Beyond ‘Innocents Abroad’: Reflecting on Sustainability Issues During International Study Trips

With ecosystems and populations in many regions threatened by rapid development, sustainability is a critical component for businesses in mature markets and emerging economies alike. The International Association of Jesuit Business Schools notes that global sustainability involves a broad set of interconnected issues ranging from environmental preservation to social justice to desirable production and consumption patterns. Jesuit business schools are uniquely positioned to address sustainability issues with their focus on teaching managerial content in tandem with corporate social responsibility. Further, the Ignatian Pedagogy Paradigm of experience, reflection, and action would suggest that business students may benefit from reflective observation in support of learning about sustainability.In this paper, we examine the international study trip as an opportunity for students to learn about sustainability, with results suggesting that student understanding about the broad sustainability domain may be enhanced through the study abroad experience. We discuss how two classes of primarily American MBA students traveling to emerging markets (one class to Santiago, Chile and one class to Johannesburg, South Africa) were able to connect local business practices with economic and social as well as environmental sustainability issues, enhancing both student engagement and learning outcomes. Further, these students’ sustainability experiences while in an unfamiliar environment provided the opportunity to apply the potentially transformative experience, reflection, and action components of the Ignatian Pedagogy Paradigm. Compared to similar graduate business students enrolled in regular classes, we argue that these students discerned deeper connections with the economic, social, and environmental issues of sustainability

Organizational Change: The Experiences of Practitioners Transitioning to a Fee-for-Service Model

Many human service agencies are in the midst of a transition for a fee-for-service model. Through the midst of the transition, organizations must shift the culture of their agency and adapt to the new service delivery approach. Some organizational changes can create feelings of insecurity among staff, fewer resources, and greater potential for employee burnout. Though there is some research that provides valuable information, it often fails to highlight the individual experiences of the worker. This phenomenological study begins to explore the experiences and perceptions of practitioners working in supported housing agencies during the transition to a fee-for-service approach. The researchers utilized two focus groups to collect data and conducted thematic analysis to highlight specific themes to address the benefits and areas of improvements of a fee-for-service model. By understanding the experiences and perspectives from practitioners, other human service providers may have a greater understanding of implications for their practice

Women Engineers: A Study Of Educational Preparation And Professional Success

In an effort to better understand the educational experiences and professional issues facing women in these fields, a survey of women alumnae was conducted. Respondents seemed fairly pleased with the education they received and were heavily influenced by personal aspects of the campus. Relationships with faculty members were described as their most beneficial and detrimental experiences. They particularly liked opportunities to apply their technical knowledge but did not believe there were enough opportunities for application. The need for more female role models and importance of involvement in student organizations were cited by many of the respondents. Self‐confidence and good communication skills were rated as the most important qualities for professional success and advancement. Alumnae have pursued training experiences since graduation but would like to see more opportunities to enhance communication and personal management skills and apply theoretical knowledge built into the undergraduate experience. The findings are discussed in relationship to previous research studies and recommendations are made to improve the technically oriented college environment. 1993 American Society for Engineering Educatio

Fluoridation policy and practice: a European story separating myths from reality.

Background. Controversy surrounding the addition of fluoride to water has prevailed in public discourse for the past ~ 20 years but recently an anti-fluoride stance has been gaining more traction in the Republic of Ireland undoubtedly assisted by social media with an ever increasing number of local authorities voting to ban the practice of adding fluoride to the water supply. No previous research has examined fluoridation policy and practices across the EU. The aim of this review was to examine water fluoridation policy and practices across the EU to explore how they had come about and what they are based on. Methods. The Office’s with responsibility for fluoridation policy in all 28 EU members were contacted, seeking information on fluoridation policy and practice. Responses were then grouped into common categories by country. Results. Ireland and the UK are the only EU member states currently adding fluoride to water at a whole population level. Some regions in Spain are also fluoridated. None of the other 25 member states had a specific policy on fluoridation and none add fluoride to water currently, although some had in the past. Some policy makers said fluoride was not added because of naturally high levels arising from volcanic regions, presence in other foodstuffs or alternative sources such as tablets and toothpaste were advised. No policy maker contacted could cite evidence of harm except at exceptionally high doses. The rationale for not adding/discontinuing fluoridation of water was cited by some as resistance from anti-fluoride lobby groups, concerns about mass medication, concerns about it being unethical and unecological. Discussion. it appears that countries across Europe discontinued the practice of water fluoridation for a variety of reasons but none of them were due to evidence of harmful or adverse effects. Conclusion. There is no evidence that any country ceased adding fluoride because of evidence of harm. Politicians/elected representatives should act on evidence before advocating for the removal of fluoride from community water schemes which could have potentially serious personal and economic consequences particularly for disadvantaged children

Application of heuristic satellite plan synthesis algorithms to requirements of the WARC-88 allotment plan

Creation of an Allotment Plan for the Fixed Satellite Service at the 1988 Space World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC) represented a complex satellite plan synthesis problem, involving a large number of planned and existing systems. Solutions to this problem at WARC-88 required the use of both automated and manual procedures to develop an acceptable set of system positions. Development of an Allotment Plan may also be attempted through solution of an optimization problem, known as the Satellite Location Problem (SLP). Three automated heuristic procedures, developed specifically to solve SLP, are presented. The heuristics are then applied to two specific WARC-88 scenarios. Solutions resulting from the fully automated heuristics are then compared with solutions obtained at WARC-88 through a combination of both automated and manual planning efforts

Does pneumococcal conjugate vaccine prevent otitis media?

Yes, if the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) series is given before 12 months of age. Vaccination before 12 months is associated with a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of both acute (AOM) and recurrent (ROM) otitis media (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, a systematic review of randomized controlled trials [RCTs] and a large retrospective cohort trial). The benefit disappears if the series is started after 12 months (SOR: B, a systematic review of RCTs with inconsistent results). PCV reduces tympanostomy tube placement for ROM (SOR: A, a large RCT and retrospective cohort trials)

Perceptions of Recovery While Delivering Medicaid Covered Rehabilitation Services

Many states have shifted to Medicaid reimbursement methods to cover behavioral health services. In doing so, state mental health authorities have incorporated the concept of recovery into mental health policy. Thus, gaining a better understanding of practitioners’ perceptions of recovery in a new fiscal environment is warranted. This qualitative study explores how New Jersey practitioners transitioning to a new state-wide Medicaid payment structure perceive recovery from mental illness. Four themes emerged following a thematic analysis. Future studies that explore perspectives of individuals receiving services could provide useful information for policy makers, agencies, and community stakeholders

Zimbabwe Ruins: Claims of responsibility within speculations on psycho-social experiences of exile and diaspora

The Crisis' in Zimbabwe, which in significant part began in 2000 with the appropriation of white owned commercial farms, is political, economic and psycho-social, and has resulted in major upheavals and catastrophic changes to Zimbabwean society. The researcher investigates from an autobiographical and speculative point of view what it means to live in and after such a crisis by considering the experiences of loss, mourning and melancholia as they relate to the kind of exilic existence experienced by many Zimbabweans as a result of 'the Crisis'. This kind of exile has been called "internal" and "external" (2007) exile by the Zimbabwean poet Chenjerai Hove, by which he means that those still living in the country under the Mugabe regime are living in conditions of exile emotionally, psychically and psychologically just as those in the diaspora, numbering three million or a quarter of the population, are living in conditions of physical and geographic exile. The researcher uses 'the Crisis' as a site of inquiry into considerations of individual and collective responsibility as a possible response to the emotional, geographic, and existential rupture caused by crisis. This study, which is partly autobiographical, but also historical and political, takes a speculative and conceptual approach to understanding effects of 'the Crisis'. The hybridized methods of writing as inquiry (Richardson, 2000), speculative essay as philosophical inquiry (Schubert, 1991), and autobiography as a form of narrative research, allow the researcher to articulate, meditate and speculate on questions regarding loss, temporality, mourning, melancholia and nostalgia, community, and responsibility from a position of personal interpretation, while accepting that those interpretations are fractured, partial and biased. The study proposes responsibility as one possible response to 'the Crisis' and suggests five claims of responsibility as avenues to open up considerations of how one possibly could respond to such formative experiences. The five claims are: return, melancholia and reflective nostalgia (Boym, 2001), art, learning, and community. These claims are drawn directly in relation to the researcher's interpretations of 'The Crisis' and so are not meant to be seen as normative but rather as suggestive. The recent scholarship that has been produced in response to 'the Crisis' has predominantly focused on logistical and practical concerns; this researcher establishes that psycho-social considerations of how one experiences crisis and could live with/in it are of equal importance to the scholarship of 'the Crisis' in Zimbabwe

Comparing Two Methods for Quantifying Soil-borne Entomophaga maimaiga Resting Spores

To improve usability of methods for quantifying environmentally persistent entomophthoralean resting spores in soil, we modified and tested two methods using resting spores (azygospores) of the gypsy moth pathogen Entomophaga maimaiga. Both methods were effective for recovering resting spores at concentrations \u3e100 resting spores/g dry soil. While a modification of a method originally described by Weseloh and Andreadis (2002) recovered more resting spores than a modified method based on Percoll density gradients, the ability to estimate true densities from counts was similar for both methods. Regression equations are provided for predicting true resting spore densities from counts, with R 2 values for both methods P0.90

The association between obesity and cognitive function in otherwise healthy premenopausal arab women

Objective. To examine the association between obesity and cognitive function in healthy premenopausal women. Methods. From a cohort of 220 women, 98 were randomly selected that provided complete data. Body composition was examined by dual-energy X-ray scan. All participants completed the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) to assess cognitive performance in three domains: attention, memory, and planning executive function. The Reaction Time (RTI) test was used to assess motor and mental response speeds; the Stockings of Cambridge (SOC) test was used to assess planning executive function. For memory assessment, the Delayed Match to Sample (DMS), Pattern Recognition Memory (PRM), and Spatial Span (SSP) tests were used to assess forced choice recognition memory, visual pattern recognition memory, and working memory capacity, respectively. Results. 36 (36.7%) were morbidly obese, 22 (22.4%) obese, and 23 (23.5%) overweight. Performance on RTI and SOC planning ability were not associated with body mass index (BMI). DMS mean time to correct response, when stimulus is visible or immediately hidden (0 ms delay), was higher by 785 ± 302 ms (milliseconds) () and 587 ± 259 ms () in morbidly obese women compared to normal weight women. Memory span length was significantly lower in overweight (5.5 ± 1.3, ) and obese women (5.6 ± 1.6, ) compared to normal weight (6.7 ± 0.9). DEXA-assessed body fat (%) showed similar associations as BMI, and latency to correct response on DMS and PRM was positively correlated with percentage of body fat, but not with VO2 max. Conclusion. In otherwise healthy premenopausal women, obesity did not impact accuracy on cognitive tasks related to attention, memory, or planning executive function, but morbid obesity was associated with higher latency to correct response on memory-specific tasks and lower memory span length