Productivity growth and funding of public service broadcasting

In this paper we demonstrate how standard techniques for measuring productivity growth can be applied to the broadcasting sector to provide a benchmark for reasonable efficiency savings which public finance officials might expect public service broadcasting (PSB) to achieve. Using establishment level data from the UK, we produce estimates of productivity growth amongst commercial broadcasters between 1999 and 2003, which provide some evidence that improvements to PSB can reasonably be expected to be funded by efficiency savings rather than solely by increases in public funding.     

The prevalence of violence and relation to depression and illicit drug use among incarcerated women in Recife, Brazil

PurposeTo assess the prevalence and different types of violence experienced by women prisoners in Brazil and the effects of violence on women's depression and illicit drug use.MethodsParticipants (N = 377) were incarcerated women from a state prison in a northeastern city of Brazil. Multivariate logistic regression models (adjusted for age, education, partner status, prison history, drug related offense, and sentencing status) were used to assess associations between each type of violence (physical abuse, sexual abuse, and life threats) and each outcome variable: recent depression and illicit drug use.ResultsThe majority of participants (87%) reported experiencing some type of violence in their lifetime, including physical violence (83%), sexual victimization (36%), and threats on their life (29%.) Sexual violence was significantly related to both recent depression (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.8; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.4–5.3) and recent substance use (OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.6–4.4) in adjusted models. Experiences of life threats were also significantly associated with illicit drug use (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.3–3.7), as was physical violence (OR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2–4.9); however, neither of these latter two violence variables were significantly associated with depression.ConclusionReports of lifetime violence victimization among this incarcerated sample of women were extremely prevalent and relevant to women's depression and illicit drug use. Prison efforts to address women's depression and illicit drug use may be most effective by incorporating aspects related to women's history of victimization, especially given the high rates of violence experienced by women in this sample.     

Effects of extreme heat on teeth with implications for histologic processing.

This pilot study examined teeth subjected to extreme heat under laboratory conditions, and the subsequent effect of decalcification and histologic processing. Physical and microscopic findings were evaluated in relation to temperature and duration of thermal insult. Microscopic examination following decalcification and histologic processing revealed changes including severe tissue fragmentation, vapor bubbles within dentinal tubules, altered histologic staining, charring and tissue shrinkage. Dentin appeared to be the most reliable microscopic identifier of incinerated dental tissues. Temperatures above 600 degrees C strongly predicted tooth disintegration following decalcification. This finding has implications in incineration cases where histologic evidence must be maintained and examined intact.     

Mediation as an alternative to criminal prosecution

In several American communities, paraprofessional mediation has become a substitute for criminal prosecution when defendant and victim have been engaged in a prior relationship. This article describes such a mediation project and its training program. It present a detailed account of two actual mediation sessions. An analysis of these sessions highlights some of the problems in mediating interpersonal disputes, particularly questions about underlying cause and the effects of different perceptions about the role of conflict in human interaction. The article also suggests a series of hypotheses to be investigated in further research on mediation.The research on which this paper is based was partially supported by grant No. 77-NI-99-0019 from the National Institute for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of Justice. The views expressed are those of the authors only. We appreciate the cooperation received from George Nicolau and Ann Weisbrod of the Institute for Mediation and Conflict Resolution and from the staff of the Fosterton mediation project.     

Some facts and fantasies concerning local autonomy in the Metropolitan Toronto school system

Abstract. The Metropolitan Toronto school system is a unique form of educational governance in North America, as a two-tiered federation. Tension has always existed between the levels over which had the prerogative LO make binding decisions on issues without involvement, consultation, or ratification by the other. Recently, the area school boards, which constitute the lower level, have increasingly raised this issue, protesting that their local autonomy is being eroded. This paper describes the operationalization of the local autonomy concept and points out that it is dynamic, being dependent upon at least four factors: the nature of the issue being discussed, the political context of the issue, the nature of the deadlines related to the issue, and the particular blend of people involved at the time of operationalization. The paper further explores the nature and sources of infringement upon the autonomy of local school boards in the Metropolitan Toronto federation. It identifies and discusses three major sources: (a) from the provincial level, (b) from the Metro level, and (c) from other area boards. The paper concludes that perhaps the greatest threat to area board autonomy in a period of financial cutbacks is the other area boards themselves who are forced into competition for financial resources due to the fact that accepted bases for agreeing upon relative inter-board needs have not been fully developed. Sommaire. L'organisation scolaire du Toronto métropolitain est unique en Amérique du Nord. Etant composée de tension entre les deux niveaux car chacun cherche à prendre des décisions exécutoires sans consultation avec l'autre ou ratification de sa part. Récemment les commissions scolaires qui constituent le palier inférieur ont soulevé cette question, en se plaignant de plus en plus de l'drosion de leur autonomie locale. L'auteur de cet esposé décrit l'application pratique du concept de l'autonomie locale et fait remarquer qu'il est dynamique, car il dépend d'au moins quatre facteurs: la nature de la question à l'étude et son contexte politique, la nature des échéances qui s'y rapporte, et la composition du groupe participant à l'exercice. L'auteur étudie aussi la nature et les sources d'ingérence dans les affaires des commissions scolaires locales de la fédération du Toronto métropolitain. Il dégage et étudie trois sources principales: (a) le niveau provincial, (b) le niveau métropolitain, (c) les autres commissions scolaires. Il conclut que la plus grande menace pour l'autonomie des commissions scolaires en période d'austérité financiére provient sans doute des autres commissions scolaires car elles sont forcées de se faire concurrence entre elles pour obtenir des ressources financiéres. Cette concurrence est accrue de fait que les critères d'évaluation des besoins sont encore imprécis et ne font pas l'objet dun accord général.