The determinants of breastfeeding for Mexican migrant women

This article develops an economic model for assessing Mexican agricultural migrants' decision to breastfeed in a sample of 137 women in 3 agricultural communities in California. The resulting hypotheses from the model are linked to health care and welfare program access, cultural factors, and employment. Using a probit analysis of the variables, a major finding is that non-traditional practices such as out-of-home child care, birth control, and alcohol use have a negative impact on the probability of breastfeeding. These findings were consistent with the hypothesis that women with more traditional values would be more likely to breastfeed. The authors also found that working women in the sample population were less likely to breastfeed.     

Depression among the homeless

Very little is known about one of the most common mental health problems facing the homeless: high levels of depressive symptomatology. This paper explains variation in the prevalence of depressive symptoms (CES-D) for a random sample of 150 shelter- and street-based homeless persons in the Birmingham metropolitan area. Fifty-nine percent of the sample show the signs of "probable clinical caseness"; yet there is significant variation in the level of symptomatology. A modified version of the social resources model explains 31 percent of the variation in CES-D scores. Although psychological resources play an important role in the distress outcome, as predicted, social supports are found to have limited impact on depression. Life circumstances have significant direct effects on depression. Persons with previous histories of mental illness and with extensive life event histories are more susceptible to distress. Younger persons, the chronically homeless, the street-based homeless, the sick, and the less educated are also more likely to experience depression. This study suggests the importance of understanding homelessness both as a psychological condition and as a complex set of life circumstances and physical deprivations.     

从“顿渐之争”看禅宗在吐蕃的传播及发展趋向

吐蕃第三十八代赞普赤松德赞时期,印度瑜伽行中观宗自续派和汉地禅宗同时传入吐蕃。二者经历了从和睦共处到针锋相对、水火不容的阶段。最终,因为见地和修持方法的差异而引发了一场争论,史称"顿渐之争"。汉地禅宗本是吐蕃佛教的滥觞,但以摩诃衍那为代表的汉地禅宗在"顿渐之争"中失利后,汉地禅宗在吐蕃逐渐销声匿迹,对后期的藏传佛教未造成影响。     

Managing in uncertain economic times: The case for planning

The traditional organization format in most firms has been to separate production, marketing and distribution and accept a certain amount of friction at the interface of these functions. The price of this friction and the risks inherent in its acceptance make this an increasingly unattractive organizational alternative. New organizational structures that forecast, monitor and control materials flow between raw materials and customers in a systems context are required for intrafirm response and implementation to the challenges of a rapidly changing business environment. The article emphasizes these conclusions against the backcloth of a shortage aconomy.     

Strategic planning for distribution

The process of long range planning is relatively new to both the corporation and the distribution area. Until recent years the distribution function was considered a functional area which reacted to, rather than anticipated, corporate marketing effort. New technology in data processing and other areas has provided the support capability for developing both tactical and strategic planning. With this increased capability has come a new responsibility for distribution management to be future oriented—to anticipate the appropriate support role of physical distribution in supporting both short term and long term corporate goals.     

Caregiver role strain of older workers

The purpose of this study was to measure role strain in older adult workers who were also caregivers of frail elders according to Komarovsky's role strain theory, and to determine whether different patterns of role strain exist for male worker-caregivers than females. METHOD: Researchers developed the Job-Caregiver Role Strain Scale Survey, which was adapted from a survey that measured role strain in working parents and spouses. Surveys were distributed to 11 male and 34 female older workers who were also caregivers. RESULTS: A factor analysis was completed, which isolated four factors of role strain. Researchers named the factors time management and arrangements, health and competing role demands, low rewards, and reactions to perceptions. Role strain in older adult worker-caregivers is complex and involves multiple variables. A discriminant function analysis predicted differences in the way older male and female worker-caregivers perceived role strain. Use of role strain theory can assist employers and occupational therapists in developing and maintaining work environments that support not only the older employee's work performance, but participation in the role of elder caregiver as well.     

Linking urban form, land cover pattern, and hydrologic flow regime in the Puget Sound Lowland

The mismatch between political and watershed boundaries, jurisdictional differences in urban form, and data availability can limit the utility of past research findings that relate measures of urban development to urban stream function. This research complements existing research by building a quantitative link between urban form, land cover pattern, and the resulting hydrologic flow regime. Five land cover pattern measurements responded to urban form and were found to be resistant to the influence of watershed size and shape. Lot coverage had the strongest association with hydrological metrics measuring flashiness. The land cover metrics associated with hydrologic impacts were the interspersion and juxtaposition index for grass, aggregation index of high urban, and percent forest cover.     

猪肉价格波动的博弈分析

猪肉作为生活必需品,特点之一是需求的价格弹性很小。在市场机制的作用下,猪肉价格必然会产生周期性波动,波动幅度呈逐渐增长态势。猪肉价格波动的形成机理,一是内部传导机制,包括猪肉供需的散发型蛛网、生猪的生长周期及粮食等饲料成本对价格的影响;二是外部冲击机制,包括疫情等突发事件及宏观调控对猪肉价格的影响。通过对猪肉价格波动的博弈分析,说明单纯的依靠市场自我调节不但不会抑制波动反而会加剧波动。必须引进政府的作用,通过提供有效的市场信息,建立猪肉价格风险预警机制;建立储备制度;加大金融支持规模养殖力度,增强养殖户抗风险能力;实行市场准入制度和计划等有效措施,对猪肉这类生活必需品加强宏观管理,以保证养猪业均衡平稳发展。