mass, over time, BMAD SDS decreases slightly. Improvement in BMAD SDS is related to improvement in height SDS

A qualitative study of the views of patients with long-term conditions on family doctors in Hong Kong

&lt;b&gt;Background&lt;/b&gt; Primary care based management of long-term conditions (LTCs) is high on the international healthcare agenda, including the Asia-Pacific region. Hong Kong has a 'mixed economy' healthcare system with both public and private sectors with a range of types of primary care doctors. Recent Hong Kong Government policy aims to enhance the management of LTCs in primary care possibly based on a 'family doctor' model. Patients' views on this are not well documented and the aim of the present study was to explore the views of patients with LTCs on family doctors in Hong Kong.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Methods&lt;/b&gt; The views of patients (with a variety of LTCs) on family doctors in Hong Kong were explored. Two groups of participants were interviewed; a) those who considered themselves as having a family doctor, b) those who considered themselves as not having a family doctor (either with a regular primary care doctor but not a family doctor or with no regular primary care doctor). In-depth individual semi-structured interviews were carried out with 28 participants (10 with a family doctor, 10 with a regular doctor, and 8 with no regular doctor) and analysed using the constant comparative method.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results&lt;/b&gt; Participants who did not have a family doctor were familiar with the concept but regarded it as a 'luxury item' for the rich within the private healthcare system. Those with a regular family doctor (all private) regarded having one as important to their and their family's health. Participants in both groups felt that as well as the more usual family medicine specialist or general practitioner, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners also had the potential to be family doctors. However most participants attended the public healthcare system for management of their LTCs whether they had a family doctor or not. Cost, perceived need, quality, trust, and choice were all barriers to the use of family doctors for the management of their LTCs.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions&lt;/b&gt; Important barriers to the adoption of a 'family doctor' model of management of LTCs exist in Hong Kong. Effective policy implementation seems unlikely unless these complex barriers are addressed

Infectious Prions in Pre-Clinical Deer and Transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease Solely by Environmental Exposure

Key to understanding the epidemiology and pathogenesis of prion diseases, including chronic wasting disease (CWD) of cervids, is determining the mode of transmission from one individual to another. We have previously reported that saliva and blood from CWD-infected deer contain sufficient infectious prions to transmit disease upon passage into naïve deer. Here we again use bioassays in deer to show that blood and saliva of pre-symptomatic deer contain infectious prions capable of infecting naïve deer and that naïve deer exposed only to environmental fomites from the suites of CWD-infected deer acquired CWD infection after a period of 15 months post initial exposure. These results help to further explain the basis for the facile transmission of CWD, highlight the complexities associated with CWD transmission among cervids in their natural environment, emphasize the potential utility of blood-based testing to detect pre-clinical CWD infection, and could augur similar transmission dynamics in other prion infections