Spatial barriers to employment within metropolitan areas: testing the spatial mismatch hypothesis using evidence from firm relocations in the Glasgow conurbation

This thesis applies the spatial mismatch hypothesis to the Glasgow conurbation in Britain. It also develops an innovative methodology which addresses some of the methodological concerns associated with much previous work and allows three different types of spatial barrier to employment to be examined - commuting, residential mobility and job search / recruitment. Specifically, this thesis looks at firms which have relocated within the Glasgow conurbation. The number of employees who leave their job or move house because their employer relocates is examined in order to assess to what extent commuting and residential mobility are barriers to employment within metropolitan areas. Recruitment patterns to the firm's new sites are analysed in order to assess the extent of job search and recruitment as spatial barriers to employment. The results show that those without access to a car and those in lower-paid and lower-skilled jobs are least able to commute to the new sites, and are the least able to move house closer to work, and so consequently are more likely to leave their job. Those in higher paid and more secure jobs are more likely to move house closer to work. People recruited at the new sites tend to live much closer to the firms than the remaining original workforce, which suggests that across space, job search and recruitment processes, as well as social networks and other neighbourhood effects, may be greater barriers to employment than commuting. The theoretical and policy implications of these findings are discussed. It is argued that skills and spatial mismatches reinforce each other, and that this interaction needs to be incorporated into explanations of the relative importance of each. The proximity of jobs to neighbourhoods within metropolitan areas needs to be considered in understanding the level of unemployment in small areas

Age and growth of blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) from central and northern California

Otoliths from blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus), were aged by using a combination of surface and break-and-burn methods. The samples were collected between 1978 and 1998 off central and northern California. Annual growth increments in the otoliths were validated by using edge analysis for females up to age 23 and for males to age 25.The first annual growth increment was identified by comparing the diameter of the otolith from fish known to be one year old collected in May (when translucent zone formation was completed) to the mean diameter of the first translucent zone in the otoliths from older fish. Our estimated maxi-mum ages of 44 years for males and 41 years for females were much older than those reported in previous studies. Von Bertalanffy growth models were developed for each sex. Females grew faster and reached larger maximum length than males. The growth models were similar to those generated in other studies of this species in southern and central California. Fish from northern and central California had similar maximum sizes, maximum ages, and growth model parameters

Local Government Risk Management Handbook

This handbook originated in a series of risk management workshops developed by the authors in 1980 as part of a special project in local government technology innovation at the University of Tennessee\u27s Municipal Technical Advisory Service. The workshops, funded in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation, were sufficiently well-received that the authors decided to expand workshop materials into a practical guide to assist local governments to establish and operate risk management programs. Initially, each of the three authors drafted specific chapters or sections for the Handbook. Dr. Dotterweich was responsible for writing sections on the concepts and principles of risk management, Dr. Sinclair for sections on insurance and departmental exposures and for many of the items in the Appendices, and Dr. Norris for sections on local government functions and departmental exposures. Dr. Norris also had overall responsibility for compiling and editing all sections into a single, hopefully coherent, manuscript. The manuscript was then reviewed by the authors with changes made where required. The result is a fully cooperative product which bears the imprimatur of all three authors, regardless of initial assignment

Prehospital critical care is associated with increased survival in adult trauma patients in Scotland

Background Scotland has three prehospital critical care teams (PHCCTs) providing enhanced care support to a usually paramedic-delivered ambulance service. The effect of the PHCCTs on patient survival following trauma in Scotland is not currently known nationally. Methods National registry-based retrospective cohort study using 2011-2016 data from the Scottish Trauma Audit Group. 30-day mortality was compared between groups after multivariate analysis to account for confounding variables. Results Our data set comprised 17 157 patients, with a mean age of 54.7 years and 8206 (57.5%) of male gender. 2877 patients in the registry were excluded due to incomplete data on their level of prehospital care, leaving an eligible group of 14 280. 13 504 injured adults who received care from ambulance clinicians (paramedics or technicians) were compared with 776 whose care included input from a PHCCT. The median Injury Severity Score (ISS) across all eligible patients was 9; 3076 patients (21.5%) met the ISS>15 criterion for major trauma. Patients in the PHCCT cohort were statistically significantly (all p < 0.01) more likely to be male; be transported to a prospective Major Trauma Centre; have suffered major trauma; have suffered a severe head injury; be transported by air and be intubated prior to arrival in hospital. Following multivariate analysis, the OR for 30-day mortality for patients seen by a PHCCT was 0.56 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.86, p=0.01). Conclusion Prehospital care provided by a physician-led critical care team was associated with an increased chance of survival at 30 days when compared with care provided by ambulance clinicians

Investigando las fortalezas personales para crear vidas y ambientes positivos: una perspectiva internacional

In today’s world, we face a barrage of difficulties in multiple life spheres. While previous times were not without their challenges, these were often restricted to our own personal, geographically localized worlds. Today, news and social media expose us to never-ending reports of traumatic events and interpersonal violence, making us question human nature and our resiliency. Increasing technological advancements have brought forth new challenges, not only in our relationships with technology, but in how we live our daily lives. Financial uncertainty at both the individual and global level raises doubts about our abilities to afford basic necessities. Climate change is wreaking havoc on the environments we call home. Changing interpersonal dynamics present new challenges to personal, social, and group relationships, often resulting in conflict or isolation. Adolescents and young adults are thrust into this confusing world, often lacking the proper resources to understand and cope with these challenges. Adults facing life’s demands also experience extreme stress, with adverse consequences both at the present as well as later life in the form of physical and mental health issues. Furthermore, we have a tendency to direct attention to our individual weaknesses, exacerbating our experience of difficulties. It is, therefore, no wonder that psychology as a discipline, which seeks to understand the human experience, tends to focus on the deficiencies in our lives. However, as stated by Sheldon and King (2001), it is important for psychologists to deviate from this ‘negative bias’, and instead concentrate on positive human qualities and the promotion of what Maslow (1943, 1987) termed growth needs. This focus is the crux of positive psychology.In today’s world, we face a barrage of difficulties in multiple life spheres. While previous times were not without their challenges, these were often restricted to our own personal, geographically localized worlds. Today, news and social media expose us to never-ending reports of traumatic events and interpersonal violence, making us question human nature and our resiliency. Increasing technological advancements have brought forth new challenges, not only in our relationships with technology, but in how we live our daily lives. Financial uncertainty at both the individual and global level raises doubts about our abilities to afford basic necessities. Climate change is wreaking havoc on the environments we call home. Changing interpersonal dynamics present new challenges to personal, social, and group relationships, often resulting in conflict or isolation. Adolescents and young adults are thrust into this confusing world, often lacking the proper resources to understand and cope with these challenges. Adults facing life’s demands also experience extreme stress, with adverse consequences both at the present as well as later life in the form of physical and mental health issues. Furthermore, we have a tendency to direct attention to our individual weaknesses, exacerbating our experience of difficulties. It is, therefore, no wonder that psychology as a discipline, which seeks to understand the human experience, tends to focus on the deficiencies in our lives. However, as stated by Sheldon and King (2001), it is important for psychologists to deviate from this ‘negative bias’, and instead concentrate on positive human qualities and the promotion of what Maslow (1943, 1987) termed growth needs. This focus is the crux of positive psychology

A randomized trial of specialized versus standard neck physiotherapy in cervical dystonia

We thank: the patients who took part; Monsieur John-Pierre Bleton for training the physiotherapists; Gladys McPherson (Senior IT Manager), Adesoji Adeyemi (programmer) and Diana Collins (data entry) from the Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials, University of Aberdeen who provided the randomisation and database service; and the funders including The Dystonia Society, the RS Macdonald Charitable Trust, The Sir Halley Stewart Trust, The Foyle Foundation and The Garfield Weston Foundation. The Dystonia Society and other funders had no role in the design, conduct, analysis or writing of the report or the decision to submit the manuscript.Peer reviewedPostprintPostprintPostprintPostprintPostprintPostprintPostprin

Assessing vertical curve design for safety: case study on the N1/R300 Stellenberg Interchange, Western Cape

Paper presented at the 31st Annual Southern African Transport Conference 9-12 July 2012 "Getting Southern Africa to Work", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.This project assessed the safety of a crest vertical curve on a four-lane freeway by examining the required stopping sight distance at operating speeds. The basis of the safety concerns were identified as the geometric properties of the road, such as grade and K-values, where the latter is an indication of the stopping sight distance (SSD). The vertical alignments in both the inbound and outbound directions were determined from GPS surveys. It was found that the available SSD (170 m) along the curve, using 150 mm object height, was significantly less than the required SSD (320) needed on the curve in order to achieve a safe stop, when including the gradient of the road. The analysis was based on the measured 85th percentile speed of 125 km/h. The K-value of the vertical curve at the Stellenberg Interchange does not conform to standards of the Geometric Design Guidelines of South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL, 2002). Collision data was examined to confirm the safety concerns. Collision data was compared with that of a control site, which met all geometric standards for vertical curves. It was found that significantly more collisions, totalling 42 collisions, occurred at the Stellenberg Interchange site compared with the control site that totalled 4 collisions over the 17 month analysis period. The majority of collisions at the test site were head/rear end collisions which typically occurred as a result of inadequate SSD. It is recommended that a 100 km/h speed limit be imposed on the N1 road section through the Stellenberg Interchange as interim measure until reconstruction can be commenced.This paper was transferred from the original CD ROM created for this conference. The material was published using Adobe Acrobat 10.1.0 Technology. The original CD ROM was produced by Document Transformation Technologies Postal Address: PO Box 560 Irene 0062 South Africa. Tel.: +27 12 667 2074 Fax: +27 12 667 2766 E-mail: nigel@doctech URL: http://www.doctech.co.zadm201

Interventions in measles outbreaks: the potential reduction in cases associated with school suspension and vaccination interventions

Background: Measles is resurgent in the US, with more cases in 2019 than any year since 1992. Many of the cases were concentrated in three outbreaks in New York and Washington states, where local governments enacted intervention strategies in an attempt to limit the spread of measles. Regulations differed by location, suggesting guidance on the optimal interventions may be beneficial. Methods: We simulate the daily interactions of the populations of six metropolitan areas of Texas, US, using an agent-based model. The real-life vaccination rates of each school in these metropolitan areas are applied to simulated equivalents. A single case of measles is introduced to the population and the resulting number of cases counted. A range of public health interventions, focused on suspending unvaccinated students and mandatory vaccinations, were simulated during measles outbreaks and the reduction in the number of measles cases, relative to no intervention, recorded. Interventions were simulated only in schools with measles cases and in all schools in each metropolitan area. Results: Suspending unvaccinated students from school was associated with the greatest reduction in measles cases. In a plausible worst-case outbreak scenario, the number of cases is forecast to reduce by 68-96%. Interventions targeting all schools in a metropolitan area is not found to be associated with fewer measles cases than only targeting schools with measles cases, at 2018 vaccination rates. Targeting all schools also increases the cumulative number of school days missed by suspended students by a factor of 10-100, depending on the metropolitan area, compared to targeting only schools with measles cases. If vaccination rates drop 5% in the schools which are under-vaccinated in 2018, metropolitan area-wide interventions are forecast to be associated with fewer cases than school-specific interventions. Conclusions: Interventions that are quickly implemented and widely followed may reduce the size of measles outbreaks by up 96%. If vaccination rates continue to fall in Texas, metropolitan area-wide interventions should be considered in the event of an outbreak