scholarly journals Dutiful citizen or a pragmatic professional? Voluntary retirement of Icelandic local councillors

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Eva Marín Hlynsdóttir

This article explores the working conditions of Icelandic local councillors in relation to voluntary retirement from the council. In the past three elections, the turnover in councils has been very high, with approximately six out of every 10 council members being new recruits at the beginning of each term. The turnover has also highlighted possible gender issues, as more women than men (proportionally) leave the council after their first term. The findings reveal a significant difference between the councillors who plan to stay and those who opt to leave. This is in relation to the local authorities’ population size, satisfaction with remuneration, and seniority in the council. Thus, councillors in larger municipalities or councillors satisfied with their remuneration are more likely to run for council versus councillors from smaller municipalities and those less happy with their remuneration. Seniority is also a decisive factor, as the majority of all councillors leave after the first term. Significant differences were not found between the female and male councillors in relation to voluntary retirement. However, gendered differences were found in relation to institutional position and working conditions, suggesting a gender-based division of labour in local councils.

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 23-33
Author(s):  
Anan Lama ◽  
Milan Shrestha

Purpose- Working conditions play an important role in shaping the teachers’ attitude.  In this context, this study intends to examine the effect of the working conditions on the teachers’ attitude. Design/Methodology- Philosophically, this study is guided by post-positivist paradigm utilizing the survey design. The data in this study were collected from the teachers of community schools of the Kathmandu district using the questionnaire My Classroom Appraisal Protocol (MCAP). The collected data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics like mean, standard deviation, independent sample t-test and simple linear regression. Then, the derived findings were then interpreted and measured against the past studies and theories.    Findings- This study found significant difference in the attitude of the teachers who had satisfactory and unsatisfactory building conditions.  Additionally, the study showed a moderate association between working condition and teachers’ attitude. Furthermore, this study concludes that the building condition of school plays a crucial role in shaping the teachers’ attitude.  Finally, this study shows that there is a positive relationship between the working conditions and teachers’ attitude. Practical Implications- This study is expected to be beneficial to school leaders and forthcoming researchers for making positive changes in the education system of Nepal.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (s3) ◽  
pp. 88-110
Author(s):  
Michael Iantorno ◽  
Courtney Blamey ◽  
Lyne Dwyer ◽  
Mia Consalvo

Abstract Class depictions in videogames are prevalent, yet understudied. In this article, we analyse how the working class – particularly working-class men – have been depicted in videogames over the past 30 years. In doing so, we bring together a class- and gender-based analysis to study how narratives, representations, gameplay, and game systems construct the “working-class hero” as a central protagonist. This is done by examining eight paired examples of videogames that feature working-class characters in central roles, including janitor, fire-fighter, taxi driver, and bartender. Our analysis finds that some roles are glorified (such as firefighters), positioning their protagonists in direct conflict with white-collar settings and antagonists. However, many other roles task players with “doing their job” in the face of repetitive (and sometimes outlandish) working conditions. Through these examples, we document the portrayal of working-class videogame heroes, noting how videogames can both reinforce and subvert common media tropes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 185
Author(s):  
Shueh-Chin Ting

In the past, there has been a dearth of research exploring related factors regarding the benefactor in the research of gratitude. The focus of this study is to investigate whether different benefactors elicit different levels of gratitude in beneficiaries after conferring a favor. Using college students as the research subjects, questionnaires were conducted after subjects read the experimental text to explore whether college students’ gratitude is different when two types of benefactors (friends and parents) give the same help. This study found that when the benefactor makes a big effort to confer a favor and the favor is very important to the beneficiary, there is no significant difference in the gratitude toward their parents and friends among college students and the level of gratitude for both is very high. However, when the favor only is conferred through an ordinary amount of effort and the favor is of ordinary importance to the beneficiary, college students have a higher level of gratitude to their friends, but a lower level of gratitude to their parents. Therefore, college students do not necessarily have higher gratitude to their friends than to their parents; the amount of effort exerted by the benefactor and the importance of the favor to the beneficiary are two key factors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 581-596

Technology plays a crucial role in the self-guided learning of a second language in general and English in particular. Nevertheless, many students in different contexts still ignore the application of technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) tools in enhancing their foreign language proficiency. Therefore, this study is conducted to investigate the attitudes towards the use of TELL tools in English-language learning (ELL) among English majors at one university in Vietnam. To collect data, 197 English majors participated in finishing the questionnaire, and 20 students were invited to join the interviews. The findings are that the majority of students have positive attitudes towards the use of TELL tools and the frequency of using these tools is very high. In addition, the results also reveal that there is no significant difference in attitudes towards and frequency of using TELL tools in learning English in terms of the year of study. However, students of different levels of academic achievements have different attitudes towards using TELL tools and use TELL tools to learn English differently. Received 2nd May 2019; Revised 16th July 2019, Accepted 20th October 2019


Author(s):  
I. V. Bukhtiyarov

The article presents the results of the analysis of health, working conditions and prevalence of adverse production factors, the structure of the detected occupational pathology in the working population of the Russian Federation. The article presents Statistical data on the dynamics of the share of workplaces of industrial enterprises that do not meet hygienic standards, occupational morbidity in 2015-2018 for the main groups of adverse factors of the production environment and the labor process. The indicators of occupational morbidity over the past 6 years in the context of the main types of economic activity, individual subjects of the Russian Federation, classes of working conditions, levels of specialized occupational health care. The role of the research Institute of occupational pathology and occupational pathology centers in solving organizational, methodological and practical tasks for the detection, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of occupational diseases is shown. The basic directions of activity in the field of preservation and strengthening of health of workers, and also safety at a workplace are defined.


Author(s):  
Galina V. Kurenkova ◽  
Natalia A. Sudeikina ◽  
Elizaveta P. Lemeshevskaya

Introduction. Professional groups of railway workers engaged in the repair of wagons are directly responsible for the safety of railway traffic. The analysis of literature testifies to insufficient attention of researchers to the hygienic problems associated with labor activity of workers of wagon-repair production.The aim of the study is to assess the occupational risk to the health of wagon repair workers, due to the impact on them of factors of the working environment and the labor process.Materials and methods. The study used comprehensive hygienic studies using the methodology of occupational risk to worker’s health.Results. The leading factors of the working environment (class of working conditions 3.2–3.4), which are exposed to workers depending on the specifics of the work performed. Identified professional groups with medium (significant) high (unbearable) and very high (intolerable) category of a priori occupational risk: in wagon meintenance workshop — 17 groups (94% of jobs), in a wagon assembly workshop — 11 groups (80% jobs), in wagon wheel workshop — 3 group (100% jobs). At the same time, according to the request for medical care, employees were diagnosed with isolated cases of occupational diseases.The levels of morbidity with temporary disability of employees of the main workshops are statistically significant (p<0.05) higher than those of the control group in 1.4–1.9 times. The influence of the complex of chemical factors of low and medium intensity on the levels of morbidity of respiratory diseases in the group of workers of the wagon wheel workshop, which were 1.7–2.0 times higher than in the control group, is confirmed by the average degree of causation of the production condition of this pathology (RR=1.7; EF=42.0%).The combined effect of vibration and severity of the labor process forms a high level of temporary disability of employees of the main workshops in connection with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which was 2.7–4.4 times higher than in the control group, and also determines the prevalence of this pathology in the structure of diseases detected on medical examinations (23.2%). Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are caused by the production of employees of the wagon meintenance workshop (RR=3,9; EF=74,9%), as the most unfavorable in terms of hygiene on these factors.The stressful influence of the complex of harmful production factors on the health of wagon repair workers is manifested by the high risk of diseases of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, neurological disorders, violation of adaptation of the cardiovascular system in 97% of the examined, as well as the predominance of diseases of the digestive system and circulatory system detected on periodic medical examinations.Conclusions. Harmful working conditions (class 3.1–3.4) cause the suspected occupational risk from small (moderate) to very high (intolerable) to 100% of the jobs of wagon repair workers. The results of the study of morbidity and risk of pathology indicate a significant risk of damage to the health of workers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (37) ◽  
pp. 6373-6383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Jouybari ◽  
Faezeh Kiani ◽  
Farhad Islami ◽  
Akram Sanagoo ◽  
Fatemeh Sayehmiri ◽  
...  

: Breast cancer is the most common neoplasm, comprising 16% of all women's cancers worldwide. Research of Copper (Cu) concentrations in various body specimens have suggested an association between Cu levels and breast cancer risks. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarize the results of published studies and examine this association. We searched the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar and the reference lists of relevant publications. The Standardized Mean Differences (SMDs) between Cu levels in cancer cases and controls and corresponding Confidence Intervals (CIs), as well as I2 statistics, were calculated to examine heterogeneity. Following the specimens used in the original studies, the Cu concentrations were examined in three subgroups: serum or plasma, breast tissue, and scalp hair. We identified 1711 relevant studies published from 1984 to 2017. There was no statistically significant difference between breast cancer cases and controls for Cu levels assayed in any studied specimen; the SMD (95% CI) was -0.01 (-1.06 - 1.03; P = 0.98) for blood or serum, 0.51 (-0.70 - 1.73; P = 0.41) for breast tissue, and -0.88 (-3.42 - 1.65; P = 0.50) for hair samples. However, the heterogeneity between studies was very high (P < 0.001) in all subgroups. We did not find evidence for publication bias (P = 0.91). The results of this meta-analysis do not support an association between Cu levels and breast cancer. However, due to high heterogeneity in the results of original studies, this conclusion needs to be confirmed by well-designed prospective studies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 923.3-923
Author(s):  
S. Boussaid ◽  
M. Mrabet ◽  
S. Jemmali ◽  
H. Sahli ◽  
H. Ajlani ◽  
...  

Background:Tuberculosis (TB) is no longer a disease limited to developing nations and is still a major cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. It can affect the different parts of the spine.Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine the preferred spinal location of TB.Methods:We conduct a retrospective and descriptive study in a single rheumatology department. Data were collected from observations of patients hospitalized in the past 20 years (2000-2020) who have been diagnosed with tuberculous spondylodiscitis (TS).Results:Fifty-two patients were included (37F/15M). Their mean age was 55.21 years ± 17.79 [19-91]. TS was more frequently unifocal (75%) than multifocal (25%). Lumbar spine involvement was the most common (57.7%) and more frequent in women (63.3%) but with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.2). Other localizations were described such as: dorso-lumbar (21.2%), dorsal (15.4%), lumbosacral (3.8%) and cervical (1.9%). Lumbar pain was present in 34 patients (65.4%) and 29 patients (55.8%) suffered from segmental lumbar stiffness. Imaging was contributive by showing the vertebral location using standard X-rays, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Disc pinch, erosion of vertebral plateaus and vertebral collapse were the major signs (82.7%, 65.4% and 67.3%, respectively).Conclusion:TS is a rare but serious clinical condition which may lead to severe deformity and early or late neurological complications. Spinal involvement is often unifocal and mostly diagnosed with lumbar pain or stiffness. Multifocal forms, touching several parts of the spine, however remain rare. Our findings remain consistent with those of the literature.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin C. Wilson ◽  
Christopher J. Hernandez ◽  
Susan Scheer ◽  
Dillon Trujillo ◽  
Sean Arayasirikul ◽  
...  

AbstractTransgender women face a serious risk of HIV infection. Despite this, there is limited knowledge and use of Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We measured the continuity of prevention across services in the PrEP cascade and correlates of PrEP use among trans women in San Francisco enrolled in the 2019/20 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Study. Knowledge and use of PrEP among trans women in San Francisco increased in recent years; almost all (94.0%) had heard about PrEP, 64.7% had discussed PrEP with a healthcare provider, and 44.8% had taken PrEP in the past 12 months. PrEP use was associated with participation in a PrEP demonstration project (aOR = 31.44, p = 0.001) and condomless receptive anal intercourse (aOR = 3.63, p = 0.024). Injection drug use was negatively associated (aOR = 0.19, p = 0.014). Efforts are needed to combat the gender-based stigma and discrimination faced by trans women, which can result in avoidance and mistrust of the medical system.


Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 155 (4) ◽  
pp. 1991-2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
A García-Dorado ◽  
A Caballero

Abstract T. Mukai and co-workers in the late 1960s and O. Ohnishi in the 1970s carried out a series of experiments to obtain direct estimates of the average coefficient of dominance (h¯) of minor viability mutations in Drosophila melanogaster. The results of these experiments, although inconsistent, have been interpreted as indicating slight recessivity of deleterious mutations, with h¯≈0.4. Mukai obtained conflicting results depending on the type of heterozygotes used, some estimates suggesting overdominance and others partial dominance. Ohnishi's estimates, based on the ratio of heterozygous to homozygous viability declines, were more consistent, pointing to the above value. However, we have reanalyzed Ohnishi's data, estimating h¯ by the regression method, and obtained a much smaller estimate of ~0.1. This significant difference can be due partly to the different weighting implicit in the estimates, but we suggest that this is not the only explanation. We propose as a plausible hypothesis that a putative nonmutational decline in viability occurring in the first half of Ohnishi's experiment (affecting both homozygotes and heterozygotes) has biased upward the estimates from the ratio, while it would not bias the regression estimates. This hypothesis also explains the very high h¯≈0.7 observed in Ohnishi's high-viability chromosomes. By constructing a model of spontaneous mutations using parameters in the literature, we investigate the above possibility. The results indicate that a model of few mutations with moderately large effects and h¯≈0.2 is able to explain the observed estimates and the distributions of homozygous and heterozygous viabilities. Accounting for an expression of mutations in genotypes with the balancer chromosome Cy does not alter the conclusions qualitatively.


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