Using Research to Change Public Policy: Reflections on 20 Years of Effort to Eliminate Corporal Punishment in Schools

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 818-821
Author(s):  
Irwin A. Hyman

In the past 20 years, over half of the states have abolished corporal punishment in schools. Without the use of ethically questionable, experimental studies in which students were randomly assigned to paddlings, advocacy researchers were able to integrate the literature and experimental research on reward, punishment, and motivation, and conduct enough studies to provide sufficient data for policy changes. Further, every popular school discipline training program promotes well-proven positive and preventive techniques and punishments that do not inflict physical pain24. Research on alternatives, naturalistic evidence from schools that eliminated corporal punishment, and survey research prove that schools do not need to use corporal punishment.2 The movement to eliminate parental spanking is at a stage similar to the beginning of the school corporal punishment debate in 1976. Even though some studies may show that moderate parental spanking may do no short-term harm, there is little scientific evidence that it is necessary.30 There are no data to indicate that schools which eliminated corporal punishment became any worse.18 The same demographic factors and political polarizations that have kept about half of American school children from the protections against paddling afforded students in almost all other Western democracies also impede the movement to eliminate parental spanking. Since we know that corporal punishment too often leads to excesses, and since we have a multitude of effective positive approaches, what is the worst thing that would happen if all Americans stopped hitting children in any setting? The same children who are hit for misbehavior would continue that misbehavior and other ineffective punishments would be used.

1975 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Adams ◽  
Judith Okely ◽  
David Morgan ◽  
David Smith

ABSTRACTThis article describes current policies and practices in relation to English Gypsies and a study of Gypsies by participant observation. While governments in the past have always sought to prevent the Gypsies from travelling, local authorities have been equally concerned to prevent camping or settlement in their district. Despite the Caravan Sites Act 1968, which makes the provision of caravan sites mandatory, many authorities are reluctant to fulfil their obligations. By June 1974, pitches for little more than a quarter of Gypsy families had been provided. Harassment of travelling families who have no legal place to which to go persists.The evidence suggests that the Gypsies are a cohesive ethnic group with membership based primarily on descent. They are not drop-outs from house-dwelling society and they maintain their separation by intent. They have a viable economy based mainly on scrap breaking and it seems likely that travelling, which facilitates their work, will persist. Though some Gypsies wish to settle, many do not.Several short-term policy changes are proposed, requiring a more flexible and varied approach to accommodation for Gypsies. The hope is that Britain might ultimately become the first country to permit Gypsies their own separate way of life, travelling or settled by choice.


1969 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 591-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conrad J. Schwarz

This paper is based on a review of the English language medical literature over the past 35 years on Indian Hemp, with direct reference being made to the more significant articles published during that time. The paucity of direct experimental observation is noted and the difficulties in experimental studies are highlighted by descriptions of the wide variations in the potency of Indian Hemp derivatives. Specific references are provided for the wide range of observations made in relation to acute and chronic physical and psychological effects, personal characteristics of the users and possible factors in causation. It is concluded that marihuana is a poorly defined intoxicant which varies in potency, deteriorates with time and whose chemical composition is largely unknown at present. There are wide variations in human response and the state of intoxication itself carries with it varying degrees of unpleasant physical and psychological experiences. The association between hashish and, to a lesser extent, marihuana and short-term and long-term complications is discussed in relation to complex variables, of which the drug is but one factor.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aris Widiyanto ◽  
Joko Tri Atmojo ◽  
Aquartuti Tri Darmayanti

Background: Globally, it is estimated that one in five children will fail to grow or be known as stunting in 2020. In Indonesia based on Nutritional Status Monitoring (PSG) data for the past three years. The prevalence of short-term toddlers has increased from 2016 to 27.5% to 29.6% in 2017. Method: The interaction between environment and nutrition, especially food insecurity presents interesting dynamics that can be studied further. In this review, the authors are interested in providing scientific evidence-based information about the effects of food and environmental vulnerability factors on the incidence of stunting. Search for published articles is done through databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL (EBSCO), the official website of national health organizations, online libraries, and the UNICEF library from February 10 to March 25, 201. Result: Stunting AND Risk Factors, Factors affecting stunting, Stunting AND food insecure, stunting AND environment factors, Stunting AND Indonesia. Inclusion criteria were systematic reviews, clinical reviews, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, clinical studies, health reports, and program guidelines. Conclusion: Factors influencing stunting including: food insecurity increases the risk of stunting (OR = 1.17 95% CI: 1.09-1.25) and less weight (OR = 1.17 95% CI: 1.01-1.36). lack of sanitation, flooring type and mycotoxin exposure in the form of AF-alb.


Author(s):  
Vanessa Nadig ◽  
Ken Herrmann ◽  
Felix M. Mottaghy ◽  
Volkmar Schulz

AbstractPurpose Since the 1990s, PET has been successfully combined with MR or CT systems. In the past years, especially PET systems have seen a trend towards an enlarged axial field of view (FOV), up to a factor of ten. Methods Conducting a thorough literature research, we summarize the status quo of contemporary total-body (TB) PET/CT scanners and give an outlook on possible future developments. Results Currently, three human TB PET/CT systems have been developed: The PennPET Explorer, the uExplorer, and the Biograph Vision Quadra realize aFOVs between 1 and 2 m and show a tremendous increase in system sensitivity related to their longer gantries. Conclusion The increased system sensitivity paves the way for short-term, low-dose, and dynamic TB imaging as well as new examination methods in almost all areas of imaging.


2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-401
Author(s):  
Carla El-Mallah ◽  
Omar Obeid

Abstract Obesity and increased body adiposity have been alarmingly increasing over the past decades and have been linked to a rise in food intake. Many dietary restrictive approaches aiming at reducing weight have resulted in contradictory results. Additionally, some policies to reduce sugar or fat intake were not able to decrease the surge of obesity. This suggests that food intake is controlled by a physiological mechanism and that any behavioural change only leads to a short-term success. Several hypotheses have been postulated, and many of them have been rejected due to some limitations and exceptions. The present review aims at presenting a new theory behind the regulation of energy intake, therefore providing an eye-opening field for energy balance and a potential strategy for obesity management.


2013 ◽  
pp. 109-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Rühl

This paper presents the highlights of the third annual edition of the BP Energy Outlook, which sets out BP’s view of the most likely developments in global energy markets to 2030, based on up-to-date analysis and taking into account developments of the past year. The Outlook’s overall expectation for growth in global energy demand is to be 36% higher in 2030 than in 2011 and almost all the growth coming from emerging economies. It also reflects shifting expectations of the pattern of supply, with unconventional sources — shale gas and tight oil together with heavy oil and biofuels — playing an increasingly important role and, in particular, transforming the energy balance of the US. While the fuel mix is evolving, fossil fuels will continue to be dominant. Oil, gas and coal are expected to converge on market shares of around 26—28% each by 2030, and non-fossil fuels — nuclear, hydro and renewables — on a share of around 6—7% each. By 2030, increasing production and moderating demand will result in the US being 99% self-sufficient in net energy. Meanwhile, with continuing steep economic growth, major emerging economies such as China and India will become increasingly reliant on energy imports. These shifts will have major impacts on trade balances.


Author(s):  
Oleksii Timkov ◽  
Dmytro Yashchenko ◽  
Volodymyr Bosenko

The article deals with the development of a physical model of a car equipped with measuring, recording and remote control equipment for experimental study of car properties. A detailed description of the design of the physical model and of the electronic modules used is given, links to application libraries and the code of the first part of the program for remote control of the model are given. Atmega microcontroller on the Arduino Uno platform was used to manage the model and register the parameters. When moving the car on the memory card saved such parameters as speed, voltage on the motor, current on the motor, the angle of the steered wheel, acceleration along three coordinate axes are recorded. Use of more powerful microcontrollers will allow to expand the list of the registered parameters of movement of the car. It is possible to measure the forces acting on the elements of the car and other parameters. In the future, it is planned to develop a mathematical model of motion of the car and check its adequacy in conducting experimental studies on maneuverability on the physical model. In addition, it is possible to conduct studies of stability and consumption of electrical energy. The physical model allows to quickly change geometric dimensions and mass parameters. In the study of highway trains, this approach will allow to investigate the various layout schemes of highway trains in the short term. It is possible to make two-axle road trains and saddle towed trains, three-way hitched trains of different layout. The results obtained will allow us to improve not only the mathematical model, but also the experimental physical model, and move on to further study the properties of hybrid road trains with an active trailer link. This approach allows to reduce material and time costs when researching the properties of cars and road trains. Keywords: car, physical model, experiment, road trains, sensor, remote control, maneuverability, stability.


1971 ◽  
Vol 68 (1_Suppl) ◽  
pp. S27-S40 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Kobayashi ◽  
T. Kigawa ◽  
M. Mizuno ◽  
T. Watanabe

ABSTRACT There are several in vitro methods to analyse the function of the adenohypophysis or the mechanisms of its regulation. The present paper deals with single cell culture, organ culture and short term incubation techniques by which the morphology and gonadotrophin-secreting function of the adenohypophysis were studied. In trypsin-dispersed cell culture, the adenohypophysial cells showed extensive propagation to form numerous cell colonies and finally develop into a confluent monolayer cell sheet covering completely the surface of culture vessels. Almost all of the cultured cells, however, became chromophobic, at least at the end of the first week of cultivation, when gonadotrophin was detectable neither in the culture medium nor in the cells themselves. After the addition of the hypothalamic extract, gonadotrophin became detectable again, and basophilic or PAS-positive granules also reappeared within the cells, suggesting that the gonadotrophs were stimulated by the extract to produce gonadotrophin. In organ culture and short term incubation, the incorporation of [3H] leucine into the adenohypophysial cells in relation to the addition of hypothalamic extract was examined. It was obvious that the ability to incorporate [3H] leucine into the gonadotrophs in vitro was highly dependent upon the presence of the hypothalamic extract.


Author(s):  
Pierre Rosanvallon

It's a commonplace occurrence that citizens in Western democracies are disaffected with their political leaders and traditional democratic institutions. But this book argues that this crisis of confidence is partly a crisis of understanding. The book makes the case that the sources of democratic legitimacy have shifted and multiplied over the past thirty years and that we need to comprehend and make better use of these new sources of legitimacy in order to strengthen our political self-belief and commitment to democracy. Drawing on examples from France and the United States, the book notes that there has been a major expansion of independent commissions, NGOs, regulatory authorities, and watchdogs in recent decades. At the same time, constitutional courts have become more willing and able to challenge legislatures. These institutional developments, which serve the democratic values of impartiality and reflexivity, have been accompanied by a new attentiveness to what the book calls the value of proximity, as governing structures have sought to find new spaces for minorities, the particular, and the local. To improve our democracies, we need to use these new sources of legitimacy more effectively and we need to incorporate them into our accounts of democratic government. This book is an original contribution to the vigorous international debate about democratic authority and legitimacy.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lungwani Muungo

The purpose of this review is to evaluate progress inmolecular epidemiology over the past 24 years in canceretiology and prevention to draw lessons for futureresearch incorporating the new generation of biomarkers.Molecular epidemiology was introduced inthe study of cancer in the early 1980s, with theexpectation that it would help overcome some majorlimitations of epidemiology and facilitate cancerprevention. The expectation was that biomarkerswould improve exposure assessment, document earlychanges preceding disease, and identify subgroupsin the population with greater susceptibility to cancer,thereby increasing the ability of epidemiologic studiesto identify causes and elucidate mechanisms incarcinogenesis. The first generation of biomarkers hasindeed contributed to our understanding of riskandsusceptibility related largely to genotoxic carcinogens.Consequently, interventions and policy changes havebeen mounted to reduce riskfrom several importantenvironmental carcinogens. Several new and promisingbiomarkers are now becoming available for epidemiologicstudies, thanks to the development of highthroughputtechnologies and theoretical advances inbiology. These include toxicogenomics, alterations ingene methylation and gene expression, proteomics, andmetabonomics, which allow large-scale studies, includingdiscovery-oriented as well as hypothesis-testinginvestigations. However, most of these newer biomarkershave not been adequately validated, and theirrole in the causal paradigm is not clear. There is a needfor their systematic validation using principles andcriteria established over the past several decades inmolecular cancer epidemiology.


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