A quantitative central limit theorem for the effective conductance on the discrete torus

We study a random conductance problem on a $d$-dimensional discrete torus of size $L > 0$. The conductances are independent, identically distributed random variables uniformly bounded from above and below by positive constants. The effective conductance $A_L$ of the network is a random variable, depending on $L$, and the main result is a quantitative central limit theorem for this quantity as $L \to \infty$. In terms of scalings we prove that this nonlinear nonlocal function $A_L$ essentially behaves as if it were a simple spatial average of the conductances (up to logarithmic corrections). The main achievement of this contribution is the precise asymptotic description of the variance of $A_L$.Comment: 37 page

The skills and brain drain what nurses say

Aims and objectives. To explore sub-Saharan African nurses' reasons for moving to the UK, their views on the skills and brain drain, and what can be done to stem the situation. Background. The UK and other developed nations such as the USA, Canada and Australia have been recruiting internationally qualified nurses including those from sub-Saharan African, which has raised concerns of skills and brain drain from these countries that are known to suffer from nurse shortages. Methods. A purposeful sample of 30 nurses from sub-Saharan African was drawn from four National Health Service trusts in the north-east of England. Using focus group discussions and personal interviews, the study explored and examined nurses' views on their motivation to move to the developed countries and what can be done to reduce nurse migration from sub-Saharan African and give those countries a chance to develop their health systems by retaining their health personnel. Results. Five main themes emerged from data analysis: poor remuneration, lack of professional development in the home countries, poor health care and systems, language and education similarities and easy availability of jobs and visas. Conclusion. Data indicate that migration motives for nurses are complex and inherent in historical links and in global values. Nurses stressed that they would like to stay in their own countries and help develop healthcare there, but reasons for moving were often strong and apparently not within their control. Relevance to clinical practice. Nurse migration from sub-Saharan African has often been cited as a limitation in providing effective healthcare in those countries. Delineating motivational factors for nurses could help to stem this migration. © 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

[Review of] John Bodnar. The Transplanted: A History of Immigrants in Urban America

The Transplanted is represented as a synthesis of the immigrant experience in urban America. Bodnar posits the confrontation with capitalism as sole explanation for migration, emigration and immigrant behavior in the new country. His stated intent is to rescue immigration history from older views of immigrants as hapless victims of circumstance

Communicating with older ethnic minority patients

In a time of increasing cultural diversity, it is essential that healthcare professionals respond by providing culturally competent care. Healthcare professionals must recognise the diverse needs of people from ethnic minority communities to ensure that they receive equal standards of care. This is particularly pertinent when providing care for older ethnic minority patients who may not be fluent in English. This article focuses on the need to communicate effectively with this group of patients to meet their health and social care needs, with the ultimate aim of improving patient outcomes

Dewey’s Notion of Aesthetic Experience. A Comparative Approach

This presentation attempts to contribute the nature and scope of Dewey’s aesthetic, through a comparative methodology, which brings Deweyan notion of aesthetic experience into dialogue with the concept of harmony that Confucian philosophy suggests. Thus, I will briefly explore this dialogue in two phases: firstly, I consider the resonances between Dewey’s emergentism and what Roger Ames and David Hall names Confucian ontology of events ; secondly, I try to clarify the notion of experience and dào (道), from Deweyan and Confucian thought, by means of a comparative analysis.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Raising awareness of diversity and social (in)justice issues in undergraduate research writing: understanding students and their lives via connecting teaching and research

Inspired by my own experiences as an undergraduate writing student who did not see a connection between my life and the topics of the courses, this article details my first ventures into designing and teaching sections of a research writing class, entitled Researching Writing: Raising Awareness of Diversity and Social Justice Issues within and Beyond our Lives. The purpose of this course was to promote issues of diversity and social (in)justice in a required liberal studies course. Interview data from undergraduate women students who participated in this research writing course from 2009-2011 were explored in order to uncover their experiences in the class and understand what they found effective or ineffective. The findings indicated that most of the students appreciated being able to choose their own research topic, and also found chunking parts of the research project more effective for understanding the research process. Although engaging students in research and course activities related to controversial issues is difficult, there is a need for more liberal studies courses to incorporate topics related to diversity and social (in)justice

Fictive Kinship in the Aspirations, Agency, and (Im)Possible Selves of the Black American Art Teacher

In this paper, I explore the pairing of the concepts of fictive kinship and agency in order to explore racial identity narratives of the Black American art teacher. Expanding on the anthropological concept of fictive kinship, where bonds of connectedness between people help to shape selfhood, I consider the powerful impact that visual culture has on shaping identity narratives and the professional aspirations of Black American art teachers. I identify fictive kinship connections as salient in creating spaces which affect agency in the conceptualization and achievement of the self as an artist. I further use the concept of fictive kinship to highlight distinct intersections between the personal and the visual and use interview quotes to trace moments in the lives of three secondary Black art teachers where these bonds have impacted their decision to fully embrace an artist identity. I include implications for art education and how we might begin to think critically so we are able to transform the experiences of our students, helping them advance their aspirational pursuits

Managing rivers in Ghanaian small scale mining communities : a case study in Amansie Central District, Ghana : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree: Masters in Environmental Management, Massey University, Turitea, New Zealand

Water is a natural capital asset that must be preserved and sustained. In Ghana, rivers are critical and important source of water for the Ghanaian economy albeit with very poor and challenging sustainable management practices. This paper presents the findings of a study undertaken to assess mining and water pollution in Amansie Central District, Ghana. The quality of Ghana’s endowed water resources is increasingly threatened as industrial activities including, small scale mining continue to expand. Small scale mining operations releases high quantities of sediments, toxic chemicals, and other contaminants into water bodies that have currently damaged most Ghanaian riverine systems. In particular, this is more alarming with the avalanche number of numerous mining operations that majority of such operations are unauthorized. In addition to sampling respondent’s perceptions on small scale mining; its impacts and regulation in Amansie Central District, the study prescribes interventions that can assist in mitigating the negative impacts of small scale mining on community endowed water resources. Significant environmental performance and improved water quality can be achieved within the small scale mining sector if compulsory laws on protecting and improving water quality are adopted and adequately monitored and enforced and if government involve traditional rulers in mining regulatory frameworks to regulate unauthorized mining and to monitor community environmental performance

Critique [of Informal Education. Sociocultural Expression. and Symbolic Meaning in Popular Immigration Music Text by Jose Macias]

The role of song texts in evaluating human behavior has received relatively little attention by either anthropologists or ethnomusicologists and their value as social documents, consequently, has been sadly overlooked. As Macias observes, the texts of corridos popular in San Felipe function simultaneously on several levels. As historical chronicle, social commentary (and criticism), and as vehicles for teaching and proslytizing [proselytizing], these texts reinforce a sense of community and cultural identity, and serve, also, as reminders of economic reality, articulating their subjects\u27 aspirations and incumbent moral obligations