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Showing papers by "University of Lincoln published in 2009"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors harnessed the power of next-generation sequencing to successfully identify additional genes that will be described in this report, and found common genetic predisposing factors for PAH can be identified by genome-wide association studies.

583 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper presents an algorithm for segmenting and measuring retinal vessels, by growing a ldquoRibbon of Twinsrdquo active contour model, which uses two pairs of contours to capture each vessel edge, while maintaining width consistency.
Abstract: This paper presents an algorithm for segmenting and measuring retinal vessels, by growing a ldquoRibbon of Twinsrdquo active contour model, which uses two pairs of contours to capture each vessel edge, while maintaining width consistency. The algorithm is initialized using a generalized morphological order filter to identify approximate vessels centerlines. Once the vessel segments are identified the network topology is determined using an implicit neural cost function to resolve junction configurations. The algorithm is robust, and can accurately locate vessel edges under difficult conditions, including noisy blurred edges, closely parallel vessels, light reflex phenomena, and very fine vessels. It yields precise vessel width measurements, with subpixel average width errors. We compare the algorithm with several benchmarks from the literature, demonstrating higher segmentation sensitivity and more accurate width measurement.

435 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the applicability of Motivational Climate research to early career athletes under the age of twelve, to re-examine the concept of motivational climate, and concurrently study the influences of coaches, parents and peers on athletic motivation.

262 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is observed that 6-month-old infants showed a wider tendency for left gaze preference towards objects and faces of different species and orientation, while in adults the bias appears only towards upright human faces, and face- and species-sensitive gaze asymmetry is more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously recognised.
Abstract: While viewing faces, human adults often demonstrate a natural gaze bias towards the left visual field, that is, the right side of the viewee’s face is often inspected first and for longer periods. Using a preferential looking paradigm, we demonstrate that this bias is neither uniquely human nor limited to primates, and provide evidence to help elucidate its biological function within a broader social cognitive framework. We observed that 6-month-old infants showed a wider tendency for left gaze preference towards objects and faces of different species and orientation, while in adults the bias appears only towards upright human faces. Rhesus monkeys showed a left gaze bias towards upright human and monkey faces, but not towards inverted faces. Domestic dogs, however, only demonstrated a left gaze bias towards human faces, but not towards monkey or dog faces, nor to inanimate object images. Our findings suggest that face- and species-sensitive gaze asymmetry is more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously recognised, is not constrained by attentional or scanning bias, and could be shaped by experience to develop adaptive behavioural significance.

201 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Mar 2009-Futures
TL;DR: The authors demonstrate the relationship between a particular epistemological perspective and foresight methodology, and conclude that foresight is both a social construction, and a mechanism for social construction in the future.

146 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article aims to assist general veterinary practitioners to recognise how cats respond to confinement, and to understand what constitutes environmental enrichment, to help them implement or advise on appropriate enrichment strategies for cats confined in a hospital cage, home environment, or cattery or rescue shelter, based on published evidence to date.
Abstract: Practical relevance The clinical application of evidence-based enrichment strategies for the domestic cat housed in a variety of confined environments, ranging from the veterinary cage to the domestic home, is of particular importance – both in relation to providing opportunity for appropriate feline behaviour, and in the prevention and treatment of behavioural and associated health problems (eg, feline lower urinary tract disease associated with negative emotional states such as generalised anxiety). Environmental enrichment has gained particular relevance in the light of current animal welfare legislation. For example, in the UK, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 stipulates that owners/keepers have a duty of care to their animal(s) that includes allowing the animal to exhibit normal behaviour patterns. Evidence base Research into environmental enrichment as a means of improving animal welfare is still very much in its infancy, particularly in relation to the domestic cat. Thus, evidence-based studies are somewhat sparse and more are needed to validate current recommended enrichment practices. Audience This article aims to assist general veterinary practitioners to recognise how cats respond to confinement, and to understand what constitutes environmental enrichment, to help them implement or advise on appropriate enrichment strategies for cats confined in a hospital cage, home environment (particularly an indoor-only home), or cattery or rescue shelter, based on published evidence to date.

142 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) was used to identify core implicit differences between sexual offenders against children and non-offenders in a cognitive distortion questionnaire.
Abstract: Researchers have proposed that the cognitive distortions of sexual offenders are underpinned by a number of implicit cognitive processes termed implicit theories. Until recently, however, the implicit theory hypothesis has received little empirical support due to broader limitations with standard forensic assessment procedures. The current research aimed to determine whether a new assessment methodology, the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP), could provide further evidence for Ward and Keenan's (1999) children as sexual beings implicit theory. The results indicated that the IRAP was significantly more effective at identifying core implicit differences between sexual offenders against children and nonoffenders than a cognitive distortion questionnaire. Furthermore, although both groups demonstrated an overall response bias towards adults as sexual and children as nonsexual, this bias was significantly impaired in the sexual offender group. The findings are discussed in relation to previous implicit theory research and recommendations for the development of implicit methodologies are made.

110 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: 3- and four-year-old children tested for their sensitivity to the accuracy and inaccuracy of informants preferred to seek and accept information in a selective fashion across all three conditions, suggesting that they monitor informants for both accuracy and inaccururacy.
Abstract: Three- and four-year-old children (N = 131) were tested for their sensitivity to the accuracy and inaccuracy of informants. Children were presented with one of three conditions. In the Accurate-Inaccurate condition, one informant named objects accurately whereas the other named them inaccurately. In the Accurate-Neutral condition, one informant named objects accurately whereas the other merely drew attention to them. Finally in the Inaccurate-Neutral condition, one informant named objects inaccurately whereas the other merely drew attention to them. In subsequent test trials, 4-year-olds preferred to seek and accept information in a selective fashion across all three conditions, suggesting that they monitor informants for both accuracy and inaccuracy. By contrast, 3-year-olds were selective in the Accurate-Inaccurate and Inaccurate-Neutral conditions but not in the Accurate-Neutral condition, suggesting that they monitor informants only for inaccuracy and take accuracy for granted.

102 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that inclusion of suitable and safely implemented PT to adolescent performers, in addition to habitual training (HT) regimes, can have a positive impact on swim start performance.
Abstract: This study aimed to identify the effect of plyometric training (PT), when added to habitual training (HT) regimes, on swim start performance. After the completion of a baseline competitive swim start, 22 adolescent swimmers were randomly assigned to either a PT (n = 11, age: 13.1 +/- 1.4 yr, mass: 50.6 +/- 12.3 kg, stature: 162.9 +/- 11.9 cm) or an HT group (n = 11, age: 12.6 +/- 1.9 yr, mass: 43.3 +/- 11.6 kg, stature: 157.6 +/- 11.9 cm). Over an 8-week preseason period, the HT group continued with their normal training program, whereas the PT group added 2 additional 1-hour plyometric-specific sessions, incorporating prescribed exercises relating to the swimming block start (SBS). After completion of the training intervention, post-training swim start performance was reassessed. For both baseline and post-trials, swim performance was recorded using videography (50 Hz Canon MVX460) in the sagital plane of motion. Through the use of Silicon Coach Pro analysis package, data revealed significantly greater change between baseline and post-trials for PT when compared with the HT group for swim performance time to 5.5 m (-0.59 s vs. -0.21 s; p < 0.01) and velocity of take-off to contact (0.19 ms vs. -0.07 ms; p < 0.01). Considering the practical importance of a successful swim start to overall performance outcome, the current study has found that inclusion of suitable and safely implemented PT to adolescent performers, in addition to HT routines, can have a positive impact on swim start performance.

85 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The natural refractory period of females immediately after their first mating is used to separate thecost of harassment from the cost of mating, and male harassment results in females laying fewer eggs and this results in a tendency to produce fewer offspring.
Abstract: The optimal number of mating partners for females rarely coincides with that for males, leading to sexual conflict over mating frequency. In the bruchid beetle Callosobruchus maculatus , the fitness consequences to females of engaging in multiple copulations are complex, with studies demonstrating both costs and benefits to multiple mating. However, females kept continuously with males have a lower lifetime egg production compared with females mated only once and then isolated from males. This reduction in fitness may be a result of damage caused by male genitalia, which bear spines that puncture the female‘s reproductive tract, and/or toxic elements in the ejaculate. However, male harassment rather than costs of matings themselves could also explain the results. In the present study, the fitness costs of male harassment for female C. maculatus are estimated. The natural refractory period of females immediately after their first mating is used to separate the cost of harassment from the cost of mating. Male harassment results in females laying fewer eggs and this results in a tendency to produce fewer offspring. The results are discussed in the context of mate choice and sexual selection.

81 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Children learned successfully about safe behavior with dogs; thus, the CD can help educate children about dog-bite prevention and is equally effective without.
Abstract: Objective The authors attempted to remedy the current lack of empirically evaluated dog-bite prevention programs for children under 7 by assessing children’s learning success with the ‘‘Blue Dog’’ CD. Methods Ninety-six 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old children used the interactive CD in an initial exposure phase, a training and a testing phase. Half received verbal feedback, and the other half additional practice with parents. All children were re-tested after 2 weeks. Results There were significant increases in safe choices after the training phase at all ages, with older children performing better than younger children. Children still retained their ability to make safe choices after 2 weeks. Interestingly, children practicing with parents performed better than others when under 6 years. Verbal feedback did not play a role, the CD is equally effective without. Conclusions Children learned successfully about safe behavior with dogs; thus, the CD can help educate children about dog-bite prevention.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine the justification for, and benefits of academic freedom to academics, students, universities and the world at large, and examine the reasons why academic freedom is important and why the principle should continue to be supported.
Abstract: This article examines the justification for, and benefits of, academic freedom to academics, students, universities and the world at large. It surveys the development of the concept of academic freedom within Europe, more especially the impact of the reforms at the University of Berlin instigated by Wilhelm von Humboldt. Following from this, the article examines the reasons why the various facets of academic freedom are important and why the principle should continue to be supported.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The prevalence of mental health disorders, suicide, and substance misuse remains high in prison populations around the world – demonstrating the need for suitable evidence-based interventions to address these issues.
Abstract: Brooker et al. (2002) conducted a systematic review of research into the mental health of prisoners. Their final report included a review of the epidemiology of the prison population, an overview of the interventions used to treat the major mental health disorders in both the general and prison populations, and a review of service delivery and organisation for prisoners with mental health disorders. The review found a high prevalence of mental health disorders in prison populations, with up to 15% of prisoners having four or five co-existing mental disorders. This review has been updated, using the same methodology, to include literature dated from 2002 to August 2006. This paper presents findings from the epidemiology section of the updated review, which includes 18 new studies. The recent studies largely reflect the findings of earlier research. However, some studies in the updated review focus on countries where little of this type of research has previously been conducted. The prevalence of mental hea...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that while polyandry seems to select for larger testes, it had no detectable effect on sperm length, and population density, a proximate indicator of sperm competition risk, was not significantly associated with sperm length or testis size variation.
Abstract: The evolutionary factors affecting testis size are well documented, with sperm competition being of major importance. However, the factors affecting sperm length are not well understood; there are no clear theoretical predictions and the empirical evidence is inconsistent. Recently, maternal effects have been implicated in sperm length variation, a finding that may offer insights into its evolution. We investigated potential proximate and microevolutionary factors influencing testis and sperm size in the bruchid beetle Callosobruchus maculatus using a combined approach of an artificial evolution experiment over 90 generations and an environmental effects study. We found that while polyandry seems to select for larger testes, it had no detectable effect on sperm length. Furthermore, population density, a proximate indicator of sperm competition risk, was not significantly associated with sperm length or testis size variation. However, there were strong maternal effects influencing sperm length.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a concept of public self-policing is developed and community policing is then evaluated in the light of this concept, and the ideal relationship between police and public is characterised as a structural coupling between two types of self-organising systems.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to explore, in broad terms, how policing needs to be developed in communities today.Design/methodology/approach – The approach is normative and analytical, considering the meaning of policing in general, and community policing in particular, and specifying the criteria that such policing has to satisfy in order to be fair and effective in contemporary society.Findings – A concept of public self‐policing is developed and community policing is then evaluated in the light of this concept. Police officers are understood as street‐level bureaucrats, with multiple accountabilities. The ideal relationship between police and public is characterised as a structural coupling between two types of self‐organising system.Practical implications – The paper has implications for how policing organisations and governments might develop improved policing strategies in the future.Originality/value – The paper provides a clear, logical summary of thinking about the role of policing, part...

Patent
02 Jul 2009
TL;DR: In this article, a segmentation method comprises clustering spatial, intensity and volumetric shape index to automatically segment a medical lesion, which has the following steps: (1) calculating volumetric shape index (SI) for each voxel in the image; (2) combining the SI features with the intensity range and the spatial position (x, y, z) to form a 5-dimensional feature vector set; (3) grouping the 5 -dimensional featurevector set into clusters; (4) employing a modified expectation-maximization algorithm (
Abstract: A segmentation method comprises clustering spatial, intensity and volumetric shape index to automatically segment a medical lesion. The algorithm has the following steps: (1) calculating volumetric shape index (SI) for each voxel in the image; (2) combining the SI features with the intensity range and the spatial position (x, y, z) to form a 5- dimensional feature vector set; (3) grouping the 5 -dimensional feature vector set into clusters; (4) employing a modified expectation-maximization algorithm (EM) considering not only spatial but also shape features on an intensity mode map from the clustering algorithm to merge the neighbouring regions or modes. The joint spatial- intensity-shape feature provides rich information for the segmentation of the anatomic structures of interest, such as lesions or tumours.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) revealed two superordinate themes; namely, staff relationship factors and positive and negative attributes of staff.
Abstract: Background This study explores the perceptions of a group of adults with intellectual disability regarding direct support staff. Method Semi-structured interviews relating to experiences of direct support staff were developed from two focus groups. These interviews were conducted with 11 adults with intellectual disability residing within a forensic inpatient service. Results Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) revealed two superordinate themes; namely, staff relationship factors and positive and negative attributes of staff. The participants valued relationships with staff based on qualities such as honesty, trust, and a caring, nurturing manner that enabled individuals to feel safe. Staff characteristics such as immaturity, inexperience, and a short temper appeared to lead to feelings of discontentment amongst the participants. Conclusions The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to clinical practice, staff recruitment, and training.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded from IM scaling that megapode and kiwi eggshells are not thin but rather are thicker than expected and in general birds with a clutch size of 1 have thicker shells, and that reversed sexual dimorphism in the large, particularly extinct birds may be a strategy to avoid shell breakage during incubation of the largest eggs without creating a shell so thick as to inhibit hatching.
Abstract: The avian eggshell represents a highly evolved structure adapted to the physiological requirements of the embryo and the potential fracturing forces it is exposed to during incubation. Given its many roles, it is not surprising that the eggshell is also central to the current hypothesis about maximum avian body mass. Eggshell thickness (L) and strength has historically been scaled as a function of initial egg mass (IEM). However, maximum incubator mass (IM) is likely a better indicator of the forces the shell must be selected to withstand during incubation. We compare the results of analyses of L2 (an indicator of shell strength) as a function of IEM and IM. We conclude from IM scaling that megapode and kiwi eggshells are not thin but rather are thicker than expected and in general birds with a clutch size of 1 have thicker shells, and further, that reversed sexual dimorphism in the large, particularly extinct birds may be a strategy to avoid shell breakage during incubation of the largest eggs without creating a shell so thick as to inhibit hatching.

Journal Article
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors introduced a method to update the reference views in a topological map so that a mobile robot could continue to localize itself in a changing environment using omni-directional vision.
Abstract: Real-world environments such as houses and offices change over time, meaning that a mobile robot’s map will become out of date. In previous work we introduced a method to update the reference views in a topological map so that a mobile robot could continue to localize itself in a changing environment using omni-directional vision. In this work we extend this longterm updating mechanism to incorporate a spherical metric representation of the observed visual features for each node in the topological map. Using multi-view geometry we are then able to estimate the heading of the robot, in order to enable navigation between the nodes of the map, and to simultaneously adapt the spherical view representation in response to environmental changes. The results demonstrate the persistent performance of the proposed system in a long-term experiment.

Journal ArticleDOI
David Rae1
TL;DR: The Student Placements for Entrepreneurs in Education (SPEED) project as mentioned in this paper was an innovative, action learning-based route that enabled students to start new business ventures as self-started work experience.
Abstract: The Student Placements for Entrepreneurs in Education (SPEED) project ran in 12 higher education institutes in the UK between 2006 and 2008, providing an innovative, action learning-based route that enabled students to start new business ventures as self-started work experience, and has influenced successor programmes. The paper addresses three questions: (1) What is known about action learning and entrepreneurial learning in relation to new venture creation? (2) What can the case of SPEED add to our understanding of the conceptual and practical connections between entrepreneurial learning and action learning? (3) What can be achieved through universities working collaboratively to make a significant and coordinated impact on graduate entrepreneurship by using action learning as a mediating means? It connects action learning with theories of new venture creation and entrepreneurial learning, with reference to relevant literature showing increasing evidence of innovative practices of action learning within...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Providing stabled horses with one hour/day of exercise on a walker, treadmill, turn-out or by being ridden are all effective at allowing expression of locomotor activities in stabled Horses.
Abstract: Summary Reasons for performing study: It is unknown if different locomotor activities are equally effective at meeting the stabled horse's need for exercise and if they attenuate unwanted behaviour. Hypothesis: Alternative forms of exercise influence the intensity of locomotor activities during a period of turn-out (the so-called rebound effect) and the occurrence of unwanted or undesirable activities during standard handling situations. Method: Twenty-four horses kept in stables were randomly assigned to one of 4 exercise regimes (walker, treadmill, turn-out and riding) for 4 consecutive days. Because these forms of exercise provide additional environmental stimulation, beyond that provided by exercise, each horse served as its own control in 4 corresponding (no exercise) control treatments presented in a balanced order. Unwanted behaviour was tested by taking horses to weighing scales and loading and unloading them onto a 4-horse float by an experienced handler and the rebound effect was tested by releasing them into a large arena for a period of 15 min at the end of the exercise and control treatments. Results: Locomotor activities made up a large part of behaviour in the large arena following control treatments and all exercise regimes were sufficient to reduce the intensity of walking (P<0.05), trotting (P<0.01) and cantering (P<0.001) on release into a large arena. Exercise regime reduced the number of bucks (P<0.01) and rolling (P<0.05) during rebound tests suggesting that turn-out was having a stronger effect than the other 3 exercise regimes. Exercise regimes significantly reduced the amount of unwanted behaviour and the number of commands given by the handler during weighing (P<0.05) but had no effect on these behaviours during loading onto a float. Conclusion: Providing stabled horses with one hour/day of exercise on a walker, treadmill, turn-out or by being ridden are all effective at allowing expression of locomotor activities in stabled horses. Potential relevance: Providing stabled horses with regular exercise is likely to provide positive effects on horse welfare, training ability and handler safety.

Book
01 Apr 2009
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a taxonomy for the public function of property rights and the relationship between the private and public functions of property in the context of fishery management systems.
Abstract: Chapter 1: Natural Resources, International Law and Property 1. Some Problems Concerning the Regulation of Natural Resources 2. Property and Sovereignty: Some Modes of Analysis 3. Scope and Orientation of this Study Chapter 2: The Private Function of Property 1. Introduction 2. Property and Excludability 3. Justifications of Property (a) Property as a Natural Right (b) Property as Liberty (c) Property as Utility (d) Economic Approaches to Property Rights (e) Property as Propriety (f) Property and Pluralism 4. Concluding Remarks Chapter 3: The Public Function of Property Rights 1. Introduction 2. A Template for the Public Function of Property: The Public Interest (a) The Nature and Identity of the Community (i) Plenary Legal Communities (ii) Types of Plenary Legal Community (iii) State and International Legal Community Contrasted (iv) Conclusions on Plenary Legal Communities and their Public Interests (b) The Categories of Public Interests (i) Operative Public Interests (ii) Normative Public Interests (iii) First Order Public Interests (iv) Second Order Public Interests (v) Third Order Public Interests (vi) The Relationship Between Orders of Public Interest 3. Public Interests and the Public Function of Property Chapter 4: Reconciling the Private and Public Functions of Property 1. Introduction 2. The Interface Between Private and Public Functions of Property (a) The Coincidence of Private Rights and Public Interests (b) Rights as Trumps (c) Public Interests as Trumps (d) A Determinable Relationship between Rights and Interests 3. Delimiting Justifications (a) Physical Factors that Shape the Relationship between the Private and Public Functions of Property (b) Legal Factors that Shape the Relationship between the Private and Public Functions of Property (c) Moral Factors that Shape the Relationship between the Private and Public Functions of Property 4. Forms of Property 5. Stewardship 6. Conclusions Chapter 5: The Influence of Property Concepts in the Development of Sovereign Rights over Ocean Space and Resources 1. Introduction 2. The Grotian Period: The Mare Clausum-Mare Liberum Debate (a) Background (b) Doctrinal and Theoretical Considerations 3. Freedom of the Seas (a) Background (b) Doctrinal and Theoretical Considerations 4. Consolidating Coastal State Control: Territorial Seas (a) Background (b) Doctrinal and Theoretical Considerations 5. The Emergence of Resource Regimes (a) Continental Shelf (b) Exclusive Economic Zone 6. Concluding Remarks Chapter 6: Sovereignty and Property: General Considerations 1. Introduction 2. Territorial Sovereignty as Property 3. The Scope of Sovereignty (or Its Private Incidents) 4. Restrictions on the Exercise of Sovereignty (a) General Limits on the Use of Natural Resources (b) Limits on the Use of Natural Resources Under International Environmental Law 5. Sovereignty Bounded Chapter 7: Sovereignty, Property and Maritime Zones 1. Introduction 2. Maritime Zones and the Scope for Property Rights (a) Territorial Sea (b) Archipelagic Waters (c) Continental Shelf (d) Exclusive Economic Zone (e) Maritime Delimitation 3. Concluding Remarks Chapter 8: Property Rights and Fisheries 1. Introduction 2. Forms of Property in Rights-Based Fisheries Management Systems (a) Input Controls (b) Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries (c) Individual Quotas (d) Community Development Quotas (e) Stock Use Rights in Fisheries (f) Summary 3. Domestic Implementation of Property Rights-Based Management Systems (a) Australia (b) Canada (c) Iceland (d) New Zealand (e) United States 4. An Appraisal of Rights-Based Measures (a) Economic Consequences of Rights-based Measures (b) Conservation and Management Consequences of Rights-based Measures (c) Allocational Consequences of Rights-based Measures 5. Legal Aspects of Rights-Based Fisheries Chapter 9: Conclusion

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The conclusion is that state policies reflect state interests and have a strong influence on patterns of mobility.
Abstract: The market for professional services is increasingly international but comparisons have not been made between different professions nor on how state policies affect opportunities for mobility. This article considers three professions: engineers, physicians and psychologists and explores the similarities and differences in international labour market demand for occupations. It examines how state policies in four countries, Canada, Finland, France and the UK, aim to promote and control professional labour mobility and migration, and the differences across the three professions. Engineering is an international profession and the extent to which states encourage inward migration differs. Medicine is highly regulated in all four countries but inward migration of physicians varies depending on national policy. Psychologists are less mobile, and the extent of state sponsorship and regulation varies across countries. In all three professions, international organizations are a force encouraging global standards. The conclusion is that state policies reflect state interests and have a strong influence on patterns of mobility.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The comparison between the National Health Service in the UK and the corporatist system in Germany demonstrates that not only the government and service users, but also a variety of professional groups, in advancing their own professional projects, may still fundamentally shape the nature and form of public control and new governance practices.
Abstract: Governments across the western world face new demands to achieve greater efficiency and responsiveness in public services. The transformations are most radical and challenging in healthcare where both cost effectiveness and patient safety are major issues. Drawing on the National Health Service in the UK and the corporatist system in Germany, this article compares the dynamics of changing governance and public control in the context of different national and institutional arrangements. The analysis is based on studies carried out by each of the authors and secondary sources. The article addresses three issues: transformations in the governance of physicians who held a dominant position in healthcare; policies to promote the role of service users in defining the ‘public interest’ and influencing the decisions of providers; and the professionalization and regulation of a broader range of health professions. The comparison between the two countries illustrates different institutional pathways to change and different conceptualizations of the ‘public interest’ and how it is represented. This demonstrates that not only the government and service users, but also a variety of professional groups, in advancing their own professional projects, may still fundamentally shape the nature and form of public control and new governance practices.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Experimental results show that the new representation can achieve a significant improvement in the performance of human action recognition over existing comparable methods, which use 2D temporal template based representations.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report that despite the very different outcomes associated with their actions, both entrepreneurs exhibit similar enterprising skills and managerial capabilities as found in inentrepreneurs engaged in non-marginal activities.
Abstract: Empirical data is reported from two case studies on the methods used to establish and grow thebusinesses of two entrepreneurs operating in very different environments: one legitimate, the other illegitimate. Both utilize strong social skills to legitimize their behaviours but neither can be considered as mainstream or conventional entrepreneurial actors. The findings suggest that, despite the very different outcomes associated with their actions, both entrepreneurs exhibit similar enterprising skills and managerial capabilities as found inentrepreneurs engaged in non-marginal activities.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the relationship between the evolution of Cuba's political-economic structures and processes and their subsequent influence on the planning, control, development and ownership of tourism on the island.
Abstract: It has long been recognised that nature and extent of state intervention in tourism development closely reflects the prevailing political-economy and ideology within the destination state. This is certainly the case with Cuba which, since the 1959 revolution and despite the collapse of communism elsewhere, remains the world's only centrally-planned economy that boasts a significant international tourism sector. Tracing the development of tourism since 1959, this paper explores the relationship between the evolution of Cuba's political-economic structures and processes and their subsequent influence on the planning, control, development and ownership of tourism on the island. In particular, it considers the potential future of tourism in Cuba, challenging the widespread belief that, in a post-Castro era, the island's tourism sector faces a bright future. It concludes that, even with a potential move towards market reform, significant improvements will be required with respect to the quality, value and diversity of the island's tourism product. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
29 Aug 2009
TL;DR: It is found that games built both on and off a social graph exhibit similar social properties, but that the networks are characterised by a sharp cut-off, compared with the classically scale-free nature of the social network for the game not built on an existing social graph.
Abstract: Games built on Online Social Networks (OSNs) have become a phenomenon since 3rd party developer tools were released by OSNs such as Facebook. However, apart from their explosive popularity, little is known about the nature of the social networks that are built during play. In this paper, we present the findings of a network analysis study carried out on two Facebook applications, in comparison with a similar but stand-alone game. We found that games built both on and off a social graph exhibit similar social properties. Specifically, the distribution of player-to-player interactions decays as a power law with a similar exponent for the majority of players. For games built on the social network platform however, we find that the networks are characterised by a sharp cut-off, compared with the classically scale-free nature of the social network for the game not built on an existing social graph.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focus on the prediction of violent recidivism among individuals convicted of politically motivated violence -terrorism, and make some recommendations about the approach to be used and the expertise required in assessing risk in politically motivated offenders.
Abstract: The present paper focuses on the prediction of violent recidivism among individuals convicted of politically motivated violence – terrorism. We argue that the assumptions of general violence prediction models, used in risk assessment procedures with other offenders, do not necessarily apply to terrorist offenders. Subsequently we discuss the assumption of general expertise in mental health professionals in such cases. Furthermore, we describe the role of professionals in this field, their expertise, and the use of psychological and psychiatric evidence. We are particularly concerned about the use of psychometric testing. Finally we make some recommendations about the approach to be used and the expertise required in assessing risk in politically motivated offenders.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The second mental health in-reach team survey was conducted in 2007 and aimed to capture a variety of data, including: workforce features; connections with primary care services; the role of in- Reach services, their caseload, the interventions provided, and barriers to successful operation; and the relationship with the wider NHS.
Abstract: The prevalence of mental disorder among prisoners is considerably higher than that in the general population. Historically, mental healthcare in prisons has been criticised for being under-funded and provided by the Prison Service. The 2001 policy Changing the Outlook envisaged multi-professional prison mental health teams funded by the local primary care trusts. Such teams are now in place, managing offenders with severe mental illness, but they have faced challenges. The second mental health in-reach team survey was conducted in 2007 and aimed to capture a variety of data, including: workforce features; connections with primary care services; the role of in-reach services, their caseload, the interventions provided, and barriers to successful operation; and the relationship with the wider NHS. It was found that the role and activities of in-reach teams had changed considerably since the first in-reach survey was undertaken in 2005.