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Sensitive Subjects (sensitive + subject)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Humanities and Social Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

A simple economic analysis of electricity deregulation failure

OPEC ENERGY REVIEW, Issue 2 2002
Ferdinand E. Banks
The purpose of this paper is to clarify some of the confusion that still exists around the rather sensitive subject of deregulation. The simple truth is that , in one sense or another , electricity deregulation has failed everywhere, and its failure is fully in line with mainstream economic theory. There are some activities in which deregulation makes a great deal of economic sense, and this should be immediately clear to observers who are familiar with the electricity deregulation ,meltdowns' in California, Alberta (Canada) and Brazil. [source]

Early Adolescence Talking Points: Questions that Middle School Students Want To Ask Their Parents,

FAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 1 2004
Rhonda A. Richardson
In early adolescence, young people need caring parents to guide them through numerous changes and decisions. Little is known about what particular issues middle school students want to discuss with their parents. This study provides a basis for promoting parent,child communication by identifying topics that young adolescents would like to talk about with parents, using responses from 1,124 students age 10 to 15. Findings were that the largest percentage of questions pertained to family issues, whereas only 1 in 4 dealt with sensitive subjects such as drugs and sex. Implications for practice are included. [source]

Tales from the archive: methodological and ethical issues in historical geography research

AREA, Issue 3 2010
Francesca P L Moore
This paper is an exploration of methodological and ethical issues in historical geography research. Drawing on the experience of researching the historical geographies of abortion in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Lancashire, the paper discusses some of the ethical and methodological questions that historical research on sensitive topics raises. This paper investigates the politics of the archive and the forms of censorship researchers may encounter. It also explores the possibility of a conflict of interest between researcher and participant, including the dilemmas researchers face when research participants are dead, but remain important figures in the community. Moreover, the paper argues that the recent burgeoning interest in family and local history makes questions of method and ethics far more urgent for the geographer. In conclusion, the paper calls for more dialogue within geography about researching sensitive subjects, and also between geography and other disciplines. [source]

Hypersensitivity symptoms associated with exposure to cellular telephones: No causal link

BIOELECTROMAGNETICS, Issue 4 2002
Maila Hietanen
Abstract The hypothesis that there exist hypersensitive persons who perceive subjective symptoms from radiofrequency (RF) fields emitted by hand held mobile phones (cellular phones) was tested using double blind provocation experiments. We also tested whether sensitive subjects are able to determine whether the phone is on or off by sensing RF fields. The study group consisted of 20 volunteers (13 women and 7 men) who reported themselves as being sensitive to cellular phones. The RF exposure sources were one analogue NMT phone (900 MHz) and two digital GSM phones (900 and 1800 MHz). The duration of a test session was 30 min, and three or four sessions were performed in random order for each subject during 1 day. The subjects were asked to report symptoms or sensations as soon as they perceived any abnormal feelings. In addition, the subjects' blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing frequency were monitored every 5 min. The results of the study indicated that various symptoms were reported, and most of them appeared in the head region. However, the number of reported symptoms was higher during sham exposure than during real exposure conditions. In addition, none of the test persons could distinguish real RF exposure from sham exposure. Hence, we conclude that adverse subjective symptoms or sensations, though unquestionably perceived by the test subjects, were not produced by cellular phones. Bioelectromagnetics 23:264,270, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Sunscreen abuse for intentional sun exposure

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2009
P. Autier
Summary Skin cancer is caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) and the sun is the main source of this radiation. Sunscreens were initially formulated to prevent sunburns; laboratory studies later revealed that in rodents they could reduce UV-induced skin cancer which resembles human squamous cell carcinoma. Three randomized trials in older adults showed the ability of sunscreens to moderately reduce the occurrence of solar keratoses and of squamous cell carcinoma. However, no effect was observed for basal cell carcinoma. There is no animal model for human melanoma and observational studies often found sunscreen use associated with a higher risk of nevus, melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. These higher risks were found when sun exposure appeared to be intentional, that is, with the desire to acquire a tan, a healthy look or simply to spend as long as possible in the sun with as much skin exposed as possible. Three randomized trials showed that sunscreen use by sun sensitive subjects engaging in intentional sun exposure could increase the duration of exposure without decreasing sunburn occurrence. This increased duration could be the reason why melanoma risk is increased when sunscreen is used. Hence, sunscreen abuse may extend sun exposure duration thus allowing sun exposure behaviours that would not be possible otherwise. Advertising for sunscreens and labeling of sunscreen bottles should inform consumers of the carcinogenic hazards associated with sunscreen abuse. It would be good to use a personal UV dosimeter which would give an alert when one's individual sunburn threshold in the absence of sunscreen use is nearing. The combination of sunscreen and a UV dosimeter may be an option for reducing the melanoma risk among sun worshippers. [source]

Using computer-assisted self-interviewing (CASI) questionnaires to facilitate consultation and participation with vulnerable young people

CHILD ABUSE REVIEW, Issue 6 2005
Murray Davies
Abstract This paper explores computer-assisted self-interviewing (CASI) as a methodology for consulting with vulnerable children. The authors provide a brief review of the literature in this area, indicating that computer-mediated environments for self-administered questionnaires can be particularly helpful in enabling data to be obtained about sensitive subjects. A case example is provided of Viewpoint Interactive, a CASI application in use in the UK in local authority children's services, education, and in learning disability child care practice. The paper concludes that CASI as a methodology can assist with consultation, and that it may provide a useful additional tool in the complex process of moving beyond consultation alone to the development of increased and more effective participation for vulnerable children in the provision of their care. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]