Fast media cycle will hinder prudent policymaking

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Political Campaigns ◽  
Rapid Response ◽  
Rapid Response Teams ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Change Policy ◽  
Basic Facts ◽  
Policy Direction ◽  
Political Decisions

Subject Rapid response decision-making. Significance The advent of the internet, social media and high-speed communications are forcing officials to respond quickly to situations when basic facts on the ground may still be unclear. Government and political decisions are now expected to be delivered faster than ever, but the cognitive burdens of those decisions have not changed. Impacts Political campaigns will increasingly employ rapid-response teams to address claims as quickly as possible. Rapid-response teams are not the same as the policy team, meaning that they are rarely given leeway to change policy direction. Decisions by rapid-response teams may make officials more likely to double down on a position and prevent flexibility in the long term.

How to balance interfirm relationships? A case from high-speed railway industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 1785-1799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Zhang ◽  
Xiaopeng Deng ◽  
Bon-Gang Hwang ◽  
Yanliang Niu
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Interfirm Relationships ◽  
High Speed Railway ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Railway Industry ◽  
Interfirm Cooperation ◽  
Relationship Structures ◽  
Interfirm Competition

Purpose Balancing interfirm relationships is important for firms’ long-term superior performance. However, prior studies mainly focus on interfirm competition or interfirm cooperation separately, ignoring the balance of interfirm relationships. To bridge this gap in knowledge, this study aims to develop a framework to evaluate the balance of interfirm competition and interfirm cooperation and propose strategies to optimize a firm’s interfirm relationships. Design/methodology/approach After an in-depth literature review, a framework was developed for evaluating and optimizing the interfirm relationships. Taking the high-speed railway industry as an example, the proposed framework was implemented. Findings The results of the case confirm that the balancing of interfirm relationships can lead to more superior firm performance. Also, rather than mutual suppression, the interfirm competition and interfirm cooperation present a roughly positive relationship. Originality/value This study would contribute to the existing knowledge body by developing a framework for balancing interfirm relationships. Also, this study can aid practitioners in evaluating and optimizing their interfirm relationship structures.

Sinn Fein surge in Ireland could be short-lived

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Identity Politics ◽  
Climate Change Policy ◽  
Left Wing ◽  
Green Party ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sinn Fein ◽  
Change Policy ◽  
Form Part ◽  
First Time

Subject Sinn Fein surge. Significance On February 8, Sinn Fein (SF), Ireland’s left-wing nationalist party, won the first-preference vote for the first time, receiving 24.5%. However, it is unlikely to form part of the next government because it did not win enough seats. It is too early to say if SF’s rise constitutes a long-term realignment in Irish politics; its surge in support was based on voters' pragmatic concerns surrounding housing and health policy and far less on support for the party's identity politics. Impacts A ‘thin’ Brexit trade deal and an OECD digital tax would limit Ireland’s ability to increase public spending significantly. Ireland’s Brexit stance is unlikely to change much under a new government. The Green Party will likely form part of the next government, making climate change policy a greater priority for Dublin.

scholarly journals High-speed data in Africa: an assessment of provision via mobile networks

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Curwen ◽  
Jason Whalley
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Networks ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Data Networks ◽  
Individual Country ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Term Evolution ◽  
High Speed Data

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the current provision of high-speed data networks in the African continent, in particular taking into account both licences and launches related to long-term evolution (LTE). Design/methodology/approach An up-to-date underlying database of licences and launches relating to LTE in Africa has been compiled. There is also a review of the international operators that are playing a significant role in LTE provision. A number of individual country case studies are considered. Issues of corruption are addressed. Findings Africa is interesting because it has been a laggard in the development of high-speed data networks, but now finds itself in a position to leapfrog 3G technologies, and hence close the gap that had opened up compared to, for example, Europe and Asia. This process is effectively assisted by the lack of fixed-wire connectivity but has to take account of the difficulty of attracting the requisite investment. Research limitations/implications Databases relating to Africa are always difficult to compile. Originality/value Published work relating to mobile networks in Africa is not plentiful, and it is difficult to find relevant data in the public domain. A key aspect of the paper is that the database is entirely up-to-date.

Therapy and prevention for mental health: What if mental diseases are mostly not brain disorders?

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. A. Ioannidis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disease ◽  
Brain Disorders ◽  
Social Stressors ◽  
Labor Education ◽  
Mental Diseases ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Political Decisions

AbstractNeurobiology-based interventions for mental diseases and searches for useful biomarkers of treatment response have largely failed. Clinical trials should assess interventions related to environmental and social stressors, with long-term follow-up; social rather than biological endpoints; personalized outcomes; and suitable cluster, adaptive, and n-of-1 designs. Labor, education, financial, and other social/political decisions should be evaluated for their impacts on mental disease.

Communication Disordered: Program Implementation in Long-Term Care

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (15) ◽  
pp. 64-67
Author(s):  
George Barnes ◽  
Joseph Salemi
Keyword(s):  
Program Implementation ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Family Satisfaction ◽  
Regulatory Compliance ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Change Policy

The organizational structure of long-term care (LTC) facilities often removes the rehab department from the interdisciplinary work culture, inhibiting the speech-language pathologist's (SLP's) communication with the facility administration and limiting the SLP's influence when implementing clinical programs. The SLP then is unable to change policy or monitor the actions of the care staff. When the SLP asks staff members to follow protocols not yet accepted by facility policy, staff may be unable to respond due to confusing or conflicting protocol. The SLP needs to involve members of the facility administration in the policy-making process in order to create successful clinical programs. The SLP must overcome communication barriers by understanding the needs of the administration to explain how staff compliance with clinical goals improves quality of care, regulatory compliance, and patient-family satisfaction, and has the potential to enhance revenue for the facility. By taking this approach, the SLP has a greater opportunity to increase safety, independence, and quality of life for patients who otherwise may not receive access to the appropriate services.

Data Fail to Back Rapid Response Teams

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 8-9
Author(s):  
MARY ANN MOON
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Response ◽  
Rapid Response Teams

Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation Reduced Tire Pressure Initiative

1997 ◽  
Vol 1589 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Davies ◽  
Tami F. Wall ◽  
Allan Carpentier
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Vehicle Stability ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Tire Pressure ◽  
Reduced Pressure ◽  
Maintenance Costs ◽  
Short And Long Term

After examination of the research carried out by other agencies, Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation (SHT) embarked on an initiative to adapt low tire pressure technologies to the province's needs and environment. The focus of the initiative was to explore several technical questions from SHT's perspective: (a) Can low tire pressures be used to increase truck weights from secondary to primary without increasing road maintenance costs on thin membrane surface roads? (b) What are the short- and long-term effects of tire heating under high-speed/high-deflection constant reduced pressure (CRP) operations in a Saskatchewan environment? (c) What effects do lower tire pressures have on vehicle stability at highway speeds? To date, significant opportunities have been noted on local hauls (less than 30 min loaded at highway speeds) for CRP operation and long primary highway hauls that begin or end in relatively short secondary highway sections that limit vehicle weight allowed for the whole trip for central tire inflation technology. The background and environment for the initiative and the investigations and demonstrations envisioned and undertaken are briefly outlined.

Dual-isotope single-photon emission computerized tomography scanning in patients with glioblastoma multiforme: association with patient survival and histopathological characteristics of tumor after high-dose radiotherapy

1998 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Schwartz ◽  
B. Leonard Holman ◽  
Joseph F. Polak ◽  
Basem M. Garada ◽  
Marc S. Schwartz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Glioblastoma Multiforme ◽  
Single Photon ◽  
Photon Emission ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dual Isotope ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The study was conducted to determine the association between dual-isotope single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scanning and histopathological findings of tumor recurrence and survival in patients treated with high-dose radiotherapy for glioblastoma multiforme. Methods. Studies in which SPECT with 201Tl and 99mTc-hexamethypropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) were used were performed 1 day before reoperation in 47 patients with glioblastoma multiforme who had previously been treated by surgery and high-dose radiotherapy. Maximum uptake of 201Tl in the lesion was expressed as a ratio to that in the contralateral scalp, and uptake of 99mTc-HMPAO was expressed as a ratio to that in the cerebellar cortex. Patients were stratified into groups based on the maximum radioisotope uptake values in their tumor beds. The significance of differences in patient gender, histological characteristics of tissue at reoperation, and SPECT uptake group with respect to 1-year survival was elucidated by using the chi-square statistic. Comparisons of patient ages and time to tumor recurrence as functions of 1-year survival were made using the t-test. Survival data at 1 year were presented according to the Kaplan—Meier method, and the significance of potential differences was evaluated using the log-rank method. The effects of different variables (tumor type, time to recurrence, and SPECT grouping) on long-term survival were evaluated using Cox proportional models that controlled for age and gender. All patients in Group I (201Tl ratio < 2 and 99mTc-HMPAO ratio < 0.5) showed radiation changes in their biopsy specimens: they had an 83.3% 1-year survival rate. Group II patients (201T1 ratio < 2 and 99mTc-HMPAO ratio of ≥ 0.5 or 201Tl ratio between 2 and 3.5 regardless of 99mTc-HMPAO ratio) had predominantly infiltrating tumor (66.6%); they had a 29.2% 1-year survival rate. Almost all of the patients in Group III (201Tl ratio > 3.5 and 99mTc-HMPAO ratio ≥ 0.5) had solid tumor (88.2%) and they had a 6.7% 1-year survival rate. Histological data were associated with 1-year survival (p < 0.01); however, SPECT grouping was more closely associated with 1-year survival (p < 0.001) and was the only variable significantly associated with long-term survival (p < 0.005). Conclusions. Dual-isotope SPECT data correlate with histopathological findings made at reoperation and with survival in patients with malignant gliomas after surgical and high-dose radiation therapy.

Long-term management of patients with multiple brain metastases after shaped beam radiosurgery

2004 ◽  
pp. 406-412
Author(s):  
Paul Okunieff ◽  
Michael C. Schell ◽  
Russell Ruo ◽  
E. Ronald Hale ◽  
Walter G. O'Dell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Multiple Metastases ◽  
Extracranial Disease ◽  
Successful Control ◽  
The Brain

✓ The role of radiosurgery in the treatment of patients with advanced-stage metastatic disease is currently under debate. Previous randomized studies have not consistently supported the use of radiosurgery to treat patients with numbers of brain metastases. In negative-results studies, however, intracranial tumor control was high but extracranial disease progressed; thus, patient survival was not greatly affected, although neurocognitive function was generally maintained until death. Because the future promises improved systemic (extracranial) therapy, the successful control of brain disease is that much more crucial. Thus, for selected patients with multiple metastases to the brain who remain in good neurological condition, aggressive lesion-targeting radiosurgery should be very useful. Although a major limitation to success of this therapy is the lack of control of extracranial disease in most patients, it is clear that well-designed, aggressive treatment substantially decreases the progression of brain metastases and also improves neurocognitive survival. The authors present the management and a methodology for rational treatment of a patient with breast cancer who has harbored 24 brain metastases during a 3-year period.

Spinal meningioma after treatment for Hodgkin disease

2001 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Martin ◽  
Christopher J. Hammond ◽  
H. Jane Dobbs ◽  
Safa Al-Sarraj ◽  
Nicholas W. M. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Hodgkin Disease ◽  
Second Primary ◽  
Combined Modality Treatment ◽  
Spinal Meningioma ◽  
Primary Tumors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Radiation Induced ◽  
Mutagenic Effects ◽  
Long Term Survivors

✓ Long-term survivors of Hodgkin disease may develop second primary tumors caused by the mutagenic effects of radio- and chemotherapy. The authors describe the case of a 35-year-old woman who presented with an unusual meningioma of the cervical spine 9 years after undergoing combined-modality treatment for Hodgkin disease. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of spinal meningioma as a complication of such therapy. Whereas radiation-induced intracranial meningiomas are well described in the literature, treatment-induced meningiomas of the spine have not been widely recognized.

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