Hispanic intermarriage in New York City: new evidence from 1991

"This study [uses] 1991 marriage records from New York City [to examine] trends in marital assimilation among Puerto Ricans and the non-Puerto Rican Hispanic population. The prevalence of intermarriage varies among the six Hispanic national-origin groups. Changes in intermarriage patterns since 1975 are documented. Results show very high rates of intermarriage with non-Hispanics among Cubans, Mexicans, Central Americans, and South Americans. Considerable intermarriage among Hispanics of different national origins is characteristic of all Hispanics. Finally, Puerto Ricans and Dominicans have distinct patterns of intermarriage...."     

Raising the Titanic: Rescuing Social Work Documentation from the Sea of Ethical Risk

Abstract

One of the most contentious issues in social work practice concerns what should be written about people who access social work services, how comprehensively, and in what format social work assessments, interventions, and outcomes should be documented. The present paper describes a structured approach linked to an action research project that was undertaken by hospital-based social workers to identify and minimise problems associated with documentation in the medical record. The Social Work Ethics Audit provided social work staff with a risk-management tool that highlighted documentation as a key area of ethical risk. Through a process of evaluating existing recording practices, social workers were able to meet the challenge of improving social work recording in medical records, returning it to its proper place as a vital component of clinical and ethical practice rather than an administrative task submerged beneath competing priorities. It was anticipated that the social work documentation proforma that resulted from the ethics audit process would have applicability in other health care settings.     

HOMELESSNESS AND AFFILIATION

Sociological theory portrays affiliation as an important source of personal power. Accordingly, some students of homelessness suggest that the extreme poverty and powerlessness of homeless individuals can be traced to a lack of social ties. Using data from a quota sample of 150 homeless persons in Birmingham, Alabama, this study examines (1) whether the homeless are disaffiliated and (2) the relationship between affiliation and power-related life experiences (personal efficacy). A 26-item scale measures affiliation; subscales assess expressive ties, instrumental supports, and acquaintances. Personal efficacy outcomes studied are depressive symptoms, anomie, mastery, physical and mental health, service knowledge, environmental satisfaction, and monthly income. Evidence suggests that many homeless persons have a network of confidants, friends, relatives, and acquaintances. However, these networks differ from those described in past research on general populations. Additionally, multiple regression results assign networks, at best, only modest effects on personal efficacy among the homeless.     

A Study Exploring Risk Management Issues Among Volunteers in an Oncology Support Program

ABSTRACT. Risk management and challenges of volunteer roles in an oncology support program in Montreal, Canada, were explored using a phenomenological approach involving 65 service volunteers. Fourteen focus groups were held representing oncology services in the hospital and the wellness center. Self-reported questions were administered to assess the risks perceived by the volunteers. Findings revealed 4 major themes: comfort level, daily frustrations, risk and environmental issues, and suggestions. Suggestions included: better communication with staff, a safer health-related environment, and improved role-specific training to mitigate the risks. Additionally, for each group, 1 specific change was implemented during a 6-month period. Health care professionals should focus on job-training issues to address safety, comfort level, and role capacity. Future research should investigate an enhanced training curriculum with strategies to address concerns about risk management. Volunteers who are better equipped to perform their roles will be able to offer a higher quality of service to patients and families.     

Efficient Bayesian estimation of the multivariate Double Chain Markov Model

The Double Chain Markov Model (DCMM) is used to model an observable process $Y = \{Y_{t}\}_{t=1}^{T}$ as a Markov chain with transition matrix, $P_{x_{t}}$ , dependent on the value of an unobservable (hidden) Markov chain $\{X_{t}\}_{t=1}^{T}$ . We present and justify an efficient algorithm for sampling from the posterior distribution associated with the DCMM, when the observable process Y consists of independent vectors of (possibly) different lengths. Convergence of the Gibbs sampler, used to simulate the posterior density, is improved by adding a random permutation step. Simulation studies are included to illustrate the method. The problem that motivated our model is presented at the end. It is an application to real data, consisting of the credit rating dynamics of a portfolio of financial companies where the (unobserved) hidden process is the state of the broader economy.     

A Note on Determining Optimal Selling Price and Lot Size Under All-Unit Quantity Discounts

A recent study conducted by Abad [1] described a method of determining the optimal price and lot size when the supplier offers all-unit quantity discounts. The author developed a procedure using centralized and decentralized approaches. According to the author's suggestion, further study is necessary to determine if the decentralized approach always provides an optimal solution. In the present study, an attempt is made to investigate the uniformity between the centralized and decentralized approaches and to verify whether the decentralized approach always yields optimal solutions.     

An Inventory Model with Planned Shortages and Price Dependent Demand

Previous research has yielded a procedure for a retailer to determine the optimal lot size and selling price when a supplier offers all-unit quantity discounts and demand is a decreasing function of price. In this paper, we extend that research by allowing for shortages. An algorithm is presented that determines the optimal lot size, order level, and selling price for a class of demand functions, including the constant price-elasticity and linear demand functions.