Kerr – författare

In 1980, Irish republican prisoners in the H-blocks at the Maze prison went on hunger strike. These events, which would go on to reshape the political landscape of Northern Ireland and dramatically alter the British government's approach to the conflict, have typically been seen through one of two opposing lenses: the Thatcher Government's war against Irish republican terrorism within the UK, or as emblematic of a perennial nationalist struggle to free Ireland from British colonial rule.Drawing on all available archival releases, firsthand testimony, newspaper reports, and personal interviews, The Wounded and the Dead offers a more nuanced interrogation of the events and their legacy. It reveals the strategic thinking within the British government, the IRA leadership's unpreparedness for electoral politics, and Irish Government designs to end partition, thereby offering fresh insights into Margaret Thatcher's evolving approach to Northern Ireland, the internal dynamics of the republican movement, and the contrasting political strategies of Charles Haughey and Garret FitzGerald.This is a deeply researched and powerfully argued work of history that confronts the painful dilemmas of violence, self-determination, and negotiation at the heart of the Northern Ireland conflict. It shows how the hunger strikes - amid political instability in Dublin and Margaret Thatcher's rise to power - foreclosed the possibility of a constitutional settlement that excluded republicans, forcing the conflict into a new and more political phase. Tracing the diplomatic fallout across Washington, Dublin, and the Vatican, it reveals how a prison protest with little popular support crystallised in the election of IRA prisoner Bobby Sands as a Westminster MP and subsequent death on hunger strike - transforming the republican movement's fortunes and international image.

Rett disorder, first described by Andreas Rett in 1966, is a condition which involves the functions on which intelligence and expression depend. It is probably the most common genetic disorder encountered in profoundly intellectually disabled females. Its many manifestations include epilepsy, scoliosis, nutritional difficulties, and disorders of mood and movement. This book provides an up-to-date account of current research into the disorder at a time when the causative mutations have just been discovered on the MeCP2 gene. The first section of the book presents the clinical signs and the latest research into the genetic, neuro- anatomical and neuro-chemical aspects of Rett disorder. The second section moves on to deal with the neuro-physiological research, concentrating on the autonomic system, which is deeply implicated in the disease mechanisms. The final section of the book examines the behavioural and psychological features of Rett disorder and discusses issues relating to communication. The chapters are written by a distinguished, international team of experts, all currently active in research. The contributions bring our understanding of the Rett disorder right up-to-date, as the study of the condition moves from an era of description into a time when there are real possibilities for beneficial interventions.

What will happen during and after a clinical trial?How will a trial affect my quality of life?What are the benefits and risks of a trial?What does giving consent mean and what will it involve?Will I incur costs during and because of the trial?These are the questions that should be raised every time a health care professional talks through with a patient the pros and cons of entering a clinical trial.Clinical Trials Explained has been designed in consultation with doctors and patients who have taken part in trials, providing an essential and detailed guide to the clinical trials process. It therefore helps both clinicians and patients make well-informed decisions on whether to take part in a clinical trial.