Understanding the relationship between crime victimisation and mental health: a longitudinal analysis of population data

Being a victim of violent crime has a damaging effect on mental health, particularly for women, according to this report. The needs and experiences of victims of crime have become increasingly recognised as an important aspect of criminal justice and public policy. In Australia, victim support services grew from community-based organisations and lobby groups. With the passage of time, these services have become increasingly formalised, with the State progressively assuming a greater role in advocacy and service provision for victims of crime. While we know that many Australians will experience an incident of crime in their lifetime, the effect of this victimisation on health has not been sufficiently explored. This is unfortunate given the demand for victim support services; close to 6,000 applications for counselling assistance in 2011/12 were received by the Victims Compensation Tribunal, New South Wales. As such, it is timely to examine more closely the nature of the relationship between becoming a victim of crime and an individual’s subsequent mental health.   &nbsp

Police use of court alternatives for young persons in NSW

This study measured the level of variation across the NSW Police Force’s Local Area Commands (LACs) in the proportion of young persons diverted from court, before and after adjusting for factors police may consider when deciding how to proceed against a young person. Method: Between July 2010 and June 2011, for each LAC in NSW, the number of cases involving young persons that police dealt with by caution or conference referral was calculated as a proportion of all cases proceeded against by caution, conference or court. Factors associated with whether or not a case was diverted from court were examined using multilevel logistic regression. Results: Excluding ineligible cases, the rate of diversion per LAC ranged between 31 and 95 per cent, with 85 per cent of LACs diverting at least 70 per cent of their eligible cases. Additionally, both before and after taking into account factors that police may consider when deciding whether or not to divert, the amount of variation in police use of diversionary options attributable to LAC was small (less than 5%). Conclusion: Variation across LACs in the police use of diversionary options was small

Development of Standard Times for Work Modules Used in Quantity Food Production

Reduction of costs and continuous cost control is a necessary element in modern food service industries. This study explored the application of time and motion techniques to the production of roast beef sandwiches in volume to establish standard times. For this purpose each specific task was divided into work elements whose beginning and ending points were easily recognized. Continuous stop-watch timing was used for the data collection of work performed by one person. Standard times were determined for each element and each task. Sequential time data were plotted graphically to illustrate the learning curve demonstrated in representative work elements. A 95 percent confidence interval was used as the basis for determination of standard times for each element. Through the additivity of the elemental times, total task time of 0.18 minutes was-established for placing and adjusting roast beef for slicing; 1.26 minutes for cleaning a head of lettuce; and 9.58 minutes for assembling twenty-four roast beef sandwiches. Using the elemental times determined in this study, it could be possible for managers to evaluate present and proposed work methods, standardize procedures and techniques, predict production times, and effectively schedule personnel and equipment

Incivility in Nursing Education: Sources of Bullying and their Impact on Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing Students

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify who were the key sources of incivility, how frequently uncivil behaviours occurred, and determine the impact of incivility among a sample of Bachelor of Nursing (BN) and Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing (BPN) students at one university in a western Canadian province. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted that incorporated findings from an anonymous cross-sectional survey of second, third-, and fourth-year students from the BN and BPN programs (n = 68) and narrative findings from a live discussion forum (n = 48) with third-year student participants. Results: The most frequent sources of incivility included nurses, faculty, clinical instructors, student peers, patients, and physicians. Out of a total of 26 uncivil behaviours, 10 were identified as being the most common among the sample. They included: (1) feeling undervalued; (2) that high and impossible expectations were set; (3) students experienced feeling resentment; (4) were frozen out, ignored, or excluded; (5) were unjustly criticized; (6) that student efforts were undervalued; (7) information was withheld; (8) there were changing expectations; (9) they experienced hostility, felt belittled or undermined; and (10) 45.6% of students felt they were treated poorly on grounds of race. Non-parametric statistical analysis revealed that students who self-identified as a visible minority had a statistically significant positive relationship with intent-to-leave their baccalaureate program (rs = 0.262, p = 0.031). Thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006) of the narratives discussed by students revealed three overarching themes. The themes included: (1) practicing in a toxic culture; (2) feeling like a burden; and (3) having a lack of positive role models and support. Conclusions: Students from BN and BPN programs experience bullying and uncivil behaviours from a variety of sources. Of great concern, was the number of student participants who reported the occurrence of horizontal bullying and incivility experienced by nursing students from fellow nursing students. The findings indicated the presence of horizontal violence among students that requires further study. The presence of a toxic culture can jeopardize patient safety if learners are afraid to speak up and advocate for their patients. Students seeking employment planned to avoid clinical units where negative encounters occurred amid a toxic environment. This has implications for employers engaged in recruitment and retention efforts with students seeking alternate employment opportunities upon their graduation and entry into the nursing profession. Although students felt humiliated at times and treated like a burden by clinical staff, they remained hopeful for the nursing profession as they looked to their future careers in health care settings. Greater efforts are required to minimize racism and incivility experienced by students during their education in addition to disrupting the cycle of violence that begins while students are enrolled in their nursing education program. Résumé Buts : Cette étude avait pour buts d’identifier les groupes constituant les principales sources d’incivilité, d’évaluer la fréquence des comportements incivils et de déterminer les effets de l’incivilité au sein d’un échantillon d’étudiant(e)s au baccalauréat en sciences infirmières (B. Sc. inf.) et au baccalauréat en sciences infirmières psychiatriques (B. Sc. inf. P.) d’une université de l’Ouest canadien. Méthodes : Une étude à méthodes mixtes a été réalisée en intégrant les résultats d’un sondage transversal anonyme effectué auprès d’étudiant(e)s de deuxième, troisième et quatrième année des programmes de B. Sc. inf. et B. Sc. inf. P. (n = 68) ainsi que les résultats d’ordre narratif issus d’un forum de discussion (n = 48) avec des étudiant(e)s de troisième année. Résultats : Les sources d’incivilité les plus fréquentes sont les infirmières, les membres du corps professoral, les enseignantes cliniques, les pair(e)s étudiant(e)s, les patients et les médecins. Sur un total de 26 comportements incivils, 10 ont été identifiés par cet échantillon comme étant les plus courants. Il s’agit des suivants : 1) des attitudes suscitant un sentiment de dévalorisation; 2) des attentes élevées et impossibles à satisfaire; 3) la projection de ressentiment; 4) le rejet, l’exclusion ou le fait d’ignorer; 5) des critiques injustes; 6) la dévalorisation des efforts des étudiant(e)s; 7) la non-divulgation d’informations; 8) la modification des attentes; 9) l’hostilité ainsi que des efforts de rabaisser ou d’ébranler; et 10) la discrimination raciale (selon 45,6 % des répondantes). Une analyse statistique non paramétrique a révélé une relation positive et statistiquement significative entre les étudiant(e)s qui s’identifiaient comme appartenant à une minorité visible et ceux ou celles qui avaient l’intention de quitter leur programme de baccalauréat (rs = 0,262, p = 0,031). Une analyse thématique (Braun et Clarke, 2006) des propos rapportés par les étudiant(e)s en groupe de discussion a mis en évidence trois thèmes globaux : 1) l’exercice des fonctions dans une culture toxique; (2) le sentiment d’être un fardeau; et 3) le manque de modèles positifs et de soutien. Conclusions : Les étudiant(e)s au sein des programmes de B. Sc. inf. et B. Sc. inf. P. font l’expérience d’intimidation et de comportements incivils provenant de sources diverses. Le nombre d’étudiant(e)s ayant signalé des situations d’intimidation et d’incivilité de la part de collègues étudiants est très préoccupant. Puisque les résultats indiquent la présence de violence dite « horizontale » parmi les étudiant(e)s, d’autres études sont nécessaires. La présence d’une culture toxique peut compromettre la sécurité des patients si les apprenant(e)s craignent de s’exprimer et de défendre leurs patients. Les étudiant(e)s à la recherche d’un emploi comptent éviter les unités de soins où des rencontres défavorables ont eu lieu dans un climat toxique. Cela aura des répercussions sur les employeurs qui s’efforcent d’embaucher et de retenir des étudiant(e)s qui sont à la recherche d’autres possibilités d’emploi suite à l’obtention de leur diplôme et à leur entrée dans la profession infirmière. Même si les étudiant(e)s se sont parfois senti(e)s humilié(e)s et traité(e)s comme un fardeau par le personnel clinique, elles et ils ont gardé espoir en la profession infirmière tout en envisageant leur carrière à venir dans le secteur de la santé. De plus amples efforts sont requis afin de minimiser le racisme et l’incivilité vécus par les étudiant(e)s au cours de leur formation. Des efforts soutenus sont également nécessaires afin de rompre le cycle de la violence qui se manifeste dans le cadre d’un programme de formation en sciences infirmières

Buying on rumors: how financial news flows affect the share price of Tesla

The purpose of this paper is to research how corporate communication regarding a specific corporate event (i.e. Tesla’s tweets about a new product) as well as the framing of both the event itself and the market reactions therewith in the news media influence the formation of the share price of the respective company over time. In so doing, the study provides insights into the nature of market-moving information and the role of financial news flows in shaping market reactions in today’s high-frequency news and information environment

Law, Labour and Landscape in a Just Transition

Taking conflicts over new solar energy projects on the agricultural landscape in the global North as its backdrop, the chapter demonstrates how work and labour (including that performed in the North by workers from the global South) are erased both by the opponents and the proponents of such projects. The erasure is consistent with prevailing ways of knowing the human-environment nexus, shaped by an underlying political economy derivative of how international law has constructed and maintained the foundational liberal mythology that separates labour from land. Grounded in our commitment to pursuing a ‘just transition’ to decarbonisation – that is to say, a transition that attends to the distributional effects and disproportionate impacts of decarbonisation on workers and communities – we strive to reconceptualise work and labour as embodied practices of working and living on the land. Everyday socio-spatial practices structured by law implicate ordinary people in the making of landscapes and continuing relations of settler capitalism, shaping how ‘we’ live together on the land, including who belongs and who gets to decide

Reducing patient delay with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome:a research protocol for a systematic review of previous interventions to investigate which behaviour change techniques are associated with effective interventions

Introduction: Delay to presentation with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is common meaning many fail to achieve optimal benefit from treatments. Interventions have had variable success in reducing delay. Evidence suggests inclusion of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) may improve effectiveness of interventions but this has not yet been systematically evaluated. Data from other time-critical conditions may be relevant.Methods and analysis: A systematic review will be undertaken to identify which BCTs are associated with effective interventions to reduce patient delay (or prompt rapid help-seeking) among people with time-critical conditions (eg, chest pain, ACS, lumps, stroke, cancer and meningitis). A systematic search of a wide range of databases (including Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo) and grey literature will be undertaken to identify all relevant intervention studies (randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials and cohort studies). Two independent reviewers will screen abstracts to identify relevant studies, apply inclusion criteria to full papers, assess methodological quality and extract data.Primary outcome measure: Change in patient decision time BCTs reported in each of the included studies will be categorised and presented according to the latest reliable taxonomy. Results of included studies will be synthesised, exploring relationships between inclusion of each BCT and effectiveness of the overall intervention. Where possible, means and SDs for differences in delay time will be calculated and combined within meta-analyses to derive a standardised mean difference and 95% CI. Analysis of (1) all time-critical and (2) ACS-only interventions will be undertaken

Effect of targeted movement interventions on pain and quality of life in children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy : A pilot single subject research design to test feasibility of parent-reported assessments

Purpose To determine the feasibility of using parent-reported outcome measures of the Paediatric Pain Profile (PPP), Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) and Care and Comfort Hypertonicity Questionnaire (CCHQ) as repeated outcome measures of change at weekly intervals for children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP). The secondary aim was to explore the efficacy of individualised movement intervention. Material and methods In this pilot feasibility study a single subject research design was utilised. Three children with dyskinetic CP, completed 5 weeks of parent-reported baseline assessments, 8 weekly sessions of intervention and 5 weeks of follow up. Results All children completed 18 weeks of the study, with no missing data. There was evidence of parent-reported improvements in their child’s pain and care and comfort between the baseline and intervention phases. Conclusions The PPP, SDSC and CCHQ were feasible to assess pain, sleep and comfort before and after an intervention in children with dyskinetic CP. There is preliminary evidence that individualised movement intervention as little as once a week may help improve pain, sleep and improve ease of care and comfort

SoFiA: a flexible source finder for 3D spectral line data

We introduce SoFiA, a flexible software application for the detection and parameterization of sources in 3D spectral-line datasets. SoFiA combines for the first time in a single piece of software a set of new source-finding and parameterization algorithms developed on the way to future HI surveys with ASKAP (WALLABY, DINGO) and APERTIF. It is designed to enable the general use of these new algorithms by the community on a broad range of datasets. The key advantages of SoFiA are the ability to: search for line emission on multiple scales to detect 3D sources in a complete and reliable way, taking into account noise level variations and the presence of artefacts in a data cube; estimate the reliability of individual detections; look for signal in arbitrarily large data cubes using a catalogue of 3D coordinates as a prior; provide a wide range of source parameters and output products which facilitate further analysis by the user. We highlight the modularity of SoFiA, which makes it a flexible package allowing users to select and apply only the algorithms useful for their data and science questions. This modularity makes it also possible to easily expand SoFiA in order to include additional methods as they become available. The full SoFiA distribution, including a dedicated graphical user interface, is publicly available for download.Comment: MNRAS, accepted. SoFiA is registered at the Astrophysics Source Code Library with ID ascl:1412.001. Download SoFiA at https://github.com/SoFiA-Admin/SoFi