Relative Odds of Neck Pain to Helmet Use Among Motorcyclists: a Case-Control Study

Background: Neck pain is a widespread problem among motorcyclists, which is often neglected. There is limited research on the motorcycle's ergonomics, particularly in the context of the interaction between the riders and motorcycle. Motorcycle helmets have proven to increase the weight on the neck, thus causing more burdens which can lead to neck pain. Methodology: Case-Control study design was opted to measure the relative odds of neck pain in relation to the helmet use as an exposure. A total of 260 (mean age of 22.58 ± S.D. 1.95 years) undergraduate students were selected using purposive sampling. The case to control ratio was 1:4 (54 Cases and 206 Controls) where cases were defined as the motorcyclists having neck pain with a riding experience of more than one year. The neck pain and disability scale were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Chi-square and binary logistic regression were used to calculate the significant relationship and odds of neck pain amongst motorcyclists with and without helmet use. Results: The study results showed that out of 260 motorcyclists, 190 (73.1%) were helmet users, and 54 (20.8%) had neck pain, 70 (27.9%) helmet users had a neck pain prevalence of 11 (4.2%). The relative odd to have neck pain was 2.13 times more amongst the motorcyclists using the helmet as compared to that of non-helmet users. The logistic regression results showed significant results (P < 0.05) with regards to the BMI, helmet weight and duration of helmet use but did not show a significant relation with average motorcycle use per day unless it exceeded 70 kilometres. Conclusion: Use of helmet can be a potential cause of neck pain amongst motorcyclist users but the odds to have neck pain enhance with the increase in motorcycle use per day. The protective benefits are multi-fold for helmet use which outreaches the negative impact, including neck pain amongst motorcyclists

Alternative Buffer-Layers for the Growth of SrBi2Ta2O9 on Silicon

In this work we investigate the influence of the use of YSZ and CeO2/YSZ as insulators for Metal- Ferroelectric-Insulator-Semiconductor (MFIS) structures made with SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT). We show that by using YSZ only the a-axis oriented Pyrochlore phase could be obtained. On the other hand the use of a CeO2/YSZ double-buffer layer gave a c-axis oriented SBT with no amorphous SiO2 inter- diffusion layer. The characteristics of MFIS diodes were greatly improved by the use of the double buffer. Using the same deposition conditions the memory window could be increased from 0.3 V to 0.9 V. From the piezoelectric response, nano-meter scale ferroelectric domains could be clearly identified in SBT thin films.Comment: 5 pages, 9 figures, 13 refernece

Tomorrow's Doctors: Review of The Australian Medical Workforce Advisory Committee (AMWAC)

The aim of this Review, prepared under the auspices of the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council, is to 1. Assess AMWAC's performance to date against its original terms of reference and assess to what extent have expectations been achieved? 2. Assess and make relevant recommendations on future national medical workforce planning needs, taking account of the relationship between the medical workforce and other health professionals and support staff, and AHMAC's decision to establish the Australian Health Workforce Advisory Committee (AHWAC); and the relationship between workforce and broader health systems issues. 3. Assess and make relevant recommendations on the suitability of AMWAC - including its structure and methodology - for meeting future medical workforce planning needs, taking account of access to and utilisation of evidence-based data; need for independence and access to broadly sourced advice; international experiences; and current issues, including the changing medical workforce; the implications of the application of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and competition policy; and corporatisation of medical practice. 4. Consider and recommend on appropriate financial commitment by AHMAC to medical workforce planning