On analysing the official statistics for antagonistic threats against transports in EU : a supply chain risk perspective

The purpose of this paper is to analysis the risk for antagonistic threats against transports in EU in order to find patterns and trends. The research is based on a system-theoretical approach, which emphasizes a holistic view instead of the characteristics of the different parts. The research method used in this paper is deductive. The analysis is based on official statistics over antagonistic threats against transports in EU within a frame of reference consisting of theories from supply chain risk management and criminology. There is no silver bullet for solving antagonistic threats as it has always been a part of the business. Within this understanding there are many changes in hot spots, modus operandi, theft endangered objects and handling methods during time, but the basic theoretical frame of reference is still more or less the same. The geographically limitation to the EU is done of practical reasons whiles the frame of reference can be used globally for analysis antagonistic threats against transports. This research is limited by the lack of reliable information sources about criminal activities against logistics business. Secondary sources, like official crime statistics, are at best untrustworthy but more likely filled with large parts of hidden statistics. By using several different and independent official statistical sources and analysis the results within a common frame of reference can the validity of the research be secure. The theoretical framework is based on the theory of routine activity and its implications for logistics. This theory explains why the transport network produces the same theft opportunity over and over again

Development and validation of a health related quality of life questionnaire for Brazilian children with epilepsy: preliminary findings Construção e validação de um questionário de qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde para crianças brasileiras com epilepsia: resultados preliminares

PURPOSE: To construct a multidimensional questionnaire that analyses the epileptic child quality of life from the parental point of view. METHOD: The pilot questionnaire was composed of 157 questions distributed in several dimensions. Fifty-one epileptic children's parents answered the questionnaire. The instrument was tested in its diverse properties: frequency of endorsement, homogeneity (Cronbach alpha), criterion and face validity, and later it was reduced. RESULTS: Endorsement frequency excluded 65 questions that did not attain a minimum of 5% response per item. Cronbach alpha was as follows: physical (0.93), psychological (0.91), social (0.91), familiar (0.70), cognitive (0.92), medical (0.30) and economical (0.37). Patient groups, in relation to seizure control, significantly differed only in physical domain and total score, although there was a trend to differences in other domains. The final questionnaire (QVCE50) has 50 items, with good homogeneity in the physical, psychological and cognitive domains. CONCLUSION: QVCE-50 is a promissing Brazilian HRQL questionnaire for children with epilepsy.It needs to be applied in a larger population to confirm its psychometric properties.<br>OBJETIVO: Construir um questionário multidimensional analisando a qualidade de vida da criança com epilepsia do ponto de vista dos responsáveis. MÉTODO: O questionário piloto foi composto de 157 itens distribuídos em várias dimensões. Cinqüenta e um responsáveis de crianças com epilepsia responderam ao questionário. O instrumento foi testado em suas diversas propriedades freqüência de endosso, homogeneidade (alfa de Cronbach), validade de critério e aparência, sendo posteriormente reduzido. RESULTADOS: A freqüência de endosso excluiu 65 questões que não atingiram um mínimo de 5% de respostas por item. O alfa de Cronbach foi: domínio físico (0,93), psicológico (0,91), social (0,91), familiar (0,70), cognitivo (0,92), médico (0,30) e econômico (0,37). Os grupos de pacientes (de acordo com o controle de crises) diferiram significativamente apenas no domínio físico e no escore total, embora seja percebida uma tendência à diferença nos demais domínios. O questionário final (QVCE50) tem 50 itens, com boa homogeneidade nos domínios físico, psicológico e cognitivo. CONCLUSÃO: O QVCE-50 é um questionário de qualidade de vida relacionada á saúde promissor. Há necessidade de aplicá-los a uma população maior a fim de testar suas características psicométricas