bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Work Stressors, Gender Differences and Psychosomatic Health Problems
Authors: Barling Julian , Janssens Pam 
Published: March 2013

Two consistent problems in research assessing the work stress/health relationship are identified, namely, the tendency (a) to ignore possible gender differences in the association between work stressors and health, and (b) to assess work status (i.e., whether an individual is employed or not) rather than the experience of unique work stressors. This study focuses on the association between health problems and work involvement, job satisfaction and role conflict for 91 males and 56 females, all in full-time employment with at least one dependent child. Role conflict and job dissatisfaction predicted health problems of females, but not of males, while work involvement was not associated with health for either gender. The role conflict/health relationship differed significantly for males and females, although the job dissatisfaction/health relationship did not. The dichotomy between emotional outcomes arising from work (e.g., job dissatisfaction and role conflict) and intrinsic work aspects (e.g., job involvement); the importance of gender role expectations on the working mother and father; and the differential experiences of work of males and females are suggested as possible factors accounting for the different patterns of relationships. Some suggestions for further research are offered.
Fairness in Selection: An Elusive Ideal
Authors: Lourens P.J.D. 
Published: March 2013

Fairness in selection is required for moral reasons but may contribute as well to industrial relations, reduction of labour turnover, and public relations. Various conceptions of fairness in selection are discussed and the following recommendations are made in this regard. First, that compensatory training for disadvantaged groups should be considered. Second, that selection (including the appropriate and careful use of psychological tests) should optimize the quality of the work force and thirdly, that race should not be used as a predictor in selection.
Die geldigheid van sielkundige meetinstrumente om tussen universitêre studierigtings te onderskei
Authors: Roos Willem L. 
Published: March 2013

Die naskoolse studieloopbane van hoërskoolleerlinge wat van 1965 tot 1969 aan die RGN se Projek Talentopname deelgeneem het, is van 1970 tot 1980 opgevolg om studierigting en studiesukses te bepaal. In hierdie ondersoek is die toetsgegewens wat op skoolvlak verkry is met universitêre studiesukses in verband gebring. Die doel daarmee was om te bepaal of sekere gestandaardiseerde sielkundige meetinstrumente tussen breë universitêre studierigtings kan onderskei met die oog op die gebruik daarvan in onderwys- en beroepsleiding. Die mate waarin sielkundige meetinstrumente suksesvol in onderwys- en beroepsleiding gebruik kan word, word bepaal deur die mate waarin sodanige metings tussen breë universitere studierigtings kan onderskei. Om dit te bepaal, is die tegniek van diskriminantontleding gebruik en is groepe se sentroïdes in 'n tweedimensionele diskriminantruimte grafies voorgestel. Die agt breë studierigtings ten opsigte waarvan die onderskeidingsvermoë van die meetinstrumente bepaal is, was die volgende: Toegepaste natuurwetenskappe; suiwer natuurwetenskappe; toegepaste geesteswetenskappe; suiwer geesteswetenskappe; ingenieurswese; medies, tandheelkunde, en veeartsenykunde; handel en administrasie; en regte. Die resultate van die ondersoek dui daarop dat die betrokke sielkundige meetinstrumente betekenisvol tussen breë studierigtings onderskei en gevolglik met vrug in onderwys- en beroepsleiding gebruik kan word. Hierdie artikel is gebaseer op 'n verslag wat gedurende 1984 deur die Raad vir Geesteswetenskaplike Navorsing gepubliseer is.
Problem Solving: A Process of Reaching Common Understanding and Consensus
Authors: Van Vlaenderen Hilde 
Published: March 2013

This article reports on a study of the local knowledge of a group of young African development activists in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. Impetus for the study was the researcher's observation of a lack of transferability of knowledge, obtained by a group of young rural Africans from a training course in development strategies, to their everyday life. It was hypothesised that participants' notion of problem solving was different from that presented in the course. This motivated the researcher to conduct an investigation into the conceptual, procedural and epistemic knowledge of a group of young Africans from rural areas, involved in development activities. It was argued that insight into the participants' local knowledge could contribute to the development of appropriate methodologies for training in rural African settings. Data for the study consisted of transcripts of interviews and group discussion with the research participants. An interpretive grounded theory approach was used to ascertain the participants' conceptual and procedural knowledge of the concept problem solving. A further interpretation of this data led to the elucidation of the participants' epistemic principles underlying their concept of problem solving. Congruent with a ‘situated cognition’ approach, these were contextualised within the participants' socio-cultural background. The study revealed that the participants' perceptions of the concepts problem and problem solving were firmly embedded within the African philosophy of Ubuntu, with the notions of social harmony, holism, pursuit of practical purpose and primacy of collective reality providing the epistemics for their actions and cognitions. However, the research data showed some evidence of emerging assumptions about problem solving which deviated from the traditional African philosophy towards a more Western philosophy.
Comparative evaluation of a novel TaqMan real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay for hepatitis A virus detection
Authors: Qiu Feng , Zheng Huihui , Yi Yao , Jia Zhiyuan , Cao Jingyuan , Bi Shengli 
Published: March 2013

Objective To develop and evaluate a novel system for detecting and quantifying hepatitis A virus (HAV) nucleic acid. Methods Real-time TaqMan® reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedures were established, based on amplification of the highly conserved 5′-non-coding region. Synthetic single-stranded RNA transcripts synthesized in vitro were used as the quantification standard. Ten-fold dilutions were prepared from HAV strain stock suspension to determine precision, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. In addition, serum specimens from patients with acute HAV underwent clinical evaluation. Results The novel assay had a detection limit for HAV RNA of 10 TCID50/ml (where TCID50 is median tissue culture infective dose). It was more sensitive and specific than the commercial quantitative PCR kit manufactured by Shanghai Zhijiang Bio-Tech. However, the Artus HAV RT–PCR kit (Qiagen) had the best performance of the three assays and had a detection limit of 5 TCID50/ml. The new HAV real-time PCR detection system was also successfully applied in 90 serum specimens from patients with confirmed acute HAV infection. Conclusion Considering its high reproducibility, sensitivity, specificity and simplicity, this novel amplification system may be suitable for wide clinical application as a diagnostic tool, and for the surveillance and investigation of infectious diseases in developing countries where HAV is endemic.
Acute cerebral ischaemia: Relationship between serum and cerebrospinal fluid orexin-A concentration and infarct volume
Authors: Kotan Dilcan , Deniz Orhan , Aygul Recep , Yıldırım Abdulkadir 
Published: March 2013

Objective Orexins are hypothalamic neuropeptides that are involved in feeding, neuroendocrine regulation, sleep-wakefulness and sleep disorders (such as narcolepsy). This study investigated the relationship between serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) orexin-A concentrations and infarct volume, in patients with ischaemic stroke. Methods Serum and CSF concentrations of orexin-A were determined 48–72 h after the onset of ischaemic stroke in patients, then compared with those of healthy control subjects of comparable age. Infarct volumes were measured using computerized tomography, 48–72 h after hospitalization. Results Mean serum and CSF orexin-A concentrations were significantly lower among ischaemic stroke patients ( n = 29) compared with control subjects ( n = 13). There was a significant inverse correlation between infarct volumes and CSF orexin-A concentrations in patients with ischaemic stroke. Conclusion These data show that serum and CSF orexin-A concentrations decrease after cerebral ischaemia and may play a role in the development of brain injury. The orexin-A concentration in the CSF might be a useful biomarker for the assessment of progression of brain tissue damage during the early stages of ischaemic stroke.
Strategic targeted exercise for preventing falls in elderly people
Authors: Zheng Jiejiao , Pan Yujian , Hua Yinghui , Shen Haimin , Wang Xueqiang , Zhang Ying , Fan Yujing , Yu Zhuowei 
Published: March 2013

Objective Randomized, controlled, blinded trial to evaluate the effectiveness of strategic targeted exercise for preventing falls in elderly people. Methods Elderly people were randomly allocated to either a control group that received conventional exercise, or a training group that received conventional exercise plus proprioception and cognitive exercises. Subjects were asked to exercise three times a week (40 min per session) for 8 weeks. In the pre- and post-training sessions, all participants were assessed using a static postural control test with eyes open and closed, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the joint position sense test of the lower limbs. Results After 8 weeks, there were statistically significant improvements in the training group ( n = 50) compared with the control group ( n = 50) for mediolateral sway distance with eyes open and eyes closed, anteroposterior sway distance with eyes open but not with eyes closed, BBS scores and joint position sense test for the left but not the right knee. Conclusion This study demonstrated that strategic targeted exercise could produce more beneficial effects on balance and proprioception function than conventional exercise alone, in elderly people.
Abnormal Tibiofemoral Contact Stress and Its Association With Altered Kinematics After Center-Center Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Imhauser Carl , Mauro Craig , Choi Daniel , Rosenberg Eric , Mathew Stephen , Nguyen Joseph , Ma Yan , Wickiewicz Thomas 
Published: March 2013

Background: Abnormal tibiofemoral contact stress and aberrant kinematics may influence the progression of osteoarthritis in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)–deficient and the ACL-reconstructed knee. However, relationships between contact stress and kinematics after ACL reconstruction are poorly understood. Therefore, we posed the following research questions: (1) How do ACL deficiency and reconstruction affect the kinematics of and contact stress in the tibiofemoral joint? (2) What kinematic differences are associated with abnormal contact stress after ACL reconstruction? Hypothesis: Center-center ACL reconstruction will not restore knee kinematics and contact stress. Correlations will exist between abnormal contact stress and aberrant kinematics after ACL reconstruction. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Clinical tests of anterior and rotational stability were simulated on 11 cadaveric knees using an industrial robot. Tests were conducted with the ACL intact, sectioned, and after single-bundle ACL reconstruction using a quadrupled hamstring autograft with tunnels drilled through the center of the native footprints. Kinematics were recorded during the tests. Contact stress was continuously recorded from a stress transducer fixed to the tibial plateau, and mean contact stress was calculated regionally. Results: ACL deficiency resulted in increased mean contact stress in the posterior sectors of the medial and lateral compartments under anterior and rotational loads, respectively. Reconstruction reduced stress in these locations; however, contact stress abnormalities remained. On average, kinematics were overconstrained after ACL reconstruction (≤1.8 mm and ≤2.6° in all directions). However, combinations of overconstrained and underconstrained motions in abduction/adduction and medial-lateral translation in response to combined moments, and anterior-posterior translation, medial-lateral translation, and axial rotation in response to an anterior load were associated with abnormal mean contact stress. Conclusion: ACL reconstruction reduces high stresses generated in the posterior compartment of the ACL-deficient knee. Abnormal contact stress after ACL reconstruction is related to multiplanar variations in knee kinematics. Clinical Relevance: Clinical measures of multiplanar kinematics may help to better characterize the quality of ACL reconstruction. Such measures may help identify patients at increased risk of long-term joint degeneration following this surgery.
Bioactive glass incorporation in calcium phosphate cement-based injectable bone substitute for improved in vitro biocompatibility and in vivo bone regeneration
Authors: Sadiasa Alexander , Sarkar Swapan Kumar , Franco Rose Ann , Min Young Ki , Lee Byong Taek 
Published: March 2013

In this work, we fabricated injectable bone substitutes modified with the addition of bioactive glass powders synthesized via ultrasonic energy-assisted hydrothermal method to the calcium phosphate-based bone cement to improve its biocompatibility. The injectable bone substitutes was initially composed of a powder component (tetracalcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate and calcium sulfate dehydrate) and a liquid component (citric acid, chitosan and hydroxyl-propyl-methyl-cellulose) upon which various concentrations of bioactive glass were added: 0%, 10%, 20% and 30%. Setting time and compressive strength of the injectable bone substitutes were evaluated and observed to improve with the increase of bioactive glass content. Surface morphologies were observed via scanning electron microscope before and after submersion of the samples to simulated body fluid and increase in apatite formation was detected using x-ray diffraction machine. In vitro biocompatibility of the injectable bone substitutes was observed to improve with the addition of bioactive glass as the proliferation/adhesion behavior of cells on the material increased. Human gene markers were successfully expressed using real time-polymerase chain reaction and the samples were found to promote cell viability and be more biocompatible as the concentration of bioactive glass increases. In vivo biocompatibility of the samples containing 0% and 30% bioactive glass were evaluated using Micro-CT and histological staining after 3 months of implantation in male rabbits’ femurs. No inflammatory reaction was observed and significant bone formation was promoted by the addition of bioactive glass to the injectable bone substitute system.
The Engro Zarkhez Challenge 2011
Authors: Alvi Sara , Butt Arif N. , Khurshid Anwar , Siddiqui M. Athar 
Published: March 2013

The case aims at highlighting the intra organizational negotiation challenges faced by Engro Marketing team for attaining sales targets. The problem is of goal incongruence and lack of communication regarding sales targets in the organization. Additionally, the structural changes which had added a new layer of management of Area Marketing Managers (AMMs) in Engro led to role ambiguities between the Area Marketing Managers (AMM) and the Zonal Marketing Managers (ZMM). The main challenges that Engro faces are: a) There was an urgent need for differing viewpoints on sales targets to converge to a joint goal setting pattern b) Up-gradation of skills was needed by AMM and ZMM with respect to increased listening and communication, facing and appreciating work-related conflict, working out interpersonal frictions and not using compromise as a basis for organizational decision-making, and c) A commitment to the strategic goals of the company needed to be gained by establishing clear responsibilities for implementing them.
The Growth of Contractors in the Construction Industry: Implications for Tax Revenue
Authors: Buchanan John , Allan Cameron 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper is a preliminary investigation of the impact of the changing legal structures of employment on the tax system and the tax system on the structure of jobs. This issue is explored with special reference to the growth of contractor employment in the Australian construction industry. The paper shows how tax liabilities for individuals can be halved where they are deemed to be contractors. The paper estimates that in the mid 1990s this resulted in the average construction contractor paying around $6,000 a year less than equivalent PAYE workers. Losses to tax revenue could, therefore, be up $2.2 billion annually. The paper concludes that more research is required into the nexus between tax and employment structures. This dynamic has major implications for the future of work as well as the taxation system.
The Costs of Unemployment in Australia
Authors: Watts Martin J. , Mitchell William F. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIn this paper it is demonstrated that the measurable costs of the sustained high rate of unemployment in Australia are substantially higher than the alleged gains from neo-liberal (microeconomic) reforms. In addition, significant individual and social costs can be identified. Consequently macroeconomic intervention to reduce unemployment should be viewed as a priority, rather than the imposition of market reform with its uncertain impact. The paper concludes with a brief outline of a Job Guarantee Program, advocated by Mitchell (1998) that utilises the principles of the buffer stock mechanism to reduce unemployment. It is argued that the net increase in government outlays is modest and could be offset by a reduction in the level of annual corporate welfare.
Effects of Unemployment on the Family
Authors: McClelland Alison 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper reviews evidence about the incidence and impact of unemployment on the family. It finds that while the unemployment rate faced by husbands and wives is relatively low, many unemployed people fall into this category (36.2% were husbands and wives in 1998). Sole parents have a high unemployment rate. Hence, around one-third of unemployment is borne by parents with dependent children. Joblessness in families is also examined. The impacts of unemployment on families include poverty and hardship, strained relationships, poorer health (although the causal relationships are not always clear), and housing stress. Unemployment could also harm children’s development and employment futures. Some policy issues are explored including the need to provide protection for the living standards for families affected by unemployment and taking a number of actions to reduce unemployment. The dilemmas posed by mutual obligation and the trend to precarious low-paid work are also raised.
Unemployment and Youth Suicide
Authors: Morrell Stephen , Page Andrew , Taylor Richard 
Published: March 2013

AbstractSuicide rates in younger age groups in Australia, and in a number of other similar Western countries, have increased substantially since the 1960s. In Australia this rise has occurred contemporaneously with rises in youth unemployment rates, especially in males. Aggregate analyses investigating the relationship between these trends are reviewed for Australia, and compared with similar international aggregate studies of youth suicide and unemployment. Individual based studies investigating the role of unemployment in the causal pathways associated with suicide are also considered in this review. Aggregate suicide and unemployment data for males aged 20–24 years is presented to illustrate the changing relationship between unemployment and youth suicide over 1921–1998. The relationship between youth suicide rates and unemployment rates, particularly in males, is discussed in terms of the utility of using such indicators in evaluating suicide prevention initiatives. The applicability of aggregate variables in multi-dimensional explanations of suicide is also discussed.
Labor Market Disability: Implications for the Unemployment Rate
Authors: Argyrous George , Neale Megan 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper investigates the extent to which unemployment, particularly among older males, is hidden by the welfare system. It is argued that the official unemployment rate has fallen because of a decline in participation rates among older males since 1972, and a significant proportion of these can be accounted for by the increase in the percentage of males receiving the Disability Support Pension and the Mature Age Allowance. These males are considered the Labor Market Disabled, since the principal cause of them being on welfare is the weakness of the labor market in which they have traditionally found employment. The unemployment rate is then reconsidered after including the LMD into the calculation, producing a more pronounced hysteresis affect over successive business cycles. It is argued that active job creation programs are required to move these people from welfare to work.
The Social Costs of Unemployment
Authors: Morris Alan 
Published: March 2013

The last two decades have witnessed the unraveling of the Keynesian consensus and full employment that characterized the quarter century after World War II. Inequality and poverty have deepened and hundreds of thousands of Australians no longer have job security and are being intermittently or permanently shut out of the formal economy. This review article examines the social costs of unemployment focusing on The Price of Prosperity: The Economic and Social Costs of Unemployment (TPOP) edited by Peter Saunders and Richard Taylor.The TPOP is an ambitious endeavour to quantify the costs of employment in a number of areas. Thus there are chapters on the impact of unemployment on health, poverty, inequality, indigenous Australians, youth, the family, crime and urban neighbourhoods. The chapters are consummate reviews of major Australian and international studies on the impact of unemployment, making the book a key text.
The Fiscal Impact of the Privatisation of the Victorian Electricity Industry
Authors: Quiggin John 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper is an analysis of the fiscal effects of the privatisation of the Victorian electricity industry. Privatisation is found to be approximately neutral in its effect on the net worth of the Victorian public sector. The buyers of electricity assets lost money, apparently because they anticipated more favourable regulatory treatment than they actually received. Electricity prices were increase prior to privatisation, and are still higher than those in states where the electricity industry has remained in public ownership, but consumers were not directly affected by privatisation as such. There were reductions in employment both before and after privatisation.