Feeders And Growers

Pages 97-10

Strengthening the voices of human rights defenders in the media: A case study on addressing sorcery accusation related violence in Papua New Guinea

Civil society and human rights defenders in Papua New Guinea have played an important role in bringing about legislative changes with regard to domestic and sorcery accusation related violence in recent years. Their insights in understanding how to address complex issues at the community level when accusations occur have also proven crucial to keeping people safe and providing processes to hold perpetrators accountable. However, the mainstream media has rarely reported on their stories and included their voices in the reporting of sorcery accusation related violence. They have focused on exposing the problem, often by showcasing the horrific nature of some of the crimes related to accusations, instead of further investigating possible solutions. In this paper we explore our work with human rights defenders to capture their experiences around sorcery accusations and violence and provide ways to bring their stories into the mainstream media. In particular, we explore questions around the ethics of representation when it comes to reporting human rights abuses and violence and suggest alternative ways of reporting

SEGMENTING NICHE GOAT-MEAT MARKETS

This research report provides an examination of the ratings of an important sensory attribute of chevon (goat meat) with that of beef and pork. Results from an analysis of variance of comparative ratings of the flavor of chevon and that of beef and pork suggest that selected demographic characteristics of U.S. consumers influenced the ratings of chevon'Â’s flavor with that of beef and pork. The findings indicate that Hispanics, blacks, and females should not be treated as homogenous niche markets. The results suggest that there are distinct subdivision preferences within and between these consumer partitions.Agribusiness,

Suspect screening of maternal serum to identify new environmental chemical biomonitoring targets using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

The use and advantages of high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) as a discovery tool for environmental chemical monitoring has been demonstrated for environmental samples but not for biological samples. We developed a method using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight MS (LC-QTOF/MS) for discovery of previously unmeasured environmental chemicals in human serum. Using non-targeted data acquisition (full scan MS analysis) we were able to screen for environmental organic acids (EOAs) in 20 serum samples from second trimester pregnant women. We define EOAs as environmental organic compounds with at least one dissociable proton which are utilized in commerce. EOAs include environmental phenols, phthalate metabolites, perfluorinated compounds, phenolic metabolites of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls, and acidic pesticides and/or predicted acidic pesticide metabolites. Our validated method used solid phase extraction, reversed-phase chromatography in a C18 column with gradient elution, electrospray ionization in negative polarity and automated tandem MS (MS/MS) data acquisition to maximize true positive rates. We identified "suspect EOAs" using Agilent MassHunter Qualitative Analysis software, to match chemical formulas generated from each sample run with molecular formulas in our unique database of 693 EOAs assembled from multiple environmental literature sources. We found potential matches for 282 (41%) of the EOAs in our database. Sixty-five of these suspect EOAs were detected in at least 75% of the samples; only 19 of these compounds are currently biomonitored in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We confirmed two of three suspect EOAs by LC-QTOF/MS using a targeted method developed through LC-MS/MS, reporting the first confirmation of benzophenone-1 and bisphenol S in pregnant women's sera. Our suspect screening workflow provides an approach to comprehensively scan environmental chemical exposures in humans. This can provide a better source of exposure information to help improve exposure and risk evaluation of industrial chemicals

Application of the COM-B model to barriers and facilitators to chlamydia testing in general practice for young people and primary care practitioners: a systematic review

Background Chlamydia is a major public health concern, with high economic and social costs. In 2016, there were over 200,000 chlamydia diagnoses made in England. The highest prevalence rates are found among young people. Although annual testing for sexually active young people is recommended, many do not receive testing. General practice is one ideal setting for testing, yet attempts to increase testing in this setting have been disappointing. The Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Model of Behaviour (COM-B model) may help improve understanding of the underpinnings of chlamydia testing. The aim of this systematic review was to (1) identify barriers and facilitators to chlamydia testing for young people and primary care practitioners in general practice and (2) map facilitators and barriers onto the COM-B model. Methods Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies published after 2000 were included. Seven databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed publications which examined barriers and facilitators to chlamydia testing in general practice. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. Data (i.e., participant quotations, theme descriptions, and survey results) regarding study design and key findings were extracted. The data was first analysed using thematic analysis, following this, the resultant factors were mapped onto the COM-B model components. All findings are reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results Four hundred eleven papers were identified; 39 met the inclusion criteria. Barriers and facilitators were identified at the patient (e.g., knowledge), provider (e.g., time constraints), and service level (e.g., practice nurses). Factors were categorised into the subcomponents of the model: physical capability (e.g., practice nurse involvement), psychological capability (e.g.: lack of knowledge), reflective motivation (e.g., beliefs regarding perceived risk), automatic motivation (e.g., embarrassment and shame), physical opportunity (e.g., time constraints), social opportunity (e.g., stigma). Conclusions This systematic review provides a synthesis of the literature which acknowledges factors across multiple levels and components. The COM-B model provided the framework for understanding the complexity of chlamydia testing behaviour. While we cannot at this juncture state which component represents the most salient influence on chlamydia testing, across all three levels, multiple barriers and facilitators were identified relating psychological capability and physical and social opportunity. Implementation should focus on (1) normalisation, (2) communication, (3) infection-specific information, and (4) mode of testing. In order to increase chlamydia testing in general practice, a multifaceted theory- and evidence-based approach is needed

Reducing Medical Assistants Clinical Errors through a Focused Training Program: A Quality Improvement Project

Purpose: To develop and implement an organization-based focused medical assistant (MA) Training Program for all newly hired, previously untrained MAs resulting in zero errors in medication administration, blood pressure (BP) measurements, and pediatric growth chart measurements and documentation. Background and Significance: Ambulatory Care Clinics models are traditionally staffed by MAs who come with a wide range of education or experience leading to an assortment of skills abilities and competencies. To provide safe and effective high-quality patient care it is imperative that MAs are competent in many skills (MAERB, 2015). With no standardized training program and no system in place to perform skills competency checks, the risks of errors due to lack of knowledge and skills incompetence increases (Chapman et al., 2015; Hull et al.,2013). Intervention and Implementation Plan: Based on anecdotal error reporting and the percentage of clinic patients impacted, training and skills competency in medication administration, BP measurement and pediatric growth chart measurements and documentation were the focus of the MA Training Program. Unannounced clinical leadership rounds at 30-45 days post program completion evaluated for ongoing competency. Results and Implications: As a result of the training, MA skills were standardized and a zero error rate in all three skills was achieved. Future recommendations included continuation of the program with the addition of other skills, annual evaluation, and training for all clinical staff, and consideration of development of a clinical ladder to support professional growth and promotion

A Speech Feature Vector based on its Maximum Phase Component

This paper examines the performance of a vowel classification scheme using a new form of feature vector derived from a decomposition of the speech segment into Maximum Phase and Minimum Phase components. Justification for this approach in terms of its perceptual relevance is first made, followed by a signal processing scheme to obtain the components. The form for the feature vector is then discussed. Lastly, experimental work compares the performance of this new feature vector under a variety of distortion conditions with the contemporary popular choice of Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients

'I want to buy my own block of land': Representation of urban settlement communities in Papua New Guinea

Urban settlements are home to around half the urban population of Papua New Guinea. Since the end of the Second World War, PNG towns and cities have experienced significant growth of urban settlements. Urban dwellings were established on customary and untransformed state lands. With limited support for services from government, informal settlements in the urban landscape have often been perceived from the perspective of their deficiencies. However, residents of urban settlement communities play an important role in urban economies. The purpose of this article is to critically review perceptions of settlements and issues affecting settlement communities in PNG, both in the mainstream media and from within settlement communities. The authors first present a media content analysis of reporting on settlement communities on PNG’s main online media sites. Second, they examine urban market vendors’ personal experiences of the challenges and solutions of living in Kamkumung Settlement in Lae. Drawing on storytelling and photovoice workshops with market vendors at Awagasi market, they argue for the need for media actively to include the voices of settlement residents. The article suggests that, by better understanding the context and personal experience of residents, journalists and the media could make a stronger contribution to sustainable development and urban planning in PNG

A Speech Feature Vector based on its Maximum Phase Component

This paper examines the performance of a vowel classification scheme using a new form of feature vector derived from a decomposition of the speech segment into Maximum Phase and Minimum Phase components. Justification for this approach in terms of its perceptual relevance is first made, followed by a signal processing scheme to obtain the components. The form for the feature vector is then discussed. Lastly, experimental work compares the performance of this new feature vector under a variety of distortion conditions with the contemporary popular choice of Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients

A Speech Feature Vector based on its Maximum Phase Component

This paper examines the performance of a vowel classification scheme using a new form of feature vector derived from a decomposition of the speech segment into Maximum Phase and Minimum Phase components. Justification for this approach in terms of its perceptual relevance is first made, followed by a signal processing scheme to obtain the components. The form for the feature vector is then discussed. Lastly, experimental work compares the performance of this new feature vector under a variety of distortion conditions with the contemporary popular choice of Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients