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Abstract
During July and August 2004 the principal investigators visited business executives in five Caribbean nations. Thirty-six businesses and government agencies were interviewed. General results showed significant e-commerce efforts underway in these countries. Leading companies interviewed were experiencing modest to significant successes in this business approach, but all were experiencing impacts from national characteristics. Characteristics examined in detail were factor conditions, demand conditions, support industries, firm strategy, and government policy. Results showed generally supportive business conditions but problems existed in government agencies, niche markets, the banking sector, and industry sector. The results of this study will suggest improved strategies for SMEs in developing countries and for national governments seeking to use e-commerce to expand business activities.

S.S. is supported by a Clinical Research Training Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust (Ref 102729/Z/13/Z). We also acknowledge the support from The Farr Institute of Health Informatics Research. The Farr Institute is supported by a 10-funder consortium: Arthritis Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Medical Research Council, the National Institute of Health Research, the National Institute for Social Care and Health Research (Welsh Assembly government), the Chief Scientist Office (Scottish government Health Directorates), and the Wellcome Trust (MRC grant nos: Scotland MR/K007017/1). The funders of this study had no role in study design; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; writing the report; and the decision to submit the report for publication. ; Peer reviewed ; Publisher PDF

This exploratory study represents an attempt to investigate the factors that may affect the reading comprehension abilities of English as an additional language (EAL) learners. For this study, we examined a participant group of 31 (25 EAL and 6 first language English) learners studying at an international school in Japan. We assessed the participants according to four factors shown to influence reading comprehension: vocabulary knowledge, word decoding skills, reading fluency, and general linguistic ability. Our results show that differences in vocabulary knowledge show more variance in reading comprehension scores than the other factors examined in this study, highlighting the importance of vocabulary knowledge for reading comprehension. However, other factors such as reading fluency and general linguistic knowledge are also shown to be moderate to strong predictors of reading comprehension. Based on these results, we suggest that EAL learners need targeted language support to enhance academic text comprehension.

In Ireland, large and progressive contractors are claiming significant benefits in construction management efficiency through the implementation of BIM (Building Information Modelling). While these contractors note that the cost benefits to the project budget alone justify the implementation of BIM in the field, they are acutely aware that in 2011 the UK Government has mandated the construction industry in the UK to use BIM on all public projects by 2016. In the Republic of Ireland however, in 2007, the Government introduced the Public Works Contracts (PWC) suite for the procurement of all public sector works. After 8 years of working with the PWC suite of contracts, these contracts have now been widely identified as being unfairly balanced in favour of the Employer and as being a barrier influencing the prospect for recovery of the construction industry in Ireland. A recent Irish Government agency report recommended a review of the current contract for Public Works by both Government and Industry stakeholders with a view to implementing any changes required to ensure fair and reasonable terms for all parties involved. This review has called for the PWC to be revised to include a more collaborative and co-operative approach. This paper will consider the experiences of other jurisdictions in adopting collaborative construction contract practices through BIM and will propose how the industry in Ireland can leverage BIM to create a more integrated and collaborative environment for the purpose of delivering better project outcomes for the key stakeholders involved in construction projects.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Acknowledgements -- Series Preface -- Introduction -- PART I THE IDEA OF A UNIVERSITY -- 1 Leo Strauss (2003), 'What is Liberal Education?', Academic Questions, 17, pp. 31-6. -- 2 Michael Oakeshott (2003), 'The Idea of a University', Academic Questions, 17, pp. 23-30. -- 3 Timothy Fuller (2003), 'The Idea of the University in Newman, Oakeshott and Strauss', Academic Questions, 17, pp. 37-53. -- 4 Edward Shils (1983), 'The Academic Ethic', Minerva, 20, pp. 3-11 -- 97-104. -- 5 Jean Bethke Elshtain (1998), 'The Politicization of the University and its Consequences', in David Lyle Jeffrey and Dominic Manganiello (eds), Rethinking the Future of the University, Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press, pp. 41-50. -- PART II CONTEMPORARY CONCERNS -- 6 Theodore Roszak (1968), 'On Academic Delinquency' in Theodore Roszak (ed.), The Dissenting Academy: Essays Criticizing the Teaching of Humanities in American Universities, New York: Pantheon, pp. 3-42. -- 7 John Searle (1972), 'The Prospects for the University', in John Searle, The Campus War, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, pp. 194-219. -- 8 John Kekes (1996), 'Academic Corruption', Monist, 79, pp. 564-76. -- 9 Wendy Wassyng Roworth (2002), 'Professional Ethics, Day by Day', Academe, 88, pp. 24-7. -- 10 Robert Hauptman (2002), 'Dishonesty in the Academy', Academe, 88, pp. 39-44. -- 11 Martin Finkelstein (2003), 'The Morphing of the American Academic Profession', Liberal Education, 89, pp. 6-15. -- PART III THE UNIVERSITY AND BUSINESS -- 12 G.R. Evans and D.E. Packham (2003), 'Ethical Issues at the University-Industry Interface: A Way Forward?', Science and Engineering Ethics, 9, pp. 3-16. -- 13 David L. Kirp and Jeffrey T. Holman (2002), 'This Little Student Went to Market', American Prospect Online, pp. 29-31

Abstract
Introduction
Allocation of research funds relies on peer review to support funding decisions, and these processes can be susceptible to biases and inefficiencies. The aim of this work was to determine which past interventions to peer review and decision-making have worked to improve research funding practices, how they worked, and for whom.

Methods
Realist synthesis of peer-review publications and grey literature reporting interventions in peer review for research funding.

Results
We analysed 96 publications and 36 website sources. Sixty publications enabled us to extract stakeholder-specific context-mechanism-outcomes configurations (CMOCs) for 50 interventions, which formed the basis of our synthesis. Shorter applications, reviewer and applicant training, virtual funding panels, enhanced decision models, institutional submission quotas, applicant training in peer review and grant-writing reduced interrater variability, increased relevance of funded research, reduced time taken to write and review applications, promoted increased investment into innovation, and lowered cost of panels.

Conclusions
Reports of 50 interventions in different areas of peer review provide useful guidance on ways of solving common issues with the peer review process. Evidence of the broader impact of these interventions on the research ecosystem is still needed, and future research should aim to identify processes that consistently work to improve peer review across funders and research contexts.

BACKGROUND: Growing demand from an increasingly ageing population with multimorbidity has resulted in complex health and social care needs requiring more integrated services. Integrating primary care with social services could utilise resources more efficiently, and improve experiences for patients, their families, and carers. There is limited evidence on progress including key barriers to and drivers of integration to inform large-scale national change. AIM: To elicit stakeholder views on drivers and barriers of integrated primary care and social services, and highlight opportunities for successful implementation. DESIGN AND SETTING: A qualitative interview study. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews with maximum variation sampling to capture stakeholder views across services and professions. RESULTS: Thirty-seven interviews were conducted across England with people including GPs, nurses, social care staff, commissioners, local government officials, voluntary and private sector workers, patients, and carers. Drivers of integration included groups of like-minded individuals supported by good leadership, expanded interface roles to bridge gaps between systems, and co-location of services. Barriers included structural and interdisciplinary tension between professions, organisational self-interest, and challenges in record sharing. CONCLUSION: Drivers and barriers to integration identified in other contexts are also present in primary care and social services. Benefits of integration are unlikely to be realised if these are not addressed in the design and execution of new initiatives. Efforts should go beyond local- and professional-level change to include wider systems- and policy-level initiatives. This will support a more systems-wide approach to integrated care reform, which is necessary to meet the complex and growing needs of an ageing multimorbid population.

BACKGROUND: Growing demand from an increasingly ageing population with multimorbidity has resulted in complex health and social care needs requiring more integrated services. Integrating primary care with social services could utilise resources more efficiently, and improve experiences for patients, their families, and carers. There is limited evidence on progress including key barriers to and drivers of integration to inform large-scale national change. AIM: To elicit stakeholder views on drivers and barriers of integrated primary care and social services, and highlight opportunities for successful implementation. DESIGN AND SETTING: A qualitative interview study. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews with maximum variation sampling to capture stakeholder views across services and professions. RESULTS: Thirty-seven interviews were conducted across England with people including GPs, nurses, social care staff, commissioners, local government officials, voluntary and private sector workers, patients, and carers. Drivers of integration included groups of like-minded individuals supported by good leadership, expanded interface roles to bridge gaps between systems, and co-location of services. Barriers included structural and interdisciplinary tension between professions, organisational self-interest, and challenges in record sharing. CONCLUSION: Drivers and barriers to integration identified in other contexts are also present in primary care and social services. Benefits of integration are unlikely to be realised if these are not addressed in the design and execution of new initiatives. Efforts should go beyond local- and professional-level change to include wider systems- and policy-level initiatives. This will support a more systems-wide approach to integrated care reform, which is necessary to meet the complex and growing needs of an ageing multimorbid population.

This work was funded by a grant from the UK's Farr Institute for Health Informatics Research (UKHIRN/XFarrRP001). The Farr Institute is supported by a 10-funder consortium: Arthritis Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Medical Research Council, the National Institute of Health Research, the National Institute for Social Care and Health Research (Welsh Assembly Government), the Chief Scientist Office (Scottish Government Health Directorates) and the Wellcome (MRC grant nos. CIPHER MR/K006525/1, HeRC MR/K006665/1, London MR/ K006584/1, Scotland MR/K007017/1). We also acknowledge the data management support of Grampian Data Safe Haven (DaSH) and the associated financial support of NHS Research Scotland, through NHS Grampian investment in the Grampian DaSH. Work on this project was also part funded by Health Care and Research Wales, and by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care Wessex at Southampton NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. SS was supported by a research training fellowship from the Wellcome Trust to study the outcomes of acute kidney injury (WT102729/Z/13/Z). ; Peer reviewed ; Publisher PDF