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This study reports a novel melt quenched zinc oxide-doped phosphate-based glasses (Zn-PBGs) of varying CaO mol% designated as C11, C12, C13. The glass degradation rate, ions release, antibacterial activity against S. mutans and remineralization potential were investigated. Zn-PBGs showed one order of magnitude higher degradation rate than Zn-free PBG. The highest rate was observed for C11; Na+, Ca2+, Zn2+ and P5+ release followed the same trend. The higher the Zn2+ release, the greater the S. mutans growth inhibition. C11 showed significantly lower mineral loss from enamel than positive and negative controls. Zn-PBGs could be used to reverse enamel demineralization.

This article presents the connection of a personal dissertation process to the wider world of qualitative research. Using the concept of transitional space as a metaphor, the author chronicles her theoretical transition from critical race theory to poststructural theory to emerging questions about material feminism. This transition is mapped to three major qualitative research moments within the field: modernist, crisis of representation, and the future. Autoethnography and found text are used to present the micro- and macro-telling of the dissertation process. White racial identity development among Christian teacher educators at a religious university was the original dissertation focus. Ethical dilemmas that emerged during the data collection process, presenting the researcher with a theoretical crisis, needed to be addressed.

The purpose of this paper is to examine how institutional norms are enforced through surveillance and self-discipline among teacher educators at a religious university. The study builds on prior research regarding university norms and surveillance, as well as religious orientation and prejudice. Eight teacher educators met as part of a larger study on white racial identity and praxis. Focus groups and personal interviews were transcribed and analyzed using situational mapping, a postmodern form of grounded theory. Participants discussed four themes that illustrate surveillance and self-discipline: the university, academic culture, religion and whiteness, and sexism. The data reveal participant responses as highly structured by university norms about what one can and cannot say about particular topics. The results confirm the function of surveillance and norms in a university setting and illuminate the process in a religious context. Data reveal how fear played a part of the process, as participants discip...

The effect of "double-dipping" crackers/chips on the transfer of bac- teria from the mouth to the dipping solution was determined in three sepa- rate experiments. In experiment 1, eight subjects dipped crackers either three or six times into sterilized water either without biting or biting before each dip. The dipping solutions had higher (P 0.05) bacterial populations when crackers were bitten before dipping compared with when no double- dipping occurred. The second experiment utilized sterile water dipping solu- tions with pHs of 4, 5 and 6, and tested the solutions at 0 and 2 h after dipping. There was again significant (P 0.05) bacterial transfer due to biting then dipping; however, the pH 4 dipping solution had initially lower bacterial populations than the higher pH solutions and even lower popula- tions after 2 h. In the third experiment, three dipping solutions (salsa, choco- late sauce and cheese) were tested, and higher initial populations (P 0.05) were transferred to the salsa compared with chocolate and cheese; however, the salsa had lower levels of bacteria after 2 h of hold time at room tem- perature. Three experiments determined that the bacterial population of food dips increased due to the practice of "double-dipping," and that dip type can influence the dip's bacterial population.

A grey area has emerged between what is legal and what is not as states struggle with how to respond to the many new synthetic compounds emerging onto the market. Of the various types of 'Legal highs' the seminar focused on stimulants because of the parallels with the other main drug-policy issue of the moment; i.e. the status of traditional herbal stimulants. These older discussions have been reinvigorated by: Bolivia's efforts to de-schedule coca-lead at UN level; the debates on the status of khat between EU States, and of krater across Asia; and the increasing stride of legitimate cannabis use on the domestic front, as in for example Spain. It was hoped that it would be constructive to look at each of these phenomena through the prism of the other. This approach was also considered appropriate because there are shared characteristics between the synthetic and herbal stimulants markets (i.e. they tend to be more recreational) as compared with psychedelics.The seminar aimed to consider the legal responses of various jurisdictions to these issues and the lessons that can be drawn. Specific attention was to be directed at whether traditional criminal justice models suit legal highs or whether medicines law or other types of legal framework would be more appropriate. Broadening out to a policy-perspective, the seminar sought discussion of strategies to diminish the dominance of the concentrated and more harmful stimulant substances and steer the market towards milder forms. Whether or not, to this end, milder substances should be made licit and available, was an issue put directly on the table. The Expert Seminar on Herbal Stimulants and Legal highs was an initiative of the Transnational Institute ('TNI') working together with the International Drug Policy Consortium ('IDPC') and funded by the European Commission and the Open Society Institute. The Seminar took place in Amsterdam on 30-31st October 2011. The seminar is the fourth in a series of expert discussions on drug policy designed to feed into moments of opportunity for policy and law reform at national and international level with detailed technical analysis. This seminar was timed to maximises the opportunities presented by Bolivia's efforts to de-schedule coca leaf at UN level and the European Commission's intent to create legislative framework of control for herbal stimulants and Legal highs. Four subjects were covered over the course of the day: - Market Dynamics - Herbal Stimulants - Legal Control Mechanisms - EU Strategies on New Substances

Threshold quantities (TQs) for drug law and policy are being experimented with across many jurisdictions. States seem attracted to their apparent simplicity and use them to determine, for example, whether: a possession or supply offence is made out (e.g. Greece); a matter should be diverted away from the criminal justice system (e.g. Portugal); or a case should fall within a certain sentencing range (e.g. UK). Looking at examples from the EU and beyond, however, it is becoming clear that there are no ‘magic numbers’ in drug policy and that this tool brings its own complications and pit-falls. This briefing, written by the Transnational Institute in collaboration with IDPC, provides an overview of the current discussion around TQs and explores the mechanism of TQs including their benefits and drawbacks as a policy and legal tool.

The Expert Seminar on Proportionality of Sentencing for Drug Offences was an initiative of the Transnational Institute working together with the International Drug Policy Consortium (‘IDPC’) and co-hosted by the Sentencing Council of England and Wales. The seminar was funded by the European Commission and the Open Society Institute and took place in London, England in May 2011.This seminar is the third in a series of expert discussions on drug policy designed to feed into moments of opportunity for policy and law reform at national and international level with detailed technical analysis and through examples of best-practice from across different jurisdictions. The moment of opportunity in this case was the Sentencing Council’s consultation on sentencing for drug offences which is due to produce definitive sentencing guidelines for England and Wales in the next year.A total of 31 people attended and comprised a mixture of domestic and international policy officials, the judiciary, and practitioners as well as representatives from non-governmental organisations and academic institutions.Four themes were covered over the course of the day: Proportionality; the International Human Rights Perspective; The UK Experience and Consultation on Sentencing for Drug Offences; The Concept of Proportionality with a Focus on Different Levels of Involvement in Drug Offences; Drug ‘mules.’

Sentencing for drug offenses in England and Wales has recently undergone a widesweeping review and public consultation. Fundamental issues of principle were brought forward for a constructive public discussion for the first time and an Advice has been issued which, if adopted, will radically change sentencing in the courts for many drug offenses, and particularly in the case of drug-couriers. The purpose of this report is to examine and evaluate this mechanism for law reform, without the need for legislative reform, and to consider the specific discussion around sentencing for drug offenses which it has led to.Conclusions & Recommendations•Through the Sentencing Advisory Panel (SAP) we have learned that deterrence as the basis of drug sentencing is, in fact, without evidence-base and ineffective. •In the UK, current levels of sentencing for drugs couriers are disproportionate to their culpability and to the harm associated with their offense.•SAP’s advice has attempted to give a delicate balance between the consistency, transparency, and separation of powers necessary for the rule of law, the predictability which allows better resource allocation, and the overriding commitment to do justice in the individual case.TNI/IDPC Drug Law Reform ProjectThis briefing forms part of series under a joint project on Drug Law Reform from the Transnational Institute (TNI) and the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC). This project aims to promote more humane, balanced, and effective drug laws and seeks to stimulate the debate around legislative reforms by highlighting good practices and lessons learned in areas such as decriminalization, proportionality of sentences, specific harm reduction measures, alternatives to incarceration, and scheduling criteria for different substances. It also aims to encourage a constructive dialogue amongst policy makers, multi-lateral agencies and civil society in order to shape policies that are grounded in the principles of human rights, public health and harm reduction.