Development of the Williams Work Estimator (W2E): A Tool for Determining the Most Effective Match between Worker Capabilities and Job Task Requirements

Demographics indicate that the United States and many other industrialized nations are currently experiencing what is called the ¡°graying¡± of the workforce (Hayslip & Panek, 1993). Today the majority of the workers in many companies are in the age groups of 40-44 and 45-49 years. However, by the year 2010, the largest proportion of workers will probably be in the age groups of 55-59 and 60-64 years (Ilmarinen, 1995). Thus, a growing concern of employers in the near future will be the assignment of older workers to specific job tasks and responsibilities (Williams & Crumpton, 1996) as well as other issues pertinent to the employment of older workers. As workers age they typically experience physiological and psychological changes which must be estimated to minimize the mismatch between their capabilities and job demands as well as to prevent work related injuries such as over exertion injuries. Early identification of declines in work ability and implementation of ergonomic interventions are key to sustaining older and more experienced workers in the workplace (Williams et al., 1996). If preventive measures are not taken, older employees are likely to experience a decline in work capacities (Ilmarinen, 1994). Therefore, reliable and valid measures of one¡¯s ability to perform physical work activities are essential for preventing work-related injuries. Hence, the focus of this research project is to develop a diagnostic tool that can be used by employers to estimate their workers¡¯ ability to perform daily work activities. Specifically, the Williams Work Estimator (W2E) is designed to provide information concerning workers¡¯ ability to perform physical work activities such as lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, etc. A field research study involving 32 employees at a beer distribution warehousing facility was conducted to evaluate the following attributes of the W2E: (a) test-retest reliability, (b) concurrent criterion validity, and (c) predictive validity. Test-retest reliability of the W2E was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients. The overall correlation coefficients obtained on both the task evaluation (.64) and the self-evaluation (.58) were near minimal acceptable levels (.60 or greater) for each job task evaluated. In addition, the W2E ranged from 50 to 100% accurate when identifying persons who had experienced a work-related injury within the past year. Findings of this research study suggest the W2E represents a promising new tool for assessing work capability and deserves further study to improve reliability and validity

Comparison of five oral cannabidiol preparations in adult humans: pharmacokinetics, body composition, and heart rate variability

2021 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.Data supporting the physiological effects of cannabidiol (CBD) ingestion in humans are conflicting. Differences between CBD preparations and bioavailability may contribute to these discrepancies. Further, an influence of body composition on CBD bioavailability is feasible, but currently undocumented. The aims of this study were to: (1) compare the pharmacokinetics of five oral CBD preparations over 4 hours; (2) examine the relationship between body composition and CBD pharmacokinetics; and, (3) explore the influence of CBD on heart rate variability. In total, five preparations of CBD, standardized to 30 mg, were administered orally to 15 healthy men and women (21–62 years) in a randomized, crossover design. Prior to and 60 min following CBD ingestion, heart rate variability was determined. Body composition was assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Peak circulating CBD concentration, time to peak concentration, and area under the curve was superior in a preparation comprising 5% CBD concentration liquid. Fat free mass was a significant predictor (R2 = 0.365, p = 0.017) of time to peak concentration for this preparation. Several heart rate variability parameters, including peak frequency of the high frequency band, were favorably, but modestly modified following CBD ingestion. These data confirm an influence of CBD preparation and body composition on CBD bioavailability, and suggest that acute CBD ingestion may have a modest influence on autonomic regulation of heart rate

Keeping Up with Trends in Your Library: Simple and Speedy Ways to Assess Users’ Needs

Objective: To find simple, fast, and easy ways to assess library users’ needs and to get real-time responses in order to shorten the interval between deploying surveys, gathering responses and implementation of solutions. In the past the library employed email surveys to assess user needs but the process was inefficient and ineffective due to low response rates and time spent creating online surveys. Methods: The library team began using paper “micro-assessments” to understand users’ needs. Short paper surveys of no more than five questions, were deployed at three different times throughout the academic year: (1) Medical students were handed surveys during one of the library’s weekly events about their use of library-issued iPads; (2) Surveys were left on each study space in the library quiet room over the course of one week asking about students’ opinions on food being allowed in the library quiet room; (3) Faculty were handed surveys during departmental meetings to assess their interest in scholarly publishing topics. Completed surveys were collected and results were tabulated the same day. Results: Results of the student iPad micro-assessment helped librarians understand students’ use of library-issued iPads. Feedback from the second student survey informed policy decisions in regards to allowing food in the library quiet room. Finally, results of the faculty micro-assessments led to the development of short presentations on scholarly communication topics, delivered by librarians during faculty departmental meetings, as well as one-on-one EndNote training sessions and a Getting Published Workshop

Investigating the relationship between cardiac function and insulin sensitivity in horses

Metabolic syndrome in humans is commonly associated with cardiovascular dysfunction, including atrial fibrillation and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Although many differences exist between human and equine metabolic syndrome, both of these conditions share some degree of insulin resistance. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between magnitude of insulin resistance and degree of myocardial dysfunction. Seven horses (five mares, two geldings, age 17.2 +/= 4.2 years, weight 524 +/= 73 kg) underwent insulin-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance testing to determine insulin sensitivity (mean 2.21 +/= L/min/mU). Standard echocardiograms were performed on each horse, including two-dimensional, M-mode, and pulse-wave tissue Doppler imaging. Data were assessed for normality by constructing normal probability plots and performing the Shapiro-Wilks test. Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the association of insulin sensitivity with echocardiographic measures of cardiac function. Insulin sensitivity was found to be significantly correlated with peak myocardial velocity during late diastole (r = 0.89, p = 0.0419), ratio between peak myocardial velocity in early and late diastole (r = -0.92, p = 0.0263), isovolumetric relaxation time (r = -0.97, p = 0.0072), and isovolumetric contraction time (p^2 = -0.90, p = 0.0374). Due to the small sample size of this study, the relationship between insulin sensitivity and myocardial function requires further investigation

Co-teaching and the Development of Pupil Identity in the Bilingual Primary Classroom: A case study of a Hong Kong School

This research study explores pupil experiences of co-teaching within a bilingual international primary school in Hong Kong. The majority of pupils are first language Cantonese speakers, studying in an English and Putonghua bilingual programme. Within Hong Kong, the historical context and political situation following the change of sovereignty, has shaped educational policy and views about valued languages, shaping the practices of the school and therefore pupil experiences of language learning. The school supports pupil language development through a bilingual programme (one teacher, one language), supported by co-teaching (in English and Putonghua). The aims of the study were to understand how co-teaching is understood and enacted by co-teachers to support pupil language learning identities. Two co-taught classrooms were the focus of the research (one in Year 3 (Y3) and one in Year 5 (Y5)). Research data for this case study were collected through formal classroom observations over a five-month period, pupil interviews (three from each class) and interviews with the two co-teachers of each class. A broad sample of pupil language experiences was collected as part of a questionnaire to all pupils in Y3 and Y5. Questionnaire data served as an opportunity for data triangulation and rich, detailed analysis. Qualitative data analysis consisted of open coding to find emerging themes, these themes then becoming the focus of the discussion. The findings of the study revealed that enactment of co-teaching is shaped by teacher perceptions of their classroom roles. An identity of a co-teacher, for example, was found to facilitate mutual understanding and respect for shared practices that further supported pupil language development. Co-teaching enactment, perceived teacher language valuations and English language dominance within the classroom were all found to shape pupil language learning identities. The study also found that the co-teaching model, Team Teaching, was effective in teaching and learning because of the opportunities for pupil translanguaging and because it positions the classroom languages with equal status, supporting pupil investment and motivation to learn. Since co-teaching model effectiveness was not the focus of this study, it is recommended as an area of further research

Insights into the Role of the Peroxisomal Ubiquitination Machinery in Pex13p Degradation in the Yeast Hansenula polymorpha

The import of matrix proteins into peroxisomes in yeast requires the action of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Pex4p and a complex consisting of the ubiquitin E3 ligases Pex2p, Pex10p and Pex12p. Together, this peroxisomal ubiquitination machinery is thought to ubiquitinate the cycling receptor protein Pex5p and members of the Pex20p family of co-receptors, a modification that is required for receptor recycling. However, recent reports have demonstrated that this machinery plays a role in additional peroxisome-associated processes. Hence, our understanding of the function of these proteins in peroxisome biology is still incomplete. Here, we identify a role for the peroxisomal ubiquitination machinery in the degradation of the peroxisomal membrane protein Pex13p. Our data demonstrate that Pex13p levels build up in cells lacking members of this machinery and also establish that Pex13p undergoes rapid degradation in wild-type cells. Furthermore, we show that Pex13p is ubiquitinated in wild-type cells and also establish that Pex13p ubiquitination is reduced in cells lacking a functional peroxisomal E3 ligase complex. Finally, deletion of PEX2 causes Pex13p to build up at the peroxisomal membrane. Taken together, our data provide further evidence that the role of the peroxisomal ubiquitination machinery in peroxisome biology goes much deeper than receptor recycling alone

The safety and feasibility of early cardiorespiratory fitness testing after stroke

Background Cardiorespiratory fitness testing is recommended as part of a pre-exercise evaluation to aid the programming of safe, tailored cardiorespiratory fitness training after stroke. But there is limited evidence for its safety and feasibility in people with stroke with varying impairment levels in the early subacute phase of stroke recovery. Objective To assess the safety and feasibility of cardiorespiratory fitness testing in the early subacute phase after stroke. Design A sub-study of a larger single service, multi-site, prospective cohort feasibility study (Cardiac Rehabilitation in Stroke Survivors to Improve Survivorship [CRiSSIS]). Setting Private subacute inpatient rehabilitation facilities. Participants Consecutive admissions of people with ischemic stroke admitted to subacute rehabilitation facilities. Intervention Not applicable. Main Outcome(s) Safety was determined by the occurrence of adverse or serious adverse events. Feasibility was determined by assessing the (1) number of participants recruited and (2) number of participants able to complete the fitness test. Results Between April 2018 and December 2019, a total of 165 people with stroke were screened to participate; 109 were eligible and 65 were recruited. Of the 62 who completed testing, 41 participants were able to complete a submaximal fitness test at a median of 12 days post-stroke. One minor adverse event was recorded. Of the 21 participants unable to complete the fitness test; 4 declined to complete the test, 9 were unable to commence the test, and 8 were unable to complete the first stage of the protocol due to stroke-related impairments. Participants with mild stroke, greater motor and cognitive function, and fewer depressive symptoms were more likely to be able to complete the cardiorespiratory fitness test. Conclusion Cardiorespiratory fitness testing was safe for most people with mild-to-moderately severe ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack in the early subacute phase, but only two-thirds of the participants could complete the test