3,100 research outputs found
Logics of marginalisation in health and social care reform:integration, choice, and provider-blind provision
The period 2010–2013 was a time of far-reaching structural reforms of the National Health Service in England. Of particular interest in this paper is the way in which radical critiques of the reform process were marginalised by pragmatic concerns about how to maintain the market-competition thrust of the reforms while avoiding potential fragmentation. We draw on the Essex school of political discourse theory and develop a ‘nodal’ analytical framework to argue that widespread and repeated appeals to a narrative of choice-based integrated care served to take the fragmentation ‘sting’ out of radical critiques of the pro-competition reform process. This served to marginalise alternative visions of health and social care, and to pre-empt the contestation of a key norm in the provision of health care that is closely associated with the notions of ‘any willing provider’ and ‘any qualified provider’: provider-blind provision
A novel device to assess hip strength: Concurrent validity and normative values in male athletes
Objectives
To assess concurrent validity of the new, novel externally-fixed dynamometer (GroinBar) with hand-held dynamometry (HHD); to provide normative GroinBar scores for elite Australian rules football (AFL) and football (Soccer) players; and to evaluate preliminary predictive validity of the GroinBar and HHD in this population by comparing strength results with patient-reported outcome scores.
Design
Cross-sectional and reliability study
Participants
Total of 67 athletes, 36 AFL players and 31 football (Soccer) players
Setting
Elite AFL and football (Soccer) teams
Main Outcome Measures The GroinBar system, HHD, The Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS) Questionnaire.
Results
Moderate to good correlations were identified between the GroinBar and HHD strength tests for hip adduction and abduction in the long lever position (rs 0.53 – 0.71). Normative values of the GroinBar and HHD for both AFL and football (Soccer) players were obtained. Neither the GroinBar or HHD strength measures differed between players with groin problems and those without.
Conclusion
This externally fixed strength testing device, the GroinBar, may provide a robust method of athlete monitoring and screening that does not rely on tester experience and strength. Normative values are documented for hip adduction and abduction strength in elite male athletes
Changing the Ties That Bind? The Emerging Roles and Identities of General Practitioners and Managers in the New Clinical Commissioning Groups in the English NHS
The English National Health Service (NHS) is undergoing significant reorganization following the 2012 Health and Social Care Act. Key to these changes is the shift of responsibility for commissioning services from Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to general practitioners (GPs) working together in Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). This article is based on an empirical study that examined the development of emerging CCGs in eight case studies across England between September 2011 and June 2012. The findings are based on interviews with GPs and managers, observations of meetings, and reading of related documents. Scott’s notion that institutions are constituted by three pillars—the regulative, normative, and cognitive–cultural—is explored here. This approach helps to understand the changing roles and identities of doctors and managers implicated by the present reforms. This article notes the far reaching changes in the regulative pillar and questions how these changes will affect the normative and cultural–cognitive pillars
Re-imagining Healthcare and Medical Research Systems in Post Devolution Scotland
We use the concept of ‘imagined communities’, and related work on socio-technical imaginaries and expectations, to reflect on how Scotland is represented simultaneously as ‘sick and unhealthy’ and a ‘living lab’ due to its innovative medical research. Together, we suggest these narratives have driven a broader health and wealth agenda in post-devolution Scotland, which became salient during the 2014 Independence Referendum. We draw on research conducted during the Independence referendum to consider how key stakeholders enacted imagined communities/identities (sick but also innovative) as they considered the historical impact of devolution on health and research systems, and envisioned future independence. The Referendum provided an opportunity to consider how Scottish health and research systems have been imagined over time. Our findings further understanding of the impact of devolution on healthcare and medical research, revealing the role played by policy narratives rooted in imagined identities
Strange Particle Production at RHIC
We report STAR measurements of mid-rapidity yields for the ,
, , , , , and
particles in Cu+Cu and Au+Au GeV
collisions. We show that at a given number of participating nucleons, bulk
strangeness production is higher in Cu+Cu collisions compared to Au+Au
collisions at the same center of mass energy, counter to predictions from the
Canonical formalism. We compare both the Cu+Cu and Au+Au yields to AMPT and
EPOS predictions, and find they reproduce key qualitative aspects of the data.
Finally, we investigate other scaling parameters and find bulk strangeness
production for both the measured data and theoretical predictions, scales
better with the number participants that undergo more than one collision.Comment: Conference proceedings for Hot Quarks 2008, 5 pages and 4 figure
Radiopyrolysis
Statement of responsibility on title-page reads: E.A. Mason, T.H. Timmins, D.T. Morgan, and W.N. Bley"Issued: October 1966.""MIT-334-70 Reactor Technology."Also issued by T.H. Timmins and supervised by E.A. Mason as an Sc. D. thesis , Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 1967Includes bibliographical references (pages A6.1-A6.7)MIT DSR Project no. 79819Work performed for the Savannah River Operations Office, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission under Contract no. AT(38-1)-33
In-pile loop irradiation studies of organic coolant materials : progress report, October 1, 1965 - December 31, 1965
"Issued: April 1, 1966.""AEC Research and Development Report"--Cover"MIT-334-48 ,Reactor Technology, Standard TID 4500."Includes bibliographical references (leaf 28)Progress report; October 1, 1965 - December 31, 1965M.I.T. project no. DSR 9819U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Savannah River Operations Office contract no. AT(38-1)-33
Ten simple rules for socially responsible science
Guidelines concerning the potentially harmful effects of scientific studies have historically focused on ethical considerations for minimizing risk for participants. However, studies can also indirectly inflict harm on individuals and social groups through how they are designed, reported, and disseminated. As evidenced by recent criticisms and retractions of high-profile studies dealing with a wide variety of social issues, there is a scarcity of resources and guidance on how one can conduct research in a socially responsible manner. As such, even motivated researchers might publish work that has negative social impacts due to a lack of awareness. To address this, we propose 10 simple rules for researchers who wish to conduct socially responsible science. These rules, which cover major considerations throughout the life cycle of a study from inception to dissemination, are not aimed as a prescriptive list or a deterministic code of conduct. Rather, they are meant to help motivated scientists to reflect on their social responsibility as researchers and actively engage with the potential social impact of their research
Hamstring muscle-tendon geometric adaptations to resistance training using the hip extension and Nordic hamstring exercises
Targeted resistance training stimulates hamstring muscle hypertrophy, but its effect on tendon-aponeurosis geometry is unknown. This study examined changes in hamstring muscle, free tendon, and aponeurosis geometry following a 10?week Nordic or hip extension exercise intervention. Thirty recreationally active males were randomly allocated (n?=?10 per group) to a Nordic, hip extension, or control group. Magnetic resonance imaging of both thighs was acquired pre- and post-intervention. Changes in free tendon and aponeurosis volume for each hamstring muscle, biceps femoris long head (BFlh) aponeurosis interface area and muscle volume-to-interface area ratio were compared between groups. Regional changes in muscle CSA were examined via statistical parametric mapping. The change in semimembranosus free tendon volume was greater for the Nordic than control group (mean difference?=?0.06?cm3, 95% CI?=?0.02?0.11?cm3). No significant between-group differences existed for other hamstring free tendons or aponeuroses. There were no between-group differences in change in BFlh interface area. Change in BFlh muscle volume-to-interface area ratio was greater in the hip extension than Nordic (mean difference?=?0.10, 95% CI?=?0.007?0.19, p?=?0.03) and control (mean difference?=?0.12, 95% CI?=?0.03?0.22, p?=?0.009) groups. Change in muscle CSA following training was greatest in the mid-portion of semitendinosus for both intervention groups, and the mid-portion of BFlh for the hip extension group. There was limited evidence for tendon-aponeurosis hypertrophy after 10?weeks of training with the Nordic or hip extension exercises. For the BFlh, neither intervention altered the interface area although hip extension training stimulated an increase in the muscle volume-to-interface area ratio, which may have implications for localized tissue strains. Alternative muscle-tendon loading strategies appear necessary to stimulate hamstring tendon adaptations
Overview of Strangeness Production at the STAR Experiment
We present an overview of recent STAR results on strangeness production in
p+p and heavy-ion collisions at RHIC. In both Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions we
show the centrality dependencies of bulk yield and mid- spectrum
measurements with new comparisons to theory. The latest results for
strange particles are presented and prospects for strangeness production in the
low energy scan program will be outlined. Finally, we report new measurements
of strangeness fragmentation functions for jets in p+p collisions.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, proceedings for SQM 200
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