bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Organizational Change in the Dutch Armed Forces
Authors: Richardson Rudy , Kuipers Herman , Soeters Joseph L.
Published: March 2007

This article addresses the evaluation of organizational changes in the Dutch armed forces. Increasingly, megatrends in the risk society affect the organization of all armed forces. To cope with these trends, new strategic ideas are being developed that will change organizations fundamentally. The question, however, is the way these ideas are dealt with at the operational level. From this perspective, evaluation is needed. Evaluation of changes in large-scale, specific organizational settings is discussed here as an integrated approach using summative, formative, normative and constructivist elements. Pitfalls and challenges of this approach are discussed.
Identifying the vacation travel innovator
Authors: Goldsmith Ronald E. , Litvin Stephen W.
Published: March 2007

Managers of many tourism businesses would like to determine which vacation travellers are most likely to be the earliest buyers of a new vacation product. Goldsmith and Hofacker1 created a short, reliable and valid self-report scale, the Domain Specific Innovativeness Scale ( DSI), to measure level of consumer innovativeness for tangible goods, shown also to identify innovators in service businesses effectively. This paper describes the results of a study using the DSI to identify tourism inno vators, those travellers who are most likely to choose a new travel option when one appears in the marketplace, based upon the data in a survey of 184 consumers visiting a trade show in Singapore. The findings show that the DSI was positively correlated with several hypothesised variables: vacation travel involve ment, product knowledge , opinion leadership for vacation destinations, travel information seeking behaviour, vacation frequency and total vacation trips taken annually. These results substantiate the validity and usefulness of the DSI for identifying tourism innovators and extend its application cross-culturally.
Illusory Correlations in Patient Stereotyping
Authors: Madey Scott F. , Ondrus Sherri A.
Published: March 2007

Two experiments document one basis of patient stereotyping: the relative frequency of people’s contact with medical patients. Experiment 1 demonstrated that illusory correlations formed based on the infrequency of target patients and their non-cooperative behaviors. Participants read about two groups of patients with two similar diseases (labelled A and B). One group appeared less often than the other and performed fewer non-cooperative behaviors; however, the proportion of non-cooperative and cooperative behaviors was the same for both groups. Participants overestimated the number of non-cooperative behaviors performed by the infrequently appearing group, evaluated the group negatively and believed that these patients would be unlikely to cooperate in the future. Experiment 2 attempted to address the relationship between illusory correlations and memory for the infrequent group’s non-cooperative behaviors. Implications for how people perceive medical non-adherence in patients with stigmatized medical conditions were discussed.
Child Psychiatry and the Developing World: Recent Developments
Authors: Minde Klaus , Nikapota A.D.
Published: March 2007

ABSIRACT: The authors examine the growth and role of child psychiatry in the developing world over the last 25 years. They review national epidemiologi cal studies of the prevalence of child psychiatric disorders, culture-specific symptoms of maladjustment and the evidence for culture-specific parenting patterns. They consider the impact of social change on psychiatric disorders in the Third World, identify ing specific protective factors (e.g. gender, intelli gence, special schooling, social skills) and vulner ability factors (e.g. poor diet). The authors then examine the role of culturally sensitive intervention strategies. Training programs for child psychiatrists in the developing world must encompass both medical and public health models. The review closes with a brief discussion of urgent research questions and a summary of the most pressing clinical requirements for child psychiatry in the developing world.
Culture and Mental Health in the Rainbow Nation: Transcultural Psychiatry in a Changing South Africa
Authors: Swartz Leslie
Published: March 2007

The notion of culture in psychiatry in South Africa is chang ing. Cultural relativism was used as a justification for oppression by the previous regime, with some researchers therefore de-emphasising difference. Currently interest in di versity is growing. The racial integration of services poses challenges for culturally appropriate care. Community-based care, apparently a way of meeting challenges of cultural differ ence, presents other difficulties. There has been uneven development in understanding indigenous healing in South Africa, a factor which may be explained partly by continuing ideological tensions. Debates in transcultural psychiatry can contribute broadly to the challenge of nation-building.
Regionalism in South Asia: The Relevance of SAPTA for Sri Lanka
Authors: Weerakoon Dushni , Wijayasiri Janaka
Published: March 2007

In 1995, South Asia undertook to accelerate the process of regional economic inte gration through a preferential trade agreement. In practice, given the strained ties between the two largest economies of India and Pakistan, the political constraints to freeing trade within the framework of a regional arrangement have always remained a formidable task. The evidence to date suggests that despite three rounds of negotiations on tariff concessions, South Asia remains reluctant to embrace a true spirit of regional trade cooperation.
The Use of Engineering Controls to Disinfect Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Airborne Pathogens in Hospital Buildings
Authors: Beggs C.B. , Donnelly J.K. , Kerr K.G. , Sleigh P.A. , Mara D.D. , Cairns G.
Published: March 2007

AbstractNosocomial infections are a major problem in many hos pital buildings, with approximately 10% of patients ac quiring such an infection during a hospital stay. Airborne transmission is one of the important routes for a number of nosocomial pathogens. To combat this problem there are a number of engineering control strategies, such as the use of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation and ad vanced ventilation techniques, which can be used. This paper outlines the'state of the art' in air disinfection, and reviews recent research work in this field.
The Effect of Air Humidification on Symptoms and Nasal Patency, Tear Film Stability, and Biomarkers in Nasal Lavage: A 6 Weeks' Longitudinal Study
Authors: Norbäck Dan , Wieslander Gunilla , Nordström Klas , Walinder Robert , Venge Per
Published: March 2007

Air humidification is sometimes used to reduce dryness symptoms in temperate climates, but the biological mechanism behind this effect is not well understood. We have investigated the effect of air humidification on physiological signs from the eyes and nose, other medi cal symptoms and on perceived air quality. An experi mental study was performed in two units of a well-venti lated geriatric hospital in southern Sweden. Blinded cen tral steam air humidification in one of the units during 6 weeks raised the relative air humidity to 43% RH (Janu ary-March 1997), while the other unit with 35% RH served as control. All staff (N = 32) working the day shift were invited to undergo a medical investigation per formed in the hospital units. It included measurement of tear film stability, acoustic rhinometry, nasal lavage and completing a medical questionnaire. The investigation was repeated at both units after 6 weeks and 26 subjects participated on both occasions (81 %). The technical mea surements were room temperature, relative air humidity
Revisiting the Association between Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Lung Cancer Risk
Authors: Fry John S. , Lee Peter N.
Published: March 2007

Analyses are described estimating the extent to which confounding by dietary variables and education might bias the reported association of smoking by the husband with lung cancer risk in non-smoking women. For each of the four variables fruit, vegetable and dietary fat con sumption and education, independent estimates of their relationships with lung cancer risk in non-smokers were combined by meta-analysis. The risks were estimated as 0.83 per standard deviation [SD, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.74-0.93, based on n = 9 studies] for fruit con sumption, as 0.84 per SD (Cl = 0.75-0.93, n = 11) for vege table consumption, as 1.17 per SD (Cl = 1.08-1.26, n = 7) for dietary fat consumption and as 0.92 per year (Cl = 0.89-0.96, n = 17) for education. For each of the same four variables independent estimates of the difference between non-smokers exposed or unexposed to envi ronmental tobacco smoke at home were also combined. Using unweighted means, the differences were esti mated as -0.1752 SDs for fruit, -0.0460 SDs for vegeta bles, +0.1750 SDs for dietary fat and -0.5174 years for education (n = 11, 17, 14 and 15). Using weighted means the differences were -0.0986 SDs for fruit, -0.0387 SDs for vegetables, -0.0464 SDs for dietary fat and -0.1023 for education. The weighted estimates are dominated by one very large study whose results, particularly for dietary fat and education, differed from those seen in the other studies. Using these data and methodology devel oped to account for confounding by multiple correlated variables, simultaneous adjustment for fruit, vegetables, dietary fat and education is estimated to reduce the increase in lung cancer risk associated with each 10 ciga rettes/day smoked by the husband from 10% (95% Cl 5- 15%) to 6% (1-11%) using unweighted means or to 9% (5-14%) using weighted means. Uncertainties in the esti mation procedure are discussed. Other sources of bias will be considered in later papers in this series.
Characteristics of Moisture Damage in Houses and Their Association with Self-Reported Symptoms of the Occupants
Authors: Haverinen Ulla , Husman Tuula , Pekkanen Juha , Vahteristo Mikko , Moschandreas Demetrios , Nevalainen Aino
Published: March 2007

This study was motivated by a need to establish criteria for evaluating observations of moisture damage with respect to exposure and adverse health effects. The data base used included information on moisture damage from 164 dwellings and questionnaire data collected from the occupants. Moisture damage observations were classified according to eleven variables characteris ing damage by, for example, size, duration and type of damaged material. Five health symptom scores were devised based on the questionnaire data. Visible mould associated with respiratory infections, irritative and skin symptoms. Damage <1 m 2 in size was associated with general and skin symptoms, and >4 m2 in size associated with respiratory infections and skin symptoms. Damage of <3 years duration was associated with respiratory infections and damage that had existed for 3-10 years was associated with general, irritative and skin symp toms. Symptom scores were associated more frequently with damage to organic rather than inorganic materials. Criteria used to evaluate the association between the classification of moisture damage and symptom scores were excess risk compared to a two-category classifica tion, dose responsiveness, and biological plausibility of the findings. Despite the complexity of interpretation, the results show that more accurate models of moisture damage with respect to exposure and adverse health effects can be established.
Pre- and Postconstruction Radon Measurements in a New Housing Development
Authors: Rydock J.P. , Næss-Rolstad A. , Brunsell J.T.
Published: March 2007

Results from pre- and postconstruction radon measure ments in a new housing development are presented. The houses were built in an area that had not been previously associated with elevated indoor radon concentrations. Exhalation measurements of gravel and stone from the site and soil gas measurements under several houses did not indicate an elevated radon potential. However, 4 of 21 finished houses (or 19%) exhibited annual average indoor radon concentrations over 200 Bq.m-3 (5.4 pCi/l). The highest concentrations were observed in the first house built and in 1 of the 6 houses built differently than the original designs, with the elements of a subfloor ven tilation system included for possible radon control if nec essary. These results suggest that site investigations can be of limited value in determining where notto include radon protection measures in new housing. Also, that care must be taken to adequately inform everyone in volved in the building process ofthe importance of main taining a tight seal against the ground to prevent possi ble radon gas entry into a house.
Concentrations and Sources of Volatile Organic Compounds in Urban Domestic and Public Microenvironments
Authors: Kim Young Min , Harrad Stuart , Harrison Roy
Published: March 2007

The concentrations of 15 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including 1,3-butadiene, benzene and styrene were measured in a wide range of indoor and outdoor urban microenvironments. For all VOCs, excluding naph thalene, mean concentrations in cars exceeded those at heavily trafficked roadside locations. Concentrations were higher indoors, with no correlation observed be tween indoor and outdoor concentrations. Thus, in poor ly ventilated buildings, indoor emission source strength is considered a more significant influence on concentra tions of VOCs in indoor air than outdoor air concentra tions. In the 6 smoking homes studied, environmental tobacco smoke was found to make a substantial contri bution to concentrations of 1,3-butadiene.
Carbon Monoxide Levels in Bathrooms Using Hot Water Boilers
Authors: Faruk Tekbaş Ö. , Vaizoglu Songül Acar , Didem Evci E. , Yüceer Bekir , Güler Çağatay
Published: March 2007

The purpose of the present study was to measure carbon monoxide (CO) levels during the operation of hot water boilers that use liquefied petroleum gas or natural gas, which are widely used in Turkey. In addition, it was intended to determine how much owners of these boil ers knew about their use and about CO poisoning. CO levels were measured in the bathrooms of homes in a housing area where two deaths due to CO poisoning had occurred on the same day. CO levels were measured in a total of 197 flats from a total of 400 in an area (49%) where there were such boilers and while the boilers were in operation. The bathrooms were of standard dimen sions (2.5 x 3 x 3 m). Assessment of CO levels while the boilers were in operation was carried out using a Gas- tech standard GT-402 portable gas monitor. In 44 (22.4%) of the bathrooms studied, CO levels were above 9 ppm, which is the 8-hour limit according to the NAAQS. CO levels in 2 bathrooms (0.7%) were found to be above 35 ppm, the maximum 1-hour exposure level. CO levels above 50 ppm, ranging from 54 to 300 ppm, were deter mined in 12 homes (6%). The inhabitants of these homes were informed and the necessary measures were taken to solve the problem. In 8 of these 12 houses, it was determined that chimneys were blocked. We found that CO levels were higher than risk levels for intoxication in 20.0% of the houses. The level of knowledge of the households was poor concerning dangers of CO intoxi cation. Since it is not uncommon for CO levels in bathrooms where there are boilers to reach dangerous levels it is recommended that their use be discouraged. There should be more widespread use of central water heating systems to remove this serious public health problem.
Review : Occupational Exposure to Moulds in Buildings
Authors: Singh Jagjit
Published: March 2007

Airborne moulds are ubiquitous and have evolved to exploit the man-made spatial ecosystems of our built environment. In the enclosed environment, especially where there is dampness and condensation, they manip ulate the microclimates and ecological niches of our buildings and feed on a variety of substrates. Over the last century, the management of mould problems in buildings has largely relied on a misunderstanding and misdiagnosis of the biology, ecology and physiology of the causal organisms. Mould growth in buildings may affect the health of occupants in many ways and may contribute to the sick-building syndrome as well as aller gy and other environmental health problems. The conse quences of occupational exposure to moulds are gaining prominence because of demands for better working con ditions. There is a need to look after and hopefully improve the health, comfort and productivity of a build ing's occupants.
Airborne Asbestos Concentrations during Abatement of Floor Tile and Mastic: Evaluation of Two Different Containment Systems and Discussion of Regulatory Issues
Authors: Lange John H.
Published: March 2007

Regulatory agencies in the United States identify asbes tos-containing floor tile as a friable material when abated. Such categorisation appears to be based on legislation rather than science and exposure data or health risks. This investigation suggests that occupation al (personal) exposure during abatement of floor tile and mastic results in low airborne concentrations of asbestos as determined by phase contrast microscopy. Compari son of personal exposure results for two asbestos abate ment school projects, which collected exposure data dur ing abatement of floor tile and mastic together, one involving full containment and the other a partial con tainment system (critical barriers), suggests a statistical difference in concentrations. However, this difference was not considered to be biologically (health) significant. Other studies that collected exposure data on floor tile and mastic separately support findings of low exposure in studies reporting measurements of these building components together. Summary results as arithmetic and geometric means for occupational samples were below the Occupational Safety and Health Administra tion permissible exposure limit for airborne asbestos fibres. The basis for classifying floor tile and mastic as a friable asbestos-containing material does not appear to be supported by scientific evidence. A discussion of reg ulatory issues associated with asbestos-containing floor tile and mastic is presented.
Evaluation of the Risk of Exposure to Radon
Authors: Monchaux G.
Published: March 2007

The aim of this project was to assess the risk due to inha lation of radon and its decay products using a horizontal approach across a large-scale research programme. The central objective was the assessment of human risk, a task that required a combination of several programmes and involved a multidisciplinary approach. Five main topics were addressed: radioactive aerosol studies, mod elling, human studies, animal studies and retrospective assessment of radon exposure. The five studies were distributed between working groups. The rationale of this project was to pool the expertise from laboratories working in different fields of radiation protection. This paper summarises the main achievements made through this multidisciplinary research programme and the synergies that occurred between the different groups.
Indoor Air Quality in an Air-Conditioned Building in New Delhi and Its Relationship to Ambient Air Quality
Authors: Prasad R.K. , Uma R. , Kansal A. , Gupta S. , Kumar P. , Saksena S.
Published: March 2007

In an urban city like Delhi, vehicular exhaust is a major source of air pollution in addition to industrial activities emitting uncontrolled air pollutants. This contaminated air is sucked into buildings by air handling units contami nating the indoor air. In addition, indoor air is further contaminated by sources used for cooking, space heat ing devices, various chemicals and so on. The present paper analyses the indoor and outdoor air quality in a commercial building. The functioning of the air handling unit was also studied in the context of indoor air quality. Pollutants such as asbestos, carbon monoxide, formal dehyde, lead, oxides of nitrogen, ozone, respirable sus pended particulates, sulphur dioxide and suspended particulate matter and gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide were monitored.
Characteristics of Asbestos Abatement Projects in Public Buildings in Erie County, Pennsylvania: 1992-1994
Authors: Lange J.H. , Kelly D.F. , Koller K.S. , Komorek K.M. , Mamros C.T. , Mosbacher E.M. , Polon T.M. , Thomulka K.W.
Published: March 2007

The costs associated with asbestos abatement projects conducted in public buildings in Erie County, Pennsylvania, USA were evaluated during the time period 1992 to 1994. These data include the approximate quantity and catego ry of asbestos-containing materials abated, the costs, name of the contractor performing the remediation, and the time period over which the work had been performed. Information of this nature provides insight into the economic considerations, management decisions, environmental hazard liabilities and future problems related to this environmental practice.
Notes on the Use of the Tables of Standard ISO 7730 for the Evaluation of the PMV Index
Authors: Alfano G. , Cannistraro G. , d'Ambrosio F.R. , Rizzoa G.
Published: March 2007

Standard ISO 7730, which is also known as European Standard EN-ISO 7730, provides two alternative methods for the evaluation of the predicted mean vote (PMV) index: a calculation program and a set of tables. In order to use the tables, the operative temperature must be calculated beforehand. The impres sion is given from reading the standard that for a relative humidity of 50%, the two methods are equivalent, i.e. provide the same value for PMV, from the same initial values. In this paper, examples are given showing that the two methods are not equivalent. Differences between them are analysed and a proposal made to introduce an amendment in the next revision of the stan dard.
Pleural Plaques: Diagnostic Problems and Significance
Authors: Jones Robert N.
Published: March 2007

Hyaline plaques of the parietal pleura are diagnosed by inspection. They are detectable at autopsy, thoracotomy or thoracoscopy, or on computed tomogra phy (CT) or plain radiographic studies (listed in order of decreasing sensitivi ty). Plain radiographs may miss one-half or more cases but are useful in survey work. The main confounders are localised pleural thickenings caused by rib fractures, and subpleural fat; the latter sometimes requires CT scanning to differentiate. Except in certain restricted geographic localities, plaques signify temporally remote exposures to asbestos minerals. Plaques develop after rela tively low exposures and are thus not reliable indicators of elevated risk of asbestos-attributable lung fibrosis or lung cancer. Neither do they cause symp toms, or detectable reductions of the individual's lung function. In most set tings, plaques indicate an elevated risk of mesothelioma, in comparison to the general population. In comparison to similarly exposed persons, plaques do not have any prognostic significance.
Mixed Integer Linear Programming Optimization of Heat Distribution within a Local Heating System
Authors: Bojic M. , Trifunavic N.
Published: March 2007

At substations of district heating systems, water is heated and transferred by pumps through piping networks to the buildings of each local heating system. When they were designed, the operational parameters and system characteris tics of the local heating system were selected to provide thermal comfort in all the buildings served by the local heating system. After several years of opera tion, however, these parameters and characteristics change and, as a result, thermal comfort may be expected to deteriorate. This study investigates one strategy to mitigate this problem; that of retrofitting the local heating system with additional circulation pumps to provide greater system control and, thereby, improved thermal comfort. Using a steady-state, bottom-up ap proach, heat transfer in the local heating system is described by a system of equations that are then linearized. Mixed integer linear programming is then applied to these equations, implemented in the program PUMP, and used to optimize system characteristics. The results indicate that pump-placement optimization strategy is more effective in overcoming changes in hydraulic resistance than variations in radiator and building heat transmittance result ing from aging of the local heating system.
Influence of Atmospheric Air Pollution on Indoor Air Quality: Comparison of Chemical Pollutants and Mutagenicity Levels in Santiago (Chile)
Authors: Gil Lionel , Cáceres Dante , Adonis Marta
Published: March 2007

The influence of atmospheric pollution on indoor air quality (IAQ) was studied in downtown Santiago (Chile). Carbon monoxide (CO), nicotine, the mass of respirable particulate matter below 5 μm (PM5 fraction) and total and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were simultaneously monitored indoors and outdoors in restaurants, offices and oth er places. The levels of CO changed simultaneously outdoors and indoors (r = 0.89), especially during traffic rush hours, masking the contribution of other indoor sources and showing the importance of infiltration of outdoor air indoors. CO concentrations ranged from 1.0 to 73 ppm and 0.5 to 93 ppm for indoors and outdoors, respectively. The highest running 8-hour average levels measured were 16 and 18 ppm, respectively. These levels exceeded the Chilean 8-hour standard of 9 ppm to the extent of 178% indoors and by more than 200% outdoors. PM5 concentrations were high and showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between indoors and outdoors: levels in restaurants, offices and other places were not significantly different from each other. The concentrations of total and carcinogenic PAHs were also high indoors and outdoors, outdoor levels being higher than those indoors although no significant differences (p > 0.05) in indoor levels were found between restaurants and offices and between offices and other places. Nicotine levels showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between indoor and outdoor levels. In addition, great differences (p < 0.05) in indoor levels were also found between offices and restaurants, and offices and other places. Mutagenic response in Salmonella typhimurium by organic extracts from PM 5 collected in downtown Santiago in Bandera street and in a rural area showed that the extracts from the Santiago samples are highly mutagenic. These results suggest that in downtown Santiago, infiltration might be the main source of indoor pollution. Symptoms and health effects probably related to air pollution in people working in Bandera street and in Curacavi, a rural area located 45 km from Santiago were surveyed. This showed clearly that people working in downtown Santiago have greater frequency of eye complaints, sneezing attacks, cough, throat dryness and rhinitis.
A Comparison of the Lead Particle Content of Indoor Dust before and after a Lead Paint Abatement: A New Source of Lead Recontamination
Authors: Hunt A. , Hawkins J. , Gilligan E. , Bhatia S.
Published: March 2007

The lead particle content of floor dust in a housing unit scheduled for interior lead paint hazard removal was characterised microscopically to identify the contributing source(s) of the lead. It was hypothesised that elevated levels of lead in the dust resulted from the deterioration of the lead-based paint on the indoor surfaces. The question of lead particle source attribution was addressed using a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dis persive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). SEM/EDS provided data on the size, shape, and composition of the individual lead-containing dust particles. The floor dusts which were analysed contained a variety of lead particle types and eight of these types from several rooms exhibited unique morphological and/ or chemical characteristics. These were variously classified as lead paint particles. The lead levels in the floor dusts prior to the abatement were ≥ 100 μg.ft-2. The floor dust lead concentrations immediately following the abatement were all less than the pre-abatement levels, but a re-sampling 2 months after the abatement found that the amount of lead in two of the rooms was approximately 3 and 4.5 times higher than the levels prior to the abate ment. SEM/EDS analysis of the floor dusts samples collected 2 months after the abatement showed that in these two rooms the constituent particulate lead differed from that in any of the pre-abatement dusts. Following attempts to identify possible sources of recontamination, it was found that this previously unidentified particulate lead was consistent in form with lead scraped from the interior of one of the radiators which had been removed from the complex some time after the abatement. Residual water spilling from the radiators dur ing the course of removal was, in all likelihood, the cause of the unexpectedly elevated dust lead levels.
Indoor Conditions and Well-Being: Interim Results from the ProKlimA Study
Authors: Bischof Wolfgang , Bullinger Monika
Published: March 2007

Interim results are presented from a long-term German project investigating the effects of indoor climate and indoor air quality on the health, performance and well-being of more than 3,000 office workers. The ProKlimA project started in February 1995 with the aim of gaining insight into the phenomeno logy and aetiology of the so-called 'sick building syndrome' (SBS). One of the main findings from the project is that SBS-associated symptoms are experi enced in both air-conditioned and naturally ventilated buildings. However in air-conditioned buildings the level of symptoms reported is greater and seems to depend on the quality of maintenance.
Equations for a Ventilation Design Derived from Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Chow W.K. , Wong L.T.
Published: March 2007

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used in a study of the air flow char acteristics in the occupied building zone. Correlation equations between the mean air speeds and the percentage dissatisfied with the macroscopic flow numbers were derived. Ten macroscopic flow numbers including the total ventilation rate, the air change rate, ventilation rate, air diffusion performance index, modified jet momentum number, two new flow numbers and three expressions of jet momentum ratio were investigated. A total number of 25 numerical experiments under isothermal flow conditions with four different geometrical arrangements (labelled A-D) were performed. The correlation equations derived from CFD were compared with those obtained from experi mental studies. It is found that the jet momentum ratio RM2 gives the equation with the best correlation coefficient and so is recommended for ventilation design.
Occurrence of Radon in the Drinking Water of Dehradun City, India
Authors: Ramola R.C. , Choubey V.M. , Saini N.K. , Bartarya S.K.
Published: March 2007

In this paper, the results of measurements of radon (222Rn) in the drinking water of Dehradun City are pre sented. The radon was measured in water samples taken from the tube wells and hand pumps which are the usual sources of water supply in the city. The recorded radon concentrations in 19 water samples from different hand pumps were found to vary from 27 to 154 Bq.l-1 with an average of 67 Bq.I-1, while radon concentrations in 49 water samples from different tube wells were found to vary from 26 to 129 Bq.l-1 with an average of 59 Bq.I-1. The results are compared with international recommen dations for human exposure. These recorded values were found to be above the average of the recommenda tions but well below the highest recommended value of 400 Bq.l-1. In general, the drinking water of Dehradun city is contaminated by radon at a concentration which is reasonably uniform over the study area.
Methodological Issues Related to Studies of Workers in the Diatomaceous Earth Industry
Authors: Hessel Patrick A.
Published: March 2007

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently reviewed the human and animal evidence relat ed to the carcinogenicity of silica, finding that there was sufficient evidence to conclude that crystalline silica in the form of quartz or cristobalite is a human carcinogen. A series of studies examining mortality of workers at several facilities processing diatomaceous earth was considered by the IARC committee to have provided strong evidence favouring their decision. A number of factors raise concerns about the results of these studies. These factors include modestly elevated risk estimates, the lack of adequate smoking information, bias in the estimates of exposures to crystalline silica and asbestos, and post hoc selection of historical exposure weightings and lag periods. Most of these shortcomings typify the literature available for the previous IARC review (1987) which concluded that there was only 'limited' evidence for the carcinogenicity of silica in humans, and suggest ed that studies be undertaken in populations of workers not exposed to known carcinogens. The limitations of
A Bench-Top Microchamber Method for Measuring Formaldehyde Emission from Wood-Based Panel Products
Authors: Yu C.W.F. , Crump D.R. , Squire R.W.
Published: March 2007

In response to concerns about the possible adverse health effects caused by formaldehyde emission from wood-based products, the wood panel products industry has developed and produced lower emission materials over the past 15 years. There is a need for a reliable and inexpensive method in the industry to measure formal dehyde emission from these products that can be used on a routine basis and can provide data comparable to the environmental chamber test prescribed in the Euro pean pre-standard ENV 717-1. A 2.4-litre microchamber test has been developed in the UK, at the Building Research Establishment, as a bench-top method for measuring formaldehyde emission from wood-based materials. Microchamber tests of newly manufactured boards that were preconditioned for 28 days showed good correlation with the steady-state values obtained from the 1-m3 chamber tests determined in accordance with the ENV 717-1 standard. The airflow rate, the ratio of air change to material loading in the chamber and the amount of exposed edges were shown to affect the mea surement of emission rates.
Barriers to equality: men's and women's attitudes to workplace entitlements in Australia
Authors: Baxter Janeen
Published: March 2007

This paper examines attitudes to workplace entitlements, such as parental leave and flexible work hours. Family friendly policies such as leave to care for children have implications for feminist debates about sameness versus difference and the extent to which such policies will lead to greater equality between men and women, or alternatively, further entrench existing gender divisions of labour. Using data from a recent national survey in Australia, the paper shows that while the Australian workforce is generally in favour of workplace entitlements, women are generally more supportive of these kinds of benefits than men. Surprisingly, most respondents are more supportive of unpaid rather than paid parental leave. The results also show that the most important determinants of support for work entitlements are a combination of the extent to which one needs work entitlements and employment location. The results raise issues about whether the provision of workplace entitlements will encourage greater participation by men in domestic responsibilities, or simply ease women's double burden of paid and unpaid work.
The Internal Heterogeneity of Australian Census Units and its Effect on Social Ecological Analyses
Authors: Charnock David M.
Published: March 2007

When Census (or other) units are used in social ecological research an implicit assumption is that the units are, in an appropriate sense, internally homogeneous. However, there appears to have been no investigation of the extent to which this assumption holds for the various units for which Australian Census results are released. Using 1976 Census data for Perth, this paper examines one part of this topic, viz. the extent to which the Collectors Districts (CDs) which comprise each Census Subdivision (CSD) can be considered homogeneous. The research shows that although the CSDs are reasonably internally homogeneous in terms of a large number of variables there are several important variables for which this is not the case. Heterogeneity is generally highest in the CSDs showing low familism. Factor and cluster analyses based on CDs and CSDs also show differences resulting from the internal heterogeneity of the CSDs. Overall, the conclusion reached is that the CSDs are noticeably inferior to the CDs as analytical units.
The 'Age of Consent' Controversy: Age and Gender as Social Practice
Authors: Baker Carolyn
Published: March 2007

This paper examines features of a controversy surrounding a recommendation to change 'age of consent' legislation in N.S.W. The use made of commonsense notions of age and gender relations as sense- making methods in organizing the popular defeat of the proposal is shown, casting participants in the controversy as practitioners of social structures. Competing adult discourses about young people are identified in the materials, and the study of such material is suggested as part of a comprehensive sociology of youth.
Blood Money? The Effect of Bonus Pay on Safety in Coal Mines
Authors: Hopkins Andrew
Published: March 2007

It is often argued that the production bonus system contributes to the high rate of accidents in underground coal mines. The evidence for this proposition is examined here and found to be wanting. Major causes of unsafe practices on the part of the miners are the desire to reduce the workload and an adherence to informal safety standards which are often not adequate to deal with exceptional situations. The paper argues, finally, that management must share responsibility for many of the miners' unsafe practices and that many accidents are quite clearly attributable to management negligence.
Australian Community Studies — A Feminist Critique
Authors: Bryson Lois , Wearing Betsy
Published: March 2007

An analysis of the major Australian community studies since the sixties, shows that despite the scant attention paid to women in the earlier ones, a reanalysis does further our understanding of patriarchal social pro cesses and provides a perspective on developments within the social sciences. The later studies, which focus directly on women, demonstrate the potential of the community study for furthering our understanding of womens' lives, in particular, the way in which the ideology of male domination is perpetuated. These studies suggest that when women take an active part in local affairs, they may downplay this in order to preserve the traditionality of their relationship with their husbands. Thus the earlier community studies show how women's public activities may be obscured by male bias in research, while the later studies show that these activities may be obfuscated by women's own collusion with male hegemony.
Australians' Time Use in Work, Housework and Leisure: Changing Profiles
Authors: Mercer David
Published: March 2007

This paper compares the aggregated results of the two major time- budget studies that have been undertaken in Australia. The first was the Cities Commission survey in Albury-Wodonga and Melbourne in 1974. The second was carried out in Melbourne and Ballarat in 1981. The two studies are comparable in terms of target groups, sample size and questions asked. They allow us to make some broad comparisons of time allocation changes between such activities as work, leisure and domestic labour in the seven-year period. Comparisons are made with similar, recent work in the UK — specifically that of Gershuny — and the paper concludes with some pointers for future Australian research.
Decommodification and the Transformation of Capitalism: welfare state development in seventeen OECD countries
Authors: Western Bruce
Published: March 2007

Two distributional mechanisms can be identified in advanced capitalist systems: states and markets. State distribution of resources according to needs-based non-market criteria repre sents a departure from capitalist relations of distribution and accumulation and the 'decommodification' of labour power. Such a departure has been achieved with the development of particular sorts of welfare state institutional forms. These insti tutions are the outcome of a number of political and economic pressures. Politically, the way in which a labour movement is organised in parties and unions has been a crucial determinant of decommodification. Economically, conditions of prosperity and full employment seem important to welfare state develop ment.

Regression analyses, and a brief historical survey of the ex periences of Australia, Sweden and the United States confirm the above propositions suggesting that decommodification as a departure from the logic of private capital accumulation is an important basis for the transformation of capitalism.
Orthodox Political Participation in Australia
Authors: Bean Clive
Published: March 2007

In the study of Australian mass political behaviour, political party preference has been well documented but political par ticipation has not. Using factor analysis this article establishes that the four modes of orthodox political participation which have been identified in a wide variety of national settings, viz. campaigning, voting, communal activity and personalised con tacting, apply also in Australia. Furthermore, Australia is in the cross-national mainstream in terms of the factors most promi nent in determining participation and also, to the extent the data permit such judgements, in the proportions of its citizens who participate in different political activities. The article develops an explanatory model containing an array of social background and subjective political orientation variables and applies it in turn to the four separate dimensions and to a com bined participation scale. Among other factors, interest in pol itics, strength of partisanship, place of residence and education feature as key determinants of participation. In broad terms, mass political participation is striking for the regularity of its frequency and causal antecedents in many different cultures.
Beyond the Ideology of Motherhood: Leisure as Resistance
Authors: Wearing Betsy
Published: March 2007

The structural view of power in feminist analysis to date has discouraged women as victims from thinking that anything they do at an individual level can be effective in the gender struggle. This article presents a view of power that incorporates resistance. Leisure as resistance for mothers of first babies is explored. The intersection of two contradictory discourses: the discourse on motherhood and that on human rights allows these mothers to transform some repressive aspects of motherhood. The vehicle is leisure, a legitimate area of autonomy concerning time and space. Strategies in this site of struggle include, refusal to do housework and cook, co-option of the father, relatives and other mothers in child-care responsibility for periods of time and refusal to adopt a victim mentality by organising and planning for self-space. Gains in control over labour and in gender power relationships at a strategic time in family relationships are potential outcomes.
Interested Parties: a Discussion of Public Statements in the Alcohol Arena in New Zealand
Authors: Park Julie
Published: March 2007

Whether research is used or not and how it is used is only partly in the control of researchers and is closely related to the politics of the research situation. I suggest that researchers may increase their ability to influence debate by making the politics of the situation part of their research.

In this case study, public discourse on the issue of 'alcohol- in-society' is analysed in the context of the interest groups involved, the theoretical positions they held, and the use they made of research in relation to those positions. Although the interest groups showed some shifting alliances, depending on the issue being addressed, there was a demarcation between two main theoretical positions: the one locating alcohol problems with a minority of alcohol abusers; the other locating problems with the product itself, and hence, with its normal use. Research was used to support and to refute both positions. The debate took place in the context of folk wisdom about alcohol and its effects, and in an arena where the stakes are high.
The School to Work Transition: Young Cambodians in South Australia
Authors: Stevens Christine A.
Published: March 2007

The paper examines the transition from school to work made by a group of young Cambodians who arrived in South Australia as refugees during the early 1980s, and addresses the question of the extent to which adolescent refugees are included within the educational and occupational spheres of Australian society. The evidence from school retention and accreditation and participation in post-school training all suggest that this sample of Cambodian youth were not systematically disadvantaged within the South Australian education system. The group were also successful in entering the labour force, but were generally concentrated in lower echelon positions, despite their academic attainment.
About Fathers: Masculinity and the Social Construction of Fatherhood
Authors: White Naomi Rosh
Published: March 2007

Little research has been conducted on men's definitions of themselves as fathers. This study is a preliminary exploration of the ways in which definitions of fatherhood are constructed and determined by personal experience within a social context. The study examines eleven men's understandings of what it means to be a father, their recollections of the fathering they received, and the intersection of these recollections with their definitions of themselves as fathers.
The Tasmanian Conservation Movement and the Press: Research Note1
Authors: Sylow Kim
Published: March 2007

The key focus of this note is the changing pattern of such coverage in the Tasmanian press over the period of nearly two decades and four environmental debates. The analysis provides an illustration of the dynamics of press coverage and changing relationship between the environment movement and the daily press. It is suggested that a symbiotic relationship has developed between the Tasmanian green movement and the press. The formation of this relationship has been associated with important changes in the pattern of coverage of the environmental debate in the daily press.
Authority, Compliance and Rebellion in Second Generation Cultural Minorities
Authors: Pallotta-Chiarolli Maria , Skrbis Zlatko
Published: March 2007

This paper investigates the intersections of ethnicity, gender and sexuality by exploring the issues of parental, communal and societal authority, and the degrees of compliance and acceptance or resistance by the second generation.

Using the responses of Southern Italian, Croatian, Slovenian, and Yugoslav second generation individuals in Australia, two questions are addressed: to what extent do migrant parents use sexual and marital control of their children as a means of maintaining ethnic cohesion; and to what extent does gender influence the level of parental control and the types of responses made by their children. The respondents were both heterosexual and lesbian female and heterosexual males. The data indicates a considerable level of parental and ethnic community direction and authority in relation to sexuality and marriage. It also indicates considerable levels of acceptance and higher levels of resistance to these codes by the second generation individuals.

Finally, it appears that although the discussion is ethno-specific, the issues that arise such as power, identity and the body are wider societal concerns.