Mathematical Methods in Combatting Terrorism

This document is a preliminary report on the role that mathematical and statistical methods might play in the defense against terrorist attacks. In no way does this replace the efforts of law enforcement agencies or intelligence activities. The hope is that mathematical techniques can make their efforts more efficient. The ideas enumerated here utilize the notion of probabilistic risk analysis, which was developed for the purpose of assessing the safety of nuclear reactors, as well as randomization and game theory. More extensive work in these directions is contemplated for the future. The author is planning workshops to evaluate the ideas presented here and to elicit additional methodologies that may prove useful in this endeavor.     

REVIEWS

Becvar, D. S. (2001). In the presence of grief: Helping family members resolve death, dying, and bereavement issues .
Hoffman, L. (2002). Family therapy: An intimate history .
Keith, D. V., Connell, G. M., & Connell, L. C. (2001). Defiance in the family: Finding hope in therapy .
Ravicz, S. (2000). Thriving with your autoimmune disorder: A woman's mind-body guide .     

Behavioral science space contributions

In anticipation of longer missions on the space stations, Mir and Freedom, as well as a potential return to the Moon and the exploration of Mars, human survival and the quality of life aloft will be increasingly dependent upon research in the behavioral and biological sciences. This article reviews the possible contributions to space habitation of the behavioral sciences--especially anthropology, psychology, and sociology. Before space settlements become a reality, the author makes a case for the broadening of the engineering approach to human factor studies, and consideration of the integrative living systems theory in space planning and management.     

Dis-embeddedness and de-classification: modernization politics and the Greek teacher unions in the 1990s

During the 90s, PASOK, in common with the other European social democratic parties has advocated Third Way revisionism and has placed the‘modernization’of the Greek society high on its political agenda. By focusing on a series of conflictual incidents between the teacher unions and the Greek government, this paper exemplifies the repercussion of this process on teachers‐state relations. Building upon the dialecties of path shaping and path dependency, we suggest that the particular development of the modernization project and the reactions it has triggered are to be attributed to the historically determined, nationally specific, contingently activated institutional legacies and structures that, on the one hand, stand in the way of the incorporation of Greece to the EMU/ESM and, on the other, are employed by the unions to defend industrial and social citizenship.     

Risk preference and employment contract type

Summary.  We explore the possibility that a systematic relationship exists between employment within a particular type of contract and risk preference. We exploit a set of proxies for risk preference, whereby some of the proxies capture risk loving behaviour (expenditure on gambling, smoking and alcohol) whereas others capture risk averse behaviour (expenditure on life and contents insurance, and unearned income). The empirical analysis, based on pooled cross-section data from the UK Family Expenditure Survey, 1997–2000, provides evidence of a systematic relationship between employment contract type and risk preference, with, for example, self-employed workers being more or less likely to engage in the consumption of 'risky' or financial security products respectively. The results are based on the ordered generalized extreme value model, a relatively infrequently used discrete choice model, which allows for ordering and correlation in the alternatives observed.     

Wanted, psychiatric technician. Assessing decision-making skills

Psychiatric technicians are becoming increasingly important in the inpatient psychiatric setting, yet few educational programs properly prepare students for this demanding role. By structuring interviews around practical, real life dilemmas faced by technicians, the interviewer can establish which applicants are best suited for the job, thus helping to improve satisfaction and retention.     

Impacts of privatization: Use of multimodal survey

Given current local government fiscal stress, the privatization of public services has been considered as a way to balance local government budgets and improve community service efficiencies. However, along with economic efficiency, the social efficiency of the privatization should be considered. Social efficiency not only incorporates economic efficiency but also includes accountability and equity. In this study, the economic and social impact of the potential privatization of a local utility (Churchill County Communications) is estimated. A web-based questionnaire was employed to collect data quickly and efficiently from CC Communication's employees and employ the questionnaire results in the analysis. Using and augmented input–output model of Churchill County, the analysis showed that privatization would reduce Churchill County employment by 279 jobs and reduce county household income by $36.171 million. In addition, the county could lose up to 14,735 hr of volunteer time and $85,233 in charitable donations if CC Communications were privatized.     

Siblings of individuals with first-episode psychosis: understanding their experiences and needs

The growth of early intervention in psychosis services (EIPS) has prompted needed research to provide a robust evidence base to underpin practice. The typical service model embraces key psychosocial interventions, including family interventions. A literature review revealed a number of relevant studies that recognized the role of siblings in families affected by severe mental illness or mental impairment, but little was found about the impact of first-episode psychosis on siblings. To address this apparent oversight, we conducted a study to gain an understanding of sibling experiences. Ten siblings (ages 16 to 30) with a brother or sister diagnosed with first-episode psychosis took part in individual semi-structured interviews. The key findings were grouped in regard to emotional impact, relationships in the family, and siblings' roles and coping patterns. The study also revealed that families are able to identify positive gains out of a fundamentally negative experience.     

The impact of routine assessment of past or current mental health on help-seeking in the perinatal period

BackgroundClinical practice guidelines now recommend that women be asked about their past or current mental health as a routine component of maternity care. However, the value of this line of enquiry in increasing engagement with support services, as required, remains controversial.AimThe current study aimed to examine whether assessment of past or current mental health, received with or without referral for additional support, is associated with help-seeking during pregnancy and the postpartum.MethodsA subsample of women drawn from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (young cohort) who reported experiencing significant emotional distress during pregnancy (N = 398) or in the 12 months following birth (N = 380) participated in the study.ResultsMultivariate analysis showed that women who were not asked about their emotional health were less likely to seek any formal help during both pregnancy (adjOR = 0.09, 95%CI: 0.04–0.24) and the postpartum (adjOR = 0.07, 95%CI: 0.02–0.13), as were women who were asked about these issues but who were not referred for additional support (antenatal: adjOR = 0.26, 95%CI: 0.15–0.45; postnatal: adjOR = 0.14, 95%CI: 0.07–0.27). However, considerable levels of consultation with general practitioners, midwives and child health nurses, even in the absence of referral, were evident.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that enquiry by a health professional about women's past or current mental health is associated with help-seeking throughout the perinatal period. The clinical and resource implications of these findings for the primary health care sector should be considered prior to the implementation of future routine perinatal depression screening or psychosocial assessment programmes.