Woodland clearance in the Mesolithic: the social aspects.

Did Mesolithic people regard the woodland as a wilderness or park? Previous models have portrayed the hunter-gatherers of the Mesolithic as in tune with nature and making use of clearings to attract game. Using equally valid analogies, the authors propose a more hostile landscape that was conceived and managed with clearings and paths to help allay its menacing character

Intravenous conscious sedation in patients under 16 years of age. Fact or fiction?

Recently published guidelines on the use of conscious sedation in dentistry have published varying recommendations on the lower age limit for the use of intravenous conscious sedation. There are a large number of dentists currently providing dental treatment for paediatric patients under intravenous conscious sedation. The 18 cases reported here (age range 11-15 years), were successfully managed with intravenous conscious sedation. The experience in this paper is not sufficient evidence to recommend the wholesale use of intravenous conscious sedation in patients who are under 16 years. The fact that a range of operators can use these techniques on paediatric patients would suggest that further study should be carried out in this population. The guidance should be modified to say there is insufficient evidence to support the use of intravenous conscious sedation in children, rather than arbitrarily selecting a cut off point at age 16 years

The Clarity of Reasonableness Since Dunsmuir: Mission (Mostly) Accomplished

This project develops an interpretive account of the single reasonableness standard as it has evolved in the Canadian Supreme Court case law since its introduction in New Brunswick (Board of Management) v. Dunsmuir. My analyses show, contrary to the bulk of the academic commentary, that reasonableness is a clear and coherent standard of review. Specifically I show that in the eyes of the Court, interference owing to unreasonableness is required only when decisions are not justified in the context of the legal framework. Unjustified decisions demand interference because they are arbitrary in the sense that the powers of the state are exerted without regard for the accepted system of rules, meaning they undermine the rule of law. Once a justification has been confirmed to exist, however, all grounds for interference owing to unreasonableness have been extinguished because interference with a justified decision undermines the foundational democratic principle

Lexington Humane Society: Analysis of Volunteers

The Lexington Humane Society depends substantially on volunteer labor yet suffers from a high volunteer attrition rate. Using data from the organization’s database and a survey of volunteers, this project paints a demographic picture of the volunteer population and identifies traits that affect volunteer longevity. The evidence shows that the organization’s volunteers are overwhelmingly likely to be pet-owning women with no children at home who are motivated to volunteer because it allows them to act on their values. Middle-age individuals are more likely than those under 25 or over 65 to become long term volunteers, and individuals who have recently lost a pet are less likely to become long-term volunteers than those who have not. There is some evidence that attending religious services once a year or less, identifying as a political moderate and working full-time make an individual more likely to become a long-term volunteer. There is some evidence that having a spouse, being a student, or having a friend or family member who already volunteers at the organization make an individual less likely to become a long-term volunteer. Based on this study, the author recommends that Lexington Humane Society: 1. make its orientation process more applicant driven; 2. use “values” as a theme in volunteer recruitment and retention; 3. take steps to improve the retention rate of those who have recently lost a pet; and 4. Take steps to raise its profile among demographics that are likely potential long-term volunteers, such as middle-aged, childless, pet-owning women

Financial services used by small businesses: evidence from the 1998 survey of small business finances

Using newly available data from the 1998 Survey of Small Business Finances, this article offers preliminary findings regarding the characteristics of small businesses in the United States and their use of credit and other financial services. The main goals of the survey are to provide information on credit accessibility for small businesses, their use of financial services, and the sources of those services. The survey also provides a general-purpose database that can be used to study small business financing. Preliminary findings suggest that although the financial landscape has changed markedly since the previous survey in 1993, financing patterns and the use of particular suppliers have not.Small business ; Financial services industry

Persistence and Academic Success in University

We use a unique set of linked administrative data sets to explore the determinants of persistence and academic success in university. The explanatory power of high school grades greatly dominates that of other variables such as university program, gender, and neighbourhood and high school characteristics. Indeed, high school and neighbourhood characteristics, such as average standardized test scores for a high school or average neighbourhood income, have weak links with success in university.university success, high school, neighbourhood.