Representations of swine flu: Perspectives from a Malaysian pig farm

© The Author(s), 2010. This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below.Novel influenza viruses are seen, internationally, as posing considerable health challenges, but public responses to such viruses are often rooted in cultural representations of disease and risk. However, little research has been conducted in locations associated with the origin of a pandemic. We examined representations and risk perceptions associated with swine flu amongst 120 Malaysian pig farmers. Thirty-seven per cent of respondents felt at particular risk of infection, two-thirds were somewhat or very concerned about being infected. Those respondents who were the most anxious believed particular societal “out-groups” (homosexuals, the homeless and prostitutes) to be at higher infection risk. Although few (4%) reported direct discrimination, 46% claimed friends had avoided them since the swine flu outbreak. Findings are discussed in the context of evolutionary, social representations and terror management theories of response to pandemic threat

Lubrication of DLC Coatings with Two Tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate Anion-Based Ionic Liquids

The lubrication of a Cr-DLC coating with ethyl-dimethyl-2-methoxyethylammonium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluoropho-sphate [(NEMM)MOE][FAP] and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrro-lidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate [BMP] [FAP] ionic liquids (ILs) as 1 wt% additives to a polyalphaolefin (PAO 6) was studied. Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) was also used as reference in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the ILs. Reciprocating ball-on-plate tribological tests at loads of 20 and 40 N were performed. The results showed that both ILs exhibited a friction reduction, especially at the lowest load tested. Antiwear properties were also improved; the PAO 6 + 1% [BMP][FAP] mixture was slightly better, close to the values for PAO 6 + 1% ZDDP. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicated that the additive–surface interaction was responsible for the tribological improvement

Deformation of a Trapped Fermi Gas with Unequal Spin Populations

The real-space densities of a polarized strongly-interacting two-component Fermi gas of $^6$Li atoms reveal two low temperature regimes, both with a fully-paired core. At the lowest temperatures, the unpolarized core deforms with increasing polarization. Sharp boundaries between the core and the excess unpaired atoms are consistent with a phase separation driven by a first-order phase transition. In contrast, at higher temperatures the core does not deform but remains unpolarized up to a critical polarization. The boundaries are not sharp in this case, indicating a partially-polarized shell between the core and the unpaired atoms. The temperature dependence is consistent with a tricritical point in the phase diagram.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter

Racial Differences in the Use of Most Commonly Performed Medical Procedures in the United States

Objective: This study investigates racial disparities in the use of commonly performed medical procedures in U.S. hospitals. Methods: To examine racial disparities, we calculated age-adjusted rate of procedures used by all Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians or Pacific Islanders and Native Americans and calculated corresponding Relative Risks(RRs) of White vs. all other races based on procedure utilizations and insurance types using 20% random sample of Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data between 2001 and2003. Results: Whites were significantly more likely to receive 3 of the study procedures than Blacks, 3 of the procedures than Hispanics, 2 of the procedures than Asians or Pacific Islanders and 4 of the procedures than Native Americans (p\u3c0.05). We also found racial disparities to receive medical procedures based on patients’ insurance status.However, only in a few cases were these differences substantial. Conclusion: Race plays a significantly important role in the use of commonly performed medical procedures in U.S. hospitals

A new binding geometry for an ortho-xylylene-linked bis(NHC)cyclophane: a ruthenium(II) complex with a chelating (g1-NHC)2:g6-arene ligand

Using two different reaction procedures, a Ru(II) complex has been isolated that contains an ortho-xylylene-linked bis(NHC)cyclophane (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) that binds to the Ru centre through two carbene carbons and one of the arene rings in an η6-mode

Synthesis and structural characterization of hexa-μ₂-chlorido-μ₄-oxido-tetrakis{[4-(phenylethynyl)pyridine-κN]copper(II)} dichloromethane monosolvate

In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Cu4Cl6O(C13H9N)4]·CH2Cl2, the core molecular structure consists of a Cu4 tetrahedron with a central interstitial O atom. Each edge of the Cu4 tetrahedron is bridged by a chlorido ligand. Each copper(II) cation is coordinated to the central O atom, two chlorido ligands and one N atom of the 4-phenylethynylpyridine ligand. In the crystal, the molecules are linked by intermolecular C - H⋯Cl interactions. Furthermore, C - H⋯π and π-π interactions also connect the molecules, forming a three-dimensional network. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions for the packing arrangement are from H⋯H and C⋯H/H⋯C interactions.</p

The impact of work autonomy on job satisfaction of academic staff: an empirical examination of government universities in Sri Lanka

This study intends to examine whether work autonomy impacts academic staff members’ job satisfaction of state universities in Sri Lanka. As the research approach, a quantitative approach was employed. In collecting data, a structured questionnaire was used to collect responses from fifteen government universities in Sri Lanka. The multi-stage stratified random sampling method was applied to select a representative sample; and 423 usable questionnaires deemed appropriate for analysis were selected. The validity and reliability tests indicated that the measurement scales met the acceptable standards. The t-test and One-way ANOVA results indicated that depending on the selected demographic factors, current working status, gender, age, and highest level of education the perception on work autonomy of the academic staff members in state universities in Sri Lanka differs. Nevertheless, it was found that marital status and number of children had no impact on the perception of work autonomy. In terms of the regression analysis conducted, it was found out that the work autonomy was a highly significant factor affecting the academic staff members’ overall job satisfaction of state universities in Sri Lanka. This finding is expected to have significant policy implications