A Quantitative Study of Women in Sri Lanka\u27s Export Processing Zones: Capital accumulation and Social Investment

This paper is based on research that was funded by AusAID’s Australian Development Research Award and conducted by investigators from Edith Cowan University (ECU) – Australia and The Centre for Research on Women (CENWOR) – Sri Lanka. The research sampled 2304 women who worked in factories in Sri Lanka’s Export Processing Zones (2008-2011). The research was predicated on questioning the assumptions and arguments that the majority of women in developing nations have been dis-empowered due to global and national patriarchy. In this paper we present data and allow it to ‘do the talking’. The paper provides a valuable and thorough insight into the realms of factory work in developing nations. We note here that the large sample size allows us to make generalisations and to claim it to be a representation of women who work in EPZs in Sri Lanka. It is our hope that researchers will use this data to supplement theirs and hence create more rigorous debate on the issues of gender and empowerment in developing nations. The authors of this paper are presenting a paper that focuses on new issues and ‘other’ ways to deepen our understanding of women, work, capital accumulation and social status of women who work in EPZs in developing nations

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) attachment and nonstructural proteins modify the type I interferon response associated with suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins and IFN-stimulated gene-15 (ISG15)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe lower airway disease in infants and young children, but no safe and effective RSV vaccine is yet available. Factors attributing to this problem are associated with an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms by which RSV modulates the host cell response to infection. In the present study, we investigate suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-1 and SOCS3 expression associated with the type I IFN and IFN-stimulated gene (ISG)-15 response following infection of mouse lung epithelial (MLE-15) cells with RSV or RSV mutant viruses lacking the G gene, or NS1 and NS2 gene deletions. Studies in MLE-15 cells are important as this cell line represents the distal bronchiolar and alveolar epithelium of mice, the most common animal model used to evaluate the host cell response to RSV infection, and exhibit morphologic characteristics of alveolar type II cells, a primary cell type targeted during RSV infection. These results show an important role for SOCS1 regulation of the antiviral host response to RSV infection, and demonstrate a novel role for RSV G protein manipulation of SOCS3 and modulation of ISG15 and IFNβ mRNA expression

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) attachment and nonstructural proteins modify the type I interferon response associated with suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins and IFN-stimulated gene-15 (ISG15)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe lower airway disease in infants and young children, but no safe and effective RSV vaccine is yet available. Factors attributing to this problem are associated with an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms by which RSV modulates the host cell response to infection. In the present study, we investigate suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-1 and SOCS3 expression associated with the type I IFN and IFN-stimulated gene (ISG)-15 response following infection of mouse lung epithelial (MLE-15) cells with RSV or RSV mutant viruses lacking the G gene, or NS1 and NS2 gene deletions. Studies in MLE-15 cells are important as this cell line represents the distal bronchiolar and alveolar epithelium of mice, the most common animal model used to evaluate the host cell response to RSV infection, and exhibit morphologic characteristics of alveolar type II cells, a primary cell type targeted during RSV infection. These results show an important role for SOCS1 regulation of the antiviral host response to RSV infection, and demonstrate a novel role for RSV G protein manipulation of SOCS3 and modulation of ISG15 and IFNβ mRNA expression

LATCH usability in vehicles

This project investigated the usability of Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) hardware by measuring LATCH implementations in 98 2011 or 2010 model-year vehicles. ISO and SAE LATCH usability rating systems were used to assess all vehicles using data from the second row left position. Child restraint/vehicle interaction was assessed using both ISO and NHTSA proposed procedures. Volunteer testing was performed with 36 subjects on 12 different vehicles using 3 different child restraints, with each subject performing 8 child restraint installations. The results from the vehicle survey indicate that most vehicle manufacturers provide LATCH hardware at only the minimum number of locations required by FMVSS 225. Only 7 vehicles had three sets of LATCH hardware in the second row, while most of the remaining 91 vehicles were only equipped with LATCH in each outboard position and a tether anchor in the center position. In the 21 vehicles with a third row, four had no tether anchors and 11 had no lower anchors in the third row. The SAE child restraint fixture could not be installed in 27 vehicles, although head restraint interference was the cause of interference in only one vehicle. Fifty-nine vehicles met the SAE recommended lower attachment force of 75 N (16.9 lb) or less, while 15 vehicles required forces from 2 to 8 times this value. Only 2 vehicles met SAE recommendations for clearance angle of at least 75 degrees around the lower anchors. The depth of the lower anchors relative to the bight is less than 2 cm in 28 vehicles, 2-4 cm in 34 vehicles, and greater than 4 cm in 36 vehicles. The most common location for the tether anchor is the seatback (42) and package shelf (35). The lower anchors are marked in 77 vehicles, while the tether anchors are marked in 68 vehicles. Only Ford products clearly specify weight ranges for use of LATCH hardware in their manuals. Many vehicle manuals are not clear on how the head restraint should be positioned during child restraint installation. ISO ratings of vehicle LATCH usability ranged from 41% to 78%, while vehicles assessed using the SAE draft recommended practice met between 2 and all 10 of the recommendations. There was a slight correlation between vehicles meeting SAE recommended practices and ISO usability ratings. Twenty vehicles with a range of vehicle features were assessed using the ISO vehicle/child restraint form and 7 child restraints; ISO vehicle/child restraint interaction scores ranged from 14% to 86%. Based on these interaction scores, the Cosco Alpha Omega, the Chicco KeyFit, and Evenflo Maestro were used with a subset of 12 vehicles to perform volunteer testing and assess the quality of subject installations. No vehicle factors predicted tether use or correct use of tether. However, the correct use of lower anchors was associated with a lower anchor clearance angle greater than 54°, an attachment force of 40 lb or less, and lower anchor depth within the bight of less than 2 cm. Correct lower anchor use also had 3.3 times higher odds of tight installation compared to incorrect use.Insurance Institute for Highway Safetyhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90856/1/102854.pd

Do coefficients of variation of response propensities approximate non‐response biases during survey data collection?

We evaluate the utility of coefficients of variation of response propensities (CVs) as measures of risks of survey variable non‐response biases when monitoring survey data collection. CVs quantify variation in sample response propensities estimated given a set of auxiliary attribute covariates observed for all subjects. If auxiliary covariates and survey variables are correlated, low levels of propensity variation imply low bias risk. CVs can also be decomposed to measure associations between auxiliary covariates and propensity variation, informing collection method modifications and post‐collection adjustments to improve dataset quality. Practitioners are interested in such approaches to managing bias risks, but risk indicator performance has received little attention. We describe relationships between CVs and expected biases and how they inform quality improvements during and post‐data collection, expanding on previous work. Next, given auxiliary information from the concurrent 2011 UK census and details of interview attempts, we use CVs to quantify the representativeness of the UK Labour Force Survey dataset during data collection. Following this, we use survey data to evaluate inference based on CVs concerning survey variables with analogues measuring the same quantities among the auxiliary covariate set. Given our findings, we then offer advice on using CVs to monitor survey data collection

Data set representativeness during data collection in three UK social surveys: generalizability and the effects of auxiliary covariate choice

We consider the use of representativeness indicators to monitor risks of non‐response bias during survey data collection. The analysis benefits from use of a unique data set linking call record paradata from three UK social surveys to census auxiliary attribute information on sample households. We investigate the utility of census information for this purpose and the performance of representativeness indicators (the R‐indicator and the coefficient of variation of response propensities) in monitoring representativeness over call records. We also investigate the extent and effects of misspecification of auxiliary covariate sets used in indicator computation and design phase capacity points in call records beyond which survey data set improvements are minimal, and whether such points are generalizable across surveys. Given our findings, we then offer guidance to survey practitioners on the use of such methods and implications for optimizing data collection and efficiency savings

Fieldwork Effort, Response Rate, and the Distribution of Survey Outcomes: A Multilevel Meta-analysis

This study assesses how survey outcome distributions change over repeated calls made to addresses in face-to-face household interview surveys. We consider this question for 541 survey variables, drawn from six major face-to-face UK surveys that have different sample designs, cover different topic areas, and achieve response rates between 54 and 76 percent. Using a multilevel meta-analytic framework, we estimate for each survey variable the expected difference between the point estimate for a proportion at call n and for the full achieved sample. Results show that most variables are surprisingly close to the final achieved sample distribution after only one or two call attempts and before any post-stratification weighting has been applied; the mean expected difference from the final sample proportion across all 559 variables after one call is 1.6 percent, dropping to 0.7 percent after three calls and to 0.4 percent after five calls. These estimates vary only marginally across the six surveys and the different types of questions examined. Our findings add weight to the body of evidence that questions the strength of the relationship between response rate and nonresponse bias. In practical terms, our results suggest that making large numbers of calls at sampled addresses and converting “soft” refusals into interviews are not cost-effective means of minimizing survey error

Evaluation of the Danish Aerospace Corporation Portable Pulmonary Function System

A research project designed to investigate changes in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) during and following long duration flight on the International Space Station (ISS) has recently been completed. The device used to measure VO2 on board ISS, the Portable Pulmonary Function System (PPFS) manufactured by the Danish Aerospace Corporation (DAC), is based on previous-generation devices manufactured by DAC, but the PPFS has not been validated for analyzing metabolic gases or measuring cardiac output (Qc). The purpose of the present evaluation is to compare PPFS metabolic gas analysis measurements to measurements obtained using a clinically-validated system (ParvoMedics TrueOne(c) 2400 system; Parvo). In addition, Qc data collected with the PPFS were compared to Qc measurements from echocardiography. METHODS: Ten subjects completed three cycle exercise tests to maximal exertion. The first test was conducted to determine each subject's VO2max and set the work rates for the second and third (comparison) tests. The protocol for the two comparison tests consisted of three 5-minute stages designed to elicit 25%, 50%, and 75% VO2max (based upon results from the initial test), followed by 1-minute stages of increasing work rate (25 watt/minute) until the subject reached maximal effort. During one of the two comparison tests, metabolic gases and Qc were assessed with the PPFS; metabolic gases and Qc were assessed with the Parvo and by echocardiography, respectively, during the other test. The order of the comparison tests was counterbalanced. VO2max and maximal work rate during the comparison tests were compared using t tests. Mixed-effects regression modeling was used to analyze submaximal data. RESULTS: All of the data were within normal physiological ranges. The PPFS-measured values for VO2max were 6% lower than values obtained with the Parvo (PPFS: 3.11 +/- 0.75 L/min; Parvo: 3.32 +/- 0.87 L/min; mean +/- standard deviation; P = 0.02); this difference is probably due to flow restriction imposed by the PPFS Qc accessories. Submaximal VO2 values were slightly lower when measured with the PPFS, although differences were not physiologically relevant. The PPFS-measured values of submaximal carbon dioxide production (VCO2) were lower than the data obtained from Parvo, which could be attributed to lower fractions of expired carbon dioxide measured by the PPFS. The PPFS Qc values tended to be lower than echocardiography-derived values. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate a need to further examine the PPFS and to better quantify its reproducibility; however, none of the findings of the current evaluation indicate that the PPFS needs to be replaced or modified

Reliability of the Danish Aerospace Corporation Portable Pulmonary Function System

Metabolic gas analysis is a critical component of investigations that measure cardio-pulmonary exercise responses during and after long-duration spaceflight. The primary purpose of the current study was to determine the reliability and intra-subject repeatability of a metabolic gas analysis device, the Portable Pulmonary Function System (PPFS), designed for use on the International Space Station (ISS). The second objective of this study was to directly compare PPFS measurements of expired oxygen and carbon dioxide (FEO2 and FECO2) to values obtained from a well-validated clinical metabolic gas analysis system (ParvoMedics TrueOne (c) [PM]). Eight subjects performed four peak cycle tests to maximal exertion. The first test was used to prescribe work rates for the subsequent test sessions. Metabolic gas analysis for this test was performed by the PM, but samples of FEO2 and FECO2 also were simultaneously collected for analysis by the PPFS. Subjects then performed three additional peak cycle tests, consisting of three 5-min stages designed to elicit 25%, 50%, and 75% maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) followed by stepwise increases of 25 W/min until subjects reached volitional exhaustion. Metabolic gas analysis was performed using the PPFS for these tests. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), within-subject standard deviations (WS SD), and coefficients of variation (CV%) were calculated for the repeated exercise tests. Mixed model regression analysis was used to compare paired FEO2 and FECO2 values obtained from the PPFS and the PM during the initial test. The ICC values for oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), and ventilation (VE) indicate that the PPFS is highly reliable (0.79 to 0.99) for all exercise levels tested; however, ICCs for respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were low ( 0.11 - 0.51), indicating poor agreement between trials during submaximal and maximal exercise. Overall, CVs ranged from 1.6% to 6.7% for all measurements, a finding consistent with reported values that were obtained using other metabolic gas analysis techniques. The PPFS and PM produced comparable FEO2 data; however, there was less agreement between measures of FECO2 obtained from the two devices, particularly at lower CO2 concentrations. The PPFS appears, in practically all respects, to yield highly reliable metabolic gas analysis data. Lower reliability of RER measurements reported in the literature and likely is not a function of the PPFS device. Further examination of PPFS CO2 data is warranted to better understand the limitations of these PPFS measurements. Overall, the PPFS when used for repeated measures of cardio-pulmonary exercise should provide accurate and reliable data for studies of human adaptation to spaceflight

Parasite avoidance behaviours in aquatic environments

Parasites, including macroparasites, protists, fungi, bacteria and viruses, can impose a heavy burden upon host animals. However, hosts are not without defences. One aspect of host defence, behavioural avoidance, has been studied in the terrestrial realm for over 50 years, but was first reported from the aquatic environment approximately 20 years ago. Evidence has mounted on the importance of parasite avoidance behaviours and it is increasingly apparent that there are core similarities in the function and benefit of this defence mechanism between terrestrial and aquatic systems. However, there are also stark differences driven by the unique biotic and abiotic characteristics of terrestrial and aquatic (marine and freshwater) environments. Here, we review avoidance behaviours in a comparative framework and highlight the characteristics of each environment that drive differences in the suite of mechanisms and cues that animals use to avoid parasites. We then explore trade-offs, potential negative effects of avoidance behaviour and the influence of human activities on avoidance behaviours. We conclude that avoidance behaviours are understudied in aquatic environments but can have significant implications for disease ecology and epidemiology, especially considering the accelerating emergence and re-emergence of parasites.peerReviewe