1,675 research outputs found

    Name, Shame, and Then Build Consensus? Bringing Conflic Resolution Skills to Human Rights

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    This Article examines the reasons behind the tensions that continue to make integration of human rights theory and dispute resolution so difficult. It seeks to interrogate the status quo, with a focus on law school clinics. We believe that many complex human rights problems that would traditionally be addressed separately by human rights and dispute resolution practitioners would benefit from a more integrated approach. As a consequence, the training of practitioners would also benefit from a pedagogy that incorporates elements of both disciplines. By taking a step back from the existing structure of clinics and turning to the goals that they seek to achieve, we argue for a new model that brings together skills and approaches from traditional human rights and conflict resolution approaches to develop a hybridized model of practice.12 This Article recognizes the inroads that human rights discourse and practice have already made in conflict resolution. It thus focuses primarily on the contributions that conflict resolution can make to human rights approaches. This year, at Stanford Law School, the authors of this Article have begun the process of launching just such a human rights and conflict resolution clinic. This Article seeks to explain the background, objectives, and future prospects for this and similar clinics. The Article considers three representative case studies. These cases come from the authors‘ personal experience working in Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) or clinics devoted to either human rights or conflict resolution. We chose the examples not only to illustrate typical scenarios in which a hybridized practice of human rights and conflict resolution proved to be either absent or effective, but also to highlight three prominent tensions that we believe any human rights project incorporating conflict resolution skills will face: (1) the tension between skepticism vs. optimism; (2) the tension between signaling strength vs. inviting collaboration; and (3) the tension between maintaining relationships vs. demanding critical selfanalysis. Our analysis of the three case studies provides a description of how we managed these tensions in our projects and proposes several benefits from the perspective of a human rights practitioner on an integrated approach. The Article concludes by outlining the structure and pedagogy of our clinic, the type of projects we select, and the ways we hope to document our success (and shortcomings) as the years progress

    User interface design for mobile-based sexual health interventions for young people: Design recommendations from a qualitative study on an online Chlamydia clinical care pathway

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    Background: The increasing pervasiveness of mobile technologies has given potential to transform healthcare by facilitating clinical management using software applications. These technologies may provide valuable tools in sexual health care and potentially overcome existing practical and cultural barriers to routine testing for sexually transmitted infections. In order to inform the design of a mobile health application for STIs that supports self-testing and self-management by linking diagnosis with online care pathways, we aimed to identify the dimensions and range of preferences for user interface design features among young people. Methods: Nine focus group discussions were conducted (n=49) with two age-stratified samples (16 to 18 and 19 to 24 year olds) of young people from Further Education colleges and Higher Education establishments. Discussions explored young people's views with regard to: the software interface; the presentation of information; and the ordering of interaction steps. Discussions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four over-arching themes emerged: privacy and security; credibility; user journey support; and the task-technology-context fit. From these themes, 20 user interface design recommendations for mobile health applications are proposed. For participants, although privacy was a major concern, security was not perceived as a major potential barrier as participants were generally unaware of potential security threats and inherently trusted new technology. Customisation also emerged as a key design preference to increase attractiveness and acceptability. Conclusions: Considerable effort should be focused on designing healthcare applications from the patient's perspective to maximise acceptability. The design recommendations proposed in this paper provide a valuable point of reference for the health design community to inform development of mobile-based health interventions for the diagnosis and treatment of a number of other conditions for this target group, while stimulating conversation across multidisciplinary communities

    Ankle foot orthoses for young children with cerebral palsy: a scoping review.

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    This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this recordAim: To describe research on outcomes associated with early Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) use, AFO use patterns, and parent and clinician perspectives on AFO use among young children with cerebral palsy. Method: Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage method was used to conduct a scoping review. MEDLINE (Ovid), PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EMBASE, PEDro, Web of Science and Scopus were searched for studies evaluating AFO use with children under the age of six years. Descriptive information was extracted and outcomes categorized according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Quality assessments were conducted to evaluate methodological rigor. Results: Nineteen articles were included in the review; 14 focused on body functions and structures, seven on activity level outcomes and no studies addressed participation outcomes. Evaluations of the effects of AFOs on gross motor skills other than gait were limited. Overall, the body of evidence is comprised of methodologically weak studies with common threats to validity including inadequate descriptions of study protocols, AFO construction, and comparison interventions. Conclusion: Research evaluating the effects of AFOs on age-appropriate, functional outcomes including transitional movements, floor mobility and participation in early childhood settings is needed to inform practice regarding early orthotic prescription. Implications for rehabilitation Lack of rigorous evidence about the effects of AFOs in young children limits the ability of research to guide practice in pediatric rehabilitation. More rigorous research that evaluates a broader range of age-appropriate outcomes, including those focused on participation in meaningful activities, could further inform clinical practice. While clinicians often discuss expectations and goals with individual families, qualitative research that provides more insight into the experiences of families could guide AFO prescription and monitoring practices

    Can remote STI/HIV testing and eClinical Care be compatible with robust public health surveillance?

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    In this paper we outline the current data capture systems for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infection (STI) surveillance used by Public Health England (PHE), and how these will be affected by the introduction of novel testing platforms and changing patient pathways. We outline the Chlamydia Online Clinical Care Pathway (COCCP), developed as part of the Electronic Self-Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections (eSTI(2)) Consortium, which ensures that surveillance data continue to be routinely collected and transmitted to PHE. We conclude that both novel diagnostic testing platforms and established data capture systems must be adaptable to ensure continued robust public health surveillance

    A therapeutic approach for improved vocal performance in individuals in teaching occupations

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    "Teachers represent one of the largest groups of professional voice users in the country and are among those individuals at greatest risk for developing vocal problems. This study investigated the efficacy of a specific therapy approach for treating voice problems among teachers. Five female teachers with reported voice problems participated in six sessions of voice therapy to improve body posture and diaphragmatic breathing, establish forward resonance patterns, reduce laryngeal tension through speaking and singing exercises, and improve vocal hygiene habits. Data was obtained via perceptual analysis, objective voice measurements, and two patient-based treatment outcome measures: the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and a Vocal Symptoms Questionnaire. Results suggested that teachers with reported voice problems can establish and maintain healthier, more efficient voice use and improved vocal hygiene habits with the described course of treatment. Furthermore, voice clinicians can consider these techniques as effective alternatives in clinical settings when treating this population. "--Abstract from author supplied metadat

    IL-22 mediates goblet cell hyperplasia and worm expulsion in intestinal helminth infection.

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    Type 2 immune responses are essential in protection against intestinal helminth infections. In this study we show that IL-22, a cytokine important in defence against bacterial infections in the intestinal tract, is also a critical mediator of anti-helminth immunity. After infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, a rodent hookworm, IL-22-deficient mice showed impaired worm expulsion despite normal levels of type 2 cytokine production. The impaired worm expulsion correlated with reduced goblet cell hyperplasia and reduced expression of goblet cell markers. We further confirmed our findings in a second nematode model, the murine whipworm Trichuris muris. T.muris infected IL-22-deficient mice had a similar phenotype to that seen in N.brasiliensis infection, with impaired worm expulsion and reduced goblet cell hyperplasia. Ex vivo and in vitro analysis demonstrated that IL-22 is able to directly induce the expression of several goblet cell markers, including mucins. Taken together, our findings reveal that IL-22 plays an important role in goblet cell activation, and thus, a key role in anti-helminth immunity

    The pursuit of subjective well-being and the complexity of conscientious consumer decision making in the South African white goods industry : a literature review and proposed conceptual framework

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    Emerging economies value an increasing GDP since it symbolises economic growth. South Africa’s GDP increase has in part stemmed from the consumption patterns of consumers who have since 1994 been awarded equal opportunities and thus have been able to join the ranks of an emerging middle class consumer segment. However, current global trends established that the population’s consumption practices already exceed Earth’s bio-capacity by 50%. In this regard the question remains whether consumption should be encouraged, especially in emerging economies such as South Africa where economic growth is much needed. Current literature does not adequately address this question, yet experts suggest that economic, environmental and social well-being needs to be considered to ensure the sustainability of natural resources. These are the resources that will support consumption on a national level, satisfy human needs on a personal level and maintain the integrity of natural reserves for future generations. Since consumption of products has a direct and indirect impact on the well-being of both the individual and the larger population, consumers also have a responsibility to improve consumer choices thereby reducing the nation’s social imbalance. Although macro level intervention is important, consumers (particularly those who belong to the higherincome groups), should also make conscientious decisions that may elicit economic, environmental and social responsibility as a measurement of well-being instead of maintaining the prevailing hedonic treadmill. White goods serve as a typical example of products that require more conscientious deliberation. These products are deemed objects of affluenza, but simultaneously bear long term economic and environmental implications due to their required energy and water consumption. Based on the aforementioned arguments, this theoretical review proposes a unique conceptual framework that includes the pursuit of subjective well-being amidst the interplay of various constructs such as relative deprivation and affluenza to guide future research endeavours in achieving deeper insight into the complexity of conscientious consumer decision making in the South African white goods industry.http://www.journals.co.za/content/journal/famecsam2017Consumer Scienc
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