bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinic, diagnosis and prevention of latex allergy in patients and hospital medical staff
Authors: Mitin Yuriy Alekseyevich , Vologzhanin Dmitry Aleksandrovich
Published: February 2016

In this article present the data about occurance, immunopathogenesis and clinical features of latex allergy. It discussed in detail professional aspects of developing latex allergy in medical personal, hallmark features of allergologic anamnesis, latex allergy local and systemic manifestations, clinical and laboratory diagnostic methods and prophylaxis measures.
Fears among children and overcoming them
Authors: Gorkovaya Irina Alekseyevna
Published: February 2016

The article examines the fears of children, which are divided into three following groups: the “instinctive” fears (fear of death, death of relatives, fear of doctors, injections, etc.), fears of “interpersonal relations” (fear of being late, did not catch, fear of inability to cope with feelings, fear of disapproval from peers, etc.) and “technological” fears (fear of fire, fly a plane, explosions, etc.). According to the research of 2008- 2011, almost all children revealed a fear of losing their parents. Change is observed in the content side: children 4-6 years were afraid of losing their parents because parents provide their lives. The perception of parents is changing at the age of 7-9 years and children realize love for them, in 10-11 years signs of the partnership and its value appear. Also the fear of school can be attributed like one of the most frequent fears in children and adolescents. The results of our study showed that almost every third child in the preschool group does not want to go to school and / or nega-tively assesses its educational opportunities. Number of school fears decreases with age and in early adolescence 11-12 years is about 20 %. The article contains a description of such ways to overcome fears as: creation of conditions to transfer interactions and feelings on the toy to defuse a tension; drawing as a way of expressing positive and negative emotions; a variety of fairy tales including in the form metaphors of the life path; parent’s ability to control the amount of crisis situations in children using the Diary of a gradual change of the child problematic behaviour and etc. The study examined the phenomenon of “no fear” in children, which has been found in almost every tenth child. Discusses its possible causes and negative sides.
Intimate hygiene of an adolescent girl: principles, modern opportunities and problem of introduction
Authors: Kokhreidze Nadezhda Anatolyevna , Anufriyenko Elina Georgiyevna , Bobrova Irina Vasilyevna , Mironova Anna Valeryevna
Published: February 2016

30 girls aged from 11 to 17 years were surveyed in order to research the use of gels for the intimate hygiene containing xylitol, alginates and allantoin combined with chamomile extract or quince that have a neutral pH and do not contain perfumes. The average age of pa-tients was 15.2 ± 2.8 years (11; 17). Surveyed patients used to have the following clinical diagnosis: ovarian cysts - 8 patients , ovarian apoplexy - 8, acute salpingo-oophoritis - 1, abnormal uterine bleeding - 13. Patients were asked to evaluate the following quality criteria according to the scale from 1 to 5 scores: simplicity of use, comfort after hygienic procedures, the feeling of freshness, the perfume. Mean score for simplicity was 4.5 ± 0.7 (2; 5), comfort after the procedure - 4.5 ± 0.7 (3; 5), feeling of freshness - 4.6 ± 0.5 (3; 5) and perfume - 4.1 ± 0.9 (2; 5). 7 of 30 patients (23.3 %) estimated the perfume as scores 2 and 3. Lowest score 3.7 ± 1.2 was given by youngest girls aged 11-13 years (n = 6). Girls aged 14-15 years (n = 9) gave the higher score that equaled 4.1 ± 0.8 and girls aged 16-17 years (n = 15) gave the highest mean score of 4.3 ± 0,7. 22 (73.3 %) of 30 girls almost over 15 years old said they intend to use this hygienic agent in the future. 8 (26.7 %) younger girls found this difficult to assess. Thus, attractiveness of this agent for personal hygiene was lower in girls from younger age group (11-13 years) due to the absence of perfume and in spite of numerous assets.
Comparative evaluation of innovative diagnostic tests for latent and active TВ infection in children
Authors: Lozovskaya Marina Eduardovna , Belushkov Vyacheslav Valeryevich , Gurina Olga Petrovna , Vasilyeva Yelena Borisovna , Klochkova Lyudmila Vladimirovna
Published: February 2016

The results of three new tests based on antigens CFP-10 аnd ESAT-6 were studied in 50 children: intradermal Diaskintest and tests in vitro QUANTIFERON and Tubinferon. Diaskintest and Tubinferon are developed and produced in the Russian Federation. QUANTIFERON test is performed by Cellestis (Australia). 20 children had active TB, 22 children had latent TB infection, and 8 were not infected by M. tuberculosis. It has been established that while the frequency of coincidence of the results is high (66 %), in some situations, tests may react differently and give additional information when used together in difficult diagnostic cases. In vitro tests were more sensitive compared with Diaskinintest in immunopathological conditions. Tubinferon test had higher sensitivity in latent TB infection (40.9 %) compared to Diaskintest (22.7 %) and QUANTIFERON test (31,8 %), but lower sensitivity in developed tuberculosis - 60, 80 and 85 % respectively. All three tests are more informative in TB disease than in latent TB infection. An important advantage of the Tubinferon test is the ability to evaluate in vitro postvaccinal allergy, due to presence of the sample with the tuberculin. This can be used in the differential diagnostic between tuberculosis and generalized BCG infection, including children with HIV. Mantoux test may be more effective then Diaskintest in children who was not vaccinated with BCG. Tubinferon test system deserves wide clinical application, further study and development.
Effect of interferon on the direction of polarization of the immune response to influenza in children
Authors: Golovacheva Yekaterina Georgiyevna , Afanasyeva Olga Ivanovna , Osidak Lyudmila Viktorovna , Obraztsova Yelena Viktorovna , Voloshchuk Lyubov Vasilyevna
Published: February 2016

In 1900 children of different ages and 690 adults with laboratory confirmed influenza in different epidemic seasons studied levels of interferons and interleukins 4 and 10 in the serum calculating the ratio of interleukin 4, 10 to interferon gamma. There are three type of immune response to influenza depending on the clinical course. It was shown that in flu with moderate intoxication in 66.3 % of cases in children and 72.0 % of adults marked polarization on Th1 type with increase level in serum and spontaneous interferon gamma in all age groups, in which the ratio of IL-4/IFN-g from 0.8 to 2, while in severe intoxication only 33.5 and 43.9 %, respectively. In children with bronchitis immune response Th2 type and mixed Th1/Th2 type were observed in 54.6 and 33.3 % of cases respectively, and only 12.1 % of Th1 type. With influenza, pneumonia is a complication, in 76 % of cases were determined humoral immune response by Th2 type when the ratio of IL-4/IFN-g and IL-10/ IFN-g is greater than 3, due to the increase of the content of interleukin 4 and 10, while significantly reducing levels of interferon gamma. In 23.7 % of cases observed Th1/Th2 mixed type of immune response with a ratio of 2 to 3. The obtained data allow us to determine the type of immune response to influenza infection and to predict the severity of the disease and the development of complications in children and adults, and also to determine the necessity of including in the therapy drugs of immunocorrection.
Structural circumstances in the main types of fatal concomitant injury in children
Authors: Karavayev Vladimir Mikhaylovich
Published: February 2016

On the material of forensic research 284 corpses of children (108 own observations, 176 archive acts), died as a result of falling from height, hitting a moving car, drive to the wheels and the injury in a car, a study of the structure damage. Investigated the frequency and distribution of damage to the skin, skeletal and organ separate areas of the body, carried out the combined assessment of the extent of the damage when the considered variants of the circumstances of the injury. It is established that the children injured in the car to head injury in various manifestations, found in 100 % of cases. Damage to other areas of the body are less frequent than when hit by a car, moving its wheels and when falling from a height. In this regard, the aggregate amount of damages in case of injury in a car in children was less than for other types of trauma. The distribution of damage between the areas marked in cases of moving the wheels of the car; on trauma to the head, chest and limbs accounted for the same proportion of the damage. Under the circumstances spine-spinal cord injury, damage, neck, abdomen and pelvis met more frequently than other considered variants of injury. In cases of moving the wheels of the car and marked the largest amount of damage that significantly exceeds (рφ < 0,001) indicators when falling from a height, the shock of your vehicle and injury in his cabin.
Analyze and prediction of expenses for public health in G7 countries
Authors: Peel Eduard Anatolyevich , Bulavko Yana Eduardovna
Published: February 2016

This article represents an analysis were made using data of expenses for public health in G7 countries. We can see the expenses for public health in G7 countries spent during 10 years in 2000-2010. These expenses rise every year. We built a trend line in MS Excel to analyze correlation rates. Our analysis showed rather high correlation coefficients R2. For example, these coefficients R2 for three countries: USA, Germany and France have the following bounds: 0,9606 ≤ R2 ≤ 0,9997. Six diagrams which are presented in the article allow us to understand how the expenses of USA for public health change. These diagrams show us the following mathematical dependences: linear, logarithmic, exponential and polynomial approximations. These diagrams also present mathematical functions and correlation coefficients R2. We have got high correlation coefficients R2 so we can predict future meanings of expenses for public health in G7 countries with high reliability up to 2015.
Diagnosis and therapy of bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy
Authors: Shalepo Kira Valentinovna , Nazarova Veronika Viktorovna , Menukhova Yuliya Nikolayevna , Shipitsyna Yelena Vasilyevna , Savicheva Alevtina Mikhailovna
Published: February 2016

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal disorder in women of reproductive age. This review presents literature data regarding a role of BV in adverse reproductive health outcomes, describes current methods used for BV diagnosis and issues of treatment of this disease in pregnant women.
Specific laboratory diagnosis of viral hepatitis
Authors: Sokurova Alla Mikhaylovna
Published: February 2016

During the last years, the incidence of chronic forms of viral hepatitis has increased. This necessitates the need for a reliable and timely means of diagnosis, which have been improved progressively. The list of markers of infection has been expanding, and the appropriate interpretation of this data would allow doctors to make the choice of treatment required for each particular case. The following methods are used for diagnosis of viral hepatitis: immunno-electron microscopy (IEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The markers of acute hepatitis A are: anti-HAV Ig M and the viral RNA. The presence of anti-HAV Ig G is indicative of a past history of disease. Diagnosis of viral hepatitis B is based on detection of virus antigens - HBsAg, HBeAg and antibodies (Ig M and G to the НВсAg, Ig G to the HВeAg and Ig G to the HBsAg). In addition, viral DNA detected by PCR is indicative for viral presence. Serological blood testing for markers of hepatitis D is informative only in patients with the presence of HBsAg in the blood. Important are the hepatitis D viral RNA and Ig M/G to the virus. Specific laboratory diagnosis of hepatitis C is based on the detection of antibodies to viral proteins, although detection of viral RNA is considered the «golden standard» in diagnosing of this disease. Laboratory diagnosis of hepatitis E is based on exclusion of specific markers of acute hepatitis A, B, C, as well as by the method of IEM, which relies on the detection of the virus in the feces.
Higher-dose canakinumab therapy for refractory macrophage activation syndrome in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: two case reports
Authors: Kostik Mikhail Mikhaylovich , Likhacheva Tatyana Serafimovna , Chikova Irina Aleksandrovna , Buchinskaya Natal’ya Valer’yevna , Abramova Natal’ya Nikolaevna , Kalashnikova Olga Valeryevna , Cron Randy Q , Chasnyk Vyacheslav Grigoryevich
Published: February 2016

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a life-threatening, potentially fatal complication of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) appears in non-remitted fever, cytopenia, coagulopathy, liver and CNS dysfunctions. Triggers of MAS could be disease activity, infections and medications. Known IL-1 is the key cytokine in pathogenesis of MAS and SJIA, and disease flare associated with increased amounts of different cytokines, especially IL-1β. Many cases of MAS are medically-refractory to traditional doses of cytokine inhibition and may require increased dosing of biologic cytokine blockade. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is typically a key cytokine in the pathogenesis of sJIA and associated MAS. When MAS occurs in the setting of sJIA treated with IL-1 inhibitors, then increased dosing of IL-1 blockers may be beneficial. This has been shown for anakinra, an IL-1 receptor antagonist, but this drug is currently not available worldwide. Another IL-1 blocker, canakinumbab (CKB), is a monoclonal antibody that blocks IL-1β, but does not also block IL-1α like anakinra. Herein, we describe 2 sJIA patients who developed MAS on standard doses of CKB (4 mg/kg). Both patients received an increased dose of CKB: 150 mg (7.5 and 12.5 mg/kg, respectively) with rapid and complete resolution of MAS. Later the CKB doses was tapered to normal regimen. No side effects or adverse events were noticed during usage of increased CKB doses. Increased dosing of CKB should be considered for CKB-treated sJIA patients who develop MAS on standard dosing.
Demographic tendencies, modeling of population health and description of population ageing in terms of reliability theory
Authors: Chasnyk Vyacheslav Grigoryevich , Kaminskiy Mark
Published: February 2016

It can be difficult to provide unbiased assessment of demographic trends in large most populated countries because of the technological problems and political influences. Nevertheless, without understanding those unbiased tendencies it is impossible to assess and plan socio-economic activities of a state and its individual departments. It is important particularly for medical services strategic planning in which connection fundamental significance is attached to trends especially in pediatric population. According to the reports of the Federal State Statistics Service and of the Ministry of Health Care nowadays we see in Russia relatively favorable demographic tendencies together with steady growth of morbidity in population. These trends are differently directed in different regions and they are mostly inauspicious in rural sparsely populated areas of the northern European part of Russia, in the Urals, in Siberia and in the Far East where genetically deter-mined disorders are among factors that influence the quality of population. Deterioration in quality of growing population inevitably leads to increased costs of medical service. In order to plan medical services we need prognostic models with “population health status” used as dependent variable. In order to minimize the subjectivity while assessing the health status it can be described in terms of reliability theory particularly using the Gini index (1912), which is well known as a tool for risk assessment in mechanics and macroeconomics. In reliability theory. According to the fundamentals of the reliability theory systems are classified into deteriorating or improving, which respectively are defined as systems with increasing and decreasing Rate of OCcurrence Of Failures (ROCOF) or which is even more important for understanding of medical essence - respectively with short or long mean-time-between-failures. This interpretation corresponds to concepts of population morbidity and population ageing/rejuvenation. A Gini-type index (GTI) was introduced which needs one year data of mortality in age cohorts to reveal whether the population is ageing or rejuvenating. Negative values of GTI indicate rejuvenation (decreasing ROCOF), positive values indicate ageing (increasing ROCOF). The results of assessment of population ageing in Russia in 1959 an 2010 are presented. To calculate the GTI the database of Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (Rostock, Germany) and University of California (Berkeley, USA) was used.
Hypothesis about the protective role of ccr5delta32 mutations in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: fiction or reality?
Authors: Fedorova Elena Vladimirovna , Egorov Andrey Sergeyevich , Ammosova Tatyana , Avrusin Sergey Lvovich , Santimov Andrey Vyacheslavovich , Kostik Mikhail Mikhaylovich , Dubko Margarita Fedorovna , Kalashnikova Olga Valeryevna , Masalova Vera Vasilyevna , Likhacheva Tatyana Serafimovna , Snegireva Ludmila Stepanovna , Grom Alexey Alekseevich , Nekhai Sergei , Chasnyk Vyacheslav Grigoryevich
Published: February 2016

It is suspected that the prevalence in different ethnic groups of HLA-genotype and of mutation CCR5delta32 - factors which alter adhesion of protein CCR5 - are the causes of different prevalence of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in different ethnic populations. Prerequisites to the fact that the mutation CCR5delta32 may have importance in determining susceptibility to the disease were the observations showing that CCR5 deletion polymorphism reveals a population and geographic diversity in addition to ethnic specificity. But reports on the role of gene deletion in the CCR5 chemokine receptor susceptibility to JIA rather contradictory. 234 DNA samples of patients with systemic JIA (soJIA) were ana-lyzed. The diagnosis was made according to the ILAR criteria. DNA was isolated using QIAamp Mini Kit (QIAGEN) according to the protocol provided. Our results didn’t reveal any differences in prevalence of mutation in patients with soJIA, in patients with soJIA + macrophage activation syndrome and in total population. Our results do not support the idea of protective role of the muta-tion CCR5delta32 against soJIA, which conclusion can be explained also by probable association of soJIA with HLA-genotype or other factors of ethnicity. At the same time, it can be considered as an additional evidence of expediency of soJIA being an original disease different from the rest of JIA group of diseases.
Climate change, human health and well-being in Yakutia
Authors: Shadrin Viktor Pavlovich , Burtseva Tatyana Yegorovna , Avrusin Sergey Lvovich , Solodkova Irina Vladimirovna
Published: February 2016

The study was designed as a community survey conducted face-to-face with an in-person interview. The 145 subjects living in 8 rural settlements were reviewed. Data presented show that in total the most impressive changes are registered for the following signs: thinner ice on rivers, water and ice in rivers more muddy, the number of sunny days greater, more difficult to predict good weather and beginning of spring, rivers and sea covered with ice later, hunting, fishing, gathering mushrooms and berries is not so successful and quantity of mosquitoes is greater than it has been 5 years ago. Everyday activities of hunters, fishermen and herders living in Yakutia have changed during the last 5 years due to climate change. People living in the central part of Yakutia are affected to a greater extent, which is associated with faster warming. Those changes are supposed to be the sources of the problems with long-term and short-term weather forecast, difficulties to travel along tundra and forest, reindeer grazing, problems with fishing, hunting, gathering mushrooms and berries. Tendencies of infant mortality and morbidity in the studied regions are not associated with climate change and though the morbidity in Yakutia has a tendency to grow both in adults’ and in children’s populations mostly due to increase in prevalence of the diseases of the respiratory, circulatory and digestive system, this fact can hardly be associated with climate change.
Editorially Speaking
Authors: Mohan Brij
Published: February 2016

Environment and Social Psychology is launched as a policy, practice and research platform to encourage environmental consciousness that promotes rights of, and justice for, all including environment itself. The challenges ahead are clear. The stated mission and objectives define a paradigmatic sphere where we wish to explore, disseminate, and innovate.
Cell therapy for bone fracture repair: A comparative preclinical review of mesenchymal stromal cells from bone marrow and from adipose tissue
Authors: Ena Sabrina , Ino Julia , Neirinck Aurelie , Pietri Sandra , Tury Anna , Bastianelli Enrico
Published: February 2016

Over the last decade, there has been an increasing interest among researchers for human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC). Their regenerative properties, multilineage differentiation capacity and immunomodulatory properties make them promising candidates for treatment in various conditions. Emerging biotechnology companies specialized in cellular and regenerative therapies have been focusing their interest on MSC-based therapies, and their use in clinical trials has steadily increased. Notably, MSC are currently tested in clinical trials addressing unmet medical needs in the field of bone fracture repair and more specifically in non-union and delayed union fractures where the bone repair process is impaired. Although MSC can be isolated from various tissues, the most commonly studied sources are bone marrow (BM) and adipose tissue (Ad). In this article, we reviewed the literature directly comparing BM- and Ad-MSC for their in vitro characteristics and in vivo osteogenic potential to determine which source of MSC would be more appropriate for bone fracture repair. As considerable variations in experimental settings between studies were found, our review was based on studies meeting specific sets of criteria, notably regarding donors’ age and gender. This review of side-by-side comparisons suggests that while BM-and Ad-MSC share common general characteristics, BM-MSC have a higher intrinsic osteogenic capacity in vitro and bone repair potential in vivo.
Selenium Status in Saudi Arabian Compared to UK Women and Possible Influence on Bone Density and Skeletal Metabolism
Authors: R Stoffaneller , Morse Nancy L
Published: February 2016

Se intake in the UK is thought to be declining whereas little is known about the Se status of Middle Eastern countries in general and Saudi Arabia specifically. Recent pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest a possible link between Se status and bone health. The purpose of this study was primarily to determine Se status, and secondarily to determine the influence of Se inadequacy on bone health using prospective measures of dietary selenium (Se) intake and bone health, and retrospective analyses of plasma and serum Se content. Plasma/serum Se concentration was measured in 76 women from the Saudi Arabian Bone Health (SABHS) study (34 premenopausal and 42 postmenopausal), and 92 women from the Vitamin D, Food Intake, Nutrition and Exposure to Sunlight (D-FINES) study in southern England (27 Caucasian premenopausal, 35 Caucasian postmenopausal,14 Asian premenopausal and 16 Asian postmenopausal). Bone health marker data was available for all subjects while dietary intake data was available for United Kingdom (UK) subjects only. Se was lower in Saudi Arabian compared to UK subjects (P<0.01) even after adjusting for body size. Postmenopausal women had higher Se across all ethnicities. Se status was significantly positively correlated with Se intake in the UK Caucasian subjects (autumn 2006 intakes) and 91.5% of the UK subjects did not meet the Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI). Se status and intake relative to bone health had mixed outcomes. Based on these findings, Se status and intake is insufficient in UK and Saudi Arabian women with premenopausal women most affected.
La Ley de Infraestructura de Transporte y la preservación “a toda costa” del interés viario. Estudio de las licencias especiales para el desarrollo de vías de interés particular y el asiento de redes lineales como medida de eficacia
Authors: Hernández Betancur Luis Fernando
Published: February 2016

El presente escrito analizará, a la luz de los elementos constitucionales que definen la intervención del Estado en la economía, algunas de las innovaciones que introdujo en el ordenamiento jurídico colombiano la Ley 1682 de 2013, rectora de los proyectos de infraestructura de transporte, a efectos de favorecer la eficaz planificación, contratación y ejecución de las obras viales que demanda el desarrollo del país.

En particular, el texto se enfocará en el estudio de las licencias y la autorización establecidas para disciplinar la interrelación entre el interés jurídico viario y otros intereses jurídicos como la libertad y la propiedad. El propósito de tal análisis será demostrar que el rango superior que esta normativa atribuye al interés viario hace que, en caso de colisión, cualquier otro interés deba ceder en su beneficio “a toda costa” y ello, sin duda, es inconstitucional pues, en aras de materializar una determinada perspectiva del interés general, se propicia el deterioro de la riqueza social ante la “imposibilidad” de ponderar la relevancia de los intereses en pugna en cada caso particular.

En procura de tal objetivo, el texto partirá del estudio de los elementos dogmáticos que caracterizan la intervención del Estado en la economía y, a partir de allí, se centrará en las disposiciones de la Ley 1682 de 2013 que, so pretexto de favorecer la indemnidad del interés viario, establecen licencias o autorizaciones que generan aflicción de otros intereses jurídicos de raigambre constitucional a fin mostrar cómo su diseño específico rompe cualquier parámetro para mensurar el alcance jurídico plausible que puede atribuirse a un interés jurídico cuando pugna con otro.
The Evidence Behind the Diagnostic Investigation of Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy
Authors: Charalambous Marios , Brodbelt David , Volk Holger Andreas
Published: February 2016

Clinical bottom line

There remains until recently an overall lack of clarity for the practical criteria for the diagnosis of canine idiopathic epilepsy. Signalment and an interictal neurological examination are vital for the diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy. Despite the current insufficient evidence, the emerge of new diagnostic methods, such as cerebrospinal fluid and/or serum biomarkers, advanced functional neuroimaging techniques and electroencephalography, is likely to change the diagnostic approach in canine epilepsy in the near future.
Performance Measurement In The eCommerce Industry
Authors: Mistry Jamshed
Published: February 2016

The Balanced Scorecard framework (BSC) developed by Kaplan and Norton (1992) has been widely accepted by most academics and adopted by numerous practitioners in industry. Despite being widely accepted by practitioners in industry, little extant research has focused on the BSC and little empirical analysis has focused on validating the model. This paper first develops performance measures specifically designed for the eCommerce industry by drawing on the BSC and other measures developed by practitioners. Next, the paper reports evidence of the utility of the BSC framework in measuring and monitoring the performance of e-commerce companies. The study utilizes an integrated Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model to examine and evaluate the relative efficiency of the measures identified within the BSC framework for measuring the performance of eCommerce companies. Finally, the study examines the effectiveness of the BSC framework in predicting the success or failure of eCommerce companies by focusing on three successful eCommerce and three eCommerce companies that subsequently failed.
Immigrant Earnings Patterns In High Immigration States
Authors: Pedace Roberto
Published: February 2016

This paper examines and measures the extent of wage convergence of immigrants to native-born workers.  The focus is on a dimension of immigrant labor market assimilation that has been largely overlooked in this literature; particularly, how differences in local labor market wage-setting mechanisms affect the process of wage convergence.  Recently, some have argued that immigrants arriving after the 1970s will possess inferior assimilation abilities relative to previous immigrant cohorts because they lack essential skills.  This paper shows that wage convergence varies significantly between high-immigration states and that the wage-setting structure can be a significant factor in the assimilation process.  The results also indicate that recent immigrants begin their process of assimilation from a position that is similar to previous immigrants and that if their human capital accumulation rates mirror those of previous cohorts, successful wage convergence will rest on the development of an equitable pay structure.
A Multi-Factor User Interface Components Layout Problem
Authors: Sharma Dinesh K. , Peer S. K. , Alade Julius A.
Published: February 2016

This paper presents a multi-factor layout model which combines the qualitative and quantitative factors for the facilities layout problem.  The proposed model is applied to the design of the user interface in order to obtain the best layout of the facilities in which the closeness rating scores are evaluated by using the Goals, Operators, Methods, and Selection (GOMS) technique. The results of the proposed model are compared with that of an existing model to obtain the layouts of user interface components. The model developed here has significant relevance for facility layout design in achieving an optimal interface by structuring the layout of a building to enhance and support production. The user interface model provides support for quick response to changes in customer demand and inventory planning particularly in such an area where timely transfer of information is crucial.
Anger In The Workplace: Understanding; Recognizing, And Managing It
Authors: Wagman George R. , Van Zante Neal R.
Published: February 2016

Violence resulting from anger in the workplace has reached epidemic proportions. One purpose of this article is to assist managers and supervisors to better understand anger and to recognize its symptoms. Another purpose is to offer useful advice about how to avoid workplace violence by practicing appropriate anger management.
Foreclosures: A Non-Traditional Approach
Authors: Shetty Anand , Kroleski Steven L. , Bottiglieri William A.
Published: February 2016

Foreclosures are at a record high, causing families to be displaced, blighted neighborhoods and the reduction of home values. This paper examines a few unusual cases recently determined, whereby the Court exercises its equity powers to find a just result.
Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013: Will it ensure women’s safety in public spaces?
Authors: Bhattacharyya Rituparna
Published: February 2016

The horrific gang-rape and the subsequent murder of Nirbyaya (fearless) in December 2012, impelled the Government of India to pass the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013. The key aim of this article is to review this Act in the light of women's safety in public spaces.
Food Security: Issues and Policy Options- A Discussion in Light of India’s National Food Security Act
Authors: Bezbaruah M P
Published: February 2016

From its initial drafting to its eventual passage in the Indian Parliament and beyond, the National Food Security Bill has been extensively debated with a lot of animation by activists, economists, politicians and even corporate leaders. This article presents a brief summary of the debate in the backdrop of a discussion of the general issues related to food security and India's past record of food grain management. Since the Bill has now been turned into an Act, it is suggested that the focus of attention should now shift to its implementation mechanism and suitable measures to mitigate the apprehended undesirable consequences of the proposed nationwide food security programme.
Making the Public Distribution System Work
Authors: Das Debarshi
Published: February 2016

Drawing on empirical observations of operation of public distribution system in different states of India, the paper constructs a preliminary game theoretic model. It argues that an effective public distribution must be as universal as possible, delivery mechanism of fair price shops should be re-formed, they should be make them commercially viable and that special attention should be paid to PDS at times of high food inflation.
Rural Non Farm Employment in Assam: Trends and Issues
Authors: Goswami Chandrama , Bhattacharya Manisha
Published: February 2016

This study explores the rural labour market in Assam. The Work Participation Rates (WPR) for males has increased during the period 1993-94 to 2009-10, whereas the same for females has been fluctuating around a lower level of 15 to 20 per cent. Thus, unemployment rates for females have been higher than males. A sector-wise distribution of workers shows that the proportion of males employed in the farm sector has been declining in favour of the Non-Farm Sector (NFS), while the females are more concentrated in the farm sector. Thus, females stand in a more disadvantageous situation in the rural labour market as indicated by their low WPR, higher unemployment rates and low level of diversification into NFS. However, gender equality is necessary for growth. This is more so with regard to education and employment. India has introduced the concept of inclusive growth in the Eleventh Five Year Plan. Inclusive growth ensures opportunities for all sections of the population, with a special emphasis on the poor, particularly women and young people, who are most likely to be marginalised. A rapidly growing population in India has not only increased the size of the rural labour force but has also led to fragmentation of land holdings. Thus, this sector alone cannot create additional employment opportunities, even in high growth agriculture states of India. This has led to the growth of a vibrant non-farm sector. The study comes up with the suggestion that the NFS, with its greater potential of employment generation, can not only solve the unemployment problem, but can also lead to the increased access of women to resources and employment opportunities.
A Contemplation on ‘Sultana’s Dream
Authors: Chakrabarty Priyanka
Published: February 2016

Sultana’s Dream is a piece written by the most prolific Muslim woman intellectual Begum Rokeya Shekhawat, published in the Ladies Magazine in 1905, from Madras. She spoke against patriarchy in Muslim community. Her Sultana’s Dream depicts a dream sequence but it is not simply a sequence for entert ainment. It rather speaks for a transformation in society to bring women out of the boundaries of four walls of home and to work in the public sphere without interference of men at all. Through a dream, she challenges the dogmas, associated with Muslim women. Her own life is an example of many such practices, like confinement in a j

enana system, etc. This piece attempts to review as to how beautifully the text is written and how radically forceful it is that encourages the readers to think of the degraded condition of women and how women particularly, never question the same. She brings about certain unbelievable sequences of those days

through her writing. At that time, women’s education itself was a taboo. However, some consensus were developed by the reformers in both Hindu and Muslim communities—for them education for women was essential so that she become a good companion for her husband and a good mother. An idea that women need education for her individual growth was very rare. In spite of living and growing in such a society, it is contemplative as to how Begum Rokeya Shekhawat could manage to be so radical in her thoughts to challenge the patriarchal culture itself. She had managed to bring women into politics and scientific world, both traditionally male-dominated bastions. She had pronounced certain scientific marvels, which is relevant even today. Her idea of women’s’ participation in politics is simply ahead of her time but relevant in contemporary Indian politics. Here, an attempt has been made to review her pioneering work. Towards the end, there is

also an effort to see the condition of Muslim women in contemporary India.
Community Work: Theories, Experiences & Challenges
Authors: Woods Jennifer
Published: February 2016

Goel, K., Pulla, V. and Francis, A. P. (Eds.), 2014. Bangalore: Niruta Publications, 262 pages, A$29.95, Rs. 350/-
Financial Access of Unorganised Manufacturing Enterprises in Assam
Authors: Baruah Prasenjit Bujar
Published: February 2016

The unorganised sector is no more considered as a residual one in the developing and in the underdeveloped countries; rather it is considered as a common component of such economies. This sector is playing an important role in those countries both in terms of its contribution to the national income and employment generation. However, despite its importance, the enterprises in this sector are facing various problems. A large segment of enterprises state non-accessibility to credit is the most important problem faced by them. Moreover, existing reports and literature states that the formal financial institutions are not interested to deal with the unorganised enterprises. As a result, they have to depend on the informal sources of credit. This present paper based on secondary data analyses the various characteristics of unorganised manufacturing enterprises in Assam and their accessibility to credit. Results indicate that the average amount of outstanding loan per unorganised manufacturing enterprise in Assam is smaller than that of all-India average. Again, the enterprises in the rural areas are more dependent on the non-institutional sources of credit when compared to those in the urban areas. Similarly, the smaller enterprises have limited access to credit from the formal financial institutions as compared to the larger enterprises.Â
A Critical Observation on Methodologies of Select Doctoral Research Studies
Authors: Goswami Indrajit
Published: February 2016

The present article aims to critically observe and interpret the methodological deficiencies as found in randomly selected 14 doctoral theses submitted to two different universities in India. Despite their serious deviation from the expected methodological standards, all those theses were accepted and approved by the universities and scholars concerned conferred with PhD degrees. Undoubtedly, those theses kept in the reference sections at the respective university libraries would potentially misguide and mislead the future researchers. Some of the common technical deficiencies, as have been noticed, include (1) absence of careful thoughts in framing research titles, (ii) biased method of data collection, (ii) absence of logical explanation in favour of sample size and sample selection process, (iii) designing and execution of instrument for data collection, (iv) theory formulation in terms of framing of objectives, hypotheses and operational definitions etc. The article attempts to present the critical observations on case-to-case basis so that their conceptual, instrumental and procedural deficiencies and deviations are easily understood by the academicians, researchers and students. The content of this article is divided in to three broad sections. The first section deals with an introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods and their advantages and limitations. The next section deals with the review of the selected theses followed by conclusion and suggested remedial measures. The objective of this article is purely academic and its scope is limited to enhancement of quality of future research studies in the domains and related fields.
Visual Culture, Photography and the Urban: An Interpretive Framework
Authors: Rose Gillian
Published: February 2016

This paper offers a framework for understanding and reflecting upon the various ways that urban scholars have worked with visual representations of city spaces. It suggests that there are three main approaches: representing the urban, evoking the urban and performing the urban. The paper discusses the methodological implications of each of these.
Achieving Millennium Development Goals and India Vision 2020: Evidences from slums of Varanasi City
Authors: Jha Darshan Kumar , Tripathi V K
Published: February 2016

The objective of this paper is to examine the achievements of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and India Vision 2020 in the context of the slums of Varanasi city. India has been facing the problem of growing urban poverty due to rapid urbanisation. According to the Census of India 2011, about 65 million people live in urban slums, which are overcrowded, polluted, unhygienic, and deprived of basic services. This paper compares the goals and targets of UN MDGs and India Vision 2020 with the status of the slum dwellers of Varanasi city. The study is based on primary data, which includes survey of 150 households of five different slums of Varanasi city. The study reveals that more than 70% people are illiterate, less than 35% of population access government health facilities, only 36% household use tap water, etc. This comparison portrays a pathetic picture of slums and the inabilities to achieve both MDGs and national goals.Key words:MDGs, India Vision 2020, Slums, Poverty, Quality of life, Varanasi City, India
A Sociological Review of Peepli Live 2010
Authors: Shivam Dr
Published: February 2016

Marginalisation is a process of distancing (either by coercion or voluntarily) from the centre and relegate to the margin. In the social context, this marginalisation is lack of importance to certain socially disadvantaged groups. This disadvantage might be due to caste, class, gender or lack of political opportunities. However, within the same society there are privileged groups who are at the centre of all importance. This difference between advantaged groups at the centre and disadvantaged (marginalised) groups at the periphery has been problematised in popular media like cinema. The present paper shows that how marginalised sections are portrayed in Hindi cinema? For this, the cases of Peepli Live released in 2010 have been selected. The paper has been divided into two parts. The first part deals with the farmerâ€™s suicide and the second part with the politics of suicide and the politics of marginalisation. These issues have been taken keeping in mind the recent problems of the marginalised sections in society, especially the problems faced by the farmers in contemporary times. Various studies and news reports show that farmersâ€™ suicides are post 1990s phenomena inflated by the undertaking of measures to open Indian economy by the methods of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation (LPG). This was the phase, which witnessed incredible growth of the industrial sector as compared to the agricultural sector. These facts were enough to break the myth of â€˜developingâ€™ India. In fact, the increasing number of farmersâ€™ suicide rather depicted governmentâ€™s bias towards economic growth neglecting socio-economic concerns of the farmers. At this juncture of bias and neglect, one can identify a breeding ground for politics of suicide from farmersâ€™ side and politics of marginalisation from the politiciansâ€™ side. Sociologically, however, a multiple socio-economic factors are theorised to be responsible.
Women as Milieu Managers in Integrated Watershed Management: Perspectives from the Hilly Areas of Uttarakhand
Authors: Singh Shyam Bahadur
Published: February 2016

Integrated watershed management provides a viable mechanism for managing land, water and biomass of a region, especially in the rain-fed areas of India. It foresees a sustainable conservation of available natural resources and embarks upon collective action irrespective of gender bias. In the marginal hilly areas of the country, the burden of livelihood directly falls upon the womenfolk. This is because due to lack of off-farm activities the hills of India see a lot of male outmigration in search of better employment activities. The degradation in the ecosystem/natural resources thus has a direct bearing upon the women of the region, as they are the ultimate stakeholders of the natural endowments. Integrated watershed management provides a ray of hope amidst the swarm of faulty and borrowed developmental plans, especially for the womenfolk of the marginal hilly areas of the country. The present paper assesses the role the women play in managing their immediate surroundings and argues that the level of participation of women remains paramount in integrated watershed management in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand.
Are We Empowered? Stories of Young Indian Working Women
Authors: Singh Suman
Published: February 2016

Rituparna Bhattacharyya. 2013. Germany: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 336 pages, ISBN-13: 978-3659205804, ISBN-10: 365920580X, Price $98.80.
Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Women's Development: A Case Study of the Varanasi District
Authors: Kumari Tripti , Mishra Anand Prasad
Published: February 2016

Development is a multi-dimensional process that affects society in multiple ways. It is well documented that women constitute about half of the world's population but their share in the economy and other development spheres remain neglected. In addition, this large section of population (including Indian women) have been suffering from various disadvantages - lack of accessibility to resources, non-recognition of their economic contribution within the family and society. In order to resolve these emerging challenges, Government of India (GOI) has implemented various programmes and policies since Independence. Among these programmes, Self Help Groups (SHGs) may be considered as a significant initiative of the government as well as the non-governmental organisations (NGOs). These are based on the principle of democratic process of development. The democratic institution provides a platform to the socially and economically deprived sections and encourages them for economic participation. Since the 1970s, SHGs have been working in many states of India and contributing to the development processes. The present paper is an attempt to analyse the contribution of SHGs in women's development in the district of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The impact of these groups on women's development has been analysed by Gender Development Index (GDI), which focused on the male-female differences in terms of longevity of life, knowledge and economic betterment.

Key words: Development, Self Help Groups, Women in Development, Varanasi, India