Introduction to Library Trends 51 (1) Summer 2002: Services to the Labor Community

published or submitted for publicatio

Workers' Compensation Under Alternative Insurance Arrangements

The authors use a unique panel data set of state-level data for 48 jurisdictions between 1975 and 1995 to explore the effects of insurance arrangements on workplace safety, the structure of the workers' compensation insurance market, and the employers' costs of workers' compensation insurance. In addition, we examine the trade-off between the benefit adequacy and affordability objectives of state workers' compensation programs and estimate the impact that the imposition of federal standards for benefit adequacy would have on workers' compensation costs

An Evaluation of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Pilot Program for Alternative Dispute Resolution

In 1995, the State 0f New York enacted legislation authorizing the establishment of a workers\u27 compensation alternative dispute resolution pilot program for the unionized sector of the construction industry. Collective bargaining agreements could establish an alternative dispute resolution process for resolving claims (including but not limited to mediation and arbitration), use of an agreed managed care organization or list of authorized providers for medical treatment that constitutes the exclusive source of all medical and related treatment, supplemental benefits, return-to-work programs, and vocational rehabilitation programs. The legislation also directed the School ofIndustrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University (ILR) to evaluate compliance with state and federal due process requirements provided in the collective bargaining agreements authorized by this act, and the use, costs and merits of the alternative dispute resolution system established pursuant to this act. In response to this legislative mandate, ILR reviewed the research previously conducted on alternative dispute resolution (ADR), generally, and in workers\u27 compensation. This included examining the purported advantages and disadvantages of ADR, the prevalence of ADR, and published statistical or anecdotal evidence regarding the impact of ADR. ILR created a research design for claimant-level and project-level analyses, and developed data collection instruments for these analyses that included an injured worker survey for ADR claimants and claimants in the traditional (statutory)workers\u27 compensation system, an Ombudsman\u27s log, a manual of data elements pertaining to ADR and comparison group claimants, and interview questions for ADR signatories and other officials. The findings in this report draw upon a comparison of claimant-level, descriptive statistics (averages) for injured workers in the ADR and traditional (statutory) workers\u27 compensation system; the results of more sophisticated, statistical analyses of claimant-level data; and project-level information (including, but not limited to, interviews with ADR signatories and dispute resolution officials)

Non-equilibrium condensation and coarsening of field-driven dipolar colloids

In colloidal suspensions, self-organization processes can be easily fueled by external fields. One particularly interesting class of phenomena occurs in monolayers of dipolar particles that are driven by rotating external fields. Here we report results from a computer simulation study of such systems focusing on the clustering behavior also observed in recent experiments. The key result of this paper is a novel interpretation of this pattern formation phenomenon: We show the clustering to be a by-product of a vapor-liquid first order phase transition. In fact, the observed dynamic coarsening process corresponds to the spindodal demixing that occurs during such a transitionComment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Phase diagram of two-dimensional systems of dipole-like colloids

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Based on Discontinuous Molecular Dynamics (DMD) simulations we present a phase diagram of two-dimensional nano-particles with dipole-like short-ranged interactions. Similar to systems with true, long-ranged dipolar interactions the present system undergoes a transition from an isotropic fluid phase into a polymer-like fluid, characterized by an association of most particles into clusters. Further decrease of the temperature leads to a percolated system which, moreover, displays dynamical properties reminiscent of a gel. Specifically, we find a plateau in the mean-squared displacement and a non-gaussian behavior of the self-part of the van Hove correlation function. In the high density region we observe crystallization from the isotropic fluid into a solid phase with hexagonal order. Surprisingly, the crystallization is accompanied by a global parallel ordering of the dipole moments, i.e., a ferroelectric phase. This behavior is in marked contrast to what is found in 2D systems with long-ranged dipolar interactions. Our results allow insights into the design of gel-like or highly ordered structures at interfaces, shells around droplets and bubbles and new-sheet like materials.DFG, GRK 1524, Self-Assembled Soft-Matter Nanostructures at Interface

Two-dimensional colloidal networks induced by a uni-axial external field

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Based on Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics computer simulations we investigate the aggregation patterns and dynamics of model colloidal mixtures consisting of particles with either one or two, oppositely oriented, induced dipole moments. The mixtures are confined to two spatial dimensions. Our model is inspired by recent optical-microscopy experiments involving polystyrene particles with (and without) gold patches. For a broad range of parameters, we find the model systems to self-assemble via a two-step scenario involving first percolation along the field, followed by a percolation transition in the transverse direction. The resulting two-dimensional networks are characterized by strongly hindered translational dynamics.DFG, GRK 1524, Self-Assembled Soft-Matter Nanostructures at Interface

Advertising agencies and their clients in the age of generative artificial intelligence - the case of M & C saatchi

This research investigates the impact of artificial intelligence on the business models of advertising agencies by spotlighting the innovative campaigns from M&C Saatchi and Blitzworks. The project dives into the potential of GenAI, underscoring its capacity to refine marketing through personalization and streamlined operations. While recognizing the up-and coming state of AI applications, the research discusses continuous technological and ethical progression. The findings suggest that AI will prove its position as a competent sparring partner to humans in advertising, recommending that agencies adopt AI to enhance their daily doing

Molecular Aspects of Secretory Granule Exocytosis by Neurons and Endocrine Cells

Neuronal communication and endocrine signaling are fundamental for integrating the function of tissues and cells in the body. Hormones released by endocrine cells are transported to the target cells through the circulation. By contrast, transmitter release from neurons occurs at specialized intercellular junctions, the synapses. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which signal molecules are synthesized, stored, and eventually secreted by neurons and endocrine cells are very similar. Neurons and endocrine cells have in common two different types of secretory organelles, indicating the presence of two distinct secretory pathways. The synaptic vesicles of neurons contain excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmitters, whereas the secretory granules (also referred to as dense core vesicles, because of their electron dense content) are filled with neuropeptides and amines. In endocrine cells, peptide hormones and amines predominate in secretory granules. The function and content of vesicles, which share antigens with synaptic vesicles, are unknown for most endocrine cells. However, in B cells of the pancreatic islet, these vesicles contain GABA, which may be involved in intrainsular signaling.' Exocytosis of both synaptic vesicles and secretory granules is controlled by cytoplasmic calcium. However, the precise mechanisms of the subsequent steps, such as docking of vesicles and fusion of their membranes with the plasma membrane, are still incompletely understood. This contribution summarizes recent observations that elucidate components in neurons and endocrine cells involved in exocytosis. Emphasis is put on the intracellular aspects of the release of secretory granules that recently have been analyzed in detail

The Negotiation of Discourses for Women Who Have Emigrated from India to the United States

When an individual experiences a change in location and enters an unfamiliar space or place, there is often a period of adjustment that occurs due to differences in the two environments. Some of these differences may be immediately obvious to the individual upon their transition, however many times, the differences are not obvious to the eye or even to the mind. This is due to the role of discursive expectations, which are “taken for granted” truths that are engrained in and disciplined through discourses embedded in areas of society such as culture, ethnicity, and religion. Upon entering the new space or place, individuals may unconsciously become disciplined by these societal discourses and adapt to or resist the new set of expectations. This post-colonial narrative inquiry seeks to illuminate the personal experiences of women as they navigated differing discourses experienced as a result of immigration to the United States