Innovation in Isolation: Labor-Management Partnerships in the United States

In the United States, as in other advanced industrial countries, worker participation in management has taken on increasing importance, placing pressures on employers and unions to change how they deal with employees/members, and with each other. This paper examines two of the most impressive cases in the U.S.: the partnerships between General Motors (G.M.) and the United Autoworkers union (U.A W.) at Saturn and between BellSouth and the Communication Workers union (C.W.A.). We outline the evolution and the basic features of these innovations, as well as highlighting certain ongoing problems. These problems, we argue, confront the parties to employment relations in the U.S. more generally, reflecting profound ambivalence about such experiments, and their continued isolation as ‘islands of excellence ’. As such, these cases both illustrate the vast potential for labor-management partnerships as well as the dampening effect of the employment relations context in the U.S

Human attitudes towards animals in relation to species similarity to humans: a multivariate approach

This is the final version of the article. Available from Oxford University Press via the DOI in this record.Human attitudes towards animals are becoming of increasing importance in the areas of conservation and welfare. It has long been taken for granted that our attitudes are influenced by the degree of biological or behavioural similarity between a given species and ourselves. This research investigates whether there is a link between bio-behavioural similarity to humans and preferences for animal species that are obtained when subjects view a set of 40 pictures illustrating a wide diversity of animals. Extensive data regarding the natural history, behaviour and physiology of 40 species of animals from a wide range of taxonomic groups were collected. Bio-behavioural similarity between animal species and humans was formed on the basis of multidimensional analyses, including factors such as size, weight and lifespan among the physical attributes, and reproductive strategy, parental investment and social organization among the behavioural traits. It was found that a clear relationship between similarity and preference exists, suggesting that humans are predisposed to liking species on the basis of shared bio-behavioural traits. These results imply that efforts made in the conservation and welfare of species may be biased more by anthropocentric views than has been previously recognized. It may be important for a new approach to be taken when it comes to determining the targets of conservation

Factors associated with success in guide dog training

Tests of motor laterality and behavioral reactivity, as well as salivary cortisol concentrations, were examined in this pilot study to identify dogs best suited to guide dog work. Over a 14-month period, lateralization tests were conducted and cortisol concentrations were determined on 3 separate occasions, and temperament testing was performed on 2. Potential guide dogs (N = 43) involved in this study were 5 golden retrievers (4 males, 1 female) and thirty-eight Labrador retrievers (8 black males, fifteen yellow males, 5 black females, and ten yellow females). Results from these tests were then compared with the ultimate success of the dogs in the Guide Dogs NSW/ACT training program. This comparison produced evidence that motor lateralization (particularly the rate at which both paws were used during the Kong Test and the lateralization index during the Tape Test), reactions to an unfamiliar dog, the latency for dogs to drop and rest during an uninterrupted period, and the dog\u27s color and breed were predictive of ultimate success. This study also identified 14 months of age as a more accurate time to assess dogs for these traits than either 6 months of age or at the age at which they completed their training (ranging from 14 to 20 months of age)

ECT seizure duration: Database information

Aim: In this naturalistic study the aim was to examine the impact on seizure duration of stimulus intensity, previous treatments (during the first course of ECT), age, gender, and electrode placement. Method: The database of the ECT Service of the Royal Hobart Hospital was examined for the 15 years ending in 2010. First courses of ECT were identified in which the stimulus intensity was not altered and at least 5 treatments were provided. Seizure duration was determined by cessation of clonic movements. Result: 383 patients (164 males) met selection criteria. A multiple regression analysis revealed that previous treatments, age, gender, and electrode placement had non-significant regression coefficient on the seizure length. The stimulus intensity, however, showed significant regression coefficient (-.267, p <.001), indicating that higher stimulus intensity induced shorter seizure duration. Conclusion: It was suggested that electrode placement and the number of treatments had negligible influence on seizure duration, while high stimulus intensity reduced seizure duration. If fixed high dose ECT is being provided, and there is concern due to the brevity of seizures, rather than taking steps to increase the output of the machine, a modest reduction of dose (perhaps to < 428.4 mC, or < 85% of machine output) may increase seizure duration (German J Psychiatry 2011; 14: 35–39)

Consumer purchasing behaviour for fresh vegetables in Nanjing, China

With increasing income and growing concerns for food safety, consumer purchasing behaviour for fresh vegetables is changing in China. To gain a better understanding of consumer behaviour in Nanjing, 542 face-to-face interviews were conducted. Results show that most fresh vegetables are purchased from traditional wet markets several times per week. In evaluating the quality of the fresh vegetables respondents intended to purchase, the two key selection criteria were colour and freshness. Most respondents were aware of some recent food safety incident that had adversely affected the industry. Respondents were most concerned about the presence of pesticide residues. To reduce the possibilities of contamination, respondents chose to wash or soak the fresh vegetables they intended to eat and to buy from trusted suppliers. Consumers believed that farmers, vegetable processors and government should be responsible for the enhancing and maintaining the safety of the fresh vegetables offered for sale

Process of Deinstitutionalization of Aging Individuals With Severe and Disabling Mental Disorders: A Review

BACKGROUND: For more than 60 years, psychiatric services has gradually gone from an asylum model to a community model. This change has led to the emergence of a deinstitutionalization movement. This movement seems to have left behind long-term hospitalized aging individuals with severe and disabling mental disorders. The objective of this article is to conduct a review on the challenges and issues associated with the process of deinstitutionalization among hospitalized aging individuals with severe and disabling mental disorders. METHODS: Using PRISMA statement, the research methodology was carried out in English and French in 16 databases with a combination of 3 lists of keywords. The selection process was then followed by a thematic analysis which aimed at categorizing by theme and classifying the writings selected. RESULTS: A total of 83 articles published between 1978 and 2019 were selected and organized into six categories: (a) a forgotten population in research and health policies, (b) an economic presentation of the deinstitutionalization process, (c) an improvement in quality of life and global functioning for deinstitutionalized patients (d) from stigmatization to the rejection of elderly psychiatric inpatients from deinstutionalization process, (e) a difficult community-based care offer and a difficult epistemological identification, (f) from the lack of community services to the phenomenon of transinstitutionalization. The current state of scientific research, institutional policies and clinical practices associated with the deinstitutionalization process of SVPTSIH are then commented. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations are proposed to researchers and professionals concerned with the support of long-term hospitalized aging individuals with severe and disabling mental disorders

Analysis of parametric biological models with non-linear dynamics

In this paper we present recent results on parametric analysis of biological models. The underlying method is based on the algorithms for computing trajectory sets of hybrid systems with polynomial dynamics. The method is then applied to two case studies of biological systems: one is a cardiac cell model for studying the conditions for cardiac abnormalities, and the second is a model of insect nest-site choice.Comment: In Proceedings HSB 2012, arXiv:1208.315