Social capital at work How family, friends and civic ties relate to labour market outcomes

This paper investigates the extent to which an individual's 'stock' of social capital relates to labour force outcomes, over and above more well established determinants. In particular, it examines how family and kinship networks, friends and neighbours relate to individual labour market outcomes, compared with the role of civic ties and institutional networks. Using data collected from a national random sample of 1500 Australians, the paper investigates the relative impact of trust, bonding, bridging and linking relationships upon labour force status and successful job search method.

Non-Molecular-Clock-Like Evolution following Viral Origins in Homo sapiens

Researchers routinely adopt molecular clock assumptions in conducting sequence analyses to estimate dates for viral origins in humans. We used computational methods to examine the extent to which this practice can result in inaccurate ‘retrodiction.’ Failing to account for dynamic molecular evolution can affect greatly estimating index case dates, resulting in an overestimated age for the SARS-CoV-human infection, for instance

The Impact of Gallium Content on Degradation, Bioactivity, and Antibacterial Potency of Zinc Borate Bioactive Glass

Zinc borate glasses with increasing gallium content (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 Wt % Ga) were synthesized and their degradation, bioactivity in simulated body fluid (SBF), and antibacterial properties were investigated. ICP measurements showed that increased gallium content in the glass resulted in increased gallium ion release and decreased release of other ions. Degradability declined with the addition of gallium, indicating the formation of more symmetric BO3 units with three bridging oxygens and asymmetric BO3 units with two bridging oxygens in the glass network as the gallium content in the series increased. The formation of amorphous Ca-P on the glass surface after 24 h of incubation in SBF was confirmed by SEM, XRD, and FTIR analyses. Finally, antibacterial evaluation of the glasses using the agar disc-diffusion method demonstrated that the addition of gallium increased the antibacterial potency of the glasses against P. aeruginosa (Gram-negative) while decreasing it against S. epidermidis (Gram-positive); considering the ion release trends, this indicates that the gallium ion is responsible for the glasses\u27 antibacterial behavior against P. aeruginosa while the zinc ion controls the antibacterial activity against S. epidermidis. The statistical significance of the observed trends in the measurements were confirmed by applying the Kruskal-Wallis H Test. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 367–376, 2018

Teaching about chemical resistant gloves with educational exhibits

Educational exhibits are often used for teaching at farm and home shows or other expositions. This study determined factors that promoted learning from an educational exhibit on chemical resistant gloves for handling pesticides. An active exhibit where participants tried on gloves was compared to a static version without this activity. Talking to staff at the exhibit was most important in attracting attention and helping to learn about glove safely followed by getting hands measured and trying on gloves. rightly percent indicated that they had read fact sheets provided at the exhibit and 32.5% shared fact sheets with others. Sixty-nine percent in the active group liked learning through exhibits

Capteton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co.: The Texas Implications.

In Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co., the United States Supreme Court addressed whether the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution was violated by the denial of a motion to recuse. The motion sought to recuse a Supreme Court of Appeals Justice from West Virginia. The justice received an extraordinary campaign contribution from the chief officer of a corporate party to a case pending before the court. Several Texas courts addressed whether recusal was necessary based on campaign contributions prior to the decision in Caperton. Texas courts have universally held that recusal was not required. The United States Supreme Court noted the issue in Caperton arose in the context of judicial elections. In explaining the reasons for denying the recusal motions, Justice Benjamin stated Caperton failed to provide objective evidence or information regarding actual bias, relying instead on subjective beliefs. The Supreme Court concluded the implementation of the Due Process Clause required objective rules and standards, not proof of actual, subjective bias. Recusal is required when “the probability of actual bias on the part of the judge or decisionmaker is too high to be constitutionally tolerable.” While not every campaign contribution creates the probability of bias requiring recusal, the Court stated Caperton was an exceptional case. Although Caperton did not result in radical substantive changes in the law, litigants may cite Caperton in an increased rash of motions for recusal. In Texas, the contribution limits established by Texas’s Judicial Campaign Fairness Act will affect recusal rulings. Hopefully, Caperton can provide the impetus for changing Texas’s system of electing judges. With two-thirds of Texas voters wanting the current system to remain unchanged, it would be overly optimistic to believe such a change will come to fruition anytime soon

Capteton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co.: The Texas Implications.

In Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co., the United States Supreme Court addressed whether the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution was violated by the denial of a motion to recuse. The motion sought to recuse a Supreme Court of Appeals Justice from West Virginia. The justice received an extraordinary campaign contribution from the chief officer of a corporate party to a case pending before the court. Several Texas courts addressed whether recusal was necessary based on campaign contributions prior to the decision in Caperton. Texas courts have universally held that recusal was not required. The United States Supreme Court noted the issue in Caperton arose in the context of judicial elections. In explaining the reasons for denying the recusal motions, Justice Benjamin stated Caperton failed to provide objective evidence or information regarding actual bias, relying instead on subjective beliefs. The Supreme Court concluded the implementation of the Due Process Clause required objective rules and standards, not proof of actual, subjective bias. Recusal is required when “the probability of actual bias on the part of the judge or decisionmaker is too high to be constitutionally tolerable.” While not every campaign contribution creates the probability of bias requiring recusal, the Court stated Caperton was an exceptional case. Although Caperton did not result in radical substantive changes in the law, litigants may cite Caperton in an increased rash of motions for recusal. In Texas, the contribution limits established by Texas’s Judicial Campaign Fairness Act will affect recusal rulings. Hopefully, Caperton can provide the impetus for changing Texas’s system of electing judges. With two-thirds of Texas voters wanting the current system to remain unchanged, it would be overly optimistic to believe such a change will come to fruition anytime soon

A Novel Tantalum-Containing Bioglass. Part II. Development of a Bioadhesive for Sternal Fixation and Repair

With over a million median sternotomy surgeries performed worldwide every year, sternal wound complications have posed a serious risk to the affected patients. A rigid therapeutic sternal fixation device has therefore become a necessity. In this work, the incorporation of up to 0.5 mol% of tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5), in exchange for zinc oxide (ZnO), into the SiO2-ZnO-CaO-SrO-P2O5 glass system is presented. The effect of Ta incorporation on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs) prepared from them have been presented in this manuscript. The data obtained have confirmed that Ta2O5 incorporation into the reference glass system results in increased working times, radiopacity, ion solubility, and long-term mechanical stability. The formulated glass systems have also shown clear antibacterial and antifungal activity against both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive prokaryotes (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus epidermidis), as well as eukaryotes (Fusarium solani). Cytotoxicity testing showed that Ta incorporation results in no toxicity effect and may simulate osseo-integration when tested in animal models. These new metallic-containing biomaterial adhesives have been developed for sternal fixation and repair. As a permanent implant, the formulated adhesives can be used in conjunction with sternal cable ties to offer optimal fixation for patients and reduce post-operative complications such as bacterial infection and pain from micro-motion

A Comparison of Pairs Figure Skaters in Repeated Jumps

Trends in pairs figure skating have shown that increasingly difficult jumps have become an essential aspect of high-level performance, especially in the latter part of a competitive program. We compared a repeated jump power index in a 60 s repeated jump test to determine the relationship of repeated jump test to competitive rank and to measure 2D hip, knee, and ankle angles and angular velocities at 0, 20, 40, and 60 s. Eighteen National Team Pairs Figure Skaters performed a 60 s repeated jump test on a large switch-mat with timing of flight and ground durations and digital video recording. Each 60-s period was divided into 6, 10-s intervals, with power indexes (W/kg) calculated for each 10-s interval. Power index by 10-s interval repeated measures ANOVAs (RMANOVA) showed that males exceeded females at all intervals, and the highest power index interval was during 10 to 20 s for both sexes. RMANOVAs of angles and angular velocities showed main effects for time only. Power index and jumping techniques among figure skaters showed rapid and steady declines over the test duration. Power index can predict approximately 50% of competitive rank variance, and sex differences in jumping technique were rare