From <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hōshi</Emphasis> to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Borantia</Emphasis>: Transformations of Volunteering in Japan and Implications for Foreign Policy

This study explores the relationship between state–citizen relations and changing notions of volunteering in Japan. I map Japan’s state–citizen relations through an analysis of the transformations of volunteering in Japan from “hōshi” (mutual obligation) to “borantia” (borrowed from the English “volunteer”). The article broadly considers these paradigm shifts in terms of the context of the role International Non Profit Organisations (INPOs) play in Japanese foreign policy.     

Effects of off-road vehicles on reproductive success of pine snakes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pituophus melanoleucus</Emphasis>) in the New Jersey pinelands

Considerable attention has been devoted to the effects of people and their vehicles on birds and mammals, but possible effects on reptiles in populated areas have received less attention. Moreover, the effects of human activities on reptile reproductive success itself has been harder to demonstrate. This paper examines the effect of management of off-road vehicles in New Jersey’s pinelands on the reproductive success of pine snakes (Pituophus melanoleucus) from 1986 to 2005. We used the percentage of snakes in each hibernaculum that were young of the year (hatchlings) as an indicator of reproductive success, and compared this percent for five hibernacula that were in an area with varying degrees of off-road vehicle (ORV) disturbance, with 12 hibernacula in areas with no ORV disturbances (reference sites). This percent took into account differences in absolute numbers from one location to another, and over time due to hibernacula destruction (by people or predators) and natural variations (food supply). The ORV pressure in the pinelands is intense because it lies within the most densely populated urban area in the United States. Although the number of snakes in the reference hibernacula varied over the years from 46 to 63, the percent of young in these hibernacula did not vary significantly over the 20 year period (21–29%). In contrast, the percent-young in the disturbed sites differed significantly in years without ORV disturbance (28%) compared to those with ORV disturbance (15 and 16%, P < 0.01). Further, there were no differences between the percent of young in the reference sites and those in the disturbed site in years without ORV disturbance. ORV disturbance ceased only with the creation of large dirt berms coupled with fences that could not be easily broken. These data indicate the importance of having detailed population data on pine snakes in hibernacula, on ORV use (or indications of such use), and of managing ORV use to protect sensitive populations. Maintenance of healthy pine snake populations in urban areas may require continued adaptive management.     

Enduring Legacy? Charles Tilly and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Durable Inequality</Emphasis>

This article assesses Charles Tilly’s Durable Inequality and traces its influence. In writing Durable Inequality, Tilly sought to shift the research agenda of stratification scholars. But the book’s initial impact was disappointing. In recent years, however, its influence has grown, suggesting a more enduring legacy.     

Habitat-wise distribution of the House Sparrow (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Passer domesticus</Emphasis>) in Delhi,India

Recently, there have been several reports from different parts of the World on the declining populations of the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). In order to assess the population of this species in the National Capital Territory of Delhi-India, this study was conducted during June– August in 2007. Twenty-eight Fixed-Radius Point Count stations were established in five habitat types viz. High-density Urban Area, Medium-density Urban Area, Low-density Urban Area, Agriculture Area, and Forested Area, within the study area. The results show that the House Sparrow is still a dominant species in the agriculture area. However, its density is very low in the urban areas as compared to the other co-occurring common bird species viz. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia domestica), House Crow (Corvus splendens) and Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis). As, this study was conducted only over one season, the data is not sufficient to provide a clear picture of the population trend of the House Sparrow. Further studies are therefore required to investigate the relationship of the House Sparrow with other co-occurring common species, and to analyse the data on the type and quality of greenspaces and their relation with the House Sparrow in the study area. A long-term monitoring and conservation programme involving local people may be a good approach for maintaining the population of House Sparrow in the study area.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hans-Peter Blossfeld</Emphasis> und <Emphasis Type="Italic">Andreas Timm</Emphasis> (Hg.): Who marries whom? Educational systems as marriage markets in modern societies. European studies of population volume 12

Ohne Zusammenfassung

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Hans-Peter Blossfeld und Andreas Timm (Hg.): Who marries whom? Educational systems as marriage markets in modern societies. European studies of population volume 12 Dordrecht/Boston/London: Kluwer Academic Publishers 2003. 342 Seiten. ISBN 1-4020-1682-4. Preis: € 135,-

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Do jobs programs work?</Emphasis>: A review article

During the 109th Congress (2003–2004), policymakers in Washington plan to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, which is the primary authorization legislation for employment and training programs operated by the U.S. Department of Labor. The literature evaluating the effectiveness of federal employment and training programs casts considerable doubt on the ability of these programs to improve participants ' incomes. The policy debate is centered on procedural changes to the delivery of the same job training services that performed inadequately in the past. Thus, current reforms are hobbled by remnants of previously failed federal employment and tra in ing programs.     

Resource use overlap between urban carnivores: Implications for endangered San Joaquin kit foxes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vulpes macrotis mutica</Emphasis>)

An urban population of Endangered San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica) has persisted in the city of Bakersfield, (Kern County, California), for several decades. Urban kit foxes may play an important role in future range wide recovery efforts for the species. As such, a comprehensive understanding of the issues that can influence the long-term survival of this population is essential for the development of effective management strategies. Although urban kit foxes have been studied extensively in Bakersfield, interactions between kit foxes and other urban carnivore species are poorly understood. Urban environments can provide a number of opportunities for species to interact in ways not usually observed in natural habitats. Interactions between urban populations of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) and kit foxes were investigated at denning locations and cat feeding stations on the California State University-Bakersfield campus, California, USA. A total of 130 individual denning sites were identified, of which 39 (30%) were used by both species. Simultaneous den use by foxes and skunks was recorded on four occasions. Inter and intra-specific aggression was recorded at cat feeding stations on ten separate occasions including three incidences of aggression towards kit foxes by skunks and feral cats (Felis catus). Telemetry data and cat feeding station observations clearly show that interspecific contact does occur in urban environments.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">What do unions do?</Emphasis>—A management perspective

conclusion Over the past 30 years, progressive human resource policies and government regulation of the workplace have improved working conditions. Today unions are no longer exercising union power to“protect the underdog” or “level the playing field” (Kaufman, 2005). Unions are using their power to pass legislation to benefit their narrow special interests. There are two groups in the workforce that may provide unions with organizing opportunities. One segment of the workforce is the growing number of nonpermanent employees or contingent workers. Another is the growing low-wage part of the service sector. The Service Employees International Union has been one of the few unions to expand membership among these employees. The aging of the baby boomers will raise the demand for service workers in health care facilities and in hotel and office maintenance which will increase organizing opportunities for unions in this industry (Kosters, 2004).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Jürgen H.P. Hoffmeyer-Zlotnik</Emphasis> und <Emphasis Type="Italic">Christof Wolf:</Emphasis> Advances in cross-national comparison. A European working book for demographic and socio-economic variables

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Jürgen H.P. Hoffmeyer-Zlotnik und Christof Wolf: Advances in cross-national comparison. A European working book for demographic and socio-economic variables New York/Boston/Dordrecht/London/Moscow: Kluwer academic/plenum publishers 2003. 413 Seiten. ISBN 0-306-47731-9. Preis: € 153,-

     

Vertical segregation by breeding ring-necked parakeets <Emphasis Type="Italic">Psittacula krameri</Emphasis> in northern Italy

Cavities represent a limiting resource for breeding birds, thus triggering potential competition, mostly in urban ecosystems. The ring-necked parakeet Psittacula krameri is one of the main alien invasive bird species of the world. Introduced populations are reported for over 35 countries, Italy included. This parakeet mainly depends on trunk cavities for reproduction but, occasionally, it may nest within building holes. A growing population of this species is present in the urban area of Pavia (northern Italy). Differently, from what has been observed in other colonies of the global introduced range, most of this urban population nests within the putlog holes of the Visconti castle and surrounding towers, together with four native species. In this work, we counted the breeding pairs of ring-necked parakeets nesting within putlog holes of castle and tower walls and estimated the breeding population size. Observations were carried out once a week, 30 min before sunset, for an hour, from the start of April to the end of August 2016 and 2017. We assessed whether a vertical segregation occurred between parakeets and native species (i.e. the rock pigeon, the jackdaw, the Italian sparrow and the common swift) through a dissimilarity index. Inter-specific interactions have never been observed, despite two pigeon ticks being detected on rescued parakeets. A strong vertical segregation was observed between ring-necked parakeets and pigeons, and between ring-necked parakeets and common swifts. Ring-necked parakeets and jackdaws were mostly observed in the highest putlog holes. No breeding parakeet pair was observed within plain trunk cavities in the surroundings of the castle walls, which were instead occupied by jackdaws and tawny owls. Most parakeet nests were located on the eastern wall, where they receive the first light at dawn.     

Union salting: Reactions and rulings since <Emphasis Type="Italic">Town and Country</Emphasis>

In a difficult organizing environment, unions have adopted growth strategies including organizing for recognition and bypassing the NLRB election process-a top-down approach. Union salting has become a popular tool toward achieving that goal particularly among the building trades unions. I examine labor’s thrust at the top-down approach toward organizing the workplace using the “salting” strategy, employer reactions to salting, and the pattern of rulings coming from the National Labor Relations Board since the seminal Supreme Court case on salting, NLRB v. Town & Country Electric (1995).