Sacked! Workplace dismissals amongst youth employees

Limited academic attention has been afforded to young workers relative to their adult counterparts. This study addresses a phase of the employment relationship for young people that is very infrequently examined - during or around the time when the relationship ends. It examines the relative frequency of different forms of dismissal and the circumstances preceding the dismissals via a content analysis of 1259 cases of employee enquiries to a community advocacy organisation in Australia. Results indicate that dismissal was most commonly associated with bullying, harassment, and taking personal leave. Young men, compared to young women, were disproportionately likely to report allegations of misconduct as preceding dismissal, while females experienced higher rates of sexual harassment and discrimination. The research highlights the types and circumstances of dismissal across a range of employment contexts and reveals the complexities of youth employment relationships which may differ from those of the general workforce.

Exploring isospectral spring-mass systems with firefly algorithm

This paper investigates in-line spring-mass systems (An), fixed at one end and free at the other, with n-degrees of freedom (d.f.). The objective is to find feasible in-line systems (B(n)) that are isospectral to a given system. The spring-mass systems, A(n) and B(n), are represented by Jacobi matrices. An error function is developed with the help of the Jacobi matrices A(n) and B(n). The problem of finding the isospectral systems is posed as an optimization problem with the aim of minimizing the error function. The approach for creating isospectral systems uses the fact that the trace of two isospectral Jacobi matrices A(n) and B(n) should be identical. A modification is made to the diagonal elements of the given Jacobi matrix (A(n)), to create the isospectral systems. The optimization problem is solved using the firefly algorithm augmented by a local search procedure. Numerical results are obtained and resulting isospectral systems are shown for 4 d.f. and 10 d.f. systems.

用子波变换研究壁湍流Lipschitz奇异性指数

本文用子波变换研究了描述壁湍流脉动速度局部奇异性行为的Ｌｉｐｓｃｈｉｔｚ奇异性指数，发现在湍流边界层中，猝发和扫掠发生时脉动速度信号的Ｌｉｐｓｃｈｉｔｚ局部奇异性指数为负值·

温带灌木生态系统的动态特征--生物量和元素循环

本文通过对北京郊区的一个经皆伐以后，自然发育二十多年的次生灌木生态系统的定量研究，结果如下： 1）该生态系统年中最高生物量可达20.30 t/ha，但没有明显的年净增加，从而推出该系统可能进入一种比较稳定的平衡状态，生物量最高出现于秋季（生长季末）;最低为春季（生长季始），这主要是由于从秋季到春季经历了凋落和休眠的过程。另外，灌木的地下部分生物量与地上之比接近1，这也是对灌木生长发育特征的反映。 2）植物各个部位--侧根，主根，主枝，侧枝，叶---有不同的烧失量，但三种植物几乎有相似的顺序，即：主枝>侧枝><主根>侧根>叶（荆条的叶与侧根有相反的顺序）。烧失量反映了有机物质在植物各个部位的含量。 3）十种元素（N，K，Ca，Mg，Na，Cu，Zn，Fe，Al，Mn）在同一种植物，同种元素在不同植物，植物的不同部位，都有不同的含量，并且随着季节的变化而变化。 4）降水中所含的元素是生态系统营养的重要来源，尤其是一些大量元素如K, Na, Ca, Mg等。一般地冠流中的元素含量要高于降水中的，冠流中元素浓度与降水中的比值，不同的元素是不相同的，其中K为2-7倍，Na为1-3倍，Ca, Mg为1-2倍，对同一元素，比值的大小降水的时间有一定的关系，也即有时间性的变化。 5）土壤的水分含量不仅由于雨季和旱季而发生变化，还随土壤的不同的而异，而这种变化又随着季节性而不同。 6）营养元素输入--输出预算表明，各个元素基本上没有明显的存留，甚至有微量的亏损，但仍可以判断，该生态系统基本上处于一种较稳定的平衡状态。

Proyecto para la remodelación del patio : proyecto de patio.

Proyecto de remodelación del patio para convertirlo en un espacio educativo que responda, no sólo a la dinámica de la escuela infantil sino también a las necesidades básicas del niño enriqueciendo su desarrollo. Los objetivos son: desarrollar la afectividad, la autonomía y la coordinación motora; fomentar la expresión, la creatividad y la socialización; y potenciar el aprovechamiento lúdico del espacio exterior. La experiencia consiste en organizar el patio en rincones de trabajo en los que el alumnado mediante el juego realiza una serie de actividades encaminadas a favorecer la adquisición de hábitos y destrezas. Entre ellas destacan: ejercicios de movimiento, comunicación, manipulativos y relacionados con la naturaleza. Se propone una evaluación continua mediante fichas de seguimiento y tablas de referencia.

A device to improve the Schleger and Turner method for sweating rate measurements

The objective of this study was to test a device developed to improve the functionality, accuracy and precision of the original technique for sweating rate measurements proposed by Schleger and Turner [Schleger AV, Turner HG (1965) Aust J Agric Res 16:92-106]. A device was built for this purpose and tested against the original Schleger and Turner technique. Testing was performed by measuring sweating rates in an experiment involving six Mertolenga heifers subjected to four different thermal levels in a climatic chamber. The device exhibited no functional problems and the results obtained with its use were more consistent than with the Schleger and Turner technique. There was no difference in the reproducibility of the two techniques (same accuracy), but measurements performed with the new device had lower repeatability, corresponding to lower variability and, consequently, to higher precision. When utilizing this device, there is no need for physical contact between the operator and the animal to maintain the filter paper discs in position. This has important advantages: the animals stay quieter, and several animals can be evaluated simultaneously. This is a major advantage because it allows more measurements to be taken in a given period of time, increasing the precision of the observations and diminishing the error associated with temporal hiatus (e.g., the solar angle during field studies). The new device has higher functional versatility when taking measurements in large-scale studies (many animals) under field conditions. The results obtained in this study suggest that the technique using the device presented here could represent an advantageous alternative to the original technique described by Schleger and Turner.

ROLE OF FOCAL ADHESION KINASE IN LUNG REMODELING OF ENDOTOXEMIC RATS

Despite significant advances in the care of critically ill patients, acute lung injury continues to be a complex problem with high mortality. The present study was designed to characterize early lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pulmonary injury and small interfering RNA targeting focal adhesion kinase (FAK) as a possible therapeutic tool in the septic lung remodeling process. Male Wistar rats were assigned into endotoxemic group and control group. Total collagen deposition was performed 8, 16, and 24 h after LPS injection. Focal adhesion kinase expression, interstitial and vascular collagen deposition, and pulmonary mechanics were analyzed at 24 h. Intravenous injection of small interfering RNA targeting FAK was used to silence expression of the kinase in pulmonary tissue. Focal adhesion kinase, total collagen deposition, and pulmonary mechanics showed increased in LPS group. Types I, III, and V collagen showed increase in pulmonary parenchyma, but only type V increased in vessels 24 h after LPS injection. Focal adhesion kinase silencing prevented lung remodeling in pulmonary parenchyma at 24 h. In conclusion, LPS induced a precocious and important lung remodeling. There was fibrotic response in the lung characterized by increased amount in total and specific-type collagen. These data may explain the frequent clinical presentation during sepsis of reduced lung compliance, oxygen diffusion, and pulmonary hypertension. The fact that FAK silencing was protective against lung collagen deposition underscores the therapeutic potential of FAK targeting by small interfering RNA.

Treatment-naive individuals are the major source of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance in men who have sex with men in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study

BACKGROUND Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmitted drug resistance (TDR) can compromise antiretroviral therapy (ART) and thus represents an important public health concern. Typically, sources of TDR remain unknown, but they can be characterized with molecular epidemiologic approaches. We used the highly representative Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) and linked drug resistance database (SHCS-DRDB) to analyze sources of TDR. METHODS ART-naive men who have sex with men with infection date estimates between 1996 and 2009 were chosen for surveillance of TDR in HIV-1 subtype B (N = 1674), as the SHCS-DRDB contains pre-ART genotypic resistance tests for >69% of this surveillance population. A phylogeny was inferred using pol sequences from surveillance patients and all subtype B sequences from the SHCS-DRDB (6934 additional patients). Potential sources of TDR were identified based on phylogenetic clustering, shared resistance mutations, genetic distance, and estimated infection dates. RESULTS One hundred forty of 1674 (8.4%) surveillance patients carried virus with TDR; 86 of 140 (61.4%) were assigned to clusters. Potential sources of TDR were found for 50 of 86 (58.1%) of these patients. ART-naive patients constitute 56 of 66 (84.8%) potential sources and were significantly overrepresented among sources (odds ratio, 6.43 [95% confidence interval, 3.22-12.82]; P < .001). Particularly large transmission clusters were observed for the L90M mutation, and the spread of L90M continued even after the near cessation of antiretroviral use selecting for that mutation. Three clusters showed evidence of reversion of K103N or T215Y/F. CONCLUSIONS Many individuals harboring viral TDR belonged to transmission clusters with other Swiss patients, indicating substantial domestic transmission of TDR in Switzerland. Most TDR in clusters could be linked to sources, indicating good surveillance of TDR in the SHCS-DRDB. Most TDR sources were ART naive. This, and the presence of long TDR transmission chains, suggests that resistance mutations are frequently transmitted among untreated individuals, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

De la ciudad a la ventana: Ignazio Gardella y las viviendas Borsalino en Alessandria

El objeto de estudio de este artículo es el edificio de viviendas para los empleados de la fábrica de sombreros Borsalino en Alessandria, proyectado y construido por el arquitecto Ignazio Gardella entre los años 1948 y 1952. Gardella trabaja a distintas escalas en esta propuesta otorgando un valor distinto a cada una de ellas. La estructura del texto responde a esta visión escalar. Se analiza la relación del edificio con laciudad y el contexto adyacente; los espacios comunes; la vivienda; el estar y finalmente la ventana. La importancia otorgada a cada parte, en el desarrollo del artículo, responde a la intensidad con la que Gardella aborda cada escala de acercamiento al proyecto. Finalmente, se reflexiona sobre la vigencia y atemporalidad de estas viviendas que refl ejan un perfecto entendimiento del lugar y una relación directa con la arquitectura tradicional del norte de Italia, además de proponer la flexibilidad en el habitar y el control del clima a través del cerramiento.

Aplicación de la señal isotópica δ13CO2 para la caracterización de mecanismos de transporte de CO2-gas entre atmósfera y subsuelo en sistemas kársticos someros (Cueva de Altamira, Cantabria)

Investigación financiada por el proyecto del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación CGL2010-17108 (Inv. Principal S. Sánchez Moral) y ha sido posible gracias a una ayuda predoctoral (beca y contrato en prácticas) del programa JAE (Junta de Ampliación de Estudios, CSIC).