Adults with spina bifida : from health and living conditions to motor-cognitive performance

Spina bifida (SB) is a congenital spinal cord dysfunction often leading to physical, medical and cognitive challenges. The level and extent of the spinal involvement often affects both sensory and motor function and secondary complications are common. There is a knowledge gap regarding adults with SB. The first part of this thesis aimed to describe health and living conditions of adults with SB in different age groups. Also, to identify and describe ambulatory and cognitive function within different levels of muscular function (MF). The second part aimed to describe gait and balance in ambulatory adults and explore motor cognitive performance during walking while performing a cognitive task. A cross-sectional study was performed on a near-total regional cohort of adults with SB. Participants were consecutively invited and interviews, questionnaires and assessments on physical, medical, social, and cognitive function were performed. A total of 196 participants were included (104 women 53%, 18-73 years, md 33 years [IQR 23]). Those with MF level 3 (hip flexion and knee extension grade 4–5) were further investigated for potential factors associated with ambulation. In the second part, 41 were included (49% women, 19-59 years, mean 37 [ SD 12]) with a regular daily walk distance >30 meters. A sensor-based gait analysis system was used to capture gait characteristics and dynamic balance was assessed with the Mini-BESTest. Motor and cognitive performance as well as the Timed up and go (TUG) was explored in both single task and dual task (DT) condition. In the total cohort 54% were ambulators and 46% used a wheelchair. Mode of mobility and cognitive capacity varied substantially across the group. A linear association was seen for presence of HC, contractures, and scoliosis with a lower degree of MF. For those with MF level 3 ambulation was independently associated with BMI, scoliosis, and a higher cognitive capacity. The youngest participants had a higher prevalence of HC and tethered cord symptoms, and fewer had passed compulsory school. For those included in the second part mean gait speed was 0.96 m/s (SD 0.2) and for the MiniBESTest 11 (SD 7). Participants with MF level 3 showed lower results (p≤.001, p≤.05 respectively) and a larger thoracic lateral sway (p≤.05). A DT cost was seen for gait speed (4%). For cognition a small DT cost was seen in accuracy, but no difference was seen in reaction time (p≤.05, p=.14 respectively). The largest DT cost was seen for TUG. Adults with SB have a complex set of physical, medical and cognitive problems that must be addressed to increase health and living conditions. More extensive problems were seen in the younger persons, who will most probably need more interventions in the future. Adults with SB showed a significant DT cost on most of the analysed parameters of gait, possibly indicating a risk of falling. Tailored follow-ups are important to meet the differing needs. The results can improve health and living conditions for adults with SB and contribute to more targeted interventions and better care

An Economic Analysis of Livestock Auctions in South Dakota

The structure of the livestock industry in the United States has undergone change in the past three decades. Integration, scale economies, changed eating habits, production and processing innovations, decentralization and increased demand for service have all affected the market structure. During this change, however, livestock auctions have remained important outlets for marketing livestock. Since the establishment of the first auction at Yankton in 1930, livestock auctions in South Dakota have become increasingly important.1 By 1937 the number had increased to 34. In 1964 there were 58 auctions operating in the state handling an annual volume of almost three million head of livestock. In the early stages of development of the auction industry, existing conditions in transportation and production largely limited the distance from which firms could procure livestock. As a result, most firms were too small to attain any significant degree of efficiency in their operations. High costs of operation were usually passed on to the producers through the charges that were assessed by the auctions for handling and selling livestock. In recent years, however, the continual development and improvement in roads and truck transportation, along with the trend in livestock production toward fewer but larger producers, has reduced the time and cost of transporting livestock. As a result the distance from which auction firms can procure livestock has become greater. With a larger supply area, the potential size of auction firms has increased. With the increase in firm size should come greater operational efficiency and ultimately, lower marketing charges and costs. Thus, the primary purpose of this study is to examine the cost structure of the livestock auction industry in South Dakota and to determine any relationship between cost, volume and marketing changes

Resisting Attempts at Organizational Socialization : Ambivalence and Resistance towards the Use of Time Registration

The study explores resistance towards managerial attempts at socializing workers to specific forms of behaviour. The case regards the introduction of time registration practices among upper secondary school teachers. Data originates from interviews with 31 teachers. Qualitative content analysis is used to map the stances towards time registration and their supporting arguments. The arguments supporting a negative or ambivalent stance are linked to two different norm-creating contexts and sets of rules which are viewed as the bases that legitimize resistance. Findings are that ambivalent and negative stances dominate. These stances are grounded in arguments which express both professional and political concerns. Professional concerns regard the need to protect a professional identity and the needs of clients and can be linked to norms and sets of rules acquired through professional socialization. The political concerns regard the inadequacy of time registration as a means to regulate effort. These concerns can be linked to the norms and sets of rules acquired by co-worker socialization. A critical attitude towards time registration is complicated by the fact that time registration is also championed by the union. However, both the consideration of possible negative side effects unforeseen by the union and experiences of active rule-twisting from management can make rule breaking legitimate even if the rules broken are also championed by the union

Employee representations of customer harassment and its causes in self-reported tales: – enlightening spotlights on dark matters?

In this paper we explore the potential qualities of the processing and sharing of instances of verbal and behavioural harassment experienced by employees in their interactions with customers. The data originates from a study of an internet forum where employees from customer-oriented job functions share their experiences of troublesome interactions with customers. 1859 tales and 2932 responses have been analysed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. The study focused on mapping 1) the character of the incidents experienced, 2) the employees’ perceptions and representations of possible causes of the incidents, 3) the content and character of the solutions presented, 4) the emotions displayed, and 5) the received responses. In this article we limit our focus to the findings relating to the character of the experienced incidents and the representation of possible causes of the incidents and use these findings to discuss the potential qualities of the experience processing. We argue that the experience processing displays both positive and negative qualities. Among the positive qualities are; a potential for authenticity stemming from the events being self-experienced, continuity, equal access, reflexivity and diminishing of self-blame. Among the negative qualities are; some conditioning by gender socialization, traces of narrowmindedness and individualization founded in attribution biases, some problematic stereotyping and rare instances of self-blame

Livestock Auctions in South Dakota: An Economic Analysis

In the early stages of development of livestock auctions, transportation and production conditions largely limited the distance from which firms could procure livestock. As a result most auctions were too small to attain any significant degree of efficiency in operations. In recent years, the continual development and improvement in roads and truck transportation, along with the trend toward larger producers, have reduced the time and cost of transporting livestock. As a result, procurement areas for auction firms have increased. With larger supply areas, the potential volume of auction firms has increased. With this increase in volume should come greater operational efficiency and, ultimately, lower marketing charges and costs. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to examine the cost structure of the livestock auctions in South Dakota to determine if there is any relationship between cost, volume and marketing charges

Meisterdamistehnikas loovtööd õpetajatele eelkooliealiste laste loova mõtlemise komponentide arengu toetamiseks

https://www.ester.ee/record=b5248736*es