Why the war on drugs in sport will never be won

Drug free sport is an unattainable aspiration. In this critical, paradigm-shifting reappraisal of contemporary drug policy in sport, Bob Stewart and Aaron Smith argue that drug use in sport is an inexorable consequence of the nature, structure and culture of sport itself. By de-mythologising and de-moralising the assumptions that prop up current drug management controls, and re-emphasising the importance of the long-term well being and civil rights of the athlete, they offer a powerful argument for creating a legitimate space for drug use in sport. The book offers a broad ranging overview of the social and commercial pressures impelling drug use, and maps the full historical and social extent of the problem. With policy analysis at the centre of the discussion, the book explores the complete range of social, management, policy, scientific, technological and health issues around drugs in sport, highlighting the irresolvable tension between the zero-tolerance model as advanced by WADA and the harm-reduction approach adopted by drug education and treatment agencies. While there are no simple solutions, as long as drugs use is endemic in wider society the authors argue that a more nuanced and progressive approach is required in order to safeguard and protect the health, social liberty and best interests of athletes and sports people, as well as the value of sport itself

Effects of Macronutrients on Seed Quality and Profitability Analysis of Sunflower Production in Northwest Pakistan

Potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) application to sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) reduced cost of production, increased seed oil and protein concentration, yield and net returns on the K and P deficient soils in Northwest Pakistan. Field experiment was conducted at the New Developmental Research Farm of NWFP (North West Frontier Province) Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan during summer 2006. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements using three replications. Six levels of K (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 kg ha-1) were kept in main plots while four levels of P (0, 45, 90 and 135 kg ha-1) were kept in sub-plots. Increase in K and P levels enhanced seed oil concentration, on the other hand, increase in P level increased seed protein concentration but increase in K level decreased seed protein concentration. Both oil and protein yields per unit area increased significantly with increase in K and P levels. The increase in oil and protein yields of sunflower was mainly attributed to the improvement in yield components and significant increase in seed yield. The highest net returns of Rs. 25268 (grain yield basis) and Rs. 31274 (oil yield basis) was obtained from those plots that received a combination of 100 kg K + 45 kg P ha-1. Application of 100 kg K ha-1 + 45 kg P ha-1 was therefore, recommended for profitable sunflower production in the agro-climatic conditions in Northwest Pakistan.sunflower, potassium, phosphorus, oil, protein, economic analysis, Northwest Pakistan, Farm Management, International Development, International Relations/Trade, Production Economics, Productivity Analysis,

Blairfare: Third-Way Disability and Dependency in Britain

Produced by The Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i and The School of Social Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas for The Society for Disability Studies

Why the war on drugs in sport will never be won

Recent exposes of drug use in sports suggest that doping might be more problematic than doping-control test results reveal. A zero-tolerance (ZT) model, which aims to eliminate the use, has dominated the thinking of sport’s policy makers over the last 15 years. In light of the limitations associated with ZT-based policy, we propose an alternative policy, one based on controlled use and harm reduction principles. We argue that substance control policies underpinned by harm reduction (HR) principles of social utility and public value will deliver superior social outcomes. First, a harm reduction approach better accommodates the competitive realities of sports and the impact of elite sports’ emphasis on performance at all costs. Second, HR prioritises athlete welfare over sport and brand reputation. Finally, while appreciating the regulatory and risk management responsibilities of sports’ governing bodies, the HR model offers greater space to the athlete’s right to privacy, and right to personal autonomy

Evaluating Dryland Crop/Livestock System Alternatives for Risk Management under Declining Irrigation in the Texas Panhandle

Production budgets for dryland crop and crop/livestock systems are developed to estimate yields, costs and returns for dryland wheat and sorghum and for alternative dryland crop/livestock systems. A crop simulation model aids yield estimation. The yield and return distributions are used to estimate risk and relative risk for included alternatives.Relative Risk, Ogallala Aquifer, Crop-Livestock Systems, Wheat, Sorghum, Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, Livestock Production/Industries, Production Economics, Productivity Analysis,

Improving Accuracy of Structural Dynamic Modifications Using Augmented Mode Residual Vectors

No abstract availabl

Gaining understanding of South African traditional helers' management of lymphedema following breast cancer treatment : building a foundation for a synergistic model of best practices [abstract]

As of 1999, breast cancer (BC) was the leading cause of cancer diagnosis in South African women, affecting 1 in 12 Caucasian and 1 in 18 ethnically diverse South African women. In order to improve BC survivorship, the Universities of Missouri and the Western Cape in South Africa are collaborating with the goals of increasing understanding of BC survivors' and traditional healers' (THs') ways of managing lymphedema secondary to breast cancer treatment (BCLE). The purpose of this research is to more fully understand THs' identification and management of BCLE. Secondarily, we want to propose a best practices model reflecting the synergistic combination of Western and traditional medicine for BCLE treatment and prevention. Qualitative methods were utilized. Interviews with three THs in South Africa were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were audio-taped, transcribed, and reviewed for recurring themes. Themes were extracted by the first author using editing style analysis, and reviewed by the entire team for validation, representativeness, and sufficiency. Themes included folk medicine training, multidisciplinary collaboration, perceptions of cancer, disease characteristics, and disease management. Findings suggest the early stages of a dynamic and complementary relationship exist between THs and practitioners of Western medicine. Facilitating collaboration between THs and practitioners of Western medicine concerning the management of BCLE and other treatment-related symptoms is recommended for further study. Finally, this new understanding will be used to design evidence-based intervention(s) which synergistically combine the best practices of Western and traditional medicine for survivors living with and at risk of developing lymphedema

An Institutional Theory Perspective on EHR Engagement: Mandates, Penalties, and Enforcement

Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems are the predominant information system (IS) used by healthcare clinicians and have been the source of both great success and pain. User engagement with EHR systems is unique from traditional IS contexts in significant ways. Prior research explains EHR usage and success primarily on traditional technology acceptance research (i.e., TAM, UTAUT). However, these models assume that EHR engagement is no different from IS systems in general business domains. Yet, the healthcare context is far more regulated than most. Based on qualitative focus group sessions with a leading healthcare analytics firm (KLAS Research), we identify the role of mandates, penalties, and enforcements from government, organizations, associations, and insurance companies in explaining EHR engagement. We validate a measurement instrument for these factors and demonstrate that their inclusion can improve model fit five times over a traditional UTAUT-based model (R2 = 54.8% versus 10.2%)