EMPLOYMENT HISTORY AND OFF-FARM EMPLOYMENT OF FARM OPERATORS

Employment history affects subsequent choices. Based on their original job choice, operators are divided into farmers and workers. Equations are estimated to determine their probabilities of working off-the-farm. Education increased the probability that workers work off-the-farm, whereas vocational training increases farmers' probability. The probability of working off-the-farm decreases as unearned income increases, and its impact on workers is larger than on farmers. An employed spouse increases the probability that farmers work off-the-farm, but has the opposite impact for workers. Employment density increases the probability that workers will work off-the-farm.Off-farm employment, Part-time farming, Small farms, Labor and Human Capital,

Triage and Ongoing Care for Critically Ill Patients in the Emergency Department: Results from a National Survey of Emergency Physicians

Introduction: We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to elicit emergency physician (EP) perceptions regarding intensive care unit (ICU) triage decisions and ongoing management for boarding of ICU patients in the emergency department (ED). We assessed factors influencing the disposition decision for critically ill patients in the ED to characterize EPs’ perceptions about ongoing critical care delivery in the ED while awaiting ICU admission.Methods: Through content expert review and pilot testing, we iteratively developed a 25-item written survey targeted to EPs, eliciting current ICU triage structure, opinions on factors influencing ICU admission decisions, and views on caring for critically ill patients “boarding” in the ED for >4-6 hours.Results: We approached 732 EPs at a large, national emergency medicine conference, achieving 93.6% response and completion rate, with 54% academic and 46% community participants. One-fifth reported having formal ICU admission criteria, although only 36.6% reported adherence. Common factors influencing EPs’ ICU triage decisions were illness severity (91.1%), ICU interventions needed (87.6%), and diagnosis (68.2%), while ICU bed availability (13.5%) and presence of other critically ill patients in ED (10.2%) were less or not important. While 72.1% reported frequently caring for ICU boarders, respondents identified high patient volume (61.3%) and inadequate support staffing (48.6%) as the most common challenges in caring for boarding ICU patients.Conclusion: Patient factors (eg, diagnosis, illness severity) were seen as more important than system factors (eg, bed availability) in triaging ED patients to the ICU. Boarding ICU patients is a common challenge for more than two-thirds of EPs, exacerbated by ED volume and staffing constraints

Counseling Sexology in Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling: A Special Commentary

Healthy couple and family sexuality adds satisfaction and intimacy to the most important human relationships. Systemic work around sexual issues can be complex yet very satisfying. This commentary includes basic information on clinical priorities in working with couples and families including how a counselor’s comfort level might determine outcomes in sexuality counseling. Research and training priorities and their impact are also discussed

Enhancing the transition of commencing students into university: an institution-wide approach

The importance of the first year experience (FYE) to success at university is well documented and supported with the transition into university regarded as crucial. While there is also support for the notion that a successful FYE should have a whole-of-institution focus and models have been proposed, many institutions still face challenges in achieving institution-wide FYE program implementation. This paper discusses the origins, theoretical and empirical bases and structure of an institution-wide approach to the FYE. It uses a case study of the Transitions In Project (TIP) at the Queensland University of Technology to illustrate how institution-wide FYE program implementation can be achieved and sustained. TIP had four inter-related projects focussing on at-risk students, first year curriculum, learning resources and staff development. The key aim of TIP was to identify good practice and institutionalise it in a sustainable way. The degree of success in achieving this is evaluated

Biomechanical Foot Guidance Linkage

A gait replication apparatus can include a scalable mechanical mechanism configured to replicate different gaits . The scalable mechanical mechanism can include , for example , a four - bar linkage , a pantograph , a cam / Scotch - yoke mechanism , and so forth . In some embodiments , the mechanical mechanism includes a beam rotating about an axis passing proximate to its center , with a foot pedal slidably coupled with the beam , and a timing chain / belt or cable pulley - pair coupled with the foot pedal and looped about the beam . A method can include decomposing a foot path defined by Cartesian coordinates into polar coordinates , and providing a mechanical support for a foot , where a first mechanism controls an angular position of the mechanical support with respect to a reference frame , and a second mechanism controls a radial distance of the mechanical support from the reference frame

Mothers of Sons with Substance Use Disorders: A Grounded Theory Approach Revealing Maternal Expectations and Three Stages of Change

Addiction problems in a family present challenges in coping with the addicted family member\u27s behaviors are often described in terms of the psychopathology of the interactions of the family members. The present article describes a qualitative study of the lived experiences of mothers whose male children have struggled or currently are struggling with chemical dependence. Our overall aim in the study was to explore critical stages or events in the experiences of these mothers relevant to their chemically dependent sons. As such, our research question was: What are the lived experiences of mothers of substance abusing sons who are either in recovery or are still using substances? Results of the interviews of nine mothers indicated that regardless of age, ethnicity, social status, education, or career, they experienced a process highlighted by maternal expectations and consisting of three stages: (a) the pre-addiction stage in which mother and son did not experience abnormal relational stress or conflict, (b) the addiction stage in which mother and son experienced extreme relational stress and conflict, and (c) the mother\u27s recovery stage in which the mother experienced a confusion in her relationship with her son and his addiction leading to her own recovery and wellness

Integrating palliative care with intensive care for critically ill patients with lung cancer

With newer information indicating more favorable outcomes of intensive care therapy for lung cancer patients, intensivists increasingly are willing to initiate an aggressive trial of this therapy. Concerns remain, however, that the experience of the intensive care unit for patients with lung cancer and their families often may be distressing. Regardless of prognosis, all patients with critical illness should receive high-quality palliative care, including symptom control, communication about appropriate care goals, and support for both patient and family throughout the illness trajectory. In this article, we suggest strategies for integrating palliative care with intensive care for critically ill lung cancer patients. We address assessment and management of symptoms, knowledge and skill needed for effective communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration for patient and family support. We review the role of expert consultants in providing palliative care in the intensive care unit, while highlighting the responsibility of all critical care clinicians to address basic palliative care needs of patients and their families

Rehabilitation and Exercise Machine

An improved rehabilitation and exercise machine is provided which allows a person with physical limitations, disabilities or chronic conditions to use the machine in order to rehabilitate their muscles, improve joint flexibility, and enhance cardiovascular fitness

Ravenna: its role in earlier medieval change and exchange

In the long-debated transition from late antiquity to the early middle ages, the city of Ravenna presents a story rich and strange. From the fourth century onwards it suffered decline in economic terms. Yet its geographical position, its status as an imperial capital, and above all its role as a connecting-point between East and West, ensured that it remained an intermittent attraction for early medieval kings and emperors throughout the period from the late fifth to the eleventh century. Ravenna’s story is all the more interesting because it was complicated and unpredictable: discontinuous and continuous, sometimes obscure, sometimes including bursts of energetic activity. Throughout the early medieval centuries its flame sometimes flared, sometimes flickered, but never went out. The book is an invaluable resource for scholars of early medieval history, as well as being of interest to the general reader