Is the Size Distribution of Income in Canada a Random Walk?

Several recent studies have investigated whether the size distribution of income in the United States follows a random walk meaning that it has a unit root, with mixed results. In this paper, we investigate the same issue using Canadian national and provincial income inequality data. The investigation is conducted using three different unit root tests. The results suggest modeling the Gini coefficients for Canada and for most provinces as an I(1) is quite reasonable.

Asian Americans on the Streets: Strategies for Prevention and Intervention

Notably lacking in the literature on Vietnamese and Cambodian youth gangs in the United States and particularly Southern California have been solutions that address the underlying causative factors of gang involvement. Relying on life histories collected over a span of fifteen years, the authors propose a multi-faceted prevention and intervention strategy that includes the community and schools to heighten cultural awareness for children and parents. It is also recommended that policies take into account nuanced differences between Asian communities and bring together multiple stakeholders including officials and hard-core gang members to improve communicative problems that have resulted in gang-policy failures

Exploring the Relationship Between Daily Steps, Body Mass Index and Physical Self-Esteem in Female Australian Adolescents

Current research suggests that a decline in physical activity occurs some time during the adolescent years, but at what specific age is unknown. Determination of the age at which physical activity levels decline and possible contributors to this phenomenon, are needed to increase Australian healthcare knowledge. The participants involved in the study were female adolescents (n = 297) aged 13-15 years from a high school in Southeast Queensland, Australia. The purpose of this study was to: (a) determine mean steps per day, using pedometers, for grade 8 through 10 girls, (b) determine body mass index (BMI) by measuring height (cm) and weight (kg), and (c), using the Children and Youth Physical Self-Perception Profile (CY-PSPP) questionnaire, identify determinants of physical self-worth in Australian female adolescents and their relationship to activity level and BMI. The study revealed that a significant drop-off in pedometer-determined mean daily steps occurred at grade ten, or approximately 15 years of age. A significant inverse relationship between mean daily steps and BMI was found (r = ¯.251, p<.0001). The study also revealed negative correlations between BMI and all self-perceptions (p<.05), except strength, which showed a positive correlation (p<0.05). A positive correlation was found between level of physical activity and all self-perceptions, except Global Self-Worth, which showed no significant difference

Ajaloolise alepõllunduse roll Lõuna-Eesti maastike ja metsataimestiku kujunemisel

A Thesis for applying for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental protectionThe objective of this PhD thesis was to estimate the effects of historical rotational slash and burn cultivation on the formation of southern Estonian cultural landscapes and forest vegetation. Slash and burn cultivation was practised in Northern and Central Europe until the 20th century. With regard to Estonia, previous studies have suggested that slash and burn cultivation resulted in soil depletion, podsolization and the formation of species-poor forest habitats. This research was based on land use maps drawn in Livonian governorate in the 19th century. These maps depict the areas that were regularly used for slash and burn cultivation (buschlands in Baltic-German). Study areas were located in six protected areas across south-eastern Estonia. Map analysis demonstrated that in the studied areas buschlands used to cover 35-45% of total farmlands. The hilly landscapes of south-eastern Estonia, comprising Albeluvisols and Haplic Albeluvisols in moraines, were particularly suitable for slash and burn cultivation. Buschlands should be regarded as a specific category of land, which does not correspond to modern land cover or land use units. By the end of the 20th century, 78% of these lands had become afforested. The most common forest site type in former buschlands is Oxalis. The field research observed the forests grown in both former buschlands and areas mapped as forest in the 19th century. Different uni- and multivariate statistical methods were applied. The differences in vegetation occurred due to postponed forest development in buschlands, not due to fire. The analysis could not identify any fire-prone species or vegetation composition, which would reveal the changes in soil properties. The registered chemical properties of soil likewise did not differ across buschlands and former forest sites. Today, buschlands comprise secondary forests with impoverished ground vegetation, rather than semi-natural habitats that would require special management. Macroscopic fragments of soil charcoal were found in 97% of the observed sites. Slash and burn cultivation have therefore been an important factor in forming the soil charcoal deposits in boreal forests. The depth of charcoal can be associated with land use history. The charcoal fragments collected from the humus layer of buschlands dated from 1566 to 1805 calAD. At the footslopes of buschlands, slash and burn cultivation created characteristic field banks which consist of humus with dispersed charcoal. Similar banks were found in 22% of forest sites, which indicates that slash and burn cultivation was practised in larger areas than shown in the 19th century maps. The results demonstrate that the role of slash and burn cultivation in the formation of landscapes has previously been underestimated, while the effects on forest vegetation have been overestimated.Doktoritöö eesmärk oli välja selgitada ajaloolise regulaarse aletamise mõju Lõuna-Eesti maastike ja metsakoosluste kujunemisele. Alepõletamine oli Põhja- ja Kesk-Euroopas kasutusel kuni 20. sajandi keskpaigani. Eestis on seni arvatud, et aletamine soodustas muldade leetumist ja väljakurnamist ning liigivaeste metsakoosluste teket. Töö alusena kasutati 19. sajandil Liivimaa kubermangus koostatud maakasutuse kaarte, kus on märgitud regulaarseks aletamiseks kasutatud alad (Balti-Saksa buschland). Uurimisalad paiknesid Kagu-Eesti kuuel kaitsealal. Kaardianalüüsi abil selgus, et Kagu-Eesti kuppelmaastikel moodustas buschland 35-45% talumaadest. Happeliste muldadega künklik moreenmaastik oli aletamiseks eriti sobilik. Buschlandi tuleb käsitleda iseseisva spetsiifilise kasutusega maakategooriana, mida ei saa paigutada tänapäeval tuntud maakatte- ega maakasutusklasside alla. 20. sajandi lõpuks 78% buschlandist metsastus, moodustades suurima osa tänapäeva sekundaarsetest metsadest. Kõige levinumad on jänesekapsa kasvukohatüüpi metsad. Välitööde käigus uuriti võrdlevalt metsakooslusi, mis olid 19. sajandil kaardistatud kas buschlandina või metsamaana. Andmeid töödeldi ühe- ja mitmemõõtmeliste statistiliste meetodite abil. Taimkatte erinevuste iseloom näitas, et need on tingitud pigem aletatud alade hilisemast metsastumisest, mitte tule kasutamist. Buschlandi ja ajaloolise metsamaa võrdlemisel erinevusi mulla praegustes keemilistes omadustes ei leitud. Buschlandile on kasvanud vaesunud liigikoosseisuga sekundaarsed metsad, mitte spetsiifilist majandamist nõudvad poollooduslikud kooslused. Uuritud aladelt 97% leiti mullast makroskoopilist sütt. Aletamine on seega olnud oluline tegur mulla söesisalduse kujunemisel. Söe sügavus mullas seostus maakasutuse ajalooga. Buschlandi huumuskihist leitud söetükid dateeriti vahemikku 1566–1805 calAD. Nõlvade jalamile moodustus aletamise tulemusel erodeerunud, hajutatud süsi sisaldavast huumusest künniperv. Selliseid pervi leiti ka 22% 19. sajandil metsana kaardistatud kohas, mis näitab, et aletamine on toimunud varem mõnevõrra laialdasemalt, kui on märgitud 19. sajandi kaartidel. Töö tulemused näitavad, et maastike uurimisel on aletamise mõju seni alahinnatud, taimestiku ajaloo kirjeldamisel aga pigem ülehinnatud.Publication of this dissertation is supported by the Estonian University of Life Sciences and by the Doctoral School of Earth Sciences and Ecology created under the auspices of European Social Fund

Key Issues of Mass Valuation for Compensation within the Land Restitution Process in Albania

The aim of current research was to analyze the key issues of mass valuation for compensation within the land restitution process in Albania. The analysis was grounded on the case study of mass valuation system which was prepared to carry out mass valuation for compensation of illegally expropriated land. The "field study" was made by the author during 2005-­2006 within the frames of consultancy projects sponsored by World Bank and OSCE. The aim of those projects was to examine and improve the existing mass valuation methodology for compensation (Decision on the Approval of the Methodology on the Valuation of Immovable Property that Will Be Compensated and of the One to be Used for Compensation 2005). The author of the current research hopes that in co-operation with local specialists some progress was made. Unfortunately at the time of finalizing the current article (December 2007- March 2008) the existing mass valuation methodology for compensation without any principal changes was still in force. The research covered the majority of key issues of mass valuation ­ topics like the essence of mass valuation, time dynamics and external influences to valuation results were handled based on literature and presented as parts of the case study. The discussion section contained generalization and relationship with earlier research. The principal conclusions were the following: ­* partly following principles of market based valuation and distinguishing between valuation approaches for different land categories produce uneven valuation results and the system does not follow the principles of valuation level and uniformity ­ * absence of rules related to the time dynamics enables to act in a partial manner, so the system moves away from fairness ­ * external influences convert valuation to the part of political decision-making

Gender-affirming care in the context of medical ethics – gatekeeping v. informed consent

Introduction. For many transgender patients, access to healthcare – and specifically gender-affirming care (such as hormone replacement therapy) – is limited by a variety of different barriers. Despite evidence showing that access to medical transition is not only safe, but also improves suicide risk in transgender patients, these services are often subject to excessive gatekeeping by medical professionals and healthcare workers.Objectives. To evaluate the ethical merits of the two most prominent models of providing gender-affirming care to patients who identify as transgender.Methods. The author compares the gatekeeping model and the informed consent model of providing gender-affirming care, in terms of the well-recognised four fundamental ‘pillars’ of medical ethics, namely respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and distributive justice.Results. The gatekeeping model is found to be in violation of all four principles, while an informed consent model of care respects these ethical pillars.Discussion. A variety of ethical factors are at play in the provision of gender-affirming care to transgender patients, and these need to be considered carefully in formulating approaches or models. There are many other factors that can present a barrier to gender-affirming care in a South African context, but an examination of the ethical considerations can be of immediate benefit to an already marginalised population.Conclusion. Clinicians should be aware of the ethical factors in withholding gender-affirming care from transgender patients, and the potential consequences thereof. An approach based on a model of informed consent, which respects a patient’s agency over their own body, is both clinically safe and ethically sound

KEBERADAAN DENDA ADMINISTRATIF TERKAIT PERATURAN GUBERNUR DKI JAKARTA NOMOR 33 TAHUN 2020 TENTANG PELAKSANAAN PSBB DALAM PENANGANAN COVID-19 DI PROVINSI DKI JAKARTA

Covid-19 is a dangerous virus.&nbsp; In Indonesia, many are infected and increasing every day.&nbsp; DKI Jakarta is the area most affected by Covid-19.&nbsp; The Governor of DKI Jakarta imposed Large-Scale Social Restrictions by issuing Governor’s Regulation No. 33 of 2020 which contains legal sanctions.&nbsp; An interesting thing was discussed about the existence of legal sanctions related to Governor’s Regulation No. 33 of 2020. The Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta has issued guidelines for the implementation of the PSBB. PSBB restricts activities, including: facilitating schools and workplaces; restrictions on religious activities; and/or restrictions on activities at public places or facilities. Governor’s Regulation No. 33 of 2020 is actually not necessary because the authority to regulate PSBB rests with the Central Government.Covid-19 merupakan virus berbahaya. Di Indonesia, banyak yang terjangkit dan meningkat setiap harinya. DKI Jakarta menjadi wilayah paling banyak orang terjangkit Covid-19. Gubernur DKI Jakarta memberlakukan Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar melalui Pergub No. 33 Tahun 2020 yang memuat Sanksi Hukum. Hal yang menarik dibahas tentang keberadaan sanksi hukum terkait Pergub No. 33 Tahun 2020. Pemerintah Provinsi DKI Jakarta telah menerbitkan panduan pelaksanaan PSBB. PSBB membatasi kegiatan, meliputi: peliburan sekolah dan tempat kerja; pembatasan kegiatan keagamaan; dan/atau pembatasan kegiatan di tempat atau fasilitas umum. Pergub No. 33 Tahun 2020 sesungguhnya tidak perlu karena kewenangan mengatur PSBB ada pada Pemerintah Pusat