Deepening the Relational Ecology of Restorative Justice

It is our pleasure to introduce and frame this Special Issue of The International Journal of Restorative Justice. This Special Issue seeks to advance and expand thinking, research and practice of a restorative approach at the level of institutions and social systems, from families to workplaces. The articles and notes from the field included here were developed out of the 2016 International Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that shared the title and focus of this issue. The conference was held to fulfil a commitment made by the parties involved in a restorative justice process at the Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, in 2015 (Llewellyn et al, 2015). As Mary McNally\u27s note from the field (this issue) explains, the process was undertaken to deal with harms related to a private Facebook group that contained sexist and other harmful comments from a group of male fourth-year students directed at their female classmates and more generally reflecting unprofessional behaviour.\u27 Many in the university, the professional and the general public assumed that the restorative justice process was focused at the level of the interpersonal relationships and harms involved in the incident. In fact, however, the process revealed and responded to the significant institutional climate and culture issues that were reflected in and structuring the interpersonal relationships involved. It also became clear through the process that examining and shifting interpersonal relationships was the key to bringing the institutional level changes required within the faculty, the university and the profession to address the issues and harms involved and to bring change for the future. This broader focus brought by a restorative approach was surprising to many outside and even some inside the field of restorative justice. It stretched the relational ecology of restorative justice from the use of tools and practices for conflict resolution and discipline to the level of institutions and systems by attending to their relational nature and impact expressed through climate and culture

Social cooperation : redefining the self in self-interest

This thesis examines the social psychological process underlying social cooperation. Reviews are presented of (a) the interdependence account of social cooperation; and (b) the structure of and solutions to social dilemmas, the paradigm through which social cooperation is studied. Based on these reviews, two assumptions in this literature are then elaborated on: (i) the primacy of the individual self and (ii) the conceptualization of the group. Building on this critique, a theoretical review of the social identity account is then presented, through the development of social identity and self-categorization theories. While both the interdependence and social identity accounts grew from the work of the early interactionists -- Lewin, Asch and Sherif-- these accounts are now fundamentally distinct. Interdependence theorists understand social cooperation as a function of interdependence structure and transformational processes of individuals; while, social identity theorists understand social cooperation as a function of social context and categorization processes of individuals. While the latter approach does not discount the role that objective interdependence can play in social identification, it argues that interdependence, per se, can not account for the necessary and sufficient conditions underlying social cooperation. The empirical work of this thesis aims to build support for the social identity approach to the understanding of social cooperation. Specifically, the hypothesis to be tested is that social cooperation is the product of a salient social identity. The empirical strategy is to build a systematic account of social cooperation from a self-categorization perspective while targeting the fundamental theoretical constructs of interdependence theory, specifically the role of objective interdependence and the transformational processes of social value orientations. The role of objective interdependence is examined in Experiment 1, 3, and 4, and social value orientations in Experiment 2. Finally, Experiment 5 directly tests the hypothesis that social cooperation is the product of a salient social identity through a manipulation of salience of social identification. These findings are considered in relation to the theoretical approaches reviewed, with the conclusion being reached that interdependence, per se, can not account for the necessary and sufficient conditions underlying social cooperation. In contrast, the findings show general support for the self-categorization account of the social psychological mechanism underlying social cooperation. This theoretical analysis allows us to re-define the self in self-interest

Brief report: Using global positioning system (GPS) enabled cell phones to examine adolescent travel patterns and time in proximity to alcohol outlets

As adolescents gain freedom to explore new environments unsupervised, more time in proximity to alcohol outlets may increase risks for alcohol and marijuana use. This pilot study: 1) Describes variations in adolescents' proximity to outlets by time of day and day of the week, 2) Examines variations in outlet proximity by drinking and marijuana use status, and 3) Tests feasibility of obtaining real-time data to study adolescent proximity to outlets. U.S. adolescents (N = 18) aged 16–17 (50% female) carried GPS-enabled smartphones for one week with their locations tracked. The geographic areas where adolescents spend time, activity spaces, were created by connecting GPS points sequentially and adding spatial buffers around routes. Proximity to outlets was greater during after school and evening hours. Drinkers and marijuana users were in proximity to outlets 1½ to 2 times more than non-users. Findings provide information about where adolescents spend time and times of greatest risk, informing prevention efforts

ALMA 1.3 Millimeter Map of the HD 95086 System

Planets and minor bodies such as asteroids, Kuiper-belt objects and comets are integral components of a planetary system. Interactions among them leave clues about the formation process of a planetary system. The signature of such interactions is most prominent through observations of its debris disk at millimeter wavelengths where emission is dominated by the population of large grains that stay close to their parent bodies. Here we present ALMA 1.3 mm observations of HD 95086, a young early-type star that hosts a directly imaged giant planet b and a massive debris disk with both asteroid- and Kuiper-belt analogs. The location of the Kuiper-belt analog is resolved for the first time. The system can be depicted as a broad ($\Delta R/R \sim$0.84), inclined (30\arcdeg$\pm$3\arcdeg) ring with millimeter emission peaked at 200$\pm$6 au from the star. The 1.3 mm disk emission is consistent with a broad disk with sharp boundaries from 106$\pm$6 to 320$\pm$20 au with a surface density distribution described by a power law with an index of --0.5$\pm$0.2. Our deep ALMA map also reveals a bright source located near the edge of the ring, whose brightness at 1.3 mm and potential spectral energy distribution are consistent with it being a luminous star-forming galaxy at high redshift. We set constraints on the orbital properties of planet b assuming co-planarity with the observed disk.Comment: accepted for publication in A

Guidance and standard operating procedures for functional exercise testing in cystic fibrosis

Regular exercise testing is recommended for all people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). A range of validated tests, which integrate both strength and aerobic function, are available and increasingly being used. Together, these tests offer the ability for comprehensive exercise evaluation. Extensive research and expert consensus over recent years has enabled the adaptation and standardisation of a range of exercise tests to aid the understanding of the pathophysiology related to exercise limitation in PwCF and has led to the development of novel exercise tests which may be applied to PwCF. This article provides expert, opinion-based clinical practice guidance, along with test instructions, for a selection of commonly used valid tests which have documented clinimetric properties for PwCF. Importantly, this document also highlights previously used tests that are no longer suggested for PwCF and areas where research is mandated. This collaboration, on behalf of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society Exercise Working Group, represents expert consensus by a multidisciplinary panel of physiotherapists, exercise scientists and clinicians and aims to improve global standardisation of functional exercise testing of PwCF. In short, the standardised use of a small selection of tests performed to a high standard is advocated

Changing antiepilepsy drug-prescribing trends in women with epilepsy in the UK and Ireland and the impact on major congenital malformations

Objectives: After 20 years of data collection, pregnancy registers have informed prescribing practice. Various populations show trends for a reduction in valproate prescribing, which is associated with an increased risk of anatomical teratogenesis and neurodevelopmental effects in those exposed in utero. Our aim was to determine if any shifts in prescribing trends have occurred in the UK and Ireland Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register cohort and to assess if there had been any change in the overall major congenital malformation (MCM) rate over time. Methods: The UK and Ireland Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register, a prospective, observational, registration and follow-up study established in 1996, was used to determine the changes in antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) utilised during pregnancy and the MCM rate between 1996 and 2016. Linear regression analysis was used to assess changes in AED utilisation, and Poisson regression was used for the analysis of trends in the MCM rates. Results: Outcome data for 9247 pregnancies showed a stable percentage of monotherapy to polytherapy prescribing habits over time. After Bonferroni correction, statistically significant (p<0.003) changes were found in monotherapy prescribing with increases in lamotrigine and levetiracetam and decreases in valproate and carbamazepine use. Between 1996 and 2016, the total MCM rate showed a 2.1% reduction per year (incidence risk ratio 0.979 (95% CIs 0.956 to 1.002) but Poisson regression analysis showed that this was not statistically significant p=0.08). Conclusion: Significant changes are seen in the prescribing habits in this cohort over 20 years, but a statistically significant change in the MCM rate was not detected. This work should be replicated on a larger scale to determine if significant changes are occurring in the MCM rate, which would allow a robust economic estimate of the benefits of improvements in prescribing practice and the personal effect of such changes

Exposure to alcohol outlets, alcohol access, and alcohol consumption among adolescents

Background: Adolescents who live near more alcohol outlets tend to consume more alcohol, despite laws prohibiting alcohol purchases for people aged <21 years. We examined relationships between adolescents' exposure to alcohol outlets, the sources through which they access alcohol, and their alcohol consumption. Methods: Participants for this longitudinal study (n = 168) were aged 15-18 years and were from 10 cities in the San Francisco Bay Area. We collected survey data to measure participant characteristics, followed by 1 month of GPS tracking to measure exposure to alcohol outlets (separated into exposures near home and away from home for bars, restaurants, and off-premise outlets). A follow-up survey approximately 1 year later measured alcohol access (through outlets, family members, peers aged <21 years, peers aged ≥21 years) and alcohol consumption (e.g. count of drinking days in last 30). Generalized structural equation models related exposure to alcohol outlets, alcohol access, and alcohol consumption. Results: Exposure to bars and off-premise outlets near home was positively associated with accessing alcohol from peers aged <21, and in turn, accessing alcohol from peers aged <21 was positively associated with alcohol consumption. There was no direct association between exposure to alcohol outlets near home or away from home and alcohol consumption. Conclusions: Interventions that reduce adolescents' access through peers aged <21 may reduce adolescents' alcohol consumption

Associations of sedentary behaviour, physical activity, blood pressure and anthropometric measures with cardiorespiratory fitness in children with cerebral palsy

Background - Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have poor cardiorespiratory fitness in comparison to their peers with typical development, which may be due to low levels of physical activity. Poor cardiorespiratory fitness may contribute to increased cardiometabolic risk. Purpose - The aim of this study was to determine the association between sedentary behaviour, physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in children with CP. An objective was to determine the association between cardiorespiratory fitness, anthropometric measures and blood pressure in children with CP. Methods- This study included 55 ambulatory children with CP [mean (SD) age 11.3 (0.2) yr, range 6-17 yr; Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I and II]. Anthropometric measures (BMI, waist circumference and waist-height ratio) and blood pressure were taken. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured using a 10 m shuttle run test. Children were classified as low, middle and high fitness according to level achieved on the test using reference curves. Physical activity was measured by accelerometry over 7 days. In addition to total activity, time in sedentary behaviour and light, moderate, vigorous, and sustained moderate-to-vigorous activity (≥10 min bouts) were calculated. Results - Multiple regression analyses revealed that vigorous activity (β = 0.339, p<0.01), sustained moderate-to-vigorous activity (β = 0.250, p<0.05) and total activity (β = 0.238, p<0.05) were associated with level achieved on the shuttle run test after adjustment for age, sex and GMFCS level. Children with high fitness spent more time in vigorous activity than children with middle fitness (p<0.05). Shuttle run test level was negatively associated with BMI (r2 = -0.451, p<0.01), waist circumference (r2 = -0.560, p<0.001), waist-height ratio (r2 = -0.560, p<0.001) and systolic blood pressure (r2 = -0.306, p<0.05) after adjustment for age, sex and GMFCS level. Conclusions - Participation in physical activity, particularly at a vigorous intensity, is associated with high cardiorespiratory fitness in children with CP. Low cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk

Assessing Individuals’ Exposure to Environmental Conditions Using Residence-Based Measures, Activity Location-Based Measures, and Activity Path-Based Measures

Background: Many approaches are available to researchers who wish to measure individuals' exposure to environmental conditions. Different approaches may yield different estimates of associations with health outcomes. Taking adolescents' exposure to alcohol outlets as an example, we aimed to (1) compare exposure measures and (2) assess whether exposure measures were differentially associated with alcohol consumption. Methods: We tracked 231 adolescents 14-16 years of age from the San Francisco Bay Area for 4 weeks in 2015/2016 using global positioning systems (GPS). Participants were texted ecologic momentary assessment surveys six times per week, including assessment of alcohol consumption. We used GPS data to calculate exposure to alcohol outlets using three approach types: residence-based (e.g., within the home census tract), activity location-based (e.g., within buffer distances of frequently attended places), and activity path-based (e.g., average outlets per hour within buffer distances of GPS route lines). Spearman correlations compared exposure measures, and separate Tobit models assessed associations with the proportion of ecologic momentary assessment responses positive for alcohol consumption. Results: Measures were mostly strongly correlated within approach types (ρ ≥ 0.7), but weakly (ρ < 0.3) to moderately (0.3 ≤ ρ < 0.7) correlated between approach types. Associations with alcohol consumption were mostly inconsistent within and between approach types. Some of the residence-based measures (e.g., census tract: β = 8.3, 95% CI = 2.8, 13.8), none of the activity location-based approaches, and most of the activity path-based approaches (e.g., outlet-hours per hour, 100 m buffer: β = 8.3, 95% CI = 3.3, 13.3) were associated with alcohol consumption. Conclusions: Methodologic decisions regarding measurement of exposure to environmental conditions may affect study results