Advancing Dispute Resolution by Unpacking the Sources of Conflict: Toward an Integrated Framework

Organizational leaders, public policy makers, dispute resolution professionals, and scholars have developed diverse methods for resolving workplace conflict. But there is inadequate recognition that the effectiveness of a dispute resolution method depends on its fit with the source of a particular conflict. Consequently, it is essential to better understand where conflict comes from and how this affects dispute resolution. To these ends, this paper uniquely integrates scholarship from multiple disciplines to develop a multi-dimensional framework on the sources of conflict. This provides an important foundation for theorizing and identifying effective dispute resolution methods, which are more important than ever as the changing world of work raises new issues, conflicts, and institutions

Preliminary design study - Oxidizer tank relief valve, Flox-Atlas airborne Final report

Protecting fluorine-liquid oxygen Atlas launch vehicle oxidizer tank against overpressurizatio

Preliminary design study - Oxidizer tank helium pressure regulator, Flox-Atlas, airborne Final report

Oxidizer tank helium pressure regulator compatible with fluorine-liquid oxyge

Ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves cannot be selectively blocked by using ultrasound guidance: a volunteer study

Background Ilioinguinal (IL) and iliohypogastric (IH) nerve blocks are used in patients with chronic postherniorrhaphy pain. The present study tested the hypothesis that our method, previously developed in cadavers, blocks the nerves separately and selectively in human volunteers. Methods We blocked the IL and the IH nerves in 16 volunteers in a single-blinded randomized cross-over setting under direct ultrasound visualization, by injecting two times the ED95 volume of 1% mepivacaine needed to block a peripheral nerve. The anaesthetized skin areas were tested by pinprick and marked on the skin. A digital photo was taken. For further analysis, the parameterized picture data were transformed into a standardized and unified coordinate system to compare and calculate the overlap of the anaesthetized skin areas of the two nerves on each side. An overlap <25% was defined as selective block. Results Fifty nerve blocks could be analysed. The mean volume injected to block a single nerve was 0.9 ml. Using ultrasound, we observed spread from one nerve to the other in 12% of cases. The overlap of the anaesthetized skin areas of the nerves was 60.3% and did not differ after exclusion of the cases with visible spread of local anaesthetic from one nerve to the other. Conclusions The IL and IH nerves cannot be selectively blocked even if volumes below 1 ml are used. The most likely explanation is the spread of local anaesthetic from one nerve to the other, although this could not be directly observed in most case

AIRNET: A real-time comunications network for aircraft

A real-time local area network was developed for use on aircraft and space vehicles. It uses token ring technology to provide high throughput, low latency, and high reliability. The system was implemented on PCs and PC/ATs operating on PCbus, and on Intel 8086/186/286/386s operating on Multibus. A standard IEEE 802.2 logical link control interface was provided to (optional) upper layer software; this permits the controls designer to utilize standard communications protocols (e.g., ISO, TCP/IP) if time permits, or to utilize a very fast link level protocol directly if speed is critical. Both unacknowledged datagram and reliable virtual circuit services are supported. A station operating an 8 MHz Intel 286 as a host can generate a sustained load of 1.8 megabits per second per station, and a 100-byte message can be delivered from the transmitter's user memory to the receiver's user memory, including all operating system and network overhead, in under 4 milliseconds

Development Of Third Harmonic Generation As A Short Pulse Probe Of Shock Heated Material

We are studying high-pressure laser produced shock waves in silicon (100). To examine the material dynamics, we are performing pump-probe style experiments utilizing 600 ps and 40 fs laser pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser. Two-dimensional interferometry reveals information about the shock breakout, while third harmonic light generated at the rear surface is used to infer the crystalline state of the material as a function of time. Sustained third harmonic generation (THG) during a similar to 100 kbar shock breakout indicate that the rear surface remains crystalline for at least 3 ns. However, a decrease in THG during a similar to 300 kbar shock breakout suggests a different behavior, which could include a change in crystalline structure.Mechanical Engineerin

Depression, School Performance, and the Veridicality of Perceived Grades and Causal Attributions

An external criterion was assessed to test whether depressives have distorted perceptions of covariation information and whether their attributions are consistent with this information. Students’ actual and self-perceived grades, depression status, and attributions for failures were assessed. Furthermore, partici pants estimated average grades. Generally, self-perceived own past grades were inflated. Depressed students and those with low grades distorted their own grades (but not the average grade) more to their favor than individuals low in depression and those with high grades. Depression went along with lower actual grades and with internal, stable, and global failure attributions. Mood differences in attributions were not due to differences in previous grades. Depressed individuals drew (unrealistically) more depressogenic causal inferences when they perceived average grades to be low than when average grades were perceived to be high. However, they (realistically) attributed failure more in a depressogenic fashion than did nondepressives when their own grade history was low

Operation Moshtarak and the manufacture of credible, “heroic” warfare

Richard Lance Keeble argues that Fleet Street’s coverage of the Afghan conflict has served largely to promote the interests of the military/industrial/media complex – and marginalise the views of the public who have consistently appealed in polls for the troops to be brought back hom

HIV Prevalence Study and Costing Analysis undertaken for the development of an HIV/AIDS Workplace Strategy for Buffalo City Municipality

In contrast to most private sector employers in South Africa, local government has been slow to put in place HIV workplace strategies. While general workplace policies are available, there is an absence of specific guidelines for local authorities in their response as employers and as service delivery agencies to HIV/AIDS. The Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) embarked upon an innovative approach involving research and an inclusive process to develop a response to HIV/AIDS. This response is advocated as good practice. The report outlines the steps taken towards the development and adoption of a Buffalo City Municipality HIV strategy in late 2004. Lessons learned are documented for the benefit of other local authorities in the development of their own HIV strategies. The success in the development of the Buffalo City Municipality HIV/AIDS strategy is based on two important legs. Firstly, the process adopted and secondly the research initiative to provide the data to inform the HIV strategy. The process: BCM is to be commended for its innovative and proactive stance. Key to the success has been the leadership of the initiative where political councillors, departmental heads, and all levels of managers have supported the process. The outcome of the political support has been shown in the high rate of HIV testing in the sampled group, the enthusiastic take-up of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) by the employees, and the commitment to the resultant BCM HIV/AIDS Cross-cutting Strategy. Further, the involvement of staff from human resources and engineering through to finance and planning in the development of the BCM strategy again attests to the recognition that addressing HIV in the workforce and the broader community must be treated as an inter-sectoral and cross-cutting issue. The success of the process added considerably to the value and accomplishment of the research. The SA Medical Research Council (MRC) (an external group) was commissioned to undertake an HIV prevalence study, as they were seen to be independent and authoritive, as well as to carry out a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice study (KAP) and to facilitate a VCT process. In addition, a health economist was requested to assess the cost implications of HIV for BCM as an employer. A team of external researchers worked closely with a BCM staff team in the design and setting up of the studies. The fieldwork took place in June 2004 and the overall BCM strategy was completed within two months, in August 2004. From a sample of 20% of the employees, the study found that 10.3% were HIV infected. Key findings are that temporary employees had a higher prevalence (7.7%) than permanent staff (9.3%). Women had a higher prevalence rate than men (10,2 and 9% respectively). The highest prevalence was in the 20-29 year age group. All job bands were infected but levels of infection were highest amongst the lower skill levels (11.7%) and black Africans (12.6%). There was no difference in infection level between employees with different educational levels