Predicting multidimensional distributive properties of hyperbranched polymer resulting from AB2 polymerization with substitution, cyclization and shielding

A deterministic mathematical model for the polymerization of hyperbranched molecules accounting for substitution, cyclization, and shielding effect has been developed as a system of nonlinear population balances. The solution obtained by a novel approximation method shows perfect agreement with the analytical solution in limiting cases and provides, for the first time in this class of polymerization problems, full multidimensional results.Comment: 38 pages, 22 figure

Integrating patients' nonmedical status in end-of-life decision making: Structuring communication through 'conferencing'

This paper considers the nonmedical status of patients in end-of-life decisions. Considering nonmedical factors is not yet routine, particularly in decisions to withhold or withdraw treatment. The paper advocates that nonmedical factors - the capacity and willingness to withstand continuing treatment - are essential to ensure that decisions taken are in the patient's best interest. We argue that including this dimension of patient care not commonly considered gives balance to decisions about continuing treatment where its benefit is diminishing. Drawing on a qualitative study of intensive care nursing in a large public hospital in Sydney, Australia, the paper exemplifies and interprets the tendency of some clinicians to not disclose the medical and nonmedical status to conscious patients, and the environment of mistrust and conflict that can result. We propose a process of 'conferencing' - a regular, inclusive, ongoing, and dynamic process of communication begun early in the patient's admission - to allow multidisciplinary clinicians to manage their differences, agree on patient-care goals, and prepare the patient and their family for the experience of dying. By integrating both medical and nonmedical factors, conferencing becomes the means of enacting and embedding a multidisciplinary, multidimensional approach to end-of-life care. © Walter de Gruyter

Legal aspects of open disclosure II: Attitudes of health professionals - Findings from a national survey

Objective: To assess the attitudes of health care professionals engaged in open disclosure (OD) to the legal risks and protections that surround this activity. Design and participants: National cross-sectional survey of 51 experienced OD practitioners conducted in mid 2009. Main outcome measures: Perceived barriers to OD; awareness of and attitudes towards medicolegal protections; recommendations for reform. Results: The vast majority of participants rated fears about the medicolegal risks (45/51) and inadequate education and training in OD skills (43/51) as major or moderate barriers to OD. A majority (30/51) of participants viewed qualified privilege laws as having limited or no effect on health professionals' willingness to conduct OD, whereas opinion was divided about the effect of apology laws (state laws protecting expressions of regret from subsequent use in legal proceedings). In four states and territories (Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory), a majority of participants were unaware that their own jurisdiction had apology laws that applied to OD. The most frequent recommendations for legal reform to improve OD were strengthening existing protections (23), improving education and awareness of applicable laws (11), fundamental reform of the medical negligence system (8), and better alignment of the activities of certain legal actors (eg, coroners) with OD practice (6). Conclusions: Concerns about both the medicolegal implications of OD and the skills needed to conduct it effectively are prevalent among health professionals at the leading edge of the OD movement in Australia. The ability of current laws to protect against use of this information in legal proceedings is perceived as inadequate

Towards tolerance. Exploring changes and explaining differences in attitudes towards homosexuality in Europe

Across Europe, public attitudes towards lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals range from broad tolerance to widespread rejection. Attitudes towards homosexuality are more than mere individual opinions, but form part of the social and political structures which foster or hinder the equality and emancipation of LGB citizens. This report addresses the issues behind today's differences in tolerance. Have attitudes towards homosexuality changed over the past 30 years? Are there European countries where tolerance is increasing, decreasing, or not changing at all? What explains differences in attitudes? Can differences be attributed to levels of income or education, and does religion play a major role? Are tolerant attitudes found in countries with high levels of gender equality?This report shows that Europe is moving towards more tolerance. However, different countries are moving at a very different pace and from very different starting positions. In addition, the biggest changes seem to have taken place between 1990 and 1999 and did not persist into the new millennium. Differences are related to other values, levels of income and income inequality, educational attainment, religious factors, degree of urbanization, EU membership and political systems, and to links with civil society and LGB movements

Discourse analysis and the study of organizations

In this paper we provide an overview of research into organizational discourse, making a tentative distinction between organizational discourse studies (emerging from organization and management theory) and organizational discourse analysis (emerging from more linguistic-oriented research). Our primary aim is to focus on organizational discourse studies in a fashion that complements, rather than replicates, previous overviews of the field. In so doing, we suggest that organizational discourse research is too complex and multivariate to be pigeonholed on the basis of academic discipline or research method. Further, abstracting the multiplicity of organizational discourse research endeavors into just two single dimensions as do Alvesson and Kdrreman (2000), for example, runs the risk of losing some of this richness. We aim to provide insight into the complexity of organizational discourse and the philosophical and methodological richness that it embodies by highlighting that commentators often straddle different positions. To this end, we propose five dimensions by which to map this rich domain of research. Our concluding argument is that organizational discourse studies (ODS) and organizational discourse analysis (ODA) would do well to combine the former's normative and the latter's analytical prerogatives with attention to practitioner-situated problematics and struggles. © Walter de Gruyter

Fighting HIV/AIDS through popular Zambian music

This paper explores how HIV/AIDS education messages are transmitted through popular Zambian music lyrics. The focus is on the recontextualisation of lived experiences and Zambian cultural practices in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Using multimodal discourse analysis, the paper uses Zambian popular music lyrics to show how Zambian musicians deliberately blend languages, socio-cultural artefacts and knowledge into a hybrid of 'infotainment' in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The paper concludes that although male dominance is still prevalent, choices regarding sex and discussions on sexual matters are no longer a preserve for the men, and that musicians are able to use language to reframe dominant cultural practices and taboos in the process of disseminating HIV/AIDS messages. This has produced altered social conditions, which sometimes distort the intended messages, but allow musicians to operate without fear of government censorship boards or running foul of cultural taboos.DHE

Incorporating Complexity Theory and Feminism into Video Ethnography

This research uses video firstly as a tool for data collection, and secondly as a method for reflexive sessions that engage both the researcher and clinicians in reflexive viewing of organisational aspects of clinical work. By focusing on empirical data from videoethnographic research in an intensive care unit (ICU) in New South Wales (NSW)1 this paper broadly demonstrates the compatible intertwining of complexity theory, feminist research principles and video-reflexivity

Introducing the new Editorial Team

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93531/1/hex12001.pd