541 research outputs found
The Economics of a Two Tier Health System: A Fairer Medicare?
This paper analyses a recent proposal of the Australian Government to reform the existing Medicare system. It develops models of the physicianâs behaviour and of a householdâs demand for medical insurance under the proposed system, and then proceeds to characterise the equilibrium under the new proposals. It argues that those most likely to be made worse off are low income households with children, though a full evaluation of the effects of the proposal requires it to be analysed in a public finance framework.health care, government policy, medical insurance
An exploration of the development of academic identity in a School of Education
This paper explores the complex processes involved in the self-construction of academic identity in a UK School of Education. Building on seminal literature in this field and drawing on the research of four academics, it begins by discussing teacher educatorsâ varying perceptions of the need to re-configure their identity to meet the expectations of a twenty-first-century higher education workforce. The article proposes the formation of this identity to be a dynamic, career-long process. Diverse scaffolds for the development process are proposed, including opportunities for new teacher educators to be apprenticed into an aca- demic role, the centrality of communities of practice and the importance of the 15 supported development of academic skills such as writing for publication.Peer reviewe
The Effects of Participation in Extracurricular Activities On Academic Performance in Secondary School Students
Various studies show that participation in extracurricular activities lead to success both academically and professionally. However, the general public has limited access to this research, and therefore many students are not benefiting from these programs. In this paper, the author reviews the published research of how participation in extracurricular activities affects academic success. She then uses this research to develop a promotional campaign that school administrators may use to educate parents, students, and teachers of the benefits of extracurricular activity participation. The projects are oriented toward presentations at school events and online access to school administrators and parents
The Value of Marine Conservation
The marine environment provides essential ecosystem services that are critical to the functioning of the earthâs life support system and the maintenance of human well-being. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are recognised as being the mechanism though which marine natural capital may be conserved. This thesis focuses on the value associated with marine conservation in a case study area, Lyme Bay, England where a âclosed areaâ was created in 2008. A review of literature spanning 20 years shows that despite sound ecological knowledge of a marine area, the reliance on traditional neo-classical economic valuations for marine spatial planning can obscure other issues pertinent to the ecosystem approach. A further valuation of the marine leisure and recreation industry shows that the industry is of economic significance and that the MPA enables the protection of the most valuable sites but has limited benefits for protecting the full resource base. In terms of ecological value, a âservice orientated frameworkâ was developed to enable decision makers to understand the links between benthic species, ecological function and indirect ecosystem services. Results spatially identify which ecosystem services occur and demonstrate the value of the MPA in ensuring delivery of these ecosystem services. In relation to the social value of the MPA the research reveals that support for the MPA is strong amongst the majority of stakeholder groups. Values are expressed as the economic, environmental and social benefits of the MPA. However, there have been clear social costs of the MPA policy and these have been borne by mobile and static gear fishermen and charter boat operators. Each valuation methodology can inform decision making. Though, if ecosystem service valuation is to become a deliberative tool for marine conservation and planning, then there is a need for a larger societal discussion on what activities and trade-offs society considers acceptable.Marine Institute, Devon Wildlife Trus
Self and role perception of social work students during training
Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit
Mechanosensitive channels: what can they do and how do they do it?
While mechanobiological processes employ diverse mechanisms, at their heart are force-induced perturbations in the structure and dynamics of molecules capable of triggering subsequent events. Among the best characterized force-sensing systems are bacterial mechanosensitive channels. These channels reflect an intimate coupling of protein conformation with the mechanics of the surrounding membrane; the membrane serves as an adaptable sensor that responds to an input of applied force and converts it into an output signal, interpreted for the cell by mechanosensitive channels. The cell can exploit this information in a number of ways: ensuring cellular viability in the presence of osmotic stress and perhaps also serving as a signal transducer for membrane tension or other functions. This review focuses on the bacterial mechanosensitive channels of large (MscL) and small (MscS) conductance and their eukaryotic homologs, with an emphasis on the outstanding issues surrounding the function and mechanism of this fascinating class of molecules
The Right to Authentic Political Communication
Increasingly, governments communicate strategically with the public for political advantage, seeking as Christopher Hood describes it to âavoid blameâ and âclaim creditâ for the actions and decisions of governance. In particular, Strategic Political Communication (SPC) is becoming the dominant form of political communication between Canadaâs executive branch of government and the public, both during elections and as part of a âpermanent campaignâ to gain and maintain public support as means to political power. This dissertation argues that SPC techniques interfere with the publicâs ability to know how they are governed, and therefore undermines the central right of citizens in a democracy to legitimate elected representation by scrutinizing government and holding it to account. Realization of that right depends on an authentic political communication process that provides citizens with an understanding of government. By seeking to hide or downplay blameworthy actions, SPC undermines the legitimation role public discourse plays in a democracy. The central questions that shaped this dissertation are first, why citizens in a democracy have a right to understand government and second, what role does communication play in realizing that right? The arguments rely on national and international rights jurisprudence; communication rights theory, in particular concerning communicative action (Habermas); authentic deliberation (Dryzek); arguments for and against critical citizenship (Tully, Norris and Schumpeter); and political studies, including deliberative democracy and legitimization of government (Dewey). Methodologies include multi-disciplinary literature reviews; primary records obtained through the Access to Information Act (ATIA); media monitoring; database analysis and process tracking through elite interviews with scholars, government actors and political journalists. Chapter two considers rights history, philosophy, and jurisprudence in arguing that access to authentic information is both a right and is essential to the informed, reasonable public deliberations (Young) central to democratic legitimation (Dunn). Chapter three considers SPC, including the positivity bias of partisan SPC actors, and the countering ânegativity biasâ (Hood) of political journalists. Chapters four and five examine SPC practices of politically-appointed partisan staff in the Prime Ministerâs Office (PMO) of Stephen Harper. Chapter six concerns secrecy, and resistance to Canadaâs ATIA. The conclusion makes recommendations for greater transparency and accountability
Patient experience of long term recovery after open fracture of the lower limb : a qualitative study using interviews in a community setting
Objectives Treatment of open fractures is complex and patients may require muscle and skin grafts. The aim of this study was to gain a greater understanding of patient experience of recovery from open fracture of the lower limb 2â4âyears postinjury.
Design A phenomenological approach was used to guide the design of the study. Interviews took place between October 2016 and April 2017 in the participantsâ own homes or via telephone.
Setting England, UK.
Participants A purposive sample of 25 patients were interviewed with an age range of 26â80 years (median 51), 19 were male and six female, and time since injury was 24â49 months (median 35 months).
Results The findings identified a focus on struggling to recover as participants created a new way of living, balancing moving forward with accepting how they are, while being uncertain of the future and experiencing cycles of progress and setbacks. This was expressed through three themes: (i) âbeing disempoweredâ with the emotional impact of dependency and uncertainty, (ii) âbeing changedâ and living with being fragile and being unable to move freely and (iii) âbeing myselfâ with a loss of self, feeling and looking different, alongside recreation of self in which they integrated the past, present and future to find meaningful ways of being themselves.
Conclusion This study identified the long-term disruption caused by serious injury, the hidden work of integration that is required in order to move forward and maximise potential for recovery. Supportive strategies that help people to self-manage their everyday emotional and physical experience of recovery from injury are required. Research should focus on developing and testing effective interventions that provide support and self-management within a holistic rehabilitation plan
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