Unfavorable Aspects Research Articles

Accessibility to Specialized Public Oral Health Services from the Perspective of Brazilian Users.

The Specialized Dental Clinics (SDCs) represent the first government initiative in Latin America aimed at providing specialized oral health services. This study sought to evaluate the organizational accessibility to specialized oral health care services in Brazil and to understand the factors that may be associated with accessibility from the user’s perspective. This epidemiological, cross-sectional and quantitative study was conducted by means of interviews with individuals who sought specialized public oral health services in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, and consisted of a sample of 590 individuals. Users expressed a favorable view of the classification and resolutive nature of specialized services offered by Brazilian public health. The binary logistic regression analysis revealed weak points highlighting the difficulty involved in obtaining such treatments leading to unfavorable evaluations. In the resolutive nature item, difficulty in accessing the location, queues and lack of materials and equipment were highlighted as statistically significant unfavorable aspects. While many of the users considered the service to be resolutive, weaknesses were mentioned that need to be detected to promote improvements and to prevent other health models adopted worldwide from reproducing the same flaws.

Merging Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis with Metal Catalyzed C-H Activations: On the Role of Oxygen and Superoxide Ions as Oxidants.

ConspectusThe development of efficient catalytic systems for direct aromatic C–H bond functionalization is a long-desired goal of chemists, because these protocols provide environmental friendly and waste-reducing alternatives to classical methodologies for C–C and C–heteroatom bond formation. A key challenge for these transformations is the reoxidation of the in situ generated metal hydride or low-valent metal complexes of the primary catalytic bond forming cycle. To complete the catalytic cycle and to regenerate the C–H activation catalyst, (super)stoichiometric amounts of Cu(II) or Ag(I) salts have often been applied. Recently, “greener” approaches have been developed by applying molecular oxygen in combination with Cu(II) salts, internal oxidants that are cleaved during the reaction, or solvents or additives enabling the metal hydride reoxidation. All these approaches improved the environmental friendliness but have not overcome the obstacles associated with the overall limited functional group and substrate tolerance. Hence, catalytic processes that do not feature the unfavorable aspects described above and provide products in a streamlined as well as economically and ecologically advantageous manner would be desirable.In this context, we decided to examine visible light photoredox catalysis as a new alternative to conventionally applied regeneration/oxidation procedures. This Account summarizes our recent advances in this expanding area and will highlight the new concept of merging distinct redox catalytic processes for C–H functionalizations through the application of visible light photoredox catalysis. Photoredox catalysis can be considered as catalytic electron-donating or -accepting processes, making use of visible-light absorbing homogeneous and heterogeneous metal-based catalysts, as well as organic dye sensitizers or polymers. As a consequence, photoredox catalysis is, in principle, an ideal tool for the recycling of any given metal catalyst via a coupled electron transfer (ET) process.Here we describe our first successful endeavors to address the above challenges by combining visible light photoredox catalysis with different ruthenium, rhodium, or palladium catalyzed C–H activations. Since only small amounts of the oxidant are generated and are immediately consumed in these transformations, side reactions of substrates or products can be avoided. Thus, usually oxidant-sensible substrates can be used, which makes these methods highly suitable for complex molecular structure syntheses. Moreover, mechanistic studies shed light on new reaction pathways, intermediates, and in situ generated species. The successful development of our dual catalysis concept, consisting of combined visible light photoredox catalysis and metal catalyzed C–H functionalization, provides many new opportunities for further explorations in the field of C–H functionalization.

A Preliminary Assessment of the Change Recipients' Perceptions of the "4+4+4 Reform Initiative": Has Anything Changed?

The purpose of the present study was to assess change recipients' perceptions of 4+4+4 reform initiative put in effect in Turkish education system and to explore if anything has changed within the one-year interval. This research is a qualitative longitudinal case study conducted in 2013 and 2014 in a large city in Southeastern Turkey. Pragmatist paradigm has been the guiding research philosophy. The study group consisted of 106 teachers, 64 school administrators, and 4 educational supervisors. The study group was chosen via purposive sampling technique. Data were gathered through structured interview protocol consisting of four open-ended questions. Findings indicated that the favorable and unfavorable aspects of the reform regarded as positive were mostly remained unchanged in the one-year interval. Some of the problems remained the same. Finally, it was revealed that the participants' expectations about the future of the system varied in terms of potential effects of the reform initiative. Based on the findings, suggestions for the implementers and policy makers were offered.

A mixed-methods exploration of the quality of life of Chinese breast cancer survivors

ABSTRACTQuality of life (QOL) in cancer survivorship is a multidimensional and subjective concept, which represents the personal sense of the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual consequences of cancer diagnosis and its treatment. This mixed method study aimed to explore the QOL of Chinese breast cancer survivors. Participants were recruited from a cancer self-help organization in the central area of China. QOL was assessed using the QOL–Cancer Survivor Scale and subsequently elicited by in-depth interviews. Results showed that participants had good overall QOL but with unfavorable aspects in psychological and social well-being. Interview data revealed that participants seldom attended spiritual activities. Instead, they actively reconnected with their “self” to create a positive meaning from their cancer experience. Understanding how Chinese breast cancer survivors perceive QOL is important for health professionals to address survivorship in this population.

Controversies in the treatment of patients with STEMI and multivessel disease: is it time for PCI of all lesions?

Several randomized trials have suggested a benefit for multivessel PCI in patients with STEMI and multivessel disease. However, none of the studies compared multivessel PCI with a staged PCI-approach which is the current guideline recommended approach. The results of the trials may overestimate the beneficial effect of the multivessel PCI approach because the control group did not receive any ischaemia testing for evaluation of the significance of remaining lesions. Thus, unfavourable aspects of the multivessel PCI approach such as overestimation of non-culprit lesions at the time of acute coronary angiography, complications associated with PCI of the non-culprit lesion (i.e. dissection, no-reflow, acute stent thrombosis) or increased risk for contrast induced nephropathy may have gone unnoticed as the comparative management pathway was unusual and likely inferior to the guideline recommended approach. We believe that culprit lesion only PCI and staged evaluation of remaining areas of myocardial ischaemia with subsequent PCI is still preferable in patients with STEMI and multivessel disease but a randomized study comparing this approach with multivessel PCI is needed.

Characterization of premorbid functioning during childhood in patients with deficit vs. non-deficit schizophrenia and in their healthy siblings

Impaired premorbid adjustment has been reported in patients with schizophrenia, generally in association with unfavorable aspects of the illness (e.g., poor outcome and severe negative symptoms). Several studies attempted to define the domains of premorbid dysfunction associated with negative symptoms and poor outcome; however, most of them assessed broadly defined negative symptoms. The present study was aimed to characterize premorbid functioning in a group of patients with deficit schizophrenia (DS), characterized by the presence of at least two primary and persistent negative symptoms (PPNS), and one of patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who did not meet criteria for DS (NDS).The presence of emotional/behavioral problems during childhood was investigated using the Childhood Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in both patient groups and in their respective healthy siblings. The Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS) was also used to assess premorbid functioning during childhood in the two patient groups. PPNS were also treated as a continuous variable and correlated with the indices of premorbid functioning regardless the DS/NDS categorization.DS patients, as compared to NDS, showed higher scores on the CBCL subscale “Withdrawn”. Both DS and NDS patients showed, as compared to their healthy siblings, a greater impairment on almost all CBCL subscales. PAS findings revealed that DS patients had poorer premorbid adjustment than NDS. No significant correlation between premorbid functioning and PPNS was observed.These findings support the hypothesis that DS has a different developmental trajectory with respect to NDS, and that premorbid adjustment is one of the essential aspects of its characterization.

Semiconducting materials for photoelectrochemical energy conversion

To achieve a sustainable society with an energy mix primarily based on solar energy, we need methods of storing energy from sunlight as chemical fuels. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices offer the promise of solar fuel production through artificial photosynthesis. Although the idea of a carbon-neutral energy economy powered by such ‘artificial leaves’ is intriguing, viable PEC energy conversion on a global scale requires the development of devices that are highly efficient, stable and simple in design. In this Review, recently developed semiconductor materials for the direct conversion of light into fuels are scrutinized with respect to their atomic constitution, electronic structure and potential for practical performance as photoelectrodes in PEC cells. The processes of light absorption, charge separation and transport, and suitable energetics for energy conversion in PEC devices are emphasized. Both the advantageous and unfavourable aspects of multinary oxides, oxynitrides, chalcogenides, classic semiconductors and carbon-based semiconductors are critically considered on the basis of their experimentally demonstrated performance and predicted properties. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices offer the promise of efficient artificial photosynthesis. In this Review, recently developed light-harvesting materials for PEC application are scrutinized with respect to their atomic constitution, electronic structure and potential for practical performance in PEC cells.

Registered nurses’ (RNS) perception of the nursing profession and health care work environment in tertiary and secondary health facilities in Calabar, Nigeria

Background A healthy work environment has tremendous benefits on organizational performance, health service delivery, health worker performance and patient outcome. In 2009, International Council of Nurses (ICN) undertook a global survey which sought for nurses’ opinion on the nursing profession and their work environment in 11 countries, excluding Nigeria. Little is known about how Nigerian nurses, particularly nurses in Cross River state perceive their work environment. This study explores registered nurses’ perceptions and experiences with selected features of a positive practice environment, as a basis for developing an intervention strategy for improving nurses’ workenvironment in Calabar, Cross River state.Methods This study was a descriptive survey by design. Perceptions of features of positive practice environment were explored among Registered Nurses in full time employment at tertiary and secondary health facilities in Calabar using a modified 51-item standard structured questionnaire originally developed by Pfizer to measure Nurses expectations and needs in a 2009 ICN Quadrennial Study. The questionnaire was adapted with the permission of Pfizer. Data werecomputer analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 15. Interrelationships between variables were tested using Chi- Square analysis.Results The mean (SD) age of the respondents was 37.4 ± 8.3 years while respondents’ mean (SD) working experience was 15.8 ± 8.7 years. The respondents were predominantly female 149(90.3%) while 109 (66.1%) were married. The level of education indicated that most 110(66.7%) had diploma in Nursing, 43(26.1%) had first degree, and 12(7.3%) had post-graduate qualification. Most 86(52.1%) of the nurses had heard just a little some about positive practice environment (PPE), 30(18.2%) had heard nothing at all while only 49(29.7%) were quite knowledgeable. The features of PPE rated highly by the participants were clear and comprehensive description of their job responsibility 75(45.5%) and an environment of team work and collegiality 71(43.0%). Similarly, in their practice experience, the very positive feature in their work environment was an environment of open communication, teamwork and collegiality 60(36.4); clear and comprehensive description of their job responsibility 53(32.1%). Most favorable aspect of nursing identified by the nurses was helping patients/patient contact 75 (45.5%) while the most unfavourable aspect of nursing identified were risk of contracting infections 61(37.0%). Although 96(58.2%) of the participants opined that nursing is better today than 5 years ago, only 50(30.3%) were very satisfied with nursing while 103(61.8%) of the nurses expressed the desire to remain in the nursing profession in the next 5 years.Discussion The findings have established the need for making information on PPE widely available to practicing Registered Nurses in Calabar. Employers of nurses should take urgent steps to improve health and safety policies and procedures at the work place to create a more positive practice environment for nurses to perform their duties and improve patient outcome. More efforts are required by the professional association to negotiate better pay packages, benefits and incentives for nurses in order to guarantee nurses wellbeing and retention in the profession.KEYWORDS: Positive Practice Environment, HealthCare, Registered Nurses, Satisfaction, Nigeria

Adolescentes embarazadas víctimas de violencia intrafamiliar en Brasil: consecuencias psicológicas y sociales

Adolescence pregnancy is a complex issue that must be studied, considering the social, economic, family and the psychological aspects of each adolescent. There is more complexity when these adolescents have suffered domestic violence. Domestic violence is a serious public health problem because affects the physical and psychological integrity of the victims. Many women who become pregnant have been victims of some form of domestic violence by their partners along the married life. This paper paper presents data of research as is part of a larger project entitled ´Domestic Violence Study against Adolescents Pregnant Attended at the University Hospital of Sao Paulo: Basis for Intervention´. The objectives are to identify the accumulated incidence and the experience of pregnant adolescents in face of domestic violence, in special he psychosocial vulnerability, understanding and comparing the lived experience on the pregnant adolescents victims and not victims of domestic violence. Forty pregnant adolescents have participated in this study, being 20 victims of domestic violence (Group 1) and 20 non-victims (Group 2) attending the University Hospital of Sao Paulo and another institutions partner of Psychology Institute of USP. This is an exploratory and descriptive research, quantitative and qualitative. The instruments used were: a form to characterize the profile of production and social reproduction, semi-structured interview. The qualitative data analysis was performed according to Bardin proposal (2013). How results were found: In the group 1 drug use during pregnancy, and lack of trust in health professionals. The showed lack of confidence and support of family, partner abandonment and violence, insecurity, low self esteem and hopelessness. In the group 2 were found: high self-esteem; confidence and family support; security in the relationship with the partner; good prospects for the future; some unfavorable aspects were found in group 2 that were related to the fragility and vulnerability of pregnancy, as well as the inherent immaturity to the period of adolescence. This study deepened knowledge about the reality of this population, as well as contributed to the debate on the needs of pregnant adolescents victims of domestic violence. Therefore, it was observed that the group of higher risk and psychological vulnerability is that of pregnant adolescents victims of domestic violence and requires greater attention and availability of health professionals.

The Experience of Chinese Couples Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization Treatment: Perception of the Treatment Process and Partner Support.

BackgroundCouples undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Treatment suffer as dyads from the stressful experience of the painful treatment and the fear that the IVF cycle will fail. They are likely to report that their marital relationship has become unstable due to the prolonged period of treatment.MethodsThis is a qualitative study that was conducted to explore the experiences that Chinese couples have had with IVF treatment, especially their perceptions of the process and the support between couples.ResultsThe interviews revealed that couples suffered from the process, experiencing physical and emotional pain, struggling with the urgency and inflexibility of bearing a child, and experiencing disturbances in their daily routines and work. The participants described how they endured the hardships as a couple and how it affected their relationship. The couples felt that sharing feelings and supporting each other contribute to psychological well-being and improves the marital relationship. They also identified some unfavorable aspects in their partner relationship. They were ambivalent about receiving social support from friends and family members.ConclusionsWith the couples indicating that the support that they received from each other affected their experience during the treatment process, it is suggested that a supportive intervention that focuses on enhancing the partnership of the couples and dealing with their inflexibility on the issue of bearing a child might result in improvements in the psychological status and marital relationship of infertile couples undergoing IVF treatment.

Bonita Avenue by Peter Buwalda

While Apollo and Hermes constantly argue over the relationship between intelligence and happiness, the dogs face betrayal and loss of loved ones, continually fight over power and positions in the pack, and experience a new type of fear: of the world and humanity. Despite the burden of consciousness and social awareness that the dogs’ human intelligence brings them, there is a welcome reassurance as Alexis’s fifteen dogs discover the beauty of language, love, and human generosity along the way. Fifteen Dogs proves its brilliance as the dogs encounter much more than conflicts imposed by conscious awareness but individual , emotional, and uniquely human experiences. Despite the self-serving, pretentious, and unfavorable aspects of humanity that this text uncovers, Alexis leaves readers with a glimpse of our better nature, as the dogs experience some of our species’ most exceptional qualities: the ability to communicate, connect, and learn from one another. André Alexis’s fifteen dogs discover much more than human intellect in this novel: a consciousness deeper than intelligence, love different than loyalty, compassion unique to humanity,andanewperspectiveontheworld. Ryann Gordon University of Oklahoma Peter Buwalda. Bonita Avenue. Jonathan Reeder, tr. New York. Hogarth. 2014. isbn 9780553417852 Do we control our fate or do the fates control us? That is the question that Dutch author Peter Buwalda examines in his entertaining novel, Bonita Avenue. The plot involves an unconventional love triangle: Joni, young, beautiful, and ambitious; Siem, her stepfather , a famous mathematician; and Aaron, Joni’s loyal but insecure boyfriend. By all appearances Joni and Aaron are a wholesome young couple, but in fact they clandestinely operate a lucrative website that features pornographic photographs of Joni. When Siem coincidentally discovers Joni’s photos, it triggers a cascade of events, each more horrible than the last, which jeopardizes the threesome ’s close relationship. The novel skips back and forth through time, allowing the plot to be unveiled at a deliberate, suspense-building pace. One of the most satisfying aspects of the novel is that Buwalda gives us sufficient material to sink deeply into the psyche of the three primary characters, with one exception— we are offered almost no insight as to Joni’s motivation for becoming involved in pornography , a perspective that would allow a fuller appreciation of both her personality and the unfolding story. While the secret of the website solidifies the bond between Joni and Aaron, another secret collaboration strengthens Joni’s and Siem’s already close ties: Joni’s acquiescence to Siem’s plea that she provide false testimony against his son, Wilburt, which leads to Wilburt’s incarceration. Siem lives in a state of denial regarding his moral culpability toward Wilburt, preferring instead to rely on his academic training for an explanation of the terrible things that happen to him: “a mathematician’s job is to judge the bizarre on its quantitative value, that is: to strip the coincidence down to its bare probability instead of assigning it some magical significance.” As for Joni and Aaron, they choose to believe that their misfortunes are somehow brought about by a freak explosion at a local fireworks depot rather than accept them as the repercussions of their Joaquim Amat-Piniella K. L. Reich Robert Finley & Marta Marín-Dòmine, tr. Wilfrid Laurier University Press Based on his experiences in a Nazi concentration camp, Joaquim AmatPiniella ’s novel shows what life was like in the camps for Spanish prisoners. This novel tells the little-known story of the Spanish Republican exiles who were taken in the Nazi occupation of France while simultaneously unveiling the depths of suffering in the camps for the prisoners. David Albahari Learning Cyrillic Ellen Elias-Bursac, tr. Dalkey Archive David Albahari’s collection of twenty short stories detailing the experience of living as an immigrant are rife with intense beauty regardless of whether the ending is joyful or sorrowful. Exploring the difficulties of adapting to a new culture without losing the old, the stories weave together lives and moments in their quest for an answer to the struggle of belonging (see WLT, Sept. 2013, 12). Nota Bene WORLDLITERATURETODAY.ORG 57 58 WLT SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 deeds: “a blowup of those proportions sets unforeseen mechanisms in action, produces shock...

Experiencia de un espacio de reflexión en una unidad de cuidados paliativos

ObjectiveTo assess the experience, after a year of running monthly sessions of reflection and learning in the palliative care unit of a geriatric hospital in Barcelona. Material and methodsThrough a qualitative-phenomenological methodological approach, three individual interviews and a focus group involving 11 professionals from the unit were assessed. Interviews and focus group session was audio recorded. Data were analyzed with the support of Atlas.ti software version 5.0. A triangulation was performed on the techniques used, as well as on the interviews and focus group. ResultsThrough the process of analysis of the contributions collected in this study, two qualitative vectors emerged: positive aspects and unfavourable aspects of the experience. The following categories were positive aspects: necessary and essential space; useful for sharing experiences, and helps to express emotions. As for the unfavourable aspects, the resulting categories were: lack of maturity of group and poor working methodology. ConclusionsThe professional of the palliative care units interviewed and participated in the focus group considered the space for reflection as an achievement that must be maintained in the operation of the unit, but new methodology should be incorporated in order to increase the maturity of the team.

Discussion of “Delaminations by Cleavage Cracking in Duplex Stainless Steels at Sub-zero Temperatures”*

The Swedish authors Pilhagen and Sandstrom present a fascinating account of a duplex stainless steel, 22Cr-5.7Ni-3.2Mo, which, when tested at sub-zero temperatures, exhibited delaminations on the fracture surfaces of impact specimens, and cleavage fracture ahead of the crack tip in interrupted crack opening displacement (COD) tests. Delaminations, cleavage fractures and facets, are all symptomatic of pre-cracked material. This is to be expected in a high Cr steel for which the oxide on the surface of the melt will be a dry, solid oxide rich in Cr. When mixed into the liquid metal by such turbulent actions as stirring or pouring, the surface oxide folds in, being entrained into the liquid, dry-side to dry-side, and so forming an unbonded interface between the opposed oxide films now suspended in the liquid. The unbonded interface is of course a highly effective crack. Thousands or millions of such cracks are generated by a turbulent pour of the liquid metal, but which are not easily observed because they are typically only nanometers thick, even though they may be lm, mm, or cm in diameter. A normal duplex stainless steel will be expected therefore to have a dense population of such double oxide films, known as bifilms, which will be effective cracks. When first entrained into the liquid by turbulence of the surface, the bifilms are raveled and compacted by the bulk turbulence inside the liquid. However, during solidification, with encouragement from gases which diffuse into the central air gap, or because of dendrite pushing which flattens bifilms, the bifilms evolve from relatively harmless tangled and convoluted forms, straightening to become planar cracks resembling engineering cracks generated by stress. In this way they create the familiar features on fracture surfaces such as facets and apparently cleaved crystal surfaces. The expected population of cracks can not only account for the various flat forms of fracture surface, and the fractures observed ahead of the COD crack front as observed by the authors, but also explains the laminated form of their hot rolled steel which is seen to consist of horizontal layers of austenite and ferrite grains. The existence of oxide bifilms at grain boundaries will effectively pin the boundaries, suppressing easy recrystallization, so retaining the existence of boundaries during deformation by rolling, necessarily leading to a grain structure consisting of flattened grains, which would appear to be a highly energetically unfavorable aspect ratio for grains, and otherwise difficult to explain. It is not necessary to entrain oxide bifilms during casting. Techniques are now available for the casting of metals without turbulence, and which are highly successful in delivering metals which are highly resistant to cracking, and therefore display impressive ductility, toughness, and fatigue resistance. Corrosion properties are also enhanced, and such on-going mysteries as stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement might also discover an important culprit or contributor.

Factors influencing military recruitment in South Africa: the voices of Cape Town high school learners

This research sets out to establish how the youth in South Africa view military service, and what factors affect the ability of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to attract suitable recruits to staff its modern, technologically advanced military. Due to high levels of youth unemployment, South Africa has sufficient persons volunteering for military service. The problem lies with recruiting sufficient quality personnel with the right profile and abilities. To establish what affects enlistment, focus group discussions were conducted with learners from eight schools to determine what influences their career choices, what deters them from or attracts them to military service, their perception of the military profession, their knowledge of the military, and the influence of factors such as race and gender. The conclusion is reached that the SANDF is not considered an employer of choice due to poor service conditions, a decline in the prestige of the military, unfavourable aspects associated with military culture, a growing ‘knowledge gap’ and disconnect between the military and South African society, the estrangement of certain race groups, and the masculine nature of the military. These aspects need to be addressed if the SANDF wishes to attract learners with good academic credentials.

Research on Accidental Defects to Bearings of Mining Equipment

By means of the material presented in this paper, we want to approach an unfavourable aspect frequently met in the surface mining exploitations of Oltenia coal basin. The excavation installations in these coal quarries are submitted to difficult work conditions: dust (fine mineral particles having the size of maximum 10μm or even less) [2], low temperatures (in winter-30°C), a corrosive atmosphere (acid underground waters, sulphates, gas resulted from coal extraction such as SOx generated when roasting the abscesses, the nitrates), etc.[2,6]. By the construction, both the marching mechanism and these articulations of the installation extensions are built on the concept of sliding bearing.

Análise Palinológica e a Vegetação

The theme and criteria to be considered during the pollen analysis of quaternary sediments and their interpretation was developed. Techniques for collecting and processing samples, the recognition of botanical taxa through the pollen morphology, knowledge of the age of the material, the physiognomy and phytogeography of vegetation types and their interaction, the experiment reported in previous studies, all together are dominant factors in the quaternary palynological research. The selection and application of this knowledge has been discussed in order to favorable and unfavorable aspects according to the material under study.

Some Opportunities and Limitations of Cloud Computing Environments in Early Stage of Design Process

Using a user experience approach, we identified certain opportunities provided and limitations faced by cloud computing applications in remote meetings of design teams. Fifteen designers participated in six teams of three or four members during a one and a half hour meeting. They worked on a task involving the conceptual design of a Web page or a Corporate identity for a research laboratory. The meeting took place in a distributed manner, using two cloud applications. We identified some factors corresponding to favorable and unfavorable aspects perceived by designers when working in a cloud computing environment. After six interviews, data were open-coded to synthesize emergent themes, and then categorized by frequencies into five fields: opportunities, organization of work, limitations, needs for other materials and design process. The results indicate a positive experience regarding the interaction and the coauthoring production, which constitute an opportunity presented by cloud computing technologies. Web task designers prefer working under non-noise disturbance conditions and using a clear whiteboard, while with graphic tasks, designers generally prefer more sophisticated drawing tools and easy graphic modifications when creating sketching concepts. The participants in this study were globally satisfied with the social exchange climate, i.e., the graphical remote sharing that allows an effective exchange of draft details among multiple users on-line. The cloud environment already presents technical problems, such as lags or leaps during information exchange; limitations which have been seen to disrupt communication flow in the early conceptualization stage.

Diseño y propiedades psicométricas de un cuestionario de opinión sobre la atención a la diversidad (CUADIVER)

El presente artículo muestra el proceso seguido para diseñar e identificar las propiedades psicométricas de un cuestionario para evaluar la atención a la diversidad en centros educativos de primaria (CUADIVER), construido a partir de una metodología mixta. La primera fase de corte cualitativo (grupos focales) revela en su discurso (Aquad 5.0) un predominio de aspectos desfavorables (63.8%) frente a los favorables (36.2%) en la atención al alumnado diverso. En la fase cuantitativa, participaron 140 jefes de los departamentos de orientación de educación primaria, lo que representa un 61,14% de la población total (N = 229). Para su fiabilidad se calculó el Alfa de Cronbach obteniendo un índice muy aceptable .92 y el Método de las dos Mitades que presenta una correlación de .91 (ítems pares) y .82 (ítems impares). La solución factorial reprodujo la distribución de los ítems del cuestionario en el marco teórico, práctico y valorativo. Los resultados legitiman el CUADIVER como un instrumento de prestaciones psicométricas muy satisfactorias, que unido a sus propiedades de comprensibilidad y aceptación, lo convierten en una herramienta eficaz en la exploración y valoración de la atención a la diversidad en los centros educativos.

Genetic Justice and Transformations of Criminal Procedure

The use of DNA technology in the investigation of high-volume crimes such as thefts and burglaries is strongly promoted by politicians worldwide. It is beyond doubt that DNA plays a prominent role in contemporary criminal procedure. In fact, people in general are very accepting of the police's practice of collecting biological samples from suspects, of registering DNA profiles, and of using DNA evidence in prosecutions. Although there are good reasons for such acceptance, possible negative aspects of the use of DNA in the criminal justice system need to be further investigated. This article explores how the new ‘genetic justice regime’ affects the criminal justice system, including criminal trials. Theories and perspectives from the social sciences and jurisprudence are drawn on in order to identify possible unfavourable aspects of the new procedural regime. Increased focus on scientific and objective forms of argumentation in court and the prolongation of the contestability of criminal cases are particularly noteworthy characteristics of a criminal process that relies on DNA to identify perpetrators. It is not inconceivable that increased use of DNA also may give rise to a risk of enlarging the gap between the offender and the community acting in response to the offence and make it more difficult to arouse the offender's moral consciousness through the criminal process.

Obligate crayfish burrow use and core habitat requirements of crawfish frogs

AbstractCrawfish frogs (Lithobates areolatus) have experienced declines across large portions of their former range. These declines are out of proportion to syntopic wetland‐breeding amphibian species, suggesting losses are resulting from unfavorable aspects of non‐breeding upland habitat. Crawfish frogs get their common name from their affinity for crayfish burrows, although the strength of this relationship has never been formally assessed. We used radiotelemetry to address 4 questions related to upland burrow dwelling in crawfish frogs: 1) what burrow types are used and how do they function to affect crawfish frog survivorship; 2) what are the physical characteristics and habitat associations of crawfish frog burrows; 3) what are the home range sizes of crawfish frogs when burrow dwelling; and 4) where are crawfish frog burrows situated with respect to breeding wetlands? We tracked crawfish frogs to 34 burrows, discovered another 7 occupied burrows, and therefore report on 41 burrows. Crawfish frogs exclusively occupied crayfish burrows as primary burrows, which they inhabited for an average of 10.5 months of the year. With one exception, crawfish frogs also used crayfish burrows as secondary burrows—temporary retreats occupied while exhibiting breeding migrations or ranging forays. Burrows were exclusively located in grassland habitats, although crawfish frogs migrated through narrow woodlands and across gravel roads to reach distant grassland primary burrow sites. Home range estimates while inhabiting burrows were 0.05 m2 (the area of the burrow entrance plus the associated feeding platform) or 0.01 m3 (the estimated volume of their burrow). Crawfish frog burrows were located at distances up to 1,020 m from their breeding wetlands. To protect crawfish frog populations, we recommend a buffer (core habitat plus terrestrial buffer) of at least 1.2 km around each breeding wetland. Within this buffer, at least 3 critical habitat elements must be present: 1) extensive grasslands maintained by prescribed burning and/or logging, 2) an adequate number of upland crayfish burrows, and 3) no soil disturbance of the sort that would destroy crayfish burrow integrity. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.