Silence at a Price? Judicial Questionnaires and the Independence of Alaska’s Judiciary

The real estate industry is facing a major change. The activity based working is promoted heavily by real estate companies, brokers and consultants as the future workplace. Knowledge and information is however limited. Many concepts have a tendency to get mixed up when companies on the market choose to formulate their own concepts. The research is neglected, and more focused on health and design. This thesis focuses on describing how the market may evolve the knowledge and how to implement the activity based working in the workplaces. Purpose The thesis aims to conduct a study to clarify the question of what activity based working means. The focus will be to examining the current work that is proceeding on the market but also explore if it would be possible to facilitate the implementation of the activity based working by using explorative factor analysis. Primary questions • How to define activity based working? • Which theories support the discussion and definition of activity based working? • Which concepts are available on the market today and how are these promoted? • Can the implementation of the activity based working be facilitated by using an activity based scale that measures needs and reactions in different workplace environments? Method The thesis consists of both a qualitative and a quantitative study. The qualitative study is based on interviews and a survey of how the market perceive the activity based working and with which keywords associated with the concept. In total, seven interviews were conducted. The quantitative survey consised of approximately 1000 surveys. Conclusions • Importance of a common definition and market approach for activity based working • Manage the self interest in the market to ensure a good development of activity based working • Activity based working is not just about design and floorlayouts. • Knowledge sharing should be prioritized • Organization, Technology and Premises are all very influencing aspects • The implementation requires a lot of time and effort • Through exploratory factor analysis, is it possible to define the driving forxes within the organization. • The workplace is no longer a specific place. It is an activity that can be performed in multiple places. Future research Future research should focus to continuing efforts on create an overall overview of the activity based working, but also develop clear and efficient processes for the implementation of the activity based working. Other interesting aspects are the international dimension of the work. The development with activity based working will in the future not only be applied on offices. To therefore explore how various industries work with the concepts and if there are any specific needs to develop in the future. Definition In the analysis chapter the author presents a comprehensive definition of activity based working which is developed with the support by the qualitative and quantitative research: “Based on the activities that occur in the workplace, teadership, facilities, and technology are customized to effectively and in a structured way maximize the benefits and value of the work that the individuals performs”Fastighetsbranschen står inför en förändring. Det aktivitetsbaserade arbetssättet marknadsförs starkt av fastighetsbolag, mäklare och konsulter som det framtida arbetssättet. Kunskapen och informationen är dock bristfällig. Många begrepp har en tendens att blandas ihop då aktörer väljer att formulera sina egna begrepp. Forskningen är eftersatt och mer fokuserad på hälsa och design. Detta examensarbete fokuserar därför på att redogöra för hur arbetssättet kan utvecklas och hur arbetet i framtiden skall på ett effektivt sätt implementera det aktivitetsbaserade arbetssättet inom svenska företag och organisationer. Syfte Syftet med examensarbetet är att bringa klarhet i frågan om vad ett aktivitetsbaserat arbetssätt är. Fokus kommer även ligga i att undersöka det pågående arbetet på marknaden och olika aktörers syn på arbetssättet. I arbetet undersöks även om det skulle vara möjligt att underlätta implementeringen av ett aktivitetsbaserat arbetsätt med hjälp av en aktivitetsbaserad skala som mäter reaktioner på olika arbetsmiljöer. Frågeställningar • Hur definieras aktivitetsbaserat arbetsätt? • Vilka teorier stödjer diskussionen och definitionen av aktivitetsbaserat arbetssätt? • Vilka koncept finns idag på marknaden inom aktivitetsbaserat arbetsätt och hur preciseras och presenteras dessa? • Kan implementeringen av ett aktivitetsbaserat arbetsätt underlättas med hjälp av en aktivitetsbaserad skala som mäter behov och reaktioner på arbetsplatsmiljöer? Metod Undersökningen består dels av en kvalitativ samt en kvantitativ del. Den kvalitativa delen baseras på intervjuer och en marknadsundersökning över hur aktörer på marknaden uppfattar det aktivitetsbaserade begreppet och vilka nyckelord som används frekvent. Sammanlagt har sju även intervjuer genomförts med framstående personer inom ämnesområdet. Den kvantitativa undersökningen består av ett 100-tal enkäter som undersökt kunskapen om det aktivitetsbaserade begreppet inom marknaden och även här vilka nyckelord som används frekvent. Slutsatser • Samtliga aktörer bör enas om gemensam definition, information och kommunikation av det aktivitetsbaserade arbetssättet • Hantera marknadens starka egenintresse av arbetssättets utvekcling för att säkerställa en en seriös och förtreoendegivande bild av det aktivitetsbaserade arbetssätt • Aktivitetsbaserat arbetssätt har många fler dimensioner än design och planlösningar • Kunskapsspridning inom ämnesområdet bör prioriteras och säkerställas • Organisation, Ledarskap, Medarbetare, Teknik och Lokal är samtliga aspekter som bör beaktas vid implementeringen av det aktivitetsbaserade arbetssättet • Aktivitetsbaserat arbetssätt är en förändringsprocess som kräver kraft, engagemang och tid • Genom explorativ faktoranalys kan tydliga drivande aspekter urskiljas inom organisationer (AktivitetsBaserad Skala) • Arbetsplatsen är inte längre en specifik plats utan en aktivitet som kan utföras på mängder av platser. Framtida forskning Den framtida forskningen bör fokuseras på att dels fortsätta arbetet med att skapa en helhetsbild av arbetssättet men även möjliggöra tydliga och effektiva processer för implementering av det aktivitetsbaserade arbetssättet. Det internationella perspektivet är idag mindre utforskat. Ytterliggare ett område som är av intresse är hur olika branscher ser på utveckling av arbetssättet och vilka specifika behov dessa branscher möjligen har. Definition I det avslutande kapitlet redogörs en samlad definition av aktivitetsbaserat arbetsssätt som är framtagen med stöd av den kvalitativa och kvantitativa forskningen: “ Utifrån de aktiviteter som sker på arbetsplatsen anpassas ledarskap, lokaler och teknik för att på ett effektivt och strukturerat sätt maximera nyttan och värdet i det arbete som individerna utför

Censorship challenges to books in Scottish public libraries

Censorship challenges to books in UK public libraries have received renewed attention recently. This study sought to establish the incidence of censorship challenges to books in Scottish public libraries in the years 2005-2009 and the actions taken in response to these challenges. It was found that eight local authorities in Scotland had received formal censorship challenges to books, with a total of 15 challenges throughout the country. The most common action taken in response to these challenges was for the book to be kept in stock in its original position with the rationale for this explained to the complainer, with the second most common action being taken to move the title to another section of the library. Two books were removed from the library in response to a censorship challenge. The largest numbers of challenges were made against books on the basis of sexual material

Social norms and human normative psychology

Our primary aim in this paper is to sketch a cognitive evolutionary approach for developing explanations of social change that is anchored on the psychological mechanisms underlying normative cognition and the transmission of social norms. We throw the relevant features of this approach into relief by comparing it with the self-fulfilling social expectations account developed by Bicchieri and colleagues. After describing both accounts, we argue that the two approaches are largely compatible, but that the cognitive evolutionary approach is well- suited to encompass much of the social expectations view, whose focus on a narrow range of norms comes at the expense of the breadth the cognitive evolutionary approach can provide

The role of merchandise exports to Mexico in the pattern of Texas employment

In 1987, Texas exported $25 billion worth of merchandise to foreign countries. Twenty-six percent, or$6.5 billion, of those exports went south to Mexico. By 1994, Texas merchandise exports to Mexico had grown to more than $18.5 billion per year (in 1987 constant dollars). Texas merchandise exports to Mexico (in real terms) have grown more than 10 percent a year for six of the last seven years. ; Using input-output analysis, Kelly George and Lori Taylor find that merchandise exports to Mexico, while representing only about 5 percent of Texas output, have grown in ways that have substantially influenced the composition of the state's economy. The authors attribute a small portion of the state's overall job gains since 1987 to rising merchandise exports to Mexico but find that almost all Texas employment growth in high-tech manufacturing sectors stems from trade with Mexico.Employment (Economic theory) ; Exports ; Mexico ; Texas

Drug-induced anti-Ro positive subacute cutaneous lupus in a man treated with olmesartan

A 66-year-old man presented to the outpatient dermatology clinic with a chief complaint of a pruritic rash on his upper trunk and proximal upper extremities, which had been present for three weeks. Upon examination, he was found to have an erythematous, annular, and polycyclic eruption on the chest, upper back, and proximal extremities. A clinical diagnosis of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) was made. The patient was found to have a positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) in a speckled pattern and a positive anti-Ro antibody. A biopsy revealed an interface and lichenoid dermatitis with dermal mucin deposition, consistent with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The patient reported that he had recently been diagnosed with hypertension and began treatment with olmesartan, a potassium-sparing diuretic that blocks the angiotensin II receptor, commonly used as an antihypertensive or in patients with heart failure. Cutaneous reactions to olmesartan are rare and reported in <1% of patients in post-marketing surveillance. The patient discontinued use of olmesartan and the rash completely resolved within three weeks. To date, there are no other reported cases of drug induced SCLE in patients taking olmesartan to our knowledge

Prediction Screening to Identify Heart Failure Patients at High Risk for Readmission

Background: There is an increased need to identify factors associated with higher risk for excessive HF re-hospitalizations due to hospitals receiving financial penalties related to these re-hospitalizations and poorer patient outcomes. Identifying HF patients at highest risk for re-hospitalization with a screening instrument upon admission to the hospital would allow for early implementation of interventions tailored around reducing risk factors for re-hospitalization. Objectives: The specific aims of this study were to 1) identify characteristics that were predictive of HF re-hospitalization; and 2) use those characteristics to create a screening instrument. Methods: A total of 158 patients (age=63±13; 50.6% female; 73.4% Caucasian; 63.3% NYHA class III/IV) admitted with a primary or secondary diagnosis of HF were included in this study. Patient’s knowledge of HF symptoms, along with socio-demographic, biophysical, and cognitive information was assessed by data collected with validated instruments as well as the electronic medical record. Chi square tests and independent t-tests were used to examine bivariate differences in the readmitted and the non readmitted groups. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to predict the outcome, or time to hospitalization, based on the predictor variables. Results: The mean time to re-hospitalization was 68 days. Only 8 patients were re-hospitalized within the first 30 days. Depressive symptoms scores was the only variable identified as being significantly different (p Conclusions: Screening HF patients at highest risk for re-hospitalization and those with depressive symptoms will allow healthcare providers to individualize interventions to improve HF patient outcomes and reduce costly hospital re-hospitalizations