Working Behavior Research Articles

Biodata as A Personnel Recruitment Selection Approach in China:Assessment and Its Validity

In this study, we examined the validity and reliability of a domestically-derived biodata assessment tool targeted to recruitment in China. The use of biodata provides an important and key assessment method in personnel assessment and selection. It focuses on an individual’s personal history. One’s past behaviors are critical predictors in predicting individual’s future behaviors. Consequently, biodata uses facts from an individual’s past to predict future working behaviors. Despite of the promise of biodata as an assessment tool, its validity and reliability within China has been limited. In the assessment and selection of government officials in China, biodata methods are mainly used during the first step of screening potential candidates. During the early stages of screening, it will lead to subjective and unstable results without defining proper criteria. In universities in China, millions of resumes were received during annual campus recruitment require processing. An implementation of biodata resume filtering is the primary choice in determining the first pool of applicants’ competency level. Biodata methods also have a long history of effectively coordinating personnel assessment. However, the usage of biodata tools derrived from outside of China have not been valid or reliable for personnel recruitment within China. In order to promote accuracy during the utilization of biodata information in making proper decisions, this study developed a biodata assessment tool for use in China’s campus recruitment. We developed an application form using a standardized coding tool to measure biodata information. During implementation we first developed biodata assessment tools, selecting 250 applicants’ data consisting of an individual’s cognitive ability, personality, biodata and interviewing ability. Secondly, we coded the application forms with a standardized coding tool. In the semi-structured application form, the biodata information, such as academic records, computer skills, rewards and social experiences, were used by a score scaling method. We then statistically tested the validity with a verification method which is seeking the relationship between biodata and other assessment tools. After the logarithmic transformation of the scaling data and the reliability analysis was completed, a validity analysis was conducted from the biodata, cognitive ability, personality and the interview results. The results revealed that the relationship was congruent with previous research results verifying the validity and incremental value of biodata. It explained reliable variance of personnel recruitment decsions. The statistical result showed that the validity of our domestically-derived biodata tools in prediction was effective, and, in turn, revealed that biodata can be an effective tool for personnel assessment. We also determined that biodata would account for distinct incremental variance in the selection result in comparison with the variance contributed by GMA or FFM personality data. We then concluded that biodata’s joint use of other assessment would increase its prediction significance. Based on this conclusion, the study provides implementation solutions for biodata scoring and it’s use with other measuring tools based on empirical research. In conclusion, the scaling tools developed and the methods used in this research can supply significant validity in assessment. The instruments are both cost effective and easy to operate. We verify the incremental validity based on empirical research using Chinese data which offers both theoretical and practical contributions.

An Adaptive Power Saving Strategies based on Cross-layer Design in IEEE 802.16e

To enhance the power efficiency of broadband wireless access devices based on battery power, an adaptive power saving strategies based on cross-layer design i s proposed for IEEE 802.16e sleep-mode operation . In this paper, we evaluate performance of the power-saving mechanism based on sleep mode in IEEE 802.16e mobile Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) system, which is based on time scheme to trigger transition from awake mode to sleep mode and a sleep window to next sleep window. After being idle for a period of time, a design time parameter to overcome the flaw of power efficiency drop with the short time sleep, mobile station switch to sleep mode for the first sleep interval defined by initial sleep window, which dynamically tune according to the statistical measurement of traffic load from physical layer . By analyzing the behaviors of a mobile station working in the sleep-mode operation with a Markov chain model and explori ng the relationship among traffic, energy consumption and mean delay of power saving mechanism based on cross-layer design , a heuristic algorithm is proposed to adapt the parameters of sleep -mode mechanism to the mobile station traffic and the mean delay requirement. Extensive simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the traditional power saving mechanisms in both the power consumption and the mean delay.

Effect of thermal and mechanical treatments on the hot working response of Mg-3Sn-1Ca alloy

Abstract The effects of homogenization treatment and high-temperature extrusion on the hot working behavior of Mg-3Sn-1Ca alloy have been studied with a view to find an optimum processing route for the manufacture of wrought products. Processing maps and kinetic parameters have been obtained from the flow stress data recorded in hot compression experiments in the temperature range of 300 – 550 °C and strain rate range of 0.0003 – 10 s– 1. These reveal that the homogenization treatment has only a marginal effect on the hot workability, the result attributable to the high thermal stability of CaMgSn particles in the microstructure. High temperature extrusion, however, lowers the hot working temperature significantly (by about 150 °C) and this has been attributed to grain refinement during primary processing. The mechanisms of hot deformation remained unchanged by the above treatments and the apparent activation energies for hot deformation are higher than those for self-diffusion suggesting that CaMgSn particles in the matrix cause large back-stress.

High Temperature Deformation Mechanisms and Processing Map for Hot Working of Cast-Homogenized Mg-3Sn-2Ca Alloy

The hot working behavior of Mg-3Sn-2Ca alloy has been investigated in the temperature range 300–500 oC and strain rate range 0.0003–10 s-1, with a view to evaluate the mechanisms and optimum parameters of hot working. For this purpose, a processing map has been developed on the basis of the flow stress data obtained from compression tests. The stress-strain curves exhibited steady state behavior at strain rates lower than 0.01 s-1 and at temperatures higher than 350 oC and flow softening occurred at higher strain rates. The processing map exhibited two dynamic recrystallization domains in the temperature and strain rate ranges: (1) 300–420 oC and 0.0003–0.003 s-1, and (2) 420–500 oC and 0.003–1.0 s-1, the latter one being useful for commercial hot working. Kinetic analysis yielded apparent activation energy values of 161 and 175 kJ/mole in domains (1) and (2) respectively. These values are higher than that for self-diffusion in magnesium suggesting that the large volume fraction of intermetallic particles CaMgSn present in the matrix generates considerable back stress. The processing map reveals a wide regime of flow instability which gets reduced with increase in temperature or decrease in strain rate.

Simple estimation of PV modules loss resistances for low error modelling

For practical purposes it can be assumed that the power delivered by a photovoltaic generator that is connected to an MPPT is always maximal. When studying the behaviour of a PV generator working in this way, the most interesting aspect is the evolution of the point of maximum power. So, the analysis of the I-V characteristic must be centred in the area of high voltages. In this situation the five parameter model is very appropriate for characterizing the PV generator. On the other hand, in the case of photovoltaic modules the information currently provided by manufacturers is insufficient to do modelling. Thus, to evaluate the loss resistances it is necessary to use any of the different methods that currently exist. The purpose of this paper is to present a new procedure, based on simplified equations, which allows the estimation of the loss resistances of any PV crystalline silicon module. By simulating the modules with the loss resistances calculated in this way highly accurate results are obtained. Especially in the surrounding of the maximum power point the error is always less than 0.5%.

Discussion: “A Deterministic-Chaos Study of Electron Triboemission Outputs” (Molina, G. J., Furey, M. J., and Kajdas C., 2007, ASME J. Tribol., 129(3), pp. 679–683)

The authors observed that the strength of triboemission, for diamond-Si and diamond-Ge pairs, decreased as contact progressed over the same wear track. Nakayama and Fujimoto (1) observed similar tendencies although accompanied by occasional high strength emission peaks. Nakayama and Fujimoto proposed that the weak signals are due to their samples being mono-crystalline silicon, whereas they suggested that the strong signals are probably due to contamination of samples by formation of oxides during pre-experimental surface preparation in air. This author suggests that the observed triboemission behavior in the present work and the work of Nakayama is a consequence of a pressure-induced metallization of silicon. Repeated passing of the diamond stylus on the same wear track, under suitable conditions, would induce metallization (2). Such a notion is supported by the observation of plastically extruded silicon plastically extruded silicon (PES) along the wear track (3). The presence of PES suggests a pressure induced semi-conductor-to-metal phase transformation, i.e., the formation of the metallic phase Si-II (β-tin) which has low electrical resistivity (4). This low electrical resistivity can explain the observed emission behavior. For mono-crystalline silicon transformation from Si-I to the metallic phase Si-II takes place in the pressure range 8.5 GPa <P< 12 GPa. Using 1200 GPa and 110 GPa for the moduli of elasticity, 0.2 and 0.28 for Poisson's ratio for diamond and silicon, respectively, and considering the experimental conditions of Nakayama, calculation of the Hertzian contact stress yields a value of 9.6 GPa. This value favors a transition from the semi-conductor phase to a metallic phase. Further using the Johnson solution for pressure under a conical indenter considering the experimental conditions, reported by the current authors, we reach a similar conclusion.The energy of the electron emission depends on the strength of the electric field generated by tribo-charging (surface potential). This depends, principally, on the electric resistivity of the solid. If the resistivity remains constant for the duration of the scratch, then the strength and the counts of the emission will remain fairly constant and donators of the emission will remain unaffected. Experimental observations, however, suggest that the resistivity changes during scratching as evidenced by the reported short-lived emission bursts, strength of emission that rapidly grows weak in time, in addition to the changes in the work function as pointed out by the authors. Using the resistivity values for Si-II (5), we can verify that the strength of emission of the metallic phase to that of the semi-conductor phase is detectable only in the time range 1E−8 s<t<1E−04 s where the ratio of strengths is in the range of 0.999 to 0.75. Thus beyond the few initial ten thousandths of a second the emission will not be of detectable strength. This is because the transformed phase, which is metallic, is incapable of emitting particles of detectable strength. Any contribution to particle counts at this point would likely originate from the recovering material in the wake of the slider. The phase of the recovering material, the PES, is a-Si (amorphous silicon). This phase is capable of emitting particles of detectable strength and is the source of the observed emission since it rubs against the sides of the diamond slider.

Effects of helper sex, recipient attractiveness, and recipient femininity on helping behavior in organizations

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the effects of sex, attractiveness, and sex role of helping behavior in a simulated work situation.Design/methodology/approachA 2 × 2×2 randomized experimental design was used, in which 81 participants worked on cooperative task building models. Male or female participants were asked for help from a female confederate who was either high or low in attractiveness and high or low in femininity.FindingsA three‐way interaction indicated that male participants provided equal levels of help across femininity and attractiveness conditions, but female participants provided more help to low attractive‐high feminine confederates than to high attractive‐high feminine confederates.Research limitations/implicationsThe external validity of the study may be limited, due to sample and experimental setting. Care should also be used in generalizing to situations in which the participants have longer‐term relationships.Practical implicationsDifferences in helping related to sex, sex role orientation, and attractiveness do occur, and may be related to social roles and expectations. This may help predict patterns of helping in work settings.Originality/valueThe study demonstrated that sex role orientation can be experimentally manipulated, and that this does combine with other variables to influence helping behaviors. It also indicated that attractiveness effects are not as consistent as may be expected.

Employee Change Agents: The Foundation for Effective Organizational Change

This paper specifically looks at the process of organizational change and how employees can influence the outcomes. Organizations tend to underutilize their employees during times of change. An organization is basically a collection of people with the same objectives. Ultimately, I seek to understand how an employee change agent framework can function as an essential tool for controlling and analyzing organizational change. As a manager and an instructor of management, I believe that is the employee that essentially controls the success of any change in an organization. Employees should be charged with the ability to foster positive change by management, but more so, by themselves. It is the employees responsibility to make the change work in the organization, along with making changes in themselves to help improve not only the organization, but to improve their own working behaviors. All employers should be creating a learning organization by asking their employees to become responsible members of the organization. Allow your staff to be present at the table. Also empower your staff to become more aligned with the core mission of the organization. The more your staff believes they are making a difference for the organization, the more vested, accountable, and responsible they will become.

Influence of the dielectric-spacer thickness on the left-handed behavior of fishnet metamaterial structure

We investigated the effects of dielectric-spacer thickness on the left-handed behavior of a symmetric fishnet-like metamaterial working at microwave frequency. The left-handed behavior was demonstrated and characterized by the standard retrieval procedure. The thickness of spacer was varied in order to examine the electromagnetic response of the fishnet structure. It was found that the changed thickness can cause different pictures of the left-handed behavior based on the electric-magnetic correlation.

Effects of an Abutment Construction on Soft Soil on a Neighbouring Structure: Influence of Different Construction Techniques Using Geosvntheties

The topographic and geological conditions of several regions in Brazil favour the formation of large deposits of soft soils. Sometimes this requires the use of innovative techniques to allow constructions of geotechnical works in these sites. The presence of deep soft foundation soils has led to an increasing number of reinforced bridge abutments being built in the last years. However, little is known on the behaviour of such works, particularly with respect to displacements and bending moments induced in the neighbouring bridge foundations due to the construction of the embankment. In this paper, hypothetical bridge abutments were modelled, with and without the presence of geosynthetic reinforcement, aiming to evaluate the effects of the embankment construction on the foundations of the neighbouring bridge. The effects of the use of vertical drains and piles with caps underneath the embankments were also investigated. The results obtained clearly indicated the potential of the use of reinforcement, vertical drains or piles to reduce damages to the foundations of neighbouring structures caused by embankment construction. The use of vertical drains in conjunction with geosynthetic reinforcement showed an important effect on the reduction of horizontal displacements and moments in the piles of the bridge.

THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS ON A TEACHER

Introduction. This paper outlines socio – cultural factors which may impact teachers’ decisions and prac-tices regarding instruction. Goal. To examine and assess the working behavior of teachers aiming at iden-tifying the key school cultural factors that influence the effective working behavior. Materials and methods. Theoretical method: studies and analysis of literature sources, empirical method: questionnaire. Results. The four dimensions of school culture collectively exert a strong influence over teacher behavior in a num-ber of ways. Conclusions. Based on what teachers report about their school culture, this study of school culture leads to a better understanding of the people working behaviors towards improving the schools performance. Key words: socio-cultural factors, school culture, professional orientation.

Work and energy in inertial and noninertial reference frames

It is usual in introductory courses of mechanics to develop the work and energy formalism from Newton’s laws. It has been shown how forces transform under a change of reference frame. No analogous study is usually done for the way in which work and energy transform under a change of reference frames. We analyze the behavior of energy and work under such transformations and explicitly show the expected invariance of the formalism under Galilean transformations for one particle and a system of particles. The case of noninertial systems is also analyzed and the fictitious work is characterized. In particular, we showed that the total fictitious work in the center of mass system vanishes even if the center of mass defines a noninertial frame. Some subtleties that arise from the formalism are illustrated by examples.

Influence of morphology on the behaviour of electrodes in a proton-conducting Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

SrCe 0.95Yb 0.05O 3 (SCY) and related materials are under consideration as a proton conductors for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) electrolytes. Sintered pellets of SCY are used to perform impedance spectroscopy (IS) studies and fuel cell tests on cells with Pt electrodes of two different morphologies. Electrodes are applied to the SCY pellets by two routes: either by firing on a layer of Pt paint (denoted electrode P) or by magnetron sputtering (electrode S). In impedance spectra recorded over a wide temperature range under humidified hydrogen, in symmetrical cell conditions, cells with S electrodes give rise to a much smaller low frequency impedance feature than the cells with P electrodes. This is tentatively attributed to faster diffusion-related processes taking place at the S electrodes. The behaviour of working fuel cells with S and P electrode morphologies is evaluated in terms of maximum power output and Area Specific Resistance in two-atmosphere tests. The fuel cell anode with the S morphology results in superior fuel cell performance, in agreement with the impedance study. The influence of the two different electrode morphologies on the behaviour of the cells is discussed with reference to their morphology, as determined by SEM and AFM.

The role of anomia on the relationship between organisational justice perceptions and organisational citizenship online behaviours

PurposeAnomic feelings (AFs) are predicted to play a moderating role in the relationship between organisational justice perceptions and the citizenship use of the organisation's internet access, or cybercivism. The purpose of this paper is to hypothesise that, just as AFs are supported in prior research as able to intensify the negative effects of organisational justice (OJ) on cyberloafing, they will also intensify the positive effects of OJ on cybercivism.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 270 (17 per cent) of the 1,547 respondents at a public university.FindingsExcept in the case of procedural justice, the results support that AF act as a moderator of the OJ‐cybercivism link because, among employees with comparatively less AF, the perceptions of the OJ under study (distributive, procedural and interactional) had a stronger impact on cybercivism.Research limitations/implicationsTo generalise from a convenience sample of 17 per cent to the entire University is unfeasible, let alone the “public sector” as a whole for a whole culture/country. Therefore, the paper only aims to be an early exploration of actual phenomenon, and to provide new insights necessary to understand the impact of pervasive new media and information and communication technologies (ICTs) on individual behaviour in virtual work settings.Practical implicationsThe findings contribute to an improved understanding of the influence of OJ on cybercivism. As a moderator, anomia is supported in our sample as one of the key “controllers” of the OJ predictions on cybercivism and sets a new scenario in seeking electronic business effectiveness. By encouraging convincing values and equity in the workplace, organisational management seems be on the right path to create the proper context for cybercivism to occur.Originality/valueEmployee AFs are shown to be a moderator in the relationship between OJ and cybercivism. This is the first empirical test of this interaction.

Effect of homogenization on the hot deformation behavior of cast AZ31 magnesium alloy

The changes in the hot working behavior of as-cast AZ31 magnesium alloy occurring due to homogenization have been studied using processing maps. The map for as-cast material exhibits three workability domains of dynamic recrystallization, the industrially viable one being in the temperature range of 325–400 °C and strain rate range of 0.3–1.0 s −1. The homogenization treatment, which dissolves the intermetallic particles present at the grain boundaries of as-cast material, improves hot workability by expanding the workability domains and reducing the intercrystalline cracking and flow instability regimes. The rate-controlling mechanisms are however unchanged by the homogenization treatment.

Convergence of self-reports and coworker reports of counterproductive work behavior: A cross-sectional multi-source survey among health care workers

Background Most studies of counterproductive work behavior (CWB) are criticized for overreliance on single-source self-reports. This study attempts to triangulate on behaviors and perceptions of the work environment by linking job incumbent self-report with coworker report of the job incumbent's behaviors. Theoretical framework is the Demand-Induced Strain Compensation (DISC) Model, which proposes in general that specific job resources should match specific job demands to reduce deviant behavioral outcomes such as CWB. Objectives To test the extent to which job incumbent self-report and coworker report of CWB in health care work converge, and the extent to which job incumbent-reported work-related antecedents (i.e., job demands and job resources) similarly predict both self-reported and coworker-reported behaviors (in line with DISC theory). Design A cross-sectional survey with anonymous questionnaires was conducted, using data from two different sources (self-reports and coworker reports). Settings A large organization for residential elderly care in the Northern urban area in The Netherlands. Participants Self-report and coworker questionnaires were distributed to 123 health care workers, of which 73 people returned the self-report questionnaire (59% response rate). In addition, 66 out of 123 coworker questionnaires were returned (54% coworker response rate). In total 54 surveys of job incumbents and coworkers could be matched. Methods Next to descriptive statistics, t-test, and correlations, hierarchical regression analyses were conducted using SPSS 15.0 for Windows. Results Correlations and a t-test demonstrated significant convergence between job incumbent and coworker reports of CWB. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that both job incumbent and coworker data consistently demonstrated CWB to be related to its work-related antecedents. Specifically, findings showed that both physical and emotional job resources moderated the relation between physical job demands and CWB. Conclusions The current findings provide stronger evidence that (multi-source measured) CWB is associated with job demands and job resources than has been provided in the past. Moreover, the present study implies that DISC theory has the potential of making a profound contribution to our understanding of counterproductive working behaviors in health care work. Future longitudinal studies should investigate this kind of relations more intensely.

The psychiatric nurse--accountable? To whom? For what? 1980.

Accountability is a weighty subject. One that couldn't possibly be covered in a comprehensive way in a short speech. What I intend do is suggest the context in which the word has emerged, present a definition of the term, and then highlight some applications in psychiatric care. Mostly, however, what I am likely do is raise questions which, I hope, you will mull over and resolve in good time. The term started appearing in health literature, with greater frequency, in the 1970s, although is not a new concept. Nor is it the first term be applied prod the consciences of health professionals. In a much earlier time was used. That meant professionals were perform their very best, almost as a sacred rite. Total devotion duty, almost as a consecration of self, was expected. As the word became outmoded and dedication began be seen as restrictive compelling devotion duty as only one facet of a person's total life--responsibility became the watchword and along with its use long lists of functions of nurses were developed--a list for each nurse position--for which was expected. Responsibility meant being reliable, trustworthy, doing what was expected; a kind of moral and personal liability was implied. No doubt a case could be made that was used when fees and salaries were pitifully low, and knowledge and resources for health services were limited. As professional salaries escalate, as more professionals go on payrolls than are collecting private fees, and as management of larger resources becomes important, the term enters the scene. Dedication has a religious tone; responsibility suggests a wider social conscience; whereas accountability is a term long associated with finances, administration, business, and management. In his definitive monograph on this subject, Matek(1977) traces the term 400 B.C. Its basic meaning is to count. For centuries it has been a central feature of performances for such occupations as accounting and auditing in which balanced financial records of public transactions were checked. All three terms have the same aim--dedication, responsibility, and accountability--to prod the professional toward proper behavior in health work. The current use of the term accountability is in relation management of health systems. Where earlier there were primarily physicians and nurses, there are now many more kinds of health professionals. There is an ever enlarging number of non-professional health workers (and over 200 different kinds), where earlier there were primarily maids and orderlies. There is now extensive specialization and subspecialization, signifying an ever-broader array of new and advanced scientific knowledge, where earlier theories explanatory of health problems were of limited scope. Today, particularly in general health service systems, there are extensive technologies and many instruments measure precisely those phenomena be diagnosed and treated by health professionals, where earlier the major tools were a limited array of measuring devices and inexact human observation. Thousands of pharmaceuticals are available today for treatment as compared the mere handful a half century ago. And, in part, as a direct consequence of these changes, the costs of present-day health are high and escalating. Clearly, the health systems of today are quite different from health services of a half century ago. However, the mission is unchanged: provide health services which the public needs. The introduction of as a prod, as a process, as a management effort, must be seen in this everchanging, increasingly complex context of present-day health-care systems. Two other significant changes have occurred which have a bearing on accountability. First, over the past half century there has been a shift from personal, private payment for health and philanthropically financed charity care for the indigent, third-party reimbursement by health insurance or by purchase of health services by governments. …

The psychiatric nurse--accountable? to whom? for what?

Accountability is a weighty subject. One that couldn't possibly be covered in a comprehensive way in a short speech. What I intend to do is to suggest the context in which the word accountability has emerged, to present a definition of the term, and then to highlight some applications in psychiatric care. Mostly, however, what I am likely to do is to raise questions which, I hope, you will mull over and resolve in good time. The term accountability started appearing in health care literature, with greater frequency, in the 1970s, although accountability is not a new concept. Nor is it the first term to be applied to prod the consciences of health professionals. In a much earlier time "dedication to duty" was used. That meant professionals were to perform their very best, almost as a sacred rite. Total devotion to duty, almost as a consecration of self, was expected. As the word "duty" became outmoded and "dedication" began to be seen as restrictive compelling devotion to duty as only one facet of a person's total life--responsibility became the watchword and along with its use long lists of functions of nurses were developed--a list for each nurse position--for which responsibility was expected. Responsibility meant being reliable, trustworthy, doing what was expected; a kind of moral and personal liability was implied. No doubt a case could be made that "dedication to duty" was used when fees and salaries were pitifully low, and knowledge and resources for health services were limited. As professional salaries escalate, as more professionals go on payrolls than are collecting private fees, and as management of larger resources becomes important, the term accountability enters the scene. "Dedication" has a religious tone; "responsibility" suggests a wider social conscience; whereas "accountability" is a term long associated with finances, administration, business, and management. In his definitive monograph on this subject, Matek(1977) traces the term to 400 B.C. Its basic meaning is "to count." For centuries it has been a central feature of performances for such occupations as accounting and auditing in which "balanced financial records" of public transactions were checked. All three terms have the same aim--dedication, responsibility, and accountability--to prod the professional toward proper behavior in health care work. The current use of the term "accountability" is in relation to management of health care systems. Where earlier there were primarily physicians and nurses, there are now many more kinds of health care professionals. There is an ever enlarging number of non-professional health care workers (and over 200 different kinds), where earlier there were primarily maids and orderlies. There is now extensive specialization and subspecialization, signifying an ever-broader array of new and advanced scientific knowledge, where earlier theories explanatory of health problems were of limited scope. Today, particularly in general health service systems, there are extensive technologies and many instruments to measure precisely those phenomena to be diagnosed and treated by health professionals, where earlier the major tools were a limited array of measuring devices and inexact human observation. Thousands of pharmaceuticals are available today for treatment as compared to the mere handful a half century ago. And, in part, as a direct consequence of these changes, the costs of present-day health care are high and escalating. Clearly, the health care systems of today are quite different from health services of a half century ago. However, the mission is unchanged: to provide health services which the public needs. The introduction of accountability as a prod, as a process, as a management effort, must be seen in this everchanging, increasingly complex context of present-day health-care systems. Two other significant changes have occurred which have a bearing on accountability. First, over the past half century there has been a shift from personal, private payment for health care and philanthropically financed "charity care" for the indigent, to third-party reimbursement by health insurance or by purchase of health services by governments. …

Implications of Couple Therapy Profession on Therapists’ Spousal Relations

The profession of psychotherapy is included in those occupations that are presumed to have a bi-directional “spillage” on the professional's personal Life. Theorizing that experiences and behaviors from people's occupations will affect behavior in life outside work, and the reverse, thirteen marriage and family therapists (MFTs) were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Responses were examined by analysis of qualitative content. The findings suggest that there is a gap between the ability of the therapist to use professional skills in the treatment room and his or her ability to implement that knowledge in his/her own marriage. Additional findings are described, as are limitations of the study.

DESIGN VALUE OF EARTH RETAINING WALLS BY THE WINKLERIAN MODEL WITH SPRINGS ON THE BOTH SIDES OF THE WALL

The Winklerian model with springs on the both sides of the wall is a method of analysis to make analysis precision of the displacement of earth retaining walls better. The design of earth retaining walls by this model demands the values such as initial earth pressure, active earth pressure, equivalent earth pressure and soil reaction modulus. This paper shows a presumed expression based on many measurements of lateral earth pressure and a case history of the behavior of practical excavation work.