The feasibility of a cognitive behavioural therapy group for men with mild/moderate cognitive impairment

Memory aid groups have often been used as a method for teaching mnemonic strategies to older adults in early stages of dementia. This study describes the use of CBT to address unhelpful memory-related beliefs in three older men with mild/moderate dementia and associated low mood or anxiety. The members were able to participate and engage in the sessions, and changes in behaviour, cognition and affect were monitored over the course of a 7 week group intervention. Recommendations are made for further research

Getting gender on the agenda: The tale of two organisations

PURPOSE - This paper aims to explore emerging issues in the application of the "dual agenda" model of gender equitable organisational change aimed at improved work life outcomes in two large Australian organisations. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH - The research project used the collaborative interactive action research (CIAR) methodology that underpins the dual agenda change approach. Within both organisations, a multi-method approach was used, including formal interviews, focus groups and ethnographic-style observation and interaction, as well as the analysis of a wide range of organisational documentation. The paper focuses on the challenges both for the researchers and the organisations in keeping gender on the agenda, drawing on the identification of work practices and work-life policies that impede organisational effectiveness and gender equity and the subsequent work culture diagnosis for each organisation. FINDINGS - The way in which the "gender problem" within an organisation is framed is strategically important. An understanding of "gender" as "women" not only marginalises gender equity as a business goal and its links with organisational effectiveness, but also works to silence men's interests in better work/life outcomes. A refocusing on the "ideal worker" was found to be more inclusive not only of men but also valuable in highlighting the ways in which organisational work/life policies may be undercut by business pressures and long hours, poor job design or management discretion. However, challenges remain in linking gender equitable organisational change to organisational effectiveness, especially in organisations which are restructuring and contracting in size. ORIGINALITY / VALUE - Provides a frank account of the challenges in making the links between gender equity, organisational effectiveness and work life issues that is valuable for both academics and practitioners. The "dual agenda" approach is methodologically important as it engages both "outsider" academics and "insider" organisational members in an action research process directed at gender equitable organisational change

Between the Margins and the Mainstream: The Case of Women\u27s Rights

This chapter investigates the conceptual limits of the field of women’s rights. It identifies two main currents of activity in the field: the elaboration of human rights standards, particularly through the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women of 1979; and the development of the ‘Women, Peace and Security’ agenda by the UN Security Council since 2000. Both areas are limited in their understandings of the diverse lives of women. The chapter argues that campaigns for the recognition of women’s rights shuttle between the mainstream and the margins of international law and that the structural bases of women’s disadvantage remain obscured in both locations

The Gender of Jus Cogens

Defenders of the notion of jus cogens often explain its basis as the collective international, rather than the individual national, good. On this analysis, principles of jus cogens play a similar role in the international legal system to that played by constitutional guarantees of rights in domestic legal systems. Thus states, as national political majorities, accept the limitation of their freedom of choice in order to reap the rewards of acting in ways that would elude them under pressures of the moment. Among those jurists who accept the category of jus cogens, however, continuing controversy remains over what norms qualify as principles of jus cogens. Our concern in this article is neither with the debates over the validity of the doctrine of jus cogens in international law nor with particular candidates for jus cogens status. Rather, we are interested in the structure of the concept detailed by international law scholars. We aregue that the concept of the jus cogens is not a properly universal one as its development has privileged the experiences of men over those of women, and it has provided a protection to men that is not accorded to women

Regulatory Frameworks in International Law

Regulatory theory is concerned with how various forms of regulation, including law, govern social interaction. Much of the theoretical work on legal regulation has been developed in the context of domestic law. This chapter examines international law in the particular setting of regulation of outsider entities, such as failed and nascent states, that is where international regulation fills the vacuum caused by the collapse of domestic institutions and the rule of law. Through a brief examination of international regulation in Bosnia–Hercegovina and East Timor, this chapter asks what light a regulatory lens sheds on international law. Drawing on Hugh Collins\u27s starting questions in Regulating Contracts, it investigates whether the international law in this area conceives of relations in ways that are different from the frameworks in which they operate

Evolutionary coordination system for fixed-wing communications unmanned aerial vehicles

A system to coordinate the movement of a group of un- manned aerial vehicles that provide a network backbone over mobile ground-based vehicles with communication needs is presented. Using evo- lutionary algorithms, the system evolves flying manoeuvres that position the aerial vehicles by fulfilling two key requirements; i) they maximise net coverage and ii) they minimise the power consumption. Experimental results show that the proposed coordination system is able to offer a de- sirable level of adaptability with respect to the objectives set, providing useful feedback for future research directions

Growing pains: work-life impacts in small-to-medium sized construction firms

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to compare the quality of work-life experiences of workers in construction firms of differing sizes and explored the work conditions and circumstances that impact upon the work-life experiences of workers in small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Australian construction industry. Design/methodology/approach - Data were collected in two stages. First, data from a sub-set of construction industry workers were extracted from a large scale survey of workers in Victoria, Australia (the VicWAL survey). The survey measured work-life interference using the Australian Work and Life Index (AWALI). Next a subset of survey respondents was identified and interviewed to gain more detailed explanatory information and insight into work-life experiences. Findings - The survey results indicated that respondents who reported working for a construction firm with between 16 and 99 employees reported significantly higher AWALI scores (indicating high work-life interference) than workers in organisations employing 15 or less or more than 100 workers. The follow-up interviews revealed that workers in small construction organisations were managed directly and personally by the business owner/manager and able to access informal work-life supports that were provided on an "as needs" basis. In comparison workers in medium-sized firms perceived higher levels of work pressure and an expectation that work would be prioritised over family life. Research limitations/implications - The research shows that the findings of work-life balance research undertaken in large construction organisations cannot be generalised to SMEs. Organisation size should also be treated as an important variable in work-life balance research in construction. Practical implications - The research suggests that a better understanding of how workers in SME construction firms experience work-life balance is important in the design and development of work-life balance programs

High Ureteric Injury Following Multiorgan Recovery: Successful Kidney Transplant with Boari Flap Ureterocystostomy Reconstruction

Introduction: Despite increased utilization of marginal organs, there is still a marked disparity between organ supply and demand for transplantation. To maximize resources, it is imperative that procured organs are in good condition. Surgical damage at organ recovery can happen and organs are sometimes discarded as a result. We describe a damaged recovered kidney with high ureteric transection that was successfully transplanted using a primary Boari flap ureterocystostomy. Case report: The donor kidney was procured form a deceased donor and sustained damage by transection of the ureter just distal to the pelvi-ureteric junction at organ recovery. The recipient had been on the transplant waiting list for eight years and not accepting this kidney would have seriously jeopardized her chance of future transplantation. Several centers rejected the donor kidney. We assessed the kidney and decided to proceed with transplantation. The kidney was successfully transplanted. A primary Boari flap was constructed and the transplant ureter implanted onto the bladder. The post-operative course was complicated by urine leak that settled down after management by nephrostomy insertion and bladder catheterization. The patient made a good recovery and remained well at six monthly follow up with a serum creatinine of 1.7 mg/dl. Conclusion: Primary Boari flap ureterocystostomy is a viable option when the transplant surgeon is faced with a high ureteric injury in the procured kidney. Since most patients wait years for a suitable graft and some may never find an adequate match, every effort should be made to effectively utilize the scarce available resources to the fullest.Keywords: Kidney; Transplant; Ureter; Donor efficienc