bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
To instill fear or love: Terrorist groups and the strategy of building reputation
Authors: Akcinaroglu Seden , Tokdemir Efe
Published: March 2016

Why does one terrorist group employ actions that win the hearts and minds of its constituency while another resorts to tactics that alienate their support? The paper investigates terrorist groups’ strategy of building reputation in their constituency/in-group population and non-constituency/out-group population. Studying all domestic terrorist groups between 1980 and 2011 with original data, we find that ethnic/religious groups and those with territorial control invest in positive reputation in their constituency as they can minimize the risks of returns. Radical groups and those with cross-border support, however, tend to build negative constituency reputation. While the former type of group has a small constituency, the latter ones can find resources across borders, which reduces their dependency on the constituency. Lastly, we find that terror groups seeking policy concessions avoid building a negative reputation in their non-constituency as this strategy enhances their chances of negotiating with the government.
Economic sanctions and the dynamics of terrorist campaigns
Authors: McLean Elena V , Hinkkainen Kaisa H , De la Calle Luis , Bapat Navin A
Published: March 2016

Although states rarely use economic sanctions specifically to combat transnational terrorism, potential targets of sanctions often face terrorist campaigns within their territory. States may avoid using sanctions against states with terrorists for fear of weakening target states excessively, thereby indirectly strengthening terrorist groups. However, this argument has not been subjected to rigorous empirical testing. This study presents a theoretical and empirical examination that explores how the imposition of sanctions affects the dynamics of ongoing terrorist campaigns in the targeted state. We argue that comprehensive sanctions that are imposed on targets that are fighting transnational terrorists within their territory should make these groups more resistant to collapse. However, similar sanctions imposed against states that serve as “home bases” or sanctuaries to terrorists should shorten the lifespan of these groups. Our empirical analysis yields results largely supportive of these theoretical expectations.
Mid-Treatment Reduction in Trauma-Related Guilt Predicts PTSD and Functioning Following Cognitive Trauma Therapy for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Allard Carolyn B. , Norman Sonya B. , Thorp Steven R. , Browne Kendall C. , Stein Murray B.
Published: March 2016

Intimate partner violence (IPV) results in severe and chronic posttraumatic psychological symptoms, maladaptive trauma-related guilt (TRG) and functional impairment for many women. Cognitive Trauma Therapy (CTT) was developed to specifically address empirically identified contributors of distress and functioning difficulties specific to IPV and has been found to be efficacious in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and reducing TRG. The primary aim of this study was to investigate to what extent reductions in TRG contribute to improvements in PTSD and functioning, given evidence of the important role that TRG plays in posttraumatic distress in IPV survivors and the emphasis placed on TRG in CTT. Twenty women with IPV-related chronic and functionally impairing posttraumatic distress were recruited from the community and completed CTT as part of a larger neurobiological study of PTSD. Women experienced statistically and clinically significant improvements in functioning as well as expected reductions in PTSD and TRG with large effect sizes at post-treatment, and improvements were maintained at 3-month follow-up, with no participant meeting full PTSD criteria. Pre- to mid-treatment reductions in TRG predicted post-treatment PTSD and functioning outcomes. These findings support the efficacy of CTT and provide preliminary evidence for the importance of addressing TRG. Dismantling research is indicated to identify the active ingredient(s) of this multi-module treatment.
Evolving Trends in Public Opinion on the Quality of Local Schools
Authors: Bali Valentina A.
Published: March 2016

The ratings given by citizens to local public schools in the United States have been rising in the last decades. Using national public opinion surveys, this study seeks to understand the determinants of public evaluations of local schools across time. Aggregate trend analyses indicate that public evaluations of local schools are influenced not only by measures of educational performance but also by presidential discourse. Individual-level analyses suggest that minorities and individuals with children may have given higher evaluations in recent years. The evidence suggests that citizens in general have moved away from more negative assessments of their local public schools, possibly as a result of perceived and real educational advances.
Immigrant occupational mobility in Australia
Authors: Fleming Christopher M , Kifle Temesgen , Kler Parvinder
Published: March 2016

This research note takes an occupational attainment approach to examining the economic assimilation of immigrants in Australia. This approach differs from much of the existing literature, which tends to examine economic assimilation by looking at levels of (un)employment or wages. Focusing on occupational attainment is useful, in that disadvantage in the labour market is not limited to employment status and earnings, and an individual’s occupation may provide a broader signal of their economic and social well-being. Findings indicate that, on arrival, immigrants from a non-English speaking background face significant disadvantage in occupational attainment, particularly those from Asian countries. There is also evidence to suggest that those who arrive later in life, or are from an Asian non-English speaking background, are the least likely to assimilate over time. Results are indicative of the need for policies to better integrate immigrants from more diverse cultures and societies into the Australian labour market.
A serialization-based partial decoupling approach for multidisciplinary design optimization of complex systems
Authors: Yuan Wenqiang , Liu Yusheng , Wang Hongwei , Ye Xiaoping
Published: March 2016

The optimization for multidisciplinary engineering systems is highly complicated, which involves the decomposing of a system into several individual disciplinary subsystems for obtaining optimal solutions. Managing the coupling between subsystems remains a great challenge for global optimization as the existing methods involve inefficient iterative solving processes and thus have higher time cost. Some strategies such as discipline reorder, coupling suspension and coupling ignoring can to some extent reduce the execution cost. However, there are still some deficiencies for these approaches such as uniform handling of the couplings, complete decoupling and heavy burden of system optimizer. To overcome the above drawbacks, a serialization-based partial decoupling approach is proposed in this study, which consists of three main steps. First, different disciplines are clustered into some subsystems by analyzing the interdisciplinary sensitivities. Then, for each subsystem, a serialization process is proposed to ensure no coupling loops exist and the subsystem can be solved with no iteration, which can reduce the time cost for solving the disciplinary problem to a large degree. Finally, a local optimization model is constructed for each subsystem to maintain the scale of the global optimizer and ensure mutual independence and parallel processing. The proposed three-layer framework ensures the feasibility of solving for each subsystem and improves the efficiency of optimization execution. Several experiments have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed approach.
Evaluation and selection of lean resourced employee in the manufacturing industries using the TOPSIS-Simos method
Authors: Balaji K , Senthil Kumar VS
Published: March 2016

Among modern manufacturing methods, lean manufacturing has been a dominant method used in many industrial sectors. The principle of the lean manufacturing is to eliminate the wastes present in various forms of the industry. The adoption of lean manufacturing in an industry could be identified by the leanness measurement through lean assessment. In lean assessment, the evaluator plays a vital role. Selecting the right person for the assessment will reduce the ambiguity, time consumption and computation time. Decision-makers play a vital role in lean assessment. Few studies have been found in the literature to select or identify the decision-maker. In this article, the TOPSIS-Simos method has been proposed to identify a lean resourced employee in the industry. The proposed method is case studied in the manufacturing industries. The lean resourced employee has been identified after computation. The proposed method could be applied to identify the lean resourced employee in all types of manufacturing industries.
Influence of nanofluid application on wheel wear, coefficient of friction and redeposition phenomenon in surface grinding of Ti-6Al-4V
Authors: Setti Dinesh , Ghosh Sudarsan , Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao
Published: March 2016

Difficulties in the grinding of Ti-6Al-4V originate from the three basic properties: poor thermal conductivity, high chemical reactivity and low volume specific heat of the material. Under severe grinding conditions, all these factors together lead to the accelerated wheel loading and redeposition of chips over the work surface. Redeposition and wheel loading have a significant effect on the surface finish, grinding forces, power consumption and wheel life. In this study, water-based Al2O3 nanofluid as metalworking fluid is applied during the surface grinding of Ti-6Al-4V under minimum quantity lubrication mode after dressing the wheel with different dressing overlap ratios. The severity of the redeposition over the work surface was observed by measuring various surface profiles taken perpendicular to the grinding direction at several locations on the ground surface. The nanofluid application was able to prevent redeposition over work surface that became evident from the measured surface finish parameters that results along the grinding direction. Coefficient of friction was estimated On-Machine using the measured forces for different wheel work speed ratios, depth of cut and dressing overlap ratios. The results showed the effectiveness of nanofluid in reducing friction at high material removal rate (i.e. high depth of cut and high speed ratio) conditions when compared to the dry environment. From the measured forces variation with respect to the number of passes, it became evident that, nanofluid application delayed the frequency of wheel loading and grit fracturing cycle, which leads to the increase in the wheel life.
Combustion characteristics in a supersonic combustor with ethylene injection upstream of dual parallel cavities
Authors: Zhong Zhan , Wang Zhenguo , Sun Mingbo , Wang Hongbo
Published: March 2016

Combustion characteristics in a supersonic combustor with ethylene injection upstream of dual parallel cavities were investigated experimentally in a direct-connected test rig with inflow conditions of Ma = 3.46, Po = 3.60 Mpa and To = 1430 K. The combustor has a two-dimensional rectangular configuration with single-side expansion. Two open cavities with the same size were mounted on the expanded and horizontal walls, respectively. Static pressure distribution in the axial direction was measured along the centerline of the expanded wall. High-speed flame luminosity and schlieren were used to capture the combustion and flow structures at different equivalence ratios. Two clusters of separated and asymmetric flames were found to be stabilized near the dual parallel cavities in all tests. The flame and flow characteristics changed with the combustion modes. For scramjet mode, no obvious flow separation occurred near the walls and the two flames were both stabilized in the cavity shear layer and recirculation zone. For ramjet mode, the high back pressure resulting from intense heat release induced a large-scale recirculation zone upstream of the cavity mounted on the expanded wall, which supplied a favorable combustion condition and the flame was stabilized in the jet-wake. Meanwhile, there was no obvious separation near the horizontal wall, with the local flame stabilized in the cavity shear layer. It is suggested that the combustion near the horizontal wall should be enhanced to improve the combustion performance and avoid a non-uniform flow field at the combustor exit.
Flap wise bending vibration and dynamic stability of rotating functionally graded material plates in thermal environments
Authors: Inala Ramu , Mohanty SC
Published: March 2016

This paper deals with the study of the flapwise bending vibration and dynamic stability of rotating functionally graded material plates in thermal environments. A finite element formulation is derived for modal and dynamic stability analyses of rotating functionally graded material plates using first-order shear deformation theory. Temperature-dependent material properties of the plates are considered in the analysis and a simple power law is assumed for composition of constituent materials to vary along the thickness direction. The same power law is also proposed in thermal environments for temperature variation across the thickness of the plate. Some numerical results obtained from the present method are compared with numerical results available in the literature and are found to be in good agreement. Parametric investigation is carried out thoroughly to study the effect of the temperature rise, hub radius, and rotational speed on vibration and the dynamic stability of rotating plate in thermal environment. Bolotin’s method is used to generate the boundaries of stability and instability regions. These instability regions are plotted in the parameter space with the nondimensional dynamic load and excitation frequency. It is observed that the natural frequencies reduce with an increase in temperature rise. Increase in rotational speed and hub radius results in increase of natural frequencies of vibration. The rise in temperature leads to reduction in the dynamic stability of plate. Increase in rotational speed and hub radius enhances the dynamic stability of the rotating plate.
Transport pollution in China – Evidence from Beijing
Authors: Yang Sheng , He Ling-Yun
Published: March 2016

China’s rapid economic growth has resulted in serious environmental issues especially on the urban air pollution, which has caused serious harm to the health of residents and large economic losses. It is widely accepted that the road transport sector is one of the major emitters in China. However, it remains unclear who is more responsible for severe air pollution between the freight and passenger transport subsectors, especially in urban areas of China. In this paper, we divided the road transport sector into the freight and passenger subsectors and investigated the following important issues: (a) Are there any causal relationships between air pollution and the foresaid subsectors? (b) How do we identify the impacts of the changes in the two subsectors on the air pollution in urban China areas? (c) What are the contributions of the two subsectors to the air pollution in urban areas of China? Alternatively, who is to blame more for the current situation, freight or passenger subsectors? Our empirical findings could help the policy makers and researchers had better understand the status of air pollution in China by distinguishing the different proportions of the emissions from the subsectors. Therefore, some pertinent policies could be implemented to mitigate the emissions from China’s road transport sector.
Interpretation of lake sediment accumulation rates
Authors: Bennett KD , Buck Caitlin E
Published: March 2016

The pattern of ancient sediment accumulation in lake basins is usually determined for the sole purpose of obtaining a chronology of the sequence. We develop graphical representations of lake basins and how they fill with sediment in order to make generalisations about sediment patterns which can be used to distinguish those that relate to an aspect of changing environment from those that relate solely to the shape of the basin itself. Our goal is general observations that could lead to more robust interpretation of age–depth models from lake basin sediments. We show that in nearly all circumstances with constant sedimentation, the overall pattern seen at a central core should be one of decreasing rate of sediment accumulation, which tends to be constant towards the top. In most situations, the initial rate of sediment accumulation is particularly high because of the basin shape. Observed rates of sediment accumulation that increase up the core should normally indicate increasing sediment input (either autochthonous or allochthonous). On the other hand, detailed information on basin shape is needed to break decreasing rates of sediment accumulation into components because of basin shape and decreasing sediment input. These considerations show that the pattern of sediment accumulation in a lake basin has intrinsic value as an indicator of environmental change and potential utility in chronology construction, but only when interpreted in the context of basin shape.
Assessing glacier features supporting supraglacial trees: A case study of the Miage debris-covered Glacier (Italian Alps)
Authors: Vezzola Laura Camilla , Diolaiuti Guglielmina Adele , D’Agata Carlo , Smiraglia Claudio , Pelfini Manuela
Published: March 2016

The number of debris-covered glaciers featuring supraglacial trees is increasing worldwide as a response of high mountain environments to climate warming. Generally, their distribution on the glacier surface is not homogeneous, thus suggesting that some glacier parameters influence germination and growth of trees. In this study, we focused our attention on the widest Italian debris-covered glacier, the Miage Glacier (Mont Blanc massif). We analyzed the ablation area in the range from 1730 to 2400 m a.s.l. where continuous debris coverage is present and trees are found. Using data obtained by remote sensing investigations and field surveys, we defined a record of glacier parameters to be analyzed with respect to the presence and abundance of trees. We found that supraglacial trees are present at the Miage Glacier (1) whenever exceeding a debris thickness threshold (⩾19 cm), (2) with a gentle slope (⩽10°), (3) with a low glacier surface velocity (⩽7.0 m/yr), and (4) where the vertical changes due to glacier dynamics are positive (i.e. prevalent increase ranging between +7 and +28 m over 28 years due to both slow debris accumulation and preservation of ice flow inputs). The statistical analysis supports our findings. The analysis of the same parameters might be conducted on other debris-covered glaciers featuring supraglacial trees, in order to evaluate whether such conditions are local ones or whether they are general factors driving germination and growth of trees. By identifying the features supporting the presence and growth of trees in these environments, and their thresholds, a contribution is given for a better understanding of the importance of debris-covered glaciers and, in general, of debris-covered ice, as a refuge for trees during glacial and warm intervals of the Holocene.
Holocene palaeosols and aeolian activities in the Umimmalissuaq valley, West Greenland
Authors: Müller Michael , Thiel Christine , Kühn Peter
Published: March 2016

Aeolian sand sheets and active dunefields preserve an ancient Holocene land surface represented by palaeosols that occur around the present ice margin in the Kangerlussuaq area, West Greenland. To determine the relation between Holocene aeolian activities and periods of soil formation, both substantially dependent on the deglaciation history, palaeosols, aeolian sand sheets and dunefields were analysed using field data, grain size analyses, optically stimulated luminescence dating and AMS 14C data in an area of about 15 km2 of the Umimmalissuaq valley. Palaeosols are developed close to the ice margin (<2 km) in fine-grained aeolian sediment (silt loam) and covered by sandy aeolian layers. Silt contents of palaeosols (partly >60 wt%) are comparable with aeolian sand sheets currently formed at greater distances (4–5 km) from the present ice margin. We propose a transport distance for fine aeolian sediments, in which the palaeosols are formed, of at least 4 km from inboard of the present ice margin. Soil formation of the palaeosols started around 2700 cal. yr b2k. Ages from the youngest parts of the palaeosols suggest a stable period of around 2400 years, allowing for pedogenesis. This period was characterised by low but constant aeolian activity. Since aeolian activity intensified after around 300 cal. yr b2k and is still resulting in active dunefields with coarse and medium sand accumulation, the ice margin must have reached its present position at that time.
Coherent late-Holocene climate-driven shifts in the structure of three Rocky Mountain lakes
Authors: Stone Jeffery R , Saros Jasmine E , Pederson Gregory T
Published: March 2016

Large-scale atmospheric pressure centers, such as the Aleutian and Icelandic Low, have a demonstrated relationship with physical lake characteristics in contemporary monitoring studies, but the responses to these phenomena are rarely observed in lake records. We observe coherent changes in the stratification patterns of three deep (>30 m) lakes inferred from fossil diatom assemblages as a response to shifts in the location and intensity of the Aleutian Low and compare these changes with similar long-term changes observed in the δ18O record from the Yukon. Specifically, these records indicate that between 3.2 and 1.4 ka, the Aleutian Low shifted westward, resulting in an increased frequency of storm tracks across the Pacific Northwest during winter and spring. This change in atmospheric circulation ultimately produced deeper mixing in the upper waters of these three lake systems. Enhanced stratification between 4.5 and 3.3 ka and from 1.3 ka to present suggests a strengthened Aleutian Low and more meridional circulation.
Centennial-scale lake-level lowstand at Lake Uddelermeer (The Netherlands) indicates changes in moisture source region prior to the 2.8-kyr event
Authors: Engels S , Bakker MAJ , Bohncke SJP , Cerli C , Hoek WZ , Jansen B , Peters T , Renssen H , Sachse D , van Aken JM , van den Bos V , van Geel B , van Oostrom R , Winkels T , Wolma M
Published: March 2016

The Uddelermeer is a unique lake for The Netherlands, containing a sediment record that continuously registered environmental and climatic change from the late Pleistocene on to the present. A 15.6-m-long sediment record was retrieved from the deepest part of the sedimentary basin and an age–depth model was developed using radiocarbon dating, 210Pb dating, and Bayesian modeling. Lake-level change was reconstructed using a novel combination of high-resolution palaeoecological proxies (e.g. pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, chironomids), quantitative determinations of lake-level change (ground-penetrating radar), and estimates of changes in precipitation (lipid biomarker stable isotopes). We conclude that lake levels were at least as high as present-day water levels from the late glacial to 3150 cal. yr BP, with the exception of at least one lake-level lowstand during the Preboreal period. Lake levels were ca. 2.5 m lower than at present between 3150 and 2800 cal. yr BP, which might have been the result of a change in moisture source region prior to the so-called 2.8-kyr event. Increasing precipitation amounts around 2800 cal. yr BP resulted in a lake-level rise of about 3.5–4 m to levels that were 1–1.5 m higher than at present, in line with increased precipitation levels as inferred for the 2.8-kyr event from nearby raised bog areas as well as with reconstructions of higher lake levels in the French Alps, all of which have been previously attributed to a phase of decreased solar activity. Lake levels decreased to their present level only during recent times, although the exact timing of the drop in lake levels is unclear.
Stasis and change in Holocene small mammal diversity during a period of aridification in southeastern Utah
Authors: Stegner Mary Allison
Published: March 2016

Biological conservation depends on understanding and disentangling the effects of decadal- to centennial-scale dynamics from the millennial-scale dynamics documented in the fossil record. The American Southwest is expected to become increasingly arid over the next few decades and will continue to experience large-scale human land use in various forms. A primary question is whether the ecological fluctuations recorded over the past few decades fall outside the range of variation expected in the absence of recent land use and management. I excavated and quantified mammal diversity change in two fossil-bearing alcoves, East Canyon Rims 2 and Rone Bailey Alcove, located in San Juan County, Utah. AMS radiocarbon dates on 33 bone samples from these sites span ~4.4–0.5 kyr and shed light on pre-industrial faunal dynamics in the region over the course of environmental change. Localities with comparable small mammal diversity have not been reported from this region previously, so these deposits provide novel insight into Holocene mammal diversity in southeastern Utah. Taxa recorded in these sites include leporids, sciurids, perognathines, arvicolines, Onychomys, Cynomys, Dipodomys, Peromyscus, Neotoma, and Thomomys. Using temporal cross-correlation, I tested for a relationship between regional temperature and species richness, evenness, relative abundance, and rank abundance. I also tested for changes in the overall taxon abundance distribution and visualized faunal relationships among time bins using non-metric multidimensional scaling of relative abundance data. None of the measures of diversity tested here were correlated with temperature change through time except for relative abundance of leporids. Overall, these results suggest that climatic fluctuations of the magnitude preserved in these deposits did not significantly alter the small mammal community, nor is there evidence that the presence, then exodus, of Native Americans from the region significantly affected small mammals.
Climate stories: Why do climate scientists and sceptical voices participate in the climate debate?
Authors: Sharman Amelia , Howarth Candice
Published: March 2016

Public perceptions of the climate debate predominantly frame the key actors as climate scientists versus sceptical voices; however, it is unclear why climate scientists and sceptical voices choose to participate in this antagonistic and polarised public battle. A narrative interview approach is used to better understand the underlying rationales behind 22 climate scientists’ and sceptical voices’ engagement in the climate debate, potential commonalities, as well as each actor’s ability to be critically self-reflexive. Several overlapping rationales are identified including a sense of duty to publicly engage, agreement that complete certainty about the complex assemblage of climate change is unattainable and that political factors are central to the climate debate. We argue that a focus on potential overlaps in perceptions and rationales as well as the ability to be critically self-reflexive may encourage constructive discussion among actors previously engaged in purposefully antagonistic exchange on climate change.
‘How well, not how much’: The life and career of Maksymilian Rutkowski (1867–1947)
Authors: Pekacka-Falkowska Katarzyna , Bogusz Halina
Published: March 2016

Maksymilian Rutkowski (1867–1947) was a distinguished graduate of the Jagiellonian University and a pioneer in the early days of surgery in interwar Poland. He was a long-standing leader in both clinical and academic surgery. In addition, he played an important role in the founding of the School for Nurses and Healthcare Workers in Cracow supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. Among his best known surgical techniques, one may list the novel procedure of bladder exstrophy, new techniques of gastroenterostomy and plastic restoration of the oesophagus. Although Rutkowski’s reputation as a medical figure is well established within Polish medical history, his achievements are hardly recognized by international scholars. Thus, in the absence of adequate historical information on this eminent surgeon, we have researched the main facts about his life and seminal contribution to Polish and international surgery.
Thomas James Walker (1835–1916): Surgeon and general practitioner
Authors: Thomas Martyn
Published: March 2016

Thomas James Walker was a surgeon and general practitioner who worked in the city of Peterborough at a time when there were changes and innovations in the practice of medicine. After training in medicine and surgery at Edinburgh University, he qualified in London in 1857. He was a pioneer of laryngoscopy. He played an important role in introducing antiseptic surgery to the Peterborough Infirmary and was instrumental in the development of the operating theatre which opened in 1894. He was a philanthropist and collector of Roman and Saxon artefacts. In 1915, he was recognized as an outstanding member of the Peterborough community when he was offered the Freedom of the City.
Agostino Gemelli and the scientific study of courage in the First World War
Authors: Patriarca Carlo , Clerici Carlo Alfredo
Published: March 2016

Agostino Gemelli (1878–1959) is known as the founder of the Catholic University in Italy. Franciscan monk and doctor he had a central role in promoting studies on human behavior, thanks to his solid scientific training as a student of Camillo Golgi at the University of Pavia. His research activities during the years of the First World War involved studying the motivation, courage and psychological adaptation of the soldiers, engaged in trench warfare, laying the foundations of modern studies of behavior and trauma.
Doreen Norton OBE, MSc, SRN, FRCN (1922–2007): Pioneer who revolutionised pressure sore management and geriatric nursing to international acclaim
Authors: Denham Michael J
Published: March 2016

Doreen Norton was a delightful, widely respected nurse who devoted her life to improving the care of elderly people. She researched the neglected problem of pressure sores, revolutionised their nursing care, and thus achieved international fame. Her Pressure Sore Scale was established as a management tool and is still used today. She was a key member of the design team that produced the ‘King’s Fund Bed’, researched equipment required on geriatric wards, assessed all geriatric long stay units in Scotland and established research as a valuable nursing tool within her profession and health authorities. She lectured extensively and her publications attracted worldwide acclamation. After her retirement, she was subsequently appointed to the world’s first Chair of Gerontological Nursing in Cleveland, Ohio.
A Study on Quality of Women Employees in Medical Transcription
Authors: Padminii K. , Venkatramaraju D. , Brindha G.
Published: March 2016

‘Tele’ means distance. The term ‘teleport’, means ‘distant place of working’. In practice, however, it refers to a specific mode of distant working, their services, using telemetric, on a site which is geographically separated from the main office. ‘Telemetries’ refers to a combination of information and technologies which connect the computers of employees to the computer of the main employing organization. As the current ratio of services being delivered on-site is 40 per cent or more, most Indian companies have a long way to go to move up the value chain in promoting home-based work which allow companies to use certain categories of employees effectively and profitably. The rapid spread of information technology combined with the deregulation and upgrading of telecommunications in virtually all countries has given considerable impetus to outsourcing or delocalization of work. The development of teleporting represents a convergence of a number of different trends, many of which have major implications for environmental, social and economic policy. How the industry, the governments and the policy-makers respond to these changes will seriously impact the future of the economy, on the employment possibilities as well as the quality of work life of people, especially women employees in the same field.
Emerging Disease Death Profile of Goa
Authors: Borkar Sharmila
Published: March 2016

This article attempts to understand the emerging disease death profile of the state of Goa, by using the deaths data from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), in the Annual Reports of Registrar of Births and Deaths of the Government of Goa. It takes a closer look at the different types of disease deaths for five major mortality cause groups, namely, infectious diseases, neoplasms (cancers), circulatory diseases, digestive diseases and respiratory diseases, which together account for majority of disease deaths for Goa. It is observed that in the recent times, digestive (liver) deaths, circulatory (ischaemic heart) deaths and newer types of cancer deaths are on the rise. Within the infectious disease death profile, it appears that while certain types of disease deaths are wiped out, mortality for some conventional diseases such as tuberculosis still persists, and new disease pathogens such as HIV (viral) and malaria (protozoal) have made their presence felt. Age-wise and gender-wise break-ups reveal that disease deaths vary by gender and for different age groups. All this has crucial policy implications; we suggest such relevant information needs to be taken into account while designing and implementing disease control programmes and priorities of the state.
The Association Between Built Environment Attributes and Physical Activity in East Asian Adolescents
Authors: Lee Ling-Ling , Kuo Yi-Liang , Chan Edwin Shih-Yen
Published: March 2016

Asian adolescents living in Australia and England were found to be less active than their Western peers. We aimed to systematically examine evidence of the associations between attributes of the built environment and physical activity in adolescents dwelling in East Asian countries. A total of 10 electronic databases for relevant observational studies without time limit were searched. Five studies met the eligibility criteria, which involved a total of 43 817 schoolchildren aged 11 to 17 years. The majority of the built environment attributes measured was significantly associated with reported physical activity. Difficult access to public facilities was associated with physical inactivity. Inconsistent finding of the association between residential density and physical activity was found. Further studies comparing participants from different Asian countries using a longitudinal design with an appropriate period of follow-up and both objective and reported measures of built environment attributes and physical activity are needed.
“Back to Basics” Approach for Improving Maternal Health Care Services Utilization in Lao PDR
Authors: Ngan Do Kim , Kang Minah , Lee Chaeun , Vanphanom Sychareun
Published: March 2016

Earlier studies claim inadequate knowledge and understanding of maternal health care service among women and families account for low demand and utilization of these services. This study explores maternal service utilization in Lao PDR by interviewing women, families, health service providers, and community members in Xiengkhuang province. In general, women’s attitude and acceptance of maternal health care were positive, with many expressing appreciation and need for maternal health services. Nevertheless, utilization of maternal health services remained poor largely due to dissatisfaction with services: inaccessibility, irregular services, fund shortage, poor facilities, and problems dealing with male health service providers. It appears that utilization of maternal health care services in Lao PDR is as much a health system concern as it is a user preference issue. This article advocates a “back to basics” approach for reviewing maternal health care infrastructure systems in developing countries to improve community health services and utilization.
Wave Upon Wave
Authors: Mohammed Jalal , Ashton Toni , North Nicola
Published: March 2016

Decentralization in the health sector has been widely implemented since the 1970s as a reform mechanism with mixed results. This study describes Fiji’s 2 attempts at decentralizing its health sector and examines the implications they have had for the functions of planning, financing, and delivery of health services. The first wave attempted a major restructure by devolving Fiji’s health system. Political instability, along with a lack of acceptance, stalled its implementation resulting in a delegated system. While the functions of planning and financing remained centralized, the function of delivery was delegated to geographic regions. The second wave was a more focused effort that targeted the deconcentration of outpatient services in one division. This attempt also decentralized the delivery function while keeping the other 2 functions centralized. Fiji’s incremental approach to decentralization could provide lessons for Asia-Pacific countries that have had failed attempts in large scale decentralization efforts.
The Effects of Social Reforms on Mental Disability in China
Authors: Wang Zhenjie , Zhang Lei , Li Ning , Guo Chao , Chen Gong , Zheng Xiaoying
Published: March 2016

Few studies have explored how mental disabilities have changed with the waves of Chinese social reforms that occurred between 1912 and 2006. The present study evaluated population-based data from the Second China National Sample Survey on Disability to investigate these trends and their effects on mental disabilities. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the association between social reforms and mental disabilities. The confounding variables considered were as follows: survey age, gender, residence in 2006, ethnicity, and living arrangements in 2006. The highest risks of mental disabilities were observed in subjects born during the Mao Zedong era. Subjects who experienced social turbulence during their early development may have increased risks of mental disabilities in adulthood. The results and discussion herein contribute to our understanding of mental disabilities in China within the context of changing political, socioeconomic, and health system conditions and a developing mental health system.
Temporary agency work, migration and the crisis in Greece: labour market segmentation intensified
Authors: Maroukis Thanos
Published: March 2016

This article focuses on the under-researched temporary agency employment in Greece. It shows that the development of the temporary employment agency sector has gone hand in hand with the flow of undocumented and exploitable migrant labour in Greece over the past 25 years, reflecting the segmentation of the Greek labour market along ethnic lines. Using empirical research evidence on the operation of temporary employment agencies in the Greek hospitality and health care sectors, the article highlights the precarious or even illicit nature of agency employment in a context in which labour outsourcing and flexible employment are promoted by policy-makers. Last but not least, it suggests that the segmented landscape of the Greek labour market has become more complex during the economic crisis, with more and more Greeks drawn to agency-mediated precarious employment.
Economic freedoms and labour standards in the European Union
Authors: Cremers Jan
Published: March 2016

The European Union internal market seeks to ensure the free movement of goods, services, capital and citizens. The primacy given to these economic freedoms has culminated in a socio-economic reasoning dominated by competition, bringing about side effects that may pose a threat to working conditions and labour standards. This article examines the problematic relationship between economic freedoms and labour standards in the context of cross-border labour recruitment. It starts with a summary of the relevant EU acquis, in particular rules concerning social security coordination and the pay and working conditions of posted workers. It reviews key issues of the ‘hard core’ of the internal market legislation (free choice of contracts, freedom of establishment for firms, deregulation of the ‘business environment’ and free provision of services). The next part identifies experiences of rule-enforcing institutions: regime shopping, non-compliance with social standards, lack of cross-border enforcement, the difficulty of tracing circumvention in a transnational context and weak sanctioning mechanisms. The possibility of verifying, legally and in practice, whether a worker is correctly posted within the framework of the provision of services has become an Achilles heel of the enforcement of the use of cross-border recruited labour. The article also assesses whether the 2014 Enforcement Directive can be seen as an effective remedy for the identified problems.
Social up- and downgrading of apparel workers in Romania: fast fashion, post-socialist transformation, Europeanization, and the global economic crisis
Authors: Plank Leonhard , Staritz Cornelia
Published: March 2016

Although the expansion of global production networks (GPNs) has been an important source of employment generation in many developing and transition countries, the qualitative aspects of this employment are less promising, often being characterized by high flexibility, uncertainty and precariousness. Drivers of these outcomes are industry dynamics and lead firm strategies such as fast fashion in the apparel industry. Equally important are, however, multi-scalar institutional contexts and state policies that influence social up- and downgrading trajectories. Against this background, the article assesses the up-/downgrading of apparel workers in Romania, a key regional supplier of western European markets. In addition to the sourcing practices of lead firms, and particularly fast fashion, we highlight the legacy of the country’s state socialist past and its post-socialist transformation, Europeanization and the global economic crisis as drivers of GPN outcomes.
Acoustic Gestalt: On the perceptibility of melodic symmetry
Authors: Mongoven Casey , Carbon Claus-Christian
Published: March 2016

The important role of symmetry perception in the visual domain has been well documented in a large number of studies. Less clear, however, is its effect and potential role as a Gestalt grouping principle in the audio domain. We investigated the perceptibility of melodic symmetry using a series of algorithmically generated sonifications. Twenty-eight naïve participants were presented with a series of nine symmetrical sonifications, nine partially symmetrical sonifications (with approximately half of the mirrored elements changed), and nine asymmetrical sonifications. The participants were asked to identify the sonifications as belonging to one of those three categories. The sonifications utilized Karplus-Strong string synthesis and had a duration between 500 and 8,000 ms. The sonifications were presented three times each in order to check for participants’ consistency. Although participants tested far closer to chance level than perfect accuracy, we observed large effect sizes on measures of both accuracy and consistency. We found an effect of the number of tones in a melody on accuracy, with sonifications containing more tones being more difficult to attribute to the correct category. Sonifications with shorter duration and a faster tempo were also found to be more difficult to attribute accurately, indicating some minimum duration of the melody as well as the individual tones constituting the melody. We also found evidence of a significant effect of age on participants’ consistency, with older listeners performing more consistently.
Identifying Barriers Among Childhood Cancer Survivors Transitioning to Adult Health Care
Authors: Quillen Joanne , Bradley Holli , Calamaro Christina
Published: March 2016

The aim of this study was to identify and describe barriers of young adult childhood cancer survivors transitioning to adult health care within 5 years of leaving a pediatric oncology practice. Several barriers have been identified in the literature, but other obstacles as to why this vulnerable population may be avoiding health care are unknown. This is a descriptive pilot study of a convenience sample of childhood cancer survivors, currently 20 to 25 years of age, who were diagnosed at less than 21 years of age. The Transition to Adult Care Survey assessing survivor barriers is an online survey consisting of 15 questions, with a drop-down menu for answers and 2 open-ended questions. The survey was accessible by smartphone or computer. Standard descriptive statistics were used to describe variables of interest. Our population consisted of 48 childhood cancer survivors. Their mean age was 23.21 years. Only 74% reported following through with annual preventive screening, and 57% reported that they consider themselves at risk for further medical problems as a result of their cancer treatment. Lack of knowledge of the importance of health screening may be a potential barrier to consistent follow-up care.
Development and Validation of the Hospice Professionals’ Understanding of Preparatory Grief Scale
Authors: Prost Stephanie Grace
Published: March 2016

Purpose:

It is critical to assess hospice professionals’ discrimination between adaptive and maladaptive reactions to terminal illness in persons at the end-of-life to assure targeted intervention aimed at maintaining quality of life. The proposed measure, the Hospice Professionals Understanding of Preparatory Grief scale (HPPG), contains affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions to terminal illness and asks respondents to identify which reflect adaptive and maladaptive responses.

Methods:

Hospice professionals across three states ( n = 196) completed the novel HPPG via online survey.

Results:

Initial evidence via expert panel review, confirmatory factor analysis, and domain restructuring suggests good content and factorial validity. Final reliability (α stratified = .861) indicates good internal consistency.

Discussion:

The HPPG is the first measure to assess hospice professionals’ understanding of reactions to terminal illness and serves as an initial examination of this critical skill in hospice professionals including social workers. The HPPG can be used as a self-assessment or measure of continuing education.
A 40-Year History of End-of-Life Offerings in US Medical Schools: 1975-2015
Authors: Dickinson George E.
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this longitudinal study of US medical schools over a 40-year period was to ascertain their offerings on end-of-life (EOL) issues. At 5-year intervals, beginning in 1975, US medical schools were surveyed via a questionnaire to determine their EOL offerings. Data were reported with frequency distributions. The Institute of Medicine has encouraged more emphasis on EOL issues over the past 2 decades. Findings revealed that undergraduate medical students in the United States are now exposed to death and dying, palliative care, and geriatric medicine. The inclusion of EOL topics has definitely expanded over the 40-year period as findings reveal that US undergraduate medical students are currently exposed in over 90% of programs to death and dying, palliative care, and geriatric medicine, with the emphasis on these topics varying with the medical programs. Such inclusion should produce future favorable outcomes for undergraduate medical students, patients, and their families.