Has there been an economic dividend from devolution?

It is now over twelve years since the restoration of Scotland's parliament, after a hiatus of almost three centuries. Sufficient time has therefore elapsed that it is possible to provide some evidence on whether Scotland's economy has indeed performed better under devolution. Thus we look at productivity, GVA per head, employment, and R&D to see if there has been any relative improvement post-1999. Having done this, two of the channels through which devolution may affect these variables will be discussed: the composition of expenditure and policy innovation2. This is particularly timely given that the UK and Scottish parliaments are currently considering proposals which will give further fiscal powers to the Scottish parliament, and the Scottish government is planning to hold a referendum on full independence in the autumn of 2014

Is Sport Losing its Integrity?

None

Use of Ovulation Predictor Kits as Adjuncts When Using Fertility Awareness Methods (FAMs): A Pilot Study

Purpose: Difficult clinical signs such as confusing cervical mucus or erratic basal body temperature can make the use of fertility awareness methods (FAMs) difficult in some cases. The goal of this study was to assess the feasibility of using a cheap urinary luteinizing hormone (LH)–surge identification kit as an adjunct to identify the infertile phase after ovulation when facing these scenarios. Methods: The study used a block-allocation, crossover, 2-arm methodology (LH kit/FAM vs FAM only). Comparison of the 2 arms was done with regard to the accuracy of identification (yes/no) of the luteal phase in each cycle as confirmed by serum progesterone concentrations. Results: We recruited 23 Canadian women currently using FAM, aged 18 to 48 years, who have had menstrual cycles 25 to 35 days long for the past 3 months and perceive themselves to have difficulty with identifying the infertile phase after ovulation. LH kits identified 100% of the luteal phases, whereas FAM indentified 87% (statistically significant). In those identified cycles, LH kits provided a mean of 10.3 days of infertility, and FAM only provided 10 days of infertility (not statistically significant). Conclusions: Among this population, LH kits may offer an adjunct for women who may wish to have an additional double-check. However, there are still clinical circumstances when even an LH kit does not provide confirmation. More research in this area is encouraged

Teaching International Students (TIS) : An Engineering Perspective with a Focus on Group and Project-Based Work

The study described in this report forms part of the Teaching International Students (TIS) Project being co-ordinated by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) along with the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). The aim of the project is to recommend ways in which academic staff can enhance the learning of international students. Several HEA Subject Centres are involved with the project and this report detaisl work by the Engineering Subject Centre, which has a focus on group and project-based working. Higher Education Statistics Agancy (HESA) data from 2008/9 was screened for those engineering schools and departments within UK universities that were identified as having recruited signnificant proportions of international students. Twelve universities were chosen from across the mission groups [see Table 1] and staff at a sample of 11 engineering units from withing eight of these institutions were consulted [see Table 2]. The purpose of the consultation was to access perceptions and activities in the teaching and support of international students and to assess factors in students' engagement in group and project-based working. The consultation with staff was undertaken through semi-structured interviews using a brief questionnaire [see Appendix A] that had been sent to interviewees in advance so the they had time to consider their responses. transcriipts of the interviews were written up as case studies and these are rpesented in the supplementary appendices [Appendices 1 to 3]. Analysis and extracts ffrom the 11 case studies were used to distil information on current and possible future practices surrounding international students, particularly on the students' interactions with group and project-based work

The Beijing Summer Olympic Games: Decisions from the CAS and IOC

This article reviews the Beijing Olympic Games cases heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Appeal Division before and after the Olympic Games and the Ad-hoc Division (AHD) in Beijing, together with pertinent IOC Executive Board doping and disciplinary decisions. The discussion is in chronological order dealing first with Olympic-related cases that were heard by the ordinary and appeal divisions in Lausanne prior to the AHD taking jurisdiction of Olympic matters. Those cases are followed by appeals heard by the appeal division while the AHD took jurisdiction over Olympic matters in Beijing. A discussion of the decisions made by the AHD and IOC during the pre-games lead-up to the opening ceremonies then follows, after which attention is turned to those cases that arose during the Olympic Games and were disposed of by the AHD and IOC at the Games. Finally, the appeals made to the CAS after the close of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Summer Games but related thereto will be reviewed