Introduction: Post-deployment screening within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) aims to identify individuals with mental health problems. However, as screening is a time-consuming process, it is important to consider ways to reduce the time required, including the use of shorter scales. The scale currently used to assess posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the PTSD Checklist (PCL-C), is lengthy, although validated shorter versions have been developed that have not yet been evaluated in the CAF population. Methods: Three brief versions of the PCL-C were evaluated in this study: the PCL-2, PCL-4 and PCL-6. The operating characteristics of each scale were examined using the screening and diagnostic cut-offs of the full PCL, as well as clinician ratings of PTSD being of major concern, as the standards for comparison. Optimal cut-offs for each scale were determined based on a combination of sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve (AUC), and prevalence of disorder compared to the full scale. As well, correlations with other measures of health were examined. Results: Although all three scales demonstrated good psychometric properties, the PCL-6 showed the strongest properties of the three scales. Optimal cut-offs were similar to those found in past research when calibrated against the PCL-C screening cut-off for PTSD and to clinician ratings. As well, it exhibited high correlations with other measures of mental health. Discussion: This research provides evidence for the acceptability of brief measures in screening for PTSD in military members following deployment. In particular, it points to the advantages of using the PCL-6, with cut-offs in line with those recommended in past research.
From 2001 to 2010, the incidence rates of melanomas have increased by over 2% for both Canadian men and women. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are common additives to sunscreen products. Their ability to render creams and lotions transparent, as well as their use as an ultraviolet light filter makes them a popular choice. Yet their effects on the skin, other organs, and the environment are largely unexplored, giving rise to questions about their safety. Current research findings report that titanium dioxide nanoparticles tend to be less hazardous to organisms than other nanomaterials. Nonetheless, studies on test animals and cell cultures show signi cant neurological, pulmonary, cardiac, and genetic damage once titanium dioxide nanoparticles have been absorbed into the bloodstream through inhalation and ingestion. Nanoparticles are also usually discharged as feces and urine, rinsed off, or disposed of through sewage to enter wastewater treatment plants and released into the surrounding ecosystems. The largest obstacle in nanoparticle research is the lack of consistency in terms of measuring and reporting ndings. Since the amounts of nanoparticles present after experiments are often not recorded, it is difficult to quantify the amount of nanoparticles in our environment and the rate at which they are released. In addition, manufacturers often do not label their products accurately, leading to misinformed consumers and the potential for adverse health effects. It is for these reasons that the scientific community, governments, industries, and environmental groups need to collaborate in the interest of public health and environmental sustainability in order set the precedence for future scientific advancements. This review provides background information on the properties of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, the effects of such particles on human and environmental health, the current regulations in place in Europe and North America, as well as suggestions for improving consumer safety. De 2001 à 2010, la fréquence des mélanomes avait augmentée par plus de 2% pour les hommes et les femmes canadiens. Les nanoparticules de dioxyde de titane sont des additifs communs dans des produits de protection anti- UV. Elles sont un choix populaire à cause de leur capacité pour rendre les lotions et les crèmes transparentes, et leur fonction comme un filtre des rayons UV. Pourtant, leurs effets sur la peau, les autres organes et l'environnement sont pour la plupart inexplorés, qui provoque des questions concernant la sécurité de leur utilisation. Les résultats courants nous montrent que les nanoparticules de dioxyde de titane sont souvent moins dangereuses pour les organismes que les autres nanomatériaux. Néanmoins, les recherches sur les animaux de laboratoire et les cultures cellulaires montrent qu'il y a des dommages neurologiques, pulmonaires, cardiaques et génétiques assez signifiants une fois que les nanoparticules de dioxyde de titane sont absorbées par le système sanguin au moyen d'inhalation et ingestion. Les nanoparticules sont souvent déchargées du corps comme matières fécales ou urine, enlevées en passant sous l'eau, ou débarrassées dans les eaux usées ou elles peuvent entrer les usines d'assainissement d'eau. Ensuite, ces nanoparticules sont laissées dans les écosystèmes environnants. Le plus grand obstacle dans la recherche des nanoparticules est l'absence d'uniformité concernant la mesure et le rapport des résultats. Bien que les premières mesures des quantités de nanoparticules soient enregistrées, souvent les quantités de nanoparticules présentes après ces études ne sont pas enregistrées. Alors, c'est difficile de chiffrer la quantité de nanoparticules dans notre environnement et le taux auquel elles sont libérées. De plus, c'est rare que les fabricants étiquettent leurs produits d'une manière précise et alors les consommateurs peuvent être mal informés, entrainant la possibilité des effets négatifs sur la santé. Celles-ci sont les raisons pour lesquelles la communauté scientifique, les gouvernements, les industries, et les groupes environnementales ont besoin de collaborer dans les intérêts de la santé publique et la durabilité environnementale pour créer un précédent pour les avancées scientifiques dans le futur. Cet article fournit de information sur les propriétés des nanoparticules de dioxyde de titane, les effets de ces genres de particules sur la santé humaine et environnementale, les régulations courantes mis en place en Europe et Amérique du Nord, ainsi que des suggestions pour l'amélioration de la sécurité des consommateurs.
Work-life balance is the term used to describe practices in achieving a balance between the demands of employees' family (life) and work lifes. Employers today strive to augment job satisfaction in the workforce for it is conducive to lower employee turnover, higher engagement, and greater productivity. Besides the feminists, who discuss women's inequality with men in the family and the separation of the family responsibilities, the term "work-life balance", addressing the aspects of achieving this balance, starts to be more commonly used in employment policies. The dramatic increase in female labor force participation in the labor market, as a result of the collapse of the so-called "male breadwinner" model, often results in a "double burden" for paid women. On the other hand, there is a tendency among employers to increase workforce satisfaction because it has been shown to reduce employee turnover and produce higher engagement and increased productivity. Policies for the harmonization of work and private life are covered by social legislation and labor legislation. The International Labor Organization defines the work-life balance as one of the greatest challenges of our time. One of the aims of the European Social Rights Pillar is the Work-life balance Initiative which addresses the challenges of work-family balance faced by working parents and carers. Therefore, a directive on the balance between the working and professional life of parents and carers have recently been adopted in the European Union. It sets several new or higher standards for absent parents, paternity and guardianship and enforces a greater use of flexible employment contracts. Its aim is to increase the inclusion of women in the labor market and to promote greater use of parental leave by male workers. Motivated by this, a comparative analysis and critical overview is made between the policies existing in the member states of the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia which are directly related to the promotion of family-work balance. The purpose of this paper is to see how the Macedonian labor and the legal system is prepared to respond to the challenge posed by this Directive and to provide suggestions and guidance that would improve the situation in the domestic labor market.
This article focuses on the relationship between the socioeconomic rights of headscarved women and the political attitude of governments towards the headscarf in Turkey. Taking the 2013 removal of bans against the headscarf in the public sphere as the reference point, we attempt to provide a before-and-after comparison of the status of headscarved professionals in the Turkish labor market, based on factors in the political climate. While focusing mainly on the changing outlook in the public sector, we also examine the consequences of this liberalizing move on the private sector and explore the likely futures of the headscarf issue from a labor market perspective. Findings from the qualitative research reveal the strong influence political attitude has on the headscarf issue, as evident in the employment of headscarved women in white-collar occupations. We discovered that the political climate is still expected to be the key dynamic in Turkey that shapes the future for professionals wearing the headscarf, primarily through the channel of the state job market. This study contributes to the vast literature on women's social and economic rights by addressing a decades-long, divisive issue that concerns a substantial segment of Turkish society.
Recently, a voluminous literature estimating the taxable income elasticity has emerged as an important field in empirical public economics. However, to a large extent it is still unknown how the hourly wage rate, an important component of taxable income, reacts to changes in marginal tax rates. In this study we use a rich panel data set and a sequence of tax reforms that took place in Sweden during the 1980's to estimate the elasticity of the hourly wage rate with respect to the net-of-tax rate. While carefully accounting for the endogeneity of marginal tax rates as well as other factors that determine wage rates we do find a statistically significant response both among married men and married women. The hourly wage rate elasticity with respect to the net-of-tax rate is estimated to 0.14-0.16 for males and 0.41-0.57 for females. In addition, we obtain uncompensated taxable labor income elasticities of around 0.21 for men and 0.96-1.44 for women. In contrast to earlier studies, we also find significant income effects for males. Accordingly, for males the compensated taxable labor income elasticity is about 4 percentage points higher than the uncompensated one.
Recently, a voluminous literature estimating the taxable income elasticity has emerged as an important field in empirical public economics. However, to a large extent it is still unknown how the hourly wage rate, an important component of taxable income, reacts to changes in marginal tax rates. In this study we use a rich panel data set and a sequence of tax reforms that took place in Sweden during the 1980's to estimate the elasticity of the hourly wage rate with respect to the net-of-tax rate. While carefully accounting for the endogeneity of marginal tax rates as well as other factors that determine wage rates we do find a statistically significant response both among married men and married women. The hourly wage rate elasticity with respect to the net-of-tax rate is estimated to 0.14-0.16 for males and 0.41-0.57 for females. In addition, we obtain uncompensated taxable labor income elasticities of around 0.21 for men and 0.96-1.44 for women. In contrast to earlier studies, we also find significant income effects for males. Accordingly, for males the compensated taxable labor income elasticity is about 4 percentage points higher than the uncompensated one.
