MEASURING JOB QUALITY WITH EWCS DATA: TOWARDS AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FOR SCALE CONSTRUCTION WITH EWCS 2010

The European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) organised by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) is considered to be ‘the most complete source of information about job quality in Europe’ (Simões et al., 2013). It is especially praised for its wide scope of objective and subjective dimensions of job quality and its international character. However, measuring job quality over different countries can be complicated. Different structural and cultural characteristics of the countries may influence what is deemed to be a ‘high quality’ or ‘good’ job (Holman, 2013; Munoz-Bustillo et al., 2009). Moreover, differences in economic and social policies form different contexts in which people are employed and experience their job (quality). Still, researchers and policy makers want (and need) to compare different countries, especially in light of the European Employment Strategy - remember the Lisbon Strategy stressing the European Union needs more and better jobs (European Commission, 2003). In this report, we first give an overview of how job quality has been conceptualised and operationalised with EWCS 2010, offering various options for theory-driven scale constructions to measure job quality. The 2010 or fifth wave is the last available dataset of the survey, which started in 1991. This section consists of two parts: an overview of the core conceptual papers on job quality using EWCS 2010 and a comparison of the empirical studies in peer-reviewed journals. Second, we make recommendations on how to prepare the data and scales properly for cross-national research, paying attention to data quality, harmonisation of key concepts and validity. As such, we hope to provide guidelines to improve the measurement of job quality with the data of EWCS - focusing especially on the 2010 data

Reduced frequency noise in superconducting resonators

We report a reduction of the frequency noise in coplanar waveguide superconducting resonators. The reduction of 7 dB is achieved by removing the exposed dielectric substrate surface from the region with high electric fields and by using NbTiN. In a model-analysis the surface of NbTiN is found to be a negligible source of noise, experimentally supported by a comparison with NbTiN on SiOx resonators. The reduction is additive to decreasing the noise by widening the resonators.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Food neophobia and mealtime food consumption in 4-5 year old children.

Background: Previous research has documented a negative association between maternal report of child food neophobia and reported frequency of consumption of fruit, vegetables, and meat. This study aimed to establish whether neophobia is associated with lower intake of these food types in naturalistic mealtime situations. Methods: One hundred and nine parents of 4–5 year olds completed questionnaires which included a six-item version of the Child Food Neophobia Scale (CFNS). The children took part in a series of 3 test lunch meals at weekly intervals at school at which they were presented with: chicken, cheese, bread, cheese crackers, chocolate biscuits, grapes and tomatoes or carrot sticks. Food items served to each child were weighed before and after the meal to assess total intake of items in four categories: Fruit and vegetables, Protein foods, Starchy foods and Snack foods. Pearson Product Moment Correlations and independent t tests were performed to examine associations between scores on the CFNS and consumption during lunches. Results: Neophobia was associated with lower consumption of fruit and vegetables, protein foods and total calories, but there was no association with intake of starch or snack foods. Conclusion: These results support previous research that has suggested that neophobia impacts differentially on consumption of different food types. Specifically it appears that children who score highly on the CFNS eat less fruit, vegetables and protein foods than their less neophobic peers. Attempts to increase intake of fruit, vegetables and protein might usefully incorporate strategies known to reduce the neophobic response

Evanescent states and nonequilibrium in driven superconducting nanowires

We study the nonlinear response of current transport in a superconducting diffusive nanowire between normal reservoirs. We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally the existence of two different superconducting states appearing when the wire is driven out of equilibrium by an applied bias, called the global and bimodal superconducting states. The different states are identified by using two-probe measurements of the wire, and measurements of the local density of states with tunneling probes. The analysis is performed within the framework of the quasiclassical kinetic equations for diffusive superconductors.Peer reviewe

Root-Cause Analysis of Persistently High Maternal Mortality in a Rural District of Indonesia: Role of Clinical Care Quality and Health Services Organizational Factors

Background: Despite significant reduction in maternal mortality, there are still many regions in the world that suffer from high mortality. District Kutai Kartanegara, Indonesia, is one such region where consistently high maternal mortality was observed despite high rate of delivery by skilled birth attendants.Method: Thirty maternal deaths were reviewed using verbal autopsy interviews, terminal event reporting, medical records\u27 review, and Death Audit Committee reports, using a comprehensive root-cause analysis framework including Risk Identification, Signal Services, Emergency Obstetrics Care Evaluation, Quality, and 3 Delays.Findings: The root causes were found in poor quality of care, which caused hospital to be unprepared to manage deteriorating patients. In hospital, poor implementation of standard operating procedures was rooted in inadequate skills, lack of forward planning, ineffective communication, and unavailability of essential services. In primary care, root causes included inadequate risk management, referrals to facilities where needed services are not available, and lack of coordination between primary healthcare and hospitals.Conclusion: There is an urgent need for a shift in focus to quality of care through knowledge, skills, and support for consistent application of protocols, making essential services available, effective risk assessment and management, and facilitating timely referrals to facilities that are adequately equipped

Integration of 3D anatomical data obtained by CT imaging and 3D optical scanning for computer aided implant surgery

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A precise placement of dental implants is a crucial step to optimize both prosthetic aspects and functional constraints. In this context, the use of virtual guiding systems has been recognized as a fundamental tool to control the ideal implant position. In particular, complex periodontal surgeries can be performed using preoperative planning based on CT data. The critical point of the procedure relies on the lack of accuracy in transferring CT planning information to surgical field through custom-made stereo-lithographic surgical guides.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this work, a novel methodology is proposed for monitoring loss of accuracy in transferring CT dental information into periodontal surgical field. The methodology is based on integrating 3D data of anatomical (impression and cast) and preoperative (radiographic template) models, obtained by both CT and optical scanning processes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A clinical case, relative to a fully edentulous jaw patient, has been used as test case to assess the accuracy of the various steps concurring in manufacturing surgical guides. In particular, a surgical guide has been designed to place implants in the bone structure of the patient. The analysis of the results has allowed the clinician to monitor all the errors, which have been occurring step by step manufacturing the physical templates.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The use of an optical scanner, which has a higher resolution and accuracy than CT scanning, has demonstrated to be a valid support to control the precision of the various physical models adopted and to point out possible error sources. A case study regarding a fully edentulous patient has confirmed the feasibility of the proposed methodology.</p

Impacts of Porous Pavements on Soil Environment and Street Tree Growth

This presentation will showcase the complete results of a two-year experimental study into the relative effects of porous and impervious pavement on urban soils and trees. The study contrasts a factorial combination of pavement types and profile designs in order to comprehensively understand the effects of porous pavement in urban environments. The objective was to determine whether porous pavements would prove beneficial to planted trees in hardscape settings. Key results to be presented include the effect of pavement type and design on root abundance, diameter, and biomass, as well as stem height, diameter, and biomass. The response of these tree growth factors will be linked with the measured impact of pavements on soil moisture, aeration, pH, and nutrient availability. Though some of these results have previously been presented and published, this presentation will, for the first time, combine all aspects of the study and, in doing so, challenge the perceived benefits of porous paving