Topics Of Considerable Interest Research Articles

The Realization of Short-Term Fertility Intentions Among Immigrants and Children of Immigrants in Norway and Sweden

Immigrant fertility and the realization of fertility intentions are two topics of considerable interest in contemporary demographic research. Yet very few studies have explored the relationship between intended and actual fertility among immigrants and their children. Using data from the Norwegian and Swedish Generations and Gender Surveys, this article analyzes how both positive and negative short-term fertility intentions stated by men and women at Wave 1 in 2007/08 (Norway) or 2012/13 (Sweden) had been realized at register-based follow-ups three years after the initial interview. Results show that second-generation women of non-Western origin were significantly less likely than native women (defined here as Swedish-born women with two Swedish-born parents) to realize a positive fertility intention, whereas first-generation men of Western origin were significantly more likely than native men to realize a positive fertility intention. Western-origin men were also significantly less likely than native men to have an unintended birth. These findings are robust to controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics at interview. Possible reasons for these intergroup realization differences include group differences in the ability to predict future changes to demographic and socioeconomic status and in the motivation to pursue the realization of a reported fertility intention. This article demonstrates that exploring immigrant-native differences in realization patterns can provide information about immigrants’ ideational and behavioral adaptation to the destination country’s fertility regime that cannot be attained by studying intended or actual fertility alone.

Sulfoximine‐Directed Arene ortho‐Lithiation

AbstractSulfoximines are an interesting class of compounds, which exhibit Brønsted and Lewis basicity, nucleophilicity, C−H acidity, N−H acidity, hydrogen‐bond acceptor capability and chirality. Sulfoximines have received renewed interest in recent times, since incorporation of a sulfoximine group can provide drug candidates with favorable properties. The synthesis and N−H, α‐C−H and o‐C−H functionalization of sulfoximines are currently topics of considerable interest. This Minireview describes the sulfoximine‐directed arene ortho‐lithiation and the synthesis of ortho‐substituted S‐aryl sulfoximines. Comparison between the sulfoximine and sulfone group shows that both are equally potent directors in arene ortho‐lithiation. Double ortho‐lithiation of S‐phenyl sulfoximines affords o,o'‐dilithiosulfoximines, which undergo a stereoretentive rearrangement to o‐sulfinylanilines. S‐Phenyl sulfoximines, carrying a α‐hydrogen atom, are amendable to a selective ortho‐lithiation to give o‐lithiosulfoximines, which suffer transmetalation to the α‐lithiosulfoximines at ambient temperatures. Double lithiation of S‐phenyl N−H sulfoximines gives access to o,N‐dilithiosulfoximines, the reaction of which with biselectrophiles yields bicyclic sulfoximines.

PERSON-JOB FIT AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT IN EDO STATE SECRETARIAT, BENIN CITY

AbstractIn the last four decades, person-job fit, person-organization fit, job related attitudes and behaviours have remained topics of considerable interest in the fields of human resource management, organizational behaviour and industrial psychology. Person-job fit, which is the match between the individual’s knowledge, skills and abilities and the demands of the job positively, contributes to organizational attitudes and behaviour such as job satisfaction, job performance, employee’s commitment, display of organizational citizenship behaviour and employee’s engagement. This study therefore seeks to explore the nitty-gritty of person-job fit and its effect on employee engagement in Edo State Secretariat, Benin City using survey research method. Non-probabilistic sampling techniques comprising of purposeful and convenience techniques were used to elicit information via questionnaire from 250 respondents. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and linear regression analysis with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 17. The results of the study showed that there is significant relationship between person-job fit and employee engagement. As predicted, the study also revealed that person-job fit exerts a positive and statistically significant effect on employee engagement. Thus, the study recommends among others that management should emphasize the suitability between job characteristics and employees ability to perform the job. This will go a long way to help employees recognize the similarity among them and thus exchange positive and supportive attitudes and behaviours.

The Many Faces of Obesity and Its Influence on Breast Cancer Risk.

Obesity is associated with increased risk of breast and other cancers. However, the complexity of the underlying mechanisms, together with the interplay of diet and physical activity—contributing to energy balance—and the role of adipose tissue, pose challenges to our understanding of the basis of this increased risk. Epidemiologic studies have documented a higher obesity prevalence in US black women compared to white women. Elucidation of the contribution of potential biological differences among racially distinct groups to their differences in breast cancer (BC) risk and mortality have been topics of considerable interest in recent years. The racial and ethnic variation in body fat distribution may account for at least part of the differences in breast cancer rates in these populations. Yet, while black women exhibit higher rates of obesity compared to white women, this does not translate directly into higher rates of BC. In fact, overall, BC in black women occurs with a lower incidence than BC in white women. Obesity is a known risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer, and growing evidence suggests that abdominal obesity, also known as central obesity, may increase risk for triple negative breast cancer, which is more common in premenopausal women. The positive association of postmenopausal BC risk and specifically estrogen receptor (ER)-positive BC, is presumably due largely to accumulation of estrogen in the adipose tissue of the breast and other tissues. Of the two main types of adipose tissue—subcutaneous and visceral—visceral adipocytes are more active metabolically. Such adipose tissue harbors multiple molecular entities that promote carcinogenesis: endocrine molecules/hormones, immunologic factors, inflammatory cytokines, metabolic alterations, and other components of the microenvironment. Expression of these culpable entities is largely regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. The interrelationship between these entities and drivers of epigenetic alteration are critical to the regulation of pathways connecting obesity and cancer risk. Initiatives to counteract the carcinogenic effects of obesity have primarily involved modulation of energy balance by diet. However, targeting of specific molecular abnormalities characterizing adiposity offers an alternative approach to preventing cancer. Our goal in this review is to first discuss the major mechanisms contributing to the obesity-breast cancer link. We will also consider race, specifically black/white differences, as they relate to the association of obesity with breast cancer risk. Then we will enumerate strategies targeting these mechanisms to reduce BC risk, in large part by way of dietary interventions with potential to mitigate the cancer-promoting components of adiposity.

The Roles of Ubiquitin-Binding Protein Shuttles in the Degradative Fate of Ubiquitinated Proteins in the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and Autophagy.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy are the two major intracellular protein quality control (PQC) pathways that are responsible for cellular proteostasis (homeostasis of the proteome) by ensuring the timely degradation of misfolded, damaged, and unwanted proteins. Ubiquitination serves as the degradation signal in both these systems, but substrates are precisely targeted to one or the other pathway. Determining how and when cells target specific proteins to these two alternative PQC pathways and control the crosstalk between them are topics of considerable interest. The ubiquitin (Ub) recognition code based on the type of Ub-linked chains on substrate proteins was believed to play a pivotal role in this process, but an increasing body of evidence indicates that the PQC pathway choice is also made based on other criteria. These include the oligomeric state of the Ub-binding protein shuttles, their conformation, protein modifications, and the presence of motifs that interact with ATG8/LC3/GABARAP (autophagy-related protein 8/microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3/GABA type A receptor-associated protein) protein family members. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the Ub recognition code that is bound by Ub-binding proteasomal and autophagic receptors. We also discuss how cells can modify substrate fate by modulating the structure, conformation, and physical properties of these receptors to affect their shuttling between both degradation pathways.

Quantum dynamics of the intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution in OCS: From localization to quasi-thermalization.

We report a fully quantum-dynamical study of the intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) in the electronic ground state of carbonyl sulfide, which is a prototype of an isolated many-body quantum system with strong internal couplings and non-Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) behavior. We pay particular attention to the role of many-body localization and the approach to thermalization, which currently are topics of considerable interest, as they pertain to the very foundations of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. We employ local-mode (valence) coordinates and consider initial excitations localized in one local mode, with energies ranging from low to near the dissociation threshold, where the classical dynamics have been shown to be chaotic. We propagate the nuclear wavepacket on the potential energy surface by means of the numerically exact multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree method and employ mean local energies, time-dependent and time-averaged populations in quantum number space, energy distributions, entanglement entropies, local population distributions, microcanonical averages, and dissociation probabilities, as diagnostic tools. This allows us to identify a continuous localization → delocalization transition in the energy flow, associated with the onset of quantum chaos, as the excitation energy increases up to near the dissociation threshold. Moreover, we find that at this energy and ∼1 ps the molecule nearly thermalizes. Furthermore, we observe that IVR is so slow that the molecule begins to dissociate well before such quasi-thermalization is complete, in accordance with earlier classical-mechanical predictions of non-RRKM behavior.

Critical screening in the one- and two-electron Yukawa atoms

The one- and two-electron Yukawa atoms, also referred to as the Debye-H\uckel or screened Coulomb atoms, have been topics of considerable interest both for intrinsic reasons and because of their relevance to terrestrial and astrophysical plasmas. At sufficiently high screening the one-electron Yukawa atom ceases to be bound. Some calculations appeared to suggest that as the screening increases in the ground state of the two-electron Yukawa atom (in which both the one-particle attraction and the interparticle repulsion are screened) the two electrons are detached simultaneously, at the same screening constant at which the one-electron atom becomes unbound. Our results rule this scenario out, offering an alternative that is not less interesting. In particular, it is found that for $Zl1$ a mild amount of screening actually increases the binding energy of the second electron. At the nuclear charge ${Z}_{c}\ensuremath{\approx}0.911028...$, at which the bare Coulomb two-electron atom becomes unbound, and even over a range of lower nuclear charges, an appropriate amount of screening gives rise to a bound two-electron system.

ONE YEAR OF ADFM’S JOY IN PRACTICE INITIATIVE

As health care transformation accelerates in the United States, the problem of physician burnout has worsened and is now receiving national attention. In family medicine, wellness, burnout, and resilience among our care teams were topics of considerable interest at the last several ADFM Winter

Ethics begin at home

ABSTRACTOver recent years, lawyer misconduct and regulation of the profession have been topics of considerable interest. Yet, when the topic of legal ethics is raised, the focus tends to be on lawyer conduct external to the firm: lawyer conduct in court; lawyer conduct vis-a-vis client; or lawyer conduct vis-a-vis opposing counsel or the judiciary. The recent National Attrition and Re-engagement Study (NARS), however, raises a different aspect of legal professional ethics. This Report found a widespread incidence of bullying, intimidation, discrimination and harassment within law firms, primarily affecting though not confined to, female lawyers. Of course, bullying and associated behaviours are not confined to the legal profession. But these behaviours are at odds with a profession that purports to be deeply concerned with the ethical conduct of its members. Arguing that ‘ethics begins at home’, this paper suggests NARS raises uncomfortable questions about legal professional ethics: if law firms cannot treat their own staff members ethically, what does that say about the firm’s approach to ethical conduct more generally? And if this culture is as widespread as the report suggests, what does this say about the ethics of the legal profession as a whole?

Ontology Mapping for Enhanced Interoperability of S-100 Geographic Information Registers

In the maritime field, integration of information service architectures and a common data model currently are topics of considerable interest. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) introduced the S-100 standard for the universal hydrographic data model and publishes Geographic Information (GI) registers in order to support the wider use of, the ease of access to, and the development of S-100 based product specifications. GI registers can be used with other domains’ registers. Whereas each register might have contents for each domain or each specific type, extracting cross-domain or cross-type contents from registers is not easy. In this paper, we present three register ontologies based on the ISO 19135 register schema model, the S-100 model, and the FCD model, respectively. As each register ontology represents concept classes and their relations on different level, we also present ontology-mapping methods for enhanced interoperability of GI registers based on ISO 19100 series.

Traces of the Individual in Prehistory

AbstractThere is considerable and largely untapped potential in individual-scale research in the discipline of archaeology. Innovative methods described in this article were developed to identify the work of individual prehistoric flintknappers. Theoretically, the approach was informed by previous researchers' discussions of technological style and utilizes an individual- or nano-scale focus for that concept. New analytical methods were then used to investigate individual flintknappers' participation in the community organization of the prehistoric eastern Tonto Basin, Arizona. Specifically, small triangular stone projectile points (n = 149) collected from Roosevelt phase (A.D. 1275–1325) sites were analyzed to inform an assessment of the spatial distribution of individuals' handiwork in late prehistoric multi-site settlements. This research illustrates how improved individual-scale techniques may provide new insight on topics of considerable interest to archaeologists. For the Tonto Basin case, this project offers a new perspective on the integration of immigrants into local systems and the strength of community ties across natural barriers such as the Salt River during the Roosevelt phase.

The Relationship between Person Organization Fit, Person-Job-Fit and Turnover Intention in Banking Sector of Pakistan: The Mediating Role of Psychological Climate

In last few decades, employees’ job related attitudes and behaviors have remained topics of considerable interest in the fields of organizational behavior and human resource management. This study aims to explore the impact of person-organization-fit and person-job-fit on employee turnover intention while considering psychological climate as a mediating variable. Sample for this research is consisted of 260 employees from top five commercial banks of large cities of Pakistan. SPSS 17 is used for analyzing the data. Correlation and regression analysis is used to test the direct and mediating relationship between key variables. Results indicate that both person-organization-fit and person-job-fit have negative relationship with turnover intention. Psychological climate partially mediates the relationship between person-organization-fit and turnover intention while fully mediates the relationship between person-job-fit and turnover intention.

Raw material availability, flaking quality, and hunter–gatherer technological decision making in northern Tierra del Fuego Island (southern South America)

The technological organization and lithic raw material procurement of Holocene hunter–gatherers have been topics of considerable interest in northern Tierra del Fuego Island. Ongoing archaeological investigations indicate that most of the rocks employed by native human populations came from secondary deposits of fluvio-glacial and marine origin. However, a primary geological source for two distinctive lithologies has been recently discovered near the Chorrillo Miraflores Valley (Tierra del Fuego, Chile). These raw materials became the focus of further research since one of them (a silicified tuff) has been identified in several archaeological sites of Tierra del Fuego. Some of these sites are located more than a hundred kilometers away from the source. A regional survey of potential lithic sources along with petrographic and geochemical analyses confirmed that the silicified tuff is only available at Chorrillo Miraflores. Here we present the technological analysis of artifacts manufactured on Miraflores silicified tuff that were recovered from the Argentine portion of northern Tierra del Fuego composed of Espíritu Santo and San Sebastian Capes. The role of utilitarian currencies in the prehistoric use of this lithology is assessed through the application of the Metcalfe and Barlow (1992) field processing model. The results show that this raw material may not have been exclusively selected for its flaking quality, although an alternative functional efficiency hypothesis is also introduced. Finally, its spatially restricted availability as well as unique macroscopic aspect suggests its selection and use may have been mainly influenced by social factors.

Neuronal receptors as targets for the action of amyloid-beta protein (Aβ) in the brain

Accumulation of neurotoxic soluble amyloid-beta protein (Aβ) oligomers in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and their role in AD pathogenesis have emerged as topics of considerable interest in recent years. Soluble Aβ oligomers impair synaptic and neuronal function, leading to neurodegeneration that is clinically manifested by memory and cognitive dysfunction. The precise mechanisms whereby Aβ oligomers cause neurotoxicity remain unknown. Emerging insights into the mechanistic link between neuronal receptors and soluble Aβ oligomers highlight the potential role of these receptors in Aβ-mediated neurotoxicity in AD. The current review focuses on studies describing interactions between soluble Aβ oligomers and neuronal receptors, and their role in AD pathogenesis. Furthermore, these studies provide insight into potential therapies for AD using compounds directed at putative target receptors for the action of Aβ in the central nervous system. We focus on interactions of Aβ with subtypes of acetylcholine and glutamatergic receptors. Additionally, neuronal receptors such as insulin, amylin and receptor for advanced glycation end products could be potential targets for soluble Aβ-oligomer-mediated neurotoxicity. Aβ interactions with other receptors such as the p75 neurotrophin receptors, which are highly expressed on cholinergic basal forebrain neurons lost in AD, are also highlighted.

Developmental disorders of the midbrain and hindbrain.

Malformations of the midbrain (MB) and hindbrain (HB) have become topics of considerable interest in the neurology and neuroscience literature in recent years. The combined advances of imaging and molecular biology have improved analyses of structures in these areas of the central nervous system, while advances in genetics have made it clear that malformations of these structures are often associated with dysfunction or malformation of other organ systems. This review focuses upon the importance of communication between clinical researchers and basic scientists in the advancement of knowledge of this group of disorders. Disorders of anteroposterior (AP) patterning, cerebellar hypoplasias, disorders associated with defects of the pial limiting membrane (cobblestone cortex), disorders of the Reelin pathway, and disorders of the primary cilium/basal body organelle (molar tooth malformations) are the main focus of the review.

Schistosoma mansoni: signal transduction processes during the development of the reproductive organs

Among the topics of considerable interest concerning our understanding of the unusual biology of schistosomes is the sexual maturation of the female. The identification of genes coding for signal transduction proteins controlling essential steps of the pairing-dependent differentiation of the reproductive organs, vitellarium and ovary will help to substantiate our knowledge about this unique parasite. Furthermore, such signalling proteins could be potential targets to interfere with the development of this parasite to combat schistosomiasis since its pathology is caused by the eggs. This review summarises first post-genomic steps to elucidate the function of gonad-specific signalling molecules which were identified by homology-based cloning strategies, by in silico identification or by yeast two-hybrid interaction analyses, using a combination of novel techniques. These include the in vitro culture of adult schistosomes, their treatment with chemical inhibitors to block enzyme activity, the use of RNAi to silence gene function post-transcriptionally, and confocal laser scanning microscopy to study the morphological consequences of these experimental approaches. Finally, we propose a first model of protein networks that are active in the ovary regulating mitogenic activity and differentiation. Some of these molecules are also active in the testes of males, probably fulfilling similar roles as in the ovary.

Long-term trends in ambient noise levels.

This paper addresses the subject of long‐term trends in ambient noise levels, a topic of great interest to both the scientific community and the general public. This attention stems primarily from concerns over the effects of apparently increasing sound levels on marine mammals. A growing, though limited, body of literature suggests that low‐frequency noise levels increased approximately 15 dB during the period 1950–2000, an amount that corresponds to about 3 dB/decade. One hypothesis states that this increase is predominantly anthropogenic in nature and can be attributed to increased commercial shipping activity, which, in turn, can be linked to global economic growth. As a result, a direct correlation may be drawn between ambient noise levels and the behavior of the global economy. This special session addresses an additional consequence of global economic activity, namely, increased ocean acidification leading to decreased absorption and therefore to increases in ambient noise levels associated with distant shipping. This paper also suggests topics of considerable interest for future research including (1) the relative contributions of commercial shipping activity versus ocean acidification to ambient noise levels and (2) the effect of the current economic downturn on noise levels. [Work supported by ONR.]

Site‐Specific Applications of Probabilistic Health Risk Assessment: Review of the Literature Since 2000

Whether and to what extent contaminated sites harm ecologic and human health are topics of considerable interest, but also considerable uncertainty. Several federal and state agencies have approved the use of some or many aspects of probabilistic risk assessment (PRA), but its site-specific application has often been limited to high-profile sites and large projects. Nonetheless, times are changing: newly developed software tools, and recent federal and state guidance documents formalizing PRA procedures, now make PRA a readily available method of analysis for even small-scale projects. This article presents and discusses a broad review of PRA literature published since 2000.

A pilot study of “black chert” sourcing and implications for assessing hunter-gatherer mobility strategies in Northern England

Mesolithic hunter-gatherer logistic strategies and raw material procurement locales have been topics of considerable interest in northern England, accelerated by the early discoveries at Star Carr. Here we present the results of a pilot study investigating the potential for geochemically sourcing “black chert”, a material with similar qualities to flint but of inland limestone origin, using ICP-AES, ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS. Several geological sources of black chert are known, and it is commonly present at upland Mesolithic sites along the Pennine chain. Four geological sources were sampled and analysed, along with a small sample of black chert artefacts from two upland Pennine archaeological sites. The results demonstrate that the four sampled sources can be easily differentiated from one another chemically. This research reveals the potential to apply this approach at a larger scale; the archaeological sample together with the source results indicate that additional sources will need to be identified and sampled before such data can be applied to address current questions of the Mesolithic of northern England.

Report of the Council for the Session 2005–2006

Abstract For the session ended June 14th, 2006, presented at the One Hundred and Seventy-second Annual General Meeting of the Royal Statistical Society, held at the premises of the Society on June 14th, 2006 President's foreword. This year's annual report shows another successful year for the Society. This is due to the unstinting efforts of a large number of individual volunteers, including in particular our Honorary Officers and also, of course, the staff at Errol Street. On behalf of all Fellows, I wish to express my thanks to everyone involved. It is difficult to summarize all of the activities of the Society but I offer a brief view of some of the highlights. The annual conference held in Cardiff in conjunction with PSI (Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry) was a great success with very good attendance and a strong and lively programme. On the topic of meetings and conferences, we were fortunate to have John Hills to present the Beveridge Lecture on the day following the release of the Turner report into the future of pension provision. John spoke with great knowledge, as one would expect, and the lecture was another good occasion in a fine series. One of the major events of the year was the Chancellor of the Exchequer's decision to introduce legislation for the production of national statistics. The Society has long campaigned for this and has, I believe, had a significant impact in getting to this point. However, what is needed is not just legislation but good legislation and the Society is working assiduously to influence the Government and Parliamentarians to ensure that any legislation is as good as can be achieved. The Society has contributed to a very large number of consultations from various governmental bodies; too many to list individually. Apart from the national statistics developments, particular attention should be drawn to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's ‘Futures’ project which is concerned with what the school curriculum might look like in several years. There can be few subjects more important than how we educate the next generation. This year the Society formed two new Study Groups on topics of considerable interest. We look forward to lively programmes from both the Census and the Six Sigma Study Groups. To many of us the award of a new Charter may not seem so significant but it has taken a long time to achieve and we owe a debt of gratitude to Ivor Goddard for steering us between the Scylla of the Privy Council and the Charybdis of the Charity Commission. It has forced us to review and modernize many of our constitutional arrangements and over time will allow us to open up new possibilities. Apart from the conference with PSI, the Society has been involved with other Societies in a wide variety of ways, e.g. co-operating with the Operations Research Society on a careers open day. Of particular note is the Curriculum Roundtable, initiated by the Society, and involving other disciplines with a statistics component such as geography, biology and economics. This desire to build bridges to other disciplines is reflected in the Society's creation of the Users Forum which was reported on in last year's annual report and which has now held its first, very successful, day conference on ‘Regional and local statistics’. Finally I draw your attention to one initiative which I hope and believe is of great importance. The Society has tried to engage with young statisticians, to involve them in the Society and to find out how we can best meet their needs. A very successful event was held at Errol Street with many more in attendance than we had dared hope. If we can capture the interest and enthusiasm of younger statisticians then, I believe, this will be good for the Society and its activities now and will provide the Fellows who will be the corner-stone of the Society in the future.