Factors contributing to officers’ fatigue in high-speed maritime craft operations

Author name used in this publication: Jimmy J. M. Ng2005-2006 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

HISTORICAL AND THEORETICAL ROOTS OF DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT

Diversity management is an emerging field of theory, research, teaching and practice. While there is no consensus among diversity management practitioners about purpose, methods, outcomes and values, a working definition of the field is: Diversity management uses applied behavioral science methodology, research and theory to manage organizational change and stability processes, that support diversity in organizations and eliminate oppression based on race, gender, sexual orientation and other human differences, in order to improve the health and effectiveness of organizations, while affirming the values of respect for human differences, social justice, participation, community, authenticity, compassion, proaction and humility, effectiveness and health, and life-long learning. From the perspective of this working definition, the purpose of the diversity management field is to improve the health and effectiveness of organizations. It is a field that uses applied behavioral science methods, research and theory. It is focused on change and stability processes involving diversity and social justice in organizations. Diversity management is a values-based field and values are integral part of the definition and how practitioners conduct their work. Diversity management is a cross-disciplinary field that uses applied behavioral theory and methods. The applied behavioral sciences include: anthropology, economics, education, human resource management, organization behavior, organization development, political science, psychology, social work, and sociology. The applied behavioral sciences address the whole range of human systems: individuals, groups, organizations, communities, and societies. Each level of system can be further divided into subsystems and key aspects of the environment for that level of system. Psychologists are likely to be concerned with intra-personal (or intra-psychic), individual, and interpersonal levels. Organization behavior practitioners interested in small groups focus on group members, the group, and the intergroup and organizational environment (Gillette and McCollom, 1995, p. 5.) Organization development practitioners may subdivide the organization level to include organization subsystems, the organization, and the inter-organization network environment. The diversity management focuses on organizations. Organizations are viewed broadly. They can include for-profit businesses and industries; non-profit and non-governmental organizations; prisons; police departments and courts; educational institutions and systems; local, regional, national and global government bodies; labor unions; religious organizations; community organizations; organizations concerned with environmental, consumer safety and civil rights issues; political parties. They include organizations that are set up on a temporary and on a long-term basis; single organizations and networks of organizations; organizations located in one nation and global organizations. Diversity management interventions into organizations and organizational change and stability processes can include working inside organizations -with individuals and groups/teams in organizations, parts of the organization, and the whole. Diversity management interventions may also involve changin

Vetufebrus ovatus n. gen., n. sp. (Haemospororida: Plasmodiidae) vectored by a streblid bat fly (Diptera: Streblidae) in Dominican amber

This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by BioMed Central Ltd. and can be found at: http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/.Background: Both sexes of bat flies in the families Nycteribiidae and Streblidae (Diptera: Hippoboscoidea) reside in\ud the hair or on the wing membranes of bats and feed on blood. Members of the Nycteribiidae transmit bat malaria\ud globally however extant streblids have never been implemented as vectors of bat malaria. The present study\ud shows that during the Tertiary, streblids also were vectors of bat malaria.\ud Results: A new haemospororidan, Vetufebrus ovatus, n. gen., n. sp., (Haemospororida: Plasmodiidae) is described\ud from two oocysts attached to the midgut wall and sporozoites in salivary glands and ducts of a fossil bat fly\ud (Diptera: Streblidae) in Dominican amber. The new genus is characterized by ovoid oocysts, short, stubby\ud sporozoites with rounded ends and its occurrence in a fossil streblid. This is the first haemosporidian reported from\ud a streblid bat fly and shows that representatives of the Hippoboscoidea were vectoring bat malaria in the New\ud World by the mid-Tertiary.\ud Conclusions: This report is the first evidence of an extant or extinct streblid bat fly transmitting malaria.\ud Discovering a mid-tertiary malarial parasite in a fossil streblid that closely resembles members of a malarial genus\ud found in nycteribiid bat flies today shows how little we know about the vector associations of streblids. While no\ud malaria parasites have been found in extant streblids, they probably occur and it is possible that streblids were the\ud earliest lineage of flies that transmitted bat malaria to Chiroptera

Toward food waste reduction at universities

Food waste is a serious problem, which undermines the achievement of many sustainable development goals (SDGs), despite their consideration in the agendas of many countries and companies. Notoriously, food waste (FW) causes different kinds of pollution that affect public health and social justice, while contributing to economic losses. This waste phenomenon has causes, drivers, and impacts that require rigorous assessments and effective approaches to mitigate its noxious effects, which are a serious concern for universities. Within these institutions, reducing food waste becomes a circular economy strategy, which is being utilized to assist in promoting sustainable development. However, there is a need for urgent attention to the specific causes of food waste and for consistent actions to reduce it, while boosting awareness in the campus community and triggering a change in students’ eating habits. The purpose of this study is to analyze what can be done to reduce the levels of food waste at universities. To achieve this, a review of the theme’s state of the art, which is inclusive of an overview of food waste production at universities around the world, is presented. The study employed a qualitative methodology where a comprehensive review of the literature and case studies analyses from selected world regions were considered. The data indicate that a broad variance exists in producing food waste among universities, from 0.12 to 50 kg/capita/day. More factors influence the problem (e.g., gender, age, season, consumer behavior), as well as strategies to solve and prevent it (e.g., composting, recycling, new designs of packages, trayless meals, education), and benefits leading toward food waste reductions from 13 to 50%. Also, four priority actions were identified to reduce food waste at universities, and these consist of planning and awareness, food preparation and storage, services, and direct waste reuse. With appropriate adaptations, these recommended actions should be deployed as means for reducing food waste at universities around the world, while expanding learning and education in sustainability

Comparative population structure of <i>Plasmodium malariae</i> and <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> under different transmission settings in Malawi

&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt; Described here is the first population genetic study of Plasmodium malariae, the causative agent of quartan malaria. Although not as deadly as Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae is more common than previously thought, and is frequently in sympatry and co-infection with P. falciparum, making its study increasingly important. This study compares the population parameters of the two species in two districts of Malawi with different malaria transmission patterns - one seasonal, one perennial - to explore the effects of transmission on population structures. &lt;BR/&gt; &lt;b&gt;Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Six species-specific microsatellite markers were used to analyse 257 P. malariae samples and 257 P. falciparum samples matched for age, gender and village of residence. Allele sizes were scored to within 2 bp for each locus and haplotypes were constructed from dominant alleles in multiple infections. Analysis of multiplicity of infection (MOI), population differentiation, clustering of haplotypes and linkage disequilibrium was performed for both species. Regression analyses were used to determine association of MOI measurements with clinical malaria parameters. &lt;BR/&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Multiple-genotype infections within each species were common in both districts, accounting for 86.0% of P. falciparum and 73.2% of P. malariae infections and did not differ significantly with transmission setting. Mean MOI of P. falciparum was increased under perennial transmission compared with seasonal (3.14 vs 2.59, p = 0.008) and was greater in children compared with adults. In contrast, P. malariae mean MOI was similar between transmission settings (2.12 vs 2.11) and there was no difference between children and adults. Population differentiation showed no significant differences between villages or districts for either species. There was no evidence of geographical clustering of haplotypes. Linkage disequilibrium amongst loci was found only for P. falciparum samples from the seasonal transmission setting. &lt;BR/&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; The extent of similarity between P. falciparum and P. malariae population structure described by the high level of multiple infection, the lack of significant population differentiation or haplotype clustering and lack of linkage disequilibrium is surprising given the differences in the biological features of these species that suggest a reduced potential for out-crossing and transmission in P. malariae. The absence of a rise in P. malariae MOI with increased transmission or a reduction in MOI with age could be explained by differences in the duration of infection or degree of immunity compared to P. falciparum

Designing and modelling Havana’s future bus rapid transit

A single bus route in Havana’s bus system is modelled from the current position to a modernised bus rapid transit (BRT). The system is based on an expert-led visioning process and Cuba’s official planning documents, which define the high-level design criteria and their objectives. Building on the experiences of BRT systems that operate in other Latin American cities, a conceptual design for Havana’s BRT system is defined in terms of the key institutional, technical and financial frameworks, and physical criteria that need to be considered. Based on the application of the conceptual design for Havana’s BRT, a model for a single BRT route was constructed and modelled for emissions and capacity. The current situation and a future BRT scenario are modelled using a single bus route. The scenarios demonstrate that the current bus route with a BRT system can lead to lower overall emissions. The model suggests that if properly designed, Havana’s BRT system has a realistic potential for providing, in a cost-efficient manner, the improvements in accessibility, employment generation, fuel efficiency and air quality required for achieving Havana’s sustainable transport vision. The study finds critical factors, including the finance and business operating model, capability and planning