Researching prisoner experiences with prison officers: an action research inspired approach

This article reports on research that incorporated action research-inspired dimensions on a project conducted in three maximum-security prisons in England. The project was aimed at collecting ethnographically informed data on prisoner experiences, at developing a method by which such data could be systematically and routinely collected by prison staff and at facilitating opportunities for prison officers to understand the ‘pains of imprisonment’ from the perspectives of prisoners. The challenges and limitations of the project are discussed, with particular reference to the paradox of participation and the role of power relations within prisons and within the research process. It is suggested that despite the inherent difficulties of attempting a participative approach with more powerful actors, facilitating change on a larger scale may be best served by developing a ‘pedagogy of the oppressors’ alongside a ‘pedagogy of the oppressed’

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma: prognostic factors and outcome in 113 patients. A European Musculoskeletal Oncology Society study

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MCS) is a distinct, very rare sarcoma with little evidence supporting treatment recommendations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Specialist centres collaborated to report prognostic factors and outcome for 113 patients. RESULTS: Median age was 30 years (range: 11-80), male/female ratio 1.1. Primary sites were extremities (40%), trunk (47%) and head and neck (13%), 41 arising primarily in soft tissue. Seventeen patients had metastases at diagnosis. Mean follow-up was 14.9 years (range: 1-34), median overall survival (OS) 17 years (95% confidence interval (CI): 10.3-28.6). Ninety-five of 96 patients with localised disease underwent surgery, 54 additionally received combination chemotherapy. Sixty-five of 95 patients are alive and 45 progression-free (5 local recurrence, 34 distant metastases, 11 combined). Median progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were 7 (95% CI: 3.03-10.96) and 20 (95% CI: 12.63-27.36) years respectively. Chemotherapy administration in patients with localised disease was associated with reduced risk of recurrence (P=0.046; hazard ratio (HR)=0.482 95% CI: 0.213-0.996) and death (P=0.004; HR=0.445 95% CI: 0.256-0.774). Clear resection margins predicted less frequent local recurrence (2% versus 27%; P=0.002). Primary site and origin did not influence survival. The absence of metastases at diagnosis was associated with a significantly better outcome (P<0.0001). Data on radiotherapy indications, dose and fractionation were insufficiently complete, to allow comment of its impact on outcomes. Median OS for patients with metastases at presentation was 3 years (95% CI: 0-4.25). CONCLUSIONS: Prognosis in MCS varies considerably. Metastatic disease at diagnosis has the strongest impact on survival. Complete resection and adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered as standard of care for localised disease

Assessing multidimensional sustainability : lessons from Brazil’s social protection programs

Examining linkages among multiple sustainable development outcomes is key for understanding sustainability transitions. Yet rigorous evidence on social and environmental outcomes of sustainable development policies remains scarce. We conduct a national-level analysis of Brazil’s flagship social protection program, Zero Hunger (ZH), which aims to reduce food insecurity and poverty. Using data from rural municipalities across Brazil and quasi-experimental causal inference techniques, we assess relationships between social protection investment and outcomes related to sustainable development goals (SDGs): "no poverty" (SDG 1), "zero hunger" (SDG 2), and "health and well being" (SDG 3). We also assess potential perverse outcomes arising from agricultural development impacting "climate action" (SDG 13) and "life on land" (SDG 15) via clearance of natural vegetation. Despite increasing daily per capita protein and kilocalorie production, summed ZH investment did not alleviate child malnutrition or infant mortality and negligibly influenced multidimensional poverty. Higher investment increased natural vegetation cover in some biomes but increased losses in the Cerrado and especially the Pampa. Effects varied substantially across subprograms. Conditional cash transfer (Bolsa Familia [BF]) was mainly associated with nonbeneficial impacts but increased protein production and improved educational participation in some states. The National Program to Strengthen Family Farming (PRONAF) was typically associated with increased food production (protein and calories), multidimensional poverty alleviation, and changes in natural vegetation. Our results inform policy development by highlighting successful elements of Brazil’s ZH program, variable outcomes across divergent food security dimensions, and synergies and trade-offs between sustainable development goals, including environmental protection

Interaksjonsdesign i smidige prosesser: et casestudie rundt intergrering av interaksjonsdesign i smidige utviklingsprosesser innen norsk næringsliv

NORSK: I dagens samfunn produseres det nye teknologiske løsninger og produkter daglig. Behovet for å sikre at funksjonalitet og design innen disse tilfredsstiller målgruppens behov og forutsetninger har i takt med den teknologiske utviklingen, økt. Virkeligheten av en brukersentrert fokus i utviklingsprosessene har lenge vært et faktum – og stadig mer forskning ser på hvordan man kan, eller bør integrere brukersentrerte metoder i smidig metodikk. Det kan tyde på at anbefalinger og forslag om smidige brukersentrerte prosesser innehar en lavere grad av brukerinvolvering, brukerdeltakelse og brukersentrerte metoder med høy brukerkontakt - sammenlignet med hva som rapporteres og anbefales benyttet i tradisjonelle brukersentrerte prosesser. I tillegg kan det tyde på at også selve metoderepertoaret som benyttes i smidig brukersentrerte prosesser er mindre enn i tradisjonelle brukersentrerte prosesser. Masterstudiet undersøker om metodebruk i smidige prosesser rapportert i internasjonal publisert forskning stemmer overens med caser fra norsk industri. Hensikten med å sammenligne funnene i casene med den rapporterte forskningen er for å se om det er noen forskjeller mellom norsk praksis, og internasjonal – og for å se om de anbefalte modellene blir benyttet. Det er et svært interessant forskningsområde som til nå har fått lite forskningsfokus, men som kan være meget viktig for utviklingen av metodikk for profesjonen interaksjonsdesign. Sammenligningen av de norske casene og rapporteringer og anbefalinger innen internasjonal forskning viser til ulikheter både i prosessmodell, metodebruk og integreringen av interaksjonsdesignerne i det smidige prosjektteamet. Resultatene er ikke enhetlig mellom de to casene, men viser til variasjon i industrien - og fra de rapporterte anbefalingene. Resultatet kan tyde på at det er behov for å avklare hvilke grunnprinsipper smidig brukersentrering bør bygge på. Spesielt bør det drøftes rundt grad av brukerinvolvering og brukerforankring i denne typen prosjekter. Industrien kan dra nytte av forslag om modeller for prosesser med en høy grad av brukerinvolvering, gjerne i form av modeller som inkluderer konseptutvikling - og dermed har behov for et større forstudie. I tillegg til dette vil anbefalinger på et bredere spekter metoder, inkludert metoder med høyere grad av brukerkontakt være nyttig. Masterstudiet har med utgangspunkt i funnene, og tidligere anbefalinger fra forskningen foreslått en modell, og et bredt spekter av metoder som kan åpne for mer brukerinvolvering i en ellers smidig tilnærming.ENGLISH: Today’s society produces new technological solutions and products daily. The need to ensure that functionality and design meet the user needs are more relevant than ever, and the reality of a user-centered focus in the development process is a fact. In recent years, more and more research look at how user-centering can, or should, be intergraded into agile methods. Research may indicate that the recommendations and suggestions around agile user-centered development possess a lower degree of user involvement, user participation and user-centered methods with high user contact – compared to what has been reported and recommended in traditional user-centered processes. In addition, it may indicate that the actual repertoire of methods used in agile user-centered processes are narrower compared to the traditional user-centered processes. This study examines whether the methods used in agile user-centered processes published in research is consistent with cases from the Norwegian industry. The purpose of comparing the findings in the cases to published research is to see if there are any difference between Norwegian practice, and international – and to see if the recommended models are used. It’s an interesting research area that, until now, has received little attention in research – but can still be very important for the development of methodology for the profession of interaction design. The comparison of the Norwegian case studies to the research and recommendations points to difference in both process model, methodology and integration of interaction designers in an agile project team. The results are not consistent between the two cases, but refers to variation in the field – and to the research and recommendations. The results indicate a need to clarify the basic principles of agile user centering should build upon. In particular, the degrees of user involvement and user grounding in this type of project. The industry can benefit for the proposal of process models with a high degree of user involvement, preferably in the form of models that include concept development – and therefore need a larger pilot study. In addition to this, advice on a wider range of methods, including methods with a higher degree of user contact could be useful. Based on the findings and recommendations from previous research this Thesis suggest a model, and a wide range of methods that can open up to more user involvement in an otherwise agile approach