bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Child Rape: Extending the Therapeutic Intervention to Include the Mother-Child Dyad
Authors: Leibowitz Stacey , Mendelsohn Michaela , Michelson Cathi
Published: March 2013

In this his paper the authors describe therapeutic interventions with survivors of child rape and sexual abuse at Alexandra Clinic in Gauteng. Cases presenting at this community clinic are described, in the context of the startling increase in crimes against children and particularly sexual offences. The literature pertaining to the effects of trauma on children, important mediating factors in the child's experience and existing interventions with child trauma survivors are then reviewed. Attention is focused on studies taking into account the impact of the trauma on the child's familial environment. A description of the general intervention approach employed is followed by a deeper exploration of two core issues which characterised this approach — the identification of both mother and child as clients and the use of the mother-child relationship as a central focus for therapeutic intervention. It is suggested that these strategies enable greater access to the experience of the younger child in particular, address the effects of secondary traumatisation upon care-takers and ensure that the gains of therapy are extended to the child's larger social network.
An Investigation of the Pre-Eminent Assumptions of Selectors Underlying the Admission of Candidates to the MA (Clin. Psych.) Programme at the University of the Witwatersrand
Authors: Chippindall Richard-John , Watts Jacki
Published: March 2013

This pilot study identified categories of variables that determine the suitability or unsuitability of applicants to the University of the Witwatersrand's clinical training programme. The variables were identified by members of the University's Selection Committee from archival protocols of past applicants. The categories were grouped into four core categories: ‘secure sense of self’ ‘capacity for libidinal investment in others’, ‘flexibility’ and ‘academic ability’. The criteria recognized as being important for selection suggest that candidates are sought who display, or have the potential to develop, the dynamic capacities required to deliver investigative psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psycho-therapy.
Psychopathology in Urban and Rural/Peri-Urban Children Seeking Mental Health Care
Authors: Pillay A.L. , Naidoo P. , Lockhat M.R.
Published: March 2013

While childhood psychopathology may not necessarily be expected to vary between urban and rural children, social and political factors could be influential in the variances in presentation across these different environments. A comparative investigation was undertaken in the KwaZulu-Natal region to examine childhood presentations at (i) an urban psychological clinic in a low socio-economic environment, and (ii) a few visiting psychological clinics serving rural and peri-urban communities. Data were collected over a five-year period. The results revealed several notable differences, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and disruptive behaviour disorders (other than ADHD) were significantly more prevalent in the urban sample. However, mental retardation, post-traumatic stress disorder and sexual abuse were significantly more common in the rural/peri-urban sample. The results are discussed within the context of children's life experiences, available facilities, and psychopathology detection rates in these two types of environments.
A Continuum of Nation-State Resiliency to Watershed Terrorist Events
Authors: Chasdi Richard J.
Published: March 2013

This article is a qualitative analysis of nation-state population “resiliency” to several spectacular and/or highly symbolic terrorist assaults that were watershed events. It draws heavily from qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) frameworks to isolate and identify the presence of what Goertz calls the “secondary dimensions” of a “primary concept” such as resiliency to terrorist assaults. In turn, the presence of those secondary dimensions and their strength presuppose and derive from “tertiary indicators” that are the basic metrics and concrete manifestations of those secondary dimensions. The nation-states under consideration include the London bombings of 2005, the United States for 9/11, the Madrid bombings of 2004, the first suicide bombings within pre-1967 boundaries of Israel, and the Russian Federation in the case of the 2002 terrorist assault against the Dubrovka Theater in Moscow. The results serve as the basis for the development of a “resiliency continuum” of nation-states where placement of those countries on the continuum reflect “nonresilient,” “semiresilient,” and “resilient” conditions, themselves defined by the number of secondary dimensions found in each case study. In the process, the analysis illuminates possible interconnections between “context specific” factors, such as a country’s historical experience with terrorism and population characteristics (e.g., education levels, degree of heterogeneity) to the resiliency or nonresiliency condition, and describes possible links between exogenous “systems factors” such as war and power ranking to the resiliency condition.
Building “A City of Upper-Middle-Class Citizens”
Authors: Busch Andrew
Published: March 2013

This essay documents labor market and residential segregation in Austin, Texas, in the three decades after World War Two, arguing that despite the city’s relatively progressive culture it was as racially segregated as most Northern and Southern cities during the period. In Austin, being progressive usually meant supporting New Deal policies, encouraging strong ties to the federal government, and promoting responsible, nonindustrial growth much more than fighting racial inequality or rejecting the sanctity of private property rights. Segregation, ironically bolstered by federally supported urban renewal, which undermined black property rights, helped maintain a nonindustrial image that city leaders used to market Austin as a pleasant place to live and do business for knowledge workers. The resounding defeat of open housing in 1968 maintained de facto segregation and demonstrated the fallacy of race-neutral housing policies in the South. Today, the deleterious effects of segregation and dispossession are still felt among the city’s African American and Latino residents; current economic trends mirror those from the 1960s.
Exclusion As Self-Protection
Authors: Parks-Stamm Elizabeth J.
Published: March 2013

Three studies examined the consequences of subtyping ingroup members for evaluations of the self. The first study examined the impact of subtyping high-performing or low-performing ingroup members on self-evaluations. Study 2 employed an alternative manipulation of subtyping. Given the observed benefits of subtyping low-performing ingroup members for the group and the benefits of subtyping high-performing ingroup members for the self, Study 3 investigated participants’ subtyping target selection (i.e., high-performing vs. low-performing ingroup members) when the focus of the sorting task was on self-evaluations or group evaluations. In sum, these studies suggest that subtyping ingroup members can serve a self-protective function.
Act Your (Old) Age
Authors: North Michael S. , Fiske Susan T.
Published: March 2013

Perspectives on ageism have focused on descriptive stereotypes concerning what older people allegedly are. By contrast, we introduce prescriptive stereotypes that attempt to control how older people should be: encouraging active Succession of envied resources, preventing passive Consumption of shared resources, and avoidance of symbolic, ingroup identity resources. Six studies test these domains, utilizing vignette experiments and simulated behavioral interactions. Across studies, younger (compared with middle-aged and older) raters most resented elder violators of prescriptive stereotypes. Moreover, these younger participants were most polarized toward older targets (compared with middle-aged and younger analogues)—rewarding elders most for prescription adherences and punishing them most for violations. Taken together, these findings offer a novel approach to ageist prescriptions, which disproportionately target older people, are most endorsed by younger people, and suggest how elders shift from receiving the default prejudice of pity to either prescriptive resentment or reward.
Neurotrophin 3 genotype and emotional adverse effects of osmotic-release oral system methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Park Subin , Kim Bung-Nyun , Kim Jae-Won , Shin Min-Sup , Cho Soo-Churl , Kim Ji-Hoon , Son Jung-Woo , Shin Yun-Mi , Chung Un-Sun , Han Doug-Hyun
Published: March 2013

Neurotrophin 3 (NTF3) has been studied in relation to the pathophysiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and mood disorders as well as psychostimulant action. We hypothesized that the risk of an emotional side effect to methylphenidate (MPH) treatment may be associated with NTF3 genotypes. Ninety-six medication-naïve children with ADHD (mean age 8.70, standard deviation 1.41 years, 79 males) were genotyped and treated with MPH. At baseline, which was prior to MPH treatment, and after two weeks of medication, investigators asked children and their parents or caregivers about adverse events using a symptom rating scale. ADHD subjects with the A/A genotype at the NTF3 rs6332 polymorphism showed the highest ‘Emotionality’ and ‘Over-focus/euphoria’ factor scores, followed by those with the G/A genotype and those with the G/G genotype ( p=0.042 and p=0.045, respectively). ADHD subjects with the A/A genotype at the NTF3 rs6332 polymorphism showed the highest ‘Proneness to crying’ and ‘Nail biting’ item scores, followed by those with the G/A genotype and those with the G/G genotype ( p=0.047 and p=0.017, respectively). These data provide preliminary evidence that genetic variation in the NTF3 gene is related to susceptibility to emotional side effects in response to MPH treatment in Korean children with ADHD.
Bioavailability profile of Uceris MMX extended-release tablets compared with Entocort EC capsules in healthy volunteers
Authors: Nicholls Andrew , Harris-Collazo Raúl , Huang Michael , Hardiman Yun , Jones Richard , Moro Luigi
Published: March 2013

Objective

To compare the pharmacokinetics of the extended-release MMX® formulation of budesonide (Uceris®) with that of Entocort® EC, an extended (controlled ileal) release formulation of budesonide.

Methods

Using an open-label, randomized, three-period crossover, Latin square design, healthy male or female volunteers received single doses of 6 mg Uceris®, 9 mg Uceris® or 9 mg Entocort® EC. Standard pharmacokinetic parameters were assessed.

Results

The study included 12 subjects. The 9 mg Uceris® and 9 mg Entocort® EC formulations had comparable area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) data, but 9 mg Uceris® had a notably longer time to first appearance in plasma (median Tlag, 6 h versus 1 h, respectively), and a delayed time to maximum concentration (median Tmax, 15 h versus 5 h, respectively) compared with 9 mg Entocort® EC. The ratio of log-transformed AUC0–last (Uceris®/Entocort® EC) was 91% (90% confidence interval [CI] 77%, 108%) and the corresponding maximum concentration ratio was 79% (90% CI 63%, 100%).

Conclusion

Uceris was associated with a similar extent (AUC) of systemic exposure to budesonide compared with that following Entocort. However, for Uceris, the pharmacokinetic profile was delayed, a pattern consistent with greater colonic delivery of the active substance.
Increasing age associated with elevated cardio–ankle vascular index scores in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Tian Guoxiang , Wei Wanlin , Zhang Wei , Zhang Ling , You Hongshuai , Liu Wen , Sun Zhu , Wang Xiaobing , Wu Xiao
Published: March 2013

Objective

The study investigated the relationship between arterial stiffness calculated using the cardio–ankle vascular index (CAVI), diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes-related cardiovascular complications, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes) and nondiabetic patients.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with type 2 diabetes and age-matched nondiabetic patients. CAVI was measured using an automatic vascular screening system. Parameters associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular complications were also measured.

Results

A total of 51 patients with type 2 diabetes and 59 nondiabetic patients were enrolled in the study. Significantly higher CAVI scores were observed in patients with type 2 diabetes compared with nondiabetic patients (mean ± SD: 9.55 ± 1.13 versus 8.54 ± 0.94, respectively). Multivariate linear regression analyses demonstrated that age was the only significant factor influencing the CAVI score, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Conclusion

Patients with type 2 diabetes had an increased risk of arterial stiffness, based on the CAVI score, compared with nondiabetic patients; this, in turn, could increase their risk of developing other cardiovascular complications.
The tribological behavior of glass fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone composite under dry sliding and water lubrication
Authors: Li En-Zhong , Xu Bin-Shi , Wang Hai-Dou , Guo Wei-Ling
Published: March 2013

The tribological behaviors of polyetheretherketone reinforced by short glass fibers have been investigated using the ball-on-disc configuration at different applied loads under dry sliding and water lubrication. The effects of water and GF on the wear properties of the hybrid composite have been discussed. It was found that the glass fiber/polyetheretherketone composite showed excellent tribological performance in water lubrication. High wear resistance and low friction coefficient were achieved under a wide range of applied load. The glass fibers bore the main load between the contact surfaces and protected the matrix from further severe abrasion of the counterpart. At the same time, the cooling and boundary lubricating effects of water hindered the melting of glass fiber/polyetheretherketone surface layer which caused a great improvement in the trobological characteristic. Moreover, the transfer between the counterpart materials and the worn surface of the glass fiber/polyetheretherketone was inhibited accounting for the lower specific wear rate under water lubrication. The glass fiber/polyetheretherketone composite was characterized by mild scuffing and fiber protruding under water lubrication, while the plastic deformation and adhesion were significantly abated compared with those under dry sliding.
The Effects of Self-Regulation on Science Vocabulary Acquisition of English Language Learners With Learning Difficulties
Authors: Kim Woori , Linan-Thompson Sylvia
Published: March 2013

This multiple-probe study examined the effects of self-regulation on the acquisition of science vocabulary by four third-grade English language learners (ELLs) with learning difficulties. The students were provided only direct vocabulary instruction in a baseline phase, followed by intervention and maintenance phases into which self-regulation strategies were incorporated. Analysis of data derived from quantitative measures of receptive and expressive vocabulary revealed participants performed significantly higher in the intervention and maintenance phases than in the baseline phase, indicating the positive effect of self-regulation on science vocabulary learning. Furthermore, in interviews, although the participants were positive in their evaluation of the intervention overall, they expressed a distinct preference for the use of self-regulation strategies. Implications for practice and further research are discussed.
The Great Recession and State Unemployment Trends
Authors: Beyers William B.
Published: March 2013

The recession that began in January 2008 was the deepest business downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. This recession has been referred to as The Great Recession due to its severity and the length of its duration. As the U.S. economy has experienced a shift in its industrial structure toward an ever-larger service sector, there is a literature that argues that economic fluctuations should be less than was the case in a goods-production dominated economy, as it is presumed that the demand for services is less cyclical than the demand for goods. The Great Recession challenges this presumption. This article reports on the unemployment experience of states through the Great Recession with regard to their industrial structure, finding that there is a correlation between industrial structure and unemployment trends.
‘Because we were living it’: the hidden work of a strike
Authors: McBride Jo , Stirling John , Winter Shirley
Published: March 2013

This article presents an individual’s experience of a strike lasting one year and nine months. It brings to readers’ attention the unrecognized work that is involved in maintaining a strike – the continuous organization of ‘working’ the strike, ongoing networking with other activists for support, constant quests for help from trade unions, politicians and others and ongoing campaigns to raise funding and awareness. It also highlights the personal, emotional and physical effects that working a strike can have on those involved, their families and their community.
Autobody taillight assembly modeling and fitting variation sensitivity analysis
Authors: Wang Hua , Ding Xin
Published: March 2013

Autobody panel fitting is an efficient way to improve dimensional quality and to give a better impression to the consumers. Taillight fitting is a challenge and time-consuming problem in the automotive industry. The purpose of this research is to develop a modeling and optimization method for efficiently assembling the taillights with attracting appearance and shape. The taillight assembly model is constructed with finite elements to depict the assembly process of the taillight. The validity of the finite element simulation model is proved by the consistence between the pressures obtained from the finite element simulation results and the pressure-sensitive paper. A linear approximation model for assembly variation sensitivity analysis is proposed to optimize the taillight shape. The results of this research will enhance the understanding of the optimal fitting of automotive taillight and help systematically improving the taillight design-for-assembly efficiency.
A posture evaluation method for aircraft wing based on a simple measurement system
Authors: Tang WenBin , Li Yuan , Yu JianFeng , Zhang Jie , Sun YuanLiang
Published: March 2013

Posture alignment is a basic process for the joining of large-size components of aircraft, while posture evaluation is the first problem to be solved for posture alignment. The current posture evaluation method is dependent on advanced measurement equipments, which is not favorable for the wide application. Aimed at the shortcomings, this article puts forward a kind of posture evaluation method for aircraft wing. In the method, a simple measurement system composed of several linear displacement sensors is constructed, which can realize the rapid measurement of the wing posture. Then, the wing posture evaluation problem is transformed into a registration problem between space points and surface. Based on the iterative closest point algorithm, the wing posture evaluation algorithm is presented. An industrial example is presented to validate the proposed method, and the results suggest its feasibility.
Fabrication and characterization of electro-active cellulose films regenerated by using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid
Authors: Kim Ki-Baek , Kim Jaehwan
Published: March 2013

This article reports dissolution, regeneration, and characterization of cellulose using an ionic liquid, namely 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl). During dissolving process, BMIMCl takes much less time to dissolve cellulose with high degree of polymerization (DP = 4500) than other solvent system, lithium chloride/ N,N-dimethylacetamide (LiCl/DMAc). Regenerated cellulose film from BMIMCl–cellulose solution is characterized by viscosity, thermo gravimetric analyzer, X-ray diffraction, pull test, and transmittance test. Compared with LiCl/DMAc–cellulose, BMIMCl–cellulose solution has lower viscosity and its film has lower Young's modulus and yield strength. From thermo gravimetric analyzer and X-ray diffraction experiment, BMIMCl–cellulose film has impurity and X-ray diffraction pattern similar with those of LiCl/DMAc–cellulose film. BMIMCl–cellulose film exhibits higher transmittance. The ionic liquid recovery test verifies that BMIMCl is highly recoverable with 99%, which proves that BMIMCl is a green solvent. Through the bending displacement test, the BMIMCl–cellulose film shows a good actuation behavior of electro-active paper.
Assessment of thermally induced shear stress and its effect on pattern waviness in CO2 laser ablation of birefringent polymers
Authors: Mandal Soumen , Nagahanumaiah N
Published: March 2013

This article presents the application of custom-designed poledioscope for dynamic measurement of thermally induced shear stress, as a technique for monitoring waviness of the microscale patterns created using CO2 laser, directly over optically birefringent polymers. Laser ablation experiments were conducted for three optical grade polymers: ethylene vinyl acetate, poly methyl methacrylate, and allyl diglycol carbonate under varying laser power and scanning speeds. A poledioscope, customized by incorporating beam splitter in place of rotating analyzer section of conventional polariscope, was used to assess the thermally induced shear stress on the materials in real time. The waviness of the profile of groove patterns was measured using a profilometer. The shear stress mapping and the profile waviness data recorded for range of laser processing parameters were further analyzed to determine that high thermally induced shear stress results in significant damage on waviness of the lased profile.
Coherent rainfall response to middle- and late-Holocene climate variability across the mid-latitude South Pacific
Authors: Gomez Basil , Carter Lionel , Trustrum Noel A , Page Michael J , Orpin Alan R
Published: March 2013

Intercorrelated terrestrial and marine records from New Zealand, Chile and Argentina provide the first evidence of a coherent pan-Pacific response to the growing influence that El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and multicentury variations in the interaction between ENSO and the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) exerted on rainfall in the Southern Hemisphere mid-latitudes during the middle and late Holocene. Rainfall is also strongly influenced by moisture originating from the prevailing southern westerly winds (SWW), and we find that the variations in rainfall forced by the interaction of ENSO and the SAM are superimposed on an underlying long-term trend induced by a temporal strengthening of the westerly circulation. We conclude that the evolution of rainfall across the South Pacific reflects the influence seasonal insolation exerts on: (1) ENSO/SAM interactions; and (2) the strength of the SWW.
Phenomenological metaphors in readers’ engagement with characters: The case of Ian McEwan’s Saturday
Authors: Caracciolo Marco
Published: March 2013

Internally focalized passages in narrative often employ metaphors to capture the experiential states of the focalizing character. My investigation of these metaphors – ‘phenomenological metaphors’, as I call them – has two important precedents in the fields of narratology and literary stylistics: Dorrit Cohn’s (1978) treatment of ‘psycho-analogies’ and Semino and Swindlehurst’s (1996) approach to metaphor and ‘mind style’. After positioning phenomenological metaphors vis-à-vis these related concepts, I put forward the central claim of this article: metaphorical language plays a role in readers’ engagement with focalizing characters because it can sustain readers’ illusion of experiencing a storyworld through the consciousness of a fictional being. But what is it about metaphorical language that makes it especially suited to bring about this effect on readers? In order to answer this question, I use Ian McEwan’s novel Saturday (2005) as a case study, presenting two different lines of argument. First, I contend that metaphors reflect, at a linguistic level, the seamless integration of perception, emotion and language that characterizes our everyday transactions with the world. Second, I look at the relationship between understanding metaphorical language and readers’ empathy for characters, arguing that the continuity between these psychological processes is grounded in their perspectival nature: just as metaphors invite recipients to adopt a new perspective on a conceptual domain, engaging with a focalizing character encourages readers to ‘try on’ his or her experiential perspective and worldview. Taken together, these hypotheses provide an explanation for the effectiveness of phenomenological metaphors at conveying to readers the qualitative ‘feel’ of characters’ experiences.
Poe’s name excavated: The mediating function and the transformation of discourse theme into discourse rheme
Authors: Kikuchi Shigeo
Published: March 2013

This article examines the mediating function that transforms the topic presented, usually but not always in the initial position of a text, into the comment, in Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Haunted Palace’. In this text, a poem in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’, the mediation, which is indicated in parentheses, is realized through various transformational devices, for example, a gradual change of lexical items (e.g. a graphological and voice inversion like III-2 saw – (III-8 was seen) – IV-2 Was….6 Was). This function mediates the discourse theme, PAST GLORY (EXISTENCE) into the discourse rheme, PRESENT FALL (DESTRUCTION). This short text displays Poe’s exquisite skill in using the poetic devices that were available at that time. Unlike Old English poetry, which was exclusively delivered orally, or medieval poetry, which was circulated in manuscript but transmitted largely through the medium of sound, this 19th century work added several different communicative aspects characteristic of poetry circulated in print following a functional pattern of thematization common to communicative events. Through the discussion of functional arrangements of the traditional and ‘new’ textual devices, Poe’s name is shown to be anagrammatically embedded to mediate the topic of the text, or discourse theme, PAST GLORY (EXISTENCE), and the comment on the topic, or discourse rheme, PRESENT FALL (DESTRUCTION).
Hiberno-English and identity in Joyce’s A Portrait
Authors: Conde-Parrilla M Ángeles
Published: March 2013

The present article addresses sociolinguistic issues in a literary context, namely regional variation in James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, a relevant, though not fully analysed, aspect of this novel. By the end of the 19th century most of Ireland was predominantly English speaking, but taking on a foreign language meant for the Irish a form of exile from their own identity, place and history. Revivalist writers responded to such a tension by using Hiberno-English, until it eventually became established as a literary medium. As is clear from my analysis, dialectal usage powerfully contributes to the vivid realization of most characters in Joyce’s novel, reflecting their regional provenance and social background. The representation of the linguistic situation thus offered is realistic and extensive, but also innovative in the context of the Irish Literary Revival. More importantly, it illustrates the protagonist’s views on national identity, and his struggles to find his own voice in the midst of the polyphony prevalent in turn-of-the-century Dublin. As this article argues, the dialogical tension between hybrid Irish English and standard English is truly essential to a comprehensive reading of A (colonial) Portrait.
Anchoring time-space mappings and their emotions: The timeline blend in poetic metaphors
Authors: Cánovas Cristóbal Pagán , Jensen Max Flack
Published: March 2013

Conceptual Integration theorists have recently revised the time is space conceptual metaphor, and proposed a more complex structure of mappings. The result of that network of mappings is a particular event of motion through space, conditioned by its goal to represent time. Coulson and Pagán Cánovas (forthcoming) have studied the timeline as a material anchor for this time-space blend. The timeline facilitates navigation of the time-space blend by presenting temporal relations directly as spatial relations. Through the analysis of Kavafis’ simile of life as a row of candles and Manrique’s metaphor of life as a river, we show that poetic texts can rely on the timeline to build powerful affective meanings.
Female Suicide Terrorism in South Asia: Comparing the Tamil Separatists and Kashmir Insurgents
Authors: Bhatia Vandana , Knight W. Andy
Published: March 2013

In this article we compare two conflicts in South Asia—civil war in Sri Lanka and the insurgency in Kashmir—to investigate the enabling conditions for female suicide terrorism in the former, and the lack thereof in the latter. We conclude that female suicide terrorism is a product of several inter-related factors that feed into each other: (i) tormented society, (ii) individual grievances, and (iii) a terrorist organisation with an effective indoctrination structure. Thus, rather than focusing on the individual motivations behind the female bombers, it is important to situate them in specific socio-political contexts.
WTO Agreement on Agriculture and South Asia’s Farm Trade
Authors: Ramphul
Published: March 2013

This study seeks to examine the impact of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the balance of agricultural trade of South Asian countries (SAC). The evidence suggests that AoA has failed to boost the SAC farm trade surplus. SAC, as a whole, are net losers in new trade regime. Further, analysis indicates that under the WTO regime, openness of Indian, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi agriculture has increased. In sharp contrast, Pakistan’s agricultural economy has been gradually closed up. The need of SAC is to designate their food items as special products and to create an effective and proactive special safeguard mechanism for safeguarding their food security base, in order to shield the livelihood of millions of resource poor farmers from frequent farm imports surges.
Pakistan Factor in India’s Domestic Politics
Authors: Kumar H.M. Sanjeev
Published: March 2013

Overt acquisition of nuclear weapons capacity by India and Pakistan in May 1998 signalled a tectonic shift in the nature of subcontinental conflicts. India’s military superiority in the region and its strategic depth got considerably weakened due to Pakistan’s attainment of strategic parity vis-à-vis India. In the wake of overt nuclearisation, the logic of nuclear deterrence in subcontinental security dynamics was also questioned because of continued security instability, evident in instances like the military impasse of 2001–2002. Hence, the subject of nuclearisation of subcontinental security began to capture wider spaces in the political debates in India. This strategic decision, having been taken by a coalition government, imparted enormous complexities to the domestic political exchanges over the security dynamics of the subcontinent. It also drastically transformed the nature and content of India’s domestic politics, as it brought strategic issues and foreign policy agenda of the government into the political parlance of the common people.
Interpreting India’s Vision in West Asia: A Study of India–Iran Relations
Authors: Rizvi M. Mahtab Alam
Published: March 2013

India and Iran frequently cite the civilisational, cultural and historical ties that have bound the two countries together for more than a millennium. Both nations enjoyed strong bilateral relations following India’s independence, overcoming such hindrances as Cold War politics and Iran’s relationship with Pakistan. Iran and India enjoy friendly and consolidated ties that have led to greater stability in the region. The swiftly changing international surroundings and the associated strategic dimensions have been catalysts in forcing the two countries to reorient their foreign policies towards each other. However, much needs to be done to give economic and political support for a long term strategic direction to the bilateral relationship. This article seeks to capture the emerging orientation of India’s relations with West Asia in general and Iran in particular. The article also examines the political, economic, cultural and security dimensions of the evolving relationship between India and Iran.
Federalism and the Indian Experience with Nation Building: An Appraisal
Authors: Baba Noor Ahmad
Published: March 2013

For plural societies like India, the only workable strategy of nation building is to provide all segments of society with an equal sense of belonging, respect and security. The Indian constitutional framework, despite some assimilationist influences, was broadly drawn on accommodationist lines. As a matter of policy, India adopted cultural pluralism rather than an assimilationist brand of cultural nationalism. The Constitution allowed federalism to develop and evolve as a dynamic process, despite certain inbuilt limitations that undermined its functioning in its initial three decades. Nevertheless, there has never been a consensus in India about using special provisions/autonomy as a strategy of nation building or as a mechanism of problem solving. Such an arrangement in the context of Kashmir was seen as an aberration and a potential source of disunity for the country. However, the erosion of Article 370 has undermined rather than promoted the cause of national integration in relation to Kashmir.
Understanding Patterns of Water Conflicts: Social and Political Variables
Authors: Pandey Punam
Published: March 2013

The article underlines the importance of water as a resource which is very unevenly distributed on Earth. Asia is a water deficit region in which 36 per cent of Earth’s water is available for 60 per cent of the world’s population. The disturbing aspect is how water’s unequal distribution, spatially as well as temporally, engenders different kinds of conflicts in the region. In some cases, water becomes a latent factor in causing other conflicts. The conflicts over resources, particularly over water, are couched in different dimensions of politics. The article discusses various types of water conflicts and argues about the limitations of the managerial approach to the understanding of water conflicts. There is a need to deconstruct the social dimension of water usage and the politics behind its sharing at all levels.
Organizational Transformation Challenges at the State Bank of Pakistan (A), (B), (C)
Authors: Ahmad Javaid , Qureshi Zafar I.
Published: March 2013

The Organizational Transformation Challenges at the State Bank of Pakistan case series pertains to a key institution that performs the role of the Central Bank in the country. On assuming the position of the Governor, SBP, in December 1999, Dr Ishrat Husain felt the need to turnaround this institution with a view to make it congruent with the requirements of a central bank in the twenty-first century. To realize this goal, he developed a concept paper by engaging all the key stakeholders both within and outside of the Bank. After following a rigorous process of discussions, deliberations and conferences, his concept paper was approved both from his management as well as from the Board. And finally, he presented the concept paper to the Cabinet headed by the President, who gave him the go-ahead for the execution of his plan.

The cases in this series have three focal points: Identifying the challenges faced by the Bank and the designing of a strategy for change (Case A), Dr Husain’s detailed implementation plan (Case B) and finally the assessment of results of the turnaround plan at the end of his six-year tenure (Case C).
Educational Gaming
Authors: Chaudhary Anju Grover
Published: March 2013

Despite the literacy rate in India going up to 74.04 per cent according to the 2011 census, significant challenges persist in providing quality education to the urban and rural masses in India. In this article, I argue that the substantial disparities in access to education as well as the delivery of cost-effective and quality education can be reduced to a great extent by involving the use of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) that rely on personal computers and databases, telecommunication networks, Internet and mobile phones, etc. for educating children and adults alike in an interactive, entertaining manner. Quality education cannot be merely achieved by the ‘chalk-and talk’ method anymore. Edutainment, a state-of-the-art concept of learning that combines education with entertain- ment, is rapidly gaining ground in India where the online gaming market is expected to reach $496 million by 2013. India is currently witnessing a revolution in edutainment. Even the government officials in India are promoting games that are transforming the serious activity of education into a fun-filled experience for the present multitasking media generation, thus creating a fast track for learning. Also, several studies have proven that entertainment education is both a theoretical and practical approach to education about sensitive topics that can bring about social change. Educational gaming is thus an effective tool for learning and social change in India.
Religion, Affect and Cognition in Listener Contributions to NPR’s Talk of the Nation
Authors: Turner Anna , Kinnally William
Published: March 2013

Broadcast media often provide forums for public expression, which may be useful for understanding public thought and emotion during times of public crisis. This exploratory study had two purposes. First, we examined broadcast content for support of Marx’s notion that religion serves to reduce suffering during a time of public crisis. Given the important roles of affect and cognition in religious experience, the second goal was to examine how the public’s affective and cognitive expressions in broadcasts differ in times of crisis. Public contributions to National Public Radio’s (NPR) Talk of the Nation were examined for statements relating to religion, affect and cognition using linguistic inquiry and word count (LIWC) software. This longitudinal analysis included three, week-long periods in the years before, during and after 9/11. No differences were observed for expressions of religion among the three time periods. However, differences in negative affect and cognitive processing were observed.
Options for Assisting Low Wage Earners
Authors: Ingles David , Oliver Ken
Published: March 2013

A number of proposals for reducing unemployment in Australia focus on cuts or freezes in award wages. Typically, such proposals include (often vague) proposals to offset some of the distributional consequences by top-ups or other adjustments to the tax/transfer system. This paper examines the available options and concludes that, given the current structure of the social security system, there are serious obstacles to the most common ones such as the NIT or the EITC. There is a case for further reducing tax burdens on low wage earners, but options in this area tend to be very expensive and/or require targeting on a family needs basis
Finding a Role for Mediation in Workplace Disputes
Authors: Fells Ray
Published: March 2013

In June, 1999, the Federal Coalition government proposed further reforms of the Australian industrial relations system. Included in this reform package were proposals for a Mediation Adviser to oversee the use of mediation in industrial relations. The paper critically examines these proposals. Data from a survey of WA practitioners indicates that the core elements of mediation are seen as self-responsibility and voluntariness which clearly distinguish it from the traditional processes of conciliation by the tribunal. However, there is also uncertainty over the nature of mediation and how it might operate in the context of, or as an alternative to, the present framework of dispute resolution. The government’s package of reforms, including those relating to mediation, were withdrawn but the interest in mediation remains. This paper suggests that rather than creating a new industrial relations agency (the Mediation Adviser), making provision for mediation by Industrial Commissioners with the parties still able to choose private mediation if they wish would achieve the desired policy objectives.
Changes in Industrial Structure in the Australian Construction Industry: Causes and Implications
Authors: Toner Phillip
Published: March 2013

This paper examines changes in the firm-size and industrial structure of the private Australian construction industry that have occurred over the last two decades and assesses their causes and implications. The primary data source is ABS Construction Censuses. There has been significant change in the structure of production in the construction industry with a large decline in firm size and rapid growth of output and employment in the specialist sub-contractors segment. These changes are explained largely as a result of increased subcontracting and outsourcing by larger firms to smaller firms. The changes in firm-size and industrial structure have had an adverse effect on construction productivity; OH&S performance; skilled trade shortages and expenditures on innovation and R&D in the industry.
Unemployment is a Health Hazard: The Health Costs of Unemployment
Authors: Harris Elizabeth , Morrow Mary
Published: March 2013

Unemployment is a health hazard. There is increasing Australian and international evidence that people who are unemployed are more likely to have higher rates of mortality, morbidity (illness) and use of health services. The large numbers of people who are unemployed mean that the impacts of unemployment are just not felt at individual or family level but across the population as a whole. This paper outlines the evidence of the impact of unemployment on health and discusses some of the ways in which these health problems could be addressed through reorientation of health services, developing the skills of people who are unemployed, strengthening community action, creating environments that support people who are unemployed and their families, and the development of public policy. It discusses some of the difficulties in undertaking research in this area and calls for a more systematic approach to understanding the cost of unemployment.
Placing Peak Union Purpose and Power: The Origins, Dominance and Decline of the Barrier Industrial Council
Authors: Ellem Bradon , Shields John
Published: March 2013

This article examines the power and purpose of union peak bodies, focussing on one particularly powerful organisation, the Barrier Industrial Council in Broken Hill. We argue that the power and purpose of all such bodies is multi-dimensional, historically contingent and spatially specific. The most illuminating studies conceptualise peak bodies as agents of mobilisation, with power delegated by affiliates, and of economic and political exchange, with power derived from a ‘structural coupling’ with the state and capital. However, there is a third possible peak body purpose: social regulation and, specifically, the regulation of labour and commodity markets. This was a conspicuous activity of the Barrier Industrial Council, underpinned by success in mobilisation and exchange and by ‘place consciousness’. Understanding the variety of potential power sources holds the key to explaining not only why some peak bodies command more power than others but also why there is so much variation in peak union focus and behaviour.
No Case to Answer: Productivity Performance of the Australian Construction Industry
Authors: Toner Phillip , Green Roy , Croce Nic , Mills Bob
Published: March 2013

This article examines the productivity performance of the Australian construction industry and identifies some of the key factors affecting productivity growth. It also critically assesses the recent Productivity Commission (1999) report on the construction industry. In particular, the article challenges the argument of the Productivity Commission that a high level of unionisation within the industry is adverse for productivity growth. Moreover, the recommendations of the Commission directed at increasing productivity within the industry are argued to exacerbate those structural features of the construction industry which impose a constraint on productivity growth. The primary data sources are national and international official economic data on the industry and a number of case studies of major city building projects undertaken by the authors. The study finds that the Australian construction industry is within the top three OECD countries in terms of construction output per person employed.
Welfare Reform, Work and the Labour Market
Authors: Saunders Peter
Published: March 2013

The welfare reform debate is proceeding against a background of high unemployment and rising inequality. In Australia, the blueprint for reform of the social security system developed by the McClure Report is built around the notion of mutual obligation — the idea that those who receive support from government should be required to ‘give something back’. Public opinion is supportive of requiring mutual obligation of some groups of the unemployed, but it also supports the view that solving unemployment generally is the government’s responsibility. Although welfare reforms introduced in the US and UK have reduced the welfare rolls, their impact on wages and the labour market must also be considered. If welfare reform in Australia is to avoid the low wages and extreme poverty that are features of the US, welfare reform will need to be accompanied by reform of the labour market.
Explaining the Contraction in the Market for Private Health Insurance in Australia, 1989–1995
Authors: Barrett Garry F. , Conlon Robert
Published: March 2013

We use data from the ABS National Health Surveys for 1989 and 1995 to assess if adverse selection is present as an influence on the proportions the ‘insurable population’ with health insurance (the ‘incidence of coverage’); and of those covered, the ‘risk composition’ of health fund membership. Further, we assess if any changes in these characteristics between the two surveys are consistent with a continuing process of adverse selection. The characteristics of the respective sample populations used in our evaluation include age and income distributions, health characteristics of various types, and behaviour that is known to incur health risks. Our findings suggest the presence of adverse selection in both 1989 and 1995, and in terms of the age distribution of membership and especially the number of health conditions suffered, changes composition of the health fund membership between the two surveys indicate the process of adverse selection accelerated over the period.
Tax Expenditures and Public Health Financing in Australia
Authors: Smith Julie
Published: March 2013

At various times in Australia’s recent history, the Commonwealth government has used the tax system to support its public health policy goals. Tax concessions to particular industries or groups of taxpayers cost the government the same as direct subsidies. However, the income distribution of these tax ‘carrots’ and ‘sticks’ has not previously been analysed. This study breaks new ground by examining how the benefits of tax concessions for health expenditures were distributed among taxpayer income groups in the four decades since 1960, and how this affects the progressivity of Australia’s system of funding health care. It is found that around half of the $2 billion tax subsidy for private health insurance accrues to the taxpayer group with the highest third of incomes.