Living and deceased organ donation should be financially neutral acts

The supply of organs—particularly kidneys—donated by living and deceased donors falls short of the number of patients added annually to transplant waiting lists in the United States. To remedy this problem, a number of prominent physicians, ethicists, economists and others have mounted a campaign to suspend the prohibitions in the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 (NOTA) on the buying and selling of organs. The argument that providing financial benefits would incentivize enough people to part with a kidney (or a portion of a liver) to clear the waiting lists is flawed. This commentary marshals arguments against the claim that the shortage of donor organs would best be overcome by providing financial incentives for donation. We can increase the number of organs available for transplantation by removing all financial disincentives that deter unpaid living or deceased kidney donation. These disincentives include a range of burdens, such as the costs of travel and lodging for medical evaluation and surgery, lost wages, and the expense of dependent care during the period of organ removal and recuperation. Organ donation should remain an act that is financially neutral for donors, neither imposing financial burdens nor enriching them monetarily.

Why do Bangladeshi people use smokeless tobacco products?

Despite scientific evidence about the harmful effects of smokeless tobacco (SLT), it is widely used in Bangladesh. This study explored perceptions about health effects of SLT use. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 1812 nonsmoking adults. About 40% of the participants were current SLT users or had used SLT in the past. Family members' influence was the main factor for initiation. The participants believed that people continued using SLT because of addiction (52%) and as a part of their lifestyle (23%). The majority of participants (77%) did not mention any benefit, but SLT users considered it to be a remedy for toothache (P < .05). Almost all participants mentioned that SLT was harmful and causes heart disease, cancer, and tuberculosis. Doctors' advice was the common motivating factor to quit. Health promotion interventions should highlight the adverse effects of SLT use, which outweigh the perceived benefits, and should consider addressing the role of family in SLT initiation and use.

ID scanners and überveillance in the night-time economy: crime prevention or invasion of privacy?

ID scanners are promoted as an effective solution to the problems of anti-social behavior and violence in many urban nighttime economies. However, the acceptance of this and other forms of computerized surveillance to prevent crime and anti-social behavior is based on several unproven assumptions. After outlining what ID scanners are and how they are becoming a normalized precondition of entry into one Australian nighttime economy, this chapter demonstrates how technology is commonly viewed as the key to preventing crime despite recognition of various problems associated with its adoption. The implications of technological determinism amongst policy makers, police, and crime prevention theories are then critically assessed in light of several issues that key informants talking about the value of ID scanners fail to mention when applauding their success. Notably, the broad, ill-defined, and confused notion of "privacy" is analyzed as a questionable legal remedy for the growing problems of überveillance.

Examining the approaches to diminish judicial intervention in statutory adjudication in Australia

In Australia, statutory construction adjudication is a fast payment dispute resolution process designed to keep the cash flowing down the hierarchical contractual chain in construction projects. Its rapid, highly regulatory and temporarily binding nature have led to it being often described as a ‘quick and dirty’ process that delivers ‘rough and ready’ justice. Adjudicators often have to grapple with complex legal issues related to jurisdictional facts and interpretation of contract provisions, though the majority of them are not legally trained. This has often led to a poor quality of adjudication outcome for large and complex payment claims which has, in turn, led to a mounting dissatisfaction due to the many judicial challenges to adjudicators’ determinations seen in recent years. The evolving tension between the object of the security of payment legislation and excessive involvement of the courts has often been the subject of comment by the judiciary. This paper aims to examine the legislative and judicial approaches to support the object of the security of payment legislation to ease cash flow. The paper adopts a desktop study approach whereby evidence is gathered from three primary sources – judicial decisions, academic publications and governmental reports. The paper concludes that there is a need to adopt other measures which can provide more convenient relief to aggrieved parties to an adjudication process, such that the adjudication process is kept away from the courts as far as is possible. Specifically, it is proposed that a well-designed expanded legislative review scheme of allegedly flawed adjudication, based on that provided in the Western Australian legislation, might stand as a promising remedy to eliminate the evolving tension.

Evaluation of the cytotoxicity, cell-cycle arrest, and apoptotic induction by Euphorbia hirta in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

CONTEXT: Euphorbia hirta L. (Euphorbiaceae) has been used as a folk remedy in Southeast Asia for the treatment of various ailments. OBJECTIVE: The current study evaluates the cytotoxicity, cell-cycle arrest, and apoptotic induction by E. hirta in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytotoxic activity of methanol extract of whole part of E. hirta was determined by the MTT assay at various concentrations ranging from 1.96 to 250.00 µg/mL in MCF-7 cells. Cell morphology was assessed by light and fluorescence microscopy. Apoptosis and cell-cycle distribution were determined by annexin V staining and flow cytometry. DNA fragmentation, caspase activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays were performed using the commercially available kits. To identify the cytotoxic fraction, E. hirta extract was subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation. RESULTS: Euphorbia hirta exhibited significant inhibition of the survival of MCF-7 cells and the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) values was 25.26 µg/mL at 24 h. Microscopic studies showed that E. hirta-treated cells exhibited marked morphological features characteristic of apoptosis. Euphorbia hirta extract also had an ignorable influence on the LDH leakage and generating intracellular ROS. The flow cytometry study confirmed that E. hirta extract induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Euphorbia hirta also resulted in DNA fragmentation in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, E. hirta treatment resulted in the accumulation of cells at the S and G2/M phases as well as apoptosis. The caspase activity study revealed that E. hirta extract induced apoptosis through the caspase-3-independent pathway by the activation of caspase-2, 6, 8, and 9. Euphorbia hirta hexane fraction, namely HFsub4 fraction, demonstrated highest activity among all the fractions tested with an IC50 value of 10.01 µg/mL at 24 h. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study revealed that E. hirta induced apoptotic cell death and suggests that E. hirta could be used as an apoptosis-inducing anticancer agent for breast cancer treatment with further detailed studies.

La requalification professionnelle : cas des aides familiales résidantes du Québec

Le Programme des aides familiales résidantes (PAFR) a été en vigueur de 1992 jusqu’au 30 novembre 2014. Il s’agit d’un programme fédéral canadien par lequel des femmes originaires des Philippines en majorité et ayant obtenu un diplôme d’études postsecondaires migraient partout au Canada. Sous ce programme, celles-ci se retrouvaient avec un statut de migrante temporaire. Elles avaient la possibilité d’obtenir leur résidence permanente après avoir complété 24 mois de travail en tant qu’aides familiales. Elles devaient travailler au domicile privé d’un employeur dont le nom était inscrit sur leur permis de travail, chez qui elles avaient aussi l’obligation de résidence. En travaillant en tant qu’aides familiales résidantes, ces femmes étaient et sont toujours placées dans une situation de déqualification professionnelle inévitable qui semble se prolonger à long terme. Cette situation est notamment attribuable à la non-reconnaissance de leurs qualifications étrangères ainsi qu’à la structure du PAFR. Cette recherche porte donc sur le parcours de requalification professionnelle de ces migrantes, que certaines utilisent comme stratégie pour remédier à cette situation. En plus de s’intéresser à leur période de travail en tant qu’aides familiales résidantes, cette recherche étudie le parcours de requalification professionnelle en quatre étapes : la décision de participer à la formation ; le choix de l’orientation professionnelle ; le déroulement des études ; l’accès à un emploi correspondant à la formation. L’objectif est de connaître l’impact qu’aura le passage de celles-ci par le PAFR, sur leur parcours de requalification. Les résultats obtenus à l’aide de onze entretiens semi-dirigés, avec des femmes étant venues à Montréal par le programme, montrent qu’à long terme, le diplôme obtenu localement peut améliorer une situation professionnelle, mais ce n’est pas une garantie. Des obstacles comme l’isolement ainsi que l’impossibilité pour ces femmes de se construire un capital financier et social persistent et affectent toutes celles ayant migré sous le programme, qu’elles aient fait un retour aux études ou non.

MILITARY VEHICLE OPTIMIZATION AND CONTROL

It is remarkable that there are no deployed military hybrid vehicles since battlefield fuel is approximately 100 times the cost of civilian fuel. In the commercial marketplace, where fuel prices are much lower, electric hybrid vehicles have become increasingly common due to their increased fuel efficiency and the associated operating cost benefit. An absence of military hybrid vehicles is not due to a lack of investment in research and development, but rather because applying hybrid vehicle architectures to a military application has unique challenges. These challenges include inconsistent duty cycles for propulsion requirements and the absence of methods to look at vehicle energy in a holistic sense. This dissertation provides a remedy to these challenges by presenting a method to quantify the benefits of a military hybrid vehicle by regarding that vehicle as a microgrid. This innovative concept allowed for the creation of an expandable multiple input numerical optimization method that was implemented for both real-time control and system design optimization. An example of each of these implementations was presented. Optimization in the loop using this new method was compared to a traditional closed loop control system and proved to be more fuel efficient. System design optimization using this method successfully illustrated battery size optimization by iterating through various electric duty cycles. By utilizing this new multiple input numerical optimization method, a holistic view of duty cycle synthesis, vehicle energy use, and vehicle design optimization can be achieved.

Development and Verification of Control and Protection Strategies in Hybrid AC/DC Power Systems for Smart Grid Applications

Modern power networks incorporate communications and information technology infrastructure into the electrical power system to create a smart grid in terms of control and operation. The smart grid enables real-time communication and control between consumers and utility companies allowing suppliers to optimize energy usage based on price preference and system technical issues. The smart grid design aims to provide overall power system monitoring, create protection and control strategies to maintain system performance, stability and security. This dissertation contributed to the development of a unique and novel smart grid test-bed laboratory with integrated monitoring, protection and control systems. This test-bed was used as a platform to test the smart grid operational ideas developed here. The implementation of this system in the real-time software creates an environment for studying, implementing and verifying novel control and protection schemes developed in this dissertation. Phasor measurement techniques were developed using the available Data Acquisition (DAQ) devices in order to monitor all points in the power system in real time. This provides a practical view of system parameter changes, system abnormal conditions and its stability and security information system. These developments provide valuable measurements for technical power system operators in the energy control centers. Phasor Measurement technology is an excellent solution for improving system planning, operation and energy trading in addition to enabling advanced applications in Wide Area Monitoring, Protection and Control (WAMPAC). Moreover, a virtual protection system was developed and implemented in the smart grid laboratory with integrated functionality for wide area applications. Experiments and procedures were developed in the system in order to detect the system abnormal conditions and apply proper remedies to heal the system. A design for DC microgrid was developed to integrate it to the AC system with appropriate control capability. This system represents realistic hybrid AC/DC microgrids connectivity to the AC side to study the use of such architecture in system operation to help remedy system abnormal conditions. In addition, this dissertation explored the challenges and feasibility of the implementation of real-time system analysis features in order to monitor the system security and stability measures. These indices are measured experimentally during the operation of the developed hybrid AC/DC microgrids. Furthermore, a real-time optimal power flow system was implemented to optimally manage the power sharing between AC generators and DC side resources. A study relating to real-time energy management algorithm in hybrid microgrids was performed to evaluate the effects of using energy storage resources and their use in mitigating heavy load impacts on system stability and operational security.

La requalification professionnelle : cas des aides familiales résidantes du Québec

Le Programme des aides familiales résidantes (PAFR) a été en vigueur de 1992 jusqu’au 30 novembre 2014. Il s’agit d’un programme fédéral canadien par lequel des femmes originaires des Philippines en majorité et ayant obtenu un diplôme d’études postsecondaires migraient partout au Canada. Sous ce programme, celles-ci se retrouvaient avec un statut de migrante temporaire. Elles avaient la possibilité d’obtenir leur résidence permanente après avoir complété 24 mois de travail en tant qu’aides familiales. Elles devaient travailler au domicile privé d’un employeur dont le nom était inscrit sur leur permis de travail, chez qui elles avaient aussi l’obligation de résidence. En travaillant en tant qu’aides familiales résidantes, ces femmes étaient et sont toujours placées dans une situation de déqualification professionnelle inévitable qui semble se prolonger à long terme. Cette situation est notamment attribuable à la non-reconnaissance de leurs qualifications étrangères ainsi qu’à la structure du PAFR. Cette recherche porte donc sur le parcours de requalification professionnelle de ces migrantes, que certaines utilisent comme stratégie pour remédier à cette situation. En plus de s’intéresser à leur période de travail en tant qu’aides familiales résidantes, cette recherche étudie le parcours de requalification professionnelle en quatre étapes : la décision de participer à la formation ; le choix de l’orientation professionnelle ; le déroulement des études ; l’accès à un emploi correspondant à la formation. L’objectif est de connaître l’impact qu’aura le passage de celles-ci par le PAFR, sur leur parcours de requalification. Les résultats obtenus à l’aide de onze entretiens semi-dirigés, avec des femmes étant venues à Montréal par le programme, montrent qu’à long terme, le diplôme obtenu localement peut améliorer une situation professionnelle, mais ce n’est pas une garantie. Des obstacles comme l’isolement ainsi que l’impossibilité pour ces femmes de se construire un capital financier et social persistent et affectent toutes celles ayant migré sous le programme, qu’elles aient fait un retour aux études ou non.

Pais gays/ bissexuais e mães lésbicas/ bissexuais: Experiências de discriminação e enquadramento social das famílias

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica

Factors influencing the use of evidence based practice among physiotherapists and occupational therapists in their clinical work

Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a process through which research is applied in daily clinical practice. Occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs) are expected to work in line with EBP in order to optimise health care resources. This expectation is too seldom fulfilled. Consequently, research findings may not be implemented in clinical practice in a timely manner, or at all. To remedy this situation, additional knowledge is needed regarding what factors influence the process of EBP among practitioners. The purpose of the present study was to identify factors that influence the use of EBP and the experienced effects of the use of EBP among PTs and OTs in their clinical work. Method: This was a qualitative interview study that consisted of six group interviews involving either OTs or PTs employed by the Jönköping County Council in the South of Sweden. Resulting data were analysed using content analysis. Results: The analysis resulted in the following categories: “definition of evidence and EBP”, “sources of evidence”, “barriers to acquiring evidence and to using evidence in clinical work”, “factors that facilitate the acquisition of evidence and the use of evidence in clinical work”, and “personal experiences of using EBP”. Basing clinical practice on scientific evidence evoked positive experiences, although an ambivalent view towards acting on clinical experience was evident. Participants reported that time for and increased knowledge about searching for, evaluating, and implementing EBP were needed. Conclusion: Because OTs are more oriented towards professional theories and models, and PTs are more focused on randomised controlled trials of interventions, different strategies appear to be needed to increase EBP in these two professions. Management support was considered vital to the implementation of EBP. However, the personal obligation to work in line with EBP must also be emphasised; the participants apparently underestimate its importance.

Corporate identity manifested through historical references

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on how firms draw on historical references in corporate marketing. The paper seeks to analyze the logic behind such efforts from a corporate identity perspective and to propose potential risks and/or benefits of doing so. The paper aims to inspire the understanding of how references to history are used in marketing and the outcome of such use. Design/methodology/approach – The paper mainly draws on literature relating to corporate marketing and the use of history in organizations. Combining these theories, and pointing at empirical examples, the paper clarifies why references to history can be important mani-festations of corporate identity. The paper comes up with propositions concerning what consequences the reference to history in corporate marketing can have for firms’ marketing strategies and business development. Findings – The paper outlines a connection among corporate identity, organizational identity, and image through corporate communications. It suggests that among the range of corporate characteristics, historical references can be particular valuable for corporate communications thanks to the reliability age can provide (as opposed to liabilities of newness). Still, elaborations suggest that the planned use of historical references has both pros and cons in terms of business development. Originality/value – Despite the notion that history, as an inevitable and distinctive firm feature, can play an important role in corporate marketing, research on the topic is quite scarce. This paper offers some remedy to this gap by elaborating on the internal and external rationales for applying historical references and how these can be explained in connections between corporate identity and history.

Queer penalities: the criminal justice paradigm in lesbian and gay anti-violence politics

Building upon the renewed attention to the ways in which criminology may be ‘queered’ (or not), this article explores how a criminal justice paradigm has influenced lesbian and gay politics through an investigation of anti-homophobic research and lobbying focused on violence and harassment. It asks: What place does criminal justice occupy within sexual politics? Using the Australian state of Victoria as a case study, the article examines how the lesbian and gay anti-violence movement has utilized criminal justice theories, methodologies and approaches to explain and attempt to remedy ‘homophobic hate’. It provides three inter-connected examples of the permeation of criminal justice logics: (1) the victimization survey method, (2) the focus on police reform, and (3) elements of a punitive public discourse surrounding homophobic hate crime. These examples are nevertheless complicated by the persistence of institutionalized violence and state failure to ‘protect’ lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) lives. These discursive practices contribute to ‘queer penalities’, a term used to describe the ways in which lesbian and gay movements shape and contest the social meaning of terms such as ‘crime’, victimization and punishment.

Litigation by shareholders and directors: an empirical study of the Australian statutory derivative action

A number of countries have statutory derivative actions. They allow a shareholder to bring legal action on behalf of the company, typically where the company refuses or is unable to bring the action. The Australian derivative action was enacted in March 2000 to overcome inadequacies with the common law derivative action. In this article the authors present the results of an empirical study of all cases decided under the Australian statutory derivative action during its first 6 years of operation. The study provides insights into the way Australian courts have interpreted and applied this legal remedy. The authors evaluate the statutory derivative action in light of the reasons for its enactment. Issues discussed in the article include the role of shareholder litigation in corporate governance and the rationale for statutory derivative actions.

Pursuing justice for refugee students: addressing issues of cultural (mis)recognition

In this paper Nancy Fraser’s conceptual tools are drawn on to theorise issues of justice in a culturally diverse primary school in Australia where approximately 30% of the student population are immigrant/refugees. The paper examines justice issues of cultural recognition in relation to refugee student identity, behaviour and assessment. Drawing on interview data from a study that sought to identify productive approaches to addressing equity for refugee students, the paper highlights the school’s efforts to remedy issues of cultural misrecognition associated with an equation of refugee student difference and marginality with deficit and lack. Such efforts relate to the school’s endeavours to create an inclusive and socially cohesive environment that supports a valuing of, and connection to, refugee student difference. These endeavours are theorised as highly productive in their capacity to disrupt the relations of cultural domination, non-recognition and disrespect that exclude and/or malign some refugee students at the school and broader level. The paper argues the importance of such an approach in light of the unprecedented diversity and complexity of the global context where schools are consistently challenged with new and changing equity concerns and priorities.