(Mis)Measuring Value Change: A Brief Postscript

One aspect of the multifaceted controversy on value change in advanced industrial societies concerns the measurement of values. Analyses of 1976–86 Euro-Barometer data have indicated that responses to the four-item materialist-postmaterialist values index are very sensitive to current economic conditions, especially inflation and unemployment rates and, hence, much of the recorded increase in postmaterialism in eight Western European countries since the mid-1970s is artifactual. Although it has been claimed these findings disappear if more recent data are considered, time series analyses reveal that responses to the values measure are strongly affected by prevailing economic conditions throughout the entire 1976–92 period. These aggregate-level findings are buttressed by individual-level analyses of 1989 Euro-Barometer data.     

TERRORISM,ENGINEERING AND THE ENVIRONMENT: THEIR INTERRELATIONSHIPS

The study of countering terrorism came to the fore following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 in New York. The study has taken many paths. These include looking at the sociology/psychology of the terrorist or terrorist group, the understanding of terrorist organisations, the use of risk management techniques to identify targets that may be of interests to terrorists, the design of security infrastructure to counter or ward off terrorism and the consideration of how built infrastructure/environment may be strengthened to mitigate the effects of terrorism.     

Churches,mosques, and condoms: understanding successful HIV and AIDS interventions by faith-based organisations

There are an estimated 33 million people living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) worldwide. While national education campaigns have been successful in providing a broad platform of awareness of HIV and AIDS, within some countries faith-based organisations (FBOs) have assumed an important role in educating and supporting local communities to reduce HIV transmission. This article conceptualises the successful characteristics of a Christian organisation in West Papua and a Muslim organisation in Thailand. The ability of both these FBOs to engage successfully with their communities on issues of sexual practice provides important lessons for other FBOs seeking to reduce HIV transmission.     

The analysis of substituted cathinones. Part 1: chemical analysis of 2-, 3- and 4-methylmethcathinone

The ring substituted methyl isomers of methcathinone, 2-, 3- and 4-methylmethcathinone were analysed. The 2- and 3-isomers were synthesized. The 4-methylmethcathinone isomer is also known as mephedrone and has been widely studied. We present GCMS, NMR and IR data for the three isomers. We show that the three isomers can be separated by GCMS and that the IR spectra for the three compounds can be used to distinguish between them. A seized sample was analysed and it was found to contain 4-methylmethcathinone and benzocaine.