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This article provides an overview of the challenges and priorities facing the new Labour Party government in England after the 2024 UK general election. It highlights reports from the Institute for Fiscal Studies that reveal stagnant school spending and increased costs for staffing, food, and energy. The article also addresses issues in school provision, such as inequality, rising numbers of Education, Health and Care Plans, pupil absenteeism, and mental health concerns. Additionally, the article discusses developments in education and support for children with additional learning needs in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, including efforts to improve experiences, implement reforms, and provide more specialist school placements. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents information of particular interest to special educational needs (SEN) teachers in Europe as of September 2023. Topics include details of the National Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Implementation Board plan released in Great Britain, publication of the independent report on the national discussion on education in Scotland and the IPSOS UK report on Independent Review of SEN Services and Processes in Northern Ireland.

Objectives: To evaluate effects of worsening surgically induced chronic kidney disease (CKD‐S) on oncological and non‐oncological survival outcomes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent partial (PN) or radical nephrectomy (RN) and were free of preoperative CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients were stratified by CKD stage at last follow‐up: no CKD‐S (eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2), de novo CKD‐S 3a (eGFR 45–59 mL/min/1.73 m2), CKD‐S 3b (eGFR <45 and ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2) and CKD‐S 4 (eGFR <30 and ≥15 mL/min/1.73 m2). The primary outcome was all‐cause mortality (ACM). Secondary outcomes included non‐cancer mortality (NCM), cancer‐specific mortality (CSM) and de novo CKD‐S Stage 3/4. Multivariable analysis (MVA) was utilised to identify risk factors for outcomes. Kaplan–Meier analysis (KMA) was utilised to evaluate overall (OS), non‐cancer (NCS), and cancer‐specific survival with respect to CKD‐S categories. Results: We analysed 3239 patients. The mean preoperative and last‐follow‐up eGFRs were 87.4 and 69.5 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. On last follow‐up, 57.9% (n = 1876) had no CKD‐S, 18.7% (n = 606) had CKD‐S 3a, 15.1% (n = 489) had CKD‐S 3b and 8.3% (n = 268) had CKD‐S 4. On MVA, de novo CKD‐S 3b and 4 were independently associated with ACM (hazard ratios [HRs] 1.3–2.1, P = 0.003–0.001) and NCM (HRs 1.5–2.8, P = 0.021–0.001), but not CSM (P = 0.219–0.909); de novo CKD‐S 3a was not predictive for any mortality outcomes (P = 0.102–0.81). RN was independently associated with CKD‐S 3–4 (HRs 1.78–1.99, P < 0.001–0.035). Comparing no CKD‐S, CKD‐S 3a, CKD‐S 3b and CKD‐S 4, KMA demonstrated worsening outcomes with progressive CKD‐S stage: 5‐year OS 84% vs 78% vs 71% vs 60% (P < 0.001) and 5‐year NCS 93% vs 87% vs 83% vs 72% (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Development of CKD‐S Stage 3b and 4, but not 3a, was associated with worsened ACM and NCM. The decision to proceed with nephron preservation via PN should be individualised based on oncological risk and risk of functional decline to CKD‐S 3b or 4, and not CKD‐S 3a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on developing a bespoke bilingual tool for identifying speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Topics include assessment of communication milestones alongside risk and environmental factors carried out at multiple age points in line with the Healthy Child Wales Programme; and supporting parents in understanding the rights under the new legislation being also published.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are a common injury that occurs in both the sporting and non‐sporting population. Goal setting is said to be an effective psychological tool within ACL rehabilitation and is commonly used by physiotherapists. To date, literature surrounding goal setting practices is under analysed in relation to qualitative research. Purpose: The central aim of this study was to explore UK physiotherapists understanding, experiences and training towards goal setting practices used in ACL rehabilitation and whether they are effective. Method: Semi‐structured interviews involving 24 participants across three specific areas including: National Health Service, elite sport and academia were conducted using an inductive approach. Data analysis included thematic analysis with triangulation and a comprehensive multi‐staged analysis process to enhance trustworthiness, whilst respecting ethical considerations. Results/Discussion: Participants from all three areas of practice tended to use the same approach which was SMART goals. All participants lacked any theoretical understanding of goals but would welcome further training in the field. Participants were missing important aspects of setting goals such as not addressing expectations and underutilising feedback. Conclusion: These findings suggest that a call for more psychological training is clearly warranted in both the physiotherapy curriculum and within post graduate CPD training. Creating a specialist interest group (e.g. physiotherapists interested in psychology) may help share good psychological practices and overall enhance understanding in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the renewed focus on longer-term education recovery planning in Great Britain amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics include the plan to resume in-school learning for the 2021 summer term, details of the minutes of Scotland Education Recovery Group's March 2021 meeting related to a discussion on summer activities and the appointment of Sir Kevan Collins as Education Recovery Commissioner to oversee a program aimed at young people who have lost out on learning due to pandemic.

The article presents the discussion on special issue to the natural sciences. Topics include dominance of the social and natural sciences with the pretense of neutral rationality as characteristic of modernity's eclipse of theology; and theologians employing scientific theories and findings in constructive and concrete theological debates.

The archetype of the self underlies the ego-complex at its root and source in the unconscious. None of these assigns to the self the role that I feel to be so essential in the syndrome. SP 50-52 sp In regard to the method of study of these processes of the archaic, unconscious psyche in psychosis, I find myself baffled as to how to set up anything like a scientific approach to the material. In this hypothesis the model is easy to visualize but difficult to understand in terms of experience; the self is seen in this case as the center of the total psychic organism, and the ego is subsumed within this totality as the center of the field of consciousness only, that is, of contents accessible to consciousness; between the two are the autonomous complexes, which are groupings of contents not accessible to ego-consciousness (Figure 1). Reconstitutive process in the psychopathology of the self1: The following paper by J.W. Perry is published with permission from the Annals of the New York Academy of the Sciences where it was first published in January 1962. The imagery I refer to is a whole class of symbolic representations of centrality and organization, of order and highest authority; I hope to demonstrate that in these we see representations of the self and processes that transform or reorganize the self in the unconscious psyche. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers global education newsbriefs. Topics include the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on British education policy; the special educational needs Regulations and Code of Practice in Ireland; and the implementation of the Additional Support for Learning (ASL) legislation in Scotland.

The present study accessed the use of diffusive gradients in thin film (DGT) as a surrogate for estimating the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in a freshwater mussel. We coupled DGTs with mussels and deployed them in a constructed wetland. Water quality parameters were measured for a 4‐d period on 3 continuous occasions during 12‐d trials in the summer and winter; metal speciation was modeled for each occasion. Higher cumulative rainfall and water turbidity during the summer trial resulted in higher particulate metal concentrations compared to the winter trial. Mussel accumulated metals did not correlate with DGT‐measured metals but positively correlated with particulate metals in the summer because filtering particulate food mainly contributed to the bioaccumulation. In contrast, the winter trial suggested a positive correlation between metal bioaccumulation and DGT‐measured metals because uptake of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from water mainly contributed to the bioaccumulation, and the labile metal species complexed with DOM generally overlapped with DGT‐targeted metals. Though Cu has a higher affinity for organic ligands than Zn, the interactions between Cu and Zn in the mixture did not impede their uptake and bioaccumulation. The deployment duration when DGTs and mussels are coupled to compare metal bioavailability should be no less than 12 d so that mussels have enough time to accumulate contaminants from the environmental media. In summary, DGT is a convenient surrogate for biomonitoring, but it may not fit the real environment such as the aquatic system with unstable water chemistries. Geochemical modeling is good at calculating metal speciation but inferior to DGT in predicting bioavailability and mimicking bioaccumulation. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:2485–2495. © 2020 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information related to the domination of Brexit on Great Britain's politics. It mentions appointment of Gavin Williamson, a former Defence Secretary, as Education Secretary in Great Britain. It also mentions independent review of the implementation of the Additional Support for Learning legislation.

Time perspective research assesses the degree to which thoughts and feelings about the past, present and future influence behaviour, and a balanced time perspective profile has been posited as being ideal. Although this area of research has seen a move towards person‐centred analyses, using either cluster analyses or a deviation from balanced time perspective (DBTP) approach, there are a number of theoretical and methodological issues that must be addressed. Using data from diverse samples in four countries, the present study used both cluster analyses and the DBTP approach to assess how cluster membership and DBTP scores related to a range of health and well‐being outcomes. As in previous studies, a balanced profile only emerged once in cluster analyses, and positive‐oriented profiles were associated with optimal outcomes. The study also found evidence of a relationship between DBTP scores and scores on well‐being indicators. However, results gained after manipulating the DBTP equation in two different ways again indicated that higher than expected positive past and present or past and future scores were responsible for the positive outcomes. As such, these findings raise concerns regarding the use of the DBTP construct within clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Article impact is becoming an increasingly popular metric for assessing a scholar's influence, yet little is known about its properties or the factors that affect it. This study tests whether author, article, and methodological attributes influence the impact of SMJ articles, defined as summed counts of article citations. Findings reveal that authors having fewer, more-often cited articles tended to have SMJ articles that received the most citations. In addition, whether an article appears in a regular or a special issue is not a stable predictor of its impact. Moreover, empirical articles that test primary data, control for more threats to internal validity, and have higher statistical power tend to receive more citations. Further, an article's long-term impact oftentimes becomes apparent shortly after its publication. Overall, the findings provide new insights into the determinants of impact and its temporal qualities and help explain some of the differences between high and average impact articles. The findings also underscore the need for transparency between author publication strategies (article volume, impact) and the requirements of his/her institution. Implications for authors, reviewers, editors, and administrative evaluation are offered. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: (a) To establish baseline lateral craniofacial morphology and soft tissue profile outcomes for New Zealand children with complete unilateral and complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (CUCLP/CBCLP) and determine differences in relation to demographic characteristics including cleft type, sex and ethnicity and (b) To compare these outcomes to similar international studies.Settings and Sample Population: Nation-wide prospective and retrospective cephalometric analysis of 76 patients with CUCLP and 23 patients with CBCLP pre-secondary alveolar bone graft.Materials and Methods: Assessment was undertaken by three experienced orthodontists blinded to patient identity. A total of 13 hard tissue and 8 soft tissue landmarks were identified allowing for an assessment of 16 angular, three linear and one ratio variables. Inter-assessor reliability was determined by pre-defined measurement error thresholds.Results: Inter-assessor reliability of cephalometric landmarks restricted reporting to 10 hard tissue, four soft tissue and one ratio variables. CUCLP had greater midface and mandibular retrusion than CBCLP. Females had greater midface and mandibular prominence and smaller nasal projections. The Pacific and Māori groups had more retrusive midfacial profiles, and the Pacific group had more prominent mandibles. A sub-analysis of New Zealand European CUCLP results found they were closely aligned to Eurocleft and Americleft study centres with less favourable outcomes.Conclusions: The reliability of a number of cephalometric measurements was poor. Lateral craniofacial morphology and soft tissue profile outcomes varied between CUCLP/CBCLP, sex and ethnicity. The New Zealand European outcomes are similar to or less favourable to other studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to examine the perspectives of both academics and practitioners in relation to forming applied collaborative sport science research within team sports. Ninety-three participants who had previously engaged in collaborative research partnerships within team sports completed an online survey which focused on motivations and barriers for forming collaborations using blinded sliding scale (0-100) and rank order list. Research collaborations were mainly formed to improve the team performance (Academic: 73.6 ± 23.3; Practitioner: 84.3 ± 16.0; effect size (ES = 0.54), small). Academics ranked journal articles' importance significantly higher than practitioners did (Academic: Mrank = 53.9; Practitioner: 36.0; z = −3.18, p = .001, p < q). However, practitioners rated one-to-one communication as more preferential (Academic: Mrank = 41.3; Practitioner 56.1; z = −2.62, p = .009, p < q). Some potential barriers were found in terms of staff buy in (Academic: 70.0 ± 25.5; Practitioner: 56.8 ± 27.3; ES = 0.50, small) and funding (Academic: 68.0 ± 24.9; Practitioner: 67.5 ± 28.0; ES = 0.02, trivial). Both groups revealed low motivation for invasive mechanistic research (Academic: 36.3 ± 24.2; Practitioner: 36.4 ± 27.5; ES = 0.01, trivial), with practitioners have a preference towards 'fast' type research. There was a general agreement between academics and practitioners for forming research collaborations. Some potential barriers still exist (e.g. staff buy in and funding), with practitioners preferring 'fast' informal research dissemination compared to the 'slow' quality control approach of academics.  [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent critiques of methodological naturalism (MN) claim that it fails by conflicting with Christian belief and being insufficiently humble. We defend MN by tracing the real history of the debate, contending that the story as it is usually told is mythic. We show how MN works in practice, including among real scientists. The debate is a red herring. It only appears problematic because of confusion among its opponents about how scientists respond to experimental anomalies. We conclude by introducing our preferred approach, Science‐Engaged Theology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) policy in Great Britain. Topics discussed include primary aged children, secondary schools across Scotland, and the benefits and enjoyment of reading for pleasure. Also being discussed is the statutory guidance on parental involvement, and the development of training materials for parent councils.

This section offers special education-related news briefs in Great Britain as of December 1, 2017. Two additional needs consultations were closed, including an updated Supporting Children's Learning Code of Practice (3rd Edition) 2017 and associated regulations. The Read, Write, Count campaign was extended to include P4-7. The Department for Education Special Education and Inclusion Review Team in Northern Ireland has issued an update on the new special educational needs legislation.

Exploration of the patient-therapist relationship (transference work) is considered a core active ingredient in dynamic psychotherapy. However, there are contradictory findings as for whom and under what circumstances these interventions are beneficial. This study investigates long-term effects of transference work in the context of patients' quality of object relations (QOR) and therapists' self-reported disengaged feelings. Therapists' disengaged feelings may negatively influence the therapeutic process, especially while working explicitly with the transference since discussing feelings that are present in the session is an essential aspect of transference work. One hundred outpatients seeking psychotherapy for depression, anxiety and personality disorders were randomly assigned to one year of dynamic psychotherapy with transference work or to the same type and duration of treatment, but without transference work. Patients' QOR-lifelong pattern was evaluated before treatment and therapists' feelings were assessed using the Feeling Word Checklist-58 after each session. Outcome was measured with self-reports and interviews at pre-treatment, mid-treatment, post-treatment, one year and three years after treatment termination. A significant interaction of treatment group (transference work versus no transference work) by QOR by disengaged therapist feelings was present, indicating that disengaged feelings, even small amounts, were associated with negative long-term effects of transference work, depending on QOR Scale scores. The strengths of the negative association increased significantly with lower levels of QOR. The negative association between even a small increase in disengaged therapist feelings and long-term effects of transference interpretation was substantial for patients with poor QOR, but small among patients with good QOR. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message Therapists' emotional reactions to their patients (countertransference) seem to have a significant impact on both the treatment process and outcome of psychotherapy., Therapists' heightened level of disengaged feelings over a treatment period shows an adverse impact on the effect of transference work for all patients, and especially so for patients with a history of poor, non-mutual and complicated relationships., For patients with a history of reciprocal, sound relationships the negative influence of therapists' disengaged countertransference is minimal., Higher therapist disengagement is strongly related to inferior therapists' skill for patients with a history of poor relationships and/or more personality disorder pathology., Training and supervision should provide direct feedback and focus on therapists' internal thought processes and emotional reactions., Therapists need to recognize and understand their feelings and attitudes in order to use the countertransference as a tool to understand the interpersonal process in therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the highlights of a consultation on proposed changes to initial teacher in Wales on September 20, 2016, which was led by former Education Minister Hew Lewis and Professor John Furlong, initial teacher education adviser for Wales. The key proposals include an increased role for schools, joint ownership of the initial teacher education program and link of school with higher education learning. The role of research in teacher education is emphasized.

Porous materials capable of selectively capturing CO2 from flue-gases or natural gas are of interest in terms of rising atmospheric CO2 levels and methane purification. Size-exclusive sieving of CO2 over CH4 and N2 has rarely been achieved. Herein we show that a crystal engineering approach to tuning of pore-size in a coordination network, [Cu(quinoline-5-carboxyate)2] n ( Qc-5-Cu) ena+bles ultra-high selectivity for CO2 over N2 (SCN≈40 000) and CH4 (SCM≈3300). Qc-5-Cu-sql-β, a narrow pore polymorph of the square lattice ( sql) coordination network Qc-5-Cu-sql-α, adsorbs CO2 while excluding both CH4 and N2. Experimental measurements and molecular modeling validate and explain the performance. Qc-5-Cu-sql-β is stable to moisture and its separation performance is unaffected by humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous materials capable of selectively capturing CO2 from flue-gases or natural gas are of interest in terms of rising atmospheric CO2 levels and methane purification. Size-exclusive sieving of CO2 over CH4 and N2 has rarely been achieved. Herein we show that a crystal engineering approach to tuning of pore-size in a coordination network, [Cu(quinoline-5-carboxyate)2] n ( Qc-5-Cu) ena+bles ultra-high selectivity for CO2 over N2 (SCN≈40 000) and CH4 (SCM≈3300). Qc-5-Cu-sql-β, a narrow pore polymorph of the square lattice ( sql) coordination network Qc-5-Cu-sql-α, adsorbs CO2 while excluding both CH4 and N2. Experimental measurements and molecular modeling validate and explain the performance. Qc-5-Cu-sql-β is stable to moisture and its separation performance is unaffected by humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the efforts by British government for special education needs. Topics discussed include early draft of the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Code from Welsh Government, the 'Read, Write, Count' campaign in Scotland, and improve literacy standards by government in England.

Sequestration of CO2, either from gas mixtures or directly from air (direct air capture, DAC), could mitigate carbon emissions. Here five materials are investigated for their ability to adsorb CO2 directly from air and other gas mixtures. The sorbents studied are benchmark materials that encompass four types of porous material, one chemisorbent, TEPA-SBA-15 (amine-modified mesoporous silica) and four physisorbents: Zeolite 13X (inorganic); HKUST-1 and Mg-MOF-74/Mg-dobdc (metal–organic frameworks, MOFs); SIFSIX-3-Ni, (hybrid ultramicroporous material). Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) experiments afforded information about the contents of each sorbent under equilibrium conditions and their ease of recycling. Accelerated stability tests addressed projected shelf-life of the five sorbents. The four physisorbents were found to be capable of carbon capture from CO2-rich gas mixtures, but competition and reaction with atmospheric moisture significantly reduced their DAC performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the appointment of Nicky Morgan as the Secretary of State for Education by replacing Michael Gove. Topics discussed include examination of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) measures; workforce recommendations from the Graham Review of childcare; and views of Lesley Griffiths, Communities and Tackling Poverty Minister, on the education policy.

The article discusses various developments related to teacher training in Great Britain as of 2013. In England, postgraduate school-based initial teacher training is continuing; and the network of Teaching Schools, and Teaching School Alliances is expanding. In Scotland, training is continuing for traditional higher education; and in February 2013, an additional 2.9 million pounds were allocated for eight Scottish universities providing initial teacher training.

Mental toughness has been explored predominantly within sport contexts. Nevertheless, it is difficult to conceive mental toughness as only applicable to athletes. This study examines whether mentally tough participants exhibit resilience against stress. This is a cross-sectional study based on two different samples: Sample 1 consisted of 284 high school students (99 males, 185 females, M = 18.3 years). Sample 2 consisted of 140 first through fifth semester undergraduate students (53 males, 87 females, M = 20.0 years). Participants provided information about their level of perceived stress (10-item Perceived Stress Scale), mental toughness (48-item Mental Toughness Questionnaire) and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory). Consistent across the two samples, mental toughness mitigated the relationship between high stress and depressive symptoms. The interaction between stress and mental toughness explained 2% of variance in the adolescent sample and 10% of variance among young adults. The promotion of protective factors that foster resilient adaptation is a relevant issue. Mental toughness may appeal to individuals that are typically difficult to be reached with health interventions. Because mental toughness is part of young people's daily speech, it may serve as a less academic resource than other health psychology concepts. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers news brief related to politics from Great Britain as of November 2012. National Parenting Strategy program has been launched in Scotland in October 2012 which provides improvement at access to information, services and advices for parents. Action plan related to education for travelers has been introduced by the Department for Education in Northern Ireland. A draft legislation related to special educational needs for children and young has been published in England.

One strand of the church's conversation about homosexuality compares present-day acceptance of homosexuals to the church's acceptance of Gentiles in Acts 15. In a previous article, 'Gentiles and Homosexuals,' I presented the history of that strand. In a reply to my article, Olson proposes to reimagine the analogy via the 'radical new perspective on Paul' and argues that doing so exposes problems with my original analysis. I defend myself against these criticisms, while also entering into the spirit of Olson's reimagined analogy. Expanding the scope beyond Acts to Paul opens up important facets that might otherwise be obscured. In particular, it includes voices that are sometimes silenced, and presses both sides for an account of sexuality grounded in vocation and God's purposes in creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When chief executive officers (CEOs) are replaced by external successors, they frequently retain high levels of power. We found that outgoing CEOs' announced post-succession involvement is negatively related to their successors' power. Additionally, we found that the magnitude of the stock market reaction to succession announcements is greater when the outgoing CEOs are allowed to continue to retain significant influence, and diminished when the new CEOs are awarded significant position power when they become CEO. These results suggest that to improve long-term performance, companies should keep outgoing CEOs around and not grant new CEOs too much power. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the author's insights on the essay "Self to Self," by David Velleman, which deals with concerns and thoughts on oneself. It explains the theory of Velleman and presents various suggestions and criticisms. The author notes that Velleman's explanations of self-thoughts appear to combine two ideas such as the insufficiency of his straightforward account and the self to self way, which is a manner of thinking the future and past action and thought.

Unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) are proposed as a useful alternative to manned aircraft for some aerial wildlife surveys. We described the components and current capabilities of a small UAS developed specifically for wildlife and ecological surveys that is currently in field use for a variety of applications. We also reviewed government regulations currently affecting the use of UASs in civilian airspace. Information on capabilities and regulations will be valuable for agencies and individuals interested in the potential UASs offer for monitoring wildlife populations and their habitat. Descriptions of current uses and recommendations for future employment will be helpful in implementing this technology efficiently for aerial surveys as the civilian sector begins to adopt UASs for peacetime missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Locoregional therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are considered to confer a survival advantage, however, the patient group that should be targeted is not clearly defined. This study aimed to determine the impact on survival of locoregional therapies compared with supportive care, within prognostic categories as stratified by the Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) scoring system. Methods: A prospective database was used to identify those patients who were treated with either locoregional therapy ( n = 128) or supportive care ( n = 92). Survival analysis was performed for groups matched by CLIP score at presentation. Comparison of important prognostic factors was undertaken and univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to assess determinants of survival. Results: Use of locoregional therapies was only associated with a survival benefit in patients with a CLIP score of 1 or 2. In this group, the median survival in patients who received locoregional therapies was 25.0 months (95% confidence interval 22.7–27.4) compared with 8.9 months (95% confidence interval 7.3–10.5) for supportive care ( P = 0.001). For patients with CLIP scores of 3 or greater, no survival benefit of locoregional therapies was observed. Multivariate analysis revealed locoregional intervention, CLIP score, tumor symptoms, α-fetoprotein level, bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase level as independent prognostic indicators. Conclusion: Locoregional therapies should be targeted specifically to patients with non-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma as assessed by validated scoring systems. Use of these therapies in patients with advanced disease does not appear to be associated with a survival benefit and may expose patients to unnecessary harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the argument that moral approval of homosexuality is analogous to the early church's inclusion of gentiles. The analogy has a long but often overlooked history, dating back to the start of the modern gay-rights movement. It has recently gained greater prominence because of its importance to the Episcopal Church's debate with the wider Anglican Communion. Beginning with the Episcopal Church argument, we see that there are five specific areas most in need of further clarification. In this essay I examine significant uses of the analogy from the prior 25 years to see how effectively they address these five areas. I conclude that the conversation surrounding the Gentile Analogy is the current, best hope for mutual understanding among Christians about homosexuality. However, if the analogy is to advance the Christian conversation, much greater care and precision is needed in its application from traditionalists and revisionists alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a dramatic increase in the authority granted to nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA). This “expanded” authority has changed who can provide health-care services and has weakened the control physicians have traditionally held over the provision of medical services. These changes in regulation have varied by occupation, state, and year and provide variation that can be exploited to empirically measure the individual and collective impacts of changes in NP authority and PA authority on practitioner incomes. It is found that changes in NP and PA regulatory authority do impact the labor markets of all three practitioner categories. NPs having greater practice authority brings physician incomes down, has differential impacts on PA incomes, and improves their own earnings, other factors held constant. PAs having increased authority has a downward effect on NP earnings, a positive impact on physician income, and little impact on their own incomes. ( JEL I18, J18, J44, H75) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary cancer of the liver with an established causal link to viral hepatitis and other forms of chronic liver disease. Aims: The aim of this study was to analyse the determinants of outcome in patients with HCC referred to a tertiary centre for management. Method: Two hundred and thirty-five prospective patients with HCC and minimum 12-month follow-up were studied. Results: The cohort was heterogeneous, with 52% Caucasian, 40% Asian and 5% of Middle-Eastern origin. Independent predictors of outcome included tumour size and number, the presence of ascites or portal vein thrombosis, α-foetoprotein >50 U/L and an impaired performance status. Treatment was determined on an individual case basis by a multidisciplinary tumour team. Surgical resection was primary treatment in 43 patients, liver transplantation in 40 patients, local ablation (percutaneous radiofrequency ablation or alcohol injection) in 33 patients, transarterial chemoembolisation in 33 patients, chemotherapy or other systemic therapy in 30 patients and no treatment in 56 patients. After adjustment for significant covariates, both liver transplantation ( P<0.001) and surgical resection ( P=0.029) had a significant effect on patient survival compared with no treatment, but local ablation ( P=0.410) and chemoembolisation ( P=0.831) did not. Liver transplantation resulted in superior overall and, in particular, disease-free survival compared with surgical resection (disease-free survival 84 vs 15% at 5 years). Conclusion: In conclusion, both surgical resection and liver transplantation significantly improve the survival of patients with HCC, but improvements need to be made to the delivery of loco-regional therapy to enhance its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A data analysis and visualization program was developed to assist in the interpretation of second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) processes, including vibrational sum-frequency generation and electronically resonant second harmonic generation. A novel diagrammatic approach allows concise visual representations of the resonant NLO molecular response. By mapping the predicted NLO response as a function of molecular orientation, molecular modeling results can be combined with experimental measurements for orientational analysis. A method is developed and implemented to predict the nonlinear optical properties of the amide backbones in complete proteins with known structures. NLOPredict is available for most computer operating systems from http://sda.iu.edu/nlopredict/. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the author's philosophical insights regarding the variations of minimalist semantics. The author denotes the varied interpretation of such semantics from pragmatics and contextualists. The author details the different concepts of minimalism such as semantic contribution and locutionary content. The author also explains the epistemological nature of minimalist semantics.

Gricean pragmatics seems to pose a dilemma. If semantics is limited to the conventional meanings of types of expressions, then the semantics of an utterance does not determine what is said. If all that figures in the determination of what is said counts as semantics, then pragmatic reasoning about the specific intentions of a speaker intrudes on semantics. The dilemma is false. Key points: Semantics need not determine what is said, and the description, with which the hearer begins, need not provide the hearer with knowledge of what was said, or the ability to express what was said, from the hearer's context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explores into the seventeenth century study of religious error and its contemporary relevance made by Juan Martinez De Ripalda. Creation of an intrinsically supernatural substance is possible; Belief that supernatural grace is conferred in the existing providence for every good act ; Co-existence of error with supernatural knowledge.

Presents a reaction to a critique of the author's book, "Knowledge, Possibility, and Consciousness." Objections to philosopher David Chalmer's version of the modal argument; Failure to explain what primary intensions are; Problems with Chalmer's treatment of sensation terms like "pain."

Argues that the Zombie Argument, the Knowledge Argument and Modal Argument do not provide people with broadly common-sensical views about consciousness and the mental, and an inclination towards physicalism, any reasons not to be physicalists. Absence of support for the theory of neo-dualism by philosopher David Chalmers and Frank Jackson; Link between knowledge and possibility; False beliefs.

Discusses the book, `The Elm and the Expert,' by Jerry Fodor. What is the main topic of the book; Contributing factors to the change in Fodor's view about broad and narrow content; Description of the contents of the book.