Perceptions of accident risk among on-track machine workers : an interview study

Although non-fatal injuries remain a frequent occurrence in safety-critical work, very few studies have examined the ways in which organisational systems and processes influence individual safety behaviour. Even fewer have explored the perceived factors contributing to accident risk using qualitative research methods. This short paper presents the initial results from a thematic analysis of ten interviews with On Track Machine (OTM) operatives. Issues arising from two key themes (fatigue, and safety communication and training) are briefly described. Implications, planned organisational response, and opportunities for further research are discussed

Foreword to Revisiting the Public Utility Symposium: Revisiting the Public Utility

In Munn v. Illinois the U.S. Supreme Court upheld state price regulation of grain elevators. The Court took some inspiration from Lord Mathew Hale\u27s notion that a business affected with a public interest requires special regulatory attention. Every ferry, Lord Hale wrote in the Seventeenth Century, ought to be under public regulation, to wit: that it give attendance at due time, keep a boat in due order, and take a reasonable toll

Student and faculty views of plus-minus grading systems: Working paper series--07-11

Plus-minus grading systems and other systems that increase the grading options beyond the whole-letter system of A, B, C, D, and F are now in wide use. However, a number of schools continue to use the traditional whole-letter system and changes in grading systems arouse strong emotions which can make implementation of a new system difficult or, in some cases impossible. This study first presents a review of the prevalence of alternative grading systems based upon examination of online catalogs. Then a survey of faculty and student opinions about implementation of a plus-minus grading system at a school currently using the whole-letter grading system is presented as well as a discussion of the motivation underlying these opinions. Because this study presents a thorough discussion of the comparative advantages and disadvantages of plus-minus grading systems to constituent groups, it should be of interest to faculty and policy makers at schools contemplating a change in their grading systems

Extracting and re-using research data from chemistry e-theses: the SPECTRa-T project

Scientific e-theses are data-rich resources, but much of the information they contain is not readily accessible. For chemistry, the SPECTRa-T project has addressed this problem by developing data-mining techniques to extract experimental data, creating RDF (Resource Description Framework) triples for exposure to sophisticated Semantic Web searches. We used OSCAR3, an Open Source chemistry text-mining tool, to parse and extract data from theses in PDF, and from theses in Office Open XML document format. Theses in PDF suffered data corruption and a loss of formatting that prevented the identification of chemical objects. Theses in .docx yielded semantically rich SciXML that enabled the additional extraction of associated data. Chemical objects were placed in a data repository, and RDF triples deposited in a triplestore. Data-mining from chemistry e-theses is both desirable and feasible; but the use of PDF, the de facto format standard for deposit in most repositories, prevents the optimal extraction of data for semantic querying. In order to facilitate this, we recommend that universities also require deposition of chemistry e-theses in an XML document format. Further work is required to clarify the complex IPR issues and ensure that they do not become an unwarranted barrier to data extraction and re-use

Prospectus, November 22, 1978

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!; IOC president is impeached; A note of thanks; Death and dying subject of talk; PC may go to 4-day week in summer to save $; Female sexuality to be discussed; When the snow comes…; Brownlee to head WPCD\u27s new team; Coming to Parkland College-- Voices From The Earth; The Turkey Page; Reflections of Fall; Parkland giving thanks; \u27Miracle Worker\u27 \u27miraculous\u27 play; Turkey tips for beginners and other frantic folks; Classifieds; WPCD\u27s Top 10 for the week of Nov. 20; Karate--more than defense a local instructor believes; Truants shocked by today\u27s new laws; Parkland Women\u27s Basketball Schedule; Women\u27s coach hopes to beat record; Bouncing Bob; Fast Freddy Contest; Fast Freddy ends today; IM Basketball Standings After Nov. 15https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1978/1002/thumbnail.jp

Analysis of Fcγ receptor haplotypes in rheumatoid arthritis: FCGR3A remains a major susceptibility gene at this locus, with an additional contribution from FCGR3B

The Fcγ receptors play important roles in the initiation and regulation of many immunological and inflammatory processes, and genetic variants (FCGR) have been associated with numerous autoimmune and infectious diseases. The data in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are conflicting and we previously demonstrated an association between FCGR3A and RA. In view of the close molecular proximity with FCGR2A, FCGR2B and FCGR3B, additional polymorphisms within these genes and FCGR haplotypes were examined to refine the extent of association with RA. Biallelic polymorphisms in FCGR2A, FCGR2B and FCGR3B were examined for association with RA in two well characterized UK Caucasian and North Indian/Pakistani cohorts, in which FCGR3A genotyping had previously been undertaken. Haplotype frequencies and linkage disequilibrium were estimated across the FCGR locus and a model-free analysis was performed to determine association with RA. This was followed by regression analysis, allowing for phase uncertainty, to identify the particular haplotype(s) that influences disease risk. Our results reveal that FCGR2A, FCGR2B and FCGR3B were not associated with RA. The haplotype with the strongest association with RA susceptibility was the FCGR3A–FCGR3B 158V-NA2 haplotype (odds ratio 3.18, 95% confidence interval 1.13–8.92 [P = 0.03] for homozygotes compared with all genotypes). The association was stronger in the presence of nodules (odds ratio 5.03, 95% confidence interval 1.44–17.56; P = 0.01). This haplotype was also more common in North Indian/Pakistani RA patients than in control individuals, but not significantly so. Logistic regression analyses suggested that FCGR3A remained the most significant gene at this locus. The increased association with an FCGR3A–FCGR3B haplotype suggests that other polymorphic variants within FCGR3A or FCGR3B, or in linkage disequilibrium with this haplotype, may additionally contribute to disease pathogenesis