Between Principle and Practicality: A Dynamic Realist Examination of Independence in the Canadian Justice System

This work examines independence in the Canadian justice system using an approach adapted from new legal realist scholarship called ‘dynamic realism’. This approach proposes that issues in law must be considered in relation to their recursive and simultaneous development with historic, social and political events. Such events describe ‘law in action’ and more holistically demonstrate principles like independence, rule of law and access to justice. My dynamic realist analysis of independence in the justice system employs a range methodological tools and approaches from the social sciences, including: historical and historiographical study; public administrative; policy and institutional analysis; an empirical component; as well as constitutional, statutory interpretation and jurisprudential analysis. In my view, principles like independence represent aspirational ideals in law which can be better understood by examining how they manifest in legal culture and in the legal system. This examination focuses on the principle and practice of independence for both lawyers and judges in the justice system, but highlights the independence of the Bar. It considers the inter-relation between lawyer independence and the ongoing refinement of judicial independence in Canadian law. It also considers both independence of the Bar and the Judiciary in the context of the administration of justice, and practically illustrates the interaction between these principles through a case study of a specific aspect of the court system. This work also focuses on recent developments in the principle of Bar independence and its relation to an emerging school of professionalism scholarship in Canada. The work concludes by describing the principle of independence as both conditional and dynamic, but rooted in a unitary concept for both lawyers and judges. In short, independence can be defined as impartiality, neutrality and autonomy of legal decision-makers in the justice system to apply, protect and improve the law for what has become its primary normative purpose: facilitating access to justice. While both independence of the Bar and the Judiciary are required to support access to independent courts, some recent developments suggest the practical interactions between independence and access need to be the subject of further research, to better account for both the principles and the practicalities of the Canadian justice system.

Cooperative or collaborative learning: Is there a difference in university students’ perceptions?

The hypothesis that the same educational objective, raised as cooperative or collaborative learning in university teaching does not affect students’ perceptions of the learning model, leads this study. It analyses the reflections of two students groups of engineering that shared the same educational goals implemented through two different methodological active learning strategies: Simulation as cooperative learning strategy and Problem-based Learning as a collaborative one. The different number of participants per group (eighty-five and sixty-five, respectively) as well as the use of two active learning strategies, either collaborative or cooperative, did not show differences in the results from a qualitative perspective.

The role of material characterisation in the crush modelling of thermoplastic composite structures

The predictive capability of high fidelity finite element modelling, to accurately capture damage and crush behaviour of composite structures, relies on the acquisition of accurate material properties, some of which have necessitated the development of novel approaches. This paper details the measurement of interlaminar and intralaminar fracture toughness, the non-linear shear behaviour of carbon fibre (AS4)/thermoplastic Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) composite laminates and the utilisation of these properties for the accurate computational modelling of crush. Double-cantilever-beam (DCB), four-point end-notched flexure (4ENF) and Mixed-mode bending (MMB) test configurations were used to determine the initiation and propagation fracture toughness in mode I, mode II and mixed-mode loading, respectively. Compact Tension (CT) and Compact Compression (CC) test samples were employed to determine the intralaminar longitudinal tensile and compressive fracture toughness. V-notched rail shear tests were used to measure the highly non-linear shear behaviour, associated with thermoplastic composites, and fracture toughness. Corresponding numerical models of these tests were developed for verification and yielded good correlation with the experimental response. This also confirmed the accuracy of the measured values which were then employed as input material parameters for modelling the crush behaviour of a corrugated test specimen.

Abordagem teórica dos condicionantes da formação e consolidação dos parques tecnológicos

O artigo discute as condições teóricas para a instalação e consolidação dos parques tecnológicos, mecanismos utilizados na promoção da inovação tecnológica e do desenvolvimento regional, alvo de diversas iniciativas de políticas públicas na atualidade. Para a consecução desse objetivo foi adotada uma abordagem teórica e exploratória, por meio de revisão bibliográfica, em especial de referências internacionais. O artigo apresenta e analisa diversos conceitos e definições de parque tecnológico e constata que essa diversidade decorre das diferentes realidades regionais e das variadas motivações dos stakeholders. O papel dos parques tecnológicos no desenvolvimento regional assume múltiplas feições em decorrência dos distintos interesses dos atores envolvidos em sua instalação. O artigo enfatiza e adverte que há importantes limitações da ideia de que o sucesso do parque depende fundamentalmente da capacidade de cooperação e mobilização de recursos por parte dos agentes envolvidos.

Las arquitecturas paralelas al movimiento moderno: Laureano de Armas

Programa de doctorado: Restauración y Rehabilitación Arquitectónica. La fecha de publicación es la fecha de lectura

Key Organizational Resources and the Sustainable Competitive Advantage of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration: Suggestions for Tourism & Educational Programs in China

Tourism and hospitality scholars and educational institutions in developing countries can benefit from systematic analysis of their counterparts in developed countries. Using the framework of sustainable competitive advantage, this paper explores the key organizational resources of the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University that have assured its position as the leading hospitality program worldwide. The paper analyses key resources Cornell Hotel School uses to leverage and sustain its competitive advantage. Suggestions for positioning and enhancing future Chinese tourism and hospitality programs are provided. [Abstract in Chinese] 中国旅游发展起步较晚,在旅游教育的多数领域落后于西方发达国家。选择西方优秀旅游院系进行系统研究并总结其成功经验,对于提高我国旅游教育水平有着重要的意义。本文以持续竞争优势理论为框架,以全球旅游接待业教育的典范——康乃尔酒店管理学院为对象,详细分析了这所著名酒店学院的核心资源和确保其长期保持领袖地位的持续竞争优势,并提出可供中国旅游教育界参考借鉴的措施建议

Sviluppo e ottimizzazione di un velivolo senza pilota

L’obiettivo di questo trattato è lo studio di un aeromobile militare a pilotaggio remoto (APR), volto ad una sua conversione per usi prettamente civili: il velivolo in questione è il Predator Canard-Long. Tale studio è basato sulle problematiche dovute alla sostituzione del propulsore originale Rotax 914 (4 cilindri da 115 CV del peso di 95 kg) con un Peugeot HDi Fap (4 cilindri da 175 CV del peso di 240 kg). L’aeromobile in questione dovrà svolgere compiti di monitoraggio e sorveglianza di siti archeologici, dunque si richiederà un alto livello di autonomia affinché le missioni vengano svolte nel modo più efficiente possibile. Preso un modello pre-esitente, costruito al CAD tramite il software Solidworks2016, è stato studiato il comportamento del velivolo tramite simulazioni CFD. Data l’insufficienza della portanza a causa dell’aggiunta di peso dovuta alla rimotorizzazione, sono state provate diverse soluzioni atte a colmare lo scompenso. Scelta come soluzione migliore l’installazione di alette canard e la modifica del profilo aerodinamico, è stato infine necessario verificare che la risposta ai comandi dell’aeromobile modificato soddisfacesse le richieste desiderate.

Variação sazonal e influência de fatores meteorológicos na incidência de descolamentos regmatógenos da retina na zona centro de Portugal e na Madeira

Objetivos: Analisar a variação sazonal e a influência de fatores meteorológicos na incidência a 5 anos de descolamento regmatógeno da retina (DRR), na região centro do país e região autónoma da Madeira (RAM). Métodos: Série de casos consecutiva, retrospetiva e multicêntrica. Incluíram-se doentes submetidos a cirurgia de DRR no Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra e Hospital Doutor Nélio Mendonça entre Janeiro’10 e Dezembro’14. A seleção de casos foi feita através codificação ICD-9-CM e os critérios de inclusão foram: 1)idade ≥18 anos; 2)DRR de novo; 3)reparação cirúrgica do DRR. Consideraram-se critérios de exclusão: 1)DR tracional, exsudativo ou misto; 2)DR antigo ou re-descolamento; 3)soluções de continuidade ou lesões regmatógenas tratadas apenas com laser. Os dados meteorológicos diários das estações de Coimbra, Leiria, Aveiro, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco e Funchal, foram utilizados na análise estatística. Resultados: Foram incluídos 1013 olhos (914 da região centro e 99 da RAM), com idade média 61,84±14,00 anos. Através de um modelo cronológico de regressão linear constatou-se a presença de sazonalidade com picos nos meses de Maio e Setembro. A temperatura média apresentou uma associação marginalmente significativa com a incidência de DRR num modelo biológico de regressão linear considerando os mais fortes preditores de DRR da amostra. Conclusões: Os nossos resultados demonstram que a incidência de DRR se associa a um padrão sazonal significativo que parece ser explicado pela temperatura. Este estudo alerta para a necessidade de um eficaz planeamento em saúde que deverá passar por uma gestão harmoniosa de recursos humanos em épocas de maior incidência.

Publication Bias

According to the Declaration of Helsinki, as well as the Statement on Public Disclosure of Clinical Trial Results of the World Health Organization, every researcher has the ethical obligation to publish research results on all trials with human participants in a complete and accurate way within 12 months after the end of the trial.1,2 Nevertheless, for several reasons, not all research results are published in an accurate way in case they are released at all. This phenomenon of publication bias may not only create a false impression on the reliability of clinical research business, but it may also affect the evidence of clinical conclusions about the best treatments, which are mostly based on published data and results.

Contact Force in Atrial Fibrillation: Role of Atrial Rhythm and Ventricular Contractions: Co-Force Atrial Fibrillation Study

In an experimental model, variable and intermittent contact force (CF) resulted in a significant decrease in lesion volume. In humans, variability of CF during pulmonary vein isolation has not been characterized. Methods and Results-In 20 consecutive patients undergoing CF-guided circumferential pulmonary vein isolation, 914 radiofrequency applications (530 in sinus rhythm and 384 in atrial fibrillation) were analyzed. The variability of the 60% CF range (CF60%) was 17 ± 9.6 g. Hundred seventy-one (19%) applications were delivered with constant, 717 (78%) with variable, and 26 (3%) with intermittent CF. The mean CF and force-time integral were significantly higher during applications with variable than with intermittent or constant CF. There was no significant difference in CF variability, CF60% variability, and force-time integral between applications delivered in sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation. The main reasons for CF variability were systolo-diastolic heart movement (29%) and respiration (27%). In 10 additional patients, during adenosine-induced atrioventricular block, the minimum CF significantly increased at 19 sites (5.3 ± 4.4 versus 13.4 ± 5.9 g; P < 0.001) and at 16 sites intermittent or variable CF became constant. At only 1 site systolo-diastolic movement remained the main reason for variable CF. Conclusions-CF during pulmonary vein isolation remains highly variable despite efforts to optimize contact. CF and CF parameters were similar during sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation. The main reasons for CF variability are systolodiastolic heart movement and respiration. The systolo-diastolic peaks and nadirs of CF are because of ventricular contractions at the large majority of pulmonary vein isolation sites.

Autosuficiencia y seguridad alimentaria sustentada en la promotoria rural en 8 comunidades del municipio de Río Blanco, Matagalpa: Pasantía Junio-Diciembre 2014, Fundación Ayuda en Acción, Proyecto “Extremadura y Gestión de Auspiciamiento”

El proceso de pasantía es una cadena de aprendizaje y una formas de culminació n de estudios la cual se realizaron con el fin de optar al título profesional de Licenciatura en Desarrollo Rural, las pasantías han sido realizadas en la Fundación Ayuda en Acción (AeA), en el Área de Desarrollo Territorial (ADT) del Municipio de Rio Blanco -Matagalpa, en el período compre ndido de Junio a Diciembre del 2014. La Fundación AeA es una organización No Gubernamental de Desarrollo (ONGD) independiente, aconfesional y apartidista, fundada en España en 1981. Los proyectos que implementa son intersectoriales, articulando acciones en educación, salud, prevención de riesgos, gobernabilidad, seguridad y soberanía alimentaria entre otros, con la finalidad de impulsar cambios estructurales que contribuyan a la erradicación de la pobreza. El área de trabajo asignada al pasante estuvo enfoc ada en proyectos productivos, dirigidos a mejorar los ingresos de las familias, dietas alimenticias, nutrición, así como la creación de conocimientos en diferentes temáticas a través capacitaciones. Entre las funciones asignadas al pasante se menciona: proceso se apoyó al desarrollo y ejecución organizativa del proyecto “Familias Campesinas Promoviendo la Soberanía y Seguridad Alimentaria con participación de actores locales en 15 Comunidades de Matigüas y Río Blanco” (Extremadura) sust entada en la promoto ria rural, e n esta área el pasante trabajó en 8 Comunida des en la identificación y selección de las familias participantes del proyecto Extremadura apoyando a 188 familias capacitadas y a implementar la producción agroecológica . Otras actividades orientadas al pasante fue facilitar eventos de capacitación, reuniones, talleres e intercambios de experiencia, elaboración de informes, levantar información secundaria, coordinar y planificar con el equipo técnico. Otra área de trabajo donde el susténtate se desempeñó fue el desarrollo de las actividades del programa “Gestión de Auspiciamiento (GdA) y Vinculo Solidario (VS) donde se recolectar on 914 mensajes de la niñez auspiciada en 18 Comunidades y 3 barrios en el ADT de Rio Blan co, el auspiciamiento es la relación entre una niño/a nicaragüense y una ciudadana Español o Ingles, basada en la dignidad y la acción solidaria. Está relación permite que a través del intercambio de comunicaciones fortalecer las relaciones humanas, motiva r la solidaridad y emprender proyectos de desarrollo Comunitarios . El pasante trabajo en actividades extra pal orientadas donde facilito 4 talleres los cuales iban dirigidos a hombre y mujeres para extraer información y hacer un analices para la actualización del diagnóstico del municipio para que la Fundación pueda formular nuevos proyectos partiendo del Análisis una Realidad analizar . También como actividades extra plan al pasante le orientaron trabajar en el desarrollo de actividades del proyecto SSAN . En cuanto al desarrollo de la pasantía es necesario que desde un inicio se establezcan coordinaciones y planes entre la universidad y la fundación donde el pasante desempeñara sus funciones .

La Batería UNIPSICO: propiedades psicométricas de las escalas que evalúan los factores psicosociales de demanda

Objetivo: Analizar las propiedades psicomítricas de las escalas de la Batería UNIPSICO que evalúa los factores psicosociales de demanda del contexto de trabajo. Métodos: La muestra estuvo formada por 2564 participantes, 1391 trabajadores de centros de atención a personas con discapacidad psíquica y 1173 docentes de secundaria de la Comunidad Valenciana. La recogida de datos se realizó mediante las escalas de la Batería UNIPSICO que evalúan factores psicosociales de demanda en el trabajo (27 ítems) que se agrupan en 5 escalas: Conflictos interpersonales, Inequidad en los intercambios sociales, Conflicto de rol, Ambigüedad de rol y Carga de trabajo. Se realizaron análisis de ítems, validez de constructo con análisis factorial confirmatorio, análisis de fiabilidad según alfa de Cronbach, y validez predictiva con regresión stepwise. Resultados: Todos los ítems presentaron valores adecuados de asimetría y fiabilidad del ítem. Las cinco escalas presentaron valores de asimetría dentro del intervalo +/-1. El modelo factorial hipotetizado de cinco factores presentó un ajuste adecuado a los datos (GFI = 0,935, NNFI = 0,903, CFI = 0,914, RMSEA = 0,050). Las cinco escalas alcanzaron valores de fiabilidad alfa de Cronbach superiores a 0,70. En los modelos de regresión stepwise todas las variables fueron predictores significativos de problemas psicosomáticos. Conclusiones: Los resultados muestran que las cinco escalas evaluadas son válidas y fiables para evaluar los factores psicosociales de demanda en el trabajo. Las escalas presentaron validez predictiva sobre problemas psicosomáticos derivados del trabajo.