380 research outputs found

    In the Interests of clients or commerce? Legal aid, supply, demand, and 'ethical indeterminacy' in criminal defence work

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    As a professional, a lawyer's first duty is to serve the client's best interests, before simple monetary gain. In criminal defence work, this duty has been questioned in the debate about the causes of growth in legal aid spending: is it driven by lawyers (suppliers) inducing unnecessary demand for their services or are they merely responding to increased demand? Research reported here found clear evidence of a change in the handling of cases in response to new payment structures, though in ways unexpected by the policy's proponents. The paper develops the concept of 'ethical indeterminacy' as a way of understanding how defence lawyers seek to reconcile the interests of commerce and clients. Ethical indeterminacy suggests that where different courses of action could each be said to benefit the client, the lawyer will tend to advise the client to decide in the lawyer's own interests. Ethical indeterminacy is mediated by a range of competing conceptions of 'quality' and 'need'. The paper goes on to question the very distinction between 'supply' and 'demand' in the provision of legal services

    Winter wheat, 2000

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    "July 2000.""Publication costs paid by Missouri Seed Improvement Association."The objective of the Missouri Winter Wheat Performance Tests is to provide wheat growers in Missouri with a reliable, unbiased, up-to-date source of information that will permit valid comparisons among improved wheat varieties. This information should help Missouri wheat growers select varieties best suited to their particular area and growing conditions. This report summarizes soft red winter wheat variety trials conducted throughout Missouri during the 1999-00 cropping season. No hard red winter wheat test was grown in 2000

    Using Web 2.0 applications to promote health-related physical activity: findings from the WALK 2.0 randomised controlled trial.

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    BACKGROUND/AIM: Web 2.0 internet technology has great potential in promoting physical activity. This trial investigated the effectiveness of a Web 2.0-based intervention on physical activity behaviour, and the impact on website usage and engagement. METHODS: 504 (328 women, 126 men) insufficiently active adult participants were randomly allocated to one of two web-based interventions or a paper-based Logbook group. The Web 1.0 group participated in the existing 10 000 Steps programme, while the Web 2.0 group participated in a Web 2.0-enabled physical activity intervention including user-to-user interaction through social networking capabilities. ActiGraph GT3X activity monitors were used to assess physical activity at four points across the intervention (0, 3, 12 and 18 months), and usage and engagement were assessed continuously through website usage statistics. RESULTS: Treatment groups differed significantly in trajectories of minutes/day of physical activity (p=0.0198), through a greater change at 3 months for Web 2.0 than Web 1.0 (7.3 min/day, 95% CI 2.4 to 12.3). In the Web 2.0 group, physical activity increased at 3 (mean change 6.8 min/day, 95% CI 3.9 to 9.6) and 12 months (3.8 min/day, 95% CI 0.5 to 7.0), but not 18 months. The Logbook group also increased physical activity at 3 (4.8 min/day, 95% CI 1.8 to 7.7) and 12 months (4.9 min/day, 95% CI 0.7 to 9.1), but not 18 months. The Web 1.0 group increased physical activity at 12 months only (4.9 min/day, 95% CI 0.5 to 9.3). The Web 2.0 group demonstrated higher levels of website engagement (p=0.3964). CONCLUSIONS: In comparison to a Web 1.0 intervention, a more interactive Web 2.0 intervention, as well as the paper-based Logbook intervention, improved physical activity in the short term, but that effect reduced over time, despite higher levels of engagement of the Web 2.0 group. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12611000157976

    5CM, NO IRON SSC DIPOLE 12M MODEL CRYOSTAT THERMAL PERFORMANCE*

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    ABSTRACT A 12 m long model of a 5 cm case dipole cryostat has been constructed and its thermal performance measured. The model utilized heat intercepted fiberglass reinforced plastic posts to support the 12 m long, 4.5 K cold mass and the 10 and 80 K thermal shields. A superinsulation blanket system utilizing aluminized polyester with fiberglass mat spacing material was developed and installed on the 10 and 80 K thermal shields. The heat gain to 4.5, 10 and 80 K was measured. We have compared the results with the analytical predicted performance and it shows good agreement. The performance of the multilayer insulation system has been measured under several different system conditions and the results are reported

    Cationic biaryl 1,2,3-triazolyl peptidomimetic amphiphiles: synthesis, antibacterial evaluation and preliminary mechanism of action studies

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    Synthetic small molecular antimicrobial peptidomimetics represent a promising new class of potential antibiotics due to their membrane-disrupting ability and their decreased propensity for bacterial resistance. A library of 43 mono- and di-cationic biaryl 1,2,3-triazolyl peptidomimetics was designed and synthesized based upon previously established lead biarylpeptidomimetics and a known pharmacophore. A reliable, facile and modular synthetic pathway allowed for the efficient synthesis of multiple unique scaffolds which were subjected to divergent derivatization to furnish the amphiphilic compounds. In vitro testing revealed enhanced antibacterial efficacy against a range of pathogenic bacteria, including bacterial isolates with methicillin, vancomycin, daptomycin, or multi-drug resistance. Preliminary time-kill kinetics and membrane-disruption assays revealed a likely membrane-active mechanism for the tested peptidomimetics. An optimal balance between hydrophobicity and cationic charge was found to be essential for reduced cytotoxicity/haemolysis (i.e. membrane selectivity) and enhanced Gram-negative activity. The cationic biaryl amphiphile 81 was identified as a potent, broad-spectrum peptidomimetic with activity against Gram-positive (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - MIC = 2 μg/mL) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli - MIC = 4 μg/mL) pathogenic bacteria. © 2019 Elsevier Masson SA

    Associations between quality of life and duration and frequency of physical activity and sedentary behaviour: Baseline findings from the WALK 2.0 randomised controlled trial.

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    While physical and mental health benefits of regular physical activity are well known, increasing evidence suggests that limiting sedentary behaviour is also important for health. Evidence shows associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviour with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), however, these findings are based predominantly on duration measures of physical activity and sedentary behaviour (e.g., minutes/week), with less attention on frequency measures (e.g., number of bouts). We examined the association of HRQoL with physical activity and sedentary behaviour, using both continuous duration (average daily minutes) and frequency (average daily bouts≥10 min) measures. Baseline data from the WALK 2.0 trial were analysed. WALK 2.0 is a randomised controlled trial investigating the effects of Web 2.0 applications on engagement, retention, and subsequent physical activity change. Daily physical activity and sedentary behaviour (duration = average minutes, frequency = average number of bouts ≥10 minutes) were measured (ActiGraph GT3X) across one week, and HRQoL was assessed with the 'general health' subscale of the RAND 36-Item Health Survey. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate associations. Participants (N = 504) were 50.8±13.1 (mean±SD) years old with a BMI of 29.3±6.0. The 465 participants with valid accelerometer data engaged in an average of 24.0±18.3 minutes and 0.64±0.74 bouts of moderate-vigorous physical activity per day, 535.2±83.8 minutes and 17.0±3.4 bouts of sedentary behaviour per day, and reported moderate-high general HRQoL (64.5±20.0). After adjusting for covariates, the duration measures of physical activity (path correlation = 0.294, p<0.05) and sedentary behaviour were related to general HRQoL (path coefficient = -0.217, p<0.05). The frequency measure of physical activity was also significant (path coefficient = -0.226, p<0.05) but the frequency of sedentary behaviour was not significantly associated with general HRQoL. Higher duration levels of physical activity in fewer bouts, and lower duration of sedentary behaviour are associated with better general HRQoL. Further prospective studies are required to investigate these associations in different population groups over time

    Bibliometric analysis of themes competitive intelligence, knowledge management and organizational knowledge in Institutional Repository University of Brasília

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    Trata da análise dos temas Inteligência Competitiva (IC), Gestão do Conhecimento (GC) e Conhecimento Organizacional (CO), no Repositório Institucional da Universidade da Brasília (RIUnB), que está disponível em acesso aberto desde setembro de 2008. O objetivo é verificar a produção científica sobre as áreas de pesquisa, a partir dos documentos que constam no RIUnB. O método de trabalho consistiu nos estudos bibliométricos, a fim de se inteirar sobre a produção de trabalhos referentes ao conhecimento resultante do desenvolvimento de pesquisas no âmbito institucional, para conhecer a comunidade. Os resultados apontam para um crescimento notório desses temas na ciência da informação, com perspectiva de crescimento em outras áreas: administração, engenharia elétrica, educação e gestão social e trabalho, demonstrando sua potencial interdisciplinaridade; houve maior concentração de publicação nos temas gestão do conhecimento, conhecimento organizacional e inteligência competitiva, respectivamente, e existe uma concentração dessas publicações em três pesquisadores na comunidade da Faculdade de Ciência da Informação (FCI). Conclui-se que os temas são mais frequentes na área de ciência da informação, entretanto, nota-se o seu aparecimento em outras áreas do conhecimento, na UnB: administração, engenharia elétrica, educação e gestão social e do trabalho. Esses dados podem revelar uma tendência de consolidação dos temas de pesquisa em outras áreas. ________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis analysis of topics Competitive Intelligence (CI), Knowledge Management (KM) and Organizational Knowledge (CO) in the Institutional Repository of the University of Brasília (RIUnB) which is available in open access since September 2008. The aim is to check the scientific literature on the research areas from the documents listed in RIUnB. The working method consisted in bibliometric studies, in order to learn about the production of works relating to knowledge resulting from research development at the institutional level to know the community. The results indicate a remarkable growth of these themes in information science, with growth prospects in other areas: administration, electrical engineering, management and education and social work, demonstrating its potential interdisciplinarity, there was a higher concentration of publishing on issues of knowledge management, organizational knowledge and competitive intelligence, respectively, and there is a concentration of such publications in three community researchers in the Faculty of Information Science (FCI). We conclude that the issues are more frequent in the area of information science, however, note its appearance in other areas of knowledge in UNB: administration, electrical engineering, education and social management and labor. These data may reveal a trend of consolidation of research topics in other areas

    Effectiveness of a web- and mobile phone-based intervention to promote physical activity and healthy eating in middle-Aged males: Randomized controlled trial of the manup study

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    Background: The high number of adult males engaging in low levels of physical activity and poor dietary practices, and the health risks posed by these behaviours, necessitate broad-reaching intervention strategies. IT-based (web and mobile phone) interventions can be accessed by large numbers of people, yet there are few reported IT-based interventions targeting males’ physical activity and dietary practices. Objective: This study examines the effectiveness of a 9-month IT-based intervention to improve the physical activity, dietary behaviours and health literacy in middle-aged males compared to a print-based intervention. Methods: Participants, recruited offline (e.g. newspaper ads), were randomized into either an IT-based or print-based intervention arm on a 2:1 basis in favour of the fully automated IT-based arm. Participants were adult males aged 35-54 years living in two regional cities in Queensland Australia who could access the internet, owned a mobile phone and were able to increase their activity level. The intervention, ManUp, was informed by social cognitive and self regulation theories and was specifically designed to target males. Educational materials were provided and self-monitoring of physical activity and nutrition behaviours was promoted. Intervention content was the same in both intervention arms, only the delivery mode differed, and content could be accessed throughout the 9-month study period. Participants’ physical activity, dietary behaviours, and health literacy were measured using online surveys at baseline, 3 months and 9 months. Results: A total of 301 participants completed baseline assessments, 205 in the ITbased arm and 96 in the print-based arm. A total of 124 participants completed all three assessments. There were no significant between group differences in physical 5 activity and dietary behaviours (p ≥0.05). Participants reported an increased number of minutes and sessions of physical activity at 3 months (b(exp)=1.45, 95% CI=1.09-1.95; b(exp)=1.61, 95% CI=1.17-2.22) and 9 months (b(exp)=1.55, 95% CI=1.14-2.10; b(exp)=1.51, 95% CI=1.15-2.00). Overall dietary behaviours improved at 3 months (b(exp)=1.07, 95% CI=1.03-1.11) and 9 months (b(exp)=1.10, 95% CI=1.05-1.13). The proportion of participants in both groups eating higher-fibre bread and low-fat milk increased at 3 months (b(exp) = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.29-3.92; b(exp)=1.65, 95% CI = 1.07-2.55). Participants in the IT-based arm were less likely to report that 30 minutes of physical activity per day improves health (b(exp)=0.48, 95% CI=0.26-0.90) and more likely to report that vigorous intensity physical activity 3 times per week is essential (b(exp)=1.70, 95% CI=1.02-2.82). The average number of logins to the IT-platform at 3 and 9 months was 6.99 (SE=0.86) and 9.22 (SE=1.47), respectively. The average number of self-monitoring entries at 3 and 9 months was 16.69 (SE=2.38) and 22.51 (SE=3.79), respectively. Conclusions: The ManUp intervention was effective in improving physical activity and dietary behaviours in middle aged males with no significant differences between IT- and print-based delivery modes
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