The innovative capacity of voluntary organisations and the provision of public services: A longitudinal approach

The prior history of voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) as pioneers of public services during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century has lead to reification of the innovativeness of these organisations. Is this reification justified – are VCOs inherently innovative, or is innovation contingent on other factors? This paper reports on a longitudinal study of this capacity conducted over 1994 – 2006. This study finds that the innovative capacity of VCOs is in fact not an inherent capacity but rather is contingent upon the public policy framework that privileges innovation above other activity of VCOs. The implications of this for theory, policy and practice are considered

Caregiving and 5-HTTLPR Genotype Predict Adolescent Physiological Stress Reactivity: Confirmatory Tests of Gene × Environment Interactions

A theory-driven confirmatory approach comparing diathesis–stress and differential susceptibility models of Gene × Environment (G × E) interactions was applied to examine whether 5-HTTLPR genotype moderated the effect of early maternal caregiving on autonomic nervous system (ANS) stress reactivity in 113 adolescents aged 13–17 years. Findings supported a differential susceptibility, rather than diathesis–stress, framework. Carriers of one or more 5-HTTLPR short alleles (SS/SL carriers) reporting higher quality caregiving exhibited approach ANS responses to a speech task, whereas those reporting lower quality caregiving exhibited withdrawal ANS responses. Carriers of two 5-HTTLPR long alleles (LL carriers) were unaffected by caregiving. Findings suggest that 5-HTTLPR genotype and early caregiving in interaction are associated with ANS stress reactivity in adolescents in a “for better and for worse” fashion, and they demonstrate the promise of confirmatory methods for testing G × E interactions

Prevalence, Treatment, and Outcomes of Coexistent Pulmonary Hypertension and Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150609/1/art40862.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150609/2/art40862_am.pd

Preliminary findings from the Minnesota 4-H Quality Improvement Study

This archival publication may not reflect current scientific knowledge or recommendations. Current information available from the University of Minnesota Extension: https://www.extension.umn.edu.This preliminary report reviews a model currently being field tested using the YPQA tool and innovative data collection methodologies, which use 4-H youth and adult volunteers for assessing and improving youth program quality

Calculating real roots using Chebyshev polynomials

V diplomskem delu bomo predstavili Čebiševe polinome prve in druge vrste, njihove lastnosti ter Čebiševo vrsto. Uporabili bomo Čebiševe polinome prve vrste za iskanje ničel gladke funkcije f na danem intervalu. Najprej bomo funkcijo aproksimirali z Čebiševimi polinomi in nato nad končno Čebiševo vrsto uporabili polinomske iskalnike ničel. V nadaljevanju pa bomo predstavili, kako najti ničle polinomske funkcije na nekem intervalu, ki ga bomo pri nekaterih algoritmih razdelili na podintervale z namenom natančnejšega in tudi hitrejšega iskanja ničel. Predstavljenih bo nekaj algoritmov in njihova uporaba, pa tudi njihove zahtevnosti, slabosti in omejitve. V okviru dela smo algoritme tudi sprogramirali v programu Matlab. Njihova praktična uporaba bo predstavljena na primerih.In this work, Chebyshev polynomials of the first and the second kind, their properties and the Chebyshev series will be examined. We will use Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind to find roots of the smooth function f on the given interval. At first the function will be approximated and then the polynomial root-finders on the truncated Chebyshev series will be used. In the next chapter we will study how to find roots of a polynomial function on the interval which we will, with some algorithms, divide on subintervals with the purpose of more accurate and faster finding of the roots. Different algorithms and their use, their complexity and their strengths and weaknesses will be presented. During this work we have also programmed these algorithms in Matlab. We will show their practical application on some examples

Mindfulness-based interventions for people diagnosed with a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Objective Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can reduce risk of depressive relapse for people with a history of recurrent depression who are currently well. However, the cognitive, affective and motivational features of depression and anxiety might render MBIs ineffective for people experiencing current symptoms. This paper presents a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of MBIs where participants met diagnostic criteria for a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder. Method Post-intervention between-group Hedges g effect sizes were calculated using a random effects model. Moderator analyses of primary diagnosis, intervention type and control condition were conducted and publication bias was assessed. Results Twelve studies met inclusion criteria (n = 578). There were significant post-intervention between-group benefits of MBIs relative to control conditions on primary symptom severity (Hedges g = −0.59, 95% CI = −0.12 to −1.06). Effects were demonstrated for depressive symptom severity (Hedges g = −0.73, 95% CI = −0.09 to −1.36), but not for anxiety symptom severity (Hedges g = −0.55, 95% CI = 0.09 to −1.18), for RCTs with an inactive control (Hedges g = −1.03, 95% CI = −0.40 to −1.66), but not where there was an active control (Hedges g = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.54 to −0.48) and effects were found for MBCT (Hedges g = −0.39, 95% CI = −0.15 to −0.63) but not for MBSR (Hedges g = −0.75, 95% CI = 0.31 to −1.81). Conclusions This is the first meta-analysis of RCTs of MBIs where all studies included only participants who were diagnosed with a current episode of a depressive or anxiety disorder. Effects of MBIs on primary symptom severity were found for people with a current depressive disorder and it is recommended that MBIs might be considered as an intervention for this population

QLS front-line retention manual: methods for achieving a 94% cohort retention rate in longitudinal research

Permission to include the report granted by Gary O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer, ONTARIO PROBLEM GAMBLING RESEARCH CENTREThis Front-Line Manual, written mainly by and from the perspective of the QLS front-line staff describes how they developed, tested, and put into practice the methodology to achieve their extremely high retention rate. By discussing the underlying rationale for different approaches and tools, as well as providing numerous specific practical examples, this manual will hopefully assist other longitudinal studies in improving retention rates, and thus the strength of the results of those studies.Ye