Stress and coping among migrant labourers in urban Vietnam : an adaptation cycle and health vulnerabilities

Rural-urban migration continues to grow in many developing countries including Vietnam. The experience of stress and coping associated with this process may vary for people from different circumstances. However, there has been little research on migrants to date. This study adopts a qualitative approach to research on unregistered, male, migrant freelance labourers in urban Vietnam and to explore factors contributing to stress and coping among this population. The study revealed an array of stressors related to migrants' life experiences in urban space, including physical, financial and social factors. Coping was diverse, including problem-focused coping (PFC) and emotion-focused coping (EFC), pro-social and anti-social, active and passive. Less active and anti-social coping appeared common. Together, weak social network and lack of support from formal systems placed coping and adaptation in a cyclic relationship. The results highlight a multi-disciplinary approach to help cope and adapt effectively for these men.

A molecular dynamics study and molecular level explanation of pressure dependence of ionic conductivity of potassium chloride in water

Experimental ionic conductivity of different alkali ions in water shows markedly different dependences on pressure. Existing theories such as that of Hubbard-Onsager are unable to explain these dependences on pressure of the ionic conductivity for all ions. We report molecular dynamics investigation of potassium chloride solution at low dilution in water at several pressures between 1 bar and 2 kbar. Two different potential models have been employed. One of the models successfully reproduces the experimentally observed trend in ionic conductivity of K+ ions in water over the 0.001-2 kbar range. We also propose a theoretical explanation, albeit at a qualitative level, to account for the dependence of ionic conductivity on pressure in terms of the previously studied Levitation Effect. It also provides a microscopic picture in terms of the pore network in liquid water.

Ángel Rivière y la política educativa.

Ángel Rivière vivió muy de cerca los cambios experimentados en la educación española durante los últimos veinte años, participó activamente en la dirección de esos cambios en dos proyectos de gran trascendencia actual: la integración y la reforma del sistema educativo. Desempeñó un papel fundamental en la elaboración de la reforma educativa, desde el cargo que representó al frente del Centro de Investigación y Documentación Educativa (CIDE), desde el año 1985 a 1990. Tras la aprobación de la LOGSE en octubre de 1990, Ángel Rivière decidió su marcha del CIDE sin desvincularse posteriormente de los problemas generales del sistema educativo.

Modeling of GRBAS perceptual evaluation using spectral features obtained from an auditory-based filterbank.

Perceptual voice evaluation according to the GRBAS scale is modelled using a linear combination of acoustic parameters calculated after a filter-bank analysis of the recorded voice signals. Modelling results indicate that for breathiness and asthenia more than 55% of the variance of perceptual rates can be explained by such a model, with only 4 latent variables. Moreover, the greatest part of the explained variance can be attributed to only one or two latent variables similarly weighted by all 5 listeners involved in the experiment. Correlation factors between actual rates and model predictions around 0.6 are obtained.

Anonimización de bases de datos médicas

La publicación de los resultados de programas de screening (exámenes médicos orientados a un grupo genérico de la población) es de sumo interés para la comunidad científica. A pesar de eliminar datos personales como DNI, nombre, etc, el resto de la información, los llamados cuasi-identificadores (código postal, género, edad, profesión, o información de la cita médica incluyendo el centro y la hora) pueden ser utilizados para desvelar la identidad de los participantes en el programa. En particular, la información de la cita médica puede resultar comprometedora si, ya sea intencionadamente o por casualidad, se descubre que una persona determinada ha acudido a un determinado centro en una fecha concreta. bastaría entonces con consultar los resultados del test para saber si el individuo cuyos cuasi-identificadores conocemos padece la enfermedad. El objetivo de este trabajo es programar la asignación de citas, de manera que se aumente el nivel de anonimato de las bases de datos finales. Para ello, se pretende que personas con características comunes (edad, etc.) acudan a la misma cita (hora y centro), dificultando la identificación de los resultados médicos de un individuo aunque se conozcan sus datos personales, ya que se encontrarán con varias personas con los que comparte los mismos cuasi-identificadores.

Deep Crustal Structure of the North-West African Margin from Combined Wide-angle and Reflection Seismic Data (MIRROR Seismic Survey)

The structure of the Moroccan and Nova Scotia conjugate rifted margins is of key importance for understanding the Mesozoic break-up and evolution of the northern central Atlantic Ocean basin. Seven combined multichannel reflection (MCS) and wide-angle seismic (OBS) data profiles were acquired along the Atlantic Moroccan margin between the latitudes of 31.5° and 33° N during the MIRROR seismic survey in 2011, in order to image the transition from continental to oceanic crust, to study the variation in crustal structure and to characterize the crust under the West African Coast Magnetic Anomaly (WACMA). The data were modeled using a forward modeling approach. The final models image crustal thinning from 36 km thickness below the continent to approximately 8 km in the oceanic domain. A 100 km wide zone characterized by rough basement topography and high seismic velocities up to 7.4 km/s in the lower crust is observed westward of the West African Coast Magnetic Anomaly. No basin underlain by continental crust has been imaged in this region, as has been identified north of our study area. Comparison to the conjugate Nova Scotian margin shows a similar continental crustal thickness and layer geometry, and the existence of exhumed and serpentinized upper mantle material on the Canadian side only. The oceanic crustal thickness is lower on the Canadian margin.