Why ‘none of the above’ is the starting point for electoral reform and should be the priority of all political and electoral reformers at this time

Richard Berry recently responded on Democratic Audit to NOTA UK member Rohin Vadera’s article “Democracy demands that a ‘None of the Above’ option be added to ballot papers for UK elections” with an article which suggested alternative reforms to UK voting arrangements. Here, the founder of NOTA UK, Jamie Stanley, responds, finding fault with Berry’s critique

The 2015 General Election shows why we need a ‘None of the Above’ option on ballot papers

The 2015 General Election saw a Conservative majority government returned (al biet on a minority of the vote) for the first time since 1992. While the First Past the Post electoral system may be disproportionate and antiquated, Jamie Stanley of the None of the Above campaign argues that a more pressing matter is introducing a ‘None of the Above’ option on ballot papers

The effectiveness of bilateral versus unilateral task retraining using the saeboflex orthosis in individuals with subacute and chronic stroke [abstract]

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the SaeboFlex orthosis, comparing unilateral versus bilateral task training with the device in patients with subacute and chronic stroke. This study addresses the question as to whether unilateral or bilateral task training is more beneficial for upper extremity motor and functional recovery after stroke while using the SaeboFlex, a relatively low-cost, client-driven orthotic device. The sample population consists of individuals who are greater than 6 months post-stroke and meet the specific qualifications for use of the device. Each participant is randomly assigned to the unilateral task training group (3-6 participants) or bilateral task training group (3-6 participants). The protocol for our study consists of six assessments for pre- and post-testing along with a five-day training session in the use of the device, if needed. This is followed by a four-week home program and outpatient training, where the program is completed six days a week, twice a day for 60 minutes and is upgraded as appropriate. We hypothesize that the bilateral task training group will result in a greater increase in motor function, performance satisfaction, and quality of movement as compared to the unilateral task training group, based on pre-test and post-test data. The study is currently in progress; thus far there are some promising observable and measurable results including decreased muscle tone, increased range of motion, and increased quality of movement in both the unilateral and bilateral task training groups. The majority of data collection and analysis will be completed by the beginning of November

Moderate recovery unnecessary to sustain high stroke volume during interval training. A brief report

It has been suggested that the time spent at a high stroke volume (SV) is important for improving maximal cardiac function. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of recovery intensity on cardiovascular parameters during a typical high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session in fourteen well-trained cyclists. Oxygen consumption (VO), heart rate (HR), SV, cardiac output (Qc), and oxygenation of vastus lateralis (TSI) were measured during a HIIT (3×3-min work period, 2 min of recovery) session on two occasions. VO2, HR and Qc were largely higher during moderate-intensity (60%) compared with low-intensity (30%) (VO, effect size; ES = +2.6; HR, ES = +2.8; Qc, ES = +2.2) and passive (HR, ES = +2.2; Qc, ES = +1.7) recovery. By contrast, there was no clear difference in SV between the three recovery conditions, with the SV during the two active recovery periods not being substantially different than during exercise (60%, ES = -0.1; 30%, ES = -0.2). To conclude, moderateintensity recovery may not be required to maintain a high SV during HIIT

Burnout in Virginia’s Community College Adjuncts With Relation to Gender, Age, and Number of Jobs

Burnout is a psychological condition that affects individuals in high stress careers; including higher education faculty are prone. Research suggests women experience burnout at different ages than males. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study is to apply existing theory to determine if a predictive relationship exists between burnout, emotional exhaustion, and the linear combination of age, gender, and the number of additional jobs held for community college adjunct faculty. Part-time faculty (247) from the Virginia Community College System provided data anonymously. Based on a multiple regression models, age was the primary predictor of emotional exhaustion, but data analysis indicated additional variables need to be considered. A small sample size hindered the generalizability of the results, but it was discovered that males and females between the ages of 26 and 50 were more likely to experience emotional exhaustion

Quantitative Examination of Age, Gender, and Emotional Exhaustion in Public Accounting

Professional burnout can be a significant problem for the public accounting industry. Identifying the tendency to burnout can possibly help identify solutions. The purpose of this correlational quantitative study was to examine the relationship between gender, age, and emotional exhaustion (EE) related to burnout in a large, national public accounting firm in the United States. EE is defined as a feeling of excessive emotional stress and being drained by contact with other people. The results of the study indicated that the combination of both age and gender resulted in a statistically significant regression model. Analysis indicated that young, female professionals are more likely to experience EE. The investigation indicated that additional independent variables might more reliably predict the emotional exhaustion within the surveyed population

Clinical perspectives of emerging pathogens in bleeding disorders.

As a result of immunological and nucleic-acid screening of plasma donations for transfusion-transmissible viruses, and the incorporation of viral reduction processes during plasma fractionation, coagulation-factor concentrates (CFC) are now judged safe in terms of many known infectious agents, including hepatitis B and C viruses, HIV, and human T-cell lymphotropic virus. However, emerging pathogens could pose future threats, particularly those with blood-borne stages that are resistant to viral-inactivation steps in the manufacturing process, such as non-lipid-coated viruses. As outlined in this Review, better understanding of infectious diseases allows challenges from newly described agents of potential concern in the future to be anticipated, but the processes of zoonotic transmission and genetic selection or modification ensure that plasma-derived products will continue to be subject to infectious concerns. Manufacturers of plasma-derived CFC have addressed the issue of emerging infectious agents by developing recombinant products that limit the need for human plasma during production. Such recombinant products have extended the safety profile of their predecessors by ensuring that all reagents used for cell culture, purification steps, and stabilisation and storage buffers are completely independent of human plasma

MosquitoMap and the Mal-area calculator: new web tools to relate mosquito species distribution with vector borne disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mosquitoes are important vectors of diseases but, in spite of various mosquito faunistic surveys globally, there is a need for a spatial online database of mosquito collection data and distribution summaries. Such a resource could provide entomologists with the results of previous mosquito surveys, and vector disease control workers, preventative medicine practitioners, and health planners with information relating mosquito distribution to vector-borne disease risk.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A web application called MosquitoMap was constructed comprising mosquito collection point data stored in an ArcGIS 9.3 Server/SQL geodatabase that includes administrative area and vector species x country lookup tables. In addition to the layer containing mosquito collection points, other map layers were made available including environmental, and vector and pathogen/disease distribution layers. An application within MosquitoMap called the Mal-area calculator (MAC) was constructed to quantify the area of overlap, for any area of interest, of vector, human, and disease distribution models. Data standards for mosquito records were developed for MosquitoMap.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>MosquitoMap is a public domain web resource that maps and compares georeferenced mosquito collection points to other spatial information, in a geographical information system setting. The MAC quantifies the Mal-area, i.e. the area where it is theoretically possible for vector-borne disease transmission to occur, thus providing a useful decision tool where other disease information is limited. The Mal-area approach emphasizes the independent but cumulative contribution to disease risk of the vector species predicted present. MosquitoMap adds value to, and makes accessible, the results of past collecting efforts, as well as providing a template for other arthropod spatial databases.</p