Aboriginal socio-economic characteristics: Issues affecting the interpretation of statistics

Journal of Population Research - As this brief discussion suggests, census statistics are useful as an indicator of some socio-economic characteristics of the Aboriginal population, particularly...     

Advances towards a critical criminology

Theory and Society -     

Investigation and improvement of a process for vacuum-formed ceramic fibre composites, using a fractional 2n experimental design

Refractory ceramic fibre products are used extensively as high temperature furnace linings, because of their properties of a lower thermal conductivity, improved resistance to thermal shock, cheaper installation and maintenance costs, and reduced wall thickness when compared with traditional firebrick linings. Vacuum forming of the ceramic fibre enables modular linings for small laboratory furnaces to be produced efficiently and cost effectively. This process involves drawing a slurry of ceramic fibre, binder and water through a porous mould, and subsequently oven drying the finished product. The product mass, which is strongly related to its relevant thermal and structural properties, was identified as a suitable response variable. A resolution IV fractional 2n factorial design was employed to investigate the effects of 15 key process factors on the product mass in just 32 experimental runs. Analysis of the results revealed that only two of the 15 process factors investigated in the experiment significantly affected the mean product mass, while none of these factors significantly affected the variability of the product mass. The experimental design is described, and its results and their implications are presented and discussed.     

Biodiversity conservation implications of landscape change in an urbanizing desert of Southwestern Peru

Internal migration from the Peruvian highlands and rural areas has burdened urban areas with rapid growth. Urban expansion is threatening the desert habitat and unique vegetation communities surrounding Arequipa, one of Peru's largest cities. A 511 ha tract contiguous to the city of Arequipa has been informally designated an ecological park. Analysis of Landsat satellite imagery over a 16-year interval indicates that urban expansion is occurring in the direction of the park. The land use/land cover change analysis revealed other landscape patterns and processes, such as agricultural expansion, which are relevant to the study area. These dynamics, plus principles of landscape ecology, suggest that the park's size and shape may not be the most suitable. Conservation alternatives include the expansion of the park, the spatial connection to another nature reserve, or the design of co-management strategies. Given local historical events and the paucity of regional conservation efforts, social actors in Arequipa and in national governmental institutions will need to find practical ways to collaborate.     

The social structure of social problems in New York state

A comparative study of the 52 upstate New York counties replicated a previous state level study that did a principal components analysis of social problems and attempted to predict them by aspects of social structure. In the New York counties the percent Democrat predicted various welfare measures. Population density predicted health and crime problems, and affluence. When population density was controlled, affluence related only to crimes of property. Contrasting with the state study, political competitiveness (per cent voting) was related to few variables.     

Why Rights are Never Enough: rights, intellectual disability and understanding

In order to address obvious inequities, rights have been utilised to provide the 'basic' material needs for many groups. Whilst this brings some groups/individuals up to a perceived minimum standard, it unfortunately fails to address the misunderstandings from which the inequities originally stemmed. Via a sociological and philosophical exploration of rights-based strategies relating to intellectual disability, the purpose of this paper is to provide a fuller exploration of the issues surrounding this problem, and to suggest some fruitful alternatives. These alternatives will be concerned specifically with a broadening of rights to facilitate understanding, rather than simple 'protection' from harm and/or the provision of material needs.     

Structural Change in MLB Competitive Balance: The Depression, Team Location, and Integration

No detectable break points in within-season competitive balance (1901–99) occur after 1937 in the National League or after 1962 in the American League, despite expansion, free agency, and the growth of local TV revenue disparity since then. Instead, a continual improvement in competitive balance has occurred since those years. Associated with break points prior to these years, (1) the AL emerged from the depression much more unbalanced than the NL, (2) team movement and league expansion alter balance in well-known ways, and (3) discriminatory preferences were stronger in larger-revenue markets than in smaller-revenue markets in both leagues.     

The Reflecting Team Process In Training

The process of evolution of a reflecting team in live supervision sessions is discussed. Theoretical ramifications for systemic training of systemic family therapy are explored and feedback from trainer, trainees and client families about the use of the reflecting team is presented.