What Works in Transformative Mediator Coaching: Field Test Findings

A process for the formative assessment (coaching) of mediators practicing from the transformative orientation was field tested at six different sites. Specifically varied were whether or not the mediator\u27s original training was in the transformative orientation, the mediator\u27s amount of experience practicing from the transformative orientation, and whether the role-play mediation sessions were live or videotaped. In addition to drawing conclusions about the qualifications necessary for a coach and the pros and cons of videotaped sessions versus live stop-action sessions, we developed guidelines for structuring the coaching process. We also identified a range of possible uses of the process

Identifying Practice Competence in Transformative Mediators: An Interactive Rating Scale Assessment Model

Published in cooperation with the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolutio

Assimilative, Autonomous, or Synergistic Visions: How Mediation Programs in Florida Address the Dilemma of Court Connection

Over the past twenty-five years, the state of Florida has been recognized across the United States as a leader in the development of court-connected alternative dispute resolution programs. Mediation, in particular, has flourished across the state, with one hundred eleven programs in place in family, civil, community, and dependency sectors. Administrative support and oversight for court-connected mediation programs are provided by The Florida Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) - the administrative arm of the Florida Supreme Court - housed within the Office of the State Courts Administrator. In collaboration with the DRC, we designed and conducted a benchmarking study of seven selected mediation programs in the family, civil and community sectors. Our focus in this article is on certain insights that emerged at the macro level regarding the very nature of court-connected mediation, as we analyzed and tried to develop explanations for our empirical findings. Specifically, we will address the fundamental value-based dilemma of court-connected mediation programs, three different approaches to addressing this dilemma through which mediation programs and the courts have forged their relationship in Florida, and some implications of these insights for practice and policy

Produktkennzeichnungen als Kommunikations- und Informationsmedium für Bodenschutz - eine Analyse von Zertifizierungssystemen auf dem deutschen Markt

Die Vermittlung von Informationen über die Notwendigkeit, unsere Böden und deren Funktionen zu schützen, stellt eine zentrale Voraussetzung für die Erhöhung des Bodenbewusstseins in der Bevölkerung dar. Als Kommunikations- und Informationsmedium verfügen Produktkennzeichnungen über ein vielversprechendes Potential, bodenschutzrelevante Informationen in Verbindung mit produktspezifischen Eigenschaften an die Verbraucher zu vermitteln. Derzeit existiert eine Vielzahl an Kennzeichnungen auf dem deutschen Markt, die Konsumenten über nicht sichtbare Produkteigenschaften informieren. Sie werden in Form von Logos, Symbolen und Texten direkt am Produkt oder auf der Verpackung angebracht und dienen u. a. der Kennzeichnung von Produkten, die klimafreundlich und ressourcensparend sind, zum Erhalt von Ökosystemen, Tier- und Pflanzenarten beitragen sowie den Schutz von Gewässern, Atmosphäre und Böden fördern. Verbraucher erhalten hierdurch Informationen zur Identifikation von umweltfreundlichen Produkten, die sowohl zum Umweltschutz als auch zur Reduktion negativer Umweltauswirkungen beitragen. Im Zuge einer umfassenden Analyse wurde der Fragestellung nachgegangen, in welchem Umfang bestehende Produktkennzeichnungen auf dem deutschen Markt den Schutz von Böden berücksichtigen und den Verbraucher hierüber informieren. Zu diesem Zweck wurden die Vergabekriterien, die Kommunikationswege und die dem Verbraucher zur Verfügung gestellten Informationen von über 550 Produktkennzeichnungen untersucht. Eine Analyse der mithilfe dieser Zertifizierungssysteme vermittelten bodenschutzbezogenen Informationen ist im Hinblick auf ihre inhaltliche Aufbereitung sowie grafische und textliche Gestaltung ebenfalls Gegenstand der durchgeführten Untersuchung gewesen. Als Ergebnis wurden rund 100 Produktkennzeichnungen identifiziert, die in ihren Vergabekriterien unterschiedliche Aspekte des Bodenschutzes berücksichtigen, wohingegen nur wenige diese Informationen auch an die Konsumenten weitergeben. Unter ihnen befinden sich hauptsächlich Kennzeichnungen für Produkte, die einen direkten Bezug zur Thematik aufweisen und zu Produktgruppen aus der Forst- und Landwirtschaft sowie dem Gartenbau und dem Baugewerbe gehören. Zudem wurde festgestellt, dass in Abhängigkeit von der betrachteten Produktgruppe die Aufbereitung der an die Verbraucher übermittelten bodenschutzbezogenen Informationen sowie deren textliche und grafische Gestaltung in erheblichem Maße voneinander variieren

Study of nitrogen consumption by nitrification process.

ABSTRACT: Biological processes are being applied to nitrogen removal from wastewater. The conventional process is based on nitrification followed by denitrification. In nitrification process the ammoniacal nitrogen is oxidized to nitrate and it is strongly influenced by availability of dissolved oxygen. In this context, kinetics studies are an alternative used to evaluate the microorganisms activity by defining substrate (NH3-N) consumption and the influence of others parameters, like oxygen and substrate. The present study aims to evaluate the ammonium consumption rate by nitrification process at three different ammonia concentrations (100, 200 and 300 mg NH3-N L -1 ) at air flow rates of 20, 30, 50, 100, 200 and 500 mLair min−1 L −1 reactor. The kinetics were made by batch tests in an EGSB reactor at temperature of 25ºC for 2h30min. It was visualized that with 100 and 200 mg N-NH3 L - ¹ the substrate concentration was fully consumed. However, at the substrate concentration of 300 mg NH3-N L - ¹ an increase of substrate consumption was observed but ammonia was not entirely consumed. Furthermore, for the three initial ammonia concentrations, the behavior of substrate consumption was similar in function of air flow rate. Additionally, it was possible to conclude that as the supply of oxygen increased, the nitrogen ammoniacal consumption rate also increased

Prevalência e fatores de risco associados à ocorrência de staphylococcus aureus em amostras de leite total de rebanhos da microrregião de Ji-Paraná, Rondônia

Considerando a importância da pecuária de leite para o estado e o impacto negativo das infecções intramamárias nos rebanhos, este trabalho teve o objetivo de determinar a prevalência e os fatores de risco associados ao S. aureus em amostras de leite total de rebanhos da principal bacia leiteira do estado de Rondônia e da região Norte

Fatores de risco associados à ocorrência de resíduos de antibióticos em leite total de rebanhos leiteiros da microrregião de Ji-Paraná do estado de Rondônia.

O uso de antibióticos é um componente dos programas de controle da mastite e tem como objetivos principais reduzir a contagem de células somáticas (CCS) e melhorar a qualidade do leite. Entretanto, a sua utilização pode ser responsável pela ocorrência de resíduos de antibióticos quando não são adotados os procedimentos adequados. Para conhecer a situação epidemiológica da ocorrência de resíduos de antibióticos na principal bacia leiteira do estado de Rondônia, foram avaliados 262 rebanhos provenientes de 11 municípios da microrregião de Ji-Paraná. Para isso foram avaliadas amostras de leite total e aplicado questionário epidemiológico nas propriedades selecionadas a fim de obter informações sobre características de rebanho e práticas de manejo. Os resultados foram classificados em dois grupos de acordo com o resultado do kit SNAP duo Beta-Tetra ST (Idexx). Dos rebanhos avaliados, foram detectados resíduos de antibióticos em 32 (12,2%). O resultado da análise multivariada dos fatores de risco demonstrou que rebanhos que apresentaram CCS > 200.000 células/ml tiveram maior probabilidade de apresentar resíduos de antibiótico no leite total da propriedade (OR 2,29). Os resultados demonstram a importância da adoção de boas práticas para o controle da mastite, principalmente a utilização de protocolos de tratamento e realização de descarte do leite de acordo com o período de carência do medicament