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This paper uses two employer-employee linked data sets to investigate the interactive role of labour market institutions and firm wage policies on the gender earnings gap. Extending the Juhn et al. (1991) decomposition methodology, a new decomposition methodology is proposed to investigate the role of firm wage policies on the gender earnings gap. Two countries with different wage bargaining systems, Australia and France, are used to conduct a comparative study. It is found that firm wage policies in Australia play a much larger role in narrowing the gender earnings gaps than in France. This is mainly due to the fact that Australia has a more decentralised wage bargaining system and that such system is operated under an environment where there is a strong union presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When Australia reneged on a AUD$90 billion submarine contract with France in 2021 as it joined AUKUS, a new trilateral military partnership between Australia, the UK and the US, it was accused of lying and breaching France's trust. This perceived act of betrayal not only led to a deterioration in the diplomatic relationship between Australia and France, but it also drew attention to the consequences of violating the norm of pacta sunt servanda —agreements must be kept. Although it is recognized that breaches of trust undermine relationships, what has been underexplored is how a violation of norms can also undermine the presumption of trust in international society more broadly. Focusing on how Australia broke its contract with France after it joined AUKUS, this article argues that Australia's conduct not only harmed its relationship with France, but it also led the European Union (EU) to raise questions about how much to trust AUKUS partners as it engages in the Indo-Pacific region. It posits that adherence to international norms is important for developing trust between states in international society and has the potential to facilitate cooperation and enhance security in the complex Indo-Pacific region and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose was to derive local diagnostic reference levels (LDRLs) for adults common computed tomography (CT) examinations in Moroccan hospital. The data of patients were collected retrospectively from one facility for 2 months period. The proposed LDRLs were defined as 75th percentile of spreads for CT dose index-volume (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP). Findings were compared with diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) of France, Australia and Egypt. A total of 259 cases were enrolled including 53% of male and 47% of female. The corresponding LDRLs in terms of CTDIvol (mGy) were 58, 15, 15 and 14 for head, chest, abdomen–pelvis and chest–abdomen–pelvis CT examinations, respectively. For DLP (mGy.cm) were 1298, 944, 1874 and 2026, respectively. The proposed LDRLs for CTDIvol were almost similar to DRLs of Australia, higher than those of France and lower than Egyptian DRLs. In terms of DLP, LDRLs were higher than compared studies with exception of head CT, which were lower and higher for CTDIvol than Egyptian DRLs. The results highlight higher radiation doses during adult CT scans, indicating the need to spread the same investigation regarding other imaging procedures including different radiological examinations across Moroccan hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When investigating the association between brain tumors and use of mobile telephones, accurate data on tumor position are essential, due to the highly localized absorption of energy in the human brain from the radio-frequency fields emitted. We used a point process model to investigate this association using information that included tumor localization data from the INTERPHONE Study (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom). Our main analysis included 792 regular mobile phone users diagnosed with a glioma between 2000 and 2004. Similar to earlier results, we found a statistically significant association between the intracranial distribution of gliomas and the self-reported location of the phone. When we accounted for the preferred side of the head not being exclusively used for all mobile phone calls, the results were similar. The association was independent of the cumulative call time and cumulative number of calls. However, our model used reported side of mobile phone use, which is potentially influenced by recall bias. The point process method provides an alternative to previously used epidemiologic research designs when one is including localization in the investigation of brain tumors and mobile phone use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The obesity epidemic is a consequence of the interaction of cultural, environmental, genetic and behavioural factors; framing the issue is central to determining appropriate solutions. This study used content and thematic framing analysis to explore portrayal of responsibility for obesity in policy documents in Australia, France and Switzerland. For Australia and France, obesity causality was a combination of individual and environmental factors, but for Switzerland, it was predominantly individual. The primary solutions for all countries were health promotion strategies and children's education. Industry groups proposed more school education while health advocates advised government intervention. Where France emphasized cultural attitudes towards taste, Australia focused on sport. The French were most keen on legislating against unhealthy foods compared with Switzerland where there was opposition towards regulation of individual's choices. To curb the increasing prevalence of obesity, allocation of responsibility needs to be considered and initiatives enacted accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: It is well established in the literature that healthier diets cost more than unhealthy diets. Objective: The aim of this review was to examine the contribution of food prices and diet cost to socioeconomic inequalities in diet quality. Data Sources: A systematic literature search of the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases was performed. Study Selection: Publications linking food prices, dietary quality, and socioeconomic status were selected. Data Extraction: Where possible, review conclusions were illustrated using a French national database of commonly consumed foods and their mean retail prices. Data Synthesis: Foods of lower nutritional value and lower-quality diets generally cost less per calorie and tended to be selected by groups of lower socioeconomic status. A number of nutrient-dense foods were available at low cost but were not always palatable or culturally acceptable to the low-income consumer. Acceptable healthier diets were uniformly associated with higher costs. Food budgets in poverty were insufficient to ensure optimum diets. Conclusions: Socioeconomic disparities in diet quality may be explained by the higher cost of healthy diets. Identifying food patterns that are nutrient rich, affordable, and appealing should be a priority to fight social inequalities in nutrition and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Seven Countries Study in the 1960s showed very low mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) in Japan, which was attributed to very low levels of total cholesterol. Studies of migrant Japanese to the USA in the 1970s documented increase in CHD rates, thus CHD mortality in Japan was expected to increase as their lifestyle became Westernized, yet CHD mortality has continued to decline since 1970. This study describes trends in CHD mortality and its risk factors since 1980 in Japan, contrasting those in other selected developed countries.Methods: We selected Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA. CHD mortality between 1980 and 2007 was obtained from WHO Statistical Information System. National data on traditional risk factors during the same period were obtained from literature and national surveys.Results: Age-adjusted CHD mortality continuously declined between 1980 and 2007 in all these countries. The decline was accompanied by a constant fall in total cholesterol except Japan where total cholesterol continuously rose. In the birth cohort of individuals currently aged 50-69 years, levels of total cholesterol have been higher in Japan than in the USA, yet CHD mortality in Japan remained the lowest: >67% lower in men and > 75% lower in women compared with the USA. The direction and magnitude of changes in other risk factors were generally similar between Japan and the other countries.Conclusions: Decline in CHD mortality despite a continuous rise in total cholesterol is unique. The observation may suggest some protective factors unique to Japanese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on several conferences and meetings to be held in the year 1988. The Australasian College of Dermatologists will be holding its annual scientific meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in Australia, from May 1-5, 1988. The Hawaii Dermatology Society will be holding an international symposium on the Hawaiian islands of Molokai and Oahu, from August 21-28, 1988. Formal sessions will be devoted to atopic dermatitis, skin cancer, AIDS, leprosy, dermatopathology and other topics. The Second International Conference on Skin Therapy and Cosmetics will be held in Cannes, France. The conference will be entirely devoted to major advances in the treatment of cutaneous disorders.