Sport policy convergence: a framework for analysis

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in European Sport Management Quarterly on 30th April 2012, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/16184742.2012.669390The growth in the comparative analysis of sport management processes and policy has led to an increased interest in the concept of convergence. However, the concept is too often treated as unproblematic in definition, measurement and operationalisation. It is argued in this paper that a more effective framework for examining claims of convergence is one that analyses the concept in terms of seven dimensions which can be explored through a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. It is also argued that a deeper understanding of the process of convergence can be gained by operationalising the concept in the context of a selected range of meso-level theories of the policy process or of specific aspects of the process. The proposed analytic framework provides not only a definition of convergence but also the basis for a more nuanced investigation of hypotheses of convergence

Hereditary nephritis in the bull terrier: evidence for inheritance by an autosomal dominant gene

A high prevalence of renal failure has been reported in bull terriers in Australia. The pattern of inheritance was analysed in a family of 33 bull terriers in which 10 dogs had renal disease manifested by proteinuria, ultrastructural abnormalities in the glomerular basement membrane, renal failure, or 'end stage' kidneys. The presence of at least one affected parent for each affected offspring, the approximately equal male/female ratio and the apparent absence of 'generation-skipping', strongly supported an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance, assuming a fully penetrant single major gene locus. Further evidence was not compatible with either an autosomal recessive or X-linked inheritance pattern. This contrasts with the X-linked inheritance shown in Alport's-type human hereditary nephritis and hereditary glomerulopathy in the samoyeds. Hereditary nephritis in the bull terrier should be a useful model for non-Alport's-type human hereditary nephritis, which is also reported to have an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern

Proteinuria as an indicator of early renal disease in bull terriers with hereditary nephritis

A group of non‐azotaemic bull terriers from families with hereditary nephritis had significant subclinical renal disease. Of the renal function tests carried out, proteinuria, almost exclusively albumin, was a reliable and early indicator of glomerular abnormality. While 24‐hour urinary protein excretion (24 UPE) in the bull terriers was significantly higher than in a group of normal dogs of other breeds, urinary protein excretion (UPE) was also significantly higher when measured by simple single sample tests such as the urinary protein to urinary creatinine ratio (UP/C). UPE in bull terriers was correlated with increasing age, in contrast to lack of correlation in the normal dogs. The degree of proteinuria in affected bull terriers from which renal biopsies were taken correlated with the severity of histopathological changes which mainly affected glomeruli. Light microscopic examination revealed segmentally thickened glomerular and tubular basement membranes, thickened Bowman's capsules and adhesions between glomerular capillaries and Bowman's capsules. Other renal function tests were performed but failed to detect subclinical disease. It is suggested that hereditary nephritis (HN) in bull terriers is similar to that seen in samoyeds, dober‐mann pinschers and humans