3,288 research outputs found
The Future of Social Justice in Britain: A New Mission for the Community Legal Service
This paper explores the disjuncture in the New Labour Government between the largest reform in fifty years of the nation's Legal Aid system and the concurrent pursuit of progressive anti-poverty, social inclusion, community regeneration, and human rights social policies. The failure of the newly created Community Legal Service (CLS) to incorporate these policies reveals the contradictions in the Third Way's effort to reconcile private market, managerial efficiencies with the goals of advancing social justice. This failure to adopt a social justice mission for the reformed legal aid and advice system, it is argued, shows the limited vision of these reforms and defines an unfinished agenda for a second term Labour Government. The paper suggests what would constitute a social justice mission for the CLS.legal aid, social justice, Community Legal Services
Effects of recurrent selection for yield on plant growth across planting densities in maize (Zea mays L.)
Breeding for higher grain yield in maize (Zea mays L.), utilizing increased selection densities, has produced varieties that are adapted to grow at higher population densities. The effects of increased planting density on grain yield and final phenotypes are well known, but the effects of density on plant growth across the growing season have been less widely characterized. The objectives of this study were: 1) examine the effects of high planting density on growth rates, growth timing, and biomass partitioning of the ear, stalk, and tassel; 2) characterize the difference in density effects in maize populations before and after recurrent selection for grain yield; 3) characterize heterosis and hybrid performance in plant growth and biomass partitioning; 4) characterize the effects of recurrent selection on heterosis levels in plant growth. Four populations, Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic (BSSS), Iowa Synthetic Corn Borer #1 (BSCB1), and the populations derived from the 17th cycle of reciprocal recurrent selection, BSSS(R)C17 and BSCB1(R)C17, along with the BSSS/BSCB1 and BSSS(R)C17/BSCB1(R)C17 population crosses were utilized in this study. The populations were growth at 3.23, 6.46, 9.69, and 12.92 plants m-2 at six locations near Ames, IA over 4 years. Increased density lowered maximum growth rates for all plant organs, but reduction in ear length, plant height, and ear and stalk biomass growth rates occurred at higher densities in the selected populations and population crosses compared to the unselected populations. Increased planting density affected plant organ growth timing differently in BSSS and BSCB1. High density delayed stalk biomass accumulation in BSCB1 but not BSSS, and delayed ear length growth and ear and tassel biomass accumulation in BSSS but not BSCB1. Growth delays the cycle 0 populations were not present in the cycle 17 populations, or in the cycle 0 population cross. BSCB1 and the BSSS/BSCB1 population cross partitioned lower levels of biomass to the ear and had smaller harvest indices at high density, while biomass partitioning and harvest index were not affected by density in the selected population and population cross. Heterosis was present in final phenotypes, growth midpoints, growing period length, and maximum growth rates. Heterosis levels for final phenotypes and maximum growth rates increased with selection. Increases in heterosis levels were due to depressed per se population performance and slight increases in selected population cross phenotypes. BSCB1 was often the dominant parent in population crosses in regards to growth midpoint timing, maximum growth rates, harvest indices, and density response
Task variables in violin bowing: influence on variability of bow and bowing limb movement
To achieve expressive musical results in violin bowing, performers access wide ranges of combined musical tone loudness and duration variables. By comparison, allowable mechanical variability in bow stroke execution may be limited. Such constraints on string bowing variability similarly might limit variability of bowing limb movement. Constrained variability may carry risk of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore if musical and/or bowing-execution variables influence bowing limb movement variability, they may in turn influence risk of cumulative injury in the player.
In two experimental studies we examined the influence of the musical variables of duration and sound intensity (loudness) on variability in both string bowing mechanical variables and bowing limb joint moments (i.e. rotational forces) and joint angle trajectories. Five violinists performed playing tasks in which bow strokes varied across four levels of duration and three levels of loudness. Given a constant-amplitude bow stroke, quiet, brief strokes and loud, long strokes had to be executed close to the lower and upper limits of permissible bow-on-string force (bow force). In Study #1, we computed one- and three-dimensional bow movement variance measures, in both kinematic (bow velocity across violin string, distance from bow-to-bridge) and kinetic (bow force) variables. In Study #2 we computed the cycle-to-cycle standard deviation of joint moments and angles for each moment and angular degree of freedom in the bowing limb. In each study, these variability measures were compared across the 12 experimental conditions.
We hypothesized that variability would be lowest when executing quiet/brief and loud/long strokes, compared to strokes that could be executed further from bow force limits. However, it was also anticipated that variability instead could be influenced most strongly by bow and/or limb velocity, magnitude of bow force, and/or bowed-string loudness response properties. Results from both studies indicated that variability in both bow-on-string and limb movement was conditioned on these latter properties: tone duration and loudness exerted consistent effects on variances and standard deviations. Contradicting the main hypothesis, variability was not influenced by proximity to bow force limits. We conclude that bowing variability is constrained mainly by factors not specific to variability tolerance at the bow-violin string interface
Lost in the Shuffle: State-Recognized Tribes and the Tribal Gaming Industry
This article presents the emerging argument that Native American tribes that have received state but not federal recognition have a legal right to engage in gaming under state law. This argument is based on five points: that 1) the regulation of gaming is generally a state right; 2) state tribes are sovereign governments with the right to game, except as preempted by the federal government; 3) federal law does not preempt gaming by state tribes; 4) state tribal gaming does not violate Equal Protection guarantees; and 5) significant policy arguments weigh in favor of gaming by state tribes under state law
Nurse Anesthesiology Education for Regulators
Governmental and regulatory entities like the state board of nursing have an active role in regulating all nursing fields, including anesthesiology. The lack of a required nurse anesthesiology representative on the board presents a potential knowledge gap related to anesthesiology practice. Board members and staff must make decisions related to nurse anesthesiology that may cause anxiety due to its complexity. The lack of education in this area allows one to make wrong decisions or spend extended time looking for the correct information.   The main objective of this project was to provide an educational module on nurse anesthesiology practice to the state board of nursing commissioners and staff. Pre and Post-test surrounding a lecture on the basics of nurse anesthesiology history, practice, and billing models and their effect on safety and access, attendees were given a questionnaire to assess knowledge regarding nurse anesthesiology practice. The literature suggests that nurse anesthesiology is a complex and unique area in the broad spectrum of nursing. The different providers, their educational pathways, backgrounds, scope of practice, and legislature restrictions make it quite difficult for leaders in regulatory bodies like the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission to understand, which could impact decision-making. The graded percentage for the pre-test was 34%, while the post-test was 79%. Based on these results, there is a strong indication that members of a regulatory body, like the Board of Nursing, should implement a continuous educational module in nurse anesthesiology to better serve the public. Some participants were in a virtual setting and, therefore, unable to answer both parts of the evaluation. Some participants expressed minimal knowledge and interest in the assessment and lecture
Pharmacotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder : a systematic review and meta-analysis
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaCITATION: Ipser, J., [et al.]. 2006. Pharmacotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. South African Medical Journal, 96(10):1088-1096.Background. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent and disabling condition. Evidence that PTSD is characterised by specific psychobiological dysfunctions has contributed to a growing interest in use of medication in its treatment. Objectives. To assess the effects of medication in the treatment of PTSD. Design. Systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) following the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. A more detailed version of the review is published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Methods. We searched the Cochrane Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Group specialised register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane Library issue 4, 2004), MEDLINE (January 1966 - December 2004), PsycINFO (1966 - 2004), the National PTSD Center Pilots database, and the meta register module of the Controlled Trials'database. Reference lists of retrieved articles were searched for additional studies. Two raters independently assessed RCTs for inclusion in the review, collated trial data, and assessed trial quality. Investigators were contacted to obtain missing data. Summary statistics were stratified by medication class, and by medication agent for the selective serotonin-re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Dichotomous and continuous measures were calculated using a random effects model, heterogeneity was assessed, and subgroup/sensitivity analyses were done. Main results. Thirty-five short-term (14 weeks or less) RCTs were included in the analysis (4 547, participants). Symptom severity for 17 trials was significantly reduced in the medication groups, relative to placebo (weighted mean difference (WMD) = -5.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): -8.16 - -3.36, N = 2 507). Similarly, summary statistics for responder status from 13 trials demonstrated overall superiority of a variety of medication agents compared with placebo (relative risk (RR) = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.28, 1.73, number needed to treat (NNT) = 4.85, N = 1272). Medication and placebo response occurred in 59.1% (N = 644) and 38.5% (N = 628) of patients, respectively. Of the medication classes, evidence of treatment efficacy was most convincing for the SSRIs. Medication was also effective in reducing the severity of the PTSD re-experiencing/intrusion, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal symptom clusters in 9 trials (N = 1 304). In addition, medication was superior to placebo in reducing co-morbid depression and disability. Medication was also less well tolerated than placebo. A narrative review of the 3 maintenance trials suggested that long-term medication may be required in treating PTSD. Conclusion. Medication treatments can be effective in treating PTSD, acting to reduce its core symptoms, as well as associated depression and disability, and should be considered as part of the treatment of this disorder. The findings of this review support the status of SSRIs as first-line agents in the pharmacotherapy of PTSD, as well as their value in long-term treatment. However, there remain important gaps in the evidence base, and there is a continued need for more effective agents in the management of PTSD.Publisher’s versio
- …